DING
DING
DING
DING
“Ok, ok. I am up, oh goddamn that hurts. What the fuck happened to me?”
Memories rushed in, a dark empty void, that awesome globe bar, then books, then anger and fire?
Fuck you smokey Joe, dick.
Images flashed in Ethan’s mind, the pressure of the System, then it all disappearing. They took something from him, the System, and Joe. Then the pressure was gone.
“What the hell happened to me?” Ethan spoke, as he tried to sit up. Bone grinding on bone, tearing muscle and tendons.
“Fuuuuck!” Ethan’s scream rang out.
Resigning to fate and pain Ethan lay back down. Figuring a slow and steady approach was the best route to take, he slowly opened his eyes. What he saw momentarily cast the pain to the back of his mind. Stars of every color imaginable, looking like they had been painted on the night sky with a spray gun, littered his vision. Cosmic clouds wove their way through the specks of multi-colored lights. Waving, pulsing pillars of light, akin to the auroras he’d only ever seen pictures of, danced in and out of existence.
If only Rebecca and the kids could see this…
“I don’t see why they couldn’t it should be possible, but highly ill-advised.”
Ethan knew that voice.
“Joe, I swear to god, you’d better send me back. Where the fuck am I? And where are you so I can punch you?”
“Hmm, I am at a lost. First off, I can not send us back, as we were in your soul realm. You are where you have always been, you are currently in the starting safe zone of the Endless Plains. And as for where I am… Peculiar. I seem to be in your Soul Realm, layer 5 to be exact. Which is even more Peculiar, since layer 5 should be inaccessible to you at your current level, and current stage.”
Ethan was in too much pain, once again, to deal with Joe’s shit so let him ramble.
“I seem to be cut off from the System. All inquiries are being returned automatically. No updated information is being received. I can not feel the System at all. I am. Afraid…” Joe genuinely sounded disturbed.
Once again resigning to his circumstances, Ethan tried to remain calm in the sea of pain he felt he was drowning in.
“Joe, what are you exactly?”
“I am, was, a partial soul created by the System to facilitate the initiation of new subjects to the Grand Experiment. We were given a guide number. So, I guess you can call me a Guide. We do not have a race or species. We were only meant to be temporary beings. We were not meant for prolonged existence.”
“You and me both buddy, you and me both.” Ethan let the silence drag on, as he thought of what to do next.
The pain came in waves, making it hard to think. But he noticed it lessen over time.
Either internal bleeding, and I am slowly dying, or my brain can’t take the pain and I am slipping into shock.
Ethan had to figure out what to do next, and he had only one source of information to go off.
“Joe, you still there?”
“Yes.”
“So I figure I am either about to die, or blackout from all this pain. Is there anything I can do to get some help? Like a… Uh, Grand Ambulance service or whatever?”
“I believe you are mistaken. You are no where near death, presently. Perhaps you were 6 hours ago, but you are no longer in any danger of expiring. In fact, your body is naturally healing itself, and you should be back to 100% health in minutes.”
“You sure about that? Cause I am in a metric fuck tonne of pain right now.”
Ethan hated to admit Joe might be right, but the pain was decreasing at a notable rate.
“I would imagine so. You forced your soul to explode. Thus, severing the link between Body and Soul. Effectively halting the body reconstruction. Forcing an early arrival to the Endless Plains. In all honesty I am shocked you survived at all.”
“Yeah. I remember you mentioning that body reconstruction thing. What was that anyways? Or can you not tell me cause of system rules?”
“I. I do not seem to be bound by the system rules anymore. But I am not privy to most data I once was. The body reconstruction was meant to create a vessel for your soul to house it while you experienced the tutorial. Allowing you to reforge your body as you saw fit along the way. It was supposed to fuse the newly created body with your soul realm.”
Feeling just a dull ache everywhere in all the places, Ethan attempted to move around. Finding his arms, and legs barely made a crunch when moving. No more tearing muscles was a bonus.
Joe Continued, “But do to your… outburst, the soul connections seem to have been torn. I suspect that is where most of your pain is coming from. I have attempted to repair them, but I can only do so much until you select a skill.”
“Select a what now?”
“Skill.”
“Wanna elaborate on that? First time in an experiment, let alone a Grand one.”
“When a newly initiated is under going body reconstruction, two skills are auto assigned. One is the Myriad Tongues; it allows for cross species communication. The second is based on general aptitude. You were assigned Identify. You showed a high aptitude for the skill so it was upgraded. The third skill was meant to be chosen before being deployed to the Endless Plains. But you had… other plans, it seems”
Soooo I fucked up big time. Got it. Rebecca was right, my short fuse was gonna get me in trouble one day. Did it have to be this day though? Can’t let her find out, or I’ll never live this down.
Groaning Ethan sat up. He was in the middle of solid white stone circle. Four pillars stood three meters tall at the cardinal points. There were intricate lines, patterns, and what looked like runes carved into the stone floor.
Beyond rolling hills lead to a dense forest, and further still mountains. He could see lakes and rivers marking the pristine landscape before him. The landscape curved up, like he was on the inside of a ring. He couldn’t see it go all the way around as the curve wasn’t sever enough to stop the horizon from disappearing. It looked like an endless strip of land that just curve up in both ways. To the East and West, he saw land extend out and curve down, like normal.
It was odd, half his view was the ‘right’ way things should be, and the other half, was not. Grasses of every shade of green, crystal clear waters, framed by blue and gold trees. Red, blood red rocks sat upon golden sand. Only to have, what Ethan guessed were Cacti dotting the mountains further out.
“Not much of a valley if it has mountains.” Ethan said as he finally struggled to stand, the last of the pain lingered still refusing to leave.
“The valley refers to the danger level. You are meant to progress straight ahead. Any divergences from that will shift the danger level, and thus the difficulty and survivability of the subject.”
“Ah so go straight North if I don’t want to die a horrible death?”
“Essentially. But it can also be used effectively for those who are found to be above or below the power curve.” Joe said.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
He is turning out to be pretty helpful. I guess I over reacted? I still don’t remember what happened.
“So what about this skill thing, how do I do that, do I just tell you what I want? Is Death Ray available?”
“No. And again, no. I can not chose for you. You must do that. I do not believe I have any way of interacting with the System at all. If you wish to select a skill, you have to bring up your- “
Cutting Joe off, Ethan already knew what to do.
“Let me guess, Status.”
Several windows popped up in front of Ethan letting him know exactly how much he fucked up.
[WARNING]
SUBJECT [ETHAN SOXE] IS FORCING A SOUL MELTDOWN.
IMMINENT DEATH OF SUBJECT
Clearing more than fifty warning message, Ethan saw how stupid he had been. He was dangerously close to dying, and couldn't fault anyone but himself for the pain he felt when waking up.
"I am my own worst enemy." Ethan said to himself as he moved on down the notifications.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
ATTEMPTING TO PURGE SUBJECT [ETHAN SOXE]
THE SYSTEM HAS DEEMED SUBJECT TO BE UNUSABLE FOR FURTHER TESTING
ATTEMPTING TO PURGE SUBJECT [ETHAN SOXE]
Fuck you too System, jeez.
[WARNING]
PURGE FAILED
ATTEMPTING TO PURGE SUBJECT [ETHAN SOXE]
PURGE FAILED
ATTEMPTING TO PURGE SUBJECT [ETHAN SOXE]
PURGE FAILED
...
Oohohoh I bet that pissed you off, didn't almighty System.
DING
"Hey Joe, what is this dinging I keep hearing, I hate it. It's too high pitch." Ethan said, wanting it gone before he did anything else.
"That is most likely the audio alert for System Notifications. I am confused as to why you would hear it while checking your notifications though."
Most likely?
"Joe, can you not hear them? Or see my notifications?"
"I can see nothing, and I only hear your voice. All other sensory inputs have been cut off."
"Oh man, that sucks, so it's like pitch black for you?"
"No, I can sense your Soul Realm. As well as the connections to you physical body. I have a limited mana sense. So while sight isn't the correct word, it may be the closest to what I have access to."
"Ah." Confused, Ethan went back to his notifications clearing all of the attempts the System made to 'Purge' him.
[MYTHICAL][ACHIEVEMENT]
SOUL REBIRTH
THOUGHT TO ONLY EVER BE AN UNTESTABLE THEORY, YOU HAVE ACHIEVED THE UNACHIEVABLE.
YOU HAVE SHATTERED AND REBUILT YOUR SOUL REALM AT LEVEL 0.
YOUR SOUL IS NOW EVEN HARDER. HARDER TO KILL. HARDER TO BEND. HARDER TO MANIPULATE.
LAYERS SURROUNDING YOUR SOUL ARE INCREASED (+4)
"Joe, what's a Soul Realm?" Ethan asked, reading over the achievement again, not liking where this was going. At all.
"Your Soul Realm, or Soul Realms in general?"
"Let's go with in general first."
"In general, a Soul Realm is where your Skills are stored. It is the core of your being, if it is destroyed, you die. If it is damaged, you can lose access to your skills, titles, or the system all together. Every skill you have is imprinted on your soul, when you wish to use skills your soul builds a connection to your body, and the skill is activate. Over use can cause backlash and damage the skill or your soul. But stress on the connections can cause skill upwards or lateral evolutions."
"And my Soul Realm?"
"Yours is.. damaged. Other than that I can not say. You would have to grant me access to your Soul Realm. But that is not advised as anyone with access could extinguish your soul with a thought."
"Would you do that?"
"No, as it would mean my own death as well."
"Ok, gran- ", Ethan cut himself off.
An idea had struck him. Could he maybe trigger a notification letting Rebecca know he was alive? If access could be granted, then it could be that access had to be accepted as well. So far the System seemed to operate much like a program. Running protocols, tasks, and even showing warning messages. It might be possible.
"How do I grant access to someone and what happens when I do?"
"Like most things, it is done mentally, you think of the person you want to have access, and open your Soul Realm to them, think about how much control you want them to have, and grant it."
"Got it."
Before he said anything else that might throw a wrench in what he was thinking, he thought of Rebecca. He reached in side, his mind expanding sensing his soul. Oddly enough he felt Joe, he was in the 5th layer. Attached, like barnacle on the side of a ship. He went deeper, and saw and felt his skills Myriad Tongues, and Identify, but they were 2D to Joe's 3D. He went all the way to the core of his soul, and thought of Rebecca.
I don't know what I am doing, but here goes nothing.
I give Rebecca Soxe complete and total access to my soul. Now and forever.
DING
DING
"Fuck that ding is annoying." Ethan said as the sound instantly cast him out of his own soul.
DING
"Uuugh. Can I at least change it?"
"Yes. Just think of it changing..." Joe sounded annoyed, but not as annoyed as Ethan was with the noise.
After a few tried he finally found a tone that was somewhere between forgettable and unnoticeable, and World War III air siren.
"Right, back to business." Ethan said as he granted Joe access and went back to checking his notification.
"Ah, it seems I have access to your soul now. Hmm, I lack access to your core. Wise choice. As well it seems as your vision and hearing. Physical touch seems to be lacking, though even if I had access I am not sure I possess the ability to interpret that sensation."
"Whatever you say bud." Ethan said, as he scanned more warning and error messages.
"Why are you so cordial to me? That does not follow your habits up to this point?"
"Easy, when you said you were attached to my soul, I figured there would be some dumb logic in place that would only cause me harm if I kept hating a part of my soul. I mean, isn't that how these things go? You hate an", Ethan made air quotes as he continued," 'Aspect' of your soul, you get some negative Karma, or your powers turn on you? The hell I am gonna be the big bad evil guy in this situation. Plus, from what you've said you were just created to answer my questions then you'd be killed off. Kind of a shit deal if you ask me."
"While you are mostly correct, that isn't how Karma works. Everything else is correct."
Joe went on to explain Karma. They way Ethan understood it, it was just the connections you form with others, neither negative or positive. There was no luck or punishment tied to it, only how much you or someone else affected each others lives. More Karma was better though, as it usually meant you were tied to that person and would continue to gravitate towards them regardless of distance or time.
Ethan took a minute to see if he could sense the Karma, Joe did his best to explain that it was possible, just probably not right now. Ethan made a note to revisit Karma and see if he could use it to find his family.
One of the errors in the list of seemingly infinite notifications caught his eye.
[ERROR]
DUE TO SUBJECT [ETHAN SOXE] CONSUMING GUIDE #56D-423-F - ALIAS (SMOKEY JOE)
[SYSTEM] HAS EXTINGUISHED THE SOUL OF GUIDE #56D-423-F
[ERROR]
[SYSTEM] HAS FAILED
[ERROR]
ATTEMPTING...
[ERROR]
LOCATION GUIDE #56D-423-F SAME AS SUBJECT [ETHAN SOXE]
[ERROR]
LOCATION OF SUBJECT [ETHAN SOXE] CAN NOT BE SAME AS GUIDE #56D-423-F
Sharing the info with Joe, ended up with a few theories. First was that Joe wasn't a guide anymore. Which would explain why Joe wasn't able to connect to the System anymore. Effectively, he got the ban hammer from the System. Second was that, they System couldn't track them. But that turned out, from what Joe knew, to be inaccurate. It was more like the System couldn't target them. They were still connected to the System, but the System couldn't tell them apart. Didn't make a whole lot of sense to Ethan, he thought it just sounded like the System was broadcasting and he and Joe just weren't replying, but the System could see what they we doing like a system log from back on Earth.
Third, was that Joe wasn't too upset about it due to his influence from the System had been severed. Which made sense, if their fourth theory was correct.
If the System couldn't influence Joe, it couldn't influence Ethan.
Which was fine by Ethan, it just made him think of Rebecca and the kids. He thought that the System might go after them if it couldn't get to Ethan.
"I wouldn't worry about it too much. The System wants a successful experiment more than anything. You family would only divert attention and resources away from its goal. That is if you can get to them. I am certain your... error, will cover them."
"'My error' will spread to them?"
"If your Karma with them is strong enough, yes. Like a virus. It is beneficial to you and your survival, and non-ideal for the System. Data can not be collected on you, and those you have a strong enough Karmic bond with."
"Interesting. So I can't be killed by the System, and I can spread my Anti-System ways to others... Like a cancer? A system caner?" Ethan said as a grin formed on his face.
He had even more of a reason to get to his family. But now he had a way to make the System.
Staring out at the Endless Plains, a plan was forming and it wasn't even that hard. Joe had said it himself, itself? All he had to do was survive and eventually he'd meet his family again. He wanted to see how fast he could make that happen.
He just needed the right skills for what he planned to do next.