A surge of adrenaline coursed through Michael, sending a jolt of electricity through his senses. As he carefully examined the trio of candle pieces held in each hand, he realized that the effects of the Insight transcended mere enhancements in speed and reaction time. Delving into the manipulation of the pieces, he discovered an unprecedented level of dexterity, skillfully guiding them between his fingers – moving seamlessly from palm to the back of his hand. Despite his natural right-handedness, he ventured to place all six pieces on his left hand. As he continued his intricate play, only when attempting to juggle them did three slip from his grasp, cascading to the floor. In a climactic moment, while tightly gripping all six pieces and applying pressure, they shattered into finer fragments of wax.
"I'm stronger and faster..." This profound sensation, the very essence for which he had bartered his soul, signified a genuine improvement that surpassed the limits of human capabilities.
"You are," David acknowledged the unmistakable transformation with a straightforward nod. "Just don't go trying to dodge bullets just yet. What's even more intriguing, or perhaps unsurprising given your possession of the Worm, is the manifestation of your Pool of Magick Ions."
"I can do magic?" In the heightened thrill of the moment, Michael delved deep within himself, recalling tales from comics and novels, envisioning scenes from Anime where protagonists tapped into hidden reservoirs of energy.
"Enough!" David clapped, abruptly halting Michael's delirium induced by the extraordinary changes. "Let me clarify, the conventional pronunciation is Magick, spelled in English M-A-G-I-C-K, to distinguish it from the interpretation used by ordinary folks."
Securing a chair from the desk, David positioned himself across from Michael, who was seated on his bed.
"M-A-G-I-C-K..." David's enunciation, prompted Michael to recognize the correct spelling despite the word sounding identical to "magic". "Is it a Power word, much like the moniker of your ability... Reverse Devour?" A connection sparked in Michael's mind, a result of his extensive reading and viewing habits.
"Only if you say it right, the same as my Ability. You can utter it as many times as you want, but unless you infuse it with Magick, it won't differ from any other word."
"And the fact that it sounds exactly like the word 'magic' in English..."
"The association is made to the conceptually corresponding word in your native tongue. That's how the power behind it made it work. I understand you want to ask more; however, you're letting the excitement muddle your priorities. There's a bounty on your head for the next thirty-something hours. Luckily, your survival rate is better than I hoped for, a result of your Worm Insight. The time now is two forty-four. I'll answer and explain everything until an hour before sundown. Meanwhile, familiarize yourself with that..."
From his trench coat, David retrieved a revolver with a brown-green grip and a black frame.
"It's a double-action revolver. Have you ever shot one?" He extended the grip towards Michael.
Seeing the gun, Michael frowned. "A handgun? Yes. I used to work in security. My former employer required a license, and the boss helped me get one. The current place doesn't require me to carry, so it's been a while. I've never used a revolver, though."
He wasn't thrilled about dealing with all the responsibilities that came with handling a gun, which was one of the reasons he changed companies. Nevertheless, David's reminder left him no choice but to accept it.
"It's heavy," Michael remarked as he weighed the revolver in his hand, noticing the six cartridges in the cylinder.
"There's no safety, so be careful. I have four extra cartridges. I can't spare them for you because if I intend to help you, I might need them. Setting aside the material for making cartridges, infusing one with Magick can take between several hours – time we don't have – to a day, depending on the method. Use it sparingly, only when you're a hundred percent positive you'll hit, and always aim for the head or heart."
Michael's frown deepened. "Is there no other way to resolve this? I understand the concept of why I might need to kill from now on. I'm just not ready. Even at my former job, I never really shot anyone."
"I could deliver an entire speech on why you can't afford to grapple with your morals right now. But it would be the most futile set of words you'll ever hear me say. So, no, Michael. No other way. When you encounter an enemy, you shoot to kill. Not to injure or threaten. To kill! By not doing so, you're jeopardizing me, someone who has staked their life to help you through the next day and a half, as well as the people close to you. Those chasing your bounty won't hesitate to use friends and family to reach you. This subject is closed," David asserted, leaving no room for argument.
"Do you agree with him, String?" Michael sensed Its emotions simmering, Its fierceness. He decided to stick with calling It "String," the nickname he bestowed upon It to commemorate their "friendship". "Alright. Not like I want to be like those heroes who leave the job unfinished as a motif in their story."
"Insights; the reason there's a bounty on my head and why it won't matter after a day and a half; what I can do to survive and ensure nobody else gets hurt; how I can become stronger, and how I'm connected to Mason and his friend's death. Those are the things I want to understand while we have time. Probably think about more, but those are starters," Michael placed the revolver carefully beside him.
"Some subjects I already planned to discuss," David said with satisfaction. "Insights are categorized into Seven Stages: First is 'In' – Being aware of It. Second is 'Sight' – Seeing the form of It. Third is 'Feel' – Touching It. Fourth is 'Understand' – Knowing everything about It. Fifth is 'Intercept' – Becoming a Variable that can influence It. Sixth is 'Control' – Operating It to a certain extent. Seventh is 'Unification' – Making It a portion of Me. 'It' refers to a subject of study. A good example for a fiction enthusiast or fanboy is when a character learns fire magic. The more they practice, the better they get. Insights are how it works in the real world."
David pointed, and a small green flame ignited above his finger, capturing Michael's attention.
"The First Stage Insight of this particular flame, Carsonia, gives me minor resistance to it. The Second Stage improves on this resistance, in addition to granting me the ability to manifest a flame of Carsonia without resorting to a Spell or Ability. That's about as deep as my Insights in Carsonia go. Progressing Insights become extremely difficult the higher the Stage and can sometimes pose requirements between Stages. At the Seventh Stage, you're able to possess all the properties of It."
"You said I reached the Second Stage of Worm. How do I use the Insight of Worm Sight?"
"Right way to call it," David praised. "Second Stage, right after the First, for your first Insight. That's an achievement for the records book. It takes immaculate affinity with the 'It' or 'subject' to quickly gain Insights about It. If the Owner of the Worm allowed It to be used in a Demonic Contract, they shouldn't have a high affinity with It, and you should have absolutely none compared to beings of such caliber. That's my hypothesis, at least. The remnants of the Owner's power were a catalyst to an Insight of the Worm and not the source of your gains. This, and the Worm's potential origin, lead me to believe your consecutive attainments reflect the Demonic Contract's binding of you, your request, and the Worm. As for figuring out how to use your Insight, you'll like this…"
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David took Michael's hand. "Don't move," he drew with his finger on Michael's arm. Every line cut through skin, flesh, and bones, yet there was no bleeding, just an abundance of pain.
Michael clenched his teeth throughout the process. 'I wonder if prior to everything I could stay still while in this kind of pain?'
"Done," David declared.
"What did you do?" Michael inquired, feeling no discernible change, his arm appearing unaltered.
"A Condition Rune," David explained, reclining with a smile.
"A what Rune?!" Michael's astonishment was palpable.
"It's been all the rage for the past five millennia, or so I've been told. Charge it with your Magick, and a comprehensive depiction of your condition will manifest. Only you can see it, and it's not permanent. Runes require specific materials for lasting permanence and precision. The recipe for Condition Runes is closely guarded. You'd either need an authorized dealer to tattoo it or pay a small fortune for a Condition Rune Scroll. Mine was a tattoo, the second-best option. The displayed information comes with an assurance of eighty-five to ninety percent accuracy. Scrolls are rumored to boast between ninety-five to a hundred. I transferred mine. It's a decent job, considering such Runes aren't my expertise. It should be around eighty percent accurate for what it reveals and may last a year, perhaps two."
"Thank you," Michael conceded. Since the deed was done, it was pointless to question its legitimacy. "Now, can I focus on how to utilize my Magick?"
"The bit you obtained when your Pool formed isn't sufficient to activate the Rune. I'd need to get inside you again to-"
"I'll pass!"
"Well, you could attempt to acquire the Worm-"
"Call it a poor naming sense, but its name is 'String'," Michael insisted, establishing a name at that moment.
"You're not its Owner, but until you die, you're its possessor. You can try to get String to check if It can activate the Rune or drink a sip from my Magick Potion. You'll hate it. It's disgusting and has an unpleasant aftereffect."
"I'll try String first…" Michael contemplated the entity, and like flipping a switch, he could see It clear as day, swimming circles in his chest. 'Hola mi amigo… o amiga?'
String stopped, lifted Its head, and hissed. 'Was the initial playfulness to deceive me, or was I just clueless?' Thanks to his Second Stage Insight "Worm Sight," he could manage what thoughts to share with String. 'Hey, we got communication going!' He stuck to an upbeat attitude since he and String were stuck together…
String continued to hiss, but Michael could tell It further despised him. 'Okay, okay. We don't have to jump into being friends. We're, however, stuck together, and I need your help to understand what we can do. I'm not sure you're aware, but I'm being targeted, and supposedly, my death means you going back to whoever and wherever you came from. Hell? Well, if you don't want that, sense that Rune in my right hand? Help me tap my "Pool of Magick Ions" and perhaps contribute some of yours to charge it. Just for a couple of seconds… a minute tops, please?!'
String conveyed Its reluctance to assist, accompanied by something more – an intense desire to avoid returning to Its Owner and the place It had inhabited before. It swam toward Michael's heart, the location of the Pool of Magick Ions. In Michael's mind, a bulb lit up, and an image of the Pool materialized as clearly as String.
It resembled a glass heart, with drops of azure liquid at its very bottom. String dipped into the liquid, causing its volume to double. The droplets spun around It, and all but one flew towards the Condition Rune.
Michael blinked, and a light blue Status Window, reminiscent of those found in RPG games, materialized before him, occasionally disrupted by static interruptions.
Name: Michael Mir
Age: 23
Race: Human
Status: Under Demonic Contract, Symbiosis (ON)
Health: 140 (+70)
Magick: 140 (+70)
Magick Ions: 14 (+7)
Physique: 14 (+7)
Psyche: 14 (+7)
Insights:
Worm: Sight (Second Stage)
Abilities:
Worm: ??? (Growth Type)
'I feel significantly better than before; is it all thanks to Symbiosis being activated?' Michael exclaimed, his attention drawn to the Status Window. 'My stats are now divided into Health and Magick for Hit Points and Mana bars, I suppose. Magick Ions representing the quantity in its Pool. Physique and Psyche… I wonder if these can branch further. The Symbiosis has doubled my base for everything; could this enhancement also be attributed to the Worm Insight at the Second Stage? I should concentrate on it to gain additional information!'
Worm Sight: Can communicate with the Worm (Passive); Grow with the Worm (Passive)
'The communication aspect is from the First Stage, while equal growth comes from the Second,' Michael deduced. 'This clarifies the sudden improvements in speed, strength, and reaction time. Unfortunately, there are no free stat points or arrows for stat increases. As for the Abilities-"
Abruptly, the Status Window flickered and vanished, severing the connection between Michael's heart and String. The surge in power dissipated, signaling the deactivation of Symbiosis.
"Care to enlighten me?" David inquired, noting Michael's change in focus, indicating the conclusion or depletion of his Magick.
"Yeah," Michael began, recounting his experience.
David pondered, "The game-like Status Window is your brain's interpretation of the Condition Rune. Numerical values and the division of qualities into stats are common. Across-the-board sevens suggest your Worm Sight provides an overall enhancement. I'd classify that as Legendary, sticking to gaming terminology. Furthermore, what you've witnessed is likely not the final manifestation, considering the faulty nature of the Condition Rune."
"But I don't possess flame powers like yours," Michael remarked, addressing his unique situation.
"You have the potential to double your stats for your Second Stage, Michael! To be honest, if acquiring String required taking you down, I'd do it, even if it meant facing off against a King, Queen, or Sin. Now, regarding the drawback, getting String to cooperate poses one challenge, while determining whether both you and String must grow simultaneously presents another."
"How do we tackle that?" Michael inquired.
Half of his attention remained focused on his Pool of Magick Ions. It had become second nature for him to sense it within himself and utilize the Magick Ions shortly after String did. The glass heart had already replenished to seven Magick Ions, and Michael pondered whether to credit this recovery to himself, the String, or both.
"You either gain an Insight unrelated to String or focus on training one of your stats," David explained.
"How long would that take? And could I have attained the Worm Insight without the Owner's power in the contract?" Michael questioned.
"It's hard to determine, and it's not crucial now that you have it. The wheel can't be turned back. The easiest Insight for anyone is the Terminal Dimension's. Your stats are too low, and you need to undergo your First Metamorphosis, which has its own set of conditions."
"Basic training, then?" Michael decided to set aside his curiosity about "Metamorphosis" for a less urgent moment.
"I doubt you'll see significant stat increases by sundown," David replied, shaking his head.
"So..." Michael expressed his frustration.
"Activate Symbiosis now," David commanded, driving his finger into Michael's chest, rendering him immobile.
"You!" Michael gasped.
"Instruct String to cooperate swiftly, or I'll delve deeper into your chest. You might be a cut above regular humans, but your healing is still on their level…"
'You heard him!' Michael urged String.
Reluctant as ever, String finally acquiesced.
"Initiate the Condition Rune," David ordered, noting the heightened resilience that signaled Michael's doubled stats.
Name: Michael Mir
Age: 23
Race: Human
Status: Under Demonic Contract, Symbiosis (ON)
Health: 110 (+70) (-30)
Magick: 140 (+70)
Magick Ions: 14 (+7)
Physique: 11 (+7) (-3)
Psyche: 13 (+7) (-1)
Insights:
Worm: Sight (Second Stage)
Abilities:
Worm: ??? (Growth Type)
"The boost is still twice the base, but I'm losing one point in Physique for every ten in Health, and Health is gradually decreasing! Withdraw your finger, and how on earth do you expect me to heal?" Michael retorted.
"Take a small sip," David withdrew his finger and pressed a petite flask to Michael's lips.
Michael took a sip and coughed violently. Whatever David had given him tasted rancid and felt like it was scorching his insides. "Health Potion?" he guessed, making an educated assumption between coughs.
"Tastes awful, doesn't it? On the bright side, maybe I should have had you try the Magick Potion first? The aftermath numbs your tongue, among other things…"