(Quick A/N: Read the author notes at the bottom, and if you want to respond then please do. But I want the things said there to be at least remembered so no one gets confused later.)
As I flipped I activated all of my mental abilities and traits, slowing the world around me to a near stop. As I stopped I kept looking at the panel in front of me, the words seeming to mock me, and more importantly, my stomach. I could feel the instant rejection of the months worth of food in my stomach. Though, I also feel something on my hip heating up rapidly. I try to move my eyes down to see, but every micrometer feels like my eyes are being scraped by needles, before finally coming to land on the Nazar on my hip. It glowed a white hot color, only getting whiter.
It only got brighter and brighter before suddenly letting out a pulse of energy and going back to normal. The screen flickered out of existence from my peripheral vision before blinking back in front of me, showing two prompts.
Ding! Nazar managed to resist the curse of [Ghoul]!
[Ghoul] is now [One-Eyed Ghoul]!
[One-Eyed Ghoul]
|Epic Trait|
Race(Tokyo Ghoul) - You are a One-Eyed Ghoul, which despite how it sounds is more powerful than the average ghoul. As a One-Eyed Ghoul you have superhuman stats and a flexible super organ called a Kagune of your choosing. You get stronger by consuming human flesh but unlike a normal ghoul, you don't need to and can simply eat human food.
That should have made everything better, fixed the things changing inside me but-
*Blurg!*
I started throwing up, it being nearly a full projectile as I tumbled through the air, my slowed time coming to an end. As my brain started to feel like it was about to explode my instincts chose the Kagune that would help me the most right now.
*Shluk—CRACK!*
Four nearly onyx black Rinkaku sprout from my back sporting almost radiation green highlights across them. They whipped out to my motorcycle, grabbing my equipment off of the sides, yet not grabbing the motorcycle itself. It was both too large and already too damaged to be salvaged. So the best I could do in my current state was save my stuff, and as I grabbed them my Rinkaku wrapped around me and my things. After a few seconds that felt eternal, I made contact with the ground, rolling for a few moments before coming to a stop. I tried to stand only to feel my stomach seize again and I threw up.
Time skip — 5 minutes later
Feeling my stomach finally stop voiding itself, I wobbled a bit before eventually standing again. Looking up, I see ED-E floating there, him not having a face didn't stop him from somehow looking worried for me.
(loud burst of static, urgent radio announcer)
"Stand by for emergency broadcast!"
♪ You always hurt the one you love… ♪
(clattering sound effect, tense swing in background)
♪ What a shock to my heart… ♪
(distorted radio crackle)
"Are you with me, pal?"
"Yeah, I'm fine…I think." I say, feeling my stomach be emptier than ever. Looking over at my motorcycle I see it still laying there, back wheel spinning slowly. Not even having to get close to the thing to know it was totaled. Sighing, I open the 'Familiar' tab and summon the Evil and Intimidating Horse. He appeared, and like ED-E, seemed to express himself with joy at being summoned. Managing a wobbly smile, I walked up and jumped onto the saddle that came with him.
"Guess I have to make the ride of shame through Primm then, huh?" I say self deprecatingly. The horse snorted at that, shaking his mane. ED-E piped up with his two-cents as well.
(gentle guitar strum, softly)
♪ Lean on me, when you're not strong… ♪
(static, comforting radio voice)
"We'll be home before the next song plays."
♪ Get your kicks on Route 66… ♪
(whirring motor hum)
"We'll make it, kid."
"…Yeah, thanks ED-E…" I mumble, feeling the changes in my body still shifting a bit, before realizing something rather important.
"I really should give you a name, what should it be though?" I say to the horse as I nudge him forward. It doesn't make any noise but I can almost feel its expectation. Grinning at the chance to get my mind off what just happened, I say jokingly, "Hoofbeats McScaryface?- ACK!"
*Thud!*
"Ow, alright, I get it…Mr. Nefarious Neigh- Whoa!" I joke again before having to dodge his hooves coming down on me. Shooting up I see him do what I can only describe as the horse equivalent of pouting. I chuckle for a bit before stepping forward carefully. He jerks his head away, not wanting to look at me. "OK, I'm done, serious name time now…how about…Umbra?" I ask, a few seconds go by with none of us moving, then he snorted and nodded his head.
"Umbra it is them. Come on now, let's get moving." I say, getting back onto the saddle and finally riding off. Making my way to the intersection, I debate on whether to take the main road or the rail tracks. One is the way the main game is meant to be followed…but this isn't a game, so I can follow the rail tracks and head straight to Nipton, completely ignoring the Mojave Outpost and Cass. There is a third option, I could move through Quarry Junction and just run past the deathclaws. I could have done it before but I didn't know how fast I could go, NOW though, I'm fast as hell. I still don't know how fast I am, but I am certain that I'm faster than any land based vehicle because of the [One-Eyed Ghoul] and [Concrete Conduit Physique] mixing.
Ding! Survive an interrupted race change and the upgrade to the superior race without having your mind break!
1x Random Gold ticket acquired!
Seeing the ticket I hesitate, wondering if it's still a good idea to make these rolls.
"Fuck it, I've come this far, can't get any worse…right?" I say, closing my eyes and hoping nothing bad happens again.
Rolling Random Gold ticket.
Ding!
[Chikage]
|Uncommon Item|
Bloodborne - A blade wielded by the royal guards of Annalise, Queen of the Vilebloods. Chikage is an exceptional katana with incredible durability. But its power comes from the runes engraved onto it, allowing its user to sink the blade into their own flesh and imbue it with their vital essence to amplify its power. In addition, while wielding the Chikage all Necromancy and Blood-based abilities are amplified.
"I guess I can use that, my [One-Eyed Ghoul] trait gives me RC cells that could synergize well with this…though I don't know how to use a katana." I say, grabbing said weapon before it could fall to the ground after it popped into existence next to me. Gazing upon the weapon's almost archaic rune covered design, I debated on whether to test out how well it would interact with said RC cells before eventually deciding against it. "I don't have enough food in my stomach to bother with tests right now." I say, tying the katana onto my hip. I decided to look at my ability panel so I can remember exactly what I have to work with.
—————
Ability slots and synergies: 4/5
Slot #1: Create water
Slot #2: Concrete Conduit Physiology + Claws = Tyrant Talons | Obsidian Fusillade | [Splintercore Bombs]
Slot #3: Ace of All Trades + High Specs + Jack of All Trades + Time Accel (Mutation—Mind only) = [Prodigy Engine] | Instant Adaptation
Slot #4: Rinkaku
Slot #5: Empty
—————
"I'll have to check the synergies for these powers…later, I'm too tired right now." I say, rubbing my empty stomach. Taking a second look at the paths I could take, I decided to just follow the known route and go through Primm. I need more food anyways. Then I'll stop at the Mojave Outpost, before finally heading to Nipton to see if it's been attacked yet…maybe check and see if that satellite from Big MT fell yet.
[Chapter 6 End]
A/N: A short one this time, but I'm trying to slow things down from it being action all the time. I try to not have it be action every chapter but that's just how it ended up happening, I couldn't have Isaac ignore what would happen to Primm just because the population was bigger than what the game showed, because that would make everything just stop making sense. If you haven't noticed, Isaac is a good person trying to do what's right, without acknowledging the fact that he is a good person.
Another thought comes to mind, I wonder if anyone has noticed it and just hasn't said anything or if no one has actually realized it yet. If you have no clue what I'm talking about then try and think about the one ticket he hasn't gotten for something still has. (That probably made it worse…whatever. It'll become apparent in a few chapters anyways.)
Extra A/N: I almost forgot, I know some people are going to be upset by what I did with the Nazar, but every time I hear a Ghoul talking about what it's like to not be able to eat human food with their friends(purple haired girl), what Kaneki goes through throughout the entire series, and even the old man that owns the coffee shop (his wife had to eat human flesh despite being human herself because of the baby they had together), they always liken it to a curse or outright call it one if I'm remembering it correctly.
So yes, I'm saying that Ghouls ONLY being able to eat human flesh is a curse. I even double checked to make sure everything was right, and it was. The Nazar can block any curse at Epic or above at the cost of itself, and [Ghoul] was an Elite trait, so yes I am going to keep the Nazar (check auxiliary chaps for the rarity tiers).
Anyways, I've done enough coffee fueled rambling for one chapter, so I'll end it here. I hope that those who have read this far (and even those who haven't) have an incredible rest of your day/night, and a wonderful rest of your holidays!