After crossing between worlds, she should have been able to dream of who she wanted to be. She should have been able to become what she longed to be. However, before she even had the chance, something prevented her from doing so. Something that wasn’t willing to let that seed germinate.
Now, she was just an unfinished female entity floating inches above an endless surface of black water illuminated by a perpetually starry sky. An unnatural night sky that turned whiter as the mysterious twilight merged with the horizon. Just an incomplete being waiting for the moment to be disposed of.
However, before that was her fate, something appeared. A light as tiny as a firefly approached her, fluttering frantically. More so, when it was close enough to almost touch her.
"Bleep! Discarded subject... found!
Subject choice... confirmed!
Initializing protocol [Evaluation]!
Initiating subject evaluation...
Evaluating body...
Body in perfect condition.
Evaluating mind...
Subject's name... Unknown.
Character creation... uncompleted...
ERROR!!!
[Evaluation] protocol aborted!!!
Memory is seriously damaged! 62% beyond repair!
Essential and basic data... lost!
...
Processing
...
Initializing protocol [Character Creation]!
Recovery... in progress…"
Those words that sounded as if they were pronounced by an AI, and that no one could hear, were the prelude to an endless succession of images, sounds and basic sensations for her mind. They were like a sunrise after a life in complete darkness. Like a beautiful melody after an eternity in utter silence. Like a breath of air just before suffocating.
"Bleep! Basic data... loaded!
Keeping idle mode!
Starting connection…
... Name?"
That was not a question that sought an answer learned and heard a thousand times. It was a choice. However, she didn't realize that until a few seconds later.
"My name is E... Em... Emily? No! That's not my name! My name is Em... Emhe!"
Minutes before, she wouldn't even have been able to mutter. After the journey between worlds, something had deliberately destroyed her memories. She had walked through the portal as a girl with a past she might never know about again, but now, against all odds, she would be someone new. She could decide who to be. She just had to dare.
"Bleep! Connection established.
Starting synchronization!
…
Synchronization at 1%!
…
Do you know who you are, Emhe?"
Of the immense amount of possible answers, one prevailed over the others. It was as if everything was clear to her.
"I'm a redhead, fair-skinned human with green eyes. I'm 1.98 meters tall, so I tend to be stronger than other women. My Intelligence and Dexterity are average, however, I’m extremely gorgeous."
"Bleep! Adjusting features to the new world…
Looking for equivalences.…
Equivalences found!
Adjusting..."
After what seemed like hours during which her body slowly changed until it was completely defined, something returned. Something that had been interrupted. Something that aimed to finally destroy her. Something that didn't want her to live another second.
"Bleep! Warning!!!
Hostile protocol detected!
Protocol [Character Creation] incomplete!
Detecting threat level…
Initiating forced teleport to an unknown destination!
Entering hostile area!
…
Danger!
Impossible survival!
…
Initiating forced reanimation…
Loading emergency equipment…
Initiating pacts…
Looking for current date…
…
Current date found! May 23, 1256 of the Second Era.
…
Wake up, Emhe!"
Face down, and completely numb from the long sleep, she couldn't describe the tingling that ran through her entire body for the first time. Trying to move, she realized it was cold. A drop was falling on her right hand forming a small puddle on the ground.
Opening her eyes with great difficulty, she inspected her surroundings looking for a clue that might give her some idea of her situation. However, the only thing she found was the darkness that reigned in that place.
"Where the hell am I?"
In the brief instant that her body finished loosening up, Emhe felt a rush of new sensations. The discomfort caused by lying on a hard and uneven surface. The stale and humid atmosphere that hung in the air. The insignificant breeze that slightly increased the sensation of cold. The background noise of an ominous wind that slipped through the cracks.
Finally, and still quite tense, Emhe stood up and waited several minutes for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Groping around, she realized that she was in some kind of claustrophobic place. A little less than a meter wide and just over 2 meters high. Wide enough that she could move around without having to walk sideways, and tall enough that her head didn't hit the ceiling.
A little more used to the dark, Emhe mustered up the courage to explore her surroundings. Clumsily surveying the walls around her, she felt sharp fragments of what appeared to be stones falling to the ground. Luckily, none of them landed on her feet, but in the small puddle at her feet. Moving slightly to her left, Emhe noticed several more puddles on the path, as well as several wooden supports reinforcing the walls.
After her little scan, Emhe came to the conclusion that there was nothing natural about that place. Most likely, it was a mine or a similar area.
"How did I get here?" Thinking for a few seconds. "What the hell! I wonder when I don't remember anything about myself?"
Uneasy at being in such a strange place, Emhe had enough self-control to take several deep breaths in order to calm down. "Focus! Being like a leaf in the wind is not going to help me at all!"
Again, and clumsily, she tried to imagine how she was dressed. Sensing a worn, stiff and rough fabric, Emhe couldn't help but complain. "How did I end up in such tattered clothes? What is this? It looks like a fanny pack!" Checking if it was empty, the voice she already knew surprised her by echoing in her head.
"Bleep! Your inventory is empty!"
Annoyed, she frowned. "Oh, shit! Is that voice going to be with me all the time?" Resigned to her new reality, she sighed. "Great!"
After a few seconds assimilating her situation, she closed her eyes trying to relax. Following her intuition. Concentrating on herself. As if trying to feel her whole body.
"Bleep! Opening... Character screen."
Almost smiling, she saw it for the first time. She didn't know how, but she sensed that she would find it. "I don't understand what's going on, and in a way, it gives me a bad feeling, but.... I have to admit that, deep down, I like it. Am I crazy?"
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Name: Emhe
Age: 18
Level: 1
Classes: None (You need a Technique Skill)
Race: Half-giant (You have only 25% giant blood. You have no distinctive physical features from other humans except for your Height. That's why no one calls you half-giant.)
Blessings:
[Blessed by Corth]: The God of Giants, Corth, noticed you before you were born.
Advantages:
* [Giant Height XX]: Racial passive trait (Equivalent to [High XX])
+20% to Height (+10% to Attack Range)
+20% to Power
+40% to Weight
* [Giant Power X]: Racial passive trait (Equivalent to [Robust X])
+10% to Power
+20% to Weight[Giant Willpower XX]: Racial passive trait (Equivalent to [Determination XX])
+20% to Willpower
* [Giant's Perception XL]: Racial passive trait
+40 to Perception (+80 to all Senses)
* [Giant Insurgency]: Passive trait Gives the racial passive skill [Nevermore]
Willpower reduction will never go below 10%.
Willpower debuffs tend to be countered.
Disadvantages:
* [Always Hungry LX]: Passive trait
+60% to Stamina Consumption (+40% [High XX] / +20% [Robust X]).
* [Bad Dodger X]: Passive trait
-10% to Acrobatics Mastery
* [Easily visible L]: Passive trait
-50% to Sneaking Mastery
[Blessed by Afaera]: The Goddess of Beauty, Afaera, noticed you before you were born. You are so gorgeous that you charm anyone who is attracted to you.
Advantages:
* [Aphrodisiac]: Passive trait (Only against susceptible people)
+500 to Charisma and Attraction.
+750 to Aspect.
Disadvantages:
* [Unhealthy Attraction]: Passive trait (Very effective against the worshipers of the God of the repudiated)
+750 to Aggro
* [Anaphrodisia]: Passive trait
You suffer from low or no sexual interest if it’s not the right person.
* [Harmless Appearance]: Passive trait (Only against susceptible people)
Your Intimidation decreases to 0
Main attributes:
Power: 100+30
Dexterity: 100
Intelligence: 100
Willpower: 100+20
Secondary attributes:
Strength: 34
Accuracy: 100
Endurance:125
Cleverness: 100
Speed: 100
Reflexes: 117
Tenacity: 120
Astuteness: 110
Perception: 114 (154)
Charisma: 112 (612)
Vitality:
HP: 230/230
Energy: 129998/130000
Stamina: 350/350
Stamina Transition: 1/s
Stamina Consumption: 160%
Blood: 100%
Water: 100%
Health: 100%
Constitution:
Weight (kg): 9
Height (m): 1,98
Encumbrance (Kg): 34
Senses:
Sight: 111 (191)
Hearing : 111 (191)
Smell: 113 (193)
Taste: 108 (188)
Touch: 318 (198)
Masteries:
Technique:
Sneaking: 56 (28)
Acrobatics: 49 (44)
Block: 51
Athletics: 50
Poise: 142
Mitigation: 50
Lockpick: 52 (–)
Search: 58
Deflection: 52
Eloquence: 54 (79)
Interaction:
Persuasion: 80 (370)
Intimidation: 73 (0)
Cunning: 86 (196)
Weapon: (None)
Professions: (None)
Others:
Aspect: 92 (1234)
Attraction: 105 (808)
Charm: 680
Aggro: 0 (500)
Reputation: 0
Notoriety: 0
Conditions: (None)
Morale: (None)
Basic Skills:
[Tense] (Level 1): Skill that allows you to prepare for combat by sacrificing strategic capabilities.
+15% to Power and Dexterity.
-20% to Intelligence.
-10% to Perception.
+1 to Stamina Transition.
+100% to Stamina Consumption.
Costs 1 Stamina per second to maintain.
[Mentalized] (Level 1): Skill that allows you to clear your mind by sacrificing combat capabilities.
+10% to Intelligence and Willpower.
+100 to Cleverness.
-10% to Power and Dexterity.
+10% to Perception.
Costs 0,1 Stamina per second to maintain.
[Sprint] (Level 1): Skill that allows you to increase your movement speed.
+200 to Speed.
-10% to Accuracy.
+200% to Stamina Consumption.
Costs 1 Stamina per second to maintain.
[Stealth] (Level 1): Skill that allows you to go unnoticed by decreasing your breathing and sacrificing movement speed.
+200 to Sneaking.
-20% to Speed.
Costs 1 Stamina per second to maintain.
[Passive Regeneration] (Level 1): Skills that allows you to passively regenerate your body to keep you always healthy. It’s always active and always consumes Stamina. Does not heal wounds.
+1 HP every hour.
Costs 1 Stamina per second to maintain.
[Passive Healing] (Level 1): Skill that allows you to heal the injuries of your body. Does not repair or rebuild to its original state. Remove Wounds Points (1 Wound Point equals 10 damaged grams of your being).
Removes 1 Wound Point every 10 minutes.
+100 Energy Consumption per Wound Point.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
[Alive]: Passive skill. Generates the necessary heat to keep you between 36º and 37º. Consumes 96 Stamina points per hour.
Special Skills:
[See Beyond] (Level 1): Allows you to see more than meets the eye.
* 50% of the information on simple objects or living beings of a lower level than oneself.
Variable information from living beings of lesser level than oneself.
All main attributes.
HP, Energy, Stamina, Weight and Height.
Buffs, debuffs, traits...
* 25% of the information on magic items and individuals of similar level.
Variable information from living beings of similar level.
The highest main attribute
Maximums such as HP, Energy, Stamina.
Weight and Height.
Some buffs, debuffs, traits...
* 1% of the information on legendary items or individuals over 20 levels above. You will know little more than the name.
Special Gifts:
[Daughter of the Ancient Gods]: Special Gift. Passive. You can assimilate essence.
[Unbreakable]: Special Gift. Passive. Your Willpower will tend to increase faster when faced with alienating effects such as terror, hypnosis or any effect that causes you to lose consciousness or control of yourself.
Requirements: You must possess 125 base Power and 175 base Willpower in order to properly use this Gift. (Error: Requirements not met)
[Walking library]: Special Gift. Passive. Everything you see and read will be engraved in your mind. In addition, you will never forget anything. Therefore, your Intelligence increases faster.
Requirements: You must possess 200 base Intelligence in order to properly use this Gift. (Error: Requirements not met)
[Muscle Density]: Special Gift. Passive. The density of your muscles increases much faster without increasing your volume so much. This way your Power will increase efficiently without affecting your Dexterity.
Requirements: You must possess 200 base Power in order to properly use this Gift. (Error: Requirements not met)
[Imitator]: Special Gift. Passive. You can learn any weapon skill or technique, even those that are exclusive to the paths of Power, Dexterity, Intelligence and Willpower. Thus, Dexterity will improve faster.
Requirements: You must possess 200 base Intelligence and Dexterity in order to properly use this Gift.(Error: Requirements not met)
[Home]: Special Gift. Passive. You now possess your own plane where you can store essence in any form (Essence Fragments, Ether or Mana). There, it will remain safe and ready to be used.
Requirements: You must possess 200 base Intelligence and Willpower. (Error: Requirements not met)
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"Bleep! The Gifts; [Unbreakable], [Walking Library], [Muscle Density], [Imitator] and [Home] work incorrectly. Their effects are extremely weak and will be lower the lower their required attributes are!"
Puzzled. "Why do I have them then if I don't fulfill the requirements?"
"Bleep! The Gifts are yours now, not before."
Stunned by the ease with which her thoughts were read. "Before when?"
Resigned to her question remaining unanswered, she kept looking at her character screen. On the far left, a small portrait, and in the middle, a full body image of herself. She wasn't surprised to see how gorgeous she was. She didn't understand why, but she recognized that image as her own. However, what did surprise her was to see how weak she looked. One could even say that she was disappointed. "How much is 130 of Power supposed to be? Is it low?"
Focusing back on the character screen, she analyzed how she was dressed. She was only wearing some kind of sleeveless top and long pants. Her feet were wrapped in the same kind of cloth tied by thin strings. That was what she had sensed in such dim light, though she hadn't expected them to be so badly damaged. The primitive fanny pack was a simple cloth sewn that formed a large pocket, large enough to be tied at the waist and slung sideways over her left hip.
"This is going to be my inventory? How much stuff will fit in here? It won't break as soon as I put something in it, will it?"
Just trying to open her eyes, the character screen closed, but not before a new text box appeared.
"Bleep! Your Mission Log has been updated!"
Mission [Essential supplies]. Find food and water!
Extra: [Gain Erum's favor]. Sacrifice some of these supplies for a reward.
Mission [Basic equipment]. Get equipment! Protection and weapons.
Extra: [Gain Athest's favor]. Sacrifice some of the equipment for a reward.
Mission [A handful of coins]. Get 100 copper coins!
Extra: [Gain Avaram's favor]. Sacrifice part of those coins for a reward."
Mission [First experience points]. Get 1000 experience points!
Bonus: [Gain Supherm's favor]. Sacrifice some of that experience points for a reward.
Mission [One more day]. Survive at any cost!
Extra: [Gain the favor of the Dark God] Gift him with your victims.
Mission …"
Pondering after reading them. "Dark God? Sounds sinister! Do I really have to make sacrifices to Gods? What for? What good will that do me?"
She didn't have the feeling that she had experienced something like this before, she didn't even know what awaited her, but she intuited things that she couldn't explain. As if the information she had now, prepared her for her new reality.
"Looking for food and water seems the logical thing to do." At that instant, her stomach rumbled along with a slight feeling of emptiness. Frowning, she put her hand to her abdomen. "Funny! Why am I so hungry all of a sudden? I wasn't hungry before." Conjecturing that it might have been provoked. "I feel like I'm being manipulated!"
To her left, there was no way out, just huge piled rocks that completely blocked the path, probably due to a landslide. To her right, a narrow tunnel that right at the end, was illuminated by a faint reflection of a dull orange tone. “Light! Is that the way out?!”
As she moved forward, she checked the ground, picking up all the small stones she could find on her way.
"Who knows? Maybe one of them is a gold nugget!"
"Bleep! [See Beyond] has been activated!"
Surprised, she watched as a pop-up panel appeared describing the object. Something visible only to her.
"I wasn't expecting this at all!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Stone]
Common item
Material: Quartz
Can be used as a projectile
Maximum damage:???
Weight: 0.225 Kilograms.
Skills as a throwing weapon: You haven’t discovered any skill with this weapon yet.
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Without a second thought, she grabbed as many stones as she could fit into the fanny pack. "I hope it doesn't break!" She picked a total of 8, including the one she had equipped in her right hand ready to be thrown.
"Maybe with a sling they can become lethal projectiles! Truth be told, I don't think I could hit anyone even if I had one!"
As the end of the tunnel neared, it became more apparent that the light was swaying slightly due to the ominous breeze. Tension began to torture Emhe so much that, trying to relieve some of the stress, she tightened her grip on the stone she held in her hand. "I have a bad feeling! I don't think getting out of here is going to be that easy!"
Clearly nervous, she groped her way approximately 10 meters down the narrow, cold tunnel. Trying to go unnoticed amidst the intermittent sound of drops and the ominous breeze.
"Bleep! [Stealth] has been activated!"
With each step closer, the more noticeable it became the smell of oil and burnt cloth wafting through the air. Emhe realized that the exit couldn't be nearby. "That's certainly not natural light from outside! That burning smell... It has to be fire! But... If there is fire, there are people!"
Holding her breath and paying close attention, she listened for several seconds in silence. "I don't hear anyone!" Knowing that it was obvious that someone had made the fire. "Will they be friendly? I don't know why, but I have a feeling no one's going to be friendly around here!"
Imagining the worst, her heart took the initiative on its own. Her heartbeat increased so drastically, that it felt like a herd of rampaging horses.
"Bleep! You are suffering [Stress I]!
*[Stress I]: Debuff. State of nervousness that causes:
-1% to Power and Dexterity.
-5% to Perception.
-10% to Intelligence and Willpower.
"Shit! Calm down, Emhe!"
"Bleep! [Tense] has been activated!"
Unable to calm down, Emhe approached the corner. Leaning against the wall. Holding her breath. Before leaning out, she tried to sharpen her senses, but she heard nothing more than the almost inaudible crackle of the fire, her deafening beats, and the very sound of the place itself. Very slowly, she poked out little more than one eye trying to see past the change of direction. To her relief, there was only a single burning torch on the wall.
Poking much of her face out, she searched for something else. "There's no one there? So... who put that torch there?! I don't think it can burn for more than 10 minutes!"
Resigned to the fact that her question would remain unanswered, she cautiously approached the torch until she discovered something written next to it. Some white pieces on the ground allowed her to intuit that it had been done with plaster.
"Exit!"
A few seconds later, a sound coming from somewhere in the deep caverns startled Emhe greatly. Uneasy, she looked in both directions, but nothing was heard again. When she turned her attention back to the torch, another small floating panel appeared again.
"Bleep! [See Beyond] has been activated!"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Wooden torch]
Magical item
Can be used as a weapon.
Maximum Fire Damage: ??? (Knowledge of this weapon is needed)
Maximum Blunt Damage: ??? (Knowledge of this weapon is needed)
Skills: You haven't discovered any skills with this weapon yet.
Remaining time on fire: 10 minutes and 42 seconds.
Extras: ???
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"If I take it, anyone will see me coming, but I guess it's better than moving in the dark!" She took the torch in her left hand and held it close to the plaster.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Plaster Chalk]
Common item
Can be ground to obtain gypsum powder (Craft component, Basic Weapon).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frowning. "Weapon? I guess if I grind it, I can use it as a powder and cause blindness or something. However, even if I grind it, I don't have a container to store it in that state."
Emhe picked up the plaster from the ground and prepared to put it in her fanny pack. "It might come in handy!"
"Bleep! Your inventory is full!"
Reluctantly, she slowly set one of the stones down. "I think temporarily blinding an enemy is more useful than just hitting them with such a small stone!" Armed with the torch and the stone, she felt safer.
"Bleep! [Tense] and [Stealth] have been disabled!
[Stress I] has been countered!”
Somewhat more relaxed, and with the torch leading the way, she headed down the only possible path. "Being stealthy now is pointless. I have to watch out for the drops or I'll be in the dark again!"
Suddenly, a voice echoed in her mind. It sounded like the whispers of a middle-aged man who wanted to amuse himself at her expense.
"Well, well! Do you have a torch to reveal your position in a place crowded with things that can kill you for some particular reason?"
Emhe flinched as [Tense] and [Stress I] activated again. With the hairs on the back of her neck standing up, she looked in all directions as the man's voice continued, cynical.
"There's little you can do with that pathetic flame and the stones against them, you know. Besides, the stones are awkward to carry and they make noise. I can't imagine what it will be like if you run!"
Emhe was so tense that she wasn't breathing. "Where the hell is he talking from? I don't see anyone!"
The hitherto cynical voice changed to a more friendly tone. "Calm down, child! You have nothing to fear from me!" Sounding slightly more menacing. "Only as long as you're willing to make deals with me!" Before she could even reply, the voice interrupted her preemptively. “Don't speak out loud! Think about it! Like I said, you're surrounded by things that want to kill you or... maybe worse! You are soooo gorgeous!"
Feeling watched, she swallowed hard and clenched her stiff hands around the stone and torch, letting anxiety wash over her.
"Bleep! You are suffering [Stress II]!”
*[Stress II]: Debuff. State of anxiety that causes:
-2% to Power and Dexterity.
-10% to Perception.
-20% to Intelligence and Willpower.
"No!" Showing her self-control again, she tried to calm herself. "There's no point in letting myself get carried away by fear!" She took a deep breath and closed her eyes thoughtfully.
"Bleep! You have countered [Stress II], but you are still suffering [Stress I]! Your stats are still reduced!"
"Who are you and why do you want to make a deal with me?"
As if the question annoyed him, the voice turned arrogant. "Even if you don't understand, it will always be this way, child! We'll try to help you against them! And at the same time, well... We'll get something in return!"
It didn't take long for Emhe to realize that he was playing with her. "They? Who?"
Trying to avoid the question entirely. "That doesn't matter now! I propose a deal, an exchange. The torch, all the stones, the plaster, and 12,000 points of your Energy for an item that will be far more useful in combat than anything you carry. However, you will lose the option to make marks with the plaster, light a fire to roast some meat, and attack from a distance. Although, there is little you can do with those stones and little or nothing you can eat here before they find you. By the way, you will also feel an intense hunger and a greater [Weakness] after the deal."
*[Weakness]: Condition. Debuff that depends on how much Energy remains. It has 6 warning milestones of how harmful it’s being.
Cautious and feeling cheated, Emhe kept silent. Realizing that if the plaster was for marking, it could only mean she was in some kind of maze.
Like a good salesman, the voice left her no time to think it over. "Besides, if we make a deal, you'll improve your relationship with me. There are many of us watching you. Trust me! Having or not having our favor can make the difference between life and death."
Emhe weighed those words suspiciously. "How many more are there like you? What is this? Some kind of show?" However, to her outrage, no one answered. Annoyed with that enigmatic and meddlesome being. "What if I don't want to make a deal with you?"
Both mocking and threatening her. "Do you really want to find out? Do you really want to face what awaits you with that alone? Believe me! You will die!"
Clenching her jaws. "You expect me to trust you?"
As if showing a tasty candy to a sweet-toothed child. "Here! A little gift!"
Echoes of a very familiar voice began to resonate in her mind. It was the loving voice of a man. Without understanding how, she knew that he was 27 years older than her.
"Sometimes losing can mean winning, honey! Generally, we are prisoners of things we don't want to leave behind. Things that bind us and don't let us move forward. You just have to open your eyes wide to realize it!"
Emhe couldn't create a precise enough image in her mind to remember whose voice it was, but the small tears that welled up from deep inside her, allowed her to guess who he was. "Dad?!"
The man's voice interrupted her hastily, nervous and serious. "Shhh! Be quiet, you fool! They can hear you! You want to die?!”
Suddenly, as if his words were a foretaste of her ill fortune, a lot of noise began to be heard in the depths of the cavern. Noise of something rapidly approaching.
"Bleep! You are suffering [Stress II]!”
Quite nervous, she gritted her teeth and, squinting, tried to make out something in the darkness without success. "All right! We've got a deal!"