The floating paper folds back in on itself, becoming a point so small I can't see it. For a brief instant nothing happens. Then pure POWER surges through me, nearly frying my brain. My injuries begin to mend themselves, and my body convulses, throwing me from the wall. I can feel the power rooting around in me, infusing itself into my every cell, opening pathways I didn't know were closed. It's incredibly painful, the energy supercharging my pain receptors and causing them to send false inputs. Can't even scream because I don't have control over my muscles.
Eventually, the process finishes and I am left coughing up all the water that got into my lungs. And recovering from the pain. I lay on all fours for a second, trying to gather my bearings. The rain is still pouring down as harsh as ever, but strangely, it doesn't bother me as much as before. Before it felt like almost being underwater, now it feels like a gentle sprinkle. It's absolutely still a downpour however, and I should find shelter before I'm either swept off my feet by a runaway current or found by something worse.
I trudge through the murky water, keeping close to the slightly graffitied wall on my left. I search above me for any potential hiding spots like my last one. Not seeing anything other than more rain and more dark purple vines, I check behind me. Intermittently I see faint flashes of battle between the two way down the alley, but that's no guarantee of safety. They could move in my direction at any time. I pick up my pace, wary of them nearly killing me by accident again.
I wander along the barely visible sidewalk, doing my best not to attract attention while also looking for a hiding spot. Normally, fighting the current trying to knock my feet out and the wind trying to bowel me over would be an issue, but whatever the energy did to me has made me much stronger than normal. Thankfully none of the people i passed noticed me and my lack of clothes. Probably too focused on trying not to get swept away to care.
Eventually, as I'm walking along, I peer into a small alley and spot a small pile of wooden crates, with a waterproof sheet over it. Curious, I make my way over, noting that the crates are arranged strangely. As I circle around I spot a small opening, just large enough for a small child to fit in. Curious, I get down and crawl inside. I feel my way inside, hoping its an abandoned hideout.
Once I'm past the initial bit of tightness, the space opens up. I wave my hand above me, not encountering the roof. My eyes finish adjusting to the near complete lack of light, and I get a good look at the interior. Turns out the boxes are all hollow, making the interior much bigger than I thought. There are no monsters in any of the corners, no people either. A couple spiders. Some blankets on the ground, no personal belongings.
It's perfect!
I don't step further inside, as I am still absolutely drenched in water. I sit down, and notice that the path to get it is slightly slanted upwards. Explains why it hasn't flooded yet. I search my memories for details on awakened, replaying the old lessons on them. I remember that they had some way of seeing their progress. Their [Soul Book].
"Woah." That was a weird effect. That sounded different. It sounded almost otherworldly.
"Soul book." I tried saying out loud, and failed. I try again, this time employing the use of my extra voices.
"Soul Book." Closer, but still not quite it. I use my extra mouths and tongues too, making a sound that no human mouth should be able to speak.
"[̴S̸o̶u̷l̴ ̷B̴o̴o̴k̵]̴."
To my surprise, a soft blue light flies out of my chest to form a thin book floating in front of me. I watch wide eyed as it flips open and presents me with my [Soul Script].
Name: 203
Level: 1
Age: [16]
Race: Human?
Mana : 330/330
Mana Regen per hour: 33
Clones: 0/3
Free Stat Points: 0
Stats: [Strength]: 17.17 [Agility]: 17.17 [Constitution]: 17.17 [Soul]: 18.18 [Intelligence]: 18.18 [Will]: 18.18
CORE Skills: [Cloning lv 1] [Beyond the Pinnacle lv 1] [small lv 1]
Status Effects/conditions: Traumatized child (have an easier time getting sympathy from those around you)
That's my name? Didn't know I had one of those. Level one makes sense, all awakened start out that way. They level up by doing things they enjoy, or killing stuff. Also, I take great offense to that question mark beside Human! Mana is... high? We were never taught exact values for mana, only that it's typically used in skills to do things. Mana regen looks small, I mean, going by that rate, if i emptied my pool of mana, it'd take ten whole hours to get back up to full! Not that i have any use for mana yet.
The next point is interesting. 0/3 Clones? I'll have to look into that. No free stat points makes sense, you only get those when you level up. My stats seem off. Why do they have decimals? Why are they all around the same value? We were told that stats enhance the body multiplicatively, so the better the body the more impact your stats have. Also, more stats equals stronger awakened. I haven't really tested my strength yet, but I'm definitely reading through this faster than normal.
Next are my skills, or no wait, my CORE Skills. They feel special for some reason. I reach out and tap on the first one, [Cloning]. The text expands at my touch, separating from the rest of the Skills to be more easily readable.
[Cloning lv 1: Cloning uses costs [20] Mana to activate, and [20-(skill lv-1*2)] maximum Mana, and [10-(Skill lv-1)] Mana Regen to maintain a clone. Currently costs [20] max mana and [10] mana regen per Clone. Clones are Identical to you in every way. Clones are connected to you mentally. Clones can use your Skills. +10 [Soul][Int][Will] Stats per level]
That sounds EXTREMELY useful. Also, I just remembered what CORE Skills are. They're your starting skills, and usually your best Skills. Core skills are unique to each individual, unlike normal skills which can be gained through certain actions. They are also what your stat increases are based on. You also normally only have ONE,
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
I have THREE.
An evil grin stretches it's way across my face. Then quickly falls off of it as I remember some of the other Skills that have been publicized. Those people could exterminate countless such clones with ease, then kill me the same way. I push the negative thoughts out of my head, reminding my self that I still have two more CORE Skills to check out. I tap on [Beyond the Pinnacle].
[Beyond the pinnacle. Plus (0.01*skill lv) to all stats +9 [Str][Agi][Con] per level]
Immediately I could see the potential. That 0.01 boost might not seem like much, but as the skill levels up and I get more stats... I'm going to turn into an absolute powerhouse. Eager to find out what the last Skill is I tap the page.
[small lv 1: You are small. +8 all stats per level]
Really? That's it? A three word description? I'll take the sta- wait. All stats? That's the biggest boost so far! I do a bit mental math, adding all the stats up. They match the values currently displayed. Which means, next time I level up, I'm literally gonna become twice as strong. Anyway, time to test out [Cloning], my only active Skill so far!
I know that the most common way to activate a Skill is to simply will it to happen, so I do just that. Something clicks inside me, and the same energy from before (although nowhere near as intense) rushes up and into my mouth. Then it suddenly expands, forcing my jaw wide open, nearly tearing my cheeks. I fall out of my mouth, disoriented from the sudden movement. Wait what?
I look up/down at myself, stunned. We look at each other for a minute, trying to wrap my head around whats going on. I know the skill description said that [Clones are connected to you mentally] but I didn't think it would be like this! We're practically the same being, just in two bodies!
I raise my new hand to touch my face. It's pale. My eyes are the same souless black I remember them being, and my hair the same generic black. My face as innocent and unrecognizable as possible, crafted to be the perfect helpless child. I frown, remembering all the lessons we had on how to "act innocent". I make my new body stand up, while my still soaking wet original stays seated. I go to the blankets and lay down, getting cozy in the dark.
It's strange being in two bodies with two minds. We're different, yet the same. I look towards my [Soul Book] which, was still floating in the air to my right.
Name: 203
Level: 1
Age: [16]
Race: Human?
Mana : 330/330 → 310/310 (330)
Mana Regen per hour: 33 → 23 (33)
Clones: 0/3 → 1/3
Free Stat Points: 0
Stats: [Strength]: 17.17 [Agility]: 17.17 [Constitution]: 17.17 [Soul]: 18.18 [Intelligence]: 18.18 [Will]: 18.18
CORE Skills: [Cloning lv 1] [Beyond the Pinnacle lv 1] [small lv 1]
Status Effects/conditions: Traumatized child (have an easier time getting sympathy from those around you)
Max mana and mana regen had both gone down. Just like the skill said they would. Clones had gone up, but other than that nothing had changed. I have two more [Clones] that I can spawn, so I activate the Skill again, throwing up another me. It joins my first clone in the blankets. I reread the description of [Cloning] and decide to test something. The skill says that [Clones can use your Skills], but does that include [Cloning] itself?
I, with my [Clones] body, activate the Skill. It works! The final clone gets up and moves past me, back out into the rain. I watch it as it moves away from the crate shelter. Then, suddenly, a dark shape drops from above and lands on me. Within moments it tears me apart, it's massive claws and jaws carving into my weak flesh.
All three of me somehow manage to hold back a scream. I move further away from the entrance, to the deepest part of the structure. My [Clones] move closer to the entrance, ready to sacrifice themselves to protect the main body at a moments notice. The creature, seemingly content after having devoured my [Clone], leaps back up into the vines and vanishes. I calm my breathing, trying to remain as quiet as possible. My [Soul Book] flows back into my chest, the little light it had been emitting vanishing.
I wait, ears straining to pick up the slightest sound of movement, but it's impossible to tell where it is over the rains roar. It's probably already gone, but you can never be too sure. I sit for several hours, eventually falling asleep. My clones stay awake though, not needing to sleep.
****
Near the end of the night the rain finally began to peter out. It's oppressive presence finally leaving the city.
I spawn my third [Clone] again, and my first and second clone leave the fort. I have a plan for them. The city, like all other cities ruled by the [KING], has a decent number of orphanages. They are also a pipeline to the kings employ. Whether that be the military, logistics, business, or trades, it's practically mandatory you go into one of them when you grow up. They also train you and teach you, which is what I'm planning on taking advantage of.
As they are about to exit the alley, I suddenly remember that none of me has clothes. Or private bits. Pretty sure normal people have those, but I haven't seen enough naked people to be sure. I was planning on masquerading as twins, but first I need to fix the issue of my lack of clothes...
Somehow.
Both of me crouch down, then spring upwards with way more force than necessary. We shoot past our intended target of the first layer of vines, smacking into second layer vines. I grab them, hanging from them. I drop onto a vine below me, then use it's springy nature to bounce further away. The other me follows close behind me, both of us moving decently fast through the bouncy tangle. Shadows are aplenty in the vines, so you must move fast.
As we search we pass a couple people, also bouncing along, but we're both moving too fast for them to notice anything out of the ordinary. At least, I hope we are. I have the one in front turn around mid jump to look back, and one of the dudes we passed is SPRINTING towards us. On the bouncy vines. Somehow.
Unfortunately, we're already moving as fast as we can, and he swiftly catches up to us. Now that I get a good look at him, he's huge. Like 8 or 9 feet tall and built like a... a muscle builder? He's really buff, and he carries a huge sword on his back. He stares at us with dark purple eyes while his golden hair stays perfectly in shape, despite the wind.
"Hello there! I see you're in dire need of clothes! Would you like me to make you some?" His voice is nowhere near as deep as I was expecting, sounding more like a young teenager than the 30-40 year old man he looked.
"Uhhhhh sure?" The leading 'me' asks. Middle 'me' looks at leading me strangely, quirking an eyebrow as if asking a question. Leading 'me' glances back, 'notices' middle 'me's expression, and shrugs. Back in the crates I giggle quietly.
"Great! Follow me then!" He beams a bright white smile and jumps up a layer. I follow him, careful to keep the made up dynamic of "leading 'me' is the leader" as intact as possible. I've never been good at acting, but then again I've also never truly tried. If he intends to kill or capture me, no big deal, these are [Clones] anyway. They're meant to be expendable. I'm meant to be expendable.
We follow him through the maze of twisting shadows, somehow not meeting many people despite being able to hear and smell them. The occasional shadow passes overhead, but it's brief. I can't really get a sense of where we're going, as I've never had the chance to explore the city fully. Nor do I know what the people use to separate and classify different sections of the city, given the longest interaction I've had with one yet is this one right here.
It's very interesting being able to think with multiple minds at once, more so than even those strange puzzles they had us do. They said they were to "test our cognitive abilities" but they were never challenging enough for that to be their true purpose.
Suddenly, he drops through a random part of the vines, vanishing from my sight. We overshoot the spot where he dropped due to our speed, and have to double back a little. Then we drop down. We're only a couple layers off the ground, and there's still vines aplenty to slow out fall with, but as we travel downward I notice that there are significantly less of them than you would expect.
We land on the ground, slightly out of sync after having taken differing routes down. We're slightly off a huge, crowded road, filled with all kinds of people and races. He's facing away from me, looking at,,, what in the actual fuck.
Amidst the ginormous skyscrapers and impenetrable gloom of the light filtering through the purple vines is a fucking cottage with fairytale light streaming down from somewhere at an angle, perfectly illuminating it. It's surrounded by grass, with small animals flitting through them. Trees lie intermittently around the small property, birds flying in between them and circling the house.
"Heh. You should see your face. C'mon kid, let's get you something to wear.