Canon Fodder

CHAPTER 235 HOMEBASE

Jackie decided to stay in the states. I had hoped to try my luck with her but I wasn’t terribly disappointed. I still had Reina, Kishimoto, and Sei. All gorgeous and all mine. I gave her my number and I told her I would put her in touch with a Gantz group in her area. She decided to try to see if there was any of her old life she could salvage. Now that she was famous, from her death, Jackie was curious if anyone would make a movie about the whole Gantz fiasco. She wanted to play herself and probably rewrite the whole story to make herself the hero somehow. 

The major news networks hadn’t picked up the story. I wasn’t too surprised. But the internet was blowing up with stories and information. Videos surfaced of people in black suits fighting aliens. Others told their testimonials, and the real information was getting out there. 

After getting the clone of Lincoln to transfer me most all of his money I had ended him and was sitting with a nice fat account that would be our seed money for the future. The girls and I left the states soon afterward. After renting our own private jet I knew there were plenty of people that wanted me dead, but for now they would regroup and give me time to build. 

We had a great time on the plane, but were soon disembarking in Tokyo. After renting a car we headed off to a far district in town. Warehouses all around we found the right one and were met with Mio. 

“Thank god,” she said, running up to me and hugging me. “Why didn’t you tell me you all were coming?”

“Wanted to keep it a secret,” I said. “This it?” She nodded, walking us inside. The warehouse wasn’t overly large. Dirty, with discarded pallets strewn around. It had been thoroughly abandoned. “I’ll buy this place when we have a moment.”

“Good,” she said as we continued in. Walking around a wall 6 Gantz orbs were revealed. Scattered around it were another 3 dozen men and women in black Gantz suits. They quieted as we approached. I gave them my best smile. 

Walking up to a black orb I set my hand on the front where the screen was. “Let’s remove those bombs first,” I said. Channeling Nen into it, the people around me began to disappear above the neck. Then they began to appear once more. “Bombs are gone.” The people let out a collective sigh. When it was all done it was time to move to the next step. “Let’s save those people you care about most. You, who did you lose?” I asked a beautiful girl. She squeaked, swallowing hard as my gaze met hers. 

“Um this guy I went to school with. We died together and-” She said but I cut her off. 

“Which orb? What’s his name?” I asked. She pointed and I began to bring the dead back to life. One by one they had lost close people. Many only knowing those they wanted to save for a few hours. Someone that took them under their wing. Or jumped in front of an alien attack so they could live. All touching, all now alive. Our number was soon over 100 as I stood in front of the disoriented people. 

I considered what the future could bring. This was a start, but we needed many more. More people that would share the same dream as I. To end the alien threats and begin our search to the stars. The world had so much potential, but I had to remind myself that it was Gantz. The story was a sad tale of death and destruction. Those you wanted to live, died. Those you thought were the main characters disappeared to make way for someone else. And above all there was always another alien threat. 

I had prepared a speech for these people. Trying to sway them to my side, but for now this was good enough. Who knew if I wanted to stick with the plan when I came back next time. “World Escape,” I said as it all turned black. 

— 

In the red room I brought up my status screen. 

I had originally gone to Gantz for Armor. I had found that the max capacity for that particular item was 50. Plenty to start my army in Berserk. But not enough for my plan. I was in a good place to go back and get 50 more suits of armor when I needed them. They were simple enough to print from the Gantz orb. 

I had tried to make the Orb my item choice, but the screen had rejected it. The warning had said the orb was too large so I decided to keep my eye out for something I wanted to take with me between worlds. I was leaning toward Chakra Paper, but that wouldn’t help me in a fight. 

I did get something else I wanted though. I used the Weakness Eliminator on my body. 

Reviewing my options there was really only one that I needed right away. Chakra Impurities. Chakra was a huge part of my repertoire. It would have been nice to get rid of my blowback from my quirk, but if I could make my chakra stronger, I had to do it. I clicked it and was assailed with intense pain. 

My gut aching where my chakra was centered I bent over as I felt it come alive inside of me. The normally placid energy was on fire inside of me. Like I had swallowed acid it felt like the power was eating it’s way out of me. Gritting my teeth I nearly blacked out from the pain as it spread to my Chakra Pathways. 

“Fuck,” I said as it slowly subsided. The pain still fresh in my mind I shook my head as I stood up. Closing my eyes I felt the power, and was amazed by the change. Before, chakra had felt like a bright ball of energy inside of me. Lying dormant until it was called. Now it felt like there was a sun inside of me. Somehow cool to the touch the power felt stronger as it coursed through my Pathways. 

Bringing out a ball of pure chakra I couldn’t believe how quickly it came to my hand. A palm sized ball of light blue energy illuminated the area around me. I felt like this could be an attack. Like when Naruto turned into the 9-tails and condensed pure chakra into a cannonball and blew Orochimaru away. 

“Interesting,” I said as I pulled the chakra back into me. I felt stronger already. I was considering getting rid of the Bodily Impurities next. “Keep those Weakness Eliminators coming,” I said to the empty room. Without hesitation I headed into the Berserk door. 

The area around me became illuminated. I was in the center of the bandit camp. Watching Mary go through the motions with the sword she was already struggling though it had only been a few minutes. 

“Enough,” I said as she dropped to her knees.

“I can do it,” she hissed. “Ju-just give me time.” The auburn haired woman had a fire in her eyes that I couldn’t help but like. 

“Not that,” I said, pulling out one of the Gantz suits. “I’ve come across a new type of armor to help you.”

“Armor?” She asked as she stared at the sleek black suit without making a move for it. 

“Trust me, try it on,” I said. She frowned but took it. I openly watched her. She locked eyes with me, hesitating for a moment then stripped in front of me. I didn’t pretend to not look. Mary was quite beautiful. Older, she was in her late 20s. Bruises and dirt under her clothes her breasts swayed as she tried to put the clothes on. A thick bush of pubic hair between her legs she wasn’t bad looking at all. 

She fell trying to put the black pants on but was eventually in a skin tight Gantz suit. “What the fuck,” she said lookind down. “I’ve never worn something so…” 

“Tight?” I asked. The armor conformed to her skin, making her curves appear much more prominent. 

“Comfortable,” she said as she twisted her top half. “It’s not hot at all.” 

“It will keep you cool in the heat, and warm in the cold, but also the most important part,” I said stepping closer to her. She eyed me, scared, but she didn’t step back. “This will make you stronger. There is a…spell cast on it.” Berserk was a medieval world where witches were burned at stakes. I would have to come up with a better explanation. 

“Spell?” She asked, much more scared by that word than me. 

“Not really, but kind of. Think of it more like…” I tried to think of some machine that would be in the world. “Yeah nevermind it’s a spell. Your soul isn’t going to burn forever in hell if you use it,” I promised. These were a very simple people. “It will make you 10 times stronger though. Can probably stop arrows too.”

“How?” She asked. 

“Doesn’t matter,” I said looking around. There was a large stump in the ground where the bandit leader had beheaded a few people. I grabbed her hand and dragged her over. A large root sticking out of the ground next to the stump I pointed at it. “Pull this up.”

“What?” 

“You understand my words? I’m so sick of answering what,” I grumbled. “Just do as I say.” She frowned but grabbed it. Pulling up it didn’t budge. “I said pull it up.” She tried harder. “Are women as useless as they say? Put some strength into it. Or should I sell you to a brothel at the next stop?” The veins in the suit bulged and she pulled the root and tree trunk up with a groan. The 3 foot diameter stump creaking as other roots broke she roared as she let it go.   

“See,” I said as I tapped her butt. “You did it.” 

“What magic is this?” She asked as she stared at her hand.

“This suit makes you stronger than most any man,” I said. “And it’s all yours as long as you’re part of my Band.” 

“What else can it do?” She asked.

“Try to pick up that cart,” I offered. “Test it out. Just think about getting stronger and it will do the rest.” She nodded and was soon off to it. A few more women had gathered around. I started passing the suits out and others began trying feats of strength as the day progressed. Once they were having fun breaking stuff I made 4 shadow clones. Sending them out into the wilds they could give me a better idea what was all around me. Help me plan our next move.