Chapter 34: Apartment Upgrade, Psychic Training
After entering my apartment I ate some food, cleaned myself up more, removed the shadowy mask and sat down at my desk. Holographic displays beeping as my point balance steadily increased, Fallout being purchased by more and more people.
[Points: 285,319,742]
My purchase options were still the same as last time, special-wise, but I needed to consider protections other than just more people. Uchiha clan was a long-term investment. Thus my power would be integral for the short-term.
With this in mind I searched through the shop for training tools, specifically geared towards psychic abilities. Luckily there was several options provided by the system.
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\SECTION- ITEMS- PSYCHIC TRAINING/
Aetheric Inscription Ring (Passively Increases: Minute Object Control, Energy Storage, Focus, concentration, Sensitivity, Cerebral Interconnectedness, Psychic Shielding, Empathic Protection, Resistance to Outside Interference)- 80,000,000P
Neural Alignment Diadem (Passively Increases: Concentration, emotional stability, neural pathway connectivity, control over telekinetic and telepathic abilities, psychic shield)- 20,000,000P
Telekinetic Nexus (Trains: focus, control, sixth sense, power and adaptability)- 10,200,000P
Neural Strain Console (Trains: Mental Fortitude, Interference Resistance, Psychic Multi-tasking... Counts as an Apartment Upgrade) - 10,100,000P
Empathic Mirror (Trains: Emotional Stability, Empathic Understanding, Psychic Defences ... Counts as an Apartment Upgrade)- 10,100,000P
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Looking over all of the options there were some clear choices. The Ring seemed OP for training, so it was going to be purchased. The Diadem was my next choice as well. From here I wanted non-passive training equipment, and therefor I chose the Telekinetic Nexus and the Neural Strain Console.
The additional benefit to getting the console was that it would complete a mission on my battle pass, and therefor get me closer to finishing the apprentice level. Once tapping on all of them and confirming my purchase, the four objects lightly floated down onto my desk.
[Points: 165,019,742]
Gazing down at these items, a faint film of energy could be seen lingering in the air. As if energy itself was tamed in their presence. Intrigue licking at the edges of my finger I carefully extended my hand and lifted the most expensive purchase I had made. The ring...
It featured a metallic band of dark gold-brass hue, elegantly designed to expand at the top into a striking centrepiece. At its heart lay a purple gem, meticulously carved to resemble the intricate folds of a brain. The gem shimmered with a flowing, almost otherworldly energy, as if alive, while the band's metal filled the recessed grooves, creating the impression that the ring had encased an alien brain within its grasp.
My mind reached for it, a static striking my ears with a distorted tone. Consciousness and subconsciousness grew hazy as concepts, the closer my mental energy became bonded. Then, with a soft exhale, the ring lunged up off of the desk and slid onto my right ring-finger. Subconscious and consciousness merged into a single, all encompassing, entity.
Me.
My mind was now fully me. There was no distinction. All of the passive processes my subconscious carried out were under my control. At the same time automation was still applicable. It was as if I had gained control of the smallest parts of my body. Comfort slithered into every single ounce of my being as I slowly felt my Telekinetic abilities, Techno-psychic powers and faint Empathic power be flexed and strained against.
The ring was passively expanding my brain to better use these acquired abilities. My brain was connecting them together, interweaving them and better enhancing my emotional and logical hemispheres.
Before I could feel ecstasy from this constant positive gain, there was a lightning-like explosion of energy along the edges of my psychic defences. The diadem, made of pure gold and carved softly with hundreds of small runes, levitated softly before me. It was made of three parts, two bands and a merged 'V' shaped apex. These bands swept gracefully around the sides in an almost elven-like design; not too dissimilar from Lord of the Ring's elven jewellery.
My eyes widened as this elegant headpiece rotated slowly, pushing towards my head as psychic energy wreathed it in leaf-like shapes. It was as if I was being crowned as a Roman Emperor in ancient times, the floral crown of psychic energy pulsing in harmony with the ring's, and even my own mental energy. Then, as if the gentleness had merely been foreplay, the diadem slammed onto my head and clutched to the sides of my head.
If before my mind had been hammered by the ring, now it was akin to the demolition of an entire skyscraper. The rubble and detritus raining down into the recesses of my changing mind. Glass shards poking into the fibres of my neural pathways. Cement submerging my senses only to rub them raw, making them drastically more sensitive. I, felt everything. From the smallest fluctuations of my own psychic wake to the faintest of pathos remnants behind the entrance to my apartment.
But all of this had a toll, a throbbing amidst the tissue of my brain signifying the exhaustion of my psychic power. It was taking every ounce of it to endure horrifying levels of passive invasion and static from these two tools. I slumped against the desk, sweat marring my forehead, dripping onto the fine wooden surface. My eyes felt sore as my sense of touch was extended to every object in the room more intuitively. All of it felt off, as if I was scraping my fingers over every single particle that made the items in this apartment of mine.
Unfortunately for me though, this wasn't the end. The Telekinetic Nexus floated around my head, invisible to normal vision. It was darting around in a circular pattern, halting every now and then as it combined efforts with my diadem, my brain being yanked by said Diadem to halt the pyramid-shaped object whenever my backup energy was above safe levels. My brain was exercising more than ever before and it was straining me... I could barely sustain focussed strains of thought.
Blinking slowly, I lifted the lonesome cube on the desk. A futuristic looking device that had a single red button on it. There were no instructions, but that was fine as I simply hit the red button, knowing that it wasn't going to be a negative thing... Oh how naïve i was...
The Neural Strain Console, having been picked up and put next to my Pip-boy in my hands, flashed into bright light as said Pip-boy glowed a bright green-white. Fusion energy mixed with psychic energy and combined into a singular console of pure, intent?
Needles of psychic energy pierced my mind as my defences were strained to their very limits. Eyes rolling into the back of my head I felt my attention being split between hundreds of different areas... Specifically, to each needle that pressed inwards. The pain was amplified by hundreds of times in recompense, the ache resembling a hot poker. White searing hot stinging collapsing upon every inch of what made me, me.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed, but it was useless.
"ARGGGGGHHHHHHH...W-" Speaking failed as I frothed at the sides of my mouth.
But then it came... A soft golden glow. A soothing coolness. The smells of strawberries, nature and blood suffused everything within me as the needles flexed and attempted to poke in once more. They failed as my own psychic resonance passively increased, the brain on my ring pulsing within purple energy, gathering and mixing with the golden light.
*CUAAAHGH*
A large gulping of air flexed down into my lungs as my mind awoke once more, the pain retreating as if a lion from an automatic machine-gun. That lights lavished itself over the top of my combined consciousness before slowly receding, leaving behind a strong shield for me, made of my own psychic might.
My eyes rolled forwards once more and I was facing the window, where I could see the faint golden glow fading from the back of my neck. In panic I pulled down my shirt to look at it. The glow was gone, but the tattoo had grown more roots... Burying itself further down my back, following my spine until the arch of my back; I had to take off my shirt for this.
Then, after admiring for a while, I willed my shirt down with my telekinesis. Every fold and layer of material slid down with concise speed. My appearance was now the same as before, nothing changing whatsoever.
'Everything has a price though...'
I was still training to this very moment.
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DAILY SPECIALS---
Spider Bombs ( 100,000P down from 200,000P)
Cheese Burger(5P down from 6P)
Plasma Cannon 40k (100,000,000P down from 500,000,000P)
Uchiha Clan (Starter Level) (100,000,000P down from 1,500,000,000P )
---BATTLEPASS, Apprentice Level---
*Purchase an upgrade for your apartment* : 100,000 Points (COMPLETED)
*Create your second game* : New Mutant Ability, Shadow Control (COMPLETED)
*Create DLC for 'Fallout' (10/10)* : 200,000 Points , Blessing of Freya (COMPLETED)
*Make a company in the real world for your games* : 10 Million Dollars USD (COMPLETED)
* Purchase an item/spell/power/magic/Mutation, for over 1,000,000P* : 5,000,000 Points (COMPLETED)
*Learn More of the World* : Entire Basic Knowledge of World Lore (COMPLETED)
*Have 1 Million people play your games* : 1,000,000 Points , Charisma Bobble-Head (COMPLETED)
*Found the beginnings of a central hub for your games* : %UNKNOWNREWARD%
*Buy Twitch* : Customized Fate-style Servant based on Technology
///
[Points: 165,119,742]
"I guess all there is now, is to get the Uchiha Clan and ensure that they are settled."
"They are a pain in the ass, but they are cheaper than the Uzumaki clan, Hyūga clan or the Senju Clan."
I slowly walked over to the kitchen, each prick of the needles shooting pain throughout my body. The shield was there, but it was only enough to stop myself from falling unconscious. Looking at my pip-boy there was a massive change. Where the screen was once green it now glowed faint purple as a holographic projection radiated upwards and showed my physical condition. Along with that came a new screen that showed the growing status of my mental state... Everything in this section was growing rapidly.
The front door opened as Picard stood there, my psychic powers detecting his presence and aiding my intent to listen to him.
"Freya...?"
I blinked quickly and felt all of the emotions that were oozing out from his brain. He was full of trepidation, curiosity and small touches of mistrust. My decision to bring more people here was weighing on him most likely.
"Thank you Picard, for supporting me despite the freshness of this entire situation."
He walked in and looked at me, seeing the new equipment I had on.
"There is no need for thanks. Besides, my options are limited, you are my best chance to survive here, given the nature of the supernatural here."
Drinking some water down, I flashed a smile at him before returning to my examination of his emotions. He was lessening his distrust, but it was still there, as if a small ball of uncertainty. It was only natural though... My only wish though was that the Uchiha would be easier to handle due to the circumstances...
"Disregarding those heavy topics... I have purchased two mansions adjacent to our HQ. It has enough room for several hundred people each, more if we were to renovate some rooms."
"Good. Then I'll go over now and see about getting our guests and future allies accommodated."
"I'll join you. Nothing much else to do and honestly, I wish to see what the entire process includes."
Chuckling a little I walked through the front door, Picard letting me go through first before following.
"Do as you please, I trust you enough to know you won't intentionally hurt me or anyone around me."
Picard's distrust lessened once again, a faint slither existing... My efforts were working and in no time I was definitely likely to turn him into a loyal friend. 'Fingers crossed I get some awesome characters working for me now.'
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