I was shocked by the growth I had made already. While I didn't have a comparison to another person, my stats being mostly different from the Zōin̈’s, and time being rather subjective at the moment the levels seemed a little high. Five levels and from my understanding I hadn't even made it past the tutorial, I worried about who I would face after if growth was this fast. Hopefully it'll fall off at some point. It also seemed leveling didn't do much beyond increasing my limit for certain attributes such as ability limit, I wouldn't know for sure till level 10 but it also seemed to give me an ability choice every 5 levels. Excited to see what options I had available to me and not wanting to worry about it till I could compare, I moved on. I have a new ability I can pick and this one I can actually pick verses just being given it. I focus on picking a new ability and a screen appears.

[NEW ABILITY: 1

AVAILABLE ABILITIES:

SPELL COALESCENCE I - Drawing from knowledge of your previous life, this ability will form new spells. These spells are chosen on your ability to understand them. The number of spells that can be provided by this ability can not exceed your MANA stat.

MINOR SHAPE 》MODERATE SHAPE - Your knowledge of engineering and your understanding of the natural world has given you greater control over the environment, weather, and terrain within your omnisense radius. This control now includes minerals and some flora growth. This ability uses your CONTROL stat to determine how far you can push the changes, how long it takes, and the precision you can exert. WARNING: this ability can have long and far reaching consequences, you have been warned.

PROPHETIC IMPRESSIONS - you will now have the ability to influence your people more directly through; dreams, near death experience, moments of extreme clarity, or other similar times. The influence is subtle and will leave much to the interpretation of the one given the impression. This ability uses your INFLUENCE stat to determine the complexity and clarity of your impressions. This ability uses your PRESENCE stat to determine what situations can qualify for activation of PROPHETIC IMPRESSIONS.

GIFT FROM THE HEAVENS - Bestow upon your people an artifact. It will serve as a direct link to you for whoever wields it and provide abilities depending on the form the artifact takes. This ability uses your MAGIC stat to determine the power and form your artifact can take. This ability uses your PRESENCE stat to determine strength of the link between you and the weirder. WARNING: Because of the nature of this ability, destruction or loss of control of the artifact will result in consequences. Severity is determined by the circumstance.

OMNIPOTENCE (DANGER. LIMITED) - You become aware if certain actions you or your people take will be detrimental or lead to disaster. The ability in its current form is extremely limited. This ability uses your FAITH stat to determine when OMNIPOTENCE activates.]

I had questions. Many questions. First, being why the system was suddenly vague about what exactly the abilities did? The second one being, why didn't I see an upgrade to mana manipulation on the list? I guess it just didn't qualify because of experience, knowledge, or level. Maybe a mix of all three? It didn't matter too much at the moment, the choices I did get I liked. Even the one I thought was the weakest, SPELL COALESCENCE I, was pretty good. Giving me up to six spells based on what I knew. Being a nerd and geek, I liked my chances of understanding enough about a variety of subjects for good spells. The one in the description implies it can upgrade later too. The downside though was it was completely random and at this level I doubt it would lead to earth shattering spells. Some of the abilities relying on my not so great stats also worried me. They didn't have to be low though. I already saw hard work and pushing my limits in certain areas will give me stat points. I shift back through my notifications logs to check a thought I had. I find it in between my leveling notifications. This also made me wonder why some pulled at my attention or a flash caught my eye but others didn't give me any indication. I could dismiss it as I just didn't notice the flash or ignored the pull. Hyper fixation being a bitch and all. It didn't feel the same though. This felt deliberate, like some…sort…o….of….STABILIZE. Ehh, not worth my time, it was probably just hyper fixation or something. So I only get to pick an ability every five levels but I have a slot open every level. This might imply I can gain abilities besides leveling. With that in mind I should hold off on upgrading minor shape. That leaves PROPHETIC IMPRESSIONS or OMNIPOTENCE. I wouldn't mind SPELL COALESCENCE or GIFT FROM THE HEAVENS, but they felt too soon. I wanted to wait, besides if my theory was right I might be able to gain GIFT FROM THE HEAVENS myself. I decided to go with PROPHETIC IMPRESSIONS. A danger sense sounded good but until I increased my stats more the iffyness of the ability triggering made it mostly useless in my eyes.

[NEW ABILITY GAINED: PROPHETIC IMPRESSIONS - During moments extreme clarity such as near death experience, deep meditation, ‘Runner's High’, or similar events. As well as during altered states such as dreams or when on certain drugs and shamanestic herbs. You may DECEND to the creature as long as they are of your faith and directly talk to, show images/impressions, or interact with in a desired fashion. INFLUENCE × Level = amount of words that can be said. Simple images or emotions count as 3 words. More complex images, emotions, or other such interactions vary in cost. The cost will be known before said action happens. PRESENCE = when ability activates. With current PRESENCE ability may only activate under extreme circumstances or while under shamanestic concoctions. WARNING: This ability is not mind control or similar power. All words, emotions, or other interaction is subject to targets understanding and biases. How the ability triggers may influence clarity and perception of target.]

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Well the activation condition wasn't good but atleast I got a more defined description when I got the ability. I would also need to be very careful and precise when I used the ability. Couldn't exactly talk about bacteria to someone that didn't know the basics of germ theory and expect them to tell others with much accuracy about staying clean. Speaking of creatures with basic understanding I turn my attention back to my people. The priestess is wrapping up her religious speech when I tune back in. Whatever she said seemed to have convinced many of them to believe in me, as they looked at her with fervor. With a sigh I know exactly what I need to cement her rule and convince any of the remaining skeptics. I focused on my MAGIC and WILL and pushed my one spell through my connection to the Zōin̈ and a prompt appeared in front of them.

[HALLELUJAH: YOUR HIGHER BEING HAS BESTOWED UPON YOU A SPELL: SIMPLE NATURAL HEALING - As long as the caster focuses on a wound and the target has natural healing capabilities then they will heal at an accelerated rate. COST: Small and slow drain of MANA, miniscule drain on WILL. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS SPELL IT IS CONSIDERED A SPECIES SPELL AND ALL ZŌIN̈ CAN CAST THIS SPELL IF THEY HAVE THE MINIMAL MANA COST AVAILABLE AND ACCESS TO THE WILL STAT.]

Both species and godling are amazed at the contents of the message. The species because to them this great being that saved their most respected elder just gave them a way to heal themselves, as all had enough mana and will to cast the spell. The godling is amazed at the information that some spells he gifted them would be usable by the entirety of them. It also implied that some wouldn't be. Maybe if they were more complex or swayed too heavily on a principle or school of magic. Probably couldn't have everyone be able to cast lightning bolt. Still it gives me plenty of ideas for spells and I had 23 spells I can gift them. I could experiment and find out what classifies as a species spell and what doesn't. As well as what other spells are classified as. Before I get too carried away I focus back on my people. I was shocked. The few minutes they had the spell and I was distracted they worked out how to cast the spell…and they were healing each other. Every single one of them. They were going through the oldest and sickest first. The ones healed then go on to heal when they have rested for a moment. My priestess was guiding them, but it was minimal. She more acted as the organizer and kept it from being just a bunch of random healing. I watched as the mana began circulating through them, following channels in their bodies. When it reaches their spirit hands the mana brings them to the visible spectrum. Their spiritual and real arms twist, the extra joints allowing them to make the major outline of the spell shape. They swing their hands back and forth, their extra knuckles on their fingers and the extra thumb quickly bending themselves into the correct symbols. Even the tail came into play slightly. It is used to hold them up and still as they use their legs to make the lower outline of the spell shape. The mana expanded out and completed the missing lines of the spell. I delighted in watching the selfless action. Making a decision based on emotion rather than logic I activated one of the limited uses of my last truly God ability.

[MENTAL AND CULTURAL INFLUENCE(TEMPORARY, LIMITED USE: 4 》3)

INFLUENCE - THE WANT TO HELP EACH OTHER. THE DRIVE TO QUICKLY AND SUCCESSFULLY CAST A NEW SPELL. ARE INCRESSED IN THE ZŌIN̈. AS THIS IS ALIGNED WITH THE NATURE IT IS EASILY ACCEPTED BY THEM AND REINFORCES A EMPATHIC AND INQUISITIVE NATURE.]

Nothing outwardly changed but I quickly saw the changes. After all had been healed of all they could be, the ones who picked a class that gave them access to spells began practicing once more after a rest. Many succeed after a few tries. Unfortunately some of the elderly and one young with boils and growths covering them couldn't be healed. Without CELLULAR CONTROL I had no idea what was wrong with them though it didn't surprise me. Humans had plenty of illnesses that couldn't be healed by the body's natural healing process. They didn't explore into the jungle beyond a cursory check to ensure nothing is watching them at the edges. They set up a rudimentary camp and speak of wonders the surface world brings. I turn my attention upward. I keep a mental eye on them for any dangers, but it seemed their plan at the moment was to secure the tunnels that lead to the surface and make defenses in case of attack. Food was abundant for them at the moment as fish filled the river cutting through their cave. I figure that will keep them busy for a few days. Plenty of time to create a few spells and test them. I pulled my perception from the world only keeping a metaphorical eye on my priestess. It turns out I didn't need to actually cast a spell for my ring to break apart and form shapes and symbols. They did nothing but I enjoyed the feeling and got to practice my spell forms. I spend a good amount of time just spinning and shaping the ring. After getting the hang of moving my ring around and half casting I got down to making new spells. The first one I had in mind was most likely going to be another species spell if I designed it right. I wanted myself and the Zōin̈ to have a soul sight spell. I should have thought of adding a natural soul sight during their creation but I was so caught up with the design and I could see the spirit arms during their creation. I didn't even think about not being able to see them in reality. Nothing I could do about it now but make it right and do better. I begin pulling at my MANA MANIPULATION skill instead of the ability. There had to be a reason either the system or my psyche separated it into a skill and an ability. Initially it feels the same; an ever so light pull on my WILL as I focus, the knowledge associated with it coming to the forefront of my thoughts, the stats aligned with the power sharpening for use, and…this is different. Slightly anyways. With the ability I would also feel my spells, well spell. With the skill I felt the actual spell form. I also felt that there should be something else different about the two, but I could place it. Maybe it has to do with my people and the planet. That line of thought would have to wait. Now that I can tell the difference between the ability and skill for my purposes it was time to make spells. While the knowledge of how to create souls and what exactly they are was taken from me, I still know the souls of my people. I know my soul. Forced to see myself stripped down to its bases. It would suffice for a base I believe. My ring which had settled back into its neutral state came back to life. It breaks apart and begins circling me. I focus on myself, my entire form is a soul with a visual effect. The lights and swirls meant to invoke meanings of who and what I am. My people's souls. The system calls it a life death cycle soul. I briefly wonder if that means they could return to life. I pushed the thought aside as it would distract me. I begin to form my soul sight spell.