Chereads / Phantasmal / Chapter 4 - Actually Where am I?

Chapter 4 - Actually Where am I?

After I got done being lost in my own mind for a while, I actually started to observe my surroundings. Hmm, I actually think I am in a tomb.

In the center of the room there is a rectangular stone coffin, on top of a pedestal. Torches glowing with a purple/blue flame, are the only light sources. Apart from that, there really isn't much else in the room.

Ah, well at least there is an open door, to get out of here. Well wait, I guess since I'm a phantom now I could just go through the walls. . .

Hmm, how do I actually move? Apart from looking around I can't seem to move from my spot. I am also floating slightly above the ground, so it's not like I can just walk over to somewhere.

About a minute later I figured out how 'float' towards stuff. In order to move, I need to will my entire body in a direction. As the race trait stated I can move in every direction up, down, sideways.

Honestly, feels like is swimming (in a very weird kind of way). I spent another 10 minutes floating around the room, getting a better sense of how to move my body.

(After a few mishaps here and there, like being upside down for a while, I think I have gotten a hang of it.)

Ah, since I'm a phantom I should be able to phase through walls time to test that out, I suppose. I float over towards the coffin.

Hmm, perhaps I should start with my hand. Reaching out, I extend my hand towards the coffin, expecting to go right through it but. . .

Smack

Uhhhhh, what? It is not going through, that is odd. Trying a few more times, I switch testing to the torches on the wall.

Smack

No, I can't pass through them either! What kind of half-assed ghost am I?! I can't even phase through stuff properly. Is the ethereal trait even working?

Moving my hand towards the purple/blue flame of the torch, I hesitate a bit. Gah! I won't know till I try. *Closing my eyes, I shove my hand in the flames*

. . .

*Taking a peek at my hand, I realize it does not hurt* Oh! Awesome! I don't feel anything, I guess it's true that most forces don't actually do anything since I'm ethereal.

So why the heck can't I go through walls like it said? Wait. . . Shit! Am I actually too weak to use the ability properly?

Now that I think about it shouldn't I be at the very least level one? Crap! What if being level 0 is not supposed to be possible, maybe my spirit stat is just too low to support the ability?

*Cursing the heavens* What is the point in taking 50 levels form me, only to not be able to use the skill that YOU gave me!!

*Silence*

Well staying here won't get anything to happen. . . I guess I should go out of this room. Moving through the doorway, I end up in a long hallway.

Along the wall there are inlets filled with a myriad of bones, with the most prominent and shocking ones being human skulls. This place is really quite creepy.

Actually now that I think about it, this place reminds me of those pictures on the internet. Uh, the French catacombs, yeah that's what this place is like. Honestly If I wasn't dead already this place would be pretty scary!

Crap, I might have spoken too soon. . . Rounding the corner, I set my eyes on something quite disturbing! Is that a skeleton!?!

Not just any random pile of bones, that I saw previously lining the walls, this was a living breathing and moving one!! (Well not really living or breathing for that matter, it was still only bones. But it is moving!!)

For someone who was never all that bothered by cadavers in their past life, I must say that I am most definitely not unfazed by this sight.

Watching it for a few minutes, while I pull myself together, it seems to just be patrolling the area. It will walk like twenty feet down the hall, then turn around and come back.

And I must say, the rattling of the bones when it moves sends a shiver down my spine. But it one hundred percent cannot detect my presence, even as I stand right in front of it.

Time to test out my possession ability, as I try phasing into the skeleton. I am met with a large force, repelling my soul. Not giving up I push with all of my being, trying to take control.

The skeleton's body begins to spaz around similar to a seizure.

But alas, I am violently rejected out of the skeleton. Ow what the hell was that, shit it hurt. Checking my stats, it turns out that I lost about 10 HP, and the system log says possession failed.

What the heck! Why do I get hurt if I can't possess something? Ugh! Is this also a problem due to my level being 0?

Shit! How do I even level up? Oh, wait I have an introductory guidebook yeah! Ah here it is, guide to leveling up - for beginners.

Bla bla bla Okay, there are multiple ways to level up: training, completing a quest/object (tasks deemed to be difficult), special treasures, or by killing other creatures. And of course, killing dangerous creatures is the most efficient way.

Well, that doesn't help me very much. I can barely interact with the world, so how can I even do any of that?

Ugh, perhaps my only chance is to possess something extremely weak and hope I can kill something with it. Looking for some sort of miracle, I continue forward through the catacombs.

After a short period, I reach another room. If I was not a phantom I would be absolutely mortified and puking my guts out! Rotting flesh is strewn all throughout the room, a deeply grotesque scene presents itself.

I think I found the solution to my problem, but it terrifies me down to the very core. You so-called Administrator, if I ever get my hands on you!!!! *Looking down at the piles of rotting flesh, noticing a wriggling movement every so often, I shiver*