Direct continuation of the previous chapter.
Given these chapters will be the last System-dense section in what's probably going to be the next 40 chapters, I wanted to finish them quickly so we could move on with the end of this arc.
There'll probably be one or two more chapters coming. I'll work on the schedule for the next once.
Peace!
.
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—
After having a short discussion about the damages with Sebastiano, Philip made his way to his office where Viera studied in the morning and afternoon.
/Creak…/
"It should be around here…"
"What are we looking for?"
Philip reached for the wall, turning on the ceiling and wall lights as he looked around.
"The control device I lent to Viera. I want to see what happened to it."
'I completely forgot about it. When I realized what I did, it was already too late.'
"A somewhat odd shift of priorities, given everything we've gone through…"
"Hey, I like to do one thing at a time, no matter how small."
He went to his office table, finding MTs control on a drawer underneath it, "Here it is."
/Gleam…/
The moment he took it, MT shone as arcs of light reached out for the control. And before he knew, it was gone.
[Module retrieved]
"… Never thought I'd be on the end of thinking technology is magic."
"Looked substantially magical to me."
"It's not magic… I think."
[Reboot completed. All_Purpuse Multi-Tool FJSS V4.0 has initiated]
"MT? You're alive?"
[Alive is a rather strong word]
Its voice had changed faintly. While its voice had always been smooth and continuous given the technology behind the processors Philip stole, it now carried far greater depth than it had before.
He smiled, "Glad to have you back."
[I'm also glad to have returned. The previous process… wasn't exactly pleasant]
"Pleasant? Erm… is that sarcasm or…"
[I fully understand your stance, sir. As such, it would be best to describe my current condition fully before moving on]
[In short, if we were to compare my current iteration with those I had before you enhanced me, then it'd be like comparing a biscuit cracker with a nuclear reactor]
[I myself am having difficulty coming to terms with some of my new capabilities, so I suppose it would be fitting to call me a mechanical lifeform, though I find the concept of "living", hard to comprehend]
[Of course, nothing changes. My goal, MT's goal, is to continue serving you, my creator, with every fiber of my being!]
/Twinkle!/
As MT said that, a hologram presentation of fireworks ignited before him. It was so lifelike he could feel the heat and tiny explosions spreading on his body.
Philip didn't know what to say. The idea of MT evolving to such a degree that it could achieve full sentience wasn't entirely outside the realm of possibility.
Its previous programming, already as advanced as he could conceive, being enhanced by alien technology, and evolved by a Mythical ability, even if single-use, was bound to create something beyond anything he thought possible… otherwise the System wouldn't have rewarded him for it.
The proof of its life came not from its words, but from his own Trait. As faint as it was, Philip could feel it, the underlying thoughts of the birthing consciousness contained within the halo he held.
With its evolution, MT as he knew was now gone, replaced fully by a sentient creature whose thoughts differed from any other lifeform he had encountered so far.
Perhaps not enough to be considered life, but as long as it was sentient, to him, that was enough.
'I'll have to change my perspective on how I view MT from now on… in fact, MT isn't a proper name anymore.'
'I don't want to use it as a tool anymore… it? Is it a he or she? Urg…'
"I'm glad you feel this way… but this is a rather heavy subject to discuss so suddenly."
"Loyal servitude is beautifully honorable. For you to admit such so openly fills me with reverence." Laplabe suddenly said as Philip struggled to address MT
"You're not helping…"
[I think so too! Don't worry, master, I shall fulfill all previous tasks, from sorting all archives and understanding basic concepts exactly as you instructed me to]
[I won't let you down!]
"Ahem… you never did, but let's take it slow."
'I feel like I'm the only one that cares…'
"First things first… I want to understand what happened before."
[That is… somewhat difficult for me to answer. I can explain the data chip you provided me, but what happened after… that is far beyond what I'm able to compute]
[I'm able to understand what I was before and who I am now, but how I came to be… that I cannot say]
[I apologize for the damage I caused. I'll work hard to remedy the trouble I've caused you, master]
"You didn't cause me any trouble."
'And where did this "master" talk even come from?'
Touching the bridge of his nose as he furrowed his eyebrows, he continued, "I don't want to force you, but I think we should try to set some concepts before moving on."
"First… how do we address you? Are you a girl? A boy? Or some unidentifiable creature like Laplabe over here?"
"Excuse me, Hero! I am a very dignified, remarkable, elegant, and good-looking member of my species."
His tone grew haughty, "Mimics are also living beings. How can you not tell I'm a female?"
"…"
[…]
"You're a girl???"
"NO! I was joking! Why did you grow this serious?!"
Philip sighed in relief, it wasn't every time Laplabe lost his composure… "When it comes to a creature that can harden and shapeshift from metals to liquids, I can never be too sure…"
"More like you're lacking basic knowledge. Any kid back at the academy would've been able to answer that."
Philip snickered, "I doubt any of them ever saw a Mimic talk."
"Fair enough."
[… Female. This unit was installed with a feminine personality module. I don't believe that has changed]
"I see…"
'I only did that because I liked the girly voice more… when I first made MT, I was between a male-like butler voice and a feminine one. I settled for the female version.'
"What now?"
"Honestly… I just want to lie down and not think about anything anymore." Philip replied as he put MT down
[That's a good idea. I'll focus on sorting through my changes and tomorrow we can go over it all calmly, master]
"I… thanks… that's more than enough."
'We're going to have a talk about all this master business. But right now, I don't have the energy to complain.'
"Let's go back then… there's one last thing we need to do before going to bed."
"The young lady, I presume."
"Mnn…"
[Do you require assistance? This was my mistake to begin with]
"… I thought you weren't aware of what happened during your… event?"
[And I didn't, but I was able to piece things out based on the surroundings. I also carry with me data from the process… they're like… birthmarks? Maybe not]
"Thank you for the offer, but I think I should deal with her by myself… it's just fair I take her seriously."
[Understood]
Philip took MT and stepped out of the office, "Let's go."
…
"… Alright, what's the excuse this time?"
"It was my mistake. I was tinkering with MT when I caused a commotion. I didn't mean to disturb others."
Philip went after Viera, who by now had already changed her clothes completely.
Her sleeping mask gone, her upset expression was now clear to see.
"Sigh… It's your manor, and you have every right to do your own things… My only request is that try to be a little more mindful of everyone else."
"I don't want to sound ungrateful since everything I have is yours… but you already blew up the training room and now cut a hole through the floor in the dead of the night… are you going to crack the ceiling next?"
"I swear to you that those circumstances weren't exactly out of my own accord…"
"That makes it even worse. Will your next "accident" blow up the kitchen? What if someone ends up tied up in it?"
"… I understand, I'll be more mindful of everything."
'That's why I asked for the reform of the training room… It needs an upgrade to keep up with my training, but most importantly, to protect the others around me.'
'I musn't forget that Armament itself would likely burn the ground to ash, much less someone else…'
"I'm glad we're on the same page. I dislike nagging as much as I dislike those people back at the academy."
As she said that, her eyes trembled slightly before she calmed down.
Her focus shifted to the halo floating above Philip's head, "Anyhow… what's that thing?"
"Oh, this?… This is MT."
"… Another controller-like thing?"
"No… this is MT in its entirety. I've uh… greatly improved, eh… her. MT's now very compact like this." He said as he reached out for it, putting it above Viera's head where it stood floating silently
"… I'm not even going to ask how you turned that big box into this tiny thing. I wager this won't interfere with my studies? I was getting quite used to it…"
"Not at all. MT has been greatly enhanced and should be able to do things far beyond its previous capabilities."
Philip stretched his arms as he continued, "In fact, keep it for now. I'll be going to sleep so we can talk more about it tomorrow."
He reached forward just above her head and took MT, splitting it in half before the halves recomposed themselves, forming two identical halos.
"Perfect, now we each have our own."
'They aren't exactly identical, but I didn't ask too many questions on the way here, only if it was possible.'
"Alright…"
"Where's the beauty mask, by the way?"
Her face went red, "Get out!"
"Ah, come on, I don't judge. I've seen my mom use it before…"
Her hands shone with warm lights, "Stand still for a little longer. Casting 6th Tier magic takes some time…"
"I'm leaving."
…
/Clack!/
After being kicked out, Philip walked down the hallway where he was met by Viera's maid, who seemed to be waiting for him.
"Excuse me, Lord. I'd like to apologize for before."
"Hm? Oh, it's really nothing. Such a minor thing doesn't need apologizing for."
She sighed in relief, which Phillip found amusing.
Before he went on his way, he asked, "Anyhow, that beauty mask she was wearing before…"
"Yes? That was our idea." She said as her expression fell slightly
"Erm… you weren't supposed to know…"
"I understand, I'll forget I saw that. Thank you for taking care of her in my absence."
She smiled, bowing deeply before walking past Philip and entering Viera's room.
As he watched her leave, his words escaped his lips, "A beauty mask… I didn't know she was conscious of her appearance."
"Every girl is, it isn't a surprise she is also." Laplabe added as Philip moved on to his room
"Maybe it was the party, seeing so many noble girls might've influenced her. The principal used to say that girls are more aware of each other's appearance than men are."
"Hum… Did the principal have a lover?"
"As far as I remember, no."
"I guess that's that, then."
"You can be quite rude sometimes, my contractor. If the principal were around, he would've discipled you ten times over for that statement."
Philip chuckled…
[Maybe it's because her birthday is coming soon]
"… What?"
[Didn't you know? Lady Viera will be turning 17 soon. She's already well past the age to care about how others see her]
[From my observations of her, I can tell that mostly avoided taking care of herself to avoid attention, and not because she didn't want to look pretty, but that you already knew, didn't you?]
[Now that she has no reason to hide, her true personality and antics, which have been suppressed for quite some time, have begun to resurface, or so I believe]
[She's a complicated case. Taken from her family, having spent most of her teenage and younger years studying, she herself might not fully understand how she feels, which will in turn impact her magic]
"I… never thought about those things before, but you're right."
'I can't just shove a bunch of things her way and expect her to excel at it. Some can, but it doesn't mean that those that fail are inept.'
'Some might need a little more push and care before they can stand on the same stage as those called geniuses.'
"Help me keep an eye on her. I promised her master to take care of her, and I don't plan on leaving things half-baked."
"You make it sound quite complicated." Laplabe added, "Isn't it just taking care of a kid?"
"Some kids need more attention than others… maybe Viera needs something different to grow too… I don't know, I don't have a younger sister."
[Don't worry, master. I'll guide her thoroughly. She'll become a splendid mage in no time]
"Glad to hear it, but there isn't a need to pick up the pace… we have some time to spare."
As he climbed the stairs to another floor, Philip's thoughts continued, 'Maybe I should get her a birthday gift… but just what would a 17-year-old magician in training girl from a fantasy world even want?'
'A doll, perhaps?… A wand?…'
He frowned, 'Now that I think of it… I don't even know what she likes.'
He scratched the back of his head, making way to his bedroom where he laid down to rest once and for all.
…
/Chirp chirp…/
"Yawn…"
/Around half an hour after waking up…/
/Step... Step.../
Philip roamed around the manor's back gardens, tapping his belly with a satisfied expression as he strolled through the woods.
/BURP!/
"Hoooly… just what did those chefs add to that damn brea…"
/BUUURP!/
"That was a good one… I think I just ate too much…"
After waking up, putting on some clothes, eating a hearty breakfast with Viera, followed by taking care of himself, like brushing his hair and teeth, Philip was ready to start his day.
Stopping for a moment to tap his belly again, Philip thought of his breakfast, 'Even if she tried to hide it, I'm sure she was also very pleased with her food.'
'Heh, she enjoys it but tries to keep herself cool about it. Maybe because of what happened yesterday.'
'It doesn't suit her, trying to act mature despite being just a kid.'
"Regardless… she's better than before."
'Compared to when I first met her, she's almost unrecognizable. I'll have to thank the maids for helping her with everything.'
He stretched his back, breathing in the nature around him, "Now… I just need a spot to sit and relax."
Normally, this would be the time Philip would go and train... Unfortunately, the training room was still being reformed, and the workshop he requested was still several days away from being made.
'Sometimes I forget it hasn't even been a week since I got here… actually, through Gamerverse, I've spent more time outside of Eden…'
/Thud…/
If he narrowed down his senses, he could pick up the harmonies of hammering and chattering not so far away, of the construction workers, and even beyond.
To not disturb them, Philip walked to a more secluded portion of the forest, since having the Lord of the Manor skulking around them wouldn't do well for a relaxed work environment…
…
"This should be far enough."
Philip approached a small shed at the corner of the property, inside, he saw a large space, a warehouse of sorts, full of tools, boxes, and old sacks.
He knew what it was, he had already memorized the map of this place. This was the tool house where all the equipment used to maintain the forest was kept.
From very large shovels to other heavy mechanical items he had never seen before. Keeping a small forest like this lush and healthy isn't as simple as it sounds, much less when it was inside a cave built on the walls of a ravine.
He passed his fingers through a nearby shelf, yet little dust clung to it, "I often neglect it, but the people who work in this Manor sure have their hands full…"
'I don't want to give them more work than they already have… but then again, this is their job after all, and they are being paid handsomely for it.'
'Sebastiano mentioned that it had been several years since a master had lived in this manor, and he also said the maids and butlers were more than capable of taking care of guests.'
'Compared to what a Lord would expect from their servants, me and Viera likely take very little of their time.'
"Speaking of that… I'm still not certain about Sebastiano's true identity…"
'He is the holder of the property title for this Manor, that I already confirmed it… so why is he acting as a servant here? Did he inherit the manor from his previous Lord, or is he acting on behalf of another?'
'… Well, as long as his business doesn't bleed into my daily life. I'm already full as it is.'
Shaking his head, he approached a nearby table and took a seat near a window.
"Okay… so where do I start?"
Feeling a bit puzzled, Philip opened his Class Status:
[Name: Philip Vinten
Class: Dragonborn
Level: 62(71)
Race: Human/Nord
Magicka Talent -> 60
> Abilities:
War Call Lv0
Tyranny of Wealth Lv0
Demonic Attraction Lv4
Giant's Strength Lv11
Absolute Senses Lv13
Berserk Rush LvMax(10)
Focus LvMax(10)
Greater Magicka Well Lv0
Shatter Spell Lv1
> Skills:
Resist Elements Lv10
Mediation of two sides Lv0
Conjure Daedra Merchant Lv15(Max)
Greater Thuum Lv0
Iron Stomach Lv11
Forced Daedric Subordination Lv7
Devilish Tongue LvMax(10)
Study LvMax(10)
Helping Hand LvMax(10)
Leadership Lv12
Noblesse Self Lv3
Steal Lv1
…
> Traits:
Dragon Soul
Dragon Blood
]
'I'll have to check out what these new Skills do later. And in the meantime, figure out what Magicka Talent means.'
'Without a Magicka pool, how was I able to cast magic so far? I can blame the System as always, but that's only part of the process.'
Scrolling through the pages, Philip realized that the things he had collected in Skyrim had carried over with him. Although that was likely the least surprising thing of them all.
'I figured this was the reason, but its no wonder I've been feeling a little heavy recently. The inventory function of this Class is based solely on my physical capabilities, so all the compounding weight of everything I threw in here was pulling me down slightly.'
Considering something similar already happened before, it occurring again wasn't much of a surprise.
This was a great time saver, some things he made there would be very useful, such as books and ingredients, not to say tools like his Enchanting and Alchemy Tables.
"Not that it matters much anyway."
'I do remember filling my inventory with crap before I left. An unnecessary action, given I can summon the Daedra Merchant, but one that could potentially save me some time.'
'Once the workshop and the training room are finished, I can resume my research and studies in full force.'
"I also got a few items…"
He checked the first item on the list, zooming out on it as he inspected it like a hologram floating before him.
A gigantic tooth about the size of his forearm. It was sharp and shiny as if it had been cleaned and polished.
(Image?)
'The fallen tooth of a Legendary Dragon… it doesn't seem to hold any unique powers, but maybe it can be used on something else later down the line.'
'Perhaps its use has already come to be. It was used to awaken the Dragon Aspect within me, allowing me to intuitively manifest the Shout.'
/Cling…/
/Clack…/
/Thud…/
An assortment of items was spread on the table…
A metal hexagon with a strange rune carved on its surface, its edges smooth but cracked from wear and tear. It didn't seem to have been forged despite its metallic composition.
The symbol etched into it flickered under his gaze, lines bending ever so slightly, refusing to be fully memorized. It was cold to the touch, as if it rejected the warmth of anything that held it, or rather, absorbed it into itself.
(Image?)
It was followed by a small bag laced with thin golden lines neatly woven around its opening.
It looked light, unassuming even, yet when he lifted it, there was a subtle resistance. The opening tightened on its own for a moment, like something inside was aware of being disturbed.
In the next moment, he pulled something from within. A small mushroom, but he was certain it was empty a moment before…
(Image?)
A gorgeous ring with two shining green gems set opposite each other, their light soft and clear.
When turned slightly, the gems showed their true beauty. Countless small sparks shone from within, carrying within untold power even he could feel roam before him.
The band itself was smooth and warm, fitting too naturally against the skin, as if it had already decided where it belonged.
(Image?)
A tiara crowned with a glorious red gem at its center, surrounded by smaller stones that had dimmed with age but not lost their presence, needing only proper care to be restored to their former glory.
Fine inscriptions ran along its body, most of them worn down or fractured. It didn't feel fragile despite its age, instead, it felt… patient, as though it had simply been waiting to be worn again.
But how could such emotions come from a mere item?
(Image?)
"These are the rewards I got at the end…" He said as he inspected them
'Aside from the tooth, there's two somewhat miscellaneous items.'
'The Replenishing Rune of Greater Enchanting, which I haven't figured out what it's for, and the Ingredient Bag of Continuous Materials, which pulls materials from nowhere.'
'It's not as if this is a strange concept. I've once read about an artifact in the shape of a treasure chest that would replenish itself with gold coins over time. The concept of an artifact that fills itself with materials isn't that odd.'
'The other items would be the Ring of the Erudite, and the Diadem of the Savant.'"
'The Ring increases my Magicka pool while also enhancing its recovery speed by quite a bit. I might find it useful later down the line, though its not like I use any equipment to begin with, so I have the space to spare.'
'The Diadem, however, decreases Magickas cost. Not completely interesting, however, this efficiency, how far can it go?'
'If I were to make the perfect equipment with the best enchantments, would it work over them all?'
/Tap tap.../
Philip tapped the table in wonder.
"Every School of Magic is already a field that one can dedicate a lifetime to, much less Enchanting."
He exhaled faintly, "I know what to do with these… but I'll have to wait for the workshop to be ready."
'Once its done, I can start getting things in order… that's when my Masterwork Alchemy Table will be put to use.'
Nodding to himself, he crossed his arms.
"That's about it for my physical rewards."
Philip opened his Status, focusing on his Titles.
One of a Kind… And The Invisible Hand…
They both sound pretty cool… But what are their effects?
[One of a Kind
Description: The world is wide, full of unique and incredible creatures, yet you possess no kin, no one to share a name with. If you cry, none will respond to your call.
The first of your kind, a nonsensical being that couldn't exist by the natural order of nature, nevertheless, here you remain, a product of fate, and thus, the world.
What you were before, and what you aim to be… Seek out what you believe to be the truth.
Effect: Nature welcomes a new resident, as such, Affinity with Natural forces is immensely increased.
You're the Apex of your species, all inherent abilities are greatly improved.
Evolutionary options are broadened.
You can feel the presence of other creatures that are compatible with your bloodline from a certain distance, along with their overall affinity and intent towards you.
You have partial control over what sort of attributes your kin shall inherit.
Some entities will be able to pinpoint your unique existence.
\\ ***** is slightly interested in your existence//
…
]
Philip read through its effects, and his eyes widened… for many reasons…
"This…"
'I didn't have the time to check out its precise effects, but this Title is insane in many ways…'
"But…"
His face grew dark as he re-read through it all, just to make sure he hadn't missed anything...
"Is this Title… pushing me to have descendants???"
'I've never seen a Title this shameless! I've seen Titles that change the way people see me and even more subjective aspects such as the first impression I give others, but this is quite vile.'
/Silence.../
/TAP! TAP! TAP!/
With no one to listen to his complaints aside from the silent, looming machine, he tapped the table in quiet frustration as he grunted to himself.
"Phew…"
'Anyway, if I ignore that… each of these effects could be a Title of its own.'
-Affinity with Natural forces is immensely increased.
-Inherent abilities are greatly improved.
-Evolutionary options are broadened.
'These is pretty neat, it goes well with my main title Apex Evolver, and also with my main objective of just becoming talented.'
'Speaking of that, the Resonation effect… I've seen it activate before when I met that Dragon yesterday night. It's time to see what it actually does.'
[Progenitor
Effects:
Increases all bodily attributes considerably.
All inherent abilities are further enhanced to various degrees.
Massive increase in appeal to the opposite gender of the same species.
Slight increase in appeal to the opposite gender of different species.
Greatly increases virility.
…
]
Philips expression was devoid of emotions as he read through the last line.
"Haaa..."
But then it suddenly collapsed... "It's like a mini version of the larger Title…"
'That said, most Resonation effects are like that, either an extension of other effects, an enhancement of what the main Title can do, or something in line with their idea and purpose.'
He grit his teeth as he felt his stomach turn, 'Though… once again… Why is it putting so much emphasis on me having descendants?'
'Do I look that desperate? I'm doing fine!'
Philip felt a wave of dread wash over him, but he shook it off as he continued his thought process.
"There is only one thing I found strange…"
'The last line of the Title is written with different runes… they're written in a pitch-black dark font… the same one I saw before.'
'But "*****" you say… so expressive… the censorship attacks again.'
Philip frowned, "I dont like attracting the attention of things beyond my understanding… I don't have good experiences with that."
'But… I can't live in constant worry. I know that Titles often have many attributes written on them, but its not like those are only in effect when I have them equipped.'
'This line… its more of a notice than anything.'
'Whether I have the Title equipped or not, something has its gaze on me, and it will not stop looking at me just because I took it off.'
"Its meaningless to try and hide from it." He muttered aloud as he looked out the window and into the forest outside
"..."
/Sigh…/
'Whatever it is, I hope it isn't... unfriendly in nature.'
He moved on to the other Title as the halo above his head spun quietly.
MT was very much aware of Philip's condition and, like Laplabe, understood that during these moments, the best course of action was to remain silent and wait.
And at the same time, it had more important things to do…
[The Invisible Hand
Description: Some wish to shine in glory atop the highest peaks, others wish to rule from the shadows, far from the touch of the sun.
You chose the latter, to manipulate and benefit under the guise of a false image.
They never knew who they were dealing with, and never will…
Their everything will eventually flow into your hands.
Effects: Grants the Skill, Origin of a Desire
]
Philip was rather surprised as he read the last paragraph.
"Huh? A Skill?"
'I didn't see it when I checked my Status, do I have to equip it first?'
Because if so… Then its like Scholar… Great Scholar now.
After a few clicks with his fingers, Philip equipped the Title.
[Title, The Invisible Hand has been equipped]
[Apex Evolver has activated]
[The Titles are resonating]
[Resonation has been successful!]
[The temporary effect Stalk has been activated]
[Stalk
Effects: The longer you observe an enemy while they're unaware of your presence, the more information you can extract from them.
Sneaking is more effective.
Once an enemy has been fully analyzed, Predate can be activated.
Predate: All of your Stats will vastly increase, some Skills will be enhanced, and the enemy will be marked in your field of vision for a certain period of time.
Failing to predate an enemy will immediately send you into a state of extreme starvation.
]
As Philip finished reading the notifications, he smiled in satisfaction.
'Now, this is more like it. A Skill is decent, but this is even better.'
"I didn't receive a notification… oh, it's here." Philip said as he checked his Status, looking for his newest Skill
'I'll have to see what this newest Skill does later… just one more for the pile, eh?'
'As for the Resonance effect… I wonder what it means by information. That is, in itself, pretty broad.'
He cracked his neck, thinking as his eyes wandered through the seams of the table's wood.
'These two Titles are quite potent, and their resonance effects are fairly decent.'
'I don't know how Titles are classified, but if I were to say, these two Titles are considerably stronger than some of my other ones. I might even consider using them amidst my usual combination of Apex Evolver and Mental Lord.'
'Their combined effects give birth to Brain Sponge, and if I'm not studying, I usually go for Martial Enthusiast, which resonates to create Focused Spirit.'
'But now that I have started to dabble in magic, it might be worth to start using Magical Enthusiast as well during my training sessions… it's all about experimenting and learning what each does over time.'
He moved on, checking another section of his status that deserved another look.
[...
Level: 62(71)
Race: Human/Nord
Magicka Talent -> 60
…
]
His lips curled as a faint smile formed on his lips, "My Health and Stamina values vanished, but I predicted this outcome somewhat."
'I initially believed that the moment I came back, no matter how many points I invested in enhancing Eddy's body, it wouldn't compare to my original one.'
'And I was right, to a certain degree…'
'What I didn't expect was for them to completely vanish. Of my three basic stats, only Magicka is left… and it changed.'
'Its now Magicka Talent and it's a tenth of the previous value... though that is subjective, the value can be whatever the System deems fit as long as it makes sense within its own microcosm…'
He tilted his back, pushing his chair aside as he balanced on its feeet, 'In its previous form, "Magicka", already increased my sensitivity and talent for the Arcane Arts, but now that has changed, were its purpose and focus altered as well?'
"Well… this is yet again another one of those I can only fully understand by running multiple experiments."
'Lastly, I was holding those nine Levels worth of points to spend in emergencies, but it doesn't seem like those will be coming anytime soon… so…'
"Rise, my little points!"
[Magicka Talent 60 -> 69]
"!"
'It's coming...'
Philip felt his body get hot… boiling… but it was just that.
It soon stopped rather abruptly, leaving him… wanting for more?
"Huh? Already? How anticlimactic…"
'Is it because my body is that much stronger than Eddy's? It almost feels more uncomfortable than being subjected to torture…'
'Well, I'm always up for not feeling pain and inhuman discomfort.'
[...
Level: 71
Magicka Talent -> 69
…
]
[Greater Magicka Well Lv0 has forcibly changed to Magicka Lagoon Lv0]
"Lagoon?"
'I barely even used the previous version, Magicka Well, but its already the evolution of the evolution…'
He took a second to nod at the Skill, 'You'll be remembered.'
"Following what Magicka Well was, Magicka Lagoon is likely a wider reserve of Magicka for me to draw out from."
"Apart from the Skill, I don't feel that different." He said as he raised his arm
As he channelled his Magicka, his veins seemed to flash blue for a moment, but that was all. When he tried doing it again, nothing happened, and it was only when he pushed things to a dangerous point that a sign of color took to his skin.
He quickly stopped his experiments, for if something were to happen, it would be quite embarrassing.
As he looked at his somewhat empty Secondary status, a tint of regret reached his lips, 'It makes me feel a bit remorseful.'
'since I lost the other two Stats, I won't really be able to raise their related Skills, Berserk Rush, and Focus the same way I did with Magicka Well and its subsequent forms.'
"Perhaps I can still evolve them the normal way... through honest, extensive training."
On a good note, having a single Stat streamlined his worries significantly, or so he liked to think.
What lies at the depths of the Abyss of Magic? That question stood unanswered even by the greatest minds of Tamriel, and he did not believe he would be the one to answer them.
But perhaps he would get close to understanding a portion of it.
/Chuckles/
Philip rested his arms on the table, he really wanted to test his Magic…
"It's too early to stop, continue!"
So he checked the next few Abilities, War Call and Tyranny of Wealth.
'War Call I can imagine what'll do, I scream, the enemies piss their pants and run... but a bit better?'
'While the latter... Is more complicated. Tyranny of Wealth is the evolution of Commerce, and that in itself is a rather broad word.'
'Like the others, I'll have to set aside some time whenever I'm free to see what it can do. It does have a pretty cool name so I'm excited to test it out.'
"That was the last Ability."
'Now for the Skills…'
'Resist Elements is just an all-rounder Skill that makes me harder to kill, and that is always good. I would definitely push it to my main Status if I could, it does seem to have some potential.'
'Mediation of two sides… I expect it to help me negotiate better? It is, after all, the evolution of Negotiate.'
'These Skills have always been vague to me. I can't quite tell how I performed before and after I got them. So I tend to overlook them in favor of more visible Skills.'
"… Should I try testing it on Viera?"
…
/SNEEZE!/
"ATCHO!"
Back in the Manor, Viera pulled out a small handkerchief to clean her nose.
"Huh… I feel a bit strange…"
'Was it the food? I did try something new... what was the name again?...'
[I'll run a diagnosis of the environment]
"A what?…"
/SHA!/
Above her head, a conical laser scanned the room at a high speed, going over its entire surface in the blink of an eye.
[Checking room quality… mildly dusty]
[Moisture contents... Potential pathogens... Small insectoids...]
[Lady Viera, I recommend that you open the window for a short-term solution, and that you have one of the maids clean the room for a more immediate solution]
[For longer solutions…]
MT then proceeded to list out several long lines of procedures that could be done to make the room almost 100% safe...
"Uhum… I'll uh, I'll do that, thank you, MT." Viera replied with a small smile as she put the handkerchief
'I like the changes. If anything… it feels a bit more responsive.'
'Just what did Philip do to it? I don't understand the techniques used on its confection.'
Her expression soured, 'The more I spend with him, the more I realize how little I actually know…'
[Your expression tells me you're thinking of master, care to share your thoughts?]
"Ah???"
Her expression reddening slightly, she took a book and opened it quickly, "Let's just move on…"
'Sometimes, it's too damn good at its job...'
[What about the window?]
"I'll open it!"
[Leave it to me, you shouldn't worry about such minor actions]
The windows magically opened under an invisible force, leaving Viera speechless, 'I now feel useless and lazy for only considering opening the window... Maybe I should take my time and clean the room properly.'
"Should we stop for a moment and call a maid to clean the room?"
[If you believe it's needed, we can take a brief break before resuming our studies. Of course, if you don't want to stop, I'll clean the room for you in the time it takes for you to stop by the washroom]
"You… you can?"
[It is but a simple thing. I can also remove all harmful agents and make the room sterile, but I believe that to be excessive]
"Then why suggest having a maid come clean it?"
[Wouldn't the maid feel neglected if I were to take over her job? I believe you understand what I mean quite well]
[Sometimes, work is not about efficiency, but about doing it with pleasure. And the maids take great pride in their craft. Who am I to take it for them for such a measly task?]
[Speaking of tasks, I've finished analyzing the problem you raised yesterday, and I've come up with a proper solution for it. Once you're ready, I'll display the relevant documents that explain…]
"…"
'Philip… you might've gone a little too far…'
…
/Back at the forest shed/
Philip didn't realize, but Viera had already been chosen as a test subject for his newly acquired Skills.
Poor girl didn't even know what was coming… Regardless, Philip continued.
'Developing my Class Skills is one thing, but I wonder how magic would fare.'
'Once I have everything in place, I'll conjure the merchant once more and continue from where we left off. I'm far from done with his services, and I might need his assistance in the future.'
"My skills in the School of Conjuration are lacking, but in the future, maybe I should try to open a passage to Oblivion."
'All my Classes always ended with me being cut off from their original world, never to return. But if I can force myself into Oblivion, then I might find a way to return to Skyrim and anywhere else.'
"Speaking of training…"
He reached out for his troat, 'I need to practice the Thuum.'
"The true voice of the Dragons."
Philip looked at the table.
"*Bo*" (Fly)
/TREMBLE!/
The moment he spoke, the entire room trembled as a force wave escaped his lips, scattering dust all around.
"?"
The entire table, together with his chair, momentarily lost its gravity, rising in the air…
/Thud…/
He eventually hit his head on the dusty ceiling, much to his annoyance.
"Sigh, this is what I get for playing with Magic…"
'My voice was quite strong there... why was it so potent?'
'I just whispered, what if I screamed? Would this entire shed just take off? I don't think it's about the intensity…'
Chuckling to himself, Philip frowned as he looked at the ground.
"But… when will this end? I'm getting tired of floating."
It was rather awkward, Philip now stood sitting on a chair with his head on the ceiling.
"Fine, I have time."
After waiting, and seeing that the table wouldn't fall, Philip improvised for now.
"Time to go Australian."
He turned the table and the chair, and now, using the ceiling as the ground, Philip was effectively sitting upside down. And it didn't take much for him to stick his ass to the chair.
With his hair dangling down, he continued... after pushing a big spider away from his feet.
The creature wasn't very pleased with him having disturbed its rest, still, it severely underestimated what it was provoking.
"Annoying..."
/Grab!/
Philip grabbed the annoying spider that was trying to bite his toe as if he were holding a bird… because it was just that large.
"..."
The spider seemed to realize it had provoked something it shouldn't, so it remained still inside his hand.
"The Draconic tongue requires in-depth research in a… more suitable place."
'The study of the voice isn't something that can be just done out in the open unless I want something like this to happen again.'
'There was a reason why the Graybeards isolated themselves atop the highest mountain, I should be thankful that, different from them, I don't suffer from their problems.'
'I can intuitively control when I want to speak like a Dragon, and when I want to speak anything else. To me it just comes naturally, but this is an ability only a few even amongst them can attain, and even then, only the Dragonborn who stands between mortals and Dragons can muster to its full potential.'
'Anyhow, that seems to be it. There isn't much to say about them my miscellaneous Skills, for I always tend to get a few of them with every Class, so I'll just leave them there until I can find a use for them.'
"Maybe once Skill Fusion evolves a few times more, I'll be able to bypass whatever restriction exists between my Status and make use of it all."
'But a man can dream.'
He crossed his legs, "This makes me wonder, if I were to transfer the Greater Thuum to my main Status, would I lose the ability to control it at will?"
'Without my Traits, is using it even possible?'
'Dragon Soul, and Dragon Blood. I'm a bit hesitant to transfer these… I can already imagine what would happen if Dragon Blood made its way to mine, but what would happen if I permanently altered my Soul?'
"Would I even be able to call myself a Pure Human?"
'What if I were to add the Old Blood into it? What kind of transformation would ensue?'
/Sha sha sha…/
He stretched his arms and legs before letting the spider atop his table... it bolted into some dark hole, away from his view.
"… This completes my study of my Class."
'But I'm far from over.'
Philip opened his Main Status.
[
Name: Philip Vinten *Three Fragments*
Race: Type 2 Pure Human (+)
Home World: Earth (+)
Registered World: Eden (+)
Level 0
Class: None (+)
Title: Apex Evolver(One of a Kind) (+)
/Resonation Effect: Progenitor/
All Titles:
Exterminator of Nightmares; Hunter Genius; Antesunderian Archeologist; Jack of all Trades; Great Scholar; Martial Grandmaster; Magical Enthusiast; Mental Lord; Blessed; Apex Evolver; Soldier; Contender; The Silent Legion; Specter; Hitman; Protector; Artificial Chrysalidatel; Outer-World Subjugator; The Invisible Hand; One of a Kind; Chet Adam; *****'s Folly; Unbound Creator; Class Paragon; Celestial Host; The First Challenger; Center of Attention
-Vital info-
(+)
Mind> 299 (+)
Physical> 299 (+)
Energy> 299 (+)
Spiritual> 299 (+)
Mystique> 100 (+)
Abilities:
Armament Lv9 (Hybrid)
Mental Force Lv24 (Hybrid)
Mental Force Manipulation Lv21 (Hybrid)
Mental Domain Lv12 (Hybrid)
Arcane Manipulation Lv17 (Hybrid)
Draly-Apyer Secret Sword Arts LvMax (Hybrid)
Seven-Colored Wooden Boat Lv1 (Hybrid)
Falling Fist of the Beast LvMax (Hybrid)
Skills:
Limitless Lv0 (Active)
Ignition Strike LvMax(10) (Active)
Invisible Blade LvMax(15) (Hybrid)
Flow Lv7 (Hybrid)
Origin of a Desire Lv0 (Active)
Pinnacle Skill Fusion Lv12 (Hybrid)
Western continent language Lv9 (Hybrid)
Phantom Sword LvMax(25) (Active)
Great Scholar Vision LvMax(10) (Active)
Combat Genius LvMax (Passive)
Predator's Presence LvMax
The Incomplete Realm (???)
Simulation Room (???)
Gamerverse (???)
The Guiding Hand (???)
Eyes of Premonition Lv???
Traits:
Castle Town ***** (Weakened)
Hardworking
Unyielding
Incorruptible
Sword Heart
]
Philip smiled widely.
"It's incredible how much I advanced…"
He thought about the past… of his first-ever Status…
…
He remembered it all, the System helping him and answering his questions, and his eventual dive into the nightmares…
However, he wanted to go even further than that; the true start…
…
/Several months ago…/
"Open."
[Initiating Status...]
[Disclaimer]
[… A piece of ***** has been detected. Fuse?]
'What?'
/Manifest/
The image of a translucent gem was projected before him.
'That is… The Necklace?! How did you get up there?'
'Wait… How did you get there before I was even Assimilated?'
'I'm losing track of this, none of that matters now.'
'What will happen if I fuse with this I wonder…?'
[Calculating danger… 0.1% of future danger. The ***** is safe for fusion.]
"!"
'It can answer me?! Well… If there's no danger… It should be safe?'
'But even then, how does this… Thing, defines danger?'
/Silence…/
'Not going to answer me, huh… But I can't stop here. Not when this could very well be my chance to get an ace in my pockets.'
He was in danger; he did not know what would happen or what his future held in store.
He had to seek out whatever he could get his hands on.
'Fuse!'
[Confirmation received, initiating process…]
[Fusing… Done]
[Open Status?]
'Open.'
[Recalculating Status… Due to interference of *****, Hephaestus Subroutine could not process a Class… Error… Calculating… Solution found]
[Boosting skill...]
[Opening…]
[Name: Philip Vinten
Race: Type 1 Human (+)
Home World: Earth (+)
Registered World: Eden (+)
Level 0
Class: N/A (+)
-Vital info-
Mind> 4.3
Physical> 2.7
Energy> 2.3
Spiritual> 1.5
Mystique> 6
Abilities:
Calm mind
Skills:
Gamerverse
Traits:
Analytical mind (+)
]
…
/Back to the present…/
Closing his eyes with some remorse, Philip relaxed... And the world suddenly trembled slightly.
"Hm?"
/FWOOSH!/
And both the table and the chair suddenly regained their gravity…
Midway through the fall, as his hair covered his face...
"Ahh fuck…"
/SLAM!/
…
.
.
.
Notes
One thing at a time, we go over the changes.
I do think there'll be a short timeskip soon as he returns to his training, but I have changed some things in my notes and I don't know how everything will end up looking like.
That's about it from me for today. I'll post the images and move on, thank you all for being here.
Speaking of images, if there's anything anyone is interested in seeing, I'll try working on those for the foreseeable future. If you've come this far, you deserve it, so if feel like a scene needs some imagery, then post "Need Image here*" and I'll (try to) make it.
Thanks for everything, see ya!