On the morning of the second day of its life, the snake was huddled into a large love seat chair. It had been the most extravagant piece of furniture, matching its regal nature.
It had taken the time to explore its new castle, a slow process since it refused to leave the light crystal unattended. Made squeezing through some cracks basically impossible, but there had still benefits enough room to inspect some rooms.
The house had been rather spartan in appearance, decorations lining the walls, but nothing that screamed rich owners. A few family portraits, a three-bedroom, two restrooms, and an attic. A door that likely led to the basement had been locked and couldn''t be opened.
Overall, the vampire persona felt satisfied while the animal instincts felt much safer in an enclosed place. The snake itself felt its curiosity momentarily satiated. A feeling that quickly led to boredom.
With no other distractions, the snake interacted with the System of its own volition for the first time. Both to know itself better and to bathe in the System''s lesser light.
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Name: N/A
Threat Level: 3
Race: Venomous Radiant Vampire Snake
Alignment: N/A
Traits: Undead(Magical Beast), Radiant Affinity.
Skills: Bite, Venom, Vitality Drain, Radiant Touch, Unarmed Slam.
Languages: Common
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Accessing its own menu was second nature. As a System-spawned creature, part of the built-in package was having enough knowledge to use it. Assuming you had intelligence higher than a basic animal or lower, of course.
Such privileges wouldn''t be given to any spawn the snake had or the natives of this world, but they would learn. Eventually. Or they would die trying. An acceptable result for the System either way. Not something the vampire was worried about for the moment. Its info mattered more.
The Snake lacked a name. While its existence was unique, it lacked any true significance to be named from the start. Any natives it came across or the snake itself, if it decided to, could be the only ones to name it.
It''s threat level was a high three, for the current phase of the Ascension Tournament at least. Most monsters spawned at a two or lower. Zero was still a credible threat, considering how some monsters could be quite unnatural. A skeleton was by no means a common sight in this world.
With sufficient numbers and planning, the world''s natives could successfully protect themselves. Assuming they''ll manage to organize themselves during all this chaos, of course. The pair the snake killed lacked such preparations.
The snake''s race was color-coded for each family of monster he was connected with. Green for Poison, white for Radiant, black for Undead, and orange for Animal.
Unbeknownst to the vampire, it should have counted as a magical beast instead of an animal. It was far too intelligent for a simple reptile, it appeared to be. One of the technicalities of being a hybrid animal and undead.
Such distinctions would only matter further down the line. For the moment, it was far too deep in experience dept to worry about it. Just like its Alignment provided little. Something that would be solved relatively quickly.
Its traits were general perks it received from its race or other areas. Undead had different functions compared to a living, breathing person. As did being a creature either such a strong condition to Radiance. The specifics were unknown by the snake, but they still existed regardless.
And finally came its skills. Quite simply, it just kept track of its abilities, at least the ones enhanced by the System. Anyone could bite or punch. Doing so when it was a skill? Well, a slap would go from lightly bruising skin to breaking bones.
Language kept track of what forms of communication the snake was capable of. For the moment, it could only understand Common, the most common language shared by all the natives of the world. Regional dialects had their languages that could take a slot, as well as special forms of communication. The snake didn''t know what they could be, just that they existed.
Such advantages only increased in potency as the user leveled. It was the reason a newborn snake was able to so easily slay two fully grown humans.
There was more information in the snake''s personal System hidden away, it would just need to learn of it. A crutch for everyone else''s sake. The Radiant beast had enough advantages already. Limits needed to be placed.
All this information was observed and processed by the snake. The vampire clicked its metaphorical tongue at the idea of being restrained. The animal hissed at the pleasant thought of being one of the strong.
But the snake itself? It''s just an admired and easy access to the System.
There was also a second menu that it had access to. The Quest Menu. It was meant to keep track of all the personal Quests the monster had accessed since its inception. It also kept track of the Ascension Tournament.
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Ascension Tournament: Processing.
Human Slayer: Incomplete.
Claimed Land: Incomplete.
Identity Crisis: Incomplete.
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The Ascension Tournament was one Quest everyone had access to. It was simply kept hidden from the natives for the moment. It would become fully available for everyone else to see once it had successfully acclimated to the new world.
For the moment, the snake was allowed to observe the quest. It gave it an excuse to open another message.
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Ascension Tournament:
Pass the Systems trial and earn your ultimate reward.
Progress:
Currently Unavailable. Wait for the System.
Reward:
One unrestricted request from the System.
Failure:
Death or willful surrender.
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The near-mad snake had a moment of clarity at the quest Reward.
Any request?
Anything at all?
The Snake knew exactly what it wanted more than anything in the world. It craved it. More than blood. More than the sunlight. More than anything, it could imagine in its short, little undead life.
The System''s background automation kicked in.
But no. It held that hunger back. It wasn''t its place to have such desires. Not for the moment. It was a beast meant to challenge the natives. It had been its purpose.
If it wanted a chance at the Ascension Tournament, it would have to earn it. Prove it was worthy of such a privilege. And there were many ways to do that. It just needed to live long enough to see such opportunities.
The System had let slip another crack in its automation to pass undetected. Even its guidelines for the summoned monsters could only control the undead so much.
In the darkness of a stolen home, an anomaly had been born a second time. A twisted creature born by chance and impossible odds. A monster with intelligence and a growing desire. And it had come in the form of a little reptile.
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It wasn''t until the morning of the next day that the System was fully operational. For the natives at least.
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Welcome, Natives, to The Ascension Tournament!
We apologize for any life threatening changes you may have experienced in the last planetary rotation.
All current survivors, please remain calm. Your world has been granted the opportunity to participate in the reality-spanning super competition. Such a grand once in a planet''s chance is not one seen by many in this universe!
Participate and you will earn fame, glory, strength, and potentially more in your journey. Who knows, you may even be the potential winner of the Ascension Tournament!
A goal many strive for, for any wish your heart desires may be granted!
Redistricting? Limits? None whatsoever!
But we are not blind. As appealing as this opportunity may be, it is a challenge with lethal risks. Not everyone would be able or willing to participate in Ascension.
We respect free will. So you will be given a choice. Your only chance to make it that will ever be granted.
Surrender and withdraw from the tournament right here and now. No penalties will be given. You will be free from any obligations to the tournament.
Or.
Accept the challenge and strive to be one of the legends in Ascension history. Be more than you ever could have been.
The choice, and its consequences, are yours.
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The final line of text was grayed out to the snake. As a monster, it couldn''t make that choice. But it was given another goal. A different message appeared.
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As a creature designed for the Ascension Tournament, you have less freedom than the natives. But such chains come with a purpose. And their opportunity. Do well enough, and you may be allowed to participate in the Ascension Tournament yourself.
Complete one or more of the available tasks to gain more power and options.
Threat: Kill Natives. (2/100)
Ally: Protect Natives. (0/10)
Hoard: Cooperate with other monsters. (0/5)
Alpha: Complete personal Quests. (0/3)
Expertise: Earn a Class. (0/1)
Change: Evolve into a stronger form.(0/1)
Additional tasks may become available due to your actions. Now, go forth and insight chaos!
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With the new information the vampire had been given, a path forward was slowly developing in its head. It already had a couple of Quests at its disposal, even if they conflicted with each other. How was it supposed to kill humans if they couldn''t leave their territory?
Regardless, it gave it a short-term plan for the moment. Controlling the farm would be relatively easy at worst or attract others at best. And who knew what gaining access to the Lair Menu would do? The Snake only had to be patient.
But first came nap time!
The radiant vampire curled up around its night light crystal and let the sun shine across its scales through the window. The soft seat it used as a throne, also worked as a bed. The snake was letting out soft snores in seconds.
Meanwhile, the natives devolved into panic trying to survive, other monsters built their power base, and the world changed with every passing moment.
Just as the System had intended.