Appearing in front of Afron's eyes were countless Beasts from tales of fantasy and artistic beauty.
But…mostly little green things paired with giant towering gray things.
As in the wilderness far away from where man may ever search.
There, put the most dangerous of creatures.
As if something wanted to give the original residence of the world a chance.
One that costs something far more than any mortal may realize.
But…there was a simple problem.
As one such resident of the world was quite…far compared to the rest.
Most of the world resided in one vast place, it was certainly a surprise that the monumental size of the Earth had been explored by the one youth as far as it had been.
The child of Earth was so far out of reach, that nothing could be done to give it the pleasure of safety the others got so freely.
Yet perhaps it is only perspective that creates such imagery.
As in the pearly right callused hand of Afron, he tensed around his sword's guard. And his tongue found its way across his lips.
His eyes shined with so much joy.
The sun reflected them in light comparable only to what Afron's soul felt in that moment.
And the Earth beneath him seemed to flourish with an idea, a story that radiated from the man that sat right above it.
'Yes! Now this will be thrilling', Thought Afron.
As if unshaken by the sudden appearance of goblins and giants.
His previous need to eat seemed to be long forgotten, as he stared at the Beasts that surrounded him just a few feet away from his rocky place of rest.
But before he could move, his body, and everything around him seemed to pause.
A certain whirring sound made its way into Afron's mind.
Not felt in his ears but at the base of his skull.
As gray seeped into his vision for a long moment.
And from it was a spark.
A spark that turned into a thin lightly hued box. No, a screen would be more accurate to describe it.
A pale screen made of various letters, numbers, and symbols that all filters through itself as Afron watched in fascination.
Yet it was but a moment later that the world seemed to start anew again, and with it came the little screen in front of Afron which read a simple two striking gold words.
Welcome. Goodluck.
With those words read in Afron's mind, as if the screen knew of his new knowledge of it.
The screen switched out once more.
To a list.
Origin:
Desc: Origin, a defining start to any first generation assimilated being with relative consciousness. The world offers fair chances to all, so why not change any defects from birth? Start anew with any variation you desire.
Human
Elf
Beastman
Half-Elf
Draconian
Merma…
A never ending list of names came in front of Afron. In his mind, as quick as it is, read the brief and almost condescending description provided by the screen in front of him.
His thoughts followed with, 'But why?'
Yet no response came.
Afron looked briefly passed his screen to the plains around him, as he came to realize that while it may seem that the world started once more.The creatures around Afron remained all but still.
Seemingly frozen in time.
Confirming such truth after a long ten second stare, Afron shrugged his shoulders and turned back to the screen.
He didn't want to kill anything not worth fighting, and those Beasts seemed to not have the ability to move at the moment.
And so he curiously looks back at the screen in front of him.
Pressing his finger to its light surface, and becoming mildly surprised when it actually hits it.
If Afron were to describe it, he would think it felt almost marble in its chill and smooth texture.
He became even more intrigued as he swiped his finger up, and with it the list revealed itself further. Whilst pushing the top description text away from his eyes.
Afron was thoroughly mesmerized. As he gilded his fingers frantically across the screen, and let out a small chuckle that reverberated beautifully across the wilderness.
In child-like joy of finding a new toy, Afron played with many of the screen's features.
Although he realized all he could do at the moment was scroll up and down, Afton now felt determined for some reason to find the bottom of this list.
So his finger frantically moved again and again as he slipped it through each bold line of text, not even giving thought to reading its contents.
But it was within this frequent usage of his index finder that he accidently pressed too hard on one of the bold texts.
And of course, not able to stop his already frequently in play motion, he pressed it twice.
So imagine how slightly started he was when the screen flipped once more.
This time, to another page.
Class:
Desc: Class, a defining origin to anything in existence. Options in future class advancements may very well depend on origin, experience, and feats. But the 'SYSTEM' provides everything a classification in the need to provide a path of advancement. A 'class' may be considered a starting point for anyone in quest to carve out a place for themselves.
Origin available classes:
Pacifist
Minimalist
Basic Unavailable Classes:
Swordsmen
Archer
Mage
Priest
--------
Note: current origin prevents usage of basic classes.
'Oh.'
Thought Afron, his pale eyes blinking in mild confusion as he scrunches up his red hair with one of his fists.
'This is…interesting.' Afron continued, as he took one of his pearly fingers up to press each one of the unavailable classes.
Of course, nothing reacted when he did so, and in that sense Afron decided for himself quite quickly.
'Well, I'm not one to abstain from a good match…especially not with all these Beasts in front of me so Pacifist is out the window.' Afton thought with a small chill of excitement, only really half focusing on the screen as his mind wandered back to the idea of fighting the countless unknown enemies this new encounter might offer.
The screen flickered out of view once more as he double tapped the minimalist class, as a new blank one started to become alive with text.
Taking Afron back to focus on the little pale screen.
--------
Name: Afron Halmen Val Asrenthua
Age: 17 Cycles 25 Days 8 H…
Race: (Human) Spirit Elf (...)
Class: Minimalist (...)
_Skills_
Body Insight (...)
->(...)
'Known for their virtue and extravagant beauty, one of the most culturally and physically peaceful races ever created. Built on the idea of beauty before violence, the Spirit Elves will listen to anyone and anything. Usually classified by their foggy eyes and aloof air that covers their bodies. Matched with pale skin, heightened ears, and lasting lifespans.'
(...)
'A beginning path, defining the ideals of a Minimalist, do not fear for only a skill or two will come with the hard decision of basing oneself on the ideals of a Minimalist.'
(...)
'Body insight', a passive skill that comes with the 'Minimalist' class and 'Spirit Elf' origin. A look into the body, know when your body needs rest, needs food, needs water, needs grooming, needs and needs, and needs. Become surprised by just how much your body needs stuff. All. The. Time.
Afron stood in a blank posture, arms crossed and his head full of unsolved queries.
'Well…' Begun Afron, 'it's not much but when do the gods give anything but.'
Afron had no further time to reason with his own thoughts any longer.
Because as if his mind reverted to an even more hyper state than it was already in the past seventeen years of his life.
Thoughts started cascading in his head.
'I'm thirsty'
'Food.'
'My toe itches.'
The sun's so bright…'
'Let's go back to bed.'
'Where's some water.'
'It's chilly.'
'Now my arm itches.'
'Ew is this clothing made of barn straw? Why's it so itchy?'
'The swords unbalanced'
'The handles not even on both sides'
'Is that dirt under my nails?'
'My nose itches'
'We should go exploring'
'Let's go kill a toad.'
'Feet tingles, need to move'
'Is my arm cramping? It feels like it might be cramping'
'Everything's loud'
'By the gods those Beasts smell bad.'
'Wait how can I smell them from here?'
'System?...Oh right.'
'My ears hurt.'
'Hurt.'
'T…'
A large headache soon ensued in Afron's mind as he felt himself observe things faster than he could process it and think.
Then came pain, pain that felt very familiar to Afron.
It felt like growth pains.
Just over his entire body.
Another screen appeared next to the already filled out one, this time Afron was in no shape to focus on its contents. Yet it seemed the screen forced him to know its contents even without being able to focus on it.
--------
ASSIMILATION PROCESS OCCURING
1%...5%...10%...15%...
__
Some racial benefits are already found in existence.
.
Locating benefit
.
MAIN BENEFIT of Spirit Elf Race already found: Beauty
.
Note: more benefits already found.
.
2ND MAIN BENEFIT of Spirit Elf Race already found: Lasting Lifespan
.
3RD MAIN BENEFIT of Spirit Elf Race already found: Spiritual Connection
.
TRAITS of Spirit Elf Race already found: unblemished features
.
2ND Trait of Spirit Elf Race already found:
"Foggy" descriptive eyes.
.
3RD Trait of Spirit Elf Race already found:
Unnatural height
.
4TH Trait of Spirit Elf Race already found:
Descriptive-'Accepting'-Mind
.
5TH Trait of Spirit Elf Race already found:
Descriptive-'Aloof'-Air
-----
TRAIT SOLUTIONS - Enhance Traits
-----
-----
BENEFIT ALTERNATIVES FOUND -
Beauty -> Skill: Unparalleled Beauty
Lasting Lifespan -> Vitality Enhancement
Spiritual Connection -> Spiritual Sense
___
ASSIMILATION PROCESS RESUMED
15%...20%...50%...
___
CLASS 'Minimalist' interferes with BENEFIT ALTERNATIVE
.
'Skill: Unparalleled Beauty'
.
Alternative found…
.
Skill: Unparalleled Beauty ->
Exclusive Trait: Transcendently Gorgeous
_____
ASSIMILATION PROCESS CONTINUED
50%...60%...70%...80%...
_____
INTERFERENCE.
.
BLOOD TRAIT FOUND.
.
Val Asrenthua BLOODLINE Trait: Genius Swordsmen
.
.
TRAIT DENIED BY CLASS: Minimalist
.
.
Alternative Found…
.
New Bloodline Trait: Talented Versatile
_____
ASSIMILATION PROCESS CONTINUED
80%...90%...100%.
_____
CONGRATULATIONS
--------
Something sounded inside Afron's head, as the screen that forced its way into his head disappeared and a new one overtook it.
Although the pains never left, and if Afron were to be honest, his headache was only getting worse.
But that never stopped the next screen from doing the same as the last, and presented itself in Afron's mind.
--------
Name: Afron Halmen Val Asrenthua
Age: 17 Cycles 25 Days 8 H…
Race: Spirit Elf
Bloodline Trait(s):
Talented Versatile (...)
Class: Minimalist
Exclusive Trait(s):
Transcendently Gorgeous (...)
_Skills_
Body Insight
--------
->(...)
'A bloodline Trait created as an alternative to the Val Asrenthua bloodline 'Genius Swordsmen' - replaced by class "Minimalist" to 'Talented Versatile'. A Trait that allows its bloodline user to pick up new basic skills with relative ease, although it will not be of help to gain mastery of such skills.
(...)
An Exclusive Trait built off of the replacement of Origin BENEFIT: Beauty- to skill: Unparalleled Beauty - Replaced due to Class Interference from Class 'Minimalist' to Exclusive Trait: Transcendently Gorgeous. An exclusive Trait only granted to a specific individual after a variable sequence of events. The Trait, "Transcendently Gorgeous" gives the user a body and mind more beautiful than mortal grounds. You have transcended the normal bounds of beauty.'
_____
NOTE: Exclusive and Bloodline Traits will be hidden from 'profile screen' and may be accessed by thinking of the traits themselves with the intention of viewing them. This has occured due to the class 'Minimalist'.
_____
--------
Name: Afron Halmen Val Asrenthua
Age: 17 Cycles 25 Days 8 H…
Race: Spirit Elf
Class: Minimalist
_Skills_
Body Insight
--------
That seemed to be the final straw for Afron's body, as it finally collapsed on itself and fell onto the stone beneath his feet.
Where Afron promptly passed out a few feet from his previous resting place.
Something he should have been doing a long time ago, were he any normal person.
When Afron awoke, his eyes were bleary and covered in blinding light.
His muscles felt as if they had stretched themselves thin, and his mind pounded in a consistent beat.
'What is…going on?' Groggily thought Afron, his mind pausing his inner voice as the pounding became worse in the brief talk with himself.
As Afron's memories came flush back to him, he pushed himself up from his laying body on the rocky ground.
Well, at least he tried.
Twisting his wrists, Afron found himself to be bound by something.
Now that woke Afron up real quick.
Be damned his headache, as soon as his eyes focused and the sight in front of him became clear. He started feeling an uncharacteristic amount of anger.
As his body was missing a good portion of his clothes, and his arms and legs were bound together.
Lucky he still kept decency, but his mind seemed to only need his imagination to think of what might have taken his shirt and top garments from his body.
Afron's eyes pushed away from his body as he heard the small patter of feet approaching.
Sitting his body up with his elbows, he got a good look at the area around him.
He seemed to only be a few feet from where he passed out, in what seemed moments ago.
Yet the sun was in the middle of the sky, and the ugly green and large gray Beasts looked to be moving around, wood in hand.
As they place whole trees together to create walls of natural wood and uncoordinated stones.
But most notable to Afron, was the sight of his clothes being worn by one of the little gremlin creatures, much too big for it. And his sword and belongings being played with by another next to it.
Which would usually be his focus, if it weren't for the little goblin walking towards him with a look in his eyes that made Afron want to punt the little thing.
Yet Afron did the smart thing.
He waited.
He waited for it to be close.
Yeah…no way was he going to run, he doesn't care if he has no clue of what's going on.
He was basically just stripped and violated by some stupid Beasts that seemed like small cubs in strength.
So, as the ugly green thing got close, Afron gave no second thought to headbutting it straight in the skull.
And by the gods did Afron feel good.
But Afron didn't waste the opportunity, no matter how much satisfaction he got from a clean headbutt to something who disrespected him in such a vulgar way.
Bringing his face down, he tucked his chest into himself and dragged the dazed body of the Beast with his teeth onto the space in front of him.
Finding the strength in his heels, Afton curled his toes and wobbled himself up into a standing position.
Once Afron found himself a few inches away from the thing's face, Afron proceeded to do a small hop onto the thing's neck.
Creating a satisfying squishy noise, followed by the feeling of something warm running between his toes as a green substance seemed to leave the thing's body.
Afron grimaced in disgust, as his mind decided now was a good time to catch up to his waking self again. And now it once again seemed that every little thing mattered to Afron once again.
Conflicts in his mind appeared very quickly, expanding the dreadful headache he already possessed.
All satisfaction he once had left his body, as he started to feel that the substance staining his body was a sin against his very being.
Afron felt a disturbing amount of disgust and boiling hate to the green liquid that harmlessly rolled down the sides of his feet.
His once perfect feet.
Ruined.
Afrons wrists twisted as he pulled at the ties between his hands and feet.
Be it his motivation of rage, or the growing need to get whatever that thing bleeds onto his skin off of himself. He found it rather easy to rip himself free from his bindings.
What Afron now sees are natural vines that were twisted into three sets.
"Previously", because now they lay in six broken strips on the floor.
Pushing himself forward, Afron took a look at his surroundings.
He first noticed the lack of any notice towards him or the body beneath his feet.
Speaking of, Afron stepped away from the little green guy, pushing his eyes away from it and to the rest of his stuff that currently belonged to something that wasn't him.
He started his journey over to the two little thieves, and it looked as if nothing noticed his march over across the plains and half building structures. Nor the piercing gaze he gave to anything that so much turned his way.
It didn't take long for him to reach the two Beasts. Things that now seemed so small, as their bodies barely made it past his knees.
Not even bothering for the two to take notice of him, Afron first went after his sword.
He yanked the sword out of the little things grasp, not needing to give more than a light tug for it to find its way into his grasp.
The two goblins made a '"Qweu?" Noise, as if to ask what had stolen the sword.
Only to freeze at the sight of, in their eyes, the most beautiful Elf they captured just four hours prior.
A face that would enrapture them, if not for the glare of the owner of that body.
Afron's eyes held contempt and a gaze of clouded light blue. Almost electric in feeling.
But as the goblins stared at the elves' features, Afron wasted no time.
He grasped the one with his clothes on by the neck and swiftly relinquished it of his clothes.
Once he was sure that his clothes were safe, he uncaringly snapped its small neck, and pushed the other one down with his pearly leg.
The last thing the other goblin saw was the disgusted look of Afron, and a sidekick to the temple.
Once Afron reclaimed his lost belongings, he couldn't help the idea that the Beast had worn the same things he was about to put back onto his body.
…And that very thought made Afron hesitate.
As his body shuddered at the idea of putting something like that on himself.