《Transient Soul: Shattered Fate.》 Introduction and what to expect. Hello world, This is my first foray into writing a novel and publishing online. I would appreciate any and all feedback you can offer. I am not the world''s greatest writer, only someone trying to improve myself one day at a time.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. I have 3 books planned for this series with the possibility of more in the future. I am not looking at doing a Patreon at this stage. I will attempt to release at least 1 chapter per week of approximately 3,000 words. I apologise in advance if I fall short of this word count but there will be chapters with significantly more and I will not be cutting chapters for the sake of generating a serial format. Thanks! I - Integration Click¡­ click¡­ click¡­ click. The sharp click of his leather shoes echoed off unseen walls, each step amplifying the emptiness around him. The air felt unnervingly thick, pressing against his skin like a heavy shroud. Every breath seemed to be swallowed by the oppressive darkness, which wrapped itself tighter with every passing moment. He wasn¡¯t sure where he was or how he¡¯d gotten there, but the cold of the stone hall seeped into his bones. His palms were slick with sweat, and terror churned in his gut. Still, he moved forward, step by cautious step. Click¡­ click¡­ click¡­ click. Crack¡­ tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-TACK. His foot struck something solid in the dark, sending it skittering across the floor like a skipping stone on a still lake. The noise echoed back at him, far too loud in the stillness. He froze, his breath catching in his throat, as if the darkness itself was waiting, watching. The sound of something scraping against the floor made his skin crawl. It wasn¡¯t just the stone that echoed. He thought he heard something else¡ªa faint, rhythmic clicking, like tiny claws tapping the hard surface, moving toward him. Reaching out hesitantly, he touched the wall where the object had landed. His fingers met a surface that was cool and smooth, like polished glass¡ªflawless, with no imperfections to break its unnerving perfection. His skin tingled, an unnatural shiver running down his spine. Something about the wall felt wrong, as if it was alive, just waiting for the wrong touch. The air seemed to grow heavier, a suffocating pressure that pressed in from all sides. He could almost hear something shifting just beyond the edges of his perception. ¡°What is this?¡± he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. A sound like static crackled in his mind, sharp and alien, before a blue panel illuminated in the darkness before his eyes.
User query detected.
Unregistered user detected.
Access requested.
--- --- --- ---
GRANTED.
Authorization: System Administrator ALPHA013022.
Designation: Phil.
He gawked at the screen as text appeared, one letter at a time, like an ancient MS-DOS interface coming to life. Confusion gripped him, but before he could process it, new text began to scroll rapidly.
Physical contact established.
User query assessed.
--- --- --- --- ---
ERROR.
Unable to supply adequate response without required skill: ¡®Assess.¡¯
SYSTEM OVERRIDE.
Help ticket generated.
ELEVATED... ELEVATED... ELEVATED...
--- --- --- --- ---
System Administrator presence requested for induction of foreign user.
GRANTED.
--- --- --- --- ---
User, standby for induction.
It is advised that you brace yourself, or become seated. IMMEDIATELY.
His eyes widened as the final word flashed in bold red: ¡®brace¡­ IMMEDIATELY.¡¯ Before he could react, searing white light exploded around him, accompanied by a deafening roar. It was as if the world¡¯s largest flashbang had detonated mere feet from his head. He threw himself to the ground, curling into a ball and shouting in defiance as the relentless assault overwhelmed his senses. Just as suddenly as it began, the light and sound vanished, leaving him in smothering silence. His head throbbed like a sledgehammer had crashed into the back of his skull. Ringing filled his ears, and the world spun beneath him as bile rose in his throat. Time lost meaning. Five seconds? Five minutes? He couldn¡¯t tell. Then he felt something soft graze his cheek. His body flinched violently, muscles seizing in a scream of agony. Face pressed into his own sick, he was paralysed, his senses overwhelmed. Burning pain flared in his head¡ªin his eyes, his ears, deep within his skull. The ringing stopped abruptly. Through bleary eyes, he saw a soft blue light. The glow drifted away, and with it, the sense of something nearby¡ªsomething moving, crawling along the walls. His heart thudded in his chest, a low thrum that seemed to echo through the suffocating silence. The feeling that he wasn¡¯t alone intensified, like eyes were watching him from the shadows. As his hearing returned, the glow receded, revealing a silhouette leaning over him. He heard a faint click-click again, much closer now¡ªnearly imperceptible, but unmistakably there. His muscles tensed as an unnatural, biting cold ran down his spine. A firm voice spoke, sharp and unfamiliar: ¡°Caxan ug whoaxal vo? Epon yeep oyos.¡± A ding sounded, and the blue panel reappeared, this time with a refined, polished interface:
Trait Gained: Gift of Myriad Tongues (Epic++)
Grants the ability to master languages¡¯ written and verbal components at 1,000% greater speed than normal.
Grants understanding of cultural nuance and slang as mastery progresses.
This trait may only apply to languages of humanoid biology.
Further details available through novel application or research
The blue-white orb of light floated upward, illuminating everything it touched without casting a shadow. His senses, still on edge, tingled as though something was just out of reach, moving silently in the darkness. He forced his mind back to the glowing orb in front of him. The panel disappeared as he focused on the figure in front of him¡ªa woman in her mid-twenties, her features softened by the light. She tried speaking again: ¡°Zis wirr be baxal tee slow.¡± Her frustration was evident as his blank expression mirrored his confusion. But even as her voice reached him, a snip of something sharp sounded from the dark¡ªsomething large, skittering, just out of sight. His eyes darted to the shadows. He couldn¡¯t see them, but he could feel them¡ªfeel their presence, moving closer. Pushing himself upright again, he watched as she pressed two fingers to his forehead.
System Override.
Language Granted: Haven (Archaic) [Written/Verbal].
Language Granted: Haven (Common) [Written/Verbal].
Language Granted: Haven (Noble) [Written/Verbal].
Achievement Earned: Language is Power (Rare)
You have completely mastered the written and verbal components of one language.
+10% to Intelligence
+10% to Wisdom
2 x Language Comprehension Speed
Most would study for years to reach this level of mastery, but you¡¯ve had the privilege of having it forced into your recently healed grey matter by a cosmic entity.
He flinched as a torrent of information surged into his mind. The world blurred again, but the pain quickly subsided. His vision cleared, and he found the woman watching him intently. ¡°Can you understand me?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯ve implanted the common tongue into your mind and tossed in the written form for good measure.¡± He chuckled nervously, shaking his head in disbelief. ¡°Hell of an entrance. Pretty sure I¡¯ll need therapy after the nuke you just dropped in my face.¡± She raised a finger, and a blue panel illuminated before her face. ¡°Your vitals appear to be within normal ranges after I healed you. Allow me to assist with this mess, then we can speak.¡± She gestured over his body, murmuring a word in her language, ¡°Cleanse.¡± Warm light flared briefly, and the mess on the floor and his clothes began to glow, disintegrating into fine particles. Even the lingering stench vanished as if it had never existed. Relief mingled with embarrassment as he realized the chaos had left him more soiled than he¡¯d noticed. Still, it was no time to dwell on his dignity.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The light faded, leaving him feeling strangely whole. ¡°Who are you, and why am I here?¡± he asked, his voice steady despite the swirling confusion in his mind. The woman stood and gestured for him to rise. ¡°I am System Administrator ALPHA013022. You may call me Phil. My role is to assist in your induction into this world and its system. You are a foreign soul, one that should have gone through the normal process of reincarnation¡ªyour mind and soul scoured clean before being reborn. But something interfered. You were left wandering the space between, untouched by the process. My presence is required to register you with the world system and resolve any conflicts. Additionally, you are entitled to compensation for lacking the inherent advantages of native-born individuals. Do you have any questions, or can we begin?¡± His mind reeled from the flood of information. Struggling to comprehend it all, he shook his head. ¡°Go ahead,¡± he managed. Phil nodded briskly. ¡°Say the word ¡®Status¡¯ aloud, and you¡¯ll see a summary of your existence. Go on.¡± He hesitated before speaking the word. A massive blue panel flared into existence before him, larger than any he¡¯d seen so far. His eyes widened in mounting dread as he read.
Status
Name N/A (ERROR)
Title N/A
Age N/A (8540 years)
Race Human (Earth) - Haven (Aes#@-ERROR)
Class Not Selected (ERROR)
Professions (#/2)
1. N/A (Highschool Teacher.) (ERROR INVALID)
2. N/A
Stats
Health - N/A (ERROR)
Mana - N/A (ERROR)
Free Stats +17,080 (ERROR)
Strength N/A (ERROR) Vitality N/A (ERROR)
Dexterity N/A
Intelligence N/A (ERROR) [11] Wisdom N/A (ERROR) [11]
Charisma N/A (ERROR)
Traits (#/3)
1. Breaker of Chains (Unique) (ERROR)
2. Gift of Myriad Tongues (EpicERROR)
3. N/A
Skills 43 invalid entries detected. (ERROR UNQUANTIFIED SKILL PARADIGM)
Active
Passive
The sea of red errors stabbed at his nerves, each line a glaring warning that something was fundamentally wrong. His head spun as he struggled to make sense of the symbols, but it was as if his very mind rejected the meaning. He leaned against the wall, his chest tightening. Phil¡¯s tone softened, though her words came faster now. ¡°It¡¯s a mess, yes, but nothing we can¡¯t resolve. Most of these errors stem from differences between your world and ours. Your listed age reflects the time your soul has existed without proper reincarnation. I¡¯ll reset it to twenty-five to minimize dissonance.¡± As Phil spoke, he noticed faint vibrations in the air, like the soft hum of something too quiet to hear directly but undeniable in its presence. The polished walls reflected the soft light of her glowing orb, but shadows seemed to creep closer at the edges of his vision, almost as though they were alive¡ªstretching, curling, as if drawn to the faint warmth of the light. He glanced around uneasily, his instincts screaming that something was wrong, though he couldn¡¯t pinpoint what. Phil continued, her voice sharper now. ¡°We must hurry. This place is dark for a reason, and my light will draw attention. I¡¯ll keep it brief. You won¡¯t keep your seventeen thousand free stats¡ªit¡¯s an imbalance we cannot allow. Compensation will be discussed later.¡± The air around him felt heavier, suffocating almost, and the shadows seemed to close in with each passing moment. The stillness was pierced only by the rapid thump-thump of his own racing heartbeat, but the silence was oppressive, thick with something waiting just beyond his senses. Phil¡¯s light seemed to grow brighter, but even that warmth felt like it was struggling to push back the encroaching cold. Her movements became brisk, her words clipped. ¡°Your stats will reset to ten. A clean slate. Your unique trait, ¡®Breaker of Chains,¡¯ is a problem. It shouldn¡¯t exist here. I¡¯ll offer substantial compensation for its removal, but refusal is not an option.¡± The air grew even colder, and the oppressive silence became unbearable. He could hear a faint rustling now, like something moving in the darkness, just beyond the edge of his sight. It was as though the walls themselves were alive, the cold creeping in from every direction, slowly surrounding him. He swallowed hard, his throat dry, as the unsettling sensation of being watched returned with full force. ¡°Fine. Remove it,¡± he rasped, his voice trembling despite his best efforts to hold it steady. Warmth returned as she nodded. ¡°Good choice. It explains why your other trait is enhanced. You¡¯ve gained an excellent adaptation modifier.¡± Phil glanced over his status screen, tapping her fingers in the air. The blue light around them flickered briefly, but for a moment, the shadows seemed to shift with a purpose. The vibrations in the air grew stronger, as if something deep in the space was waking, shifting toward them. He could hear it now, the sharp skitter of chitinous legs just out of sight. It was as if the very darkness was alive, growing impatient. ¡°Your incompatible skills will also be removed, and we¡¯ll provide recompense. Now, let¡¯s finalize this and move. Time is no ally here.¡± She flicked her hand dismissively at the panel in front of him, her movements quick and practiced, though a flicker of urgency was evident in her eyes. "Please observe the following list of changes I¡¯ve made and the compensation you¡¯ve received," she instructed, her voice just a shade quicker now, "then we¡¯ll discuss the currency exchange. We need to move swiftly."
Total compensation for soul displacement and integration.
--- --- --- --- ---
Total Memory Modification - +25,000
Profession Removed - +9,000
Free Stat Removal - +34,160
Stat Point Reset - +3,200
Trait Removal - +150,000
Skill Removal - +21,500
Disadvantaged Integration Bonus ¨C 10,000
--- --- --- --- ---
Total Compensation ¨C 252,860¡¯
Currency Exchange
--- --- --- --- ---
Free Stat Points Per Race Level ¨C 2,500 (0/2) 10,000 (0/1)
Class Specific Points Per Class Level ¨C 2,500 (0/2) 10,000 (0/1)
Profession Specific Points Per Profession level ¨C 5,000 (0/2) 20,000 (0/1)
Stat Efficiency +10% - 5,000 (0/2) 10,000 (0/2) 15,000 (0/2)
Trait Slot ¨C 10,000 (0/1) 100,000 (01)
Trait Upgrade Token ¨C 15,000 (0/1) 20,000 (0/1) 25,000 (0/1)
Race Upgrade Token ¨C 25,000 (0/1)
Class Upgrade Token ¨C 25,000 (0/1) 50,000 (0/1)
Profession Upgrade Token - 10,000 (0/2) 20,000 (0/2)
Skill Upgrade Token ¨C 5,000 (0/5)
The Hero¡¯s Beginning Integration Pack ¨C 250,000 (0/1)
The Warrior¡¯s Crucible Integration Pack - +50,000 (0/1)
--- --- --- --- ---
Total Compensation ¨C 252,860¡¯
The enormity of his new reality hung over him, but the sudden revelation of his compensation package was an unexpected balm to his turmoil. Despite the bitterness that lingered from the loss of a clearly powerful trait, the rewards before him were significant. However, choosing was hard¡ªhe couldn¡¯t quite understand what some of these rewards meant, and making a wrong choice now could have dire consequences. "What is ¡®The Warrior¡¯s Crucible Integration Pack¡¯?" he asked, his voice still steady but laced with curiosity as he looked up at Phil. She smiled slightly, though her eyes were sharp, calculating, the usual calm of her demeanour tinged with something more¡ªsomething urgent. "That¡¯s a challenge pack, designed specifically for people like you. It will test your limits, force you to grow faster than most. It will provide starting equipment, but..." Her words trailed off as she glanced toward the shadowy distance, then quickly refocused. "Choosing it will place you in an area with enemies far stronger than your current level. The world will actively send wave after wave of challenges your way. It¡¯s not for the faint of heart, though... you¡¯ve already proven you can survive one death." His pulse quickened. He had the chance to be stronger than anyone else, to become a true warrior in this new world. His chest hardened, his resolve solidifying like molten metal. He couldn¡¯t pass this up. Phil, noticing his resolve, spoke quickly, more sharply now. "I can see you¡¯ve made your choice. Don¡¯t bother selecting; I can already see it in your mind. Just say the word, and I¡¯ll update your status." Her voice was quick, almost brisk now, urging him on. She had been calm until now, but there was an edge to her tone¡ªa sense of impatience creeping in. The dark air around them felt heavier, pressing against them as time seemed to stretch. A deluge of notifications burst into his vision, overwhelming in both speed and volume. He flinched back, and the flood of information vanished with a resounding ding. Phil¡¯s gaze flicked to the distance, and for a brief moment, her expression shifted¡ªworry? "If you wish to adjust how your system functions, think about it. There will be a period of adaptation, but soon it will operate according to your preferences." Her voice was clipped now, more urgent. "Shall we continue?" He nodded, steeling himself for whatever came next. Without warning, a blinding explosion of light and sound overwhelmed him, sending his senses into chaos. The darkness around them seemed to recoil, twisting violently, as a strange scraping noise echoed in the air, followed by a chorus of rapid, chittering clicks. He caught a glimpse of something moving in the shadows¡ªmassive, countless limbs scrabbling across the floor¡ªand the hairs on his neck stood on end. His heart pounded with fear. Phil¡¯s hand shot out, a barrier of light flaring into existence between them and the encroaching darkness. The air crackled, sharp with energy as her voice rang out, urgent, commanding. "Stay back!" The barrier shimmered with power, but it flickered as though the weight of the encroaching threat was too much for it to hold for long. The sound of clicking intensified, growing closer, more frantic. Then, with a sudden pulse of energy, Phil¡¯s expression hardened, and she spoke swiftly. "I¡¯m sending you away. It¡¯s too dangerous here." Before he could respond, an immense flash of light enveloped him. His body was jerked from the ground as if the very air beneath him had been torn away. His surroundings blurred into a violent, dizzying spiral of colours and sound as his consciousness was ripped from the scene. The last thing he heard before everything went white was a pained scream, echoing through the growing darkness. II - Waiting for Hard Mode Chapter II ¨C Waiting for Hard Mode
Entering Location
Verdant Green
Recommended Level 15+
The grass beneath him swayed softly, a whisper of peace in a world that felt anything but. Verdant crouched low, trembling as the shock of his arrival still rippled through him. The last thing he remembered was wandering¡ªendlessly, aimlessly¡ªdown a corridor of shadow and silence. A soul adrift, with no anchor, no end in sight. And then, everything had unravelled. The eldritch nightmare. The blinding light. The sense of being ripped apart and pieced back together in an instant. Now, he was here. A meadow stretched out in every direction, its lush greenery bordered by trees that swayed in a gentle breeze. Overhead, birds wheeled lazily, a stark contrast to the chaos that still thundered in his chest. For a moment, he dared to hope. Perhaps this place was safe. But then the notification blinked into existence, shattering that fragile illusion:
WARNING! Location level exceeds your own by 10+
Extreme Danger Present
His stomach sank as he processed the words. Extreme danger? Just my luck. He inhaled deeply, trying to steady his racing heart. ¡°Verdant Green,¡± he murmured, the words strange yet soothing on his tongue. He looked around at the idyllic meadow. The vibrant greens and gentle sway of the grass felt like a balm against his frayed nerves. For the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn¡¯t wandering. This place¡ªdangerous or not¡ªwas a respite. And its name resonated with him, a spark of something he couldn¡¯t quite name. He touched his chest reflexively, as though expecting to find a piece of himself missing. The truth was, he didn¡¯t know what was missing. His memories were fractured, fragments without context. Who was he before this? Did it even matter? No, he thought firmly. Who I was doesn¡¯t matter. Who I choose to be does. He stood a little straighter, ignoring the way his legs still trembled. ¡°System,¡± he said aloud, his voice firmer than he felt. ¡°Assign name; Verdant Green.¡±
Acknowledged¡­ Name Updated.
--- --- --- --- ---
Welcome User. Verdant Green.
A flicker of satisfaction broke through the fear gripping him. If nothing else, I get to decide who I am. The moment of resolve passed quickly as his survival instincts kicked back in. He lowered himself into the grass, scanning the meadow for movement. No swaying stalks, no sounds of rustling leaves. He exhaled shakily. Alright. First things first. Let¡¯s figure out what I¡¯m working with here. He summoned the blinking notifications.
Achievement Earned: Reincarnation-Malfunction (Unique)
Successfully break from the cycle of reincarnation.
Title gained ¨C Rude (-10% Charisma)
+5 to all base stats
+5% to all base stats
+20% resistance to effects targeting your soul
You don¡¯t like following the rules. Fine, be like that!
Achievement Earned: The Void Stares Back (Epic)
You¡¯ve gone somewhere no one was meant to go and you¡¯ve seen things no one was meant to see. That leaves a mark.
+Curse ¨C Enmity of the Void
+10 to Vitality
+10% to Vitality
Hello darkness my old friend.
Achievement Earned: Stepping Between Worlds (Rare)
You¡¯ve died and successfully reincarnated in another world.
Title Gained ¨C Reincarnator
+2 to all stats
Hidden
Once more unto the breach.
Skipping over the damage and status effect notifications, Verdant dismissed the confirmation prompts for Phil¡¯s preselected purchases. Would choosing myself have changed the outcome? The thought lingered but was quickly pushed aside. He opened his status.
Status
Name Verdant Green
Title Rude [Expand]
Age 25
Race Human level 1 (0/100)
Class Unselected (Level 5 Required)
Professions 0/2
Stats
Health - 30
Mana - 33
Free Stats +60 Free Efficiency +60%
Strength 17 Vitality 27 [31]
Dexterity 17
Intelligence 17 [19] Wisdom 17 [19]
Charisma 17
Traits (1/5)
1. Gift of Myriad Tongues (Epic++)
Skills
Active -
Passive -
Tokens ¨C 7
His stats were much higher than expected¡ªlikely thanks to his achievements. ''Still, how do these compare to a "typical" human?'' Questions for later. He dismissed the status screen, turning to the blinking gold light.
Warrior¡¯s Crucible Package Activated
You¡¯ve elected to forge yourself in fire! The package comes with the following.
Warrior¡¯s Crucible Questline Gained
Achievement Earned: Life¡¯s a bitch and then you die. (Unique)
+1 Storage pouch (0/100) (Epic)(Soul-bound)
+1 Iron Seax Blade (Common)
Go forth warrior, for guts and for glory!
A soft thud beside him drew his attention to a small pouch on the grass. Before he could grab it, a new notification appeared.
Achievement Earned: Life¡¯s a bitch and then you die (Unique)
You¡¯ve elected to take on my tra¡ªI mean challenge! Grow stronger and entert¡ªI mean survive!
+Curse ¨C Hubris¡¯ Folly
Bring the pain!
Two curses? Seriously? Verdant fought the urge to groan. He reviewed the Curses tab with a thought.
Curses
Enmity of The VoidThis narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. 1. Void-aligned creatures within 10km are drawn to you.
Hubris¡¯ Folly 1. Increased enemy stats +20%, 2. Reduced stealth efficiency -20%, 3. Increased XP gain +20%.
Fantastic. Let¡¯s see what fresh hell that red light brings.
ERROR. Entity Conflict. Entity ¡®Verdant Green¡¯ is inside Entity ¡®Verdant Green¡¯ RESOLVING¡­
--- --- --- --- ---
SOLUTION. Assign Entity ¡®Verdant Green¡¯ as Sub-Entity of ¡®Verdant Green¡¯ ACKNOWLEDGED. Solution accepted.
--- --- --- --- ---
Provisional Caretaker Status of Entity ¡®Verdant Green¡¯, assigned to Entity ¡®Verdant Green¡¯.
--- --- --- --- ---
Conflict Resolved END.
Verdant stared at the error message as it blinked out of existence, feeling an unrelenting sense of dread. ¡®Fuck me, when does it stop?¡¯ he muttered, closing the panel and pressing his hands into the soft earth beneath him, trying to steady his breath. He shook his head, attempting to absorb the growing heap of revelations. ¡®Apparently, I¡¯m a caretaker now, whatever that means.¡¯ Another notification pulsed insistently at the edge of his vision¡ªa soft blue light that demanded his attention. He focused on it, the system responding immediately.
Quest gained!
Home is where the monsters won¡¯t hurt you (1/3)
Due to an unfortunate naming sense you have been granted temporary caretakership of the location ¨C [Verdant Green]
Objective Find the central node of [Verdant Green] and claim it.
Rewards Permanent Caretaker Status
Time Limit 72 hours
Verdant sighed, closing the screen. His fingers brushed over the soft grass as he sat back on his heels, trying to take stock. His eyes scanned the meadow again, noting its gentle beauty¡ªthe swaying grass, the rustling of trees on the horizon, the rhythmic cries of birds high above. His gaze shifted upward, and his breath caught in his throat. A massive planet filled the sky above him, its sheer scale dwarfing anything he¡¯d ever imagined. Verdant could see its swirling oceans, the intricate outlines of landmasses, and vast weather systems roiling across its atmosphere. He froze, the sight stunning him into silence. ¡®Am I... on a moon?¡¯ The realization hung heavy in his mind, a perfect fusion of awe and unease. Everything about this world was strange, wondrous, and perilous. If he wanted answers, he would need to survive long enough to find them. His grip tightened on the earth beneath him. Whatever this place was, he would figure it out. He had no other choice. He¡¯s pulled from his reverie by a pull in his chest, tugging him into the forest. ¡®Is that the quest? Some kind of objective locator?¡¯ Verdant gets to his feet, grabbing the bag from the ground. ¡®The screen said there was some kind of blade as well, maybe it¡¯s in the bag?¡¯ He reaches into the pouch, flinching when it feels like plunging his bare hand into freezing water. ¡°Well, that¡¯s fucking ominous.¡± Muttering curses about his blade and the gods giving him an empty sack, he gropes around in the cold until something hard and smooth slides into his grasp. Pulling the object out, he finds a bone handle sheathed in worn leather, emerging from a bag far too small to hold it.
Item ¨C Iron Seax Blade (Common)
A pitted iron blade, showing signs of rust. Though it feels unusually sturdy.
Skill Unlocked!
Assess 0 > 1
A crucial skill for all sapient beings, it allows a system panel to be generated for an object or creature at a glance. Higher levels will generate more detailed information.
¡®I guess it¡¯s better than punching shit with my fist.¡¯ Verdant slides the blade halfway from its sheath, examining its edge before returning it. As he moves to place it on his belt, he notices something else: all his clothes have changed. Now he¡¯s wearing a long-sleeved, baggy linen shirt and a flowing, colourful skirt that looks suspiciously like a kilt. A light breeze tickles his nether regions. ¡®Fuck me, my sack is going to end up as lunch for a monster bunny, what a crock.¡¯ Noting the sturdy leather belt cinched around his hips, he ties the seax and pouch on either side, keeping them within easy reach. ¡®Seventy-two hours to do this quest¡­ no time like the present, I suppose.¡¯ Stepping through the grass toward the trees, he glances down and realizes his feet are uncovered¡ªyet another shock in a morning already filled with them. Rage boils over. Clenching his fists, he roars at the top of his lungs, like a certain alien mercenary with a busted scouter: ¡°FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!¡± # Verdant had entered the forest several hours ago, unerringly following the pull he felt in his chest. Weaving through the trees, passing down embankments and across streams, he tried to ignore the growing sense of unease creeping around him. The canopy above made for a shady, comfortable environment, with sunlight peeking through the leaves and dappling the forest floor. At first glance, it felt just like a peaceful stroll¡ªyet he remembered the extreme danger warning all too well. He walked carefully, staying alert, but the tranquillity of his surroundings felt almost surreal. He had yet to see a bird in the trees or a rabbit along the ground, let alone anything bigger than that. ¡®It¡¯s too quiet. Like the forest is holding its breath¡­ or maybe I¡¯m just paranoid.¡¯ Every so often, a faint ding echoed in the back of his mind¡ªa system notification, no doubt. He chose to ignore it, refusing to let it divert his focus. Eventually, the insistent flicker at the edge of his vision quieted, as though adapting to his preference. As he continued following the pull, the trees began to change. He started to see old-growth giants towering dozens of meters high, their massive roots bursting from the ground¡ªsome taller than a man¡ªcreating burly, gnarled trunks that blocked much of the forest from view. ¡®On the bright side, if I don¡¯t find this objective before dark, I could hide in a burrow created by one of these roots. I don¡¯t think I have to worry about creatures attacking me in the night¡­ though who knows if I¡¯m right. Still, cover would be nice in case it rains.¡¯ After walking for a couple more hours, he still hadn¡¯t seen any sign of creatures or the objective. The pull in his chest felt like a magnet, guiding him forward with a gentle but unrelenting tug. Now and then, an unseen notification icon blinked in his peripheral vision, trying to catch his attention. With a low growl of annoyance, he dismissed it mentally. ¡®Not now, damn it. Just tell me something important when it actually matters.¡¯ As if sensing his irritation, the blinking paused, then faded into the background. Looking up, Verdant saw the sun was starting to slide behind the planet hanging in the sky. While it made for a beautiful¡ªif unusual¡ªsunset, he felt a sudden pressure to find shelter. A light breeze stirred the leaves, sending a faint chill through the air. He realized that if he was on a moon tidally locked to the planet¡ªwhich it appeared to be¡ªhe could be in darkness for an unknown stretch of time; it could potentially be days or weeks, given that a day night cycle on the moon back home being twenty nine and a half days, with an equal split between night/day hours. ¡®Weird how I know that¡­ but nothing about the old me. Still, I need to find shelter, food, and water. Something to see in the dark would be great, but maybe it won¡¯t matter if there¡¯s enough natural starlight or some other source of illumination here.¡¯ Verdant had seen a suitable tree only half a kilometre back; it wouldn¡¯t take long to backtrack. There had been plenty of berry bushes and what appeared to be potato plants around the base of some of the trees. Water wasn¡¯t an issue either, since a fast-moving stream flowed only metres away from the tree he had in mind. With a plan forming, he set out, heading back toward that spot, his senses on high alert in case the forest¡¯s hush was hiding something more sinister. On his way to make camp and think of a plan, Verdant collected fallen sticks and branches with his pouch. He was amazed by this magical piece of tannery; it didn¡¯t matter what he put in the opening, it seemed willing to accommodate many different shapes and sizes. Each item took up a single slot, though if they were similar enough, they stacked in the same slot with a number denoting volume. Realising he¡¯d become distracted playing with his sack, Verdant forced himself to focus, gathering berries as he moved along. The sound of running water soon reminded him to stop and drink his fill¡ªand see if he could improvise a way to carry some water to the tree. Arriving at the stream, Verdant drank deeply but quickly realized his pouch simply wouldn¡¯t accept uncontained liquids; a barrier at the entrance repelled the water. ¡®I feel like I could force the issue, but maybe it¡¯s there for a good reason. Oh well, it¡¯s not that far. I¡¯m sure I can make the trip from the tree as needed.¡¯ Glancing upward, Verdant saw the sun disappearing at an alarming rate. He guessed he had less than fifteen minutes to reach the tree and find a place to stay at this pace. In a hurry, he grabbed a smooth, palm-sized rock from the river, placing it in his bag, and sprinted away. Feeling the ground fly by under his feet Verdant realised this was the first time he¡¯d really let loose with his new body since arriving in this world. He could feel his muscles flexing, expanding, and contracting with each stride, the wind blowing through his hair as he dashed toward his chosen refuge. Approaching the tree, he noticed it was very wide around but not nearly as tall as its neighbours. Its protruding roots made the perfect surface to run up, and the bark was thick and craggy¡ªideal for climbing. From there, it was only a short scramble to a large fork at the base where the primary branches met the trunk. Climbing over the crest, Verdant saw a large bowl a couple of meters across, with some rough growths but generally quite smooth under his hands. He paused to catch his breath. Looking back over the edge, he realised he was close to twenty metres off the ground. Scaling a near vertical wall like that was incredible. The bark¡¯s rough texture and deep cracks had helped, but still¡­ ¡®Maybe I really will be able to survive this prick¡¯s challenge. My stats are barely above what I started with, and I can already do something like this. Fucking crazy.¡¯ Turning to survey the natural hollow that would be his shelter for the evening, he grinned. ¡®Gotta admit, this is pretty sweet. I could get real comfy here and let the night pass me by.¡¯ He groaned when the world chose this moment to let him know that there would be no getting comfy in his immediate future.
Alert!
Night has arrived on Skuld. Her sister above, blocks the glorious rays of Asgard.
708hrs will pass before light touches her face again.
Be warned. The foulest creatures climb from the earth during this time. The cleansing light no longer present to keep them away. Corruption abounds.
You had to go and piss off the darkness.
''Great, an endless night on an alien moon with ominous warnings of terrible beasts. What else am I missing?'' Verdant closes the panel and feels his stomach drop when a war horn announces the appearance of a golden panel.
Warrior¡¯s Crucible Quest Activated! (1/12)
Due to the coming of night and your Enmity of the Void curse your first trial has begun.
Objective Survive the {Voidborn}. 0/3 waves.
Rewards Your presence will be masked from the void for 240hrs +1000XPs +1000 Reputation with The Aesir Guardians.
Time Limit None. Survive!
An ear-splitting shriek echoes through the forest, sounding demented¡ªgarbled and wrong, like air escaping from a hole that was never meant to make noise. Verdant feels a cold sweat break out over his body. The monsters from the void, skittering and clicking their mandibles, trying to tear him apart before he was whisked away to this world. ¡®It seems like they¡¯ve followed me. Fuck me dead.¡¯ Another golden panel appeared in front of his eyes, horn blaring in his mind, keeping him apprised of the situation.
Warrior¡¯s Crucible Quest Updated (1/12)
Survive the first wave! (1/3)
A ding sounds softly at the corner of his vision, he glances at it briefly before squeezing his eyes shut and focusing on the fight ahead. He has no time for the system¡¯s incessant meddling. Verdant takes his seax from his hip, using it to pry a piece of bark from the nearest branch. It was heavier than he expected, appearing quite sturdy. He walks back to the edge where he climbed to the crest and carves a groove for the improvised barricade to slot into. ¡®Hopefully this will provide me with some cover and hinder their progress.¡¯ Another ding¡ªhe just snarls under his breath. ¡°Fucking system. I¡¯ll look at you when I¡¯m good and ready.¡± Verdant huddles behind the large barricade, pressing his shoulder hard against it. He¡¯s surprised to feel very little give¡ªadrenaline and a newfound strength seem to steady his arms. The next moment, a sound at the base of the tree brings him back to the present. Something is moving up the bark, fast. Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick The creature scuttles quickly up the tree, and Verdant sees it stick its chitinous mandibles and head over the barricade, exposing the vulnerable underside of its throat. Nearly half a meter of iron enters the underside of the abomination¡¯s gullet. It stiffens before suddenly going limp, ichor pouring from the wound and coating him in thick fluid, reeking of bile and rotten egg. In the quiet that follows, Verdant hears two dings in quick succession¡ªanother ignored update. Twisting the blade and spinning at the hips, he stands with force, throwing the spider off the side of the tree. In the process, he makes the wound larger and spilling foul fluid all over his lovely new home. Verdant spits out a wad of congealed muck from his mouth. ¡°Well, that wasn¡¯t too bad. Just gotta bite the bullet and do it. Nothing to it. It didn¡¯t even touch me, though I could have done without the fucking shower, you monstrous cunt.¡± No sooner does he utter these words than he hears the same shriek from earlier, except this time there is clearly more than one. Daring to look over the edge, past his barrier, he sees three more large bodies, moving at speed through the forest toward his tree. ¡®They¡¯re making directly for the spot where I climbed up earlier, I thought it was just a coincidence that the first spider climbed up that way, but maybe there¡¯s more to it.¡¯ The sounds from below intensify; the spiders seem to be vying for the lead position and knocking each other off target in the process. ¡®I can use this; these fuckers seem to be really stupid. If they do the same thing the last one did, I may be able to kill the first one before the others even realize, then they¡¯ll have to climb over it to get to me.¡¯ At that moment, another ding resonates in his mind. He sees a flicker at the periphery of his vision but slams his eyes shut again, teeth grinding in frustration. ¡°I get it, system! Go away.¡± The noise on the other side of the barricade is almost deafening now. Verdant is ready; and as the lead spider sticks its bulbous head over the barricade, he executes his finishing move once again, sliding his blade directly into the creature¡¯s brain pan and twisting it for good measure. The spider stops screeching immediately, stiffens, and goes still, slumping with its monstrous body halfway over the barricade¡ªcreating a second layer of defence. ¡®I must have missed whatever septic shit sack I tore open last time, note to self, don¡¯t fucking do that again.¡¯ Removing his seax from the spider, he wipes the blade on his shirt, as a small trickle of rancid ichor drips from above and a brief ding informs him of the latest update. Turning to face the front of the spider carcass above him, Verdant sees the body of the second spider as it climbs down from the carcass. He sees his opportunity and moves with grace, diving out from his shelter, making a running jump and slashing the creature¡¯s abdomen from back to front as he lands, rolling up its thorax. Verdant feels a burning pain as his calf is pierced by the foreleg of the third spider, ambushing him as he made his move. He continues rolling, tearing free of the strike and completing his maneuver by bringing his blade down in an overhand strike directly into the top of the creature¡¯s skull. He wills the dings to silence. ¡®The fucking system is trying to kill me.¡¯ Rolling off the front of the now-deceased spider, Verdant attempts to recover. Spinning to locate the last monster as it approaches him, he sees it standing upon the back of its deceased comrade, rearing up with its forelegs in the air. It screeches that soul-rending noise once more. ¡®Your eyes are on the top of your head, dumb arse, how the fuck are you supposed to see me if you rear up like that, you wanker?¡¯ Moving forward to where the spider will come down, Verdant angles his blade so that the force of the spider will pierce it straight through. Once again, the spider¡¯s vital organs are destroyed unerringly by his blade. Like a sixth sense, Verdant seems able to sense the best place to strike for maximum damage. It doesn¡¯t help that they appear to lack basic intelligence and operate only on feral instinct. ¡°I¡¯m not having too much trouble, but that last one managed to do some damage to my leg.¡± He looks down and sees the wound isn¡¯t nearly as deep as he¡¯d thought, and the bleeding has already stopped. ¡®I know what these few stats I¡¯ve gained have done for me; I felt that myself. If I want to get out of here and survive going forwards, I need to spend the rest of my points.¡¯ Looking at his status, he sees he has sixty free points to spend. ¡®I don¡¯t know the first thing about magic, and I doubt these fucking spiders want to have a nice chat. I¡¯ve got to double down and get the most out of my physical stats. I didn¡¯t realize my vitality was so high, that must be why the bleeding stopped so quickly.¡¯ Having decided, Verdant splits his points equally among his physical stats.
Stats Allocated
Strength 17 > 37 [38]
Vitality 27> 47 [54]
Dexterity 17 > 37 [38]
Quickly glancing at his status, seeing that his health had almost doubled, Verdant feels satisfaction¡­ briefly, before feeling disgust at the slimy muck that his right arm, face, and upper torso are covered in. He tries to scrape off as much as possible before moving to throw the carcasses from his position. Just as he¡¯s clearing the last wretched body from his fortress, he hears more screeching in the distance. Verdant grumbles and thinks to himself, ¡®Watch this you sadistic fuck, you want entertainment, I¡¯ll give you a fucking show.¡¯ The spiders reach the base of the tree and beeline up the same path, fighting all the way, as before. ¡®Like fucking robots. Fuck the lot of you.¡¯ He can¡¯t tell if it¡¯s adrenaline, exhaustion, or pure frustration causing his body to surge with energy, but something about within him feels¡­unhinged. In a sudden fit, he runs for the edge, tearing up his barricade and leading toward the incoming horrors. He swings down with both arms, burying the sharp edge of his bark-turned-shield in the face of the lead spider. Time slows as he looks about an intangible pull guiding him to the weak point on his next foe. He moves in a flurry of motion, dancing through the horde, severing limbs at the joint when they dare to block his path, his seax enters each body and exits in a fluid motion leaving behind dead or dying creatures, before kicking off and striking his next target unerringly. Leading from the last spider, he hits the bark of the large roots and slides to the ground. Gore rains down from above as severed limbs and chitinous bodies slam into the soil. Verdant raises his ichor-stained arms and yells his fury to the heavens. ¡°There were too few enemies to slaughter,¡± he spits, out of breath. ¡®They would contain me! Strike me down before I can grow. Fuck that. I will not be controlled!¡¯ A flashing red light follows, yet another ding glimmering in his vision, before he passes out on the loamy soil beneath him, surrounded by the still twitching remains of his slain foes. Chapter III - Mistakes Were Made Chapter III - Mistakes Were Made Bleary eyes open, alarms blaring. In and out of consciousness. Bones burning, full of molten lead. Struggling to breath, gasping, wheezing. Eyes close once more. # Groaning loudly, Verdant forced his eyes open once more. He lay on the ground; the acrid stench of the spiders¡¯ insides filled his nostrils. As he jumped to his feet, the sight of several monstrous spiders'' still forms brought back a flood of memories. ¡®What the hell was that? It was like something took over me. I couldn¡¯t control myself, but it felt fucking incredible¡­¡¯ He attempted to scrape off the crusted remains of spider ichor, grimacing as the smell intensified, breaking through the hardened outer layer to the wet ooze beneath. ¡®I don¡¯t know how long I was out, but I haven¡¯t been eaten yet, so that¡¯s a win, right?¡¯ A series of lights blinked impatiently in his vision, prompting a heavy sigh from him before he mentally summoned the blue notifications. Dozens of screens flashed across his eyes, causing him to recoil in shock and pain. Closing his eyes didn¡¯t help; the images were burned into his retinas. In desperation, he yelled, ¡°STOP!¡± The notifications froze, then minimized to the edge of his vision, their presence less invasive but still insistent. ¡®There are too many notifications. What the fuck was I thinking ignoring these for so long? Is there some way to make this easier to access; maybe I can compile them into a summary of some kind?¡¯
Would you like to compile unread notifications as a summary?
¡°Yes, god yes!¡± Verdant exclaimed, feeling overwhelmed. ¡®I think I¡¯ll have an aneurysm if I have to try and filter through all of those notifications again.¡¯ He walked towards the stream to clean up, waiting for the notifications to compile, ready for his perusal. Upon reaching the stream, he walked straight in, up to his waist, sitting down abruptly and gritting his teeth against the shock of cold. ¡®Fuck, I think my beans just shrivelled up and ascended to a higher realm.¡¯ He found a coarse weed, pulling it out roots and all, and used it to start scrubbing the gunk from every inch of his clothes and body. Verdant scrubbed for several minutes before stripping and scrubbing his clothes against the rocks beneath him. ¡®There is no way in hell I¡¯m leaving this stream until every last speck of this rancid muck is off me and my clothes. I never want to smell that crap again as long as I live.¡¯ Briefly remembering his original objective, he mentally opens the now compiled list of notifications for the last nine-ish hours.
Summary of Notifications
Combat Summary First Wave 1 x Arachnid {Voidborn} (level 16) killed = +155XPs Second Wave 3 x Arachnid {Voidborn} (level 16) killed = +465XPs Third Wave 6 x Arachnid {Voidborn} (level 17) killed = +1188XPs 1808 kill XPs +20% Hubris¡¯ Folly bonus. Total XPs = 2169XPs
Skill Summary Pathfinding(C) earned ¨C 0 > 5 Foraging(C) earned ¨C 0 > 3 Improvisation(UC) earned ¨C 0 > 2 Weapon Mastery: Seax(R) earned ¨C 0 > 3 Combat Tactics(UC) earned ¨C 0 > 1 Target Weakness(R) earned ¨C 0 > 4 Acrobatics(UC) earned ¨C 0 > 3 Bloods Wrath(B-U) earned ¨C 0 > 4
Summary completed. Access System log at any time to view old notifications at your leisure.
¡®Right well, that¡¯s a lot. Something around thirty notifications just with that. Yeah, no thanks mate, I won¡¯t be torturing myself by looking at them individually¡­though that might come in handy later.¡¯ Verdant closes out of the summary before going through his remaining notifications.
Achievement Earned: Exceeding Expectations (Uncommon)
You have defeated an enemy whose level exceeded your own by 10+
+2 to all stats
+5% damage against enemies higher level than you
Who needs training wheels.
Achievement Earned: Against All Odds (Rare)
You have defeated 5+ enemies whose level exceeded your own by 10+
+5 to all stats
+10% damage against enemies higher level than you
Running before you can walk.
¡®Okay, what the hell is going on with these notifications? It feels like someone is commenting on every damn thing I do. Why am I getting this much attention? Is this what they meant by ¡®Entertainment¡¯?¡¯ As he pondered, the last notification of his crucible questline update shined golden before him, horns sounding a triumphant tune.
Warrior¡¯s Crucible Quest Completed (1/12)
You have crushed the void agents sent to kill you and sent a message to their leader that they will have to do better if they wish to see you dead.
Rewards 237hrs and 46mins remain until the void can feel you again. +1000XPs +1000 Reputation will the Aesir Guardians
You have taken the first step on the path.
Verdant dismissed it, his thoughts already racing ahead. ¡®So, I was unconscious for around two hours, huh? What the hell happened? One second I was tearing through enemies, the next I was waking up on my back.¡¯ Verdant glanced at one last blinking red light and willed it open.
Warning! Mana Points depleted 0/57
Gosh, I sure hope you¡¯re in a safe place.
¡®Okay, I¡¯m guessing that caused me to pass out¡­ how did I use my mana? I think I would have remembered throwing fireballs through the air or zapping spiders off the tree with lightning¡­ maybe it was a skill that I unlocked, I didn¡¯t actually look at any of those yet¡­¡¯ He wills his Skills panel to open and notices something odd.
Skills
Active
Assess(C) - 1 Target Weakness(R) - 4
Bloods Wrath(BU) - 4
Passive
Pathfinding(C) - 5 Foraging(C) - 3
Improvised Craft(UC) - 2 Weapon Mastery: Seax(UC) - 3
Combat Tactics(UC) - 1 Acrobatics(UC) - 3
¡®I¡¯ve got active skills. Meaning they have some kind of cost, probably mana right?¡¯ He examined the skills more closely, prompting more panels to appear.
Target Weakness (Rare) - 4
Scan your target and determine their weaknesses.
+8% ease in locating an enemy weak point. Once a target has been located on an enemy, you will have greater ease in locating it again on others of the same species. Cost ¨C 2MP activation 0.25MP/sec ongoing cost.
Rank ¨C Beginner (No Further Bonuses)
Bloods Wrath (Bloodline Unique) - 4
Burn your vital essences to break the limits of your physical body. +100% to Physical Stats (STR, VIT, DEX) for the duration. Cost ¨C 5MP activation -5MP/sec and -5HP/sec ongoing cost.
This is a pre-era skill, further information is unavailable at this time.
Rank ¨C Beginner (No Further Bonuses)
¡®Oh¡­yeah, that explains it. These skills seem formidable. What''s with that rarity? All the other skills are ranked as common, uncommon, or rare. There must be other rarities too. Even the colour on this one''s different; what the hell is a bloodline?¡¯ Verdant shuts down the last screen, emerging from the icy stream cradling his clothes, the breeze kissing his freshly scrubbed skin. He winced slightly, ¡®Looks like I¡¯m stuck in damp clothes for a bit, might''ve been a bit zealous with that scrubbing.¡¯ He wrings out as much water as possible from his attire, leveraging his newfound strength, before slipping them back on, now tingling slightly from the effort. Peering down, he spots the stiff-bristled shrubbery he''d used earlier. ¡®What is this thing anyway? It worked wonders on that grime. What was that command again¡­ Assess?¡¯
Item ¨C Muspelheim Bristleweed (Rare)
This river weed is a mutation of its original found in the realm of fire, Muspelheim. Handle with care.
Known EffectsThis story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
When crushed ¨C Neurotoxin causes debilitating burning sensation, pain, discomfort. No Health damage will be taken from contact. May be used as a primary ingredient in fire resistance applications.
Avoid contact with eyes and genitals. Definitely don¡¯t scrub your body with it.
Verdant closed the screen slowly. Noting that the discomfort he¡¯d felt earlier had become a full body experience and was quickly increasing in intensity. ¡®Fuck, why didn¡¯t I check this before rubbing my entire body with it?¡¯ He stashed the offending weed in his bag, cursing its existence the whole time. After another agonizing dunk in the stream, he found the cold water only intensified the burning sensation. He yelped in pain and bolted for the safety of his treetop refuge. Darting between the trees, Verdant pushed the limits of his newfound strength as the discomfort escalated into a searing pain, akin to sticking his hand over an open flame. Blood pounded in his ears as he hit the tree roots at speed, climbing the gnarled mass swiftly before reaching the trunk and scaling it, hand over hand, to the protective bowl formed by the tree¡¯s primary branches. As darkness threatened his vision, he recalled his bloodline skill that could double his physical stats. ¡®Maybe it will be enough to overcome the poison, it should put my Vitality over one hundred and maybe the burning in my system will help flush the poison from my body or weaken it enough that my normal Vitality can handle it.¡¯ With that thought, he triggered the Blood¡¯s Wrath, feeling the familiar sensation of his blood burning in his veins.
Bloods Wrath Activated ¨C 100% to physical stats.
At the last second, Verdant remembered what would happen if he ran out of Mana, and as it zeroed out, he welcomed the oblivion it would provide. ¡®Sweet relief.¡¯ # Upon waking, Verdant took in the canopy above, the starlight casting a soft glow on his face. He glanced at the timer on his caretaker quest¡ªjust over eight hours had passed. ¡®I feel like crap, but the burning¡¯s stopped, at least.¡¯ Noticing a persistent blue flash at the edge of his vision, he brought the notification forward.
Poison Resistance(Uncommon) - 3
Exposure to poisonous substances and a high vitality have unlocked this skill. ¡¤ +6% resistance to poisonous substances This skill applies to poison, venom and other toxins.
Rank ¨C Beginner (No Further Bonuses)
¡®Shit, I need to start using that Assess skill. What¡¯s the point if I don¡¯t even check things before using them? At least I got a resistance skill out of it...¡¯ Shifting on the smooth bark, Verdant rose to a sitting position, turning his head to survey the havoc around him¡ªblack viscous fluids and deep gouges marked the wooden sanctuary. ¡®How did I survive that? One moment I was fighting for my life, the next, it was all a blur.¡¯ He stood and walked to the platform¡¯s edge, gazing down at the twisted bodies below. ¡®Might be something useful on them, especially those leg plates for armour.¡¯ The descent was exceedingly easy, more so than before, his enhanced physical condition turning a task that would have been daunting for his former self, into something trivial. ¡®Didn¡¯t realize it because of the pain, but damn, this is something else.¡¯ Reaching the ground, the soft earth comforting underfoot, Verdant approached the nearest carcass. Summoning the creature¡¯s data with a thought, he read:
Arachnid level 17 {Voidborn} (Deceased)
The lowest creature spawned of the void, they invade realms and corrupt with their presence. They share a hivemind with their queen and adapt to their environment to create stronger variants.
We are Borg!
¡®I really don¡¯t like the look of that. Tell me there isn¡¯t a queen out there where these bastards came from. I can¡¯t handle that right now.¡¯ Willing the screen closed, Verdant flinched as horns bellowed in his mind, calling him to battle and victory as a familiar golden screen appeared in his vision once more.
Warrior¡¯s Crucible Quest Activated! (2/12)
A Juvenile Arachnid Queen {Voidborn} has infiltrated this location. Destroy it before it can establish a hive and become a greater threat.
Objective Destroy the queen and her guards before she can establish a hive.
Rewards ¡¤ Trophy ¨C Head of the Spider Queen. ¡¤ Large Aether Crystal ¡¤ +2000 XPs ¡¤ +2000 Rep with The Aesir Guardians
Time Limit 39hrs 33mins remaining
If you fail to complete this quest in time you will have to face a much greater threat in the future. This threat will continue to grow and evolve until it is eradicated.
Closing the screen once more, Verdant stood in silence for a moment as he processed this new information. ¡®Of course there¡¯s a bloody queen. No sooner did I think about it did it suddenly manifest in the world. I¡¯ve already got one timed quest to get to which I have a strange feeling, I don¡¯t want to fail.¡¯ He closes the screen and glances at the mentioned timer briefly.
Quest Timer
Home is where the monsters won¡¯t eat you (1/3)
Timer ¨C 55hrs 14mins remaining
¡®No time to waste. I¡¯ve been on the move for hours and though it feels like I¡¯m getting closer, I¡¯ve no idea how far I am. Can¡¯t afford to wait out the dark¡ªfifty-six days of night isn¡¯t something I can sit through.¡¯ Looking up, he marvelled at the galactic arm visible through a gap in the canopy, stars blinking out intermittently as if something massive shifted across the sky. A chill ran down his spine. ¡®What kind of fucking creature can survive in space, let alone blot out the stars when it moves. I don¡¯t want to know, as long as it stays up there, I DON¡¯T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT.¡¯ Shaking off the dread, he focused on the task at hand. ¡®Time to scavenge what I can from these spiders and get moving.¡¯ Verdant crouches next to the spider, rancid ichor covers the twisted form and the odour is wretched, sliding his seax from its sheath he places it under a large plate near where the front left leg attaches to its body, sliding the blade through a tough membrane and into soft flesh beneath.
Spatial storage detected. Would you like to designate it as ¡®loot storage¡¯? Yes? No?
¡®Loot storage? Wait, can I get the plates I want from this big bastard without getting covered in this gunk.¡¯ He mentally clicks yes and is ecstatic to see another prompt appear.
Arachnid level 17 {Voidborn} (Remains)
Would you like to loot this carcass?
Yes? No?
¡°YES!¡± ¡®No digging around in putrid guts for me.¡¯ With great pleasure, he mentally clicks ¡®yes¡¯ and is horrified when the corpse in front of him explodes into a fine particulate, covering him head to toe in a silty powder. ¡°NOOOOOOOOO.¡±
Loot Acquired
1 x Tiny Aether Crystal {Corrupted}(Common) 6 x Arachnid Leg Plates (Common) 1 x Arachnid Cephalothorax Plate (Uncommon)
He sat in shock at the betrayal of the system he had trusted to keep him clean. ¡®What the hell man, you send me errors and warnings about crap I don¡¯t care about, but you couldn¡¯t offer the smallest warning about bodies exploding into a fine mist?¡¯ Verdant recovered quickly and reached into his pouch to inspect some of the loot. ¡®I wonder if I can just will the items to appear, this whole thing has been pretty responsive to mental commands so far, maybe I won¡¯t have to go digging for this crap in my bag.¡¯ Removing his hand from the pouch and placing it against the opening he willed one of the leg plates to appear. No sooner did he think of the item did he feel something hard in his hand, looking down he used Assess to figure out exactly what he¡¯s dealing with. His hands ran across the sleek matt-black material, feeling the hard ridges around the edges. Bottom of Form
Item ¨C Arachnid Leg Plate (Common)
A hard, malleable chitinous plate. Good at turning away slashing strikes but poor against crushing blows. Used mainly as a base level crafting material.
Verdant stared at the newly revealed item in his hands, the sharp-edged plate glinting faintly in the dappled light that broke through the canopy above. ¡®Oh, even the screens seem to think this would be decent for armour. Maybe I should tie some pieces together and make arm guards.¡¯ He rotated the chitinous piece, testing its flexibility and durability with a gentle flex of his fingers. ¡®What about these other things?¡¯ He placed the leg plate back in his storage and withdrew a larger, flatter, and much wider plate. The matte-black surface seemed to absorb the light around it, its texture both smooth and alien. With a thought, he triggered his assessment skill.
Item ¨C Arachnid Cephalothorax Plate (Uncommon)
A hard, malleable chitinous plate. Good at turning away slashing strikes but poor against crushing blows. Used mainly as a base level crafting material.
¡®Okay, I wonder if I could shave the edges into a chest plate or a backplate to protect myself from ambush or piercing weapons. Last thing I need is one of these legs punching through my chest if I see any more of these spiders.¡¯ He placed the large plate back in his storage, his mind already ticking with possible crafting ideas. With a faint flicker of light, another object materialized in his hand: a jagged, crystalline shard with a faint, sickly glow. Verdant¡¯s brow furrowed as he examined it. ¡®Assess.¡¯
Item - Tiny Aether Crystal {Corrupted} (Common)
A dark green/black crystal filled with turbid light. Uses unknown.
¡®Mystery loot, wonderful. I don¡¯t know what I was expecting. Some way to gain tremendous amounts of power? Yeah, right¡­¡¯ He sighed, slipping the crystal back into his pouch and taking a moment to glance around at the battlefield surrounding him. The bodies of the spiders, twisted and broken, were scattered like discarded toys around the base of the tree. He frowned, catching a glimpse of his shoulder out of the corner of his eye. Lifting his arms, he realized the fine black dust that had coated him earlier was gone. ¡°What the hell?¡± ¡®I guess the dust dissipates. That makes sense¡ªit¡¯d be pretty weird to see a field full of dust after a major battle. Did it disappear while I was looking at the loot? I need to pay attention next time.¡¯ Determined to test his theory, Verdant approached the nearest spider corpse. The twisted remains oozed ichor, the stench hanging in the air like an unwelcome guest. He crouched down and placed his hand on the cold, chitinous surface. A familiar prompt appeared.
Arachnid level 16 {Voidborn} (Remains)
Would you like to loot this carcass?
Yes? No?
¡®Wait, what if I get up and move away? Can I activate the prompt from a safe distance?¡¯ Rising to his feet, Verdant moved several meters back before mentally selecting ¡°Yes.¡± He watched in fascination as the body condensed into a single point, no larger than a marble, before exploding outward in a cloud of black, silty powder. ¡®Wow, I¡¯m glad I moved back so far. That stuff seems to have made it close to halfway to me. Really didn¡¯t want to be covered in that crap again, even if it seems to disappear.¡¯ A soft ding pulled his attention back to his notifications. With a small sigh of relief, Verdant dismissed the notification to the periphery of his vision. ¡®I wonder if I can loot all of these at once. It¡¯d save a lot of time in the future if I can.¡¯ He walked to the remaining bodies, touched each one, and then retreated to a safe distance. Ensuring he was clear of any potential blast radius; he mentally accepted the prompts for all eight corpses simultaneously. The results were as spectacular as they were satisfying.
Loot Acquired x 9 Arachnid level 16-17 {Voidborn} (Remains)
Arachnid Leg Plate: 38 Arachnid Cephalothorax Plate: 4 Tiny Aether Crystal: 8 Skill Crystal: 1 Arachnid Spinneret: 2 Arachnid Fang: 1
¡®I can¡¯t believe that bloody worked. No more dirt baths for me.¡¯ Surveying the area, Verdant noticed that not only had the bodies disappeared, but so had the blood and severed limbs. The piles of black dust shimmered faintly, a dull light pulsing within. Over time, the piles seemed to shrink, as though being absorbed into the forest floor. ¡®Oh, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, I guess. Bodies decompose and nourish the earth in my old world. Maybe it¡¯s the same here, just with magic to speed things up. I wonder how that affects the biodiversity of bacteria and bugs that feed off decomposing flesh.¡¯ The soft ping of a notification broke his train of thought.
Quest Timer
Home is where the monsters won¡¯t eat you (1/3)
Timer ¨C 55hrs remaining
¡®Oh, it seems like my resolve to get this quest done as soon as possible has changed my notifications to inform me when an hour passes¡­ Interesting. I didn¡¯t even actively think about that. It¡¯s just gone off my intent and updated accordingly.¡¯ Turning his attention back to the loot in his pouch, Verdant retrieved a bulbous, chitin-covered organ. It felt unnervingly soft in his hand as he activated his assess skill.
Item - Arachnid Spinneret (Uncommon)
A segmented, silk-producing organ capable of creating mana-infused threads with steel-like strength and remarkable flexibility, prized for crafting and magical enhancements.
Skill Increase ¨C Assess 1 > 2
¡®It seems like this would be useful in making some basic armour. I think I have everything I need now.¡¯ Placing the spinneret back in storage, Verdant next withdrew a razor-sharp fang and activated his skill once more.
Item - Arachnid Fang (Rare)
A razor-sharp fang, dense with venomous residue. Highly durable, it¡¯s sought after for crafting deadly weapons or potent alchemical toxins.
¡®Oh damn, that¡¯s actually way more useful than I was expecting. Maybe I can get a weapon upgrade if I can figure out how to make something out of it.¡¯ Verdant places the fang back in his sack and thinks of the final looted item, anticipation filled him as he willed the item into his closed palm. Opening his fingers and he used his skill one last time. Assess.
Item - Skill Crystal - Slowing Web (Rare)[Active]
A radiant crystal that grants the skill Slowing Web upon use, a magical ability otherwise extremely difficult to master through study alone. Highly prized in crafting, these rare crystals are valued for their versatility and the potency they add to enchantments.
¡®Wait, this is something I can use to isolate targets and take on larger groups without injury.¡¯ Verdant wasted no time, willing the crystal to be consumed. A soft ping signalled the skill¡¯s acquisition.
Skill Unlocked!
Slowing Web (Rare) 0 > 1
Unleash a sticky, magical web to immobilize a target for 3 seconds. After immobilization, the target¡¯s movement and attack speed are reduced by 30% for 5 seconds. Ideal for controlling the battlefield and hindering opponents¡¯ mobility or offensive capabilities. Mana Cost ¨C 5MP
¡®That is game-changing. I could have avoided getting hurt at all in that last fight if I¡¯d had this skill.¡¯ Verdant took a deep breath, in and out, centering himself. ¡®I need to refocus. There¡¯s a lot going on, and I need to get it all sorted and move toward this quest objective.¡¯ Pausing, he felt out the persistent tug that guided him. ¡®Okay, I need to get back up that tree and eat something, then try to craft some makeshift arm guards, maybe a chest plate and back plate if it¡¯s not too difficult to work with.¡¯ Verdant walked back to the tree¡¯s base, climbing effortlessly along the rough bark, his newfound strength, once again, making the ascent trivial. Reaching the ledge, he lifted himself up and over into his tree-basin, ready to prepare for what lay ahead.