Chapter 4: The Golden String.
After seeing Huo Yuhao's reaction, the golden string showed joy as it danced in the air. It looked strange, but kind of cute. It was like an excited puppy when its owner praised it.
Huo Yuhao can't be blamed for his surprise at all because, compared to a system that can only issue quests for rewards, this golden string is something else entirely.
The golden string is a crystallization of wishes, dreams, desires, and wisdom. Its existence is a miracle and what it does is a miracle. So much so that Huo Yuhao is a bit suspicious about its motives. But seeing the golden string excitedly wiggle around in the air, he threw that thought out the window.
'How can a cute little guy like that have ulterior motives?' Huo Yuhao thought to himself. After all, cuteness is justice. But what does the golden string do?
The golden string can influence and interfere with the world to allow the desired outcome that the user wants at the expense of energy. The energy source is not limited to a certain kind; it can be soul power, spirit power, mana, Qi, blood, Ki, etc.
The golden string is integrated into Huo Yuhao's soul; it cannot be removed, and in the case of Huo Yuhao's death, it simply ceases to exist. The desires and wishes it fulfills are also a part of Yuhao; that is to prevent power stripping from its owner.
Basically, the golden string is a wish-granting machine; you feed it enough energy, and it can lead to a desired outcome. Like granting abilities, skills, or more. So, things like world travel are indeed possible, but they require a lot of energy.
'Hmm, that is so overpowered if used correctly,' Huo Yuhao thought as he watched the dancing golden string in the air.
"Phew. Now at least I have a chance to change our (Huo Yuhao's and Huo Yun'er's) fate and break free from the shackles of that control freak god."
Huo Yuhao started thinking about his first wish. It has to be something that can assist him in living and gaining power in this new world, and it also has to help him adapt to changes in his surroundings.
And who can be better in assisting Yuhao than a sage, more specifically a great sage. Am I right!
"Ah, does it have a name?" Huo Yuhao wondered as he watched the golden string stop in mid-dance and rush towards him. It shook on one end with a golden luster as if to answer Yuhao's question.
"Hmm, then how about Goldy?" The golden string simply slapped Huo Yuhao on the face for his ridiculous naming sense, making him fall out of the bed.
"Ouch. So, you don't like that name, huh?" Huo Yuhao stated as he watched the golden string 'look' at him with a look that said 'What do you think?'
[A few minutes later.]
"Okay, stop slapping me, how about Estelle? It means star, and it is quite a cute name for you. Don't you think?" Huo Yuhao closed his eyes, prepared to receive the nth slap from the golden string. However, the slap never came.
Huo Yuhao glanced at the golden string and saw it 'thinking' about the name. 'Okay, this might be the one. I just have to convince it.'
"It can also be shortened to Ellie or Est. How about it?" Huo Yuhao wanted to escape the slap torture after all he wasn't a masochist that loves pain.
The golden string 'thought' for a while and simply 'nodded' with one end of its body. It shone with a golden luster as if agreeing with the name Huo Yuhao chose.
"Great!" Yuhao exclaimed as he watched the golden string now named Estelle dance in the air, excited for receiving a beautiful name from its owner.
"Now, moving on. Can I ask anything right now? Do you have enough energy?" Huo Yuhao asked Ellie. He was quite worried if it still needed to charge itself for energy before granting wishes.
Ellie simply 'nodded' and gave a 'look' that said, "You can count on me."
"Very well, Ellie. I need an assistant skill to help me in understanding and adapting in this world, and it also has to help me escape from this prison-like place with my mom." Huo Yuhao responded to the enthusiastic Ellie.
"Hmm, what can it be? Ah, the favorite skill of the most overpowered slime in the anime world, [Great Sage]. Can I have it? Do you have enough energy for it?" Huo Yuhao asked with a nervous tone.
Ellie just glowed with a golden luster and sank into Huo Yuhao's chest. Huo Yuhao was confused about Ellie's behavior, and just when he was about to ask what was going on, his chest started feeling warm like he had been sunbathing in the gentlest sun ever. It was so comfortable that he almost fell asleep.
A few moments went by, and a piece of information appeared in his mind, and Ellie reappeared from his chest with no change in appearance except for a new golden ring that appeared on its body.
"Hmm, I feel different, like something has been added to my being. It feels weird, not in a bad way," Huo Yuhao commented as he felt the changes in himself.
"Looks like [Great Sage] did not affect your reserves that much. If I had known that, I would have asked for [Raphael]. But that is fine. The difference between both of them is massive in terms of computation ability, but basic core functions are still the same, except for [Alteration] and [Degenerate]."
"And I don't think my poor little soul can handle [Raphael] being stuffed into it. I would most likely die." Huo Yuhao shuddered when he thought about exploding when he received his first skill. Ellie glowed and a new piece of information appeared in his mind.
Ellie will not grant wishes or desires that can endanger his life. After all, if Huo Yuhao dies, it dies as well. So, even if Huo Yuhao were to stupidly ask for an ability or a skill that can end his life, Ellie will stop him and try to find an alternative that can have the same effect with little consequences. Cute Ellie is cute.
"Okay, now the assistant skill is here. We need a skill or an ability that can help us in combat." Huo Yuhao browsed his memories trying to find some skills or abilities that could help him escape from here safely and survive in this world.
"Okay, please give me [Thread Manipulation] skill and [Illusion Manipulation] skill." After careful consideration, Huo Yuhao chose these two skills for attack and defense for the time being.
Ellie glowed with a vibrant golden luster and entered his chest. A familiar warmth enveloped him, and then Ellie appeared again with two more golden rings on its body.
"Hmm, I feel full somehow. Not the feeling from eating food, it is different. It will take some time to get used to." Huo Yuhao commented as he noticed the changes in his soul.
"Ah, Ellie, can you grant classes? Like a combat class or a support class like in RPGs?" Huo Yuhao asked the cute golden string that was floating in the air.
Ellie was silent for a while and glowed once, and a new piece of information appeared in his mind. Simply put, it can grant him a class with the current reserves, and some energy will still be available, but the process will be painful.
Granting skills is easy as it can add the skill to his soul or transfer knowledge into his mind. Granting a class to a normal person is different. It is like ascension. He, a normal person, will have an affinity for traits and attunements.
For example, a [Warrior] class will have an affinity for weapons and attachments, combat, slaughter, and more. A [Saint] class will have an affinity for holy power and attunements for healing and evil-breaking.
So, by choosing a class right now, Huo Yuhao will ascend to a class holder, but he has an advantage. Ellie can grant him multiple classes, not at the same time, otherwise, he will die, but after his soul gets used to its ascension.
"Hmm, I see," Yuhao commented while also thinking about the classes that he could choose from. He browsed his memory for an OP class that would be an all-rounder in the beginning of his journey.
"Okay Ellie, I want a [Nanomancer] class (read it again, it is not necromancer, it is nanomancer)" Huo Yuhao made his choice. He figured that this class is OP and an all-rounder. So, he would be useful in combat, production, and support. The class also has the potential for evolving.
Ellie froze for a second and stared at Huo Yuhao for a moment as if asking, 'Are you sure? It will hurt like hell you know.'
"Yes, I am sure. I need to get used to it now before my escape journey with mom. And [Nanomancer] class has production skills that can help me create stuff to protect mom when we are escaping." Huo Yuhao replied to Ellie while finding a cloth to bite into when the pain hit him. After all, a screaming child would cause a commotion. Oh wait, he is living in an isolated place, so even if he dies here no one is going to bat an eye.
"…"
That is kinda sad. No scratch that, that is miserable, not going to lie. Huo Yuhao just sighed.
"How long will it take, Ellie? I don't want mom to come home to find me rolling on the ground and looking like I am dying." Huo Yuhao could already imagine her fainting on the spot if she saw him in that state.
Ellie glowed, comforting Huo Yuhao that it won't take too long. Knowing that, Huo Yuhao made his way to the bed and sat cross-legged on the bed and held the cloth in his mouth.
'Okay Ellie, I am ready.' He talked in his mind, as he was sure Ellie 'heard' him. After all, they are connected.
Ellie glowed once, twice, thrice, and entered his chest. The warmth that he was expecting did not make an appearance this time. What announced its presence this time was agonizing pain.
No matter how mentally prepared he was, that excruciating pain was too much for him to handle. He used [Great Sage] to give himself some breathing room, but it was still painful.
His body was breaking apart and his soul was in a miserable situation. His spiritual sea kept shaking and the two beads kept trying to prevent its collapse. After all, a collapse in the spiritual sea means a person has pretty much a destroyed soul. And if Yuhao's spiritual sea collapsed, they wouldn't have anywhere else to go and would dissipate into nothingness.
Huo Yuhao resisted with all his might. He had faith in Ellie. She did not stop him, that means that he could survive this operation and ascend to a class holder and become more powerful.
'I have to hold on. For myself. For my mom. For freedom.' Huo thought as the world became increasingly dim for his eyes.
Just when he was about to lose it, the tattoo on his nape finally showed itself and powerful energy emitting coldness and holiness infused itself in Huo Yuhao's blood.
His body shook and blood started to seep out from his pores. His bone structure was changing and his hair grew longer and its color changed from blue to platinum blond.
The process lasted for several hours and the pain gradually became tolerable for Huo Yuhao and he persisted through the entire process. Until it finally came to an end and he passed out.
His body finally stopped spasming and his spiritual sea stabilized, much to the relief of the two beads. The tattoo on his nape sank into his body.
The various wounds on his body disappeared and his malnourished body was no more. His body appeared healthy with a faint blush on his skin and face a lot cuter. So cute in fact that its charm is fatal for older women (wink wink).
His spiritual sea expanded more, and his spiritual power increased. The two beads finally 'sighed' and returned to their previous position.
Overall, the class ascension seemed fruitful.
A few hours later.
"Argh…" Huo Yuhao stirred awake. He opened his eyes and raised his hand to block the light coming from the window.
He stared at his hand and thought about the painful process that he just went through.
"Man, that was something. I don't know when I will experience something like that ever again." He spoke to himself as he gazed at the ceiling and just sighed in the end.
"Ellie, are you there?" Hearing his call, Ellie came out emerging from his chest. No more additional golden rings appeared on its body. But the golden color was noticeably dimmer. It looked like Ellie used a lot of energy during the ascension.
"Phew, man, I feel like an idiot. I should have chosen the [Pain Resistance] skill before the class ascension." Huo Yuhao wished to slap himself before the process began.
"Looks like the process took a toll on you, Ellie."
Hearing this, Ellie just shook its body and 'stared' at Huo Yuhao with a look that said 'And who is responsible for that, huh?'
"Okay, fine. Just try to recuperate and charge yourself, okay?" Huo Yuhao instructed Ellie. His tone carried a bit of self-blame.
Ellie glowed a little and entered his chest again. Huo Yuhao just sighed.
He looked around and saw the bloody scene in front of him. He got out of bed, removed the sheet, and simply created a new one similar to it but a lot softer using [Thread Manipulation]. He took the bloodied sheets and threw them in a basket.
While he was doing all that, he noticed his reflection in the small mirror by the sink and he paused for a second.
"Is this the mandatory beautification that happens after each painful process in the cultivation world? Damn, look at that jade skin, hahaha." He cracked a small joke while he was admiring his transformation.
But he soon stopped.
He assessed his current outfit, his clothes soaked in blood. He sighed and went out of the cottage with the bucket filled with the bloodied sheets.
He cast a simple illusion using [Illusion Manipulation] skill and made his way towards the river.
His mom was going to finish her shift soon, so he had to be quick. He zoomed towards the river and noticed that the speed and strength of his current body were marginally different from a few hours ago.
Arriving at the river, he created a new set of clothes using [Thread Manipulation] and took off his bloodied clothes. All while maintaining the illusion. He noticed that it was much easier to manipulate the soul energy in the air while using his skills.
He broke down the bloodied clothes and the bloodied sheets with [Thread Manipulation] and simply washed all the blood from them in the river, then he used them to catch fish in the river.
He washed himself in the river and then rinsed the bucket from the blood on it. He wore his new set of clothes that looked exactly like the old pair but much softer. He manipulated the threads trapping the fish to trap them in the bucket.
"Phew, I feel refreshed. Nothing feels better than a cold shower. Well, it is not exactly a shower, but you get the idea." Huo Yuhao mused to himself as he walked back towards the cottage. His mom would be back home pretty soon.
(Chapter 4 finished.)
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An:
Phew, 2.6k words. I need to speed up the chapters. We need to pass 15k to enter the rankings.
I asked you guys if you want Huo Yuhao to have twin martial souls, but I received no reply till now. I will wait for this and the next chapter before writing the spirit awakening ceremony.
Do you want Huo Yuhao to have twin martial souls?
Yes
No
Do you want [Great Sage] to talk in the fanfic?
Yes
No
As far as I know, Rimuru's Great Sage was unique from the beginning. It almost had consciousness from the beginning. I haven't seen any other unique skill that does that talks to its user, so I credited it to Rimuru's special existence.
And for the class, it might be out of the blue, but I have an idea for it.
Don't comment [Shadow Monarch] class. It was overdone in the web novel community and no one can bring its true potential, me included.
Maybe he will have [Shadow Manipulation] skill in the future, just not now. He is very strong currently.
I think most of you already know what type of blood has been injected into his body by the Herrscher of Finality stigma, right?
Anyways, as always, share comments, memes, and waifu pics in the comment section.
See you in the next upload.
Bye.