As the void ooze slowly but surely covered the portion of the Abyssal Fortitude perk that read "10," the text changed before my eyes: "Abyssal Fortitude - For every point in Constitution above 20, you gain 1 point to all other attributes."

This was no easy feat, as I was attempting to manipulate the system itself, something that was never meant to be tampered with. The mental ordeal was immense, and I could feel my body starting to break under the pressure. The pain was excruciating, yet my divine regeneration countered the damage so far, preventing me from succumbing to the intensity of the process.

As the void seemed to stick to the perk, I felt a surge of dark power coursing through me, an agonizing and overwhelming sensation. My body convulsed and twitched as each of my stats raised to match my Constitution. It was as if the very essence of the void was reshaping me, pushing me beyond my previous limits.

And yet, despite the immense pain, I couldn't help but laugh. The millennia I had spent in the void had twisted my sanity, and the pleasure of pushing beyond my limits was intoxicating.

However, as my body changed to reflect the increased attributes, I could sense that something was off with my character sheet and the damage being dealt to my body was fastly outstripping my regeneration. It felt as though I had crossed a forbidden boundary and disturbed the delicate balance of the system. Amidst the excruciating pain, I started hearing the voice of my older self, chastising me for meddling with the natural order.

"You've gone too far you stupid boy," the voice warned, echoing in my mind as he materialized before me. "You're playing with powers you don't understand, and it could cost you everything."

I gritted my teeth, determined to see this through, even as I felt the darkness within me grow stronger and the pleading screams of my older self.

With a sudden, almost pop-like sound, I found myself once again thrust into the void. The familiar, endless darkness that had been my entire existence surrounded me. The shock of being back in this place I had tried so hard to escape from was too much to bear, and I broke down, tears streaming down my face.

I couldn't help but resent my older self, the one who had lived a life, experienced love, and built a family. For me, my memories had stopped at a much younger age, and everything that had happened after felt so distant and foreign. It was as if I were reading about another person's life, watching their story unfold on a screen. The people who were supposed to be my loved ones felt even less familiar than strangers, as if it were impossible for me to ever truly know them or focus on them.

My entire existence had been confined to the void, where I had been nothing more than a dark thought in the back of my older self's mind.

As I knelt there in the void, I began to understand that my actions in meddling had severe consequences. If I took control the system would now try to rip me apart, seeking retribution for the change I had forced upon the character sheet. There was only one solution that I could think of, and it filled me with a mix of anger and resentment. I would have to let my older self regain control once more and in that same breath pull back the change I made.

"You have to take over again," I said to him, my voice bitter and choked with emotion.

He looked at me with sadness in his eyes, understanding the sacrifice I was making. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice filled with empathy and pain. "I promise to keep my mind open to you, to let your feelings and thoughts be heard. I'll do my best to honor your existence."

The thought of relinquishing control again, returning to the void as a mere observer, was almost unbearable. But I knew that there was no other way. With a heavy heart, I nodded, accepting the fate I had brought upon myself. As I felt myself slipping away I did my best to hide my thoughts and ambition of someday regaining control and have a life of my own.

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As the darker, void-influenced version of myself receded into the recesses of my mind, I sensed that I held the power to seal him away, perhaps even destroying him in the process. The very thought of it made me wince, the idea of eradicating a part of myself so callously felt utterly wrong.

Instead, I made a conscious decision to forge a mental pathway between us, creating a lifeline that would allow us to coexist and communicate. It was the least I could do to honor the sacrifices he had made and acknowledge the complex emotions he carried within him. As he retreated, I could feel that he was taking with him the ire of the system and the changes he had made to the Abyssal Fortitude skill, shielding me from any potential consequences.

As the void presence faded away, I felt a sense of calm returning to my mind. Suddenly, I found myself back in the driver's seat, fully aware and present in my cell, staring at an empty tray, as if nothing had happened.

I could sense that despite my powers being blocked, there seemed to be some leeway, a small crack, which might be enough for me to work with. With my skill in mana manipulation, I decided to try and push more mana through, hoping to bring forth my Void Shield even in this constrained state.

As I focused my energy, I felt the faintest hint of the shield beginning to materialize, but at the same time, I sensed the stress it was putting on the system that was suppressing my powers. Being the older, more cautious version of myself, I decided not to push any further, wary of potential backlash from pushing the limit. I ceased my efforts, letting the faint presence of the shield fade away. I heard a faint voice in the back of my mind, which was my younger self teasing my, "What a pussy! I would've brought the shield out!" The words were filled with that reckless, fiery spirit typical of a teenager.

I couldn't help but chuckle internally at the comment.I had to admit that there was something about the younger version's determination, even if it did border on recklessness. It was a reminder of the fierce spirit he once had, before being tempered by time.

I thought about the sacrifice my younger self had made to seal away the system's wrath, and the immense power that had coursed through my body as all my stats had risen to match my constitution. I decided to carefully explore the mental pathway I had formed with my younger self, cautious not to allow too much of his influence in.

Slowly and methodically, I entered a meditative state, concentrating on finding the delicate balance between my divine regeneration and the health cost of allowing the void to influence my perk. I could feel the effects, albeit highly diminished, of my attributes rising, accompanied by a trickle of damage.

As I focused, I found the perfect balance: while my regeneration was completely muted, I was able to increase my other base stats by five points. The connection with my younger self seemed to become stronger, as if we were inhabiting the body simultaneously, even though I was still clearly in control. However, I could feel his emotions and thoughts influencing me more strongly than before. With this newfound balance, I knew that I had to tread carefully, lest I allowed too much of the void's influence to take hold.

I continued practicing this delicate balance, raising my attributes and then canceling the effect. I repeated the process in various iterations, testing my limits and exploring the potential of my newfound strength. Occasionally, I pushed past my divine regeneration, allowing myself to take damage, but I was mindful not to go too far.

Each time I pushed the boundaries, I felt the rush of adrenaline and excitement. I was learning to control and harness the power that came from embracing the void's influence, while still maintaining the connection between both versions of myself.

The power I gained access to felt invigorating, and the connection and bond with my younger self seemed stronger than ever. I could sense that by allowing his influence and the void to affect my stats, I was alleviating some of the pressure he experienced in the recesses of my mind – his own personal void. This mutual exchange not only benefited me in terms of my abilities but also fostered a sense of understanding and empathy between my two selves.

I heard the sound of footsteps approaching the door, accompanied by hushed voices in conversation. Reginald's voice stood out among them, and for the first time, he sounded humble. I could barely make out his words as he spoke to someone else, "I ensured we took great care of our guest, Justicar."

The change in his tone caught my attention, and I couldn't help but wonder what had prompted this newfound humility. Whoever this Justicar was, they must hold a significant amount of power or influence to make Reginald act in such a manner. I couldnt help but laugh at the upcoming opportunity for some revenge against dear Reginald.