The sound of his own breathing was all Kal heard as he opened his eyes. His body still burned with the pain of his injuries but the surprisingly cool stone he was laying on was strangely soothing.
“Huh…I’m alive.” Kal grunted. He had honestly assumed he was about to get torn apart like the rest of the bloody plane but once again he just found himself in horrible pain and low on resources, “Go me…”
He didn’t bother moving straight away and simply stared up into the sky, well not really the sky but the darkness. The fiery storm of Fallen Kartha was gone, replaced by an inky black void. Tiny flickering lights moved across the darkness reminding Kal of shooting stars but something about them felt strange.
Kal sat up with a groan and watched silver lights arc across the sky. He went to start filtering through his mana affinities to try and figure out what he was looking at but it was already active. It was soul mana, why it was shooting across the sky was beyond him. He had only seen it within living things besides the stone of mana acuity.
“Is that what happens when you die?” Kal thought. Then his eyes widened and he looked down at himself half expecting to see only silver light, or more likely crimson light but let out a breath before groaning. No, he wasn’t dead, well he looked far too crispy to be alive but the pain was enough information to persuade him.
“In too much pain to be dead…”
Kal dragged his attention back to his surroundings. He was on a large black metal platform that was about sixty feet across. After that, it was nothing but the inky black void. Somehow he got the sense that he was moving but with nothing but the darkness and the soul mana for reference, he couldn’t be sure. At the center of the platform was something Kal had been looking for for some time now but the sight of made him frown, “How the fuck was I supposed to find this one?”
Pillar of the Forgotten One [Legendary]
What stands before you is the last remembrance stone created by ~~~~~~ The Forgotten One. Your path has already begun but will you learn the truth?
This all stunk of system fuckery if it hadn’t already before. He couldn’t complain about surviving the insanity of the last day but it was abundantly clear that the system wanted him to complete the quest no matter what.
Even though he wanted to see the last vision Kal was in no state to just throw himself into it without recovering first. He may have made some questionable decisions before but he could learn.
Several notifications pulsed at the edge of his vision so he opened his log and read through them.
Warning: Planar collapse detected…
Returning soul to forge of origin…
Erasing shell for recycling…
Error: Soul no longer compatible with forge of origin…
Erasure postponed…
Safe location for transposition === True…
Fallback command initiated…
Spirit prerequisites met…
System trials completed === 1…
Processing…
Processing….
Processing……
System Trial: Lonesome Will
Lonesome Will
To fall into the space between is a death sentence. Your anomalous nature has saved you from destruction but soon you will wish it hadn’t.
Part 1: Heal your shell 208/4160
…
..
.
Escape the place between: 0/1
Time Limit: 100 days
Rewards: Title, Two mortal lives.
“Fucking great…Another timer!” Kal frowned at the quest’s description, at least he already planned on doing that but the fact that it gave him a trial to do so meant it was going to be a pain in the arse, the timer also didn’t give him any hopes of getting out quickly. And what was with the rewards? Sure a title was nice but what was with the mortal lives? So what, if he didn’t escape two random people would die?
Or were they specific people? People he had seen in that strange pathway? Knowing how thoroughly the system and apparently the gods and demons have had their mits in everything he had no doubt it was someone he knew. But who? He doubted the system would go out of its way to kill someone just because he failed a quest.
But then again maybe it would. Judging by the strange logs he had snuck through some pretty serious loops just to be trapped in this place. Shell erasure didn’t sound too great…
There were a few more notifications so Kal put his irritation aside and continued.
Title Acquired: Exemplar of Defiance [Epic]
Exemplar of Defiance [Epic]
You have defied the tyranny of the strong and rose up to bring about their destruction. The experience has left its mark and those who witness your might will see their death.
+5% All Attributes.
Title Upgrade: Planeswalker [Rare] => Planeswalker [Epic]
Planeswalker [Epic]
You have crossed the boundary between planes and even the space between. May you forever walk the Astral Ways. +5% All Attributes, +5% Intellect.
At least the next two notifications were good news. He wondered how many titles were normal. All of his titles were at least rare besides Planar Binding I. It had been quite a while since he had gone through his entire status so Kal spent a moment to read over everything.
Kalum Lesta
Status
Class:
Slayer of Fate [Epic] [Anomalous]
Level:
71
Race:
Human?
Health:
208/4160
Stamina:
1232/7880
Wrath:
0
Attributes
Attributes
Final
Base
Title%+
Point+
Item+
Class/Skill+
Distributed
Total Point+
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Strength:
372[-429] Mana Burn
22
65
20
30
355
59
464
Agility:
190[-312] Mana Burn
15
60
70
90
0
139
299
Endurance:
405[-382] Mana Burn
22
65
20
70
355
11
456
Vitality:
416
20
60
20
50
142
28
240
Intellect:
561
12
75
170
0
0
139
309
Perception:
393[-121] Mana Burn
16
75
20
45
213
0
278
Will:
1234
19
100
70
0
496
32
598
Wisdom:
491
14
60
70
10
213
0
293
—Titles—
Core Bane [Unique]
Your desire to be free of a deity has pushed you to the destruction of your very own core, freeing yourself from the will of all gods. May your will be forever unbroken, your potential limitless. +15% Will, +10% Vitality, + 10% Endurance
Defier of Dhinir [Unique]
Your defiance of the god of conquest will be your undoing, that at least is what the sheep will say. May you forever spit in the eye of Dominion and his lackeys. +10% Will, +10% Endurance, +10% Strength.
Ascendant [Mythic]
Your defiance of fate has pushed you beyond the frail capabilities you were destined for. Walk towards the infinite Ascendant, Walk towards a fate of your choosing. +5% All Attributes.
Core Smith [Epic]
You have weaved the Astral Threads and created the most simple of cores. Hone your craft and forge the fate of all. +10% Perception, Will, Intellect.
Planar Appetite [Rare]
You have consumed the flesh of an abyssal entity and survived. Very few could say the same. +5% Vitality, Strength, and Endurance.
Slayer of the Strong [Rare]
You have single-handedly slain a being 10 levels above you while in Tier 0. May you bring fear to the unworthy. +5% All Attributes.
Endurance Elite [Rare]
Achieved an Endurance of over 200 during Tier 0. May your shell withstand the might of all who would oppose you. +5% Endurance.
Strength Elite [Rare]
Achieved a Strength of over 200 during Tier 0. May your foes know your might. +5% Strength.
Will Elite [Rare]
Achieved a Will of over 200 during Tier 0. May your enemies fear your undying will. +5% Will.
Will Paragon [Epic]
Achieved a Will of over 1000 during Tier 1. May your enemies fear your undying will. +10% Will.
Demon Slayer [Rare]
Gained by slaying over 100 demons single-handedly during the system quest Garghound Eradication. +20 All Attributes.
Paragon of Man [Epic]
By reaching 100 hundred in all attributes during Tier 0 you have proven yourself as a paragon of your race. May your path break the ties that bind. +10% All Attributes, +25% Unity.
Planar Binding I [Uncommon]
You have entered into a contract with a being from a different universe. Beware the cost of defying a planar contract, +50 Intellect, Wisdom, and Will.
Soul Seer [Epic]
You have proven yourself adept at perceiving the affinities of creation and above all have seen that which resides in all. Look beyond the shells of all and glimpse the product of the Astral Falls. +15% Perception, Intellect, and Wisdom.
True Slayer of Demonkind [Epic]
Your wrath knows no bounds and your perseverance has seen to the destruction of an immortal soul. The remnants of the destroyed soul cling to your aura increasing its potency. +10% Strength, Agility, Vitality, Will.
Thief of Ages [Mythic]
You have stolen from an entity of tier 5 or higher while in tier 1 and have survived the divine retribution. Your luck is matched only by your hubris. +15% Agility and +5% Perception.
Fate Diviner [Mythic]
You have peered into the soul memory of one bound by the chosen fate of another universe. Will you tread the path others have made or forge your own? +10% Intellect, Perception, Wisdom, Will.
—Skills—
Soul Forge [Rare]
You have gained a modicum of control with your soul space, and have brought this control beyond your core. You now walk whole but altered into the cosmos. Depending on the rarity of this skill your energy constructs will become more easily controlled by your will and require less resource investment to maintain.
+3 to Perception, Will, and Wisdom per level. Tread the dark waters of your soul, and the matter of your shell, forging your own path. Your potential unlimited.
Wrathful Regeneration [Uncommon]
A Slayer never stops until the last enemy is dead. Use your accumulated Wrath to heal your wounds. May the blood of your foes fuel you. Amount healed per Wrath spent scales with rarity. Speed of healing scales with Vitality. May switch between two modes of regeneration. One is cheap but less accurate, leaving scars and other imperfections. The other leaves no imperfections but is more expensive.
Wrath Incarnate [Uncom//ERROR///??/?l Forged] [S//ERROR///??/?Assisted]
A Slayer’s //ERROR///??/?is as much a physical presence as it is a mental state.
//ERROR///??/?your inner self is let free, crushing all emotions it de//ERROR///??/?st of Wrath until you deactivate this skill. If your Wrath is exha//ERROR///??/?ee times more Stamina until you deactivate this skill.
P//ERROR///??/? Effect: Your very pres//ERROR///??/?sense the Wrath deep within you and will fear you. The more affected by this aura the less Wrath is consumed while using this skill's active effect.
Warning due to manual manipulati//ERROR///??/?will break and //ERROR///??/? //ERROR///??/?resource would be le//ERROR///??/?trolled.
Abyssal Consumption [Rare]
A slayer must feast and one in the midst of battle has limited options. Your past consumption of abyssal flesh has provided sustenance for now, but are you willing to take it further? Upon reaching a certain threshold of flesh consumed, gain a particular passive trait associated with the consumed creature. Once gained a trait can never be removed, and only one trait can be gained this way per tier.
Active Traits: Greater Fire Resistance, Greater Acid Resistance
Progress: Null
Flames of Wrath [Uncommon] [Soul Forged]
The wrath within obeys your call to smite all that oppose you. This skill allows you to conjure a malleable manifestation of your wrath. Potency scales with will.
Slayer’s Intent [Rare] [Soul Forged]
Induce fear upon those you have marked for death and revel in that which empowers you. While this skill is active all active fear effects are greatly amplified against the target of your intent and you will generate a small amount of wrath every second scaling with the target's killing potential.
Slayer’s Apathy [Rare] [Soul Forged]
Mere illusions are nothing to the will of your wrath. Resist the effects of mental attacks or manipulation and all unnecessary emotions while this skill is active. Wrath cost is minimal until under strain. This skill can be applied to another within field of view at an increased cost. Strength and the maximum amount additional targets scales with will.
Edge of Malice [Common] [Soul Forged]
Condense your hatred along the edge of your weapon so that you may slay those you would stand before you. Durability of the conjured edge scales with Will and Endurance.
Flesh of Iron [Rare]
Harden your flesh and let your foes break upon you. Increases resistance to nonmagical attacks by a moderate amount. Scales with Endurance.
Eyes of the Slayer [Mythic] [Spiritbound]
Divine the threads of your enemies and tear the threads of all asunder. This skill allows its user to detect the level, affinity, and skills of a target of their choice within sight. May the strength of your enemies be their downfall.
Kal smiled despite the pain at all the progress he had made. At least until he read what should have been Wrath Incarnate,” Well that can’t be good…”