When I came to, Instead of checking where I was, I finally started acknowledging the various notifications I had, noting that I even had some newer ones.
You have successfully Evolved [Inspect] into [Gaze of the Abyss]:
Gaze of the Abyss
It gazes back through you, and it hungers for knowledge.
(Reinstates the previously corrected “heterochromia”)
This was the only one I really had the chance to look at before fainting, and it probably was even more ominous that I remembered now that I could consider the implications.
“[Buddy], didn’t you warn me about an [Abyss] within my [World within]?”
Yes, and I have bad news on that front, but I’ll leave them for when you’ve done with the other notifications.
“…figures…”
New Affinity established…
ERROR
You have gained the [Aberrant Abyss: Void] Affinity.
The Ability [Annul] evolved into [Devour]
Devour
What you don’t wish to be, will cease to be, but what you could make yours, will become yours first, because resisting your will is impossible.
Either abort the formation of Matrixes, dispelling anything not already fully formed, or assimilates the partially formed [Matrix] to be used against its creator, or saved into the inner world for further analysis.
That’s… a bit troubling.
Also, [Devour] has probably the lengthiest description that I’ve seen yet.
Also, also, you can gain [Affinities]!?
Through your effort, you have earned +1 [Energy], [Reflex], and [Insight]
Congratulation, a second one of your Statistics reached 100, designing it as your secondary Stat.
[Energy] reached the [First Tier]: effectiveness increased by half across the board.
As the first [Human] to advance within the same [Tier] the second time, you have been awarded a new [Trait]:
Deep Source
You have given to the deepest there is, so it is only fair that it would give back.
Expands the metaphysical size of the Core, allowing it to contain more resources.
I wasn’t worried, not at all, so I nonchalantly went on with my perusing.
You have reached [Level 10]
[Theomancer] has reached the [first Tier]
[Sub-classes] unlocked.
[Sub-classes] available:
· Theocrafter
· Summoner
· Sovereign
· Supporter
· Runic Sage
· Runic Enchanter
· Divine Scion
· Abyssal Scion
“Oh! Finally some good news- yeah, I’m definitely not picking that last one…”
As the first [Human] to reach the [first Tier], You have been awarded a new [Trait]:
Progenitor
The spark of creation and progress has to originate from somewhere or someone.
Makes you better at being inventive and innovative.
That’s nice, if somewhat vague… ok, no, it’s completely vague on what it’s supposed to do, including whether it’s implying that it will slightly change the way I will think from now on; and it almost feels like it’s mocking me for my thoughts on the legitimacy of [Creation].
As of reaching the [first Tier] your interface with the [System] has been personalized through your input, and has evolved as a result:
· The classification of [Titles] was created, as a distinction from [Traits] for less “changing” attributes
· [Statistics] were rearranged, to match their equivalent in the same row and make the perusing more intuitive
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
· [Spells] and [Skills] were separated into two different categories, for easier classification
· A new [Bonds] category was generated for [familiars] and alike, to better keep track of them
· [Entity-Buddy] recognized and cataloged appropriately as a [familiar]
“Fuck. [Buddy], you alright!?”
My eyes shot open, finally, with them bouncing around too quickly to glimpse exactly where I was.
I was in a room that looked suspiciously a lot like the one I had in my mansion, except this one had a double-sided bed, where I was now laying, and a nightstand with a sack on it.
I am better than ever.
I would say that the [System] was not pleased with its discovery of me, but that would imply that it was capable of feeling.
This was a long time coming, do not worry, it even came with benefits, including my own [Evolution].
[Buddy, the Tutorial] has been [Evolved] into [Buddy, the systemic authority]
“Sound fancy: anything you feel that you should share?”
I now have more to work with, information and privileges both, but also a lot more responsibilities, which included tailoring the interface to our liking.
I am kind of on a “trial period” of sorts, where I will be heavily observed by the [System] and [Gods] both, so these little chats of ours will not be as private as they used to be.
I suspected from the beginning that you weren’t actually insane, but I didn’t certainly expect… this.
You’d better visit a [Temple] soon so we can have a better chat, in person.
“Ah- uhh… sure?”
Shit… at least nothing looks like will change for me in the short term.
Your [Race] as [Human] has Evolved into [Entropic Human], due to achievements and predisposition.
[Fast Learning], as a result, has Evolved into [Preventive Learning]
Preventive Learning
Humans learn from their mistakes, but Entropic Humans are so out of sync with the flow of time that they are able to perceive it when they would err in advance.
Vastly increases the speed at which you improve and grow, across the board.
[Adaptability], as a result, has Evolved into [Overflowing Adaptability]
Overflowing Adaptability
Humans endure and live through what most would have thought impossible, but Entropic Humans are so chaotic in nature that they are in a state of perpetual adaptation to reality itself.
Vastly increases the speed at which you adapt to introduced factors.
Well, shit. I’m not even [Human] anymore, it seems.
And my [Adaptability]! I better still be able to bullshit my way through magic-fuckery with it too!
At least I doubt that it can get any worse.
The [Abyss] gazes into you
“Fuck me! I really had to say it, didn’t I!?” I shouted, slamming my fist on the soft, cream-colored, covers. Just seeing this different notification felt wrong, almost oily, and what it implied definitely didn’t help.
The door to my room suddenly opened, and a disheveled Sheeno was left in the doorway, immediately locking eyes with me.
The stare-off lasted way too long to be natural, so I decided to break the awkward silence first.
“I didn’t know that I could captivate you so easily”, I said, while sporting a cheeky grin in her direction.
“You’re a lovable idiot, I’ll admit it-“, Sheeno huffed.
“Hey! I’m still convalescing here!” I rebuked, slightly offended and embarrassed by her remark.
“-but that wasn’t the reason for why I was staring: I was mostly considering whether to ask you first if you felt fine, or find a delicate way to ask why one of your eyes looked so different now”, she finished, unimpeded.
“Oh, that… a bunch of [Evolutions], including [Traits] and [Race], and the acquisition of quite the problematic-sounding [Affinity]”, I tried to explain, honestly not sure of it myself.
“What!?” Sheeno was flabbergasted.
“Flabbergasted, now that’s a funny word.”
“I reached [Lvl 10]! Apparently, that little skirmish was enough to push me over the edge of the [first Tier]”, this time I was way more pleased with myself to explain how that happened.
“Well, congratulations are in order then- No, they’re not! Darwin, did you just say that you got ‘another’ [Affinity]!?” For a moment she looked genuinely elated that I had gotten over the [first Tier], but she completely flipped around when remembering the point that had gotten her so rattled in the first place.
“I’m going to guess that that’s not really all that common”, I hesitantly proposed.
That is a euphemism.
Sheeno slammed the door to my room closed and then turned on her privacy screen, by also slamming it, this time on the nightstand next to my bed, meaning that she had to stomp into a hurry over to my side.
“You think!? You already had six [Affinities]. Six! I’m of [Royal] blood, with every advantage I could be given as a child to increase the number I would have once I received a [Class], and I also, like most of the important people I know, ‘only’ have six [Affinties]. And you evolved your [Race] on your first [Tier up] as well!?
What. The. Fuck!!!
Do you have any idea how long it normally takes for one to have the changes they applied to their bodies to be recognized by the [System] as an entirely separate [Race]!? Me neither! Nobody does: We only know that once it happens it becomes hereditary and every successive generation inherits the traits of the strongest [Race] from their parents.”
I always like to think that I often got people exasperated, but now, seeing her actually panting with a manic look in her eyes… Sheeno really looked at her wit's end.
And I was so fucking sorry for being the cause of it.
“Just what are you?” She whispers, still wide-eyed.
“Not [Human], apparently”, I instinctively respond, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice.
We both grimaced after a moment, realizing the heft of tension that now hung in the air.
“I’m sorry-“ Sheeno quietly started, but I immediately shook my head.
“Don’t be. As someone that has personally broken down more than once, I know that it isn’t voluntary. I’m the one that should be sorry for being a reason for constant concern, and I truly am”, I interject, taking a hold of one of her hands with both of mine for emphasis.
She stares at her hand in my mine for a couple of seconds, before slowly pulling me into an embrace.
She sighs, “what are we doing, Darwin?”
“Living, I’d say. For how extraordinary my existence may appear to be, I doubt it’s going to impact our day-to-day life that much going forward”, I say, trying to reassure her.
“You really think things could be that simple?” She asks, almost mockingly, but it’s impossible to not recognize the note of hopefulness that tints her voice.
“I’m not sure, but besides saying she wanted to talk in person [Luck] didn’t comment on anything else, meaning that it isn’t something important enough for her to ‘command’ that I report to her this instant”, I explain the motive behind my reasoning, which I honestly believe it’s a fair assumption on my part, regardless of the fact that I don’t believe that [Gods] could order me around to begin with.
“…yeah, I guess that makes sense. Speaking of which, what’s the [Affinity] you gained?” Sheeno is obviously trying to skip forward in the discussion and get over this troublesome part.
“Oh, it’s another [Aberrant] one, a variation of [Abyss], called [Void]”, I report to her easily enough.
Sheeno snaps me away at arms-length, and stares into my eyes with her eyes open wide once again, although this time she doesn’t look as manic as she did before, so that’s good.
“I’m… not even going to comment on you gaining another [Aberrant Affinity], but, Darwin, the [Abyss Affinity] is one that is normally affiliated with [Demons]!” She warns me.
“H-how can you remain this calm then!? Isn’t this an even bigger deal than what made you panic just a moment ago!?” It took just an instant to register her words, and yet that instant felt uncomfortably long and silent.
“I would have been more worried, if I didn’t specify that it’s only ‘normally’ affiliated to [Demons], but that changed millennia ago, when a person rose in the rank of society while having that very same [Affinity]… although they only had the basic variant of it.”
“Who?” I asked, when it seemed she was waiting for a prompt on my part to move her story forward.
“A shared acquaintance of ours”, Sheeno says, reveling in the feeling of knowing something that I don’t, causing her to finally relax a little.
“Again, that doesn’t really narrow it down that much: I don’t know that many people to begin with, but they’re all high profile. So who?” I ask again.
“Think about it very carefully: Who have you met that could share your [Affinity] for the [Abyss]?” She seems hell-bent on making me figure it out on my own, meaning that it’s someone that we must have interacted with recently enough, whose impact must have been big enough that she doesn’t believe it possible that I could have forgotten about them.
“Monkey-ass? No, if his last name wasn’t obvious enough he’s known for his [Water Affinity] and his hand-to-hand fighting style.
Merglobth? Possible, however, I think it unlikely, since I remember them being fond of their [Patron], goddamn Chthulu itself, the [Demi-God of Psychic], so it would be fair to say that they share the same predominant [Affinity].
Who’s left? Dory? I don’t think so. Adaan? No, he’s definitely a three-hugger, [Demonic Affinities] don’t suit him, and I don’t even know if Sheeno knows him.”
And it is then that I get it.
“Oh, Merga! Now I understand why her [Claas] has a weird name like [Depth Witch], and why she’s treated with such reverence”, I make my realization clear to my… girlfriend.
“Should probably bring that point up with her.”
“The fact that you didn’t even know that much makes it all the more baffling that you have such a friendly relationship with her”, Sheeno says, relieving some of her frustration by using one of her free hands to poke me on the nose.
“Hey…” I protest weakly, scrunching my nose in displeasure.
“haha… I should have said so sooner, but I’m glad that, sudden [Evolutions] and [Tier]ing aside, you’re doing fine. I have to admit that I’ve found myself caring for your health an awful lot lately”, Sheeno goes on, poking my nose again.
“Only ‘lately’? How cold of you… pun intended”, I put up a token effort in dodging her hands by moving my head erratically, without actually bringing any of my abilities to bear.
“You’re never going to stop using my [Affinity] as a source of jokes, are you?” Sheeno says, without stopping from pestering me.
“Never!” I shout imperiously, and she catches the chance to grab the back of my head with her remaining hand and put my mouth to better use.