“What’s that sound…”
“Is it…”
“A siren?”
“Was somebody hurt?”
These thoughts drifted into the mind of one Jonathan Mueller as he sat in the seat of his car. He looked around, or tried to at least, but his head felt heavy for some reason. And there was a sharp pain in his neck.
He reached up, feeling the spot where it hurt the most. When he pulled it back, it was covered in red. That’s when the memory of what just happened.
“Oh, that’s right. I was hurt.”
[Request Acknowledged]
[Skill Acquisition: Pain Resistance]
[Success]
He was in a car accident. Someone rammed into his vehicle while he was driving down the freeway. But it wasn’t just him. Several cars were also subject to the collision, creating one great big pile up.
“Man, that’s a lot of blood. Can’t be good. Bet it would make a great feast for a vampire though. Too bad I’m not one,” he thought, staring, almost mesmerized, by the amount of blood coating his hands.
[Request Acknowledged]
[Searching for race: Vampire]
[Success]
Looking out at the panicking people dragging others from the cars, he couldn’t help but chuckle morosely. “What’s wrong with them? Why are they so scared? Perhaps the better question would be, why aren’t I?”
[Request Acknowledged]
[Skill Acquisition: Fear Resistance]
[Success]
Looking down at the passenger seat, he saw a few books scattered across the floor. The one he could see the clearest read, Castlevania: The Original Malice.
“Origins, huh? That’s right, it was all about Dracula and how he became known as the impaler and the first vampire. Kind of a dry read, actually.”
[Request Acknowledged]
[Searching for the origin of the Vampires]
[Success]
“Wait, don’t those belong to the library? Crap, that’s right, I was returning them, wasn’t I? Well, at least I don’t have to worry about any late fees.”
[Request Acknowledged]
[Skill Acquisition: Library of Alexandria]
[Success]
Jonathan watched as someone approached his vehicle, but a gust of flame made him flinch back.
“Can’t blame him for that. It is pretty hot in here. But strangely enough, I feel… cold. Is that normal?”
[Request Acknowledged]
[Skill Acquisition: Heat Resistance]
[Success]
[Skill Acquisition: Cold Resistance]
[Success]
[Acquisition of Skill: Heat Resistance and Acquisition of Skill: Cold Resistance has generated a new Skill]
[Skill Acquisition: Thermal Fluctuation Resistance]
[Success]
Jonathan watched as the flames neared the gas that had spilled on the ground. People fled the scene, not wanting to get caught up in the impending explosion.
“Guess this is it.”
His eyes shifted down to the book once more, remembering something about it, and the main character, Dracula.
“He was quite the ladies man, wasn’t he? How big was his harem again? It must have been pretty huge to sire the entire vampire race all by himself. Lucky bastard.”
[Request Acknowledged]
[Acquisition of Skill: Ladies Man]
[Success]
[Skill: Ladies Man can Evolve into Skill: Alpha Male]
[Skill Acquisition: Alpha Male]
[Success]
“What’s that voice? Alpha male? Who? What is it talking about?”
Those were the last thoughts of Jonathan Mueller, as the gas tank caught on fire, causing a massive explosion. The news would report only one casualty from that day, which some called a miracle.
But the true miracle was for the one who died.
***Line Break***
High on top of a mountain overlooking Lune, the Capital City of the Holy Empire of Lubelius, sat a large temple, sacred to the people down below. According to scripture, it is the place where their goddess, Luminous, resides. It is considered blasphemy for anyone to approach without the Church's express permission.
Many who do not adhere to this religion believe these claims to be false, and that the temple was built to enact a mummer's farce. But unknown to them, the claim is not nearly so exaggerated.
The only difference between what those of the faith believe, and what the truth is, would be the person who resides in the temple herself. While not a goddess, she could certainly pass for one, with her lustrous silver locks and heterochromatic eyes, one blue, shining like the brightest of sapphires, and the other red, shimmering with the brilliance of a ruby.
Her skin was pale, and her form slender, without an ounce of unnecessary fat. Her breasts, while not overly large, hung high and proud on her chest. Her backside was pert and round and her hips were wide compared to her petite frame, her form a perfect hourglass.
Yes, any person alive would have no problem believing she was a goddess. But in truth, she was a vampire. The oldest and most powerful in existence, having lived for over 20,000 years. She has seen the rise and fall of every civilization the world has produced, including her own.
Luminous Valentine, that was her name. She currently stood on a balcony overlooking the city she built down below, watching with intense eyes as the humans went about their morning.
She found them fascinating, though this was a fairly recent passion of hers. If you consider 2,000 years to be fairly recent. Back then she met someone, someone who changed her life and the direction the world would take thereafter.
Her name was Chloe Aubert, a human from another world who could traverse time itself. It was the meeting with her that gave Luminous the inspiration and passion to build the city below, and to consider humans as more than just livestock, as so many of her brethren did.
Vampires needed blood to survive. Specifically, human blood. Only the strongest could go without. Blood from other species may fill their stomach, but it did not contain the nutrients necessary for survival. Eventually, they would become malnourished and starve, no matter how bloated they were.
So by forming a city, and by creating a religion, she was able to collect the human blood easily and safely, distributing it amongst her people. To do this, she also created a massive underground city, named Night Garden, where the vast majority of the vampires lived.
It was a fairly good system, one which has not only survived for 2,000 years, but thrived. The humans below didn’t know about the vampires living beneath them, and that was for the best.
Their entire religion held the belief that monsters were evil and needed to be exterminated. So if they ever discovered the hidden city below them, it would likely end in a bloodbath.
She idly wondered what they would do if they found out she was a monster. They would probably deny it and proclaim her a heretic. The dogma of monsters as the root of all evil didn’t come from her, but was something that developed naturally with the humans some 1,000 years ago, when they formed an order of priestly knights they called the Crusaders.
It was all highly entertaining to watch. The way humans went about their lives with such self importance as to change her religion to suit their own needs. She did keep them on a rather tight leash, and the higher ups knew about her true identity of course, as most of them were vampires themselves.
Though, she did find their disdain for monsters useful, as it allowed her to unite them under the cause of defeating the dreaded Demon Lord Valentine, who was also one of her subordinates.
“My lady,” said someone from behind her, bringing her out of her reverie. She turned and saw her oldest subordinate, Gunther, bowing his head.
“Yes, what is it?” she asked.
“I have finished drawing your bath my lady.”
“Very good,” she said with a smile. She began walking through the delicately carved stone walls of the temple, heading for her personal bath inside of her room, Gunther following along dutifully.
Once there, she disrobed, Gunther waiting outside of course, revealing her body in all of its perfection. At one time in the past, when she was far more arrogant than she was now, she had a servant disrobe her. But over time, she worried she was getting too lazy, and feared she would get fat if she had people do everything for her. So now she only had them doing some things for her.
Luminous sunk into the steaming waters with a sigh of contentment, enjoying the way the heat seemed to unravel the knots that had formed in her muscles.
She laid there in her claw foot tub for nearly an hour, eyes closed and humming songs long forgotten by even the elves. But all good things must come to an end, and she was getting all pruny, so she decided it was time to leave.
She stood up, the water cascading down her body as she stepped out of the tub. She dried herself with a delightfully fluffy towel before throwing on her bathrobe. She exited the bath to see Gunther waiting.
“How was your bath, my lady?” he asked.
“Perfect as always Gunther. Thank you,” she said, walking past him, the light smell of her perfume tingling his nose.
“There is no need to thank me, I am merely doing my duty,” he said.
“If you say so,” she said with a hint of playfulness in her tone. It wasn’t the first time they’ve had this conversation, and by now, it was mostly just a game between the two.
“Do you require anything else?” he asked.
“No thank you Gunther. I believe I will sleep for a bit,” she said. Vampires like her did not require sleep. But sometimes, she just wanted to turn her brain off for a while and forget the world. Something she tended to do at least once a month, for her mental health.
“Very good my lady, then I shall take my leave,” he said, swiftly spinning on his heel and exiting her chambers.
Luminous smiled and faced her enormous bed, one that could easily hold a dozen of her. The covers were thick and the color of pure amethyst, with magic woven into every fiber and every stitch, to ensure she was never too hot or too cold. Just right, as some might say.
She pulled the blanket back, revealing pure white sheets, made similarly to the blanket. They were so soft, with a thread count so high it made her feel like she was sleeping on a cloud. Well that, and the extraordinary softness of her mattress. It was truly a bed fit for a goddess.
She pulled back her robe, allowing it to fall to the floor, leaving her in the buff once more. Why would she wear clothes when her bed was the softest, smoothest thing one could have against their skin? Anything else would just feel rough by comparison and ruin the experience.
That was her excuse anyway, but she just liked to sleep in the nude. It was just more comfortable that way. She leapt into her bed with the dignity and grace of a teenage girl, giggling slightly as she drew the covers over her body.
Luminous sighed in content, feeling her whole body relax. This bed and her bath made the perfect combination to restore her body to 100%, the perfect way to end a long night of working.
She channeled magic into her brain to slow it down and allow her to slowly drift off to sleep. But as she did, she never noticed the extra occupant that lay sleeping next to her, who seemingly appeared out of thin air.
***Line Break***
When Jonathan heard the explosion and felt the heat burn his flesh, he was certain he was going to die. And to be honest, the jury was still out on that one, for the place he found himself was so ethereally strange that it couldn’t be anywhere in the real world.
So he must have died, and he was in some kind of purgatory. “But what purgatory looks like a library? Is it because of the late fees? I didn’t think that was such a serious offense,” he thought, as he continued his journey through the seemingly endless library he found himself in.
First of all, it was tall, easily ten stories high, with pathways twisting and turning above him. It was like seeing the interstate from the sky. And above that he could see a massive glass expanse with a bright silver moon shining light through it.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Then there were the bookshelves themselves. Each one was carved into pure stone, and everything had a yellow tint to it. Jonathan took some of the books off the shelf, but he didn’t see anything special about them. They were just books, albeit in the world's biggest library.
So far, he has found books on several different topics, such as architecture, history, geology, autobiographies and more. It seemed like there was a book on just about every topic imaginable.
Though, when he found the manga section, he was sorely tempted to remain. But he knew he needed to find out where he was, so he reluctantly departed. But after traveling for several minutes, finding numerous dead ends, he was beginning to wonder if this place had an exit. Was he going to be forced to wander these halls for all eternity?
Just as those thoughts crossed his mind, he saw in the distance what appeared to be a large opening. Thanking his lucky stars, he quickened his pace, hoping to find someone there who could help him.
But once he reached the open area, which looked like a hub of some sort, he immediately noticed the lack of any sort of employee. Sagging his shoulders in despair, he sluggishly continued into the area.
In the center were two large, half moon desks, forming a circle with an opening on two sides. Between the desks, right In the middle was a raised podium with a single book resting on top.
Large comfortable leather couches and chairs rested on opposite sides of the desks, with coffee and end tables around them. Jonathan didn't know why there was a need for so many tables. Not like he’s seen anything to put on them besides books.
Looking forwards and backwards, it seemed like the whole library was divided into two separate sides, one with a yellow tint and one with a blue. He thought at first it may have been divided by fiction and non-fiction, until he remembered the manga section he ran across.
So if that wasn’t the case, then why was it divided in such a clear and obvious manner? Maybe he should check out the suspicious looking book clearly and obviously on display?
Walking over towards it, ignoring the echoing of his footsteps along the stone floor, he scooted past the two desks into the opening, and found himself standing in front of the book. What he saw shocked him.
Autobiography of ¿Jonathan Mueller?
“What’s with the question marks around my name?” he thought. But his curiosity needed to be sated, so he opened the large, leather bound book with some trepidation. Reading the first few pages, he felt the contents may be a bit dubious. Or perhaps he just didn’t remember those formative years of his life. But he was sure, at no point, did he poop on a priest.
But as he continued to read, he found many of the passages coinciding with his actual memories, giving the book some credence after all. Especially when it got to his high school years.
He skipped over prom night. No need to dredge up those memories.
But the most curious part was when he got to the end, or what he thought was the end but was really only the halfway point. It was the part about his death.
¿Jonathan Mueller? died in a car accident at approximately 12:45 P.M on April 19th when the gas tank of his 2008 Camaro caught on fire, resulting in the explosion that took his life.
That part, while somewhat depressing, he understood. He died, no going back. It was the next part that really shook him up.
After his death in Earth Satellite world 419, ¿Jonathan Mueller? was reincarnated into the Central World as a vampire. Before his awakening in that world, his mind was first transported to the Library of Alexandria, where he wandered aimlessly for a time, getting thoroughly distracted by the section designated for manga. He managed to find his way to the central hub of the library, where he found a book detailing his previous life and the start of his new one.
That was a lot to take in. “And what does it mean by, I’m a vampire?”
Looking at himself as best he could, all he saw was his same old self. Which was disappointing on a few levels. Mostly because he was a 5 foot 5 manlet. But he also didn’t feel any fangs in his mouth and he certainly didn’t thirst for blood.
Could the book have been lying? That was one possibility, but considering the details it had on his previous life, it seemed unlikely. Perhaps the book had the answer to his question.
¿Jonathan Mueller? Attempted to discover if the claims made by the book he found were true. Discovering that he didn’t feel at all like a vampire, he hoped the book would provide answers.
“Well, that was useless,” he thought to himself. Flipping through the pages in the book, he noticed some at the end that weren’t blank.
¿Jonathan Mueller?
Race: Vampire
Age: 27
Current Skills
Pain Resistance
Fear Resistance
Library of Alexandria
Thermal Fluctuation Resistance
Alpha Male
Steel Strength
Charm
Coercion
Paralyze
Transform
Shadow Motion
Self-Regeneration
Blood Raise
Former Skills
Heat Resistance
Cold Resistance
Ladies Man
He blinked a few times, rereading the list. Was he in some sort of video game? Or was this just one of those worlds that had game-like mechanics? It was strange, he had to admit, but part of him also felt excited.
If it was true, and he really was in a new world, then he had the chance to become something more than what he was now. He could be the person, or vampire in this case, he always wanted to be.
But just what did these Skills do? Some of them appeared to be fairly self explanatory, but others, not so much. Was there some way he could find out? He turned the page, hoping to find some sort of explanation, but alas, blank paper.
You’d think a book that had Skills by name would have an explanation, but apparently, that was too much to ask for. Luckily he was in a massive library, which he assumed was the Library of Alexandria, given what the book said, which would hopefully contain the information he needed.
Looking around, he tried to find some kind of information pamphlet, or another book that would describe the library in detail. He checked the drawers, the tables, in between the couch cushions, but was unable to find a single thing.
But just as he was about to give up, leaning back on one of the horseshoe desks, his hand grazed something, a little half round thing that was completely smooth to the touch and looked to be made of obsidian.
When he did, a yellow hologram appeared, startling him. He stepped back, unsure of what he was seeing, but when he noticed what it was, he edged closer, intrigued.
It was a map, detailing each section of the library. Or at least, half of it. Specifically, it was the half he just came from. That was neat, but it didn’t answer his questions. But that’s when he noticed the title of the map.
Library of Alexandria: Earth Satellite World 419.
Jonathan thought it was weird how it specified which world it was. Was the other side different? “Come to think of it, didn’t my autobiography mention something about a Central World? Could that be the other half?”
Making his way to the other side, he found the same smooth, round device as on the other side. Touching it, he was rewarded with another hologram, this one blue. But it was the title that made him grin.
Library of Alexandria: Central World
Judging by that, this side must contain a whole lot of books about whatever this Central World is, and the other half must be from his original world. So that means he had access to two worlds worth of knowledge?
They say knowledge is power, then he just gained one hell of a power boost. But it wasn’t just that. This basically confirmed multiverse theory, and if that's the case, was it possible to expand the library to include other worlds as well?
Because the library belonged to him, didn’t it? At least according to the Book of Jon. “Might need to workshop that name,” he thought wryly.
Looking at the hologram, he wondered if there was some kind of directory, or a list of books the library contained. He began swiping at the mechanism on the table, hoping it might change the screen in front of him. When that didn’t work, he tried using the hologram like a touch screen, and to his shock, it worked.
The screen shifted to show the categories he could choose from, such as history, philosophy, science, art, and so much more. What really made him giddy was the listing for magic.
He suspected as much, given the situation, but seeing it confirmed brought a rush of excitement to his being. After all, who didn't want to learn magic?
But what he needed right now was information on Skills, and possibly vampires as well. He still wasn’t convinced about that part, but better safe than sorry. So he began selecting the categories he believed would have such information. It took him a while, but he managed to find two books to start with. One was called, Denizens of the Dark: A Guide to the Monsters Masquerading Under Moonlight.
Bit of a mouthful that one. The author was probably one of those self aggrandizing types who thought they were so much better than you.
The second one was rather simple. Your Skills and You.
After selecting the ones he wanted, the map lit up and marked their location. And that was it. No bringing them here with some kind of teleportation, no light that appeared to show him the way, just a waypoint on a map that he couldn’t take with him.
It turned out it wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be. He got turned around once or twice, and passed the books he wanted the same amount of times, but he did manage to find what he was looking for. The real hard part was finding the stairs, as both books were both on different levels.
FYI, they were in the back.
But there was one strange thing that happened. When he was reaching for the second book, he felt a peculiar sensation in his hand. It was sort of… soft and rubbery, with a good amount of bounce to it.
Not only that, but it felt like half of his body was warmer than the other, with a similar sensation to his hand. The strangest part was the side of his chest, which felt like two round bags of jello pressing into it. That wasn’t entirely accurate, but that was the image that came to mind when he thought about it. Jello, jiggling around.
And ever since then, the sensation has refused to leave. He didn’t know why, but he enjoyed the feeling. So he walked back to the central hub area with a spring in his step, carrying his two books with him.
Once he was there he chose to sit in the large recliner, sighing in content as he sunk into it. Once he was nice and settled in, he opened up the first book, the one that should hopefully tell him about vampires.
“Let’s see… Goblins, no… Ogres, nope…Daemons, maybe later… Aha, vampires!” he exclaimed, having found the section for the terrifying bloodsuckers. It was toward the middle, surprisingly enough. You’d think it would be at the end, considering the alphabet and all that, but apparently, the author of this book didn’t give a fuck, writing what he wanted, when he wanted.
Vampires, unholy abominations that feed off of humans by sucking out their blood. Unable to tolerate the sun, they skulk about during the moonlight hours, seeking their next victim.
Boasting an overwhelming amount of magical energy, their flesh will never rot or decay, granting these monsters eternal life. Add to this their ability to regenerate from nearly any injury, it is no wonder they have been called immortal.
They appear similar to humans, but make no mistake, they are nothing but Majin. There are several distinctions which sets them apart from humans. Their eyes are usually a piercing red, or some other unnatural color. Their fingers end in claws, and they have elongated canines they use to drain a victim of their life. They have the ability to procreate, just as humans, but typically abstain from doing so. It is unknown as to why.
Though extremely powerful and dangerous, there are ways in which to kill one of these foul creatures. As mentioned earlier, they cannot tolerate sunlight, and will burst into flames should they be exposed to it. Decapitation will also work to kill them, as will piercing their heart. Any attempt that does not cause immediate death will likely be healed within moments.
Vampires who have lived long enough or have consumed blood from a sufficiently powerful source may evolve into what is known as a Surmounter. These creatures are vastly superior to their lesser brethren, becoming immune to the effects of the sun and overcoming their need for blood. Their ability to heal is also boosted to such a significant degree that killing them is almost impossible.
There are rumors of even more powerful vampires, but these claims have not been substantiated. Supposedly one of these creatures ruled over a kingdom of vampires thousands of years ago, until they ran afoul the mighty storm dragon, Veldora. Now all that remains of their empire is dust and ash.
Vampires are highly proficient in Blood Magic and boast several Intrinsic Skills, many of which are known. Such as Steel Strength, Self-Regeneration, Charm, Coercion, and the worst, most egregious Skill of all, Blood Raise.
With this, it is possible for a vampire to bring the dead back to life. However, what is usually returned is a ghoul or a wight, a mockery of what existed in life. These poor souls are forever enthralled to the vampire, forced to do their bidding for all time.
By the grace of our goddess, Luminous, may these foul beasts be struck down and cleansed from this world. Amen.
Jonathan stared at the page for a bit, assimilating the knowledge he just read. Well, knowledge might be putting it generously. It read more like propaganda. But still, the information was likely to be at least somewhat accurate.
Sighing he put the book down, looking himself over once again. No claws, no fangs, and though he couldn’t see his eyes, he doubted they were any different. So why did that book claim he was one?
Not that he would be upset if he was. The passage he just read about them sounded pretty good to him. Immortality, Self-Regeneration, and more. The only downsides were being weak to the sun and having to consume human blood. But that could apparently be mitigated by evolving into something called a Surmounter. If that was true, he’d have to make that his top priority.
The book also mentioned several of these Skills, but only really went into any detail about one. Blood Raise sounded pretty cool, something to keep in mind if he ever wanted to start the zombie apocalypse or take over the world.
Hopefully the second book would provide some answers about these Skills. Setting the first book down on an end table, he carefully opened the second.
Skills are, for a lack of better terminology, powers engraved onto the soul in recognition of some kind of personal growth. This is not always the case, as you will discover as you read, but widely, this is the accepted definition of what a Skill is.
Skills come in several distinct classes. These are Intrinsic, Common, Resist, Extra, Unique, and Ultimate.
Let us start with what is known as Intrinsic Skills. Broadly speaking, there are three types of categories these may fall into. That being species based, bloodline based, or individual based.
Species based are inherent to the biology of the species itself, most notably seen in those of a monstrous origin. Increased strength, regeneration, resistances to certain elements are just a few examples.
Bloodline based are tied to the, as you may have guessed, bloodline of families. These most notably appear within the ruling class, kings, queens, emperors and so on. They used these Skills to forge a dynasty, and they have been passed on from generation to generation.
Individual based are not tied to bloodlines or species, but the singular person themselves. It’s possible that it can become a bloodline Intrinsic Skill, but this is not guaranteed.
However, though they are called Intrinsic, this does not mean they are Unique. Though some are, many of these Skills fall under the Common, Extra, or Resistance categories, and can be obtained naturally.
Next let us speak of Common Skills. These are the most numerous type of Skill, and though they are the easiest to obtain, that does not mean they are useless. While only providing simple or singular powers, this comes with the benefit of them being rather easy to learn.
One such Skill is Strengthen, a favorite of soldiers in every country. Its effect is quite simple, it strengthens the body past its normal limitations, allowing one to run faster, hit harder, and even take more damage. I’m sure you can see the benefit this would have on the battlefield. This Skill can also evolve into more powerful versions, such as Enhanced Strength, Steel Strength, or Divine Strength.
After that we have Extra Skills, a step up in power from the Common ones. The pinnacle or power that can be reached through effort alone. Some of these Skills can even equal or out match those of Unique Skills, while some are barely any better than their Common Counterparts.
Unique Skills are, as you may have surmised, unique to certain individuals, perfectly tailored to them and cannot be obtained by regular means. These Skills may awaken when one has overcome a great trial, or pushed themselves beyond their limitations. One theory suggests that these Skills are born from those with strong desires and emotions, and the World itself responds to their wishes.
Whatever the case may be, those who obtain such Skills are truly blessed. It has been noted that those who are summoned from other world’s often cross over with a Unique Skill. The reason why is unclear, but the rate in which this occurs is worth noting.
These Skills have also been known to evolve overtime, growing with the one who possesses them. Some even become Ultimate Skills.
The pinnacle of all Skills are known as Ultimate Skills. The reason should be self-evident. They are the most powerful of all Skills, with some even allowing the user to alter the fabric of reality. It’s said that the hero who sealed away the storm dragon Veldora did so using an Ultimate Skill, proving just how powerful they are.
How one obtains an Ultimate Skill is unknown, but many theorize they are granted to those of extraordinary ability and character, such as True Heroes or True Demon Lords. However, this is mere speculation, though the theory does hold more than a little weight to it.
The last category of Skill are those that provide Resistances to certain things, such as heat, cold, poison, fear, and so on. The most powerful of these Skills grants total immunity.
After reading this, Jonathan was able to categorize, at least somewhat his own Skills. Or at least the ones his autobiography said he had. Flipping through the book some more, he was able to find essentially a glossary of known Skills. This let him know, for the most part, what they did.
Pain Resistance (Resist Type)-Dulls the sensation of pain to the physical or material body up to a certain point.
Fear Resistance (Resist Type)-Lowers the effect of Skills that induce the feeling of fear. Reduces the sensation of fear itself.
Thermal Fluctuation Resistance (Resist Type)-Reduces the effects of temperature up to a certain point.
Steel Strength (Intrinsic Type)-Greatly increases the physical capabilities of the user.
Charm (Intrinsic Type)-A form of hypnosis that allows the user to temporarily control the target as well as alter memories. For vampires, this is done using the eyes.
Coercion (Intrinsic Type)-By using their voice, a user can induce a feeling of pressure against a target to intimidate them and force them to comply.
Paralyze (Intrinsic)-Allows the user to paralyze a target.
Transform (Intrinsic)-Allows the user to alter their appearance. Not limited by form, the user can change their physical shape into other things, such as a wolf or a bat.
Shadow Motion (Intrinsic)-Allows the user to access Shadow Space and travel between shadows.
Self-Regeneration (Intrinsic)-Allows the user to heal from nearly any injury so long as they have a material body and sufficient Magicules.
Blood Raise (Intrinsic)-Allows the user to bring back the recently deceased by utilizing their own blood. Can also be used to create ghouls and wights.
The last two were a bit tricky, since the book doesn't list them, but I can hazard a guess as to what they do.
Alpha Male (Extra Type)-Judging by the fact that this evolved from Ladies Man, it probably allows the user to more easily seduce women, perhaps even making it possible to obtain the dream of all men, a harem. May also make men want to follow the user or obey commands. Needs testing.
Library of Alexandria (Unique Type)-Creates a massive library which contains all the knowledge of the worlds connected to the user. Need to explore to find out the extent of the knowledge contained.
After gaining the knowledge from the book on Skills, Jonathan checked out his book and found out that it updated again to show what the Skills do, or at the very least, what he thinks they do. Wasn’t that handy?
Laying down on one of the couches, he rubbed his forehead thinking about everything that had happened. It was overwhelming, to say the least. He felt his eyes drooping down, exhaustion rearing its ugly head. But rather than fight it, he embraced the feeling.
He was just so darn comfortable. And the feeling of heat across one half of his body didn’t help. If anything, it only added to the comfort.
So he let himself drift off. Allowing his consciousness to fade away.
When he next opened them, he found himself in a whole new environment. He was laying down, so that part was the same. But everything else was completely different.
He was no longer in his library, and part of him was relieved by this. He had no idea how to get out of there, but apparently all he had to do was fall asleep. Good to know. But that didn’t help him figure out where he was now.
He was in a bed, the most comfortable bed he’s ever laid on. Part of him never wanted to leave. The room itself reminded him of a castle, or a French mansion with how it was decorated.
Ornate would be the word he used. Fancy would be another. Every detail was exquisitely and carefully crafted. The crown moldings looked hand carved and so elaborate it must have taken years to finish.
There was a vanity on one side, again extremely well made and detailed, with a large mirror wrapped in silver. There was also a dresser, almost certainly made from the finest wood, along with various paintings hanging from the walls, each one a masterpiece, placed inside frames that looked like they were made from pure gold.
So caught up in looking around the room, he failed to notice that he was not alone in the bed. Not until it moved at any rate. Confused by the sensation, he looked down to see what it was, and his eyes widened wider than they’ve ever been.
It was a woman, but more than that, she was hands down the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. Her hair appeared to be made of moonlight, and her body was as soft and smooth as pure silk. Her eyes were closed, and she had a peaceful look on her face, her pouty, pink lips curled back in a small smile.
So mesmerized by the sheer ethereal beauty of the woman, the fact that she was naked didn’t register in his mind until she shifted once more, her leg entwining with his own, and her arm reaching across his chest, and pulling him close, making him shiver from the feeling.
That’s also when he realized that he too was naked beneath the covers.
“Well, that explains what I felt in the library,” he thought, realizing the heat he felt in there was the same one he felt now. Looks like it wasn’t jello pressed against his chest, but her breasts, which was far better in his opinion.
But there was one sensation he still couldn’t figure out. The one he felt from his left hand, which was the side the woman was on.
His fingers dug into the soft object, squeezing and kneading it, feeling how round and firm it was. It was softer than silk and decadently supple, with a springy bounciness to it that made him want to spank it. It was also somewhat familiar, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Not literally, as he had all five of his fingers on it, whatever it was.
His actions were rewarded with the woman releasing a small moan. It was the single most beautiful sound he’s ever heard, one he wished to hear over and over again. Reacting to his desire, his hand continued to massage whatever it was, eliciting more musical whimpers from the woman.
As he performed his experiments to discover the mystery sensation and hear his new favorite melody, a certain part of his anatomy seemed to awaken from its slumber. Looking down at it, he felt himself panic.
“No, what are you doing!? It’s not even morning!” he mentally screamed at the overly excitable fellow. But it seemed he was being ignored. What else is new?
“..se me?”
“It’s alright. As long as she doesn’t wake and see a strange, naked man popping a boner, you should be fine,” he thought, his hand still going to town on whatever it was.
“...cuse me?”
“But even so, maybe it would be better if I found a way to escape. I mean, this is a weird situation all around, but I doubt I can just come out and say I’m from another world and this is how we say hello. Nobody would believe that,” he continued thinking, not aware of the fact that his music has stopped playing.
“Excuse me?”
“Huh?” he asked, confused. He turned to look at the woman, who was clearly now awake, staring at him with the most gorgeous pair of eyes he’s ever seen, one red and one blue. Eyes that held more than a little confusion in them, along with a steadily rising anger.
“Would you mind telling me what you're doing in my bed, with your hand on my ass?” she asked, and though her tone was pleasant enough, there was a hard edge to it that made him gulp.
“Her ass?” he thought to himself, his hand giving another involuntary squeeze. Her eyes narrowed when she felt that, and Jonathan felt his breath hitch at realizing exactly what he’d been fondling this whole time.
He knew it felt familiar, but it felt too perfect to be an ass! How was he supposed to know one that flawless existed? It was like taking a math test in English class, not fair at all!
“Um…” he eloquently explained, moving his hand, reluctantly mind you, from her exquisite derriere to her curvy hips instead, making one of her eyebrows raise in question.
“Well? I’m waiting.”