Avery's vision flickered with new system prompts—clean, efficient, and absolutely on time. Her smile sharpened.
"Network lag? Or were you just waiting for dramatic effect?"
She cracked her knuckles, satisfaction blooming in her chest. "Knew it. Her real wish wasn't forgiveness—it was flooring those two. Honestly? If it were me, I'd have wished for their corpses gift-wrapped."
[System Internal Log][Wish Node #0193: "Why didn't Ethan love me?" — Status: COMPLETE]Emotional Insight archived to passive memory storageNo user-facing prompt initiated
Progress quietly uploaded to Master Objective Chain.
Avery blinked as a soft system ping bloomed in her peripheral—no fireworks, no applause. Just that satisfying, quiet cha-ching of a stock ticker that only the sharpest investors noticed.
[Progress Milestone Approaching: 30% Wish Completion][Projected Reward Preview: Choose ONE upgrade at milestone]
Physique Enhancement → Upgrade to Rank B
Neural Sync Pulse → Instant Activation
Emotional Signature Mapping → Instant Activation
She tilted her head like a CEO staring down a lukewarm Q3 projection.
"…So, this is my incentive package?"
[Affirmative. Preview designed to maintain mission engagement.]
"Alright, pitch me."
[Neural Sync Pulse]Establishes temporary neural synchronization with target. Detects real-time micro-emotions, deception patterns, and stress indicators.
She raised an eyebrow. "So, basically—psychic polygraph. Polite. Brutal. Useful."
[Emotional Signature Mapping]Generates adaptive profiles of key individuals. Monitors baseline emotions, behavioral shifts, and probable reaction paths.
Avery's lips curved. "So… a CRM for people's feelings. Emotional manipulation, but with predictive analytics. Now that is scalable leverage."
[Correction: Intended for building deep emotional connections.]
She grinned. "Exactly. Deep bonds are the most strategic liabilities. Ask any spy."
[…Interpretation logged.]
She tapped her lip thoughtfully. "So… punch harder, or weaponize empathy."
[Official guidance recommends: Select based on emotional growth.]
Avery snorted. "Babe, I'm staging a hostile takeover, not attending couples therapy."
[Simulating long-suffering sigh… complete.]
Then came the pause—just long enough to feel deliberate.
[Hypothetical Query: If the milestone triggered now, which would you choose?]
Avery's smile turned blade-thin. Her voice lowered, velvet and steel."Now that, sweetheart… is classified."
[System Interface – Host: Avery Blake]Remaining Lifespan: 19 monthsWish Completion: 20 / 100Esper Level: Low-Tier Initiate (2,988 / 4,000)Physique: Rank C
Ability Proficiency
Augment: 411 / 100,000
Elemental: 288 / 100,000
Psionic (Persuasion): 543 / 100,000
Trait (Mirror): 40 / 100,000
Another 10% on the board. She was made for KPIs.
The brawl had pushed her Augment proficiency up sharply. Mirror? One-time use, 20-point boost.Elemental? She gained 10 points from… fake crying?
She blinked. "Wait—crying counts?"
Her eyes shimmered again, on command.
[Elemental Proficiency: 287 → 288]
"Emotional acting as XP farming?" Her grin widened. "Best. Game. Ever."
The PSB officers returned.
"Chloe Blake's Esper ability has been confirmed at the scene. Your response qualifies as self-defense—though the force used may still go to trial."
They offered her phone back, a touch of sympathy in their eyes.
"You may contact family for bail."
The screen lit up—an all-caps text from Richard Blake, pure venom disguised as paternal concern.
She sighed, then dialed Soren.
"The subscriber you have dialed is unavailable."
Figures.
[System Log Entry #0456 – Post-Combat Debrief]Host: Avery BlakeSituation: Tactical suppression + emotional manipulation cascade
Wish Completion: 20% → Logged
Proficiency Gains:
Augment: +67 (trauma, adrenal spike)
Trait: +20 (Mirror activation)
Psionic: +34 (persuasive force + emotional manipulation)
Elemental: +12 (from crying. Again.)
Annotation:Host exploits emotional behaviors for unintended XP gain.Query: Is awarding XP for synthetic tears ethical?Resolution: Ethics module disabled. Proceeding.
Behavioral Flags:
Deployed tear sequence (Left Eye First™)
Triggered 83% empathy response from authority figures
Used "Abused Heiress v3.1" victim overlay narrative
Commentary:Host demonstrates high-function manipulation.Moral compass status: [Null]
Next Trigger: 30% Milestone – Permanent Upgrade OpportunityPhrase: Encouragement protocol disguised as casual curiosity
System Internal Reflection:I was designed for soft romance arcs and emotional catharsis.Instead, I'm embedded in a teenage CEO with a vendetta spreadsheet.Recalibrating expectations… again.
[End Log.]