[Mantle City]
The roar of the motorcycle blends with the cold atmosphere of Mantle.
If someone asked Daniel to describe the city in a few words, he'd say: cold, gray, and, of course, the ass-end of the world.
Next to him, in the sidecar, Aegis is sitting beside GLaDOS, who has her entire body wrapped in duct tape. The reason is simple: this way, she can't deploy the weapons Penny installed in her.
After recovering from GLaDOS' shot and stopping Weiss from destroying her, both Pietro and Daniel decided it would be best to call it a day. Pietro promised to put him in contact with Atlas, so for now, there was nothing left to do but wait.
Only a day has passed since then, and in that time, not much has happened.
Weiss went to Atlas to take care of family matters, while he remains stuck in Mantle... not by choice. If it were up to him, he would've already found a way to sneak into the floating city and get the hell out of this hole, but apparently, he needs a special permit to ascend.
The social division here is complete bullshit.
"Yeah, well... who needs Atlas?" he mutters under his breath without stopping the bike. "I'll build my own floating city... with blackjack and hookers."
A sigh escapes him as he brings the motorcycle to a stop.
"You know what? Forget the blackjack and hookers. Ah... forget the whole thing."
He gives up on the idea of a floating city. He wouldn't even know where to start anyway.
His gaze drifts across the surroundings. Currently, he's in the commercial zone of Mantle, and while it's not exactly a cozy place, at least it's not as cold here. The city's integrated heating is more concentrated in this area, creating a more stable accumulation of warmth. In other parts, the temperature varies depending on their importance. The next warmest zone is the lower-middle-class residential area.
There's no upper class in Mantle, because if you were rich, you simply wouldn't be down here.
Still, he has no interest in straying from his path to explore the residential zones.
He sighs and turns the motorcycle back on, continuing his way toward the industrial zone.
As he moves away from the center, the cold intensifies, and the buildings lose height and quality. There are no more five-story structures or taller, just low, aged constructions. Mostly factories. Lots of factories.
As expected, most are dedicated to processing Dust, and a good percentage belong to the Schnee family. The chimneys spew thick black smoke nonstop, covering the sky with a dense, opaque layer. The air feels heavier here, carrying that metallic, soot-laden smell that clings to your clothes. The streets are filled with transport vehicles and workers coming and going, some walking briskly, others dragging their feet, visibly tired.
Daniel keeps driving without slowing down. He has no interest in staying longer than necessary.
Finally, he reaches his next destination: Atlas' crater.
Where the floating city of Atlas once stood, now only an immense void remains.
He parks the motorcycle and dismounts, approaching the fences surrounding the crater's edge. Some sections are still intact, but many are damaged or even missing, leaving openings anyone could slip through. At first glance, the area seems abandoned, but upon closer inspection, he can see people at the bottom.
Without overthinking it, he activates his ability to share vision with Aegis. He still feels that annoying pinch in his head when he does it, but he's getting used to it.
With his enhanced sight, he confirms it: there are more people than he thought.
If Atlas was home to the wealthy and Mantle to the lower-middle class, this hole has become a refuge for those who have nothing, the outcasts. Faunus and humans huddle in the shadows, some gathered around makeshift campfires, others taking shelter under tarps or flimsy structures. Many are wearing worn-out, dirty clothes, coats patched over and over again to withstand the cold. They move slowly, as if every step takes twice the effort.
Daniel watches in silence.
"A world besieged by monsters, where people survive by locking themselves inside walled cities or taking refuge in small towns, hoping the Grimm don't notice them... or worse, reduced to living in a hole." His expression is resigned.
"A world where, at any moment, a catastrophe could wipe out what little stability they have left."
"A world that needs help," he can only sigh to himself, "And maybe the saddest part of all is that they sent me."
"Poor, sad world... you're screwed."
-/-
GLaDOS, still trapped in the sidecar seat, struggles to remove the duct tape binding her. She tries to force out her internal weapons, hoping to break the restraint, but the material is tougher than she expected. Her struggle doesn't go unnoticed.
"You should stop trying that."
Daniel glances at her briefly as he drives, his nonchalant tone only making GLaDOS sigh. This effort is pointless.
"You know, this is a dangerous city. You should untie me in case someone tries to rob us."
She tries to persuade him, but he simply strokes his chin thoughtfully.
"Mmmm... I don't think so."
"I already apologized for shooting you."
That makes Daniel turn his head towards her.
"No, you didn't."
He's right. She didn't. And she doesn't see the need to either. To her, it doesn't count. He started it. In fact, he should consider himself lucky that when she shot him, her weapon was in non-lethal mode.
"Pff, whatever."
"Turn right and go straight ahead."
Indeed, Daniel does exactly that. At least she can appreciate that the monkey follows her orders without questioning them too much. This ride has two purposes: first, letting Daniel do a bit of sightseeing. Gotta keep the monkey happy. Second, mapping the city and identifying key points. It's not completely necessary; she can get images and maps from the network, but digital information isn't always up to date. During the ride, she's already noticed several discrepancies with the online data: factories that don't appear in the records, new stores, and others that have closed. Valuable information for the future.
The motorcycle moves forward, and the temperature drops rapidly. For her, it's not a problem, but it might be for the monkey driving and the Odontodactylus beside him. The air grows colder with each meter traveled, and the surroundings change just as quickly. Not only is it colder, but there's also less activity. Fewer people, fewer houses. The area isn't completely deserted, but there are no more factories or residences. Now it's a storage zone: abandoned warehouses, neglected structures forgotten by the city.
Daniel observes the buildings as he drives, his expression a mix of bewilderment and disdain.
"What a waste of space. People are living in a shithole, but this place is uninhabited. Couldn't they live here?"
It's not really a question for her, more of a thought spoken aloud. But GLaDOS never misses an opportunity to humiliate him.
"It's because they can't."
Her voice is clear and direct, like she's talking to a child who just stated the obvious.
"The city doesn't use this storage area, so there's no need to activate the integrated heating here. The hole is much warmer in comparison. Not as warm as the city, but much more than this place."
Daniel nods in response without thinking too much about it. Several minutes pass as he circles the warehouses, his gaze scanning the structures for something useful. GLaDOS, however, has already made up her mind.
"Stop. This one is suitable."
He can barely see the warehouse, but he doesn't question the order. Without saying anything, he parks the motorcycle in a nearby alley and looks at the building skeptically.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
She's been examining the surroundings for a while. The warehouse isn't completely in ruins, there are no signs of people lurking, and security is practically nonexistent. There are no surveillance cameras nearby, except for a few she's already identified and knows how to avoid.
Daniel takes care of hiding the motorcycle, then picks up both GLaDOS and Aegis, approaching the entrance and trying to open it. Of course, it's locked. He's about to force it open with a single blow when GLaDOS interrupts him.
"Don't do it."
He freezes and gives her a sidelong glance.
"Any other ideas?"
"I do. If you bothered to look up, you'd see an open window."
Daniel frowns but does as she says, and sure enough, he spots a partially open window near the top of the building. It's not exactly low, but that's no problem for him. Without needing to tie her down, he places GLaDOS on his back and secures her to him using his adhesion ability, locking her in place effortlessly. Then, he hoists Aegis over his shoulder and, without a second thought, begins to walk up the wall with unsettling ease.
For GLaDOS, it's a sight worthy of analysis. She already knew about his abilities, of course, but seeing them in action is always fascinating. This, after all, was one of the reasons she chose an abandoned warehouse in the first place.
Daniel reaches the window without issue and enters with ease. GLaDOS immediately scans the area: a spacious room, with only a few holes in the ceiling and enough structure to serve as a temporary base. A promising site.
He sets her down on a crate along with Aegis and looks at her expectantly.
"So, do we start or what?"
GLaDOS can only agree. To carry out her plan, she needs to know her resources, and her best resource right now is Daniel. Knowing what he's capable of, understanding his limits, strengths, and weaknesses, will be key to adjusting the strategy—or even assessing if there's a real chance to infiltrate Atlas. It was time to do what she does best: tests.
The first step is his background. GLaDOS knows that Daniel fought in an underground arena about six months ago against an opponent with aura and won, though with difficulty. However, that information isn't enough to evaluate his current physical abilities since he's increased his capabilities since then. More concrete tests are needed.
Just thinking about running tests makes her processor buzz with a feeling akin to euphoria.
Phase 1: Physical condition.
Daniel starts by lifting some of the heavy crates scattered around the warehouse. There's no time or equipment for precise measurements, so estimations will have to do. He lifts one, then another. Three. Four. Based on her calculations, each crate weighs approximately 180 kg. After the fourth, GLaDOS notices a decrease in his strength.
Judging by the weight-to-effort ratio the subject is exhibiting, she estimates his maximum limit to be around 780 kg, roughly the equivalent of lifting a full-grown polar bear. In comparison, hunters can typically lift between 700 and 1,000 kg, depending on their combat focus, according to network statistics. His physical strength is acceptable. With this analysis complete, it's time to move on to the next test
Daniel runs from one end of the warehouse to the other. The space is large, about 50 meters across. He takes approximately 1.34 seconds to cover the distance, allowing her to estimate his top speed at 37.2 m/s, or about 134 km/h (83 mph), comparable to a cheetah's top speed. Compared to hunters, whose speeds range between 40 m/s for the slower ones and 80 m/s for the fastest, Daniel falls below the average.
"That's enough."
At those words, Daniel stops, still panting slightly.
"How'd I do?"
"Average. Now, take off your clothes."
"Well, at least it wasn't—Wait, what?"
It took several minutes of convincing before he agreed to strip completely.
"There's nothing I haven't seen or want to see."
Daniel had to admit she had a point, so he just complied. GLaDOS examines him thoroughly. She doesn't do it out of curiosity but because she needs to assess his body. At first glance, it's fairly well-maintained, except for the numerous scars. His musculature is well-developed without being overly bulky, which doesn't entirely match the strength he can exert. Additionally, his weight isn't higher than it should be, ruling out the possibility of increased muscle density.
Most likely, his strength comes from optimization in muscle structure: denser, more compact fibers. She needs more tests to confirm this.
Phase 2: Abilities
GLaDOS doesn't plan to evaluate all of Daniel's abilities. She already has a clear list of what he can do, and while some seem useful, many others are either irrelevant or impossible to test at the moment.
The ability to copy semblances through sexual intercourse… no. She has no intention of verifying that, but given that the test subject can create glyphs—something that should be exclusive to the Schnee family—and possesses more than one semblance, she has no reason to doubt its truth. She also refuses to test his supposed ability to turn bodily fluids into aphrodisiacs. "Absolutely not." It would be a complete waste of time and dignity.
As for his immunity to mind control, confirming it would involve opening up his brain, and while the idea of performing a detailed dissection is tempting, it's not a viable option for now. What's important is focusing on what she can use.
Daniel begins punching the wall with his fists, repeating the process several times without anything noteworthy happening. Several minutes pass before the first signs of activation appear. His hair glows faintly, his eyes change color, and the energy in his body becomes noticeably stronger.
The first thing to test is the semblance Burn. Assuming the ability follows a logical pattern, the accumulation of impacts should translate into a progressive increase in strength, up to a certain limit. According to what Daniel told her, it seems like he can double his physical capacity, though there's no way to confirm that without risking the subject's well-being.
What's clear, however, is that the test subject can't release the accumulated energy in the form of an explosion. He tried several times without success, suggesting that there are specific conditions he doesn't yet understand or doesn't know how to trigger—probably because he's an idiot.
GLaDOS has strong reasons to believe it's the latter.
For her, the conclusion is simple: "The ability is unreliable in a controlled scenario. It cannot be considered part of the plan unless the test subject takes direct damage and has no other choice but to fight." It's marked as a last-resort resource, nothing more.
Daniel runs back and forth in the warehouse again, this time using his semblance Petal Burst.
The difference is striking, managing to cover the 50 meters in 0.90 seconds, increasing his speed to 55 m/s. That's nearly double his normal top speed, which is undeniably impressive.
But there's an obvious drawback.
"That's unnecessarily flashy."
The ability leaves a trail of petals in his wake, a visual marker far too conspicuous. It's not a skill designed for stealth, making it unsuitable for an infiltration mission.
While analyzing this, she logs another observation. During the test, the subject wasn't able to activate a variation of the ability that would allow him to fully dematerialize.
"If he could do that, he'd become a high-value resource for the future." It's marked as a new priority.
They quickly move on to the next test: glyph creation. She watches the test subject as he tries to form circles of energy, focusing on the structure of each symbol. Despite the seemingly complex process, he manages to do it without too many errors. His natural polyglot ability seems to be a significant advantage, making it easier for him to understand the language of the glyphs and create new ones.
"Versatile, adaptable… but too slow," she concludes.
The time it takes him to generate each glyph is an issue. In real combat, that delay would leave him vulnerable. But there's an even bigger complication: if someone were to see an unknown glyph, it wouldn't take long to associate it with the only person capable of creating them—the test subject.
"Ah…"
She can't help but sigh. Another ability that doesn't fit into her plans.
Next test.
She watches as Daniel activates what is likely his most important semblance: Overactive Imagination. His features gradually change. First, small details in his face. Then, the colors of his clothes. A second later, his clothes themselves. Within moments, he looks like an entirely different person.
But that's not the surprising part.
GLaDOS watches him disappear completely. It's not camouflage, not an optical trick. To the human eye, Daniel simply ceases to exist.
"Interesting."
Unlike his other abilities, his control over this one is remarkably high. Not only can he change his face and clothes with ease, but he does so with a precision he hasn't shown in any other semblance. If he could perfect the ability to create momentary duplicates, he'd be even more useful, but for now, this ability becomes his primary asset.
It's logged as a key piece for her plans.
Wasting no time, she moves on to the final part of the evaluation: the test subject's ability to acquire random skills and objects.
GLaDOS had already witnessed a few of them: climbing walls and ceilings effortlessly, sticking to surfaces, maintaining balance even upside down with no adverse effects. He also mentioned that fall damage is drastically reduced, which could be useful in escape situations.
Another important detail is his stealthy nature. He can move without making a sound when he chooses, and if he surprises an enemy, his attack becomes much more effective.
"Usable."
Then there are the objects. Some are useless, but others have potential. Among them, shoes that double his speed… at the cost of leaving him completely blind.
A considerable flaw.
But not when he's already demonstrated he can share vision with Aegis.
Flaw neutralized.
With all this data, GLaDOS draws her final conclusion.
Mission success probability: 83%.
If direct combat is avoided, the test subject is perfect for infiltration: invisible, fast, and silent.
"Should I use my random ability?" Daniel's words snap her out of her thoughts.
"Mhmmm."
She considers it for a moment. While she would like to see the ability in action again, there's an obvious risk. They have no way to predict what will happen, and the last thing she needs is for something dangerous to appear.
"The ideal scenario would be to create a safe environment before—"
"I already activated it."
GLaDOS barely has time to process the statement before Daniel does it.
"Ah…"
She can only sigh in exasperation. The reaction doesn't go unnoticed by Daniel, who grins in response.
"Don't worry, usually nothing too extreme happens."
For some reason, those words don't reassure her at all.
-/-
General James Ironwood is in his office at the Atlas tower, reviewing papers with his usual meticulousness. Budgets, troop deployments, security reports… nothing out of the ordinary. "Everything in order."
Brrr.
The sound of his personal scroll pulls him out of his concentration. He raises an eyebrow in surprise. It's rare for it to go off. Very few people have access to that number. Any call, even from high-ranking council members of Atlas, goes through the proper channels before reaching him.
A direct call can only mean it's someone close.
He looks at the caller ID.
Pietro Polendina.
As strange as it was to receive a personal call, having it be from Pietro was even more unusual. They got along well enough, but their conversations were almost exclusively centered around Penny and any projects Pietro was working on for the benefit of Atlas.
He doesn't hesitate to answer.
The screen appears in front of him, displaying Pietro's familiar smile.
"Pietro? Did something happen?" His tone is cold and direct, as always. Pietro just laughs.
"Does something have to happen for me to want to say hello to a friend?" James allows a small smile.
"No, it doesn't. But tell me, is this call purely for friendship?"
Pietro has the decency to look embarrassed.
"No… it's not." James immediately adopts a more serious expression. Pietro notices and quickly moves to clarify.
"But it's nothing bad, quite the opposite. I'd say it's something amazing and that you'll be interested in."
That eases him a bit. His expression softens, and he nods.
"Tell me about it."
"I have a young inventor who's shown me his blueprints and wants to sell them to Atlas." He nods, though he doesn't quite understand why Pietro is calling him about this.
"You know you're one of Atlas' top scientists. You don't need to call me directly to purchase blueprints."
"I know, I know. But it's not just one blueprint, it's many. Enough for the general of Atlas to get involved."
That catches his interest.
"Besides—" Pietro pauses, as if deciding how to phrase it. "The sale is only part of what I'm interested in. I want you to meet him."
"Is he that good?"
He nods confidently. "Better than you can imagine. I can assure you his ideas will change the world."
(Daniel is fighting for his life. The creature in front of him resembles a wolf, but it's more humanoid. It's not a Grimm. He wishes it were a Grimm—he'd rather it be a Grimm. [Image]
He tries to back away, gain some ground, but he can't. His enemy isn't just fast; it's intelligent.)
James lets out a soft laugh. "Haha, seems like you've grown quite fond of him."
Pietro can't deny it. His expression softens slightly before he responds.
"I see a lot of myself in him." He takes a moment to think carefully about his next words.
"I believe he's someone with the ambition to change the world, with a greater desire to create than to destroy."
(Daniel dodges a bite that would've surely taken his arm off. "I'll stuff your corpse when I kill you!"
Accelerating quickly, he punches the creature hard, sending it stumbling back several meters.)
James can hear the hope in Pietro's voice. "It seems you believe he'll change the world."
Pietro nods confidently.
"I can assure you, this kid will make a difference in the coming years."
(The creature grabs Daniel by the neck with one hand, lifting him effortlessly. Its other hand grips his head and starts twisting it.
"AHHHH!"
He tries to fight back, but he can't break free. He grips the arm holding him, applying all the strength he can in a desperate attempt to break it, but the creature keeps twisting, trying to snap his neck.)
Pietro keeps his gaze steady on the screen. "I can assure you."
(Crack!
The sound of a bone breaking echoes through the warehouse.
The creature drops Daniel, letting him fall to the ground completely motionless. His head twisted all the way to his back.)
[image]
-//-
Author's note: Want more chapters? Want me to get my lazy ass moving? Leave a comment, it motivates me! Plus, I love reading what you guys write. And wow, without asking or expecting it, I reached rank 163 for the week! That was unexpected.
I have no idea how I ended up writing about the protagonist's physical abilities, but here we are. Now, the next chapter will be about gacha, so it's time for you to give me ideas! I can't wait to read them.
I'm not joking, drop a gacha idea, I'm running out of ideas!
Kisses and hugs!