Section 22,
NO.9 Fortune Street,
Elijah's POV,
My heart hammered in my chest as I approached the mirror on the side wall, eyes scanning the messages that had haunted me for the past three months. It was an interface similar to the one the protagonist of my novel, Davon Xannis, used, but mine remained frustratingly cryptic: [You need to make a great change to Elijah Serpens's fate to access your status screen.]
I had always clenched my teeth, frustration twisted my features anytime I thought about it. I remember sitting for hours thinking, What qualified as a "great change"? How did I even end up here? Was this world real? And why did I have this power tied to Davon, who I still wasn't sure was even alive? The only thing I knew for certain was that I wouldn't succumb to the pathetic death I'd experienced on Earth.
With renewed determination, I focused on the mirror, holding my breath. The message changed, the words blossoming like a flower, bringing a triumphant grin to my face.
[You have Performed a great feat that will change your life's trajectory, you can now access the status screen.]
'Three months,' I breathed, pumping my fist in the air. My makeshift lab coat billowed with the movement. 'Three months of repeated trials and errors. It took a while but I knew one success in alchemy would be the key, after all, it had nothing to do with Elijah, the basement used to be where he hid his savings.'
But the celebration was short-lived. A new line appeared, sending chills down my spine:
[You have slightly steered the Serpens Family away from certain extinction, you have gained 2 status points.]
"Slightly steered? Extinction?" My eyes narrowed. "Is our family under threat? Was that robbery attack on the safe house last week connected?"
Ignoring the sudden pang of fear, I decided to investigate tomorrow. For now, the status screen held my attention.
[Name: Elijah Serpens
Lifespan: 34/73 (Deteriorating due to Aether poisoning)
Life Level: Mortal (-)
Skills: Street Combat Mastery (Lv 2), Xannis Alchemy (Lv 2 NEW!), Diplomatic engineering (Lv 3)
Attributes:
•Body (E)
•Mind (D)
•Senses (E)
•Perception (D)
BLESSINGS:
•Author's Insight (F)
•Serpens Perception (family blessing) (E)
•Intimidating Aura (E)
TRAITS:
•Noble Composure (-)
•Aether Gene (Phase 1 Aether poisoning)
•Merchant Intuition (-)
STATUS POINTS: 2
I couldn't help but scoff at the sheer absurdity of it all. Three blessings and above wasn't strange but for a mere mortal? It was unheard of. Most individuals had only one, and even two was considered remarkable. What did it mean to have three, even if they were low level?
I knew the main characters and some supporting characters often had top-tier talents that started at (D) and above, but even rare geniuses could only reach a maximum of 4 talents without becoming Transcendent.
Studying the status screen further, I soon realized that the Author's Insight was a consequence of my arrival in this body. It seemed Elijah himself had been a talented individual, possessing the potential for greatness but hindered by a lack of opportunity. He died silently after sending his family to his in-laws and leaving instructions to his gathered wealth, It had to be known that this has been a common occurrence for the last two generations, there are members of the Serpens family who had died because their aether gene evolved more than the normal range, so they died in the end, all those talented individuals gone just like that.
'My people suffer from the lack of knowledge...'
But for me, It didn't matter, this was a new beginning. Although the present family situation bothers me and for some reason, my fate might just be tied to them.
The Serpens family, once prominent in the second half of my novel, during the Belcrystal world's blood wars, had somehow fallen on hard times. My original storyline didn't mention their decline, even when the book was completed, but a century had passed since then. I didn't even know what had become of Davon, my protagonist. Now the family was struggling to survive in Novar City, and Bestat De Maria was down to its last heir. What about the other characters?
It was strange. The Serpens family had been connected to some of the main characters and even had dealings with Davon. Could a newly introduced enemy be responsible for their downfall?
I couldn't ignore that possibility.
For now, gathering information about the past remains a priority but even that has proven difficult. So I needed to understand the situation before making any moves. But first, I had a more pressing issue.
My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since yesterday.
I sighed, my face contorting in a grimace. This world wouldn't conquer me, not again. I would survive, thrive even, and unravel the mysteries that shrouded this new life. 'But first, to the kitchen!'
___________
Five minutes later, as I was frying some eggs, I noticed something peculiar—my status screen was now visible on any reflective surface, including the back of my kitchen spatula.
It was a fascinating discovery, so I continued studying the status screen while balancing the task of making toasted bread and eggs in my frying pan.
"If only I had a toaster or something, oh well, it might just be a waste of money ", now that I think about it, Despite the world's silent technological advancements, the aether in the atmosphere still significantly reduces the effectiveness of machines. Aether-powered vehicles, for instance, originally had a lifespan of 2-3 years, but now they can last up to 4 or even 5 years if handled with care.
This is attributed to a curse by the God of Nature, Taurus, which causes aether pollution to aggressively target machinery.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
"The world really distorted itself in a strange direction huh? If I knew I would end up here, would I have done things differently with the my mindset was at that point in time?", I sighed loudly before deciding to focus on the status screen, pondering where to invest my points.
I calmly retrieved my nearly burnt toast and placed it on a plate before heading to the dining room. As the toast cooled, I returned to the mirror, observing my skills.
"As expected, the settings remained the same. Skills are always passive but consist of various components, much like blessings and traits," I muttered, tapping my meal to check its temperature before taking a bite.
For example, Street Combat Mastery (Lv 2) is a compilation of all the combat techniques the previous Elijah learned in the streets of Section 22 and those that I learned over the years, including boxing from my past life.
Interestingly, it's recognized by the status screen.
Xannis Alchemy, which is pretty much the potion-brewing method of Davon Xannis, was also registered. My successful creation of a transcendent potion seems to have upgraded it to (Lv 2 NEW!).
'No wonder I've been failing with over 11 failures, most of my savings were almost gone and I was beginning to worry for a bit, after all, I have a family to feed now', I took a casual bite from my toast while thinking about this skill, it's unfortunate that I only have status points for now not skill points.
Diplomatic Engineering, at (Lv 3), is my highest-level skill, comprising negotiation, intimidation, and other social skills. This shows the way he preferred to solve issues.
Ah if I remember correctly, even if two people have similarly named skills, their components can differ even when taught by the same teacher.
On the other hand, Skill levels generally increase slowly, but with this status screen, I can improve mine more efficiently, just like Davon. It seems that I just need to enhance my life and my family's or in other words, change our fate. while completing tasks hinted at by the screen.
Taking another bite of the toasted bread, I shifted my attention to the main places where these points could be used, Attributes, and Blessings, Traits, on the other hand, have no concept of levels...
In this world called Belcrystal, the prominent character attributes—Body, Mind, Senses, and Perception—play crucial roles in navigating the complex and mystical environment. Although the city is covered in enchantment, the outside world is rather harsh and unforgiving. Anyway the explanation I gave for each attribute back then was
The Body Represents physical strength, endurance, and vitality. It is the attribute that determines how strong and resilient you are. It affects your ability to wield certain weapons, withstand attacks, and endure harsh conditions outside. In this world filled with distorted monsters and aether pollution, having a strong body helps you survive and fight effectively.
The Mind Governs intelligence, memory, and mental resilience. It influences your ability to learn and use magic (aether), solve puzzle-like enchantments, and resist mental attacks. A sharp mind is essential for mastering mystic arts and understanding the intricate workings of certain machinery.
The Senses, on the other hand, Enhance awareness, sensory perception, and reaction speed. It affects how well you can detect changes in your environment, spot hidden dangers, and react quickly. Keen senses are vital for identifying aether pollution clouds, avoiding traps, and navigating through the distorted landscapes of Belcrystal.
Perception involves insight, intuition, and the ability to discern truths. It helps you see beyond the surface, understand hidden motives, and grasp the true nature of things. It's crucial for deciphering the mysteries of aether magic and seeing through illusions in a world where reality is often obscured by mysticism and pollution.
These attributes form the foundation of a character's abilities, guiding their interactions and survival in the enchanting yet perilous world of Belcrystal.
Attributes:
•Body (E)
•Mind (D)
•Senses (E)
•Perception (D)
To be honest, this was a decent set of attributes for a mortal like myself, a first-order transcendent that isn't a physical type would basically have a body at the 'D' level but Perception remains the most important in my mind, not to mention I have two blessings related to it, Author's Insight and Serpen Perception.
Author's Insight (F) Grants the ability to randomly extract information from targets once per day. This means anyone I meet or randomly use the blessing on would provide me with a piece of information. Although Information is fragmented and requires multiple uses to compile. It could also randomly trigger during significant narrative moments.
So in essence, Unpredictable information quality; requires patience. But it remains a unique intelligence-gathering tool linked to my status as the original world-creator.
Serpens Perception (E) Enhances situational awareness beyond normal human capabilities, boosting perception by two levels. This is a blessing that can be awakened by certain members of the Serpens Family due to the previous generations. Unfortunately, Increasing its level is twice as difficult for non-transcendents. But Offers a strategic advantage in complex social or dangerous settings.
Intimidating Aura (E) tends to Generate an involuntary fear response in observers. Luckily it is Controllable but is sometimes influenced by one's emotional state. This tends to be counterproductive in diplomatic situations if my emotional state declines. But it was a natural deterrent useful in negotiations and confrontations
Although I was tempted to raise the level of the author's insight, it would consume both status points, so it would be better to improve an attribute that would help in the long run. With that decision, I went to work
[You have used 2 status points, Perception (D)---> (C)]
Reading the notification, a grin spread across my face, "My first extraordinary attribute before I even became a first-order".
It didn't take long for a feeling of dizziness to come, I dropped my food on the table, and the room began to shake as my eyes rolled back. At some point when my eyes cleared, I was on my hands and knees, gasping for air... This made me speechless.
"Note to self, always use points at the safety of your home or Safe location," I muttered to myself while standing up, "Nothing?"
"No, There's something..." I spoke, looking away from the mirror, the status screen followed but it wasn't as clear as it was on the mirror, I had to squint. "Another fascinating discovery"
I calmly walked to my bedroom and lay down before squinting once more with the urge to look at the status screen, immediately, it popped up, prompting a smile from me. But I soon switched my attention to the traits...
Noble Composure was something I had vividly noticed before even getting the status screen, It ensures perfect emotional control and facial expressions during public interactions. It also maintains a dignified demeanor automatically.
Unfortunately, it tends to suppress some of my genuine emotional responses. So it was Ideal for political and business maneuvering, especially when I had just come to this world, it had been of great help at the time even when I had no idea about it.
The Aether Gene on the other hand shows that one has the potential to hold aether energy and become a Supernatural being. When it is Unactivated over a long period of time, it causes slow, poisonous bodily deterioration. This could take decades, years, or even a few months... It's just unfortunate that there is no way to easily notice the symptoms besides having a high perception stat, so if there's no transcendent with a decent perception stat in the family or a close friend, no one would know.
I believe that the Merchant's Intuition trait is perfect for me as it enables quick assessment of people, items, ideas, and businesses. Surprisingly, according to the status screen, it was Inherited from my maternal lineage. But it appears to be Subjective, influenced by personal biases. But it was Exceptional for strategic and financial decision-making, perhaps this is why Elijah was living in a much better condition than his brothers.
Too bad I haven't been using it because I was completely unaware and focused on potion-making, it's nice to know that I won't be poor in this life. The thought of this brought a smile to my face...
"Let's just sleep for now, I suddenly have a feeling that tomorrow is going to be a long day" I shrugged as I squeezed my pillow to get a comfortable feel before trying to get some sleep.
____________
As the clock ticked past 8 AM, I slipped back into my makeshift lab, the dim light casting long shadows across the room. Dalia was already awake, her eyes a tumultuous mix of fear and defiance as she watched me descend the stairs.
I smiled inwardly, the thought of her as my first Transcendent filling me with a sense of accomplishment. Her blood, now potent and rare, held the key to creating diluted versions of the Imposter Potion for my future minions. It was a crucial step in my ambitions to establish a separate gang under the family name, aiming ultimately at the Council.
Approaching her, I maintained a smile on my lips, but my eyes were cold and calculating. "You are forbidden from using my image without my permission, do you understand?" My voice was calm, yet the command carried the weight of the Xannis rune pulsing in her veins, instilling a deep sense of dread.
She shivered visibly, her voice barely a whisper, "Y-yes, Okay Sir”
I replayed the scene from moments ago in my mind—descending through the trapdoor to find her chained, wearing a smirk that irked me as she donned my appearance. It was unsettling, a perfect replica besides the difference in clothes. Control was necessary; rules had to be set to prevent future complications.
With a practiced ease, I moved towards the safe mounted on the wall, my thoughts drifting to the initial boost provided by the first-order Imposter potion as described in the novel. A body and mind enhanced by one level, senses heightened by two—ideal for a mage-type supernatural power. If orchestrated correctly, Dalia could become a formidable witch under my influence.
The Imposter potion hadn't been my first choice, but stumbling upon a star-dotted chameleon for mere peanuts was a stroke of luck too tempting to resist. Finding someone with at least 50% compatibility had been a challenge, fraught with complications, but Dalia, with her over 60% compatibility, was a rare gem.
"Click!”
The safe opened smoothly, revealing its contents: neatly stacked caps of new and old notes totaling about 67,000 Slorins, an aether pistol that was pretty much something that looked like a revolver, and a Glock pistol had a baby, and beside it were three cartridges glowing with luminescent blue light with the six bullet spaces of each cartridge.
I glanced at Dalia, who watched me with a mix of curiosity and trepidation. I offered a reassuring smile, though my eyes conveyed a different message, one of control and hidden intentions
With deliberate movements, I retrieved the pistol, sliding it into the holster hidden beneath my gray coat, along with the cartridges. I counted out ten thousand Slorins, placing half in my pocket and tucking the rest into my flat cap before settling it on my head.
Every action was calculated, every move precise because of my audience. Dalia, whether she knew it or not, was a crucial part of my plan.
In a good mood, I locked the safe and handed her the breakfast I'd brought. "Continue practicing your abilities," I instructed, my tone leaving no room for argument. Yet, a nagging feeling that lingered since last night, a sense that today might not be as peaceful as I hoped.
With that thought, I left my house, my unsheathed dagger hidden in my sleeve after locking the doors. As I stepped outside, my heart tightened, and the feeling of impending danger became even more pronounced.
I surveyed Fortune Street from my doorstep. Everything seemed as usual, the territory under my direct control. Yet, with my heightened perception, I couldn't ignore the sense of unease. Opting to walk instead of taking a carriage, I hoped to see whatever was coming, ready to face the day's unpredictable challenges.