《Rise of the Sleeper》


 chapter 1

    Brax sighed as he scrolled through his emails. Slowly, he closed his eyes and hoped this accursed workday would end. After a few seconds, he opened them again and started emailing people once more.


    His job mainly involved emailing people and getting them to email things back to him¡ªcatalogs, files, or updates¡ªa truly dull task.


    Achingly, the digital clock crept up to 5 PM, closing time. As it got closer, his body slowly relaxed. Any second now, he¡¯d be ho¡ª


    ¡°Did you hear about Jenna?¡± his coworker, Tim, asked, having crept up with the grace of a panther¡ªuncommonly close to Brax and irritatingly close to closing time. Truly devious.


    Brax did the mental gymnastics to figure out the best option. A glance at his screen told him it was 4:50. Ten minutes to go. Realizing there was no way he was going to get anything done now, he decided to see where this was going.


    ¡°Did something happen to her?¡± he asked nonchalantly as he started shutting down his laptop.


    ¡°I¡¯d say so. She¡¯s taking maternity leave! She¡¯s only been here a few months; HR must be fuming!¡± Tim said, eager to gossip.


    Brax thought about Jenna. She was responsible for managing the export paperwork at the company¡ªa vital job that few people had the skill to do, as the regulations made it incredibly tedious. The previous expert had left on bad terms, and her assistant, Mark, whom she was training, was unprepared for the responsibility.


    ¡°Oh dear, that sounds like trouble. Has management decided what to do yet?¡±


    ¡°Nothing yet, but I talked to Mark at lunch, and he said they¡¯re thinking of shifting all the employees who have worked on exporting into the problem. So, we might be doing something different for a change soon.¡±


    ¡°That sounds... drastic. I''m not sure throwing more bodies at the problem will help. Maybe they should bring in an external contractor, at least temporarily. That way, there wouldn¡¯t be any potential issues with exporting.¡±


    Brax glanced back at his screen: 4:53. Time to start packing up.


    ¡°It would cost a fortune to bring in outside help, and some people, like you, have worked on it before. They¡¯re willing to take the risk on this one,¡± Tim said, a pensive look on his face. ¡°You should be able to help.¡±


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Brax took a second to think about it as he finished turning off his laptop. ¡°Maybe a change in work wouldn¡¯t be so bad.¡±


    He stood up and stretched. ¡°We¡¯ll see how it goes; the last time we didn¡¯t have a resident expert, it was a fiasco. They might just get external help anyway.¡±


    ¡°You can say that again. I¡¯m not looking to go through that again, but things are different now; it might work out, and Jenna said she¡¯s willing to remotely oversee the process as well. It was one of the reasons management hasn¡¯t freaked out yet; it might just be halted as they wait for her input,¡± Tim said as he pulled out his phone. ¡°4:55 already? Looks like I need to pack up. See you tomorrow, man. Take care.¡±


    ¡°Take care, Tim. Tell your dog I said hi,¡± Brax said as they parted and went their separate ways.


    ¡°Tam misses you, man; we should meet up this weekend. Cheers!¡± Tim said as he disappeared around a corridor.


    As Brax walked through the facility, he thought about how management was likely going to push him into the role, and he wasn¡¯t sure how to handle it. On one hand, a change would be nice; on the other hand, it would mean a big change in his day-to-day life. Ultimately, change was inevitable, and he might as well approach it with joy rather than sadness.


    Pulling out his phone to check the time, he read 4:58, and with that realization, he sped up, as there were few things he hated more than unpaid overtime.


    He reached the exit of the building and stepped into the staff access point; the sun was stiffly peeking out from the horizon dotted with low-rise buildings. The seasons were changing, and spring was fast approaching; all around him were small hints of change.


    He sped up to the final access point and began signing out of the facility. As the security officer was noting down his time, the man raised his head: ¡°5:00? How? You¡¯ve done it again. There should be a prize if you do that enough days in a row,¡± he joked as he took his signature and opened the security gate, letting him out¡ªfree into the world at last.


    Free at last, he looked around for his car, an old Subaru, and got started driving off. Entering the highway, the road was packed with other cars like sardines in a can. Achingly, he inched toward his apartment, and eventually, he was parked at the last intersection, staring at a red light.


    Sighing at the hell that was traffic, he opened his phone. 5:10. He was making good time; it looked like he was going to have some good relaxation time today. He slowly smiled as he considered what he¡¯d do. He could watch a movie. That new game looked good; it had really cool gameplay. He could have a really good sess¡ª


    HONK HONK!


    He had no time to think and even less to react. In a fraction of a second and a flash of red, Brax was gone.


    [System Analysis Commencing...]


    [New Entity Detected, commencing bioanalysis]


    [Analysis Complete]


    [Access the new information at Updates]

 chapter 2

    [System Analysis Commencing...]


    [New Entity Detected, commencing bioanalysis]


    [Analysis Complete]


    [Access the new information at Updates.]


    Brax appeared in pitch dark, lying on his back, naked, with nothing but text blazing in his eyes. Panicking, he started reaching around, his heart racing as the situation slowly sank in. His hands found only cold stone. He frantically searched for something¡ªanything¡ªbut the darkness offered no hope.


    Gradually, he stilled, trying to make sense of what had happened. An earthquake, maybe? A sinkhole? He shivered as he stood, glancing upward, only to find more darkness. Stretching his hands forward, he felt nothing. He took a tentative step¡ªjust more uneven stone. He moved forward, step by step, his sensitive feet grinding against the ground, until his fingertips met a wall. Pressing his palms against it, he considered his choices: follow the wall, change direction, or focus on the glowing text.


    It was dawning on him, piece by piece, that his situation was highly unusual, and he needed to take it seriously. Exhaling, he crouched against the cold surface, his eyes drifting back to the luminescent words. He was alone with a strange heat in his bones. As he read them again, searching for meaning, one thought pressed into his mind: Where is Updates?


    [Soul Has Entered the Network]


    [Title Gained: Dimension Traveler]


    [Soul Has Entered The Galaxy: Vexloria]


    [Title Gained: Galaxy Traveler]


    [Soul Has Entered The Planet: Kynethor]


    [Title Gained: Planet Traveler]


    [See New Changes in Status]


    As the wall of text overwhelmed his eyes, he sat there, trying to understand the complex Status that had appeared before him. He had played several games, but none of them looked quite like this.


    His eyes hovered over his race, trying to understand why it would have labeled him anything other than a normal human. The last two times he focused on this screen, something happened. Maybe it would work again if he just focused.


    <hr>


    Name: Braxton Samuel Highpath


    Health: 99/100


    Arcane: 0/0


    Soul: 110/110


    Race: Extraplanar human


    Conditions: Mana Toxicity T1


    Class: None


    Titles: Dimension Traveler, Galaxy Traveler, Planet Traveler


    Statistics:


    Body:


    <ul>


    <li>Strength: 8</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Dexterity: 9 </li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Constitution: 9</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Vigor: 10</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Awareness: 8</li>


    </ul>


    Spirit:


    <ul>


    <li>Willpower: 10</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Clarity: 11</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Instinct: 10</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Perception: 11</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Spirit: 11</li>


    </ul>


    Arcane:


    <ul>


    <li>Weight: 0</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Resistance: 0</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Attunment: 0</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Recovery: 0</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Insight: 0</li>


    </ul>


    <h2>Skills (15)</h2>


    <ul>


    <li>none</li>


    </ul>


    <h2>Traits</h2>


    <ul>


    <li>Otherworldly Versatility </li>


    </ul>


    <h2>Spells & Abilities</h2>


    <ul>


    <li>None</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    As a wall of text before him overwhelmed his eyes, he sat there trying to understand the complex Status that had appeared right before him. He¡¯d played several games, but none of them looked quite like this.


    His eyes hovered over his race as he tried to understand why it would have labeled him anything other than a normal human. The last two times he focused on this screen, something happened; maybe it would work again.


    <hr>


    Race: Extraplanar Human


    Humans are a type of bipedal creature known for their adaptability and ability to thrive in a wide range of environments. They have been shaped by the unique conditions of their diverse homes, granting them exceptional versatility.


    Extraplanar humans are not native to the Known Dimensions and possess no innate magical talent. However, this lack of natural magic leaves them with increased soul space and heightened sensitivity to all soul-related affairs.


    Traits:


    <ul>


    <li>5 skill slots</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>50% Base Skill Growth Increase</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>10% Affinity for all skills</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Well, that would explain why his magic stats were zero, at least. It truly looked like he wasn¡¯t in Kansas anymore. The racial traits were relatively understandable¡ªor at least, they didn¡¯t raise too many questions.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Now that Brax had a better grasp of how to navigate the wall of text, he refocused. If there was one thing video games had taught him, it was that status conditions were never to be ignored. His eyes locked onto the Conditions section


    <hr>


    Condition: Mana Toxicity T1


    You are in a zone with very high ambient mana, and as your body is not built to handle it, it is slowly damaging your body.


    Affects:


    <ul>


    <li>Damages Life by 1 per hour </li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Brax did not like the look of that one bit. The weight of the realization pressed against his chest. He wasn¡¯t just stranded and in the dark; he was actively being harmed by his surroundings and only had four days to survive. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to push the rising panic aside. There had to be a way to stop whatever Mana Toxicity was doing to him. He turned his focus onto his Titles, hoping they would shed some light on his lethal predicament.


    <hr>


    Title: Dimension Traveler


    You have traveled across dimensions, and your soul has grown in the face of this experience.


    affects:


    <ul>


    <li>3 additional skill slots</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Title: Galaxy Traveler


    You have traveled across galaxies, and your soul has grown in the face of this experience.


    affects:


    <ul>


    <li>2 additional skill slots</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Title: Planet Traveler


    You have traveled across dimensions, and your soul has grown in the face of this experience.


    affects:


    <ul>


    <li>1 additional skill slot</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    That told him nothing about how he was going to survive this, but it did cement the fact that he was far from home. He was truly alone. After a few seconds, as a sinking feeling set into his heart, he focused on skills, hoping for some better news.


    <hr>


    Skills ( 0/18 )


    <ul>


    <li>Skills are fundamental constructs of the soul, imprinting upon reality and altering the fabric. Unlike the Arcane, which adheres to strict rules and methodologies. They do not follow structured formulas like spells but instead emerge organically, shaped by experience, intent, and the subconscious desires of their wielder.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    That sounded promising. Reality could do with some alterations in Brax¡¯s opinion. Hopefully, the skills could improve his situation. It also helped explain what Arcane was and made skills sound incredibly powerful. After carefully reading the text to make sure he didn¡¯t miss anything, he focused on his slots.


    <hr>


    Available skills:


    <ul>


    <li>Mana Tolerance (Least, Lv.1)</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Adaptive Physiology (Least, Lv.1)</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Hardy Constitution (Least, Lv.1)</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Temperature Adaptation (Least, Lv.1)</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Optimized Breathing (Least, Lv.1)</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Efficient Digestion (Least, Lv.1)</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Accelerated Recovery (Least, Lv.1)</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    As he read his available skills, Brax felt a small burst of hope and excitement. Focusing on the first skill, nothing happened. After a few more attempts, he concluded that trying to access more information wouldn¡¯t work. In the end, he focused on the first skill with the thought of choosing it.


    [Skill has Been Formed]


    <hr>


    Skill: Mana Tolerance (Least, Lv.1)


    <ul>


    <li>This skill increases your body¡¯s tolerance to mana</li>


    </ul>


    Affects:


    <ul>


    <li>Grants a 1% resistance to T1 mana</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    And just like that, Brax lost most of the hope he had, as it only increased his resistance by a very small amount and only seemed to apply to the first tier of mana toxicity. Not giving up, he selected all the available skills; anything would be better than nothing


    [Skills has Been Formed]


    <hr>


    Skill: Adaptive Physiology (Least, Lv.1)


    <ul>


    <li>Your body can gradually adjust to environmental and internal changes.</li>


    </ul>


    Affects:


    <ul>


    <li>Grants a 1% adaptation to T1 environmental stressors</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Skill: Hardy Constitution (Least, Lv.1)


    Your body possesses enhanced endurance and robustness.


    Affects:


    <ul>


    <li>Grants a 1% resistance to T1 adverse physical affects</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Skill: Temperature Adaptation (Least, Lv.1)


    Your body adjusts to ambient temperature variations more effectively.


    Affects:


    <ul>


    <li>Grants a 1% resistance to T1 temperature variations</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Skill: Optimized Breathing (Least, Lv.1)


    <ul>


    <li>Your respiratory efficiency improves, enabling better oxygen intake. </li>


    </ul>


    Affects:


    <ul>


    <li>Grants a 1% resistance to T1 temperature variations</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Skill: Nutrient Optimization (Least, Lv.1)


    <ul>


    <li>Your digestive system processes food more effectively, maximizing energy absorption. </li>


    </ul>


    Affects:


    <ul>


    <li>Grants a 1% improvement to T1 dietary deficiencies.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Skill: Accelerated Recovery (Least, Lv.1)


    <ul>


    <li>Your body recovers from minor injuries and fatigues slightly faster. </li>


    </ul>


    Affects:


    <ul>


    <li>Grants a 1% improvement to T1 healing speed.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Skill: Metabolic Efficiency (Least, Lv.1)


    <ul>


    <li>Your body optimizes its energy usage and waste management. </li>


    </ul>


    Affects:


    <ul>


    <li>Grants a 1% efficiency to T1 resource usage and waste management.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Brax sighed. The enhancements were small, barely noticeable, but at least they would help him survive, if only by a little. It wasn¡¯t much, but in his current state, every advantage mattered. Finally, his eyes turned to Traits, hoping for something more substantial.


    <hr>


    Traits:


    <ul>


    <li>Traits are acquireable features that can be gained through experiences, actions, or innate properties; they can have a variety of effects and are permanently etched into your soul; they do not change and will be a fixed facet of your existence.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Talent: Otherworldly Versatility


    <ul>


    <li>Since before your birth, you were not exposed to Arcane Energy, Soul Energy, Soul Constructs, or the Network. As a result, your soul developed independently, following an unrestricted growth process. This lack of external influence allowed for a highly flexible structure, enabling the efficient assimilation of skills, concepts, and energies.</li>


    </ul>


    Affects:


    <ul>


    <li>5 skill slots</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>100% Base Skill Growth Increase</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>Skill mutation Rate Increase</li>


    </ul>


    <ul>


    <li>10% Base Affinity for all skills</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    That sounded useful to Brax; unfortunately, it also didn¡¯t help his current situation in the least, as far as he could see. He was still lost, and no closer to finding a way out of this mess.


    Every second counted¡ªhe was actively dying. After weighing the benefits and taking a moment to mentally prepare himself, he stood up against the rock wall, pressed his fingers to it, and decided to follow its path.


    Step after step he went; his feet found nothing but cold stone, and his fingers more cold wall. And then-


    [ Skill level up: Mana Tolerance]


    [ Skill level up: Adaptive Physiology]


    [ Skill level up: Mana Tolerance ]


    [ Skill level up: Adaptive Physiology ]


    [ Skill level up: Hardy Constitution ]


    [ Skill level up: Temperature Adaptation ]


    [ Skill level up: Optimized Breathing ]


    [ Skill level up: Efficient Digestion ]


    [ Skill level up: Accelerated Recovery ]