"Sooo, how do I look?" Bradley asked.
Today, my system chose to modify itself into an algae. An ugly looking one at that. I think I preferred it when he was just a harmless bacteria but this...
"You look like what an old grandma would vomit after having a nasty oat meal with dried up bread,"
"Yeah well, my girlfriend seems to dig it so I really don't care about what you have to say," he muttered(or is it vibrate?).
"You have a girlfriend? I'd love to see how she looks. She got a name?"
"Yes actually it's... It's...Sheryl"
"Really?"
"Y–yeah,"
"Does she even exist?"
"Of course she does!"
"Does she know you exist?"
"Enough about my love life! Today, it's all about you,"
"Alright fine," I finally left him be. To be honest, I'm curious about what gift the system had to offer for completing my quest.
"So, where do we start?"
"Where do you wanna start?" Bradley asked, thankful that the question was not about his imaginary girlfriend.
"Hmm... Let's save the best for Last. First, before I view my stats, I'd like to talk about my new ability, 'warlock' " I suggested.
"Oh? What about it?"
"It's how it's not about a wizard but sounds more.... how do I put this...diabolical. Why the change?"
"That's easy. That power couldn't work for you, so I had to modify it to be compatible with you. I thought I already mentioned this. Dude, did you already forget in that pin-sized brain of yours?"
"Pin–sized? What size specific? The pin ball or the rolling kind?"
"Bro, you need help. Not even I can save you from your stupidity!"
"It was just an innocent question! Well, whatever. Remember the remaining exp points that I had? Send every last bit of it to the new ability," I ordered my system.
***
<*Command issued!*>
<*transmitting all remaining points to ability 'warlock'....*>
<*Success!*>
<*Ability [warlock (LVL 1)]has just been Maxed out to level fifty!*>
<*New ability created!*>
<* Ability [warlock protegee( LVL1)] has been attained!*>
<*ability [warlock protegee] has just been maxed out to level fifty!*>
<*New ability created!*>
<[Warlock king(LVL)] has just been attained!*>
<*ability [Warlock king] has been upgraded to level two!*>
–––
"Huh? I thought this ability will be maxed out too like the saint heal. What happened?" I asked Bradley.
"Those are two very different abilities. Unlike the saint healer ability, in this one, the more you converted it to a new ability, the more to max it out became more difficult. It's like this: In the first [warlock], to reach level ten, you needed 100exp. In the second [Warlock protegee], you needed 500exp to reach level ten and in the final one [warlock king] you need 2500exp to even reach level ten!"
"Ouch! That's harsh! But about the ability... what type of spells can I cast? I know that in the saint healer ability it's only the strength of my healing capabilities that's been upgraded and the skill itself to self heal so I want to know about this new one."
"Very well then. But remember, you chose your base ability to be lightning which you cannot, unfortunately use. So these new abilities will not be possible to covert to base abilities, is that OK with you?"
"I already came to terms with it so, I guess so?" I answered but a pang of pain in my heart reminded me that I did not, in fact, come to terms with it.
"I'll have to show you your stats first,"
"Do it,"
***
<*Mandrax Randolf [LVL15]*>
<*Title: (pseudo) Dark prince*>
<*Race: Furrha*>
<*Grade: A(mid)*>
<*Ability:
Main: Lightning castor(disabled)
Sub: Saint healer [LVL 50(Max)]
Sub: Warlock king[LVL 2] *>
<*Mana: {10/1000}*>
<*Health{100/100}*>
***
<* Passive skills:
*Poison resistance(LVL4)*
[user has gained a resistance to deadly poisons. Endurance can be increased.]
*self heal(advanced skill)*
*User's body is automatically healed when saint heal is activated. No mana usage required. Cannot heal fatal injuries. Only attainable by a tier four skill. Requirements are met*
*Dark magic resistance (LVL 2)*
*user has gained a resistance to dark magic. Endurance can be increased.*
–––
<*Strength 100*>
<*Agility 100*>
<*Defense 100*>
<*Speed 100*>
–––
<* New skills have been attained! *>
<* 'Mass heal'(maxed!) *>
<* user can now conduct a mass heal on his party and/or pack. Mana usage: 200.*>
<* Saint heal(maxed)*>
<* Can heal fatal injuries and in some cases even grow a limp. Mana usage depends on amount of damage. Cannot be used on user when self heal is active*>
<* Basic magic can be used with no mana usage due to user attaining a tier three ability!*>
<* Fire of darkness!(LVL 2)*>
<* User can now cast dark flames that can be used to destroy anything. It also has purification properties and only user can put it out. Mana usage: depends on targets size*>
<* Vitality curse (LVL 2)*>
<* regenerates mana at a faster rate but takes a bar of the users health. One bar consist of one hundred mana power. Only usable when no mana is available*>
<*Torrent of spells!(LVL 2)*>
<*User can cast any type of spell with the attack damage of six provided it's not a major spell. Mana usage: 100*>
<*Thunder from the sky!(LVL 2)*>
<* user can summon lightning to do his bidding. Number of bolts will depend on how much mana is put on the spell. Spell itself needs five hundred mana power*>
<*Power Overload!(LVL???) *>
<*All spells damage power are increased ten times their normal strength, but once used all mana will be depleted. Use with caution!*>
–––
<*Dark mana absorption rate(disabled) 24%*>
<*Next percentage will grand user more abilities in the dark arts. Body is now compatible with a quarter of dark maga!*>
***
"And that's that. Why are you grinning like that?" Bradley asked when he saw my smile.
" 'Thunder from the sky'. That's why,"
"Why what?"
I shook my head at Bradley's ignorance, "I thought you said I can't use lightning anymore. Or are you just playing dumb with me?" I grumbled when I realized the restrictions preventing me from using that power.
"Don't worry my bro. Even though Archeron is a god and took it away, no one said anything about casting it. She only took your ability, not the use of lightning itself.
"But I was so sure that I couldn't use it! Nah dude. Don't take me for a fool! I'll have to prove that your lying through your teeth about this spell,"
"We'll see whose right soon enough,"
"But otherwise, I can now cast simple spells? Leave the major ones alone for the moment."
"But of course! With your level, you've already attained the power of a full grown wizard and probably even surpused them. You'll have to investigate on your limits too," he added.
"Sweet! Now I don't have to worry about hiding my ability. I could just cast a speed spell and everything would work out!"
"That's your take on this?! Not the power you've just been given? You know, if you play your cards right, you would probably beat any ability if you wanted,"
"Yeah, yeah. I don't care about that. Now, my reward?"
"Hmph! You could probably become an overload if you want but nooo! You want your gift," Bradley rolled his eye(nucleus) at me.
"Chap chap, loser. Times a wasting,"
He paused for a moment, probably looking for a good comeback but failed and slumped downward in defeat.
***
<*Quest: Friendship conquerors all!" completed!"
<*Rewards: 1000exp points! A piece of a lost fragment of memory and 500 gp coins!*>
***
"The first two I understand. The last one...," I shook my head confused. "What is a gp coin?"
"A gp coins is the currency used by gods. When you are in possession of even one, you can head over to a certain shop found all over the universe that sell rare items like, your watch or even... the adamantium spear!"
"WAIT WHAT?!"
"Only disciples of gods can enter that shop and only with gp coins, since, of course, it is a retail shop owned by Hermes, the god of messengers. Not just everyone can step foot in these shops willy nilly ,"
"What are you trying to say? That my spear and watch can easily be bought at one of these shops? So to you they are worthless?"
"Oh shut up! Why don't you let me finish before you spout nonsense in my face!"
I was taken aback by Bradley's outburst so I just stayed silent and waited for him to finish.
"Do you think we just issue gp coins to anyone who did good on anything? Matter of fact, even among disciples, you are the only one with a system for beast's sake! And about the coins, they are so rare that monsters have gone to war just to even own one!"
"And the location of these shops only shows up with one with a coin so shut your trap and be thankful!"
"I–I see. Sorry for being unreasonable. It's just that–"
"Just what? I swear if you dare say the dumbest of things in the world I will take my reward and leave you with nothing!"
"OK fine, jeez! I get it. It's a very good gift for me, thanks."
Bradley was still vibrating with fury but was slowly calming down.
"Only if you understand. And puhlease! That shop is so popular, that even gods consider buying weapons from there so never mock the H shop, OK?"
"Yeah OK."
"Anything else you want? You've already put me in a bad mood."
Well, that's not normal, him loosing his cool. Hmm... Oh I know!
"I would like to meet your master,"
"Wait what?! No,"
"That wasn't a request. It was an order,"
"Dude please, don't make me call him. He's a god see? And also my creator. He's always busy and.."
Bradley went silent all of a sudden, then the entire space began to shake violently.
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
I quickly tried regaining my footing in the space, but just as first as it came, the shaking stopped and everything calmed down.
Bradley looked horrified by what just happened and looked so weak all of a sudden contrary to how he was before. He stood there motionless and lost to the world, but then suddenly turned to me with a robotic look on his face.
"The master has accepted your invitation. He'll call upon you when he is ready, Mandrax," he said with a monotone voice. Then he shook again and the normal Bradley returned.
"What... Just.... Happened?" he asked weakly.
"You have no clue? You just said your master agreed to my proposal,"
"No no no! Max, when are you to meet him?"
"No Idea. He said he'll call upon me,"
Bradley inhaled sharply and shook violently again. Fear flashed in his eyes and he stared horrified at me.
"Dude, you are scaring me,"
"You need to leave before he calls you now. That guy has no chill! Please Max," he pleaded.
"But what about–"
"I'll answer them when you move out. Before he realizes you're still in my space," he looked even more panicked now.
"OK dude. You're going to have to explain to me what I just signed myself into,"
"Just leave, like RIGHT NOW!"
–––
<*system switching user back to body *>
<*system is curious why master did that. System thinks master is dumb*>