Prologue
At the distant boundary where creation teeters on the edge of the void, a seal lies dormant, untouched by time's passage. For countless eons, this ancient seal, crafted by the enigmatic Luzdari, has held the Sower of Oblivion in slumber, a harbinger of an inevitable awakening. In their wisdom, they left behind a fragment of their civilization, a relic shrouded in mystery—the Great Spirit.
The Great Spirit emerged as a conduit to streamline the intricate path of cultivation, offering a facile means for every denizen of this reality to embark upon the path. Millennia flowed like a river as the system guided civilizations down the path of cultivation, flourishing within the embrace of this system. The revered architects of the Great Spirit prospered until the looming arrival of the Sower cast its dark shadow upon the universe.
Emanating from the fringes of reality, the Sower's tendrils began to devour indiscriminately, extinguishing all that stood in its path. The days of individual enrichment through cultivation were eradicated, as the Great Spirit turned its gaze towards the salvation of creation, forging warriors to combat the encroaching darkness.
Throughout this vast reality, the conflict between the Ancients and the Sower raged, with entire solar systems succumbing to the Sower's relentless onslaught, mutating into grotesque abominations—puppets of an inscrutable, primordial force. Once life had been extinguished, the Sower devoured the desolate planets, leaving naught but barren husks. The war spanned countless millennia until a cunning trap succeeded in sealing the Sower away, and its slumber was finally interrupted.
Unbeknownst to the cosmos at large, the Great Spirit has been amassing strength across innumerable solar systems, preparing for the inevitable moment of the Sower's release. While the Sower dreamt, the Spirit toiled, refining individuals through its arcane system, nurturing them to become the saviors in the impending war.
In the darkest recesses, the Children of the Void have unearthed the resting place of their long-lost deity. Utilizing arcane powers and forgotten relics, veiled by the mists of time, this cult now seeks to shatter the shackles that imprison their god. Their fanatical madness teeters on the precipice, poised to plunge creation into a cataclysmic conflict not witnessed for over two eons.
With the seal undone, the very fabric of the universe is infused anew with mana—an essence unknown to entire solar systems. Suddenly, these uninitiated realms are thrust into the embrace of magic and leveling, forever altered by the release of long-suppressed forces.
I had, up until this point, been having a really good day. I received two compliments on my shirt and even enjoyed a free breakfast that was better than the energy drink and power bar I usually have in the mornings. I followed my daily routine of taking a quick walk through the forest next to my house at the base of the Sierra National Forest. Being retired at the ripe age of 35, I have more free time than I know what to do with, which hasn't been a bad thing.
Throughout my life, I have had many jobs—some were amazing, while others were miserable. Growing up with dyslexia and ADHD meant that I could never stay interested in the 9-5 grind. Adding to that, my dislike for authority figures and systems that oppress the poor and disenfranchised them for the benefit of the rich and politicians led me to some sketchy places and even sketchier people. Growing up poor didn't help me find a path of peace and happiness. I have encountered my fair share of dangerous situations, including but not limited to dealing drugs, being shot at, getting into countless fights, arson, and the list goes on.
However, everything changed once I met my wife, Valarie. She transformed my life and made me strive to become a better person. When I needed it the most, she threw me a lifeline. Not only did she give me the space to grow, but she also supported me through all my difficulties until I could resolve them. When we got serious, I started to change. Although I couldn't attend school in the traditional sense, I taught myself programming. I created some fun apps that didn't take off, but then I stumbled upon AI learning, and my dream became a reality. I delved into learning about working with AI systems. After a couple of mind-bending years of programming, I developed a product that would revolutionize stock and cryptocurrency trading. A year later, I sold the program for $125 million to Moogle, and I have been retired ever since. During this time, I have focused on self-improvement, particularly managing my anger and taking care of my mental health.
Today, I felt like playing video games to relax. Since retiring, I have become an avid gamer, particularly enjoying real-time strategy (R.T.S) games, as well as first-person shooter and role-playing games. So it was quite a surprise when, on my way to start up the computer, there was a flash of white accompanied by a warm sensation mixed with a deep fear. After a moment, what I could only describe as a notification box appeared in front of my vision. Before I could even process what had just happened, a soft androgynous voice began to speak in my mind.
The spirit reached across all planets and universes to inform every sentient being.
"Sower of Oblivion" had been set free, putting all of reality in danger. In response to this catastrophic event, no more than two Obelisks had been installed on each planet.
Through these obelisks, I have connected every planet directly to the stream of creation, flooding each world with mana. As a result, the wildlife on your planet will mutate, and plant life will grow wildly. You have been granted a heads-up display (HUD) through the stream of creation to better track your progress and the power you have acquired.
The voice informed me that everyone, everywhere is in danger. All planets with sentient life have been interconnected. However, during the first cycle (one cycle equals two Earth years), the only accessible world will be the training world of Radigar. This is where you can develop your skills, acquire tools, and gather equipment that will, hopefully, enable the permanent sealing of the Sower.
My mind was spinning from everything the voice had conveyed. "What?" I exclaimed aloud as if expecting a response. Slowly, the information began to sink in. I glanced at the notification. Thinking "save" didn't yield any results, so I tried "archive," and was rewarded with a pleasant, soft chime. Then, I focused on my HUD. At the bottom left, I noticed a red, blue, and green bar, which I assumed represented health, stamina, and mana, respectively. To the right, there was a cog icon, resembling the settings in most games.
I decided not to touch it until I had a better understanding of what was happening to me and the system governing it. At the top left, there was a mini-map with a compass and a highly zoomed-in, top-down view of myself. Finally, what I had been hoping to see appeared—an image of one of those DaVinci-looking beings, you know, the ones with two sets of arms and legs, and a circle.
I hesitated for a moment before clicking, worried about the potential reality and its implications for my world. Then I thought, "Screw it, the system said we are all doomed anyway." With that in mind, I reached out mentally and willed myself to click. A box appeared, featuring three different tabs on the left side and a stat window that greeted me as I perused the information.
NAME: Havoc LEVEL:0 TITLES:
CLASS: N/A Race: Human Profession: ???
HP: 60
MP: 90 (9.5/min)
Stamina: 30 (7.5/min)
Attributes SPELLS:
STR: 15 DEX: 12
CON: 17 INT: 17
WIS: 19 CHR: 19
LUCK: 21
Having finished examining my stats, I turned my attention to the inventory. It was strange to see an image of myself in my mind, wearing the same clothes but remaining motionless when I waved my hand.
The items I carried were listed under the "Miscellaneous" section on the left side of the sheet. On the right side, there was a human-shaped mannequin with small lines extending from it, indicating different slots where I could equip items and armor. The available slots were as follows: head, 2 earrings, 2 shoulders (locked), forearms, hands, chest, belt, pants, shoes, 8 ring slots, and amulet.
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My gaze was drawn to the locked symbol on the shoulders. I focused on it, consciously thinking "information," and a window popped up, providing the necessary details. To equip shoulder armor, the armor itself must have a specific slot for it.
The final tab displayed a "+" symbol that I couldn't click on, so I repeated the information query. It turns out that it is used for managing companions' and pets' equipment. Since I didn't have either of those, I didn't pay much attention.
As I navigated through the inventory, about to access the settings menu, another notification popped up. This time, it was just text, without any audio.
To the inhabitants of Earth, known as Tera to the galactic conglomerate. The planet has been in a mana desert for over 2 million years due to an impact with an unknown object. This has now been rectified with the addition of two new obelisks to the world. Unfortunately, due to the sudden influx of mana into a world lacking the means to store or refine it, the mana has begun seeping into other realms, attracting monsters and beasts from different planes to this mana-rich world. As the plants, animals, and minerals on your planet absorb the mana and undergo changes, these incursions will become less frequent but more potent.
Beware of the dangers that now invade your world. Seek strength in one another until you have the power to stand alone. Earth, along with other mana-starved worlds, has been given a choice of one spell from each category. The three categories are offensive, defensive, and support. In each of these categories, you will have the option to choose from five different spells, which will be the same for everyone.
The spells are as follows:
Offensive: Magic Missile, Firebolt, Ice Blast, Earth Spike, Wind Blade
Defensive: Shell, Magic Barrier, Mage Armor, Iron Will (Spell Resist), Iron Skin (Physical Resist)
Support: Healing Hands, Ranged Heal, Minor Cleanse, Haste, Gift of Focus.
As I stood there, my mind started whirling with questions about what this meant for the world. A thought began to crystallize—I needed to grind and become stronger if I wanted any freedom in this new reality. The urgency to find my wife hit me like a slap with a frozen fish. She was at work, approximately half an hour away.
I needed to reach her so we could figure out our next steps. I examined the spell choices before me and selected Magic Missile, Mage Armor, and Gift of Focus, confident that my wife would choose the healing spell. She had always played a paladin in our D&D games. I pulled out my cell phone to call her, and to my great shock, it actually worked.
Magic Missile(General): 30 MP, 1-second cast time, 30 mana + 5 + int(.5). Fires a missile of arcane damage. +1 missile every 10 levels of this spell. Level bonus: 1% damage per level.
Mage Armor (General): Gain armor HP equal to MP spent at a 2 MP to 1 HP ratio, with 10% reserved for upkeep. Level bonus: Adds 0.1% to the HP of the armor.
Gift of Focus (General): 60 MP, CT: 10 sec. Increases the highest stat of one target for 5 minutes. The main stat increased by 30%. Level bonus: Increases the added stat.
Although I had assumed that magic and technology couldn't work together, I noticed that I still had cell service, indicating that they could coexist in this new reality. As the phone rang, I recalled the notification about the obelisk and decided to archive all messages from the system. Before I could delve into it further, Valerie, my wife, answered the call with a tone of distress in her voice.
"This is Valerie," she said.
"Hey honey bunny, it's me. How are you doing?" I replied, feigning nonchalance.
"Shit, baby, this is not the time to be playing around. What are we going to do?" she responded with evident frustration.
"I don't know, but we should meet up as soon as possible. I'm coming to you. We'll also need to gather supplies like a gun, food, and other necessities. It will be safer for people to stay in groups if there's anyone at the office with you," I suggested, already grabbing my keys.
"Hold on, we should think this through. It doesn't make sense for you to come all this way just to turn back. Olivia is here, and so is Avery. We'll make our way home and stop by the store," she proposed.
Knowing that I would go crazy with nothing to do, I decided to block off the driveway, making the house safer for when they arrived.
"I'll block off the driveway so that people can't roll up thinking I'm not home. Be safe, my love. I'll see you soon," I said.
"Sounds good. I'll call you when I'm five minutes away, so you can remove the barrier. Two more things before I hang up," she replied.
"Shoot, honey," I said.
"First, we have the 22mm in the safe. I don't think it's a good idea to go anywhere near the gun shop right now. Secondly, what spells did you choose?" she asked, with a hint of apprehension.
"What makes you think I picked anything?" I replied, pretending to be hurt.
"Oh, honey, I know you. I bet you didn't even hesitate before choosing your spells," she said, laughing at my silence.
"Well, I did move my hand to pick the spells," I confessed. "Oh, my pride! It has been dealt a mortal blow from which it will never recover," I added, feigning defeat.
"Alright, nerd, hurry up. I have to get moving. What did you choose?" she urged. So I told her my choices.
"Well, I picked Wind Blade, Healing Hands, Shell, and Iron Skin. Before you ask, I have a fourth spell because my affinity for mana is 95%. I was granted additional spells of my choice. You can find the information on your character sheet. Okay, my love, I have to go now. They're waiting for me," she said as I heard her unlocking the car.
"Okay, baby, be safe. If the store is crowded, just come home. We have enough food for a couple of days," I advised, feeling a mix of nervous energy as I hung up the phone.
Let's block the road and survey the area to ensure it's safe and to work off some of this energy. As I headed upstairs, I accessed my spell list and attempted to cast a spell to see what it was like. I chose Gift of Focus and thought "cast." A ring materialized in front of me, without the need for words or hand gestures. The casting process took about 10 seconds, and a warmth filled my chest as my body felt stronger. I checked my character sheet to see what had changed and how it appeared. Next to the text for strength, there was a "+0." I paused, wondering what was going on. I focused on the "0" and a window popped up, informing me that multiplying zero by two still resulted in zero. I skimmed through my attributes, searching for any stat changes. To my surprise, Luck, of all the stats, had the highest value at 21, and next to it, I noticed a "+6," increasing it to 27. So that's how Gift of Focus works—a true placebo effect. I felt stronger, even though nothing had changed in terms of actual strength.
I chuckled at my naivety and opened the safe to retrieve the gun. As I touched it, a pop-up appeared with a brief description of the weapon, catching me off guard. The information provided was rather sparse. I wondered if there was a spell that could provide more details.
"Weapon's name: 22mm rifle. Damage: 22. Item Rarity: Common. Effects: Shoots small metal projectiles."
The 22mm rifle dealt 22 damage, which was significantly higher compared to the Magic Missile's 4-8 damage—about three times the damage. I imagined that the damage scale with Magic Missiles would improve over time. Now it was time to test out the inventory system. I opened the page displaying my character and inventory sheet. In the bottom left corner, I could see my car keys, cell phone, and rifle. I moved the gun to my weapon slot, but nothing happened since it was already in my hand.
While standing there, I focused on my left hand and thought of the keys. It was like a reverse ripple in a still pond, and suddenly the keys appeared in my hand. "Holy shit balls, that's cool!" I exclaimed. It struck me as odd that I only had two or three slots, so I decided to open the settings to search for tooltips or tutorials on the inventory. After searching around, I couldn't find anything useful. However, as I grabbed my satchel bag, a prompt appeared asking if I would like to equip the bag to expand my inventory.
I clicked "yes," and my inventory expanded to 20 slots. I then placed the extra ammo in my bag, which automatically sorted them into a single stack. With 40 rounds, I focused on my left hand and willed a single round. With a ripple, a single bullet appeared in my hand. Next, I willed 10 rounds to appear, and a pile of bullets materialized in my palm, only to spill all over the place as the pile fell apart. I picked up all the rounds and headed downstairs to build the barricade.
Taking a moment to collect myself, I allowed the rush and fear to wash over me briefly, fully embracing the excitement of discovering that magic were real, along with the horror of realizing that monsters were real too. My heart started pounding as I contemplated the implications this had for the world. After a minute of deep breathing, I managed to calm my mind and slow down my heart rate. I reminded myself, "I can't change what's happening, all I can do is survive and protect those I hold close."
With the necessary wood and tools in hand, I walked up the driveway, but suddenly, a howl stopped me in my tracks. It sounded like it came from a far distance and was unlike anything I had ever heard before—a combination of a wolf's howl and an eagle's cry.
Feeling uneasy, I quickly got to work barricading the driveway gate. On my way back, I thought that since I was outside, I should test out the rest of my spells in the name of science. I decided to start with the Magic Armor. The description stated that it was a 2-to-1 conversion. I spent 50 mana, resulting in armor worth 25 HP. A ring appeared under my feet as a sky-blue liquid washed up my body. When it reached my head, it formed a thin, transparent barrier.
With a hint of apprehension, I focused on casting Magic Missile while pointing my hand at the wall. A ring materialized in front of my hand, and within a fraction of a second, a dark purple ball shot out. The missile traveled with incredible speed and accuracy, colliding with the wall in a loud clap that resonated like a bursting firework. Overwhelmed by a surge of excitement, I couldn't contain my joy as I leaped into the air, exclaiming, "This is going to be epic!"