Bab 19: Upgrades #19
Now, you might be scratching your head, wondering where on earth I accumulated all those points. Well, the answer is as simple as it gets – the emotional rollercoaster that was Jean-Paul Valley during our little tête-à-tête.
The guy was a genuine emotional masterpiece, and the points started rolling in as he navigated the tumultuous sea of feelings our encounter stirred within him.
Now, Valley, he wasn't just your run-of-the-mill guy. Batman once mentioned something along the lines of, "If Azrael could keep his emotions in check, he might outshine me in the fighting and detective department."
Okay, those weren't the Dark Knight's exact words, but you catch the drift. Valley's emotional gymnastics were like a goldmine for my points collection. They were that potent.
Batman himself, on the other hand, contributed zilch. Though I made a joke about him reevaluating his bat-life choices, he was, in fact, unfazed – neither impressed nor bothered by me or Rattigan.
It was a peculiar mix of amusing and slightly offensive to me. I was offended because apparently, the Caped Crusader didn't see me as a significant enough threat to warrant extra caution – like, come on, a little paranoia wouldn't hurt. On the flip side, it was oddly reassuring not to have Batman's brooding presence breathing down my neck.
Alright, let's dive back into the world of upgrades and my grand plans. I had initially dreamt of saving up my hard-earned points to purchase a permanent mental shield – you know, to fend off those nosy telepaths trying to sneak into my head.
It seemed like a solid plan until Gotham happened. A near-death experience later, and I was seriously reconsidering my life choices. If I got into another similar altercation, there wouldn't be much of my brain left for a telepath to probe anyway.
My knee-jerk reaction was to go all out and snag a flashy offensive power. Lightning shooting from my fingertips or lasers beaming out of my eyes – classic superhero stuff. But reality kicked in, and I dismissed the idea faster than a bad movie.
Sure, those powers were on the menu, but they came with a hefty price tag. Plus, they wouldn't do much to shield me from surprise attacks, like, say, an unexpected missile to the face.
So, I shifted gears and contemplated a healing factor. I mean, who wouldn't want to channel their inner Wolverine? The dream was grand, but the budget, not so much.
The cost of a regenerative power that could patch me up after a missile collision was astronomically high. Wallet, meet reality check – I wouldn't be affording that luxury anytime soon.
But enough about my failed superhero daydreams. I needed something practical, something that would keep me in one piece during unforeseen calamities.
After some contemplation and much browsing on fiddling, I finally found something that would do the job.
[Guardian Veil: This nifty passive shield doesn't bother activating for everyday inconveniences like rain or a slight breeze. No, it's got better things to do. When danger rears its ugly head, the Guardian Veil materializes faster than you can say 'superhero landing.' Whether it's a stray missile, a sniper bullet, or an overzealous pigeon, this shield's got you covered]
"Stray missiles, eh...?" I muttered, letting out a sigh of annoyance. The system, true to form, wasted no time in poking fun at my recent misadventure. Nevertheless, the Guardian Veil seemed tailor-made for my needs. Now, all that was left to do was check the price.
"Huh... just 500 points...?" I expressed my genuine surprise at the cost. While it was still a bit hefty for my current point balance, it felt like a steal considering the potential usefulness of this power.
I pondered for a moment, wondering why it was so affordable, but quickly shook away the stray thoughts. Not one to question a good deal, I swiftly purchased the Guardian Veil before the system had a chance to change its mind. The result? Well, I didn't feel any different.
"Hmm..." I hummed thoughtfully, scanning the room, my eyes eventually landing on Rattigan, who seemed on the verge of falling asleep.
The impulse to test out my new power alongside the intrusive thoughts got the better of me, and I found myself standing up, approaching the cheeky rodent with a grin on my face.
With a flick of my ring finger, I tapped him on the nose. Rattigan recoiled, shooting me a glare, and in the blink of an eye, he lunged at my finger with his mouth wide open.
I winced and turned away, fully expecting Rattigan's tiny teeth to sink into my flesh. But to my surprise, no pain followed. When I looked back, the cheeky rodent had his mouth around the tip of my finger, teeth halted just a hair's breadth away as if an invisible force shielded me. Well, color me impressed!
"Haha! I'm finally rat-proof! No longer shall I fear--" I began, only to pause abruptly as Rattigan, undeterred, opened his mouth wide for another bite. This time, however, there was a distinct sound of glass shattering as his teeth sank into my finger, introducing me to a symphony of pain that echoed through my nervous system.
"Ouch! Alright, alright! I'm sorry!" I yelped, desperately trying to pry Rattigan off my now-sensitive finger. After what felt like an eternity (but was probably just a few seconds), he relented.
Jumping away, he landed on the bed, casting me a haughty look before sauntering back to his improvised throne. Meanwhile, I was left nursing my finger and contemplating the quirks of my newfound, apparently imperfect, rat-proof status.
Oh, the cosmic irony of it all. Rattigan's teeth, the tiny troublemakers that they were, managed to break through a barrier touted to stop missiles. Who knew our little rodent buddy had such celestial chompers beneath that unassuming exterior?
It's either that or that the system's exaggerating, and I've been punked by a digital scam, which was unlikely since the system delivered everything its item descriptions promised so far.
Flopping onto my bed, I pulled up the system again and eyed the measly 190 points left. Feels like I'm back to square one, reminiscing about the golden days of the tutorial quest. Not that it was eons ago—it's barely been a blip on the timeline.
Anyway, I shrugged off the nostalgia and ventured into the daily deals tab, and surprise, surprise, there was something that seemed useful, unlike that elixir or rambunctious laughter, or whatever it was called.
[Dreadbane Pendant: the ultimate fashion accessory for those who want to turn heads and make a lasting impression! Wearing this stylish amulet won't just make you the talk of the town; it will have townsfolk talking about relocating!
With its cutting-edge, edgy design and a touch of otherworldly magic, this pendant ensures that your attempts at intimidation will be met with gasps, widened eyes, and maybe a few involuntary shivers for the recipients, making them see you as their worst nightmares!]
After a moment's contemplation, I decided to pull the trigger on the Dreadbane Pendant. In the blink of an eye, there it was, a palm-sized circular slab with a small, cracked skull hanging from it, suspended by a black string. The skull itself was unsettling, its empty eye sockets seemingly shrouded in an ominous black fog that sent a shiver down my spine.
Despite being a bit tight on points at the moment and needing to save up for some offensive firepower, I couldn't resist the allure of this pendant. It matched my skill set perfectly, aligning with the need to talk my way in and out of sticky situations.
Given the circumstances of my transmigration and the peculiar nature of the system, it made sense to invest more in the art of persuasion for the time being.
Reflecting on it, focusing on my conversational prowess seemed like a prudent choice. After all, I was still a novice when it came to combat. Even if I splurged on flashy and powerful abilities, I doubted my ability to wield them effectively at this point.
Sometimes, it's better to work with what you know, which is using my big mouth on my enemies. God, that sounds so wrong. Forget I said that at once! Stop taking screenshots!
Anyway, with my shopping spree concluded, I had nothing more to do, and it was time to hit the hay. After all, I have yet another busy day ahead of me tomorrow.
...
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-- Peringkat
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