Transcendence

by Tenebris Lucifer

Transcendence: The First Mission Part Two

I trudged back to camp with the beast in tow, the sun had set long ago with only a small magic flame to light my way, the cherry red flames flickering in its entrancing, yet chaotic dance as the shadows lapped at the edges as I let its light guide my steps back home.

After several more hours I finally made it back to camp with the beast in tow, and after scrounging up some wood to start another fire I opened up the interface.

Defeat field boss(es) (repeatable):

E rank boss “Windigo” killed

Reward(s): Book of Bifrost magic, lesser shard of gluttony (x3), and 8000 karma will be given to the player shortly.
(Karma gained has been adjusted due to current buffs)

Achievement(s):

Monster Mash: You are the first to hunt a boss, you have been gifted 20000 Karma
(Karma gained has been adjusted due to current buffs)

Solo leveling: You have fought and defeated a boss one grade higher than you by yourself the active skills “limit break” and “final stand” have been gained

E: you are the first to hunt an E grade boss, you have been gifted 20000 karma
(Karma gained has been adjusted due to current buffs)

System Alert: You have obtained at least 1000 karma, would you like to unlock the “stats” panel?

‘Stats?’ I questioned to myself before clicking yes, ‘If it's anything like video games this is about to become fun.’

The user has unlocked the stat panel

Hidden achievement “stat man” found

Stat man: you are the first to unlock the stat panel you have earned 4000 Karma
(Karma gained has been adjusted due to current buffs)

Stat Panel
Name: Alexander H. Kane
Species: human
Class: N/A
Subclass:N/A
HP: 200
Mana: 400
Str: 15 (+)
Dex: 15 (+)
Con: 20 (+)
Int: 40 (+)
Wis: 20 (+)
Cha: 20 (+)
Lck: 40 (+)

Active Skill(s):

Limit Break lvl 1 (+)
You have overcome the limits of your frail body and can do so again, temporarily.
Effect: all stats are quadrupled for 30 seconds
Cooldown: (2 days)

Astral form lvl 1 (+)
The monks of old believed that one could untether their soul from their body and achieve enlightenment, they were right to an extent
Effect: Through meditation you are able to temporarily exit you physical body, during this time your body become vulnerable, and you risk attracting unwanted entities however, you also increase your chances of reaching enlightenment

Fire magic lvl 2 (+)
Fire is both a giver of life as well as the taker of it use it wisely lest you burn yourself
You are able to use novice fire magic

Water magic lvl 2 (+)
Water is the lifeblood of all things without it nothing exists
You are able to use novice water magic

Earth magic lvl 2 (+)
Tough as steel, but malleable like gold
You are able to use novice earth magic

Wind magic lvl 2 (+)
Strike as swift as the wind, and as heavily as a hurricane
You are able to use novice wind magic

Passive skill(s):

Last Stand lvl 1 (+)
You are the first to stand and the last to fall, as you weather adversity.
Effect: When you are below 50% health your armor is increased by 50% when below 15% health your armor is increased by 100%

Advanced encryption lvl 1 (+)
Ignorance is bliss, or in this case sorrow
Effect: You are able to encrypt documents you write with an advanced cipher.
(Encrypting 1 sentence takes 1 minute the higher the skills level the faster it is, familiarity with the chosen cipher also affects speed of encryption)

Advanced decryption lvl 1 (+)
Knowledge is power
Effect: You are able to decrypt advanced ciphers
(decrypting 1 sentence takes 1 minute, the high the skills level the less time it will take, familiarity with the cipher you are trying to crack also affect how long it takes)

Language comprehension lvl max
Effective communication is the foundation of trust
You are able to quickly learn, understand, and speak any language after studying or listening to it for a little while

Spearmanship lvl 1 (+)
Primitive pointy technology
Effect: 10% damage increase when using a spear

Craftsmanship lvl 5 (+)
From the dawn of time humanity has always strived to improve.
Effects: You are able to make moderately complex tools, weapons, and armors

Innate Skill(s)

Knowledge of the Ages lvl max

• Transcendent effect: Karma gain permanently increased by 300%
• Legend effect: when a skill reaches max level it will have a higher chance of evolving into a skill of a higher form
• Hero effect: The chance to gain “enlightenment” is increased when training
• Soldier effect: language comprehension skill (lvl max) added
• Civilian effect: you gain a photographic memory as well as heightened mental functions

Creation lvl max

• Transcendent effect: Ultimate crafting knowledge unlocked
• Legend effect: Cutting edge crafting knowledge unlocked
• Hero effect: High end crafting knowledge unlocked
• Soldier effect: advanced crafting knowledge unlocked
• Civilian effect: basic crafting knowledge unlocked

Innate combat potential lvl max

• Transcendent effect: gene limiter removed
• Legend effect: all combat related skills are 50% easier to obtain
• Hero effect: all weapons gain a unique effect when used
• Soldier effect: the stats of all weapons are increased by 50% when used by the user
• Civilian effect: combat awareness, and flexibility increased

‘So that's all of my stats and skills?’ I questioned, ‘but what's with all the plus’s? I don't see an exp bar of any sort.’

I clicked on the plus next to the skill Novice spearmanship and saw a little prompt pop up

Would you like to level up the skill “Spearmanship” to level 2?

This will cost 10000 Karma.

Yes—————— No

‘So that's how you level up stuff? By spending Karma? Seems a bit pay to win but alright.’

After thinking about it for a bit I clicked yes, my available Karma instantly shot down to 41000 and my skill showed that it was now level two with a 20% increase to damage when wielding a spear. I still had 41000 Karma so after a bit more thought I put 40000 karma into my craftsmanship skill bringing it up to level 9 leaving myself with 1000 Karma. With nothing else to buy I started dissecting the Wendigo as best as I could, a lot of its hide was damaged but there was enough to make a cloak and some gloves, the head could be used as a mask after being cleaned, and the bones and tendons could be used to upgrade my spear and maybe make a bow with some arrows.

While I was still dissecting the Wendigo, an ice blue book that shined like a rainbow, and three small purple beads. When I picked up the book another prompt came up asking me if I wanted to learn Bifrost magic. I, of course, clicked yes and felt a wave of knowledge crash into my mind as I gradually soaked it up like a sponge. After a little while It was all neatly organized in my mind and ready to be practiced with. Next, I picked up the small purple beads and looked at them carefully, the system said that they were lesser shards of gluttony though their effect was unknown. This made them potentially dangerous however the name struck a chord with me. If there are gods there are also demons and from my knowledge of anime, and the admittance that the gods fashioned the system after RPG’s so it's not too far-fetched to think that I would gain some sort of ability. I spent a while thinking about it weighing the pros and cons. Eventually, I decided to take the risk, I cautiously picked up and examined the pills one last time before swallowing them all at once, not the smartest move but I thought it would improve my chance of getting an ability.

A cold feeling spread throughout my body, before it exploded into pain, I was screaming before the pain even registered my bones cracked and tore through my skin while my muscles spasmed and contracted all at once, and I felt something warm leak out of my skin, despite all this I felt as though I was freezing. I briefly considered jumping into the fire because i was so cold, but I held on and waited for what seemed like eternity.

I don't know when the cold stopped but I started to feel the heat of the fire again as the pain in my body subsided. Quickly looking over myself I found that my body did not go through any immediate physical change. However, it was a different story once I opened the interface.

System alert!
The user has consumed a lesser shard of gluttony the following shall take effect

You have permanently gained 2 constitution and 1 strength

System alert!
The user has consumed a lesser shard of gluttony the following shall take effect

You have permanently gained 2 dexterity and 1 intelligence

System alert!
The user has consumed a lesser shard of gluttony the following shall take effect

You have permanently gained 2 intelligence and 1 wisdom

System alert!
A random mutation related to gluttony shall be gained
Calculating…
The skill “Hunger” has been gained

Hunger lvl 1
Feeling peckish?
When eating a creature that you have killed you have a 5% chance of gaining an increase in a random stat proportionate to 10% of the stat they had rounded down (minimum of 1) and a 1% chance of gaining a random skill they had, the skills level proportionate to 10% of the skills level rounded down (minimum of 1)

A hidden achievement has been found!

Hellboy: you are the first to gain a sin related skill! All sin related skills will receive a permeate 100% boost in their effects!

Hellish: you have received your first sin skill; you will receive one sin fragment of the appropriate type

‘Well that's pretty cool’ I thought to myself, I didn't know what the sin fragment did, but I bet that it would be useful later on. The thought of the chance to gain skills and stat points from eating the stuff I kill was also pretty cool. I quickly looked over to the butchered wendigos corpse with only one thought.

How do I cook it?