NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: Mythic
The strange blue arrow, a silent, steady guide in this alien mess, pulled me forward. Away from the chilling scene where I'd killed that abomination, away from the scene of its alien corpse. Every step was a fight. My muscles throbbed with this deep, aching pain, complaining every time I moved over the uneven, hostile ground. The terrain was a nightmare of gnarled roots, slick patches of moss, and loose stones just waiting to send me sprawling.
The image of the Thorn-Viper Wolf, its lifeless bug-eyes staring blankly, and the System's blunt suggestion about eating its corpse, churned in my stomach like sour milk. But this insistent, gnawing hunger was a constant, painful distraction, a hollow ache that made it hard to think straight. For now, survival meant shelter, more than anything else. I needed to rest, to get my head straight. To find some kind of safe spot, no matter how temporary, against whatever unknown terrors this smashed-together, broken world had in store.
The Prime System's interface stayed as a subtle, see-through layer on my vision. A silent, all-knowing passenger, unless I talked to it directly. It was a constant, low-level hum in the back of my head. The trip to the cave it pointed out — only a bit over a kilometer according to the System — felt like a grueling trek through a fever dream. Every step was hard-won. Ferns that looked familiar, but were way too big and almost aggressive in how they grew, brushed against these bizarre, glowing fungi. They pulsed with an unhealthy, sickly green light — plants clearly not from Earth, casting eerie, shifting shadows in the dense bushes. Gnarled trees, their bark like black armor, tough and strangely cold when I touched it, clawed at a sky that was an almost painfully bright blue, a blue so pure it felt fake. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth, exotic flowers, and this underlying metallic tang I couldn't quite place.
Finally, the arrow led me to a shadowed hole in a massive rock face. It wasn't really a cliff, more like a giant heap of dark, weathered boulders. Some were the size of small cars, seemingly melted together by ages of unimaginable pressure and heat, their surfaces scarred and pitted. The entrance was a stark, jagged crack, a wound in the stone, just tall enough that I had to stoop to get in. Its edges were sharp and didn't look welcoming at all. A current of cool, damp air, carrying the smell of cold stone, wet earth, and a fainter, definitely musky animal odor, drifted out. It made the hairs on my arms stand up.
"System," I breathed. My voice was little more than a hoarse whisper, my throat dry. "You said this area was clear of complex life during your survey?" My hand tightened on the jagged metal bar, my only weapon.
[Initial sensor sweeps indicated no advanced biological signatures exhibiting hostile intent within the primary accessible chamber. Cave systems, however, are often intricate and may contain unmapped extensions or recently arrived denizens. Due diligence and sustained vigilance are advised.]
Its pronouncements were always so detached, so clinically precise. It offered data but never reassurance. I could almost feel the lack of comfort in its words; only the raw, unvarnished facts mattered. I squinted into the gloom, trying to see into the oppressive darkness. My eyesight, still having that unnatural sharpness I now figured was this 'Essence' stuff boosting me, slowly adjusted. I could make out faint shapes, the curve of rock walls, and deeper shadows in the heavy blackness inside.
Before I went any further, a thought hit me. A flicker of desperate inspiration sparked by the floating text, the kill notifications, the whole idea of a "System" that seemed to run things in this new reality. This was a lot like some of the books I'd devoured in my spare time, or the immersive RPGs I used to play to escape the daily grind. Killing monsters, getting notifications, strange energies… If this insane reality followed any of those familiar, fantasy rules, then there had to be something like a character sheet. A way to see what I was working with, and what these "enhancements" truly meant in quantifiable terms. It was a long shot, born of desperate hope and half-remembered game mechanics, but I had to try.
"System," I said, trying to keep my voice even, like I was way more confident than I felt, as if this was the most normal request in the world. "Do I have… a status page? Some kind of character screen? User profile?"
There was a brief pause, a tiny hesitation that made my heart stutter. Then the familiar blue light of the interface seemed to solidify a bit, its glow sharpening in the dim light filtering from the cave entrance.
[Affirmative. Accessing User Data Profile. Displaying core metrics and unique soul-bound attributes.]
Text unfolded before my eyes, crisp and clear against the shadowy backdrop of the cave mouth.
NAME: EREN KAI
CORE ATTRIBUTES:
SOUL STRENGTH: S+
SOUL GATE INTEGRITY: A
ESSENCE MANIFESTATION:
(Baseline augmented via prolonged passive Essence saturation during unscheduled systemic integration.)
MANA (Conceptual Weaving & Energetic Potential): 140 (Tier 1)
SPIRIT (Willpower, Control & Soul Ability Potency): 210 (Tier 2)
SYSTEM SKILLS (0/10 Slots Available):
None Acquired
SOUL ABILITY:
[Glimpse of a Path]
Effect: Grants a single, vivid, hyper-realistic precognitive vision of one highly probable future pathway. (Sensory data extends approximately one hour from the point of activation, relative to the user's temporal perception.)
Cooldown: Approximately 7 Terran Days (Currently Available for Activation.)
Note: Duration, clarity, and cooldown subject to multiple variables including user's Spirit attribute, complexity of perceived events, and external energetic or chronometric influences.
I stared, barely breathing. My mind struggled to absorb the flood of information. It had actually worked. S+ in Soul Strength? Grade A Soul Gate Integrity? The abstract grades felt impossibly grand, almost comical. S+ had to be impressive, right? Exceptionally so, if the System's earlier interest in my "unique signature" was anything to go by. My Body and Mana stats were in what it called "Early Tier 1," whatever that fully meant, while my Spirit — which, from the context, seemed to be tied to willpower, mental strength, control over these new energies, and how strong my soul ability was — was already hitting "Tier 2." That, at least, might explain how I hadn't completely lost my mind with all this, how I'd managed to adapt, however badly, to the nightmare. The note about "prolonged passive Essence saturation" must be about the time I was unconscious after the crash — the System had said I was out for a while and woke up without a standard "Module." Just how long was I out for this much passive boosting to happen? My body definitely felt stronger now, and the way I handled that Thorn-Viper Wolf, even if it was clumsy, showed these new "enhancements" were real. Ten empty skill slots hinted at a huge, capped potential for learned abilities, though they were specifically called "System Skills" — maybe there were other kinds, abilities you developed outside this framework?
And then there was the Soul Ability: [Glimpse of a Path]. Actual, honest-to-God precognition. Seeing the future. The thought sent an icy shiver through me despite the muggy heat, a thrill that was equal parts excitement and terror. To see what was coming, even a little bit of it… It was a power beyond anything I could imagine, a strategic advantage that could mean life or death in this hostile world. Crucial, life-altering knowledge, only held back by its current week-long cooldown. I wondered if this was what all "S+ Soul Strength" people got, or if this too was unique to me.
The sheer weight of this information, what this status page revealed, pressed down on me. I was an anomaly, something potent and strange, something the Prime System itself thought was important enough to watch directly, and even step in for. This wasn't a game. These numbers, these abilities, were my reality now.
Drawing a ragged breath that did little to calm my racing heart, I forced myself to duck into the cave. The air inside was noticeably cooler. The musky animal scent was stronger now, sharp and unsettling. The main chamber opened up after a short, narrow passage. It was surprisingly spacious — maybe twenty feet across, the ceiling a good fifteen feet high, lost in shadow above. The floor was a mix of fine sand and loose rock that crunched under my boots. Deeper darkness at the far end suggested the cave went further, maybe into a network of tunnels. It was a definite improvement over the exposed jungle, but "safety" still felt like a distant, almost impossible dream.
Stolen story; please report.
As I took a few hesitant steps deeper, all my senses on high alert, the blue interface flared to life again, without me asking. Its light was sharp and startling in the dimness.
[Alert: Unique Opportunity Detected within Designated Shelter Zone. Prime System Discretionary Protocol Initiated.]
My stomach clenched. "Unique Opportunity" sounded suspiciously like "Extreme Danger."
[This defensible location is currently dominated by a Tier 2 Boss Variant: the 'Umbral Matriarch Lurker.' This entity has established a core denning site deep within this cave system. Its eradication would secure this location as a viable long-term shelter and yield significant developmental catalysts for User Eren Kai.]
[Objective: Eradicate the Tier 2 Umbral Matriarch Lurker (Boss Variant).]
[Rewards for Completion (Prime System Discretionary Grant):]
[- Unique Bestowal: Mythic Rarity Utility Skill - [Prime Axiom's Nullifying Veil] (Occupies 1 System Skill Slot).]
[- Full restoration of Vital Energy and Stamina upon objective completion.]
[- Opportunity to harvest a concentrated reservoir of Primal Essence from the slain target for directed cultivation and attribute enhancement.]
My blood turned to ice. A frigid wave washed through me, putting out the faint warmth I'd felt from the Thorn-Viper Wolf's essence. A Boss Variant? My previous fight had been with a mere Tier 1 creature, and that had been a desperate, terrifying fluke, a hair's breadth from me dying. A Tier 2 Umbral Matriarch Lurker sounded infinitely scarier, something from the depths of a nightmare. But the reward… the interface specifically highlighted "Mythic Rarity Skill." My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic rhythm of fear and a greedy kind of hope.
"Mythic?" I breathed the word out loud. A shiver traced down my spine despite the sudden flush of adrenaline. My previous experiences, a lifetime spent in virtual worlds, immediately flagged that term as something incredibly important, game-changing. "Okay, System," I said, a tremor in my voice I couldn't quite control, "that sounds extremely high level. In all the games I've played, 'Mythic' is usually at or near the very top tier of power. What exactly is your rarity scale? Just how good is 'Mythic' in this reality?"
There was a tiny pause before the blue text responded. Its usual detachment was tinged with something that might have been the System equivalent of deep seriousness, a weightiness to its silent words.
[Mythic Rarity signifies a manifestation of principles approaching foundational Reality, exceedingly rare within standard observational parameters across most conjoined sectors and timelines. Such abilities often reshape localized causality or fundamental energetic interactions. While exceptionally potent, it does not represent the absolute apex of conceptual realization achievable through the Prime System's full spectrum of possibilities.]
My jaw felt slack. I probably had a dumbstruck look on my face. So, "Mythic" was indeed almost as good as it got, touching the very "foundational Reality," whatever cosmic stuff that meant. These weren't just flashy spells; they were abilities that could warp the rules of existence on some level. But the kicker — it does not represent the absolute apex. There was something beyond Mythic. The thought was staggering. It made the already mind-boggling scale of this new universe even bigger, hinting at powers wielded by primordials or cosmic beings. For now, though, a Mythic skill felt like a gift from a silent, watchful god, if this Prime System could be called that. The name itself, [Prime Axiom's Nullifying Veil], resonated with an almost touchable power, a hum of potential that vibrated in the air before me. And the chance to harvest "Primal Essence" for "cultivation" — whatever that truly meant, it sounded fundamentally important, another way to get stronger, a way to boost those numbers on my status screen.
"System," I croaked, my throat suddenly tight. The lure of this unimaginable reward was burning even stronger now, a desperate craving. "This skill… [Prime Axiom's Nullifying Veil]… what are its properties? What does it do?"
[[Prime Axiom's Nullifying Veil] (Mythic Rarity Utility Skill – Direct Prime System Bestowal): This skill possesses both passive and active components, interacting directly with the user's soul signature and Essence projection.]
[Passive Effect: Continuously shrouds the user's System Skills and Soul Ability from all forms of external energetic insight, scrying, or magical detection, including those employed by advanced Imperial System Modules. Grants the user the ability to subtly modify the perceived details (e.g., Core Attributes, Tier Level, specific skill presence, descriptive data) presented to external observation or 'Inspect' abilities utilized by other entities. Efficacy and granularity of modification scale with the user's Spirit attribute.]
[Active Component: Upon conscious activation, projects a modulated aura of profound 'uninterestingness' and perceptual misdirection. Entities observing the user will experience a strong cognitive disinclination to register their presence or significance, their gaze sliding off, their attention easily diverted, memories of interaction becoming vague or suppressed. Significantly hinders targeted scrutiny, reduces the likelihood of being memorable or perceived as a threat, and aids in evasion of passive surveillance. Requires moderate Mana expenditure for initiation and sustained upkeep or, alternatively, can be fueled by personal Essence reserves at a higher conversion cost.]
I reread the description two, three times. My mind was reeling, trying to fully grasp how huge this was. My initial awe hadn't been wrong. This was insane. Utterly, wonderfully insane. This wasn't just simple hiding; this was a masterclass in deception and social camouflage, a cloak woven from reality itself. The passive effect alone was incredible — not only would my most unique abilities, like [Glimpse of a Path], be hidden from prying eyes, but I could actively lie to anyone or anything that tried to size me up. I could appear weaker, or like a different kind of being entirely, tweaking my perceived threat level. And the active component… to make myself fundamentally ignorable, to slip through the cracks of perception, to become a whisper in the crowd… it was the ultimate tool for an anomaly in a universe ruled by an Empire that "neutralized" deviations and unknown threats. This skill wasn't just a cloak; it was a way to rewrite my presence in reality itself, to become a ghost in the machine.
The pull of such a profound ability, a power that could give me some control in this chaotic new existence, was almost overwhelming. It was like a siren song, promising safety and a say in things. Yet it was balanced by the sheer, gut-level terror of facing a Boss Variant creature in the claustrophobic darkness of its den. I was exhausted, physically and mentally, running on fumes and that faint bit of energy from the Thorn-Viper Wolf. My Body attribute was only 155, barely Tier 1. Could I possibly face such a monster in my current state? The very idea felt suicidal.
"This… Umbral Matriarch Lurker," I said, my voice barely a whisper. My gaze was fixed on the deeper darkness at the back of the cave. I was trying to gather any scrap of useful information that might tip the scales, however slightly. "What are its defining characteristics? Its strengths? Its weaknesses?"
[The Umbral Matriarch Lurker (Tier 2 Boss Variant) represents an apex predator within localized subterranean ecosystems, optimized for ambush and sustained conflict in low-light conditions. Primary Attributes: Exceptional Agility and Stealth capabilities, potent melee capabilities augmented by hardened, blade-like chitinous plating on forelimbs and carapace, highly developed echo-locative and chemo-sensory perception (detecting pheromonal traces and minute vibrations). Utilizes pack tactics with lesser broodlings (Currently approximately Tier 0-1) if a nest is established and threatened. Exhibits heightened resilience to physical trauma and aggressive, unyielding territoriality. Primary Vulnerability: Extreme physiological aversion and significant neurological disruption when exposed to broad-spectrum, high-intensity light sources. Combat effectiveness and coordination are significantly diminished if forced from its darkened natural environment or consistently denied ambush opportunities through environmental alteration.]
[Direct confrontation in your current physiologically depleted and energetically compromised state is statistically projected to result in terminal failure with a 99.7% certainty. Strategic preparation, resource acquisition, and exploitation of known vulnerabilities are absolute prerequisites for any viable engagement attempt.]
"Terminal failure." The System didn't pull any punches. Its probability assessment was like a cold splash of water on the little flame of my ambition. I was, by its cold, hard calculation, dead meat if I tried now. Not just dead, but 99.7% certainly dead. I needed proper preparation, resources I didn't have, and a clever strategy to even have a ghost of a chance at trying this. The musky, predatory scent filling the cave air now felt like a suffocating promise of lurking doom. The darkness ahead was a gaping maw. Any faint hope that this cave might offer easy rest, a moment's peace, had been violently, brutally snuffed out.
But that reward… a Mythic skill that offered true invisibility, the power to navigate this hostile new universe as a ghost, unseen and underestimated. It was a treasure of almost unimaginable worth, a key to survival.
I retreated slowly from the cave mouth. My boots scuffed softly on the gritty floor. My gaze was still fixed on the impenetrable darkness within, where a monster undoubtedly lurked. The quest notification remained burned into my awareness, a glowing blue temptation and a dire, almost impossible challenge. The Prime System, it was clear, wasn't going to just hand me survival on a silver platter. It would present opportunities, dangle rewards of incredible power, but the path to getting them was paved with lethal danger and required me to do something. It was guiding me, yes, but down a razor's edge, forcing me to grow stronger, to become more cunning, more resourceful, more elusive.
The choice, it seemed, was stark and unavoidable: risk oblivion for a chance to control how the universe saw me, gaining massive, almost unfair advantages in the process. Or flee, find some other hole to hide in, and remain a dangerously exposed anomaly in a cosmos filled with unknown hunters and an Empire that didn't tolerate outliers.