May 24, 1256 of the Second Era.

The long line packed with adventurers climbed the stairs of the ancient and magical city of Antharia from the slums at the bottom, to the Nexus at the top. As every day, its slow progress tested the patience of adventurers like Erihs.

Trying to hide her shyness, the girl looked back to see if she could strike up a pleasant conversation with a stranger she might never see again. It was common knowledge that more than 90% of adventurers died before the first month.

After discovering that it was a half-orc young woman, she suddenly perked up. She hated talking to guys. As soon as they sensed that she didn't like them, the meaningless jokes started.

On tiptoe and trying to see the beginning of the line. "Still a long way to go! Let's see who the Nexus matches me with today!"

The half-orc, Daowm, asked politely. "This isn't your first time, is it?"

Erihs smiled happily after getting what she wanted. Turning around looking like she wanted to make friends. "No! I've already been 18 times!"

Daowm praised her enthusiastically. "Wow! You're quite the veteran!"

Erihs behaved as usual, modestly. "No way! In there, it's never the same!"

Although she perfectly knew the answer to what she was going to ask, she did it anyway. "And you? How many times have you entered?"

The half-orc acted impetuous and vigorous. "It's my first time, but I'm looking forward to breaking some necks!" Erihs looked at her without knowing what to say, but Daowm didn't notice.

Asking curiously. "Is it that hard? I mean, do the enemies come together and harass you in waves like I've heard?"

For an instant, Erihs turned her attention away from her. Just a few steps away, Ian was approaching from the end of the line. Daowm also turned around when Erihs' smiling face became more noticeable. "What are you doing here, big guy?"

When Daowm realized that he was taller than her, she was even more intrigued. Watching him for long seconds, she wished he would take off his hood since only his nose and lips were visible. Although that was enough to make her guess that he was very attractive.

After looking him up and down, she realized that he was one of those high-class adventurers seen very spasmodically around the city. Dressed in a dark leather ensemble with matching hood and cloak. As weapons, he carried a greatsword, a sword and several daggers. No shield, no bow. It seemed like a bad combination to Daowm, but if he had survived this far, she figured he knew what he was doing.

With a deep voice, the huge muscular guy addressed Erihs. "I'll be gone for a while. I told Geor to let you in whatever you want. You can also eat as much as you need at my house."

Erihs looked pleased, at least until she felt something was wrong. "Did something happen with your old mentor because of me?"

Ian smiled without looking her in the eye. "It wasn't your fault, but yes. Something has happened. We may not see each other for months."

Erihs grew nervous. "Months?! But... where are you going?!"

Ian looked directly at Daowm and whispered very close to her ear. "Do you want to earn 1000 silver coins?" Daowm nodded, both flushed and puzzled. "If she tells me when I come back that you help her, they're yours!" Extending his hand to her. "Deal?"

The newcomer shook Ian's hand quite hard. "Deal!" Ian smiled and squeezed her hand even tighter, stopping before the young woman felt it was too much. This caused some arousal in Daowm. Even more when she watched him walk away while saying goodbye to Erihs.

Directing her gaze at Erihs, Daowm couldn't help but ask. "Is your boyfriend?"

Erihs shook her head. "He's my best friend. Well... actually, he's my only friend!"

Daowm considered forgiving him the 1000 silver coins in exchange for him also treating her as his friend, but Erihs sensed her intentions and warned her. "Forget that! He's in love! Although from what I hear, she's dead!"

Daowm snorted at feeling exposed. "And what's a dead girl going to give him that I can't!

Erihs looked back at Ian as he walked away. "Do you know why he treats me so well?" Letting sadness take over her. "Because he says that I saved his life in exchange for mine." Daowm and some of those present looked at her in bewilderment.

Embarrassed for having drawn too many stares. "Yes. You might recognize someone you've seen die before, or someone you've never seen before. It seems some of us have returned, even if we don't remember anything about it."

The adventurer in front of Erihs butted in uninvited. "Back from where?"

Erihs looked serious but with a hint of sadness in her voice. "From planes, of course!" At the look of incomprehension on the faces of many, she decided to explain herself. "The planes are other dimensions to which we don't belong, but to which we can arrive for many reasons. Several of them are the 7 hells. Supposedly, in one of them is the girl he still loves!"

Daowm felt her heart skip a beat or two. "What is he going to do?! Can he go find her?!"

Erihs looked at the ground. "They say that if you stay there for too long, you disappear!"

One of the adventurers in the line sneered. "That's bullshit! Dreamers' fantasies! How can you live believing in such nonsense? Reality is very different!"

Erihs didn't even deign to look at him. Daowm, on the other hand, looked at him questioningly for at least a few seconds. "And how do you know that? You arrived yesterday with me!"

The one speaking was Fen, and he seemed to have far better equipment than expected of a newcomer who had only been given 10 silver coins. "A little bird told me! A very dangerous little bird!"

Erihs whispered something while looking at Daowm. "Watch out for those! You can tell them apart because they always seem to be on another level! If you are unlucky enough to get paired with them, don't count on their help! They might even let you die!"

In the distance, near the great Nexus, an old man in a robe began to speak from a pulpit. However, they were too far away to understand what he was saying. Some of the newcomers asked. "I didn't hear anything! What did he say?" "I have no idea!"

Fen laughed out loud. "Prepare to die, sheep!"

Erihs shook her head again, raising her voice slightly despite her embarrassment. "Make sure you have weapons, bandages, healing materials and supplies or they won't let you through! They'll really kick you out of line if you're missing something."

Fen sneered again. "Really? How will they know if I'm missing something? Is a beautiful girl going to search me?" Staring at Erihs with a different look than the one he had in the market. He seemed genuinely interested in her. "Is she going to be as pretty as you, archer?"

Erihs didn't even notice his change of attitude, since she hadn't looked at him for a while. She sensed that it was the rough boy who had grabbed her arm in the market. She also remembered that the brown-haired boy was there and they had been talking. A shiver ran through his body as she stood with her back to Fen. She even thought about leaving the line. It was very likely that those standing in line with you would end up being your companions inside the Nexus.

Within seconds, a crowd of adventurers descended the stairs. Daowm and others asked curiously. "Why are they leaving the line?" The general silence answered them. "I think I have to leave too! I don't have any bandages or healing materials! I didn't think they would force me to...”

Erihs smiled and grabbed her arm. "Don't worry, I'll go with you! I know a place where they're not too expensive!"

Fen followed her with his gaze. "If you make it back in time, I'll save you a place in the line, honey!"

Erihs kept walking without turning around. Daowm whispered to her as Erihs continued to hang on her arm. "He looks quite handsome. Not as handsome as your friend, but…"

Erihs whispered into her ear, finding herself more drawn to the half-orc than she expected. "We need to talk about your taste for dangerous boys. They often disappoint. By the way! What's your name?"

With her low Perception, Erihs would never be able to perceive that someone was spying on her from a rooftop 150 meters away. Neither could Emhe, more than 370 meters away. None of them could even if they were 20 levels higher.

Emhe was extremely exhausted. She had spent nearly 9 hours running after Skipy with breaks to study alchemy, physics and math. She rested only when the old woman allowed her to. She had also eaten a lot, but had consumed almost all of it.

After so much effort, she finally managed to increase each of her base attributes to 110 and was ready to level up. Just before doing so, she had taken a cold bath while Mother Fae prepared a makeshift bed of straw in the warehouse. Finally, after closing her eyes...

"Bleep! I remind you that you are qualified to level up! If you initiate a scheduled rest of at least 2 hours, you will be able to start the mutation process to level up! Do you want to start such a rest?"

"I wish to sleep until the end of the world... Just kidding!... Yes, I want to level up!"

Just when she thought she was going to fall asleep, she suddenly felt herself falling into an endless abyss. She could have let herself be carried away by fear, but the old woman had already described how that moment would be. Gradually, the fall stopped, and she found herself floating in a vast space. It was filled with stars, nebulae, and galaxies in the distance. Around her, four very close constellations. One with red stars and purple and blue nebulae. Another with yellow stars and a green and white nebulae. The third with blue stars and red and purple nebulae, and lastly, one with green stars and red and yellow nebulae!"

Confused after looking around. "Where is the missing one? The old woman told me there was a fifth constellation!"

Mother Fae had told her why they had tried to kill her back in Origin. All humans brought into this reality are equal. All can acquire experience, a residual form of essence. However, only a few can absorb the matter of which the Nexus is composed. Pure essence.

The beings that took advantage of the Nexus don't want to share that essence with anyone else. Therefore, they first incapacitate them by erasing part of their mind before teleporting them to a place where they will die without remedy. However, that was not the only reason behind the attempt to kill her. Those who can absorb the pure essence can also access the fifth constellation.

"Bleep! Do you desire a different path from Power, Dexterity, Intelligence or Willpower?"

"No! I want them all!"

"Bleep! This choice cannot be undone. You will never again be able to take the constellations of Power, Dexterity, Intelligence or Willpower! You will lose the following bonuses:

5 attribute points of your choice each time you level up.

+1% permanent to the attribute of the chosen path.

1 technique skill at the first level in the path and another one every 5 levels on the same path.”

Emhe spoke calmly and confidently. "Yes. That's what I want! I want to choose everything!"

As soon as she spoke, the stars of all the constellations and the nebulae themselves moved in a strange whirlpool forming a new gigantic constellation around her. In addition to those previously discovered, there were many that were new. Turquoise, orange, purple, white and black.

"Bleep! You have chosen the path of the Daughter of the Void, and from now on, you will walk the Path of the Void. It's a difficult path, suitable only for those who wish to be gods among mere mortals! Those who want to change everything, having to fight against everything!"

Emhe listened to those words without giving in to how imposing they sounded. "Yes, I want to follow the Path of the Void!!

Little by little, she was surrounded by a swirl of tiny yellow lights coming out of the nebulae. They got closer and closer until they finally merged with her. The change in her being was painful. She wanted to scream, but she didn't. Perhaps she was too tired, or perhaps she was unwilling to show weakness.

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"Bleep! By choosing to be a Daughter of the Void you have acquired [Self-Domain]!"

*[Self-Domain]: Special Gift. Allows you to start on the long path of perfect control of your own being. Requires 150 in all your base attributes or choose the Path of the Void. This gift is necessary to learn all special skills and gifts.

"Bleep! Reminder! With attributes lower than those specified, any skill or gift will have its effectiveness greatly reduced.”

Leaving the pain behind. "I've already been given a gift? I thought I could choose it!..."

"Bleep! Your limits have been increased by 10 points. You can now increase your base attributes to 120. You don't have the benefit of any of the paths! Instead, you can access the special skill and gifts of a Daughter of the Void! You can now invest the essence points you have been absorbing! You can only choose one skill or gift at this level and one more every 2 levels! Which skill or gift do you wish to unlock?"

Emhe looked confused. "But I already got one! Wait! Is it free?" Looking in all directions. "Where are they written so I can choose one?"

Inadvertently looking at one of the stars, [See Beyond] activated and a small pop-up box appeared.

[Reconstruction] (Level 1): Special Skill. You consume Energy to regenerate your being. Remember that your whole being is also Energy, and as such, it’s finite. [1000] essence points.

"The stars themselves! Wow! The old woman didn't tell me about this! Ok! This skill is the one I've been recommended the most to start with, but... How much HP does it regenerate? How much Stamina does it consume?" Trying to placate her growing impatience. "I guess I won't know it with [See Beyond] only at level 1 or as long as I don't choose it. It's alright! I'll see all of them first, and then choose one wisely!"

[Painless] (Level 1): Special Skill. As the skill level increases, you will mitigate a higher percentage of pain. [1000] essence points.

"With this one I could go back to Plane 23 without worrying about the pain! I'll keep it in mind!

[Daughter of Energy] (Level 1): Special Skill. You will gradually increase all your Energy and Stamina reserves. [1000] Essence points.

"This one looks very interesting! Let's keep looking!"

[Assimilation] (Level 1): Special Skill. You can feed on any adjacent residual energy in the real plane. You can specially force this ability to absorb energy that could harm you, but you will lose most of the absorbed energy. [1000] essence points.

[Daughter of the Elements] (Level 1): Special Skill. You use your Energy as a shield to reduce incoming damage. [1000] essence points.

"These two together with the previous 2 would be the bomb!"

[Dragon Skin] (Level 1): Special Skill. You will gain an increasing damage reduction. In other words, your Endurance increases. [1000] essence points.

[Instantaneous] (Level 1): Special Skill. You will be able to move at higher speeds without damaging your body. [1000] essence points.

[Incorruptible] (Level 1): Special Skill. You will become more resistant to poisons and diseases. You can especially force this skill to absorb the infection from your body and neutralize them. [1000] essence points.

"These three are not bad either, but I think I would leave them for later. There are more interesting options!”

[Link]: Special Gift. Through your blood, you can transfer any form of essence to other beings or objects. When the link reaches the minimum level, a wide range of possibilities and improvements opens up. [1000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 175 in all your base attributes or have chosen the Path of the Void.

[Animal Bond] (Level 1): Special Skill. You can transfer your blood to an animal creating a strong bond. Gift needed, [Link]. [1000] essence points.

[Bind object] (Level 1): Special ability. You can transfer your blood to a receptive object thus creating an enhancement. Gift required, [Link]. [1000] essence points.

Underestimating these skills. "I can link to objects and animals... to what end?! Hold on! Is Skipy the old woman's bound animal? That doesn't seem like a very useful thing right now! I need something that gives me a definite advantage!"

[Eloquent Speaker] (Level 1): Special Skill. Your ability with words will reach higher and higher limits. It will not be necessary to mentally influence them to get what you want. Greatly increases your Eloquence Mastery. [1000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 150 base Intelligence or have chosen the Path of the Void.

[Aura]: Special Gift. You are able to extend the control of your being beyond the limits of your body. Although significant, it's a dispersed control. [10,000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 300 in all your base attributes or have chosen the Path of the Void.

[Focus]: Special Gift. You are able to extend the control of your being beyond the limits of your body. It’s a very intense control in a very small area. [10,000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 300 in all your base attributes or have chosen the Path of the Void.

[Chameleon] (Level 1): Special Skill. You generate an aura capable of manipulating your environment. Depending on the level, you can go from camouflaged to invisible. [10,000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 300 in all your base attributes or have chosen the path of the Void with [Aura] and [Mana] unlocked.

[Mental Influence]: Special Gift. You are able to manipulate people's minds and modify their thoughts. [10,000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 300 base Intelligence and base Willpower or have chosen the Path of the Void with [Aura], [Mana] and [Focus] unlocked.

[Telekinesis] (Level 1): Special Skill. You can move objects without touching them directly with your real body, but with the extension of it. [10,000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 300 base Power, Intelligence and Willpower or have chosen the path of the void with [Aura], [Mana] and [Focus] unlocked.

[Inspirational Aura] (Level 1): Special Skill. You are able to create an aura that inspires those around you. It will increase their attributes temporarily. [10,000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 150 base Willpower or have chosen the Path of the Void with [Aura] and [Mental Influence] unlocked.

"The old woman sure has some of these at a high level! They're not my style! Maybe later."

There were still many more stars. Many, many more. Some were already unlocked.

[Unbreakable]: Special Gift. 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 or have chosen the Path of the Void.

[Unlocked]

[Walking Library]: Special Gift. 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 or have chosen the Path of the Void.

[Unlocked]

[Muscle Density]: Special Gift. 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 or have chosen the Path of the Void.

[Unlocked]

[Imitator]: Special Gift. 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 or have chosen the Path of the Void.

[Unlocked]

"Unlocked? How is that possible? Wait! They are the ones that appeared the first time I opened the character screen, but the Path of the Void requirement did not appear before!"

"These are the special gifts I couldn't use... well... actually... I'm not sure I haven't really enjoyed their benefits... This means I was already destined to choose this path or maybe..."

Turning her attention back to the stars, she saw that others were barely shining. They were gray. As if they were out of reach.

[Meditation] (Level 1): Special Skill. You can use your Energy and Mana to raise your attributes. [1000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 500 in all your base attributes or have chosen the Path of the Void with [Aura], [Mana] and [Focus] unlocked.

"This could be interesting later on, when training doesn't produce the expected satisfactory results!"

[Home]: Special Gift. 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 or have chosen the Path of the Void.

[Unlocked]

[Portal Home]: Special Gift. You are able to voluntarily move to your personal plane ethereally for a low Mana cost. [10,000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 200 base Intelligence and Willpower or have chosen the Path of the Void with [Home] unlocked.

[Dimensional Traveler]: Special Gift. You are able to voluntarily move through other planes in your ethereal form in exchange for Mana. You have to know the destination. [100.000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 300 base Intelligence and Willpower or have chosen the Path of the Void with [Portal Home] unlocked.

[Blink]: Special Skill. You are able to move short distances in the real world by being able to physically move across your personal plane in exchange for Energy. [100.000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 700 base Intelligence and Willpower or have chosen the Path of the Void with [Portal Home] unlocked.

[Mutant]: Special Gift. You are able to absorb the hidden knowledge that can be found in pure essences. This will allow you to learn how to modify your DNA. [100,000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 500 in all your base attributes or have chosen the Path of the Void.

[Eternal]: Special Gift. You will not age anymore. You will be forever young and your attributes will not decline through lack of use or any other manipulation of time upon you. [1,000,000] essence points.

[Immortal]: Special Gift. You cannot die. Even if your body is completely destroyed, you will be relegated to the planes. There will always be a copy of your being there. Returning will only be a matter of time. [1,500,000] essence points.

Smiling from ear to ear. "Wow! This just keeps getting more and more interesting!"

[Total Perception]: Special Gift. You are able to perceive all matter around you. [2,500,000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 1000 base Intelligence and Willpower or have chosen the Path of the Void with [Aura], [Mana] and [Focus] unlocked.

[Control]: Special Gift. You are able to manipulate all existing matter around you. [3,000,000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 1000 base Power, Intelligence and Willpower or have chosen the Path of the Void with [Total Perception] unlocked.

[Devourer]: Special Gift. You are able to devour, assimilate and finally merge with you anything that exists. [5,000,000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 1500 base Power, Intelligence and Willpower or have chosen the Path of the Void with [Control] unlocked.

[Replicator]: Special Gift. You are able to replicate skills and characteristics of anything you have assimilated. [10,000,000] essence points.

Requirements: You must possess 2000 in all your base attributes or have chosen the Path of the Void with [Control] unlocked.

[Mage]: Special Skill. You are able to control the Mana stored in your personal plane both in the real plane and in the other planes.

Requirements: You must possess 300 in all your base attributes or have chosen the Path of the Void with [Home], [Mana] and [Mana Manipulator] unlocked.

[Creator]: Special Skill. You are able to modify skills you already possess in exchange for essence.

Requirements: You must possess 1000 in all your base attributes or have chosen the Path of the Void with [Home], [Mana] and [Mana Manipulator] unlocked.

After seeing that there were many more stars, Emhe stopped reading. She resignedly understood that these stars were unreachable for now. "I'll choose the first one, I don't think I'll regret it!" Reaching out her hand, the star lit up, momentarily blinding her.

"Bleep! You have chosen the Special Skill, [Reconstruction] (Level 1)! It’s recommended to acquire the skills [Daughter of Energy], [Daughter of the Elements] and [Assimilation] to be able to use this skill in a sustained way in combat.”

"Bleep! You have used [1000] essence points to mutate your body and acquire this skill. Time remaining for all these changes to be successfully completed, 1 hour and 55 minutes!"

"Bleep! Initiating sleep mode!”