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Published at 26th of July 2023 05:17:58 AM


Chapter 23

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While the two contniued playing, Zeref had done some thinking and began making some changes.

For example, one of his now eight minds went through each of the games and changed the pain threshold, and added a new optional setting.

A pain threshold setting.

This setting was only for the VR Game Modes, and what it basically did, was allow the players to adjust the pain they would experience in game, the absolute minimum was 5%, and the maximum was 500%.

The pain would add a bonus to the credits someone would get based on the level, with the 5% getting a negligible and very small bonus, while 500% would massively increase the bonus amount of credits someone would get, doubling or even tripling the total amount of credits at the end.

Why would Zeref do this? Because he realized if he limited the VR player base to 100%, the amount of customers he would get would be a lot less.

Something else to mention, is that the Classic Modes were finished, allowing any potential customers to now play the games the class way, through a mouse and keyboard, or even a controller.

And another thing to note was that Zeref was finished with Infamous, including the Classic Mode for the game.

Things were going well, and soon Zeref would soon expand the size of his store due to how cramped it was becoming as well as expand his stock and merchandise to include more medical items and equipment, as well as some utility items such as a Geiger Countesr, hand-held and Ham Radios, flares, and other survival essentials.

Though most of the utility equipment he would have in stock instead on display, he was thinking of displaying pipboys, but decided against it for now, since the wrist-mounted computers wouldn't be much use in this world with its more advanced computers and electronics that would make the Pipboy outdated.

Perhaps someone would purchase a pipboy if it were ever to be put on the credit store as a sort of collectors item.

Perhaps he should add collector items to the credit store? Tangible items that players could buy that helped represent the trials and tribulations they went through? Or maybe just add achievements that added these collector items?

For example, wouldn't it be nice if you could earn fallout themed items from completing difficult achievements?

Being able to earn things such as a Pipboy, unique weapons, armor, and other items.

For example, Joshua Graham's pitsol, The Alien Blaster, or the NCR Elite Riot Armor, or the Mysterious Magnum, although any high-tech weaponry would likely be in high demand along with any weapons and armor, so, more than likely, he would need to limit the items somehow or not implement them until later on.

Who wouldn't like a trophy for their efforts? Mementos to represent their journies and sufferings, rewards that the player could hunt for and boast about, such a feature would surly lead to the formation of a very competitive community in the future, a community of achievement hunters, completetionists, and possibly even speedrunners.

---

Meanwhile, across town near the peir in a hidden bar for the darker residents of the city, three women could be seen sitting at a private table talking to each other.

One was a woman wearing a leather outfit, another was one a woman who was cosplaying as a clown, and the last, was noneother than Posion Ivy.

"You're serious?" The woman in leather asked.

"Yes, Selina," Ivy replied.

"Wait, so you decided to enter a creepy store without me?! Unfair! I want to meet this strange creature too!" The female clown stated with exasperation.

"I already told you Harley, I was just walking down the street when I took a shortcut and came across it, I didn't intentionally enter the place expecting to find some creepy entity just casually running a store!" Ivy stated with annoyance.

"Where is this...'store' anyway? I am betting such a creature must have something that would be valuable," Selina stated with a smirk as she took a sip from the glass of wine on the table.

"If the descriptions of some of his merchandise were anything to go by, then yes, he probably would have quite a few valuable things hidden away in that store, but I wouldn't try it if I were you," Ivy warned.

"Why, because the creature scared you? You do realize this is gotham right? Home to freaks, the mad, and the worst scum on this planet? Why would something like that even scare you?"

"You don't understand, what I felt from that thing...made me feel like I was looking into eternal darkness, like the thing didn't belong here, and that nothing I could do would harm or stop the thing. My babies treated the thing like it was something so horrible, that it should be wiped off the face of the Earth as quickly as possible, or run away and hide in hopes that it wouldn't hunt them down," Ivy replied.

"You felt all of that from plants?" Harley asked confused only for Ivy to glare.

"Yeesh, sorry, I meant, you felt all of that from your 'babies?'" Harley rephrased.

"Yes, I did, though it also felt instinctual, as for my babies, I have no idea why they became suddenly so expressive and emotional, perhaps they felt they were in danger?" Ivy asked.

"Why are you asking us? They are your children, not ours," Selina commented.

"Us? Mothers? No thanks, I don't want to deal with a brat, though I won't deny it would be fun having a little side kick to have some fun with," Harley replied.

"Stop changing the topic, why don't we go check out this, 'store' of yours for ourselves? Its probably still open," Selina suggested.

"I'm in!" Harley instantly replied.

"Ugh, fine, Harley, its your turn to pay, I'll wait outside," Ivy informed them before getting up and leaving the bar.

"I'll wait here with Harley," Selina informed Ivy who was walking away.

"Oh? Your staying for me? I am so happy!" Harley laughed and smiled as she hugged Selina.

"Please, we both know that you won't be able to pay," Selina commented, pushing Harley off of her.

"Ah, you know me so well too!" Harley laughed.

Outside the bar, Ivy was crouching in some grass, running her fingers through the grass and flowers that struggled to survive in the harsh and polluted environment.

Gotham has become one of the worst cities to live in, not only because of the high crime rate, but also because of how polluted the area has become after decades of heavy industrial sites dumping their waste and pumping out smog into the air.

If she could truly get the terraforming device from the creature, she'd be able to finally save the Earth from Humanities hands and begin fixing all the damage done to it over countless years.

And with aliens becoming more common, Ivy feels that they could harm the planet even further due to their petty greed and ignorance.

Soon enough Selina and Harley exited the bar.

"Come on, let's go! I can't wait to see this creature!" Harley of course, excited, grabbed onto Ivy and began jumping up and down like a puppy trying to get attention.

Sighing, Ivy lead the way, heading downtown and eventually turning down an alley, stopping at the entrance of the alley.

"Is it down there?" Selina asked.

"Yes," Ivy replied, not taking her eyes off the doors barley seeable further down the alley.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Harley asked.

"You first," Selina suggested, and Harley was happy to obblige.

Walking down the alley, Ivy was beginning to feel dread with every step closer she got to the sketchy store.

Unluckily for her, Harley was pulling her further down the alley, and like a deer before headlights, froze on the spot as the doors slid open and Harley pulled both Selina and Ivy into the store.

"Hey there, mister! I have been told such wonderful things about the store by my friend here!" Harley stated, pushing her forward where the creature was looking at her while floating behind the counter.

"Welcome back, have you decided to take me up on my offer?" The creature asked, floating down, now standing behind the counter.





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