I wake in a haze. My thoughts spin and my vision blurs. Or maybe my vision spins and my thoughts blur? I begin running my fingers down the worn edges of my old pendant, an action which often brings me comfort. It helps, if only a little.

Everything hurts and I can’t do anything else but close my eyes, breathe deeply, and ride the waves of pain and nausea until they run themselves dry.This time when I open my eyes I can make sense of what I see.

Initializing integration of Planet Earth into the Totality.

Analyzing…

Critically low levels of ambient planetary aether detected. Expanding search criteria. Analyzing…

Error! Critically low levels of universal aether detected. Reporting…

Standby…

Due to a critical lack of universal aether, Earth will be reforged with The Lost Dungeon World: Vhelk in order to allow its transition into the Totality without disintegrating. This process will be violent and volatile.

Error! Unable to predict long-term effects or outcome of integration. Prepare yourself.

I blink in abject confusion. The world is being merged with another? How does that even make sense? Stupid question given that the messages from this Totality seem just as lost as I am.

Planet Earth has been reforged with the Dungeon World Vhelk to form your new home world. Welcome to Crucible!

Warning! Process not fully complete. Missing information… Searching…

Insufficient interaction between the new world and any sentient or sapient life from the old. Full integration will commence upon completion of data gathering.

Missing information… Searching…

Temporal disequilibrium detected… Aether disequilibrium detected…

Congratulations! Your planet has completed its first step in its integration into the Totality. Restrictions on Totality access will be implemented until completion of the first step. Geographical types of Earth and Vhelk maintained. Reorganization of those elements implemented.

Okay this is a lot to take in. Earth didn’t have enough magic juice so it got mashed up with another world? And it’s complete already? I need to mull this over...

I get to my feet and only belatedly notice that the stab wound in my leg has healed. The rip in my jeans remain and my leg is coated in blood below the wound so I know it was there. I shake my head and make my way over to the edge of the roof. I spot a water bottle and dump the contents onto my head and into my mouth before using the last of it on my leg.

I scan the night sky before noticing a thick silver and black fog begins immediately past the end of the roof. I didn’t notice at first but it’s absolutely eerie. It swirls and flows at the edge but stops before making its way to me. I move my face closer and notice that it seems to hit an invisible barrier. I shrug my shoulders and move on. This is definitely neither the most interesting nor the most pertinent abnormality of my day.

A deep, weary sigh escapes me and I wonder how to view the messages.

You have been integrated into the Totality. A number of changes have been implemented. Basic stat set unlocked! Initializing merger of host and basic stat set.

Congratulations! Due to unique physiology you have unlocked an additional stat slot! Regeneration stat allocated!

Congratulations! Basic stamina skill gained! Basic mana skill gained!

Due to an overwhelming surge of pure ambient aether the basic skills have been upgraded!

Skills gained! Battle Dance® lvl 1. Mana Detonation® lvl 1.

Battle Dance® lvl 1: Passive. Feel and respond to the natural flow of battle and one’s optimal place in it more easily. Effects increase with skill level, Perception, Reaction, and Agility.

Mana Detonation® lvl 1: Many mana skills rely on the natural damage of the energy and force inherent in mana. This skill takes it one step further and catalyses a detonation of the mana, unleashing significantly more energy and causing more damage. Effects increase with skill level and Intelligence. Ability to withstand blowback increases with Physique and Strength. Blowback reduced with Wisdom and Willpower.

New Paths unlocked! Due to continued purity and abundance of aether the basic paths have been upgraded! Think ‘Paths’ to open and view the path screen to see your options.

Skills and paths? Seriously, what the hell? This is the weirdest shit. Am I tripping? Is that old bullshit about releasing LSD stored in your spine after cracking it real or something?

No, that’s absurd, this isn’t anything like any trip I’ve experienced before. Okay, so… skills? Paths? All I have to do is think-

Due to sustained purity and abundance of aether, intentional skill creation time will be greatly reduced and skills created in this manner will result in stronger and often rarer skills than in normal aether conditions!

Ohmyfuckinggodpleasestop. This all seems like good news but it’s all extremely overwhelming and constant and nonstop and I need a few minutes to pull myself-

Due to sustained purity and abundance of aether you will no longer be notified when this has an impact on any aspect of your development. You will instead only be notified when this changes.

My eye begins to twitch and I forcefully restrain my temper; annoying as these messages are, they remain my only source of information on what the fuck is going on.

Think ‘do not disturb’ to change Totality notification settings.

I immediately attempt to do so and the messages collapse into a small pale dot lightly highlighted in the corner of my vision. I take a deep breath in relief and sit on the ground with my back against the wall. In an attempt to calm and focus my thoughts I spend my mental energy reveling in the rest. I pour my concentration over my body; skin, joints, muscles, all of it. I notice where I’m still sore – but not hurt any more – and focus my attention on the slowly receding stress that has accumulated. It’s peaceful and relaxing and after a good fifteen minutes I open my eyes and decide to feel out how intuitive this system actually is.

If I can gain skills and… paths? Then surely I must have a ‘Status.’ As I put extra mental emphasis on the last word I’m greeted with success! Way better than a lot of technology I’m used to if I’m being honest...

Cade Vale

Level: 1

Class: None

Health: 14/14 (+2/H)

Mana: 13/13 (+8/H)

Stamina: 15/15 (+6/m)

Vitality: 2

Physique: 2

Endurance: 3

Regeneration: 1

Strength: 2

Perception: 3

Reaction: 2

Agility: 2

Intelligence: 2

Wisdom: 3

Willpower: 2

Well this is weird. And damn do my stats suck. Seriously, three is my best stat level and it’s in endurance, perception, and wisdom? Also, eleven stat slots? That seems like a lot compared to anything like this I’ve seen in popular media before. Sure, one extra is due to my… unique physiology? Does that mean unique among other humans or that humans themselves are unique compared to other… species? Races? Ugh, not enough information and honestly, I’m focusing on the wrong things right now.

Alright, lets get back to those notifications.

Congratulations! Due to being the first sapient on Crucible to dodge a lethal blow, you have unlocked the Path of Reflex!

Congratulations! Due to being the 87th sapient to strike a monster, you have unlocked the Skill Rapid Strike!

Rapid Strike: Infuse a strike with stamina to accelerate the blow. Skill effects increase with skill level, Reaction, and Agility. Costs 10 stamina.

Congratulations! Due to being the thirteenth sapient to immediately strike a monster after dodging a lethal blow, you have unlocked the Path of Retaliation!

I’m left stunned after reading these notifications. The first person in this new world to dodge a… Wow, dodge a blow that would have killed me. Just wonderful knowing that. I take a deep breath to steady my nerves and dive back in.

You have discovered the Skill Knife Mastery lvl 1!

Knife Mastery has increased to lvl 2, 3, 4!

You have discovered the Skill Fear resistance lvl 1!

Fear resistance has achieved a breakthrough! Your experiences prior to joining the Totality have catalyzed a rapid consolidation of the skill! Fear resistance has reached lvl 24!

Huh, a breakthrough straight to 24? Damn that’s impressive. And troublesome. I seriously went through enough fear before this to reach level 24 when I unlocked the skill? That really says a lot about my mental state… Nothing I can do other than enjoy the benefits and move past it though. At least for now that is. I’m definitely not leaving this alone forever.

You have discovered the Skill Reckless lvl 1!

Reckless: Causes a slight increase in the chance a reckless stunt will be performed successfully. Very slightly increases the negative effects upon failure of said stunt.

I don’t know how I feel about this. Sure, that bonus is helpful but I don’t like the idea of a skill having a negative effect on me. Yeah, okay, the negative effect seems smaller than the positive one but still, having my flaws magnified is kind of irritating even if everything else seems to only be beneficial.

You have discovered the Skill Venom Resistance lvl 1!

Venom Resistance has increased to lvl 2, 3… 5!

Congratulations! You have defeated Venom Ape [lvl 9]

Congratulations! You have reached lvl 3! Two stat points awarded!

This may be one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. I almost died multiple times, killed a monster -seriously, what the fuck?- was beaten and stabbed unconscious, miraculously healed, and finally bombarded by what should by all means be, but is not, hallucinated text.

Despite all this, a spark of excitement ignites in my chest; I can finally see my (admittedly poor) stats and it seems like I can actually even increase them! This is all extremely terrifying, but maybe I can eek a bit of enjoyment out of this insane new existence. I may have no choice in the matter but that isn’t really a new experience for me. Hopefully I’m either more suited, or can make myself more suited to this world than I was to the old one…

...Yeah, probably not. Either way, I need a plan and to meet up with my friends or family.

I pull out my phone and attempt to turn it on with no luck. Great, what is this, a horror movie?