Core POV.
After some time, the small fey reawakened.
“T T Transcendent”
She was clearly still disoriented.
“Yup, don’t really know what it means though”
“You don’t!?”
She looked quite upset with the core’s new remark.
“Transcendent is a rank, the highest rank, do you at least know what those are?”
“Nope, like you said earlier I’m a newborn core.”
Now with the core clearly amused and the fey thoroughly confused their conversation returned.
“But that shouldn’t be possible either, yet it is.”
“Why?”
“Because your intelligence is far too developed for a newborn, and a Transcendent dungeon core should be impossible.”
“And yet, here I am.”
“Exactly.”
They both seemed solemn at the realization.
The core now knew it was far more special than it initially believed and the fey had accepted her new reality.
Yet, both wanted answers, and they only had each other for them.
“I guess we should start with your Status, have you seen it yet.”
“Yes.”
The core pulled up its Status sheet once again.
Status
Name: Undefined Race: Dungeon Core Rank: Transcendent Titles: Outworlder, Transcendent, Divine, Void Genocider, Dimension Traveler, Reincarnated Soul Skills: Dungeon Menu, Domain Rules, Dungeon Magic, Dimensional Manipulation, Void Affinity, Eldritch Affinity, Language Comprehension Divinity: Undefined Boons/Banes: None
“Then what would you like to hear about first?”
“Let’s start at the top of the list, what is a name in the eyes of the System.”
“That’s an easy one, it’s a name, chosen or granted, that one identifies with, usually only the primary one is shown, but surnames and aliases can appear there as well so long as you consider it to be you.”
The core accepted that one easily enough.
“Then how about Race, mine seems to refer to my species instead.”
“That one’s a bit more tricky, Race refers initially to one’s species, and if there are subsets to it, which there often are, it uses that instead. Though not every subset used by the races is accepted by it. For example, I’m a pixie, the System recognizes that over lesser fey any you are a dungeon core which has no subspecies to identify.”
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
“That also makes enough sense to me.”
“It can be tricky at times though.”
This information, while mundane clarified things for the core, now understanding the specifics behind the Race definition in the System.
“Then next should be Rank.”
“Urg. Yes, you’re correct”
“You seem upset.”
The core’s reply held hints of its smugness.
“Because Rank it important, it’s the weight of one’s existence, each additional Rank represents an exponential increase in power that is incredibly difficult to circumvent by a being of lower Rank without some incredible weapon or ridiculous Skill. It also acts as a cornerstone of fey society.”
“Please elaborate.”
“Fine. Ranks are roughly divided into three sections, mortal, heroic and Transcendent, these aren’t used by the System but are important distinctions none the less. Mortal refers to F Rank through A Rank, it’s where the vast majority of existence lies with less than a fraction of a percent outstripping it. Heroic refers to S Rank through SSS Rank, this is where one’s very presence can naturally influence the world around oneself unless suppressed, for these beings the world bends to their will. Lastly Transcendent is just that, Transcendent, this refers to any being that a world can no longer contain, they have to act more indirectly or have their influence limited by the System itself, there is no limit to the growth of a Transcendent and they can do many things that no one else can, be it claiming divinity, breaking reality or even being free of the System’s restrictions.”
“System restrictions?”
“Yup, the System has a lot of power over the many worlds it manages, but it can’t do much of anything to a Transcendent unless they let it, other than suppressing their influence and power when they invade a world directly. It even gives them certain benefits.”
The core liked to hear that, knowing that the System couldn’t do much to it was reassuring to it.
“Then how about Titles, I have a few of those.”
“Titles are marks of achievement that can give a degree of power related to the achievement, you should have Transcendent right, that one gives access to the aforementioned benefits, though those vary by individual.”
“You sure do know a lot about this.”
“I was a Librarian after all, it paid well for tuition.”
“I see… We might have to revisit this topic soon.”
“I’m fine with that, but first we should probably move on to the next section.”
“That’s fair.”
The core was curious, it wanted to know about the Academy and fey society as a whole. Just what life did its new assistant have before meeting it?
“Next should be Skills then.”
“Yes, Skills are a sort of power ingrained into one’s very being. Your Skills are a part of you and not two creatures have Skills that are quite the same. Even if two dungeons have the same Dungeon Menu skill they will both operate it in different ways and have an easier time accessing different things through it. It comes as a standard for every dungeon core, but it will change to fit each user as they receive it and make use of it, growing with them.”
“I see, so skills are abilities gained by an individual and refined by them.”
“Yes, Skills may inherently belong to a Race, or they may be acquired through other means, usually through training or bestowal.”
“Bestowal?”
“Certain beings can bestow Skills, like dungeon cores or Transcendent beings, but they can also be gained through certain items as well.”
“I see.”
The Skills turned out to be more than the core initially thought they were, with the prospect of growth and personalization it realized that it could do so much more with them than it initially thought.
“What about Divinity?”
“Divinity! You have Divinity!”
“It’s labeled as Undefined.”
“The System only shows a Divinity section to those that acquire it, it’s a potent source of power tied to a specific concept, allowing for the manifestation of power regarding that concept through it. Divinity is a potent power that only Transcendent beings can fully make their own. To have it Undefined means that you can define it, your Divinity has yet to be shaped.”
“That sounds powerful.”
“It is.”
The core considered her words for a bit, wondering what Divinity it should try to acquire.
“Divinity can embody any concept, right?”
“Yes, it can”
It decided then what it would have.
The core would have a Divinity related to the concept of ‘A World’.
But first they should finish with covering Boons and Banes.
“There is one last section on Boons and Banes, what are those?”
“Ah, well Boons and Banes are similar to skills in a way, though they are also different. They are both gained from an external source with Boons being more benevolent and controllable and Banes being malevolent and uncontrollable. Though they are less a part of you and more attached to you while being more rigid in function. Also, they don’t grow in the same way skills do, instead needing to be manually empowered b meeting a requirement or the intervention of what bestowed them.”
“So they are gifts and curses that are attached to someone”
“Yes, one example of individuals with these tends to be Outworlders.”
The core was surprised at that statement, after all it should apply to the core as well.
“Oh, I have that Title.”
“Wait, what!”
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