North East Penthouse

Granite City

Jut read through his Notifications without stopping, wanting to get them out of the way.

The [System] initiates [Lock Down] for 14 days for all [Safe Zone]s. During this time, the excess Mana from the initial [Manaetherical Wave] hitting your planet is consumed by the [System] to help better control the spawn of [Monster]s. A side effect of this consumption is the expansion of your planet. The planet's extra mass and land will aid all of the life forms, [Monsters], [Magical Animals], and [Ascendant Beings] alike, survive the stabilization of [Mana Flows] over the next few [Manaversal Years].

To further aid in your planet's populations' survival, all [Safe Zone]s that survive until [Lock Down] protocol is enacted are granted Spacial Living Quarters large enough to accommodate their entire population for 1 [Manaversal Year].

Your assigned living quarters have been upgraded per allotment by your [Safe Zone] Leader. This assignment is permanent and cannot be revoked from you during the first [Manaversal Year]'s duration.

Your Living Quarters have been designed as an Adventuring Team Quarters layout. This includes [Party] Training facilities, [Professional Skill] Training facilities, and [Ritual] facilities for 5 [Ascendant Beings]

Jut smiled at the year-long security he had been granted. His smile quickly faded with the next Window.

Due to the death of so many [Ascendant Being]s in the Slatewell [Safe Zone] in such a short length of time, a [Safe Zone] [Dungeon] has formed. The Slatewell Crypts are now accessible. Those who perished below ground, within the [Dungeon]'s space, upon its creation were consumed in the Dungeon's creation process. Do not let their sacrifice be in vain. Use the [Dungeon] to grow stronger.

Those who perished above ground will need to have proper [Burial Rights] performed as soon as is practical. [Zombification] has been delayed until the end of the [Lock Down]. It is recommended that the deceased be taken care of by then. Please visit the Graveyard for more details.

Jut added investigating the dungeon to his ever expanding list. He mulled over what the last few windows said for a long, intense moment. The only under ground facility Jut knew of was the Bunker. Was the Notification implying everyone in that bunker was dead? How? Weren't they supposed to be secure in there?

If that information was a hit in the gut, winding him, the next window was a punch in the jaw.

Randal Ashton has died.

Jut dismissed that window quickly, his head spinning. He was barely able to focus on the next window at first.

You have competed a [Quest].

Quest: Mana Stones. Objective: Perform the [Ritual of Ascension] on three [Mana Stones]. Rank: None. Rarity: Abundant. Difficulty: Medium. Description:

Gather enough [Mana Chips] and perform the [Ritual of Ascension] enough times until you receive a [Mana Gem].

Mana Gem: 1/1

Reward: 3 Skill Orbs. Type: Random.

It turned out random really did mean Random Skill Orbs. All three were the same cosmic colors as the first one Jut had ever received. As he expected, his next quest was waiting for him now that the Mana Stone Quest was complete.

You have been granted a [Quest].

Quest: Ascension to [Stone Rank]. Objective: Perform the [Ritual of Ascension] on yourself. Rank: None. Rarity: Abundant. Difficulty: Easy. Description: Perform the [Ritual of Ascension] while you stand inside the [Ritual Circle] using a [Spark of Ascension] to power the [Ritual]. Reward: 1 General Skill Upgrade Token - Stone Rank.

This [Quest] is not voluntary and has been accepted on your behalf.

The next window answered Jut's main questions. It was his final Notification.

You have learned the [Ritual of Conversion].

Jut pulled up the corresponding Lore for his new Ritual.

Lore found.

[Ritual] Name: Ritual of Conversion. Ritual Type: Mana Item Conversion Ritual Rank: Normal Cost: 2 [Mana Chip]s Details:

This [Ritual] converts a [Mana Item] into another type of consumable [Token]. The most common conversion is changing [Mana Gem]s into a [Sparks of Ascension].

[Essential Diagram]

Even though Jut knew that dismissing the Window then immediately performing the required rituals was going to initiate another round of Notifications, he was eager to continue. He wanted to do something productive to keep his mind and emotions clear for as long as he could.

Jut didn't need the identical eager look on Brick's face to know the soldier felt the same.

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"Dude! Let's go." Brick announced and stood, pointing to the hallway. "To the Ritual room."

Jut sighed at the excess dramatics but lead the way.

"What? Aren't you giddy and excited too? We're about to Ascend or whatever." Brick asked as they went.

Jut went over to the same circle he had used not even an hour before and looked up at Brick as he took his spot.

"I am, I guess. How do we change the circles?"

Brick shrugged and began looking around. "Of course. It's a panel." Brick said as he found the glass-like square. He laid his hand on a panel that was in the center of the far wall and both circles began to change. The lines began to glow blue. A new line spread from one edge of the circles to the other then the light faded, leaving the different design etched into the ground as if it had always been there. They were now circles with a singular line running vertically down each, bisecting the spaces in two.

"Thanks." Jut said, pulling his Mana Gem out of his inventory. He set it down in the middle of the circle carefully.

"On three?"Brick asked, holding up two Mana Chips.

Jut felt the smile appear slowly as he counted aloud.

"One. Two. Three."

As Jut said three, he set two green Mana Chips onto the Ritual Ring and willed the Ritual of Conversion to start.

As with any other ritual, the Mana Chips glowed softly as they turned into a magical light that flowed into the Ritual's lines. When the light filled the lines completely, the Mana Chips disappeared. All the light moved into the Mana Gem which began glowing brightly. A selection Window opened.

What would you like to convert your [Mana Gem] to? A Spark of Ascension - Stone Rank A Skill Affinity Change Token - Stone Rank A Mana Battery - Stone Ran An Item Soul Binding Token - Stone Rank [Limit 1]

Jut felt his eyebrows raise at the available choices. He had no idea what they actually did, but they sounded useful. He really wanted the Mana Battery, but he didn't hesitate to select the Spark of Ascension. He made making a Mana Battery his first priority when he could kill Monsters again though.

The glow coming from the ritual intensified. The giant green gem melted into a clump of goo that caught fire. The flame was clear and smokeless. Slowly, the Mana Gem was completely consumed. Once it was, the fire ball that had been consuming it froze and fell to the ground with a soft clink. The spark never stopped glowing, though the light did dim slightly.

Jut hesitantly touched the glass like flame, but it wasn't hot. He became distracted as he watched the Spark closely. It never stopped glowing, but the glow had changed. Within the flame shaped orb, a light the color of mana, a soft blue, danced and sparkled like an actual flame would.

"So, if I had chosen the blue color and you chose the green, why are they both Mana Blue instead?" Brick asked aloud. He too had been watching his Spark of Ascension closely.

Jut shrugged. "Maybe, the color matters for the gems and chips, but not for the Spark?"

"Maybe. Okay then. The next step is to..." Brick stood up. Jut watched as Brick changed their ritual rings back to the plain shape they had been before and returned, stepping into his circle.

Brick bent and touched the Spark of Ascension to the ritual ring. As with all the chips they had just spent, the Spark of Ascension glowed brightly before breaking down and flowing into the etched lines. The energy circled around Brick along the lines before flowing into him, starting at his feet. His body began to glow where the magic passed through him. Before long, Brick's entire body was glowing that same mana blue color as the spark. After a few long moments of shining like a light bulb, it faded and Brick was left standing there as if nothing had happened.

The Soldier looked himself over. "Well, that wasn't too bad."

"Did it hurt at all?" Jut asked hesitantly.

"Not in the slightest...." Brick said, before his eyes glazed over. "Oh, I guess the process isn't complete yet. I have to make some selections first."

Jut was torn. Should he watch what happened to Brick next, or should he begin his own ascension and just deal with whatever came of it? He decided that if there was more to the process, he would just have to experience it for himself.

He gingerly stepped forward and placed his Spark of Ascension to the ring below him. He watched, transfixed, as the dazzling light show repeated for him. Brick had been right. As the glowing started on his feet and enveloped him, he felt nothing other than the desire to cover his eyes.

Instantly, a new Window opened in his vision.

Congratulations! You have begun the process of Ascending to [Stone Rank]! You are the 3,561st Earth Human to do so since the [Lock Down] began. OK

Jut blinked a few times. He hadn't expected to be the second or even one hundredth person to complete the quest and ascend, but really? Nearly the four thousandth? Did a majority of the others perform their rituals earlier that day? Or had some done so the moment the Lock Down initiated? He decided that out of over a billion survivors, being nearly four thousandth to ascend wasn't that bad. He allowed himself to dwell on that instead of the fact that over six billion others would never get the opportunity.

The next Window was what Brick had to have been looking at when he spoke.

Please complete the following selections to finalize the process and enter the cleansing stage of Ascension. It is recommended you do not wear anything organic for this process. OK

Brick was already stripping down right then and there.

"Wait man, should we go to our showers now? I don't like this warning." Jut asked. He wasn't really shy about seeing other people naked, so that wasn't the concern. If the System was warning him to not wear anything organic, the process had to be messy.

Brick looked himself over then shrugged. "I guess that's a good idea. I'll just go into the bathroom across the hall."

Jut followed Brick out, the Window still floating in his vision. Instead of following Brick into the communal showers, he went to his personal bathroom. He figured a little bit of privacy was warranted. Despite not knowing what was next, why not use the private room if it was available? After stripping down, he sat on the floor of his still slightly damp shower and allowed the Window to be dismissed, causing his first choice to appear.

Please choose a Race to Ascend to: Human - Earth Elf Beastkin Fae [Title] Bonus Options: Lionoc Drakkin

Jut was regretting his choice for privacy now. He was unable to ask Brick if the man had the same choices he did. What were his bonus options based on? Just his title and everyone got the same choices, or were his choices unique to him?

Jut shrugged and selected Human. He had always been human, so he intended to be just that. As he did not know what the System meant by "Beastkin" or "Fae", and it did not elaborate on the other options either, he wasn't going to experiment with something he might not be able to undo. He didn't want to end up with a strange tail or wings just because he made the wrong choice. He also knew that plenty of people were going to make a change, but he was fine with just being normal. He already had some social anxiety. There was no need to increase that anxiety any further than necessary by picking something different.

Just as Jut was about to highlight his selection and approve the same, a new Notification popped up. This one was weird because Jut lost his vision of everything else besides the Window. It was like the world around him slowly faded away into nothing. The next thing he knew, he was floating in a black space by himself. He was still awake, still conscious. He could feel his body, with his hands and otherwise, but he couldn't see anything or feel the floor beneath him any longer. He focused on the words before him.

You have been granted Access to Goddess Ophelia's Champion Selection... This may take a moment. Please standby...

Alex? Are you seeing this too? Jut tried to ask by thought, but no chat window opened in response.

Jut said the same out loud, but his voice didn't work. It made him start to panic. His eyes opened wide in concern as he continued to float in the middle of nothing.