Cutscene: Ssssssmokin'
– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –
Monday
April 11, 2011
4:49
Greg focused on his breathing, going over the same mantra he used while meditating.
In and out. In and out.
The basement was as cold as it usually was, April weather not being the warmest in New England, even during Spring. Yet, even then, Greg barely felt it, his hands brimming with a deep warmth.
"Firebending comes from the breath," Greg muttered to himself, closing his eyes as he held his palms out in front of his bare chest focusing on the warmth that had he had been slowly and carefully nurturing in his palms for the last fifteen minutes. Meditation had been how he had broken through from Minor to Basic Aerokinesis. Since he'd obtained Pyrokinesis at the Basic level from the start, Greg could only assume that the principle that had let him make that breakthrough was the same no matter what element he manipulated.
In and out. In and out.
"It's not the fire I manipulate. It's the mana I put into the fire..." Greg breathed, focusing on the small flame burning brightly in front of him, held between his palms.
Eyes closed, he could still feel the presence of the air around him, and the fire before him. It was raw energy, power and life burning brightly. Even with his eyes closed, he could almost see it in his mind's eye. He could feel the Mana around him in the breeze, and the Mana that was in the flame in front of him. The fire flickered, so Greg stilled the breeze, feeding the fire with a constant trickle of aerokinesis.
In and out. In and out.
The fire flickered with his breath.
In. Out. In. Out.
It flickered with his life, growing ever so slightly with each moment.
For the first time, Greg flared his mana and the flame roared.
Greg opened his eyes, blinking as he saw the flame had risen in height, growing over a foot long and straight as an arrow, pointed out from his palms. The flames were only partially dispersed by the barrier of cool air Greg kept tight over his skin, convection wafting the heat back onto him while the barrier did its best to prevent his skin from burning.
Basic Pyrokinesis Level Up!
1→2
Given his mom was a trauma nurse, Greg was sure that she would be familiar with how it smelled. Granted, she was fast asleep but burnr human flesh had a certain smell to it, a smell that was quite distinctive. Hell, he was familiar with how it smelled and it took an entire bottle of air freshener to wipe out that distinctive scent from the house when he entered this morning.
Kinda like a mix of pork and beef but not quite, if Greg had to put a descriptor on the aroma. It was really kinda gross when he thought about it, even grosser when he found out that people basically tasted like pork. Uggh… never again. Never.
The blond let out another breath and frowned as he brought his thoughts back to the matter at hand, tilting his head as he looked at the flame in front of him. His tongue drifted from the confines of his mouth, moving to the side of his lips as he focused carefully on his next action. The lance of flames turned in on itself, the sharp point curving backwards until the entire thing condensed into a roiling ball of flames, just slightly smaller than a basketball.
Greg let out a slight groan of annoyance as he tried to focus, compressing the sphere even further to get it under control. The way the sphere seemed to fight his attempts to control it, tongues of flame spurting out every time his control slipped… it was a little scary.
Fire was very different from air when it came to this type of control, Greg had soon realized. Fire was… dangerous in a way that air just couldn’t match. Well, duh, Greg thought to himself with a roll of his eyes. That was kinda why it was fire. Yeesh, maybe I should change my cape name from Prodigy to Captain Obvious.
Still, incredibly obvious or not, it still rang true. Fire was scary and controlling it wasn’t quite as easy as Greg thought it would be. The flames fed on the air, growing despite his wishes unless he purposely restricted the blaze from expanding past it’s current limits. It was almost like holding a leash, really. A leash holding back an eager, dangerous dog.
His nostrils flared as Greg flexed his muscles, sweat beginning to pour down his bare chest as he focused on his next action. Letting out another breath, Greg slowly let his palms spread apart, moving further and further away until the straining ball of fire remained aloft in the air with nothing holding it back.
This was another strong distinction between fire and wind Greg had noticed. While it was far, far, easier to shape air, whatever form he gave the breeze quickly dispersed into nothing once it left him, even when he focused tightly on it. Fire, on the other hand, remained in the shape for far longer, even despite its innate attempts to grow past the limits Greg gave it.
Shifting his mana, Greg moved one hand up and splayed his fingers outward slowly.
At his subtle direction, the fire danced, spreading out from the ball into the shape of a woman's fan, elegantly on display. Then the flame twisted, coiling upon itself as it undulated with Greg’s own movement.
In and out. In and out.
The writhing flame spat sparks out, powerful and hungry as it threatened to lash out beyond Greg's control. Still, Greg held tight, a grin growing on his face as he continued to move his arms. After all, he had some experience moving the air to his whim, and the wind was a far more fickle force than any hungry flame.
In and out. In and out.
A tongue of flame stretched out from the sphere, slowly coiling round and round in the air as Greg undulated his arms, performing a wave-like movement as he rolled his shoulders. A flare of flame burst from the long tendril sparking at the tip as the ball became a dancing eastern dragon, the now-stable flare it’s head as it flew in the air around him with it’s long snake-like body.
Basic Pyrokinesis Level Up!
2→3
In. Out. In. Out.
The dragon twisted and turned, ducking in and out, as Greg practiced his control and precision, twisting his body with the dragon's as it moved. While the heat from Greg's creation was relatively low, nothing compared to even the lightest of Lung's flames that he could recall. Despite all that, it was enough to warm his body, forcing sweat from his pores as he moved to a rhythm that he made in his head. Through all this, he construct flowed effortlessly as it followed his body, the colors of the flame flickering between yellow and orange.
Greg spun and the dragon followed, twirling over and over around his head as it's long body made a path around the basement, just barely touching the walls. It's tail flickered, sparks flying upon some magazines on a worktable near the stairs.
Shit!Shit!Shit! Greg blinked, eyes widening as the magazines suddenly burst into a blaze upon the wooden table and he tightened his hold on the fire construct once more, forcing it to curl back in on itself as he kept one eye on the slowly blackening magazines.
"Greg? Sweetie?" A slightly sleepy voice called for him and Greg's eyes widened further, instinctively loosening his grip on the semi-controlled sphere of flames. Without his grip on it, it rushed forward in a burst of flames.
Greg threw out his hands to recover his focus, pulling all the flame from the erupting sphere and the burning magazines into a single ball of fulminous energy that nearly roared under his control. The ball shrank as he drew it back into himself and held it between his hands before snuffing it out with a powerful clap.
Furiously cycling his hands, a horizontal tunnel of wind formed around the table's surface knocking loose papers to the ground and containing the smoke in a funnel. Breathing somewhat heavily as he continued his attempts to prevent the smell of smoke from leaving the basement, Greg gulped down a mouth full of nervous saliva as he called back upstairs, "Yes, Mom?"
"What are you doing in the basement?"
Greg blanched slightly but kept his hands moving. "Oh... uhh, I was feeling a little better so I decided to… uhhh," he glanced around the basement, his gaze landing on some exercise equipment, "get on the treadmill for a bit."
"The treadmill? That's... huh." Greg blinked at the odd tone in his mom's voice, wondering why she sounded a little off there, almost as if she was disappointed or something? "It's good that you're feeling better, at least."
"Yeah," Greg called back, "It's all thanks to the food you made me this morning. Really gave me my energy back."
"That's nice, sweetie. Oh, and speaking of food, did you order us anything to eat?" Her voice called out rather faintly. Greg blinked, letting out a slightly relieved sigh as he realized that she was still on the stairs, still a good distance away from the basement as he began to pull the still spinning wind funnel towards him, the smoke thick and gray inside the translucent construct.
Greg winced as he realized what she had asked, realizing his mother had asked him to order some food several hours ago. "No, Mom, I… uhhh… I couldn't find your card and… uhh," Greg wracked his brain for something to say, "I knew you were tired so I didn't want to wake you up!" he added loudly.
"Way better than saying I forgot," Greg muttered under his breath. His hands began to move slower now, cycling around each other much in a semi-circle as Greg copied the same technique he started with the fireball, compressing the wind into a dense sphere.
"Aww, that's so sweet, honey. Don't worry about it," his mom responded. "I'll take care of it. You want Chinese or pizza?"
"Chinese sounds great, mom!"
A relieved sigh left Greg's lips as he heard his mom's footsteps heading up the stairs. With an errant push, he sent the ball of slowly spinning air into a corner of the basement, the wind dissipating the smoke against the wall.
"Before learning firebending you must learn water and earth. Water is cool and soothing, earth is steady and stable, but fire... Fire is alive, it breathes, it grows," Greg muttered to himself as he began to walk upstairs, remembering another line from that same show.
He seemed to muddle over the words for few seconds, hand to his chin only to shake his head a moment later. The blond scoffed as he paused on the last few steps before the basement door, running a hand through his sweat-soaked hair. He raised his other hand in front of him thoughtfully, bringing his thumb and middle finger together.
Light danced in his eyes, a grin growing slowly across his face as Greg snapped his fingers.
Once.
Twice.
On the third snap, a tongue of flame burst from the tip of his thumb and Greg's grin grew even further. "Pfftt… as if I'm ever gonna wait for that."
– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –
Spoiler: STATUS
Greg Lucas Veder Age: 15 (and three-quarters!) Title: Ninja - In Training Level 19 Experience 1510/32000 Health 1237/1237 Mana 475/475 Willpower 451/451 STR 59 SPD 52 (+2) (+2) VIT 59 INT 39 WIS 14 (-80%) CHA 18 (+9) (-90%) Stat Points: 63 Perk Points: 12 Cash: $20068.57
Traits
Nerd-Geek Hybrid: Your obsession with video gaming, computers, fantasy/sci-fi literature and 80's/90's pop culture has left you in the rare middle of two circles; the obsessive fandom-loving geek and the intelligent, knowledge seeking nerd. Sadly, your hobbies have left you with an aversion to physical exertion. (50% bonus to INT gains, -50% penalty to STR, SPD & VIT gains.)
Ambiguous Disorder: Ever since you were a little kid, you've always been a little bit off. Impulsive, obsessive, socially obtuse and emotionally needy, you're a bit of a weirdo. It was easily written off as normal behavior when you were younger but now you're fifteen. Yet, you still come off as someone over five years younger. Maybe Mom should have had you tested like Dad said? (-80% reduction to overall WIS, 90% reduction to overall CHA.)
Casanova Bloodline: As a Veder man, you have a great smile, natural charm and a confident approach to life that draws the ladies in like a moth to a flame. Your great cheekbones don't hurt either. It's how your dad got your mom to go out with him while dating at least three other girls and sleeping with two others, at least that's what he always told you - even when you didn't ask - all the time. (+ 9 CHA)
Dragon-Blooded
Fire and fury flows through your veins, blood of the dragon.
The mythical hero Siegfried was baptized in the blood of a magical dragon and became nigh-invulnerable, immune to nearly all forms of damage. You, on the other hand, were splattered in the blood of a not-so-magical dragon. (+ 250 HP, + 10 STR, + 10 SPD)
Dragon-Souled
For some, baptism by fire tends to be a symbolic term. Not for you, though.
Facing the heat of Lung's flames head-on has purified the strength of your will and the power of your soul. The beginnings of draconic power grow throughout your being. (+250 MP, +250 Will, +10 INT, +10 VIT)
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Peak Human
What is peak human, anyway?
Somehow, you have surpassed the physical threshold of humanity, surpassing those inherent limits man is beholden to. (Unlocks perks for STR, SPD, VIT and INT once a stat crosses a benchmark of 50 pts)
Perks
Baby Steps (1/3) [Ranked Skill]
With Catlike Tread...
Allows very light movement across surfaces, allowing you to move or stand on surfaces that would normally not support your weight.
Bulwark
Facing off against an opponent who far outclassed you has given you an ability to withstand impossible pain in the face of impossible odds.
Takes 50% less damage from opponents over five times your level.
Danger Sense (2/10) [Ranked Skill]
My common sense is tingling.
You gain a sixth sense that allows you to sense the presence of incoming danger.
Dragon Blood's Gift
What is a knight without armor? A dragon without scales? A lion without teeth?
All equipped armor and gear is self-repairing at a rate of 1% a minute, so long as it is constantly being fed mana or will in some manner.
Fire Dragon's Aura (1/10) [Ranked Skill]
Bathed in Dragon Fire and Blood, I shall fear no flame
At a rate of 1 MP per second per rank, draw upon your pyrokinesis to generate an aura of fire. Your equipment and body are immune to the heat, of it and anything cooler than it. It is, however, actual fire, so try not to burn down your house. In addition, you can literally breathe fire instead of air while this is active.
Lifegiver (3/10) [Ranked Ability]
Health is more than just not getting sick.
Every time you gain a level, you gain an additional 5 HP for each rank of this perk.
Not Quite Dead
People die when they are killed… usually.
Survive after your HP sinks below 0 and a harmful status effect is active.
10% Chance to recover with full health when HP drops to 0.
Quick Healer
Don't worry, it won't scar.
You heal rather fast, at a rate of a tenth of your VIT every fifteen seconds.
Transformation Sequence (1/3) [Ranked Skill]
"It's Morphin' Time!"
By willing yourself to transform, you can equip any full outfit within your inventory, transforming in a flash of blue light, mana glitter and/or a whirlwind of aerokinesis obscuring you.
Skills
Gamer's Body (Passive) Lv. MAX
Allows you to live life as if were a game.
Sleeping restores HP, MP, Will and removes most negative status effects.
Gamer's Mind (Passive) Lv. MAX
Grants immunity to mental status effects, emotional and mental trauma and severely dangerous emotional states.
Basic Aerokinesis Lv 12
"Winds, guard me!"
Exert the force of your air control over a range of 35 meters. (140 mph)
Cost: 20 mp per second of sustained use at max range & power.
Basic Pyrokinesis Lv 3
Burn, baby, burn!
Generate flames and control them up to a range of 3 meters.
Cost: 20 MP per second of sustained use at max range.
Dash Straight Lv 11 (XP: 35%)
Force equals Mass times Acceleration.
You may suck at physics, but you know that much.
Through reinforcing the body, you smash your fist into a target while moving at high speed. Damage scales based on distance moved. (1.5x Damage Cap)
Damage: 165
Cost: 25 Will + 2 Will for every meter power sprinted
Mana Glitter Lv 4 (XP: 65%)
Sparkle like the pretty bishounen you were always meant to be. Or a princess. Or a pedophilic slightly-rapey vampire. Who's judging you?
Release particles of mana from your body in the form of iridescent sapphire sparkles. Max Range increases by 25% with each level. (2.5 meters)
Cost: 1 MP per second
Mana Platform Lv 1
I call it walking on air.
Using raw mana, you create semi-solid platforms under your feet that last only as long as you remain still. (.25 m)
Cost: 1 MP per 2 seconds
Observe Lv 9 (XP: 5%)
A skill to find out basic information relating to the chosen object.
Cost: 1 MP
Raging Combo Lv 13 (XP: 15%)
A blistering barrage of belligerent blows built to batter baddies.
By repeatedly using weaker forms of Angry Straight, you pummel your target with raw frustration and anger. (36 Hits)
Damage: 390
Cost: 65 Will
Reinforcement (Apprentice) Lv 13 (XP: 15%)
A discount version of the Kaio-Ken for the squishy wizard.
Increases your effective strength, speed and health by 5% per level with this technique from a base of 50%. Does not increase actual points of vitality or willpower. Improved control means that weaker usages of Reinforcement is within your grasp for lower costs. (110%)
Cost: 5 Will every 2 seconds
Subskill: Burst
Cast from hit points. Yeah, it's one of those skills.
* * A short, yet extremely concentrated and focused burst of reinforcement applied to the extremities for an insane burst of ability lasting 1 second
* (x 2.5 top Reinforced SPD/STR
Cost: 20 Will, 40 HP
Subskill: Layer Reinforcement
* Increases the quality of non-living items, increasing their sharpness, durability, and hardness.
* This form of reinforcement can be used on non-living substances for a base quality increase of 250% Each level improves this by 25%.
* (550%)
Cost: 2 Will every 5 seconds.
Surface Adhesion Lv 9 (XP: 35%)
You ever wanted to be Spider-Man? Don't lie. Of course you did.
This skill allows you to stick to walls and hang on to ceilings and vertical surfaces without a risk of falling. While not denying gravity, this allows you to adhere to surfaces unaided.
Cost: 2 MP per second
Structural Analysis Lv 5 (XP: 35%)
Judging the concept of creation, Hypothesizing the basic structure...
Grants the ability to gain a rudimentary understanding of the internal structure and functional design of simple, non-living objects.
Cost: 2 mp per square half-meter of object.
Weapon Charge Lv 17 (XP: 75%)
Conceptually do twice as much damage with a weapon. Broken?
What's that mean?
Boosts weapon damage x 2.
Length of charge increases by 1/2 second for every level. (8.5 sec)
Cost: 8 MP
Abilities
Acrobatics Lv 21 (XP: 35%)
Parkour!
An ability that enables you to pull off backflips, frontflips and any manner of jumping-based ground-movement technique with greater ease.
Awareness: Mana Lv 8 (XP: 25%)
Mana, magic energy, magicka, prana, ether, thaum, spiritual energy, magatsuhi or even chakra… Call it what you want. It's all the same in the end.
You have gained awareness of Mana, the spiritual energy found within the human mind and soul. Gaining awareness of your magical energy has given you some semblance of control over it.
Awareness: Willpower Lv 6 (XP: 15%)
Willpower, ki, chi, qi, stamina, aura, mantra, physical energy, life energy, od, or even hamon… Call it what you want. It's all the same in the end.
You have gained awareness of your Willpower, the physical energy found within all living organisms. Gaining awareness of your physical energy has given you some semblance of control over it.
Ballroom Dancing Lv 1
I wouldn't call it dancing yet. More like a full-body dry heave set to music.
Represents your skill in the art of dancing in a fancy, romantic manner when with a partner.
Basic Anatomy Lvl 5 (XP: 85%)
Anatomy is to physiology as geography is to history.
Gain a basic understanding of the human body.
Increases [Critical Hit] damage by 10% per level. (50%)
Beginner Combat Lvl 4 (XP: 5%)
I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.
The next level of combat, Beginner Combat is a fusion of fighting and footwork into the ability to learn new styles of combat, fusing them into a novice martial combat capability.
Increased bare-handed damage by 2% per level. (8%)
Blunt Weaponry Lv 5 (XP: 4%)
Carry a big stick. Speaking softly is optional.
Measures your skill with using a blunt weapon.
Increases damage with a blunt weapon by 2% per level. (20%)
Breath-Holding Lv 13 (XP: 15%)
Asphyxiation is a terrible way to die.
Increases time able to stay conscious without air by 30 seconds per level. (6.5 min)
Bullshitting Lv 6 (XP: 15%)
First, you tell a lie; then you believe it; then you become it.
Increases chances that any lie you tell is successful by 2% with every level. (12%)
Disarm Lv 3 (XP: 55%)
Take their weapon from their warm, living hands.
Increases chance of disarming the enemy by 2% with every level. (6%)
Driving Lv 4 (XP: 25%)
NASCAR, here we come.
Measures your skill at operating a four-wheeled motorized vehicle.
Gunplay: Rifles Lv 3 (XP: 35%)
Slightly better than a stormtrooper.
Improves aim/accuracy/stability with a rifle by 5% per level. (15%)
Improves damage with a rife by 2% per level. (6%)
Kissing Lv 5 (XP: 75%)
Looks like practicing on a peach actually paid off.
Represents your skill in the art of smooching.
Language: Japanese Lv 7 (5%)
Gratuitous Japanese indeed.
Reflects your speaking skill, and understanding of, the Japanese language.
Meditation Lvl 10 (XP: 30%)
Breathe in the good shit. Breathe out the bullshit.
By finding your inner focus, you push out all earthly distractions and enter a state of mental and physical harmony, allowing a greater understanding of your mind and body. While meditating, your Mana and Will recover at a rate of 10% faster per level into this ability. You retain this bonus for a period of ten minutes post-Meditation. (100%)
Parry Lv 8 (XP: 60%)
To deflect an attack is a double-edged sword;
Risking more damage for the chance to inflict the same.
Increases the effectiveness of any attempt to divert or deflect a physical attack by 2% with every level. (16%)
Reflexes Lv 14 (XP: 15%)
DODGE!
Increases your innate reaction speed by 10% per level. (140%)
Resistance: Blunt Force Lv. 56 (XP: 25%)
Going from punching yourself in the face to actual self-mutilation?
Bold move, Veder. Let's see if it pays off.
Reduce all blunt force damage by 0.75% with every level from attacks less than 100% of your health. (42%)
Resistance: Cold Lv 6 (XP: 80%)
The cold never stopped bothering you.
Increases resistance to cold temperature by 1% with every level from attacks less than 100% of your health. (6%)
Resistance: Electricity Lv 8 (XP: 25%)
Everyone knows electrocution is harmless.
Increases resistance to electrical damage by 1% with every level from attacks less than 100% of your health. (8%)
Resistance: Heat Lv 46 (XP: 75%)
"You have to respect anything that can just stand there, on fire."
Increases resistance to heat damage by 1% with every level from attacks less than 100% of your health. (46%)
Resistance: Piercing Lv 21 (XP: 50%)
The thrust or stab is risky because it can kill and yet not stop
Reduces piercing or stabbing damage by 0.75% with every level from attacks less than 100% of your health. (15.75%)
Resistance: Poison Lv 3 (XP: 15%)
I wonder what counts as a poison...
Reduces damage and effects caused by poison by 1% every level that will cause damage less than 100% of your health, in any way, shape or form. (3%)
Resistance: Slashing Lv 9 (XP: 90%)
The cut will stop but not kill.
Reduces slashing or cutting damage by 0.75% with every level from attacks less than 100% of your health. (6.75%)
Seduction Lv 1 (XP: 5%)
I didn't mean to turn you on… or did I?
Manage to draw the attention of a member of the opposite sex using your innate attraction skills. Increases chance of [Critical Hits] on enemies by .5% every level. (.5%)
Sneaking Lv 11 (XP: 20%)
Ugh… stealth missions suck.
Allows for 2% quieter movement per level while trying not to be heard. (22%)
Stamina Lvl 11 (XP: 15%)
Whatever I lack in talent I have in stamina.
Increase Will by + 5 with every level. (55 Will)
Swordplay: Single Blade Lv 25
All swords are the same.
Represents your martial skill with the art of a single blade.
Increases damage with a blade by 2% per level. (50%)
Taunt Lv 10 (XP: 10%)
"And this! Is when I taunt you!"
Draw the attention of a target through nonsensical, idiotic, but occasionally piercing, verbal attacks. Increases chance of Critical Hits on enemies by 2% with every level.(20%)
Thrown Weapons Lv 4 (XP: 75%)
Throwing your sword always works. Except, you know, when it doesn't.
Increases the skill, range and force by which items and weapons can be thrown by 2% with every level. (8%)