Chapter 7 [Notes | Kyle]

Kyle opened his eyes to find himself lying on top of a hill… again. This time his Grimoire—Iroh—was hovering diligently before him, blocking the sun so he could adjust. He snorted. This is all too surreal.

After pushing himself into a seated position, he looked around the area for any changes. He sensed that somethingwas different—not about the world itself, but more about how he perceivedit. Excited—and remembering what Iroh had said about him needing to see his own Mana before he could see the world’s—he focused and tried to sense whathad changed. Unfortunately, whatever the new Ability was letting him see, it was too subtle…

This ain’t right… Kyle rubbed his eyes and squinted. What the blazes is it? It’s like—Damnit. I’ll have to work on it later.

Five Slimes were making their way up his hill—albeit very slowly. The mass of Slimes in the holler hadn't changed much other than being a bit more spread out. There were a few larger ones trudging around, meaning some of the Stage Ones had been consumed.

"Geez. How long was I out?" Kyle asked.

[Approximately thirty minutes have passed since you reached Stage 2.]

He breathed a sigh of relief and looked toward the north, where he could see the shadows of slumbering bodies littering the ground. "That ain’t too bad. How much longer ‘fore Leah's done… evolvin’? Or whatever it is ya call it."

[It will be safe to wake your family when there are 12 hours left in the transition period. Time remaining: 16h 17m 02s.]

"Oh? They ain’t gotta wake naturally?" Kyle asked. If I can get ‘em up before everyone else, that’ll give Leah at least a few hour head start. We oughtta be safe around most of our neighbors, but there ain’t no tellin’ how some o’ these folks will react. Even our friends. I wanna get her an’ the kids as far ahead as possible before tryin’ to help anyone else.

[Waking another before they do so naturally will require causing at least one point of damage. However, as long as 12 hours have passed, they will be fully acclimated and will not suffer the same hardships you did.]

"’Preciate the heads up. Now, how’s about we get to the good stuff?" Kyle cracked his fingers. "Let's have a look at Page Two."

[Kyle | Stage 2]

[Race | Humanoid]

[Genus | Human]

[Tier | 3]

[Exp | 316/700 | 6/cycle]

[Health | 217/230 | 10/cycle]

[Energy | 111/160 | 10/cycle]

[Mana | 170/170 | 14/cycle]

[Resilience | 11 +]

[Vigor | 5 +]

[Vitality | 5 +]

[Force | 5 +]

[Intuition | 5 +]

[Acuity | 7 +]

[AP | 8 (Attribute Points)]

[AAP | 3 (Active Ability Points)]

[IAP | 3 (Innate Ability Points)]

"Hot dawg! That's what I call progress." Kyle stroked his beard and looked over his gains. After reaching Stage 2, his Health, Energy, and Mana had all increased by an additional thirty points, and all of his recoveries had doubled—which was a substantial bit of information. On top of that, he had eight Attribute Points to spend since he'd missed an achievement while he was grinding. That was a sixteenpercent overall improvement to himself, regardless of where he decided to throw it.

However… Four hunnerd xp ‘til the next milestone, huh? That's four times what Stage One was. If it jumps like that after every Stage… Well, I reckon I can't ‘spect it to get any easier.

"’Scuse me, Iroh. ‘Fore I go usin’ all o’ these points, mind answerin’ a question?" Kyle asked. "Ya said earlier humans had to have True Sight to use Energy an’ Mana. So… that mean I can learn spells now?"

[Innate Ability | True Sight]

[Tier | 0]

[Stage | 0]

[Mastery | 0]

[IAP | 0/1]

[The Host has seen beyond the physical realm and can now sense that which was once out of reach]

[Effect 1 | Host has the potential to sense Energy within a specific range.]

[Governing Attributes | Vigor. Vitality. Force.]

[Range | 0 yards.]

[Effect 2 | Host has the potential to sense Mana within a specific range.]

[Governing Attributes | Force. Intuition. Acuity.]

[Range | 0 yards.]

[Though you have gained the sight, you still do not see. You must walk before you can run.]

Kyle read over the description twice. Could be the Stage holdin’ me back. I have the points to up it… No, I ought not use those just yet. Not on True Sight, anywhos. That wordin’s a bit different from Appraisal. That there says ‘has the potential to sense’, not ‘is able to sense’. Hmm… Somethin’ to do with Mastery? I’ll need to ask Iroh ‘bout that ‘fore I go messin’ myself up. I bet it’s somethin’ what’s gotta be trained.

"Right. Let’s wait a bit on that an’ use these Attributes.” Kyle mentally nudged the Grimoire back to page two. “How’s about… let’s bring Acuity up to an even ten, then throw the rest of ‘em in Resilience.”

His skin started to itch before it grew warm. It gradually took on a light shade of pink, then turned an ugly dark red. The heat made him sweat, but the experience wasn’t nearly as rough as he’d expected. Before he could feel any pain, a chill swept through him, rapidly cooling his reddened skin.

That's comin’ from… my Core? The cold originated behind his brow, and Kyle recalled the pain he'd experienced when he Awakened. It’d felt like someone shoved a needle between his eyes and forced something into his head. Maybe it's somethin’ like an organ? Iroh said it won't much different from what’s in the Slimes. Shit. There’s a glass ball crammed in my head now, ain’t there? No way that’s healthy.

The time it took for his body to experience the changes was much shorter than before, and there was little enough pain that he could watch as it happened, which ended up giving him some new insights. He could feel that his skin was tougher and thicker, and when he looked closely, it seemed the texture had changed—though only slightly. Yet… it ain’t any rougher. No callouses or nuttin’. How strange…

As for the increase in Acuity, Kyle still couldn't tell any significant difference. Well… maybe. Could just be imaginin’ it… It's faint, but I swear there’s somethin’ movin’ around, an’ it ain’t memaw’s cookin’. Maybe Acuity is doin’ somethin’. Right, there’ll be time for that later, let’s see how we’re lookin’.

[Health | 282/295 | 10/cycle]

[Energy | 111/160 | 10/cycle]

[Mana | 185/185 | 20/cycle]

"Weee doggie! Now I got some skin in the game, let’s see what I can do. A thirty-two percent jump in Resilience can’t be nuttin’." Kyle climbed to his feet and swung his arms a few times, stretching as he walked toward the closest Slime.

[Slime | Stage 2]

[Genus | Heat]

[Tier | 1]

[Health | 40/40]

Ahh, this lil’ bugger. An’ it even managed to reach Stage Two while I was out.

Kyle shuffled his feet, took a few running steps toward the creature from its, then swung like he was kicking the tie-breaking field goal at the end of a championship game. The top of his foot tore through the viscous substance and made direct contact with the Core.

Goo splattered everywhere, and what was left of the Slime was sent careening down the hill, where it slammed into another of the critters and knocked it away. Impressed with himself, Kyle jogged after it.

Damn, too far to use Appraisal. That there had to be a critical hit… He noticed a subtle movement near his quarry and shifted his gaze. It was the same Mineral Slime he'd rushed away from when he'd gotten the announcement for reaching Stage 2. It was much larger than before, and it was wriggling toward his target. Oh no you don't!

Kyle sprinted forward. He could feel his Energy draining rapidly, but he wouldn't let that overgrown rock steal his prize. With all the strength and dexterity he could muster, he jumped from the side of the hill. Unaware of his approach, the nearly two-foot-tall Slime spread its body to consume the injured creature—but it was too late.

Between his speed and still being a yard or so up the hill, the momentum carried him over the gluttonous beast, and Kyle landed feet-first on the Heat Slime. Unfortunately, he hadn’t accounted for slippery beast's composition. He didn't slow as his heels drove through its body, and he slammed into the ground—hard. The impact splattered the ugly red creature in every direction, just as he'd intended… but his landing was anything but graceful.

Kyle's arms pinwheeled as he lost his balance… and fell straight back into the open maw of the Mineral Slime. He landed in the fetid muck of the monster and almost instantly felt its dissolving properties attempt to swallow him whole. Its membrane wormed around his shoulders and tried to pull him deeper.

He fought against the beast's surprisingly firm grip, thrashing his arms wildly until it finally released him. Kyle dropped to the ground with a hard thud and swiftly rolled out of the Slime's reach.

He coughed and spluttered, trying to rid himself of the vile substance that had splashed into his mouth. Then, after a full thirty seconds of retching, he clenched his fists and turned his heated gaze toward the massive Slime. It was absolutely the biggest he'd seen so far, and he started to wonder what this place would have become had he not been here culling the herd. These critters were growing… fast.

If I hadn't been forced awake early… If I hadn't chosen to come here… What Stage would these vermin be at now? How many woulda already spread through where the neighborhood was? Hell, if they were all as big as this one here, would an un-Awakened Human even be able to fight the damn things? He envisioned himself getting information on the Slime as he thought it over.

[Slime | Stage 3]

[Genus | Mineral]

[Tier | 1]

[Health | 117/165]

"Hey… Iroh…" Kyle kept the Mineral Slime in the corner of his vision as he scanned the area. There were at least another dozen that were just as big, and a couple that looked even bigger. "You said these things were meant to be holed up in that Domain o’er yonder—which you still ain’t told me ‘bout, by the way—but somethin’ happened to let ‘em get loose. I… don't feel that they were s’posed to grow this fast. Or… am I just barkin’ up the wrong tree here?"

[Had these creatures been contained in their Domain, there would have been a limit to how many could occupy the space until the Domain was opened after the transition period. With access to more space, more can spawn. As more spawn, more Experience becomes available. Such an event is both a blessing and a curse. That Experience is available to any being who wishes to claim it. In this case, you happen to be that being.]

I reckon that's true. I've been able to get ahead thanks to this. An’ it ain’t like someone couldn't kill one of these big’uns… It just ain’t safe to go it alone anymore. A group o’ newbies ought to be able to handle ‘em one or two at a—

That opinion was cut short when he witnessed one of the other Slimes he thought was Stage Three crawl on top of two smaller ones and begin dissolving them—both at the same time. They writhed and tried to escape, but he could see the sludge pulsing and dragging them further in—closer to its Core.

Okay… they prolly will be a problem if they keep going like that… Folks who are too scared to kill somethin’ won’t ever get their Grimoire. Not everyone will be familiar with the idea of isekais or games or systems. How many folks are actually gonna go out o’ their way to hunt these things? How many would just run if they saw one?

[You aren't wrong. For creatures like these, it's only natural to hunt and grow. If Humans don't actively strive to grow stronger, they’ll be outpaced despite their Tier advantage. As far as everyone getting Grimoires, you shouldn’t worry. At the end of the transition period, every Human will be forcefully Awakened.]

Kyle wasn't sure how he felt about that, and turned his attention back to the beast that tried to eat him. He watched the injured Mineral Slime spit a tiny pebble in a random direction—probably hoping to hit him. The projectile flew faster and farther than any shot by the Slimes he'd killed. He didn't think there was enough force behind it to hurt him, but others?

If I let this thing go, how long would it take for it to be spittin’ boulders instead o’ pebbles? He took a leaping step forward and punched down as hard as he could. His fist slammed into the gravel barrier that protected its Core, and though the brittle stone fractured, it held firm.

[Slime | Stage 3]

[Health | 99/165]

Only eighteen damage from that? But… that punch didn't hurt me a bit, even though that lil’ rock prolly wasn't much different from hittin’ a sack o’ half-hardened concrete. Kyle examined his knuckles—the same ones he'd shattered protecting Leah… the same ones that had killed that kid. Would someone who tossed all their points in Force but ignored Resilience break their bones from a hit like that? Hell, I ain’t got any points in Force, but after that… how much damage will I be able to do if I can put all I got behind every hit without havin’ to worry ‘bout gettin’ hurt?

A rock bounced off his gut, and he looked down at the oversized Slime. Then, with no hesitation, he put everything he had into another blow. One… two… three… It took Kyle six more hits to kill the creature. He snatched up the Core and stored it before looking at his gains.

Damn, I forgot to check what I got from that Heat Slime. Up to three hunnerd eighty Experience. So, sixty-four between both o’ them Slimes. That’d only be thirty-two after the double time ends. That’s ‘round… twenty-five o’ these bastards between… Milestones? Achievements? Kyle scratched his chin. "Iroh? What’re the milestones where Attributes are earned between Stages?"

[Those are the Stages within Stages.]

"How wise," Kyle shook his head. Right… So, I need exactly three hunnerd twenty xp to get to the next 'Semi-Stage.' There were two Semi-Stages in Stage One, at a hunnerd and two hunnerd xp. Will there always be two? Will it take more to hit Stage Three? Maybe two fer two. Three fer three. Four fer four, an’ so on?

"Hmm… You said a couple o’ times you'll only get some information as I come across it. Can you elaborate?" Kyle questioned his Grimoire. "Anythin’ new pop up now that I'm Stage Two?"

[Yes… and no. I was granted a shred of knowledge about the System's intricacies but learned nothing more about the world or its inhabitants.]

"Go on…"

[Aside from what will be gained after the transition period, most knowledge that becomes available with your growth will only include what you need to know to interact with the System and develop further. Information about items, materials, or other creatures will only become available through killing, study, or the use of Abilities.]

"Will Appraisal or anythin’ like it ever tell me how other species work with the System?" He pushed further, hoping that Iroh would know. If I knew how these Slimes grew, would I be able to use that? Maybe piece together what’s needed to get to the next Stage? Or the one after?

Iroh didn't answer right away, giving Kyle time to expand on his idea. Goin’ by what Iroh's said so far, I'll learn somethin’ about other species after killin’ ‘em. Well… I done killed dozens o’ Slimes now and ain’t learned nuttin’. How many I gotta kill? Is there more to it? What about other creatures? I wonder how many disparities there are between different Tiers. Oh, here we go.

[There is no Human Ability that grants knowledge of how other species interact with the System. However, should you meet a being from any other Race who’s willing to communicate, you can always ask.]

"Ehh… that’s a thought fer later." Kyle shook his head, picturing himself talking to an alien about floating books. He regarded his Grimoire briefly before asking, "Iroh, you have any way o’ makin’ more pages so I can take notes?"

Like with his previous question, he didn't get an immediate response like he was accustomed to. So, he waited. A minute… two minutes… three minutes. I guess not.

Kyle started walking toward another Slime, thinking it was a question his Grimoire couldn't answer, but it glided forward and stopped—as if it didn't want him to go any further. He waited patiently, and his answer came just another half-minute later.

[I can create new Pages, but it will consume your Mana. These Pages will respond to your thoughts, and your work will stay permanently unless you choose to erase it. At present, the cost to produce one Page is 50 Mana.]

"Fifty Mana? That's nearly a third o’ what I got!" Kyle blurted out. He clamped down on his shock and considered it for a few seconds before nodding. "Fine. Take a hunnerd fifty. It's not doin’ any good sittin’ still anyways. How does it—Ack…Ssshhhhhhiiittt!"

He stumbled and nearly fell as a fierce chill exploded in his head. Both hands shot up and pressed against his temples. It took a few seconds for the feeling to fade. "Ahhh major brain freeze. Look’a here, Iroh. You an' me are gonna go a few rounds if you don't start warnin’ me ‘bout these things. Sshhit!"

Kyle pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth and worked his jaw, trying to shake out what still remained of the feeling. As he did, his Grimoire flipped to page five, and blue light shone from the spine as three new pages grew behind page four. He didn't blink—it wasn't every day he got to see magic—and it didn't take long for the show to end, after which his Grimoire flipped back to page one.

"Will usin’ Mana always feel like that?" Kyle asked.

[You’ll never stop feeling the movement of the Mana as it leaves your Core, but you’ll grow resistant to its harsher nature as you increase your Attributes. Or… maybe not. Who knows?]

"Thanks," Kyle laughed. "So, let's get to the point of all this. You any good at math?"

[Perhaps my earlier illustration of what I am was… understated. Providing knowledge that will help you develop is only a tiny sliver of my function. My primary role is to translate the System’s quantifications of the world in a manner that you can understand. To do both, language and mathematical comprehension are required. So… yes.]

Kyle read that last bit more than once. It was… faint, but something—a nagging sensation that he could almost physically feel—wouldn't let him just take that remark as a simple statement. That same feeling was telling him that he also couldn't ask about it. Not out loud.

Is… Uncle Iroh tryin’ to tell me somethin’? That whole bit was very un-Iroh-like. Are… are we bein’ watched? Hmm… If he's throwing hints like that, maybe I’m onto somethin’ here. Oh! I ought to respond.

"Good. Then I can focus on makin’ observations," Kyle replied quickly. "Hmm. I… think I'm ready to advance Appraisal. How do I use my Ability Points?"

[Innate Ability | Appraisal]

[Tier | 1]

[Stage | 2]

[IAP | 0/1]

[Endow Appraisal with one Innate Ability Point? Y/N]

"Yes," he confirmed, wincing as soon as he did. And yet… nothing happened. There'd been no pain or discomfort, but another look at the page showed him that Appraisal had indeed changed—though not by much.

[Innate Ability | Appraisal]

[Tier | 1]

[Stage | 2]

[IAP | 0/3]

[The Host is capable of gathering information from the world around them. To trigger this Ability, simply focus on a target with the intent of studying them.]

[Effect 1 | Reveals details about any creature below Tier 3.]

[Effect 2 | Reveals details about any item below Tier 3.]

[Governing Attributes | Intuition. Acuity.]

[Range | 4 yards.]

Well, the range is almost doubled. Rest didn't change at all, an’… the Stage didn’t increase? Well… I reckon maybe Abilities have Semi-Stages, too? Let's see what it can do… Kyle took a few steps toward a Slime that was almost in range and focused.

[Slime | Stage 2]

[Genus | Mire]

[Tier | 1]

[Health | 79/85]

[Energy | 62/80]

Okay, so now we got Energy… an’ this extra distance is gonna do a helluva lotta good fer scoutin’. He flipped a few pages in his Grimoire and thought about recording the information. Following his mental commands, the data was etched in tiny script as close to the binding as he could get it.

Moving to the second and third pages of his new 'notebook,' Kyle had Iroh draw perfect grids across them both, then adjusted the width and height of the spaces so that it looked like a spreadsheet. At the top of the second page, he wrote Experience to Level: Human, and on the top of the third, Points to Level: Abilities. After a bit of trial and error, he managed to scratch in what he'd learned so far.

[Experience to Level: Human]

[Stage 1 | 100 | 200 | 300]

[Stage 2 | 700 | ???]

[Points to Level: Abilities]

[First Semi-Stage | 1 Point]

[Second Semi-Stage | 3 Points]

It ain’t much, but it's a start. Damn shame I ain’t got another Innate Point. Coulda gotten Appraisal to the next Semi-Stage. Kyle flipped to the first page of his notes and jotted down the Experience he’d gotten from the Slimes he’d killed—at least, the ones he remembered.

[Experience from Slimes]

[Stage 1 | 5 | 6 | 7]

[Stage 2 | 13 | ???]

[Note: 2x above for up to 24 hours after the transition period.]

Now, that one’s somethin’ I can fill out pretty fast. Need to add another grid page for this after I've recovered some Mana.

[Note: Add an Experience from Kills page.]

"Alrighty then," Kyle stretched his legs. "It's time to get some data."