Chapter 17
Now back, the familiar sounds of the Neon District gradually replaced the echoes of the Historic District. The neon lights flickered with a semblance of life, and with two Blast Cores in his possession, Damian needed a safe place with electricity.
His mind focused on an optimal destination—a place that held the key to the city's electricity: the underground substations in the sewers. Substations were Empire City's lifeblood, distributing power to the various districts. To ensure the stability of his newly acquired power sources, Damian set his sights on one of these underground facilities. The sewers, with their labyrinthine passages, housed the critical infrastructure that Cole MacGrath, in the game, utilized to restore power to different districts and activate the RFE inside his body.
Damian navigated the Neon District's streets, maintaining the guise of Jake to avoid unnecessary attention. The neon lights cast a glow as he moved closer to the entrance of the sewers. The stench and dampness permeated the air as he descended the ladder into the depths. Guided by the knowledge of the city's infrastructure from Jake’s mind as a smuggler he traveled dimly lit tunnels towards the heart of the city's underbelly. Occasional sounds of dripping water echoed, creating an eerie ambiance that hinted at the secrets concealed beneath the city's surface.
As he ventured deeper, he approached the entrance to a substation, marked by a heavy metal door. With a subtle flex of his muscles, Damian forced the door open, revealing a room filled with humming machinery and the low hum of electricity. The glow of control panels cast an ethereal light on the walls, providing an otherworldly backdrop to the clandestine operation.
In the center of the room, Damian found a secure location to carry out his plan. He carefully extracted the two Blast Cores from his chest cavity, their bluish-purple glow casting an eerie light in the confined space. Placing them on a stable surface, Damian prepared to activate the latent power within.
Knowing that electricity was the catalyst for unlocking the potential within the Blast Cores, Damian focused on the conduits of energy coursing through the substation. With a subtle surge of power, he redirected the electrical currents, guiding them into the dormant cores.
The room crackled with energy as the Blast Cores absorbed the electricity. A surge of power emanated from the cores, coursing through Damian's body. It was an electrifying experience, the raw energy transforming and enhancing his abilities. The very essence of Ray Field Energy merged with his being, unlocking new potentials and possibilities.
As the process reached its climax, Damian could feel his consciousness dim as the newfound power coursed through him. As the energy began to settle inside his body Damian could no longer keep his eyes open as he collapsed onto the ground.
After an unknown amount of time, Damian awoke, and for the first time since becoming the creature he currently was felt something akin to pain. Damian felt a dull pain in every cell of his body for a while before it faded away allowing him to stand. Eager to see what had changed he quickly walked over to the edge of the substation and looked at his reflection in the sewer water.
Name: Damian Reed
Alias: N/A
Alignment: Neutral
Power Level: 💥💥 (2/5)
Danger Level: ☠️☠️☠️ (3/5)
Power Status: 32% of Abilities Unlocked
Health: 100% (Healthy)
Karma Level: Neutral
Faction: Independent
Abilities:
Biomass Shapeshifting: Damian can transform his body into various forms, including blades, shields, claws, and more. He can also disguise himself as other people.
Consuming
: By consuming other beings, Damian gains their memories, skills, and appearance. By consuming other conduits, Damian gains their powers. He can gain access to their memories, but only after a certain amount of time, as their brain structure changes upon becoming a conduit.Regeneration: Damian can rapidly heal from injuries, including re-growing lost limbs.
Minion Creation: Damian can create minions using his own memories. These minions can be left without memories, becoming savage and instinct-driven creatures. Alternatively, he can choose a set of memories to upload to the minion, giving them a personality and a sense of values based on these memories. They are absolutely loyal to Damian but will carry out their loyalty differently based on the memories they possess.
Minion Abilities: Minions can use lesser versions of Damian's abilities, such as Biomass Shapeshifting and Regeneration. Minions are also able to consume others but they will be unable to assimilate their memories and abilities. Consumption will however speed up the regenerateion.
(Savage Minion 0/5)
(Superior Minion 1/2)
Superior Minions: Trish Dailey
As Damian gazed into his reflection, the words and statistics seemed to materialize before him, confirming the changes that had taken place within him. The increase in his Power Status from 25% to 32% marked a significant advancement in his abilities. The newly acquired powers of Regeneration and Minion Abilities opened up a realm of possibilities, amplifying his potential for dominance in Empire City.
Testing his newfound Regeneration ability, Damian deliberately ripped off a portion of his arm, observing with morbid fascination as the black biomass within his wound reached out and seamlessly reattached the severed limb. The process was swift and effortless, a stark contrast to the conscious effort it once required. Satisfied with the demonstration, Damian marveled at the extent of his accelerated healing, a testament to the evolving nature of his powers.
Turning his attention to the Minion Abilities, Damian pondered the implications of his minions possessing healing and shapeshifting capabilities. It was a significant upgrade, granting his minions enhanced resilience and adaptability in their service to him. The thought crossed his mind whether Trish, as his Superior Minion, would automatically inherit these abilities or if he would need to facilitate the transfer through direct contact. Such technicalities could be addressed later; for now, the focus remained on leveraging his newfound strengths to further his ambitions.
The realization that he could now have two Superior Minions filled Damian with a sense of anticipation. With Trish already under his control, he saw an opportunity to expand his influence by assimilating Sasha and her powerful Reapers. The Neon District, with its abundance of Blast Cores and potential conduits, beckoned as a realm ripe for conquest.
As Damian contemplated his next move, a plan began to form in his mind. With the enhanced capabilities granted by the Blast Cores and his newfound abilities, he would assert his dominance over the Neon District. Sasha's Reapers would become valuable assets in his quest for control, their loyalty a testament to his growing power.