Chapter 9: Shards of [???]

Chapter 9: Shards of [???]

burning eyes to the dark cavern. Where was he? This didn’t look like his room. “Was I drinking... again?”

His memories returned the second he laid his eyes on the giant corpse of the monster he’d just fought. He glanced sideways and found Aurelia missing from where she’d fallen. He assumed she was alright, because if there were any other threat, he was in no shape to do anything about it. Noah noticed his clothes had been cut through and wrapped up with pieces from his robes.

Likely Aurelia’s work, if he had to guess.

Focusing on his breathing, Noah closed his eyes, engaging in Meditation.

You are Meditating. Mana regeneration increased by 100%Ñøv€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.

A sensation like cool water washed over Noah, briefly reducing his pounding headache. The sensation was soon interrupted by a sharp spiking pain spreading outward from his abdomen. He doubled over in pain, Meditation fading, remaining in his bent position till the pain became more manageable.

“What the actual fuck?” Noah said when the pain had mostly faded. Slightly concerned, he opened his menu to check. Little icons dotted the overlay of his vision, hovering just under the health and mana bar. He selected them and an array of words popped up.

You’re afflicted with [Migraine].

You’re afflicted with [Mana Poisoning - II]

You’re afflicted with [Exhaustion]

You’re afflicted with [Mana Fatigue - III]

“I guess that explains some of it,” Noah said, dismissing the notifications. Opening the Inventory, he looked at the potion he had, before deciding he didn’t want to risk it. He’d rather wait for Aurelia to return.

In the meantime, he opened his main menu, looking at the changes.

Name: Noah Brown

Race: Human

Rank: F

Paths:

Exsanguinator - level 11

Astralwalker - level 9

Void Hunter - level 9

Attributes:

Power: 26

Agility: 17

Constitution: 20

Mystic: 30

Attribute Points: 30

He’d gained a considerable number of levels with the fight, far more than the one with Viktral. Perhaps because of his greater role in killing the abomination. He looked up at his health bar, which was significantly larger compared to before.

Health: 61%

He doubted he would’ve survived without the high health.

“Oh, you’re awake?” Aurelia said, walking into the chamber.

“I wish I wasn’t,” Noah replied with a grimace. “Are you doing alright?”

“Thanks to you. It’s a miracle that either of us are alive at all. I still can’t believe you had to save my life—twice. I know I was exhausted, but I can’t believe I let myself be taken out like that...” Aurelia shook her head.

“Honestly, me neither. I thought I was a goner for sure,” Noah said.

Aurelia crouched next to Noah and put a hand on his chest. “Mana poisoning, we’ll need to take care of that.”

“Do I need to be concerned?” Noah quickly glanced at his health bar.

“Not a lot. Mana poisoning can get nasty, but it’s very rarely lethal. Thankfully, there’s an easy way to fix it,” Aurelia said, sitting next to him with her legs folded. “Close your eyes and focus on your mana. Then release as much of it as you can till you’re empty.”

“That’s it? That sounds way too easy,” Noah asked.

Aurelia just gave him an amused smile.

He followed her instructions, closing his eyes before he focused on his body. Vaguely he could tell that the mana in his body was collected somewhere between his chest and abdomen. Like an intangible swirling wisp not much larger than his fist in size. Reaching out to the wispy sensations, he began to make it travel through his body, then pushed it outward. With a deep exhale, Noah felt the mana starting to drain from his body, being released into the air around him.

The process felt natural at first, but as the mana bar continued to deplete, Noah found his chest tightening, almost as if he was suffocating. Sweat began to bead his head.

Warning. Low Mana.

The sensation intensified, and Noah had to stop multiple times to catch his breath. After nearly fifteen minutes, he finally felt the last wisps of mana leave his body.

Mana: 0%

Affliction [Mana Poisoning] has been removed.

Noah panted, feeling out of breath. Each pore on his body felt like it had been opened and was trying to pull in as much air as it could. A tingling sensation covered his skin, as Noah became oddly clear headed.

With shaking hands, he tried to anchor himself, each sensation magnified.

“It’ll feel strange for a while. Wait for your mana to naturally recover. It’ll take a day or two for your mana regeneration to return to normal. Take off that ring by the way, it’s only going to make things worse,” Aurelia said.

Noah gulped, nodding at her words and he took off the Abyssal ring, putting it back into his inventory.

[Ring of Abyssal Eye (Rare)] removed.

Noah’s world exploded in a cacophony of noises.

Initiating bonding seque—ERROR.

Illogical bonding. No trace of Divinity found in soul signatures.

Deviating from standard protocols. Processing fate.

Modifying genetic code.

“What? What do you mean by modifying genetic code?” Noah blurted, but the machine continued undeterred.

Processing...

Prevented chances of genetic defects in offspring.

Removed the possibility of cancer.

Increased immune system response.

...

Reduced ageing factors.

He stared blankly as a long list of conditions and problems rapidly flew past Noah. A warmth filled his gut, like someone had lit a fire inside his stomach.

Gene code modified. Adapting Soul signature.

Choose your Aspect, Ascendan—

Error. Target has insufficient soul capacity.

Modifying.

Adapting.

Aspect cannot be selected. None apply.

Creating a new Aspect...

Aspect of the [Devourer] generated.

[Devourer (Unique/Growth)]

You are the Devourer. A primal hun—

Noah barely got the chance to read before the words were interrupted.

New Quest obtained!

Quest: Shards of [???]

Through strange and unknown circumstances, you’ve come to possess a shard of [???]. But it is far from the only one that exists. Memories remain hidden in these pieces that’ve been scattered across Erandir. It’d do you well to start searching.

Objective: Find all the Shards of [???]

Difficulty: Unknown

Reward: Unknown

Noah watched the system beep madly.

Transformation... Incomplete...

With the cold declaration, Noah felt his soul awareness hit him all at once, like the feeling of falling at the edge of sleep and jerking awake.

His body tensed, muscles tightening, as a hot flood of energy filled him.

[Devourer] has applied [Purify] on you!

“Purify...?” Noah got out before the hot pouring wave of energy flooded him once more. Through the pain, he saw Aurelia step away from him in horror.

Unable to hold back the nausea, Noah bent over, and dark thick sludge began to empty from his stomach.

With each passing moment, more and more leeched forth, escaping from his body and pores, as the energy continued to pour through him. Now on all fours, Noah continued to vomit, until his gut was completely empty, and his body was soaked in a layer of dark gooey filth.

With shivering limbs, he saw something new appear in front of his eyes.

You’ve been Purified!

All magical abilities have been enhanced.

Affliction [Migraine] has been removed.

Affliction [Mana Fatigue] has been removed.

All Attributes increased by 5.

Noah tried to say something, but before he could, his limbs gave out. He collapsed into the pool of his own vomit, twitching briefly, then passed out.

***

Aurelia stood nearby, continuing to watch with a grimace on her face. Noah froze up, with energy flaring around him. She suspected some kind of rank up process was happening and stayed away to not interrupt.

She’d seen the process Noah was going through plenty of times during rank ups, as the body removed all toxins inside it. Yet this was the first time she’d seen so much come from a single person’s body.

“Just what kind of toxic place was his world...?” she wondered aloud, feeling sorry for Noah.