《Repentance》 Prologue: Being Forsaken The sky glowed a bright red as meteors continued to plummet down over us, and when the Earth shook for the first time chaos erupted from every direction. Buildings crumbled and the earth began to split, magma seeped out of the cracks that covered the streets of the town and the smell of burning flesh spread through the air. Screamssurrounded me causing the hair on my neck to stand. "We need to go now!"The shout booms through the air, and yet I can''t pull my eyes away from the sight. Frozen in time I stood there, my body refusing to listen to my internal screams. Run! Run! Run! "Shin!" The voice calls my name, my body pulled into a sprint but my legs are rubber. I stumble before gaining enough momentum to keep up. My heart thunders in my ears as the stench of death fills my nose, my throat contracts as I dry heaved. Yet she continued to pull me forward, not leaving me to the chaos that chased behind us. Looking forward, I focus on the sway of her hair as we pass the third block. "Azel said he''ll meet us at the lake, he''s on his way there now." She shouts, my arm still being pulled by her. Panting I retort, "Do you honestly believe we''ll survive that long? meteors are falling from the fucking sky Sen." I could hear the desperation and fear in my own voice, only causing me to be more scared than I already was. "Just fucking run what''s complaining going to do?" Serenity pants. When the releasing of the nukes was announced, Azel was the only one out of the three of us to take it seriously. Already having a bunker full of food and water, Serenity headed towards Azel''s hideout. Although he always thought zombies would be the cause of the world ending. "How far until we reach Azal''s bunker? Do you think it can stop meteors?" I mutter, I didn''t think there was any chance of our survival, even if we made it to Azel''s cabin. How could a house protect us from space rocks and nuclear missiles?If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Looking back her face forms an annoyed scowl, running through the town we enter the burning forest and head towards the lake. The black smoke stings my eye''s blinding me as Sens figure slowly disappears in front of me, trees begin to snap as debris collides with them and start rolling downhill behind us. We stumble through the forest, trying not to be crushed by the falling branches and trees, the flames scorching my skin, and sweat clung to my body. The distance between me and Sen steadily increase until she disappeared completely. "Sen! Slow down!" My scream''s burning in my throat as the smoke filled my lungs. Running through the clearing of trees I see the pond, glowing a dark pink the cabin on the other side of the lake. Serenity was sprinting around the bend already half way there. Running towards her, my legs groaned in exhaustion as a meteor smashes into the forest. Wood and dirt flying everywhere the impact vibrating under my feet, hurtling me through the air. My heart leaped in my throat as I glided through the sky, staring at the lake as I hit its surface. Resurfacing, I frantically swim towards the cabin, my arms already feeling the weight of the water with every stroke. Waves crashing into my body from the continuous assault of the debris. "Shin, Hurry the fuck up!" Sen screams. Looking towards the cabin, Azel emerges from behind her. His eyes drift towards me, a darkness emanating from them as a smirk spreads across his face. Being friends with his girl didn''t sit well with him, and he despised our friendship. We only tolerating each other due to our mutual respect for Sen. "This is pathetic, this weakling is slowing us down we need to go Sen" Azel spat keeping his eyes on me. Glancing at Azel she retorts, "Now isn''t the time for your bullshit." Azel''s smirk turns into a frown, withdrawing his hand from his back he points it in my direction before three loud bangs ripple through the air. Only two of the bullets piercing through my shoulder and leg. Pain pulsates at the holes slowly draining the strength from my body. Did he just shoot me? Slowly I descend into the water, I hear screams and more gunshots as I sink. Betrayed, it left a bitter taste, It left anger, it left rage. A yearning to repay the pain that was dealt. Looking towards the surface I realize I can''t move, my body sinking deeper and deeper. Even underwater I feel the earth rumble from the constant impact of the meteors. Drifting out of conscience I feel my body being sucked to the bottom, before finally drifting into eternal sleep. Chapter 1: The Pulsing Spring I could hear them in my ears as my mind slowly awakened. "Ding! Ding! Ding!" Opening my eyes I see nothing but darkness all around me. The thought of me being dead surfaced in my mind until the throbs of pain resonated throughout my body. Water crashing against water is the only sound I could hear. "Where am I?" My eye''s adjusting to the dark, I see water spilling from the ceiling like a waterfall. Standing up with my lower body still submerged in the growing pond, I stumble out of the water onto the cool stone. Now looking at my surroundings, It becomes clear I''m underground. How this area was formed was a mystery considering there were no tunnels under the lake, the area being too big and empty for this to be intentionally here. Thinking to myself I hear the sound again, vibrating in my skull before words appear before my eyes. "Ding!"
"Greetings, you are now under the new ruler Cosmos, Being of Games after being traded by Infinitas, Being of Many Names. The board Earth has been reset, Good luck."
"Ding!" [Disease - You have been afflicted with the "???" virus!] [Passive Skill - Chemical Resistance discovered!]
Chemical Resistance
Mastery: 100%
Description: Ability to fight off disease of chemical origin.
Rate: 100% Resistance
"Ding!"
"Warning! Prolonged exposure to the disease "???" will cause permanent effects."
"Ding!"
"Mutation has occurred, continued exposure to the disease "???" will cause death!"
[You have enteredVirulent Cavern] [Skill - Purify discovered!]
Skill: Purify
Mastery: 0%
Description: Cleanse any illness
Speed: Very Slow
"Ding!"
"You have died!"
I died, pausing before continuing through the rest of the list, now that I reflect on it, how did I survive? I was shot and drowned, the world ended yet here I am still breathing. Putting aside my thoughts, I reopen the list, "Ding!" [You have achieved the Title: One who Denies Death! Congratulations]This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "Ding!" [Skill - Purify enhanced to Purify II]
Skill: Purify II
Mastery: 0%
Description: Cleanse any illness, Sickness or Disease
Speed: Slow
"Mutation has been purified!"
"Ding!"
"You have been revived!"
My heart is thundering in my chest. Closing the last notification my mind in disarray, swarming with questions with no one to ask. Like what are these floating messages? Who controls them? How have I been revived? And how long have I been down here? "What am I to do now?" Surveying the area several tunnels hugged the dome like walls, how they were formed was a mystery for another time. "I can''t see shit down here" The only light source coming from the pond, I crawl to the edge and peer into the murky pond. Looking down, the bright light shimmered with intensity. "The only way out of here is through one of those tunnels, and the only way I''m seeing anything is with that light." Entering the water, Iswim to the center of the pond until I''m hovering over the light. The water has a warm, comforting feeling as I plunge underneath the surface. The water becoming clearer and clearer as I approachedit. Reaching the bottom, the light shines with a ferocity like a sun. Squinting my eyes I grab it with one hand before darting upward breaking through the water. "Ding!" [Rare Item - Essence of a Vibrant Gem]
Essence of a VibrantGem
Durability: 46/100
Abilities: Cleanse any illness
Description: A mutated meteor reinforced by magma, rockis of unknown origin.
The size and shape of the orb is similar to a baseball, a warm aura resonates up my arm and spreads throughout my body. This is what saved my life, a shiny rock.Chuckling, Ishine the light towards the first of seven tunnels. "Getting shot, drowning and dying only to be revived by a magic stone the size of my left nut. Whoever Cosmos is, he has a dark sense of humor." Approaching the tunnel, footsteps echo throughout the cave. Soaked from head to toe my nose tickles before I sneeze, there was no draft in the cave yet I could still feel a chill as I walked towards the dark hole. The passage is narrow and from examination, not man-made, after all, I was only 5"11 and still had to crouch before being able to squeeze through. Shining the gem forward a sigh escapes my lips, "Already a dead end and I haven''t walked five steps." Exiting the passage, noises echo''s from the pond. The sound of a wet mop continuously smacking the ground can be heard all over the pond. The sounds alone making the hairs on my neck stand slowly shining the light towards the pond. I mutter in a low tone, "Would it be cliche if I said who''s there right now?" Walking closer towards the source of the sound, every horror movie I''ve ever watched flashes through my mind. Casting the light over the pond a fish appears. More like a giant deformed fish, only a little shorter than me, walking on four legs towards me. Then another crawls out the water this time walking on two legs, stumbling to stay steady. "If your gonna mutate at least stick to the same look." Turning towards me the four-legged fish stumbles towards me, not being used to its new legs. Above its head, the numbers 72 are illuminated. All over the pond more deformed fish exit the water, each with a different mutation, all still as ugly as the first. "Great I''m to face off against an army of mutated fish with a fucking stone?" I mutter in a low voice. Cursing his luck Shin looks towards the next passage and sprints, clutching the gem in his left hand he points it through the entrance. Checking to see if it''s another dead end. "Never thought I''d be happy to see an endless dark tunnel." he says while smirking before sliding through the passage. Chapter 2: With a Heavy Heart My right-hand slide along the warm walls of the cavern,scuttling along through the snake-like tunnels which seemed to go on for miles. The only comfort sat in my left hand as the gem glowed lighting the path in the seemingly endless darkness. Luckily, the fish didn''t have the brains to follow me, or perhaps it was due to the new limbs they hadn''t adjusted to yet. Walking along the path for what seemed like hours, gave me time to somewhat grasp the situation I was in. Trying to understand what the notification''s actually meant, the gem was peculiar and gave me a sense of ease, but how it had revived me or cured the mutation that was eating away at my body, was a puzzle I couldn''t seem to figure out. After acquiring the gem I could look at the very core without the overbearing light burning my eyes. It resonated with a white energy that seemed to calm you the longer you lay your eyes upon it. The skill purify was obtained because of the stone, as it was cleansing my body I gained the ability to use it. How to use it on the other hand, I didn''t know. Saying the word or thinking of the ability did nothing. The bigger questions like who Cosmos was, shook me to the depths of my very being. Be it a god or actual person, I knew Cosmos was the cause of the meteors raining down on Earth, possibly even the nukes being launched around the world. Anything with that amount of influence was something to be feared and avoided, not confronted. The thought of Serenity crossed my mind,continuously replaying the last moments we spent together. The uncertainty of her well being scared him, they hadn''t exactly separated under favorable circumstances. The look in Azel''s eye when he fired the gun wasn''t that of a sane person, the darkness and hatred are something you don''t forget. Sweat soaking my tattered clothes, I continued down the winding path, in the distance a small red glow appears. Growing bigger as I advanced. Stopping at the mouth of the tunnel, magma flows endlessly below. " A river of magma, and no other path. I guess I''m supposed to hover above it and look for an exit right?" Muttering to myself, gas filled the room as the magma bubbled below, making the room hazy and hard to look around. Glancing back into the endless darkness of the tunnel, I stare down at the flowing magma cursing my luck. "How can such bad luck exist?" Thinking to myself before cutting my loses, I turn around heading back into the dark. Just before turning an explosion erupts from the magma, sending it flying in all directions. Frantically trying to get away my feet stumble underneath me, before hurdling towards the magma. Screaming at the top of my lungs, "SHIT, SHIT, SHIIIIIIIIT!!!!!" Plunging through the magma, I slam my eyes shut waiting for the burning death that awaited. Until nothing happened, peeking through closed eyelids I swim towards surface dazed. Looking at the magma that I floated in, a realization occurred. "This is fucking water? Toxic and bloody water?" Thinking about it, all the water came from the lake above. The last time I saw the lake it was a dark pink, mixed with this toxic shit from the missiles created a cesspool. "Shit, where did that gem go?" frantically searching for the stone. I Dive under the surface swimming as deep as I can go to no avail. floating in the water, the hope of escaping the underground prison slowly diminishes. After all, why would I expect my luck to change now of all times?Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Staring at the toxic water a small light glows deep beneath the surface, the light glowing brighter and looking clearer as each second passes. The water around the gem slowly converts to a murky blue, before turning crystal clear. Seeming to purify the cesspool of toxic water, Shin dives too quickly recover the gem. The ray of the light seemed like hope, as he approached the warm and embracing gem. Reaching the bottom, he grabs the gem with a large grin on his face. The only good thing to happen to him being the small round stone, it felt like a part of him now. The water now clear thanks to the gem, Shin could easily see his surroundings. Swimming at the bottom of the stream gave him better visibility, although the water was warm, it wasn''t as hot as the gas filled room above him. Feeling his luck turning around he begins to follow the stream in search of an exit to the never-ending cavern. Eyes forward, an object comes into view before his overjoyed heart comes to a standstill. Approaching the object the water around him seems to chill as his heart pounds rapidly in his chest, It was hard to breath already being underwater, this just made it nearly impossible. That''s just what this was, impossible for her to be here, yet here she was floating in this cesspool, forgotten by the world. Her name echoes through his mind in quiet whispers, Serenity. Gently lifting her body Shin paddles downstream, his body numb and the air oddly cold around him. Tears drip down his face as anger claws at his heart, not being able to say goodbye or thank you was eating at him. For the first time since theEarth collapsed into chaos, from the very depths of his being, he cursed the Gods for damning the world. Reaching the end of the stream he raises her body out of the water, before placing her down with care. "This should be me, not you Sen." The words narrowly escaping his lips as more tears start to fall. Looking at her body shook his soul, her flesh barely clinging to the bone. The state of the remains would look grotesque to the average eye, but to him, she radiated peacefulness and fond memories. Hovering the gem over her body he looks over his dear friend before he notices a hole above her left ear. "A bullet hole." Wiping his tears away, he stands on unsteady legs, before walking away from her body. Gripping the stone he strikes the ground, each hit stronger than the last. His cries echo through the cave as the small area in the ground begins to slowly break apart. Sweat and tears fall from his face as he attacks the ground relentlessly, forming a small hole. Hands scraped and bloody, he drops the gem on the ground. Hours of digging a shallow hole was the only thing he could do for his best friend.After placing the body in the hole, he stares at the lifeless corpse the memories they shared together forever in his heart. After looking a final time Shin begins to bury Sen, hands shaking with every handful of dirt dropped on her body. "A grave without a gravestone, you deserve so much more than this." Kneeling Shin places the gem over her grave, before closing his eyes. "Serenity Malentai, I swear to you. As long as there is breath in my body, and blood in my veins. Even if my bones were to break and skin reduced to nothing but ash I will find and kill Azel Striker. I swear it on my name Shin A. Venge." His eyes open with a clarity, before picking up the gem. "Ding!" [The Spirits have heard your vow, and grant you the manifestation of life force!] "Ding!" [Congratulations! You have discovered Spirit Energy]
Spirit Energy: SE
The ability to manipulate your life force by will, the ability will grow with the user. View in My User.
"Ding!" [Skill - Clairvoyant discovered]
Skill: Clairvoyant
Mastery: 5%
Description: Using SE to listen to the spirits.
Consumption Rate:10 SE per minute
Closing the notifications Shin look towards the water, before hearing a whisper. "Sh.n. Shi.. Shin? Can you hear me? Chapter 3: Guiding from the Grave The ghostly whisper sent chills down his spine in the overbearing heat of the room, slowly turning around Shin stares at the shallow grave where the corpse of his friend lay. Slightly expecting her to rise from the dirt he waits in anticipation..... "Nothing." He says releasing a breath, the chill still lingering in the air. "Hey, why are you ignoring me? Do you want me to haunt you for the rest of your life, answer me! Or are you too scared to talk to a dead girl?" The demanding disrupting his heart. Looking around frantically for the source all to no avail. "Sen is that you? Where are you?" he mutters, his tongue feeling thick in his now dry mouth. His pulse slowly starting to accelerate from the unknown entity that was before him, his head spinning from the unexpected ambush. "Obviously I''m in the ground, well at least my body is, time hasn''t made you any smarter has it Shin?" The ghostly whisper says, in a familiar mocking tone. Even when dead she poked at him in a playful way, sending ease to his chaotic heart. Walking towards the shallow grave the air seems to get cooler with each step, his mind in a daze. "Why can''t I see you?" He shouts, finding his voice. "No need to yell, I''m dead not deaf". The arrogant voice barks back, the air vibrating with every word. "You are still too weak to see me, you should be grateful I gave you such a lovely gift instead of complaining." The mild mouth girl hadn''t lost her bite in her passing, which is something Shin hadn''t expected. After all the undead rarely came back friendly, at least that''s what he picked up from the horror movies he had watched in a past life. Frowning, Shin''s mind swarms with questions, knowing his friend would berate each one he asked. That was after all who she was. Hardening his resolve he replies, "You said I''m too weak to see you, what exactly are you? A ghost?" A sigh floats through the air, be if from annoyance or pity Shin didn''t know, he never could tell with her. "Until you purified my remains, I was a ghost. A lost soul you could say, slowly eroding away, but enough of that we don''t have much time your SE will run out soon and until you replenish it I won''t be able to help you." Spirit Energy the ability he unlocked not too long ago, Shin had no clue how to access this ability or any of his abilities he had discovered. It''s not like he didn''t attempt to try, however, his primary concern was to get above ground. Trying to understand Cosmos intent was something he was slightly afraid of, he did end the world after all. "How am I suppose to replenish my SE, or use these skills?" Shin utters, "Just go to your User Shin, start using your brain a little. How I died and you''re still stumbling around alive I will never understand. Also, you should swim upstream through the water, what kind of idiot goes down stream looking for an exit?" Her voice beginning to fade, as she continues to scold him. Another thing that hasn''t changed about her, he wished they had more time to talk like they use to.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "The next time we speak you better be stronger." a warmth flickering in her voice, Shin smirks while picturing Sens face always with a wicked grin. "Or I really will haunt you." She whispers before silence enveloped the room. Although she was dead, hearing her voice put his mind and heart at ease. In a twisted way, knowing she was already gone made him worry less, then not knowing anything at all. Not hearing her voice left him a little lonely, but he knew she was still around willing to help him if the need arose. Now it was time to focus he thought, before shouting in his mind. "My User!"
Name: Shin A.Venge Title: One who Denies Death (Active)
Maturity: 1 Inactive: Water Mutant
Health: 68/100 Regeneration (1/ min) Discoveries: Purify II, Clairvoyant
Spirit Energy: 0/100 Regeneration (1/ min) Passives: Chemical Resistance
Stamina: 70/100 Regeneration (1/ min)
Vitality: 14
Strength: 7
Agility: 8
Intelligence: 5
Wisdom: 5
Fortitude: 20
Will:17
A picture hispopped into his head as if he imagined it himself, showing all of his information. To put it bluntly, skills were mediocre, almost laughable to the point he wanted to cry a little. The only noteworthy levels being his fortitude, will, and vitality all related to him being dead in a cesspool until the gem saved him. Looking at is Spirit Energy the rate of regeneration was only one every minute which meant he had to wait 100 minutes before he talked to Sen again. Only having 11 minutes to talk every 100 seemed like a shit deal, but he figured it was better than never talking to her again and dropped the thought. Searching his discoveries he focuses on purify, another picture appears, this time with more information than before.
Purify II:
Mastery: 70%
Description: Cleanse any sickness, illness or disease
Speed: Slow
Consumption Rate: 20 SE/ per use
Why wasn''t this information here before?" Contemplating it and closing the windows, Shin walks over to the now contaminated water looking up at the area he had fallen from not too long ago. Between the time he first tried the skill in the tunnels and now only one thing changed. "I hadn''t discovered Spirit Energy when I first got this skill, so the information changes based on the abilities you''re capable of. Anything related to the discovery is hidden until it''s unlocked, so you never fully know if your using all of a skills capabilities." What an irritating way to make a system, it''s completely inconvenient to everyone. Shin thought as he scratched his head from a headache starting to form. It explained why he couldn''t use the skill before, no matter how many times he tried. The recently added information was in relation to the newly acquired ability. "That puts some of the pieces together, I''ll have to ask Sen about the rest later." With a determined look in his eyes, Shin smiles before diving into the cesspool of water, a light shining at the bottom as the water morphs back to the pristine clear blue. Bursting through the surface and swimming upstream, an inspired shout can be heard echoing through the cavern. Chapter 4: Rampaging Stenchlings About an hour had passed and Shin lay exhausted, finally making it all the way upstream. His limbs worn out and aching as he lay on his back gasping for air, how he had managed to swim for so long amazed him and while panting he smiled inwardly before sitting up. The gem still clutched firmly in his hand, he lightens the area. As a large frown forms on his face, he walks up to the familiar pond, the color now a murky red color. The smell was horrid and the water now thick as the water he found Sen''s body in. The waterfall still continued to fall into the growing cesspool. With a deep sigh, Shin places the gem in the sewage, and as the pool brightened to the crystal blue the room began to glow. Tired and hungry he drinks from the now purified water, which to his surprise had a fishy taste to it. What started as small sips turned to mouthfuls as he swallowed the water, fully satisfied the familiar ring resounds in his head. "Ding!" [Skill - Purify II enhanced to Purify III]
Skill: Purify III
Mastery: 0%
Description: The ability to purge all impurities from non-living and living beings
Speed: Fast
Consumption Rate: 25 SE/ per use
Stenchling - Maturity 72] stenchling the muscles in its legs bulged as if beckoning him to try. Stenchling jumps towards him face first, jaws wide open, it''s speed as it shot through the air was a blur. The unexpected attack sent Shin into a cold sweat as he tilts to the side. One of the crooked teeth skidding across his chest as if it were made of paper, falling to the ground he scrambles to his feet only to be rammed in the stomach, the crackling of ribs echoes throughout the room. Stenchling all cheering beckoning their leader to finish me off. stenchlings to loudly snicker to themselves as the Alpha pumps up the crowd, as his jagged mouth widens he fliestowards Shin, his eyes filled with hunger. stenchlings teeth as it draws in on its final approach.
stenchling being engulfed by a white light from within, it was a warm glow which reminded him of the gem. The surrounding stenchling froze as they watched their leader being swallowed by the warm light, a few of them even began to tremble attempting to cover their eye''s. The light slowly dimming the size of the alpha fish significantly decreases before the light completely faded. fishflopped up and down, all the stenchling circling the area watched as their helpless leader struggled to survive on land, before taking his final flop and dying. The area grew quiet, as the remaining Stenchling army stared at their former leader before turning to Shin. His eye''s determined and unafraid after witnessing the strength of his ability, the appearance of a desperate yet unyielding man stared back at them, raising both hands at them. stenchling began shouting one thing. Stenchling gobbled like turkeys while running as far away from him as possible, some even jumped in the water causing them to revert back to normal fish anyway. After about 30 seconds the room was cleared out, and Shin sat in a daze. Picking up the dead fish, while clutching his chest he slowly started to smirk, it was his first victory against the prison he was in. Chapter 5: Live in the Light or Die in the Dark His battle against the Stenchling caused several messages to go off, and now that it was over he had time to fully examine them. "Ding!" [Congratulations! You have slain your first mutant] [Due to massive level difference rewards will be adjusted] [Skill - Purify III has enhanced to Purify IV]
Skill: Purify IV
Mastery: 0%
Description: The ability to purge all ailmentswithin 5 ft of user
Speed: Very Fast
Consumption Rate: 30 SE/ per use
[Skill - Clairvoyant I has enhanced to Clairvoyant II]
Skill: Clairvoyant II
Mastery: 2%
Description: The ability to hear and see spirits in etherealform.
Speed: Instantaneously
Consumption Rate: 10 SE/ every 2 minutes
[You have discovered the Skill - Ray of Light I]
Skill: Ray of Light I
Mastery: 0%
Description: Spirit Energy condensed into a single beam.
Speed: Average
Consumption Rate: 50 SE/ per use
[You have discovered the Passive Skill - Soul Rearrangement I]
Passive Skill: SoulRearrangement
Description: You have begun to understand the depths of your spirit and the possibilities
Consumption Rate: N/A
[Congratulations! Maturity has advanced to 2] [Congratulations! Maturity has advanced to 3] [Points will be distributed automatically based on the effort each stats contributed during Maturation] Scanning through the messages, Shin was impressed that a single kill had such rewards considering his Maturity was 1 fending off a 72. The thing that really got his attention was Soul Rearrangement I, the description was very scarce in explainingthe skill and he suspected he hadn''t discovered everything to fully understand it yet. Something he thought he would ask Sen about later. Which reminded him of the advancementin Clairvoyant, now being able to see Sen even if only in etherealform was something he was looking forward to. Closing the messages Shin looked around the room, something had changed while he was reading the messages. It started to dim, staring at the gem Shin could see the light dwindling little by little as time passed on, and worried if he would make it out of the labyrinth before he was left in the dark. Although he had power, he wasn''t a fool and knew he wouldn''t survive very long in the dark, he could only use his skills a hand full of times before his SE was empty. Then he really would be completely defenseless against the hoards of stenchlings that hid in the corners of the tunnels. Examining the Gem he could see the information.
Essence of a Vibrant Gem
Durability: 3/100
Abilities: Cleanse any illness
Description: A mutated meteor reinforced by magma, rock is of unknown origin.
Assuming when the durability reached 0 the light would go out, he had little time to sit around. Resting in the purified pond had healed a majority of the wounds left by the Alpha Stenchling, however, his ribs still ached when he moved. On the other hand, the dead stenchling had contributed to his survival, throwing the nibbled bones to the side Shin rose out of the water before opening his My User, Name: Shin A.Venge Title: One who Denies Death (Active)If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Maturity: 3 Inactive: Water Mutant Health: 120/120 Regeneration (1.5/ min) Discoveries: Purify IV, Clairvoyant, Ray of Light I Spirit Energy: 132/140 Regeneration (2/ min) Passives: Chemical Resistance, Soul Alteration I Stamina: 120/120 Regeneration (1/ min) Vitality: 16 Strength: 7 Agility: 10 Intelligence: 8 Wisdom: 7 Fortitude: 20 Will: 18 From his new stat''s he had gained 5 every maturity level, and for each point in intelligence, he gained 10 additional SE, which increased his spirit pool. His wisdom contributed towards the rate his SE regenerated, each point adding .5 to his regen. Dismissing the screen his screen he contemplates his option of escape before a familiar tone begins to speak, "What are you still doing here? Your running out of time, are you asking for a death wish?" Turning around a ghostly figure, shrouded in blue stands before him. It was as if cold flames had enveloped the body and become one with the body. "And how exactly do I get out of here? It''s not like there''s a door I can just walk through," replying in a grumpy tone."Why don''t you just show me the exit?" The figure folds it''s arm and twists its head in an annoyed manner, "I can''t leave my body for too long without avessel, I''m not strong enough to possess a body and even if I were you''re the only person down here with SE. And no offense but I rather be dead then walk a day in your shoes, pun intended." The bite on her tongue actually hurt a little, but he couldn''t blame her his luck wasn''t something most people had. He hadn''t realized she would be stuck down here, forced to live an eternity amongst the stenchlings and it left a bad taste in his mouth. Then a thought occurred to him, "Does the vessel have to be human?" Although the face was hidden in the blue wisps he could see the disgust on her face," If you think I''m going to jump into one of those mutant freaks, then your dumber then I thought." The words spat out with contempt. Rolling his eyes Shin shines the gem towards her, "This gem could be a vessel it contains SE although the durability is low it would be better than staying in this decrepit place." Looking at the gem she ponders the idea for a moment, "I''m a spirit I don''t know if that small gem can contain me If it shatters my soul will be lost, but I suppose it''s worth the risk." Placing her hand over the gem the spirit begins to resonate, the blue flames burning brightly before shrinking into the small gem. The gem began to alter from white to blue as it twitched back and forth before completely turning dark. Standing in the dark room Shin''s pulse began to rise as the sounds from the Stenchlings could be heard far off in the distance. His mind begins to race, thinking of a way to escape or a light source so he could defend himself. The gobbles from the stenchlings begin to enter the room from all directions and fear begins to take hold in Shin, panicking he raises his hands in opposite directions before unleashing purify. The light resonated in a circle around him illuminating throughout the room, hundreds of stenchlings staring in his direction waiting for the light to fade before they begin their attack, running towards then jumping in the water the light continues to surround him before beginning to fade. His heart begins to beat in his ears as the Stenchlings try to enter the water before reverting back to fish. The room pitch black splashes can be heard all around the pond as the stenchlings close in on him, desperate he releases the skill again, illuminating the area and purifying the water around him, dozens of stenchling begin to glimmer as they splash in the water reverting back to their original forms, yet not putting a dent in the army that stood before him "It''s not killing them" he mutters to himself Being in the water only prolonged the inevitable his SE now dropping just below 50% Shin was running out of options fast. Backing away towards the waterfall the glow from his skill began to dwindle yet again, the water crashing near him from the waterfall that leaked from above. Looking up a grin crept along his face before the darkness one again embraced the room. Gobbles filled the room as they Stenchling plunged in the water excitedly flying towards their prey until the familiar light appears. Yet this was different more powerful, grinning ear to ear Shin stood in the waterfall with his hands pointed towards the ceiling, the concentrated blaze blinding anyone to set their sights upon it. "I think it''s about time I got out of this place." He states before unleashing the energy through the waterfall and into the ceiling, the beam cutting through the earth causing the entire roof to collapse and water began to flood the area scooping up everyone and thing along with it. Chapter 6: A Breath of Fresh Air It was a desperate and dangerous move, as the water swallowed up the dark cavern fear crept its way into his heart. The ceiling crumbled fast falling all around him, nothing but the sounds of frantic gobbles and rushing water echoing in the area. Ray of Light was a powerful offensive move but after using the skill he immediatelyfelt lethargic, if it was due to his depleted SE or simply from the pressure he was under he wasn''t sure. It took all the strength he had not to be swept into the current as he continued to swim up in the darkness. After the initialconfusion, the surviving stenchling began to gain their composure and water being their natural habitat started gliding through the water, like birds in the sky they dominated the water and Shin with his depleted SE and strength could put up little resistance to their onslaught of attacks. The current of the water seemed to get stronger as he helplessly swam up, slowly being dragged deeper into the abyss. The stenchling began their attack zipping through the water like missiles, mouths gaping wide as his body was being sliced apart. As if his situation wasn''t dire enough he began to run out of air, holding his breath for a little over 2 minutes now his composure started to crumble and the thought of him dying in the darkness surfaced in his mind. Using his last ounce of strength, Shin attempts to break through the current. His arms and legs burned with every movement slowly pushing himself to the top, the stenchling continually slicing into him but he pushed forward in the darkness. Holding his breath for a little over 3 minutes now his mind became hazy and his movements monotone, simply moving due to the fact that not moving would mean his demise. His bones creaked, as the stenchling smashed into his body disrupting the momentum he had struggled to gain. As despair began to take hold of him the pull from the current stopped, the debris from the ceiling closing off the tunnels below. The unexpected shift from the current sent the stenchlings zipping past him slightly missing their target, rings went off in his head as Shin scrambled up towards the surface his insides burned from the absence of air. With the current gone the remaining stenchling began to rapidly swim up in the darkness as their target franticallytried to get away. Passing through the collapsed ceiling the light from the sun illuminated the pond floors, the stenchling stopping before being exposed to the outside glare.The sun anunknown entity to the stenchling as the light resembled the glow from the skill that resonated from Shin''s hands, causing many of them to revert back to their former selves. Looking at the meal that got away from the darkness they slither back to the ruins of the Virulent Cavern. It had been 4 minutes pushing on 5 since he last breathed in air and the surface of the water still far in the distance. Coming so far he didn''t want to give up now but the lack of air combined with the strain put on his body and mind ate at him, his body not responding the way he wanted. He wasn''t sure it would work, he wasn''t sure how much of his SE regenerated but it was his only option if he was going to break through the surface. Placing his hand on his chest his palm burned hot,as a cool aura fell over his body his lungs filling with air. His body still riddled with wounds Shin pushed harder towards the light, he had regenerated enough SE to purify the lungs, decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in his body. Which had helped, enough so he pushed his way through the surface of the water taking in mouth fools of air. "I made it," he says still panting, the sound of his voice was the confirmation of his survival. The sun shined brightly in the sky radiating the heat his skin longed for, swimming towards the shore that wasn''t too far off he heard the familiar rings in his head. Dismissing them he closed in on the shore, the aches in his body were being to feel intolerable as he crawled onto the shore before falling onto his back. "I fucking made it," smiling he opens his User screen.
Shin A.Venge
Health Spirit Energy Stamina Maturity
17/220 Regeneration (3.5/ min) 4/250 Regeneration (5/min) 9/240 Regeneration (2/ min) 16
Vitality Strength Agility Intelligence
24 11 22 19
Wisdom Fortitude Will
17 30 28
Title One who Denies Death (Active)
Inactive Water Mutant
Discoveries Purify IV, Clairvoyant, Ray of Light I
Passives Chemical Resistance, Soul Rearrangement
Killing dozens of stenchling by destroying the ceiling of the cavern had increased his maturity exponentially, and a majority of his stats had risen by at least 5 points. Closing the screen he turned towards the messages he had received while in the abyss.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. [Congratulations! you have earned the Title: Eradicator of Dungeons (Rank B)]
Title: Eradicator of Dungeons
Rank: B
Perk:20% increase in Health, Stamina, and Spirit Energy when you enter a dungeon.
[New title has been set as active due to higher grade.] [Congratulations your Maturity has risen to 16!] [You have discovered the Specialty stat!]
Attribute: Specialty
Description: The concentration of a given or earned skill.
[Skill - Ray of Light I has been enhanced to Ray of Light II]
Skill: Ray of Light II
Mastery: 19%
Description: Condense Spirit Energy into a single beam.
Speed: Average
Consumption Rate: 50 SE/ per use
[You have discovered the Luck stat!]
Attribute: Luck
Description: The chance of good fortune coming your way.
[You have discovered the Passive Skill - Perseverance!]
Passive Skill: Perseverance
Description: The increase of Intelligence and Will by 2% when health reaches below 50%.
Consumption Rate: N/A
[You have discovered the Skill - Protection I!]
Skill: Protection I
Mastery: 54%
Description: Absorb 5% of physical damage.
Speed: Instantaneously
Consumption Rate: 10 SE/ per minute
He had gained a useful set of skills and upgrades, he thought to himself before closing the messages. Ray of Light increasing to tier II was a big thing for him it being his only offensive move against the creatures of this new world, the new attributes he would have to experiment with along with Soul Alteration when he had the time. Laying on the ground he looked over himself examining the shreds he called clothing he wore, his shirt in nothing but ribbons anyway he began to tear off strips to wrap his gashes and cuts. "No need to survive all that just to die from blood loss." Finishing the mediocre first aid he lays on his back, the aching in his bones pulsating with every breath. Not sleeping for hours and the tension of being under the constant pressure of the stenchling finally released from his body whisking him off to sleep. After all he was, safe now. Chapter 7: Grasping Strands He wasn''t sure how long he had slept for but when he awoke the moon was high in the dark sky, not a single star glimmered in the sky. Stretching his sore limbs he stood up, his body stiff from sleeping on the dirt ground. Looking at his surroundings he was a bit confused, meteors and nukes having fallen from the sky just a few days ago the area was with fresh vegetation, the tree''s encompassed the whole pond placing him in a forest. The soft breeze shook the trees as the moonlight reflected off the pond, seeming to make the entire area glow. Looking at the gem grasped in his hand tinge of annoyance rippled through him, he didn''t know if Sen resided in the stone but she had caused the durability to reach 0 leaving him in the dark. In a way, she saved his life granting him the SE gave him access to the many abilities he supported so he couldn''t put the blame on her. If she had successfully used the gem as a vessel he didn''t know. Lifting it towards the moonlight he examines the dark gem,
??? (Contaminated)
Durability: ???
Abilities: ???
Description: A former Gem of Essence undergoing possession.
Making the gem her vessel had changed all the properties of the stone, it no longer could purify anything or produce the light that had saved his life in the abyss. It was a bit depressing but he figured it was inevitable, the durability was nearing its end. His wounds had healed, his stats being fully recovered had healed a majority of the gashes inflicted on his body. Stretching his fully recovered body, he looked for the cabin. Azel''s cabin, it had only been a few days since his death, Azel could still be surviving in the bomb shelter he constructed. Which is what Shin had been betting on, but looking around there wasn''t one. Only trees surrounded the area, and in those trees shadows. Remembering how the Stenchling clung to the darkness in the caverns, Shin opted to wait until daybreak until he ventured out of the area. Instead, he decided it would be highly beneficial to learn how the rest of his skillsworked while he had the time. He decided to start with Protection I. Firstly it consumed the lease amount of SE so he could use it multiple times without draining too much from his SE pool. If a situation were to arise and he had no SE to defend himself he would be in a bad situation. Secondly, he only had one offensive skill so he wanted to focus on his defense. It would have helped him in the abyss if he had been better at defending against the Stenchlings. Flexing his hands and closing his eyes Shin tries to activate the skill, it was different from using Purify or Ray of Light in which he only had to concentrate the energy to his hands. Protection had to envelop his entire body like a suit of armor, he could feel the energy in his body. It was a cool energy that swirled inside him, the aura shined yellow slowly he externalized the aura first covering his chest, then dropping down to his legs and finallyto his feet.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Opening his eyes after finishing the familiar ding rang in his head, slightly confused he opens the message. [Congratulations! Through the use of Soul Rearrangement you have discovered the Skill - Spirit Armor I!]
Skill: Spirit Armor I
Mastery: 0%
Description: Forms a Layer of Spirit Energy around the user, provides 5% protection against physical and spiritual attacks.
Speed: Average
Consumption Rate: 5 SE/ per minute
Chuckling he closes the notification, it wasn''t Protection he was feeling but Soul Rearrangement. The skill allowed him to manipulate his SE to create different skills depending on what he wanted to do and his SE pool. The problem was his SE pool was small compared to the skills that he had, he would manage a short encounter but in an extended fight, his expression turned grim at the thought. He wouldn''t survive, no amount of armor and protection would make up for his lack of firepower. If Shin was going to survive and find Azel he knew he needed a versatile set of offensive skills, and he continued to experiment with Soul Rearrangement until the sun rose in the sky. It was harder then he thought, Shin hadn''t been able to create any new skills with Soul Rearrangement. Taking breaks in between experimenting so his SE didn''t drop too low, he had spent a total of 4 hours and had very little to show for it. But now wasn''t the time to regret his failure. It was daylight and he wanted to visit his town, he had no food, water or even clothes. Seeing how the cabin wasn''t here he assumed it was destroyed, so he began walking through the forest. Hoping to find some clues about what had happened to the world. It was strange, there was no signs of the forest being on fire, no craters from the meteors, no evidence that the world had gone to hell. Continuing to walk through the trees he didn''t recognize anything, he had lived here all his life but nothing looked familiar, and soon he got lost wandering around in the forest. It had been an hour since he started walking, the forest seems to span for miles without a clearing to be seen in any direction. Taking a break he sat under one of the bigger trees to catch his breath. There hadn''t been a forest this big around his town, so the question was where the hell was he? No matter how much he thought there was no answer. Then he heard the snarl, that of an angry animal. Looking around the trees he saw nothing which only scared him more, he knew nothing of this new world or its creatures. Regret immediately filled his mind as he stood up his hands pointing them in both directions ready to defend himself, the snarl grew louder but the harder he looked the less he could see until finally. It was in his ear, looking up at the creature. It resembled a leopard''s body but the fur was thick and brown, probably to help it blend in with the trees. Shin didn''t focus on the name just the mouth closing in on the nape of his neck. "Don''t move!" The voice said before, an arrow plunged through the head dropping it to the floor. Looking towards the voice a man stood there drawing another arrow pointing it in his direction. The man wasn''t that much taller than him but his muscles bulged from every move he made his thick beard made him look more intimidating as he held the bow pointed at Shin. Chapter 8: Safety Net It wasn''t intimidating, the man pointing the bow didn''t scare him surprisingly. His bulging muscles seemed to make the bow creak as he pulled the arrow back further, his eyes not wavering while he stared at me before speaking slowly, "Get away from my kill, them zippers ain''t easy to catch and this one here is mine." Looking down at the carcass, just like the Stenchling the name hovered over its head, in gray letters he read Rattler Maturity - 5 (dead). Slowly walking away his hands raised he asked the man, "Do you always point a bow at people you just meet or am I just that scary?" The man''s eyes narrowed "Have you seen yourself, you''re not stealing anything from me. If you try anything this arrows going through you like that zipper." His appearance was that of a beggar, it was no mystery as to why the man was cautious around him. "I''m not a threat to you, I''m just a little lost if you could point me in the right direction." The man didn''t budge his bow still resting on me, as he approached the body. His stride was slow and gracefulfor someone of his size, to be honest, the bow didn''t suit him. His hands being gigantic it looked like he was holding a twig that would snap any moment. Standing over the carcass he glances down for a moment before his eyes rest back on me. Before he can open his mouth, more snarls echo through the tree''s overhead. The leaves rustle before three shadows drop to the ground. More Rattlers appeared, this time they focused solely on him and the dead body that lay lifeless next to him. His bow jolted forward towards them still holding the arrow in place, knowing if he shot it he wouldn''t be fast enough to fire another before they would tear into him. As if knowing this the Rattlers just snarled viciously, waiting for him to fire before they pounced him. "I should have known that zippers don''t hunt alone." the man mutters as sweat seeps down his face, his back now hugging the tree. The Rattlers spread apart from each one slowly closing in on him, snarling in unison as if talking to each other. I ducked behind the tree and watched, I only had one move I could use and if it was powerful enough to kill them I didn''t know, so I just sat back in silence watching as they toyed with him. Then it begins one pouncesforward, Shin could hardly follow it, there was only a blur before the snap of the man''s bow rung through the forest. He had stretched ittoo far, the timing was perfect it was like they had planned on it happening. The claws sunk into his shoulders as the mouth began snapping in his face. "Fuck, I can''t just sit here!" The man had saved his life so he was just returning the favor. The element of surprise was in his favor, so sliding from behind the trees he positions himself so that he was aligned with the remaining two Rattlers. The man screams as the beast clamps onto his shoulder slicing through the bone. The other two rattlers beginning to start their assault when light pulses before erupting in their direction, they were fast creatures but changing their course of direction mid-sprintcaused them to stumble leaving them defenseless as the beam rammed into the first one pushing it into the second one before slamming them into a tree.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. It didn''t kill them, but it left enough damage for them to fear Shin. The smell of burning hair filled the air as the light faded from his hands. Looking at the two Rattlers one had taken the brunt of the damage some of its skin even peeling, as it attempted to regain its footing. The second rattler seeming to take only minor damage from being rammed into the tree on some of its fur being frayed from the beam. The light had distracted the third Rattler that had pounced on the man long enough for him to push it off, and roll towards his bag of arrows, as he grabbed one it began lunging for him. Grasping the arrowhead he plunged it deep into its throat before withdrawing his hand, grabbing another and stabbing it in the left eye. Reaching in his bag the Rattler snarled, grabbing a small knife he began stabbing it in the throat repeatedly blood soaking his hands and face before it stopped moving. Snarling in anger the remaining two Rattlers back away slowly before stalking up the trunkof a tree and disappearing into the leaves. Releasing a breath I didn''t know I was holding, I approach the man as he wipes the blood from his knife on his vest. "Why did you help me back there, you could have been killed if those zippers decided to keep on fighting." his voice sounding exhausted. "What was I going to do, leave you to die and save myself. That would leave a bad taste in my mouth, you did save me first so I was just repaying the favor." Looking up at my extended hand, he stares for a few seconds before firmly grasping it. Letting out a chuckle before grinning the man replies, "Most people in your situation would have run for the hills, I''m Eugene thanks for saving my ass uh," "Shin, my names Shin, but you can call me Venge." Shin didn''t want Azel to know he was still alive, it would make it that much harder to track him down so instead he''d go by his last name hopefully not drawing too many eyes in his direction. "Well uh, Venge you have my thanks, but uh why are you dressed like that and what was that light you used, a flashlight? I haven''t seen one of those since before the wipe. Didn''t know that they had a weakness to light though" Before the wipe? What was he talking about the meteors maybe? Eugene began lifting the Rattler over his shoulder before looking at the other one. "You mind carrying that zipper over there I''ve got my hands full here unless you want to split the kills but from your looks, i''d say you don''t have a place to go. My camp''s not too far from here we can rest there and don''t worry zippers don''t go around there." "Do I really have a choice?" Muttering to myself I toss the body over my shoulder, it was lighter than it looked, probably why it could move so fast and climb tree''s with ease, also explains how a single arrow had managed to kill one. At least I won''t be starving out here tonight I couldn''t help thinking to myself as me and Eugene headed west towards his camp. Eugene continuing to make small talk to pass the time. About his friends, what he did before the wipe sample things. It was nice, Shin hadn''t talked to a "real" person in what seemed like years and the simple minded Eugene put his mind at ease. We walked in the forest for what seemed like hours but Eugene insisted it had only been about 45 minutes, the trees began to become more scarce as we approached his little hut the fire was still ablaze as we dropped the bodies in the grass. "Wait here Venge, I''ll introduce you to the rest of the group" walking through the door Eugene disappears the door closing behind him. The little house was built sturdy, it seemed Eugene and his companions had used the trees around the area to construct it, but they had no protection from keeping out the monsters that kept him on edge. The door opening 9 people came out of the small hut, Shin wondered how they all could fit in such a tiny space. As they approached him he could already see that some of them were not happy to see him. Chapter 9: Heated Introductions The sun was beginning to set as Eugene''scompanions circled around the dwindling fire, the wood crackling as the breeze ruffled the leaves in the trees. He hadn''t felt this many eyes on him since coming out of the dungeon, it made his stomachqueasy and made him feel a bit awkward. They were the first group of people he had encountered in a long time, and his mind craved for the interaction, yet his body shrank at first meetings. After a minute of odd silence, Eugene coughs awkwardly before starting the introductions, "Guys, this here is my buddy Venge he saved my ass while I was out hunting them zippers. His appearance is a bit, inadequate but I assure you all he means well." Patting me on the shoulder Eugene lets out a hearty laugh, before plunking down on the ground, his ass seemed like it would leave an imprint in the earth as it vibrated under his bum. Eugene seemed to do most of the talking as he told the exaggerated story of what happened over the fire, sitting next to him I stared at the flames waiting for the meat to finish roasting as the smoky hunk of beef aromabegan to flutter around the area. Glancing upward up another man plops down beside him, he couldn''t have been older than 27. "Venge is it, I''m Bryce it''s nice to see you and big ol,Eugene here made it back okay. Thank''s for saving his skin if you have his trust, you have mine." He smirked before nudging me and pointing with his eyes at the rest of the group that circled the fire, some of them listening to Eugene''s story while others were closer to the hut carving up the second Rattler. " You see that guy over there with the red hair and beady eyes carving up the zipper, that''s Lars he was here before I arrived, a little hot-headed but not a bad guy. The skinny guy next to him is his younger brother Lance, doesn''t have muchfor brains and follows his brother around everywhere. His tall stature doesn''tgo well with his ability, he''d lose a slap fight with 6 arms." "The woman laughing at all of Eugene''s storytelling that''s Bethany, but she''ll insist you call her Beth. Don''t let her blonde hair and bubbly smile fool you, let''s just say hunting zippers alone wasn''t Eugene''s idea of a peaceful stroll in the woods. The asianfiddling with the bow next toBeth that''s Takashi, trying to understand what he''s saying will drive you mad, personally, I keep our conversations short and sweet." "The dark skinned fellow with no hair is Trace, not even sure that''s his real name but it fit''s, under his clothes he has dozens of tattoos but he''s undoubtedlythe friendliest guy here besides Eugene. The other two huddled together are Francis and Sara, husband and wife. They tend to keep to themselves unless food or waters involved not that I blame them." After going through the list Shin had a hard time remembering the loads of information Bryce had dumped on him, they all seemed pretty settled and at ease in such a dangerous world, it baffled him. They knew about the strange creatures yet they have no defenses besides a couple of bows, which were in sad condition.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "So Venge where exactly did you come from?" surprised by the question he turns to Beth, her golden hair whisking in the breeze as she stared at him, she was pretty without a doubt, but it was in her eyes. The same eyes a predator wore when playing with a weaker prey, and Shin nearly flinched as he looked into those eyes. Telling them what had happened would only make their suspicions of him deepen, so he left out the part of him dying and escaping from the abyss to himself. Muttering in a low tone he tells them his half-baked story, "There''s a pond a few hours from here, I woke up there after the meteors destroyed the area, I tried to return to my town before I got lost in the woods" Narrowing her eyes she scans his face, looking for a tell or sign, a crack in his story, they hadn''t seen a person in the woods for weeks and now a stranger who looked like he went through a fist fight with zippers walks into their camp. She didn''t believe a word he said, although Eugene claims this man had saved his life. "That doesn''t explain why you look like shit, and you reek, have you been rolling around in fish?" Proclaiming loudly Lars struts over to the fire with more meat, his brother in tow behind him."I can smell that shit from all the way over here, you didn''t think to wash your ass in that pond before going on a suicide adventure in the forest?" Everyone looks at me before they start to chuckle, Bryce leans over to me tears forming in his eyes muttering, "You do kinda stink man, rolling around in some dirt wouldn''t hurt." The tension seemed to loosen after that, laughter filled the small campfire as they told stories of the meteors that fell and how they had survived, the only ones silent being Lance, Takashi and the married couple Francis and Sara. The married couple too busy eating to care what was being said and Lance by Shin''s assumption too slow to keep up with the conversation. Takashi he was sure didn''t understand a word that was being said, he just continued to fix the bow Eugene had destroyed, saying something every now and then in a different language letting us all know he was still there. Finishing the last of the food, they all seemed to relax the tension from earlier a distant memory to some. Shin had been talking to Bryce nearly the whole time, just small talk and jokes. "So why exactly do you guys call them zippers, I mean I know their fast but you couldn''t think of a better name?" Shin says snickering to himself. "Hey, it wasn''t my idea to call them Zippers" Bryce retorts in defense. " You should be talking to Eugene over there, the big oaf." Glancing at us with a wide grin Eugene throws up his middle finger before barking, "Well what else was I suppose to call them, they''re fast as lightening. It ain''t like they have a name, and I never saw one before the wipe happened." Turning towards Bryce a little confused, "What do you mean they don''t have a name, aren''t they called Rattlers?" Looking at him amused, Bryce throws his arm around Shin''s shoulder. "What do you mean Rattlers? Why on earth would you call them that, they don''t rattle Venge they zip." "Well that''s the name that''s floating over they''re head am I right, why wouldn''t you just call them that?" The conversations around the fire stopped abruptly, the only thing that could be heard was Takashi scrapping the wood of the bow with a tiny pocket knife. Looking around everyone seemed to stare at him, not of suspicion, the look was anticipation. It confused him, turning to Bryce, who now stared at him wide eyed he asked, "Is there a problem, Bryce?" "Venge how is it that you can see their names? When the rest of us only see numbers?" Chapter 10: The System The moon was high in the sky illuminating the forest, the shadows of the trees stretching into the darkness until it was lost in the distance. Expectant and suspicious looks all rested on Venge, his story about being lost in the woods had beenquestionable at best and his late statement had me wondering if he could be trusted. "What numbers are you talking about, the Maturity level? Venge says, more confused than before. The look on his face hid secrets, secrets we needed for survival, and I will do whatever it takes to pry them from him. "What''s it called maturity, what is that Venge, Is it related to the wipe?" Beth asks in a neutral voice. "Wait, what exactly do you guys know about the wipe aside from Cosmos being the new ruler of the earth?" Shin knew he was a little slow when it came to discovering the use of his abilities but it seemed like these people had no clue about the system or the messages, and he was beginning to see why they carried on in such a carefree manner after the world had ended. "That''s all we know," Eugene answering in a low voice, his usual cheer seemed to have drained from his body. "We don''t have a clue what''s been happening in the world, we''ve been too busy trying to survive, hunting alone is a hassle, let alone exploring the woods looking for answers." Looking at the group Shin was taken aback, the only one not listening to the conversation being Takashi as he continued to adjust his bow. "So none of you have accessed your User yet? Haven''t you heard the rings in your head?" Looking at each other with a confused look he could tell theyall knew what I was referring too. "I thought I was going crazy, I hear the rings every so often what are they?" Coming from Eugene he had a worried look plastered on his face. "It''s a message from the system, informing you something changed with your User which is like, a breakdown of all your abilities." His foot had been tapping in irritationfor awhile now, standing up Lars retortsin frustration, "And how exactly did you figure all of this out after waking up and wandering through the forest lost? You''s clothes are ripped to shreds, those aren''t burn marks theirslices." Looking around the fire he looked at each of their faces before his eyes rested on Beth, she stared at him unblinking waiting for his answer, he could see her mind already calculating his words in her mind before he even responded. "I was being chased by a Rattler when Eugene found me," the words seeping out my mouth. "The system adjusts your user based on your interactions, like updates, the more you discover helpsbroaden your understanding of the world. Just say it in your minds and you''ll see what I''m talking about." They seemed skeptical, it was hard to believe unless you were a fantasy nut, and from the look around, the idea of everything I''msaying being entirely made up had to have passed through some of their minds. "He''s right!" Francis being the first to respond surprisingly, his face seemed to light up as a smirk appeared. "It''s as if AI has been implanted in our brains, allowing, well whoever it is running this system to communicate with us." It seemed to excite him, talking about the User stats, and the relation it had to the system. His wife looked at him strangely as he continued to engross himself in the system, only blinking occasionally to keep his eyes from drying. I didn''t understand much about the system, so explaining to them why I could see things they couldn''t wasn''t exactly easy, in fact, the more I explained the more confused looks I got. The only person seeming to understand me being Francis who I assumed had some experience with tech before the wipe happened.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. After about 10 minutes everyone seemed to be looking at their own screens, with the exception of Takashi who just ignored us as he began making arrowheads from the bones of the Rattler we just ate, and Lance, who had begun shouting "My User" over and over as his brother started to smack him over the head. "Stop shouting in my ear! You want me to go deaf?" The tension eased as they began to gossip about their individual stats, apparently, Eugene''s Maturity was at 3 from killing so many Rattlers, he had also discovered the passive skill Barebow I which increased his accuracy by 2% and the skill Fishtailing I which allowed him to manipulate an arrow in flight. He was ecstatic about it until he read the requirements. "It says here that the consumption rate for me to use my skill is 10 LF, Venge what does LF mean?" He says, looking at me eager to try his new abilities on the next hunt. "I''ve never seen LF in any of my messages, sorry but I have no idea." A little disappointed, he turns back to his screen attempting to figure out the meaning of LF. Bryce had stayed silent the entire time, murmuring to himself as he examined his stats. The only person who didn''t seem interested was Takashi, he had finished crafting the arrows and had headed off to sleep, not saying a word to anyone. "Don''t worry about him he''s always like that." Looking at me, Beth wore a bright smile, the same smile she wore when she first saw him and the same smile she showed when listening to Eugene''s stories. "My name''s Bethany, but you can call me Beth, So Venge you said you woke up near a pond right? Do you mind taking us there tomorrow? We''re running out of water and it hasn''t rained for a few days now, It''s the least you can do right, we did feed you after all?" Her tone sounded sweet, but there was an edge in her voice and Shin could see how she had continuously watched him throughout the night, slowly examining every word that fell out of his mouth. "Yeah sure, It''s a few hours from here If Eugene can take us back to where he found me I''ll lead the way from there." Eugene''s ears twitched at the sound of his name before turning toward us. "Yeah I remember where I picked you up in the middle of the zipp- I mean Rattlers territory, but it''s a bit dangerous for the whole group to go, 3 of us should be enough." Turning to Lance, Beth beams asmile at him, "Lance, Eugene needs you to carry the water tomorrow, you don''t mind right? You just sit around all day anyway, why not help the group?" Turning back towards Eugene, before Lance could say anything"So it''s decided Lance and Venge will help you." She hadn''t given him a chance to reject her, not that Lance had actually felt duped being too slow to even process what had just happened. Trace laughed to himself as he watched the interaction unfold before rising from the campfire, "Don''t worry about it Lance I''ll be going tomorrow, I''m interested to see what''s out there at the lake, besides with those skinny arms you couldn''t carry a cup of water." Bursting out laughing Eugene falls to the ground, shaking the earth around him. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he patted Lance on the shoulder before laughing again. Lance still sitting there, he may have been slow but he knew an insult when he heard one. "Alright guys cut it out stop picking on Lance," rubbing his little brothers head Lar''s intervened putting the laughter to a stop. Leaving the fire Lance returns to the hut smiling to himself.One by one they started to leave the campfire going inside of the tiny hut to sleep until Shin sat alone. The campfire still crackling in the silent night, he looked up at the moon and wondered if Azel was even still alive and if he was how he would beat him. Standing up, he heads for the hut yawning to himself before his pocket begins to glow. The blue light burned in his pocket, pulling out the gem a form began to appear the familiar soft blue flames and shape had Shin gaping as he stared at the figure. "Hey Shin, you didn''t miss me did you?" Chapter 11: Whispers of Wisdom The gems light began to dim as she stood before him, her presenceseeming to bend the light of the moon in her favor enhancing her otherworldlyexistence. It was a rather abrupt meeting and the fatigue from the day was starting to wear on his mind, but he had questions and now that he was in a less perilous situation he was going to get the information that he needed. "It seems like you managed to survive while I was away, good for you." As always she talked in an amused tone, he had managed to escape death on luck alone after she had plunged the cavern into darkness. He still had a sour taste about it but that could wait for a later time. "It seems you managed to escape into the stone, why''d it take so long for you to appear?" "My... my..., little Shin did miss me, how cute. Possessing such a powerful stone isn''t as easy as you might think little Shin, even with its low durability it nearly took me 2 days to have complete control, not that you would understand such a system." "Sen what exactly is this system, how does it work?" Pondering the question for a moment, she tilts her head towards the sky, "What kind of question is that? The system is everything and everyone, every belief, every ideal, every god, and every person has access to this system, from the very soul that sits in your body to the limitless stars in the sky everything is incorporated in the system. As to how it works," Looking back at me she draws closerher face only inches apart from mine. "The same way it worked before the world was reset." Before the world was reset? Did such a system exist? Of course not, how could it, with such an advanced system there would be no need for computers, phones, cameras anything electronic. She couldn''t be serious, and how did she gain such knowledge about the world after the wipe? "How do you know all of this? It''s not like there are textbooks to explain things and no offense but you''re a spirit, you survived a few days in this world before dying, the things you''re telling me are beyond your knowledge." Staring at me her aura pulsed, as the tone of her voice grew more serious. "I''d watch your mouth Shin," the words heavy as they spilled from her mouth. "Spirits are envious beings who possess mass amounts of information, of courseby interacting with the physical world, by interacting with a living being I''ve been cast out of the knowledge pool." "Your were cast out of the pool of knowledge because of me? Is it really that big a deal?" He could see the spirit flare from his foolish question, "Knowledge is power everyone knows that Shin the living and the dead, and I have been cut off from every other spirit in existence for granting you the ability to see and hear us, the ability to bend your soul to your will isn''t something that is easily obtainable." She has been exiled from the pool of knowledge for granting him the abilities, of course, he felt a little guilty for it, but seeing as there was nothing he could do about it, he didn''t continue on the subject. "Is there any information you can tell me that isn''t in the pool of knowledge?" "The only knowledge I possess is of spirit relation." Pausing for a brief moment she continues. "The only thing I can tell you is that the system is centered around the manifestation of our beliefs before the wipe, other than that I know nothing else."If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Thinking about her explanation was starting to give him a headache as he began to massage his forehead. He still had one more question to ask, "Do you know where Azel is?" Strangely the ghostly figure didn''t react, he had expected anger or rage but she stayed silent. "I don''t know where Azel is, only that he is still alive still walking on your world." The monotone was void of emotion as she spoke before she began to fade. "I have things to deal with in my world now, try not to get yourself killed while I''m away." And like that she disappeared, before giving him a chance to respond. He had probably pissed her off with a few of the questions, "Oh well, I''ll apologize the next time I see her." Laying down in the grass he thought about everything Sen had told him about the system, his mine to fatigued to put the pieces together he closed his eyes and let his mind wander. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sun shined brightly in the sky as he awoke from his deep slumber, standing up his body had gone stiff and as he began to stretch he noticed someone had woken up before him. Sitting at the now empty firepit Takashi sat cross-legged his eyes closed as if he were sleeping, the only reason he knew he was still awake was due to him not being there before he had gone to sleep the previous night. Walking towards him the air seemed to become warm, although where he sat was shaded by the trees. It was strangely calm, the breeze subtle and the closer he got the more peaceful he felt before sitting on opposite sides of the fire, he simply watched him. It was mesmerizinghe assumed it was a type of meditation and wondered how long he had been sitting here. He watched for what felt like only a few minutes before the hut door came flying open, Francis sprinting over with an excited look on his face. "Hey Venge!! You''ve got to check this out!." Just like that the feeling was gone the peaceful calm had abruptly vanished and as I looked at Takashi he stared at Francis with annoyance, before standing up and walking away disappearing behind the hut. Arriving in front of him he plops down next to him, his eye''sa bloodshot red. "I stayed up all night analyzing the My User and the system, it was a bit difficult at first but I finally figured out how it works. It''sadaptive!" Looking at him, he gave off the impression of a guy with a few screws loose. "What do you mean adaptive?" Bursting with excitement he replies " I mean based on of your actions, your thoughts, feelings, interactions everything you do and what others do defines what messages you get. Although the specifics on how to gain an ability, and the requirements I have no clue." He was talking fast almost to the point it was hard to understand what he was saying, and the more he talked the less I understood. Francis continued to ramble on as I thought back to the things Sen told me last night, about how the system manifested our beliefs, stating this would mean it could read our thoughts and that was a very uncomfortable feeling. If it was true then you were only limited by your imagination. He knew one thing for sure though, Azel had survived. He was still alive somewhere in this unknown world and he had no clue how he was supposed to track down one man when he couldn''t even find his own way out of a forest, and if he was going to kill him he needed power. He knew Azel would dominate in this new world, he had always prepared for it and he didn''t doubt he had already deciphered the secrets of Cosmos and The Being of Many Names. More people began to trickle out the hut, and soon the chatter began to fill the area, Eugene had begun explaining to Trace the layout of the forest, and how to defend himself against the Rattlers him being the veteran at fighting them. Lars and Sara began preparing the second Rattler for breakfast, and Takashi had returned from the forest out of breath and sweat dripping from his face. As usual, he didn''t say a word, he did glance at Francis, still annoyed about this morning. Everyone began to sit around the fire as Lars brought over the meat. staring into the fire he thought about his situation. It was depressing and nearly hopeless it was hard not to give up, dropping his head he sighed deeply Sen''s words echoed in his mind before a small smile formed on his face. Knowledge really is power, he thought to himself. Chapter 12: The Forest that Rattles "It''s dry," He thought as he continuously chewed the cooked meat, the smell drifted through the air followed by the loud chattering of the group. Even Lance to his surprise was talking with Sara, most likely about something trivial, everyone was talkingbut Takashi who just chewed his meat in silence as he stared off into space. Francis had continued babblingabout his speculations regarding the system only some of it being comprehended, what I did understand contradicted everything Sen had said the night prior so I dismissed his ideas altogether. It had been a day since he last checked his stats and wanted to verify his User before heading out into the forest, "My User"
Shin A.Venge
Health Spirit Energy Stamina Maturity
220/220 Regeneration (3.5/ min) 250/250 Regeneration (5/min) 240/240 Regeneration (2/ min) 16
Vitality Strength Agility Intelligence
24 11 22 19
Wisdom Fortitude Will Luck
17 30 28 3
Title: (B) Eradicator of Dungeons (Active)
Titles: Inactive Water Mutant, One who Denies Death
Discoveries Purify IV, Clairvoyant II, Ray of Light II, Protection I, Spirit Armor I
Passives Chemical Resistance, Soul Rearrangement, Perseverance
Specialties
Noticing a new slot he wondered just how would he obtain a specialty, would it be through the repetition of a specific skill, or was it a more complex thing altogether? Pondering the thought Bryce wanders over carrying a shirt, "You can''t seriously think we''d leave you in those rags, did you?" he says, while tossing it, It was a worn button up shirt with a few holes, much better than what I was wearing. "Thanks," sliding the shirt on Trace beckons me over to where he and Eugene sat. Standing up, Beth stares at me as I walk over. "The fuck you keep looking at me for,"echoes in my mind before Eugene begins going over the route. According to him, we should get there and back before nightfall with little to no trouble from the Rattlers. We each carried a bag, which contained bottles for storing the water, Eugene approached Takashi asking about the bow and arrows. Which he managed to acquire from him along with a carved out spear he made in his spare time. Being a man of no words he simply handed over the weapons without sayinganything, afterward wandering off into the forest until he was out of everyone''s view. Eugene carrying the bow and Trace with the wooden spear we headed deeper into the forest, Bryce giving us a thumbsup and a grin, while Lars sat with a grumpy look on his face while mumbling "Goodluck". I felt a little left out me being the only one without a weapon but realizing I was the only one with actual abilities it was for the best, even if they didn''t know about them.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The deeper we wandered into the forest the more eyes I felt on us, Trace led the way followed by myself and Eugene trailed behind. They figured I was the weakest here without having a weapon so decided it would be safest for me in the center. The rustling of the leaves had us all flinching, expecting a Rattler to descend from the sky and attack us in hordes. It was different than when Eugene and I were leaving the forest and happily chattering before, now we were entering the forest and danger constantly lurked overhead waiting for a moment to strike, and that pressure kept all of us on edge. "We''re almost there Shin, Trace stay alert up there" his voice was oddly calm for the situation we were in. I began to wonder just how many times had he come to this place hunting for Rattlers. Although he wasn''t as big as Eugene, Trace was still quite large his back rippled with muscles as he tightly clenched the spear, frantically looking in each direction as we neared the destination. The forest was dark and gloomy, the leaves repelling any sunlight that threatened to shine through. The rustling of leaves began to grow more frequent the deeper we traveled, slowly beginning to surround us. I felt it in my gut "we are in some deep shit" regretting letting myself be manipulated by Beth, I now understood Bryce''s warning as he told me about her. The snarl echoed through the forest, followed by numerous more all seeming to hum in unison as if they were rushing to war. Looking back at Eugene, I can see his face slightly pale as the rustling became louder, the roars fierce as lightning as the sound quickly approached. The urge to run pulsed through my body, but I knew it was already too late. "Spirit Armor" activating the skill dozens of Rattlers fall from the trees like leaves, Eugene bow already at the ready begins to launch arrows at a rapid rate, darting towards me while howling "Shin run for the pond". Not thinking, my body moves on its own as I begin stumbling through the forest. Trace thrusts his spear in quick succession as the Rattlers draw near only hitting one, as Eugene fires ahead of us trying to clear a path. "There are too many" flashes through my mind, my breath running ragged. Rattlers continue dropping from the sky like rain, their numbers seeming endless as we fight our way through. Descending from above Trace is tackled to the ground, fending off the beast''s jaws with his spear as the claws began sinking into his arms, the jaws snapping viciously at his face. Seeing the weakened prey they all sprint towards him, their legs almost blurring at the speed they were moving. Eugene continuously fired his bow trying to pick them off before they reached him to no avail, before shooting the beast that mounted Trace. Scrambling to his feet he thrusts his spear at the incoming beasts that clawed at him, his skinbeing sliced as he roared before he continued his assault through the waves of Rattlers. Looking ahead the path is swarmed with them as they wait for our arrival clinging to the trees. Pointing my arms forwardI channel my SE to my hands unleashing my only offensive skill. Unlike before they darted out of the way as if they knew it was coming. My heart thundered in my chest as we pushed forward, Trace close behind stabbing any Rattler that got too close and Eugene trailing slightly behind, launching arrows at any that were on Traces heels. Closing in on the hoard that awaited us an idea flashes through my mind and Ishoot my arms forward unleashing my skill again. Avoiding the blast they leap to the side like before clinging to the trees around them snarling in our direction. Looking in both directions I swing my arms outward the beam sweeping over the area ahead of us. It wasn''t powerful and the trees blocked a majority of the damage, but it had hit enough of them to clear a path for us. Rushing through we''re mauled by several of them, the air leaving my lungs as the claws tear into my chest hitting the ground. Hurling his spear at the incoming beast Trace impales it through the head, gasping for breath I rise to my feet before grabbing the spear and dashing through the clearing. The pond glistened as the sun shined off the surface, falling to the ground and panting I look towards the forest as Trace races towards me panting and looking over his shoulder. His arms drenched in blood as he stood by the pond waiting for Eugene to emerge. Snarls echoing through the forest as we waited in anticipation, minutes passed as we stood there, looking towards me Trace wore a grim expression before snatching the spear from my hand and sprinting towards the forest. "You didn''t think a couple of zippers could stop me did you?" Stumbling out of the forest and blood dripping from his legs, he smiled before collapsing to the ground. Standing over him Trace stares before chuckling, "took you long enough." Chapter 13: Unrest "This fucking hurts" Trace grumbled as he drank from the pond. Blood seeping down his chest with every move he made. It had been an hour since we arrived at the pond. The Rattlers hadn''t followed us to the water making it a good chance for us to catch our bearings. Eugene still lay at the pond side where Trace left him exhausted from our fight with the beasts. "How are we going to make it back to the camp, we escaped from the forest by the skin of our teeth." Thinking back to our escape I would havedied If Trace hadn''t thrown his spear. I was weak and it was weighing the group down. But now wasn''t the time to sulk he had wandered into the woods expecting to find his hometown only to get lost. Now that he was safe he would use this time. "I''ll be back I want to check something out." Standing up Shin walks to the other side of the lake, it was familiar yet different. It felt like it had been years since I had seen the area. There were no craters from the meteors and no burn marks from the fires. I could see where I had been shot only a few days ago. The image still played in my head as I headed for where Azel''s house had stood before the wipe. "Hey, wait up. I want to come with you. I haven''t left the camp for awhile and Eugene''s still out of it. You don''t mind, do you? Where are we headed anyway?" Glancing to the side Trace followed close behind his chest bear exposing the designs that hugged his body. "A friend of mine used to have a house around here before the wipe, in his basement he made a bunker. I want to see if it''s still there." "You think he could have survived down there all this time. Or there are still some supplies that haven''t been used yet." Nodding his head he seemed content with the story. "By the way what was that light that you used back in the forest? I''ve never seen anything like it before." "Ah that, it was something the system gave me when I woke up here. By the way, thanks for saving me back in the forest I wouldn''t be here if it wasn''t for you." The words felt heavy as they fell from my mouth, "had it been that long since I thanked someone?" "Don''t worry about it man, you can pay me back with whatever we find in that bunker." The sun gleaming off his head as he grinned. "Where is this bunker supposed to be, there''s nothing but trees here." He was standing right on the land the house used to be. There was no sign of a house has ever been here. "This is it, it was right here." "You said it''s a bunker, how are we supposed to dig it up? "You start with the spear I''ll use... that rock over there." Grabbing a head sized stone he begins to drive it into the earth. Trace watches with an amused look. " You said it was a bunker, it''ll take us days to find it if we use a rock and a stick. Most bunkers are at least 6-10 feet deep and that''s if we know exactly where it is." "Then how are we suppose to get down there?" Throwing the stone, he gasps, sweat dripping down his face. "I don''t know, but we''re not leaving this pond anytime soon so we have some time." Walking away he shouts over his shoulder. "I''ll go back and talk with Eugene to let him know what''s going on." Chuckling, Shin opens his User.
Shin A.Venge
Health Spirit Energy Stamina Maturity
220/220 Regeneration (3.5/ min) 250/250 Regeneration (5/min) 240/240 Regeneration (2/ min) 16
Vitality Strength Agility Intelligence
24 11 22 19
Wisdom Fortitude Will Luck
17 30 28 3
Title: (B) Eradicator of Dungeons (Active)
Titles: Inactive Water Mutant, One who Denies Death
Discoveries Purify IV, Clairvoyant II, Ray of Light II, Protection I, Spirit Armor I
Passives Chemical Resistance, Soul Rearrangement, Perseverance
Specialties
If he was going to dig he thought of using Ray of light but knew it wouldn''t be strong enough to cut through the earth, no matter how many times he used it. "Maybe...." Closing his eyes he focuses on his SE, the supernatural aura resonated in his body as he concentrated on its pulse. "If I could make spirit armor then making spirit weapons is possible too," If the system was truly developed by your beliefs.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The familiar coolness of his spirit washed over him, "let''s start with something small."Raising his hand he began to picture the knife Takashi wielded as he carved the bows, It was small and simple. Focusing the energy towards his palm he held the energy instead of releasing it, his hand chilled from the aura as it enveloped his hand. First, he pictured the hilt, bending his spirit, nausea sat in his stomach as the fatigue began to overwhelm him. "Not yet...now the blade," he grunted as a wave of exhaustion rammed into his mind, his intestines twisted with every ripple he made as he formed the blade, his mind clinging to consciousness before the rings vibrated in his head breaking all concentration. "Ding!" [You have Discovered the Skill - Spirit Materialization I]
Skill - Spirit Materialization I
Mastery: 22%
Description: Materializing your spirit into solid objects.
Speed: Dependent upon the user.
Consumption Rate: Small objects 20 SE, Medium objects 40 SE, Large objects 75 SE. The object will disappear when user disassembles it or upon the depletion of Spirit Energy.
[You have Discovered the Skill - Spiritual Tool I]
Skill - Spiritual Tool I
Mastery: 9%
Description: Bending your spirit into a tool.
Speed: Dependent upon the user.
Consumption Rate: 5SE/ min.
The messages now fading from his eyes, the faint white glow shined in his hand. It was small, the size of your average knife, the light hiding any detail it might have had. The warm knife sat comfortably in his hands as he continued to examine his creation.
Spirit Fragment of Shin A. Venge
Durability: 250/250
Abilities: Capable of cutting, slicing and stabbing solid and spiritual material.
Description: A spirit fragment weaved into a small knife. *Warning* Improper destruction of this item will have permanent effects to the creator.
Rereading the last warning message he closes the window, "Using my soul as a tool has some risks involved, I need to be careful when using this." Squeezing theblade a warm heartbeat vibrated through his arm. "Now how am I supposed to disassemble it?" he didn''t want to try stabbing himself even if it was his own spirit shard. Focusing on the pulse of the weapon Shin closed his eyes as he pictured the weapon crumbling, it was his spirit so he tried absorbing the fragments as the weapon began to quiver. Looking at the weapon it began to merge with his hand before disappearing completely. "That was easier than making it, destroying is always easier than building it." "Eugene saw some fish in the pond so I gave him the spear, any luck on digging out the bunker?" Startled, Shin turns around to Trace smiling as he walks towards him. "I might have a way to start digging but it''s going to take awhile, I don''t even know if it''s still down there. If you and Eugene want to head back I won''t blame you." Scratching his bald head he lets out a grin, "Well actually we decided that it was too dangerous to go back through the forest with the Rippers prowling around. And we lost a lot of sunlight so we decided to stay around here for the night until it''s safer to head back to camp." In the distance, Eugene was in the water, ankle deep stabbing into the water. "The rest of the group won''t come looking for you?" "That group, most of them only care about themselves, I wouldn''t worry about that. You said you found a way to get to the bunker right? It''s not another rock is it?" Chuckling to himself he glances at the rock and looks back in my direction. "No, it''s not another rock!" I bark, my face turning hot. "Just sit back and watch." Grumbling, I turn my back to him as energy begins to focus in my palms. It wasn''t as hard as before, and my mind only throbbed briefly before completing the shovel. Turning around in triumph, I display my work, "With this, we should be able to find the bunker easily." With a confused look, he stares at my hands while scratching his beard, "You gonna dig with your hands, personally I think you''d have better luck with the rock." "Not my hands! With this shovel, it''ll be much easier!" Pushing the shovel into the ground I start to dig, Trace watching from the sides not saying a word, simply observing. After a few minutes of digging my arms began to burn, looking at Trace I hand him the shovel, "Hey switch with me, I need a break." "Yeah sure, but how are you doing that? Moving the dirt? I''ve been watching for awhile now and still don''t get how you''re doing it." "He can''t see the shovel?"Wait so you can''t see the shovel in my hand right now? "Nope, honestly you looked like a very convincing mime." "Is it because he doesn''t have Clairvoyant? He can''t see spiritual objects either?" "Try to touch it at least." Hesitantly Trace reaches for my hand, "Yeah I can feel it, how did you make this?" Taking the shovel Trace jumps into the small hole and begins to dig, stumbling as he pushed the object into the dirt. Sitting down beside the hole I watch Trace as he throws heaps of dirt beside me the pile quickly growing, " It''s one of the skills the system gave me when I woke up, opening your mind to different ways of thinking helps you make discoveries faster I think." Grunting Trace throws another pile full of dirt overhead, "So you''re saying this system is based on your personal point of view of the world?" Crawling out of the hole he hands the shovel to me, "Your turn." "This is gonna take all day," Grabbing the shovel I hope back into the hole. "I hope I''m not wasting my time digging this fucking hole.