Eric smiled as Serra stopped and stared off into space, her eyes making rapid movements as they tracked objects visible only to her.
Notifications, of course.
Leaving her to sort through her messages, Eric placed the two other cores into his ring and began picking up the towels and other objects they had used. Waste not, want not, Eric thought, especially since we still don’t know much of what new things we’ll be having to interact with in this world.
Still, the environment shouldn’t be too different, given that many of the materials and objects in Vashanka’s Ring were familiar analogues of their counterparts in the universe Eric and Serra had come from. Bamboo was still bamboo, dirt was dirt, and towels were still one of the most useful things one could have in your possession when exploring new realities.
Eric’s stomach gave a low rumble.
Oh.
There were many items inside the ring that could conceivably be food, they had even discovered intact corpses and carcasses inside, but Eric was naturally reluctant to eat something a dragon kept in its personal larder. At least until he could get some experimental cooking sessions started.
For the moment though, the only source of fresh meat that Eric could see was scattered in various pieces across the floor.
Large reptiles were somewhat of a delicacy in Union-space, typically grown and farmed in large agricultural planets, but also available as wild game in several government-protected preserves. Eric had eaten his share of dino-meat, which the protein was marketed as, both as a necessity and as an entrée in a restaurant menu. He figured dragon meat shouldn’t be much different.
Selecting a long, sharp knife from the ring, Eric walked over to one of the larger chunks of dead dragon nearby and started carving.
An hour later, Eric and Serra were sitting beside a metal grill and a small firepit they had filled with what was labeled as alchemical coal, both of which they had discovered inside the dead dragon’s ever-giving ring. The coal looked expensive and not at all the type of fuel you would normally use for cooking but Pig couldn’t find a better, and more importantly safe, alternative. The special coal came in perfectly stacked bricks that lit easily and burned with a pure white flame.
For their first meal in this new world Eric had prepared chunks of grilled dragon meat, skewered on bamboo sticks he had cut from one of the stored poles. The meat was tough, gamey, and very under-seasoned as Eric was unwilling to use any of the substances and powders in the ring until he could be sure none of them would poison them. Despite its limitations flavor-wise, the dense dark-colored meat left a satisfying weight in their stomachs.
“Sad to say, but I admit I’ve had to eat worse.” Serra’s wry comment made Eric laugh, even as he tore away another chunk of dragon meat with his teeth.
“I was wondering if we had a plan about our situation, sir?” Serra asked after they’d eaten most of the meat skewers Eric had prepared, wiping her greasy fingers on a spare rag Eric handed to her. The pale white flame between them burned bright and straight, creating dark shadows that climbed the walls behind them.
“Well,” Eric said, scratching at his chin. “Seems clear that we’re not anywhere near Union space or any other place I’ve ever been to or heard about…”
“Yeah, Angel tells me we might be in a different Universe altogether.”
Serra’s face was uncharacteristically morose, and Eric’s mood was not any better.
Suddenly Serra yawned, prompting Eric to do the same, which in turn drew a laugh from Serra.
“Guess ship lag is still an issue, huh?”
“Hmm, what’s your internal chrono look like?”
“Date’s all fucked,” Serra said. “But the clock says its oh-one-hundred, sir.”
“Ok, here’s what I suggest we do,” Eric stated after a few moments, standing up. “We’ll clean up, then you hit the sack while I stand watch. We’ll do a standard four hours then switch. Then I suggest we try to explore this place.”
“Roger that.” Serra replied, looking up at the darkness above and around them. “This hall seems pretty huge, and I haven’t heard any other sounds except us moving about… Could we be underground?”
“Sounds plausible, but we’ll do a recon after we’ve rested.”
“Gotcha Cap,” Serra answered as took the last meat skewer off the grill and tear off a mouthful. “Angel says to take a look at my notifications before sleeping.”
“Sleep first, read later,” Eric immediately answered as he indicated the corner where they had spread a few bales of cloth and some sheets from the dragon’s wardrobe to make makeshift sleeping areas. “I’m going to need you bright and alert later.”
“Copy, sir.” Serra nodded and made her way to her bed. “See you in four.”
Serra seemed to fall asleep almost as soon as she lay down, her snores audible by the fire where Eric sat. For a weapon, Eric pulled out a black, rune-carved sword that he had liked the look of and settled down to take the first watch.
“Would you like to go through your pending notifications, Sir?”
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Eric took a long look around. The bulk of the cooling dragon’s body lay against the wall to his left, points of interest still tagged and glowing brightly over its body. I need to take a look at those before we head out, Eric reminded himself. The once dark room was now semi-visible to his enhanced eyesight, enough for him to make out the outlines of doors on each wall. From where he sat, he’d be able to see if anything tried to cross the empty floor.
“Ok Pig, give them to me one at a time.”
You have killed an adult Void Dragon.
25,000 Gens Points have been added to your total.
“What are Gens Points?”
“Those are the currency needed to purchase abilities and other improvements from your Gens Improvement Catalog, sir.”
Before Eric could ask more about abilities, the Catalog Pig had mentioned, or anything else, the screen he was looking at disappeared and a new one took its place.
You have gained a new Title: Titan-Slayer.
Intrigued, Eric focused on the Title and the window expanded with a description:
Titan Slayer
You have slain a foe more than five Tiers above your own.
Effect 1: Gain a ten percent boost to all abilities. This boost remains active even if the Title is not displayed. In addition, when fighting a foe two or more Tiers above your own you gain a forty percent boost to all abilities.
Further Effects may become available if certain conditions are met.
Eric read the last line and frowned. The Title could have more effects added, but the System wouldn’t tell Eric what he needed to obtain those effects?
Typical.
As for the first effect, just by the wording, Eric thought the ability sounded like it would be good if he ever got in over his head. But how was he to know what Tier his foe was? Would the System inform him? Or did he have to get a new ability that did so? Figuring out enemy Tiers was definitely something he would need to get a handle on, since fighting a much stronger foe sounded like a very bad idea. Not knowing the power levels of a monsters like the dragon looked like a recipe for disaster and Eric was definitely not that kind of cook.
Chuckling a little at his own stupid joke, Eric idly nibbled on a piece of dragon meat as he looked through the next few windows.
You have equipped a Void Dragon Core (Epic) as your Gen’s Prime Core.
This Core allows you to convert accumulated aether into the aspects of Destruction, Hunger, and Void.
You gain the innate ability Dragon Sight.
So, just as Pig said, placing the core was how he got his Dragon Sight ability, Eric mused. Does that mean that placing more cores would gain him more abilities? Seemed likely, though Eric sensed that it wouldn’t be as simple a process as that.
“Seems like cores are one of the primary ways to gain power, right Pig?”
“It is, Sir. Although I would advise learning more about the system as a whole before placing a second one.”
“Oh, do you have any information about that?”
“No, Sir.” Pig’s voice sounded hesitant. “Something tells me to be cautious… and I can only relay that warning to you sir.”
That was unusual. Pig was a Command AI chip; a sophisticated piece of equipment especially designed to collect and assess sensory and otherwise acquired data to provide Eric with enough information to make an informed tactical decision. Because of this Pig had always been reluctant to give advice without anything concrete to back it up.
Still, the reality was that the world around them had changed, and he and Pig would have to change along with everything else. Resignedly, Eric turned back to his messages, and the next one raised his eyebrows.
You have gained a new Title: Blood-soaked
Blood-Soaked
You have bathed in the blood of mighty foes and heard their cries fall into silence.
Effect 1: You may project an aura of bloodthirsty ferocity up to a five-meter radius around you. Anyone affected will be inflicted with fear and panic for five seconds. This is a Psyche effect. The effect continues until resisted or the target/s leave the effect area.
Further Effects may become available if certain conditions are met.
Bathed in the blood of my foes?
Graphic, but he guessed it was technically correct. He lingered at the phrase for a moment, amused, then moved to the rest of the entry.
An aura? What would that do exactly? Would it induce fear or loathing in the opponents he faced? That might be very useful, especially if he found himself outnumbered. He knew from hard-won experience that small factors like that could skew the odds of victory in a fight, where feelings of fear or hesitation could swing the balance of momentum and morale. However, the message did not elaborate any further, and Eric was left to puzzle over what it could mean.
How frustrating.
“Pig, can you tell me anything else on this aura skill?”
“Aura skills are area of effect emanations that deliver a variety of status conditions.”
That sounded suspiciously like Pig had been mechanically reading out an instruction manual. How robotic, Hehe.
Focus. Shaking his head, but still smiling, Eric turned back to the rest of the text.
Area of effect huh? That meant the aura could affect multiple creatures for five seconds within the five meters mentioned. And then that affect will continue until resisted or the target leaves the effect area.
Somewhat similar to a flashbang but with a shorter effect time… but how do I activate it?
“Just think it, Sir.” Pig’s voice was matter-of-fact, as if he didn’t fully believe what he was saying. “An ability needs only intent and a target to be activated.”
“That sounds… simple,” Eric told Pig. “And very, very dangerous.”
“Like holding a burner in a methane cave, sir.”
Eric laughed out loud at that, amused by not just the phrase, but also because it was Pig that was saying it. Serra stirred in her bed, dangerously close to awakening, and Eric had to wrestle his mirth to a manageable state.
“I think I’ll try the aura out on Jakobin later… See if she has the stones for it.”
If Pig had anything to say about that idea, he kept it to himself.
“You have no sense of adventure.” Eric mumbled to himself as he turned to the Third, and last, Title notification.
Eater of the Mighty
Not only have you killed a mighty foe, you even dare to eat it.
Effect 1: For killing and then eating a creature more than five Tiers above your own you permanently gain +2 to all attributes.
Further Effects may become available if certain conditions are met.
Two points to all attributes. Was that a lot? The Title seemed lackluster somehow, almost a throwaway. Perhaps it was because if you received it you would already have received the Titan-Slayer Title and its benefits, which would be much more useful long-term as your attributes increased as opposed to this one-time boost.
It was still a good Title to have, but would be of most benefit in the early game.
With a sigh of satisfaction Eric dismissed the window.
“What else have you got for me, Pig?”
“Next group of messages will be regarding your Type, sir.”