Tin Badge
"Alright, I just need to grab one of my sketchbooks, reference a design in that, and just...hang on a minute...where's the canvas thingie?"
When SK ripped the Golden Familiar Creation Ticket in half, he was expecting the work conditions to be similar to last time, albeit slightly worse conditions given that he was using a ticket that was noticeably weaker than the Miracle Grade Familiar Ticket.
Instead, as his mind and body readjusted to working in that strange space again, he quickly realized that the canvas and tools he was waiting to work with weren't present. There wasn't even that strange blank space in reality like last time.
For all intents and purposes, SK was just inside of a time-stopped version of his apartment and nothing else.
SK was all set to freak out at this point, until he remembered something important that he forgot about over the course of the day.
"Wait...the System panels mentioned last time that-"Ping!"-ah, there we go."
Before SK could remind himself of the requirements, the System already did it for him.
[Notice: When the User makes use of familiar creation tickets below the miracle grade, the User must provide the appropriate materials needed to create additional superheroes.]
[Appropriate materials: Items infused with mana, Skill Crystals, Items of sufficiently advanced technology and items that carry deep meaning.]
"Okay, that is a... vague ass list," SK commented after reading over the appropriate materials screen. "I know I got those two Skill Crystals, but I get the distinct feeling that they won't be enough to..."
*Ding!*
"There we go."
[Notice: While the User can use the Skill Crystals to create a new familiar at this time, the resulting creation will not be able to absorb the full power of the familiar creation ticket and will be considered what the User knows as a "glass cannon." It is highly recommended for the user to find more solid materials to take the place of the Skill Crystals. Granted, the Skill Crystal can still be used to empower the familiar.]
"Of course you're gonna do me like that," SK complained with a sigh. "Alright, let's see if I got something in here that can count as material...whatever that vaguely fucking means."
Immediately, SK dismissed the notion of making use of any items that contained mana or any items that were considered "sufficiently advanced".
He didn't have any of the former, at least he thought he didn't have any of the former, and he was fairly certain whatever items he had that were considered "sufficiently advanced" would get destroyed in the process of making his new hero.
Therefore, he settled in trying to figure out whether or not he had any items that carried "meaning".
Again, whatever that meant.
"Meaningful items...alright, I'm just gonna take a wild guess and say one of the things over here might work?"
SK made his way over to his shelf of collectables and began to search through it to find anything that the System would accept as appropriate material.
As it turned out...sort of.
...
[Item: Mint Condition First Edition Action Figure of King Plumber.]
[Description: A figure that was first printed in the 1980s to capitalize on the King Plumber videogames. Comes with three power plungers and a miniature comic book.]
[Maximum Familiar quality: Bronze]
...
[Item: Empty Can of Special Movie Edition ShoreBlitz Cream Soda.]
[Description: In the summer of 1998, the ShoreBlitz soda company decided to release a special edition soda can in collaboration with Alligator Productions when they released the movie, "Bolbo's Big Adventure". That movie bombed hard, but the soda sold well.]
[Maximum Familiar Quality: Silver]
...
[Item: Vinyl Record of the Sky Riders soundtrack]
[Description: A 1975 printing of the original soundtrack used for the anime, Sky Riders. A mix between orchestral rock and power metal, the soundtrack was praised for its unique take on the genre mash up and is a staple for gym programs all over Japan.]
[Maximum Familiar Quality: Silver]
...
"Okay, good to know that my collection of random crap are usable for familiar creation, but they're all okay at best...godsdammit."
On the one hand, SK was oddly happy that he apparently had an entire shelf full of meaningful items.
On the other, he was pissed that he had nothing that seemed to reach the level of Gold Quality.
"Fuck! Ow!" SK cursed as he threw his hands in the hands in defeat before accidentally smacking his hand against his shelf of collectables, and knocking things off it.
Thankfully the time stop effect kicked in before anything impacted the ground.
"Ah crap, I gottta clean that up later," SK griped as he stared at the mess of items floating in the air. "Huh. At least it knocked loose some items that I haven't thought about in years...wait a minute, what's this?"
Amongst the items frozen in the air, SK saw a tin badge shaped like a star surrounded by circle with the words, "Wild West Hero", written on the side.
"I haven't thought about this thing in years," he mumbled while staring at the badge. "My very first collectable reward."
Back when SK was in middle school, he was a big fan of a trading card game called "Deadman's Hands".
He loved collecting the cards, but he never had anyone to play with.
But then one day, his dad took him to a public play event for the game, where he got his ass handed to him in six out of ten matches.
It was still one of his fondest childhood memories.
As a token for that day though, he earned himself this collectable badge made of real tin.
Even after he gave away his cards, he still hung on to this badge.
"Huh...I wonder."
Plucking the badge out of the air, the System window appeared once more.
But this time, the rating was what he was looking for.
...
[Item: Deadman's Hand Tin Tournament Badge]
[Description: In the days of the Wild West, lawbringers known as the Marshalls would wear badges made of tin as a symbol of authority. This idea was taken to its extreme limit in the setting of Deadman's Hand, where tin badges were status symbols and a sign of divine power. This badge is giveaway item for people who played the game in tournament settings.]
[Maximum Familiar Quality: Gold]
...
"Huh...I guess items with meaning means stuff that's really important to me," SK realized as he held the badge in the palm of his hands. "Sometimes you got to give something to get something...alright, fine."
Coming to a decision, SK picked his badge from his palm and held it aloft.
"Hey System! I saw the window, how do I use this to make a new superhero?"
As soon as SK asked this question, a prompt window appeared before him.
...
[User has chosen to use the Deadman's Hand Tin Tournament Badge as materials.]
[Warning: Item will be destroyed in the process of hero creation.]
[Yes/No].
...
"Giving me one last chance to back out, huh?" SK asked aloud. "Well, I appreciate the offer, but..."
With a quick twitch of his arm and a deep breath, SK selected the [Yes] option on the window in front of him.
"It'd be kind of pointless for me to have this stuff if I'm going to die, right?"
[Material has been selected and approved. Activating Familiar Canvas Space.]
As soon as SK made his decision, the tin badge in his hand started glowing before it flew out of his hand to begin floating directly in front of him.
Seconds later, the badge began to spin in place and dissolve before restructuring itself into that canvas SK saw the last time he did this. Only this time, he could feel that the tools that came with the canvas felt weaker on some fundamental level.
"Alright, this ain't too bad," SK observed as he picked up a pen from the palette and held it in his hands. "I guess I can start-hey, wait!"
Before he began putting pen to the canvas and started designing, SK activated his Inventory screen.
"How do I use these Skill Crystals for Familiar Creation?"
[Skill crystal can be extracted from the inventory at any time to bestow skills upon the user or familiar. During Familiar Creation, the user simply has to extract the crystal and crush it over the canvas.]
"Before or after I make the design?"
[Before.]
"Figured."
Reaching into the Inventory, SK pulled out the [Thermodynamics (II)] skill crystal and crushed it like he would a sugar candy and sprinkled it over the canvas.
While he wasn't able to see physical change in the canvas once he applied the crystal, he did feel qualitative change occur.
"Okay, I need someone who can cover Platiknight's back from afar while he gets locked in close quarters combat" SK told himself. "And the material I'm using is a tin badge...I know exactly what kind of hero I need."
With this thought in mind, SK first drew a big cowboy hat with a tin star attached to it.
"Giddy up, rawhide..."