Two towers [an unknown location in the new world], local time [1784.02.18]
This should be good.
Did you check all details? You know, your armor will glow?
What do you mean? This slime will be in the canals of my suit.
The armor is just a structure this [Slime Mould] will be living in. It will slowly modify the suit to work better in its living conditions. After some time, it will find its way behind every plate of your armor. The [Slime Mould] is fluorescent and light conducting. Some parts, especially the ones exposed to light, will glow.
Eh, I will just get something to wear above the armor. It’s basically a free light tuning of my armor, not really a problem. I am more concerned about the integrity of my helmet. It’s a shame the backpack and spent batteries weren’t enough for all upgrades.
The front's cover was a weak spot anyway, and you should believe us when we said the neck joint will be critically limiting for you after some time. It’s more important you have better security in the blind spots.
Yeah, yeah. I am just sad it’s not a real full-body suit anymore just because I don’t have enough Points to replace the materials. It was truly impossible. Between the Symbiont and Implant, he managed to save almost 4.5 million Points by submitting this alloy. And he spent almost all of them.
By the way, how valuable are those Points? I don’t really have a reference.
A human who levels normally, so does not spend years to gather [Universal Points] and doesn’t possess worthwhile achievements, gathers an average of 587.254 points total before achieving level 100.
How much time that would be? And what about above level 100?
It varies strongly depending on profession and optimization. 95.5% of the human population spends between 4 and 61 years to get to level 100.
Above level 100, things escalate quickly. You would be able to gather an amount similar to your [Reward] in two years if the conditions allowed for that level of activity. You need to learn more yourself.
Heh, good meme reference there. Anyway, sounds like two standard deviations in a normal distribution, so it takes around 32 years on average? It’s… quite slow.
...
Hmmm? He looked at the window suspiciously. For some reason, I have a feeling it will be quite different for me…
...
Maybe because I just spent an equivalent of a level 100+ human’s money on upgrades?
Were you to use your [Second life] reward to fix things, you would have much more points for real [Upgrades]. As it is, you will not deviate much from an average human on this planet.
Don’t just ignore the potential all this has! Whatever, I know you are doing it on purpose. I guess I will find out when I woke up.
We will wake you when the vicinity is safe. Concentrate on sorting out your [Interface] first.
Should we discuss possible Classes and Professions?
They are automatically sorted by compatibility. We will not tell you more than the [Interface] would.
A shame… He thought about what to ask, but he was unable to concentrate. He only had a few hours left. Knowing that overstaying would mean death, he wasn’t keen to start another long dispute.
Say, is it a good idea to finish now?
The process will be slightly faster if you don’t wait until the very end.
How long will it take anyway?
In the worst scenario, less than 10 years. Accurate estimations are not possible.
Oi! I thought it is a safe procedure?!
It is, but it’s impossible to say how long [Advanced tests] will take. Also, we are expecting problems with the [Symbiont].
Oh… Well, I feel like the chances to meet my mates from ‘Apes’ just drastically dropped… Never mind, let’s finish here, I feel quite exhausted mentally after hearing that.
As you wish, Zeph Einar. Have a bountiful life.
Starting simulation memory merging process…
Ye ye, thanks… He managed to send, before losing consciousness.
==============================
When he came to, he found himself in the familiar dream-like state. His life started replaying again, but this time without the chaotic preamble. A few things were different, though. He was much more aware than the last time. He could also feel when ‘holes’ from his soul made an appearance. He now knew, the forgotten memories the System restored the last time originated from his Soul. This time, though, his Soul was read from the beginning to the end, not only to restore lost brain memory. But some things his brain remembered were absent in his Soul. Those parts of his Soul, he somehow felt, were meticulously examined. It hurt in a way impossible to describe. Every time this happened, his consciousness blacked out. Yet, no lasting effects stayed, his life played further before him. It was a Soul pain, and he will remember it, but his brain wasn’t recording it as it should. It was safe, probably.
The most interesting difference, though, was that parallel to memories a copy was played, but the language was different. He could perceive both at the same time and compare them in real-time. It was strange, but he perceived it almost like reliving his life within another culture. He could learn from that alone, but additionally, he had a reference in the form of English.
A shame a lot of words didn’t have a direct translation. He could tell he would have holes in understanding still. On this planet they used magitech instead of technology, some things were impossible to directly translate. Especially because he didn’t have time to be flooded with additional information, like in the case of Interface or System messages.
After reliving everything, he gracefully welcomed the oblivion.
========== System PoV ==========
[Body Stasis] engaged.
…
[Advanced Body test] completed…
New [Magicule] found. Integrating data… completed…
[Advanced Soul test – Stage 0] completed…
[Soul damage] assessed. New [Soul contamination] found. Integrating data… completed.
Creating model… completed.
Compatibility confirmed. Experimental transformation to the new [Soul fragment]… completed.
Comparison testing… successful.
Constructing [Cellular Energy Subsystem] microorganism… completed. [Soul-linking]… Proliferating…
[Body Stasis] disengaged.
Propagating [Cellular Energy Subsystem]… successful.
[Body test]… positive.
[Partial Body Stasis] engaged.
Implanting [Soul fragment (group: Will, type: H1)] …1%...2%...3%...3,21%. Finished successfully.
Implanting [Soul fragment (group: Space, type: B5001)] …1%...2%...3%...4%...5%...5,18%. Finished successfully.
Structural [Soul] integrity… confirmed.
Starting [Advanced Learning]…
Starting [Advanced Soul test]…
Starting [Advanced Will test]…
Constructing [Mutagenic Bacteria B652H81] microorganism… completed. [Soul-linking]… Proliferating…
Constructing [Garuan] zygote inside the body… completed. Applying mutagen… completed… [Soul-linking]…
Constructing [Source Net] inside the body…
[Source Net] constructed successfully.
[Partial Body Stasis] disengaged.
Propagating [Mutagenic Bacteria B652H81] … successful.
[Body test]… positive.
[Soul] presence confirmed in [Garuan] fetus. Changing [Soul-link] to [Soul-bond]… modifying [Soul] growth pattern… enhancing biological growth…
Constructing [Phleya (type:3)] microorganism in the suit… completed. [Soul-linking]… Proliferating…
[Advanced Soul test] completed…
[Advanced Will test] completed…
Integrating data… completed.
Assessment complete.
Adding new [Race Trait] for the race [Earthling].
Adding [Survivor] and [Greater Pioneer] to the [Title list] of the race [Earthling].
Body incompatibility detected! Wrong [Soul] type of [Garuan]!
Commencing forced [Soul transplantation]… completed.
Critical body dysfunctionality detected! Scanning…
Failure. Clearing…
Re-enacting the process… Using backup mutagen variant…
Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
[Soul] presence confirmed. Changing [Soul-link] to [Soul-bond]… modifying [Soul] growth pattern… enhancing biological growth…
Error! [Garuan] mutations outside the parameters! Scanning…
[Soul-bond] revoked. Scanning…
[Soul-bonding] with the host detected! Scanning…
[Parasite] behavior detected! Applying safety measurements…
…
…
…
[Symbiotic Parasite] group created. Safety measurements revoked.
Sending [You were right] reward to [Zeph Einar].
Scanning…
Applying [Corora full vaccine set]… complete.
Applying [Full restoration sequence]… error! Metabolism changed by the [Garuan]!
Applying modified [Full restoration sequence]… complete.
Redirecting [Soul-links] to the host… successful.
Adding [General Skill] databases, successful.
[Body Stasis] engaged.
Erasing unnecessary [Mana] constructs… complete.
Carving a chamber… complete.
Environment scanning engaged… Weather prediction engaged…
Conditions acceptable. Opening the chamber… Withdrawing…
[Body Stasis] disengaged.
Complete.
At last…
==============================
A quiet singing of birds was the first thing he noticed. He could feel a soft light coming from behind. It was strange, to wake up after being active mentally for so long without a break. Strange… he thought. It’s the first time I am fully awake right after regaining my senses.
He slowly opened his eyes. Soft light illuminated the smooth stone of a circular cave. He was laying on a rock, but his armor made that less uncomfortable. The entrance was behind his head, he could feel a whiff of impossibly fresh air. He tilted his head back.
The brilliant colors attacked his eyesight. The world was more vivid than ever, and so bright. He just laid there for a few minutes, absorbing new sensations, not understanding what was happening.
The small shock slowly transformed into curiosity, then into an understanding. Full restoration… All of my senses are as sharp as when I was a kid… But that is not all. The mental burden he was used to, to a point that he forgot about its existence years ago, was absent. The feeling of being lightweight, stronger than you should even, after dropping all your equipment after a day of walking with it, do you know it? It was the same, but as well mental, as it was physical. Like finally getting enough sleep after a month of insomnia, but multiplied.
He closed his eyes and stretched mentally. It was the best feeling he felt in his life. My Soul wound is in the norm now… I don’t have to use my Will to keep my Soul in one piece anymore. What will I feel when I get rid of the wound altogether? he mused, then started to stretch his body. He immediately noticed small changes. Even at 30 years old, he accumulated his share of small contusions. They were all gone, his muscles in perfect state, his joints smooth, his bones… Oh my god! My teeth, they.. they…
They were as healthy as can be.
He started laughing. “Even for just that one thing, it was definitely worth it!” he exclaimed, then sat up. Looking around, he could see his “exploration backpack” to the right. It was almost half-empty. The suit’s backpack was missing, as were fragments from his helmet. He now had something resembling an old motorbike helmet, with the elongated back shielding his neck. Beside the backpack, a few Prana batteries were lying on the ground. As well as his armguard.
Almost forgot… he thought, smiling. He put it on and connected to his armor.
He checked, and as predicted, no rations were left. The System probably assumed they would all go bad and used them automatically, saving him some Points. He didn’t feel hungry right now, though.
Right, the System, he thought as he noticed a blinking point in his peripheral view. He first packed the batteries into his backpack, then decided to make a quick survey of the surroundings outside. He had to back up almost immediately, though, the sensory overload was too much. The System said it will be safe… let’s just believe it. He needed time to acclimate, so he moved to the back of his cave and sat down with his backpack between his legs. Why am I in a cave in the first place? Eh, whatever, he thought, then started concentrating on the blinking point. It didn’t work.
I think I may be a little stupid, he realized and instead used the Interface to open… whatever that blinking point was.
Congratulations! All problems with your [Body], [Soul], and [Interface] are resolved!
Congratulations! Your [Willpower] is now a [Greater Willpower]!
Congratulations! Four [Passive Enhancement] milestones achieved! You have gained access to [Perks]! You gained one [Energy Enhancement]!
Congratulations! New [System Reward] added to [Traits]! You earned a [Tier 3] [General Skill]!
You have earned [Soul fragments]! You don’t have any [Class] or [Profession]. [Soul fragments] were deposited in the bank.
Your race has a new [Trait].
You have two new [Warnings].
You received a message from [The Mighty System]!
New [Diagnostics] result is available!
Whoa, it’s a lot! He read everything once more, then decided to first check the Warnings and message, before opening his Interface.
[Status: obsolete]
Warning! Your [Intuition] is more than two times higher than your [Willpower]. This imbalance can cause changes in personality! Possible effects may include: restricted logical thinking, problems with concentration, daydreaming,
Explanation: [Greater Willpower] has approximately five times stronger counter-effect, than [Willpower] has. This [Warning] is obsolete.
Warning! [Garuan] mutated into a [Parasite] type! Make sure your life is not in danger!
Huh… ‘Safe’ my ass! I hope he explained himself in the message!
Dear Zeph.
During the [Garuan] creation we tried another mutagen first. According to our knowledge and calculations, it had much higher chances to successfully mutate the [Garuan], and the possible effects were known by us. It failed miserably.
The mutagen we modified together worked, but the mutation was influenced by modified [Soul contamination] and your [Soul contamination], to put it simply. We think it reversed to a more primal form, which was a [Parasite]. Despite possessing means to harm you, no such behavior was observed. It also [Soul-bonded] to you by itself. As such, a new term [Symbiotic Parasite] was created.
You will need to keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn’t behave harmfully. To this effect, we have given you access to high-tier [Ancient Civilizations] [General Skill]. The fact that you were able to intuit which mutagen would work is enough for us to hope you will be able to solve more of [Forgotten Technology] mysteries, and be able to properly guide the growth of your [Garuan].
All relevant information is in the [Interface], but in short – it is now connected to your intestines, and you can safely consume most metals. Just don’t do it excessively. It also modified your metabolism slightly, but most of the changes are positive. It will reserve some Mana from your regeneration if there is not enough ambient Mana density around.
P.S. The process took 9 years, 2 months, and 8 days. It’s [1793.04.26] in the local time.
Best luck!
The MS.
Heh, so he did learn something about client service, after all. He was quite surprised by the nice tone.
Well, nothing of it, let’s see the Interface.
Ohh, it changes color for the new entries… What we have here… Perks are new. He concentrated on the word. It seemed he was able to choose one from a list, but there were only three entries on it. One for each mental stat… yea, I won’t call them PE. It seems 10 is the first milestone. But what does a Perk do? He tried reading deeper into the information, but it was a lot harder than in the mental space. After a moment he got that it was some kind of automatized functionality, but how that was different from Skills, he had no idea.
He didn’t think much about it anymore and just chose the most important one. ‘Mana control training assist’… I totally forgot to ask the System how you even do that. Well, knowing him, it would cost me points. It was a Willpower Perk. It was clear to him that Soul perception training and meditation training could be left for later. Especially because he had quite special Willpower, it was better to learn how to use it first.
[https://i.imgur.com/mvqfYRa.jpg]
So I got a point in Intuition from all that? Good, good! One more to go before getting a Class!
The skill list was what he expected. Beside the General Skills he bought, two new could be found. The “Memories of the Earth” and “Ancient Civilizations”. When looking at the first one, he could tell that after proving that the concepts from Earth also work here, a lot of General Skills could be derived from it. Work for later, I suppose…
The Traits were much more interesting. Wow, Greater Willpower is quite OP… Wait! Isn’t the human race… Well, my human race, perfect for sorcery of any kind?
[https://i.imgur.com/qANZPav.jpg]
On the other hand, my Advanced Improvements list is totally cluttered right now…
[https://i.imgur.com/PY17iB7.jpg]
Living armor? Well, don’t mind if I do. I just wonder how close to my body the Phleya needs to be to survive… So much to test… He contemplated on the contents for a moment, then decided to try looking outside again. He checked his weapons first. It seems that everything was kept in stasis most of the time. His pistols needed some maintenance, which he did, but there were no traces of rust or dangerous clogging. His crossbow was in top condition. After completing his preparations, he moved to the exit of the cave.
This time no sensory overload bludgeoned him. He was able to see quite the same ruins they started in. A lot of greenery, quite a few trees, and a smudge of a white stone poking through all that. What is this cave even… he thought while looking back. A giant boulder wasn’t something he expected at all. He could also see some irregular rock formations at the base of the towers that shouldn’t be there. I guess they are Alex and Alana… places? Cocoons? Boulders? Whatever…
He quickly surveyed the surroundings. He needed food and water. A shelter was covered already. After 20 minutes, he managed to find an old, half-dry well. This would need to do until his condenser got enough water. There were a plethora of birds, too.
Happy that he didn’t have to relocate or labor right away, he backed into the cave again. It was time for some more reading. He wasn’t thirsty or hungry at all, so dealing with his Interface first sounded like a good idea. He set up the water condenser first.
Before burrowing himself into the infodump, which Diagnostics were for sure, he decided to check what Classes were about.
Seating… not so comfortably, on the hard rock, he opened the Class menu.
Welcome to the [Class] selection menu!
A [Class] can give a maximum of 6 [Passive Enhancement] points per level, the more specialized the [Class], the less points you can freely distribute, but you will always have at least one such point. The less points the [Class] gives, the better access to other [Upgrades] it gives.
Important note 1:
It is NOT recommended to change [Classes]. Choose wisely! You don’t have to make a decision immediately!
Important note 2:
Some [Classes], especially [Mixed Classes], will require you to reset your level progress at some point. This may happen multiple times. Make sure to read all details and follow instructions afterward!
Would you like to [Browse] available [Classes], or do you want our [Wizard] to help you sort them out quickly?
Wizard? To make sure, he switched to Cir language. Wizard… How did that even happen? He was absolutely amused until he concluded that this didn’t look like a coincidence. How curious… I need to remember to ask about it later. When I get to the civilization… Yea, let’s leave it for later. He chose the Browse option.
This list contains all available [Classes]. You can choose a maximum of three to combine. Effects of [Mixed Classes] tend to strengthen [Passive Enhancements] more evenly, but the overall points per level may drop because the number of accessible [Upgrades] will rise.
We do not recommend to [Browse] the list of [Mixed Classes], as the number of possible combinations is close to 200.000. Please use the [Wizard].
CLASS
Primary PE
Secondary PE
Soul Specialist
Willpower
Memory
External Soul Specialist
Willpower
Intuition
Internal Soul Specialist
Memory
Intuition
Melee Specialist
Power
Flex
Horde Melee Specialist
Power
Reg
Duel Melee Specialist
Flex
Reg
Mana Manipulator
Willpower
Flex
External Mana Manipulator
Willpower
Intuition
Internal Mana Manipulator
Flex
Intuition
Speedster
Power
Intuition
Acrobat
Flex
Memory
Regenerator
Reg
Willpower
Shooter
Intuition
Flex
Sharpshooter
Intuition
Power
Speed Shooter
Flex
Power
…
…
…
Wow. And the System said they are just basic Classes? He started scrolling down. There are at least a hundred of them! No wonder there is a sorting system implemented! And I am not even sure what I want… It will take a while.