“Welcome mortal. I’ll be with you in a moment.” I found myself in a strange office, facing a middle aged woman working her way through a stack of papers. One who gave off slight vibes of divinity. As she finished the last few pages, I took a seat in a surprisingly comfortable chair. I was in a white room, though it was hard to tell just how big it was as everything seemed to blur together with the exception of the massive desk and the chair on my side. “Ah, there we go. Finally, one of you actually warrants personal attention. Now, before I get into it, I have some bad news for you. You will not be evolving into a Heretic race.”

“I won’t? What will I be then? And who are you?” I blurted out, confused and off balance. This really wasn’t what I was expecting.

“My apologies, one tends to forget their manners without a chance to use them in a few thousand years. I am a fragment of Croea, left here to manage the dungeon. And I’ve been waiting for you for a long time, Sean.”

“You know me?”

“No, but I’ve seen glimpses. I was the goddess of foresight. Now, on to the explanations. When we first implemented this evolution system, we didn’t realize the absolute vastness of the universe. In addition, we would have to actually create a new race with the Heretics, when instead there were several races already created that have the same potential as the race we were working on. So any who meet those exacting requirements are originally given the option for Heretic, in actuality they will be brought here for their true choice. Here is the list, but remember that I can’t answer any questions about them. This choice must be yours and yours alone.” After she finished, a new menu opened up in front of me automatically.

Race

Description

Bonus

Requirements

Dark one

Many confuse them with fallen angels due to their black wings, though the races are in no way related save looks. Angels emerged from the primordial chaos to assist, while Dark Ones arose to limit the power of Dieties and to keep their influence within their chosen domain

+20 attributes per level, +20 spirit per level, mana regen increased by 15% every 5 levels, increased ability to infuse divine level spells, divine level spells have increased damage

Have 100 spirit, Clear level 15 of the dungeon without help and without clearing it with a group beforehand, Be opposed to a god or goddess

Demiurge

Once servants of the Supreme One that created the Multiverse, they have since been freed of their duties. While many remain in their former roles, others have taken to wandering the worlds and punishing those they feel abuse their power. With powerful bodies and strong magic, even dieties take care when dealing with this race.

+20 attributes per level, +20 spirit per level, can omit chanting without losing spell efficacy, increased ability to infuse divine level spells, damage tripled against enemies the Demiurge feels has abused their power.

Have 100 spirit, Clear level 15 of the dungeon without help and without clearing it with a group beforehand, have sworn punishment upon a powerful entity.

Titan

A race of beings born long before the gods, Titans used to rule the cosmos. Like dieties, they must choose a domain for their power to be nigh unparalleled in, though choosing poorly can leave them weak and vulnerable.

+20 attributes per level, +20 spirit per level, can omit chanting without losing spell efficacy, increased ability to infuse divine level spells, spells within their domain cost 50% less mana, outside cost 50% more

Have 100 spirit, Clear level 15 of the dungeon without help and without clearing it with a group beforehand, have injured a god or a divine avatar.

Defiant

This race rejects shackles in all forms, even those from the divines. With powerful magic and a strong moral sense, they often find themselves interfering in the affairs of others.

+20 attributes per level, +20 spirit per level, mana regen increased by 15% every 5 levels, can omit chanting without losing spell efficacy, increased ability to infuse divine level spells

Have 100 spirit, Clear level 15 of the dungeon without help and without clearing it with a group beforehand, have injured a god or a divine avatar.

Astral Wanderer

Where they come from and where they are destined to go shall always remain a mystey. Their powerful magics allow them to comfortably cross the harshest environments in the multiverse, and the most powerful of them can even venture near the Great Abyss. They prefer to maintain an unassuming form, letting their enemies vastly underestimate their power.

+20 attributes per level, +20 spirit per level, mana regen increased by 15% every 5 levels, can omit chanting without losing spell efficacy, increased ability to infuse divine level spells, vastly increased ability to develop resistances

Have 100 spirit, Clear level 15 of the dungeon without help and without clearing it with a group beforehand, must have visited at least 3 planes of existence

Ascended human

There are those that are powerful, and there are those that have gone beyond what most have thought possible for a species. The ascended tier of any species is only differentiated by their golden eyes ringed by silver.

+20 attributes per level, +20 spirit per level, mana regen increased by 15% every 5 levels, can omit chanting without losing spell efficacy, increased ability to infuse divine level spells

Have 100 spirit, Clear level 15 of the dungeon without help and without clearing it with a group beforehand.

I carefully looked over the new options, pondering them. They all had similar requirements, though I had a feeling that was normal. What I was more interested in was the differences between them. Take the Titan for example. Choosing a domain would be incredibly powerful, but also incredibly limiting. I would be forced to choose between a domain to help me against Apophis, and a domain to help me get back home. There were too many things I didn’t know about domains to really make an informed choice, though I did feel like a Titan of Magic would be amazingly powerful.

Ascended human was out. It had the same bonuses as Astral Wanderer but lacked the increase to gaining resistances. I also got the feeling in my gut that it was the more basic option despite being put last on the list. Demiurge had to be out as well. While the triple damage would be wonderful, I had a nagging feeling that there was something off in the description. Namely this Supreme One. That sounded like a god or goddess, or even something higher. While it did set them free, who was to say there isn’t a forced recall clause that could be enacted later? Too much of an unknown.

Dark one was going to have the same problems as Titans. Increased divine attacks, but that doesn’t really help me get home. And in the end, that was my ultimate goal. I wanted my family back. That left Defiant and Astral Wanderer. Again, Defiant had issues with their name. What exactly constituted shackles? I knew several bachelors back home who would refer to a wife as the old ball and chain, so would that constitute shackles? What about a job? Civilization? Plus, it had the same bonuses as the Ascended human. Breaking it down, there really was only one option that fit.

“I choose to become an Astral Wanderer.” I said, getting a smile from the fragment of a goddess.

“Excellent choice! Now come here for a moment.” She said, and with a wave of her arm I had the brief bit of disorientation as I found myself staring at my own body from above. “Astral Wanderers have a wide variety of options to change their appearance. Like most races though, you can see the difference in the eyes. Your irises will have a silver sheen, and seem to glow in direct light or when angered. In darkness, it won’t give your position away, so don’t worry about that. Is there anything you would change?”

“No.” I said, shaking my head. When I was brought here, I already got most of what I could have wished for when I got a body that was in much better shape. “I rather like my body how it is. Though it did mention an ability to adapt?”

“Indeed. Do you have any modifications you would like to add right now?”

“Yes.” I said, shuddering slightly at the memory. “The air guardian in your dungeon. It would have been a lot easier if I had an ability that let me fly.”

“Ah, yes that is one of the most dangerous areas. Hmmm, we can’t go with permanent wings, it goes against your ability to blend in. I believe ethereal is the way to go. They will be vulnerable to magical attacks, but highly resistant to physical. As for the adaptation. . .” She paused for a second, scanning through several screens. “AHA! Perfect! Combining mana manipulation with your gravity and air magic should be the best combination. You’ll be given a complete set of flying instincts as well. Removing any fear of heights, knowledge of thermals, and an instinct to create a force shield over your eyes to protect them during high speeds.”

“So, my adaptations are based on my magics so far?” I asked, intrigued.

“They can be.” She nodded.

“Perfect. Can we go ahead and work in my vision modes?” I asked, intrigued.

“Vision modes? Oh, very nice. Yes, we can work these in as well. There is limited space in the retina, so some things will have to be low powered. What are your choices?”

“Hmmm. I can easily adapt that eye shield to grant extreme long range vision, so we won’t need to waste any room on that. Go ahead and go minimal for the mana vision, that way it is less likely to be overwhelmed. Give me a good bit of shadowvision. I have a feeling it will be needed later.”

“Understood. There is room to increase the range of your normal vision. Shall I proceed?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “Ultraviolet and infrared if possible. No preference. I create mana armor a lot. Is there any way to build that in?”

“It will use up most of the rest of what I can do. Any time you sense danger, you will automatically create your armor in a design that you believe will counter the perceived threat.”

“Excellent. I think that will do.”

“Committing changes. Evolution in progress.” She said, waving a hand and making my body disappear. “Now, we have a bit of time. What would you like to do?”

“Well, now that I have chosen my evolution, can I ask some questions about it?”

“Sure.” She said with a smile. “But before that, would you mind going through a thought experiment with me? You mortals always come up with the most amazing responses.”

“Sure, I guess.” I said with a shrug.

“Fantastic! Do you know of the dwarven trains?”

“I know of trains from my world. One powered car pulling several others behind it?”

“Indeed. Now, you are standing at a crossroads. If you send the train to the left, it runs over one person. If you send it to the right, 10 people will die. Which direction do you send it?”

“Left.” I immediately replied, having been through this bit of questioning before. Next would come the questions about someone I care about versus different numbers of people I don’t know. But there was one difference between now and the last time. “And before the train runs over that person, I would slash their bindings with magic and use telekinesis to safely remove the person.”

“Oh? Interesting. Not a unique solution, especially among mages, but still more concerned than most I have seen. What if the person is welded to the tracks, and you can’t slash their binding in time?”

“Forcefully apply the brakes while taking away the heat source for the engine, shutting it down.”

“The brakes have been disabled.”

“Derail it in a safe direction.”

“There are people on the train.”

“Disconnect the engine, use gravity magic to slow the rest while I derail the engine.”

“The engine can’t be decoupled.”

“Look, no matter what you do there is a way to try and save the person. This time I’ll raise the tracks just before and after the person, and bridge it with a bit of metal. Train safely goes over the one person.”

“Impressive.” She said. “Most mortals stop trying as soon as it gets difficult. What keeps driving you?”

That made me pause for a minute. I smiled, thinking back and answered, “My father. And all the firefighters that he called brothers that helped raise me. Day after day, they put their lives on the line for others, people they didn’t know. Because they thought it right. I grew up admiring those men and women, and fully believe in their ideals. All life is precious, and all is worth saving.”

“Firefighters? What are those?” She asked, confused.

“You know, for a goddess of foresight, you really don’t see all that much.” I chuckled.

“I told you, I am merely a fragment. Most of my abilities weren’t transferred here. I only have enough of my personality to keep the dungeon functional and provide what is necessary for evolutions. Now, what is a fire fighter?”

“Right, sorry. That does make sense. In my world, we don’t have magic. Fires break out on occasion, and firefighters are people whose job is to go and stop the fire. They rush into burning buildings to save lives.”

“I see. Thank you for indulging my curiosity. Now, what was it that you had questions about?”

“Well, it has been bothering me for a while. What does an Astral Wanderer need with spirit? I thought that was only for divine magics and healing.”

“Ah. That is an interesting question. Spirit is used for far more than that, though you wouldn’t realize it without the proper background. Spirit is used to transcend realms. That is why it is used for sending prayers to dieties, as they live in a different plane of existence. If you wish to bridge two planes, you need spirit. That covers creating a portal for your own use, or summoning creatures to your aid from other planes. Since this is such a rare resource, many mages, especially summoners, have found a way around the spirit requirement. They form contracts in their astral form, allowing them to call allies to their side in exchange for mana.”

“Thanks for the explanation. Do you know how accurate the book that the dungeon dropped is? The one on astral connections?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t answer that. It was authored by Morgana the Fey, one of the most adept Wanderers ever, but the plains and their connections change over time.”

“Damn. Alright, that’s fine. Not your fault.” I said, leaning back in the chair. “So. I know that I can connect to other planes if I know where they are. Can you tell me more of how that’s done? Or is it something instinctive?”

“I’m sorry, I do not possess that knowledge.” She replied.

“No worries.” I shrugged it off. “I’m sure I’ll figure it out somehow. Last question. Should it come down to it, how can I kill a god?”

“I’m sorry, I do not possess that knowledge.” She said in another monotone. Shaking her head, she looked at me with a bit more clarity. “I have a request of you. You do not have to do it, but it might help you on your journey.”

“Go on.” I nodded.

“After you evolve, take the quest that sends you north. Before I was split, I was given this information to give to the summoned who would try to slay a god.”

“Given?” I asked, confused.

“By my full self. That is all the knowledge I have.”

“Do you know what I will find in the north? How far will I have to go?”

“I do not possess that knowledge.” She was back to being a monotone, and it was infuriating.

“Damned prophetic goddesses and their damned machinations.” I muttered.

“Process is complete.” She announced suddenly. “Congratulations. It only took five days, but you have successfully become an Astral Wanderer. Before you go, know that I am placing a seal on your ability to speak to others about the evolution paths offered here.” As she spoke, an orange circle appeared in front of her finger and shot straight into my forehead. Knowing that others had gone through it without issue, I didn’t make any move to avoid it.

“GAH!” I cried out in pain, wishing they had mentioned how much it would have hurt beforehand. The spike of pain was all I felt before I blacked out.