《Sandbox of Interest》Chapter 5
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Respawn Time: 10M
I awake to see a gray ceiling infront of my eyes.
"Awake, you are? That's good. There happens to be something that I wish to discuss with you on something that is rather imperative for your future." I heard a voice as my vision blurred and my head felt fuzzy.
"Take a moment to settle, you just died after all. Well, not 'just' died. But for you it is." As I got up my arm strength kept alternating between being able to lift me up easily and having extreme difficulty. "Do beware however, that you will not lose the fear of death from just this. You would only lose it if you were to revive only to become an undead."
"Was it really neccessary for me to kill them?" I said absentmindedly. I am more focused now on reflecting on my own actions as to whether I must do this to achieve what I desire.
"Indeed, it was an unfortunate happenstance that the weakest foes happen to be rather overpowering, but it doesn't decrease your woes, correct?" I don't understand how this woman knows me so well... It's extremely alarming, but somewhat comforting at the same time. "Nevertheless, you understand what you have to do to proceed and work towards your goal of meeting your relatives and helping them in getting comfortable with this sort of universe. The road ahead of you will be no easier than what you are currently facing in your situation."
"What is the purpose of you calling me here then?" I say as I face Callaly who is sitting behind her desk.
"Ah yes, we have wasted 30 seconds out of the 10 minutes I have given us, but I digress. Onto the main topic!" Callaly exclaims as she stands up and the desk fades away. "What I have called you here is discuss about one of your more important purposes in this world. Do you recall your titles, especially the 'Enforcer' title?"
"Yes, I believe I seen it while confirming my class." I tried to check my status while responding, but nothing came up.
"Well, we are going to talk about that. More specifically, the effects and the purpose of that. Every title has an effect on a purpose that is hidden until you gain a certain skill or system. For Enforcer, you take reduced damage from another player's attack unless they hold the title themselves and any player that falls at your hands, any experience they lose, you gain. That is for the future. What is now, is the extra damage to any entity with the race: 'chaotic abomination'."
"What is an entity?" I asked, the vocabulary on this goddess is a bit too much for me.
"An entity is a being that 'exists' in some way. It's really complicated to comprehend the exist part until you reach a higher point so do wait until then. These chaotic abominations are as difficult to explain and comprehend. However these chaotic abominations will always give you something upon your subjugation of them. Bring them here for rewards."
"What kind of rewards are you talking about?"
"Rewards in all kinds of forms. Information, abilities, systems, equipment, and history." Callaly replied, with a bit of a lack of emotion in her voice that startled me especially on 'history' which felt like it was focused on.
"Allow me to share a sample of the history part. Eight centuries before you were born, a terrifying curse plagued this entire universe for aeons. If you were born during that age, if not dead already, you would without a doubt be living in extreme misery and torment to be inevitably played at the wills of others. The inhabitants of that time knew no kindness as terrors would unveil themselves at every twist and turn. Every bend of your body would introduce new pains and suffering. The system of this universe was not spared from this as well as it would rain the result of it's corruption indiscriminately and unsparingly upon planes and realms. What resulted from this corruption, is the chaotic abominations. They are entities that should have never existed in the first place. And their constant plight would continue to plague this universe until they are all brought down. Even gods fear these chaotic abominations, and a resulting factor of one of these would sometimes be mortals turning other mortals and/or divinities into such abominations by exploiting this corruption."
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"How am I supposed to bring them down myself?"
"Titles of this universe musn't be underestimated. As chaotic abominations may be mighty foes, so should the power of their bane. This universe is most certainly still recovering from the curse, but it has most certainly recovered well enough if someone like you is able to walk the lands of the planet you are currently on."
"Wouldn't I worry first about surviving?"
"That is indeed correct. As you are right now, you wouldn't be able to survive against even the faintest taint. You will be able to take them on later as you get stronger."
"What about... Turning into one of them? If-"
"That is not something you have to worry about. Not only does your Enforcer title inhibits this, so does your Player title."
"So, I don't have to worry about the chaotic abominations for now?"
"Yes, until you encounter one that is. That's when the chaotic abominations themselves will force you into a fight. Very few have managed to escape one. Anyways, time is running out now."
Respawn Time: 1M
"The very last thing and most important thing is, you can use your appraisal on your titles. I'm surprised you neglected and did not even think about this idea. You can even use your appraisal on items and skills." I found myself slightly embarrassed and interested at the same time.
What I was doing was called appraisal? I could've done it on my things too...
"That is all for now. Good luck once again." Callaly said as she sat back down behind her desk.
Respawn Time: 3S
My vision then begins to blur.
Respawn Time: 2S
Everything begins to dim.
Respawn Time: 1S
I can no longer distinguish Callaly.
Respawn Time: 0S
Reviving...
My consciousness shakes to awake itself once again to a remniscent scent of the vegetation around me. My eyes open to see an orange sky instead of a blue one.
I appraise myself.
Aliyah Vertremes Ayosci Rank: Trivial Race: Human Level: 5 (3/25) Occupation: Spirit Novice lvl 34 (18%) Age: 18 years old HP: 1112/1112 EP: 14200/14200 SP: 616/616 Available Status Attribute Points: 125 Points Strength: 59 Wisdom: 142 Endurance: 57 Will Power: 333 Vitality: 61 Dexerity: 130 Agility: 121 Leverage: 59 Base Spiritual Damage: 142 Armor: 57 Magic Resist: 333 Luck: 182 Base Physical Damage: 59 Perception: 136 Skills: Novice Spirit Arts Lvl 0 (97%) Minor Health Recovery Lvl 3 (68%) Party Management Lvl 1 (0%) Lesser Channeling Lvl 1 (61%) Unique Skills: Pure Saint's Spirit Lvl 13 (93%) Titles: Underdog (New)
Now then, to take Callaly's suggestion into account. First I choose... Novice Spirit Arts.
Novice Spirit Arts
An uncommon skill that allows the skill user to borrow the power of willing spirits. This is the very beginner level of such skill and does not allow the user to use the skill to it's full potential for safety purposes.
That doesn't tell me too much. Hmm, since that description is simple, I think I will skip the other skills for now. But I am curious about Minor Health Recovery.
Minor Health Recovery
You have obtained a need for a more healthy natural recovery of your health. This is a skill that is obtained from a rather extreme amount of health regeneration. Minor Health Recovery is a superior version of the Miniscule Health Recovery.
Does that mean that Minor Health Recovery isn't a beginner level skill? To have such a skill along with my disease resistance, I must've gained and leveled these skills without even noticing in my past life. Onto the equipment.
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Min (Inactive)
This is a rare weapon that grows in strength along with it's user. This allows it to improve in the threshold of durability and power amplification. It is currently inactive from a lack of a channel from it's user. When active, it will turn into a weapon form of the spirit currently possessing it.
Soulbound Enchantment: This object has been attached to your soul. If you were to die, you would take this item along with you. (29 Days 29 Hours 58 Minutes 47 Seconds before expiration of enchant.)
White Cloak
An extremely common item that is purely for vanity purposes. Due to it's bright color, it doesn't give any stealth bonuses.
Soulbound Enchantment: This object has been attached to your soul. If you were to die, you would take this item along with you. (29 Days 29 Hours 58 Minutes 47 Seconds before expiration of enchant.)
Is it possible to replace the White Cloak later on? I may have to find traces of civilization to do so.
Enforcer
A title bestowed to those chosen by the SYSTEM and the high entities.
Effects:
30% Damage reduction from those holding the "Player" Title.
500% Extra damage dealt against "Chaotic Abomination" Race.
Gain EXP from those holding the "Player" Title that are slain by you.
Immunity to "Lost" Status Effect.
Cannot change Races.
Gain one Follower.
Lose Life Span Slower.
So, it's possible to change races? What's the "Lost" status effect?
Pure Saint
No matter what, you have had always been untainted by the sins of those who have acted malicious towards you. You have never thought of taking any kind of malicious intention and have been regarded by people as a savior. You have been completely harmless your entire life and never harmed anything in any shape or form.
Effects:
Pure Saint's Spirit Skill gained.
Increased affinity with spirits.
I think I would've lost this title by now since I've harmed a lot of those rabbits.
Player
You are a person of a unique status. Your actions here have much greater impact in your own world than you think.
Effects:
Connection to a World Hourglass.
Ability to revive.
5% Damage Reduction from those holding the "Player" Title.
Lose Life Span Slower.
Underdog
You have fought a serious battle against something with many more personal levels than you and won.
Effects:
500 Extra Maximum Health Points (Variable).
5% Damage increase against higher leveled foes.
5% Damage reduction from higher leveled foes.
"(Variable)"? What is that supposed to mean? Well before I move on, I just became interested in "Party Management" skill.
Party Management
For the sake of sharing experience through killing or cultivating, you have gained this skill. You can form a party with anyone and share experience with them. When you reach 'Nobility' all exp is distributed proportional to damage dealt to an enemy whether the battle is won or lost.
My thoughts are interrupted from a noise coming from the plains. My head turns to see a rabbit peeking it's head out from a shrub, although the shrub doesn't mask it's size... That said, the rabbit appears to be bigger than normal as usual.
Frita Rank: Master Race: Serrated-Eared Rabbit Level: 31 (291/3000) Occupation: Forest Skirmisher Lvl 291 Age: 15 years old
Looking around for my follower I see Vestrius close to the Pheonix Hourglass. Thinking back to what Callaly said, I used this moment to experiment while I still could as the rabbit seemed hostile like the others.
Vestrius Nomica has been added to the party.
As I thought. I only thought the word 'party' and that occured. My eyes focus back onto the rabbit who is charging at us with a near blurring speed.
Without hesitation, I activated the Min and swung at the rabbit. As my blade was about to make contact with the rabbit, a bright light flashes from the sky.
A thundering crackle resounds from the sky as I see the rabbit in front of me is covered entirely in a bright light. And then my sword makes contact.
Frita has been slain.
Occupation level has reached 100.
Occupation has reached max level.
Please select a new Occupation.
Excess Experience contained.
Personal level has reached 7.
Rank has changed to Standard.
Health, Ethereal Power, and Stamina has been restored.
Status has been automatically distributed.
Mage Novice Magician Novice Noble Citizen Fighter Cleric Novice Prankster Novice Pugalist Spirit User Hunter Novice Forest Gatherer Novice Alchemist
Twelve choices to choose from. Although as I am concerned about my current situation, I move the window out of my vision for now as I look around in alert.
Catching a glance towards Vestrius, she did not look alert herself.
"You know something about that thunder strike?" I asked harshly.
"That thunder strike was caused by the Pheonix Hourglass. It deemed that you were in danger and thus used the skill smite on it."
"Is that so?" My voice softens as I relax.
"You should appraise the hourglass if you can do so." A familiar voice sounds from behind. I turned and realized that Mimi was there, floating with a bit of a dazed expression. "Aren't you supposed to be dead?"
"It's because of a title that I have." I answer with no hesitation.
"A title? What title?" Mimi pushed for an answer.
"'Player' title. It's a special title. It allows an unlimited amount of revivals as long as this is here." I point to the Pheonix Hourglass.
"I feel like that is something you should keep a secret to yourself from now on." Mimi then said with a bit of apprehension in her voice.
"Why?"
"That's because anyone would become greedy for a title like that. Not only that, anyone would fear a person who could never stay dead. Imagine you killing someone you hate and yet they keep coming back." I don't really get it.
"What's wrong with that?"
"What is wrong with that is that you will experience more pain than you should!" Pain. Strength suddenly leaves from my legs and I fall to the ground. "What happened?"
"It's no... nothing."
"I recommend you to stop talking to her."
"Astoria? Why?"
"You've triggered a response within her, and I would very much prefer it if none of my chosen became inept."
"I thought you were a goddess."
"That is my mother. I can still make mistakes myself. Hence my current interference. *Sigh*, even my sisters haven't had to do this. Anyways..."
The world became a void.
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