Ethan lay there propped up by the corpse of the Alpha Cervine, the swamp part was gone. More than half had been consumed by him, the rest had saturated the ground and turned the area into a mud pit waiting to happen. In fact he could see the clearing where this had all started less than 100 meters away, and it too was wet and muddy. A thought occurred to him.
"Joe, will this forest turn into a swamp now that the goo is draining out of the monsters?"
"No. The water mana and dark mana will dissipate into the environment. The water mana will feed the forest, the dark mana will be suppressed while it is day, and then be released once night comes."
"Ah, and when is night? It seems like it's been day light for way longer than it should." Ethan hadn't noticed it getting any darker, and he felt he had been in the Endless Plains longer than 24 hours. Without a sun, the only thing in the sky was the ever changing cosmic painting. Cosmic clouds, auroras, stars, even the occasional meteor or comet, he couldn't remember which was which.
"You have about 12 hours left, I don't have access to the System clock anymore, but I am confident in my ability to track time. The first day in the Endless Plains is roughly 36 hours of your time. It shortens to 28 hours after the first day, a Standard System Day."
Ethan didn't have to guess why the day shrunk after the first, he was sure it was some other setting or 'feature' to throw off Subjects. Meant to weed out the week ones, he just didn't know how, and he frankly didn't want to know. He had enough reason to hate the System, what was one more on the already enormous pile. He opened his notifications and got to sorting them. Pulling up his Status Menu to one side, and notifications to the other, he saw a few notifications that he didn't care about.
"Do I have to use skills? Or can I just not use them, or ever think of them again?" Ethan asked as he eyed one of the first notifications he had received.
[SKILL DISCOVERED]
CLIMBING
LEVEL 1
AIDES IN FINE MOTOR CONTROL REQUIRED FOR CLIMBING.
EFFECT: +1 STRENGTH PER LEVEL
"You can definitely not utilize skills, but every skill is useful as most grant stat boosts. Also, before you ask, no there is not a limit to the amount of skills you can possess. Just in the resources you have to use them. It is better to have as many skills as you can discover, and work on your core skills set, then to try to level them all.
Climbing would be helpful in the short term, but not something he could see using long term. He wouldn't lift his nose at plus 1 Strength this early on either. Moving on he he saw [Missing Link] had leveled up to level 5. All of his impromptu experimenting had lead to some revelations about the skills. Some good, some bad. But it turned out okay, in the end, even if he had a sour taste in his mouth from his own high expectations of himself.
[MISSING LINK]
ALLOWS FOR THE HOLDER OF THE TITLE [MASTER OF MY OWN MAKING] TO REFORGE THEIR BODY AS THEY SEE FIT. FROM THE NATURAL, RAW, OR MAGICAL RESOURCES CONSUMED YOU REFORGE YOUR BODY.
NO LONGER WILL YOU BE ABLE TO CHOOSE. BUT NO LONGER WILL YOU BE BOUND TO JUST ONE.
AS YOU NEAR THE POINT WHERE MOST ARE OFFERED A GRADE EVOLUTION, YOU WILL BE OFFERED AN UPGRADE TO THIS SKILL.
EVERY RESOURCE CONSUMED, ADDS TO THE GREATER WHOLE.
YOU ARE THE MISSING LINK BETWEEN WHAT WAS, AND WHAT CAN BE.
WHAT CAN BE HAS STARTED TO CRAWL FROM THE PRIMORDIAL OOZE.
LEVEL 5
NOTE: STATS GAINED FROM CONSUMPTION ARE SHARED WITH LINEAGE OF THE [END]
CURRENT STATS FROM CONSUMED RESOURSES:
SYSTEM CREATED ALABASTER :
+ 10 CONSTITUTION
+20 CONSTITUTION (FLAWED EXECUTION, NO OTHER STAT GAINS POSSIBLE) (DEACTIVATED)
SWAMP MUCUS:
EFFECT: DUE TO THE WATER PROPERTIES, HEAL A SMALL AMOUNT OVER TIME (NOT DISTRIBUTED TO LINEAGE)
EFFECT: DUE TO THE DARK PROPERTIES, YOU FEEL AT HOME IN THE DARKNESS (WEAKENED DUE TO THE PRESENTS OF SUNLIGHT)
Noticing the changes in the skills he wondered what an upgrade would even do to the skill. It was already vague and full of flavor text. What could it even evolve into?
Ethan figured Joe might know, so he asked, "[Missing Link] said I can't evolve my grade anymore, but instead I would get a skill upgrade instead, is that a good thing, or a bad thing, and what does that mean exactly?"
Joe went on to explain that grades improved the physical bodies of Subjects, allowing for their physical forms to closer resemble their souls. Since Ethan had done both of those himself, almost killing himself in the process, his Body and Soul were both stuck in a constant state of change. Joe wasn't too sure how that would work, or what it would mean as that whole process wasn't supposed to happen. He had never asked about it, or as he put 'submitted a request of inquiry'. As for what would happen when he reached the level milestone, Joe guessed it would take the form of resources needed to reforge his body and soul bringing them closer to each other. More in tune with one another, similar to what happened to other subjects.
Ethan added that to the 'worry about later on' list, and moved on. He spent some time moving all of the kill notices to what he called the 'Kill log'. As he got more familiar with the system windows he found he could categorize and even edit the same notices into groups. He had killed 34 Swamp Cervine. Instead of having a long list of kills, he just had a running total in one window now. He had decided to do that going forward, and the system grouped them together with a thought. As for the Alpha, he decided to keep a tally of Alphas killed as well. He wasn't sure why, but he felt there was a reason for them holding territory, and their lives being tied to the entire race disappearing.
[ACHIEVEMENT]
KILLED A FIELD BOSS
YOU KILLED YOUR FIRST FIELD BOSS ON YOUR FIRST DAY
REWARD: +5 TO ALL STATS
REWARD: [TITLE]
[ACHIEVEMENT]
YOU KILLED A FIELD BOSS MORE THAN 10 TIMES YOUR LEVEL
YOU ARE EITHER LUCKY, OR INSANE
REWARD: +10 TO ALL STATS
REWARD: [TITLE]
[ACHIEVEMENT]
YOU HAVE WIPED OUT THE ENTIRE SWAMP CERVINE MONSTER POPULATION
ON YOUR FIRST DAY IN THE [ENDLESS PLAINS]
WHO'S THE MONSTER NOW?
REWARD: +3 TO ALL STATS
REWARD: [TITLE]
[ACHIEVEMENT]
YOU KILLED A [ROAMING] FIELD BOSS ON YOUR FIRST DAY IN THE
[ENDLESS PLAINS]
YOUR LUCK IS SHIT. BUT YOU SURVIVED.
REWARD: [TITLE]
[TITLE]
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
EARLY ADAPTER
REWARDED FOR KILLING A FIELD BOSS DAY 1
DAY 1 AND YOU ARE ALREADY TAKING TO THE ENDLESS PLAINS LIKE A FISH TO WATER
OWNED EFFECT: MENTAL FORTITUDE - MENTAL ATTACKS, EVEN FROM YOURSELF, EASIER TO RESIST
[TITLE]
EXTINCTION EVENT DAY 1
YOU WIPED A SPECIES FROM THE FACE OF THE
[ENDLESS PLAINS]
ON YOUR FIRST DAY.
IS THIS A ONE TIME THING, OR IS MORE TO COME?
REWARD: THE MORE YOU KILL OF A SPECIES, THE GREATER THE BONUS WHEN FIGHTING THAT SPECIES' FIELD BOSS
BONUS: +1% STATS WHEN FIGHTING A FIELD BOSS
NOTE: +0.01% FOR EVERY KILL BEFORE FACING THE FIELD BOSS
[TITLE]
WHO'S THE BOSS NOW?
YOU KILLED A FIELD BOSS ON YOUR FIRST DAY IN THE
[ENDLESS PLAINS]
YOUR PRESENCE LINGERS LONGER AFTER YOU KILL A FIELD BOSS
OWNED EFFECT: REGIONS CLEARED OUT BY YOUR EFFORTS WILL BE CLAIMED AT A REDUCED RATE
[TITLE]
WANDERING MENACE
YOU KILLED A ROAMING FIELD BOSS YOUR FIRST DAY IN THE
[ENDLESS PLAINS]
YOU STUMBLED ONTO THEIR PATH, IT WAS THEIR MISTAKE
OWNED EFFECT: INCREASES RESOURCE REGENERATION BY 2% OF MAX
Well then... 4 Achievements for 1 kill wasn't too bad, the 24 stat points, 18 from Achievements, and 6 from levels, to all stats is going to help out. But what is up with those Titles... My presence? 2% of Max is nice, or it will be. Plus 1% is too small to matter if I take on a Field Boss straight away, but it could turn into a very helpful title if I keep farming monsters before taking it on. Seems like the System wants me to keep fighting.
Ethan thought about his titles for some time. None of them were worth replacing his current title. Bringing up his current Title he reread it.
[TITLE]
MASTER OF MY OWN MAKING
ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH BLASPHEMY, YOU TORE YOUR BODY FROM THE FORGES OF CREATION.
WITH THE AIDE OF A [FALLEN] YOUR BODY HAS ENTERED A STATE OF CONSTANT CHANGE.
YOUR BODY WAS FORGED BY THE [SYSTEM], TEMPERED BY A [FALLEN], MADE WHOLE BY ITS MASTER
REWARD: [+40 STATS TO BODY]
REWARD: [TALENT - DOMAIN]
OWNED EFFECT: [WHEN TITLE IS ACTIVE, EQUIPPED, BODY ARTS ARE EASIER TO MASTER BY A SMALL PERCENTAGE]
Huh? It changed too, I wonder if it has to do with Titles having passive effects now...
Confirming with Joe, Ethan was proven correct, descriptions can change depending on information known, or information pieced together. This lead Ethan to think about how much information was kept from him by the System. Probably more than he could ever truly know, since he was dealing with True Gods and all that. Ethan decided it was best not to dive too deep into that, he knew Joe was no longer bound by the System, but he felt knowing more than he should could hurt him somehow. Like how Joe's plan to free himself from Ethan's soul would harm his efforts if knew the skills he needed o how to get them. One more thing had caught his eye, he had ignored it last time because he had no idea what it could be, but Ethan had resolved to getting his house in order.
"Joe I need you to tell me about Talents, and what is a Domain?"
"Talents are like skills, but always active, skills that you can infuse Aspects, or Skills into. They aren't passive skills, or abilities. They allow for the extension of skills. Take for instance if you had a fire spell, you could infuse the skill into your Domain, and have a domain of fire. You would have absolute control of that skill within that Domain. That being said, that would not be a good idea unless you have a high enough control or a high enough fire resistance passive skill. You should try adding the consumption aspect of [Missing Link] to your domain."
Ethan considered it, but felt he should check his Status Window first. Something wasn't adding up, his skills mentioned stats he didn't see anywhere.
Name: Ethan Soxe
Age: 34
Race: Human (Sub Variant - Earth)
Level: 6
Soul: [Unique] Reforged Blasphemer
Body: [Unique] Missing Link - One Body, two Souls
Stats
Body: 133 (+10)
Mind: 88
Control: 47
Charisma: 29
Magic: 10
Soul Arts: 50
Title: Master of My Own Making
Achievements: [Soul Rebirth][...]
Skills: [Myriad Tongues][Identify][Soul Connection]
Talents: [Unassigned]
[REDACTED]
Lineage: [...]
"How the hell does 24 to all stats equate to over a 70 point gain in one stat?" Ethan asked, now convinced he was missing something.
"The status screen you see is the culmination of your stat groups. The System uses this model for... people, of your species who are less adapt at quantifying statistics and values. You can expand it if you wish."
"Thanks for humanizing us, you didn't call us Entities, or Subjects. Or whatever the System refers to us as, it was a small gesture but it was appreciated." Ethan said. He had noticed Joe was changing. Joe hadn't brought it up, so he thought he didn't want to talk about it. Ethan was at least going to show appreciation for it.
With a thought Ethan expanded his status window, and dread fully descended on him.
My god, I am a fucking idiot.
Name: Ethan Soxe
Age: 34
Race: Human (Sub Variant - Earth)
Level: 6
Soul: [Unique] Reforged Blasphemer
Body: [Unique] Missing Link - One Body, two Souls
Stats
Strength: 45
Constitution: 54(+10)
Dexterity: 34
Intelligence: 29
Wisdom: 29
Perception: 28
Control: 47
Charisma: 29
Magic: 10
Soul Arts: 50
Title: Master of My Own Making
Achievements: [Soul Rebirth][...]
Skills: [Myriad Tongues][Identify][Soul Connection]
[Missing Link][Climbing]
Talents: [Unassigned]
[REDACTED]
Lineage: [Locked due to title proximity limits]
"I shouldn't have won..." Ethan said to himself, not liking the all the idea of having to fight the Alpha again without [Missing Link]. "How? The Alpha should have had a minimum of 25 in each stat right?"
"The short answer is you consumed the magic of a magic beast. It won't always be that easy, that Alpha was lazy, and had focused its growth in intelligence."
"You sure? It fought pretty dumb, it just tried to smash me. A lot."
"Intelligence the stat, doesn't make you smarter. It is a gage of your ability to acquire knowledge as well as Mana. Wisdom is how you utilize that Knowledge, and how fast you acquire Mana."
Ethan took a minute to think about everything he had learned. [Missing Link] didn't seem like it used magic, but he wouldn't know if it did not not, as he had no idea how to use magic.
"So the Alpha was a big dumb mana pool, with a lot potential, but no way to use that potential. The only reason I killed it, was because he bashed his head against a rock, and I sucked his Mana dry to the point he couldn't keep himself together anymore."
"Essentially, yes." Joe replied dryly.
"Kinda hurts my pride, thinking about how hard the fight was..." Ethan's pride really did take a hit. He was starting to feel like he might be able to
"Every victory is a learning experience, only because the loser is usually dead. A lesson you can only learn once."
Yeah...
Ethan laid there, staring up, watching the cosmic clouds weave in and around the auroras. Stars twinkle in and out of existence. He had no choice, he had to be honest with himself. He had no idea if any of his plans, previous or other wise were going to work. He had more information than before, but it only solidified how lucky he had been. How incredibly lucky had been in using [Missing Link] like he had. How it had boosted his constitution to the point he could literally face roll a roaming field boss. How incredibly lucky he had been, that his ability had the ability to absorb enough of the Alpha's own Mana.
Resting a hand over his eyes Ethan took a minute to soak it all in.
"Joe, can I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"Honestly, how bad has it been so far? Am I just lucky? Should I be dead right now? Am I a fucking idiot?" Ethan wanted a ray of hope. He needed something, anything to hold on to for support. He felt so alone.
"Yes, you were an idiot."
"Thanks buddy", Ethan said letting out a forced chuckle.
"But you were not stupid. Do you know the difference?"
"Not really..." Ethan, still laying there, said.
"Stupid people lack the ability to learn. Ignorant people lack the knowledge required for the task at hand. You are still an idiot, but less so than before the fight. But more then after you get used to your new stats. You are here to be tested, but all test your limits."
It made sense. He had thought it was fun, he let himself think for a second that he was just farming low level mobs, untouchable, like when he played WoW back on Earth. He didn't have endgame raid gear, he had pumped his body full of System Rocks and thought himself a god. But now, now he had a better idea of how he was supposed to fight. He just had to get used to his body, and then get Joe to teach him the skills he needed for his plans to come to fruition.
"Joe, I need to learn some skills. Are there an skills you can guide me on, that won't make it harder by you telling me how to get them?"
"Most skills are like that, of the ones you can learn. You are well suited for physical type skills. As you have such a high Soul Art rating."
Ethan took the chance to ask what Soul Arts was, and why some of his stats didn't get included in the 'All Stats' bonuses. It turned out the last four stats were more aligned with potential. Control was a measure of how much control you could exert internally, or externally on the world around you. Joe said it was a pretty safe assumption to divide that number in 2, if you wanted to see how much control you had over each type. But it wasn't necessary since at a certain point there was no difference in the two. Charisma was how good you were at forcing you will on to reality itself. It wasn't just people, but things as well. His being so low made sense because of his high control. Control could infuse an aspect into a space around you, altering the temperature, for instance. Charisma could cause the space around you to be on fire as if it always was. Charisma could convince someone you are telling the truth. Control could force a skill to make people think you were telling the truth past that persons defenses.
Magic, that was just your potential to learn magic. His being his lowest stat was not accurate since his stats were boosted due to titles and achievements. And his dumbassery before coming to the Endless Plains. It was a reflection of where he should be if everything had gone to plan, well the System's plan at least. So it was pretty good, and meant he shouldn't have too many issues learning magic. But that was for another day.
Soul Arts was a little more complicated than Magic. Soul Arts covered A LOT more than magic. It covered anything from Crafting skills to Fighting skills. Oddly enough it covered body enhancement magic as well. It had more to do with how Magic, Control, and even a bit of Charisma interacted with the Soul. It referred to your Soul interacting with the outside world, specifically your body so it made sense to Ethan, because he had assumed Magic came from the Soul then travelled out. Turns out that that was just how Ethan instinctually used magic.
The explanation carried on, but it went over his head. He called it over after Joe attempted to lecture on magic theory. He sat for a moment before he assigned the [Domain] Talent, and sat up. He almost did a full flip, from sitting to standing in one fluid motion.
"Woah. I weight A LOT less with out the stone. Stats are more noticeable now, I was going try and experiment with [Domain], but I think I should take a minute and readjust without my golem form" Ethan said chuckling to himself.
"That would be wise, but do not go too far, you have yet to loot the Alpha."
"Whaaa? Loot?!" Ethan said turning to look at the Alpha's dead body, pile of sticks thing.
"..."
"You didn't tell me monsters dropped loot! I thought that was only in books, and web novels!! Loot goblin, I SUMMON THEE!"