CHAPTER ONE THE INTEGRATION
Darien the Kobold blinked his eyes in confused amazement.
*Ding*
Inhabitants of the Multiverse. The system has just integrated the 79th Universe. With this development comes many opportunities for pre-existing powers and individuals in the Multiverse. The 79th universe will be open to members of other universes below D grade in approximately 10 months, 3 weeks, 3 Days, 7 hours, 35 minutes, and 54 seconds.
To say Darien was shocked was an understatement. The system rarely, if ever, sent out universal let alone multiversal alerts. But it made sense after all the 79th Universe was just integrated.
Making sure his eyes didn't deceive him, he checked the prompt again. The only thing that had changed was, well, the amount of time before integration. The time had come down to 10 months, 3 weeks, 3 days, 7 hours, 35 minutes, and 45 seconds.
The news of a new universe was fantastic news to Darien, a mere level-35 kobold. Darien was well within the F grade: but still monster fodder for rookie adventures. But with the integration of a new universe came amazing opportunities. So many unclaimed territories on countless planets. And potentially, even -- if Darien could dream -- of unclaimed dungeons.
Armed with the news that Darien would, hopefully, be able to leave this hell hole soon, Darien went through his mental checklist of what Darien had to do today. First: Darien had to attend to the great old one. Then Darien had to go hunting and then… shit, shit, are you fucking kidding me?
Darien was responsible today for watching over the great old one. Darien tribe was entrusted by the great old one to watch over his body while he was sleeping. Because the tribe wasn't that big, every day a different kobold would be assigned to watch over him.
Part of that responsibility was telling the great old one if any major events happened. And if there was anything new to report, Darien knew that waking up a power that could shatter the mountain with its breath, waking it up from its multi-decades-long slumber, was not going to be pleasant.
Darien quickly scuttled down the dank, dark passageway that smelled strangely of roasted peanuts. Darien hated this commute, whether it was to go hunting or to watch the great old one. Darien tribe's village was hidden and far away from their hunting grounds as well as the great old one. As a result, Darien had to run an entire 30 minutes to get to the great old one’s lair.
Darien gazed up at a gargantuan pair of doors. From the perspective of a small kobold, around three and a half feet tall, the doors seemed like they could swallow the mountains. In actuality, although they were quite large doors, they really couldn't swallow a mountain.
The doors were initially designed to let the great old one pass. So couldn’t Darien, just this once, use them himself for this same purpose? Darien forgot himself a moment later he snapped back to reality. Darien wasn't big enough to even think about moving those doors. Instead, Darien tribe had mined out a staircase to go around.
At this point Darien was exhausted; Darien had run for 30 minutes. So saying those stairs were like “The Stairway to Heaven'' was an understatement. To the tiny kobold, it felt like an eternity before Darien reached the top of the stairs.
Greeting Darien at the top of the stairs was a breathtaking sight. An immense cavern with stalagmites like teeth from a dragon, big enough to house a small city within it, full to the brim with piles and piles of gold and treasure. Resting upon his horde, long and sinuous, with scales like rubies at sunset was the lesser dragon, Middlebrook.
As Daien surveyed the cavern and the great worm, Darien eceived a prompt.
*Ding *
Millbrook the red worm. Level?
Analyze skills and level too low to sufficiently analyze.
Amongst many existences in the multiverse, dragons stand out. Once a reptile of some kind reaches the B grade it can ascend into a Dragon. Dragons have many advantages including being some of the most powerful B-grade existences in the known multiverse. But to combat, this massive amount of power. Dragons have the drawback of needing immense rest. A dragon may wake for 500 years but then must slumber for a hundred more.
Looking around the cavern, Darien hoped to find something that could wake the great worm, he spotted a rather large bell. There was only one problem -- a large problem: the bell was located on the cavern's ceiling which is over a kilometer above him. However, only a lesser dragon, Darien's tribe Acknowledged him as the great old one.
Darien decided to find a different, easier option. Scanning over the hordes of treasure, Darien dident find another way to wake up the worm. But while looking for an alternative method, Darien did come up with a simple plan.
You see, kobolds are very simple-minded creatures; they don't have a lot of complex thoughts. This lack of creative thinking is what makes them such excellent servants; they'll just do what you ask them to.
Occasionally, however, this lack of complex thought could actually be a virtue. In this instance, it led to Darien imagining a rather blunt approach to sounding the bell. Instead of climbing up the ceiling, or finding another option, he would just throw shit at it until something hit it hard enough.
First, he threw a rock. It missed the bell hitting the ceiling with a **thwack**. Then he hurled another rock, and another rock, and…. After about 30 minutes of throwing rocks, one finally hit. Unfortunately for Darien, it didn't hit the bell hard enough.
So he tried the next closest thing to hand: treasure. There is one problem with treasure: it's not very aerodynamic. Most lifeforms would realize -- probably almost immediately -- that throwing abnormally shaped things at large, hanging targets and expecting them to land with any sort of force or accuracy is nothing short of another form of fucking insanity. But for a kobold with a measly three points in his intelligence attribute, the realization takes a bit more time.
Darien was puzzled; Darien started with rocks, which eventually hit but for some strange reason didn't really hit the bell. Darien wasn't really sure how that happened. So Darien got bored and started throwing shiny things. But all those shiny things didn't hit the bell either so, after a while, Darien decided to go looking for something else throwable. And If nothing else, kobolds are good at finding things. After digging through the pile of treasure in Darien immediate surroundings, Darien was presented with three options.
Spears of Growth
Rarity:Uncommon
Rank E
Used by the Thunderstone people, these spears are extremely helpful for hunting big game from far distances. Once thrown, the user can invest Mana to make the spear size grow in flight.
Endless Lasso
Rarity Uncommon
Rank E
This lasso, although seeming small and normal-looking, was used by the Raiders of the Lost Ark to get out of many a bind. When infused with Mana the lasso will grow in size.
Dragon caller amulet.
Rarity Rare
Rank D
This amulet allows the user to call upon the power and majesty of the Dragons to summon a great flame one time. This is a one-time-use item and will be broken upon use.
Choosing what thing to throw at the Bell wasn't that hard because to start with Darien didn't know how to use a lasso so that was off the table. Secondly, the dragon caller amulet was a D-graded item and a one-time-use item, and Millbrook would be mad at Darien if he used it.
Therefore, by process of elimination, the spears of growth were the best choice. The problem with the spears is that Darien only had two spears. And It’s established that his throwing accuracy was not exactly major-league.
Hoisting the first spear over his shoulder Darien took a deep breath, stilling his nerves. With an exhale, he then released Mana into the spear as he launched it from his hand. With a boom that could shake the heavens the spear broke the sound barrier. As it continued upon its trajectory toward the bell, it grew and it grew. Halfway through its flight, it had already reached double its original size to now six feet in length As it approached the bell nearer still, it continued to grow. Eventually, the head of the spear was more than three times the width of Darien.
For the first time that day, something went to plan for Darien. The spear smashed into the bell producing a deep, thrumming *Dong dong dong*. Inside of Dariens head, Darien heard a far higher-pitched sound.
*Ding*
Your skill Spearmastery has reached level 23.
*Ding*
As a result of waking the great worm Millbrook you have gained XP. You have gained a level. Congratulations you are now level 38 in your kobold hunter class. You have gained 25 attributes to your strength, constitution, agility, and dexterity stats. You have 25 unassigned attribute points to allocate.
Go forth and grow fast and let your strength be a testament to your resolve.
Millbrook the redworm woke with a roar that could be mistaken for an earthquake. “Who dares wake me from my slumber?”
Darien was fucked -- royally fucked. Although the level-ups were great and Darien did get what he wanted -- woke up the Dragon -- but still, Darien woke up the Dragon. A small part of Darien hoped that he wouldn't be able to wake up the beast but he went and did it. Darien had really screwed himself now. Now all he could do was hope that the dragon didn't notice Darien. “Please don't smoke me, please don't smoke….” Snapping his head around Millbrook made direct contact with Darien. “Oh fuc…”
Millbrook licked his lips with satisfaction. Although hardly to even be considered a snack for a beast of Millbrook’s impressive girth, this little kobold was surprisingly tasty. Millbrook still didn't know why he was woken up by it. He was still annoyed; he'd only gotten about 150 years of sleep.
Millbrook looked around his cavern to see if anything was stolen or misplaced before he went back to bed. He glanced at the flashing icon from the system. Deciding to pull up his notifications, he smiled and finally understood why the little kobold had woken him up. “With this new integration, things are about to get interesting….”
While the Dragon was contemplating what he would do with the new integration, other powers were slowly becoming aware of the 79th Universe being integrated. Most inhabitants of the 79th Universe of course didn't have any idea of what was happening. Hell, they didn't even know what the fuck this system was.
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Looking around Emmanuel didn't recognize his surroundings although this wasn't surprising. He was that the middel of a forest. Not a hot, slimy, wet rainforest -- thank God -- but a more northerly forest with a scattering of pine trees but mostly massive deciduous trees.
Around him was a box that looked like it was made of glass. It was about the size of one of those really old phone booths from the movies but completely transparent. Tapping on the substance it didn't make a sound. Deciding to give it a little bit more force he knocked on it with his knuckles. Again, no sound and no-budge either. Then he punched it and let's just say the box wasn't the thing that shattered.
“Shit, ow, ow, ow, ow, that’s gonna sting tomorrow!” Blowing on his hand he was confused. “I have no idea what this substance is -- or where I am. One moment I was going to work and then the truck happened and then, well, now I'm here.” He started to panic, started to go a little bit haywire, and started to really lose his shit but then the annoying sound happened.
*Ding*
You have gained access to the system you can now view your status.
*Alert*
Humans of Earth: you have been transported to the culling hosted by Atlas. Along with four other sentient races you have also been transported to Atlas. If you wish to survive the culling you must reach the center of Atlas which is 500,000 kilometers away. You have 60 days to reach the center.
Additionally, On day 10 a leaderboard will appear showing the frontrunners of the collective races.
The first thing that occurred to Emmanuel was the staggering distance he would have to cover. “If I remember my geography correctly, Earth's circumference is around 50,000 km. That means I will have to travel 10 times that distance to reach the center of Atlas. Within 60 days. No way; it’s not possible to make it to the center. Why would the system set up something like this? Is it trying to kill us?”
*Alert*
Every day a portal will open taking you closer to the center of Atlas. The distance covered will be determined by that day's achievements.
Before the barriers are dropped and the races are allowed to begin the journey, you must pick a class. When you reach the threshold levels you will be offered new classes. Since you have just been integrated into the system you will be offered the standard classes.
Ranger.
Rank: Common
Grade: G
Stats
Class Skills
* Strength +0
* Constitution +0
* Dexterity +1
* Agility +1
* Perception +2
* Wisdom +0
* Intelligence +0
Unassigned attribute points: 2
* Power shot. Rank novice
When the archers imbues their shots with Mana producing a shot that can Pierce through layers of armor.
* The Gift of Gab: rank universal
Allows all beings of the Multiverse to communicate with each other.
One of the most basic of the martial classes, the Ranger class provides +2 to Perception, + 1 to Dexterity and Agility at every level, and two unassigned attribute points.
Warrior
Rank: Common
Grade: G
Stats
Class Skills
* Strength +2
* Constitution +1
* Dexterity +1
* Agility +0
* Perception+0
* Wisdom +0
* Intelligence +0
Unassigned attribute points: 2
* Splitting strike Rank novice
When the warrior imbues their strike with Mana it produces a strike that can split low-grade stone.
* The Gift of Gab: rank universal
Allows all beings of the Multiverse to communicate with each other.
One of the most basic of the martial classes, the Warrior class provides + 2 to Strength, + 1 to Constitution and Dexterity at every level, and two unassigned attribute points.
Mage
Rank: Common
Grade: G
Stats
Class Skills
* Strength +0
* Constitution +0
* Dexterity +0
* Agility +0
* Perception+0
* Wisdom +1
* Intelligence +3
Unassigned attribute points: 2
* Mana bolt Rank novice Allows the Mage to shape Mana into the attack producing a bolt that can Pierce through defenses.
* The Gift of Gab: rank universal
Allows all beings of the Multiverse to communicate with each other.
The most basic magic class, the Mage provides + 3 Intelligence and + 1 Wisdom at every level and two unassigned attribute points.
Healer
Rank: Common
Grade: G
Stats
Class Skills
* Strength +0
* Constitution +0
* Dexterity
* Agility +0
* Perception+0
* Wisdom +3
* Intelligence +1
Loose attributes points: 2
* Lesser heal Rank novice
Allows the Healer to expand Mana to convert into HP
* The Gift of Gab: rank universal
Allows all beings of the Multiverse to communicate with each other.
The healer is the rarest of the four starting classes. The Healer provides +3 Wisdom and + 1 Intelligence and two unassigned attribute points at every level.
After seeing the classes Emmanuel only had one thought. “Well, I'm not fucking picking a Healer class; that's a death sentence. That class sounds like it doesn't really function without a party. Between the remaining three classes he knew he wouldn't pick Ranger because he was shit with a bow.
His grandfather was a weapons enthusiast and made Emmanuel practice all sorts of ancient weapons from a young age. He was always bad at the bow; he just never could figure it out. He'd always either miss the target or the arrow would just leave the string. His grandfather went as far as to get him a tutor for archery; but still, it just never worked out.
His gut told him to go with the Warrior, but he was unsure. Although, yes, he had extensive martial training from his crazy old grandfather, BUT the alternative is Magic. Ever since he was a child Emmanuel always dreamed of being a wizard of some kind and also Magic! .
Recognizing that he wouldn't come to a decision quickly Emmanuel decided to look back on the notifications. Pausing on the first notification Emmanuel decided to look at his “status.” He tried the first thing that popped into his mind just thinking “status.” Surprisingly -- or maybe not so surprisingly -- it worked.
Name Emmanuel Agerico
Level: 0 G
Class: N/A Yet to Decide
Stats
Strength: 12
Constitution: 12
Dexterity: 11
Agility: 11
Perception: 7
Wisdom: 8
Intelligence:11
skills none
Class Skills: N/A
Looking at the stats they seemed pretty well rounded. The only outliers were his Perception and Wisdom but everything else seemed to be good. “I wonder how my stats compare to other people my age?” He expected my strength to be above average. he had extensive training and worked out frequently. He did well in high school and college, which would suggest he had a high Intelligence. .”
Taking a deep breath in, he continued. “With his stats, he didn't lean toward a Mage or a Warrior, which doesn't help him decide which to pick. Aren't Mages, usually glass cannons? If he was going to be out here in the wilderness alone he don't think it's going to be the best idea to be squishy. On the other hand, the Warrior needs equipment, which he also didn’t have. He decided to go with his gut instinct and picked the Warrior class.
*Ding*
You have selected the Warrior class. Would you like to become a Warrior?
This decision is final and will shape your path.
Yes/No
Taking a deep breath,he clicked the “yes” button. Nothing happened. Then he tried to mentally click it. A couple of seconds later another screen appeared.
*Ding*
Are you sure you want to become a Warrior? This decision is final.
Yes/no
“For God's sake! Damn system! I mean I already said “yes” -- just give me the goddamn fucking class!” Again he mentally clicked the “yes” button. The Prompt vanished, yet he didn't feel any different. In a panic, he checked his status.
Name Emmanuel Agerico
Level: 0 G
Class: Warrior
Stats
Strength: 12
Constatioth:12
Dexarty:11
Agility:11
Perception:7
Wisdom:8
Intelligence:11
skills none
Class Skills:
Splitting strike:
Rank novice 1
When the Warrior imbues their strike with Mana it produces a strike that can split low-grade stone.
The Gift of Gab:
Rank universal
Allows all beings of the Multiverse to communicate with each other.
Sighing in relief that the class showed up on his status he, impatiently waited for the drop of the barrier and for the culling to begin.