Chapter 173 - My SI Stash #73 - Escapist by Pef (Worm) (1/2)

-Same author as ”Gaia's little helper”~ A completed Worm fic with an awesome SI Thinker, check it out!

Sypnosis: ???

Rated: M

Words: 170K

Posted: forum.questionablequesting.com/threads/escapist.10343/ (Pef)

PS: If you're not able to copy/paste the link, you have everything in here to find it, by simply searching the author and the story title. It sucks that you can't copy links on mobile (´ー｀)

-I'll be putting the chapter ones of all the fanfics mentioned, to give you guys a sample if you wan't more please do go to the website and support the author! (And maybe even convince them to start uploading chapters in here as well!)

Chapter 1

You know all those idiots who dream to escape the real world and enter a fictional one?

They are called escapists. Because they want to escape, you see?

And who are you to stop them? Are you their jailer? Mind police? The Inquisition?

Well, perhaps...

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Pef woke up in a new world, wearing his mountain climbing gear, including a heavy rucksack and safety helmet.

Some say dreaming of falling is a mental unconscious d_e_s_i_r_e to fly...and land somewhere else.

Luckily his climbing cord hit a snag and slowed the descent.

Hitting a few aerial cables and poles on the way down, Pef landed harshly, feeling everything inside hurt, like a bitch.

”The hell?” he asked himself, nursing burns and scr_a_p_es on his fingers. Finger-less gloves weren't that great at preventing rope burns.

He crawled to the edge of the roof, trying to find out where he was. The building was in shambles. It smelled like the sea, and like poverty.

In the distance, a small dragon exploded into flames, fighting a swarm of bees and spiders. Wasn't that a scene from...Lung?

”Nevermind then. I'd guess it's Brockton Bay...” Pef mused thoughtfully.

Playing with online CYOAs had always carried the risk of being s_u_c_k_e_d inside.

Now, the only question was, did he get any powers?

Of course, he wasn't simply meditating. His hands were already tying a cord line for rappelling down the building.

He couldn't stay on the roof, especially in a place with frequent violent flying humans with mental problems. Plus that fight was his ticket to the big leagues.

Taylor was in fact correct. Beating up a big villain was a great way to make your debut in the parahuman circles.

She only failed to see it through, and capitalize on her win. He wouldn't fail.

Boots slapping on the wet pavement, as it had rained sooner, Pef ran as fast as he could.

Various locals passed in the opposite direction, running away from the fight. It wouldn't help them in long term anyway. This was Earth Bet. It will end in fire anyway.

Deal harshly with the danger, or simply postpone your demise.

As he got nearer to the dragon and the fireballs, his mind started producing schematics for counters and defenses, all tailored on this danger. 'How would a trash can full of scraps and a microwave produce a coil rifle? ' Pef wondered as passed through an alley filled with refuse and trash.

'So, I'm likely a Tinker. Or as they say here, a magic engineer, producing improbable tech that shouldn't work.'

With a sudden break, he entered the tiny plaza where the ABB were gathered. Even the mooks had bandannas over their faces, to protect their identities.

'Right, a disguise!'

The ABB gangsters were mostly out, bitten by insects or burned by their own leader, with his pyrokinetic flames.

Lung himself was slowly reverting to human size, most likely due to thousands of insect bites, including recluse spiders. Most of the insects targeted the genitals...which overextended his regenerating powers. Quite clever, the future queen.

”Lung! You're under arrest!” Pef yelled loudly, and managed to kick the AZN leader in the ear, right before Lung fell down on his own.

A victory song resounded in his brain. Checkpoint achieved.

Scr_a_p_es of shoes and a cloud of insects buzzing angrily drew his attention. A skinny girl with a creepy costume slid down a fire escape stair.

”You! The Master with the bugs. You're the one who attacked these citizens?” Pef asked daringly, pointing at the downed ABB gangsters.

”They were going to kill kids!” a scared and trembling voice responded, as Pef kicked the fainted Lung in the head again, just to make sure the dragon stayed down.

”Okay then! Wear a helmet next time, idiot! Your brain is your only weapon as a Master!” Pef yelled at the silk wearing heroine, since she only wore a mask and her hair was slightly singed.

The spiders and other insects fell silent. Was it too much? Oh well, Taylor probably won't listen anyway...

Soon, a futuristic motorcycle appeared, with a power armored hero riding it. Still, the Tinker had no closed helmet, his beard flowing in the breeze.