[A/N; Most of the chapter will be an info dump, but I belive it's neccecery to understand it fully.]
[Status]
-[Name]: Morgath
-[Rank]: 1
--[Level]: 0
-[Stats]
--[Strength]: 0
--[Agility]: 0
--[Dexterity]: 0
--[Constitution]: 2
--[Perception]: 0
--[Health]: 10/10
--[Mana]: 10/10
{Crippled}
"Why are there only 0s in my stats outside of constitution!? I understand that prior to the accident I wasn't the most active person in the world, but 0s!"
[Don't worry, here is the explanation. Take strength for example, the standard for bench press is 100kg. It is multiplied by 2 to the power of your strength stat divided by 10. This means that with each new 10 stats in Strength you become 2 times stronger. This can of course be changed with how skillful you are in a given activity. So theoretically you should be able to do 100kg bench press, but due to your lack of skill I think around 60kg is more plausible. Though, you won't be able to overcome your stat limit for some time, so with the current strength, 100kg is a hard limit. Also, just letting you know, the formula itself can be changed in the future if you gain relevant treasures.]
"Wow, it's mind-breaking. If I become 2 times stronger with each 10 stat points in that category, how strong can I become with 100, let alone 1000 stat points!? Where's the limit to that?"
[And here's the beauty of that, there is no limit. Now that the mana awakened in this universe, there have been a few changes to the physical laws of reality, for example the speed of light has become infinite, so you don't need to worry that you will be fighting in total darkness since you will be moving faster than light. I should also explain quickly the standard of other stats, constitution can take a hit from someone with equal value of strength, 0 points of agility equals 10km/h running speed, dexterity can react to the speed of equal value and perception can detect objects or events moving at that speed.]
"Oh, that is...umm...cool. Since you're explaining things, I have a question, why do you mention that mana awakened in the universe where we are and not just say mana awakened in the universe?"
[That's simple, there is an infinite number of universes. In some of them mana still didn't appear and in some, it happened eons ago. Also, there're infinite grades of universes, ten universes of the same grade lead to the bigger, stronger universe through the black holes.]
"If it is like that then I won't ever lose a motivation, since there will always be someone stronger than me. Life would become boring if it wouldn't have any hardships to overcome. Especially with the long lifespan. I'm right that by becoming stronger I can live longer, yeah? Also how can I cultivate, since you didn't explain it yet?"
[Yes, you're right. With every rank up your lifespan gets multiplied by 10 until you break through the mortal ranks and become a rank 6 existence. From then you can't die from natural causes. As for cultivating, it is divided into three parts, the most common and easiest part is an orthodox way, which requires you to fight for the spiritual stones corresponding to your rank. The harder is an alchemy path, which either demands from you to have enough wealth to employ the alchemist's help or becoming an alchemist yourself. Thanks to that you would have access to strengthening pills which would make you stronger than your peers, thanks to which you would be able to collect spiritual stones more easily. The last, hardest path is to incorporate physical training in order to temper your body. You already started with this, by surviving your accident, this led you to have already stats in constitution.]
"I'm obviously going for the hardest path, but do I really need to injure myself in order to gain constitution? Is there no other way?"
[Unfortunately there isn't, but it isn't that bad as you think. It will hurt and not a little, but it will strengthen your will. Besides, you don't need to worry about weakening yourself temporarily, because I haven't explained mana to you yet. You can comprehend various spells, in this case a healing spell is recommended. Not only for tempering your constitution, but also for your current predicament. That should be the first thing you focus on.]
"That's a relief. I feared that I will have a hard, near impossible start, because of my disability. Then how should I start on it? Do you have any advice?"
[I can't give you any shortcut, it will depend on your mind. You just need to contemplate on things you can associate with healing, be it biology knowledge or just a picture of working doctors. After some time you will realize a part of true language, which allows you to communicate with and command mana in your surroundings. After that you will learn a tier 1 spell. Tier 1 spells are slow, but you don't need anything faster for healing, at least for now.]
"I understand, even though, I wish I could start right now, but first I need to have a rest in order to recover my mind to peak condition. Night."
Morgath lay in bed, his eyes fixed on the faint outlines of the ceiling tiles above him. The digital clock blinked in the dim room, its quiet ticks marking the time slipping by. But Morgath wasn't paying attention to the clock or the world around him. His thoughts were elsewhere, focused inward, consumed by the strange and impossible conversation that had taken place only hours before.
He had a status screen, a system, and the potential for power beyond anything he had ever imagined. But what consumed his thoughts now was the notion of healing. True language. The words from the system echoed in his mind, as if they had engraved themselves in his memory.
Comprehend a part of the true language, and you'll be able to control mana, Morgath. Start with healing. Focus your mind on it. Picture it, think of everything you know about it...
Healing. What did he know about healing?
Morgath's memories wandered back to school biology classes, long-forgotten lessons about cells, tissues, and organs working in harmony to repair damage. He pictured white blood cells rushing to a wound, clotting blood, new skin forming, knitting the edges together. His mind strayed further into vivid images of doctors patching up injuries, their hands moving swiftly, stitching skin, resetting bones.
Healing is life. It's restoration. It's the body remembering its original state, returning to how it should be.
He closed his eyes, trying to focus on the sensation, the energy that might surround him. His imagination ran wild, conjuring up a swirling, invisible force—mana, he supposed. A formless, faint energy hovering just out of reach, waiting to be shaped, to be commanded.
But nothing happened.
Frustration simmered beneath the surface of his thoughts. Was he doing something wrong? How could he not be able to grasp it? His impatience grew stronger, but then he reminded himself of what the system had said. Patience.
The door creaked open, pulling him out of his concentration. Doctor Mason entered the room, clipboard in hand, a concerned frown etched on his face. The doctor was a tall man, with thinning hair and a weary expression that Morgath had come to associate with all the staff in the rehab center. They were used to seeing people like him—people who came in with broken bodies and fragile hopes.
"Morning, Morgath," Doctor Mason greeted, his voice quiet but authoritative. "How are you feeling today?"
Morgath blinked, a little disoriented by the sudden intrusion. He wasn't sure how much time had passed while he was lost in his thoughts. He pushed his irritation down, not wanting to seem rude. "I'm fine," he said, his voice coming out more distracted than he intended.
Doctor Mason's frown deepened. "You've been quiet during your rehabilitation sessions, Morgath. The nurses have noticed. You aren't participating as much. Is something bothering you?"
Morgath hesitated. How could he explain what he was going through? That he was on the verge of something monumental? That there was a part of him no longer bound by the physical limitations of his damaged body?
"I've just been… thinking," Morgath muttered, his eyes drifting away from the doctor.
"Thinking doesn't heal you," Doctor Mason said, his tone a little sharper now. "Effort does. Commitment to your recovery. If you're not willing to put in the work, this facility isn't going to keep you here much longer. We've got other patients waiting for a spot, and we can't justify keeping someone who isn't showing progress."
Morgath felt a pang of anxiety at the doctor's words, but he quickly buried it. They didn't understand. How could they? He wasn't just lying in bed wasting time—he was working on something far more important than they could imagine. But telling them about the system, about mana and healing magic, would only make him sound insane. Not to mention the risks involved.
Doctor Mason sighed when Morgath didn't respond. He scribbled something down on his clipboard and turned to leave the room. "I'll give you some time to think about it. But we need to see more effort from you, Morgath. Or we'll have to discharge you."
The door clicked shut behind him, and silence filled the room once again.
Morgath clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside him. They didn't understand. They couldn't see the bigger picture. But maybe… maybe he was going about it wrong. Maybe he needed to change his approach.
His mind shifted gears. Healing wasn't just a biological process. There was something more to it, something deeper, more ancient. The system had spoken of the true language, the words that could command mana. What if healing was more than just fixing a broken body? What if it was the act of harmonizing the forces of life?
Mana is energy, after all, Morgath mused. Energy can be manipulated, shaped, transformed.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes once again. This time, he let his thoughts expand, his focus widening to encompass not just the mechanics of healing, but the essence of it. The flow of life, the rhythm of breath, the pulse of a heartbeat.
Morgath pictured his own body, his own injuries—the damaged spinal cord, the nerves that no longer transmitted signals the way they were supposed to. He imagined the mana around him flowing into that broken part of himself, mending the gaps, restoring the pathways.
Heal. Repair. Restore.
He began to feel a subtle warmth, a tingle in the air, as if something invisible was responding to his thoughts. It wasn't much, just a faint flicker, but it was there. The mana was there, waiting for him to grasp it.
But then, the door swung open again, and Morgath's concentration shattered.
This time it was the head rehabilitation therapist, Olivia. She had the same stern expression as Doctor Mason, her arms crossed as she stepped into the room.
"Morgath, this is your ninth day, since you stopped cooperating. Even when we force you, you're barely participating. You even barely eat anything." Olivia said, her voice firm. "We've been patient, but we're seeing no improvement. Soon the two week limit passes. If this continues, we'll have no choice but to recommend your discharge from the center."
"You don't understand," he protested weakly. "I am working on my recovery. It's just… different."
Olivia raised an eyebrow. "Different? We haven't seen any progress in your mobility, Morgath. If there's something else going on, you need to let us know. But from where we're standing, it looks like you're giving up."
Morgath gritted his teeth. He couldn't tell them. He couldn't risk exposing the system or the mana, not when he was so close. But how could he make them understand?
"I'm not giving up," Morgath said through clenched teeth. "I just need more time."
Olivia's gaze softened for a moment, but it was quickly replaced by a professional detachment. "We can only give you so much time. The decision isn't mine alone, Morgath. The center has rules."
She turned and left the room without another word, leaving Morgath to stew in his frustration.
The door barely closed before the voice in his head spoke again.
[You were close, Morgath. Don't lose focus.]
Morgath closed his eyes again, pushing away the anger, the anxiety. He took a deep breath and centered himself. This time, he wouldn't let anything interrupt him.
He returned to his earlier thoughts, drawing on everything he knew about healing. The flow of mana, the essence of life. He imagined the broken parts of himself being knit together, the energy of the universe flowing into him, mending what was damaged.
A word began to form in his mind. It wasn't in any language he knew, but it felt… right. The syllables vibrated with power, resonating with the energy around him. As the word crystallized in his mind, he felt the mana respond, swirling around him like a gentle breeze.
This is it, Morgath thought. The true language. " I can start now." -Morgath took a deep breath and started "Per Astra et Spi..."
But before he could savor the victory, the door opened once more, and Doctor Mason stood in the doorway with a solemn expression.
"I'm sorry, Morgath. We've made the decision. You're being discharged tomorrow morning."
The words hit Morgath like a punch to the gut. He had done it. He had finally grasped the language of mana. It didn't matter anymore that he was being sent home. If anything, he was only satisfied with it. Now he wouldn't need to explain his miraculous recovery. After all he would hide it until he gained enough strength to be able to protect himself.
[New spell added -Vitalyth {Tier 1}-9%]