Chapter one
He woke on long lush grass hearing odd bird sounds chirping and whistling opening his eyes. He saw he was in a very bizarre forest looking for us where the bark was a mix of orange and blues and the leaves were pale white. He stood up feeling dizzy and confused staring at his strange surroundings as a creeping pain started to crawl through his body. He felt nauseous and turned to his side and started reaching all over the floor. His mind still hazy, he tried to stand up, his knees weak and shaking as he stumbled a step and then fell into the ground again throwing up more. He looked at his hands before his eyes. His flesh is peeling blotches of blood seeping through crack skin. He screams out in pain clutching the wounds reflectively falling back to the ground convulsing. He can see the skin peeling and sloughing off the muscle deteriorating underneath only to leave the bone which too starts decaying before his eyes. He tries to crawl against the strange tree but everything fades the black. Above him sparkling gold Flex swirls around before entering his body. The edges of his wounds start to glow with a faint blowing light as the decay of his flesh and bones is stopped.
Coming to consciousness again, aware of the sounds of the odd birds around him, his eyes snap open. He looks around at the surroundings slightly changed as a message floats above in front of his face. You were near death.
[Your body is not rated to acclimate to the environment around you. Nix particle overload. Do you wish to initialise conversion yes/no]
He's started the pain subsided but he can still see and feel his flesh still rotting sloughing off. In a panic he accepted yes
Varyn'Kyth Conversion initialization.
Body degradation 65%
Soul damage 30%
Reconstitution time 5 minutes
Area of consumption 1 km
[Your damage shows will be broken down by the nites in your system. They will then be her placed by replicated nights replacing the damaged body. This is a special Varyn variant. It is hidden to all others that can sense and all the magical instruments and tools that are capable of sensing. You will appear as human.]
Initialization started
Immense pain redoubled in his body as he rode on the ground he could feel his body breaking down every single molecule being ripped apart and replaced. He opened his eyes to see his entire left arm broken down to the bone most of the bone looked as if it had been eaten away by termites before new structure of golden black started to replace the missing bone and then a dark red in you that almost looked my talent started sprouting up from the bone coating it in muscle till the skin seeping out from the muscle strands formed over it looking just like his old arm. The pain stopped as soon as the conversion was done. He laid in the ground hunting breathing hard and he thought back to how this morning started before succumbing to the pain and blacking out.
16 hours ago.
—-
All around was the clamour of battle people and creatures grunting, moaning and screaming all around. The smell of sweat and blood heavy on the air, in his mouth and in his nose. He could feel the grime and bile on his skin. people next to him and around him were suddenly thrown back, as he showed with light. Looking down at his shaking hands seeing jagged lines of bright gold as if his skin was stone cracking. Light radiating out of his skin, eyes and mouth as a metal distorted screaming sound emitted from him as power surged through him… then whiteness.
Callum awoke with a start from his dream, “need to stop watching fantasy shows before bed” he thought to himself, his alarm going off on his phone. reaching for it and hitting the snooze by accident again “shit” he muttered to himself. getting out of bed and grabbing a towel to drench up the sweat he woke up in.
he took one look at his sweat soaked sheets and decided he would get ready early. he bundled up his sheets and brought them down to the laundry machine and tossed them in. he went back up stairs, went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. he stood there for a while thinking back on his recent strange dream. he had had them for a few month now getting more and more frequent. Some of them are vivid and painful but others full of wonder. He had become more and more intrigued by the dreams as he noticed he was having them only from his own point of view. He had told his best friend about them and got a good laugh at first. before his friend became just as invested in the dreams as caleb. hearing people move around he realised he may have been in the shower too long and jumped out promptly and ran into his room. He got dressed quickly and headed downstairs to see his dad sitting at the table.
"Morning dad"
"Mornin Cay; heard you up early, trouble sleeping?" His dad John inquired over his tablet.
Caleb hesitated at first before stammering out
"Yeah I had a strange dream that had my heart racing so I worked out and got ready early."
John put down the tablet and took a good look at his son. Though they were not blood he reminded him a lot of his brother growing up. Medium height a lil short for his age, sharp eyes and an easy shy smile. His chestnut skin and kinky done up hair is where the obvious differences were but in an age of genetic births and synths they had moved far from race dividing the planet. More problems are resources and power. He focused again on his son staring at him weird
"Where did you drift off to this time dad?" Callum asked with a chuckle. "Anyway sorry I'm going to run and see if I can hit the gym at the school quick before classes start I'll see you after school Dad." Callum said, grabbing the toast off his dad's plate, slinging his backpack over his shoulder and heading out headed out the door.
Spadina station has been shut down as SWAT teams carved in hazmat suits surround the area warning people away. Seems to be some sort of terrorist attempt that was sorted by police efforts. The announcer on the TV came in sharp focus and John's ears. Thinking back to winning this all started getting more and more worried with the increase in terrorist activity close to home.
…
As Calum pulled up to school on his scooter they saw his friend Brandon and waved them down. Brandon walked over and met him at the vehicle lockup.
"Crazy this morning had to end up taking a streetcar cuz Spadina was completely closed down"
Brandon said as Calum finish locking up his scooter
"Yeah I saw it on the news I was wondering if you're even going to end up coming to class today." Calum responded
"No, we got that midterm and I can't afford to miss it if I get it if I'm going to make it to the same school as Alyssa."
The two walked up the steps and into the school and made it to their first period class. Their first period class was physics taught by Mr Hargrove. They sat down at their table at the back of the class and Brandon knew Callum and pointed towards the front where Alyssa was sitting with her friend Jamie and Brad was leaning on Alyssa's side of the desk with a dopey grin on his face.
"It's probably trying to get her to go to semi with him, what a douchebag." Brandon said.
....
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"Attention class today we will be learning the various forms of combustion"
Mr Hardgrove said cutting in over the class's clamour.
They proceeded to start the class by going over the history of combustion and its many uses. The different types of combustion from fossil fuels all the way up to ionic propulsion.
"I wish Brad's ego would bust" Brandon's smother a chuckle.
Alyssa's friend Jamie looked back at Callum and flashed him a bright smile.
"All right, I need groups of four for this experiment."
They got into groups before Callum and Brandon with Alyssa and Jamie
Callum and Jamie starts flirting and Callum asks her out on a date for later that night.
…
After classes Callum and Brandon walk together until they get to the Brandon Street car stop.
"You're not hopping on Brandon" said to Callum
"No, I got self-defence courses to teach at the YMCA. I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"
"Yeah dude see you tomorrow I'll shoot you a link to that semi-formal website I found they got some pretty nice suits decent prices"
"Okay man thanks I'll let you know how things go with Jamie tonight."
Callum riding down the street sun is electric scooter listening to his music he knows a flash comes from down an alley slow to scooter down. Looking down the alley he can hear scuffing and shuffling and muffled yells. He sees three figures down the alley bay and hears swirling sucking noise. There are two figures in large coats grappling with a third dragging the third to the end of the alley. Callums pulse quickens as he comes to a stop on a scooter. He hesitates for a split second before aiming the scooter down the alley and pulling back on the throttle all the way. Speeds down the alleyway crashing into one of the figures grappling with the third. The momentum carries some; they bounce off the wall and land in front of the end of the alley. He looks up at the dead end wall and sees another brick is swirling into the centre distorting a swirly zig's egg back and forth pattern. Without any time to be able to consider what he's looking at, the other figure stops grappling with the third and grabs them by the neck and pushes them up against the wall. He was squeezing tightly the air coming harder and harder. Feeling against the wall and pushed off kicking into the stranger's chest gasping as the hand let go of his throat he saw that the third figure was running down the alley now screaming for help. He rolled as he heard a swoosh in the air at a foot coming down right where he was moments before. He got up and fixed the two strangers' strong coats and scarves pulled up to their face. One of the strangers' pockets began to glow and hum. He pulled a half circle device out and nudged his companion. They both looked at the device and then at Callum.
"Here's one as well"
The figure closer to Callum said to the other.
"We should grab them and bring him to Greed."
Callum, not knowing what they're talking about but looking at the swirl of brick behind them, notices scraps of garbage and paper disappearing into the wall. Seeing that the alley was too far and too narrow he decided to rush past these guys thinking the wall was some sort of trick of light with an open alley on the other side. He surprised them by running right past them and straight into the wall…
…..
Calum came too a few moments later groggy but the pain fading. He felt different, more energised, more alive. His skin felt everything around him, the air particles, the energy swirling around him. He opened his eyes and another message popped up in front of his face.
[The area you're in is a baron of energies due to past spells.]
[Your soul has suffered severe damage; it will not be able to heal properly until it has entered a higher energy source area.]
[Your soul caused damage when it was yanked through subspace and you missed arriving at the area the portal was destined to.]
[Until your soul is fully healed the abilities and powers that you have access to will function at reduced power and higher cooldowns. Soul damage is at 30%.]
Rate of nyx energy conversions to mana 70% at 1:3
Area of nyx energy conversion effect 1 m (air)
Nyx energy conversion from organic : Touch
Health 100%
Mana 50% (1000NE)
Stamina 40%
Abilities
Gravity manipulation
Phoenix
Gravity manipulation
The ability to manipulate the gravity around you and a short radius. The strength of the manipulation and the radius is determined by the strength of rank. Disability can level up independent of rank. This is a native Varun ability.
Gravity manipulation maximum 3x
Gravity manipulation range 2 m
Phoenix
Phoenix description restricted
Ability description restrict
Ability affect restricted
Ability detection restricted
Traits
Feast of kings
Accelerated healing
Analyzation
Tracker
Feast of the Magus
Undying flame
Feast of kings
When absorbing man up from enemies or surrounding sources half the manner absorb ed you get back in health points
Accelerated healing
Constant and passive healing at a slow steady rate
Analyzation
The ability to focus on an item or individual and learn based information on them by scanning their soul
Tracker
Allows you to remain hidden from individuals in targets you are tracking. Tracking individuals and targets becomes easier and you get a six sense to follow.
Feast of the Magus
When absorbing mana from a stronger opponent or individual your nyx conversion rate becomes 5:1
Undying flames
Trait description restricted
Trait effect active
He stared at the information scrolling in front of him and swore out loud what the fuck is a nyx energy?
Another screen popped up slightly overlaid the first one
[A nyx energy is a radical energy particle abundant in this world that uses empowering abilities and spells. In other words, what you Callum might be called mana. This energy permeates nearly all things on this planet, be it plants, animals , rock of flame, drift of snow, a gust of wind. This energy permeates all in this world. Some require it to stay alive, others simply have it and use it as an addition to their functions.]
… He froze as he saw his name appear on the screen as if whoever was behind it is talking directly to him
[But I am talking directly to you on the screen.]
Calum paused his heart racing he thought quickly where am I and who are you?
The screen replied with a second screen popping up in a world map with a bright blinking. On a southern central continent. Around the continent were various islands with seven more continents spread out throughout would kill him to assume it was water. The other screen with the text then replied
I am an interface tool I was designed to help you along your travels in these lands. My job is to assist you in coming to grips with what has happened and what you are required to do….
Off in the distance they noticed three shimmering spheres appear on the ground a short distance away from where he landed.
[Warning Warning]
These are people beyond your skill and higher level to deal with they will capture and torture you if you do not hide.
In the centre of one of the shivering spheres a humanoid figure started to fade. Calum focused his vision on that figure and data started to pop up with a line pointing to the figure.
Title Hand of Greed
Tier ???
Mana???
Attributes ???
Traits ???
[Your threat tracker has been triggered.]
Callum had played enough video games to know that anything that's an enemy appearing with many question marks It's something he does not want to deal with. Side to turn into the trees and start running. Callum was by no means an athletic sprinter but he seems seem to be able to keep on going much farther than he knew he was capable of. After a few moments of running overly oppressive force radiated out from behind him almost tripping Callum in his haste.
Picked himself up and continued running as fast as he could. There was another burst of oppressive power that almost forced him to his knees again. This time he lost balance and stumbled right into a tree. He picked himself up his interface system just flashing
[warning warning warning warning]
He continued running and saw clearing up ahead as soon as he stepped foot into the clearing three figures appeared in front of him in flickering motions like they were lights that someone was toggling the switch on and off. The ones in the centre were sort of poncho with a hood which she pulled back to reveal blowing blue eyes. The figure to his left was dressed all in black leather armour with a hand and a half sword slung on his back and another on his waist. The third figure was dressed in an ornate plate presumably stolen with a bright silver inlay.
'That is quite an impressive stealth ability you have there it took us much much longer than you down then it should have which divine that protects you?" The figure in the centre spoke his voice cold and raspy. His face was very handsome and kind which was contrary to how he spoke his voice so raspy sent chills down Callum's spine. He knew with all certainty that this man would kill him.
"He's under my protection." Killian
Said a voice dripping with humour and sarcasm. "And you should know very well not to mess with my protection. I know it's been a while but your Hands stop touching what is yours." A voice said coming from Calum's left. He looked to his left wondering who'd come to his aid only to see his teacher Mr Hardgrove.