Chapter Twelve: Character Sheet
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Jace slumped into the chair in his small room, the weight of exhaustion hanging on him like a second cloak. The dim light from the overhead crystal cast soft shadows on the walls as he called up his character sheet. The glowing interface appeared before him, sharp and vibrant, the text scrolling into view with a faint hum of energy.
Character Sheet: Jace/Jason (Greyson)
Speaker Rank: Silver One
Class Title: Twilight Guardian, Avatar of Hades
Words of Power / Affinities: Soul + Truth
President of the Society of Hades
Resources: 5 silver, 16 copper
New Abilities Unlocked:
Rebirth Anchor
Establish a respawn point imbued with evolving magic.
You can set respawn points for yourself and willing allies.
Chains of Oblivion
Summon chains forged in the depths of the Underworld.
Immobilizes enemies, shackling their movements while siphoning their strength.
Absorbs drained energy to restore your health, amplify stamina, and pull aether directly from the target.
Excess energy can push your Aether, Stamina, and Health beyond natural limits, granting an overwhelming surge of power. Maximum capacity: unknown.
Chains inherit the power of Soul Severance, capable of severing soul connections to banish possessions, exorcise demons, and disrupt the undead.
Shadespeak
Commune with the dead.
Gain access to their memories, insights, or aid.
Abilities Updated Through Evolution
Shift (Replaces Soul Step and Soul Walk)
Allows rapid, short-distance teleportation while remaining partially tethered to this dimension.
Consumes significantly less aether compared to its predecessors.
Can be extended to carry multiple individuals at once, with increased strain depending on the number and weight of passengers.
Can travel into Soul Realm of target.
Truthsense (Replaces Soul Sense)
Absorbs the abilities of Universal Lore, Soul Detection, and Knowledge Absorption.
Enables the perception of hidden truths and unseen forces, revealing not just physical objects but intent, deception, and veiled magic. Level up for increased effectiveness.
Identify items. Detect all those who recently came in contact with item.
Soul Detection has triggered an additional effect—Second Sight: sense those around you within five feet. Level up to increase field and accuracy.
Etheric Shroud (Replaces Shadow Cloak)
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Merges resistance abilities, including Iron Stomach, Resistance to Death, Mostly Dead, and No Pain, No Gain.
Forged from the depths of the Underworld, Etheric Shroud combines the resilience of Iron Stomach, Resistance to Death, Mostly Dead, and No Pain, No Gain into a singular, formidable defense.
Cloaks the user in an impenetrable veil, granting concealment and unparalleled protection against physical and magical attacks.
Aether absorption enables damage mitigation and versatile healing for both self and allies. Healing potency is reduced by 40%, but Aether cost has plummeted by 95%, allowing for sustained use in battle.
Transforms the user into a near-untouchable wraith in critical conditions, blurring the line between life and death.
Summon the Etheric Weapon, a malleable construct that can shift into any form to match the demands of battle.
Invoke the Etheric Cloak to shroud yourself, parry incoming blows, or enhance mobility, seamlessly weaving defense and offense into a deadly dance.
Additional Traits Gained
Veil of the Underworld
Complete immunity to scanning, locating, and mind-probing spells, including divine-level attempts.
All efforts to uncover your true nature return only one fact: “Chosen of Hades.”
The full scope of your identity remains hidden, even from immortal beings.
Attributes
Strength: 57
Dexterity: 69
Intelligence: 85
Wisdom: 99
Constitution: 56
Charisma: 37
Spirit Constitution: 99
Karmic Balance: 24
Avatar of Hades
Congratulations, you’ve ascended to the Chosen Rank of Avatar! While most Chosen merely wander around playing helper for their patrons, you are in the big leagues now. You’re not just a volunteer anymore—you’re officially on the payroll.
Welcome to adulthood, kid.
Your benefits package includes:
Unlimited dining privileges in the Underworld (don’t ask what’s on the menu).
Zero vacation days (because who needs a break when you’re dead half the time?).
A highly probable chance of being squashed, obliterated, or otherwise annihilated by rival gods on any given Tuesday.
Good luck, champ. You’re going to need it!
Jace couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the descriptions. He was certain Jack—the voice of the System—had a hand in crafting them. Clearly, someone was feeling a little saucy today.
But, he didn’t really mind. Jace couldn’t deny it—the boosts were… impressive. Two of his Attributes were inching toward the 100 threshold, a milestone he knew was significant. Once crossed, new facets of those attributes would unlock—or at least, that was what Professor Frost had claimed during class. The evolutions varied for everyone.
What struck him most wasn’t just the surge of raw power—it was the way his abilities seemed to coalesce into something new, something more cohesive. As he closed his eyes, he felt the familiar currents of aether flowing within, but now they were… different. The chaotic patterns he once struggled to command had aligned, weaving together in harmony. It was as if he’d been forcing a jagged puzzle piece into place before, unaware of how much resistance he created. But now...
A golden energy washed over him, wrapping him in a cocoon of warmth and light. Bliss poured through every fiber of his being, lifting him gently from the ground as radiant tendrils of midnight stardust spiraled around him, dancing with the golden glow. The air seemed to hum with life, resonating with the transformation unfolding within him.
And then, as smoothly as it began, the energy receded, setting him back on solid ground. He exhaled, a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
“You have evolved to Silver Two—Silver Perceptor,” the voice intoned, rich and resonant.
He stood motionless, feeling the change settle in his core. His newfound affinity was a revelation. Unlike before, when his mastery in Bronze felt incremental and instinctive, stepping into Silver had reset everything he thought he understood. Now, with two affinities flowing through him, they pulsed and vied for dominance, their interplay more intricate than he’d ever imagined.
It would take time to adapt, to find balance within the storm. But for the first time, he sensed the deeper potential—the infinite possibilities waiting to unfold.
A small flashing icon in the corner of his interface caught his eye. Curious, Jace tapped it, and a message unfolded.
Note from Hades
“You may be tempted to share your identity and past in this world. Resist the urge. You are stepping into a place shattered by the one who came before you—the Dark One. The kingdom of Roandia lies in ruin, with only this small city, a fragment of its former glory, still standing.
Since then, it has become contested ground, claimed as neutral territory by all the kings of Mythica. Your lineage, particularly your mother’s side, is a danger to you, not a benefit. There are those who would stop at nothing to kill you for that connection alone.
Grow in power before you rise to prominence. And do so quietly, without becoming a nuisance or drawing unnecessary attention to yourself. Only then can you afford the luxury of being loud.” —Hades
He looked at his financial reserves then.
His reserves were critically low—completely out of gold, in fact. Most of it had been sunk into recent purchases: essential upgrades for the Fields Below, items that Society Points couldn’t cover, and a fresh stock of potion ingredients. He’d meant to swing by Twig’s shop again to check if the merchant had sold more of his potions. His first visit had been a bust—the shop was closed, and Twig was nowhere to be found. Now, with the trip looming, he simply didn’t have the time. He’d have to make do with what he had.