Around 8K words long.
I'm still thinking if I should make the next chapter right away, but I think it might be necessary given the progression of the chapters.
They're very text intensive (like damn always) and are best consumed one after the other so you, my dear reader, can follow through with it all still fresh at the back of your mind.
I'll probably do it though. Thanks for reading!
PS: I was a little tired editing this, so it might not be as I would've liked.
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/SLAM!/
The chairs and the table fell, crashing against the ground, while Philip watched it all unfold with his arms and legs crossed… still upside down.
/Silence.../
Once things settled in, Philip's voice emerged...
"Ouch…"
Mild annoyance at best, as he brushed his shoulders and took the splintered wood out of his clothes.
The table and chair didn't seem that expensive, so he didn't bother with breaking them either, though he was ready to apologize to Sebastiano if necessary.
"Phew... at least I got an answer to my previous question."
Philip pushed the splintered table and chair aside, putting them back in place as he dusted his body, taking a seat once more in another nearby chair.
Pondering over what just happened, he quickly came up with an examination.
"It lasted about five minutes…"
Philip opened his inventory. Together with the many other items he brought with him, he took out a small book.
Inside it were many runes and phrases, almost all in raw, Dragon tongue.
As he carved a few new runes on his book, he reached for his hair with his pen, "… The study of this language sure is tiring without a proper teacher."
'Every word contains meaning. Understanding that is highly individualistic to whomever spoke it.'
'The fastest way to master it is to witness it being used by others. Dragons can easily teach it to other Dragons, sharing their knowledge with one another, but there aren't any around… any able to use this particular language.'
'The Dragon tongue is merely about interpretation and understanding nature. Which is easier said than done… that's why learning from another, who already pondered deeply over it, is beneficial.'
'If not Dragons, then there's only one option… humans who have studied the voice and the gift of the gods, passing down their knowledge through so-called Word Walls.'
'Back when I took over Eddy's body, I avoided as many ruins as possible, but I regret that a little… if only I could've read a few ancient Word Walls or met other Dragons… albeit that might've been for the best.'
After documenting the effects he had just experienced, he tossed the book back onto whatever the inventory space was.
"Now then... what to do?"
'I checked both statuses, and apart from testing the new skills I got, there doesn't seem to be a lot left for me to analyze…'
He looked at some of his new Titles, but he wasn't quite interested in going through them all just yet.
"Hm… I should start making some plans…"
He opened his Main Status, particularly at his Stats.
[...
Mind> 299.9(+)
Physical> 299.9(+)
Energy> 299.9(+)
Spiritual> 299.9(+)
Mystique> 100(+)
…
]
"That's it, there's no more space for me to grow."
'My body has reached its absolute limit. I might be able to breach them through perseverance, training, and a lot of drugs, but that comes with its own set of difficulties.'
Philip thought about pushing Laplabe for a few more of those Stat potions he drank before, but he knew the little guy wouldn't share them without proper reason.
What he got before was a reward and also a token of faith from the principal, a way for him, the guardian of his legacy, to grow stronger so he could seek to accomplish the missions he had been given.
And so, Philip reflected over the past, "When I came to this world for the first time, I trained and trained non-stop for a whole month, yet my Stats barely budged…"
'It was only through the procedure with Dae that I raised all Stats beyond the barrier that was 99, and after that, the attribute potions enhanced my body once more.'
'The way I'm now, I doubt I'd see a change if I were to train for a whole year… but I'm open to be surprised given everything that's happened.'
'All of these challenges are exactly so I can continue to grow procedurally stronger within a short instance after all. I might just be able to pull something like that off in a month or two if put all my effort into it.'
But strength wasn't just about Stats. Philip only sought a way to grow past these limits so he could continue his training without having to worry about his statistical growth…
Nonetheless, he failed to realize the madness within his goals.
"… Now I've reached a limit once more… Is the only other option evolution?"
Pondering as he gazed at the forest outside, Philip's thoughts were cut by a sudden voice:
"Since when was evolution such a free grab?" Laplabe asked slowly as Philip's heart skipped a beat
"You?..."
"You were awake?"
It was almost as if he could hear Laplabe's surprise in the silence… "What? You didn't realize?"
"I've been here ever since you finished brushing your teeth…"
'Maybe I should've said something…'
Philip looked at his wrist, a small bead of sweat falling from his forehead as he realized what happened, "Huh…"
'I completely forgot he existed for a moment.'
He closed his eyes helplessly, 'I was that tired, huh…'
Sensing his fluster, Laplabe continued, "Anyway, where were we?"
"You just stand there in silence most of the time?"
"Yes. That's what mimics do. But don't worry, given your habit of speaking out loud, I usually feel pretty included in your conversations… with yourself."
"Rude…"
'I do speak with myself too much, and its been getting worse recently.'
His habit quickly proved him right… 'The stronger my mind becomes, the more I feel like I'm losing control of it. Sometimes it's almost as if my consciousness is trapped within something far greater.'
'It's a reflection of my ineptitude to my status as a Mental Lord, but it doesn't change the fact I can actively talk with myself and have a somewhat productive conversation…'
Wanting to move on from this touchy subject, Philip continued, "Anyhow, do you have any ideas for my current situation?" Philip asked with a small smile as he grabbed Laplabe, placing him on the table
He trusted Laplabe enough to share this much with him. If he didn't like it, he would've made it clear long ago.
"Your growth problem?... I do, in fact." He replied immediately after little hesitation
"I'm open to suggestions."
Laplabe hesitated for a moment, "I don't mind sharing… but…"
"Look… I know you're a Hero and all of that, the responsibility and sense of duty... But don't you think you're taking things a tad too… hm..."
He decided to be blunt about it, "Dont you think you're going a bit too fast?"
"Fast? How so?"
"Philip…"
'He knows exactly what I'm talking about yet acts dumb… this stubbornness will get to him one day.'
"It doesn't take a genius to see how much you've grown in a matter of a few days…"
Laplabe became silent before having an idea, "If you add water to clay, it'll soften, allowing you to shape it into what you desire."
"From a small, thick bucket, to a larger, thinner one… at some point, you'll find yourself without clay to expand it… and what are you supposed to do if you keep throwing water at it?"
"Wouldn't it just dissolve away?"
"… What I'm trying to say is that rushing ahead… isn't exactly necessary for you."
"Your body will naturally gather more clay, and eventually, you'll grow beyond the limits you currently find yourself in."
"You simply grew too fast, barely giving time for your body to adapt to its new shape."
"Its only been a few days since you drank those potions, their side effects are likely still lingering, even if you can not feel them very well... You've gone through changes most people, even in larger families, wouldn't experience even once in their lifetimes."
"I believe that you've yet to reach your limits. I would even go so far as to say you have no idea what hitting a wall even is. How can you ask for something without truly knowing what it means to desire it?"
"You're too overconfident. I might even say… you're pampered."
Philip had no words. He merely ruminated on the words and pondered over their meaning.
"This is what I think, at least, but if that's not enough, how about this: Do you need to get stronger now?"
Philip already had the answer ready, "... No."
'Strength is always desirable, but if that's the goal, I have half a dozen ways to do that.'
'I could focus on my techniques... improve my arsenal... train my Magic...'
'Heck, even learning more about what it means to be a Mental Lord. All that together is not even all I've put on my to-do list.'
'I have a little less than five Earth months to complete my mission, and I already found the one I was supposed to contact… there really isn't much of a reason for me to rush when I have so much on my platter already.'
He closed his eyes, 'He's right, there's no need to rush. I shouldn't even need to consider it… doing so would only fill my head with needless thoughts.'
"Just give your body a few months to adapt. You don't even need to stop training, just continue to do what you always did…"
Laplabe's tone weakened… "Uh... scrap that, what you always did isn't exactly proper either."
"..."
'The last few days were indeed a bit full...' Philip thought as a self-deprecating smile formed on his lips
[I do agree, master] MT added as the ring on Philip's finger shone
One of the newest functions MT possessed was its ability to morph into numerous shapes. The reason behind it was complicated, but it could be simplified to the unique consistency of its transformed body.
He shooed them aside, "You guys don't need to keep reminding me. I got it."
'I was merely asking for a suggestion. In the first place, enhancing my stats through racial changes is not as effective as honing what I already have, at least right now.'
'I'm just being greedy for the sake of it.'
"Well... I'll remind you, if you have the time, you can inherit the principal's will. Your body has enough talent, and I've seen enough of your personality by now to say you'll do fine."
'Not a perfect fit but much better than anything the old man ever found.'
"Compared to the old man, you are much stabler. That's one of the most important things to be a proper wizard…"
Laplabe almost seemed to spit his next words… "All of his disciples were weird in that regard, one was overly greedy, the other was overly emotional, the other was overly kind…"
"There was even that stupid one... his only notable talent is how well he could manipulate mana."
"You don't seem to like them very much." Philip commented
/Inhale.../
/Exhale.../
"I did have a... amicable relationship with some, but a few were overly bratty for my tastes..."
"Anyhow, that doesn't matter right now."
Philip nodded, he didn't really care about some wizards back at the academy.
Speaking of that, Philip stuck a mental note to himself: it wasn't wise to keep himself uninformed, especially considering he was the culprit for all that mess.
As far as he was aware, if they don't find anything inside the Academy, then they'll start their research outside of it, and the first ones who'll be researched will definitely be the people that left moments before the alarms.
It was only a matter of time.
"… I'll have to refuse your offer. Putting my all into studying magic doesn't really fit my current schedule."
'I'll leave that to Viera and MT for now. I already have my own magic to study anyway.'
Laplabe scoffed, "Schedule? You have the balls to say that to me?"
Philip could already tell what was about to happen…
"By schedule, do you mean reaching a new city after stealing a great mage's inheritance, offending a Noble… bla bla bla…"
"Urg…"
Philip looked at the ceiling as he tried to filter out Laplabe's words, but the mimic was quite persistant.
"Bla bla bla… then going around the Middle sector of the city to wipe out a criminal organization headquarters just to save a family of Dwarves?"
"All the while wooing girls and talking to yourself?"
/Silence.../
"..."
Philip looked at Laplabe with a twisted expression, but he couldn't refute him.
He could only smirk helplessly as his thoughts drifted, 'But wooing girls? What the hell does he mean by that?…'
"You win… damn son of a bitch…"
"I heard that!"
…
/After a small while…/
"… What about Viera?"
Laplabe gave it some thought, "She seems to hold the necessary talent to some degree, she's also very hardworking."
"But personality-wise… that remains to be seen."
Philip crossed his arms as he looked down, "Do you really need to check her personality?"
'If Viera can be accepted as the principal's inheritor, then I won't have to continue my search, and with it, most of the items within the storage tool will be fully unlocked.'
"Philip... it takes much more than just effort and talent to become worthy of greatness."
"And how did you determine I was good enough?"
"You showed me more than enough... besides, it was the old man's vestige that determined you to be worthy, not me."
"Also, she already has a master, and although that is hardly ever a problem in practicality, people in these positions tend to be protective over those they take care of."
"As they normally groom their student to be the better version of themselves, they see other masters and even teachers as possible interferences in this process."
"The principal was no different. But above all, if it were so easy, then one of his disciples would've inherited him, and all of this quest to seek a worthy person to become his successor wouldn't be needed in the first place."
"Yeah..."
Philip also found that to be a problem. He was merely told to take care of her and have her stick around him.
He did not know how her master would react if he were to put her under another's tutelage.
'Things would've been easier if I could contact her. But given how Viera lived in her first to second year in the academy, I doubt she'll be making an appearance anytime soon.'
"That girl holds enough potential to be a replacement. If we fail to find a successor, and if she continues to improve… then having her continue his work would be ideal."
Laplabe seemed to take a deep breath, "Though… if you're willing to give it a try…"
/Thud!/
Philip felt the inventory orb be opened by another, but he couldn't quite grasp how.
By then, a small, hand-sized object suddenly fell onto the table out of thin air. Like a silvery plate with strange engravings.
"Hum… what's this?"
'I remember seeing this in the Principal's Office… It was on his shelves as far as I remember.'
"In front of you lies the test, a complicated piece of Magitech engineering."
"It seems small, but it has over twelve thousand moving parts, each made with sophisticated materials and enchantments treated through a series of overly complicated steps that I never bothered to even look at."
"Its function isn't nearly as glorious as that, though… Upon using it, her conscience will be pulled into it, and from there, she'll go through the Trials the old man set up."
"This is how his successor is supposed to be recognized. I can help you find suitable candidates, but in the end, they'll have to be recognized by the divice."
"Also, remember what I said about him being terrible at everything apart from Alchemy? Yeah… It took him a long time to finish this. He broke countless prototypes trying to create it."
"Good times."
/Silence…/
"I see… the classic small world inside the jade…" Philip said with a smirk as he took the plate
'Will he ask her to kowtow nine times and to greet her ancestors?'
"Hm? Are you familiar with these sorts of tools? The old man was pretty satisfied when he finished it…"
"You could say that I am…"
But Philip then became serious.
"Are there any…"
"Nope, no dangers." Laplabe quickly replied, interrupting Philip
"At most… boredom from staying inside too long, and perhaps some bodily discomfort depending on how you were before entering it."
"… Would you like to try it? You can challenge it out as many times as you want, just make sure its always powered… Just open the small compartment below and you'll see how much charge it has left…"
"..."
Philip cringed slightly, 'This feels wrong... Why is the magical item in need of a power source?... And in such a perfectly executed way... It almost feels like I'm opening a Roomba...'
Philip followed his instructions and checked the item, it seemed pretty good for now.
"I think I got the gist of it… but I won't be testing it."
'I'm a bit curious, but I had enough of having my conciousness be dragged around the place.'
Philip pushed the object aside and made another short resolution. As soon as he was able, he would talk with her about it.
For her who was steadily growing, being accepted as the principal's successor would greatly boost her condition, especially if he was given full access to all items stored within the Golden Orb.
Laplabe wasn't surprised by Philip's firm denial, but was disappointed nonetheless, "A bummer, many would die to have such a chance though…"
'If the old man were still alive, he might've suffered a heart attack by now.'
'He searched for someone suitable his entire life, and imagine how he would feel if the moment he found him, he just refused with such a straight face…'
'I can't even imagine how frustrated he would be to see that he's also a martial artist above all else… his spirit is likely rolling in its grave.'
"Well then, since you don't want it, that's nothing I can do about it."
"Just remember to seek an inheritor soon. Once you have one, I can open most of the inventory items for you to use."
"… Though remember, those items are for the inheritor… Not for you. That said… if they are under you… you got my meaning, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it. I'm not some manipulative villain…"
Philip then looked at his Titles but he shook his head, unwilling to accept the harsh reality.
"I'm just messing with you. If you found an inheritor, how would they protect themselves if you just handed them everything?"
His voice grew a little coarse, "You'll likely have to protect them for a while since I can't do it. I'm tied with you to the very end until we accomplish all of his requests."
"So this means… more baggage?" Philip asked with a frown
"Im afraid so." Laplace replied in agreement
In the end, even if he found someone suitable, Philip couldn't let them be, and even if they could protect themselves, neither could he just go as many of the items inside could and will be of use to him.
The items inside the inventory needed to be delivered to the person at hand whenever they needed it, so he needed to be close at all times.
If it was him, then that's that. If it was Viera, she would be nearby regardless… But if it was someone else…
Considering most Archmages in the Academy were on the brink of exploding from anger, leaving someone with his inheritance wouldn't be wise.
So Philip was unconsciously tricked into protecting the inheritor because he needed to, else his oath would be broken, and he would also lose access to the boundless resources inside the inventory item.
There was all to lose in exchange for not taking care of an extra person. He could only hope that they would be easy to handle…
…
"… Since were done with that… time to continue." Philip said as he opened his status screen, ignoring Laplabe as he filled the space before him with System interfaces
"..."
'And there he goes… What kind of bizarre sight will he show me now?...'
'Just a shame that I can't see what he sees, I'm sure it would've been quite the sight.'
Opting to remain silent, Laplabe waited.
…
"Here…"
'Time to get this over with before moving on.'
His last pending notification before he resumed his training…
[DING]
[You have developed an entirely new and functional System of Magic]
[A never seen before way to manipulate the World, the ultimate achievement a Wizard may acquire]
[An achievement of untold magnitude!]
[You have made an achievement never once recorded in History!]
"Huh…"
'What?…'
Philip never expected things would be this extreme…
[Your Title, Magical Enthusiast has been directly promoted to Magic Lord]
[You have made an achievement never once recorded in History!]
[From your first interaction with magic until now, youve successfully mastered magic in record time!]
[You have gained the Trait, Flow]
[Congratulations on being the first Hero to master both Magic and Martial Arts!]
[Your Title, Jack of all trades has changed to Master of all trades(Incomplete)]
[You have made an achievement never once recorded in History!]
[From a no-name to a GrandMaster, you achieved an esteemed status in both Magic and Martial arts in record time!]
[You have gained the Title, Extreme]
[Congratulations for being the first Hero to achieve the rank of Lord through effort!]
[*****]
[An imprint of your existence has been left on *****]
[A gigantic achievement]
[You have gained the Trait, Spiritual Mountain]
[Highly attuned spiritual bodies will now feel pressure when interacting with you]
[Affinity towards Magic has been raised greatly]
[Affinity towards all Elements has been raised considerably]
[Affinity towards Negative Elements has been slightly raised]
[Resistance to Chaotic Decay has manifested]
[Your authority has been elevated slightly]
[Processing Achievements…]
Following the first string of achievements, the System went quiet, giving Philip the chance to take a deep breath.
"Ridiculous…" He muttered as sweat fell from his forehead
'This might be even bigger than when I formed my Mental Palace and evolved it into the Castle Town. I never thought such a simple act would cause a Title promotion to Lord.'
'They are supposed to be quite significant…'
Amidst the new Traits and Titles, Philip focused on the changes that were about to occur.
He could feel a hollow feeling in his chest as the notifications ensued. Sometimes, the changes were immediately enforced, other times, they were procedural.
Philip could never tell when which would occur, so perhaps today the System felt merciful…
[Processing done]
[You have made five record-breaking achievements and a few minor ones that will be fused into the rewards]
[First Achievement, you developed a new and functional System of Magic]
[Second Achievement, you became a Magic Lord in record time]
[Third Achievement, the first Hero to achieve the rank of Lord through effort]
[Fourth Achievement, the first Hero to master both Magic and Martial Arts]
[Fifth Achievement, achieved mastery over Magic and Martial arts in record time]
[Sixth Achievement, you have once again expanded the ***** with never seen before knowledge]
[Plus some minor achievements]
[Your rewards shall be given taking your current bodily state and condition into consideration]
[Displaying rewards…]
[You have gained the Title, Seeker of Magic]
[Your Affinity for Supernatural forces has increased]
{You have gained the Title, Judicators Attention}
[To accommodate your new status, your body will be reforged and your stats regulated]
[You have gained the Abilities, Spiritual Pressure, Spiritual Manifestation, Command Magic]
[Host is incentivized to seek out more applications on his own]
[Skill Fusion has detected two abilities suitable for fusion]
[Spiritual Pressure + Spiritual Manifestation]
[Special effect has triggered]
[Fusion will result -> Spiritual Control]
[Skill Fusion will automatically activate and be added to the rewards]
[Chances of critical fusion have been considerably increased]
[Fusion complete]
[Critical Fusion!]
[You have acquired the new Ability, Weak Spiritual Domain Lv0]
[Your Trait Spiritual Mountain is reacting with your Weak Spiritual Domain…]
[Skill Fusion will automatically activate to aid the process]
[Partial conditions have been met]
[Your Trait, Spiritual Mountain has changed to Spiritual Ascension(Incomplete)]
[Pinnacle Skill Fusion Lv12 -> Lv14]
[You lack the minimal requirements to become a Spiritual Lord]
[Rewards shall be distributed through other means…]
[You may choose five "skills" from any of your Secondary Statuses to pass on to your Main Status]
[The last reward shall be a pick between several choices]
[1- Race
2- Talent/Potential
3- Skills
4- Title Evolution
5- Path to fulfill the missing Requirements
6- The prospect to the Order of Magic or an Order of Second Magnitude
7- Increase in Authority
8- Communion with a Greater Power
]
[The host has 24 hours to make a choice]
"This is all…"
The moment all of the notifications finished playing out, Philip lost conscience.
/THUD!/
His face hit the table, his eyes white…
"Phillip?!"
[Running emergency diagnostics]
Laplabe turned into a shadow as tendrils spread around Philip's body, trying to figure out what was happening… At the same time, MT expanded from his finger, becoming a large cylinder suspended above him.
A tangible curtain of light spread around them, covering the area around him as space was isolated,
/BAM!/
"?!"
But suddenly, Laplabe felt an incredible pressure fall down on him, it wasn't heavy, but it was strong enough to make even him stop in place, his limbs freezing.
"Urg!"
'What's happening to him this time to affect me like this?!'
Forcing his body to retract into a more compact form, he tried to get a better look at him from another angle, 'This damn kid will get me killed one of these days...'
If Laplabe had teeth, he would be gritting them right now. Or rather, he had them, they were just compressed into the wristwatch's gears, which were actively grinding against each other.
The pressure so intense it made it hard for him to even speak or breath… his body felt fine, but it was as if something had bound all his muscles tightly.
Despite the many times Philip fell unconscious and woke up, Laplabe was right to worry this time.
Because inside Philip's body, mayhem was happening…
[Your body is undergoing a change…]
[...]
[Apex Evolver has…]
[...]
[Your Hyper Cells…]
[…]
[Castle Town **** protects your mental body from collapsing]
[Your Incorruptible mind retains its shape]
[Your Unyielding spirit refuses to give up]
[...]
[Your Dragon Soul remains unshaken under the Spiritual corrosion]
[…]
[Skill, Limitless Lv0 momentarily unshackles your consciousness and Soul, unleashing your spirit unbound]
[Skill, Eyes of Premonition Lv??? seeks a Fate of accomplishment]
[Skill, The Guiding Hand (???) molds your Vessel anew]
[…]
…
/Time passed.../
/GASP!/
Philip suddenly raised his head, looking around in great confusion as he regained conciousness.
Sweating extremely hard, his face pale, lips dry, and eyes red, Philip looked around in distress, trying to understand what was going on.
His shirt wet, his eyes unfocused, and his pupils like those of a reptile, he scanned the shack as if he were looking for his mother's killer.
"URG!!"
Pain soon spread like a gushing tide, but it wasn't just any pain, it was like the shock that came after the most extreme of exercises, from having his whole self, not only his muscles, stressed to their utmost degree.
If he could voice his own jumbled thoughts, Philip would say his whole body had been sent through a meat grinder.
"… Hey… HEY!"
"Uh…"
"Hey there! You okay, kid?"
[Vital signs are… stable]
[Should we…]
"Forget that. Let the kid wake up first."
Philip could hear Laplabe, and MT discussing something, but his mind was completely elsewhere.
The world spun and flashed around him, as if he had been thrown into a rave.
He tapped his head, but he couldn't even feel his hand… He soon realized his hand was standing right on his face, and yet he couldn't feel a thing, "I… wh…"
Something was forced down his lips, and his whole body tensed before he calmed down instinctively.
/Gulp…/
Philip gulped down as Laplabe shoved a cup of water down his throat. Everything he couldn't drink… was poured down his head.
As he felt a cold so deep he trembled all the way to his teeth, he slowly calmed down as the world regained its original colors.
Yet despite everything, many colors did not return to their original hues, and overall, the world seemed… a bit brighter?
'… What… happened? My head hurts…'
"I'm gonna puke..."
"Philip?…"
"Turn into a bag for me…" He muttered as he turned to the side, cheeks expanding as his throat shook
Laplabe flashed to the side, escaping his grasp before it was too late…
/BLEEEERG!/
Seeing Philip's breakfast and the remnants of his dinner pool at his feet, Laplabe sighed, 'He's awfully honest sometimes...'
...
"Huff... huff…"
After wiping his lips, Philip tried to roll to the side and sit down...
'I feel like my head… is splitting open…'
He knew his Trait would protect his mind, but does that extend to his brain itself?
Maybe only Apex Evolver could take care of that.
[He's recovering… from whatever was going on]
Laplabe snickered as his body began to unfold… "Against all odds, it does look like you're okay…"
His tentacles wrapped themselves around him.
"I'll move to the side."
/Fwoosh…/
Laplabe transformed his body, and he moved to a shelf nearby, his body stretching as if someone had painted a long stroke of black paint in the air.
He also pushed Philip to the side, almost gliding in the air as the black stroke pushed him aside.
Honestly, Laplabe could stay near Philip if he wanted to, but he was afraid Philip would once again dirty him like last time.
He had already endured that experience, and he didn't want to go through it again.
Even a mimic has rights. An elegant one has preferences…
"Once you're done recovering, you can talk with me to discuss what has happened… this one over here is desperate to understand it."
[It is my duty to understand. Amidst the hundreds of thousands of documents within my archives, none can accurately pinpoint his condition]
[I merely seek to provide a comprehensive overview and potential solutions if needed]
"Just say you're worried, it is shorter."
[I am deeply worried]
…
A few minutes passed in awkward silence.
"Haaaa… okay… I got it..."
Breathing in and out, the pain finally started to subside, allowing Philip to breathe easy knowing his body was recovering from whatever it had just gone through.
"This is such…"
Frowning, Philip took out another bottle of cold water from the first inventory he got his hands on, splashing some of it on his face, and drinking the rest.
He was already drenched anyway, what would change if he splashed some water on his face?
'… No matter how much I drink… I'm still thirsty.'
'And my stomach… why do I feel so… empty?'
He could feel his skin pulling at his stomach, as if somehow it had shrunk one full size.
And the strange hollowness and pain… was this what starving actually felt like? It did give him a whole new perspective on life…
/Gulp!/
"Haa…"
After drinking two more bottles, his head recoiled back, and he stared at the ceiling with a half-withered expression.
'This was intense, my heart is beating like crazy...'
He opened his system, but his hand hesitated.
'Before that, I need to take a look at this from a rational perspective.'
Sweat rolled around the corners of his eyes, "… Why does this keep happening?"
'Two days ago... the moment I replicated the Rodrigues Perfected Shadow technique, my Title of Martial Adept evolved into Expert, and eventually, Grandmaster when I fused everything into what is now known as Armament.'
'This was a result of the System being triggered due to a series of events related to my Class.'
'But there's one thing I hadn't contemplated before. I had yet to transfer my magical abilities to my Main Class.'
'Shouldn't that be the trigger, considering that when I transferred my Hunter Skills from my first Class, nothing of the sort happened?'
He pondered for a minute longer, 'There were some reactions, but they weren't so extreme... the only difference between then and now would be… the System's repair.'
'But this doesn't answer everything.' He thought as he took a shirt from his inventory, using it to wipe his face
'The Main System differs from my Secondary System that governs my Classes, that much I already took for granted… so how is it reacting to whatever happens due to it?'
'Something similar happened with the Complex… But if I put some thought into it, the System has indeed been like this ever since it was repaired, and now, it was updated.'
He felt as if he was reaching a conclusion… '… Does my Secondary System have anything to do with the Origin Orbs? The fragments?...'
'It feels a little forced. I can make a connection with Gamerverse given its origins with that necklace, but if I'm not wrong, that necklace might've actually been a fragment as well.'
'That would tie quite a few things together, but one thing remains… what is the connection between the System and the fragments? The Origin Orbs?… And why are they so important?'
The more he pondered, the healthier his complexion became. If there was one thing Philip loved doing, it was overthinking and rummaging through pointless things.
'There has to be an explanation somewhere, something that explains just why the System was suddenly able to process my achievements and memories from other worlds unrelated to this one.'
'Unless everything is as I originally believed… Gamerverse could be, from the beginning, doing nothing but replicating powers and creating illusions or fake realities for me to inhabit.'
'But that would still not explain why the System broke down trying to process it…'
/CRUNK!/
"This is making me go damn insane!" Philip said as he slapped the broken table, causing it to splinter into a dozen shards
…
Breathing hard, he clenched his teeth, 'If that's the case… will this continue to happen in the future?'
'Will the System go insane whenever I return from other worlds? Will it shower me with rewards without end?'
To him, everything boiled down to a singular notification… one he had seen quite a few times already.
[Sixth Achievement, you have once again expended the ***** with never seen before knowledge]
'Whatever this is, I can be sure that every time I come back with a new Class, I'll definitely receive this Achievement.'
'This can be considered good, more rewards are always welcomed… up to a certain point.'
He tapped his forehead in mild frustration, 'It's ironic given what I just said, but everything's progressing too fast.'
'I don't have the time to sit down and train properly, to understand myself, to fuse my abilities together…'
'The System keeps shoving things at me and I can barely hold them down. '
He laughed drily, "Heh... I'm complaining about being rich... I'm so two-faced..."
'Sigh… bickering wont lead me anywhere.'
Filled with conviction, he moved on.
'Open 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; Master of all trades(Incomplete); Great Scholar; Martial Grandmaster; Magic Lord; 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; Seeker of Magic; Extreme; Judicators Attention;
-Vital info-
(+)
Mind> 330.4 (399.9)(+)
Physical> 325.1 (368.3)(+)
Energy> 329 (399.9)(+)
Spiritual> 334.8 (371.8)(+)
Mystique> 250(+)
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)
Command Magic Lv0 (Hybrid)
Weak Spiritual Domain Lv0 (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 Lv14 (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 ***** (Recovering)
Hardworking
Unyielding
Incorruptible
Sword Heart
Flow
Spiritual Ascension(Incomplete)
]
A glorious Status window formed before his very eyes…
"By the eight Divines…" Philip blurted unconsciously
'How did this… everything has just…'
'My Race… My Stats… My Abilities and Skills…'
'Even my Traits changed!'
His eyes fell on the most important factor, 'Castle Town… it changed from Weakened to Recovering!'
Philip closed his eyes, it was time to analyze again!
His pain from before was meaningless before all of this.
"I need to go from the beginning…"
[DING!]
[Apex Evolver has started to devour the Trait, Flow]
A cold, ruthless silence… followed by the realization of what he had just read.
"?!?!?!"
'The what and, huh?!'
In his moment of utmost calm and peace, the terrifying bell noise of the System rang, showing his worries were far from over.
/SLAP!/
Philip finally smashed what remained of the table to pieces.
'I knew I shouldn't have stayed there… one more slap and that table will turn into sawdust.'
"What's this supposed to mean?!"
/Tremble.../
The shed trembled at his voice. And for a moment, Laplabe thought this place was about to topple down…
'Come on, kid… you already talked about this with that little girl… calm down a bit…'
But Philip clenched his hands so tightly that the wood between his fingers became paste.
'When did I allow it?! I haven't even had the time to see what it does!'
Could that be the reason why he felt no changes? Did the System already predict this outcome?
Before he even had time to react...
[Apex Evolver has consumed Flow and added it onto itself]
"I… am speechless." Philip muttered as he looked at the table below
/Gleam…/
Magical light formed in his hands, and the table slowly moved back into place, its pieces fusing back together until it eventually returned to its pristine state… but only for a moment.
/CRACK!/
For he slammed his hands down once again, this time with far more fervour than before.
"…"
[…]
"Huff…"
Trying his best to stay positive, Philip massaged the sides of his temples, 'I guess this isn't that bad…'
'If it fused with the Trait, then that's one less thing for me to worry about. The Trait's effects should still linger, just in another form… right?'
Trying to make himself feel better, Philip thought of some nonsense to calm himself down...
Just when Philip was about to open the Title to check the changes… it continued…
[DING]
[DING]
[DING]
[DING]
[DING]
[DING]
[Apex Evolver has started to devour the Title, The Silent Legion]
[Apex Evolver has started to devour the Title, Protector]
[Apex Evolver has started to devour the Title, Soldier]
[Apex Evolver has started to devour the Title, The Invisible Hand]
[Apex Evolver has started to devour the Title, Seeker of Magic]
[Apex Evolver has started to devour the Title, Extreme]
Philip's heart sank. His eyes reddening as he looked at these notifications, anger resurfacing from the depths of his Soul as every vein on his face surfaced as they pushed themselves against his skin.
Those were his Titles! His blood and sweat! The recognition for every moment of pain and tension he experienced in worlds beyond and Eden!
They were meant to become fuel for even greater Titles, for the creation of truly legendary things… but they were being eaten… not even serving as experience for Skill Fusion, the Skill he was trying to improve the most.
"I'm gonna have a fucking heart attack!"
He understood that Apex Evolver was nothing more than a representation of his desire for evolution, and even if it possessed some sort of autonomy, it wouldn't try to harm him…
But that doesn't mean he agrees with its choices! Nor that he will allow his body to be handled like that!
It wasn't time for that yet! Knowing how to dominate one's instincts and to act with intelligence over emotions was what different mankind from mere monkeys!
[Castle Town ***** soothes your mind]
"...!"
Philip, who was about to explode in anger, calmed down a little, his eyes returning to their clean sheen as he studied this phenomenon.
However, his anger did not dissipate, on the contrary, by studying all of this with his rationale, he got even angrier.
A different kind of anger took form inside his mind, the kind he had never experienced before… a silent, suppressed anger. The kind that took years of injustice to take shape…
"Who gave it such permission?... Stop it... for fuck's sake."
Philip didn't know what to do. What should he do? Is he supposed to let his Title devour things like that?
It was the same situation all over again…
What if it devours other things? Although it should be impossible… he was the very definition of something outside the boundaries of possibility.
/SLAP!/
Gritting his teeth so hard his jaws hurt, he finally slapped the fragmented table into smiters, "Fine… fine! Do what you wish!"
Helpless that he didn't have a solution for this situation, Philip could only watch as his hard-earned Titles were devoured away…
But honestly, if he were to think it through, half of those Titles were useless with only some niche uses, anyway.
Even when useful, their bonuses were mild at best compared to his other Titles.
So if everything were devoured by his main Title… wouldn't it increase their value in the long run?
But his greed couldn't help but tug at his heartstrings… it was a shame, such a shame…
[Apex Evolver has consumed the Titles…]
[Some Title effects are conflicting!]
[Some Title effects are compatible!]
[Changes are undergoing within it]
[Apex Evolver has started to devour the Title, Hunter Genius]
He didn't even bat an eye anymore, "Even that… your hunger sure is insatiable…"
'My first Title… I rarely use it now given I have very few Hunter Abilities… but Armament is considered one for its effects.'
'It's not much, but I could see myself using it only for the sake of boosting it.'
[Apex Evolver has consumed the Titles]
[Apex Evolver will go into slumber]
"… What?"
Even more frustrated, Philip opened his Title to see for himself what had changed.
[Apex Evolver
Description: You seek to unshackle from the mortal body you currently reside in. One step at a time, you will reach greatness through constant evolution.
But senseless transformations are not what you seek. It's the perfection in the flesh, the mystery of the soul, the spice in the mind. All of it is a perfect balance, the golden ratio. Only through that can you achieve a true, perfect evolution.
No one can stop you, and all who try shall become fuel for this endless mutation.
To seek a path none have traveled before, and to go beyond all others… This is what you aspire to reach.
Effects: Body potential is greatly increased, along with your body's natural adaptation toward environmental changes.
Your body can take and handle foreign sources of energy to a considerable degree without damaging itself. This may change depending on the origin and purpose of the energy.
> First contact: Your body generates passive resistance to all environments with which it comes in contact. The degree of resistance depends on your body quality and how extreme the environment is.
This property is retained but may only be improved by being exposed to increasingly hazardous conditions.
> Great Physique: Your body has reached its true potential, and hence, all of its attributes' raw values have been increased to match its transformation.
— Your evolution choices have been considerably enhanced due to your excellent body quality, with the chance of one high-tier evolution appearing due to it achieving a 5-State balance.
— Due to the absorption of the Trait, Flow, your body's ability to deal with any foreign energies has become immaculate, and most aggressive forms of energy corruption will not affect you.
— This Title can be linked with another Title allowing for two Titles to be equipped at once.
One extra effect may or may not be generated when another Title is linked.
> Extra effect: Golden body
You achieved the impossible and evolved towards an impossible path, achieving the obscure 5-state body.
The Golden body is constant, and as such, strives to keep the balance of the energies within itself, boasting the same level of defenses from its outside to its inside.
The Flow of all things has been absorbed, and hence, the limits of this balance have been greatly increased.
> Extra effect: Seek the path ahead
You can see up to two evolutionary choices ahead.
> Extra effect: Extreme Apex
Terrifically increases the learning speed of new subjects.
You're slightly gifted towards all crafts.
Greatly increases all attributes when challenged. The effect can be boosted or decreased based on your feelings.
Victory against stronger enemies proves to be more rewarding.
Recovery time from overextension is greatly reduced.
> Extra effect: Hypercells
Your cells have mutated into a new form, becoming Hypercells. Each Hypercell is its own living processor, a core of conscious flesh that can act independently, think, decide, and adapt based on local threats.
Hypercells can analyze and digest traits from enemies, objects, or energies. Incorporating what is useful, rejecting what is not.
Strong feelings can provoke further transformations.
> Extra effect: Beast of the Battlefield
Fighting large crowds of enemies alone considerably boosts your Stats.
While it is in effect, any positive, group-based Title effects applied to you will instantly rise to their highest iterations as long as your body can contain them.
*This effect cannot rebound back to others*
This Title can be linked to another formation/group Title, receiving their effects as usual.
> Extra effect: Nest
Set up a nest in any location and at any time. If necessary, claim it as your territory by defeating its previous ruler.
All intruders will receive a Mark, reducing their fighting capabilities while fighting them increases your Stats.
Fending off intruders temporarily boosts your Stats.
> Extra effect: Shadow Lurker
Grants the Skill, Stalk.
> Extra effect: Veteran Hunter
Increases the Level of all of your Hunter Abilities by 2 while also increasing their development speed.
/Evolver has absorbed 10 Titles and is undergoing a change/
]
"..."
Philip smiled bitterly… 'What a perverted Title, its getting to a point I feel as if I'm reading a damn scroll.'
'The more I do, the more I realize I barely understand what this Title can do.'
'Dae dumped it on me, saying I needed to achieve the 5-State Body and was surprised when I got it. Or rather, when I got the Evolver Title.'
'He definitely knows the truth about it, if not, a fragment of its true capabilities. What else can a Title able to devour both Traits and Titles alike do? It almost makes the entire purpose of Skill Fusion unnecessary.'
'But I don't like to think like that… if everything could be solved by just dumping Titles into it, then Dae would've said so. It doesn't feel right to feed it like this either.'
'Skill Fusion improves Titles and maximizes their potential. Apex Evolver takes fragments of them and adds them onto itself.'
'It's a waste even for bad Titles…'
"A seemingly living Title with its own will…"
'I've heard of special Skills with their own will, but not Titles… I can tolerate Gamerverse playing tricks on me, but not a Title.'
His frustration had yet to go, for he had barely seen what the new Titles did. But at least, it seemed they still lived on, even if now inside the belly of this monster.
But there was a lot to do still, time was ticking, and he needed to make a choice.
Philip still had a lot to do.
So he raised his hand and tapped the air…
…
.
.
.
Notes
There it is! Another section of the System done.
We're almost done with these System sections, and we'll be free of them for quite a while, at least in this density.
We'll have a lot more hands down experiences as Philip gets his many tasks done one by one as time moves on as we approach the next arc.
Raising more abilities, training, and so on. And of course, fights so he can test his newest abilities and style on his unsuspecting enemies.
That's about it...
Peace!