Now, the question was, when had that fight happened. Honestly, Amren had absolutely no idea, it wasn't like she was some kind of investigator after all. But, given that she hadn't seen a single corpse yet, which she was quite thankful for, she could guess that whoever attacked won, and quite some time ago. Good thing they didn't seem to have any interest in her, who knows what they may have done to her otherwise.
Finally, Amren continued on her way, walking along the corridor towards what hopefully was the entrance.
Of course, she was still completely nude. It was a little embarrassing, but as an athlete, she was constantly working on her body. And it was something she was proud of and didn't mind showing off. Though now that she thought about it, it wasn't exactly her own body anymore, now was it? At least, that was how it felt.
And she wanted to know where the hell she was before she started to pillage the place for whatever was hopefully left. Sure, it wasn't exactly the most optimal way to do it in this order. But if she didn't at least take a look, she felt she would go crazy from worry and curiosity. She just had to know where she was.
Right when she reached the entrance, Amren realized something. What should she do if the attackers were still there, waiting right in front of that door? She really hoped that they could talk it out if that was the case. Though, it made her a bit more conscious about her nudity. No matter how much of a showoff she was, standing naked in front of a crowd wasn't something she enjoyed. Then again, if she pillaged for clothes, she might end up looking like one of the original inhabitants, which would make the whole "talking it out" a lot more difficult if the attackers were still there.
In the end, there was no use worrying about it. For now, all she could do was take things as they came.
Taking a deep breath, Amren pushed open the small stone door and stepped through.
What waited for her on the other side, was a small cave and freezing cold air. Looking back, Amren saw the door falling back into place, from the outside hidden as just another part of the wall. Or, that's how it was probably supposed to be, but someone had cut a cross into the stone, making it easy to find.
Finding that she was almost at the end of the cave, Amren had only one direction to go. Quickly, she made her way over. She was freezing her ass off, but she was determined to at least take a short look at the outside world.
"Ouch!" Amren cried out in pain after stepping on a small stone. Normally, that wouldn't have bothered her much, but for the first time, she realized that all her callouses were gone. Which was pretty annoying.
Finally, she turned around the corner, now standing right at the entrance of the cave.
What she saw outside, was astounding. Maybe a bit terrifying.
It was currently night, making it hard to see much, but she could still make out the shapes of mountains all around her, making it impossible to tell where she actually was. She didn't know what she had actually expected, considering that she wasn't exactly a specialist on geographical features.
She looked at the dark sky, lamenting the absence of a dragon or plane conveniently flying over her head to tell her whether she was still on earth or some kind of fantasy land.
At that moment, two things happened. On one hand, she realized that the sky was completely empty, not a single star, or even the moon in sight. Sure, in a city the light pollution would hide most of the stars or they might be hidden behind the clouds. But the ambient light was bright enough to tell that the sky was cloudless.
This sky was just an endless black. There was absolutely nothing in it.
Though she did wonder where the light came from in that case, it just seemed to be there for no reason at all.
And then, something else happened.
*System* Ego detected
*System* System Access approved
"What?"
*System* Check for Race...
The moment Amren looked down, the message floating in front of her eyes fizzled out.
"What the hell was that?" She whispered to no one in specific.
Carefully, she looked back at the sky.
*Notice*Race is unstable
*System*Stabilizing Race: -1 [Stability]
*System*Stabilizing Race: -1 [Stability]
As the messages came one after another, Amren could feel something change in her body. On one hand, the feeling was disconcerting, on the other it with every message her body felt more like her own. The strange feeling of wrongness she previously had, slowly disappearing with every message.
*System*Stabilizing Race: -3 [Stability]
*System*Stabilizing Race: -1 [Stability]
First, the changes were small, barely perceptible. But then bigger things started to change. The first thing she noticed, was her left, artificial arm. While it had previously been both, bigger and heavier than her natural one before, it was now changing, until the only difference between the two was how they looked. And that included the ability to feel and move it.
Fascinated, Amren looked down, the messages stopping once again.
It was a strange feeling. Suddenly, the limb that had been completely useless before felt like a completely natural part of her body. It was a wonderful feeling.
Her new left arm moved just as naturally as her right one. Rather, she felt like it was faster, stronger, more precise. Hell, with just a quick test she could tell that it was better in some respects. It could do things a normal arm wasn't capable of. Like, holding down her middle finger with her thumb, but still having her pointer and ring fingers completely stretched out. It wasn't a lot, but every little bit made a difference.
Still, even if she was given the chance, she wouldn't exchange her right arm as well. Amren had no intention of turning into more of a cyborg than she already had.
Slowly, a single tear ran down her cheek. She felt relieved. With all that happened, she had managed to push it off, but even she herself hadn't realized how much stress her factually paralyzed arm had put on her mind.
She looked back at the sky. Now, she could only hope. She didn't expect much, considering the state of her eye, but who knew.
*System*Stabilizing Race: -2 [Stability]
And the system didn't disappoint. A moment later, information flooded her mind. It wasn't just vision. It was more. For a moment, the information overwhelmed her, forcing her to close her eyes. Of course, it didn't work. Not for her left eye. Only when she covered it with her hand did the oncoming headache retreat to the back of her mind.
It took her almost a minute to calm down again. Still, just because her left "eye" was covered, that didn't mean it couldn't "see". Though "seeing" didn't quite feel like the right word. It together with the darkness beneath her hand, came a lot more information than she had thought possible. She could exactly tell... No, her eye told her the exact places where minuscule amounts of light were shining through her hand. It told her about the differences in color that were so small that even the best computer screen wouldn't have been able to show a difference. And using that minimal amount of light, it told her the exact distance between her eye and her hand. The more she concentrated on it, the more information it gave her.
Leaving her eye covered, Amren looked back at the sky again.
*System*Stabilizing Race: -1 [Stability]
*System*Stabilizing Race: -1 [Stability]
First, the information decreased. Then, the headache she had felt coming disappeared. Carefully Amren took her hand from her eye. No information overloading her brain. Just a normal image, that's a bit sharper and wider than normal. Definitely an improvement. Though, she could tell that she would be able to turn the information back on. Somehow.
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*System*Stabilizing Race: -2 [Stability]
Something exceedingly creepy happened. Suddenly, she could feel the inside of her body. Not everything, but she could exactly tell where her veins were.
And she could... Amren looked down at the back of her right hand to confirm what she was feeling. She could "move" her blood. According to her thoughts, one of her veins was swollen, wriggling around. Just like what she had felt earlier, but now she could do it consciously.
"What the fuck is with this shit? What the hell did these psychos do to my body?"
No, she realized. This wasn't her body. It couldn't be her body considering what she just realized. It wasn't perfect, but she could feel the insides of her body through her blood, or whatever it actually was. A quick check told her that some things were missing. She wasn't exactly a doctor, but she didn't have to be one to be able to tell that a human had more organs than that.
One in specific was missing, which gave her a very strange feeling indeed.
"I'm literally heartless... What the fucking fuck?"
*System*Stabilizing Race: -4 [Stability]
With one last change, everything fell into place. Everything felt faster, natural as if she had been like this for her entire life. Which made the whole thing just that much more creepy.
If the previous changes were bug fixes, then this one was an optimization. Shorter loading times, more intuitive interfaces, no glitches.
However, at the same time, with each of these messages, Amren could feel something coming undone. It wasn't something physical, nor something mental. She couldn't exactly tell what it was, but it didn't give her a good feeling.
Well, it wasn't that hard to guess what it was. In all probability, it had to do with that [Stability], the problem was, she had no idea what it was.
*System*Check for Race...
*Notice* Race detected: [Unknown]
*System*Analyze Race...
*System* 3 Races found: [Homunculus], [Bloodslime], [Runeborg]
[Homunculus]
A homunculus is an artificial, organic creature. Not born to a mother but a machine, their very existence has a purpose.
You may not know why you were created, neither what your purpose is, but you are one such being.
*Notice* Apply Racial Influences: [Homunculus]
*Notice* Apply Racial Stats
+5 [Strength]
+5 [Endurance]
+5 [Vitality]
+10 [Power]
+25 [Regeneration]
*Notice* Apply Racial Resource modifier
-1 [Spirit pool]
+1 [Stamina Regeneration]
+1 [Mana Regeneration]
*Notice* Apply Racial Skill bonus
+50% [Arcane]
*Notice* Generate Racial Ability
*Notice*Acquired Racial Ability: [Potential]
Once again, Amren could feel something change. However, it felt far less profound. If the earlier changes had been akin to surgery, then this felt more like the result of muscle training. More like natural growth than anything else. The only reason Amren perceived it as a "change" instead of an "improvement" was that it happened so suddenly.
"Great! So, I'm not even human anymore... Is that what you are trying to tell me?"
[Bloodslime]
A Bloodslime is one of many evolutions of the highly adaptable Slimes. Where others evolved to withstand even the most dangerous elements, these creatures took a different path. Bloodslimes are symbiotic creatures that replace their target's blood with their own bodies, thus taking advantage of their ability to survive in a given environment.
Being only partially slime, you may not be able to take advantage of the symbiotic abilities of a Bloodslime, but at least your blood has become a conscious part of your body.
*Notice* Apply Racial Influences: [Bloodslime]
*Notice* Apply Racial Stats
+25 [Endurance]
+25 [Vitality]
*Notice* Apply Racial Resource modifier
-1 [Spirit pool]
+1 [Stamina Regeneration]
+1 [Health Regeneration]
*Notice* Apply Racial Skill bonus
+15% [Transformation]
+15% [Enhancement]
*Notice* Generate Racial Ability
*Notice*Acquired Racial Ability: [Addaption]
"Yup, explains some stuff. Doesn't make it any less creepy. Also... If Bloodslimes can replace the blood of any given creature, does that mean they are type AB+? No, wait... AB+ can take all types, O- can be given to all. Next."
[Runeborg]
Half Organic, half Golem, a Runeborg is an artificial being. Relying on their high mana regeneration, they have both physical and magical power. But more than anything else, they are feared for their never-ending supplies of Mana that allow them to continue fighting on at their best where other creatures would tire.
Few would dare to replace parts of their own body, no matter how much power they could gain. Of those who do, only few survive the changes necessary to become a true [Runeborg]. And those who achieve even such a miracle will find themselves incapable of keeping their sanity. Having gained an Ego only after might just have saved your fragile mind.
*Notice* Apply Racial Influences: [Runeborg]
*Notice* Apply Racial Stats
+10 [Power]
+40 [Regeneration]
*Notice* Apply Racial Resource modifier
-1 [Spirit Regeneration]
+2 [Mana Regeneration]
*Notice* Apply Racial Skill bonus
+5% [Magic]
+15% [Infusion]
*Notice* Generate Racial Ability
*Notice*Acquired Racial Ability: [Energized]
*Notice*Acquired Racial Ability: [Analyze]
"Well, thanks for that explanation..."
*System*Check for potential Classes...
*Notice* Suitable Classes fou...
*System*Error detected
*System*Analyze Error...
*System*Missing elements detected
*System*Choosing Class to compensate for missing elements
*Notice*Class chosen: [Artifact]
[Artifact]
Conditions:
You were created artificially. You have an Ego of sufficient intelligence. You have free will. You have no Spirit.
Description:
Whether you are a sword, a golem, or a magical oven. Somehow, you have attained free will, as well as sufficient intelligence to interact with the system. However, you are incomplete. You are still missing something crucial.
*Notice* Apply Class Influences: [Artifact]
*Notice* Apply Class Stats
+50 [Regeneration]
*Notice* Apply Class Resource modifier
-1 [Mana Pool]
+2 [Mana Regeneration]
*Notice* Apply Racial Skill bonus
+20% [Passive]
+20% [Magic]
+200% [Arcane]
*Notice*Generating Class Skills
*Notice*Acquired Class Skill: [Artificial Spirit]
*Notice*Acquired Class Skill: [Permanence]
*Notice*Acquired Class Skill: [Mana Physique]
*Notice*Acquired Class Skill: [Mana Vortex]
*Notice*Generating 3 General Skills due to [Artificial Spirit]
*Notice*Acquired General Skill: [Mana Emission]
*Notice*Acquired General Skill: [Mana Manipulation]
*Notice*Acquired General Skill: [Mana Infusion]
*System*Conditions for General Skill fulfilled
*Notice*Do you want to Acquired General Skill: [Cold Resistance]?
*Notice*You have 3 General Skill slots remaining
*Notice* YES/NO?
The last set of messages woke Amren up from her morbid fascination. While it wasn't the same as watching a car crash, she did just watch, and experience first hand, how some kind of "thing", played around with her body. It did things to her Amren never thought even possible or could even remotely understand.
After this experience, Amren was sure that this wasn't a dream. It was simply too surreal. Some may argue that dreams are surreal in general, but in the end, they were still based on the things a person experienced in their lives. Something like this, like what this "system" had done to her body, was not even remotely close to anything she had ever experienced before.
Finally, Amren turned around and walked back into the cave and to the door. She was freezing. But she would definitely return later when she had found a way to keep herself warm.
Still, she didn't take the Skill that the system had offered her. She wasn't entirely unfamiliar with this kind of stuff, allowing her to make an uneducated guess that the Skill would be very weak until she had trained it enough. Also, she didn't miss the message that said that she had only three Skillslots left and until she knew if and how she could get more, she wanted to be careful with what she did with those.
Now that Amren was moving, even if only a little, she quickly noticed the first changes. Where she had previously felt weak, now a little bit of spring had returned into her steps. She felt stronger. Both, her own feeling as well as the earlier messages told her that it wasn't a lot, but she definitely felt the difference. Also, stepping on a pebble didn't hurt half as much as earlier. Though that may also be because the cold made her numb.
When Amren reached the door, she put her hand against it to pull it open. The moment her hand entered her vision, her eye showed her something very interesting. For the moment, however, Amren pushed it to the side with her newfound control over her left "eye".
Soon, Amren stood in the large entrance room with the scattered tables and chairs once again. Walking along the left wall, she went inside the first corridor, finding herself back where she had come from.
This time, however, she directly entered the first door on the right side. Behind it, she found a large room, with several rows of long tables full of instruments that might as well be magical to her. In all probability, they actually were magical.
Of course, the room was just as dimly and sparsely lit as all the others she had seen until now. This time, however, it didn't bother Amren even half as much, thanks to her new eye working overtime.
A quick inspection and walk through the room confirmed to Amren that this was a laboratory. Meaning: She wouldn't find what she was looking for here.
Leaving, she turned right, walking further down the corridor and around the corner.
One after another, she checked into the rooms on both sides. On the left, the only thing she found were carbon copies of her own starting room. Some were completely empty, others still had the gigantic test tubes full of green sludge, missing their inhabitants, however.
If worst came to worst, the green stuff might even be a viable food replacement. At least if she managed to eat it before it turned into steam.
However, she didn't want to risk it.
On the other side, the rooms on the right side of the corridor were more laboratories. There were only two, and they were both a bit smaller than the first, but neither held anything that was immediately important. Besides a possible replacement for her left arm at least.
Finally, Amren stood in front of the last door. Right at the end of the corridor.