Name: Ethan Soxe
Age: 34
Race: Human (Sub Variant - Earth)
Level: 0
Soul: [Unique] Reforged Blasphemer
Body: [Unique] One body, two Souls
Stats
Body: 50
Mind: 14
Control: 47
Charisma: 5
Magic: 10
Soul Arts: 50
Titles: [Unassigned]
Achievement: [Soul Rebirth][...]
Skills: [Myriad Tongues][Identify][Soul Connection]
Talents: [Unassigned]
[REDACTED]
Lineage: [...]
Check his status brought up more questions that answers. Ethan felt like he just discovered a major spoiler for his own life.
With all the pain he felt previous, gone, he began to take stock of himself. He felt fine, if only a little sore, nothing a good stretch couldn't fix. He did notice his scars were missing. The shrapnel that had sliced open is shoulder to the bone on that Shit, Shit, Shit Day was gone. It used to stare at him in the mirror when he'd get out of the shower.
Wait, am I not going to be able to shower anymore?
The weirdest part of his body was definitely his hands. They were smooth, and soft. No evidence of his years of working with his hands. No scars, no calluses, even the usual hair on his knuckles was gone. Which lead him to check out the rest of his hair.
All gone.
Looking like Neo fresh out of his goo pod, he asked Joe, "What's up with the no hair, and no clothes?Is that part of the Experiment?"
"No, my best guess is that your tantrum interrupted the body reconstruction before hair and clothing were added. I am sure your hair will grow back soon enough."
"So, I get to be naked until I find clothes?"
"Or a reward from an achievement, dungeon, rift, or other such challenges."
"Right, put a pin in that, we'll be coming back to that." Ethan said as stretched and made sure all his body parts were there.
His first concern standing in the center of the safety zone was the rest of the messages, and skills. After that, he had to find at the minimum a pair of shoes. His feet were baby smooth, and he did not want to cut his feet trying to hike this stupid Endless Plain.
Checking his notifications once more things started to make sense. Not much, but it was a start.
[TITLE]
BLASPHEMOUS SOUL
WHEN THE [SYSTEM] OFFERED TO REFORGE YOUR SOUL, YOU CAST ASIDE THEIR AIDE.
LAUGHING IN THE FACE OF YOUR BETTER, YOUR HUBRIS KNOWS NO BOUNDS.
FORGING YOUR OWN SOUL WITH THE AIDE OF A [FALLEN] YOU ACHIEVED THE IMPOSSIBLE.
REWARD: [UNIQUE SOUL]
REWARD: [+40 STAT POINTS TO SOUL]
REWARD: [WHEN TITLE IS ACTIVE SOUL ARTS ARE EASIER TO MASTER BY A SMALL PERCENTAGE]
[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]
REWARD: [WHEN TITLE IS ACTIVE BODY ARTS ARE EASIER TO MASTER BY A SMALL PERCENTAGE]
"Hey Joe, can people see your titles?"
"As long as they have a high enough level of identify, yes."
"How well received is the System, like in the greater scheme of things?" Ethan was not liking where this was leading.
"It is mostly seen as beneficial, some even go as far as to worship it, like an unknown god. Seeking its 'truths'. Why?"
"I think we may be in a little bit of trouble with that later group. From what I can tell you have been labeled a [Fallen], and I have been awarded a title saying I am a Blasphemer."
"I would say we are safe from that, as long as we are in the Endless Plain. The odds of us meeting anyone are astronomical. But, yes, once you are done here, I would recommend not equipping that Title. Even in secret. There are many far seer skills able to divine titles."
"Gotcha. Noted."
Selecting the [Master of My Own Making] Title, Ethan went back to the rest of the his notifications.
[ACHIEVEMENT]
SKILLED SKILLER'ER
AWARDED FOR DISCOVERING A 3RD SKILL BEFORE THE [SYSTEM] SKILL SELECTION.
WHILE NOT UNCOMMON, IT IS STILL RARE FOR A [SUBJECT] TO DISCOVER A SKILL WHILE STILL HAVING YET TO SELECT A [SYSTEM] OFFERED SKILL.
REWARD: [+2 ALL STATS]
[SKILL DISCOVERED]
SOUL CONNECTION
YOUR INNATE KARMIC BOND WITH [SUBJECT] [REBECCA SOXE] HAS ALLOWED FOR THE DISCOVERY OF THE SKILL [SOUL CONNECTION].
AS THIS BOND GROWS SO DOES THE INFORMATION SHARED, OPENING ONES SOUL TO ANOTHER IS NEVER EASY. EXCEPT FOR YOU.
LEVEL 1
(Note: This skill passively grows over time, there is no evolution, only a stronger bond)
Does that mean it worked? I guess I'll have to wait and see. Hopefully she got a message or something.
[TITLE]
PATRIARCH OF THE END
YOU HAVE BLASPHEMED. YOU HAVE CHOSEN YOUR EQUAL. YOU HAVE DRAWN THE LINE IN THE SAND. THOSE THAT STAND WITH YOU ARE EMPOWERED. THOSE THAT STAND AGAINST YOU ARE MARKED FOR DEATH.
ONLY ONE MAY STAND BY YOUR SIDE.
ALL OTHERS MUST FOLLOW OR BE TRAMPLED.
YOU SHARE A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF STATS WITH THE [MATRIARCH OF THE END], THIS LINK IS SHARED BOTH WAYS, SO LONG AS YOU ARE BOTH LIVING. AS LONG AS THE [MATRIARCH], OR [PATRIARCH] ARE ALIVE, STATS ARE SHARED AT AN EVEN FURTHER REDUCED PERCENTAGE, WITH THE REST OF THE LINEAGE OF THE [END]
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
BEWARE - THE PERCENTAGE OF SHARED STATS IS REDUCED DUE TO DISTANCE FROM THE [MATRIARCH]. FURTHER BONUSES WILL UNLOCK AS YOU PROGRESS. BASED ON PROXIMITY.
EFFECT: THOSE THAT STAND IN YOUR DOMAIN
[WARNING]
STATS CAN NOT BE SHARED AS [PATRIARCH] HAS NOT LEFT THE SAFE ZONE YET.
[WARNING]
[PATRIARCH] HAS NOT CHOSEN A SKILL. PARTIAL AWAKENING IN PROGRESS.
Ooookay, looks like Rebecca knows I'm alive... If she got the same title as me. Again, I got sum 'splainin to do.
Ethan added that to the 'worry about that later on' list. He took a sec to consider if his blasphemy was going to come back an bite him in the ass. More than just with the System Church or whatever they had. His plan for making the System pay, was changing, and it looked like it might have to include any fanatics. But that was another entry in the 'worry about that later on' list.
Now it is time to choose a skill, and get this whole thing started.
SELECT ONE SKILL BATTLE READINESS COMMON
Always ready for battle, you are acutely aware of those that mark you for tracking, or exhibit blood lust against you.
Reaction time reduced slightly.
ONE HANDED SWORD PROFICIENCY COMMON
Knowledge in the art of sword fighting. More than a beginner, less than a Master.
NOVICE ARCANE ART COMMON
Able to wield the elements, it is up to you to discover your [AFFINITY] with them.
Basic spells - Arrow, Bolt, Wall.
BODY MOD RARE
Due to your unique physiology this skill is offered at a higher rarity than normal.
[Passive] Allows for the consumption of raw materials, storing the properties of consumed materials.
[Active] When activated your body takes on the properties of stored materials.
EXPLOSION UNCOMMON
Allows for the storing of Mana, and the violent release of built up Mana.
[Control][Mind][Soul Arts] effect the usage of this skill.
[Body] Protect you from the backlash of this skill.
[Affinity] dictates the [Aspect] the explosion can take on.
What the hell? These choices suck. Well, not all of them. But the selection sucks.
"Hey Joe, I need help again. Oh wise guide, guide me in my skill selection."
"You already know I can't select a skill for you."
"No, not that. A couple of the skill choices I got mention [Affinity], is that what I think it is?" Ethan asked, pretty sure he knew the answer.
"Pretty much. It is how well you are suited for that type of [Aspect]. There are an infinite amount of [Aspects], ranging from Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, all the way to the more obscure ones, like sleep, marshlands, or even breathing."
"There's breathing magic? How does that even work?"
"Not magic per say, some techniques work with your breathing techniques. If you don't have an [Affinity] for breathing, like an aquatic species, you won't get far in techniques that use them."
"Ah. So, I got another question for you. It might seem a little odd. But, how does Mana work? Is it like all one big Mana? Or are their different types of Mana?"
"Both. Realms of Fire Mana produce Fire Mana. But Unattuned Mana can be aspected to be Fire Mana. Though it is more difficult to aspect Fire Mana to unattuned. Or Fire Mana to say, Water Mana. Mana prefers to be Attuned."
"And how does one attune Mana?" Ethan asked as the wheels of his mind spun out of control.
"You cast a spell..."
"Joe..."
"Fine. Your soul acts as a siphon, pulling in Mana to your core. Every soul has a different limit, dictated usually by your [Intellect]. Once you have Mana to attune, you filter it through a skill, then it is channeled through your body, and depending on your [Affinity] the Mana travels out. Different [Affinities] have differnet path ways, and the higher your [Affinity] the more power, speed, or faster the cast time your spell will have. Good enough?"
"You're like a regular System Shmoogle. Copyrights be damned, I'm not getting sued after the end of the world. But yes, you were helpful."
So water. Mana was like water, it wanted to go down the biggest pipe, and hated cramped spaces. The problem was he had no idea what his [Affinities] were. That was going to put a damper on things. Adding it to the 'worry about that later on' list, Ethan crossed off [Novice Arcane Art] and [Explosion]. Too many variables. Plus he always thought magic was lame in games. The hell he'd want to stand in a field yelling 'Lightning Bolt' 400 times to kill a boss monster.
Were boss monsters a thing now?
That left 3 choices, and they were all kinda meh in his opinion. [Battle Readiness] just sounded like System assisted paranoia. He already had that in spades after returning from War. Shit every Veteran he knew had it, that skill was below common in his book. Plus if things were going in the direction he suspected, he'd get that skill in no time. [One Handed Sword Proficiency] was possibly the best option. If he had a sword.
Checking around to confirm.
Yep, not a sword in sight. Thank sYsTeM.
That left one choice.
He did not want to eat rocks.
It always freaked him out when his kids were younger, and would just randomly jam rocks in their mouths. The thought of the rocks touching his teeth made his skin crawl.
I hate this, I hate this, I hate this.
The only saving grace for [Body Mod] was that he could sense a synergy with his assigned title, stats and his [Patriarch of the End] title. Something told him, since he eliminated the other choices this one had time to... mature? It was odd, it was like his body felt all the skills, and deemed this one to be its preferred skill.
"Joe, can my Body and Soul think on their own, separate from each other?"
"No. What you are feeling is most likely me rebuilding the connections between your soul and your body. It is slow going. Your body and your soul are completely healed. But they are not complete... together. They are still separate in a way."
"Flesh Mech! I've got a Flesh Mech, controlled by my soul. Am I in any danger?"
"Always. Inside the safety zone, no. Let me repair the connections then you can leave and begin the trial. No more questions."
Moody.
Ethan went back to examining his body, and why it felt the way it did. Joe's explanation made sense, but it wasn't right. He still didn't like the skill, it sounds weird, and would end up with him having to eat rocks. But his body was almost calling for it. I hope I don't get a gluttony skill. That would be super hard to explain to Rebecca. Resolving himself to his choice, he selected [Body Mod]. Instantly alarm bells went off in the back of his mind.
Goddaaaaaamn it!
[SKILL EVOLUTION]
[BODY MOD] HAS SYNERGY WITH [MASTER OF MY OWN MAKING], AND [PATRIARCH OF THE END].
YOUR DESIRE TO PROTECT YOUR KIN AT THE EXPENSE OF YOUR COMFORT AND WELL BEING, AS WELL AS THE LEARNING BONUS FROM YOUR ASSIGNED TITLE HAS GRANTED YOU THE OPTION TO UPGRADE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO UPGRADE?
PLEASE DON'T BE GLUTTONY, PLEASE DON'T BE GLUTTONY!!!!
"Joe, I know you said no more questions but please help. I got a skill upgrade, and I am worried I might get a Gluttony skill, because of Blasphemer."
"Oh, that isn't a bad option, if you were indeed offered that upgrade."
"What? Isn't that like a demon trait, that could get the System Church after me even more? And make it so I have to eat rocks all the time or I'd die?"
"No. Gluttony is just an Aspect, of the Consumption [Affinity]. And you have a very low [Affinity] for that. If you had be offered it, it could have boosted your [Affinity] for Consumption at the very least."
"Wait, you know my [Affinities]?"
"Of course. I am connecting your soul to your body, I would have to know them to do that."
Mother fucker!
"I could have been Megumin! Explosion!!! instead I got the Bod Mod skill as it was the only one I figured could be helpful, and my body wanted it."
"Oh, good, you have the highest [Affinity] for [Body], and [Control], that will be beneficial for your survival. Explains why you felt such a pull to it."
Shaking his head, Ethan controlled his anger.
"These are things I need you to tell me about BEFORE I chose skills, m'kay?"
"Okay."
Turning back to his status window he had a choice to make. Yes. Or No. He knew what he'd chose, no doubt. His body wanted it. His [Affinities] wanted it. Joe wanted it. He needed to get to his family, and he didn't have time to argue about it.
Selecting yes, he inhaled sharply as a wave of energy hit him, followed by instinctual knowledge on how to use it, what was required of him, and how to grow the skill...
What is going on?
[SKILL EVOLVED]
BODY MOD EVOLVED
INTO
MISSING LINK
YOU HAVE MADE ONE THING APPARENT NO ONE CONTROLS YOUR DESTINY. NOT EVEN GENETICS. YOUR WILLINGNESS TO STARE DEATH, AND THE [SYSTEM] IN THE FACE AND LAUGH HAS ONLY SOLIDIFIED YOUR CHOICES.
REFORGING YOUR SOUL, RECONSTRUCTING YOUR BODY, WASN'T ENOUGH. YOU NEEDED MORE.
YOU DESIRE TO IMPROVE HAS CREATED THE SKILL
[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.
NO LONGER WILL YOU BE ABLE TO CHOOSE. BUT NO LONGER WILL YOU BE BOUND TO JUST ONE.
EVERY RESOURCE CONSUMED, ADDS TO THE GREATER WHOLE.
YOU ARE THE MISSING LINK BETWEEN WHAT WAS, AND WHAT CAN BE.
LEVEL 1
NOTE: STATS GAINED FROM CONSUMPTION ARE SHARED WITH LINEAGE OF THE [END]
"Now I'm Neanderthal? What the hell man! Still, this is way better than Body Mod."
Ethan was not pleased with the idea of consuming everything. But if he could find the right resources he could make his plan work. He just had to figure out what they were, but Joe was being short, Ethan worried he had some how offended the... soul?
How does that work out? I Joe like a leech now? Is he like an AI companion? I'll have to ask when he is done. Maybe I imprisoned him? Man I kinda fucked him over, but he was going to be killed. Does that make it better?
Ethan decided to refer to Joe as his guide for now, since that was the last official role. The whole [Fallen] thing was speculation, even if the System referred to him as such. Ethan had no information on that, and Joe didn't comment on it when it was mentioned. He got the feeling that if Joe didn't know something he didn't even try to guess. Sitting down, done with notifications for now, Ethan let the weight of everything that had happened come crashing down on him.
He had fucked up. He had, as Joe so eloquently put it, thrown a tantrum. What did Joe expect though, he was unstable. He was hurting. He was alone. It was one thing to be alone. It was another to feel alone. Now he felt both. Rebecca was his rock. He could never tell her that, he knew that. She saw him as her rock. He couldn't let her image of him crumble. If she knew how much pain he had been in before the integration she would have lost all faith in him.
Honestly, this entire time he had been putting on an act, trying to make... himself? Believe he was handling this better than he was. He was scared. Terrified. He couldn't lose his wife and kids. He'd already lost so many people. His dad to a heart attack. His mom to a stroke. Philips, Rycher, Morre, McMann, half his platoon all in one day, the other half were just as broken as he was. Of the ones that had made it home, and hadn't shot themselves already.
Shit, the only reason I haven't offed myself yet, is because I'd disappoint everyone depending on me.
Ethan knew Joe had finished before he even had to say anything. A system notification dinged in the distance somewhere. But Joe remained silent. Ethan silently thanked Joe for giving him a moment of peace before he knew what was coming.
The killing was about to begin, and once it started, it wouldn't stop.