Logically, rationally, in the most fundamental of ways, Momentum, Enhancement, and Metal made up a trifecta that seemed to synergize really well. Enhancement, from its description, could augment any weapon he made or his body or structures. It had many different useful applications, but... it just didn't feel right. He'd been running with his gut so far. Changing from that in the middle of the whole process seemed inadvisable.
Momentum was another one that he thought would do well, but it was oddly nuanced in a way he didn't like. Too specific in a way another option, its more generic cousin, wasn't.
Versatile as it seemed, Metal screamed "I'm best when paired with magic", which he'd failed to take any of. He still had the option to take attributes for magic manipulation, but it just... felt lackluster. Rather, he cemented his choice, knowing it was The One from the moment he'd seen it.
“Kinetic, final answer.” Jordan had seen the option, and it immediately called to him in a way the others hadn’t. Even when tired, he felt the urge to select it, and only it. The system kept prompting him to make two additional selections, but he didn’t want to. Nothing screamed out to him, and a Kinetic Discipline was all he needed.
First Discipline designation: Kinetic.
Proceed to Second Discipline designation?
Yes
No
“No.” He wouldn’t bend. He didn’t want the others. Choosing another option felt as though it’d be unnecessary and dilute the potency of his Kinetic abilities. If he wanted to run with the Power and Alacrity combo, which he’d already locked himself into, then what more did he need than the ability to manipulate those things, make them better, and give himself a higher level of lethality? “I won’t be choosing another.”
Processing…
He would wait for the system to process as long as it needed to, but he wouldn’t be changing his mind. No matter how much it harassed him, he wouldn’t dilute his hopes of survival in this strange goblin-infested tutorial-system thing.
Processing…
If the world wanted to play hard ball with him, he’d play hard ball back and break it in doing so.
Processing…
After the third time, he sat against the edge of the Central Node. More processing later and he relented, laying back with his hands behind his head to stare up at the strange expanse above.
Error!
“So… I really did break it?” He didn’t move from where he lay and continued waiting. Something would fix it, of that, he was sure. Or they wouldn’t care about him and leave him there until he went crazy.
An update has been launched by the system administrator.
Thank you for your feedback.
First Discipline designation: Kinetic.
Warning: This choice cannot be changed.
Would you like to designate a second Discipline?
Yes
No
“I already said no. Get this out of my face—oh, that’s better.”
Discipline: Kinetic has been confirmed as your sole Discipline.
Discipline: Kinetic
Known for converting movement into power, the Kinetic Discipline has untold potential. Become faster, more powerful, unstoppable. If those are things you wish to achieve, this is the Discipline for you! Highly underrated.
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Common Synergies: Power, Speed, Force
Level:
Common I
Upgrade Cost:
1 Essence
Abilities:
None.
“Huh. Aside from unlocking the Nodes, that’s the first things I’ve seen that can use Essence Orbs. Also…” He tried to find a way to access how much Essence he had available. A notification popped up with the requested information. “Nice.”
Essence Fragment collected…
Essence Fragment collected…
Essence Fragment collected…
10 Essence Fragments collected!
Converting 10 Essence Fragments into an Essence Orb!
10 Essence Fragments collected!
Converting 10 Essence Fragments into an Essence Orb!
10 Essence Fragments collected!
Converting 10 Essence Fragments into an Essence Orb!
Apparently, he’d taken down a lot more goblins than he’d realized. In his attempts at escape, he’d absorbed a total of… eight Essence Orbs. Six, he’d already used to awaken his Status, leaving him with two more.
Aside from the thing that stared him in the face, that being his Kinetic Discipline, he had no clue what to use them on. Before he made the hasty decision of shoving both of the two milky orbs into his Discipline, he leaned forward and hopped off the Central node, made his way to the Alacrity Node, and placed a hand on it.
Intuition guided him in his actions. When his hand pressed against the dais, a constellation of bright lights and lines and things buzzed just outside of his range of vision. The Alacrity Node buzzed hungrily, and he fed one of the two Essence Orbs to it.
+1 Alacrity
“That… was easy.” The definition of the area beyond the dais seemed to shine a bit brighter, almost as if to say “feed me more, and I’ll show you everything you want to see”. Despite the greedy calling of that emptiness he wanted to have revealed, he instead fed the second Essence Orb into his Kinetic Discipline. “That should do it.”
Maybe one day he’d have enough Essence to not have to worry about whether he could splurge one or two Essence here or there, but that days was not this one. So after finalizing his choice, confirming through redundant notifications, he became something more.
A sense of calm certainty flushed through him as energy buzzed into his limbs. He felt like he could breathe easier, see clearer, move swifter. Effects of the Primary Attribute, he guessed.
Now, he had one last notification to face.
No remaining Essence!
Status has been updated!
View Status now?
Yes.
No.
“Yes.”
Name:
Jordan
Discipline
Kinetic
Level
Common II
Power:
1
Durability:
1
Alacrity:
2
Arcana:
1
Spirit:
1
Boosts:
None
(A) Abilities:
First Slot: None
Second Slot: Locked
Third Slot: Locked
(P) Abilities:
First Slot: Locked
Second Slot: Locked
Third Slot: Locked
Seeing the increases made him feel rejuvenated. Again, Rasputin’s cleaver carving through their front door and loosing the horde of goblins into his home and chasing Jordan down the stairs flooded him with a rage he couldn’t quench.
But this time, he had power. Power that brimmed through him and gave him the strength, the confidence to do something about it! “Let’s try this again,” Jordan growled, his eyes focused on the prompt in front of him. “This time, they’ll be the ones running from me!”
No remaining Essence.
Depart Way?
Yes.
No.