The sword formed from the gray "angel's" remains was in the shape of a longsword and was to be made completely from crystalline silver. Its guard was in the shape of 2 pairs of angelic wings and its pommel had a string that held a cross-shaped charm.
The sword formed an onyx scabbard around itself and fell to the ground.
"What?"
In complete confusion, Adam's body involuntarily relaxed.
"What in the game logic just happened?"
Adam walked closer, bent down, and outstretched his right hand to pick up the sword. He pulled out the sword from its sheath and studied it.
Now having a better look, he saw that the sword was engraved along its blade with the same unknown symbols he had seen on the pillars around the altar.
'Well, it makes sense that another world would use a different language. This might not even be a common language here.' This would pose a challenge because even if he found people, he would not be able to communicate with them!
While in thought, Adam hit the flat of the sword on his palm as he had never felt, or even seen a sword in real life, and this was his chance! but in doing so Adam underestimated the sharpness of the sword and sliced his palm open.
"Gah! Damn it! Fuck!"... Adam threw down the silver blade and held his wrist.
The silver longsword shimmered with a white radiance and all the blood smeared on it slowly disappeared into the sword.
Adam's attention was drawn to the similarly glowing scar on his chest that could be seen through his shirt, or at least what was left of it.
When his eyes went back to his palm the wound was no more. It had mysteriously closed! And he had a sneaking suspicion it had something to do with the scar glowing. But he had no idea why the sword had glowed.
'Maybe it's a sword that drinks blood and I have to feed it to use it properly.'
Adam grimaced at the thought of having to constantly kill something to prevent his sword from draining him like a leach.
'Enough of that.'
He shifted his focus from the sword to himself, after all, two strange things had happened to him. Firstly he became a true mystic. 'The corresponding name of the catalyst's ninth-stage is mystic researcher'.
This granted Adam a better comprehension of mysticism, a complete understanding of basic mysticism, and the ability to perceive energies. It also gave him better control over his spirituality and ether, which he originally thought to be the same.
In actuality, spirituality came from the innermost depths of one's own soul and was the most fundamental part of being a mystic as it was what allowed one to cast spells, conduct rituals, concoct potions and elixirs, etc... while ether was the product of the world's energy taking root in one's body and is what allows mystics to effectively use the abilities granted by catalysts.
And finally, while not being combat-oriented the mystic researcher granted boosts to his durability, overall physical abilities, and senses.
'If I were to think in game terms this would be more of a utility build, so why does it also make my physical aspects stronger? does it have something to do with the later stages?'
Adam touched the scar on his chest and tried to pour spirituality into it in hopes of simulating the power that healed him but to no avail. He then tried ether, but it held the same result.
'why is it not working? Is it not a power I can use actively?'
Ignoring the scar for now, Adam turned his attention to the wings on his back. They felt natural as if they were always there. He then tried to move the wings but was struck with a piercing pain as if he had been flying for weeks non-stop and was now sore.
'I guess they're not ready to be in use having just been made.' or was it because he just fought off his mutation? either way, they needed rest.
"hey, systematic."
A robotic feminine voice rang in his ears, quickly replying.
[Yes user?]
"Do you know what exactly happened to me?"
[Yes, after hearing the gray "angel's" voice you were lased with the -REDACTED-'s corruption but mainly the corruption and -REDACTED- of a certain divine being, causing you to be mutated. It was turning you into a distorted "angel" of the divine being, but after you dealt with the corruption, leaving only the -REDACTED- of the divine being, you were transformed into an unbound angel similarly to how a catalyst would grant one power.]
Even though he wanted to know what the redacted were, Adam held himself back as he knew systematic would not tell him. Given that he shifted his focus to what he could learn and what he needed to know.
"I have some questions, may I ask?"
[you may]
"First and most important, will the thing in me that came from the divine being cause any problems?"
[No, it won't, in actuality if you learn to harness and use it, it will be of great help in the future]
"Is that so? Anyway, will my being an "angel" affect my advancement?" while thinking about what the "thing" could be used for, he thought of something concerning... 'What if the mutation prevented me from advancing?'
[No, but it might alter the name and abilities of future stages]
"ok, nothing too bad. Lastly, what is an "unbound angel"?" He was glad that this would not stunt his growth as a mystic. He also wondered what systematic meant by saying he was an "unbound angel".
[They are the angels as in the race but do not serve a god as such they don't have the title "Angel". The angel race are usually humanoid creatures with the only real major difference being the white wings and the slight amount of divinity they have.]
Adam was listening keenly but spoke in confusion... "Wait a minute... there's a difference between the race and the title?" This was his first time being so thoroughly confused since coming to this world. All his life he thought that the race and title were one and the same, but now he was being told that they were different. ' What the hell... No, what in the heaven.'
[Yes, the race's uniqueness lies in the fact that they are born with divinity and a special kind that can only be developed by them which gives them a unique aura, you have this but it has only seeded and needs to bloom to be used, I cannot say anymore as you are not authorized. The title however is gained by gaining divinity and a slight authority from a god, these angels are known by their halo and wings whose colours are representative of their god]
'So the race is born this way, while the titled are like really strong blessed... I get it now!'
Feeling like he understood the difference, Adam asked the last question.
"Are there any traits of an angel I should know?"
[An angel's strength can be known by their wings, as the stronger one gets the more pairs they have. The highest number so far is 12 pairs. Angels also gain a transformation unique to the individual at four pairs.]
After learning most of what he wanted to know, Adam took up the silver longsword, placed it into its sheath, and hurriedly left the cavern.
'I don't want to spend another second in here.'