Chrysalis

by Leto Spirit Blackman

  "I'm not sure I am seeing the same things you are." I say.

  Kala turns to me, "Jax, I think I was wrong."

  "Wrong? What are you talking about?" I ask her.

  "When we first started together on this planet I told you skills are based in knowledge and intellect. But...I think there is more. I think you need to stop existing in your mind so much...and just feel." She turns and gestures to Nessa and the energy, "I don't know if this is magic, but it definitely feels magical."

  Kala reaches out and holds my hand. We both stand there watching the show. After awhile I turn to Kala, "They are going to be at this for many hours. Do you want to go explore some ruins under the village?"

  "Oooh, ruins? That sounds fun. What level are you now, nine?" She asks me.

  "Not quite, I'm level eight, about halfway to nine. I still have 20 attribute points to assign from the fight with the Langhu. I've been mulling over if I should put points into strength so I can wear that armor set that the Langhu dropped. It would take six points to bring me up to the strength requirements to wear it." I say.

  "Hmm, I think you should ask Jill, she is the expert on all these skills, stats and stuff." Kala tells me.

  I chuckle, "Yeah, you are probably right. It's funny, I was always the one making our life decisions back on Earth. Now, it seems that I am in Jill's world." I say.

  Kala elbows me in the ribs, "Well let’s go, loot is not going to collect itself."

  I laugh, Kala has changed so much since becoming human, yet her lust for loot has not. We head back to the house. A group of children run around us as we walk, laughing and giggling. Kala makes faces at them. It breaks my heart, their innocence, they have no idea monsters are coming. I clench my fists until my knuckles are white. I need to protect them. They deserve love, not the hate and scorn that The Caste has for them.

  Kala and I finish the walk home in somber silence. Before I open the front door to my home, I hear talking coming from the side of the house. I peek around the corner and my jaw drops. Jill is standing there with Sallindia, Jill has her hand on Sallindia's breast and is smiling. I clear my throat, they both turn their heads and look at my blushing face.

  "Can I help you, Jax?" My sister asks me. Sallindia waves at me.

  "Um, well...can...I talk to you inside?" I say awkwardly.

  Jill sighs, and Sallindia pouts. "Ugh, fine." Jill says. She takes her hand off Sallindia's breast and then leans in and kisses her. Then she walks towards me and then whispers to me, "Way to be a cock-blocker, brother."

  My mouth hangs open, stunned. Sallindia smiles at me and then walks off.

  Kala hits me, "Come on, Jax."

  I go inside and look at Jill, she smirks at me.

  "Jill, I had no idea..." I say.

  "What? You had no idea that I liked women? You can be pretty obtuse. Do you remember my friend, Amanda?" She makes air quotes with her fingers when she says friend.

  "You were with her?" I say.

  Jill rolls her eyes, "Dude. Come on. You never thought it was strange that she slept over so much?"

  "I...no, I just though you two were really close." I say.

  Jill laughs, "Yeah, we were."

  "Why didn't you ever tell me?" I ask my sister.

  Jill shrugs, "Well, I knew you had no issues with same sex relationships. Plus, it was hard to get you away from the lab and talk.

  "Of course I don't care, I love you. But please, know that I will always make time for you." I walk up and hug her.

  "Thanks, brother. I love you too."

  I tell Jill about the ruins under Livia's house. Then I ask Jill what she thinks I should do with my attribute points.

  "You have come to the right person my friend." Jill says to me as she puts her arm around my shoulders. "Let me have a look at your User Sheet and the Langhu armor set."

  I pull up my sheet and give her access and place the armor on the ground.

  Langhu Heavy Rage Armor* (Chest, Legs, Arms, Feet)

  Rarity: Set Items

  Quality: Fine

  Durability: 300/300

  Armor: 45

  Chest: 5 to Strength

  Legs: 5 to Endurance

  Arms: 5 to Constitution

  Feet: 15% increase to melee damage.

  Item Set Bonus 1: User gains a 20% boost to Perception.

  Item Set Bonus 2: User movement speed is increased by 15%

  Item Set Bonus 3: User gains the Rage affliction.

  Item Set Bonus 4: User gains the skill Earth Slam.

  *Requires 20 Strength

  Jill looks over everything, making exaggerated noises, I know she is getting a kick out of being the one who makes decisions. She picks up the armor, "Ugh, geez. This is heavy as fuck." Then she places the armor down and looks at me. "Alright, so I have decided." She stares at me.

  I sigh, "And?" I ask her.

  "And, I think you should go ahead and place some points into strength. If you were in a normal RPG back on Earth, you would basically be a glass cannon. Which is just what we call a mage that deals large amounts of damage, but will die easily. But, this world is not like that. I'm getting the feeling we can do just about anything we want. That means wearing heavy armor while being a mage class. This armor set is pretty awesome, and it would be a waste to not use it. Although, I am a bit concerned about that Rage affliction. Are you going to be pissed off all the time when you wear the armor?"

  She makes good points, and if that Rage thing does affect me too much I can always take it off. I place six points each into strength and constitution. Then I put five into intelligence and three into luck. I hit the confirm button. My body surges with new strength, my smallish frame bulks out a little with new muscles. My mind expands and I feel like I could solve problems that have eluded me for years.

  Kala squeezes my arm, "Nice." She says.

  I laugh, "I didn't know you were into big muscles, Kala?"

  "I can appreciate a nice set of arms." She smiles at me.

  Jill makes a gagging noise, "Alright, get a room you two...try the armor on."

  I place the armor back into my inventory and open up the 3D image of myself, clicking the equip button for the new armor. There is a flash of light and then I am decked out in the blood-red heavy Langhu armor. I see that I have some new notifications, I pull up my info.

  Name: Jax Stone

  Age: 28

  Gender: Male

  Level: 8

  Experience: 46%

  Synthesis: 100%

  Race: Progenitor

  Focus: Undermined

  Fame: 400

  Health: 250/200

  Mind Energy: 400/350

  Stamina: 130 (180)

  Health Regen/sec: .72%

  Mind Regen/sec: 2%

  Stamina Regen/sec: .62%

  Strength: 20 (25)

  Constitution: 20 (25)

  Endurance: 13 (18)

  Dexterity: 13

  Agility: 14

  Intelligence: 35 (40)

  Wisdom: 30 (35)

  Luck: 30

  Base Melee Damage: 6-10 (Unarmed)

  Weapon Damage: 16-21 (18-24)

  Base Ranged Damage: 0

  Weapon Damage: 15

  Base Mind Power: 35 (40)

  Base Armor: 2 (5.05)

  Afflictions Resist Chance: Physical (5%)

  Mental (23%)

  Critical Hit Chance: 8.45% (13.45%)

  Critical Hit Damage: 150%

  Evasion Chance: 6% (14%)

  Traits:

  Radical Race Bonus (Progenitor): Immortality

  Mark of Synthesis: Once per day you may use Soul Touch to gain an intrinsic understanding of an inanimate object. May allow access to varying rewards. You must be in physical contact with object.

  Mental Cost: 100

  Effects 1: Learning new skills is 25% easier.

  Effects 2: Permanent increase of 10 to Luck Stat.

  Effects 3: Allows user to open Progenitor Lock Boxes.

&nb
sp; Mark of the Watcher: You have been awarded an Unbonded Unique Companion. Mark of the Watcher grants the player a one-time use of Petition of the Watcher, the Watcher will hear and grant one request. (Uses 0/1)

  Perks:

  Iron Mind

  Aura of Luck

  Skills:

  Analyze: Level 4

  Unarmed Combat: Level 1

  Stealth: Level 3

  Sneak Attack: Level 2

  Staffs: Level 2

  Meditation: Level 2

  Teleportation: Level 3

  Dark Shield: Level 2

  Perception: Level 2

  Shockwave: Level 2

  Medium Armor: Level 2

  Cooking: Level 2

  Leadership: Level 2

  Laser Beam: Level 2

  Earth Slam: Level 1

  Congratulations! You have learned the Perk:

  Aura of Luck

  You are a scientist, Jax, why are you investing in luck? You now have an aura that surrounds you. Anyone within the area of effect will have their luck boosted by 10%.

  Effect 1: 10% increased chance for better loot drops.

  Effect 2: 5% increased chance for critical hit with all attacks.

  Experience awarded: 50

  Congratulations! You have learned the Skill:

  Earth Slam (Novice, Lvl 1)

  Me Jax. Me hit ground hard. Me strong. You can now channel stamina into your fist. When you strike the ground with your fist a strong kinetic wave of energy will emanate from the point of impact.

  Area of Effect: 15 feet

  Damage: 50 physical

  Stamina Cost: 30

  Requirements: Must have all pieces of the Langhu Heavy Rage Armor equipped.

  Effect 1: 5% chance to stun opponents.

  Experience awarded: 50

  "Damn. You look intimidating. Do you feel any different?" Jill says.

  "I feel even stronger, but I don't have the Rage affliction. Maybe it only affects me in combat?" I say with some relief, as I didn't want to be in a rage all the time because of the armor. "Well, I'm ready to kick some ass. Kala, Jill, you ladies ready? Where is Doc?"

  "He is in the backyard with Aurelia. He is letting her use her strange power to transform him into different shapes." Jill says with a grin.

  "What? Really?" I peek out the kitchen window to the backyard and see Aurelia with her hand on Doc. She has her eyes closed and then Doc transforms into a Dire Wiger. Thunder is watching from a distance, he chirps and slowly walks up to the metal Dire Wiger and sniffs. Then he lifts a leg and pees on Doc. I laugh out loud, "I can't believe Doc is letting her do that. Wasn't he kind of upset when she first did that to him without asking?"

  "Aurelia has been very curious about Doc. It was actually Doc's idea to let her play with him." Jill smiles as she watches from the window. I know she has become very attached to the young girl. Jill's smile falters, "She still has not said a word to anyone. I wonder if she will ever speak?" Jill looks at me, "I think I need to sit the ruins out. I don't want to leave her alone. You, Kala, and Doc should be able to handle anything down there. Besides, it might just be empty. And...you guys need to catch up to me in levels." Jill tells us.

  "Yeah, you are probably right. Can you keep a watch on Nessa and the villagers too?" I ask Jill.

  "Sure, no baddies will get by me." She twirls a dagger in her hands, showing off.

  I stand there thinking for a moment, "One more thing, I have this skill called Soul Touch, it allows me to learn everything there is know about an object that I am touching. I am a little wary to use it again, because I passed out the first time. But, I need to use it again. It is an extremely powerful skill, and I shouldn't let it go to waste. I am just warning you all, in case I pass out again."

  Jill raises her eyebrow, "Interesting. Well, what are you going to use it on?" She asks me.

  I smirk and raise my hand into the sunlight.

  Kala and Jill look at each other confused.

  "I don't get it." Kala says.

  "The sunlight! I am going to use Soul Touch on sunlight." I say excitedly.

  Jill chuckles and shakes her head, "Would that even work? It's not like you are really holding it. And how will sunlight help you?"

  I take Jill's hand and hold it in the sunlight, "Do you not feel the warmth? I think it will work. Just imagine what I could do with the power of a star. I already learned Laser Beam, from my existing knowledge of light."

  Jill looks at me with a smile and the shrugs, "Alright, I guess it won't hurt to try."

  "Let’s do it outside, and you should sit down, in case you faint." Kala says, taking my hand.

  We all go outside, I let Doc know what I'm going to do. Then I sit down as everyone gathers around to watch. Aurelia picks up Thunder and hides behind Jill.

  First I Meditate, then I focus on the warmth of the sunshine on my hands. I activate Soul Touch. My head immediately starts to hurt. I feel the sunlight fill me, everything turns white. I am in space, I am a photon, particle, wave. I am an X-ray. I am infrared. I am ultraviolet. I am traveling at the speed of light. Time is different, but I know it takes me eight minutes to travel from my mother to the planet of Crucible.

  I gasp, and I am back in my body. My head is pounding and my health is in the red. I hear yelling, but nothing makes sense. I feel a slap across my face.

  "Jax! You idiot, take off your armor." Jill yells at me.

  My mind finally clears and I almost pass out in pain. My armor is glowing red-white with heat. It is burning me, my health is plummeting. I quickly unequip the super-heated armor. I slump to the ground, my body covered in burns. My mind cannot handle the pain and is beckoning me, like a lover, into the sweet embrace of unconsciousness.

  Something is placed into my hand and then smashed. Then a warm, comforting light envelopes me. The pain fades away, the world slams back into focus. I sit up and look around me. Kala and Jill are at my side. They look like they were left out in the sun. They have deep sunburns on their faces.

  "I guess something went wrong?" I ask them, feeling like an ass.

  Jill punches me in the arm, hard. "What the hell, Jax? You almost killed yourself, and burned all of us." Jill glares at me.

  "I'm sorry. I really am. How was I supposed to know what would happen? Next time I use Soul Touch I'll be more careful."

  Kala gets on her knees and hugs me. Her face feels wet next to mine. She pulls away and I see that her eyes are red with tears. "That is the second time you have scared me to death with that stupid skill. Maybe you should wait until you are stronger to use it again?"

  "Maybe you are right." I stand up and offer Kala my hand to help her up. I look at the ground, it is scorched in a circle around where I was sitting.

  Doc walks up, "You emitted quite a bit of electromagnetic radiation, Jax. Kala had to use Heal to keep you alive."

  I turn to Kala, "Thank you, I would probably have died multiple times on this planet without you."

  Kala laughs, "Well, actually you have died many, many times, already on this planet, you just don't remember. But yeah, you are welcome. I'd rather not have to find you and explain everything to you again if you died. Plus, I might miss you..." She then kisses me on the cheek.

  "So? What can you do now? Can you make a mini sun? Or make a lance of pure sunlight?" Jill asks.

  I turn inwards, to the new wealth of information in my brain. There is just so much, it will take me awhile to sort it all out. This skill is beyond amazing. If I would have had Soul Touch on Earth I could have advanced science and technology by hundreds of years. I get a wicked grin on my face as a plan forms. I can have some real fun with this new knowledge.

  "Jax. I don't like the look you have on your face. What are you planning?" Kala asks me with concern in her voice.

  "Everyone back away, I doubt this will harm anyone, but just to be safe." I say, still grinning.

  "Dammit, Jax. I wish you would just tell me what you are going to do." Kala says backing up.
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br />   I put my finger to my lips and shush her. "It's okay, I promise I won't hurt myself or anyone here. This is going to be amazing if it works. It's a superpower every kid has fantasized about at least once in their lives."

  I close my eyes and focus on what I want to do. Then I channel my mental energy and will the desired effect to happen.

  I hear Jill chuckle, "Uh, I'm not sure that's a superpower I ever thought about having..."

  "Wait. What? What do you mean?" I ask.

  Kala and Jill look at each other and then laugh, "It's strange, but your body flipped, so now it's like looking at you in a mirror. Pretty awesome power you have there, Super Mirror Man. Your reflection will never be reversed in a mirror again." Jill says.

  Kala is laughing and tries to talk, but then she laughs harder. "I...the…bad guys are shaking in their boots..." She laughs even harder, Jill joins her. "...now that Super Mirror Man is here!" They are both laughing so hard there are tears running down their faces.

  I roll my eyes and pull up the new notification.

  Congratulations! You have learned the Skill:

  Optical Illusion (Novice, Lvl 1)

  Let them laugh, you will show them. Super Mirror Man will save the day! But seriously, this skill has potential. You are now able to create illusions, limited only by your imagination and mental energy pool. Must continuously channel mental energy to maintain illusion.

  Range: 10 feet

  Mental Cost: Variable. Cost is dependent on size and complexity of the illusion.

  Experience awarded: 50

  Great, even my skill descriptions make fun of me. I notice I am starting to feel lightheaded. My flipped mirror self is still active, drawing energy. I deactivate it. When I do the girls make disappointed noises.

  "Aww, he went away. All we have left is the mild-mannered scientist, Jax Stone." Kala says with a pout.

  "Okay, haha. You guys are a riot. " I look down at Kala's feet and grin.

  "What are you grinning about?" Kala asks.