Shaper of Metal Post-Apoc Progression LitRPG

Jack's training with rolling balls around, flinging metal pieces, and other such movements, was a practice he feathered in with the basal cloud work. He first became quite accurate at flinging objects into targets provided by Lindsay, including herself. It took him a while to get used to attacking her. Unlike most Nons, he didn't grow up to take for granted the perfect safety of Power Park, perpetually protected by Memoria's 'lesser entity,' Lifeguard. But she made him get over it, and soon he was throwing knives at her like a good soldier.

Resting levitation came next. This was more complicated than it looked, requiring a kind of subtle pressure from all directions, with it all too easy to send it flying one direction, whether to hurl it, bury it, or slam it into himself. He had plenty of frustrating failures and 'let's get back to this laters.' He did get to a wobbly functionality before he ever mastered the sphere.

After the sphere, though, he quickly figured out a compromise by using a small amount of free memorite in a rotating cloud to embed a steel ball within. Whenever the ball might sway in one direction, he could feel it before it even happened, and adjust quickly, even clump memorite to 'push' it back. This 'unconventional' baseline quickly improved to smaller and smaller adjustments until he zeroed in on a kind of 'perfect balance' that needed no more adjustments. If he held it in place, he could hover the ball indefinitely at reduced necessary energy.

It was a powerful benchmark. The next day, he was levitating things with ease, finding their 'balance' quicker and quicker. He only lost control when flinging something hard. That was considered a good start, though, because he could mount a credible physical attack with objects, and accurately enough to strike for the head even on an evasive curve, even against a fast-moving target, making minor adjustments on the fly. For him, it was like… connecting dots. Matching different magnetisms.

Just hitting a human-sized target, or specifically the torso, was a Control 1.0 equivalent, so he was passing his mark at least on some uses for his full Control of 2.0. He'd been given a 'temporary operational general Control value' that had steadily been going up through his training, first appearing at 0.5 and climbing upward to 0.7. Lindsay said it wasn't perfect for all uses, just a general idea of what he'd obtained with core use. The techniques he got good at had more of that 'potential' unlocked. Eventually, he'd lose the temp score and achieve the full marking of 2.0 he was capable of 'physically.' Techniques would adjust as the core improved.

How things went with those numbers: 1.0 was the average expected difficulty of a resisting target, like a common soldier, perhaps. 1.2 - 1.5 were those of higher training, and 2.0 would be someone elite. Anything above that was getting into tippity-top human capability, making 4.0 relatively superhuman. Basically, he could fling shit at people roughly as well as a crack marksman. The best shots he'd taken at those alien monsters were close to his baseline, now. Jack figured that wasn't too bad considering he was level 1! A handgun probably still had advantages, and definitely a rifle did. Of course, he could also rip most weapons out of someone's hands from a distance, now.

Lifting heavy shit was an occasional practice. His shifu didn't favor this due to the wasteful energy requirements, but it had to go on the itinerary to some degree. He lifted weights! Briefly. They went for 40%, 50%, and 60% Allotment, which was up to 36, 45, and 54 kilos, respectively. 50 kg, 110 lbs, was perfect for a cast iron anvil that was available. He lifted and flipped an anvil on its side with superpowers! It felt pretty damn good. He wanted to try tossing it, but Lindsay nixed the idea.

His ability to actually 'shape' metal took a while to develop, essentially the last of all important capstones to 'basic operation,' and necessary to begin opening up potential through Transmute, which was a much finer art. It took a lot of painstaking strain to bend or warp steel to any degree. But he did make some strides in between collapsing at the end of his fatigue levels.

Lindsay gave him a break at some point when she handed him a roll of aluminum foil. He could manipulate it with ease! It wasn't pretty, but he could bend it into all sorts of different shapes. Somewhere in the mix of screwing around, he started to be able to leverage Transmute at a very minor level, in fusion with Control. How, he had no idea, as it was just an intuitive 'click' from the ether. One act was fusing a bunch of it together as though melting it without heat — he did half a roll that way into a lump… and then he had a hard time undoing it.

It became an assignment: turn the ball of aluminum back into sheets. A long-term puzzle. Homework.

There was more aluminum foil, in any case. He made different geometric shapes, a sad-looking lumpy vase, and even something like an irregular cable. He thickened existing layers to make a stable model. He levitated a mass in a cloud of memorite and tore it into pieces, demonstrating a capacity for 'group' manipulation. But if he tried doing two separate things at once, his control faltered, sometimes making the whole thing unravel. Multitasking was hard. Practice, practice, practice.

Meanwhile, he took his lump of homework, his lumpy vase, and a pretty nice nice-looking thin aluminum cube home as souvenirs of his efforts. Lindsay was so proud, she requested a cube herself. Jack was exhausted by then, but squeezed the last of his effort out to give his shifu that memento.

"May these cubes forever be a testament," Jack declared when he'd done it, sweating bullets and panting as he spoke somewhat sarcastically, "to my first micro-accomplishments of superpowered metal work, on dirty knees like a kid with his first construction set."

The cube floated over to Shifu Lindsay, who let it sit down gently in her two hands as she grinned softly. She was sweaty, too, her hair a mess with a smudge of dirt on her cheek. "I'll cherish it, Jack. I mean that."

Jack bumped into his first need for Calibration not long after, as he was eating and resting…

Excited, Jack lay down on the couch to enter the trance… and what adrenaline he had failed him as he fell asleep instead. Two hours later, he woke up, cursing and coated in a thin layer of shed 'gunk' that stained his couch. After showering, he went and sat upright on the hard floor cross-legged, to try the trance again.

It was much more comfortable this time, never feeling disembodied, vaguely aware of being in 'space' around him and caught in Angel Memoria's warm, bosomy hug. She didn't let go this time, just whispered to him, "I'm proud of you, Jack. You're doing well. Keep working hard and doing your best. Here's a little more power, earned and rightfully deserved, which I am bound and obligated to facilitate."

Jack felt a surge run through his connections into the higher dimensional spaces — they wriggled and stretched a little further. They branched out a little more. Nothing extreme, nothing new, just a growth and thickening of his own section of a massive web.

"Ah, thanks," Jack managed.

He saw the outline of a semi-transparent form as Memoria pulled back, an oversized hand at his back. A smile at him below big starbursts for eyes. "See you again soon, my son. Mother loves you."

His real eyes opened immediately after and blinked. The 'L' word weaponized again. The price and reward for coming to the attention of a goddess.

It's just a damn title.

After all of the improvements, it was time to check in with his stat bio. He'd also gained a bit in his temporary grades, including in techniques under Control. G.P.E. went up another percentage point, too.

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A small but welcome increase to the mass I can channel. I bet I could toss that anvil now! And Control is coming along nicely.

His techniques appeared bloated due to some of them being far ahead in unlocking core Control. Their values were the current 'functional value.' What they'd add when Control was 2.0 was in parentheses, so Cord would be 2.3, or Throw 2.5, once he was through with temp scores. Thus, he'd unlocked both novel function and 'specialized core function.' Eventually, the messiness and confusion would be cleaned up when he completed his base Control training.

Principally, he needed to improve the highly important Shape function, which he was not too talented at and was thus in the negatives. Lindsay had also told him it would be a royal bitch to improve past default, something he and most other Controllers with relevant powersets might not ever do. He'd worked at quite a few concepts he'd gotten no better at than his base Control. Free-floating weapons slung around and maintained, for instance. He could do it, but it was more awkward than branching out from a base or throwing something. He was getting the hang of leveraging free-floating cables and chains, as they could leverage Cord, but it was a work in progress.

His rather dramatic Collect: Sphere trick was something he couldn't use as a direct attack, but it counted for speed of collection/organization purposes and as a baseline for multiple branching functions. He could branch out two separate (Cord) attacks without penalty other than potential mass/power restrictions. Hypothetically. He could only do it with smushy, liquidy slaps at the moment due to the Shape and Solidify restrictions.

Got to get my shit in gear if I want to live up to the title, eh?

Jack was dog-ass tired, but he got up to try cleaning off his couch. Mini told him to knock it off, and she'd have a cleaner come and take care of it the next day. So he went to the kitchen and stuffed his face with some leftover chicken and mashed potatoes instead.

He noticed somewhere in his perceptions that Neex was awake. He sent a simple, curious query to her, like the mental equivalent of a raised eyebrow. Because she was awake.

A warm greeting and an image of her smiling with her eyes closed came to him, then her voice in his head soon after. "Hi, Jack! I awoke somewhat early when your Allotment changed. Congratulations!"

"Ah — thank you. The first of many changes, eh? I bet this is small in comparison."

"That's just perspective. There is much to look forward to, but progress is progress!"

"What level are you, anyway?"

Mini cut in instantly. <That is not shareable intel at this time, Junior Agent Laker. It's classified to you.>

Jack was annoyed. <Oh, come on! Aren't we supposed to work together?>

<This is not at all clear, and you shouldn't assume that. If it were, it would certainly be after you obtain your coat.>

Jack clenched his jaw and growled in his throat. Then he kept chewing the chicken in his mouth. Angrily.

"Sorry, Jack," Neex offered in nervous apology, "I really am! I'm sure it's best to focus on human specialties for now. Again, if all proceeds well, we will work together in the future. Let's hope things open up for everyone in the future and pragmatism wins out."

"They better," Jack replied. "What your people can do for humanity is too important."

"I know, Jack. But we're getting back into things I can't talk about. Oh! I have been reminded to share very recent good news that has been negotiated!" Her excitement was bubbly, yet she suddenly dampened it down. "That is, if you want to be- if you want to visit. If so, you can visit! Ah, specifically because I can help you more easily understand how to breathe underwater! Without it being traumatizing. Hypothetically."

Jack blinked in surprise with a drumstick of chicken at his lips, but soon exclaimed in excitement, thrusting it upward. "Hell yes! Of course, I want to visit you, Neex." The specific subject suddenly made his stomach do a whirl as he thought about it, but he ignored it. "It's gotta be done one way or another, right? I'm glad they're 'pragmatic' enough to see the logic of this."

She seemed pleased and relieved, though a new anxiety crept in. "I felt bad when I realized that aquatic adaptation was included. I didn't realize, Jack! I should have. Another blindness to what I did. Stupid of me. I'm sorry."

"It's fine, Neex. This was the first time for you, too, and I would have accepted it if I had known anyway. I can breathe air better. It's helping me a lot. I guess you can, too. When it's functioning correctly."

"Yes. The distance causes many issues. I'm glad you see things as you do, Jack. So, I believe the estimation for the best time for your body to be entirely ready is a few days. You're taking the fungal-seaweed powder blend?"

"Huh? No. Wait. Is that in one of my provided supplements?"

"Yes. I suggested some things, then worked with someone who came and told me they did not have all of it, so I suggested some replacements based on what they did have. So, yes, I am slightly responsible for your current biochemical and physiological development! You know, your body parts and systems as they grow stronger."

Jack barked a laugh. "Right, I do know what the words mean."

"Oh, good!"

"Well, thank you, Neex. I look forward to seeing you in person again."

A feeling of warmth and fondness. "Me too, Jack! And now, I believe you need more rest. You are exhausted. Go sleep."

"I can't deny it. I will. See you later, Neex."

"Happy Goodbyes! No Death!"

"No Death!"

Jack suited his words, finishing up the remainder of his late-night snack of five pieces of chicken and a pile of mashed potatoes, then hitting the bed. His final thoughts were wondering about Neex's level and abilities…

I bet she's got some serious levels at her age, just heavily suppressed here. Has to be biological type powers… she said she designed that heart…

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The next morning, after his run, workout, and first class, Jack headed over to Power Park to meet Lindsay, wondering what the day would hold.

She was standing as usual in uniform with her hands clasped behind her back, in the central area of dirt and retractable platforms in the ground, the run track a wide circle around it all.

There was never any military formality between them. Jack did a little bow in the 'martial arts' way to her, primarily because he knew she liked that. "Good morning, Shifu."

Lindsay returned the bow. "Good morning, star pupil. So, today is going to be a little different. We'll get back to working on your metal shaping later, but right now, let's have a little test. A test of your fighting skills."

Jack nodded, feeling like he was looking forward to it. "Hell yes! A duel?"

"Of sorts. But not with me. Memoria has provided advanced virtual overlays. Augmented reality program enemies that respond realistically." She lifted a hand and snapped her fingers.

A large canine materialized next to her, coming up to her waist, with short, reddish-brown and black fur with spikes coming up out of its back all the way down the spine, red eyes, and a wicked, slightly oversized set of teeth. Jack recognized it immediately: a razorena.

It was an apex predator of New Antarctica, something between a big mutt dog and a hyena, with a touch of ancient modifications. Their howls and yips were the stuff of nightmares. Humanity had been trying to exterminate them for a long time and had succeeded primarily in making them rarer and more adapted to nature. Hyper evolution. Smaller than they once were, and perhaps less 'demonic.' They still hated humans, though, and hunted them if they could get away with it, groundside.

The 'image' was quite realistic. Enough, Jack felt a momentary primal alarm at it being right there next to Lindsay. Fortunately, it was still and unmoving, as if 'on pause.'

"I'm sure you recognize this puppy," Lindsay offered as her hands folded in front of her. "This is a relevant foe you can come into contact with at any time out there. A pack is particularly dangerous. Anyway, this simulation can realistically injure you. You won't feel pain, but you'll see the damage, and the sim will inhibit you based on the injury. Not something we normally do for young trainees, but your age and experience are an advantage here. There is a waiver you need to agree to. Naturally, you could…" — she stumbled over the words for some reason — "bitch out, if you want."

She waved her hand, and the image dematerialized, as a form popped into Jack's vision. He skimmed it… right to refuse… potential traumatic scenes… the safe words 'End Sim Now!' available.

I ain't bitchin' out! A half-serious thought.

He punched 'Agree?' quickly. A black jumpsuit encased him head to toe — or the simulation of one. It was obvious it wasn't really there as it did not hug his skin. But he was even looking out of a typical ANP-style face-sized mirrored visor.

Did I just think 'ANP'? I'm truly one of them now. Short for 'Agent Nonpareil,' something only those in the military would use. They damned sure didn't call themselves 'Nons' very often.

"That's to make sure we stay realistic," Lindsay offered. "No one runs around groundside without protection, after all. They can bite through this with those nasty teeth, but it gives some resistance, and you aren't likely to see your entrails spill out." She turned and began walking off to the side. "You'll start with one of these charging at you from fifteen meters downfield. Greater waves will come, and it will be as if they observed what came before. Fight and survive, soldier! This time, we're simulating that you have one minute of preparation utilizing anything present." She turned around, gave a little smile and nod, and then said, "Starting the clock… now!"

The first thing Jack did was run to the 'goodies' panel inset into the ground and make it pop up. He closed his eyes and reached out to the 'glorious substance,' channeling memorite through him, aiming for a quick ramp up to 75% of his Allotment — the most he dared for presumably minutes of combat. 71 for general use, 56 for the force of attacks.

The metal must flow.

A cloud of glittering dust shot out from his every pore and fell upon the equipment platform now popped up out of the ground, showing all manner of metal implements. Jack collapsed his memorite into whatever he could get his paws on and grabbed it, flinging it out en masse into the dirt field. Balls, blades, spikes, blocks, hammers, a big length of chain, whatever. He flung them in a big circular radius, dispersing them, keeping an eye out for the 'center.'

Where I'll make my stand, one way or another. I need all angles when they get to me. 'Throw' is my salvation today, because slapping razorenas with semi-liquid metal won't cut it…

"Thirty seconds!" Lindsay called in warning.

All too soon, he was at the center of his little 'debris' circle, the time ticking down as he hovered a group of four metal spikes two meters in front of him in stability, ready to fire one with his full strength as soon as he laid eyes on his target. He held a solid steel spear in one hand and a round shield in the other. Crude, last-ditch implements, yet completely logical.

"Here it comes!"

The air fifteen meters away rippled as a furred form materialized…

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