---------------------------------------
[Synchronization status:10%]
[Synchronization status:20%]
[Synchronization status: 35%]
-----------------------
[Synchronization status:88%]
[Synchronization status:96%]
[Synchronization status:100%]
[ The X-Rank Talent- Attribute Extraction has been bestowed upon the host]
[Talent Effects:10% chance of triggering talent to extract 10% of attributes of selected targets]
[Upgrade System level to increase percentage and chance of Extraction]
---------------------------------
These were the words that Ray woke up to as he once again regained consciousness .
His head hurting in pain, as he tried to shield his eyes from the annoying screen that covered his vision. This momentary lapse of annoyance made him forget how close he was to death's door a few...minutes?...hours?...Days?
Ray didn't even know how long he had been out for.
But one thing was for sure.
'i have lost it!'
'Yes! Yes! I have gone crazy
'After being near death's door, I'm suddenly alive and oh what's this?..all my wounds are healed? Oh! a shiny screen In my face.
Ha! I have to be in the afterlife or something '.
Ray's mental state was going down a dark path-his thought process spiralling out of control.
With a maniacal laugh, Ray broke out in tears-
"Is this what you put me through damn lady luck! Just let me die in peace you bitch!".
Ray screamed. Punching the hard jagged walls of the alleyway. He was "dead" anyways, so this shouldn't hurt right?.
A loud echo resounded as fist my concrete with a short scream following after-
"Ouch!" Ray shouted; immediately retreating a few steps from the cave walls. His eyes regaining a sense of clarity as he took a look upon his surroundings once more.
Dark, musky, and the...faint odour of blood?
Ray looked at himself; his body stained with blood- his own blood. Thinking back to the events that happened to him ago he couldn't help but shake a bit- a chill running down his spine, his hands shivering as if trying to wash away the trauma he has gone through a few hours ago. He walked out of the alleyway, his hands reaching immediately to shield his weak and frail body from the unsuspecting cold.
The realaization that he had no clothes, no proper shoes, and worst of all! No money!
At least I have a home, Ray thought-while adjusting his torn trousers to shield him up a bit from the harsh winds. Although, the smile abruptly disappeared as soon as it came.
'Should I even go back there?' Ray thought
Contemplating his options if he would be better off not just coming back. Although, once more the harsh wind grazed upon Ray's back- the sudden touch sending chills down his spine.
It seemed with the emergence of abilities, the very nature of Earth mutated alongside it. The weather, now a bane to any weak and ordinary folk like Ray.
Ray was weighing his options. On one hand, he could be independent- free as a bird;or something close to it at least. As interesting as that sounded in his head, he knew he wouldn't last long before death came knocking. At most he would enjoy freedom for a day before succumbing to the seductive words of Lady Death.
But back to that shithole,
'sigh'
Ray couldn't help but curse.
He won't be free,but he would at least have a roof over his head and some food at least...for a week. Before the Awakends Agency or as everyone called them 'Doubled A's' came knocking at the orphanage's door.
Like a ritual , the minute words get to the Agency that a child had reached the ripe age of eighteen, he/she is required to take the Awakener's test- this would not only help the said individual know their specific affinity, but rather know which best class to choose that would augment their affinity further.
And after the test, lucky 'adults' now would be invited into the agency-where proper training and guidance would be provided to secure the future of these 'future powerhouses'.
Thus, tying the responsibility of dungeon clearing and regulating order in an Ability- filled world to them.
The non-awakends rather...have it way worse - especially the orphans- to prevent youths from turning to a life of crime, non-awakened orphans are carried of as...miners.
You can just call them slaves at this point, their only role? ;to assist the gifteds with gathering monster cores.
Perhaps that Is a worthwhile way of living, but Ray didn't think so- as exciting as it sounded, risking your life everyday just to farm cores and getting an okay pay,wasn't really in Ray's agenda.
Why?
The criteria for being selected for such a 'nobel' profession, was quite strict - a man or woman with a strong and fit build; with an average level of intelligence.
While the criteria for intelligence was quite easy to attain, a strong build wasn't something one could attain easily in an orphanage - that much could be seen from Ray's build.
A skinny young man, who just turned eighteen, standing a measly 5'8.
Ain't no way in hell, he would get carried.
And as a normal citizen as he was now,he could only hope to land a job as a porter- someone to help awakeneds and miners with their tools.
Posters now, were the most common and most looked down upon- considered useless and their only purpose as a walking human carriage.
'heh, my Destiny's already decided?
Ray let out another long sigh
He had been sighing a lot since he started the day. And events just kept happening with no end in sight. Although; the most strangest event had to be this strange screen in his vision, he had been able to minimise and shift to the right part of his retina.
[Talent Effects:10% chance of triggering talent to extract 10% of attributes of selected targets]
The notification never leaving his sight.
'10% huh?'
Ray contemplated.
It seemed he wasn't dead or mad as this line of text still stayed.
"We'll figure it out as we move I guess" Ray said out loud with a shrug speaking to no one in particular.
"Heuff"
With a loud huff, Ray continued on his path-the sound of his footsteps heavy as the trauma from his brutal torture still lingered within him. It seemed the monsters had been dealt with; the atmosphere no longer tinged with fear and worry as it was in the afternoon.
The winds though harsh on Ray's skin, brought a certain calm to his soul he just couldn't explain.
Unknowingly, he had walked all the way back to the Midnight Rhapsody- the once beautiful establishment now in ruins - although, preparations were already in place to rebuild it back to its peak.
The blabbing old man was speaking in a corner with some men wearing coats with the words 'AA' bodly written on the back of their long coats. The men, although trying to blend in, could not completely hide their presence. That much was clear as even Ray could feel their aura from where he stood.
It seemed, even though they took time to arrive, their mere presence alone being calm and serenity to the public.
'the old man must be giving them a statement or something ' Ray thought glancing to the side- seeing porters and miners alike hard at work; cleaning up the streets.
Although they looked somewhat poor, one couldn't deny the underlying power brimming underneath these humans. Their hard muscles that could be seen even when wearing their work clothes, a true testament to their skills and experience in this field.
Ray was somewhat impressed- thier coordination honed through years of practice already playing out in front of him. These miners were the embodiment of what any unawakened could reach. Even Ray was somewhat motivated watching them.
'Hey, maybe being a porter or miner ain't so bad after all'. Ray thought - unknowingly taking steps towards one of the miners. Until,
[Possible Extraction on low F-Rank Mutated Spider]
[ Would you like to perform an extraction?]
Ray shrieked back in shock- the sudden notification startling him- as well as the miner; as he finally looked up to see a scrawny kid staring at him in a daze.
"Can I help you?" The man asked- annoyance clear in his voice.
"Uhhh no...no.. nothing" Ray stuttered. His eyes fixed on the words in front of his eyes.
'Hehe, alright I'll humour you- extract'. Ray said, half expecting nothing to happen.
[ Extraction in process...]
[Extraction successful]
[+1 strength]
[+2 agility]
[+2 Defence]