Name: Abel Halloran Level: 3 XP: 76% Health Total: 80/80 Health Regen: 5 /minute Mana Total: 80/80 Mana Regen: 8 /minute Physical: 8 Constitution: 8 Vitality: 8 Fitness: 8 Mental: 8 Willpower: 8 Nerves: 8 Intellect: 8 Astral: 8 Balance: 8 Channeling: 8 Harmony: 8
…So I got 3 points in every stat for 2 levels? That’s… what kind of math is that? One and a half points per level? That’s pretty stupid, if you ask me. Also, my experience was higher than it should be. Was it just… going up whenever it damn felt like it? Whatever, just… don’t question the ‘Endless System,’ or whatever that is. It had seemingly fixed all my injuries and even given me my eye back, after all.
It was time to deal with something that had been bothering me since I’d gotten to this cave.
My Status told me that I had 80 mana, and regenerated 8 per minute. Theoretically, I should be able to use mana, yeah? Not to mention that, since I had arrived here, I’d felt a slight, omnipresent… something, in the air. I assumed that was mana.
Now, I was going to try to manipulate it. I didn’t really expect it to work, though. That… god? Was Harkemth a god? He certainly felt like a god. Anyways, he’d used diagrams, pentagrams, whatever you want to call them. Presumably, those were formed by magic, and then powered by said magic.
I… had no idea how to do that. But I was certainly going to try!
In all the books I read back on Earth, meditation was an important part of magic, so I made my best meditative pose, which was probably shit but whatever. I closed my eyes, and tried to lock onto that feeling. Now, I will say, that feeling very well could have just been a difference in air quality, but it just felt different somehow. Like it called out to something in my body.
I must have sat there for hours, but it just wasn’t working. I almost called it quits, when I remembered Harkemth and his magic. I was certain that there was potential there, and if I ignored that, then could I even say I’d tried? I’d never been a physical guy, my biggest strengths were rooted in a somewhat high functioning mind. I had my dumb moments, like against that Homunculus, sure, but those were usually due to overestimating myself rather than actually being stupid.
If I ignored the potential that magic held for me, and never made it out of this cave, could I truthfully tell myself that I’d done my best? No, I decided, I couldn’t. And with that, I threw myself back into it.
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I’ve got you! I’d been slowly pushing a thread of mana out of my body. My mana appeared to be produced in my heart, and I’d chosen to try to push it out through my hand. A slightly foolish decision, yes, but I figured that if I could manage it, then maybe I could cast mana bolts or something.
The action had been mind numbingly dull. If I went too fast, then the magic became spread too thinly and the thread shattered, which actually stung quite a bit. If I went too slowly, on the other hand, then I ended up wasting mana, as parts of it would seemingly dissipate into nothingness.
When I finally managed to get it to my hand, I attempted to condense it, but it just wasn’t happening. There was nothing to hold it in place. Frustrated, I just let the mana out through my hand. I felt a very slight, concentrated breeze pass through my fingers, draining out all the mana I had pulled through my arm.
Quite annoyed, I opened my eyes. All that time had been wasted. And now I’m starving. Damn.
I eyed the corpse on the floor. It hadn’t broken down at all, and I hadn’t seen any bugs crawling on it, so maybe it was safe to eat? That or the bugs knew something I didn’t, and were avoiding it because it was poisoned… And I didn’t have any way to cook it either…
Oh well. I’d never tried raw wolf meat before. Then again, I was guessing that most people hadn’t eaten wolf meat before. Maybe it tasted really good?
…It didn’t.
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I had decided to go hunting. Not because I needed more meat or anything, no I was planning on avoiding eating for a while longer if there was any chance that these Homunculus tasted even slightly similar to that one.
I wanted levels. I wanted power. I wanted that golden energy rush. Mostly, I wanted out of this damn cave. To do that, I knew that I’d have to get to killing. This time, I knew to stay way the hell away from anything above me in Tier, which meant I’d be stuck to killing things around my level. That also meant I wouldn’t have any massive XP boosts like I had previously, but that was fine. I could stick to doing things the hard and dirty way.
Sneaking up on my first target, rock in hand, I studied it for a while. It appeared to be the lovechild of a goat and a bumblebee, and Inspecting it provided me with the following results.
Level 2 Rabid Homunculus Abomination
"Oh god... what have I done?"
A relatively simple form of summon, a Homunculus is a doll-like caricature of another creature. While relatively weak, these summons are quite varied, and come in many shapes and sizes. As such, they have become a common staple for summoners everywhere.
This one's summoner has died, leading to a complete loss of sanity. Be wary, as these creatures will attack with no regard for their own well being.
Additionally, the summoning of this creature has failed, and the mana stored within its ritual has bled and crossed into another, resulting in scraps of two or more creatures combining into one.
Be wary. While these summons are rather weak, their potential is endless.
As quickly as possible, I brought the rock down on the beast’s head, right between its eyes.
Congratulations! You have slain 1 Level 2 Rabid Homunculus Abomination!
Experience Reward Increased for Defeating an Enemy While Tierless!
Reward: 12% XP
Not only had I not had to legitimately fight anything, but I was also only 5% away from my next level.
I decided to just wait out the next level while meditating, and trying to progress further with my magic, until I received this notification:
Congratulations! You have reached the Tier 1 Threshold! Evolve to next Tier?
Hell yeah!
...Wait, why do I feel like I'm about to-
I blacked out.
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When I awoke, I found myself in a massive canyon, with fog concealing my vision, blocking me from seeing the bottom.
With an awful grinding sound, five massive pillars rose before me, parallel to the canyon's sides, each entirely unique, and radiating immense auras of power. They came to rest with their peaks just above my head. As I stared at the pillar furthest to the left, one constructed of translucent purple glass with a moving diorama of a solar system, though certainly not the one I was used to. A notification came into view.
Space Walker
This Class is a weakened form of World Hopper, a Tier 2 Class.
To travel the multiverse is a lofty calling, only available to those dedicated and talented enough to walk it. This Class will start you on that path.
This Class grants high Willpower, Balance, and Harmony, as are needed to traverse Khaos without one's soul being shattered.
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So, these pillars were Classes? Neat.
Space Walker sounded cool, and World Hopper might even let me get home, but to be perfectly honest? I wasn't sure I wanted that. Not to mention, I might find another way home by the time I gained the ability to do so from this Class. Also, the warning about my soul being shattered scared me off from this one. If that was a possibility, then I didn't really want to take the risk.
The next pillar was covered in clocks, and the rim at the top made me suspicious of it being a clock as well. All the clocks, the top included, slowly changed color from green to red, before resetting back to green at random spots. They all traveled at seemingly random paces, though, with no two clocks appearing to move at the same pace.
Reincarnate
You have died, yet here you are, returned to life. Perhaps this was mere chance, maybe a skill, or you might just be one of the greatest masters of magic to ever live.
This Class serves to assist the user's pursuit in regaining their old power, reintegrated with a culture that may be very different from their own, and, should one progress far enough, help them prove to the world that their reincarnation was not just a fluke.
This Class grants high Willpower, and Nerves, and Balance, to help the Reincarnate remember and retain who they once were.
Wait, I died? Oh... right. I'm starting to remember now. I'm never eating pasta again.
Anyways, this Class wasn't really all that useful to me. It might help me figure out the culture here, which could include breaking language barriers and knowing what was and wasn't considered impolite, but as for combat prowess, which is what I really needed here? Useless. I wasn't an old and powerful mage, which was what this Class seemed aimed towards.
Otherworldly Gamer
See mom? All that time I spent on RPGs wasn't wasted after all!
Wielding powers and arts unknown to this realm, the Otherworldly Gamer shall rule them all! Can mimic certain skills belonging to video game characters.
This Class grants high Vitality, Fitness, and Nerves, to aid the Gamer in memorizing techniques and recalling abilities from pop culture.
I felt... something, towards this option. It would certainly be good for me. I had played many video games, and could vividly remember that there were some extremely powerful characters within them, and I would love to get my hands on their move sets. It would be cool, too.
The issue was that I wouldn't be unique. Like, at all. I would just be a bunch of other characters mashed together. While it was likely that nobody would notice, or even care, I would always know that nothing in my skillset was unique. In a way, I'd be like the Homunculus.
The next pillar was dark, dripping acid and covered in spiders. A big, Australia-sized spider chased around the small ones, who hid around small spikes that dotted the pillar's surface. At random intervals, one of the little spiders would peek out from around their pillars, only to spray that green acid at it. The large spider would run and chase after the offender, only to get stuck trying to pull itself out of a web trap that had been laid for it. By the time it was free, the little one would be gone.
Hunted Rogue
If the predator can't find you, then it sure as hell can't kill you.
The Hunted Rogue specializes in setting traps, utilizing alchemical concoctions, and hiding from those more powerful than it.
This Class grants high Fitness, Nerves, and Harmony, to help one dodge, hide, and find predators before their predators find them.
This one felt like an underdog just barely pulling out a victory. It fit me, for certain, but the vibe I was getting was just one of cowardice. It looked cool, and would definitely be good for the caves, but the trick was balancing what I needed now, and what would be good for later.
If this next Class wasn't good, I'd just have to settle for one of the previous Classes, none of which I loved all that much. This next pillar was a blue color, and reminded me of the system Screens. Blue wisps and auroras floated around it. It was quite beautiful, but the question was whether the Class itself was good.
Arcane Mage
You wield the world's base magic, that which all else contains. You have proven yourself to be beyond a basic Mage without any specialization, but you still have a long way to go.
You hold magic so pure that its purity alone has become an affinity. The Arcane Mage pours over manuscripts, hunts down ancient magic in long forgotten mage towers, and practices vigorously to obtain a versatility beyond the standards of all other mages. Arcane meshes with other affinities better than any other type of magic.
This Class grants high Willpower, Nerves, and Intellect, to better cast large quantities of high-powered spells.
I liked this one, so I picked it. It was better than the others, at least. This one focused on magic, and while figuring out mana on my own had been tough, and not at all rewarding, it had been kinda fun. Like a really tough Souls game. When the fruits of my labors were offered to me on a platter, in the form of a Class, why wouldn't I take it?
As I accepted Arcane Mage, a thunderous noise filled the canyon as the other pillars crumbled into chunks, falling down, down, past the fog, until nothing of them remained in sight. Then, the pillar for Arcane Mage began sinking- or, no, I was rising. Eventually, I came to rest on the center of the pillar, which was covered in a sharp, light blue grass.
I took a step, and found that my body was here, in its entirety. I wandered around the beautiful location for a short time. The light blue wisps seemed to avoid me, darting away from me whenever I tried to come close, but otherwise wandered lazily about. Above, a light show played out, stars dancing with the Aurora Borealis chaotically, yet somehow also slow, calming.
After a while, I looked back around me, only to find that certain landmarks now stood out. A house stood nearby, with farmland cropping out behind it that was looking quite odd, what with the blue soil. On my other side stood a decently sized tree, stretching just a bit over a crystal clear lake underneath it. A bit further away, on the other side of the circular platform, which seemed to have expanded, rested a small chapel, and a large, open training ground.
I started by approaching the house, stepping inside to find that it was a gorgeous two story building. It reminded me of older houses, but in a good way. The living room was carpeted, had a piano, and connected to a set of stairs and the kitchen. I took a while to explore the house, before acknowledging the notification that had gone off when I entered. I couldn't access my Status in this place, so I'd had a good idea of what it was.
Builder
I ignored the description. It was a Profession. For building. I let out a sad sigh. This house was beautiful, it truly was. It was no mansion, for certain, but it was cozy, and it spoke to me on a deep level. That said, I wasn't going to be picking a builder Profession. Not unless all the other choices were garbage.
I left the building through the backdoor, and walked out to the farmland behind it, knowing that I wouldn't likely be selecting this Profession, either.
Farmer
Yeah, sadly not. I had tried working on a farm during one summer, back in high school, and I just wasn't cut out for it.
I wandered for a time, enjoying the smell of the fields. Some were freshly tilled, while others had crops growing in them. After a while, I decided to move on, and took a shortcut through the house to get to the tree across from it.
I leaned against the tree for a time, staring at the water. It truly was crystal clear, only a slight blue tint and an occasional leaf from the tree falling in telling one that it was water. A few of the wisps had entered it, and swam around like mischievous fish, diving and dodging one another like they were playing a game of tag. It made me chuckle. As I've mentioned, I couldn't swim, but I decided that I could wade in the water, for a time. It was extremely refreshing, and the water seemed to instantly dry from my skin and clothes. The wisps still swam away from me, but oh well.
As I exited the water, I checked on this notification, as well.
Hydrophobic
Okay, I'm pretty sure that the system was messing with me this time.
I walked away from the house and the lake, somewhat regretful. I had loved the house, the farmlands were relaxing, and my experience with the lake had been enjoyable. I hoped that they would stick around if I picked something different, but I doubted it. It was more likely that they functioned similarly to the Class pillars.
After a while of peaceful walking, I arrived at the chapel. It was old-fashioned, like I'd seen it in western movies. Then again, everything in this place seemed like that. Maybe they were all constructs of my mind, and I was just stuck on that aesthetic? The church's curtains were closed, blocking out any attempts to see inside. The door was open, though.
As I stepped inside, I was greeted with what I thought was a traditional chapel, with a raised platform and a lectern at the front, and three rows of pews. The one difference, however, was that it was completely pitch black, save for the wisps in the room, and the magical galaxy floating over the pews. For a time, I was in awe. It looked like someone had just plucked a galaxy out of the sky, shrunk it down, and thrown it into the building. It was stunning. It was-
Harkemth's Devotee
I exited the chapel.
The training grounds appeared rather basic, save for the blue shades cast by the pillar, and a few piles of books in the corners. It was my last hope, though. I refused to be anyone's 'Devotee,' even if it would be a powerful Profession and likely have numerous benefits.
Autodidact
You refuse to accept the traditional method of accepting a master to teach you. You practice on your lonesome, teaching yourself knowledge hidden behind walls, not for a lack of money, but because you refuse to accept that anyone truly holds all the facts.
The Autodidact gains bonuses to teaching themselves and doing things without help. They are a prodigy beyond question, and are bound to become a master in their art... if they don't kill themselves first.
This Profession grants high Nerves, Intellect, and Channeling.
The world shifted, the training ground expanding to take up at least five times the space it did previously.
I closed my eyes, expecting to appear back in the cave any moment... only to hear a notification go off.