4 First Quest #4
"The Storm Walker Shoes, huh? That's an oddly specific set of skills," I mumbled to myself, arching an eyebrow as I perused the shoe's description. Still, I wasn't eager to tiptoe around barefoot, so I quickly slipped them on. The system, surprisingly patient, waited until I was suited up before hitting me with yet another notification prompt.
"Proceed to purchase the Metropolis City Intel," it commanded, and I complied without much thought, watching as my points dwindled to zero, and soon enough, another notification prompt appeared in my vision.
[Metropolis City Intel: Get ready for one electrifying inside scoop! Due to the current chaos, the electrically charged villainess, Livewire, will soon escape from Superman's specially constructed imprisonment unit. Brace yourselves for her shocking return and imminent city-wide rampage that will leave you spasming]
"This wouldn't have anything to do with these sneakers... would it?" I muttered, feeling a tinge of unease. "That's a bit too convenient for my taste," I grumbled to myself, noticing the ominous correlation between the intel and the pair of shoes.
Just as I had begun to entertain the notion that the shoes and the intel might be somehow linked, the system didn't waste time proving me right as another prompt flashed before me:
[You have received a new quest: Zap and Influence]
I squinted at the description that followed:
[Zap and Influence: Strap in for electrifying chaos! Livewire, the electrically charged villainess, is set to make a grand return, unleashing her shocking rampage across the city. Your mission? Influence her actions, whether it's persuading her to cease her chaos, aiding the heroes, or, well, adding a bit more mayhem to the mix. The more your actions shape this event and steer its course, the greater your rewards will be]
"Well, isn't this just peachy, really... the electric puns are just the cherry on top of the fucking cake..." I muttered, both apprehensive and intrigued by the prospect of being thrown headfirst into the chaos. This damned system seemed to have a knack for turning a crisis into a personal odyssey.
"And I suppose I can't refuse the quest...." I muttered to myself, wanting to be anywhere but here. Preferably back on my couch, sleeping this entire crazy situation off.
The system wasted no time in replying.
[Under normal circumstances, you are free to accept or refuse any quests. Utilizing any and all system functions is not mandatory. However, to complete the tutorial and emerge from the crisis event unscathed, it's highly advisable that you accept and complete the quest.]
I couldn't contain the twitch in my eye. "Oh, sure, easy for you to say!" I scoffed. "But how on this crazy Earth am I supposed to waltz up to that electric lunatic without becoming her personal lightning rod?!"
The system's retort was swift and irritatingly accurate.
[You're the comics-obsessed loner. You'll figure it out]
There was not a second wasted before another prompt appeared in my vision.
[Would you like to accept the quest now? Yes/No]
I glared at the prompt, gritting my teeth, my frustration rising. "Is this a fucking trick question?! The 'No' option is greyed out, you crappy text rectangle!"I grumbled, my annoyance growing by the second.
As the system persisted in pushing notifications in my face: [Would you like to accept the quest now? Yes/No]
Yup, you guessed it. The "No" option remained frustratingly inactive. With a resigned sigh, I succumbed and accepted the quest, only to be greeted by yet another insistent prompt: [You have accepted the quest: Zap and Influence. Good luck].
Though I wanted to keep complaining, I had a feeling that I wouldn't be getting any more replies, and arguing with a sassy text box didn't seem like the best investment of my time.
I reluctantly decided to save my breath and instead focus on the task at hand – dealing with Livewire.
"Okay... Livewire," I muttered to myself, racking my brains for any knowledge I had about this electrifying villaness.
In the DC animated universe, she was a caustic shock jock who had nothing but disdain for Superman, criticizing his every move. Her life took a dramatic turn when she was struck by lightning during a confrontation with the Man of Steel at one of her rallies, giving her her abilities.
In the original comics, she had a similar origin, except that she was born with the ability to control electricity. In an altercation atop the radio building where she worked (again with Superman), a bolt of lightning transformed her into a being of pure electrical energy.
Then the infamous DC comics reboot came along, and it was one wild rollercoaster for Livewire. She went from a shock jock to a blogger with a thing for really bad pranks and barely any audience.
Suddenly, out of the blue, she got the bright idea that pulling the switch for a city-wide blackout in Metropolis would be a hilarious prank.
Of course, Superman had to swoop in and save the day, but here's the kicker: Somehow, the big guy failed to stop her from flipping that switch. I mean, seriously? He's a Kryptonian powered by Earth's yellow sun, capable of knocking down buildings with a flick of his finger, and he couldn't stop a silly prankster? Comic book logic, I tell you!
Then comes the fun part: The electricity from that power plant? Yeah, it zapped Livewire. Instead of turning her into a crispy critter, it gave her some seriously shocking powers. Goddamnit, now I'm using electric puns too!
Anyway, that's comic books for you—where mysterious accidents give you superpowers. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if some poor soul got superpowers from a bout of explosive diarrhea in a public toilet or something along those lines.
Dealing with Livewire sure seemed like a gamble. She's been through different reboots, but Leslie Willis was always the name on the marquee, with her knack for mischief and a lightning-wit that didn't spare anyone.
On top of that, she could turn someone into a human barbecue if they so much as rubbed her the wrong way. Powers-wise, she's the queen of electricity manipulation—lightning bolts, power surges, you name it.
But here's the kicker: Her kryptonite wasn't some high-tech gadget; it was good ol' H2O. A splash and zap, and she's out like a light. Now, how in the world was I supposed to wrangle her?
Playing the diplomatic card seemed like the smarter move. I had these flashy shoes for safety, but I wasn't up for a round of superhero wrestling— DC characters, be they villains or heroes, tended to suddenly develop super strength and proceed to beat the shit out of anyone standing in their way whenever their superpowers failed them.
No way I was getting my ass beaten on my first day in this world. I prefer my ass rear-end as it is, unbeaten and unkicked, thank you very much.
So, let's see... Livewire, at her core, always had this insatiable need for the spotlight. Maybe I could stroke her ego a bit, pretend to be a fan or something, get her yapping, and from there, figure out which version of her I'm dealing with.
Not the noblest plan, but when faced with a voltage-happy villain, diplomacy might just be the unsung hero.
As soon as I wrapped my head around the first phase of my Livewire game plan, a tingling sensation shot up from my feet. The hair on my arms stood at attention. "Uh-oh, the electric sense tingling," I mumbled, realizing that it was probably the Storm Walker Shoes kicking in, sensing the electrical activity around.
"Time to dive in..." I muttered to myself, mustering all the courage I had and clenching my butt cheeks as I ventured toward the source of that electrifying feeling.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized the necessity of dealing with Livewire. By that, I mean to have dealings with her and not any other meaning of the word, since we've already established that I had no intention of getting my ass kicked.
I imagine bargaining with Livewire would be about as fun as a root canal. But hey, like any self-respecting DC villain she must've had connections in the underworld, right? Contacts who could forge an identity for a guy who magically plopped into Metropolis during an invasion.
And trust me, explaining that you're a random guy from another dimension who just happened to land here? Yeah, that wouldn't fly even in the weirdest of comic book scenarios.
....
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