P-System Log
I feel like I've said "what the fuck" too many times already, so I offer an alternative:
What the balls?
It's red. Why the fuck is it red?
I've got this burning feeling in me. Like nothing else I've felt so far. Reminds me of how I felt when my professors were being utter dicks back home, but damn if it doesn't feel a hundred times worse.
I think it might be the lasting effects of good ol' Origin. Maybe the same effect as the wrongness I felt when I was initially perceiving this... thing.
But that's not important. Even if my anger at this thing is caused by a mental compulsion, I can't deny the fact that I absolutely know that it isn't supposed to be here.
I can make its figure out now that I've done a deeper perception of it. Still painful to think at, but I can mostly see its shape by examining the edges of the wrongness I can sense.
I want to kill it. I don't know how and I don't know if I can, but I want to rip it apart. Whatever that thing is, it should be gone.
P-System Log [exposition lady gives us exposition]
Lovely. Looks like our new friend Aster is telling Jerome what this is.
Aster: Did you feel that?
Jerome: Yes. Kind of. Was that my mana getting more intense?
Aster: Indeed. Your System reacted to it.
Jerome: What is that? It looks like a pretty average goblin to me.
Aster: You're one of the more adaptable reincarnators, then, if this doesn't surprise you. The last one we had ran away from this capture the moment he encountered it.
Jerome: I'm familiar with fantasy--er, these types of monsters.
Aster: This is a monster, yes, but not because it is a goblin.
Jerome: Goblins aren't evil?
Aster: They are good and evil just like humans are. This one, however, is truly destructive. It is what we call an R Beast.
Jerome: R... Beast?
Aster: Short for Red.
Hey, aren't those the same number of syllables? Why would they shorten it?
Ugh, it's not like I can ask.
Jerome: This is what the Eternal King wields?
Aster: The Eternal King wields power over many beings of this type. We know not of why they are anathema to our Systems, but most Systems will encounter difficulties when processing them, and many who come into contact with them perish shortly after.
Jerome: Ah, so I'm supposed to be killing a bunch of R Beasts?
Aster: More heavily phrased than I would have put it, but yes. As a reincarnator, it is ultimately your duty to save the Edge Cities from the Eternal King's R Beasts.
Ooh, exposition! That's nice to have.
Jerome (quietly, he's whispering): Thank fuck for exposition fairies.
Man, something about thinking the same way as that guy does not make me feel right.
Well, that's that then. They're discussing more about how to determine what's wrong with me. Honestly, I'm just hoping that one of them casts a spell. I'll probably learn more from that than their conversation.
P-System Log
I need to kill the R Beast. It's a blight upon my perception and if the wave of hostility I'm sensing from it is anything to go by, it's a blight upon this world.
It needs to die.
Can I replicate the [Blazing Spear] that Axel used?
I can recall what it felt like. Scarily well, actually. I kind of figured out how to do my own manipulation of my dome when I figured out [Assess]. For an offensively oriented spell, I should just need to direct that manipulation differently, right?
It's like I'm pulling on threads that aren't actually there.
If I do it just so, in the same manner that Axel did with his spell...
System Prompt
Offensive spells require Integrated authorization!
Decasting spell...
Spell decasted.
P-System Log [oh screw off]
That's not even a prompt! That's just straight up an error message!
This is the second time I'm seeing a System Prompt that looked like that. I think it's safe to assume that this is an Origin System thing, because from what I've heard so far most other Systems don't need this kind of guidance. Unless this is just a built in thing.
Oh, talking.
Aster: Did you feel that?
Jerome: Kind of. What was that?
Aster: Half a spell. The execution half, missing your direction. Your System reacted instinctively to the R Beast, moving to attack it. The standard System that I, Axel, and the supermajority of the Edge Cities' residents possess would never do that.
Jerome: So it has a mind of its own?
Aster: Not necessarily. It may simply be more complex than other Systems.
Jerome: I see. So like an AI of some sort.
Aster: AI?
Jerome: Don't worry about it.
Okay! So he doesn't think I'm a person. Yay? Or not yay? I... guess I'll figure that out later. For the time being, I think I'm alright with not being identified. I want to at least figure things out and be an intact System before we get to that stage.
Some things never change, huh. I was a nervous wreck back on Earth and still kind of one now.
P-System Log [Jerome, Axel, Aster speaking]
I should really go back to standardizing the tags on these, but it's so much more fun just thinking whatever and then putting that down.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Anyway, they're speaking, so here we are.
Jerome: So can you teach me about magic?
Aster: I may be able to, but I can only teach the basics.
Axel: Master K'lon enjoys a more practical method of teaching.
Aster: You can say that I just toss you into the dungeons, you know.
Jerome: Dungeons? You have dungeons here?
Aster: Indeed. They are autonomous, regenerating structures run by Dungeon Cores.
Jerome: Those are a thing here too? I'm familiar with the concept.
Aster: Of course a reincarnator gifted with a [Legendary] rarity class would know. I'll detail them anyway, as you may be missing some critical details.
Jerome: Sure.
Aster: Just like with our classes, Dungeon Cores have rarities, which you can generally indicate by the intensity and wavelength of magic they radiate. When you use an [Assess]-type spell on them, they'll usually return a color. White is [Common], green is [Uncommon], blue is [Rare], purple is [Epic], gold is [Legendary], and red is [Unique]. Maplecrest is one of the safest Edge Cities, furthest away from the dangerous borders near the Eternal King's domain, so we mostly have whites and greens around here. As you get closer towards the Eternal King's realm, the dungeons and monsters tend to increase in class, even if they aren't R Beasts.
Oof. That's a lot of information. It helps with some questions, at least, but as seems to be the trend right now, it opens up even more. The way she described it, it seems like a red class is more powerful or at least rarer than basically anything else. I don't think that applies to errors, because I don't think anyone else has been reacting to them. It might just be me that can see them.
More importantly, my class is [PERSONAL_SYSTEM]. That's red. Am I really that powerful? Sure doesn't feel like it.
Am I alone? I think I might be. Aster said there were others that had boosted Systems that weren't quite normal, but I'm getting the sense that they might not have been people like me, especially if this class is [Unique].
Ugh. The R goblin is making it hard to think. It's just... there, like someone is constantly breathing down my neck.
Well, not--okay, you get the point, future Parker. Hopefully when you look back on this one day, you'll be better at dealing with it.
P-System Log [learning magic]
The exposition is done, I think. The lady finally took us out of the Adventurer's Guild, so the feeling stopped. I still want to kill that piece of shit R Beast dead, but it looks like I literally can't take action unless Jerome wants to.
That's... really irritating, and kind of frightening. My actions being controlled by something beyond my power is really not something I'm a fan of, but man... I don't think there's anything I can do about it.
I can still be angry, though! >:( (oh god what the fuck I can do emoticons this is terrible I'm never doing this again look away future Parker)
P-System Log [Learning Magic (for real this time)]
Ok. As I was saying. Perception dome is picking up a pretty flat meadow now. Lots of grass, rocks, and a few esoteric plants that are all clamoring for me to inspect further. I'm not going to make that mistake again, ya pieces of shit! I do not need to know the mana storage of a blade of grass right now.
Apart from those, I can sense a few other presences. Uhhh... I count three. They're kind of just milling about right now. Not human, if their movement pattern and size are anything to go by. They're remarkably blob-shaped.
Oops. I can sense Jerome starting a spell. Now that I know what it's like, I can really identify it, and it is pretty obvious. Not quite sure how I missed this earlier.
[Assess] activating!
Integrated identified: Slime [Slime lv. 3] Nameless
P-System Log
Huh, there's that simple [Assess] again. Is it because it's low level? I determine that, right? I wonder how I'm supposed to level it up. I know for a fact that I'm able to do more detailed versions of the same spell myself, but when I completed Jerome's spell, I just did it with the same amount of power he put into it, which... wasn't really that much. Ten mana, I think? I don't know what that quantity represents in my perception, but I'm pretty sure it's not that much when Jerome has like a hundred times that.
...maybe Origin will have some hints for me? Please?
P-System Log [Learning Magic (for real this time) part 2]
Aster: See these slimes?
Jerome: They seem harmless enough.
Aster: They are. Watch me, and you may begin to learn.
Axel: It took me near a month of practicing [Magic Missile] and trying to execute [Blazing Spear] until I was able to cast it. Are you sure about this?
Aster: Jerome is a reincarnator.
Axel: I suppose that's true.
Jerome: Hopefully my System will cooperate.
Aster: When I [Assess]ed you, you only had [Magic Missile]. At level 1, you should be able to absorb at least one spell of [Uncommon] rarity.
Jerome: And all I do is watch?
Aster: Feel the way the mana shapes in the air. Imitate me, and you may be able to execute it yourself.
[Blazing Spear] cast!
P-System Log
Okay, I got it. I was watching really carefully this time, and I think I've got the pattern down. It looks like a one-two type of thing, where there's a particular way the not-air--mana, if Aster is to believed, though I'm not 100% sure on that--is being manipulated first by the user (Integrated?) and then by the System. I think.
Jerome: Uhhhh... I don't think I got that. I'm not sure if my sense for it was enough. Was I supposed to [Assess] it?
Oh, for fuck's sake, man. I mean, yeah, I've got the superior sensory suite by far and I can instinctively feel out the magic, but why can't he even figure out this tiny thing?
Actually, when I put it like that, that makes total sense.
Okay, hold on... I don't want to be here for ages while we wait for Jerome to figure something out. Can I imitate something for him? I know when I tried to use [Assess] on my own earlier, using the magical method rather than the inherent perception abilities I have, I got the
I'm gonna try that.
P-System Log [dammit, Jerome]
Jerome: I feel something. I don't know if I can copy it, though.
Aster: See? I told you. Your System is responding to your whims. You must learn to work with it, and then you may be able to harness stronger magics.
Jerome: Lemme try something.
Overcharged [Magic Missile] activating!
System Prompt Activate a [Magic Missile]. Mana invested: 20 (overcharge)
P-System Log
Huh, he charged it more. Didn't know he could do that. Maybe I need to examine his stat sheet a little more carefully.
Also, it's good to know that at least he knows the first half of this spell. I think Origin might have given us a little help here, since I'm definitely not guiding him right now.
Anyway, I can actually figure out how to complete this spell now! It's not quite the same as [Blazing Spear], but the principle should be the same.
Critical hit! [Magic Missile] dealt 52 damage!
Enemy defeated! Experience rewarded!