Gula Invidia: Black Market (VI): Preparing To Cause A Scene

  --- Booker H. Freeman ---

  “So, uh, is there a reason we’re collecting railroad spikes?” Lydia asked him, bag in her arms as he dropped another spike into it.

  “Hmm, well…” He reached down and removed another spike, before tossing it up and down in his hand. “They’re surprisingly useful tools, when you know how to use them.”

  (Sloth: Pretty sure if you mention what we used them for you’ll scare her off.)

  (Lust: Oh, that won’t do.)

  (Wrath: Then allow me to list the more palatable uses of such a fine tool…)

  “First off,” He caught the nail and wrapped his fist around it. “They can give your punches more weight to them.” He slid the nail in his grip slightly. “Or you can use them as a bludgeon of sorts on harder materials.” He spun the metal in his hand so that sharp point was away from him. “The point can also make for a fair dagger in an emergency.”

  (Wrath: Though in the later cases it’d be better if they were a bit longer.)

  “So you’re collecting them as… weapons?” Lydia (hideously) frowned in confusion.

  “Quite, right.” He grinned, hoping she’d mimic the expression.

  Instead she asked him, “Then why do you need so many?”

  (Wrath: How about we try something… entertaining for the child?)

  (Lust: Ooh, ooh, show off! I insist! You must!)

  With a smile he quickly threw the railroad spike towards the nearby brick work, partially lodging it inside of the stone. He then shot forward before slamming his fist into the spike, driving it even deeper into brickwork. Deep enough in fact that, (I don’t think I’ll be able to retrieve this one.)

  He could almost swear he could hear a clapping sound inside of his head as he examined the cracks that had spread out from the point of impact.

  (Lust: Ooh, well done! And you left such a beautiful signature upon the wall!)

  (Wrath: If these weren’t of such cheap material I likely could do more with them, but… it is what it is I suppose.)

  He turned away from the cracks and back towards his young companion. “As you can see, depending on how you use them, you can go through quite a few of these little darlings surprisingly quickly.”

  “Uh, yeah…” Lydia nodded, her wide eyes on the hole the spike had gone through.

  “Knowing that little fact, my current shortage of supplies, and how many foes I’m likely to face during our coming endeavor I felt that it was best to prepare at least a little for the coming battle.” He explained, as he collected another spike from the ground. “That said… There’s only so many we can carry, and so many we can take before they’re missed.”

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  The question of whether or not the people doing the missing could actually do anything to him -(Pride: They can’t.)- was an entirely separate matter.

  (Envy: How about instead of risking derailing a train we remember how to use our magic in combat?)

  (A valid course of action.) He admitted, putting away the spike he had in hand and taking the Bone Charm in hand. Something that he knew immediately caught Lydia’s notice.

  The girl didn’t say anything but he could see the desire in her eyes as they stayed locked onto the charm, clearly wanting to know its many secrets.

  (Envy: Secrets that we need to re-discover for ourselves.)

  (Pride: What fun!)

  Much like he had earlier in the day he began to pull on the magic stored within his very bones, draw out through his blood, and push it into the charm, sending black electricity dancing across its surface.

  (Envy: Yes… Now feel the power, pull it out of the charm and into your hand…)

  He placed a hand over the charm, his fingers half curled towards it as if physically plucking the magic stored within.

  (Envy: No.) The voice in his head chided. (Don’t simply reach out for it. Don’t expect it to simply do what you ask, what you think it should. No!)

  He could feel the power beginning to flow around him, the building power dancing across his skin.

  (Envy: Magic is a malicious mistress. She may do what you ask if you beg and plead, but she will never respect you unless you dEManD it. You will it so thoroughly that reality itself bends the knee, because your will shall not be denied!)

  A manic grin began to twist onto his face as his very shadow seemed to come alive, growing in the light cast by the eclectic claws digging into his flesh, seeking both bone and blood.

  (Envy: No! You shall not simply lie there and take it as the world puts its boot on your neck! No! You’ll buck and fight, throw it from your corpse, and stand your ground even as reality itself demands you give into its will! And will make it pay for every filthy indignity it has forced upon us!)

  He reached out and grasped the magic by its throat, before ripping it out of the charm and holding the dark power in his hand. Holding it in place even as it fought tooth and nail to escape his tightening grip, a smile on his face as he reversed their places made it bow to his cruel whims rather than being but a slave to its power.

  With a mad gleam to his eyes he threw the magic out, knowing that it would obey him or else. And the bolt struck the wall leaving a black burn across the wall.

  (Envy: Is that all you have?)

  (No.)

  He continued to draw on the magic gathered on the charm, sculpting it and casting it out again and again in a variety of shapes and patterns. Quick bolts, bolts strong enough to shatter steel, and even a constant stream of the dark magic, eating away at the brickwork.

  Again and again he cast, slinging it around until he didn’t even need the charm to draw the magic to him, even if it took even more will to drag the magic to him. But even then, reality was not enough to deny him the power to make the world pay.

  When the brick wall was covered in scorch marks far and wide, he found himself taking a deep breath before letting it out through a satisfied smile.

  Turning around he found that a small crowd of the market goers had gathered to watch him, but he ultimately decided they weren’t worth his time. Instead he focused on his young companion watching him with wide eyes, before offering her the charm.

  “Care to take a try, my dear?”

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  Actions And Consequences

  Booker has gained [Railroad Spikes] as a temporary weapon.

  Railroad Spikes

  -Booker Only.

  +1 Wrath: Such a useful little tool~

  +While equipped [Hand And Claw] gains Wrath as a bonus modifier.

  +While equipped gain [Spike Throw] as a temporary ability.

  Spike Throw

  Damage Type: Ranged-Pierce

  Attack Type: Quick Action

  -Drive It In: If the next attack this Turn is Blunt, it gains Pierce Damage and is guaranteed to Crit.

  -If this ability Crit Fails, destroy [Railroad Spikes].

  Thanks to efforts, Booker has permanently learned [Shadow Bolt] and will be able to use it even without [Bone Charm] equipped.

  -With Bone Charm equipped, Shadow Bolt can change its Attack Type between [Charged], [Multi-Hit], [Continuous], and [Quick Action].

  For Reference

  Charged: Powerful one/two hit attacks. Higher Crit Power. (Weak To Dodge)

  Multi-Hit: Deals normal damage and can crit each hit, but each hit is contested. (Weak To Parry/Block)

  Continuous: Deals a large number of weak hits, each capable of critting. (Weak To Clash)

  Quick Action: Depending on Combat Tempo this ability does not consume an Action. (1~2 times each Turn, no damage or slight damage.)

  What will you do with the Bone Charm? (Entering Fight Club Next Chapter)