Supervillain Idol System: My Sidekick Is A Yandere

Upon heading back to his room, Don immediately closed the door behind him and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed. The system promptly appeared in front of him, displaying the message:

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*Reward: BeastShift*

+ *Expand*

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Don focused on the expand, and a description of the reward appeared underneath:

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*BeastShift implies the ability to shift or adapt characteristics from creatures in the animal kingdom while retaining a human form. For example, if you choose the cheetah, you will be able to run as fast as it in human form while also gaining many of its other characteristics, such as incredible eyesight, flexibility, and so on.*

———

Reading this, Don couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed as he thought, 'So that means I can't pick mythical creatures like dragons?'

A secondary prompt flashed in front of him, stating:

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*Correct*

———

Before disappearing again. Another prompt then appeared, stating:

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*Please select a creature from the animal kingdom within the next 24 hours, or the reward will be forfeit.*

*Additional note: After a creature has been chosen, eight hours will be needed for the changes in your body to be fully implemented. The characteristics will then be able to be used at your discretion. The abilities cannot be used passively.*

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Reading this additional information, Don felt that this was a truly big reward for what was otherwise not that difficult of a quest. He didn't need to think long before he showed a sly smile and answered, "In that case, I choose the mantis shrimp."

———

*Selection made.*

———

The system replied in another prompt before a much larger one appeared, showing a whole boatload of information. Even with just a glance, Don was sure he had made the right choice.

———

*The mantis shrimp is a marine creature with extraordinary physical and sensory abilities. Exploring the mantis shrimp's key abilities and how they would translate to a human on a 1-to-1 ratio.*

1. **Punching Power:**

- **Mantis Shrimp Ability:** The mantis shrimp is famous for its powerful "punch," which it delivers using a specialized limb called a raptorial appendage. It strikes with an acceleration of 23 m/s² (similar to the speed of a bullet) and generates forces up to 1,500 Newtons. This impact is strong enough to break the shells of prey or even crack glass aquariums.

- **Human Translation:** In human form, this ability would grant a person an immensely powerful punch capable of generating forces strong enough to shatter concrete, steel, or bones. The human could punch with such speed and impact that the strike would feel like a high-velocity projectile.

This kind of power could also have area-of-effect damage, creating shockwaves that harm enemies nearby or disrupt structural integrity in buildings. A single punch could decimate heavy machinery or armored vehicles.

2. **Superhuman Speed and Reflexes:**

- **Mantis Shrimp Ability:** The mantis shrimp's punch happens in a fraction of a second (less than 3 milliseconds), and it can strike repeatedly without tiring. The muscles and specialized spring-loaded mechanism allow it to store energy and release it explosively.

- **Human Translation:** The human version of this ability would have lightning-fast reflexes and the ability to move or attack faster than the eye can follow. The human could perform rapid, consecutive attacks without losing stamina, allowing for quick and devastating combat. Dodging bullets, reacting to sudden threats, or performing multiple tasks in the blink of an eye would be possible.

The speed of the person's movement would make them nearly impossible to hit or counter in close combat.

3. **Incredible Strength:**

- **Mantis Shrimp Ability:** While the mantis shrimp doesn't lift heavy objects as part of its natural behavior, its appendages deliver incredible force proportional to its size. If we look at its strength relative to its body, the mantis shrimp's appendages exert hundreds of times its body weight in force with each punch.

- **Human Translation:** If translated to human form, the person would be able to exert massive forces hundreds of times their body weight. For example, if a mantis shrimp weighing 0.1 pounds can exert 1,500 Newtons, a 180-pound human could potentially exert similar forces on a larger scale.

In practical terms, this human could punch through walls, lift massive objects like cars or boulders, and apply crushing force strong enough to destroy industrial equipment or heavily armored targets. The individual would be a walking wrecking ball in terms of sheer power.

4. **Durability and Resilience:**

- **Mantis Shrimp Ability:** The mantis shrimp's raptorial appendages are reinforced with a structure that allows them to withstand the extreme forces of their own strikes. These appendages are near-impervious to damage, and their entire exoskeleton is optimized for absorbing impacts.

- **Human Translation:** In human form, this durability would mean an almost indestructible body, especially in the limbs. The human's bones and skin would be reinforced like natural armor, allowing them to absorb and resist high impacts, including heavy punches, falls from great heights, and blows from weapons.

Their fists or arms would be incredibly tough, capable of striking with immense power without suffering damage, even after repeated impacts. This resilience would also translate into greater endurance and resistance to environmental hazards like extreme pressure, heat, or cold.

5. **Vision:**

- **Mantis Shrimp Ability:** Mantis shrimp have one of the most complex visual systems in the animal kingdom. They possess trinocular vision in each eye, meaning each eye can perceive depth independently. Additionally, they can detect polarized light, see ultraviolet and infrared light, and process 12-16 color channels (humans only have 3).

- **Human Translation:** The human with mantis shrimp vision would have unparalleled visual perception. They would be able to see in wavelengths far beyond normal human vision, including ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR), giving them the ability to see in total darkness or detect heat signatures like thermal imaging.

The polarized light detection would allow them to see through surfaces like water or glass with reduced glare. Their trinocular vision would allow them to calculate distance, speed, and movement with extreme precision, giving them sniper-like accuracy and heightened spatial awareness. This human could detect invisible threats, track fast-moving objects, and spot weaknesses in structures or armor.

6. **Energy Storage and Release:**

- **Mantis Shrimp Ability:** The mantis shrimp uses a special spring mechanism in its muscles to store energy and release it all at once for its powerful strike. This is an advanced energy-storage system that allows them to move faster than their muscles would normally permit.

- **Human Translation:** This ability would give the human an internal mechanism to store kinetic energy and release it explosively when needed. The person could build up energy by tensing their muscles, then unleash it in an instant, amplifying the power of a punch, leap, or sprint.

They could also use this stored energy to boost their physical actions, delivering devastating blows, or making superhuman leaps or dashes. In combat, the individual would seem to move faster and hit harder without getting tired, storing energy between strikes to maintain momentum.

7. **Cavitation Bubbles:**

- **Mantis Shrimp Ability:** When the mantis shrimp strikes, the speed of its punch creates cavitation bubbles—tiny pockets of vapor in water that collapse and release intense heat and light, essentially creating a secondary shockwave.

- **Human Translation:** A human with this ability could create secondary explosions or shockwaves from their punches or other high-speed movements.

Even if the initial strike misses, the shockwave alone could cause significant damage, similar to an explosive force radiating from their blows. The heat generated could also burn or melt surfaces upon impact, making this person lethal even without directly touching their target.

8. **Adaptability to Extreme Conditions:**

- **Mantis Shrimp Ability:** Mantis shrimp live in the deep sea, enduring immense pressure and low-light conditions.

- **Human Translation:** The human would be highly resistant to changes in pressure, able to survive in extreme environments such as deep underwater or high altitudes. They would also have increased resistance to low-light conditions. Their body could withstand deep-sea or space-like pressures without injury, making them incredibly versatile in harsh or extreme environments.

9. **Regenerative Healing (Potential):**

- **Mantis Shrimp Ability:** Some species of mantis shrimp can regrow lost limbs over time.

- **Human Translation:** The person could potentially have the ability to regenerate damaged tissue or lost body parts at an accelerated rate. This would make them incredibly resilient in combat, allowing them to heal from injuries that would incapacitate or kill an ordinary person. Over time, they could even recover from severe wounds like lost limbs or organ damage.

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After he finished reading through all the information, the prompt vanished, and another one appeared. This one showed a countdown of eight hours with the words *Time until abilities sync* displayed below.

It appeared only for a moment before vanishing again, leaving Don smiling, more than happy with his choice.

With that done, he reached into his pocket and took out his phone, finding several messages from Gary.

The first one he opened read: *From the details you've given me, sir, it isn't out of the question to assume that what you encountered was a sort of sentient parasitic plant life. As odd as that may sound, it has happened before in history, but that was during the Dark Ages in Europe, and that particular case wasn't very well recorded, so we have very little information to go on.

We would require someone with expertise in the field of fauna before we can make any actual progress in understanding what it was you faced.*

Reading this first message, Don was visibly disappointed, frowning a little but accepting that it couldn't be helped. He then swiped the screen and moved on to the second message:

*In regards to the androids you received from the agency, to ensure their systems are safe, I will be sending you a device tomorrow which you can use to easily determine any leaks if present. Though it is quite impressive you were given such an advanced model. Either someone highly values you, wishes to please you, or wants to keep a close eye on you. Whatever the case, we shall know tomorrow.

Until then, I advise you to still exercise caution around it.*

'You don't have to tell me twice,' Don thought as he swiped to the third message.

*As requested, I have uploaded more information I could find on Andrew Barclay and those he considers friends. Most of these people are fairly out of reach for someone of your current social standing, so I advise proceeding with caution should you choose to make a move early.*

After reading the third message, Don quickly typed his replies before turning his phone off and tossing it onto the bed, thinking, 'Don't worry, Gary. I have a feeling my social standing is going to receive quite the boost starting tomorrow. With this reward, Don Bright and Predator can properly exist as two separate entities.'