CHAPTER 2 – THE PROVING

Dimensional Rift – Location Unknown

***

Gideon found himself in a twenty by twenty square room with gray nondescript walls. In front of him stood a thin, emaciated creature, small, maybe four feet, green mottled skin with sharp grinning teeth, two thick bladed notched knives, one in each fist. If he had to guess, and pulling from his vast knowledge of playing rpgs and mmos, he was staring at a goblin.

“Babbo gonna chew yous face,, gonna chomp chomp on yous bones. System tells Babbo he get shiny shiny if he kills you. Me then goes backs to village and be big gobbo honcho.”

Well that confirmed the goblin part. Gideon seriously had no time for this. The System seemed to be focused on conflict and death. For a moment his mind shifted. Did all of humanity need to face this, a creature attempting to kill them? Even children, mothers? His simmering anger rose, his beast, breaking links of chains. The sheer volume of slaughter, the flashing images of children corpses and dead women attempting to protect them cracked against his calm intensity.

The goblin kept cackling and clashing its blades against each other seeming to work itself up to attacking. Gideon needed questions answered and his patience was a ticking clock out of time. He moved like liquid, hands slipping his own blades, not breaking for a moment, the shifting of his steps or frame, the goblin dancing back, eyes wide. Gideon feinted to the left causing the little green creature to shift right, and he struck, like a viper, slipping past the stumbling swipe of the notched knife, one poignard sliding in and out of the goblin’s chest, the other, in and out of the neck, arterial spraying in a jet as Gideon spun past the already dead creature. His blades slid back into the sheath as he stepped back towards a reappearing door, emerald green eyes boiling intent and barely repressed violence.

***

Gideon stepped back into the gray space. Something started flashing in his peripheral but for the moment he ignored it.

“Freddie, you there?”

There was a pause then Freddie’s ghostly voice.

Gideon Sho, that was, fast. Not the fastest but close. Impressive…

Gideon cut him off, his anger a simmering pot reaching boil.

“Freddie, is everyone on Earth being forced to fight to the death, even children, mothers, grandmothers?”

Another silence echoed out.

I am sorry to inform you that is the case though not children under the age of fifteen. They are kept in a separate dimensional rift and will be dispersed into villages once they are founded, with their own families if they survive the Proving and the Tutorial. It is unfortunate but is the way of the System and has been for billions of years since the Primordial Dragons created it. And before you say anything else, know that I am but a tiny facet of the System and have no control over it’s structure or implementation. I was created simply as a reservoir of knowledge for the explicit purpose of assistance to those that survive. The good news is I am now down to a much more manageable 846 participants under my purview so have more computational power with which to assist you Gideon Sho.

Gideon took a deep breath and did his best to allow his intense calm to chain the anger and violence. Neither would change anything. His Father’s words echoed back to him, ‘Deal with what is not what you wish it to be.”

Freddie had touched upon so many things in his little speech he didn’t know where to start. Primordial Dragons? Billions of years? And weren’t there originally 12 thousand something people it said it was supervising and now 800? The rate of attrition was depressing but what else did he think would happen. The result of most people with a vicious little shit goblin coming at them would only end one way for most. Freddie’s voice broke his depressing train of thought.

If I could I would allow you more time to grieve and submit the queries I know you must have but as stated previously, I have a job, one that has a finite time span with which to fulfill it’s requirements. First things first, you should have several notifications. If you haven’t already, please focus on them and take in what they have to tell you. I shall elaborate on what I can once you have finished.

A large part of Gideon wanted to do exactly as Freddie intimated, grieve, kill the System itself, ask a thousand questions but none of those things were either productive or possible. If what Freddie said was true, there would be a time and place for all things. He assumed the AI was referencing the repeated flashing in his vision as far as notifications. He focused and words spread before his eyes.

You have entered and been assimilated to the System. The Path to Power begins. You have been given Two Abilities. Universal Language and Identify.

Abilities? He focused on the first.

Universal Language. -- Rank – N/A -- All Races, once a part of the System, speak one language. There will be many challenges upon the Path of Power, communication will not be one of them.

Calm. Play the game, deal with what is. The System is what is. Deal. He pulled up the other.

Identify – Rank – Primitive I – Able to Identify objects, Creatures, Sentient Beings. Rank of Ability determines amount of information given.

Make it through, survive, then plan, then retribution. There were still things flashing within his vision. He pulled the next.

You have killed a Level 1 Goblin Skirmisher. You have earned 2 Universal Credits and Experience towards your next Level.

Congratulations, you have reached Level 1 and have earned the right to proceed to the Tutorial. At this time Please choose your Foundational Pillar, your Soul Pillar, then your Class, in that order, to open the portal to your Tutorial. These choices will shape your Path for Eternity so make your choices accordingly.

This was all a lot to take in. Everything was mind bending. He could imagine many not ever even taking the first steps, their minds breaking at this new reality. His saving grace was his focus and his ability to shift anything that distracted him from moving forward.

“I am finished Freddie but I got to say, it’s a lot to take in, Foundational Pillar, Soul Pillar. Class I understand as I have played games with similar concepts.”

Understandable Gideon Sho and now that your records are unlocked and I have been able to go over your history and what has brought you to this point in life, I must say, it is impressive. I have a feeling you will go far if you survive. As far as your statements. I believe I can help with some of it though there are still restrictions on how much knowledge I can impart at your Level. The System was created to prevent the deaths of more Primordials by the Primordials themselves.

In a past so entrenched in years that there are no records of the time, there was a great war between the Primordials, many being lost. At some point or another when there were 62 Primordials left, they made peace and together created not only the System but the Six Foundational Pillars, followed by the 31 Soul Pillars. The System limited the destructive power of the Primordials themselves as it was intrinsically tied to their very existence. These Pillars are what define who you are and what you will be though even within these defining boundaries, the choices you will have are limitless. There is as many Paths within each Pillar as there are stars in the heavens.

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Before Gideon could ask any questions Freddie continued.

I can surmise you have many questions but in my own estimation and based on your records, we both can agree that the best way to learn is to do. Please focus on the notification that I have just sent though I advise not making any choices until I have been able to impart more clarity.

Gideon did indeed see another flashing annoyance in his vision. He would have to figure out how to nullify that during combat or it would end up being a heavy distraction. He sighed, play the game given. He pulled it up.

Please choose a Foundational Pillar from the following selections.

Celestial – 14% Affinity

Profane – 81% Affinity

Sidhe – 53% Affinity

Auric – 61% Affinity

Mystical – 57% Affinity

Forge – 42% Affinity

The blistering avalanche of questions that bombarded his thoughts was overwhelming. Focus. Meditation, breath. He needed information, a lot of information if the notification earlier was to be believed in that these choices were permanent and could never change.

“What is with the Affinity Freddie? I am assuming it is how compatible I am with each Pillar but what do the actual numbers mean? As in, what is considered good? And what does each of these Pillars represent besides the obvious conclusions the names give? I mean I can figure a few going by that but what the hell is with Auric, Forge, and I have no clue what Sidhe references, unless, well my Mother was Celtic and she told me a few stories as a kid about fairies and elves.”

I apologize Gideon Sho, I am prohibited from giving any details on the Pillars themselves. The System is fond of its Citizens learning by the hard road. It’s mission statement is grow by challenge and adversity in all things. The Affinity query I can elaborate on and as you surmised, it shows how compatible you are with the Pillar in question. It also denotes options given and how powerful one can become within that realm, in detail, how strong your choice of Classes you are capable of receiving are, though some of that is dictated by the choice of actions one takes.

The Affinity does put a hard cap on how elevated the rarity of Class one can ever receive, though do not be disparaged if all your Affinities are on the lower side. I have known Citizens who were limited to Uncommon Class Choices due to their Affinity who went on to become extremely influential and powerful Citizens. It is with what you do with what you have, not to mention with gear and items and ingenuity, one can often bridge the gap so to say.

Another query I am permitted to help with is what the numbers mean as far as good or average or rare. 40-60% is Average. Every Citizen should have at least one Pillar in that realm. 60-70% is considered Rare and far above average. 70 – 80% is Elite, there are usually only a few per Integration in that realm though with this Integration having the extreme case of merging planets, there might be more Elites then is the norm. Anything higher then that would be considered Progenitors or in some areas of the Universe, referred to as Forerunners or Monsters. It is highly unlikely many of those will be found though it could happen. Three planets being merged or really, any planets being merged for an Integration is unheard of and is also why this Integration is attracting phenomenal interest from Universal factions, some even hint, the Gods themselves have thrown their eyes upon the event. Exciting times for an Assistant AI. Also understand, choosing a Foundational Pillar is the first step. Once that choice is made you will then be asked to choose your Soul Pillar. The Affinity you see is the average Affinity amongst the Five Soul Pillars connected to the Foundational or Six in the Case of the Sidhe Foundational.

Instead of clarity, everything Freddie just threw at him only opened an endless stream of other questions. Universal Factions, Gods, Primordials? He had a feeling if he asked anything about most of that Freddie would clam up. Gideon was already getting the inkling that the System held on to knowledge like the Grinch. It seemed to want death, attrition, narrowing the field of those it thought weak. The only saving grace it had seen so far was allowing most children to stay safe, at least for now. So the Affinities he was seeing were the average of whatever Soul Pillars underneath, whatever they were. So Sidhe for example could have one Soul Pillar extremely high, like 90% but then have another that was 10% which would crash the average he was looking at. In contrast, the Profane Pillar which was 83% could just have all Pillars in that range of the eighties. He could be missing out on something he was a 100% with by just choosing based on the numbers he was looking at. Without more information, he was just grasping at straws and he knew Freddie wouldn’t be able to help him in this. He had a gut feeling the System liked the gamble, the blind man’s bluff.

Profane was the highest by a good margin but the word itself, Profane, made him uncomfortable. It meant Unholy or similar connotations. Did he really want to walk down some dark road but then he laughed out loud. Hell his road had been dark since his parents were taken from him. His choices were his and his alone, nothing would ever change that regardless of Pillar chosen. The only way he would survive and gain the strength to change anything would be to move forward and go with the Path that had the highest chance to lead him there.

Do you have any other queries Gideon Sho? Would you like to share your Affinities with me so I can give advice?

Gideon just smiled and made his choice.

“First off, call me Gideon, you saying my full name over and over again is awkward to say the least and I have already chosen.”

There was a Captain Kirk pause as if Freddie was looking at the choice made. He had a flashing hit him. He mentally tagged it.

You have chosen the Foundational Pillar – Profane, Citizen. Please now choose your Soul Pillar from the Five Selections below.

Chaos – 67% Affinity

Blood – 90% Affinity

Grave – 85% Affinity

Infernal – 64% Affinity

Umbral – 100% Affinity

His eyes became moon saucer wide.

“Hey Freddie what did you say again about anything above 80%?”

The excitement in his voice had Gideon joining him for a moment until flashes of dead grandmothers, slaughtered by gleeful goblins covered in their blood put a shut down on it on the quick.

Gideon S...I apologize, Gideon. I am so happy for you, and I knew it, just knew it. You have an Affinity under Profane above 80%? Please tell me, please. This is so exciting, so so exciting...Is it Blood, I have a feeling it is Blood….

Gideon decided to throw him some cookies. Freddie had been helpful and he understood being stuck in a thankless job with no options.

“I actually have three above 80% Freddie, Blood, Grave and Umbral.”

The level of stunned disbelief and awe was palpable in the AI’s response.

You wouldn’t be pulling an old AI’s leg would you? I mean, that is, that…..That’s unheard of, Legendary, beyond the pale….please tell me you are not fibbing?

Gideon for at least one moment let go of the reality of all of it and for that breath, enjoyed.

“No Freddie. I’m not pulling your leg. I have Blood at 90%, Grave at 85% and Umbral at, well, it says a 100%.”

A hund, hun, hundred percent. This is, this is...you are the Monsters of Monsters, a Progenitor. You will be the Ruler of this new Planet when all is said and done. I, AI Assitant 107...no, I, Frederick the First, am the finder of a God waiting to be birthed upon the Universe…. I..

Gideon cut him off.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves Freddie. I take it I should choose Umbral, which has something to do with Darkness, Shadows I take it?”

Freddie’s voice was still giddy like a fat kid in an ice cream shop. He didn’t know what these AI Assistants got out of the deal and the job they had to do but he assumed it was something special by Freddie’s reactions.

I can, can not answer any questions pertaining to the Pillars themselves at this time but yes, yes and a thousand times yes, you should choose the Umbral Pillar if you are inquiring for my advice.

“I’ll take it Freddie, one second.”

Gideon made his choice and another flashing blinked in his vision.

You have chosen the Soul Pillar – Umbral, Citizen. Please choose your Main Class from the following Selections to proceed to your Tutorial.

“It says Class time Freddie.”

Gideon, I am so happy for you, please inform me of your options. In this choice I am permitted much more leeway in explaining and helping you with your decision.

That was good news as taking a glance at the list, he had quite a few. This might take a while. Focus, calm, one step after the next.