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Zero
Hermit
Explain.
Posts: 259
Power Level: 4,505
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Post by Zero on Jul 19, 2023 19:49:18 GMT -6
He can't get that room out of his head.
Zero had dreaded going back to sleep, and as such, resolved not to for three days. Instead, he would simply retire to his room, then stand, staring at the bed for hours until the sun rose again. On the fourth day, he took a chance to close his eyes to mentally reset for the next day, and almost instantly found himself in that same room.
The table. The chairs. His altered appearance.
This time, however, he was facing those whose voices he could recognize from before. The man was off to the side, along with the older female. In front of him was a taller woman, dark hair in pig tails that was nearly as long as his current self. She was considerably more fit than himself, and while her aggression should have given him pause, he could feel himself speak words, but not hear them.
The words seemingly strike home, and the woman backs away, tears in her eyes. Zero feels himself shouting, cursing before leaving through the door into the darkness outside. He turns back, but the house is gone.
Instead, he's standing in his room again.
"I don't understand."
He says softly to himself, still confused.
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Zero
Hermit
Explain.
Posts: 259
Power Level: 4,505
|
Post by Zero on Jul 31, 2023 8:08:35 GMT -6
He needed to know more.
Zero lies in his bed again, his eyes closed. He didn't technically need to sleep, but it seemed to be a routine he'd fully embraced. Especially considering most of his development had come through dreams.
Yet now, all of a sudden, those dreams were gone.
Hours pass, before Zero finally sits up, frowning in annoyance. What was he doing wrong? The dreams weren't coming anymore.
Was there some kind of trigger he was missing?
Zero stares down at his hands, idly studying them as his mind works through the possibilities.
...perhaps he hasn't grown enough, yet.
The thought is not a pleasant one. An unfamiliar feeling begins to take root in his chest, unlike the one he'd experienced in his dreams. This was more than just frustration. This was... anger?
Sparks of scarlet electricity begin to flash along his hands, and Zero considers them, his anger halting.
So too do the sparks, and he gives a thoughtful frown.
Maybe that was something he could build on.
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Zero
Hermit
Explain.
Posts: 259
Power Level: 4,505
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Post by Zero on Aug 8, 2023 12:50:37 GMT -6
At first, it had been difficult to create those sparks again without the same emotion. However, after studying the exact manner in which they were being produced from his body, Zero had identified what was required in order to create them, without that emotional response.
On their own, they would likely be damaging. However, Zero wasn't interested in that sort of attack at the moment. Instead, he wanted to integrate this new ability into his existing techniques.
With one hand, he forms the scarlet electricity, and with the other, he creates his typical barrier. The process of creating each is carefully studied and considered, down to the very muscles that contract in order to form each. Zero dissipates both, then slowly, carefully, he creates a barrier using the same technique he'd use to make the electricity. At first, it doesn't seem stable, so he begins to use the barrier as a base instead, adding the electricity afterwards so that it clings to the surface.
After a second, he holds a small ball, its surface rippling with electricity.
Now to bond it to his other techniques as well.
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Iram Machina - Zero imbues his barrier technology with scarlet electricity. All his barrier techniques deal his power level +5% in damage if physically touched.
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Zero
Hermit
Explain.
Posts: 259
Power Level: 4,505
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Post by Zero on Aug 15, 2023 7:43:00 GMT -6
Proof of concept. The electricity and the barrier technology could mix.
But could they augment each other?
Zero runs through a few different scenarios in his mind. While some showed promise, he found the rupturing power sphere to be the most interesting. The added support given from the electricity could possibly make the incomplete technique into a complete one.
Fascinated, Zero steps outside in order to test his hypothesis. After all, it wouldn't do him any good if he wound up destroying the building he was staying in out of curiosity.
He begins by building Ki in his palm, as the technique usually called for, and while creating the ball that usually ruptured eventually, Zero reinforces the outer edge with his scarlet electricity. The sphere holds, managing to contain the power that usually spills out, and Zero nods.
"Good."
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Learning ability - Offense Protocol: Iratus Sphaera - Zero creates a sphere of energy reinforced with his scarlet electricity. The sphere deals Zero's power level +45% in damage. However, the effort depletes Zero's body from being able to generate more scarlet electricity for the rest of combat until he has time to recharge and reroute systems.
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Zero
Hermit
Explain.
Posts: 259
Power Level: 4,505
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Post by Zero on Sept 6, 2023 16:49:00 GMT -6
It occurs to Zero that his current companion isn't as trained in combat as he's used to. While the idea of maybe having to protect someone wasn't completely new, he wasn't sure he'd be able to do it with his current level of strength.
And so, he'd need to continue his slow improvement.
The easiest, and simplest, manner to do so would be to incorporate the scarlet electricity into a new technique that relied on it alone, rather than mixing with other established techniques. He concentrates the power into his hand, letting it linger. While grappling with this might be effective, he figures the barriers reinforced with it would accomplish the same thing.
Instead, perhaps something a bit more ranged again.
Zero holds the electricity for a moment longer, then whips his hand forward, sending a blast out in front. It's quick and flashy, causing him to have to squint slightly from the brightness.
It may not do as much damage as he would like, but it had other uses.
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Learning ability - Offensive Protocol: Ictu Furoris - Zero fires a bright flash of scarlet electricity from his hands. This attack deals Zero's power level +10% damage, and if successful, blinds the target for two posts. This blind is ineffective against foes 1.5x Zero's power level or higher.
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Zero
Hermit
Explain.
Posts: 259
Power Level: 4,505
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Post by Zero on Sept 12, 2023 8:54:06 GMT -6
Much of Zero's arsenal was self-sufficient. However, further examination had revealed that if he were to battle someone and they managed to dodge his attack, there could be significant damage to the area around him. In a fragile setting, such as a ship or home he wished to preserve, this could be troublesome.
As such, he would need to take certain precautions.
Being able to shape his energy into different forms had proven he was able to manipulate them, and the fact he could fire blasts outwards from himself was enough to show he had control over their initial momentum and velocity, as well as direction.
Zero forms a small energy ball to test his theory, holding it in place above his palm.
Using those same techniques, he begins to push and pull the energy, manipulating it to float higher and lower, side to side, before finally he throws it towards the wall. At the last moment, he pulls it back, and the ball suddenly pulls back, landing in his palm to be reabsorbed.
Simple enough. Now he would just need to practice with more elaborate and complicated techniques.
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Learning ability - Supportive Protocol: Energy Manipulation - Zero imbues his energy techniques with further control, allowing him to control their direction and momentum after releasing the attack using hand motions.
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Zero
Hermit
Explain.
Posts: 259
Power Level: 4,505
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Post by Zero on Oct 16, 2023 17:22:59 GMT -6
Today was a matter or simplicity.
Zero had experimented with various ways to integrate his scarlet electricity into his existing techniques, but sometimes, the easiest and simplest option was the most effective.
Zero takes a moment, charging the electricity in his hand, before reaching out to grab a nearby machine. While he had half-expected it to overcharge the machine into destruction, the energy instead tears right through the metal and wires, vaporizing the parts it touches and leaving it an empty husk of a frame.
"...fascinating."
Zero says softly, leaning in to inspect what had happened.
Maybe there was more he could do with this than he thought.
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Learning ability - Offensive Protocol: Dissolutum - Zero attacks an enemy with scarlet electricity in melee range. The attack deals Zero's power level +15% damage, while inorganic material takes Zero's power level +25% damage.
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Zero
Hermit
Explain.
Posts: 259
Power Level: 4,505
|
Post by Zero on Apr 24, 2024 9:15:20 GMT -6
The experience of having a different body was... fascinating, to say the least. While Zero had utilized Ki before due to his machinery, the feeling of being able to generate Ki himself while in someone else's body was enlightening.
However, while he attempted to replicate the feeling afterwards, it simply wouldn't work. Perhaps he wasn't strong enough?
Friend Methyl must be very powerful, indeed.
To try and prepare his body, Zero begins training himself physically first, performing a series of punches and kicks that normally he tends to simply imagine instead. It was one thing to go through the movements in an effort to improve his form, it was an entirely different one to do so physically in an effort to build upon his muscles.
Hours pass, and Zero finds that he isn't... really getting tired. He'd nearly forgotten that his internal power source never ran out of energy, and as such, he never needed to rest in between each series of movements.
"Perhaps this will make things progress faster."
For three days, Zero does nothing but physical training, curious to see how much he improves from that alone.
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