Chapter 3: Metamorphosis
He had placed that last Node in the center of his chest between his lungs before he passed out. What Damian had done was as suicidal as it was impressive. There was a reason most people didn't form Nodes in important organs of the body like the heart or brain despite the boost it would give. If placed in the brain wrongly a Node would act more like a tumor than a boon.
As a result, it was completely natural for him to pass out as not only was he exhausted but his entire brain was rewiring itself to accommodate his Nodes and the Runic Arrays formed using them. So, it was completely natural for Damian to pass out and miss the changes occurring throughout his body.
As soon as he had linked all of his Nodes and formed the circulation, all his Nodes shone with such a bright light that you could see them through his skin. It was then that the Nodes started manifesting in his body from their ethereal state. It was also at that time that the Runes on their surface and the Runic Arrays they formed were activated.
All the essence in his surroundings disappeared as it was all absorbed right into his body. Damian was still covered in the Flame inside the Furnace Cauldron while unconscious, so all of the essence was refined before entering his body. Once it entered his body it was immediately refined and purified once more by the Cultivation Runic Array before being managed by the Feng Shui Runic Array.
It automatically made the essence flow in the best way possible. It started in his brain by fueling all the Runic Arrays he had placed there. Then it went down his spine to both the breast bones and pelvis bones. Next, it went into his kidneys, refining his blood. Through his blood into his heart and lastly into his lungs. Once it had reached there, it went directly into the Node he had placed between his lungs.
As soon as the essence reached and fueled this Node a major change happened. The surroundings that were barren of essence, were once more filled with it in even greater concentrations than before. It would be multiple folds greater except Damian was draining the essence at an alarming rate, especially for someone who'd just awakened.
You'd expect him to gain a massive boost in strength because of this but nothing of the sort happened. All the essence was being used to fuel a qualitative happening inside Damian. One would expect this change to be caused by the Body Refinement Runic Array or the Soul Refinement Runic Array but instead, it came from the Native Overdrive Rune on his 26th Node.
The Rune had made the world personally interfere with his awakening and boy did it interfere. Turning its attention to his Nodes, seemingly scoffing in disdain when it 'looked' at them. Everything from their placement, shape, and size to the Runes (disdain not for the Runes themselves but the errors he had made) inscribed on their surface only seemed to deepen its contempt. The only thing that gave it pause was the Runic Arrays they formed.
Now, most of you would be wondering how and why a planet would know anything about Runes and Arrays. Despite what you would expect the greatest Runes and Arrays(not Runic Arrays as they don’t exist naturally) in existence were often found in nature. And what was a world if not nature itself? This world especially was a natural at these as not only was it sentient (different from the usual pseudo-will that a normal world has) but its use of Runes and Arrays was a big reason for its specialness but that was a story for another time.
So far in its existence, all of the Runes, Formations (a way to give Arrays complicated effects by linking or layering them, though not as complicated as Runes), and Arrays it knew were either from its instincts or were its own creations. So, it was not only fascinated by the concept of Runic Arrays but also by the never seen before Runes they were formed with.
It only took a second for the world to understand what they were doing. That was when it noticed the Native Overdrive Rune and understood that was why it was so heavily in favor of him. Thanks to that it understood that he was not a true native as he was Lacking a special Rune (something about to be a runic array due to the knowledge it will gain from him) that it placed on the origin (the deepest part of a person because you can have a mind without a soul, soul without a mind, and a body without either but you can never not have an origin) of all of its natives.
Nevertheless, it didn't care as although it was true that all worlds hated foreigners, that was more of a result of their natural instinct to defend against invasions. This world was sentient so it didn't care as his mind was completely open book because when Damian placed the Native Overdrive Rune he had given the world a way to interact with him on a much deeper level than it could with its natives. So it not only knew that he had no intention of leading an invasion but also now knew everything Damian knew about the wider cosmos. Using his knowledge the world not only used Damian's Aura Runes to stop anyone else from noticing it but also used his knowledge of teleportation Runes, Arrays, and Runic Arrays to make sure no one else would be able to teleport or sneak onto the world.
It even took the liberty of copying everything inside of the Information Gem for later use. Something that Damian and everybody would never know, was that his unintentional providing of all this information (remember this information included everything from techniques to history to even a bestiary), and his introduction of the world to Runic Arrays would be one of the major reasons for the world's quick rise in power in the future.
It ultimately decided to help him because of a combination of the Native Overdrive Rune- which was still affecting its judgment-, Damian helping it unintentionally, and his potential for helping it in the future. Having reached a decision, the world started by fixing his Nodes. If Damian were to know that the Nodes he had spent so many years planning and so much effort making were not only disdained but also in need of fixing, he would probably faint from anger before waking up and going on a rampage.
It first broke down his Nodes, the Runes on them, and the Runic Arrays they formed into pure energy. It then used that very energy to reform the Nodes but better in their previous spots with some 'minor' adjustments to their Runes and the Runic Arrays. It fused the Soul Refining Runic Array, Body Refinement Runic Array, and the essence refinement parts of the Cultivation Runic Array to form a Runic Formation it called the Infinite Flame Refinement Runic Formation.
Then it evolved the Cultivation Runic Array to form the Transcendence Runic Array. After that, it reformed the Feng Shui Runic Array by fusing it with all the Aura Runes throughout his body to form the Aurora Feng Shui Runic Array. Lastly, it started working on the last Node Damian had formed and the Lucid Dream Runic Array.
Instead of forming the Node in the place Damian had originally placed it, the world placed the Node in his heart, fusing it with the one that was already there. In fact, it took this one step further by deconstructing the Territory Core treasure and fusing it into the Node. Forming what the world called a heart core. The world then placed all of his treasures inside of the Heart Core's storage space after it tweaked the treasures to become Life Type treasures- something it also did for all his runic node arrays. Something that would make his body and treasures priceless if anyone understood the value of Life type treasures. To be a life type didn't mean that something was life element related nor did it mean that it had a soul/mind as any crafter worth their salt could give that to something. No, to be a Life type meant to be the 'living' (in quotations because most of the time they're not actually alive though some creatures can be like the Fairy Hive Queen) embodiment of a very concept or concepts.
It then repeated the same thing by fusing the Lucid Dream and the Sensory Runic Arrays into a single Node which it then placed the Sage's Book(it didn’t deconstruct the book instead more like making the book the core of it) in to form an Ethereal Glabella.
Having finished its work on his Nodes, it started on Damian natural talents. It started by breaking down his body, soul, and mind to their base forms of energy, only leaving behind his Nodes and memories/personality.
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From there, the world reformed him, improving everything from his eyes to his affinities and body structure (despite this being its first time seeing a sovereign grade affinity it could still improve it), into what it considered a perfect human would be. Inadvertently loosening the shackles that have been blocking a certain path of evolution belonging to humans for eons. A branch of humans with so much potential that simply three of them existing exhausted the Fortune and Faith of the entire human race to the point where a human being born with an Uncommon grade affinity was considered a miracle. A Human Sovereign (Every race as long as they are qualified can have a Sovereign of their own like an Elf Sovereign.)
Lucky or unluckily, that was when the Chaos cycle (A sort of phase the universe goes through regularly where it essentially wipes out everything and starts over) happened resetting everything. Fortunately for the human race, the universe locked that path of evolution to prevent the fall of one of its major races.
Having rebuilt Damian perfectly, the world then saturated him in what was known as Chaos energy. Improving his talent and potential once more – inadvertently massively improving all of the treasure inside of the heart core. Finally, the world placed a very profound Runic Array in Damian's origin and then place him in a cocoon made of Cosmic energy to help in his metamorphosis- something that will improve the treasure gradually for as long as spends in it.
After having gone through an evolution or break through it was completely natural for anyone to go into a very deep slumber to adjust. The problem was that the changes Damian had experienced to his new talent, nodes, and soul would require years of slumber to adjust to. This was without even considering how long it would take him to adjust to the new changes. Luckily, this cocoon would shorten the amount of time necessary to finish adjusting while gradually improving the treasures at the same time.
Here is the description of the treasures after the infusion of chaos energy and the 123 years spent soaked in cosmic energy.
Nodes:
Name: Infinite Flame Refinement
Grade: Origin
Type: Runic Node Formation/Embryonic/Life
Link(s): Flames, Furnace Cauldron
Abilities: Refines the soul, mind, body, and essence of Damian both passively and actively. Allows for the quick and efficient processing of any consumed material/substances. Allows Damian to purge himself of foreign/harmful substances. Embodies the concepts of Flame, Purification, and Refinement. Will evolve with time.
Name: Transcendence
Grade: Origin
Type: Runic Node Array/Embryonic/Life
Link(s): Sage's Book, Furnace Cauldron, Flames, Crafting Gloves
Abilities: Boosts affinities, cultivation speed, and quality of cultivation/evolutions. Boosts comprehension. Boosts chances of entering enlightenment. Embodies the concepts of Enlightenment, Evolution, Cultivation, and Transcendence. Will evolve with time.
Name: Aurora Feng Shui
Grade: Origin
Type: Runic Node Array/Embryonic/Life
Link(s): Sage's Book, Rune Quill, Crafting Gloves, Furnace Cauldron
Abilities: Boosts affinities and control over energy and aura. Circulates aura and energy efficiently. Makes it easier to project and control will. Embodies the concepts of Feng Shui, Control, and Aura. Will evolve with time.
Name: Ethereal Glabella
Grade: Origin
Type: Runic Node Core/Embryonic/Life
Link(s): Sage's Book, Crafting Gloves
Abilities: Greatly boosts comprehension and memory. Greatly boosts spiritual sense and perception. Embodies the concepts of Perception, Ethereality, Mind, and Soul. Will evolve with time.
Name: Heart Core
Grade: Origin
Type: Runic Node/ Embryonic/Life
Link(s): Everything
Abilities: Makes the world favor Damian. Forms a sub-dimensional storage space. Will boost Aura range and strength. All treasures are instantly bound with minimal cost. Improves the rate of treasure attunement. Allows Damian to claim territory. Can act as focus for Damian's will. Allows Damian to use the effects of the treasures placed inside the Heart Core without physically wielding them at the cost of effectiveness. Embodies the concepts of Heart, Treasure, Aura, Territory, Life, Core, and Storage. Will evolve with time.
Current Treasures:
Name: The Garden of Eden (Improved by the world)
Grade: Origin
Rank: 2
Type: Growth/Embryonic/Life
Effects: Any herb, sources, and beast placed will receive the perfect nutrients, energy, and atmosphere. Any beasts born and raised in the garden will belong to Damian. All growth is highly accelerated. Any degradable items placed in the garden with the intent of degrading them will instantly be transmuted into nutrients. The Garden can appoint a specific species that resides within the garden to be boosted in every aspect. The Garden can miniaturize and along with anything inside-which will be placed in temporal suspension. The Garden will take on the properties of the owner after enough time. Embodies the concepts of Herbology, Beast, Farming, Environment, Spatial Expansion/Compression, Plant, Growth, Nature, Decomposition, Nurturing, and Haven.
Name: Crafter's Gloves (Improved by the world)
Grade: Origin
Rank: 2
Type: Crafting/Embryonic/Life
Effects: Protects hands from crafting materials. Gives much greater control over energy and allows the molding of any material/inanimate living being/energy/semi-material concept easily. Allows the extraction of material easily. Allows the creation of energy constructs that are self sufficient. Gloves will take on the properties of the owner after enough time. Embodies the concepts of Manipulation, Molding, Material, and Crafting.
Name: Runic Arts Quill (Improved by the world)
Grade: Origin
Rank: 2
Type: Inscription/Embryonic/Life
Effects: Greatly improves the inscription of runes, laying of arrays, and manifesting of artistic concepts. Allows inscription on any surface. Allows inscription without necessary materials. Allows energy to be focused on the point. Quill can conduct intents and apply their effects to runes. Quill will take on the properties of the owner after enough time. Embodies the concepts of Runes, Inscriptions, and Art.
Name: Furnace Cauldron (Improved by the world)
Grade: Origin
Rank: 2
Type: Crafting/Embryonic/Life
Effects: Improves forging and alchemy greatly. Can nurture a flame if placed inside. Can refine items and corpses into their base forms. Works on any material including sources, souls, and living materials. Allows a clear sense of what is occurring inside. Allows materials to change between different states seamlessly. Can stop an occurring reaction or fusion at any time. Furnace Cauldron will take on the properties of the owner after enough time. Embodies the concepts of Alchemy, Forge, and Smithing.
Name: Flames (Improved by the world)
Grade: Origin
Rank: 2
Type: Element/Embryonic/Life
Effects: Under perfect control of the owner. Purifies and refines whatever the owner wants. Can affect anything. Flames can devour other special flames and integrates their properties. Flames will take on the properties of the owner after enough time. Embodies the concepts of Purification, Refinement, Fire, and Flame.
Name: Fairy Hive Queen Egg (Race mutated by the world)
Grade: Origin/Evolvable/Life
Rank: 2
Type: Beast Companion/Embryonic
Effects: Will form a Fairy hive where the queen and all her subjects will follow the owner. Queen and subjects can care for herbs, natural treasures, and beasts. Queen and her subjects will take on the properties of the owner after enough time. Embodies the concepts of Fairy, Defense, Nurturing, Symbiosis, Hive, and Royalty.
Name: Sage's Book
Grade: Origin (Improved by the world)
Rank: 2
Type: Knowledge/Embryonic/Life
Effects: The book will be stored at the center of the user's mind. Will give perfect recall of information. If information stored in the book is flawed, the book will automatically correct it. The book makes the transmission of information easier. The Book will take on the properties of the owner after enough time. Embodies the concepts of Wisdom, Memory, Sagacity and Knowledge.
*123 years later*
In the middle of an overgrown forest, was what appeared to be a cocoon made of swirling purple energy. Inside it, laid a sleeping 18-year-old boy who seemed to be having a violent dream.
The dream was about a world that seemed to have a birth defect. The world, despite having existed for billions of years -older than even his world- and having fully civilized and sapient natives, didn't even have a lick of essence. Leading to the odd result where the natives advanced their civilization through science and technology. A world called Earth.
They had advanced their civilization so far that they had even managed to reach the moon (By the way if you are wondering how come they didn't notice the essence on the moon, it was because as a result of their evolution on an essenceless they had lost the ability to sense it). They continued like this until one day a special meteor appeared heading right for them. It was special in the sense that it was heading toward the world at a speed that went against all the laws of physics and how it also literally made a sudden right-hand turn from its original trajectory to hit the planet.
The natives didn't even have a chance to respond or even attempt a pointless escape on their spaceships before it hit the world. The impact killed all the life on the planet before sinking straight into the core of the planet. It fused with the core of the planet seamlessly. As though they were 2 puzzle pieces that were meant to be together. That was when the world finally gained essence, flooding onto its surface as though it was a flood.
The planet was finally going to stop being a rock floating in space with some life on it and become a world. Though even as essence flooded its surface it couldn't take the next step of reforming the world because it lacked a spirit (essentially a world's soul but usually doesn't contain a consciousness until becoming mid-tier.).
The planet had existed for so long before the meteor had found it without essence that the world spirit had long died off. To fill the emptiness, it gathered the souls of its deceased natives and formed one massive soul blob. If the world had made that its spirit, it probably wouldn't have survived due to the blob's instability and chaoticness. Luckily for it, even without a soul, its instincts led to the refinement of the soul blob resulting in a world spirit with a never seen before inborn knowledge, planning, and innate wisdom.
If another world -or anyone else for that matter- were to attempt this it wouldn't work as not only would the conflicting affinities, talents, and different minds reject each other so intensely that it would cause a literal atomic soul bomb but also the innate repulsion that souls had to each other would make it impossible for anyone to gather the souls into a blob in the first place. Ultimately all these things were neutralized due to the simple fact that the world had no essence. Making the souls have no affinities nor talents to conflict with each other and their repulsion to each other was negligent due to their weakness.
After that he watched two hundred years pass in fast forward while having massive amounts of information stuffed in his head- only being able to process anything due to his Ethereal Glabella. Before he finally woke up one piece of information seemed to roar in his head for his immediate attention. It was a word, a name. MOBIUS. The name the world had chosen for itself and one that, in the future, would be spoken would cause even Titans to tremble.
It was at this moment that a pair of piercing golden-orange eyes opened in the darkness. What the residents of the world and even the wider cosmos didn't know was at this moment a true monster was born, one that would lead this world to conquering all and one that would burn the self-proclaimed 'gods' of the universe to ashes.