Chapter 5: Broken Stats

“Back to the good old system! Let me tell you how it works after Pneuma changed you! Did you notice anything different yet?” Jack was excited again.

“What did you do to my hand?” Trint stood his face went ghost white.

“In short, it is best to show you a few things. Yes, your body had been repaired. We couldn’t have you getting killed by baby wolves now that you’re family, right?

Here’s a lesson for you. Everyone from i11 to i1 has access to Body & Mind stats and corresponding abilities. As you ascend, you will see more people with access to Spirit power, and eventually, you will run into the others with Soul power. That is a long way away.”

“Let’s look at your basic stats at this point. Say ‘Status Screen or Stats.’” Jack said.

Trint did just that and saw how the system quantifies who he is.

Trinten Atlas Henderson

Stats

Level: 0: 0%

Stat Pools

Health: HP - 100/100 (Regen 10/min)

Stamina: SP- 100/100 (Regen 25/min)

Mana: MP- 100/100 (Regen 10/min)

Body

-Strength: 1.0

-Agility: 1.0

-Vitality: 1.0

-

Mind

-Cognition: 1.0

-Wisdom: 1.0

-Adaptability: 1.0

Spirit

-Unknown

Soul

-Unknown

Class

None

Profession

None

“Why am I level zero? And I’ve never heard of stats like these. Shouldn’t there be more?” Trint’s shock was evident, and a slight worry crept into his thoughts. ‘Did they fix me up then break me somehow?’ Trint wondered.

“No, those are your new stats. You are correct in that others in the system have different categories. You are now broken, as far as the system goes. This is also why your stats should never be shared. So, you are the only one other than your benefactor who is like this. There are benefits of being chosen,” Jack began to explain.

“If you were to ask others or even looked at your stats before accepting Pneuma and formally accepting adoption, you would have seen a much different set of stats.

You were level one, but that was reversed to allow you to pair. You became a blank slate and now mirror your benefactor, making you compatible with Pneuma’s stat categories and power.

You get six categories for stats when considering your Body & Mind. But fear not; you will grow quickly. Yes, you are weak now, but your potential is promising. There are other Stat categories unique to you. Pneuma will help you unlock them later.”

“Like everyone else, you will need to gain experience points or Exp. Gain enough, and you will level up. At each level, you will receive stat points to grow stronger. There is more detail to it; you will learn along the way. No need to worry about anything below your Mind stats. Those will all work themselves out as you go,” Jack explained.

“When you access the rest, your power and level will multiply. But for now, it was decided that you should figure out your Body and Mind before adding access to the higher powers. We need you to grow and experience battle under your power and with Pneuma. While you have extreme advantages, you are to learn gradually.”

“So, how do your stats interact with each other?” Jack asked and answered his question.

“Most at i11 and i10 have stats starting around 10 points per category. Boosting their pre-system bodies and minds. Stats like: Strength, Agility, Stamina, Vitality, Resilience, Endurance, Intelligence, Mana, Mana Regeneration, and so on.

Simple math shows they have higher stat points and more categories. They might appear to be much more powerful than you numerically.

That will prove far from true. You are different, and comparing stats and power won't be easy. Pneuma will advise you and help you avoid getting in your head.”

“Starting with the Body stats, your vitality impacts many things and hidden sub-stats. It helps you regenerate and heal. But it is not directly tied to your health points. You also will find it increases other aspects of your body. Your Vitality is like a natural spring that supplies fresh life-giving water.”

“Next, you have Agility. Agility is how well you can manipulate your body’s abilities; think of it like a stream flowing from the spring. It flows through your body, giving you better movement and increasing your fighting ability. Agility is your Body’s Stream of power.”

“While Strength is how much power the body can use or the force you can exert using stamina & health. So, Strength is how powerful and rapid your Body’s Stream can flow.”

“All Body stats will impact each other. I have been advised to encourage you to keep your stats balanced for the start of your journey. Build a base before focusing on one area.”

“This is definitely different than the book I read,” Trint reflected, but I am hearing you say this is somehow to my advantage?” Trint wanted reassurance.

“I know I’ve explained a lot, and it is possible to grasp it all with your current mind stats.” Jack stated, “but your family wants you to learn on your own after this and get to know Pneuma. Your family is not typical, and their gifts are the same.”

“Let me finish explaining Mind.

Mind Stats are going to help you tie all of who you are together. Cognition will help you think and process, and use mana. Wisdom will help you in many ways, one of which is integrating your Spirit with your mind and body.”

“From here, Pneuma will explain what he can, and you’ll figure out the rest.” Jack’s smile was holding a genuine smile.

“I’m still very confused, but I think I get the gist,” Already Trint’s system manipulated emotion and cognition were pushing him to adapt. “Use weapons or magic to kill stuff to advance in the iterations, no change there.”

“Can I still use skills like everyone else? Trint’s thoughts were filled with questions, and he thought this could be the last chance he had to ask someone this knowledgeable.

“Yes, skills. I almost forgot. Skills are key to everyone, even you. But your Lineage and Soul will, for better or worse, try to warp your skills when you begin to harness your Spirit and Soul. Without Pneuma, you might tear yourself apart. But don’t worry; for now, your interactions in that depth are repressed by Pneuma and won’t hamper your use of skills. Pneuma is prepared to utilize some funds for some basic skills that won’t interfere with the start of your journey.”

“Pneuma will help, but you will have to decide,” Jack reminded. “Pneuma is not your master, and neither are you his. He is a companion and guide but also a trustee for you. Learn to work together.”

“Alrighty, enough about stats and skills. We must wrap up our time together and get you into the big world.” Jack’s happy attitude became subdued.

“Trinten, your path is a lonely one. Unfortunately, you can’t tell others your secrets. Not your lineage, access to spirit, not your broken stats, nothing about Pneuma. Sharing them could cost you your life or a lot of pain. Even torture or enslavement. So, I must insist you trust me on all of this and avoid joining up with big groups, organizations, sects, religions, guilds, or kingdoms, if you ever meet a dynasty, run and hide. Signing system enforced contracts with most will require access to your stats and bind you to the group.”

“Fight in small groups if you must using skills but mostly keep to yourself, especially with Pneuma. Sorry, I know; lonely? Yes.”

“But it’s for your protection and is the specific request of your benefactor.” Jack maintained sobriety, but his straight face and tone became slightly brighter.

“I will leave you to play and figure things out. But I don’t expect you to trust everything I have shared. Your benefactor paid for this information and my services. I assure you I have been honest and will give a system-verified contract to it if I could, but this is all occurring in a sort of blind spot to the system. The adoption would have caused more errors to generate if I wasn’t here to manage and block them when needed.”

“No, why I expect you to trust me has nothing to do with my power or gifts but everything to do with your family. Not your lineage, but your wife and kids.” Jack said with apprehension watching for Trint’s response.

“Wait, what! They died before the system even arrived in my world. What do they have to do with any of this? They can’t possibly have….” Trint trailed off as his mind spun. “Or is there some reincarnation thing with people who died before the system?” Trint went from shocked to questioning and finished with a shred of hope.

“Well, your adoption, unbeknownst to all but your benefactor, had been planned for a while, and although your world was not integrated, your new family has a reach beyond many in the system. But they want to prove their sincerity and desire for you to advance. And to do that, let me give you a moment of privacy.” Jack finished as he walked to the bedroom away from the Livingroom.

As shocked as Trint was, with everything since Jack arrived, now he was reeling, his heart reminded of the guilt, pain, and loss. Suddenly an ephemeral mist in the middle of the room appeared. As it appeared, it became denser and solidified into the form of his wife.

“Cara! Are you really here?” Trint jumped up and took a step towards the image of Cara. At the same time, the image closed the remaining distance and fell into Trint’s open arms.

“Yes, Babe. It’s me. I’m alive, and the kids are with me. When the crash happened, we were taken away and welcomed to our new family. They said we would be cared for and that you would be able to join us eventually. They want me to ask you to listen to the messenger's words and fight and advance till you reach us. It will be a long time but they have said there are reasons we can’t be together yet.”

“We are doing well. We miss you so much. Please do everything you can to reach us. No matter how long it takes, we are waiting, and I know you will get here. Please fight hard and be quick about it.” Cara had started with her head on Trint’s shoulder but had been intently staring into Trint’s eyes shortly after.

“I will. I promise I’ll do anything to see you and the kids again. How do I know this is you? Tell me this is real.” Trint was excited but feared this was a trick.

“It is real. Trust me and I know you will get to us.”

“Wow! I want to believe this is you,” Trint said as they laughed. “And I will choose to believe it’s you. I suppose they could somehow fake this, but I choose to believe this is you.”

“It is me. Our time together is almost up. I know you will do your best, and I know you will get to us as soon as you can. I love you, drive safe!” As Cara finished, she stepped backward, and her form slowly dissolved.

“I promise! Love you, Babe! I’ll see you soon. Drive safe.” Trint said while watching her go.

Trint collapsed back down after Cara’s form completely disappeared. Tears he overlooked left trails down his face and spotting his shirt. Grief turned to joy and remixed with loss as he was separated from his Love.

After a few minutes, Trint’s tears slowed, and he wiped his face. Jack slowly reentered the living room.

“Well, you are welcome," Jack said, "and I also apologize for the abrupt nature of your reunion. I imagine you are feeling a lot right now. I wish I could reunite you with your family now, but that is not to be.“Why did she say ‘Drive safe?’ I’m curious.”

“Oh, she would say that every day when I went to work,” Trint explained.

“Ah, very touching. Well, our time, too, is almost up. If you want to be strong enough to protect them in the future and be reunited for good, you must advance and ascend the iterations. The faster, the better, but have patience. It will take time, but your family will be protected while you advance.”

“I really must be going. It was a pleasure to meet you, and we all will be expecting great things. I wish I could help you more. But I must return home. Goodbye, Trinten, and good luck.” Jack waived and then was gone. No sound or mist, just there one moment and gone the next.