The Power Manipulator - Worm SI OC

A/N: In case you missed it, last chapter had a later addition at the end. It contains Crystal's POV. I also just updated it before publishing this chapter to better fit the story, so read it again if you can to get a slightly better perspective on things.

-x-

The day was about to end. Despite my eagerness, I had to wait patiently for the next day to come so my charges will be back.

In the meantime, I kept thinking about my strategy going forward—related to this world, this city, the main, and side characters and more— and I constantly ended up with the same conclusion: Any strategy I made right now would probably be proved insufficient or lacking in comparison to one I could come up with if I had some sort of Thinker powers.

5 charges. That's what I'd be getting once the clock hit 12:00 AM and I already had a small list of must get abilities. Multi tasking, Mental Fortitude, and Instant Skill/Ability mastery were the three abilities I had to get to make things work. Since I had an existing framework/blueprint for two of the three abilities in the form of Taylor's QA's Multitasking and Uber's Skill Mastery, I wouldn't have to spend as many charges as when creating them from scratch to push them to useful levels. So, I had two spare charges if I spent three of my five charges to creating the aforementioned skills and didn't upgrade Mental Fotitude, the skill I had to create from scratch.

Honestly, just a 1 charge Mental Fortitude would still do me good. Imagine a Mental Fortitude that would rate 4-5 on PRT's scale. It'd be some really fairly serious thinker power that'd probably have beneficiary side-effects to make it more dangerous than a middling rating 1-3 ability. That, or I was mistaken about my initial assumptions that all skills on the same rating were similarly dangerous. Now that I gave it a second thought, I wasn't certain that was the case like I had assumed initially. But regardless of that, the skill was still incredibly useful to me right now. I needed some Mental Fortitude if I wanted to survive in this world.

For the remaining two charges, I was thinking of spending those charges in a proper Planning type ability.

My first thought led me to wonder if I could create pseudo PtV and just call it a day.

I mean, imagine with all my abilities, if I had PtV, it'd probably solve all my problems in a week or so.

Then I gave it more thought and realised that the reason PtV was so potent and bullshit was exactly because of its absurd capacity and it'll be severely reduced or become a very different/faulty ability if it wasn't created in its entirety with all necessary charges. I had 2 charges to spare. And even if I didn't spend the other 3 charges on the aforementioned three abilities and went straight to the PtV route... well, it was feasible if I just waited another day. Yes, it was definitely doable.

What was preventing me from fully committing to that path was my own misgivings and anxiety. I knew how PtV worked. I knew that the persona "Contessa" was more or less what PtV created rather than Fortuna's own independent actions and thoughts.

It was an ability that'd act as the perfect guide but would, in turn, remove the free will of its user.

A dilemma. Should I do the smart thing and just commit to a PtV like ability and let it govern my life here or go a less rigid and free-will route with an aiding type planning ability rather than one that more or less dictated a set of paths to a certain condition that one was then bound to follow.

As much as I wanted to survive and thrive in this world, I didn't think PtV was the way to do it.

Maybe something more along the lines of Accord's Planning ability, but focused on solving my specific issue regarding saving the world from the mess of Entities and Shards.

Actually, I had almost forgot about him… Yes, his power seemed more preferable to me.

Besides, it'd be easier to get Accord's (and I suppose his ambassadors' while I'm at it) power and put a charge or two in it to get it up to a very high rating and give it some boost as the problem at hand was a Multiverse-level threat.

Honestly, the real issue in the end was just the excess of choice and my own lack of intellect to choose what was the best and most efficient option due to my own doubts and lacking knowledge and conviction. I had way too many options and routes I could take and I wasn't sure which one I wanted to and if I want to. It was yet another thing added on top of all the other issues I had to deal with when presented with so much power and possibility in a world that desperately needed saving.

I was spiraling back to that mental quicksand of doubt and anxiety.

No! Not now. I can do this. One step at a time. Focus.

Then again, it was far from the worst possible situation to be in, I supposed. I could instead be stuck in Worm with a shitty power and have to fight tooth and nail for my survival.

I shuddered at the very thought.

In the end, I decided to get the three abilities I had thought of first and then come back to this decision after I had Mental Fortitude and more confidence in my current abilities. Maybe that's what I needed to take a definitive step forward towards the solution for this complex problem of saving the world while so many forces would try to oppose, distract or disrupt my efforts.

As the clock moved the second hand towards the 12 hour mark, I closed my eyes and focused on the black void inside.

5 charges bloomed in the otherwise black space and I knew I was as ready as I could be.

Not wasting time to ponder further, I mentally described the abilities' descriptions that I had already come up with and then put a charge in each, in the process using up two of my pre-existing abilities—Uber's Skill Mastery and Skitter's bug control related Multitasking—as base for the two new abilities.

Three charges were snuffed and I had one new and two upgraded abilities in my arsenal that I immediately equipped.

I took a deep breath and focused on the changes that came with them.

---

—Multitasking/Parallel Processing—

This skill allows the user to simultaneously process and deploy multiple powers at once, enhancing the efficiency and enabling complex, synergized actions. The ability taps into parallel cognitive streams, letting the user handle various powers without distraction or overload, and providing seamless integration between them. Harmonization is achieved through the user's own intuition, which calibrates powers for mutual compatibility.

The maximum number of parallel cognitive streams allowed are 1 quintillion.

Cost(to upgrade): 5 Charges (discounted to 1 Charge)

---

—Mental Fortitude—

This skill reinforces the user's psyche against external and internal mental strain, providing strong resistance to negative or delimiting psychological manipulation and effects, such as power-induce fear or confusion, etc. It also enhances the user's mental endurance under prolonged mental exertion, especially useful during high-intensity battles or missions requiring sustained mental usage. This heightened mental resilience is bolstered by a focus-enhancing effect that allows the user to maintain sharp awareness and control, even in chaotic situations.

Cost: 1 Charge

---

—Instant Skill/Ability Mastery—

With this skill, the user can rapidly assimilate and gain near-expert control over all pre-existing and new Shard-based abilities or powers, including both Shard-derived powers and other acquired skills. This skill focuses on accelerated learning, automatically building an internalized understanding of techniques, limitations, and advanced applications of each new power. As a result, the user can reach high proficiency almost immediately, drastically reducing training time and enabling swift, tactical adaptation.

Cost(to upgrade): 3 Charges (Discounted to 1 Charge)

---

Before anything else, can I just take some time and say that Taylor's power's upper limit was bullshit? Like, I didn't add that upper limit in the description myself. It was added automatically after I used the Multitasking from QA Shard as a base for this new Multitasking skill. I also got a freebee side-ability from just creating this new Multitasking. Using it, if I was ever so inclined, I could somewhat replicate Dinah's prediction powers on a personal level by simulating a certain scenario in my head and letting my 1 quintillion thought streams go at it with slightly different perspectives and ideas. Of course, since I don't have any dedicated reality moddling skills or ability to introspect/analyse deeply, it would be a horribly ineffective and pointless use of the upper limits of my Multitasking power, but I could do it if I added added some extra tid-bits to it to oomph my simulation powers. That's the point.

I think I was already feeling the effects of Mental Fortitude skill. That thought alone should have overwhelmed my mind for a bit. But I was able to accept it fairly easily.

And finally, in the ensuing minute or so while I was having these thoughts, my parallel streams had already mastered all of my existing powers, including those that were in reserve. Instant Skill/Ability Mastery synergized with my Mental Fortitude and Multitasking greatly and was bolstered by the other two abilities. Neat!

It all sounded ridiculously OP and bullshit and it certainly was, I'd admit. I felt like I could take on Hundreds or even Thousands of 'Me's from the earlier, before getting these three new powers. Or maybe that was just my parallel streams getting ahead of themselves. Oh well.

After relishing in my new-found abilities for a few minutes, I put a few dozen thought streams to devising my next moves while a few dozen others re-opened the dilemma I was having just a little while ago. And finally, what I was wanting to call 'the main thought stream' but was in reality just one of many parallel ones—all thought streams were my thoughts, after all, and not alternate me's—relaxed and laughed at myself from just a few minutes ago.

Okay, yeah, this was a great investment.

Really, what was I worried about just now. I can do this. I can do all of it. I have all the time and attention I need to do what needs to be done now. It's not impossible.

I took another breath and while my other thought streams continued on their tasks, I put another one to testing Coil's power's synergy with my new Multi-tasking as the main thought stream and a few others focused on my surroundings.

Meanwhile, I was back out on the hull of the ship.

I rose up in the air using my plethora of flight powers and kept going until I had a fair view of most of the city.

As the thought stream checking on the synergy with Coil's power using accelerated mental speed (thanks to Flash-lite's powers) finished, I split the timeline with a determined smile.

***

Simulated Timeline

I used my enhanced Super Flight and Velocity's breaker state to zoom past the city, ending at the southern border. Then, I began. Block by block, building by building, floor by floor and even room by fucking room. Every nook and cranny of this entire city was scanned for things of interest to me. It was easy when there was no one to stop me and so no reservations to be had. There was something interesting about this Simulation. While there were no people, it looked like everything else was an exact replica of the world.

Homes, offices, factories, stores… I, or rather my current mental stream that was focusing on Coil's simulation power, had decided to pull my sleeves up metaphorically and do things the hard but thorough way.

Scan this city for all its physical information.

I had all the patience in the world.

My thought stream scanned the entire city and got myself familiarized with everything that seemed relevant to my cause, another thought stream taking control of my hands to jot down some points of interests in a notepad I acquired from somewhere. In the process, I unavoidably encounted some not-so relevant things while barging in personal spaces that I had to shove to my parallel thought streams to process or discard so as to not get distracted.

Soon, I would have the picture I needed to progress.

***

Original Timeline

I recalled the knowledge I had of Worm and its myriad iterations through fanfics.

Brockton Bay was suffering from a systematic and severe infestation. The gangs were certainly at the core of it, but it wasn't limited to just that. It wasn't like there was sunshine and rainbows where the gangs didn't intrude, and those said places were not very large, unfortunately.

This city was suffering from a systematic collapse of its economy after its main business shut down. And most of the funds being generated were now going to a select few while the masses suffered. Places like the Medhall Corporation still made millions regularly, but all of it went into the pockets of its upper echelons. Which just so happen to be the resident Neo-nazi gang. Of course, I didn't reach that conclusion after scanning the Bay. No, that was still going on in the background but I didn't need to do that to know this much. The scanning was to gain data for another thing.

I sighed at the sorry picture I had painted in my head.

"Haaa, the Police and PRT can't do shit because they are limited by their own heads. The corruption also runs too deep and is too rooted in the system itself with little hope or will to correct things."

This can't be solved with just brute force and flashy super powers. At least, not the entire issue. But I think I had an idea of how to let the process of fixing this hellhole begin now... Nothing refined yet, but at least I wasn't bummed and blanked out like before.

Having so many parallel thought streams was great, even if it was sometimes mildly disorientating. Since I have so many, I can spare some to just think randomly and/or remind me of things that skip my mind in the moment.

I paused the notes I had started making to facepalm.

"Oh, right."

I forgot I had to put some charges in Blank.

Without waiting another moment, I dumped one charge in Blank and read the updated description.

—Blank—

Provides immunity to all Thinkers, Masters and Strangers. You're completely invisible or immune to those powers. Thinker powers cannot even work around you.

Cost: 7 charges

I smiled at the description.

So close to my original goal. Just three more charges and I can add Trumps and detection-based Tinkers powers to the list and change immunity to absolute immunity (the distinction mattered but I could do with just normal immunity for today) and be fully at ease around a major variety of powers falling into these categories.

I still needed to keep at least one charge in reserve in case I had a need for it somewhere down the line so I didn't spend it on Blank.

"Now then... How do I do this?"

It'll take time before I can get the complete picture through the brute force scanning and data gathering. Not the best or even efficient strategy but definitely thorough.

Rather than waiting for my simulation to finish and then start acting in this city truly, I decided to go on a trip to the neighboring city.

After all, there was a certain villain with OCD that I had to approach with him being none the wiser.

"I wonder what Boston is like. Hopefully, it's better than Brockton Bay."

I mused as I took out my borrowed smartphone to search for directions to Boston and then, once I had the location, zoomed up from my current position in the sky and took a swift 90 degree turn to fly straight in the direction of my destination.

No time to waste. I had so much to do to deal with Earth Bet and its issues.

As I flew, I wondered if I shouldn't just go and get Fletchette's power while I'm on my way to Boston. After all, New York isn't that far away either. But was it wise to approach the city of one of the triumvirate, and more importantly, one of Cauldran's heads?

The answer I came up with was: It was somewhat risky. But for a power like Sting, it was more than worth whatever risk I'd be taking approaching one of Cauldron's centers of operation. Hey, if luck was with me, I might just be able to grab Legend's powers while I'm at it. Once I had that…

… Okay, I was going into an imaginary rabbit hole of what ifs there. And one that was sounding increasingly tempting to risk. I couldn't help but question my earlier decisions of staying far away from Cauldron. With my current powers and abilities, while I was far from invulnerable or even unbeatable, I was able to hold my own in case things turned pear-shaped. Probably escape too. But not right now. I didn't have all the powers I needed and there was absolutely no need to risk confronting (or even approaching) one of the Big Wigs of Cauldron just to get a strong power.

Instead, it was better to limit myself to just getting a copy of Sting, if I could. How hard would it be to approach Fletchette while she was on one of her patrols and just copy powers. Quick and simple, no interacting, no sticking around to deal with shit. Nothing.

I mean, if I maintained my Phantom Presence, like I was doing even now, was there even a significant enough risk to me?

Yeah, I felt like I could manage that.

But I could leave that thought to one of my parallel streams. As while I was weighting the pros and cons of that idea, I had already reached my destination. Super flight powers were awesome!

I was already 'looking' at the internal radar showing me the location of Parahumans. During my research binge on PHO, I learned of the approximate location of major and important public groups and Accord's Ambassedors were among that list. I mentally recalled the area where they had 'claimed territory' and reached the area with a little help from my smartphone which I realized I'd have to soon either discard or Tinker up to be tracking proof. I most likely gave off a ping when I took it out after doing a quick travel from Brockton Bay to Boster.

Damn it.

Hopefully, no one looked into that… I could hope…

Nah, better be quick. No time to wait and find out that I was wrong.

Finding the building Accord was most likely in was easy once I narrowed the search to his claimed territory. There was only one building where multiple pings were showing and I drifted towards that building.

…

As soon as I felt the powers in my nabbing range, I quickly nabbed them and then skedaddled as my mind was filled with the descriptions of said powers.

That was easy. Too easy, even. Just like the first two times I had done this.

I wanted to laugh. I had some minor worries that I might have to do some manuvering to get what I needed, or that I'd find out that my existence was out, but that hardly took me less than a second to do.

After learning about those powers, I simultaneously applied them and then using the Skill Mastery and Multitasking, learned the ins and outs of the skills I had copied. There were only three capes inside the building but one of them was Accord, my main target. I could wait and get more of their groups or other powers in Boston but it was kinda pointless and time wasting right now.

Firstly, there was what I could guess as Cintrin's power.

—Attunement—

Allows the user to finely tune and alter environmental properties within a small area, including but not limited to gravity, temperature, friction, light intensity, and time progression. The user can attune the area to specific functions such as neutralizing, destabilizing, or amplifying parahuman abilities. This includes negating defensive powers or causing uncontrollable feedback loops in offensive abilities.

Additionally, the user may apply minor adjustments like waterproofing or altering sensory perception within their range. Targets affected by the power perceive the area with a washed-out yellow hue.

---

I hadn't given it much thought before, but this power had the potential to be utterly broken. It was literally "reality manipulation" with added power-nullifying properties. Well, most powers were reality manipulation in some way, but that wasn't the point. The point was, this specifically mentioned it 'altered reality' in its description.

Too bad it was a somewhat time consuming process at the moment, even with my instant mastery of it, to get it to work to a level that was impressive. In a real fight, one where beings like Alexandria, Legend, Eidolon, Leviathan and Simurgh were my enemy, I'd not have the time to deploy this before they'd punt me or escape my range of effect. For most others though, including most minor and street level powers, this was an effective power. In my hands, it was even more so as I was especially good at learning the ins and outs of powers in my range. But still, I could more easily disable or take away the powers of people instead of nullifying the effects of their powers using this skill. Oh well, once again, better to have it and not need it and jazz.

I'd want to create a true Reality Manipulation power with this and some others as a basis but that was in the same category as True Space/Time Manipulation. Something that'd require atleast a few days of charges.

—Mirror Walk—

The user possesses a "mirror self," a companion existing in a parallel mirror world that mirrors the environment of the real world. This companion can gather intelligence while remaining undetectable, as its passage does not disturb the normal world. However, it cannot pass through barriers that exist in its mirrored plane.

The user can swap places with their mirror self, creating an effect akin to teleportation. Additionally, the user can control the interaction of their mirror self with the real world, allowing it to attack with shallow cuts while remaining intangible and invisible. This ability requires focus and concentration.

The sensory connection to the mirror self is resistant to certain perception-blocking powers and potentially other similar effects.

---

If my knowledge served me right, this was Othello's power. I could make a duplicate of myself that'd reside in a 'Mirror world.' I could immediately see some uses, but honestly, a lot of it I could already re-create with my current power sets. It didn't offer me much. I still applied it to myself and created a Mirror copy to reside in the Mirror World in case I needed a quick teleport out of a situation.

Finally, there was the main dish. The one I was here for in the first place.

—Architect—

The user's intelligence scales with the size and complexity of the problem they are addressing, enabling them to devise near-perfect solutions to intricate challenges. This power provides real-time estimates, information, and projections to streamline decision-making, allowing for quick resolution of vast, multifaceted issues. This includes tactical applications such as planning direct confrontations, orchestrating ambushes, and designing intricate social and physical traps.

However, the user's strategies are vulnerable to interference by other Thinker abilities, potentially creating blind spots in their otherwise flawless plans.

The user also possesses a minor natural aptitude for creating aesthetically harmonious objects with interlocking parts. These creations, such as custom costumes, masks, and self-adjusting furniture, adhere strictly to mundane physical principles and do not involve Tinker-based technology.

---

If I didn't have parallel thought streams to offload an influx of information, I think I would have likely felt a sense of vertigo and momentarily lose my stable position in the air as the copied and applied Architect power instantly went into overdrive, finding the best solution to my current problems.

It proved its worth immediately as my other thought stream running around in Coil's power's simulation stopped the brute force scan and instead waited for the much more systematic and efficient approach to the problem of data gathering. My estimate for it requiring at least 2 days to finish scanning the entire city had suddenly decreased to mere 5 hours of targeted scanning and data gathering and it was going down further as my newly gaining Planning power optimized the process further.

As that happened in my mental background, I flew past the borders of Boston towards my final destination for the day.

New York.

It was time I nabbed the ultimate offensive power, before anyone else gets a clue of my existence, powers and goals.

And then… and then I would act.

-x-