Chapter 10: Empowered Living
Paul observed the crowd engaged in the mass, noting the outcomes of their efforts this time. Twelve percent of the participants succeeded in earning enough to unlock a class, while another thirty percent found themselves just short by 10 or 20 Quarks. Some individuals, mostly children, mothers, and elderly have to pray for three days or going on one more hunt to gather the necessary amount. In the meantime, they decided to purchase items from the system store to assist them in their next adventure or to meet their daily needs. They were still amazed at how the items seemingly materialized out of thin air whenever they made a purchase.
There was one memorable incident when a man bought a health potion from the store. He watched in awe as it floated into existence, but he failed to catch it in time, causing it to shatter on the ground. The crowd quickly reprimanded him for wasting a valuable potion, with some warning that the god might be displeased with such carelessness. Ultimately, among the twelve percent who managed to unlock their classes, eight individuals successfully purchased skills to fully utilize their class.
Garrick decided to purchase the skill Shield Bash, while Brennan, the village head, opted for Battle Cry. Meanwhile, Tom found himself needing to pray twice in succession just to afford Holy Strike.
They were only able to acquire a single skill at level 5 and then one additional skill every subsequent five levels. However, Eliza was an exception, as she received an additional skill upon her first level-up, giving her a unique advantage as a saintess.
As I surveyed the results of their efforts, a sense of determination surged within me. I glanced at my divine energy, which stood at 13,745. Realizing the potential for growth, I decided to harness this energy, feeling a deep connection to the power within me.
With 3,000 divine energy from my reserves, I focused intently, stimulating my divinity to absorb this energy and propel myself forward. The sensation was both exhilarating and overwhelming as I felt my essence shifting and expanding.
Gradually, I could sense the transformation taking place within me, each pulse of energy pushing me higher. The very fabric of my being began to reshape, and with it came a profound understanding of my new capabilities.
As the last remnants of energy coalesced around me, I felt myself elevated to the status of Embryonic God, now at rank 3. This elevation not only granted me greater strength and abilities but also a deeper connection to the divine, opening up new avenues of power and influence that I could now wield in the world.
...
I diligently spent five days refining and enhancing the system. During this time, the residents continued with their daily routines, attending night masses, engaging in personal prayers, checking their accumulated Quarks from hunting at the altar, and purchasing items from the system store. As the days passed, I immersed myself in my work, completely focused on the modifications.
Unbeknownst to me, the divine energy I had accumulated over those five days was gradually depleting due to the extensive adjustments I was making to the system. After these efforts, I found myself with just over 600 divine energy remaining from the original 75,000 I had gathered.
Despite the energy loss, I successfully completed my modifications. When I opened the system window, the user information was now always visible, and four new icons—communication, library, store, and wallet—were neatly lined up on the side. This new layout not only streamlined the user experience but also enhanced functionality, making it easier for the residents to interact with the system.
I also made adjustments to the level cap, raising it to 30, as nearly all the villagers had successfully unlocked their classes. Most of them were now at level 2, while the more powerful individuals had reached level 3.
With my newly refined system, with the spiriuality they hunted or prayed a fraction of them will be converted to stat point. With each level gained, they would receive 1 point that can be divided up to 10 to distribute among their stats, excluding luck. Since I do not possess an authority of fate, I can only gauge luck but cannot modify it in any way. Therefore, the luck stat remains fixed and cannot be enhanced.
The villagers often found themselves confused when attempting to allocate points to their luck stat, hoping to increase their chances of fortune. Each time they tried, they were met with the message: "Luck stat is locked." Frustrated by this limitation, they eventually gave up on trying to enhance their luck, turning their focus instead to the other stats they could improve. This ongoing struggle only deepened their curiosity about why luck was an exception in their progression. I cannot help it. I lacked any insight into the concept of luck, leaving it as a challenge to address at a later time.
Additionally, a crucial feature I implemented is the remote access function. Villagers can now access their Divine Interface from a distance, either by meter or through a subscription plan.
They can open the Divine Interface anywhere at an hourly rate of 10 Quarks. Since a single prayer generates 10 Quarks, they can use this to gain access for one hour. Alternatively, they have the option to pay upfront for extended access, either for several hours or even days through a subscription.
As a result of my modifications, once they purchase access, a necklace bearing my divine symbol materializes for them. This pendant allows them to open the Divine Interface anytime they touch it, providing convenient and immediate access to the divine resources they need.
Implementing this feature incurs an additional cost of 10 percent of a single divine energy each time they access the system. However, if they opt for extended access, this cost is somewhat mitigated, allowing me to allocate the upfront payments to other needs. I plan to further enhance this system to reduce energy consumption even more, but for now, this solution will suffice.
...
After five days, every resident of Ravenshade had developed abilities that ordinary people could only dream of. One child effortlessly jumped twice his height to catch a ball thrown with incredible force by another child. Meanwhile, a mother used magic to ignite the hearth, eliminating the need for flint. Others were conjuring water out of thin air and pouring it into their pots as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Some men returned from hunting spiritual beasts and were in the process of skinning their catches, demonstrating their newfound skills. Those who were injured made their way to the infirmary to receive healing, where women had chosen to take on the Aid class, ready to assist those in need. The village buzzed with activity and a sense of wonder as these extraordinary abilities transformed their daily lives.
Within my divine realm, I watched with fascination as my power transformed their lives. The changes I had brought about filled me with a sense of accomplishment and wonder. Now, my goal is to expand my reach even further and influence the neighboring villages. I aim to share the benefits of my divinity and guide more people toward a life enhanced by my gifts. The prospect of extending my influence and witnessing the growth of other communities excites me, motivating me to refine my powers and explore new ways to connect with those beyond Ravenshade.