Chapter 140: Oversights
Added 2024-04-07 06:07:38 +0000 UTCLeif stared at the figure made of crimson light, a sketch of a smile stretched across their otherwise undetailed face. “Who- or what are you?” He said, both on guard and alert at the figures' sudden appearance.
“Hmmm, little me? Give it a few seconds, you’ll remember. I think so at least.” The red ghost said, its smile widening.
“I don’t- wait…” Leif said, a veil that had been placed over his memories being drawn back. He remembered his first evolution, of going over the different options and ultimately deciding to go with [Amber Blight Spriggan]. But a second layer to that memory was now revealed, Leif saw himself engaging in conversation with the entity that now stood before him, how he had been congratulated, consoled, and told that he wouldn’t remember. “You- you put me down this path.” He half stated, half accused.
“I did no such thing! I am an overseer, I can only observe, measure and record.” It said, raising the bare outline of what could be arms as if in defence.
“Yes… You said the same exact thing last time.” Leif recalled, unwilling to lower his guard. It was highly unnerving to realise that his memories had been altered, doubly so now that his ability to recall past events has been further enhanced by a skill.
“You don’t believe me, do you? Harsh, a little rude, but fair. A lot of the beings I interact with don’t understand me, it’s one of my life’s great tragedies.” The ghost mumbled, dejectedly.
Leif’s vision briefly flicked to the system notifications he had received, the one’s repeatedly declaring that an error had been made. “What does the system mean that the trial rewards may be nullified or altered? Is this your doing?”
“No, no. That’s a standard message, everyone in your kind of situation see’s it. Though I do think it’s worth pointing out that it's quite rare for anyone to actually get to this point. You are almost unique in that regard. Madness, death, those are the most common outcomes. I know you have many questions, but before you barrage me with them I should point out that my ability to share information is heavily restricted. It is my nature I’m afraid, believe me when I say that fact upsets me more than it does you.”
Leif took a step back, mentally readjusting to the conversation. “I kept thinking that there was something wrong whenever I re-entered the space the system uses for evolution and promotion. I kept thinking that something was missing, that was because you were absent.”
“That’s sweet of you. And it’s as I said during our first meeting, it’s because of cracks, metaphorical cracks. Sometimes I can slip through, sometimes I cannot.”
“Cracks…” Leif said, his gaze returning to the system notifications. “You mean the errors? Are those the cracks?”
“They are.”
“Is there something wrong? With the system I mean. I know errors are relatively common, common enough that people study their appearances at places like the Academy. But I’ll be honest, the idea is kind of terrifying.”
“What’s scary about the omniscient working that governs our reality having a few glaring holes? That’s crazy talk.”
Leif just stared at the overseer.
Silence hung between them, then the overseer continued. “Is there something wrong… that is quite the loaded question my tree friend. I cannot say, I am not at liberty to share certain aspects of the system. It exists, for the most part it works fine. So don’t worry about what you can’t change.” The crimson ghost said with a shrug.
“You mean there are certain rules you cannot break?” Leif said.
“Rules… not quite the correct term but it’s close enough. It’s all very complicated, magic at a certain scale always is, or so I believe.”
“You're saying that it’s too complicated for me to understand.”
“It’s too complicated for me to understand. It was too complicated for the d̷͚̈͛e̸̢͈̋s̶̨̍́i̶̝͍̔̌g̸̗͐͠n̷͙͂͒ȅ̷̤̟r̸̪̗͆̒s̵̭̘̽ to fully understand. So don’t feel bad about it.”
Leif blinked. There was a part of that sentence that his mind skipped over.
“Whoops, you’re too low level for that talk, it gets easier to forget with every passing year.” The overseer said, laughing awkwardly. “Anyway, shall we get down to business, our time isn’t infinite so let's not waste it!”
“Yes… let's.”
“Okay, so, do you understand what’s gone wrong here? Actually, that’s too soon, do you know what would have happened, if you were normal?”
Leif considered the question. Unless his knowledge is way off the mark, at level fifty monsters split into one of two different paths. They either incarnate, or awaken. “I think-”
“Yes, that's right. There are two paths monsters can walk down, though only rarely will something be given the option to pick. It takes a certain type of mindset and life experience to awaken, and the same is true for incarnation. I should point out that most monsters incarnate, an overwhelming majority in fact. So you’re quite special, in more than one way.”
“I’m not getting a choice, am I?”
“You are not.” He stated. “As I’m sure you’ve already figured out, you have already awakened. There are certain… problems with how you did it. Certain options only become available after you have reached a specific level… a specific level that you have not technically reached, even though you are level fifty.” The overseer said, wringing their hands together.
That brought Leif up short. What does that mean? How could I not meet the level requirement… oh. “Do you mean-”
“I do, yes. You need to have reached level fifty in your monster class to gain the full benefits of awakening.”
“Stop doing-.” Leif said, annoyed, only to be cut off again.
“Doing what?”
“Answering my questions before I’ve finished saying them.”
“I’m doing that?” The ghost blinked. “Sorry? I didn’t notice. Anyway, you now sit in the awkward crossroads of power, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Leif looked down at himself. “I’m going to be stuck like this for, what, another few years, decades?”
“You may never trigger the conditions to transmute your body, even after reaching level fifty.”
“There are conditions? What are they?” Leif asked, trying to keep the edge out of his voice. He didn’t succeed.
“This is one of those situations where I could tell you, but shouldn’t. Self discovery is an important part of growth.”
“That is not helpful at all.”
“True, true. Let me make it up to you by sharing something else! You have officially caused enough errors in the system that your existence has been flagged! Isn’t that great?” The overseer said, quickly changing the topic.
“I don’t know, it doesn’t sound great.” Leif said, slightly alarmed.
“Don’t worry, you won’t be erased from existence or anything, that’s not how this works. No, instead you have been flagged as a ‘splinter’, which isn’t actually a pun, things just work out like that sometimes.”
“I don’t-”
“It means your existence has been deemed one likely to cause more errors in the future. And are likely to make others around you do the same. Basically you’re a troublemaker, and the system knows it. And because the system knows it, I know it.”
“It’s not exactly intentional.” Leif said flatly.
“Right, it’s more an interesting fact than anything you should probably worry about.”
“Probably?”
The overseer waved the question away. “The world is massive, far larger than you know. The system touches all of it, and a little beyond. There are monsters, humans and animals, and each and every one of them uses the system, albeit in different ways. Most non humans use the system instinctually, without ever seeing any screens or numbers. That’s another way you’re an exception. What I’m trying to say is that it's a big, incredibly complex web of magic and information. Errors happen constantly, you just make them happen more than most.”
“The way you speak makes it sound like everything is going to come crashing down at any moment.”
The ghost’s crimson outline flickered, disappearing for a moment, before returning. “Not my intention. And it isn’t true. I can’t tell you why though. Rules, you know?”
“So what can you tell me? What is going to happen when the trial finally ends?”
“You are going to gain a bunch of new toys. In some ways you will be getting more than you should, and in others, way less. There will be a bunch of error messages, just ignore them. And then you’ll need to get used to how much stronger you’ve become.”
“What do you mean by more than I should?” Leif asked.
“You have more classes than normal, but I thought you already knew that.”
“Oh.”
“Oh indeed. Normally an awakened monster gets access to two standard class slots at level fifty. You already have three, and are about to gain a fourth. It’ll slowly even itself out, you won’t have so much of an advantage over your monstrous peers as you get higher in level.” The overseer said, then he looked up. The space around them was beginning to fall apart.
“Quickly, before this ends. What is incarnation, what am I missing out on?”
“Oh it’s simple. You’re missing out on a second monster class. And the ability to pass down evolved traits to your descendants.”
“Is that it? I think I was expecting more.”
“Yeah that’s it.”
“What about the Amber, who were they?”
“Monstrous trees.”
“I already knew that.”
“Then why did you ask?”
“Why-”
The world broke apart, and everything faded away.
===
Congratulations! You have completed the level fifty advancement trial!
Error! You do not meet the prerequisites for certain advancement rewards!
For resonating with possible alternative versions of the present, and comprehending the lives and choices you could have made your trial completion grade is: Very High!
No additional rewards based on passing grade!
For passing this milestone you may now advance your level beyond this point!
Banked experience will be awarded after rewards are finalised!
Your general class limit has increased from 3 to 4!
All attributes have their efficacy increased by 10%!
For achievements earned and difficulties overcome up to this point you may further increase the efficacy of a single attribute of your choice by 30%!
===
Attributes:
Free: 0
Might: 67 (+20%)
Alacrity: 63 (+20%)
Intelligence: 69 (+20%)
Willpower: 77 (+20%)
Spirit: 80 (+20%)
Charisma: 147 (+100%)
===
The advancement chamber within the receiver temple was a welcome sight, though Leif found it difficult to make out past the onslaught of system messages. He was alone, his clothing no-longer destroyed. From experience he knew the system wouldn’t continue until he had selected an attribute to increase the efficacy of, so he took the time to let out a long breath.
Power pulsed through him, the changes made by the ten percent increase to all attributes a welcome addition. He looked up at the ceiling, allowing everything he had just seen, experienced and learnt to wash over him like a wave. It wasn’t overwhelming, though maybe he would need time to process.
Okay, let's pick an attribute and see what comes next.
Comments
I speculate that the System was crafted by ancient humans to replace inefficient natural power progression. So it's not like the System can uplift being for no cost. It merely helps person advance, not grants advancement arbitrarily. As for the construct being too advanced even for it's designers it makes sense. On any kind of technology on Earth it's work of hundreds of people, not just discoveries of singular scientists. At some point things become too huge for one person to operate. Also the System may have been built with growth potential further exaggerating difficulty in understanding it. I think that the System decays because it's human caretakers were defeated by union of monster factions who fallen apart right afterward into squabbling mess and Ambers were executed so that the System designers won't come back. Isn't next trial advancement at 100 instead of 75? Yeah, fusing skills into monster class seems to allow MC much better evolution choices. As for doing other way around well, MC has several human classes and only one monster class. Even if Leif is nigh immortal considering arriving chaos or potential Amber enemies i doubt he will have leasure of slow advancement. I wonder how will premise of Leif living for ridiculous amount of time even work because huge part of the novel are side characters and not all of them will have the will to advance in order to increase their lifespan so that they can accompany MC. Incarnating requires training too as monster classes give aura and comprehension skills as well. Just look how well trained incarnated shadow orc was. It's just that majority of monsters MC was meeting were wild monsters. That being said I can see how even then monster factions will be rather railroaded in specialized directions considering how descendants tend to take similar paths to their parents in comparison to humans who seems to be entirely chaotic path wise forcing them to research things more.
Rubeno
2024-04-08 07:13:52 +0000 UTCI believe it was for every century that he lived he could plant a domain tree
Owen Allen
2024-04-07 14:50:34 +0000 UTCIsn’t Leif able to plant a domain tree every advancement? Or was it that he can do it every monster class evolution? Could have also been how many decades he lived (1 for now). Regardless, would be great for Leif’s mobility if he can plant one in the Academy. He can then teleport to his domain tree in Far-Reach and the Academy whenever. In any case, considering that Leif has his domain tree as a safety net, would be ideal to go to Academy to avoid the war. Leif as the Scion of Aeons has a great memory so learning all he can in the academy will be great. He may even be able to learn enough about making seals, emblems and other things to instruct a burgeoning crafter. Scion is able to impart lessons efficiently so that is good for when he returns to Far-Reach. The Amber were (and still are with Leif) basically vast repositories of knowledge. Leif can learn everything there is to know about running a nation and civilization at the Academy. Getting to level 100 will be a time sink assuming he isn’t going to do something like the Crucible (dungeon Hera did). Might as well prepare the knowledge to found a nation while there. After all, Leif is uniquely situated into making a nation accepting everyone that follows their laws. Leif’s domain increases animal experience and evolution into higher beings. When any animal can become a sapient being and contributor to a civilization, Leif is sitting on a lot of potential and power. The main thing such a project currently lacks is powerful protectors (level 100+) and knowledge on certain civilization aspects like seals and emblems. Since Leif’s Scion of Aeons is meant to be a walking seeker and repository of knowledge with perfect memory, seeking out all knowledge is logical. Leif even has the skill to efficiently impart such teachings to others.
Conor McGroarty
2024-04-07 11:30:32 +0000 UTCSo the system is a co-opted natural force or phenomenon (or at least involves such a thing on a deep level) so complex that the designers and civilization at the time couldn’t completely understand. Maybe the world is alive (ancient, powerful and not taking sides) and thus that is why it applies to all living beings and not just humans. They built something they didn’t completely understand so I can understand why the system works as it does instead of just pumping chosen people to level 100+ for seemingly no cost. Under ideal circumstances the System would spur development and change in civilization advancement just with the change in attributes alone (especially intelligence for creators, inventors and pioneers) but it has caused humans to degrade in the end. It is nice that MC now has his memory back (no longer censored) about meeting the observer (admin?). Observer did mention they are the last one so there should have been more once. Now MC had to focus on getting to level 50 in his monster class (not before going all in on charisma though) which will still be locked behind the level 75 advancement trial. Before that he has to reach level 30 in it to get his aura skill (likely time aspect) and train that up to fuse with his current aura. Leif will have to really try and get a great evolution at 40 for monster class as it will be with him till over level 100. Leif’s advantage of being an awakened from so low level is that his awakened classes can influence his monster class somewhat. At least he can get more achievements than a monster class of his level ever could. In that sense, maybe maxing his other classes after getting monster class 30 is wise? So many skills to fuse though. Though considering he is supposed to be a long lived, if not ageless, tree person time is objectively something he has plenty of. At least if one didn’t consider the enemy (enemies?) of Amber going after him if they knew. Also, incarnating accelerating evolution does make sense why monsters are ahead of humans who have lost so much of their knowledge and tech. Incarnating doesn’t really require thinking so their strength as a species increases even if they are neglecting other aspects of civilization (at least the great races shouldn’t be neglecting other aspects too much even if they are colored with survival of the fittest).
Conor McGroarty
2024-04-07 11:13:02 +0000 UTC
