[Veronica Vance: Lvl 4 || Xp: 668/800]

[Class: Warrior]

[Hp: 190]

[Mp: 150]

[Strength: 19]

[Agility: 13]

[Intellegence: 15]

[Skills: \Slash Lvl 4\ \Tank Shot Lvl 1\ \Distract Lvl 1\ ]

[Rupert Vance: Lvl 4 || XP: 612/800]

[Class: Mage]

[Hp: 90]

[Mp: 720]

[Strength: 9]

[Agility: 7]

[Intellegence: 36]

[Skills: \Wind Blade Lvl 3 \ \Heal Wound Lvl 4\ \Empower Lvl 2\ ]

Rupert and Veronica had continued their leveling with the shadow creature. They tried to ask it its name, but it replied with a string of infrasounds. Neither could physically hear it, so they just assumed it had remained silent, not having a name.

Veronica proposed one, "Can we call you Kevin?"

The shadow creature's sharp surface pulsed with a grey glow, causing his spines to grow in length. He was clearly not pleased with the name; so unhappy that it caused a physiological response to it.

NO.

It was Rupert's turn, "How about Shade? It fits with being a shadow."

The creature seemed to resonate with the name, enjoying the meaning it held; even though he hated to adopt a new name from these undeveloped lifeforms. A light grey glow flitted through his shard-like body, responding to his happiness and causing him to grow in size. It wasn't by much since he was already so tall; just a few centimeters.

I like this name... Shade. It will make it more convenient to speak with people.

Now, they were able to talk with him like a person instead of calling him 'shadow creature guy.' all three of them were happy as they continued the routine of leveling. Shade filled the position of Zuel, grabbing a beast and forcefully holding it in place to be attacked.

Shade wasn't as thoughtful as Zuel was, letting the beast continue to move, squirming in his hand in a desperate attempt to escape. The emotionless Shade didn't care, continuing to hold the creature as the Otherworlders wailed on it.

They still fought level 7's since it was still above their level, and apparently their category as well. Rupert and Veronica both made tremendous progress on their skills; particularly Rupert since all three of his skills could be used in tandem. Together, they achieve a fine dance of skill uses. [Wind Blade] was supplemented with [Empower]ed [Slash]es and both were healed with [Heal Wound].

Veronica didn't get any chance to use her other two skills since the prey was already subdued. No one was complaining though, the free XP was terrific. Their progress continued to rise at a terrifying pace that was unmatched by anyone else other than Otherworlders.

They mowed through roughly a dozen beasts when they got the notification.

[Human Veronica Vance has leveled up]

[ LVL 4 --> LVL 5]

[Class Upgrade Initiating]

[Human Rupert Vance has leveled up]

[ LVL 4 --> LVL 5]

[Class Upgrade Initiating]

"What the?..."

"Same here..."

They were only able to get out partial sentences before they collapsed to the ground. Shade looked over their unconscious bodies, protecting them while their class upgraded. Every ten seconds, one of them twitched violently while their muscles squirmed underneath their skin. Their bodies were being reconfigured by the process, the Almighty System expertly molding them into more and more powerful beings.

Only the weak would do this. Why do they choose to struggle against the inevitable?

Rupert's heart was ripped to shreds and rebuilt with a fine mesh with a sigil drawn on it. Lines of mana now ran along every square centimeter of heart muscles, pumping mana through his body for ease of use.

Veronica's change was much more defined as her muscle strands were woven together. Braiding strands together increased the overall strength of the fibers, making her exert much more force with her muscles. The second difference was her bones, becoming as rigid as steel along the axis of movement, but like rubber when twisted.

The changes at level 5 were very physical and as such didn't give them any new skills. The system reworked their body into something more able to fight; to survive. Shade stared down at the beings he considered weak. The process went on for hours, leaving him with some time to rest.

He laid against the rock wall, staring out at the canyon filled with beasts. He admired the beauty. Every blade of grass was entertaining for him, providing an experience he had only ever seen through a veil of blurry energy.

The Void is nothing but the end. This place...it's all so...content. Content to just exist.

Shade would have sighed if he had anything resembling lungs. His eyes just watched time pass as the sun moved overhead. Patience was the one core trait at the center of every Void Being. Nothing ever happened, ever. The most interesting thing was conflict, but even that lost its flare so long as one kept their intellect.

Shade watched the sun fall like a basketball, time slipping by at any pace he wanted. The hours passed by like minutes for him. The sun had just disappeared behind the opposing canyon wall when the pair woke up.

They were both in tremendous pain. It felt like they each had a full body bruise. Apparently, having your major organs reworked into new forms left your nerves frazzled and your brain swirling. Rupert tried to cast a spell, but all it caused was his heart to nearly explode.

You two need rest. Your bodies need some time to adapt to the changes.

Without affirming with them, he brought them through the shadows to the compound. Depositing them directly onto two beds, he then reeled back his arm and forcefully knocked them unconscious.

It spends enormous amounts of energy to change their entire body, but doesn't heal them after. Pathetic.

Shade melted back into the shadows again and reappeared in Yual's room. He was carefully going through Zuel's stuff, seemingly the only one who knew the truth. Zuel was not gone, he was dead, at least in Yual's mind.

He seemed to be reminiscing on some old memories when Shade appeared, "What is it?"

They have reached level 5. Their bodies have been altered by the 'System' and now they are resting. I thought it best to inform you.

Yual nodded shallowly, "Yes. Yes... Alright. Thank you."

Shade had started to melt into liquid darkness when Yual stopped him, "Wait!"

Shade reformed, standing tall. Yual, though outwardly strong, was momentarily vulnerable from going through Zuel's stuff. He was feeling the empty space left behind by a close friend, a normal reaction, and was now trying to fill it. No matter how powerful you got, this emotion couldn't be snuffed out.

"You aren't like the other shadows I summoned from the Offering; why? You are so much...more."

Shade's face remained flat, physically unable to move it to portray emotion.

What you probably summoned were what we call 'Wisps.' They sometimes cross over into your plane by accident. I am...an agglomeration; if you could even call it that.

Yual was just confused. He knew the world of shadows pretty well; basically the foremost authority on the planet. Yet even he had never heard of such things.

"And what exactly are you an agglomeration of?"

Fragments, stolen fragments, ones that drift into the darkness and never return.

Yual was starting to get a bit frustrated, "You are being vague. As your master, I order you to tell m-"

YOU--- are only the master over only my body. I answered the offer, accepting a duty out of boredom. The darkness can only hold so much to be desired. Time has no meaning for those not made of flesh. Danger does not hold meaning for those that cannot die. My mind is still mine while my body is simply on loan for the remainder of your life.

Yual was speechless, a first in a few eras. Little surprised the old man at this point, he had just about seen and heard it all. This was new information, so it allowed his long-buried sense of surprise rise back to the surface.

"Immortal and undying? You came out of boredom? Then what point did the offer hold if you just wanted to come here anyway?"

It was very valuable for me; allowing me to 'agglomerate' more into my body. It was also a fishing line, showing me a path to this place. None should be able to pass through the barrier without tremendous circumstances and enormous amounts of power. The offering filled the first, I supplied the second.

Yual regained his composure. This put their deal in a new perspective. This made his theoretically fully-trusted servent into a mostly reliable executor of his plans. It wasn't like Shade came with fine print, skills don't come with descriptions.

Yual only let the thought of betrayal flash across his mind for a moment. There wasn't a point in worrying about it since his servant was an immortal shadow monster. He probably wouldn't be swayed by anything, so he could be trusted to an extent.

And by the way, my name is now Shade. The 'Otherworlders' named me.

Yual like it as well, "Shade... It definitely suits you well. You can go now."

Shade dissolved into the natural shadows of the world and disappeared from the room. This left behind a contemplating Yual that slowly returned to sorting through his friend's things. Most of it was junk collected over eras, but some of it was special.

While he sorted, he thought about the next steps with his new students. He decided on training them himself, so he would do it properly. Every step would need to be planned out and executed to perfection. The old Yual was regaining a bit of his strength, becoming a bit more cunning and calculative. It was small, but he felt like teaching a new pair of youngsters would take his mind off of everything.

Zuel didn't deserve to die...regardless of his character, he was still a decent person.

While Yual was in his office, Rupert and Veronica were unconscious on their bed. The red sheets were crumpled beneath them; Shade had thrown the mon top. Their bodies were like bags of potatoes, slumped in cramped directions while they slept off the nausea and mind fuckery that occurred with your body being restructured.

Rupert was the first to wake up considering that his body was the least physically changed. The drawback to less physical change was the clear and present headache that accompanied him when he woke up. Maybe it was from the concussion, or maybe it was the increase of mana running through his every blood vessel.

Either way, he checked his wife first and foremost, tucking her underneath the covers. Her brain was clearly having a harder time adjusting to the changes. The muscle system was massive and complex, probably needing a good amount of rewiring to account for all the new twists and turns the muscles made.

Rupert gently leaned over his tucked-in wife and kissed her on the head, ignoring the migraine running through his brain. He straightened his posture and walked out of the room to go get food for them. He softly closed the door behind him as to not disturb her micro coma.

The halls were relatively empty. It felt like there were only a few dozen people at the compound. This was true, only the old masters and the current elite class stayed here. This arrangement would last for two years before the students were cycled into the main forces and new students were brought in to be trained.

Rupert made it to the simple mess hall. There was barely anyone here since the more powerful people didn't need to eat any real quantity of food to sustain themselves. It was mostly for the students and the occasion muffin-seeking elder.

Rupert ordered three tuna-fish sandwiches cut into triangles and fruit juice from the man at the window. 30 seconds later, there were perfectly sliced sandwiches and a pitcher of juice with two ice-filled cups; all resting squarely on a metal tray. The fruit the juice came from was a mix between a pomegranate and an apple. It was very sweet with a slight tingling for the aftertaste. Exceedingly refreshing; the perfect thing to wake up to.

Rupert carried the tray back down the hall with a small pep in his step. He and his wife just made it to level 5! This was cause for them to celebrate; and if it leads to some more...passionate activities, then so be it.

Rupert was balancing the tray on one hand while reaching for the doorknob when the feeling hit him. It was like he was submerged in gelatin, his entire body lethargic and rubberbanding. Any movements he made refused to remain permanent, reverting him to his original position.

Then came the second feeling. This one was like a delicate hand gripping his chest, tugging at the space where his heart was. It filled Rupert's eyes with fear as he felt something dislodge in his chest. Once he felt it, his entire body seized and he fell towards the wall. His shoulder pressed hard against it as he tried to remain standing, but it was of little use. His legs gradually gave out and he crashed to the ground as his soul was whisked away.

The woman watching over Rupert saw this strange action and jumped into action. She was only to follow him inside the compound on revised orders from Yual and to intervene only if an emergency occurred. Dying was clearly an emergency, so she popped out of the darkness and rushed over to him.

His entire body was cold already, like every once of life had been sucked out of him. The tray of food had crashed to the ground, littering the scene with sandwiches and sweet fruit juice. The woman immediately called Yual, who showed up before she spoke a word. The mere action of her calling him meant something was wrong.

He was furious, waving his hands franticly as he used the only pseudo-healing skill he had, "What the fuck happened to him! What did you see?"

The woman was full of fear, and angry Yual was not a good day for anyone, "I! He just collapsed! He went to go get food, and when he made it here with the tray, he suddenly froze and collapsed!"

Yual cleaned the area with shadows and brought Rupert to his office couch; laying him down and ordering the woman around, "Slip into the room and make it seem like we never left him there. If Victoria wakes up, tell her were separated them for some individual training. If she asks why, tell her I took him into the mountains with me. That should buy me some time to figure out what the FUCK happened --- What are you doing standing there? GO!"

The woman did as she was told as Yual called in one of the elders that specialized in healing. Her skills were like giving a person a second life, able to bring them back from the precipice of death. The elder appeared in the room in a brilliant flash of light. There wasn't much use for doors in this compound.

Knowing the only reason for an immediate summons, she jumped into healing mode, "What are his vitals?"

Yule didn't know how to respond to that one, "Gone. No heartbeat, no brain activity, no eye response, body-temp: 15 C."

The woman did a double-take, "You are asking me to heal a corpse? No vitals means nothing left to heal."

"Well no more than 7 seconds ago, he was completely alive and healthy." Yule retorted.

Her skills were amazing, but she couldn't cure death; yet. So for now, the best she could do was diagnose and go from there. The woman could only muse.

Interesting...