Jake walked up to what he assumed was the cargo hatch to the shuttle pushing the hatch released the door opened upwards the same way the doors on a DeLorean opened. Light mist rolled out along the floor of the shuttle. Walking inside it looked in as much disrepair as the outside, there were three seats on the right side of the cargo hold, one having half rusted away. what looked to be a Hammock was on the left with a little more room at the rear of the cargo area. walk up to the cockpit and swinging the chair around with a creak sitting in the chair was a human-shaped figure with what looked to be the same type of cloke Jake was wearing draped over it, pulling back the cloke.
“Ah” Jake screamed in Startlement
“you scared me, is this your shuttle my dear friend skellington do you mind if I borrow it from you.” Jake started to shift the bones out of the shuttle.
“I think I might just be going insane I'm talking to myself a lot, which is not a good sine but what is even worse than that I seem to be in what looks like a game but definitely doesn't feel like a game. And now I'm removing a long-dead man from the cockpit of a rusted out space shuttle. Oh. And there were those three random creatures that I killed and looted, I think I really might have gone insane. Ah. But how gives a fuck its not like it won't be fun seeing where this goes right. Just give in to the madness Jake and let's see if we can get this rust bucket going.”
After removing Mr skellington as Jake liked to say. Jake went back to the cockpit and had a look around the setup looked pretty simple it was set up much like a plane. its throttles yes more than one, it also had two joysticks and what looked like rudder pedals, and what was best of all it had a little dancing toy the same as what used to be put on a car dash.
“Push to start. Well, here we go.”
Bing!
After Jake pushed the starter one of the displays in front of him lit up with an image of the shuttle. There were three red sections and everything else was yellow and orange. Looking at the locations of the red ones it was the cockpit console, and what looked to be a small port located at the back of the shuttle near the engines, and the last one was located at the cargo door. Jake turned to look at the door.
“ you idiot Jake. You left the door open, that would of been a quick end to the escape.”
Jake taped the screen at the red locations doing the cockpit console first. A system dialogue box appeared in front of his face. Do you wish to claim this soul shuttle yes/no selecting yes will bined this item to your soul. warning only one soul shuttle can be bound to you. Jake thought for a moment before using identity on it
Item
(Soul shuttle of shadows uncommon) binds to your soul space and can be summoned. cost of summoning Mana and Stamina. Soul shuttle has a slow repair function when in your soul space.
Jack checked the last two red sections one was as expected the door was open and the other was that one of the thrusters was offline. So Jake got out to check, walking around the back of the shuttle Jake notest that one of the pipes to the engine was disconnected looking around the hanger he found a tool kit. Using the tool Jake fixed the pipe and re-entered the shuttle closing the door on the way in.
“That's right Jake, what were you born in a tent? Ok, one last thing to fix.”
Do you wish to claim this soul shuttle yes/no
“Yes,” Jake confirmed the moment he did his body felt as if it was being torn apart at the fundamental layer. This went on for what seemed like hours but in reality, it had only been thirty seconds. After the pain had stopped a new one started but at least Jake knew what this pain was. The knowledge of how to operate the shuttle Jake had a smile that would swear a baby.
“Now I just need to rename it because Stan is not a good name for a ship no matter what anyone tries to tell you. I think I will call it rusty.”
Jake knew if he wanted to get out of here he would need a full supply of mana and then some, so he chucked back a mana Potion and just waited for the cool-down timer to end. An hour later Jake was finally ready to give his plan a shot. His plan was to fire one of the mana rounds located at the nose of the shuttle at the hanger door then instantly chuck back another position and blast out of the hole made as fast as the shuttle could go to try and prevent being shot at by one of the ships out there. Jake reached for the button to start up the shuttle. After activating the shuttle started groaning as if it was an old wooden ship battling a ferocious storm on the high seas. Grasping the trigger on one of the joysticks Jake engaged the weapons system, mana drained out of him at a shocking rate, he went from full mana down to zero with just one shot. His head throbbed from mana starvation popping the stopper off of the potion bottle and chugging it back. As it only gave him back 100 points of mana Jake was still not at 100% so there was no way he could fire that weapon again any time soon.
As looking over his mana issue the area around the shuttle started to be shredded. Projectiles the same shape and size as ones from a World War Two battleship's main canon were ripping everything apart. Jake knew he was in the shit and without thinking pushed the throttles to 100% and activated the ship's mana shield. Jake was pushed hard back in his seat.
“I'm going to be turned into a puddle if this keeps up for much longer,” Jake grunted out.
Reaching for the throttles to try to reduce the G-forces on his body as notifications kept popping up in front of him.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
Warning Stamina low
Use of Stamina extremely high, health will be affected if Stamina hits zero.
Warning Mana level zero
The shuttle will start to break down if excessive force on the hull continues.
Warning Stamina zero
Use of Stamina exceeding system parameters Health and environmental Arcane energy is being used to give you a momentary burst of power.
Jake felt a rush of energy fill his body and the environment around him seemed to slow down and his perception of everything around him was heightened, jake could see every rust Particle floating in the cabin air. He pulled the throttles to 0% releasing the pressure on him.
“That wa-” Jake didn't get to finish what he was saying before everything went black.
Waking up Jake couldn't move his body at all his muscles felt on fire and his head was Aking.
“I think I might just rest here for a bit.” Jake lost consciousness again
It took Jake 24 hours before he attempted to move again. Jake tried to move his arm to get the potions that he kept in his pocket only then did he realised his pocket was rather wet. All but one of his potions had smashed. “It may be my bad luck or good fortune as you are the only one that survived.” Looking at the red Liquid Jake brought it up to his lips pulling the stopper out with his teeth and sipping down the liquid being careful not to spill a drop. The precious liquid slowly fixing some of the major damage to Jake's body. After the health potion had taken effect Jake decided to check his notifications.
Warning health low
Warning health extremely low
Warning health at 1%
Any more damage and physical and spiritual break-up will begin.
Arcane awakening has occurred as you don't meet the minimum requirements to use Arcane energy your body will slowly brake down when Arcane energy is used.
New skill gained (Arcane boost Rare)
Provides a powerful boost to your physical body. Uses Arcane energy to keep operating. A backlash will occur when deactivated.
New skill gained (Arcane Time dialation Unique)
Slows time in the localised area around the caster this skill will only activate in times of the caster's greatest need. A backlash will occur when the skill deactivates.
“So almost killing yourself is a way to get new skills. I don't think I will be doing that to often, I hope.”
Jake's health increased just enough that he could start moving around, he started by looking around his new shuttle. There looked to be some built-in Cupboards on both sides of the cargo section of the shuttle. Opening up the one above the seats there was a small cauldron.
“This better not be some kind of Alchemy bull shit, shore the potions are grate but really spending hours just sitting in front of a pot just seems boring as bat shit to me.”
Jake put it back and decided to check the other side. Removing the Hammock and reaching over to open the Cupboard. Jake started to pray. “no alchemy please.”
“A book it's a fucken book wh-.” Reading the title of the book it said Tomb of the Wondering Arcane Smith. And beside the book was a ring. “Yes, yes it's not Alchemy.” Jake picked up the book. Sitting down on one of the seats he opened the tomb A light shone from the pages blinding Jake momentarily Then once he could say again he noticed the book had vanished. Quickly scanning over his stat page he read the new section for his profession.
Profession
You now start your new journey down a path that many have failed in there is no way to change professions after it has begun good luck. Jake everval. Here is your system hint for your path look at how alchemists work and find a good cauldron.
“Ok, now that is just depressing I get a profession that said it was smithing but it turned out to be related to alchemy. Well, I might as well use identify on the ring and that cauldron, Oh there also was that necklace from when I looted those three back then as well.”
Item
(Inferior necklace of breathing common)
Creates a weak bubble of air around the user. Can be broken if impacted hard, lasts one hour.
Item
(Ring of holding common)
Can store non-organic items, has limited space can't store large items.
Item
(Cauldron of the smith redacted)
This cauldron once belonged to a renowned smith his journey took him through the integrated universe his end is unknown to the system. +20 to intelligence +10 to Perception +10 to wisdom +10 integrity upgradeable.
Requirements soul bound
Jake put on the necklace and ring, before having another look at the cauldron.
Do you wish to bind this item to your soul yes/no
“Yes, I would say yes just for the stats but the story has me interested.”
Universal constant interface
Name Jake everval
Race Human
Grade TG
Level 2
Class trooper shadow mage
Class level 2
Profession Arcane Smith
Profession level 0
stats points available
Mana 210
Arcane 300
Stamina 100
Health 210
Strength 16
Agility 15
Intelligence 30
Wisdom 21
Perception 27
Integrity 21
“That felt good, it not only increased my stats but also filled them back up to full again.”
Jake decided to have a look in the storage ring to see if anything was left in there. Inside was one bit of paper with writing on it there was also a stack of ingots and two barrels of powder using identify, Jake saw that the powder was iron powder and the ingots were also iron with a couple of unidentifiable ones mixed in. Jake decided to read the note that was left in the ring.
Some call me the wondering arcane smith. But to you, I will be your guide to gain my guidance on something related to smithing just send arcane energy into this paper and we shall meet.