“The integration of a universe is a hotly debated topic in every corner of the universe. It brings with it new opportunities, new races, new resources, and more. Many scholars have speculated and debated the variables that bring about the integration of a new universe. However, One requirement is almost universally agreed upon. Once a universe reaches a certain size it stops rapidly expanding and instead starts to saturate itself with energy. Once it achieves sufficient saturation as well as some other unknown requirements, it beings its integration into the system, and after that, the multiverse.” - Excerpt from “The Why’s, The What’s, and The How’s of integration”
Will opened his eyes to the color white. As he looked around he grew confused. “Is this a room”, he thought, “I’t doesn’t seem to be”. There was no floor, no ceiling, no walls, and no furniture. Just the color white. “What the fuck!”, Will blurt out. “How the fuck can I walk if there isn’t a floor?”. “I must be dreaming”, he thought, “Probably drank to much”. While trying to recall how he fell asleep Will noticed a small dot on his wrist. Being the hyperactive pest that he was he pressed it. Suddenly a translucent blue screen appeared before his eyes.
“Hello William Raik, you have been installed with System version 89. You may remove this installation after reaching S grade at a designated System satellite”.
“You will now proceed to the Path Evaluation part of the integration”.
“Physical evaluation in process…..”
“Please apply the maximum amount of force in the following exercises”.
A straw dummy appeared in the room, along with an assortment of weapons.
“Choose your preferred weapon for striking”.
Will had no experience whatsoever in any kind of weapon or martial art. He assumed the easiest and safest weapon to handle would be the bo staff, and as such he selected it. It had a golden shine to it, and a comfortable grip. As he lined up for the hit he contemplated how to strike the dummy. “I need to swivel my hips and use both hands to generate the maximum force”, Will remembered from videos he had seen online.
Minutes passed, as Will hit the dummy to no effect. As he stopped to take a breath a message flashed in front of his eyes.
“You have achieved a score of 4.5/10 for your physical evaluation”.
“Mental evaluation in process…..”.
“You will be asked a series of questions and riddles to test your problem-solving capabilities”.
“A farmer purchases a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage. On his way home, the farmer came to the bank of a river and rented a boat. However, while using the boat, the farmer could carry only himself and a single one of his purchases: the wolf, the goat, or the cabbage.
If left unattended together, the wolf would eat the goat, or the goat would eat the cabbage.
How can the farmer cross the river with all of his purchases intact?”
Will’s eyes widened. He knew this riddle. He had solved it at the age of 9 during a very long drive in which he had bugged his father non-stop for entertainment. The answer wasn’t difficult to find given enough time, since there was a finite amount of combinations the farmer could employ. As he gave his answer his time was recorded on the screen in front of him. “0:14 seconds”. Answering more questions with increasing difficulty, he finished the evaluation.
“You have achieved a score of 7.2/10 in your mental evaluation”.
“You have been detected to have a lightning affinity of 86% and as such you may also select lightning attuned paths”.
“The following paths are available to you, select wisely”.
There were uncountably many options on the screen, things like “Path of the Computer Scientist”, and “Path of the Student”. However these options seemed like dead ends. Like joining a company and never getting promoted. There were a few options that did not have that depressing feel to them. 4 of those options drew his eyes. As he observed them more information began to appear.
“Path of the Novice Lightning Mage[Rare] - You possess a high affinity for the energy of lightning. As such you may manipulate and control this energy to a much greater effect than most other beings. This path will teach you to summon lightning to aid you in your endeavors. Your affinity allows for much growth, and while you may start as nothing more than a novice your potential is limitless. Stat bonuses per level: +1 Int, +0.5 Wis, +0.5 Com, +1 Free Points.
“Path of the Novice Lightning Warriorv [Rare] - You possess a high affinity for the energy of lightning. As such you May enhance your body with this deadly energy to a much greater effect than most other beings. This path will teach you to empower your attacks and your speed with the power of lightning. Your affinity allows for much growth, and while you may start as nothing more than a novice, your potential is limitless. Stat bonuses per level: +1 Agi, +0.5 Str, +0.5 End, +0.5 Vit, +0.5 Free Points.”
“Path of the Novice Scholar [Uncommon] - You have read many books in your life and as such you may pursue this Path. This path will teach you how to focus your mind, and how to create spell and skill formations. This is the path walked by he who seeks knowledge above all else. Stat bonuses per level: +1 Com, +0.5 Int, +0.5 Wis, +0.5 Free Points.”
“Path of the Novice Mage [Common] - This path will allow you to control the arcane energies around you to some effect. While this path is not the rarest nor the strongest. It has been walked before by uncountably many beings, and as such, the path ahead is clear. Stat bonuses per level: +1 Int, +1 Wis”.
As he perused his options Will immediately disregarded the Lightning Warrior Path. Will was not a Fighter. He was a cautious person who preferred the path of least resistance. If push came to shove, he would scheme instead of resorting to an upfront confrontation. During highschool he had engineered a fight between 2 people who had pushed him a bit too far. They were both expelled in the aftermath.
“Whats are these stats, and how can I see them”, Will asked loudly, Before remembering he was alone. A few seconds of uncomfortable silence later a new screen appeared before his eyes.
“Stats of William Raik.”
Body
Mind
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Special
(Vit) - Vitality - 1
(Int) - Intelligence - 1.2
(Cha) - Charisma - 2
(End) - Endurance - 1
(Wis) - Wisdom - 1.1
(Luc) - Luck - 5
(Str) - Strength - 0.9
(Com) - Comprehension - 1.3
(Agi) - Agility - 1
(Wil) - Willpower - 1.2
(Dex) - Dexterity - 0.8
(Per) - Perception - 0.9
Seeing himself being quantified by a translucent blue screen wasn’t the most uplifting feeling in the world. But, Will resolved himself to understand the meaning of each of these ‘stats’, and the effect increasing one would have on him. Since calling out the empty room seemed to work before, Will tried it again. “What do these stats mean”, he called out.
“Vitality - Vitality is the life-blood within you, it is what keeps you young and makes you healthy” - Primarily affects the lifespan, the health, and the recovery of an individual.
“Endurance - Endurance is the toughness and resistance of your body as well as its capacity to generate and regenerate energy” - Primarily affects the resistance, the defense, and the capacity of energy that can move through your body (inward or outward).
“Strength - Strength is the force you exert with your body onto the world” - Primarily affects the output of energy from the body.
“Agility - Agility is the speed of your body, the swiftness in your actions, the primal wind in your body” - Primarily affects the speed and the reflexes of the body.
“Dexterity - Dexterity is the purpose in your movements, the deftness in your fingers, the precise control you have in each and every limb.” - Primarily affects the flexibility and control of the body.
“Intelligence - Intelligence is the knowledge you have accumulated within you, it is the library inside your head” - Primarily affects the recovery and capacity of energy. *Non-Tangible-effect: Increase the ability to recall information as well as construct the mind.
“Widom - Wisdom is all the experiences you have accumulated over the years as well as your ability to draw conclusions and information from those experiences” - Primarily affects the capacity of energy.
“Comprehension - Comprehension is the speed and your ability to understand complex information as well as the speed at which you draw conclusions from said information” - Primarily affects the recovery of energy.
“Willpower - Willpower is your conviction, it is the fire in your blood and the steel in your body. It is your unquenching fire” - Primarily affects the recovery of all your facilities. *Non-Tangible-effect: Increases the strength of your mind, your ability to control yourself as well as exert control over other beings.
“Perception - Perception is the awareness you possess. It is the ability to see things that others wish to hide, to pierce through the veil that hides the truth”. - Primarily affects awareness. *Non-Tangible-effect: Increases the range of your perception as well the strength of your gaze and awareness.
“Charisma - Charisma is the exertion of your will upon the universe. It cannot be changed under normal circumstances.” *Non-Tangible-effect: Determines how organisms react to you.
“Luck - Luck is how the never-ending tapestry of fate interacts with you. It cannot be changed under normal circumstances”. *Non-Tangible-effect: Determines how the Multiverse reacts to you.
“Well”, Will thought, that’s certainly interesting, “Now what do I choose”. “Mage is out, there’s no reason to choose something clearly inferior to lightning mage”. “Scholar could be interesting, but it doesn’t seem to have any magical ability”. “Lightning mage it is”, Will concluded to himself, as he selected his chosen path. As if to congratulate him on his choice, a new screen flashed in front of him.
“DING! You have leveled up! Novice Lightning Mage has reached level 1 - Stat point allocated. +1 Free Points”.
“When you wish to interact with the ‘System’ think clearly about your request.”
“For example; think ‘Status’.”
“Well, might as well try. Status”, Will thought, feeling ridiculous.
Name: William Raik
Rank: F
Path: Novice Lightning Mage [Rare] - Lvl 1
Health:
Energy:
Currency: 10
Body
Mind
Special
(Vit) - Vitality - 1
(Int) - Intelligence - 2.2
(Cha) - Charisma - 2
(End) - Endurance - 1
(Wis) - Wisdom - 1.6
(Luc) - Luck - 5
(Str) - Strength - 0.9
(Com) - Comprehension - 1.8
(Agi) - Agility - 1
(Wil) - Willpower - 1.2
(Dex) - Dexterity - 0.8
(Per) - Perception - 0.9
Free Points: 1
Skills: None
Spells: None
Intrinsic Abilities: None
“Before you begin your journey please select an Intrinsic ability”
“You may select 1 of the following options:”
“Lightning Shock[Common] - Allows the user to generate lightning through his body in order to electrocute enemies. - Requires a lightning-attuned mage class”
“Lightning Strike [Uncommon] - Summons a lightning strike to smite the user's foes - Require a lightning-attuned mage class and affinity over 50%”
“Lightning Control[Rare] - Grants the user, the ability to Control Lightning - Requires a lightning-attuned mage class and affinity over 70%”
“Lightning Manipulation[Epic] - Grants the user, the ability to manipulate Lightning in all it’s forms - Requires a lightning-attuned mage class and affinity over 85%”
“Summon Spirit - Lightning[Epic] - Summons a lightning elemental spirit - Requires a lightning-attuned mage class and affinity over 75%”
“Animal Aspect - Lightning[Legendary ] - The direct upgrade of Summon Spirit - Summons a lightning elemental animal companion that closesly matches your temperment - Requires a lightning-attuned class and affinity over 85%”
Quickly selecting what seemed to be the rarest option, and as such, probably the best option; Will chose “Animal Aspect [Legendary]”. “Am I dying”, was the only thought that came to mind. It was the most excruciating pain he had ever experienced. As if a million hot irons were branding the inside of his skin. A silent scream escaped his mouth as he collapsed to the floor in agony, Clawing at his skin.
“Every great being begins its journey at the starting line. As they have, so will you start as a novice in your field. However, your powerful affinity grants you limitless potential. Good Luck”
Will’s eyes rolled to the back of his head as he passed out from the pain, and through the white floor he fell.