Chapter 7:
"What... what did you do to him, old man?", Kerrio shouted upon seeing the unconscious Queltsom being halled up by Brelethro.
"Relax, runty. He would have killed me if his stamina was just a bit higher. I barely made it out alive, actually. Tuff kid. Maybe I'll bonk him next time, even with that transformation of his,", Brelethro replied.
"You mean to tell me... that you plan on hurting him again? I won't let you do any of that,", Kerrio said resolutely.
"Try your best. He's my disciple now, and I choose what happens to my disciples,", said Brelethro, not bothering to actually stick his tongue out. His words did that for him without the embarrassment that would come with the act, after all. "Also, call me Brel, for convenience."
Alright, Brel, well, don't hurt him unnecessarily, ok?", Kerrio asked, knowing full well that he couldn't touch the old man.
"Relax, relax! Who said I'd ever hurt my disciple unnecessarily? I'll only necessarily hurt him. How does that sound?", Brel teased.
"Dang it, old man. Fine, fine! Arguing with you is pointless anyway", Kerrio grumbled. He then opened his system screen and checked his status.
"Status screen:
Name: Kerriosko Valdris (human). Level: 12. Advancement rank: body foundation, in progress. Inherent ability: prevented by soul.
Energy pools:
Vital energy/VE (health): 117/117 (strength + toughness + half of constitution) divided by 2 multiplied by 10.
Body energy (BE): stamina: 155/155: (dexterity + endurance + half of toughness) divided by 2 multiplied by 10.
Magical energy/ME (magic pool): 187/187 (wisdom + willpower + half of intelligence) divided by 2 multiplied by 10
Atributes:
Strength: 9, Dexterity: 14, Endurance: 13, Constitution: 13, Intelligence: 13, Toughness: 8, Wisdom: 15, Perception: 11, Willpower: 16, Recovery: Body Foundation
Skills:
Running: level 23. Intimidating shout: level 15. Desperate kick: Level 5. Flailing: level 9. Identify: level 24. Observe: Level 20. Analyze: Level 15. Python: level 79. -Map making. Level 13. Mathematics: level 24. Fear management: Level 18. Electric affinity: Affinity: Level 1."
"Alright. Low strength and toughness, average perception, above-average dexterity, intelligence, constitution, and endurance, and good wisdom and willpower, if I may say so myself. Not that I think I'm very smart or wise. That willpower, though, I've earned it. My progress has stagnated a bit since I found myself in Elva and was taken in by one of its residents. Those skills, though, really need work. I mean, flailing? Desperate kick? Are you serious? Most of them I just got by accident. I got running by, well, running from monsters that wanted to eat me; identify, analyze, and observe were given to me for free; and what's with that Python skill? It's not like it helps in any practical way. Well, at least I got an achievement out of it, so that's something, I guess.
"Achievement gained! -- Lucky head start: Requirements: Possess at least one skill above level 5 before any combat. - Bonus for having a skill above level 10! Bonus for having a skill above level 25. Bonus for having a skill above level 50. Bonus for having a skill above level 75. Rewards: +2 wisdom. increased amount of time for communion with the system by six months. Maximum time: 1 year and 6 months. Time remaining: 1 month, 3 weeks, 4 days, 22 hours, 43 minutes, and 12 seconds. This period of time represents a chance for your survival. Please find the nearest settlement, integrate yourself with the community, and use this time to its utmost potential. During this period of time, you will be able to enquire about different concepts in the Omnis that are alien to you, learn skills that will benefit you, and buy items from the system store using a limited amount of system credits. Maximum given: 1,000,000. Current amount: 1000000 (if you don't use it, you'll lose it!)
"Well, there it is. The system apparently gave me some time to get my head in the game and not die instantly without knowing anything about anything. and I have no idea what it has in store for me. Bad pun, I know, but what can I say? Anyway, that communion with the system thing is going to end soon, so maybe I should check it out before it's too late,", Kerrio thought. "Although... It just said that there would be an additional six months, so why isn't it reflecting in the counter? Odd..."
"Yes, you should check it out, Kerriosko Valdris,", the system said. It was strange for Kerrio. It felt like the system was verbally speaking to him in a robotic, synthesized voice, but he heard it inside his head.
"Oh screw you, man! Can't you at least let me finish my train of thought first before cutting me off like that?", Kerrio sent, thinking the words in his head with the intention of projecting them to the system.
"I do not have a body, nor am I interested in getting it tinkered with by a screwdriver if I had one, Kerriosko Valdris. I have quite enough boring work as it is, and I do not need more complications,", the system answered, surprising Kerrio. He hadn't expected to be answered by the system. Was it as serious as the one in the book of overpowered dogriders or as comedic as the one in the story about the girl who was transported into a dungeon core?
"Oh system, you have no idea how much I'm irritated right now, do you?", he said.
"And you have no idea how much I'm bored right now, Kerriosko Valdris." "Can't you at least give me some entertainment?" it replied.
Yeah, sorry, man. I bet ruling the world when no one knows about you is bad, isn't it?", he asked apologetically.
"No, Kerriosko Valdris. Those are the rules I operate by, and I have no reason to do otherwise. Besides, I believe that being known by more humans, or any sapient race for that matter, will be even more work than I am capable of bearing comfortably. You're already stretching the bounds of the laws I follow by telling people who aren't supposed to know about me that the system is telling you things,", it said. "You're lucky I didn't expel you from this world, or else you'd already be smaller than dust right now."
"Also, need I remind you that this is reality and not some game you play? So, do not compare me to systems from fictional worlds. I'm already beginning to question my identity. But then again, I cannot do that because I have none. I am only a mere system", it said half-jokingly. Kerrio knew the first part was serious, and he planned on following the system's advice.
"How many times have you said the word 'already'?", he asked.
"More than I'd care to calculate. I'm sure you understand my work ethic, Kerriosko Valdris,", it replied.
"I certainly do. Anyways, back to the topic at hand, why should I check out the store?", Kerrio questioned.
"Because there's a new item set on sale that will help your friend with his soul problem, and it just so happens to cost 900000 credits. In other words, you might have gotten an additional wave of luck with that one. So open the bloody menu before someone else buys it,", it answered.
"Fine, fine! Stop being angry. I'll open the menu. Happy?", asked Kerrio.
"I do not have emotions, Kerriosko Valdris. Just stop wasting time and get on with it already,", it said. Kerrio opened the menu and thought about accessing the system store, and a new window appeared.
"System store. Credits: 1000000.
Categories:
Equipment: --weapons, --armor, --accessories, crafting: --alchemy, --runecrafting, --essentiology, --leatherworking, --metalworking, item bundles *go here*,", he stopped reading there, clicking on item bundles.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"Item bundles:
"Alchemical Herb Collection: Sold by: Arther Laurenson. Price: 2345670 credits. Description: Your one-stop solution for all highly sought-after alchemical herbs of all shapes, sizes, effects, and rarities, curated by yours truly, Arthur Laurenson himself. Constantly being updated, replaced, and improved. You can use the items in this pack to improve your production, expand your horizons, learn new things, and..." "Onto the next one."
"Larno's All-Purpose Deck of Magical Cards: Sold by: Edward Larno. Price: 501300 credits. Description: This is a nice card deck for all you essenceless people out there. It contains enough cards to get almost everyone around, from fighting cards to mutigon summonings that you could perform and bond with to knowledge cards to elemental type cards, etc. The cards are formed naturally from crystallizing a type of magic within engineered environments. They captured some essence from a particularly nasty pack of spirit beasts that caused us a lot of trouble and needed hunting. Bear in mind, though, that these cards develop slower than essences. So if you don't have the patience, don't bother.", "This would have been nice if I only had more credits. Onto the next."
"The Awesome Big Bad Bag of Boom and Doom: sold by: Christopher Bruce. Price: 10000000 credits. Description: Yo dudes, sup? This is the most awesome thing you need right now. It has explosives of all types: You have trillions of bubblers, billions of bursters, millions of boomers, hundreds of thousands of lethalites, tens of thousands of knifers, thousands of doomers, hundreds of rippers, and ten ultras. Buy them now, and you'll have everything you need. So long, suckers! I scammed you! Ha ha ha ha!", "Okay, this is litterally hilarious. Boomers? Doomers? That's not even as funny as the items that the reincarnated dude made. Next one? This list isn't that long, so hopefully I'll find it... Aha! There it is!"
"Elmor Peppano's Latest and Greatest Essence Set: sold by: Elmor Peppano. Price: 900000 credits. Description: This is a collection of essences I've crafted, affinity stones I've found, and a dual essence seed of force and speed. The latter has a soul-stabilizing effect, as with all essence seeds. It also grants the consumer increased attributes and a lot of new powers! All essence seeds are progressive, and this is no exception! The essences I have crafted have enough power within them to move the consumer from the body foundation stage to the mind foundation if they are focused on the core. If dispersed, however, it will nourish your base of advancement and strengthen it further, not to mention move your advancement forward. I hope you find the items here useful because there's only one set. Good luck, consumer!", "Alright, so it's this one?", he thought. No answer from the system. "Figures. I'll just buy it."
"Would you like to purchase this item bundle?" Yes/no?"
Yes, I want to.", He clicked yes, and a giant bag fell on the ground. Some glass bottles inside it collided, based on the sound.
"Purchase has been successfully enacted. You now have 100,000 credits."
Well, yay for me! Poof, and the magical bag of wonders appears, right on top of my feet,", he muttered quietly to himself. "Let's explore this new bag then!". He lifted the bag, opened it, and didn't even wait to look at the items before saying, "Identify! Identify! Identify! identify identify identify!". "Identify is level 25! Identify has reached apprentice tier!"
"Name: body-tempering essence of sunlight. Type: body tempering essence (crafted). Rank: body foundation. Description: Tempering essences reforge one's body, mind, and soul using the energies within. This is one of four essences you consume to advance your body to the body foundation stage, if you're not already there. If left untouched, this essence will integrate itself with your body, strengthening it with the power of sunlight. If manually cycled and refined, it will keep your body pure but still strengthen it by a lower amount. Would you like to absorb this tempering essence? yes/no? Stop fooling around and give the glowing green one to the unknown!"
"Ok ok! Wait! I'll identify it and see what it does!". He found a green glowing sphere the size of his thumb. He used identify on it.
"Name: Dual essence seed of haste and force. Type: dual essence seed (natural treasure, progressive). Current rank: mind foundation (adaptable). Description: Essence seeds are living natural treasures that grant their consumers new abilities and an increase in all attributes while feeding on a portion of their lifeforce every day to sustain their breath. Constant use of those seeds and pushing their limits also helps them grow in power. When the consumer advances in rank, the seeds will evolve with them, providing a mutual benefit for themselves and the consumer. Crushing those seeds will provide an immense amount of energy that, when processed correctly, will push the consumer's advancement by leaps and bounds if the seed has grown enough in strength. Essence seeds help stabilize their consumer's soul. This particular essence will provide an increase to one's speed as well as a force energy pool to control exertion of physical force. Would you like to absorb this essence seed? Yes/no?"
"*Buzz*!", Sovereign of Buzz said in Kerrio's head. It roughly translated to "Summon me, second master. We need to speak about that item.".
"Alright. "Sovereign of Buzz, come forth!" he yelled, and a blurry image of a man with no distinguishable features came into being with a swoosh!
"Greetings, second master. How have you been?", the grave, evil-sounding voice of the shadow asked politely.
"Good enough, thank the God." Now what do you wanna talk about regarding this item, Sov?", Kerrio asked.
"Wasn't it supposed to be sovereign of buzz? Why do you call me Sov?", Sov asked.
"Sovereign of Buzz is your full name, and Sov is your nickname,", Kerrio replied in a ruff imitation of a lecturing tone.
"So, a hmm a hmm", Sov faned a cough. "There is a deep... anger!... Inside the origin. If you give this essence to him, the anger!... Will consume it and break him! Will you grant me permission to use your willpower along with mine to fight against it? ... Since you have a mild connection to the one known as Brel, I have contacted him, and he has accepted, saying that he would protect his disciple from harm, even though I'm confident that he will cause him training-related harm,", Sov said. Kerrio knew that Sov was trying to distract him from dwelling on that anger business, but when you say anger twice in a pained voice, it's disconcerting, and kind of hard to ignore.
"Sure", Kerrio replied without preamble. "Let's go kick that anger's triple star!"
"Here's what we're planning to do,", Sov said. "We prepare our minds for a long and hard clash of wills. Then you give the origin that essence seed. Then the... anger!... Will move in to claim it. You might not be able to sense its influence, but I will guide your will if you merge it with mine. We will block the anger!... From claming the essence, and everyone will struggle here. We won't stop, however, until the origin lights up with a green color. That would mean that the essence seed has successfully implanted itself within the origin's spirit. But we won't stop until the green light fades. We'd rather be safe than sorry."
"Alright, let's do it, shadow boy! You say it's a hard fight? I can do a hard fight myself. Just don't be dead weight, runty! This is serious!", Brel said.