Chapter 5

I shift between the blackness of unconsciousness, and bright lights. I can barely think, and don’t know what’s going on. Eventually I settle on darkness, and I begin to stabilize mentally, but still in darkness.

What happened last? I was fighting that thing… and I won, but not without major damage. Did I save that person? Yes…?

I know one thing, and it is that I blacked out. I died, but not really. I met that… person? No, he was far off, something else. He offered me something, answered some questions… yes, I remember now. A pact of sorts? What was it?

Ding You have been offered a pact by the Voidborn. The pact states that the void will watch you, and you alone. With no other way to see, you would be constantly monitored. In exchange, you would be given the Voidtouched class. Would you like to accept?

Voidtouched? What does that mean?

Ding Context requested. Classes are very rare for any individual. They are either earned through near death experiences, or granted by higher powers. In your case it was a mixture. You died, but your consciousness was redirected to the void. The void brought your life to stability to give you a chance. It has offered you a Unique Class. Classes are broken into rarity rather than power. Unique is the highest rarity, but rarity does not determine class powers.

Ding Voidtouched is a unique class granted to a single individual. The Voidtouched class is a pact between the void and a being. Accepting it will grant you the class, but also the Chosen of The Void feature. The class will grant you an additional statistic point per level and a higher chance of skills being gained. The Chosen of The Void feature is a hidden feature and hence can only be revealed by having it.

Well that was long. TLDR, I gain one more statistic point per level, skills at some levels based on the class, and this ominous Feature? Sounds too good to be true. What are the drawbacks? I’ll wait to make the choice until I am no longer… blacked out.

After a few minutes I fall asleep. It is a restless sleep, and I see the eyes of the void. I feel the darkness, it is anticipating my choice, and regarding me. It is not him, but it is the void.

I wake up again. It is dark, but not because of my sight. At least I hope it’s not because of my sight. I look around and see shapes in darkness. I stand up.

“Hello?” I say groggily. I feel my chest where it was slashed with the blade of the thing. No, with my blade. My body aches from the pain, all over me hurts. Where I feel my hand I feel something large and soft… no, soft is the wrong word. It feels like medical tape or something.

“Hey Jason. I was wonderin when you’d wake up.”

“Jameson? Is that you?” I ask, “Where are we? What happened?”

“Yes, it’s me. Let's get out of this room. There are others sleeping.” He says everything very quietly. We go out of the room.

“You must have many questions. I’ll answer several before you ask anything more. We are in the police station. The station survived, and there are several police officers still here. We took refuge here. There are two groups out right now, gathering information. They intend to check out a route for Walmart. You’ve been out for about a day now. The station had several solar panels installed before all this so we have power. The man you saved is Hector, and he saved you. He has a healing skill, but you still should have died. Don’t know how you made it through.”

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A few days later

A few more days pass, and I feel that my healing is likely increased by my statistics. I help out in what small ways I can. During those few days we were attacked two times. I am unable to get involved. They say it’s too dangerous for me in my current shape. In the time I have I consider the class. It could prove useful, and is being watched by the void a problem? After I’m healed enough to go out I’ll make my choice. Didn’t the system say I have three rewards from defeating that thing?

Ding You have been granted 3 rewards from defeating the Steel Watcher.

Reward 1: Your choice of a minor melee magic item

Reward 2: Based on your feature Strategist, you now may see a small map of the surrounding area. This map does not show creatures.

Reward 3: You gain a free Perfect Heal. This may be redeemed at any time.

At any time? That sounds especially useful, I think I’ll keep it for a later time.

I wait for a while, and when Alexi is here I start a conversation with him.

“Hey Alexi. What is it like out there? We had three encounters in the time I was able to be out.”

“Well, while it is dangerous, we got unlucky one our way here. In the last week you’ve been recovering I’ve been on five expeditions. On three of them we encountered something of any level of danger. Some of those goblins decided to try their chances and we just smoked them with our guns. Keep in mind there were five of us and ten of them. Another time we encountered something we had to drive away from. We were at the pharmacy and we encountered a tree creature that attacked us. We knew our guns wouldn’t be effective against a creature like it, and we had no other weapons. We fled from it. Currently we have the van, two police cars, and one additional vehicle. We saw a group of 30 something skeletons in the distance, they were walking around. It was very odd so we decided not to interact with them.”

“Interesting… What level are all of you?”

“I only know my level and Jameson’s level. I’m level 11, and Jameson is level nine.”

“Ok. See you later”

I walk away from him, but he asks me before I go, “What level are you?”

“Seven.”

He looks a bit surprised, but doesn’t say anything as I walk away.

I contemplate the pact with the Voidborn. It would be a boon, and a powerful one. I could be level ten, but have the statistics of a level 12. I have a question; what is the system?

Ding Prompt detected. The system is a overlay over the world’s intelligent inhabitants to assist their growth as well as their unseen potential.

Why is the system here? How does it make us more powerful? Who put the system in place?

Ding The system is in place to protect the existence of humanity. Your kind have potential within them that was sealed when your world was created. The system assists in harnessing the latent potential. The system was created.

I… Accept the pact.

Ding Pact accepted. User granted Voidtouched class. User granted Chosen of The Void.

What does chosen of the void do?

Ding Chosen of The Void. Description: The void seeks a champion in this world. The void has no desires, and hence will imbue you with power while you live. You have been chosen for your courage, as well as your tactical mind. The void wants your mind. In life it empowers you. In death, you will serve the void as its general. You have much space to grow, and the void will see you growing into a leader, and conqueror. Then the defender of itself.

Ding Achievement unlocked. The first chosen. Description: Other planes with incomprehensible powers exist. For their own reasons and morals, the other planes chose those other worlds to seek out their interests. You are the first to have been approached by a higher plane.

Achievement: +1 to all stats, as well as some information. You also gain a level.

Ding An administrator has taken notice of your achievement. They caution you to be careful of the other forces.

Well, that might not be for the best. Is what it is, at least I’ve gained strength.

I crumble to the ground, my entire body shaking. The pain is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

Ding You have been corrupted by the void.

End of chapter