This time there was none of the slowness that plagued me during my last awakening. It was replaced with a feeling of wrongness that caused me to panic. I gave myself a mental slap, took a deep breath, or the mental equivalent as I was a crystal, we do not breathe. At least I had identified what was different. The pain was gone and I missed it. Don’t get me wrong I am not a masochist, but that was the only constant I remembered, without it I felt lost. If this is not the saddest thing ever it must have ranked at least in the top ten. That was my justification for the self-pity I let myself wallow in for the last hour. But no more, it was a high time to do stuff. Why stuff? Well I had no idea what to do so I couldn’t be more specific than that. But I was sure I was going to come up with something in just few hours… or days. The worst case scenario in few weeks. Yes. There had to be something for me to do.

…

I remembered being injured and I was going to check on that in a moment. But first I needed to do stuff. Yes I had important things to take care of, but first I needed a good plan. After all you need a plan if you want to do anything properly, I personally was uninterested in anything but perfection.

Why was I lying to myself? I was terrified of checking my status. What if I was still broken and couldn’t repair myself anymore? What if I was whole? Then I would need to find something to do and if I didn’t check myself then I could always do that later. So that was what I was afraid of… to not be able to even think of single thing to do, to just be for eternity. Without purpose, without a single thing to occupy my thoughts, I couldn’t even reminiscence about the past as I had no memories.

  – This is not who I am, I am Arnar not a coward. Let’s take it one step at the time. – I said softly hoping to shake off that fool mood.

 I looked at myself, for the first time since waking up, and I was whole. No damage whatsoever, I might have been slightly smaller but I was flawless and that was a perfect reason to celebrate.  I looked at the floor and noticed that the old pieces of myself had turned into miniature copies of myself. When I reached towards them I could feel them in my mind both as a part of me and something separate. I felt I should be able to use them later. How I knew that? No idea, but I seemed to know things, that at least remained unchanged. I briefly pondered the origin of this knowledge but I remained unable to uncover its source. I was certain of only two things, it came somewhere from within myself and it was the truth.

Finally my attention was drawn to the blue light before me. Well, the other blue light, I probably should have mentioned it before but I was emitting a soft azure light that illuminated the room I was in. That could wait, the midnight blue light was more important… and if not, it certainly was extremely irritating. No matter where I tried to look it followed like a pack of rambunctious wisps bent on driving me insane. Having little choice I tried focusing on the light, after few seconds it became clear.

Name

Arnar

Rank:

H

Level

0/100

HP

30/100 (5000)

Mana

5000/5100

Floors

1

Rooms

1 (70)

Titles

5

Skills

9

That was unexpected. Seeing myself reduced to few numbers was rather depressing, especially considering them being nothing impressive. I wondered why I was so depressed lately, I mean I may have forgot everything and everybody I ever knew, my home and myself but spending eternity brooding – even I should be able to find something better to do.

Well name was self-explanatory. Then the rank, common ranks were as follows: H, G, F, E, D, C, B, A, AA, AAA, S, SS, SSS. Above that were epic ranks and legendary ranks but I was unclear about them. To advance a rank you had to reach level 100 and meet special requirements which got exponentially more difficult with higher ranks. Starting from C rank some could be unable to advance which led to either opting for lesser rank (B-) or developing within one’s rank (C+). Choosing lesser rank made it almost impossible to advance and even if one succeeded it would still be a lower rank. On the other hand there was no such drawback when repeating the rank but you had to gain 100 levels again. You may wonder why anyone would even consider B- ranks then, well even feeblest B- would be able to mop the floor with C+++. I guess you could go further as there were no limit to advancing within the same rank and with enough time you could rival even A ranks while in C rank. I doubt anyone would be able to live with embarasment of having 15 or more pluses after their rank but it was theoretically possible. I had no idea why some numbers were in brackets and seeing no way to solve this mystery at this time I looked at the second screen that was demanding my attention.

Status Inhabitants Traps Miscellaneous Notifications*

I already saw the status screen and decided to check notifications next as its constant blinking started to annoy me. I was totally unprepared for the barraged of screens that assaulted me. I dismissed all warnings about my impending demise as I was sure that was taken care of already. Next I got rid of those that did not pertain to me directly and only then I was left with manageable amount. I noticed I could sort them so I started with the oldest one.

Rebirth complete

Commencing memory wipe

Resistance encountered

Implementing Safety Protocols

Memory wipe at 99%

Memory wipe failed.

Imparting basic information and instinct aborted

That was cryptic, and most of that went straight over my head. So I was reincarnated and then something went wrong, specific were not included but I bet it happened when my rage reared its ugly head. I guessed I would have to cope with having absolutely no idea about the world or myself. Shouldn’t be that hard, right? Maybe other notifications would shed more light on the situation.   

By sheer power of your will you managed to retain what was the most important to you; your name.

You gained new title: Consumed by Rage

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

You gained new title: Defiant

You gained new title: Self-Named Dungeon

I had mixed feeling about this message. I mean it was my name of course it was important to me, especially so after being stripped of everything else, yet what this said about me? The most important thing, not love, not loyalty, not honour, just my name. At best it made me egocentric at worst… well that was old me. Obsessing over the past, the past I couldn’t even remember, would get me nowhere so why bother? I was intrigued by the titles, what were they? Maybe I could find some more information.

Your title Consumed by Rage granted you a new skill:

Transcendent Rage [S] Lvl: Max

While enraged you are able to overcome all limitations and bring about the impossible.

Warning! You are unable to stop this skill until the change is completed. If you run out of mana your life is consumed instead. Health points lost through this skill lower max HP available and take considerable effort and time to be recovered.

Your title Defiant granted you a new skill:

Indomitable Will [SS] Lvl: MAX

You are impervious to any attacks, restrictions or influences focused on your mind. All skills and effects dependant on your will and mental fortitude are extremely likely to succeed.

Your title Defiant granted you a new skill:

Bulwark of Destiny [B] Lvl: MAX

If user’s HP would drop below 1 HP this skill will trigger with 5% chance.

As long as you maintain sufficient concentration your health won’t be reduced below 1 HP.

Activation and result highly reliant on user’s strength of will.

Well that explained why I was still among the living and my reduced health. One mystery solved. Neither of those skills alone would have worked but together they were on different level. I doesn’t mean that I am immortal as even with Indomitable will Bulwark of destiny would eventually fail. Rage on the other hand gave undeniable focus and power at the cost of loosing the ability to choose. What was will if not a choice to stick to your guns and push through. I got lucky, once was enough. I was going to do my utmost to avoid repeating this. Any situation when my life would rely on any skill triggering, not to mention such conflicting ones, was undesirable to say the least. I hoped the rest of the notifications were more optimistic.

Congratulations!

You now have a name

In contrast to the Blessed Races monsters, creatures and dungeons do not have names inherently and cannot be named without significant expenditure of power, mana and will.

However; when they do receive the name their power grows depending on the strength of the naming party.

Warning! When naming weaker creature with a strong name there is a risk of rejection (recipient will never be able to bear a name) or death.

You gained +5000 max mana

Your potential, learning speed and mana recovery was enhanced

Further bonuses may be uncovered later

 You gained new title: Self-Named Dungeon

Names you will give will take more mana but will grant greater power. The risk of rejection or death will be lessened.

Your title Self-Named Dungeon granted you a new skill:

Appraisal [AAA] Lvl:Max

In order to name you need to know what you are naming. This skill will reveal the details of perceived object (both animate and inanimate).

Your title Self-Named Dungeon granted you a new skill:

Unparalleled Insight [SSS] Lvl: Max

Proper naming require more than a glance into the nameless creature. You need a profound understanding of the very essence of the being you wish to name. Additionally this skill will grant understanding of any basic and elementary concept when first encountered. Gaining understanding of more complex ideas will be significantly accelerated.

You have managed to impress one of the higher powers

You were granted a new skill:

Simple Foresight [C] Lvl 1/20

You will be able to predict consequences of your actions better

You have managed to impress one of the higher powers

You were granted a new skill:

Simple Farsight (Present) [C] Lvl 1/20

You will be able to occasionally experience visions about present events, pertaining to you, happening in limited range relative to your position.

You have met requirements for the new title:

The Seer

Your wisdom and ability to comprehend intangible was enhanced.

Your title The Seer advanced your skill

Simple Farsight (Present) [C] lvl 1/10 advanced to Enhanced Farsight [B+] lvl 1/35

You will be able to experience visions about past and present events pertaining to you.  Level of the skill and relevance to you affect both clarity and a chance for the vision to occur.

Your title The Seer advanced your skill

Simple Foresight [C] lvl 1/20 advanced to Foresight [B] lvl 1/25

 You will be able to predict consequences of your actions better

Your title The Seer reacted to skill Unparalleled Insight and granted you new skill:

Foreboding [A] lvl 1/50

You are able to sense present and future danger resulting of yours and others’ actions. You will be able to know actions needed to avoid unfavourable outcomes instinctively. The higher skill level the sooner you will feel the danger and the clearer the steps to avoiding them will be.

So that was what those strange nagging feelings were, I was glad I had followed them and decided to pay special attention to anything similar in the future. I strongly believed preventing issues was way better than dealing with them. I was already bored with all the notifications, still they were important and I decided to deal with them now not to miss anything crucial. I concluded this were going to be one of the best sources of information about myself after the whole rebirth fiasco. At the same time I have solemnly vowed to never allow them to pile up this much.

New skill gained:

Advanced Concept Visualization [AAA+] lvl 1/110

You are able to create mental matrix containing all information about an object. You are able to freely modify created object and when ready copy it into reality. It can be then created or spawned traditionally or realized immediately through effort of will. The cost for of instantaneous realization depends on complexity of object and usually is much higher than traditional methods.  It can be partially covered through suitable material and in case of failure both material and mana used is lost.

Congratulations!

You have created your first monster.

You have chosen Grootslangs as your first dungeon race.

Advanced Concept Viualization [AAA+] has advanced to 15/110

You have gained new tittle: Reviver of Myths

All your ancient and legendary creatures in your dungeon will enjoy bonuses to longevity, growth speed and reproduction rate. Some races may gain additional bonuses.

Grootslangs (Ancient creatures) will have enhanced intelligence, psionic skills and magic affinity.

Having dealt with the last pop-up I tried recalling creating anything. I may have tried that just before recovery sleep. I vaguely recalled intense feeling of satisfaction, does it has anything to do with those messages? And what were those Grootslangs, I was sure I was going to create spiders. As I concentrated in vain, I was sure if I focused just a little harder the riddle would be solved. Unfortunately all I got for my trouble was rather bright flash, I had no idea I could do that. Excited I tried adjusting my light when I heard slithering sound followed by strange, alien words

  - My Lord! You have awakened at last. Your loyal sevants greet you.