“*Sigh*... one final push and I will be free... or get new directives... at least there should be some directives...” I mused to myself while sitting near bonfire...
Oh... right... I think introductions are in place... My name is Ash... not Williams mind you... however... I fought quite a lot of undead in the recent... time? Truth is... I died... a lot...
Well... let's start from the beginning... My real name was... huh... seems that I can't remember? Oh well... I was a human... I think I was at least. The place where I was born was called Earth... but nothing comes to mind when I try to remember the names or when I try to recall the faces... but it's not important. So... Earth... the planet, which hosts humans, animals and some other unimportant stuff, as I can't recall it. It was a technological world... machines, factories... computers... oh right... I guess there was a game... Dark Souls... somehow that game had the same feeling as this world...
I lived in some city. It was quite crowded, and nearly all those places where human lived were crowded. Machines were like water in the river, always traveling somewhere... well actually it were humans, which controlled those machines. In that place I died... I think I was hit by some machine, and then... I was here.
This place... it's quite peaceful... except the times when you stumble upon something... or it stumbles upon you. Contrary to the Earth with the crowds of people this place is devoid of creatures... almost... and they are far from friendly...
The first time I got here I was met with silence. There was only darkness... fortunately there was a bonfire, so I sat there, while trying to understand the situation I was in. That's when I noticed something strange. There were quite a lot of icons, words and numbers. At first I didn't bother with them as I was... shaken? After some time I was a bit more calm and started on inspecting the stuff I had on me. It was nothing fancy. Some cloth shirt and pants, worn leather shoes and a dagger. Then I heard a noise... so not having any better idea I moved into the tunnel, and met my first enemy. It was something similar to me, husk, but at that time I didn't know that, which nearly cost my first life... it was quite a quick fight, and I was not without injuries. That thing, despite being 'naked' had quite sharp claws, and I was lucky for piercing it's 'neck' with my dagger when it lunged at me, which was accompanied with some scratches and slightly torn shirt. Then I decided to go back to the campfire/bonfire and noticed strange thing. The fire restored my shirt and healed my injuries as I came near it. Then I started on examining the pictures. Near each picture were the numbers, and near some were words. Fortunately I could read them. They were 'Status', 'Resistances', 'Affinities', 'Alignment', 'Equipment', 'Skills', 'Titles' and 'Magic'. When I started staring at 'Status' I got new entries, such as 'Health', 'Stamina', 'Mana', 'P-Shield', 'M-Shield', 'Strength', 'Endurance', 'Vitality', 'Vigor', 'Dexterity', 'Agility', 'Speed', 'Willpower', 'Wisdom', 'Intelligence', 'Magic', 'Charisma', 'Perception', 'Luck', all except first five were '1', while first three were 10 and 'P/M-Shield' were 0. When I stared at 'Skills' I was met with only three entries 'Undying', 'Reaper' and 'Cursed Champion'. 'Undying' is a trait more than a skill, as it basically makes me immortal, I still can die, but I will be always resurrected. 'Reaper' allows me to gather 'essence' of fallen enemies, which I then can use to empower myself. 'Cursed Champion'... had only in it's description. Affinities were 'Mana', 'Elemental', 'Spirit' and 'Divine', under them were other affinities, except for 'Mana' affinity, which had number '10', while others '1'. 'Resistances' were 'Physical', 'Magical', 'Elemental', 'Spirit' and 'Divine' and the subcategories. 'Alignment' was 'Neutral', while 'Magic' had only one entry 'Mana Manipulation Beginner 0/100'. Equipment at that time had 'Cloth Trousers', 'Cloth Shirt', 'Leather Shoes' and 'Dagger'. 'Titles' had 'Cursed Champion' and .
But now... now I had shitload of skills, magic, titles and all my stats are maxed... at least I think so. From skills the most noticeable are 'All weapon Mastery MAX', 'Smith Grandmaster72/100' and 'Harbinger 99/100', while magic was completely explored and maxed. Titles were like a water in ocean, there were a lot of them, but not all had some effects, and most of those that had were quite useless, except a few of them, besides the first two, 'Devourer' had the ability to consume my enemies and add the abilities they had, 'Seeker' allowed me to see through illusions and understand any writing language, 'Wanderer' had bonuses to learning non-combat skills and 'Psyker' unlocked new stats for me, which were maxed as soon as I could spare 'essence' on them. There was also a title and skill 'Smith of Essence' which allowed me to create any gear I want as long as I have 'essence' and repairing said gear, but... it was mandatory, as I wouldn't have the gear I have now. And 'Equipment' is now as follows. 'Skin of Leviathan' is a very peculiar piece of equipment. It has the 'fitting' enchantment that makes it like a second skin, while also having 'Self-Repair' and 'Restoration'. 'Underlord Garbs' are combination of platemail and a robe, with 'Unbreakable' enchantment. From weapons I have 'Underlord's Whip', which is actually a sword-whip and it's wrapped as a belt around my waist, 'Death Scythe' a Scythe imbued with death energies, 'Wings of the Fallen God' which are more of a melee weapon and not wings, and the last one is 'Heavenward Spear' which I always throw first, as it has 'Return' and 'Multiply' enchantments. Now I am standing near the entrance to the 'boss' room. I just hope I will get the answers I seek.
“Let's get the party starting.” I said as I entered the room.
First thing I saw was a dragon... again... they are the most annoying enemies I met so far... except scratchies. Those little shits always try to claw their way to your sensitive places, they are rather small around the size of my palm, but they always come in hordes. One time they came in few thousands if not more... that time my death was not pretty. I was still alive when that little fuckers clawed their way to my innards. After that time I learned quite a lot of AOE spells and a few suicide ones.
“How peculiar.” … Had it just talked? “I haven't had a visitors in a long time.” yep... it talks... “Who are you mortal?”
“Name's Ash. Now it's my turn. Who are you? What is this place? How did I got here? Where are-”
“Easy now. My name is Rulkra'agh. This is my home and you walked through the gates.” really now...
“I mean-” that dragon laughed.
“Relax. This plane... it was once glorious... but now... most of the creatures are dead or dying. As for how did you got here...” it stood on it's legs “I don't know, but it doesn't matter. We will all die. And I want to die in battle.” it looked at me with interest. “Hope you will entertain me.” and we started the battle.
As usual I initiated the battle by throwing spear, which just gazed it, I really hate that bastards with their scales, followed by the firebreath coming my way. Deploying 'Fire-resistant Shield' I ducked behind it redying to 'blink' as soon as the flames stop, but that dragon whipped it's tail at me and shattered my shield.
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“[Tiamat]” I summoned one of enslaved dragons. Unfortunately they lose a lot of their powers when they die, but enslaving them becomes possible only after their death, I couldn't enslave any alive yet. As the Tiamat came into the range, it was killed and returned back to me.
“It's useless!” roared it, and lashed the tail at me, which was met by my scythe, cutting it's tip. Now it only a matter of time before the [Necrosis] kicks in, so I bid my time being on defensive and cutting him whenever opportunity presented itself.
It lashes at me with tail, claws at me, uses fire breath and magic, but magic always countered and in melee I cut it with scythe. The battle lasted for hours and by the end of it my mana was almost empty, while health around a half of it's original amount. But the dragon was on it's last breath.
“What a fight!” it roared. “Now let's finish this!” and it tried to bite me in half, but was met with scythe ripping it's jaw, followed by neck slice. Unfortunately it's head was still on it's shoulders, so I recalled my spear and threw it at it's wings. It was still alive and kicking, but severely beaten, so in order to kill it I sliced it's wings and quickly got on the nearby wall.
“Not... bad... for... a... mortal...” it said in the last moments of it's life, as I closed in.
“You will serve me.” I said and started preparing [Soul Trap] spell.
“Fool... this... world... is... dead... you... won't...” and it died, so as soon as I could, I captured it's soul and sealed it inside my 'Soul Space', for summoning purposes.
Now as the dragon is dead I started looking around. It had mountain of treasures in the back room, so I took it all in my 'Inventory', but one stone was not taken. As I came near it the writings on the stone started glowing.
“Hm... it reads... '***** darkness claims ***** curse will break free ***** the light *****'... strange... I can't read some of the writings.” well... let's get it stored in some pouch.
“What the hell?” as I tried to pick it up the space around me started trembling, and some cracks become visible, along with blue window.
'Congratulations! You have unlocked the System. New options have been unlocked.'
'Race not found. Do you want to choose your race?'
'Age not found. Acquired new title. 'Ageless'.'
'Deity not found. Due to your nature as a 'Champion' you will gain title 'Champion of the Void'. Due to the previous title 'Cursed Champion' your title has evolved to 'Void Walker'. New options unlocked.'
'Found excess essence... converting... new ability unlocked. 'Gather Essence'. New skills unlocked.'
'Due to the-'
“Too much info!” I shouted.
'Acknowledged. Waiting for user entry. Enter your race, name, and choose your rewards.'
“Huh? Rewards? Cool... oh right... list available races.”
'Current options. Human, Dwarf, Elf, Beastkin-'
“What are the most badass? With retaining my current form?”
'Acknowledged... applying filters... three options found.
Divine Ancestor -Clan- (Vampire).
Dovah-kin (half-dragon half-other race of user choosing)
Xenos (doppelganger)'
“More information?”
'Divine Ancestor. Increased overall stats, higher comprehension abilities, immortality. Blood diet. Specialization depends on the chosen clan.
Dovah-kin. Increased overall stats, allowed usage for words of power. Has appearance of his non-dragon kin. Really noisy race.
Xenos. Increased overall stats, increased mental faculties, divided mind, change shape. Sometimes would take forms of giant robots.'
“Xenos is able to change into any other being?”
'Affirmative'
“I will have the same titles, skills, abilities and whatnot for any race I choose?”
'Affirmative. Stats will be increased accordingly to your choice. Affinities may increase. Possibility of new titles.'
“Cool... then I choose Xenos.”
'Acknowledged. Choose rewards before proceeding with race change. Current rewards 1 divine, 7 legendary, 53 relic/Unique, 259 artifact/Rare, 8364 uncommon, 9999 common rewards are pending.'
What the hell?
“Um... what rewards can I choose for each category?”
'Divine rewards allows you to choose the item or ability of divine power, legendary allows you to choose legendary ability or item, relic allows you to choose between relic item or unique ability, artifact allows you to choose between relic item and rare ability, uncommon allows you to choose between uncommon item or ability, common allows you to choose between common item or ability. Abilities include skills, magic, traits and titles.'
“OK... Let's start shopping!”
…
So I chose mostly abilities, except I choose to use one of artifact/rare reward in item... just as those rewards where I couldn't get any new abilities.
Divine spell 'Creation' allows me to create anything as long as I have sufficient mana.
Legendary skills 'Eyes of god', 'Interface', 'Prodigy', 'Cellular Regeneration', 'Contractor', 'Unbound' and 'Warlord'. Eyes of gods are similar to appraisal, but that skill will allow the user to see the stats, item creation, history and so on, so I could create item by myself., also some sort of clairvoyance. 'Interface' will just get it easier to level up and upgrade my abilities, while 'Prodigy' increases my learning speed. 'Cellular Regeneration' gives me increased regeneration, stops aging process, reduced needs for food, water, air, sleep, etc. Funny thing is my 'Undying' skill, which is considered Primordial rank, removes the needs for food, water, air, sleep, and other stuff, while completely stopping the aging process. In combination with 'Cellular Regeneration' it then created new skill ' Cellular Manipulation' which allows me to change my body, but only slightly. 'Contractor' allows me to create and break magical contracts, I guess it will be useful, while 'Unbound' hides all my information from anyone, but 'Eyes of god' can still see through me, however the user must be near me. 'Warlord' gives me ability to defy death by killing enemies, and increases proficiency with all weapons and armors.
Noticeable Unique abilities are 'Summoner(s)' (there are like ten of them), 'Defiler', 'Paragon', 'Renegade', 'Archmage' and 'Shadowcaster'. Summoner increases the power of my summons, 'Defiler' allows me to create sentient undead, Paragon gives me increased defensive and magical abilities, Renegade increases all my stealth and offensive abilities while 'Shadowcaster' allows me to blend with shadows, use them and magic while being inside shadows. And 'Archmage' increases my mana capacity, regeneration and lowers the costs of spells.
The item of artifact grade was 'Executioner' a two handed sword.
And I ended up with all the utility skills and spells, and even then I could get a lot of items... seems like the rewards were a bit too easy gained... or I had too much time... anyway I liked the 'Brigand Twin Axes' uncommon item made of dark steel, but... they were quite useless... anyway now I will get the race change...
'As the challenger completed the test he will be teleported to another world... world type: Fantasy with rpg elements, technological level: low(varies), world size: primordial... thank you for using the System. Have a nice day.'
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Somewhere in the multiverse...
“This one actually completed the test? Would be fun to watch him for a bit...” mused creature while looking at the tester that killed last boss, the ancient dragon. “I suppose I shall grant him my favor. I haven't had a champion in a while...”
'Do you wish to make the creature Ash the champion of the Void?'
“Yes and stop with this attitude.” that was Void. One of primordial beings in the multiverse.
…