by Mills, H. C.
I checked with the others and it wasn’t just me. I’m just glad it wasn’t the result of me ruining my body by levelling up with a ton of Toxic Energy.
[The human body is inherently, pathetically weak,] Suri explains helpfully. [Levelling helps you overcome those limitations by—amongst other things—improving Lavi circulation. This has the effect of slightly increasing your Resting Lavi Consumption, but it’s more than worth it.]
I frown. “I guess so. Can I assume it will continue to increase as I level further?”
[That’s classified, but you can assume whatever you like,] Suri chimes.
Gee, thanks. I stick my tongue out at myself in the full-length mirror, ‘assuming’ Suri can see.
[Moving on: Critically, levelling up raises the base capabilities of your body, without affecting the amount of training required to further raise your stats.]
Ooh, okay, that does sound pretty good. I was worried it was only like a training shortcut, which might not be worth permanently increasing our Resting Lavi Consumption in the long run, but if it works like that, we’ll ultimately be able to reach greater heights.
[Of course, your levelling process was a little special. I can safely state no human has survived levelling to Level 2 with that much Toxic Energy in their system before. Nor has any other human developed Charm—an already rare stat on its own—at a mere Level 2.]
Actually, that was going to be my next question. “Right, are you finally going to tell me what the Charm stat does and what all the secrecy is about?”
[Charm is a very interesting stat. Just having it will attract living beings towards you and make them more open to suggestion. It makes your friends like you more and perhaps even your enemies go soft on you.]
It makes my friends... like me more? There’s a twisting in my stomach as I try to wrap my mind around that thought. Is that why Suri warned me not to tell them about it?
“Oh man,” I groan, feeling a headache coming on. “How strong of an effect would you say this has on my friends?”
[Right now? Pretty much none.]
I narrow my eyes. “And when they’re in the room with me?”
[The same.]
I blink. “Oh. Well, that’s good then.”
[First of all, Charm is counteracted by Mental Fortitude,] Suri explains, [so a Charm of 3 doesn’t amount to much. Second of all, the passive effect of Charm isn’t that pronounced. Charm is more of an active stat than a passive one—like Strength, and unlike Toughness. If you develop your Charm further in the future, I should be able to provide you with some instruction on how to ‘activate’ it, so to speak.]
“I see.” I breathe a sigh of relief. “Well, if that’s the case, why can’t I tell them?”
[Whyever would you?] Suri chimes, flabbergasted.
“What do you mean why?” I ask bemusedly. “We’re a team! We’ll function better if we all show our hand. I only haven’t told them about it yet because you asked me not to, and because I didn’t know what I’d be telling them about. I mean, how am I supposed to use this ability around them if I can’t tell them about it?”
[Use a technique for manipulation around them? Oh, Emma, do you truly not see where the value of Charm lies?]
A sick feeling burgeons in my stomach. “I am not using it on them, Suri, they’re my friends!”
[Really? So you trust them with your life? All of them?]
An image of Jacob flashes through my mind unbidden. I swallow. He seems all right, but... we barely know him.
[You trust them to make the right decisions, all the time?]
Alec’s grinning face appears before my mind’s eye. I shake my head as if to clear the images, but Suri isn’t done yet.
[Charm works much better on unwitting subjects,] she adds. [If you tell them, and wind up needing to use it on them in the future, it’ll be too late to regret it.]
“I... I don’t know, Suri. Don’t you think it’d be better to share this with them, so we can cooperate better?” I plead. “You know, figure out a way to use it on people we don’t care for?”
[I suppose you could try to use it like that,] Suri chimes reluctantly. [But why don’t you do me a favour, and hold off on telling them for a little longer. I mean, it’s not like your Charm is strong enough to really accomplish anything yet, or like you’re able to use it. You can decide about telling them or not when you are. Who knows what the future will bring, after all? You might change your mind about using it on them.]
Well, what she’s saying about it not being functional yet does make sense. “Fine, I’ll keep it to myself for now.”
[Good. Now, your next question?]
Oh, right. “Ehm, okay, why do I have Charm?”
[Ah, a conundrum indeed. It’s obviously related to your high exposure to Toxic Energy—Charm is connected to Toxic Energy in a way, which is why it is only seen among the Yin, and even then very rarely—but how and when it arises as an integral part of a being in the form of the Charm stat, is as of yet unknown. It might be that it existed inside of you in the form of latent ability somehow.]
I frown. “Wait, only the Yin can develop Charm? That seems oddly unbalanced for this Realm.”
[Hoh, how unexpectedly philosophical of you,] Suri chimes amusedly.
Pssh, I can be philosophical. I’m just a little busy surviving right now, thank you very much.
[You’re not wrong. It would be unbalanced, except the Yang can develop a similar stat called ‘Radiance,’ equally rare, and also never before seen in such a low-level human. It’s a shame you gaining the Charm stat didn’t break any officially kept record.]
“All right, moving on. Concerning Meditation level 3, am I on the right track?”
[Well, yes and no. Meditation level 3 definitely has something to do with manipulating the flow of Lavi to your senses, but in the end, you have to get a feeling for it. Meditation is not like Boost Physical; you won’t learn how to do it properly if you always do it intellectually, manually. It has to become instinct, like your breathing. Also, you are right to beware cutting off the Lavi Flow to one of your senses entirely; that could seriously damage your body.]
Mmm, okay. I’ll have to work on that some more then. “What about the next level of Breath Control?”
[The second level concerns controlling your breath for longer after it has left your body. Right now, you lose control of your breath roughly a second after it leaves your body. Your goal should be to create a field of controlled Aether around yourself, by maintaining control over previous exhales as you continue breathing.]
Wow, that sounds hard! But also potentially very useful. I’m definitely practising this later.
Now for the big one. I pull out the Stardrop, Minor Lavi Crystal and Yin Qi Pearl that I saved. “Suri, what would happen if I were to take these again?”
[Well, the previous remodelling of your body to Level 2 is complete, therefore it wouldn’t affect your primary physical stats. Reaching Level 3 will take more than this. However, it would still increase your Maxi Lavi and Qi more than simply eating the pearl and crystal would.]
Damn, I’d hoped for more, but it makes sense. However, I’m not done yet. “What if I ingest a lot of Toxic Energy first, and used it to further raise my Toxic Energy Tolerance, would that gain me some worthwhile benefit? Or am I already a freak of nature, and is raising it further pretty pointless?”
[Hmm. This information generally isn’t revealed until later, since it normally isn’t relevant yet, but I suppose it isn’t classified per se,] Suri chimes thoughtfully. [Very well, I’ll tell you. There is a qualitative change in your body when you reach 50% Tolerance of an energy type, which is necessary to unlock certain Skills.]
I sit up straight. A warm glow suffuses my being. I blink back tears of joy. My suffering may have actually been worth it.
“Suri, I love you.”
[Oh dear, I always hate it when that happens. Usually it takes longer too. I consider you a good friend, Emma, but no more than that.
]
“I didn’t mean it like that!” I protest vehemently.
Ugh! I take it back, I hate you, Suri! But I’m still on the clock.
“Can you tell me what changes when I reach 50% Tolerance?”
[If your Tolerance reaches that level, the nature of your being changes. The energy previously only tolerated by your body becomes a part of it, meaning you start being able to manipulate it, though not as smoothly as your Lavi and Qi.]
“That’s awesome! Why is it that Lavi and Qi are easier to manipulate, though?”
[That’s because they are truly part of your being. You are alive, therefore your Lavi is One with you. You are Yin, therefore your Yin Qi is One with you.]
“And if I reach 50% Tolerance, Toxic Energy also becomes One with me,” I conclude.
[Only at 100% Tolerance will it truly be One with you. If you reach that point, you’ll be able to manipulate it as smoothly as your Lavi and Qi.]
That’s kinda freaky. But it also sounds super handy.
“Do you think I should go for it?” I ask excitedly. “Take a big gulp from my bottle of Moonshade Sap and try to reach 50% Tolerance so I can get those special Skills?”
[What? No, are you mad? You barely survived increasing your Tolerance from about 25 to 36% last time. I shouldn’t have to tell you that it gets exponentially harder to raise as your Tolerance increases; what makes you think you could survive raising it from 36 to 50% in a single go?]
Damn. There goes my master plan. I pull my knees up to my chest despondently.
[To be honest, even if you could reach it now, it wouldn’t be of much use yet. Most of the Skills you’d unlock have other Skills as prerequisites, or other requirements. The Skills you would unlock are support type Skills, which currently aren’t worth your Trial Points, as you are sorely lacking offensive Qi-based Skills.]
“I see. Then, should I save these for later, use them for the last push to reach 50% Tolerance in the future, or should I use them during my stay here for the extra Qi and Lavi?”
[Use them here. There will be other ways to raise your Toxic Energy Tolerance in the future. First you have to live that long.]
Makes sense. Well, I’m all out of prepared questions, so I think it’s about time I took a look at the additions to the Skilldream Shopping Window.
CHAPTER 3
Charmed
“COULD I SEE THE SKILLDREAM Shopping Window, please?”
[Sure thing, give me a moment.]
A few seconds later, a window pops into my view.
That’s a lot to take in. Let’s break it down.
In the Lavi-based Skills section, Meditation level 3 costs 40 Trial Points, while I’m pretty sure the second level was priced at 30 Trial Points. However, the second level of Boost Physical is still 50 Trial Points, no more expensive than the first level was. Are the prices based purely on how much time it would take to learn then? Interestingly, Breath Control level 2 has replaced Respiration, even though the Skill previously wasn’t on the menu.
As for the Yin-Qi-based Skills, they seem to be divided into five energy types: Cold, Electric, Toxic, Inertia and Space. I’m particularly interested in how those last two fit in, but inquiring about the different energy types was on Jacob’s list.
The Skill that immediately catches my eye is ‘Infuse.’ It seems to work much like Dave’s ‘Radiate,’ in that there are different listings for different ‘Purposes’ that can be achieved with the Skill. Definitely keeping that one in mind.
I had 20 Trial Points when I entered Hub Two, and received 50 for beating the temple record. With the 24 Trial Points I received from, ehm, Luke, and the 20 I got for clearing Hub Two, I now have 114 Trial Points. Sweet.
Only downside is that the sheer amount of possible combinations will just make it harder to decide what I should buy. First Realm problems, amirite?
“What would you recommend I buy, Suri?” I’m not making any decisions yet, of course, but it can’t hurt to ask while I still have question time.
[I think you should get a Qi-based combat Skill, and the second level of Boost Physical.]
“Is the second level good, yeah? Can you tell me a little more about it?”
[Unlike the first level of Boost Physical, the second level is designed for continuous use. It is much less taxing to use in action as it doesn’t require you to divide your attention every six seconds to reactivate the Skill.]
“Mmm, I see.” The need to constantly reactivate it is indeed a pain in the butt.
[As it is meant to be used continuously, the Lavi cost required and the boost are naturally both a little lower. Boost Physical level 2 provides 2 Strength and 1 Agility at the cost of 5 Lavi per minute.]
I raise my brows. That’s actually a lot more cost-efficient! “That certainly sounds convenient, but is that truly worth 50 Trial Points right now?”
[Well, considering your ample experience with the first level, and your previously demonstrated talent for figuring things out yourself, I would actually suggest you purchase half a Skilldream—something I normally don’t recommend this early—and try to figure out the rest from there yourself.]
I shoot upright. “Wait, that’s an option?”
[Indeed. You can always choose either a full or a half Skilldream. However, I recommend using the latter sparingly. If you fail to grasp the Skill within a short period of time after a Skilldream, your experience in the Dreamscape will fade from your memory, and your points will have been practically wasted. The listed full price is what we recommend, but even then you can fail to grasp a Skill, especially if you lack general experience.]
Damn. Risky, but potentially very worth it.
Did Suri purposely not tell me about this option before, out of fear that I might use it and waste points? That sneaky little b—
[Now, as for what Yin Qi Skill to pick, that is more difficult. You could add ‘Boost Reflexes’ to your repertoire—it’s like a more Agility-oriented version of Boost Physical—which would allow you to grow into a truly frightening figure, physically, but that might leave you a little lacking in options during a fight.]
I nod. Specializing can be powerful, but carries the risk of ending up a one-trick pony, with glaring weaknesses. Not great for a survival game, perhaps.
[Boreum Manipulation would expand your options in defence and, eventually, attacking from range, but it may not be very compatible with your other options in that sense, of dodging or physically attacking. Personally, I would recommend going with either Lightning Manipulation, or Increase Inertia. The former is quite powerful in short and medium range, and the latter can be very versatile when applied to melee combat.]
“How do those inertia-manipulating Skills work, exactly?”
[Exactly as advertised. Increase Inertia makes it harder for something’s—or someone’s—momentum to be changed. Decrease Inertia makes it easier.]
I narrow my eyes. “Is that related to the Skill Meathead used on me?”
[These Skills are considered the counter to the Yang Qi Skills that manipulate kinetic energy, yes.]
Very interesting. Increase Inertia sounds neat. Using it on myself would basically turn me into the Juggernaut, right? Decrease Inertia sounds perhaps even more interesting. If I understand it correctly, it would allow me a freedom of movement that defies logic.
Shame it’s so expen—wait. I shoot upright. “Hold up, if Decrease Inertia is a high-grade Skill, then what about that stopping Skill Meathead used?”
[Decrease Momentum is also a high-grade Skill.]
That means Bruce had at least 75 Trial Points after Trial 3! “Damn... how did he even get that many points?”
[Matters concerning—]
“Yeah, I know, you can’t tell me. Well, no matter,” I grumble, sinking back down. “Say, what about that ‘Infuse’ Skill, wouldn’t it be good to invest a little in my ability to handle Toxic Energy, considering the Tolerance I’ve built up for it?”
[Certainly. However, ‘Infuse’ is a
Skill that infuses an object or medium with Toxic Energy, with or without a Purpose. It is relatively difficult to apply in direct combat, so it may not be the best choice for this Trial.]
Mmm. I’m not so sure about that.
“What about Distort Space? That sounds like it has amazing potential.”
[It does, but it is also very difficult to learn. I would never recommend picking that as your first Yin Qi manipulation Skill. Frankly, I wouldn’t recommend a high-grade Skill, either. Furthermore, it takes some time for that Skill to grow to the point where it is useful in combat. If you still want it, I would suggest holding off on acquiring it until after Hub Three, at least.]
So there will be a third Hub. That’s good to know. And I definitely want it, but Suri’s right, I have to consider what purchases are going to be useful right now and later on, not just later on.
“About that Equipment Shopping Window...”
The living room is, of course, hexagonal. It is also much larger than any preparation room I’ve been in, as evidenced by the fact that all five hallways leading to our individual rooms come out in doors on the same wall. The wall directly opposite it contains a single, wide door, that no doubt leads to the Trial.
The centre of the room is empty except for a bunch of thick mats woven of dried vines or something, and the right side of the room features several disks of the same material with a target painted on and wooden practice dummies. Anticipating our need to practise some combat moves, I suppose.
To the left is a wide couch that follows the 120-degree angle of the corner it’s in. Of course, its coarse fur-covered surface can hardly be called soft, but much like the bed in the single, it still gives a little when I flop down between Kaitlynn and Jacob, who are the only others out so far.
Only now do I notice that one of the targets has a scorch mark to the right of the centre. Looks like Kaitlynn still needs to work on her aim.