I woke up the next "morning" with a budding headache. I didn't even know undead could have headaches, but there we go. I flicked one lock of golden hair away from my head and stretched. Only then I looked at the annoying blinking dots demanding my attention.
> > CONGRATULATIONS. You have risen from your grave.
>
> > You are a Divine Revenant. You are an Ultra-Rare Undead species, but you still don't have a Class. Please select at least one Class among the choices below before we proceed. You are safe and immune to harm during this selection.
What just happened? I had no idea. I knew I forgot something when I woke up in that laboratory but it wasn't anyone's fault. Something was wrong with me. A window popped up with a list. Classes. Occupations. Any way one may choose to name them. The list was not enormous but still overwhelming. Worse, it wasn't in alphabetical order. Was it too hard to sort this thing out?
Farmer, Cobbler, Lumberjack, Prostitute, Soldier, Warrior, Thief, Martial Artist, Mage, Priest, it went on and on. I would be here all day if I had to read all of them. So I just scrolled all the way down to the end of the list. Then I paused.
The System didn't lock my body or anything. I could move and act but the damn window with the list kept hovering in front of me. Thankfully it didn't block my vision as it stayed in front of my chest instead of in front of my face. Maybe I could take advantage of this invulnerability and fight something. As if reading my mind, no, probably reading my mind, the System warned me.
> > WARNING: Initiating combat will void your protection.
"Yeah, I got it. No free lunch," I hissed, annoyed at the System.
I also had five Class picks available for some reason. The expression "decision paralysis" floated to the top of my mind and I knew it was correct. At the end of the list, I had some (unique) choices.
"What the heck is a [Null and Void], and why would I choose that as my Class?" I complained. The description was trash, I was basically committing suicide.
"[Unholy Avenger]." That sounds like fun. Except for the creepy undead thing and the drive to get revenge on something. But it was (unique).
> [Unholy Avenger]
>
> An (unique) mix of necromancer and warrior, the Unholy Avenger may raise hordes of the undead or throw themselves in battle should they choose a lonely path. Good Physical progression, good Mental progression, excellent Magic progression, poor Spiritual Attributes.
>
> WARNING: This Class is unique to you. Nobody else can have it. It will use up all your five Class picks. While you'll lose versatility, you'll gain in power.
Well, something tailored exclusively for me, what an honor. And I wouldn't need to pick five Classes, instead of landing with a strong one. What could go wrong, right? I made my choice.
> You became an Unholy Avenger (unique, base, five slots)
>
> 5 to all Physical and Mental Attributes at level 0.
>
> 1 Attribute point at every level.
>
> 1 Strength, Dexterity, Endurance, Willpower, and Mind at every level.
>
> 1 Charisma at every odd level.
>
> 1 Magic and Faith at every even level.
>
> 22 base HP at every level.
>
> 10 base MP at every level.
>
> 3 base SP at every level.
>
> 1 Perk at every 2 levels.
>
> 1 Weapon Proficiency.
>
> 2 Free Proficiencies.
>
> You gained the Perk, Relentless Vengeance (very rare): You can sense the direction in a straight line to the target of your vengeance.
>
> 2,237 Attributes above the cap withheld. You gained the perk, Surpasser XXII… ERROR. The User already has this Perk. You gained the Perk, Surpasser CVI (combined): Increase your Attribute cap by 1060%.
With that out of the way, the window disappeared but left a nagging feeling that I should review my Status. I did it to check what it was about.
> Level 0
>
> Strength: 9+0 (9) / 46 - Dexterity: 9+0 (9) / 46 - Endurance: 9+0 (9) / 46
>
> Mind: 9+0 (9) / 46 - Willpower: 9+0 (9) / 46 - Charisma: 9+10 (19) / 46
>
> Magic: 20+0 (20) / 232 - Faith: 20+0 (20) / 232
>
> Ego: 4+10 (14) / 46 - Luck: 4+10 (14) / 46 - Soul: 4+0 (4) / 46
>
> HP 54
>
> MP 120
>
> Warning: You did not select your Proficiencies.
>
> * 1 Weapon Proficiency.
> * 2 Free proficiencies.
>
> Traits:
>
> * Undead (species): You do not breathe, drink or eat. You still need to rest or sleep. You have a 50% chance to ignore a critical hit. You take 90% less damage from poison.
> * Relentless Vengeance (very rare): You can sense the direction in a straight line to the target of your vengeance.
> * Class Crossroads (combined): You can have up to five Class Paths and combine them in any way you want. Your species is considered one rarity category above the norm.
> * Surpasser CVI (combined): Increase your Attribute cap by 1060%.
>
> * The Cosmos Within (Capstone): +10 Ego and the ability to demand the full attention of a target for up to (4+Ego/10) minutes/day.
>
> * The Leader (Capstone) +10 Charisma and the ability to modify someone's reaction by 10 steps during an interaction, (Charisma/10) times per day.
>
> * The Four-Leaf Clover (capstone): +10 Luck and the ability to turn one bad event on its head, (1+Luck/50) times per day. You do not choose when this Trait triggers.
> * Blocked Status (curse, very rare): Your status can only be viewed with divine magic.
> * Major Decrepitude (curse, ultra-rare): The Attribute cap for your Physical Attributes is 20% of the maximum.
> * Major Feeblemind (curse, ultra-rare): The Attribute cap for your Mental Attributes is 20% of the maximum.
> * Major Feeble Soul (curse, ultra-rare): The Attribute cap for your Spiritual Attributes is 20% of the maximum.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
I felt extremely weak as if someone strong enough sneezed next to me, I would die. I tried this {Relentless Vengeance} thing but it came out blank. Apparently, I was an avenger without a vendetta to fulfill. And that wasn't the weirdest part of my day.
*
*
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*
*
I was in a bedroom made entirely out of worked stone, from the tiled floor to the tiled walls to the arched ceiling starting some four meters above the ground. The bed was about two and a half meters wide by three long and the mattress was sturdy enough to hold two horses. Or something weighing as much as a horse. I had a dresser and an armoire with some lady's clothes. The styles were varied and I could tell they weren't mine. While they fit, they weren't custom-tailored for me. After some fiddling, I put on a yellow dress and went out to explore the castle. At least this dress was way better than the lab coat I wore yesterday.
It was rainy again. The heavy downpour fell on the castle roof and drowned any noise beyond one's immediate vicinity. I was in another wing of the castle, one I didn't visit before. The smell of food attracted me to some sort of cafeteria or mess hall, where the other guests of the castle break their fast. The Perk said I didn't need to eat but I guessed it wouldn't be bad to get something in my belly while I made some conversation.
As I entered the room, the Adventurers who crashed the party and King Talbain XXIV of Theirian were there, eating and keeping an eye on each other. The tension in the room was thick and it only grew as I entered. The wary Adventurers, completely out of their environment, watched my every move.
"Good morning, I guess," I said, breaking the sepulchral silence. Hah, sepulchral.
I went to sit next to Talbain. I was interested in learning what he knew about me. I didn't think it was a coincidence he met me here. If anything, he gave the feeling he was searching for me.
As I took my seat, a ghoul servant came with my breakfast on a tray. A bowl of oatmeal porridge, a plate with two sausages and a baked potato, an apple, a thick slice of brown bread, and a dash of butter to spread either on the bread or melt in the potato. He also gave me a ceramic mug with some freshwater.
I closed my eyes and sighed. I could smell the food but I felt no hunger. Not even for vengeance. I had this feeling there was something wrong with me but I couldn't pinpoint it. I took the steel spoon and played with the porridge.
I tasted the water. It was just water, cold because of the weather. Which didn't bother me as well.
"Aren't you hungry?" The werewolf [King] asked.
The Adventurers seemed interested in my answer.
"Not really. I had some leftovers from the party in my room, I ate those before coming here. Please, Your Majesty, help yourself to anything here."
He stabbed one of the sausages with his knife and it quickly disappeared inside his muzzle. Seconds later, his mouth was cleared to speak, "Thank you," he barked happily.
I made eye contact with the tense Adventurers. "Do you guys want some?"
"Who are you?" One of the women, an [Archer] or [Ranger] type by her choice of weapons, asked.
I looked away, unsure of what I should answer. I had no idea who I was.
"Her name is Lady Raina. She was a former noble, brought here by Lord Vlad," Talbain explained. I could tell he was either lying or omitting some key information.
"A noble from which kingdom?" The brash woman pressed on. "One of the dead ones? Is she undead like every single monster in this castle?"
The Adventurers had no respect for Talbain's Royal status, despite his inhuman appearance.
The werewolf [King] growled. "You mind your matters, young lady. You are a guest in this place but I will tolerate no disrespect. You know my Level. I can take on your entire party in a fight. You will respect my Lady here or you'll suffer the consequences."
Tensions rose. I wished to get away from there. But what were they saying about knowing people's levels? I looked at the werewolf and wondered what his level was.
> > Your {Appraise} Proficiency is too low to fetch this target's information.
>
> > You gained 1 point of {Appraise}. ERROR. This User already has this Proficiency.
> Appraise [313]. You can see System information about a target.
>
> * Item Information: You can get detailed item information, including hidden data.
> * Subtle Appraise: Reduce perception tests to detect your appraise attempts by (P/3).
> * Obfuscate Others: Select (P/10) friendly units no further than (P) meters from you. Appraise attempts against them suffer a (2*P/3) Penalty.
> > [King] Level 76 male werewolf [Wild Ruler].
Weird. Why would it tell me I did not have enough points but then let me see the information and even give me the Proficiency at such a high level?
I was shaken out of my musings by a grinning werewolf. "Did you like what you saw?" He asked as he wiggled his hairy eyebrows.
One of the Adventurers, a gnome, sputtered a chortle with a spray of oatmeal.
> > Level 52 male gnome [Battle Machinist]
"Why do you ask that?" I replied.
"You just {Appraised} me, didn't you? I could feel that."
"Maybe?" I tried to appear innocent.
He lowered his head, then sighed. "My Lady, I promise you that you have nothing to fear from me. I'm your ally."
"Monsters," the [Archer] lady snickered under her breath.
> > Level 49 female half-elf-human [Woodland Archer]
"Kate, please," the level fifty-five [Warrior] and apparently the leader of their group chastised his teammate. "I would like to get out of this castle alive. The Guild lied to us. Abandoned ruins my ass."
"Hear your leader, young lady," Talbain grinned and showed her his fangs.
She stared at me and I felt a prickly feeling like someone was pinching me though I couldn't tell where on my body. Then I stared at her and she flinched.
"Kate! Don't go {Appraising} people if you are going to get caught!" The leader whispered.
Kate the [Archer] became flustered. "I don't know how she sensed me!"
"I didn't {Appraise} any of you, girl," I lied. "So I expect you to be respectful."
They didn't call me on my lie. So that {Subtle Appraise} thing was working as intended.
The leader stared at the girl until his gaze bore a hole in her forehead. No, she capitulated first. "I'm sorry, Lady Raina. May I ask why you're here? Are you too a prisoner of the vampires? One of their blood dolls?"
Did I even have blood? Underneath the table, I pressed on my wrist and found a pulse. I had a heartbeat, at least. But the question was a very good one. Vlad said I was a guest but was he telling the truth? From what I sensed so far, they spent some effort and resources bringing me here. Talbain's interests, a [King]'s interests were also mixed in with that. How free was I? And what was my purpose? I tasted the oatmeal gruel while I mused about these topics.
Then an ominous notification appeared in front of me in golden letters.
> > The Matriarch is disappointed with you. Rectify your actions and go back to the righteous path, or suffer Divine Wrath.
What the hell?
*
*
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*
*
Nenandil got out of the Labyrinth and found herself in an unknown city. She wondered how long it took for her to respawn in that lake. Invisible to mortal eyes, she flew around until she found a temple of the Matriarch.
She went inside and searched for a [Priest]. The nave was full of wounded and sick people, supplicants expecting someone to heal them. it was odd. Why would the priests withhold healing? She decided to wait and listen to the conversations to learn more.
After eavesdropping for half an hour, she got the whole picture. The [Priests] charged for healing, and these people were too poor to pay for it. They stayed in the nave waiting for some compassionate soul to come in and foot the healing bill for them. They were too sick or too wounded to work and they usually spent days wasting away in that place. The temple didn't offer them any food, only drinking water. Most would die without relief.
The little fairy's heart burned with indignation. Pandora resonated inside her, and she quickly found out how to send divine messages.
> > The Matriarch is disappointed with you. Rectify your actions and go back to the righteous path, or suffer Divine Wrath.
She heard shouts from inside the temple. Then raised voices arguing. She snuck in and went to see what was going on.
"But Your Grace, you heard the message! The Matriarch is back after a thousand years! We must abide by the scriptures!" A junior priest said. "She is displeased we are not healing the people out there!"
"Nonsense," the [Bishop] said. The man was clad in a few pounds of gold and silver jewelry, most of it enchanted. it was worth a small fortune. "What scriptures are you talking about?"
"The old tomes! Those in the underground library!" The junior [Priest] said.
"That place was off-limits, you little troublemaker! I'll have you flog... ghu..."
The [Bishop] never finished his words. Golden light wrapped itself around his neck as he choked to death. The body fell and turned on its back. Searing light coming from nowhere engraved the Holy Symbol of the Matriarch upon his forehead.
Nenandil was taken aback. It was all Pandora's doing but she earned an Exp notification and she saw the priest's soul floating out of the body and into the Wisp. Then they came in droves, hundreds, thousands of kill notifications along with the souls of high-level ecclesiastics. She leveled up and reached the third Rank.
Another Divine Message went out.
> > The Matriarch had passed judgment upon her flock and those found wanting were punished.