In a small chamber, which functioned as a nursery for the time being, a child who had recently turned three years old sat on a plush carpet, engaging in play with a toy set presented by his parents. The set consisted of a plastic truck, a crane, and a concrete mixer. Suddenly, the boy's attention became unfocused, and he remained motionless for approximately fifteen minutes.
After this period, his gaze regained its focus, although it now held a deeper meaning. His expression, which bore the name "Alex," revealed a profound sense of shock and disorientation. However, it was not long before a phrase was spoken in the room that was both unexpected and foreign to the boy, who was essentially a pure-bred Englishman with a trace of Welsh ancestry, given his cultural background:
"Damn!"
The voice resonated in the grand and powerful Russian language, albeit with a slight accent, as it was challenging for the young boy's nascent vocal apparatus, accustomed solely to hearing English for the past three years, to fully master the phonetic intricacies of his native tongue from his previous existence.
On this day, a remarkable incident occurred with Alex Mercer at the age of three, as he regained memories of his former life, all thanks to a system that had finally become operational today.
In his previous existence, he had consumed a vast array of artistic works on this subject, and he was elated that his mind had just awoken, burying the identity of his incarnation in this realm, which had only just begun to take shape. He immediately commended the system and its architect for this, unaware that it was not done out of concern for his mental well-being and convenience, but rather because, at his earlier age, his body simply could not bear the weight of his identity, due to the fact that his soul had not been purified in the cycle of samsara. Even then, the system had accelerated the development of his nervous system to the fullest extent possible in order to progress towards its predetermined objective.
The human soul, with all its layers, is, in essence, a multitude of interconnected vessels. If the system that protects the future body from the energy impact that the mature soul can exert on the developing fetus and body during early childhood had not existed, the individual would not have survived.
For instance, one of the scenarios that would have occurred if Vadik's spiritual layers and personality had not been preserved before his third birthday would have been a certainty of a stroke for the infant. After all, the brain, as the primary organ of the body-soul complex, is responsible for interaction with the mental layer.
Had the fully developed mental principle of Alex's soul actively engaged and maintained contact with the body from the outset, the brain would not have been able to withstand the surge of psychic energy, which would have resulted in a catastrophic stroke.
**** POV Vadik. ****
Oh, how repugnant my juvenile voice sounds now, as well as my ear-piercing accent. It's disgusting! — that's what I thought now, Alex Mercer in this life, and Vadim Nagorny in my previous one, after I attempted to express my sentiments from my current perspective.
But I used to fantasize about such things, and it so happened that when I awoke in the morning, before completely bidding adieu to my dreams, I endeavored to summon a window character, for I had just possessed supernatural abilities in my reveries, and often they were merely a «system».
And now, finally, justice has triumphed! Now I will definitely receive everything from this life that I merely envisioned when I was a failure.
And Vadim rationalized his past social standing and position as the result of sheer bad fortune in life. His family was unfortunate, his genes were unfortunate, and this was not because he lacked the backbone and resolve to accomplish anything. His spirit was so feeble that even to himself, in solitude with his thoughts, he feared to admit what he truly was, for he was a wretch and a paltry creature.
Yet, having been dealt a blow by the system, he resolved to exact retribution and ultimately ascend to the pinnacle of this world! And as these thoughts coursed through his mind, he summoned the system interface, proclaiming aloud, "Status." And thus was revealed what he beheld.
Name: Alex Mercer (Vadim Nagorny)
Level: 1 Specialization:
Undefined Body: 1 Mind:
Spirit: 1
Magic: 1
And he was disheartened both by the numerical data of his statistics, and by the fact that he lacked a map, a storehouse, an inventory, as well as any explanation of his attributes, leaving him to conjecture their meaning on his own. While it may not have been a challenge even for his intellectual capacity, his general level of knowledge failed to provide the necessary foundation for constructing comprehensive and coherent theories that would provide a complete understanding of his situation. It was dispiriting, for he knew little of true magic beyond a vast array of what he had consumed in books, games, and media, and it was foolhardy to rely solely on information from the worlds of art, gaming, and entertainment.
Hmm, well, there is what there is, and it is an affront to complain! Since the only active window that responded to his mental inquiry turned out to be a specialisation that had not yet been selected, the first thing he started to ponder was which path of progression he should choose.
Even if there were no descriptions of specialisations available here, the names themselves provided ample insight. There were three specialisations in total: the Fighter, the Magician, and the Priest. He was now required to select one of these, but this did not preclude him from pursuing the other two paths of progression. Upon reaching level ten, he could choose another specialisation, and upon reaching level thirty, the remaining one. This realisation came to him naturally; it was merely a matter of putting it into perspective.
Alas for me, Vadik, but I was unable to discern the available skills in any way that would serve me, but given the nature of the world in which I found myself, the choice was clear to me.
Since I was uncertain as to whether my magical prowess was sufficient to pursue enrollment in the hallowed halls of English sorcery, I made a decision, and my specialization became "Magician."
I could not afford to remain on the sidelines, and so I must attend Hogwarts, for it is the sole avenue through which I can gain acquaintance with the future heroes of this realm, and it would also grant me access not only to the existing opportunities for mastery of magic through the system but also to a comprehensive education at the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry, as described by Rowling in her portrayal of Hogwarts as the pinnacle of magical learning.
Upon making my choice and confirming it, I was immediately granted a rank within the specialization, accompanied by two stat points. My status now reads as follows:
Name: Alex Mercer (previously Vadim Nagorny).
**Level**: 1
**Specialization**: Mage (Rank: Apprentice)
**Body**: 1
**Mind**: 1.5
**Spirit**: 1.5
**Magic**: 2
**Skills**: Not selected
The allocation of stat points was automatic, but I could choose one skill from a short list. The list was rather limited, and most of the skills were classified as dark. The skills included summoning the restless, cursing with severe torment, shooting arrows of darkness, as well as pyrokinesis, aeromancy, and telekinesis.
Having pondered for some time over what to select from the available options, I ultimately settled on telekinesis as the most adaptable and discreet of the choices presented. However, I now find myself in a predicament, concealing my abilities from all, for until I enter Hogwarts, I cannot offer a satisfactory explanation to my so-called "parents" regarding the origin of such powers, should I be discovered using them.
Telekinesis, however, can be mastered without difficulty, unlike pyrokinesis or other more sinister spells. Once I made my decision and selected a skill, I accessed a guide on how to enhance my character's level, focusing on specialization and skill development.
The character's experience level was increased only through kills, with each level up resulting in a one-point increase to all attributes. Additional statistics would be gained through physical growth, mental development, magical training, and skill usage. However, the certificate did not specify the exact number or types of kills required to level up. Skill levels could be raised through practice and direct training, by achieving a specialization rank, or even as a gift — although I find it unlikely that the system would be so generous.
The same logic applies to the advancement of specialization ranks, which increases with each five-level rise in character level and their own achievements in the field. However, this seemed almost unattainable to him. To achieve this independently, without relying on character level increases, he needed to bring his Telekinesis proficiency to the maximum level and then acquire a new skill. Overall, the system was not straightforward, but it was not overly complex either.
From that day forward, I became fully immersed in honing the only skill I had thus far, while my mind was consumed by thoughts of who I might eliminate to raise my level.
As the years went by, my parents indulged me, and I acted out my part as a loving, intelligent child, though in my heart, I already harbored resentment towards John and Samantha, my parents. After all, they didn't allow me the space for growth, severely restricting my freedom of action. Nonetheless, I had to continue playing my role, which, to be honest, was not a difficult task.
However, throughout my entire hypocritical existence, which I would never admit to myself, I learned to masterfully act out my role and conceal my true feelings from others, presenting the image they expected.
Nevertheless, I consoled myself with the thought that once I became a powerful magician, my first act would be to enslave their minds, turning them into my puppets. All I needed was a little patience!
How exasperating my parents and the other adults in my surroundings are! I am already seven years old, and I have just been granted the privilege of going out on my own, albeit only for a short period of time and within close proximity to home. My parents even purchased a watch for me specifically for this purpose, so that I can keep track of time and return home promptly.
"Now it's time to begin my journey of growth," I said with a mischievous grin, as the words spilled from my lips in Russian, only ten meters away from home. I had long pondered where to begin my endeavor and whom to target in order to enhance my skills, but after carefully assessing my abilities and strengths, I decided to focus on stray animals. I even knew of suitable targets nearby.
I have been attending the preparatory preschool for a year now. My mother accompanies me there every morning, often stopping to visit the neighbors. Their daughter, Maggie, is my age, and the three of us go to school together. Maggie's mother usually brings me home from school, but occasionally, when my father finishes work early, he picks me up.
In the vicinity of our home, on the path to school, there is a cat that recently gave birth in one of the cellars of a former textile mill, and my mother and Maggie frequently provide it with food. It is now my turn to feed the cat, but I must season my food beforehand. I have stolen from an elderly woman who lives in a house opposite ours, whom my parents pressured me to visit when they went out for fun or simply wanted to engage in intimate activities without my presence. Thus, I spent many weekends with Aunt Agnes, as the old lady preferred to be addressed. How I loathed those days, as during the hours I spent in her company, I was always by her side, under her watchful eye. Sometimes I found myself on the verge of impulsively thrusting one of her knitting needles into her nostril and piercing her brain when she began recounting yet another "fascinating" tale from her youth, set in the 1920s, which I had heard countless times before.
Hah! Alex, calm yourself down. As soon as I recalled those episodes, fury overwhelmed me. In fact, I remembered her only because of the sleeping pills I managed to steal from her medicine cabinet. The sleeping pills seem to be quite potent, and the sachet that old senile "witch" has enough for ten doses should be more than enough for a cat and its kittens, even if I were to use half of it.
Another question arises: do I need to be present when the victim passes away? Experiments are in order!
As a result, I pulled it off with ease. Riding my bicycle to the factory, with a small cart attached, I effortlessly lured the cat with ground meat, which I had begged from my mother, not even hiding my true intentions: "I want to feed the kitty!"
Within a matter of twenty minutes following the ingestion of the treat by the feline duo and their offspring, they exhibited profound lethargy and a state akin to intoxication, allowing me to swiftly gather them all into a sack, which I had pre-lined with stones, and, hoisting the load onto a cart, I proceeded to the Thames, casting the victims into its waters.
The kittens perished shortly after consumption, their diminutive bodies unable to withstand the effects of the sedative, while the cat clung to life. Once submerged in the river, however, she became trapped within the confines of the sack and ultimately succumbed to drowning, her fate sealed.
In the heat of the moment, Alex was preoccupied with other matters, unaware of the consequences of his actions. Nor was unaware that his efforts in eliminating the creatures would contribute to his character's experience progression, as the system failed to provide any indication of progress.
"Good heavens! Is killing animals really not worth the effort?" I lamented mentally on my way home, a tangle of not-so-pleasant emotions swirling within me! I longed to swear aloud... so much time spent waiting for an opportunity, only to be foiled by action, preparation, and all else in vain!
It was at that moment that a rat leapt onto the pedestrian walkway from a sewer grate, intent on swiftly making its way towards the apartment building housing the garbage can. "How dare this vermin think to evade me when I am in such an irritable state!" I fumed, my negative emotions overwhelming me, before my gaze fell upon the culprit.
Having honed my telekinetic abilities, my limits were now set at a total levitating weight of up to one and a half kilograms, with a maximum of ten objects. My focus was insufficient for more, and my sphere of influence extended up to a radius of fifteen meters.
It was not difficult for me to capture the rat, encountering only a slight opposition from its aura, which served as a barrier to my strength. However, it is far more challenging to influence individuals, as I encountered a form of protection that felt like a viscous substance. I did not devise an elaborate method of killing; I simply lifted the rat approximately thirteen meters above my position and then exerted all my strength to propel it as far as possible.
The rat soared upwards until it reached a height of thirty meters, but as it began its descent back towards me, I once again applied my full force, imparting even greater momentum towards the pavement. This was sufficient for the creature to shatter upon impact with the ground, scattering its innards in various directions. I was even splattered with fragments of flesh and blood, including a few droplets of blood and tissue upon my face.
Wiping the grime from my person, I wore a manic grin. Yes, indeed! I have ascended to a new level! And my statistics now read as follows:
Name: Alex Mercer (formerly Vadim Nagorny)
Level: 2 Specialization: Mage (Apprentice rank) Body: 4 Mind: 4.5 Spirit: 3.5 Magic: 5 Skills: Telekinesis (3rd rank)
In the past few years, my body, almost unaided by me, save for my daily morning exercises, has gained two additional points. My mind, owing to study and the constant strain of telekinesis practice and the concentration demanded by it, has also accrued two points. One point has been added to my spirit, and two have been added to my magic. I did not sit idly by and sought out every available avenue by which I might raise my statistics without the points awarded by the system for leveling up.
Heh heh heh. In the wake of my success, my fingers were already twitching with excitement, eagerness to commence my search for fresh prey. Alas, I was compelled to hasten home, for the two hours allocated for my leisurely stroll were drawing to a close, casting a slight shadow over my elation at finally reaching rank two. Nevertheless, such trivialities are of little consequence; the key takeaway is that even those considered beneath my station can be overcome, and London, particularly my neighborhood, is teeming with such individuals. Thus, my supply of quarry is assured. My only concern lies in the magnitude of the experience gap required for each subsequent rank.
I am now nine years of age, and in the past two years, I have managed to advance only three levels out of the two available. Finally, I have the opportunity to choose a new skill. Without any hesitation, I selected the arrow of darkness.
I needed something with significant offensive potential, as I had almost become a victim myself on several occasions. Once, while searching for grind for experience, I ventured into a landfill, where I encountered a pack of rabid stray dogs. In another instance, I committed the third homicide of a human being.
My first victim was a homeless individual in one of the doorways, who I easily dispatched with a brick to the head. The second was an irritating elderly neighbor, whom I choked to death using telekinesis. However, my third murder proved more challenging, and had the addict I chose not been under the influence, which clouded my judgment, I might have faced serious consequences.
I attempted to employ the same method on him as I had on the elderly woman, Agnes, obstructing the airflow into his lungs using telekinetic abilities. However, when I began exerting my influence on this individual, I encountered a peculiar resistance, causing me to experience fear. The victim became aware of my actions and began to look around. I focused on my emotions of fear, resulting in a magical exhaustion that rendered him unconscious.
I regained consciousness an hour and a half later, still in the same location within the bushes of a park, not far from the residence of a local drug addict. The addict remained seated on the bench, displaying no signs of vitality. Upon regaining my senses, I noticed a notification in the system indicating an increase in energy and the disappearance of any concerns regarding the addict's condition. As I reflected on the incident upon returning home that evening, I pondered the question of why my telekinetic efforts had such a profound impact on this deceased individual. Ultimately, I arrived at a logical explanation.. The individual in question was a squib, a term that denotes a person with magical abilities who is not fully trained or developed in their craft. Acting on animals is relatively straightforward, but human targets present a more complex challenge. It is logical to surmise that influencing those with supernatural powers would be even more difficult. Given that the individual in question is unlikely to have been a full-fledged magician, we can only conclude that they were a squib.
This situation prompted me to make a decision well before I had the opportunity to acquire a new skill set. Thus, in the event of dire circumstances and imminent danger, the Arrow of Death would serve as my ultimate weapon of choice. However, my primary objective remains to resolve conflicts using telekinetic abilities, as they leave no traces and allow for a precise and silent deployment of objects against opponents. Nevertheless, I must acknowledge that in the face of a skilled magician, my chances of success may be limited.
My current stats are as follows:
Name: Alex Mercer (formerly Vadim Nagorny)
Level: Level 5
Specialization: Mage
Body: 8
Mind: 8
Spirit: 6
Magic: 9
Abilities: Telekinetic manipulation (level: 8), Dark Arrow (level: 1).
Hogwarts is only two years away, yet I am already quite content with my own progress and development. However, my parents are somewhat taken aback by my height and the rapidity of my physical growth. I tower half a head above all my classmates, despite neither my father nor my mother being particularly tall or imposing. I appear to be an accelerated individual.
It is not surprising that a mere week ago, I experienced my first ejaculation. Generally speaking, I already have a predilection for sweet treats, but as I have not yet mastered the art of persuasion without resorting to coercion, I must endure. This state of affairs is not likely to last long.
Upon receiving my next rank in my specialization and being recognized as a wizard, I gained access to a plethora of new abilities, including mentalism, which I found quite intriguing. Resisting the urge to immediately pursue this skill was a challenge. My priority at this point is safety.. As far as I am aware, the system is protecting me from Legilimency, thus, the ability to manipulate the mind is not yet a priority for me. However, I am determined to bring my telekinetic skills to the tenth level as soon as possible, at which point I will once again have the option to choose a new ability, and I will undoubtedly select mentalism.
Of course, with each subsequent rank, progressing to the next becomes increasingly challenging, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Currently, with my telekinetic abilities, I am able to sense an area of space surrounding me in the form of a sphere with a radius of 50 meters, within which my powers are fully operational. I can effortlessly levitate up to 100 objects and lift a load weighing up to 100 kilograms, although I am currently only at level nine.
In a week, I will turn 11 years old, and if my mother's calculations are correct, that is the day when I am expected to depart for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
I have now reached the ninth level, and it appears to me that I am very close to the tenth, which would grant me the opportunity to pursue another specialization — that of a Fighter. At this point, I do not particularly desire to commit myself to any deity, and perhaps there may be some advantageous skills to be gained early on, but at present, a Fighter seems more advantageous than a Priest.
It is worth noting that a civil conflict is imminent in the wizarding realm. However, this is a matter of considerable speculation. This world bears a striking resemblance to the canonical one, yet it diverges in significant ways. What were the verified miracles performed by the biblical deity, culminating in the final one witnessed by all of Europe and a portion of Asia, in which all the afflicted were instantaneously healed, with the culmination occurring in Venice, centered around the Cathedral of Saint Svyatozar.. And most of all, I am perplexed by the idea of a profound divergence of history from what I know from books and films. This divergence is the result of World War, which in my world is known as the Second World War or the Great Patriotic War, but here, this grand conflict, which lasted for five years in my world, ended in a matter of months.
The Russian Empire swiftly brought Germany to her senses. And what happened to Gellert afterwards remains to be seen, which is a question that hangs in the air. Therefore, one should not rely on canon and must be prepared for any unexpected twists and turns, which I am fully embracing with mentalism. I will use my mental abilities to try and understand the situation as quickly as possible.
As soon as I gain access to Diagon Alley, I will start gathering information from wizards, as I am already proficient in this field. However, it is worth noting that on my journey to becoming a powerful mentalist, I have made some mistakes.. At the initial stage of this ability, I was only able to perceive the surface thoughts of individuals within a maximum range of approximately ten meters. This proficiency proved to be quite effective, as it became possible to activate and deactivate it at will.
I was grateful for this, as being surrounded by large crowds could potentially overwhelm my mind with mental shock. Even a mere ten individuals in my immediate proximity, within the range of my mental perception, presented an unbearable mental burden. My own thoughts became obscured by the influx of captured thoughts, rendering it impossible for me to maintain self-awareness. Thus, I approached the development of this capacity with utmost caution. Initially, I practiced it only in the privacy of my home or when venturing to the park. However, as my proficiency grew, it became effortless to employ this ability even in my classroom, where there were a total of twenty-three students, not counting the teacher.
I had not yet attained the fifth level of mentalism, at which point I could influence or penetrate the consciousness of others. However, as soon as I achieved this level, I inadvertently used my newfound ability, doing so without leaving my desk, figuratively speaking.
At that moment, I was in class for a lesson, and I attempted to delve into the psyche of Michael, a fellow student who irritated me. Vadik, for his part, would never admit that his emotions towards Michael were rooted in his own past self-perception. Michael, after all, was a duplicitous individual who concealed his contempt behind a facade of friendliness.
My success was short-lived, however, as Michael's screams filled the classroom, followed by his collapse into unconsciousness. A terrified teacher promptly rushed to his aid, carrying him to the infirmary. It later transpired that Michael's mind had been irreparably damaged, leaving him in a vegetative state.. But I took no notice of him. At that point, I was merely contemplating that I would now have to hone this ability on passing strangers in the park or elsewhere in the city, ensuring that I remained undetected myself.
Following a series of trials and experiments, I discovered that I could effortlessly delve into the minds of adults or even teenagers, but attempting to penetrate the mind of a child proved futile. Having been convinced that my ability did not adversely affect adults, I attempted to once again enter the mind of an eight-year-old girl, and the outcome was similar to what had happened with Michael. This was when I realised that it was only worth attempting to enter a child's mind when there was a compelling reason to do so.
My mentalism now holds the seventh rank, allowing me to easily subjugate someone else's mind and implant mental bookmarks. This achievement was only half a year ago, and once it occurred, I promptly enslaved my "parents' minds," which allowed me to finally alleviate the sexual tension that had been oppressing me.
I took my "mother" by force, penetrating her in every orifice, and now my mornings begin with her oral stimulation. However, I did not restrict myself to my mother alone, extending this procedure to the minds of my neighbour's parents and Maggie, my classmate, along with her seventeen-year-old sister, whose initiation was the catalyst.
She now visits our home every night, serving as my sexual partner. Despite her initial beauty, her youthful form proved more enticing than my mother, who had until recently neglected her appearance. Following my subjugation and instructions to engage in exercise and maintain grooming, she has become more appealing to my gaze.. The figure began to take shape, and the once smooth pubis now stood ready to welcome me as a visitor.
I was elated by my character's statistics, thrilled with my progress, and pleased with the outcome. With my current abilities, I felt confident that I could effortlessly defeat a low-level adult magician.
Name: Alex Mercer (Vadim Nagorny)
Level: Level 9
Specialization: Mage Rank: Mage
Body: Body 12 Mind: Mind 12 Spirit: Spirit 9 Magic: Magic 16 Skills: Telekinesis Rank: 10 Arrow of Darkness Rank: 7 Mentalism Rank: 7 Identification Off-Rank
My arrow of darkness penetrated the excavator's bucket. I honed this skill at the dump, where I nearly became prey to dogs, which I subsequently subdued with telekinetic force. The projectile's velocity was remarkable, perhaps slightly slower than that of a bullet.
I was one step away from unlocking a new specialization and acquiring a new ability for my Fighter class. Yet, what I anticipated with even greater anticipation was the day I would elevate my two abilities to the tenth tier, granting me the freedom to select two additional skills. My aspirations lay in mastering the Energy Shield and Sword of Hades.
Having already mastered the art of telekinesis, I could create a protective field around myself, deflecting fast-moving objects and dissipating their kinetic energy. It was now crucial to focus on enhancing my energy defenses. The Sword of Hades, on the other hand, would provide me with the means to confront disembodied threats.
But at long last, the day has arrived when I shall be ushered through the Leaky Cauldron — what a peculiar name! — and my initiation into the realm of wizardry will commence.
Heh heh heh. Now I felt like a fox, which the very hens are ready to lead to their coop. Indeed, once I arrive at Diagon Alley, I shall soon begin to seek out potential victims among the magicians, who could be eliminated.
In the realm of mundanes, I refrained from indulging my desire to quench my thirst for blood, for I feared attracting Bobby's attention. To be more precise, not his attention per se, but rather the increased frequency of my murders. Scotland Yard knows how to do its job well, so I must be extremely cautious.
However, in the enchanted world, there exists a place called Fierce Alley, where there is no law and no one can stop me. There, I can easily manipulate the mind of my victim and lead him to a secluded spot, where no one will ever look for his body. My last victim met his demise after receiving my command.. Having subdued the consciousness of a certain individual of indeterminate origin and not of the first youthfulness, I merely commanded him to perish, and he promptly collapsed to the floor, already in the state of death.
However, there was a sudden interruption in the form of a knock on the door, which diverted my attention from pleasant and amusing recollections. I took a leisurely stride, albeit my inner self was consumed with impatience, eager to swiftly find myself in a realm where Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa Black ought to be attending school, and I would undoubtedly endeavor to disrupt their lives. Heh, heh, heh.
The depraved images that had been haunting my mind, in which I engaged in intimate acts with the Black sisters, did not betray any emotion on my face when I opened the door to find a strikingly handsome and tall individual, a brunette, with a body that spoke of athleticism hidden beneath an expensively tailored suit of ivory.
A pang of envy for his physical appearance rose within me, an emotion I had not felt in a long while, and without conscious thought, I automatically employed a skill I had acquired at the eighth level, gifted to me by the system, known as Identification.
This was what I discerned upon encountering the individual standing before me.
Ormarr Drake, formerly known as Svyatozar Zmiev or Salazar Slytherin, was a Dragon God of unspecified level.
A siren of universal alarm blared in my mind, which I promptly endeavored to act upon, for Salazar's raised eyebrow betrayed his awareness of the spell that had been cast upon him. A primal terror of the entity that had laid claim to my soul seized me, but there was no time for action. My consciousness faded away.
***
"I've been hard at work."
Such was my thought when, momentarily distracted, I became aware that for more than a year, I had been trapped in a solitary time loop, alone with a fascinating feature — the system. Finally, I fully comprehended its structure and purpose, grasping the significance of each function embedded within it.
While I may not be able to replicate it precisely at this moment, as I lack the same level of mastery and comprehension over chaos, to construct the framework of this intricate structure from diverse structures rooted in crystallized chaos and sustain its existence in the realm between worlds, it is still achievable to create a system in a different isolation, placing it directly within the soul's cores!
However, this is not what I intend to do. All the advantages and the elegance of the system's primary objective would be lost: gathering souls claimed by the system's owner without attracting the notice of divine entities.
The fact of the matter is that when a sentient being passes away, their soul either proceeds to the realm of the river of souls or the domain of the deity they revered in life. However, there is no absolute certainty in these systems, and occasionally, the soul may bypass the domain of a deity and directly enter the river of souls. In such instances, the deity remains unaware, and the cycle of samsara swiftly purges the soul of all impurities, leaving it virtually bare and destined for a new incarnation.
However, if the soul, within the confines of a single universe, were to transcend to the domain of an alternate deity that it did not acknowledge during its existence and did not hold in esteem, the deity would instantaneously become aware of this, for it would perceive the theft of its rightful prey. For the most part, deities who possess domains and claim the souls of their followers for sustenance are not benevolent entities; they are, rather, shepherds who tend to their flocks.
And the sole destination where a faithful soul can reach, beyond the reach of the universe's tracking, is Chaos.
And since all the spirits of the beings that Vadik had slain were consigned to his infinite realm of souls in Chaos, his system provided him with protection from the scrutiny of the local deity, that is, myself. For three of the intellects he had extinguished professed the One, and his neighbour Agnes was nearly blissful altogether.
It has been an age since I have encountered such a luminous and pure spirit, and thus, in a surge of good humour, upon acquiring such a magnificent and ingenious specimen of divine-grade artefact, I resolved to bestow upon her a second chance at life and personally select for her a loving and, most importantly, similarly devout family. She merits it, and in turn, she shall serve as my reparation for the suffering endured during her imprisonment within the souls of that abomination known as Alex-Vadik.
After all, once entrapped, the spirits of those who adhere to a faith, having not entered the domain of their deity, begin to endure torment.. The system is delighted with this development, for the greater the anguish the soul endures, the more vital energy it emanates, and hence the system is enriched accordingly.
In general, my study of the system has been quite enlightening. To begin with, it is a remarkable collection of spells and abilities, which the system bestowed upon the user in the form of spiritual artefacts, presented to Vadik in the guise of skills. I had never encountered anything quite like it in terms of execution of weaves.
And ironically, the skills Vadik possessed at our first meeting were not his own; if he had lost access to the system, he would have been unable to replicate them. He still possessed the strength of his soul, yet he could not cast spells on his own accord. It was akin to someone learning how to wield a firearm and shoot accurately, only to find themselves without a weapon or ammunition. Thus, these skills were akin to such a situation.
Ultimately, Vadik's training was geared towards enhancing the effectiveness of utilizing the spiritual artefact at his disposal — each skill in the available repertoire, which the system granted him the choice of selecting.
But the process of collecting souls is but the tip of the iceberg. The ultimate goal of the system is to prepare the soul of an individual who has been "fortunate" enough to receive it from the body of a fool. The intention is to enable this soul to become, in the future, an avatar of the chaos god to which the system belongs. This is followed by the full embodiment of this avatar in reality, in its true form.
It does not matter which path Vadik takes initially. Whether he becomes an archmage, a champion, or an apostle, all these paths lead to the same conclusion. As soon as the master of the system achieves any of these high ranks, the world will witness the arrival of a chthonic divine being from chaos. The mere thought of such an occurrence fills my soul with rage, and Ermungand, my essence, begins to salivate, for such a god would be a feast for him!
"Damnation! Hare, soaring, prr... Slow down!"
My mind was consumed by rage, and my desire to pursue this chaotic individual was so intense that I was prepared to burst out of the laboratory where I still remained with Vadik in pursuit of the prey, whose scent was already tantalizing my nostrils!
Sacred fuck! I had just realized that I had transformed into my dragon form and was about to follow the trail leading from the system back to its creator, intent on devouring the perpetrator who had intruded upon my realm!
Uff... Peace of mind, Svyatozar... Breathe deeply... Ugh, what a conundrum I find myself in! Why should I bother breathing deeply when I have not required respiration for an extended period, nor any of the physiological needs inherent to mortals?
Nevertheless, I swore to myself that once I had dealt with the demon who had been leading me astray and eluding me for nearly a century, I would certainly pay him a visit!
Alas, there is yet Goetia, a realm I would also like to explore and engage in meaningful conversations with its inhabitants.
What a multitude of plans I have in store for the future, and how fortunate I am to be immortal. I shall certainly find the time to realize them all, provided that the Scorpio Man ceases his ominous machinations regarding the impending apocalypse!