《TWIG - The System Can't Save Me, But It Can't Stop Me Either [a gamelit-portal-fantasy-poem by eric river]》Chapter 012 - Did I cheat death or am I in for something even worse?
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CHAPTER TWELVE
Did I cheat death or am I in for something even worse?
~
Achievement: Peering into the Abyss
Congratulations Sky, but this is quite a strange event
You’ve appraised Twigs stats, but we’re not quite sure where they went
As you’ve looked into something that even gods can’t see
I’ll make sure to boost your mana quite regularly
Sky was so confused she felt like she herself may fall
But it seemed her new guardian wasn’t bad at all
But could she ever see stats that even a god can’t see
Could mana be raised for such a purpose easily
Achievement: Testing Godly Limits
Indeed, us deities must seem all powerful to you
But even we all limited in the magic we do
We can only gently touch the world you occupy
If we interfered to much then you would quickly die
As she looked upon Twig’s injured body, Sky felt lost
But she needed to know more about her magic’s cost
“How come you can give me power not possessed by you?
If you can’t see his stats, how could I ever hope to?”
Achievement: Embarrassing Your Deity
Like I said, there’s things that we can’t do, don’t rub it in
But we can unlock amazing powers found within
I can slowly raise your mana until you can see
I can’t buff my own but I can edit yours freely
Sky wanted more answers but for now she had a task
She needed to know if Twig was fine, but couldn’t ask
While she sat there frozen by grief, Todd swept up the boy
“Come on kids, there’ll be a party later to enjoy”
The four of them, plus Twig in Todd’s arms, started to head back
Still in shock and too tired to discuss the bug attack
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After they’d killed almost all the bugs, the portal closed
But a strange and dark destiny had just been exposed
~ Name: Leaf ~
Title: Wind Walker
Class: Scout [lv2⇨ 3]
HP
[9⇨ 10]
MANA
[7⇨ 10]
ATK
[11⇨ 13]
INT
[13⇨ 17]
DEF
[5⇨ 8]
SPD
[22⇨ 35]
You did well assisting everyone on this last quest
You put both your speed and strong character to the test
Something strange is happening so please be on your guard
I feel an evil god has yet to play his final card
~ Name: Pebble ~
Title: Protector
Class: Tank [lv3⇨ 4]
HP
[15⇨ 18]
MANA
[9⇨ 12]
ATK
[13⇨ 21]
INT
[7⇨ 9]
DEF
[56⇨ 64]
SPD
[8⇨ 10]
Good job in defending those friends who you hold most dear
You stood before your enemies without any fear
Something weird is happening with Twig, so be careful
Leave the thinking to your friend Sky, she’s quite wonderful
~ Name: Sky ~
Title: Avenger
Class: Berserker [lv2]
HP
[37]
MANA
[70⇨ 73]
ATK
[84]
INT
[6]
DEF
[8]
SPD
[27]
Until you can see the truth behind Twig’s status screen
You must push your limits until the answers are seen
None of the gods here in my realm understand at all
You must answer this mysterious adventure’s call
~ Name: Todd ~
Title: Hero
Class: Farmer [lv63⇨ 64]
HP
[115⇨ 119]
MANA
[54⇨ 61]
ATK
[87⇨ 91]
INT
[37⇨ 38]
DEF
[195⇨ 201]
SPD
[113⇨ 116]
It’s been years since you had to go all out like that eh
Who’d have thunk you still had it in you to fight that way
Keep an eye on Twig but be wary around that boy
Something feels off about him, like he’s a broken toy
When they reached the town everyone was in a panic
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Many people also saw screens that made them feel sick
Every god was nervous about what had just happened
And the more they read, the more the mystery deepened
Todd brought Twig up to the healer who dwelled in their town
Pushing the door off its hinges then laying him down
The healer had been waiting since he’d just received a quest
And when he saw Twig himself, the healer looked distressed
~ Name: Michael ~
Title: Town Healer
Class: Priest [lv57⇨ 58]
HP
[119]
MANA
[263⇨ 319]
ATK
[24]
INT
[95]
DEF
[67]
SPD
[18]
Michael, as you’ve heard by now, this boy is quite unwell
You may need assistance with your own appraisal spell
Brace yourself, I’ll boost your mana as much as I can
This might hurt but this was never a part of fate’s plan
Michael reeled in pain as mana filled his heart right up
It felt like hot magma poured into a small tea cup
After he regained composure, he could cast a spell
But he was astounded by what Twig’s status would tell
~ xxmx: Txxx ~
xxxxx: xxxxxxxx
xxxxx: Pxxxxxx
xxxx
[x]
xxxxx
[0]
xxxxx
[x]
xxxxx
[x]
xxx
[0]
xxxx
[x]
xxxxx
[x]
xxxx
[0]
Xxx xxxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxx xx xxxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxx xx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxx
Xxxxxx xxxx xxx x xxxxx xxxx xx xxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx
Xx xxx xxxx xxx gxx ox txmx, xxx’xx xxxx x xxxxxx xx xxxx
Through sheer will he managed to decipher some of it
But he was stunned that would he revealed was only a bit
What’s more, the format of his status screen was all wrong
The place where six numbers should be was two numbers too long
In the end he could only unlock a few pieces
It would take him ten lifetime’s worth of stat increases
Could there be a mage somewhere who could make sense of this?
Either way it remained clear that something was amiss
“I don’t know what curse could do this, or if this is right
Nothing known to history could help shed any light
We can only treat his wounds and wait for him to heal
Maybe there’s some other knowledge Twig can help reveal”
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