Power Fantasy

by Scottie Futch

  Trait EXP: 1492

  Waifu EXP: 6417

  World EXP: 12432

  DYNAMIC ATTRIBUTES

  Hit Points: 600/600

  Energy: 240/240

  STATUS ATTRIBUTES

  Strength: 14 (18)

  +Endurance: 16 (24)

  Agility: 11 (13)

  Mind: 11

  Spirit: 12(18)

  Luck: 11

  TRAITS

  Cool Under Pressure

  COSTUME TRAITS

  Unwavering Spirit

  Powerful Frame

  SKILLS

  Itemization [0]

  Identification

  Edged Weapon Mastery [5]

  Wilderness Survival [0]

  Camping [0]

  Mining [0]

  Negotiation [0]

  Thievery [0]

  Weight Training [Max]

  COSTUME SKILLS

  Rage

  Shout

  Frost Resistance

  Weapon Appraisal

  Axe Mastery

  Sword Mastery

  Hammer Mastery

  Spear Mastery

  Everything was moving right along as far as he was concerned! A decent amount of points. His stats were improving. Soon he would be able to complete his mission in Nowhere. That alone was exciting as he had no idea what to expect there.

  However, there was one thing far more exciting to him at that moment. Scott walked over to the system monitor and selected the option to open a gate to a new world. The system instructed him that basic entry would require ten thousand world points. An additional fee would be charged if he wished for a special entry style.

  Scott considered his options carefully. There were several places that he wanted to visit, but if the truth were to be told he needed a place that had a lot of potential while being super chill most of the time. Sexy waifus would be a plus!

  “Don’t want to have to deal with a passive aggressive douche protagonist…” Scott did not know if there was a special reason that Tosh hated him enforced by the system, or if he was just being a douche. Regardless, he did not want to have to deal with that in every world.

  “Well… there’s one place that comes to mind…” Scott asked the system if it could find a world similar to the one that he had considered. It readily found several thousand that reasonably matched his criteria. He then asked it to refine its search by adding to that list of requirements. Slowly, he whittled it down to a much smaller set of possible worlds. He could only use the system to go to one world of a specific parody setting, so it was an important decision!

  “Now, how does that special entry method work?” he asked.

  Surprisingly, the monitor responded with an answer for once. There was a random option, which was the free default method. Whenever he entered a new world, a backstory would be crafted for him. This had happened even in Nowhere, and even in the apocalypse, but he had no idea what that backstory might be for either of those places. He knew he was a student at the private college in the apocalypse, and that was about it.

  “If I go in random, I could end up with anything. Might even be a sex offender or something,” mumbled Scott. Most options would cost several thousand world points. He could enter as a rich noble, or even as a new side character attached to the main cast.

  There was one option that was quite affordable in comparison. Self-insertion was only one thousand points. His backstory would be his actual backstory. He would be inserted prior to the start of the story, and the method of entry would vary according to the world-setting.

  Scott made his selection then nodded. “Guess it won’t hurt to go see what this new world is all about.”

  He tried to enter the newly purchased world then frowned. “Ineligible? How the hell…”

  His question was answered by the system monitor. A message appeared on screen.

  Ineligible World Entry Status

  Some worlds have special requirements that must be met before entry is allowed. In this instance, you are required to have the Trait [Beautiful World Traveler] and the skill [BWT - Adventurer]. Opening a route to this world grants this trait and skill automatically. However, you do not have a free skill or trait slot currently available.

  “The shit? What do you mean skill and trait slots?” He was certain that this was the first that he had heard about those sorts of limitations.

  Trait Slots

  You may acquire as many traits as you can discover. However, you are granted a maximum of one trait slot prior to level one hundred. Upon reaching level one hundred you will gain three additional trait slots. Additional trait slots must be purchased from the system at the cost of world points.

  This limitation does not include costume related traits, or special traits granted through skills and abilities.

  Warning: The System function – [Trait Rotation] is currently locked. Please complete Episode 1 to unlock it.

  You now have now acquired the [Beautiful World Traveler] trait.

  Skill Slots

  You may acquire as many skills as you can discover. However, you are granted a maximum of nine skill slots prior to reaching mind attribute status: [40].

  Upon reaching mind attribute status: [40] you will receive another skill slot. Additional skill slots will be available at the attribute status totals of [70] and [100]. Any further skill slots must be purchased through the system for world points.

  This limitation does not include costume related traits, or special traits granted through skills and abilities.

  Warning: The System function – [Skill Rotation] is currently locked. Please complete Episode 1 to unlock it.

  - You now have acquired the [BWT - Adventurer] Skill.

  “So…. I have to complete episode one?” He was not certain what that meant, but after he fiddled with the monitor for a few minutes, he discovered something interesting. Episode One of his current storyline was tied to Nowhere. He needed to finish his first mission there. His survival and growth period on Nowhere was the so-called Episode One.

  “So, all I have to do now is reach level one hundred or survive another two weeks there?” It was a bit of a letdown that he could not run off to the world of his choice at the moment, but it made sense. He did need to finish a few tasks before he could try to enjoy living his life elsewhere. He checked to see what that new trait and skill were all about.

  Beautiful World Traveler

  You have traveled to multiple worlds and have become a natural at it! This trait allows you to fully synchronize your universal system with a dedicated local system. While you natively possess a similar ability, this trait further refines that process for maximum effect and allows the modification skill [BWT - Adventurer] to function.

  This trait keeps track of your total ‘class’ level. If you choose to change the Adventurer skill into a different class skill supplied by the system of the associated world, you will not begin that class at level one. Your previous class level will carry over, but your new benefits and restrictions will not be retroactive. If you wish to make use of advanced class features from the associated world, consider changing careers as soon as possible.

  Warning: This trait conflicts with the costume system. Costumes will be unavailable while this trait is active.

  Class Level: 0 (Unequipped)

  “Ah. A pre-requisite trait… I remember seeing something about some skills or traits needing something to work properly…” He also already possessed a costume skill that conflicted with a trait, so this was not entirely new. His Rage skill and the Cool Under Pressure trait conflicted with each other.

  BWT - Adventurer

  You have been around the block and know a thing or three! This skill is a special type of skill known as a [Class Skill]. It mimics a specific type of class found in the world of its origin. This skill allows you to learn the skills of any class by using your native skill points instead of the in-world system. You will also acquire additional attribute points based on the level of this skill.


  - In a world where skill points or something similar are used natively to acquire skills, you may use this skill to acquire any skill regardless of normal in-world restrictions. The cost of the skill to be learned will be multiplied by [4000] points. If a skill requires a pre-requisite skill, you will still need to learn the pre-requisite skill first.

  - You may complete quests and defeat opponents to gain skill experience which will increase the level of this skill.

  - You will not acquire skill points in the normal manner. Each time you increase the level of this skill, you will acquire a random amount of skill points between one and two thousand skill points.

  - Each time you achieve a new level in this skill you will receive one random attribute point increase.

  - This skill will not work if you have a costume equipped. Mastered skills are not restricted by this facet of the skill.

  - Skill points, skills, and attribute points earned through this skill remain even if the skill is not equipped. However, all other effects will not be in play when this skill is inactive.

  - This skill will not work in conjunction with another class skill from its world of origin.

  “I see,” said Scott.

  He fiddled with the monitor a little then nodded to himself. “So, there are multiple paths I can take in this new life of mine. If I like costumes, stick with those. If I would rather use class skills, I can do that.”

  Given what he had learned, he also realized that he could master a costume then put that in his master skill slot to get the same abilities as his costume without wearing it. So, there was already a method to combine powers in place, he just needed to get to that point.

  “Tailored to what I would want in an adventure…” he said softly. Scott reminisced for a moment over what he could recall from his first few hours in this crazy new life that he led. It was not some death game, but an adventure that he would want to experience.

  Scott was a peculiar sort of person. He loved games, but his favorite part of role-playing games was usually the lower levels when he could feel a quick rush to power. This life did tailor itself to that part. It seemed that he would have to make choices on the types of skills that he carried around, and in so doing would need to temporarily lock himself into builds. It made everything so much more tactical, and honestly, it sounded like it would be a lot more fun than having to be forced down one path or another.

  “I can do anything I want…” he said softly. “What do I want?”

  There were so many choices ahead of him that it was almost frightening. Would he become some world-hopping hero? Would he become an interdimensional emperor? Perhaps he would just skip around and try to pick up hot anime babes? There was no directive, no forced plotline. Even the plotline he engaged in at the moment was something he chose for himself.

  As far as he was concerned, he was pretty much done with the apocalypse. Once he got the group to a reasonably safe place and figured out who would choose to be his waifu and who would not, that place would be relegated to a hunting ground and a means to acquire modern goods. There were many other places that he wanted to visit, and some rotten ass zombie world was not one he intended to live in for long. Hell, there were better zombie words to visit! All he needed to do was to dumpster dive into reality and find one based on a game.

  “How much longer? A week? A month?” Scott did not think it would take even that long to find a place for survivors in that world. So far, the only special infected that he had seen were the big guys. It was possible that they were the highest form that the zombies might take given that it was not a world that normally had special infected at all. If that were the case, the threat level of that world was already beginning to be below his needs. Hundreds of zombies needed to die to boost his stat bonus by a small margin.

  He could, with extreme caution and a healthy respect for his opponent, solo one of the big bastards. The right equipment was necessary as well, of course. Even so, outside of military personal and assholes with guns, the only real threat there were those big guys. They were also in possession of the only loot worth having for the most part.

  “It’s a lot to think about,” said Scott thoughtfully. “If not for the group, I would merrily fuck right off out of there except for loot runs.”

  Scott spent quite some time staring at the monitor. Did he go back to the apocalypse, or did he go work on his remaining mission time on Nowhere?

  There was no rush. He had all the time in the world to make his decision.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Scott returned to the apocalypse. He would not be able to train properly until he knew the status of the others. Did they make it to the police station? Were they rescued? Were they trapped somewhere? He knew that he would find no sense of peace until he discovered the truth. At this point he hoped that none of them had been hurt, or worse. Being separated from them was nerve-wracking.

  He took a quick look around the compound while Saiko continued to sleep the sleep of the thoroughly blissful. She’d had a big night and needed her rest.

  There was a little tower near the shrine that he used as a look out station. From what he could tell, there were a few zombies nearby, but they were mostly scattered and thoroughly drenched. The heavy rainstorm the night before had no doubt taken its toll on the zombie population. They obviously would not get sick, but there were probably many of them that had been disoriented by the thunder and wandered off from their hordes.

  “This could be our chance,” he whispered.

  However, he did notice something unsettling. In several neighboring parts of town, there seemed to be little to no electricity. There was power at the shrine, and water, so the nuke had probably not gone off. That left the fact that infrastructure was decaying. “Storm probably knocked it out. Definitely won’t be seeing a road crew out there fixing it, either.”

  “At least most of the fires are out now,” he muttered. The city had been burning in places for quite some time. Being mostly concrete and steel in the parts of town most heavily afflicted by that burden, the fire had not spread beyond a few buildings here and there. Several cars had also caught fire for various reasons.

  Scott searched the area for useful goods. Though there was plenty of stuff to be found, most of it was not that interesting. He did invest a small bit of time in cooking breakfast for his sleeping waifu-to-be.

  The scent of breakfast caught her attention. Saiko walked out of the bedroom, naked as the day she was born, and yawned expansively. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes then sniffed the air like a cat.

  She followed her nose and soon found her way to her breakfast. Toast, orange juice, and fried eggs. There was also cereal and milk.

  “Good morning…” she said sleepily.

  “Morning,” said Scott. “Breakfast is ready.”

  “I see that!” she replied cheerfully.

  Saiko took a seat at the table and was served her breakfast. She eyed the fork that he handed her carefully for a moment.

  “Prefer chopsticks?” he asked her.

  “Typically, but that’s not why I’m looking at it,” she said with a smile.

  “Oh?” he asked in kind.

  “Yes. I was wondering where this shrine kept forks. It wouldn’t seem to be something they would have here,” she said.

  Scott shrugged. “There’s a whole drawer full of proper silverware near the stove.”

  “Proper, you say?” she asked him with a coy smile.

  “If nature intended me to eat with two sticks, it wouldn’t have invented a miniature trident for me to impale things with,” said Scott lightly. He then stabbed a piece of his egg with his fork and lifted it up triumphantly.

  “Pfft!” she said in a giddy tone.

  Saiko awkwardly attempted to use her fork as she had seen him use it then made a grunting noise. Scott slid a set of chopsticks over to her while also offering a grin.

  She took the chopsticks and offered him a look. He offered her a counter-look an
d a knowing nod of the head.

  The chopsticks were placed back down on the table and she took up her fork once more. She would not back down from a challenge.

  While she struggled to impale her breakfast, Scott picked up her chopsticks and struggled to eat his eggs. It was only fair. Though, admittedly she had a much easier time learning to stab with a fork.

  She saw him lose his egg bit a few times then tried her best not to laugh. He merely grinned at her and tried again. At least he was technically holding them right. He’d learned that much from random Internet searches. After all.

  Soon she was eating like a pro. He had resorted to dragging his entire egg onto one of his pieces of toast, thus turning his breakfast into a fried egg sandwich.

  He waggled his eyes at her charismatically then began to eat his egg sandwich while she laughed at shook her head. “Aw. Good for you.”