Lacking control and deeming himself a novice in both meditation and manipulating the flow, Tetsu observed the aurora, its millions of lights reduced to a select few in his eyes. He conjectured that the various hues represented the life force of distinct creatures, with the transparent wave separating them symbolizing the pure life force.
Humans relied on a green light for healing and energizing themselves. Tetsu realized that if he ever needed to assist a non-human friend, he would need to master the manipulation of the other hues, too.
Another approach involves inundating them with the untainted, or pure, life force, devoid of any imposed will. In this manner, individuals can transmute the energy into their distinctive essence and facilitate healing. While the conversion process demands significant energy, it stands as a preferable alternative to facing death.
Tetsu found it challenging to isolate the green hue amidst the others, let alone discern the true transparent life force.
As a larger quantity of the green hue accumulated within the orb, it gradually consumed and transformed the other hues. Yet when the ratios were minuscule or slightly skewed, the orb was rendered useless to him, as the dominating hues turned the rest into its signature.
The presence of multiple hues compelled Tetsu to convert them, resulting in a greater expenditure of energy during the conversion process.
Whether due to the complexity of the concept or Tetsu's limited understanding of it, the system refused to hand out a skill.
Deprived of a skill, Tetsu dedicated himself to deciphering the concept, spending eight to ten hours daily in intense concentration, just to create one orb capable of replenishing his health pool by a modest five percent. He rounded it off because the math got too complicated.
Though the progress was modest, Tetsu acknowledged he had taken a significant step forward. Vital energy sat atop his bucket list, yet he refused to attribute too much credit to the goddess [Order], so out of spite, he relegated this boon to the bottom tier.
Next came that jerk Adam, rudely interrupting a delightful dream of a harem.
Two individuals lost in the unconscious might have seen the same person but personified him as different individuals: Gabriel, the archangel of light, and Lucifer, the archangel of darkness. Tetsu envisioned him as either a single individual with split personalities or a facade employed for deeper purposes.
"Adam, the first man." He frowned
Tetsu hated his guts and imagined wearing it as a medal once he reached godhood. While the insect god deemed [Rot's] deceit as the hallmark of treachery among the gods, he disagreed. True deception remained inscrutable, with Adam embodying that elusive trait perfectly.
The formidable scar had never heard of him, and that snippet of information was all Tetsu required to firmly plant Adam on the pinnacle of the deceit mountain. While the title bestowed by Adam might be the most potent boon received thus far, it also served as a constant reminder of the deceit.
Tetsu harbored a visceral desire to tear the title from his screen and force it down Adam's throat, but alas, the system command had not yet reached that level of control. Out of spite, Tetsu commanded the system to erase the description, leaving only the bonuses displayed.
[Ding! Gifted Title: First Man. Bonuses: 1% increase to all stats: +40 Luck: +1 Luck for every level: Percentile blocker lifted over the Luck stat.]
"Some of my stats are blocked?" The last bonus left Tetsu dumbfounded. The very idea sounded absurd—why impose limitations on his capabilities when he was already battling to survive? The additional points of luck prompted Tetsu to reassess his theory about luck being a fluctuating stat.
"Of course, I need adjustments. Did you assume you could decode such a complicated stat within..." He scolded himself, his voice rising as if addressing a third person.
Tetsu recalled he had no means of tracking time since entering Eternal Slumber. "Does time even function the same?" he pondered, his heart heavy with apprehension. With a reluctant hand, he opened the timer, only to have his fears confirmed—and worsened—by the clock's display.
The timer began its countdown, and to Tetsu's dismay, he had already lost four days.
[Tutorial will end in:- 270D: 20Hrs: 44Min: 14Sec. Goal:- Reach Warrior status for successful integration.]
"Damn it! Luck will never be on my side, even if the god of Luck chooses me as his champion," Tetsu exclaimed in frustration.
He shoved the screen aside with force in an attempt to vent, but his irritation heightened as an extra column below the timer caught his eye. Intrigued, he reopened the system timer to discover two additional titles.
These weren't added to the current column of titles because they were held off as rewards for the ones who survived this ordeal. Tetsu mused at them, contemplating the two new titles.
—>{Eternal slumber accumulated rewards.}<—
[Title: First kill: Be the first to draw blood. Bonus: +1 all stats.]
[Title: Supreme Kill: Hunt down enemies a tier above your current tier. (2/2). Bonus: +4 all stats: Extra XP for kills over opponent above your current level.]
[Dungeon conqueror: Conquer dungeons and place in the top ten for rewards. Rewards calculating...]
Tetsu questions, 'Dungeon Conqueror?' as a ladder displaying ranks pops open, revealing him at the top.
The placement didn't startle him, given his Dungeonier title, but it also indicated that he had recklessly entered the incubation ground before the system had prepared it for humans.
The reward for kills confirmed his suspicions about humans competing against each other. There was no way he had beaten a bunch of beasts for the first kill title.
In an effort to maintain fairness, the system separated species and created separate ladders with possibly identical titles. Tetsu would argue that not all humans are created equal; perhaps he should be placed in a beginner's bracket, where he might have a chance to climb any ladder.
His deepest fear of the system promoting violence also materialized as rewards and XP depended on kills. However, the prospect of having more dungeons provided Tetsu with a sense of relief. Mindless massacre wasn't the sole path to leveling. Both Tetsu and the system believed so. One can earn awards, avoid killing, and increase their power all in one go.
"Dungeons!" Tetsu yelled, hoping the system would direct him toward the nearest one. After several unsuccessful commands, he gave up and returned to belittling Adam.
After the scar god vanished, no other god dared approach him. Tetsu assumed there wasn't a single deity who could compete against two powerhouses of the multiverse. The goddess and the scar god, who left a mark on the world merely with a fraction of his presence, weren't to be scoffed at.
The mighty system persisted in its attempts but failed to erase the scar that tore the skies open. A thin line still traversed the sky, dividing the world in two. One might dismiss the sight or never give it a second glance, but they didn't perceive what Tetsu saw. A thin line, visible only to the third eye, was all he needed to never forget the voice of the void.
The Scar god granted Tetsu a wealth of insight, which he deemed more precious than the rest combined. Knowledge of the multiverse. The interaction divulged multiple concepts, from immortality to the origins of myths, stories, futuristic inventions on Earth, and the power of titles.
He also realized the games were rigged, and the [Orders] acted as recruiters scouring the campus, their universe, attempting to snatch up the best. He still couldn't fathom why. The story contained a massive plot hole that might require a century of exploration to rectify.
The Scar deity also booted [Ever Smile] by a level, further attesting to his power. Tetsu checked his status one last time before embarking on a quest to find some mortals, hoping to avoid any encounters with immortal beings in the near future. Their champion, however, would undoubtedly come at him with everything they had and more. They had to prove their loyalty to their patron somehow, and Tetsu, with his big mouth, ensured that his head would be the most coveted prize any of them could hope to obtain.
"These rigged games are going to be entertaining, to say the least," Tetsu remarked, a sinister grin spreading across his face as he internally cursed himself. "Damn you and your big mouth."
Name: Tetsü .K .Tenco.
Race: Human {---} Level: 04 | Initiate |
Class: Artificer & Tracer
Affinity: [Rune Force]; [Arcane Knot]; [Earth]; [Wind].
Bond: N/A
--*--*----*--*--
[STATUS]
Health Pool: 377/398
Mana Pool: 550/610
Fatigue: 69
-*--*----*--*--
[INDIVIDUAL STAT'S]
Dex: 26 :: Flex: 17 :: Flash: 14
Stamina: 16 :: Rex: 16 :: Fort: 29
-*--*----*--*--
Senses: 29 :: Regen: 32 :: Tork: 27
-*--*----*--*--
Will power: 44 :: Perception: 80 :: Intellect: 99
Luck: 48
Free Points: 14
-*--*----*--*--
Titles--: [Solitary Vanguard]; [Fanatic Rever]; [Saint RÆ]; [Rushmore]; [Prodigy Visionary]; [My Way]; [Valedictorian], [Defyer], [Creator].
Dungeonier Title: [Xanvic Five].
-*--*----*--*-
Creation -X-
Artifact I -VI;
-*--*----*--*--
Skills: [Resource Radar (Unique)], [Echo Vault(Warrior/Rare)[01/01], [Smoke orb(Initiate/Common)[01/01], [Etched Rune(Monarch/Common)], [Tracker(Initiate/Uncommon)], [Overlay(Monarch/Legendary)], [Conqueror's Stride(Conqueror/Epic)], [Rune Curve of Resonance(Warrior/Uncommon)], [Razor Edge(Initiate/Epic)], [Mana Injection(Initiate/Common)],
[System Command (Unique)], [Artifact Prober (Initiate/Uncommon)], [Leech Over (Warrior/Uncommon)], [Pave Path (Initiate/Omni)], [Move Terrain (Warrior/Common)], [Vertical Jump (Initiate/Common)], [Ever Smile (Omni/Unique)]
-*--*----*--*--
Sian Ru'nic Skills: [Quantum Harvest(Warrior/Uncommon)]:{Commandment: Har/Mev/Slu/Dal} {body/mind/soul/drain}, [Eternal Rune (Conqueror/Common)],
-*--*----*--*--
Racial Skill: [Tenco Ten (Unique)], [Fear Fea (Warrior/Epic)]
-*--*----*--*--
Ru'nic formations: [Info(Unique)]:{Condition: Intent}, [Devour(Unique)]:{Condition: Will/intent},
[Pluck & Fixed point(Warrior/Epic)]:{Conditions: Fix/Remove}{Semi-condition: Approach}{Alternate-condition: Seperate}, [Syphon(Warrior/Uncommon)]:{Condition: limited source/intent},
[Lightweight(Initiate/Common)], [Speed(Initiate/Common)], [Target(Unique)]:{Condition: Love/Hate}, [Overload(Unique)]:{Condition: Contain}, [Launch(Unique)]:{Condition: Impact}, [Escape(Initiate/Common)], [Vapor(Initiate/Common)], [Spark(Initiate/Common)], [Breeze(Initiate/Common)], [Fire(Initiate/Common)], [Swirl(Initiate/Common)].
Divine Seal: [Eye of Providence (Partial)], [Soul Thought (Partial)]
-*--*----*--*--
Bound Items: [Crystal Mold Pants {Gift}], [Crimsonfae Fangs {Karmic Bond}], [Exemplary Token {System recognition}].
-*--*----*--*--
Increment: [By pants (Initiate/Rare): Dex: +13. Flex: -7. Flash: -10. Stamina: -10. Fort: +20. Level: Initiate. Rarity: Rare.]<>{half: Dex: +7. Flex: -4. Stamina: -5. Fort: +10. Flash: -5}
[By Rune Tracer class: Perception: +7. Tork: +4. Regen: +4.], [By titles (Solitary Vanguard & Fanatic Rever): 2% Bonus to all stats.], [By Saint Ræ title: Wisdom: +30. Perception: +20. Intellect: +20.],
[By Artificer class: 2% increase on Mana & Health pool.], [By Crimsonfea Fangs: Toughness: (Mev/Slu/Dal): Level: 07.] [Title: My way; 4% Bonus to all stats.], [Title: Valedictorian; 1% Bonus to all stats.], [By title (Defyer): +1% all stats.], [By title (Creator): +3% all stats.], [By title (First Man): 1% increase to all stats: +40 Luck: +1 Luck for every level: Percentile blocker lifted over the Luck stat].
_||------* ---*------||_
The King abandoned his throne for the first time since entering the trail.
"What kind of creature is he?" the King frowned at Tetsu. "Such immense bloodlust and an even stronger aura... A monster in human skin!" He retracted his aura in fear of revealing his position.
The brief scan terrified him, and cold sweat covered his throne. He was compelled to rise before he skidded out.
"This rigged trail is getting on my nerves," he snorted and headed in the opposite direction. "But why is he moving away from the goal?" The King wondered, somewhat relieved that he wouldn't encounter that monster on the actual trail.
[Ding! Reached Level 08]
The notification halted King in his tracks, causing him to gape back in the direction of Tetsu.
'Simply walking away from his mere presence earned me a level?'
Shadows draped the king, shielding him from the prying eyes of the world. However, his maw drooped out of the shadows, betraying his location and surprise.
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