I stood in the silent sanctuary of my office, the city lights a glittering tapestry behind the armored glass. The faint orange glow on the horizon from the burning asylum had long since faded.
I sank into the cool leather of my chair, the exhaustion of the long night a distant hum beneath a sea of adrenaline and anticipation. The real prize was the raw power I had harvested, waiting to be processed.
"System," I said, my voice laced with an undercurrent of excitement. "It's time."
[Oh, I have been waiting for this!] the System's voice boomed in my head, filled with the giddy energy of a kid on Christmas morning. [Let's unwrap these presents! The plunder queue is stacked and ready to go, Boss!]
The interface in my vision lit up a long list of my night's work. It was a testament to my ruthless efficiency. The processing began with the biggest prize of all.
[PLUNDER QUEUE: PROCESSING...]
[Supe Neutralized: Sam Riordan. Powers Detected: Super Strength (Tier 2), Super Defence (Tier 2), Super Stamina (Tier 2), Super Speed (Tier 2), Super Hearing (Tier 2). Choose Option: Retain or Convert?]
A full suite of Tier 2 physical enhancements that would blow my existing Tier 4 powers out of the water.
"Retain all of them," I replied, my decision instantaneous. "And what happens to my current strength and durability powers?"
[When you integrate a superior version of a power, the inferior version is automatically flagged for recycling,] the System explained. [You can't have two 'Super Strength' powers running at the same time. The old ones will be converted to XP. Smart move, Boss!]
"Do it."
[Powers 'Super Strength (Tier 2)', 'Super Defence (Tier 2)', 'Super Stamina (Tier 2)', 'Super Speed (Tier 2)', and 'Super Hearing (Tier 2)' successfully integrated.]
[Redundant Powers Detected: 'Super Strength (Tier 4)' and 'Super Defence (Tier 4)'. Converting to Experience Points...]
[Conversion Complete. You have gained 1000 XP.]
The sensation was a fundamental rewriting of my physical limits. I felt my muscle fibers condense, my bone density increasing exponentially. My senses exploded outwards, the quiet hum of my computer becoming a symphony of electronic noise, the scent of my coffee now a complex bouquet of roasted beans and filtered water. I felt an ocean of energy welling up inside me.
The list continued.
[Supe Neutralized: Lamplighter. Powers Detected: Fire Manipulation (Tier 3), Super Defence (Tier 3), Regeneration (Tier 3). Choose Option: Retain or Convert?]
My Cryokinesis was a god-tier power, but versatility was key. Having mastery over both ice and fire would make me an absolute terror on any battlefield.
"Retain Fire Manipulation. Convert the rest."
[Power 'Fire Manipulation (Tier 3)' successfully integrated.]
[Powers 'Super Defence (Tier 3)' and 'Regeneration (Tier 3)' converted to Experience Points...]
[Conversion Complete. You have gained 3000 XP.]
A wave of warmth spread through me. It was a deep understanding of combustion and plasma.
[Supe Neutralized: Cindy. Powers Detected: Telekinesis (Tier 3), Super Defence (Tier 3). Choose Option: Retain or Convert?]
"Retain Telekinesis. Convert Durability."
[Power 'Telekinesis (Tier 3)' successfully integrated.]
[Power 'Super Defence (Tier 3)' converted to Experience Points...]
[Conversion Complete. You have gained 1500 XP.]
A new sense opened up in my mind, a feeling of connection to the physical objects around me. I focused on a pen on my desk, and it levitated an inch into the air. It was a versatile tool.
[Supe Neutralized: Phasing Patient. Power Detected: Teleportation (Tier 4). Choose Option: Retain or Convert?]
This was a crucial addition to my ghost toolkit.
"Retain."
[Power 'Teleportation (Tier 4)' successfully integrated.]
My understanding of space momentarily warped, a dizzying sensation of points A and B becoming conceptually linked.
[Supe Neutralized: Love Sausage. Power Detected: Prehensile & Elastic Penis (Tier 4). Choose Option: Retain or Convert?]
[Please say convert. Please say convert. The universe is weird enough already,] the System begged.
"Convert," I replied, a smirk touching my lips.
[THANK YOU! Conversion Complete. You have gained 500 XP.]
The list became a rapid-fire conversion process. Each one a small but vital contribution to the whole.
[Supe Neutralized: Tim. Power: Telekinesis (Tier 4). Convert?]
"Convert."
[+500 XP]
[Supe Neutralized: Tiny Hero. Power: Size Alteration (Tier 3). Convert?]
"Convert."
[+1500 XP]
[Supe Neutralized: Acid Vomit Patient. Powers: Acidic Vomit (Tier 4), Super Strength (Tier 4), Super Defence (Tier 4). Convert?]
"Convert."
[+1500 XP]
[Supe Neutralized: Wall Punching Patient. Powers: Super Strength (Tier 4), Super Defence (Tier 4). Convert?]
"Convert."
[+1000 XP]
[Supe Neutralized: EMP Dude Patient. Power: Electromagnetic Pulse Emission (Tier 4). Convert?]
"Convert."
[+500 XP]
...and on and on it went. The remaining Tier 4s and the mountain of Tier 5s were all fed into the furnace, their existences rendered down into quantifiable power.
[Processing 5 generic Tier 4 Supes... +2500 XP.]
[Processing 11 generic Tier 5 Supes... +1100 XP.]
When the last notification faded, a grand summary materialized on my screen, the final tally of my night's monumental effort.
[GRAND HARVEST COMPLETE]
[FINAL XP TALLY:]
Redundant Power Conversions: 1000 XP
Lamplighter Conversions: 3000 XP
Cindy Conversion: 1500 XP
Named Supe Conversions: 5700 XP
Generic Supe Conversions: 3600 XP
TOTAL XP GAINED: 15,300 XP
PREVIOUS XP: 700 XP
CURRENT XP: 16,000
[UPDATED POWER LIST:]
Cryokinesis (Tier 1)
Super Strength (Tier 2)
Super Defence (Tier 2)
Super Stamina (Tier 2)
Super Speed (Tier 2)
Super Hearing (Tier 2)
Regeneration (Tier 2)
Fire Manipulation (Tier 3)
Telekinesis (Tier 3)
Shapeshifting (Tier 3)
Size Alteration (Tier 3)
Carbon Skin (Tier 3)
Teleportation (Tier 4)
I stared at the screen, a feeling of almost overwhelming power settling over me. Sixteen thousand experience points. It was a king's ransom.
"System," I said, my voice calm. "Initiate upgrade interface."
[Right away, Boss! Let's go from badass to god-mode!]
The screen changed, focusing on my list of powers.
"Regeneration. Upgrade to Tier 1."
[Power Selected: Regeneration (Tier 2). Upgrade to Tier 1 requires 5000 XP. Current XP: 16,000. Do you wish to proceed?]
"Confirm."
[Deducting 5000 XP... UPGRADE COMPLETE! Regeneration is now Tier 1.]
[Note: At this level, recovery is near-instantaneous. Complete bodily destruction can be regenerated from a single surviving cell, provided the brain's core consciousness is not entirely obliterated. Think Deadpool-level bullshit.]
A profound energy surged through me. It felt like every cell in my body was now a self-replicating engine of life. I was practically immortal.
"Super Strength. Upgrade to Tier 1."
[Power Selected: Super Strength (Tier 2). Upgrade to Tier 1 requires 5000 XP. Current XP: 11,000. Do you wish to proceed?]
"Confirm."
[Deducting 5000 XP... UPGRADE COMPLETE! Super Strength is now Tier 1.]
[Note: Physical strength is now on par with the planet's most powerful beings. You can lift skyscrapers, punch through mountains, and treat tanks like tin cans. Welcome to the Homelander-level.]
My muscles coiled with a power that was terrifying in its scope. The steel frame of my chair groaned under the passive pressure of my grip. I felt like I could tear the planet in half.
"Super Defence. Upgrade to Tier 1."
[Power Selected: Super Defence (Tier 2). Upgrade to Tier 1 requires 5000 XP. Current XP: 6,000. Do you wish to proceed?]
"Confirm."
[Deducting 5000 XP... UPGRADE COMPLETE! Super Defence is now Tier 1.]
[Note: Bodily tissues are now functionally indestructible by conventional means. High-caliber rounds will feel like raindrops. Nuclear explosions might give you a tan. Welcome, again, to the Homelander-level.]
A feeling of absolute solidity settled over me. My skin, my bones, my organs. They were something far harder, far more resilient. The concept of being hurt by a bullet or a bomb now felt absurd, a problem for a lesser species.
I leaned back in my chair, the upgrades settling into my very soul. My final status glowed on the interface.
[FINAL STATUS]
CURRENT XP: 1,000
POWERS:
Cryokinesis (Tier 1)
Regeneration (Tier 1)
Super Strength (Tier 1)
Super Defence (Tier 1)
Super Stamina (Tier 2)
Super Speed (Tier 2)
Super Hearing (Tier 2)
Fire Manipulation (Tier 3)
Telekinesis (Tier 3)
Shapeshifting (Tier 3)
Size Alteration (Tier 3)
Carbon Skin (Tier 3)
Teleportation (Tier 4)