Vote closed: Winner Debt

Despite a strong start for the bonus points Debt manage to do a strong comeback. I will update the Meta Power post to include Debt.
 
Chapter 100: Glimpse and Choice
[X] Power
[X] Alex chooses a 300 point creature or power.

Power Roll: (370 points)
Roll D125=116
0 Bonus points (100), 0 Debt, 200 Double Dice (Already Gained)
Sub vote result: Debt
Banked 370 Points

Well, that's done. I had a lot of fun writing that chapter. I hope you like my choice.
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After we got back, I looked at the hour, eleven pm, and my next patrol was at seven in the morning. I decided that I could take one hour to write my daily power report and also my report about my once again colorful patrol. That would leave me with enough time for a decent night's sleep.

I also resolved to talk with someone about my dilemma concerning villains joining the Protectorate, perhaps Hannah would have some insight on the subject. Tomorrow if I could find the time and the opportunity.

The Menagerie chose to trigger the instant I sat down to start my report. I delegate the investigation about it to my Minds while I start writing.

On the subject of Solar, I didn't mention that it was a partner, I simply explained that I gained a powerful changer power and gave some details about it.

I gave much more information about Miss J, and I suggested testing her capabilities as soon as possible, insisting on the fact that the knowledge learned that way was permanent. I did mention the possible attachment to her that could appear after learning from her but specified that it wasn't a Master effect, simply the natural attachment for a beloved professor after spending subjective months learning from her. I could only hope that they would believe me.

Shadow's transformation wasn't mentioned, knowing that I haven't summoned him yet, I could easily explain the discrepancy in power as me simply underestimating it on my first report. It was easier than saying that my partners could spontaneously transform into completely different lifeforms.

For the sorting hat, I only talk about its ability to read people's characters, and I suggested that it could be used in counterintelligence operations or to double-check prospective recruits.

On the power side of things, I didn't hide anything and put some emphasis on Resource Network saying that it grants me a really strong regenerative factor.

Once finished with that I turned my attention to my Mind.

So what do we get? It'll be the last thing in today's report./There are two aspects for this one, the creature itself and the rules that apply to it./It's called a Legion, specifically an Axe Legion, it is a humanoid armored creature that wields a weird Axe-like weapon. But originally it was a Chimera a sort of Digital creature from another Dimension that possesses a physical body, perhaps some similarity to a Digimon?/And in that state it was a rabid beast attacking any non-chimera in the vicinity, so it was captured and transformed in the Legion we got today and used against other Chimera./It's unusual that we get that much non-essential information about our partners but it's really interesting.

It was indeed interesting but I wasn't sure how to feel about having a partner that was deliberately enslaved to fight against its own species even if it was necessary for the survival of the human race in that world. Was it smart? Was it resentful of its condition? I'll guess I'll judge that when I'll see it for real.

Anyway, while its story is cool, what matters for us is its powers./And that's where it gets interesting. First, it's completely and permanently invisible, we're the only ones that can see it. Second, we got a two-way telepathic link with it, it allows us to give it orders silently and perceive the world through its eyes. Third, it can create a really strong spherical shield, and fourth it can generate explosions after striking a surface with its weapon. Lastly, it can grow in power with training, getting stronger, and gaining more powers.

I couldn't help but frown at that, this sounds too good to be true.

What's the catch?/It's not really a catch, there's no hidden crippling drawback./But it does operate under different summoning rules./Instead of once every 24 hours it's once every 100 seconds and it can only remain for the same duration./And as for distance it's linked to us via an immaterial chain measuring fifteen meters in length./So it's strictly a short-range bodyguard and tag team partners./I think we should include it in our usual loadout, it's too strong to ignore./The last thing of note is that it's not compatible with some of our powers, mainly Anchored, Maintain, and Relay but also Designated Target for obvious reasons.

Now that I have added all the information necessary I could finish my report. I didn't go into too much detail about the Axe Legion, only saying that it was invisible and able to create forcefields and explosions. It should be sufficient.

Next was the report of my patrol, it was much harder to write. Reliving the events leading to the fire, the near panic attack I had, and the corpses I found in the burning building was harrowing. In the end, I managed it even if it was below my usual quality, I wasn't in the mood to proofread it. I did recount our exchange with Uber and Leet but mostly redirect the reader toward Armsmaster's report.

It was just past midnight when I pushed myself away from my desk. After this long day, I was tired not physically but mentally.

Only a few minutes later I was in my bed ready to go relax in the Mental Realm while my body slept. It didn't take long for me to reach the white void of the Mental Realm, looking at the numerous bubbles all around me I let out a sigh of pleasure. The Mental Realm was among my favorite powers, definitively top three.

After a quick jump to receive a refreshing hug from my favorite SCP I decided that I should go see my little sister. I didn't call on her today so she would like that.

Just as I was about to enter her bubble there was a wrenching sensation and I found myself elsewhere. Another void, but this time it really was empty and it wasn't white, in every direction I could see a constantly shifting mix of every color of the rainbow plus a lot more that I had no word for. At best I could describe them with some nonsensical sounding words, for example, a splash of color right next to me could be best described as the opposite of black, but not white, mixed with the texture of bubblegum, and evoking the sound of a church's bell.

Knowing that it wasn't the time to be distracted by the decor, as fantastical as it was I looked at myself. And I didn't find my normal body, only a big pure white sphere, with infinitesimal motifs engraved into it. Almost like …patterns? Was I seeing my own…

Before I could finish the thought, I heard a voice, a voice that I would recognize everywhere it was engraved in my memories for eternity. A voice that launched me on my current path. A voice that makes me a keeper of the Celestial Menagerie.

"Hello, keeper. How have you been?"

When I turned around, or at least my vision appeared to move, I found a gigantic silhouette floating in front of me. But estimating its size was an exercise in frustration because my mind insisted that it was bigger than a planet but my eye said that it was roughly two meters tall. The last time I couldn't see what it looked like but now for some unfathomable reason, it was possible. It possesses a vaguely humanoid shape, made of some dense green gas hiding some light source in the middle of its torso. It possessed no facial features, be it eyes, nose, or mouth only a white plane where those features should be.

Doing my best to calm my non-existent racing heart, I respond carefully trying to be respectful. "Hello. I've been doing good so far but things are quite complicated right now. What can I do for…you? I never got your name?"

"You couldn't pronounce it anyway, call me Z. And don't worry I'm not here for anything specific. I was passing by and wanted to check on you."

I calmed down substantially at that. "Well as I said I'm doing fine even if gaining access to the Menagerie changed my life."

"That's normal, very few Keepers manage to maintain a normal life once they gain it. It has something to do with the weight of karma on an enlarged soul. I won't bother you with the details. How long has it been for you?"

He appeared to "look" up before returning its attention to me.

"Hum, less than a month, impressive progression then. I knew of a few other Keepers that need years to accumulate that many patterns and abilities."

I didn't know how to respond to that so I changed the subject. "You weren't kidding when you said that the Menagerie contained things that would surprise me. It keeps giving me the most exotic creature, spirit, machines, living items, gods… Adjusting to that wasn't easy."

He crouched down a little and appeared to peer inside me. "Not a bad selection but you've seen nothing yet."

I metaphorically gulped at that, what I gained was nothing?

He ignored my unease and continued. "You know what? I can see that you got enough room for a minor pattern. You're doing an excellent job so far. If you want you can choose one pattern or ability among the Menagerie and I'll engrave it myself. Anything you want. Provided it's not too big."

This time I really gulped. Anything? How could I choose? I didn't even know what options were available?

When I voiced that concern Z responded by lifting his hands and all of sudden the void became full. In every direction, shapes appeared all around us, more than I could count, more than I could conceptualize. But it wasn't the shape of the creature themselves, just spheres of light of all sizes with an indistinct shadow in the middle. They extend into infinity in every direction.

So that was the Menagerie in all its glory, a repository for everything that could be even vaguely called a living being. It was mind-boggling. It was humbling.

After a minute of silence I spoke up again; "Thanks but it doesn't help me much. I don't understand what I'm seeing."

He sounded faintly embarrassed as he responded. "Right you can't see them like me, sorry about that. You can use that to narrow your options down."

With another gesture, a sort of holographic screen appeared in front of me with an endless list of names on it.

"You can use that as a search engine. Just speak your criteria out loud."

I hesitate for an instant. What were my criteria? I decided to start with something simple, something that Z said.

I addressed the screen. "Display only the strongest entries that can fit into my soul."

The screen changed but the list of entries still appears to be endless. Still, it proved that it worked. But that still left me with the need to find criteria. Z was waiting patiently, well I couldn't read its nonexistent expression but he didn't look agitated.

Perhaps I could work backward? What was my goal? After pondering that for an instant I hit upon something even if at first glance it sounds ludicrous. It couldn't be that easy? Knowing that it cost me nothing to try I spoke up.

"List all creatures and abilities that could kill an Endbringer."

The screen flashed red at that and the list didn't move.

I winced, of course, it wouldn't work. "So does that mean that nothing in the Menagerie can deal with those monsters?"

"There's a fair number of beings that can do so, in various ways. But it's much too strong for you right now."

Z's comment reassured me a little, it even gave me some hope. Possibilities exist. I just need to be patient. The Menagerie should be able to provide me with something that works or a combination of some things.

I tried a number of other ideas, ways to weaken them, ways to teleport them away, ways to imprison them, etc…

I didn't find much, the best option was not a creature but a power called Mundane Equalizing. It would remove from play their external powers such as Leviathan's Hydrokinesis or Behemoth Dynakinesis. There was no mention of limitation on the target power level so it should work but it was dependent on a number of conditions and it wouldn't make them more vulnerable just less destructive. It could certainly be of tremendous help, save a lot of lives but they would still be there, they would still be able to escape and come back to torment our world every three months.

It was awfully tempting and I keep it as my backup option. But I didn't want to choose too fast, maybe better options existed within my grasp. So I started to search for other interesting possibilities. It took a while but Z assured me that no time was passing while we were here.

I was awfully tempted by a Pokemon like Buoy, from what I discovered some of those could become extremely powerful but even with Accelerated Training, it would take a lot of time. There was one that called to me, a Beldum could gain potent psychic powers as it evolved. But I resisted because it didn't fit my objectives.

It was the same thing for other types of growing creatures, like a Digimon, I wouldn't say no to a second one like Aylamon, but reaching their full potential would take too long.

A floating robot caught my eyes, it could among other things scan living being in great detail. Would it be potent enough to find a weak point on the Endrbingers? Did they possess any?

Some sort of slime construct called a Living Blasphemy possessed the ability to banish non-evil summoned creatures. Counting those monsters as non-evil sounds ludicrous and even if that could be applied it relied on the assumption that they count as summoned creatures. And that sounds even iffier.

I found dragons, an endless list of dragons of all shapes and sizes, and I knew that the ones I saw were among the weakest ones.

A number of living weapons were considered but quickly discarded, it would only improve my personal power. Still, the thought of wielding a Megashark as a weapon amused me to no end and I shared a laugh with Z when I asked him about it.

I had a look at various Modifiers similar to Clockwork but while some appear useful and strong none appears to do what I want.

There was a whole section about the anomaly studied by this SCP foundation, it wasn't a dimension I would want to visit. I would probably be classified as an anomaly myself.
Among the lots, I found Scp-795, transforming an Endbringer into a cat could be the solution but it would be completely useless if they didn't count as living creatures or were immune for one reason or another. Was I willing to risk it?

An evil creature called a Dementor briefly held my attention, it could drain someone's soul. But I dismissed it when I realized that if it could work on the Endbringers the Menagerie would have shown it to me earlier.

I was really surprised to discover that some Eidolons like Lord Zodiark were available within my souls' limits. But even if they could do impressive damage I very much doubt it would be enough. There was one that showed some potential, Carbuncle could reflect the damage received to the sender. Would it allow us to manipulate the Endbringer into killing themselves?. But it was limited to magical attacks and I didn't know if the Endringer power count. I noted that one as a possibility.

I don't know how much time was spent just searching and absorbing all the information that the Menagerie was willing to give me. Just that glimpse of the immensity of the Menagerie was staggering, people could spend an entire lifetime exploring it and it wouldn't be enough to discover even a tenth of its content.

Finally, I turned away from the screen and looked at Z. "I've made my choice. If you could give me Mundane Equalizing it would be great." Among the possibilities I considered I end up going back to the first I've found. It was the only one that guaranteed some results, probably not a victory but at least a respite. And combined with Rex, Zagan, Lord Zodiark, and others I would gain later, perhaps it would be enough.

"Certainly, it's easy enough." Z proceeds to pick up my body/soul, somehow changing my size or his to do that. And he appears to look at me intently for a while. I didn't feel anything but after a minute he put me back down.

"That's done. You'll feel that ability fully manifest when you return to your body. It was nice seeing you again; continue the good work."

He paused for an instant.

"Before I depart, I'm willing to respond to one question you may have about the Menagerie. You must be curious."

From its wording, I understood that you could only ask about the Menagerie itself. What could I ask about?

[] How does the Menageries choose what patterns I gained?

[] What makes the Menagerie trigger? Sometimes I gain a lot on the same day and sometimes nothing.

[] How do you choose which creatures need saving?

Wordcount: 2895
Excess word: 989
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You don't know how tempted I was to not reveal Alex's choice in this chapter, I came this close to just leaving it ambiguous and revealing it in the next chapter.
But I hate cliffhangers too much as a reader to do that to you. I would have felt dirty. You're lucky to have me as a QM.

For the roll, 610 points.

[] Creature

[] Power

Voting will be closed Monday at 3 PM GMT
 
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ell, that's done. I had a lot of fun writing that chapter. I hope you like my Alex's choice.
Fixed!
First Baby!
Shadow's transformation wasn't mentioned, knowing that I haven't summoned him yet, I could easily explain the discrepancy in power as me simply underestimating it on my first report.
I'd tell them.
It was easier than saying that my partners could spontaneously transform into completely different lifeforms.
But think about the scientists and clerks. Their reactions be so worth it!
us to give it order silently and perceive the world through its eyes.
orders
it's
Now that I have added all the information necessary I could finish my report. I didn't go into too much detail about the Axe Legion, only saying that it was invisible and able to create forcefields and explosions. It should be sufficient.
I feel like that's gonna be a timed headache coming Piggot's way.
ut this time it really was empty or white
wasn't
hat was the Menagerie in all its glory, a repertory for everything
repository
Say hello to my little mega friend!
Would it allow us to manipulate the Endbringer into killing themselves?. But it was limited to magical attacks and I didn't know if the Endringer power count. I noted that one as a possibility.
Just ask the search function to display if it can do _________.
[Use of SCP-795 to terminate recalcitrant D-Class personnel approved. – O5-4]
05-4 is a trolling cat liver obviously.

But I hate cliffhangers too much as a reader to do that to you. I would have felt dirty. You're lucky to have me as a QM.
Yes Daddy.👨‍👧
Want the others. Want to see how meta this hot dog stand can become.
But this seems more poignant...
[X] How do you choose which creatures need saving?
[X] Power
So! Finally get to ask: @zagan out if alllll the 390 pointers? What would have been your choice?
 
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[X] Power

Power- because there is a choose a category option in power which would let us try and get one of the really big creatures otherwise a creature roll is more likely to get lower point ones
 
[X] What makes the Menagerie trigger? Sometimes I gain a lot on the same day and sometimes nothing.
A way for our main character to more things in character instead of just reacting.
[X] Creature
We can reject or buy a big summon with little dept at the end.
 
[X] What makes the Menagerie trigger? Sometimes I gain a lot on the same day and sometimes nothing.
[X] Creature
 
this time it really was instead of being empty or white,
I feel like this needs to be edited with this.

could be best described as the opposite of black, but not white, mixed with the texture of bubblegum, and evoking the sound of a church's bell.
Kirbo is that you?

[X] How do you choose which creatures need saving?
[X] Creature

Both infinitely complex question and highly simple.
 
[X] Power

Power- because there is a choose a category option in power which would let us try and get one of the really big creatures otherwise a creature roll is more likely to get lower point ones
Eh. I don't want to end the story so soon.
@zagan After this would the context change and allow Alex to choose the catagory?
[X] What makes the Menagerie trigger? Sometimes I gain a lot on the same day and sometimes nothing.
[X] Creature
Reasons?
 
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