Chapitre 9: Relationship Between Death and Power
After dinner, M kept reviewing the basics with Jean, which he nearly mastered by the time they decided that that was enough for the day.
In his bed, Jean queried Potestas. 'I understand how the things on my status screen relate to one another and what they mean now, but I don't understand how to control it. How do I grow more powerful? Can you show me my status again?'
The regular chat screen popped up, and Potestas answered, 'That depends on a few things. You can interact with it a few ways, but I'm sure you've already spotted the easiest method.'
-
Active paths of power:
[Interface]
[Physical]
[Sociological]
[Mental]
[Spiritual]
-
Stats:
level: 0
Experience: 0/1000
HP: ~1000/1000
physical attack power: 12
Strength: 14
Defense: 8
Dexterity: 10
Agility: 5
Intelligence: 20
(Typical stat range: 2-3)
-
Attributes (approximated from best available data):
Strength: 5
Deftness: 4
Endurance: 5
Intelligence: 17
Available Attribute points: 1
(Typical attribute range: 3-4)
-
Scalar Talents (approximated from best available data):
Strength: 2
Deftness: 1.3
Endurance: 1.2
Intelligence: 9
(Typical scalar talent range: .75-1.25)
-
Talents:
Cerebral: 52
Hidden talents: 147+
Available Talent Points (scalar and non-scalar): 0
(Typical talent range (varies greatly): 5-20)
-
Skills: [Interface (-)]
Hidden skills: 34417+
---
Potestas continued in another message, 'The easiest method of growing more powerful through me is allocation of existing points. You currently have an attribute point, and using it will help you grow more powerful. You are free to allocate it to whatever attribute you would like, and it will increase accordingly.'
'This seems completely magical. How is this possible? How do I allocate it? Where did the attribute point come from?' Jean inquired.
'You can allocate it by simply asking me to do it for you. You don't need to send me a message for it; you can just will it to be allocated, but I would be careful with it. They are extremely valuable.'
'What makes them so valuable? Where do I get more, and what do I allocate my point to?'
'The first two are complicated, but the last question can be answered quickly. If I were you, I'd put your points into either strength or endurance. If you want to explore other things, like picking locks or something of that nature, then I'd also put some into deftness, but strength and endurance, with one or two in deftness, would probably be best.'
'What about intelligence? Wouldn't it be best to increase that so that I can understand the best courses of action? Proficiency in a skill means nothing if you don't know when to exercise it.'
'Normally, I'd say yes, but increasing intelligence produces a draw on your other attributes because fueling the immaterial requires a draw on the material.'
'What? So it isn't free, after all. I knew it was too good to be true. But wait, does that mean that increasing my material attributes will diminish my intelligence? I won't sacrifice any of it. Ever.'
'No, because we can fuel the material with more materials. Increasing strength or endurance will increase your metabolism for several days until your body adjusts, while increasing deftness simply streamlines parts of your form to become more nimble, which will also increase your metabolism, just to a far lesser extent.'
'So, why can't we increase intelligence and just introduce extra dietary requirements for me?'
'I don't know. All I know is that the only way I can see to do it is to decrease your other attributes proportionally.'
Jean thought for a moment before deciding against Potestas' advice. 'Alright, I've made up my mind. I'd like to increase my intelligence attribute anyway because I think it's probably the best option here. It'll help me with both learning Asc and magic, and my stats won't change if I do anyway, right? And I have a good body, anyway, which I don't care that much about, so intelligence is probably still the best as long as I do it in moderation and put other attribute points into material things, too.'
'That's a decent plan, but it is extremely inefficient. You'll be wasting three points each time you increase your intelligence attribute, so I still strongly urge you to place them into strength or endurance. I have a feeling that they will be essential in the future.'
'No, I want it to go to intelligence. I've made up my mind, so do it.'
'This is not the best plan for your growth, Jean. You're too attached to the idea of maintaining your intellectual advantage, and it's leading you to make a mistake...'
Like so, the two argued wit increasing fervor about the best way for Jean to grow before their argument reached a fever pitch. Jean became increasingly annoyed at Potestas' attempts at redirecting his point and taking control, but Jean could do nothing but ask. Eventually, after over forty minutes of debate and rising tensions, Jean felt a pop mid-sentence and paused before looking at his status again.
-
Active paths of power:
[Interface]
[Physical]
[Sociological]
[Mental]
[Spiritual]
-
Stats:
level: 0
Experience: 0/1000
HP: ~1000/1000
physical attack power: 12
Strength: 14
Defense: 8
Dexterity: 10
Agility: 5
Intelligence: 20
(Typical stat range: 2-3)
-
Attributes (approximated from best available data):
Strength: 4
Deftness: 3
Endurance: 4
Intelligence: 18
Available Attribute points: 0
(Typical attribute range: 3-4)
-
Scalar Talents (approximated from best available data):
Strength: 2
Deftness: 1.3
Endurance: 1.2
Intelligence: 9
(Typical scalar talent range: .75-1.25)
-
Talents:
Cerebral: 52
Hidden talents: 147+
Available Talent Points (scalar and non-scalar): 0
(Typical talent range (varies greatly): 5-20)
-
Skills: [Interface (-)]
Hidden skills: 34417+
---
Jean couldn't quite describe it, but it felt as if a few ideas barely came into view in his mind. They weren't clear, but he knew that a few premises that were completely locked to him before now became slightly accessible if he worked at it, though only in a tenebrous way.'
Potestas, in a sulky mood asked, 'There. Are you happy, now that I've started enabling you to waste your potential?'
'Yes, I am, but I'd like to remind you of the importance of this attribute. I almost feel like I can understand things better already.' He couldn't understand things better yet, but his increased attribute did lead him to a better position to work to increase his intelligence stat from, which would increase on its own with work.
'It hardly helps,' Potestas shot back. 'It can barely affect anything,' it lied. 'Especially when your attribute is so high already. It's going to do nothing but waste your other points.'
'Well, if you're right, then this should help me realize it, so stop complaining. I will do with my points what I want to do. But how do I acquire more? I don't understand the experience points on my status either.'
'*sigh* You're not going to like what I have to say, I don't think. Fueling me requires more than just energy.'
Jean scoffed, obviously making light of Potestas' words. 'Let me guess, blood? Money? Power? Actual experience? S*xual energy? What do I need?'
'Death.'
Jean's heart dropped, and his maw transfigured itself into a frown.
Potestas continued, 'I require spirits to make you grow more powerful. I do not require souls, mind you, but spirits, which can be harvested when the body and soul separate.'
'What is a spirit, then, if it is not a part of the soul?'
'If your soul (which is you) is like a fetus, then the womb is your body, and the spirit is the placenta. The spirit connects the body to the soul and enables the transfer of necessities between the two, particularly information. This is necessary because the soul determines what choice is made, but the body's brain performs the calculations, makes the necessary judgments, and presents the choice to you.'
Jean scowled, in a foul mood. 'So, I have the path to eventual omnipotence, but I have to perform human sacrifices to use it? I have to be a murderer?'
'No, you need spirits, which come from death. Nobody said that the spirit had to be human or that you had be the one to kill it. You could work as a butcher in a market and slowly grow stronger over massive periods of time, if you wanted, but if you truly desire for something more, then you won't do that. Human spirits are far more potent than others because the intelligence of a human requires a healthier spirit to transmit the information.'
'Hah! I don't desire for something more. I don't care. I might do something for more intelligence so that I can explore whatever I want intellectually, but I truly don't care enough about anything else to kill anything, much less a human.'
'Fine. So be it. If you truly wish to die in obscurity, then I won't stop you. I can't stop you, and it's killing me,' Potestas said, trying to slyly guilt trip Jean.
'I don't care. I will do what I want and only what I want, and I don't want to have to deal with death unless I have to.'
'Remind me, how did you get here?'
'I was being mistreated, so I took my own life. We've been over this, so don't bring it up again.'
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone