The system chimed, and an alert flashed across Zaro's vision.
System Alert. Titles unlocked. You have earned a new title. All Father.
You can change titles in the system at will.
Title. All Father. As the leader and founder of the Void Family, you gain a portion of the experience earned by your followers' battles won. This will help you grow stronger together and face even greater challenges.
Zaro mouthed the words, testing their weight. All Father. It felt strange, powerful, a title that resonated with the whispers of the void that echoed in his soul. He had seen this type of thing in a few games he’d played, so he was familiar with how it should work.
He glanced at Ramrod and Chad, who were still engrossed in their loot-gathering frenzy. Just then, another notification echoed in his mind, this one far less earth-shattering.
System Alert. Congratulations. You have successfully cleansed the Whispering Caves of corrupted energy.
Reward. Choose 10 skill points or 2 skill upgrade points.
Zaro thought about the options. He was intrigued by the skill upgrade points. I’ll take those.
Reward. 2 skill upgrade points collected.
This is amazing, Zaro thought to himself. He checked the notifications he had dismissed earlier.
System Alert. Level up. Level up. Level up.
Zaro has reached Level 10.
System specialization unlocked.
Full system unlocked.
30 stat points received. 15 skill points received.
Achievement unlocked. Giant slayer. You have defeated 3 enemies at least 10 levels above your level. Reward. 10 stat points. Reward. 2 skill points.
Achievement unlocked. Incorruptible. You resisted the dark urge. Reward. 5 stat points and 2 skill points.
Not to mention he had 10 stat points and 2 skill upgrade points banked from when he interacted with the void. And 3 before that. This is a lot, Zaro thought, and he knew it was going to hurt to add this many points at one time. He decided he better find a private spot to do it.
Hey guys, I’m gonna go take a leak. Be right back.
Ramrod waved him off, they were too busy looting.
Once outside the room in the cavern corridor, Zaro dove into the system, taking advantage of the brief solitude.
58 stat points, 19 skill points, and 4 skill upgrade points was a great haul from a high level dungeon. And this was just the first part of it. This system is generous, he thought. Let’s get these put in place already.
He was thinking balance for now. He was in deep thought. Since I’m close range and void powered, I need to be strong and move fast, but I also need mana. He threw 12 in each stat except 9 in agility. That gave him a solid, rounded off balanced build.
He kept 1 points banked for luck.
Level 10.
Class Voidwalker.
HP 400.
MP 400.
Attributes.
Strength 30.
Agility 25.
Intelligence 40.
Vitality 40.
Stamina 30.
The pain that started in his body was something he had never felt before. His muscles felt as if they were guitar strings popping and regenerating, not to mention his tendons and ligaments. He was dropped to his knees in agony. His skin looked like it was bubbling beneath it. Just as he was getting a handle on the physical pain, the brain-racking migraine started. All of the pain came in waves, as soon as the muscle and connective tissue pain was gone his lungs and heart were on fire, his heart beat was ramping up as if he had been in the middle of sprinting a marathon. He curled up into a ball and accepted his fate. He knew he was dying. This was how it all ended.
Then it was over. That quick, and he was a new man. He was completely reborn, better in every way. His senses were heightened, his mind more clear, his shirt was tighter, and he felt lighter.
Before he went back to the others, he checked the completed quest reward.
Choose your reward.
Double mana pool or upgrade health into vitality and double vitality pool.
What does that mean? Zaro wondered. Double mana would be amazing, but what’s the difference between health and vitality?
Well, I know one thing. More mana would make fighting a breeze, but I can’t fight if I’m dead. Sounds like I win either way.
He focused on vitality. Confirmed.
His health bar changed, and a wave of intense pressure pulsed through his chest, radiating outward with a searing pain that engulfed his entire body. It culminated in his head, a blinding agony like a thousand migraines exploding at once. He stumbled, his vision blurring, his knees threatening to buckle. Then, as suddenly as it began, the pain vanished.
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He drew a deep breath, feeling an incredible surge of energy, a newfound resilience coursing through his veins. The world seemed sharper, more vibrant. His senses felt heightened, every sound, every smell, every sensation amplified. He flexed his hands, feeling a newfound strength in his limbs, a boundless energy thrumming beneath his skin. This vitality upgrade was more than just a numerical boost. It was a transformation, a rebirth.
I can’t wait to test this out, he thought, a genuine joy spreading across his face. But first, he needed to delve into the system and explore the possibilities that awaited him.
His vitality doubled to 800. He was a tank. He wanted to review his skills, then get back to the loot.
Skills
Vitality Regeneration level 1
Analyze Level 2.
Shadow Strike Level 1.
Void Shield Level 2.
Void Bolt Level 2.
Void Sense Level 2.
Void Control Level 2.
Void Drain Level 1.
Void Step Level 2.
Shadow Camouflage Level 1.
Meditation Level 2.
Will of the Void Level 1.
19 skill points available. He needed to check what skills are available after he selects a specialization.
System Specialization Unlocked. Choose your path.
Several distinct options shimmered before his eyes, each a path leading deeper into the mysteries of the void.
Void Time Weaver. Bend time and space to your will, slowing enemies, accelerating your own movements, and even catching projectiles mid flight.
Void Gravity Master. Command the forces of gravity, crushing enemies, creating weightless zones, and manipulating the very fabric of space.
Void Colossus. Transform into a towering behemoth of pure void energy, wielding immense strength and resilience.
Void Wraith. Become an ethereal assassin, phasing through walls, possessing enemies, and delivering deadly strikes from the shadows.
Void Stormcaller. Command the elements, summoning storms of void energy, lightning, and shadow to unleash devastating attacks.
One with the void. Question marks.
This one doesn’t have any data.
That’s like a big red button that says don’t press. I have to press the big red button. I must.
Each specialization held its own unique allure, a different path to power and mastery. Zaro pondered the options, envisioning himself wielding the powers of time, gravity, or pure destructive force. The choice was overwhelming, each path promising incredible abilities and a unique fighting style.
I need time to consider this, he thought, closing the system interface. This decision would shape his future, his role in the Void, and his destiny in this world. He couldn’t rush it.
As if on cue, a low rumble shook the cave, and a section of the far wall crumbled, revealing a hidden chamber. Inside, four ornate chests shimmered with an otherworldly glow.
Well, Ramrod grinned, his eyes gleaming with joy. Looks like the real treasure was hidden behind the treasure.
They rushed towards the chests, eager to see what wonders awaited them. The first chest, upon opening, revealed a quiver filled with arrows of every imaginable element. Fire, ice, lightning, even a few that seemed to pulse with void energy. Ezra's eyes widened in delight. She said the arrows would come in handy, her fingers tracing the fletching of a shimmering black arrow.
The second chest held a swirling orb of crimson energy. As Ramrod touched it, the orb vanished, and his axe began to crackle with flames.
System Alert. Ramrod's axe has been imbued with the Fire enchantment. All attacks now deal additional fire damage.
Ramrod let out a whoop of joy and swung his axe, sending a wave of fire through the air. He said it was even better than shiny things.
The third chest contained a delicate silver amulet, its surface etched with intricate runes. Chad snatched it up, his eyes gleaming with intellectual curiosity. As he put it on, his form shimmered, and for a moment, he appeared to be enveloped in shadows.
System Alert. Chad has acquired the Shapeshifter Amulet. This allows the user to transform into a creature of the shadows for a limited time.
Chad muttered that it was fascinating and that the possibilities were endless.
The final chest held a lump of swirling, iridescent metal, unlike anything Zaro had ever seen before. There were four smaller pieces in there as well.
System Alert. You have acquired Voidsteel. This rare material can be used to craft powerful weapons and armor.
Zaro exclaimed it was a jackpot as he tucked the Voidsteel into his bag. He said the stuff was going to be invaluable.
Along with the unique items, each chest also contained a hefty sum of gold coins, enough to make them all feel like royalty.
On the way out, they noticed another passage opening that Zaro had not seen on the way in. He poked his head in and saw a pedestal. Chad asked if Zaro had never seen a dungeon activation pedestal and remarked that it was surprising. Ezra interjected and asked what they had been doing so far if it was not dungeon related.
They agreed to come back and clear it later, deciding they needed to get rested up and reset.
They left the Whispering Caves, laden with treasure and buzzing with excitement. For Zaro, the real prize was the secret title and the growth he achieved.
Back in Everlight, they celebrated their victory with a raucous night at the Gryphon, the city's most popular tavern. Ale flowed freely, laughter filled the air, and even Chad, after a few tankards, joined in the revelry. He regaled them with tales of his academic misadventures.
The next morning, the weight of Zaro's new title settled upon him. He knew he could not ignore the call to embrace his role in the Void's plans. He sought out Ezra, eager to begin the training that would unlock their full potential.
He told Ezra he needed to train, his voice filled with newfound determination. He said it was not just with weapons. Ezra nodded, her eyes mirroring his resolve. She asked if the void was calling to him. He admitted it was and said he needed to learn how to answer.
She told him to meet her in thirty minutes and said she needed some supplies.
Zaro bought some potions and a few more outfits. He paid for his room for a week, grabbed some food, and met back at the meeting spot a little early so he could check out his specialization. He considered buying a house since he had nearly four hundred gold from the caves.
He decided on the big red button.
Congratulations. You have selected One with the Void. This is a legendary specialization that allows access to all skill trees to build your own class.
Zaro thought it was brilliant and like the system really did love him.
He closed the system and got bombarded with void energy. The transformation began with a whisper. A subtle reshaping that exploded into cosmic agony. His muscles unwound like ancient scrolls being rewritten, each fiber screaming as void energy infused their very structure. Bones shifted with sounds like glaciers cracking. His skin rippled like the surface of a disturbed pond, newfound power seeking expression through physical form.
Colors fractured and reformed. Sounds stretched into impossible frequencies. Even gravity seemed to forget its purpose, alternately crushing and releasing him as his body restructured itself to contain his expanded power. The void poured through him like liquid starlight, rewriting his existence on a fundamental level.
His consciousness expanded beyond normal limits, threatening to shatter under the strain. A thousand lifetimes of sensation crashed through his mind in endless waves. Just when the boundary between self and void began to blur, everything stopped.
When it was over, Zaro had evolved. With the levels, achievements, the title, the vitality, and the class specialization, it felt like the system was arming him for war. He compared it to when Tony gave Peter the new suit with spider legs that worked in space.
He knew adding a lot of points at one time made him pay with growing pains.
He pulled the system up and looked at available skills. He saw so many that it was hard to know what was what.
The sheer volume of skills was overwhelming. It felt like the system had dumped the contents of a thousand different character builds at his feet. Scrolling through the seemingly endless list, he felt a mix of excitement and bewilderment.
The elemental skills were familiar. Fireballs, ice shards, earth tremors. Solid and reliable, but maybe a bit basic. He had been playing with void energy for a while and decided it was time to branch out and explore the more exotic options.
The blue skills piqued his interest. Lightning bolts crackling through the air, summoning hordes of undead minions, or lifting a castle gate with his mind. Telekinesis had always been a favorite of his in games. Dual wielding caught his attention. He imagined a void dagger in each hand, teleporting around and slicing through enemies like a shadowy whirlwind.
The purple skills were even more intriguing. Colossus skills, like growing to the size of a small building and smashing everything in sight. Wraith abilities, turning intangible and slipping through walls like a ghost. Mastery skills were appealing. Heavy weapon mastery could let him wield the giant warhammer he saw in the Everlight armory. Dual dagger mastery also excited him.
The gold skills just didn't really catch his eye. There was a long list , tornadoes, whirlwinds, ice storms, conjure beasts, elementals, puppet master. He wondered if they were ultimate abilities or just strong abilities.
Shadowy skills caught his eye. Void barrier, void clone, void storage, void mansion. He wondered if void mansion was a portable pocket dimension where he could build a secret lair, complete with Jacuzzi.
Time and gravity skills like temporal dilation, pause, gravitational pull, and black hole all intrigued him. One called they’re not all gems stood out. He said the system was getting ridiculous. It was like it had given him the keys to the universe.
They're not all gems had a description. Reverse time in short bursts, undo a bad choice or undo a well placed arrow to the throat. 25 Skill points.
He selected void storage, 5 skill points. Allows use of the void to store objects. He needs that. Void storage unlocked. 14 skill points available.
He also looked at Temporal Dilation, 8 points. Grants the ability to use time as a weapon. You can slow or speed things up at will. 50 mana per second.
Don't mind if I do. He thought. Minus 8 points, Temporal Dilation is unlocked.
1 stat points banked, 6 Skill points and 4 skill upgrade points.
He thought he would sit on these until he figured out what's best as he grows.
Zaro bought some dried beef and a canteen of water for ten silver. He void stepped to the top of a building and ate his snack. The view stretched out before him, lush green trees, the market, city center, and distant mountains.
He decided to sit there for a few more minutes before testing his new skills.