As Dante vanished from his home in a flash of light he found himself...nowhere.
He found he could not move his body, could not feel his body. Focusing on each of his senses drew a blank. There was no up or down, no left or right, nothing forward or back.
He was nowhere and couldn't feel anything, save for the passage of time. Flashes of events rolled over him.
Memories of the first floor of the tower.
"Wait, what the fuck was this? Have I already gone through the tower?" He thought, and as suddenly as the memories started they ceased ended by a single line of text, quickly followed by additional text.
Error Detected: Floor boss missing...
Anomalies in floor layout detected...
Admin overrides detected...
Resetting chronology to point prior to floor entrance...
Assessing floor template for changed variables...
'What happened? Where the fuck am I? WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!?' He screamed in his mind as panic began to set in. A feeling which was only worsened when he experienced the unmistakable feeling of someone looking at him.
Player is noted as being conscious and aware...
Interesting...
Applying [Temporary Condition: Calm Emotions]...
No sooner had the words appear than he felt his panic lull, and he was sure that had he been able to he would have sighed in relief.
Analyzing template loaded for floor 1, normal difficulty...
Out of Bounds Exception: Hard tower, Floor 5 template variant loaded...
Template is noted as having been modified to remove boss encounter breaking main floor quest...
Terminating floor attempt...
Tracing Admin privilege's...
Reporting issues...
Elevating priority...
Contacting higher Authority...
Resetting floor template...
'I wonder what this means for me.' Dante thought with idle detachment as the notifications rolled on by.
Removing [Temporary Condition: Calm Emotions]...
Beginning floor attempt 1B...
Time ratio set: 24-1...
Congratulations! The Earth system A.I. has noted you as having performed a special action. "Awake and aware in a timeless place."...
You have experienced several abrupt changes in the flow of time and have recognized them...
Congratulations! You have been noted as possessing an above average affinity with Time...
You currently lack the prerequisites to acquire the affinity for Time...
You are noted as possessing the (innate) Rare, passive ability, Time Sense Lvl. 1...
Time Sense- Slightly increase proficiency with time related skills and magic per level of the skill. Aptitude of sensing occurrences in the local space time fabric increases with skill level. +4 Luck and Spirit per level of the skill, +5 Wisdom and Perception per level of the skill...
Rare ability soul capacity: 8 points...
Skills/abilities take up a capacity of ones soul or Spirit. Ones soul capacity increases with their spirit stat. The capacity required by a skill depends on its rank and increases somewhat with its level...
Soul Capacity 8/14
Tutorial note: Due to having "Obtained" a skill/ability you have earned experience based on the [Rank]/rarity of said skill/ability...
+500 exp for [Rank 3] Rare ability...
Skills give you an experience bonus based on their rarity every time they level, and when you obtain them...
Congratulations! Your stat total has exceeded 100!...
Awarding random trinket...
Tiny silver skull added to inventory...
You have leveled up! [Rank 1] bonus: +1 to all stats...
You are [Rank 1] Lvl. 1...
You have leveled up! [Rank 1] bonus: +1 to all stats...
You are [Rank 1] Lvl. 2...
You have leveled twice and gained 2 System store point (SSP). SSP can be spent on skills from the system store. Skill point cost increases with rarity. 1 for common, 2 uncommon, 4 rare, so on. all bought skill start at level one. Abilities can be purchased in a similar manor but at higher cost than skills. Common ability 2 points, uncommon 4, rare 6, and so on. Skills are different from abilities, while skills are an application of knowledge, abilities are part of ones body and must be obtained through means other than study or practice. Many skills or abilities from your favorite media can be found in the System store.
The Chronomancer I Road has opened to you...
Chronomancer I Road- (0/50)...
No sooner had the text finished streaming down his vision, that his eyes were assaulted by a bright light. Pressing his eyes shut he saw red as his eyes struggled to adjust to the shift in brightness. Over the course of several seconds Dante managed to squint, and slowly open his eyes as they adjusted.
Still blinded by the light he felt something new, almost as if something that had always been there had suddenly changed. Like a normally wide and slow river moving through a more narrow channel. That while forcing the water to move faster, also caused the otherwise calm waters to grow agitated. It was then he realized that this must be his "Time sense". He could feel the flow of time.
Taking a deep breath Dante opened his eyes to examine his surroundings. Finding himself on a platform with four columns spaced equally apart from one another around the circular platform. By his rough estimate the platform was about 10 yards, or 10 blocks in minecraft. An intricate ritual diagram, like some sort of summoning circle was imbedded into the platform. Its lines and runes gently humming and as they pulsed slowly with light.
Beyond was grassland and around that he spotted a treeline. In the distance, large pillars stood several hundred feet into the sky before they ended.
We will now begin the Tutorial...
Please say "Status"...
Reading that text he couldn't help but have a little whimsy. Raising his hands to make quotation marks he smiled and flexed his fingers as he spoke. "Status."
Dante A. Stone [Rank 1]
Race: Human
Class: N/A
Lvl. 2
EXP:100/500
Currency: 1 small platinum
Strength
13
Resources
Total
Regen.
Constitution/Vitality
9
Health
272
(12.5/min)
Endurance
10
Mana
450
(18/min)
Dexterity
8
Stamina
260
(15.75/min)
Willpower
13
Road Points
3
Intellect
14
Stat Points
0
Wisdom
13
Charisma
8
Luck
14
Perception
14
Spirit
16
Soul capacity 8/16
Stat total
132
Skill Lvl total 1
You have been labeled with the title, "Smartass I"...
Smartass I- +1 Int. This title will be displayed to all other players for 1 day...
Floor Quest has arrived...
Floor one quest: Kill 10 creatures...
Creatures will be randomly spawned one at a time on this platform. Killing each will grant experience to you, the player. After each creature has been slain a small rest period will begin. Each creature will be different from those that came before, there will be no repeats. You can choose to forgo these rest periods. When all 10 creatures have been slain the door to the Tutorial zone will open permitting you to exit from this space...
Flipping coin: Heads summon, Tails spawn...
Heads...
Summoning Random enemy...
Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
Rabid Fox, is being summoned...
The outer edge of the circle began to pulse with increasing intensity as the hum grew until it was continuous. As the light and sound reached their climax a fox the size of a small dog appeared on the platform about 3 yards away from him in the center of the circle. The outer edge of the circle falling quiet, and the pulsing light becoming slower than it had been originally.
The fox seemed to throw its head from side to side before locking onto him. In the heartbeat it saw him it lunged at him screaming. It was fast, covering the distance between them in a second. Faster than he could react the fox bit into his leg and began tearing at his flesh, trying to pull him off his feet. He screamed in pain as he watched the little red HP bar in the upper left hand corner of his vision began to deplete. On reflex he willed the hammer from his inventory into his hand and swung.
A mere second after his hammer made contact with the foxes skull the kill notification appeared. But he ignored it a moment as the corpse of the fox went flying towards the edge of the platform and vanished as it passed a previously invisible boundary.
You have slain, Rabid Fox, +30 exp...
Creatures slain (1/10)...
1 Minute until next coin flip...
A countdown appeared in the top right of his vision.
"Well fuck me sideways." Dante yelled as he dropped to the ground clutching his bleeding leg.
Bleeding (Minor), -1 Hp per second for 10 seconds...
You have contracted the disease, Rabies...
Please seek medical attention as soon as possible...
"GOD FUCKING...." He screamed, trying to staunch the bleeding with his pant leg. Wasn't rabies a death sentence if you didn't get it treated? Memory flashed through his mind as he scream an order at the system.
"System store! Delve, Purify!" To his relief what he had been looking for appeared.
Tier 0 Utility Aura
Purify (+)
Purify poison, corruption, and contamination
Range: 1 meter *(Skill level*[Rank]),
Max level: 10*[Rank], Cost: 1 mp/s
Quickly he lashed out and slammed his hand on the plus.
-1 SSP...
A door opened in the back of his mind and a stream of light came forth. A second later the door shut but the light remained, assembling itself into something. Imbuing him with knowledge he didn't have before.
He felt the skill click into place as something stirred within him. He felt something within him flex and stretch, he felt warmth as his aura moved beyond his skin.
Skill, Purify, unlocked...
Purify (1/10): Exp (1/100)...
Seconds passed as he felt the bleeding of his leg slow and stop. Watched the blood on his hands evaporate into motes of light and vanish. Carefully he pulled his hands away from the wound and while it was still there, it was healing far faster than it normally would. Considering for a moment leaving the skill on he decided against it as the mana cost was nearly three times what he regenerated per minute. He decided that it was probably safe enough to keep it on until the next creature came.
He wondered if the skill would actually get rid of the rabies but was glad when the minute was nearly up and a notification appeared.
You are no longer afflicted with disease, Rabies...
Well shit, it really could get rid of disease. He could complain about the speed, but that was an issue that would be solved by increasing the skills level, or amplifying its power. He would save his SSP for now.
Flipping coin...
Tails...
Spawning Random enemy...
Slime (Small), is being spawned...
He watched the circle carefully as this time there was a thrum of power from the center of the circle outward. Runes lighting up and growing brighter by the second until once more it climaxed.
"Oh shit..." He spoke softly as a small distortion in the air appeared and quickly grew until it condensed and fell a small distance to the platform. It almost looked like an orb of living water with how clear the fluid was. If it were a perfect sphere it would have been just a little smaller than a bowling ball. Once more the light and thrum of power coming from the intricate design in the floor subsided.
The slime less than a dozen feet away almost seemed to "turn" towards him before it rocked back and took a bouncing leap forward.
The slime jiggled a bit when it landed, before winding up for another leap landing at his feet. Slowly he walked around the circle keeping the slime from catching him by simply out pacing it. He suspected he really shouldn't hit the slime with anything while he was next to it. He didn't want to risk this thing being some kind of acid as slimes were supposed to be.
So how was he going to kill it? 'Is this thing even going to get tired?' he couldn't help but wonder as the slime continued its all but futile chase.
He could throw the one handed sledge hammer at it. He could miss, and even if he hit the wooden handle might get destroyed if the thing really was some sort of acid. Or he could spend a point for some kind of ranged attack. That might not be a bad investment in the short or long term.
"System store, a simple ranged skill I can use now." he requested to which a rather long list of basic ranged skill appeared mainly composing variations of bolt this or that. So he picked the most basic one to up with.
"Select and buy Mana bolt." he requested, several notifications popping up.
-1 SSP...
You have acquired the Common Active skill, Mana Bolt Lvl. 1...
Mana Bolt- Focusing your mana, you fire a bolt of pure mana at your enemies. Costs 20 Mana. Damage scales based on Intelligence and Level of Skill. Damage, impact, range, projectile speed, and casting speed increase with Skill Level. Dmg = 20 +[Int*Rank] + [skill level times 10]. +50 Mana per skill level, +5 mp/m per skill level. +2 Int and Will for each skill level...
You have acquired your first Active damaging skill. Please note that skill exp gain is calculated by mana cost combined with damage dealt. Exp gained cannot exceed current health of creature + skill mana cost...
You have leveled up! [Rank 1] bonus: +1 to all stats...
You are [Rank 1] Lvl. 3...
+1 SSP...
As he walked he felt as once more that "door" in the back of his mind opened to let in a stream of light before closing once more. The light assembling itself into the skill he had requested, giving him access to knowledge in seconds that might have taken him hours or days to learn otherwise. He breathed deep as he felt the mana within him stirring.
Running to the opposite side of the platform Dante raised a hand and took aim at the slime. Calling upon the skill he allowed the skill to pull his mana and shape it into a small orb in the palm of his outstretched hand. It took about 5 seconds before the skill told him it was ready to fire. There in his hand was a small orb of mostly transparent, slightly yellow light. As the slime took another leap towards him he fired nailing the slime midair. The bolt while not terribly powerful slammed into the orb turning its insides into its outsides.
Creatures slain (2/10)...
2 Minute until next coin flip...
The count down returned.
He got his confirmation as the remains of the slime hit the floor and began to sizzle. Out of an abundance of caution he walked over and turned on purify, it only took a minute for the acidic slime to be evaporated into motes of light.
Seeing as he had a moment he pointed a hand towards the edge of the invisible barrier he had seen erase the foxes corpse. Taking a few steps back from the barrier he cast mana bolt. Once it was charged he fired, the bolt sailed through the air towards the unseen barrier and passed through unhindered.
Walking up to the barrier he tried sticking his one handed sledge hammer through the barrier, and encountered no resistance. Gingerly he reached out with his left hand and tried to touch the barrier. To his surprise the barrier did appear as his fingers touched it, though only as a mild local distortion in the air. He felt a tingle on his skin, but nothing more as he inched his hand through the barrier and pulled it back unharmed. He turned as the notifications came in.
Flipping coin...
Heads...
Summoning Random enemy...
Summoning, Mountain Cave Goblin...
The process of summoning the fox repeated itself but this time what appeared was a small hairless grey skinned creature about a yard tall, about equal to his belly button. It wore a tattered garment as a loincloth and upon a tattered belt at its waist he spotted a dagger in its sheath. Strapped to its back was club with some sort of...It was a femur. It was the femur of a creature, possibly human, though he couldn't be certain about that.
The creature looked at him with cold black eyes, only now did he spot the rough patches of skin dotted around its body meant to mimic bits of grey rock. It had no nose instead mere slits that widened and narrowed as it breathed. Its ears were jagged and uneven not at all similar to an elf's ears but more akin to ears that had been chewed on by rats.
In one hand he held his one handed sledge hammer and with the other he prepared a mana bolt. No sooner had the goblin spotted the light did he react. The male goblin gave what seemed like a war cry in an unknown language, most likely goblin. Raising the femur and wielding it with both hands he charged across the platform screaming all the while.
The goblin was halfway to him before the bolt was ready to fire. He fired off the bolt and began moving. The goblin on the other hand did not move to dodge the bolt instead bringing his bone club up to take the hit for him. The bolt was about as wide as the bone but still managed to catch the goblins hands as the bolt splashed against his club. It shouted in pain but wasn't backing down.
Dante was running now trying to keep out of range of the goblins club. Unfortunately for him the goblin wound back his arm and threw the club with a surprising bit of accuracy. He was too slow to react, as the rotating club connected with his kneecap. Pain shot through him as his body seized up. A chunk of his health vanishing as he fell and tumbled, momentum carrying still him forward. His hammer slipping from his grasp and clattering beyond the edge of the platform.
A notification telling him what had just happened.
Mountain Cave goblin has inflicted critical strike...
Weapon, Bone club of Stunning (Minor) has inflicted stun upon you...
You cannot move for 3 seconds...
Horror danced in his eyes as the goblin raced towards him and the weapon that had landed nearby. He absolutely couldn't let this thing keep hitting him with that. Though it was unlikely his health would last that long he wasn't keen on the idea of being stun locked and beaten to death. By the time he could move the goblin was nearly on top of the club.
*Pop* Went was the sound made as the mana bolt made contact with the club, flinging it just beyond the barrier. Dante stood as best he could though his left knee protested.
His thoughts racing as he looked down upon the goblin, mana bolt forming in his right hand.
He was curious where the goblin had gotten the item from. Had it enchanted it, or had someone else. Setting those thoughts aside he resolved himself. He was going to kill him, not play 20 questions.
The goblins snarled as he pulled a rusty dagger from the sheath at his belt. His snarl quickly quieting as Dante pulled one of the large steak knives from their kitchen out of his inventory.
"Sorry mom, I'll be sure to wash it well before it comes back to you." he whispered as he took the offensive and advanced on the goblin. The goblin seeing that the tables had turned ran to retrieve its club.
Dante held back firing his mana bolt wishing to see what would happen to the goblin when it met the barrier. Two seconds later he got his answer. The goblin running full tilt towards its weapon was utterly surprised when it smacked into the unseen barrier being knocked back on his ass.
Taking this moment of distraction Dante unleashed the mana bolt smacking into the back of the goblins head. The goblin clutching his head began rolling around on the ground as Dante advanced on him.
The goblin screamed something and an unexpected notification appeared.
Mountain Cave Goblin wishes to surrender...
Mountain Cave Goblin offers you their service in exchange for their life...
Will you accept? Yes/No
He stopped as he read and reread the notice, glancing between it and the still screaming goblin rolling around on the floor.
Shocked by the sudden turn of events and the mention of service he half joking said, "You might as well sell your soul to me while your at it..." He said using his thumb and forefinger to rub his eyes, trying to understand what the fuck was going on.
The goblin immediately grew quieter as it stopped rolling on the ground, coming to a rest facing away from Dante. Then he heard a single word that he didn't understand but its effect was clear.
Mountain Cave Goblin accepts your terms...
Mountain Cave Goblin has been bound by the pact to your service...
You now own the soul of, Mountain Cave Goblin. If this creature dies while you own its soul, its soul will not move on to the afterlife. Instead its soul will come to you...
Your affinity with Goblin kind has increased...
You have unlocked the hidden Title/achievement, Soul Contractor...
Soul Contractor- By accident or by intention you have bought the soul of another being, gaining dominion over it. What remains to be seen is what you will do with this power. Title bonus scales with the number of souls you own, and the relative quality of those souls. +1 to all stats...
Through your Pact you have obtained the Common Passive skill, Goblin Language Proficiency lvl. 1...
Goblin Language Proficiency- Grants greater insight, understanding, and speaking capabilities of the Goblin language per level of the skill. +2 Int and Wis for each level of the skill...
Goblin I Road has opened to you...
Goblin I Road (0/25)...
You now have access to levels in the, Warlock, class...
Creatures slain (2/10)...
2 Minute until next coin flip...
The timer once more appearing in the corner of his vision counting down.
"Did that really just happen?" He asked as he felt the door in the back of his mind open to let in the light and knowledge of a new skill, before closing once more.
He hadn't meant the words he had spoken. He hadn't expected the goblin to even understand him. Then he realized that the very system that had conveyed to him the goblins wish to surrender, had likely don't the same thing for the goblin in that moment.
'Well shit now I have to carry this goblin around. He's my responsibility i guess...*sigh* fuck.' He thought as he wanted to walk over to the goblin but his knee didn't feel like cooperating at the moment.
So instead he spoke a few words in Goblin, "No. attack. me. I. no. attack. you." He spoke haltingly in goblin, the skill and language still fresh and new in his mind as he struggled to find the words.
The goblin simply nodded and it was done.
A new term has been added to the Pact...
You have mutually agreed that neither you or Mountain Cave Goblin can attack each other...
Should either of you, of your own free will, directly or indirectly, violate this agreement there will be consequences...
He still had a System skill point and he was sorely tempted to look for some kind of healing magic both for him and his new goblin he guessed.
"Let's see if I can get some decent healing options. System store healing spells." He spoke but an interesting notice appeared.
Would you like to spend SSP or your currency?...
"...Uh...Currency?" He replied after some hesitation. He wanted to check out the other option but also wanted to save his SSP for now. He suspected he might be able to get access to divine healing but that might be a stretch. Another notice appeared.
Would you like to search through the Arcane healing spells or the Divine healing miracles?...
Dante paused as he considered, watching the countdown tick away.
Arcane magic can do cool shit but when it comes to healing you go with the people who make the rules.
"Divine healing miracles please."
A store window popped open along with the notification.
Welcome to the Store of Divine Miracles! Here you may shop for miracles either as a general search or by the name of a god...
Prices may vary considerably...
"Fuck...I just need a basic healing miracle for myself and this other guy please..."
Earth's gods of Good and healing spare a glance your way...
Many gods bar you from purchasing their miracles...
Many gods remain neutral...
Many gods welcome you with open arms...
Dozens of notifications streamed across his vision. It took him a second before he could catch a few words and he realized what these notices were. They were gods.
Gods were making offers to him in exchange for giving him the ability to use divine healing.
Most he didn't recognize but some he did and oh boy did they pique his interest.
Apollo would like to...
Panacea wishes to...
Sekhmet demands for...
Isis implores you to...
He was a little nervous to accept any of their "requests". Very few of them wanted money, most of them instead wanted him to do something for them. Which made sense. Many of the tasks were actually rather simple if not time consuming. Others were outrageous in what they demanded, some just plain absurd.
In the end he settled on a single simple task from Sekhmet.
Sekhmet demands for you to battle and slay 5 creatures in her name...
He already had to basically do this anyway, why wouldn't he take this offer.
"Sekhmet? Can I get that divine healing up front?" He asked wincing his face ready to get some sort of divine smack, but none came.
Offer me that Platinum coin of yours as collateral, and when your task is done it will be returned to you. You will receive your miracle when you offer me the coin.
Dante took a deep breath and let it out before raising a hand to the sky. "Sekhmet I accept your task and offer you my 1 Small platinum coin as collateral for advanced payment of the ability to cast divine healing." As he spoke the coin appeared in his palm.
As he spoke it lifted and began to spin in the air glowing brighter by the second until the world almost seemed to freeze. The coin vanished in a flash of crimson light and he found himself standing in a desert, beneath the burning sun.
He felt a presence with him though he saw no one. Heard a shallow intake of breath and with the exhale he felt a burning wind on his skin, gone almost as fast as it had come.
He raised his hands to shield his face only to see them covered in blood. As he watched the blood began to drip from his hands onto the sand, but it wasn't his blood that dripped onto the sands. The blood dripped with increasing speed until it flowed like a faucet off his hands.
He heard words in his mind, a prayer to connect him to her. Almost like a sticky someone wrote their number on.
As he reached down for his knee the blood had stopped, his hands were as clean as a doctors. No turning back now he supposed.
Then he spoke, "Cure Wounds." Crimson light emitted from his palm sinking into his knee.
Through your bargain with Sekhmet, you may now cast the miracle, Cure Wounds...
Cure wounds- Heals a creature you touch for 100 + (Wisdom) HP...
Please note healing miracles grant general exp equal to the amount healed...
+117 exp...
You have leveled up! [Rank 1] bonus: +1 to all stats...
You are [Rank 1] Lvl. 4...
+1 SSP...
He blinked and he was back on the platform, his knee healed and his health back at full.
"Sweet."
Divine Quest: Kill for your goddess...
I have given you the power to heal yourself and others with my miracle. Now you must pay the price. Kill 5 creatures in combat in my name...
Looking up he saw he still had a minute left on the timer so he walked over and reached down to place a hand on the Goblin still in the fetal position on the ground facing towards the barrier. It was then he noticed some sand on his arm. Brushing it off he placed a hand on the Goblins head. Casting the miracle on the goblin he felt something go out of him. It felt similar to how he felt when he spent mana for mana bolt but different in some ways.
+118 exp...
For one, he felt he could use this miracle a few more times before it "ran out". Although he was certain it would recover with time.
Looking down at the small goblin no taller than a 5 year old he decided he couldn't keep thinking of him as the Mountain Cave Goblin.
He was tempted to call him Dobby after the house elf from Harry potter, but thought better of it. So instead he called him...
"You. name. Bobby."