As if responding to his desire, the hologram updated with new information. Iskander looked on with interest.
[Dominion: Entropy
Authority: Degradation
Aspects: Corrosion, Dissonance, Erosion]
[Progress: 1.37% SA (Souls Accumulation)
Soul Force: 409/500]
[VITAL SIGNS]
Huh…
He was a bit dazed, but read them nonetheless.
His heart held no yearning to return to where he had originally come from. He could guess why. It might be due to this body—“his” body—felt that he was in his rightful place.
Iskander recalled the event before he was transmigrated here, vaguely remembering the phrase "soul compatibility" from the hologram. My impression of elves is that they’re arrogant, aloof, and reclusive, so... eh, I have all of them?
His lips twitched at the thought.
He shook his head, trying to push those thoughts aside.
Continuing to read his "Profile," he stopped at a point that confused him. What is a Dominion?
Responding to his unspoken question, the hologram flashed an explanation.
[Dominion is the overarching realm or domain of power that one wields or is governed by. It represents a broad category of influence or control that one exercises over a specific aspect of reality]
And what are you?’he asked mentally, but this time the hologram remained silent.
That irked him slightly. Well, whatever.
Since he could see the description for Dominion, he wondered about the others—Authority, Aspects, Soul Force, and VITAL SIGNS. He was about to dive into the explanations, but hesitated. Is this the right place to do that?
Iskander scanned his surroundings again.
Nothing seemed particularly threatening, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t any danger. Something unseen could be lurking, waiting for the perfect moment to harm him. The building was in a sorry state of decay; it wouldn’t be impossible for it to collapse while he stood there idly.
A sudden gust of wind swept through from above, and as he glanced out of the shattered window, Iskander realized he couldn’t see any other buildings. I’m probably high up…
His attention shifted on his body. A small sheath hung from his thigh. He retrieved it and found the object inside to be a dagger—no, more accurately, a kris. The distinctive, wavy shape of the weapon was unmistakable. It was a traditional blade from his homeland, though this one looked… different.
It looks weird...
Tilting his head slightly, Iskander studied the kris. Beyond its unique shape, intricate patterns ran along the blade. They were beautiful, even though he had no idea what they meant. The most peculiar thing, however, was the faint, blood-red aura surrounding it, as if liquid was constantly about to drip off but never actually fell.
What’s the use of this kris?
The hologram appeared once more, instantly providing information.
[Kris of Bloodhound]
[Rank: Unique
Type: Dagger (Kris)
Origin: Forged by the dwarves in the Forgotten Depths
Durability: 47/70
Weight: 1.2 kg]
[Description]
This kris was forged by dwarves in the Forgotten Depths, Underworld, imbued with the bloodlust of the Bloodhound Beast. Those who wield it will always have the urge to feed the blade’s hunger by slaying the living.
[Effects]
[Blood Disruption: Causes the enemy's blood flow to become erratic, dealing bleeding damage over 10 seconds.
Slowing Strike: Reduces target’s movement and attack speed by 20% for 10 seconds.
Soul Drain: Upon a critical hit, drains 5% of the target’s Soul Force, transferring it to the wielder.]
[Passive Ability]
[Crimson Hunger: The kris subtly enhances the wielder’s aggression in combat, sharpening focus and reducing hesitation. However, prolonged use may lead to psychological deterioration.]
[Cooldowns]
[Blood Disruption: 1.30 Minutes
Slowing Strike: 10 Seconds]
[VITAL SIGNS Impact]
[Mental State: Prolonged use results in gradual mental instability, potentially leading to paranoia or delusion.
Soul Integrity: Continuous use weakens the wielder’s soul integrity, risking a permanent fracture.]
[Special Condition/Curse]
[Curse: The user will be haunted by the spirits of those slain by the blade. Prolonged exposure will weaken the wielder's vitality.
Bloodthirst: If left unsatisfied by battle for more than a week, the kris will start feeding on the wielder’s blood]
Iskander found the weapon’s capabilities impressive.
The actual drawback is that it’s for close combat, and I have no experience with weapons… I’d be in trouble if a smart creature—or just an experienced guy—came up and fought me.
He checked himself for anything else and soon discovered an amulet tucked beneath his clothes.
It was gold, adorned with abstract patterns he couldn’t recognize. A talisman or something similar?
Iskander looked up at the hologram for further details. The amulet’s information surprised him instantly.
[Amulet of the Soulbinder]
[Rank: Divine
Type: Amulet
Origin: The fragment of Aurelian, the Soulbinder of Stars, a Divine being from the Astral Realm.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Durability: One-time use; already been used by Aiura Moor.
Weight: 0.5 kg]
[Description]
A fragment of Aurelian, imbued with the power to connect to the astral realm and establish a link with beings from other worlds. It was spread across Astrathye, wielded by those desperate to cross boundaries between life and death, seeking aid from souls beyond.
[Effects]
[Astral Summoning: Upon activation, the amulet calls forth a single soul from another world. The summoned soul will inhabit the caster’s body, and the caster’s soul will be displaced, effectively swapped with the summoned being's soul forever.]
[Special Condition/Curse]
[Astral Chains: Once activated, the summoner’s soul becomes bound to the astral plane]
Iskander frowned.
Why did Aiura sacrifice himself for this soul summoning?
It was clear that Aiura had used the high-ranking item to summon Iskander’s soul. But why?
There’s no way to know.
Finding nothing else useful on him, Iskander grumbled as he put the items back in place and returned his attention to his “Profile.”
He still had lingering questions about the different “Ranks” and their descriptions, but for now, he focused on more pressing matters. What are the uses of my Dominion, Authority, and Aspects? Not to mention the Soul Force and Vital Signs thing.
Starting with Dominion, the hologram promptly provided an explanation.
[Dominion: Entropy
Description: Represents the inevitable decline of all things. It governs the forces that bring everything toward a state of disorder. It embodies the natural progression toward chaos, where structures—both physical and abstract—succumb to the relentless march of degradation.
Affinity: Chaos]
That sounds very ominous, Iskander couldn’t help but snort at the last part. Does that mean I’m always going to attract trouble?
Before his thoughts drifted, he moved on to the Authority section.
[Authority: Degradation
Description: Control over the quality and functionality of entities, causing them to deteriorate or lose effectiveness. This authority influences the degradation of value, status, and capability, affecting everything from physical objects to abstract concepts like morale and prestige. By wielding Degradation, the user can weaken the strength, durability, and operational efficiency of targets, rendering them less effective or entirely obsolete]
That looks very useful, he mused. Yet he felt a hint of dissatisfaction with the abstract explanation. How am I supposed to execute what that describes?
The hologram flickered back to life as if sensing his confusion. Oh, right, I forgot about the thing it could do.
He wanted to facepalm, but held it at the last moment.
He examined the hologram.
[Aspects: Corrosion, Dissonance, Erosion]
[Manifestations: Tread of Decline (Corrosion & Erosion), Degrading Vision (Dissonance)]
Is that all? Iskander raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. Do I need to do something to gain more?
He attempted to check their functions, and the hologram shifted.
[New Manifestations can be obtained by absorbing the souls of enemies under the same Authority or by using items associated with the relevant Authority. Accumulating souls under the Dominion can also unlock other Authorities]
“This feels like a game…” Iskander muttered unconsciously.
Sighing, he went to examine them.
[Manifestation: Tread of Decline
Type: Active
Category: Terrain Manipulation]
[Description: With each step, you unleash a corrosive force that causes any surface you tread upon to gradually suffer increasing damage, leading to the decay of structures, materials, or terrain in your vicinity.]
[Effects (Lv.1)]
[Area of Effect: Damages inanimate materials within a 1-meter radius of your footfall.
Decay Rate: Decreases durability by 5% per second for 10 consecutive seconds.
Activation: Takes effect immediately upon contact with the surface.]
[Additional Effects]
[Visual Cue: A faint, shimmering aura surrounds your feet, indicating the decay in progress.
Environmental Interaction: Creatures or objects within the affected radius may experience increased instability or difficulty maintaining their form.]
[Cooldown: 10 seconds for every 1 second of active use.
Soul Force Requirement: 1 SF per second of active use.]
That means 50% total damage, huh? If I wanted to intentionally fall through the floor, it’s not a bad skill. Iskander snorted and moved on to the second manifestation.
[Manifestation: Degrading Vision
Type: Active
Category: Psychological Manipulation]
[Description: When this skill is activated, those who gaze upon you will experience a significant reduction in their confidence regarding what they value most, halving their conviction for a brief moment.]
[Effect (Lv.1)]
[Confidence Reduction: Lowers the target’s confidence in their current path by 50% for 1 second.
Activation Requirement: The skill requires 1 second of uninterrupted focus to activate. If the target looks away during this time, the effect will not apply.]
[Cooldown: 10 seconds
Soul Force Required: 30 SF per use]
Iskander studied the information with interest. He knew that even a 1-second lapse in battle could provide a significant advantage. I have 500 Soul Force right now. The real question is: how can I replenish it when it runs low?
[Soul Force regenerates naturally through rest. For you, 1 SF regenerates after 15 seconds of rest. Meditation increases this speed by 100%, while sleeping increases it by 150%. Once 80% of your Soul Force is consumed, both your mind and body will begin to feel fatigued. At 100%, there’s a risk of falling into a coma or death.]
Iskander did a quick calculation. If 15 seconds gives me 1 SF, then 1 minute equals 4 SF. In 10 minutes, that’s 40 SF. So, 1 hour would give me 240 SF, and 2 hours would give me 480 SF. Add another 5 minutes, and that makes 500 SF. Meaning it takes 2 hours and 5 minutes for a full recovery under normal conditions…
That doesn’t sound so bad.
Finally, he checked his Vital Signs.
As soon as he did, a faceless human figure appeared before him. Iskander noticed a partially decayed body, a cracked heart, a fragmenting crystal above the heart, and a relatively clear brain. What do these represent?
[Vital Signs]
[Physical State: The body reflects your Physical State, which is currently decaying.
Health: The heart symbolizes your overall Health, which is declining.
Soul Integrity: The crystal signifies your Soul Integrity, which is fragmented.
Mental State: The brain indicates your Mental State, which is currently clean.]
Wonderful. If I could clearly see why they’re in this state and how to fix them, it’d be perfect! Actually, can I do that?
The hologram remained silent. He chuckled. Yeah, figured.
That would be too good to be true. Iskander sighed, his gaze sweeping the surroundings once again. Maybe it’s time to explore—or leave this place.