章節 12: The Pain of Change
Three days passed since Erik came back home, only to find it wrecked. He did some research to find out who did that to him or what, but he found none, cementing the idea it had been the military.
If things were like that, Erik could only lie low and not give them reasons to think he actually got something from his father.
<This is it. One quest, and I will level up... and... well…>
Erik immediately started working out, and once he was done, he finally received the last ten points he needed.
Then, the notification he couldn't wait to hear came.
[LEVEL UP.]
"HAHA."
"HAHAHAHAHAHA. I DID IT!"
He could barely contain his happiness.
That morning, Erik didn't go to school. There was no way he was going to make it harder for him to fix his deformity. He didn't even know how much time the process required. Not that he cared.
In front of him was his status window. He was looking at it as if it were a mirage, which in a sense was but one that, right now, he had the chance to test if it had any real effect. This was the moment of truth, when he would find out if he could really change his life, change his destiny, or if he was doomed to leave how he did until now, and if there was even a point in it.
(A.N.: To avoid cluttering the page with previously mentioned information, I'll only report the changes in Erik's status here.)
—Status—
[Host Information]
NAME: Erik Romano
AGE: 16
POWER LEVEL: 8
SYSTEM LEVEL: 2
EXPERIENCE: 10/150
DNA POINTS: 110
HEALTH: 120/120
MANA: 10/10
{Attributes}
STRENGTH: 3
INTELLIGENCE: 6
DEXTERITY: 4
ENERGY: 1
Available attribute points: 5
{Powers}
[Biological Super Computer Powers]
-Brain Crystal Manipulation
-Brain Crystal Power Extraction
(Allows the absorption of the brain crystal , making the host able to gain the power contained within. Notice: the DNA must be changed in order to allow the body to use the power. See DNA extraction.)
Brain Crystal Power Strengthening
(Allows the gaining of the energy attribute points.)
(LOCKED)
(LOCKED)
(LOCKED)
(LOCKED)
-DNA Manipulation
-DNA Extraction
(Allows the absorption of foreign DNA, making the host able to replicate it inside his own body. Notice: Changing the DNA is a slow process, and it is required to use new brain crystal powers.)
-DNA Strengthening
(Allows the gaining of the Strength, Intelligence, and Dexterity attribute points)
(LOCKED)
(LOCKED)
(LOCKED)
(LOCKED)
(…)
(…)
—END—
Erik stared at his status window; there were five things that changed: his level, the number of DNA points, his experience bar, the attribute points coming from the level, and the two powers he had unlocked.
The experience bar went to ten, and that was because of the quest Erik just made.
<It makes sense...>
The second was the level, which jumped to two. Then there were his two new powers, or better, the system's new powers.
<DNA Extraction and Brain Crystal Power Extraction, uh?>
But before dwelling into that, Erik decided to think about the attribute points and the stats. Since he could already spend them, he didn't want to waste time.
If he could improve his physical characteristics, Erik might become more powerful quicker than with only making neural links, and since he couldn't wait to get back at Conal, Orson, and Logan, he didn't want to wait.
<So, what do I spend my points on?>
The choice was not that simple.
When one made neural links, one's physical prowess increased because of the increased amount of mana flowing through the body. Erik didn't know the key mechanism behind it, but he assumed it must have been because of something mana did to the DNA's level. What the system logically did with the statistics was just to put into numbers Erik's current physical state and measure it.
<Pitiful, despite all that labor work, but at least they are not 0.>
The system divided them also into strength, dexterity, and intelligence.
<The system often talks about the DNA, so it must really be that.>
But anyway, there was another statistic there: energy. <I wonder…> Erik had an idea about what it did, but he asked nonetheless.
<System, what does energy affect?>
[Energy affects the user's amount of mana, health, and stamina.]
<What do you mean?> Erik asked. If energy affected mana, it meant it could change it. <But that's not possible…>
Brain crystals couldn't develop. Everyone was stuck with the amount of mana their brain crystals could store. Becoming stronger was just a matter of how many neural links one had, because it made brain crystal powers more powerful, but most importantly, more efficient in terms of mana consumption.
[If energy increases, the amount of mana, health, and stamina increases.]
Erik was dumbfounded.
<Stupid thing… Anyway, with this confirmed, it is reasonable to assume there is no point in increasing the other stats…>
By making neural links, Erik's stats would increase naturally. Pumping up his mana would have the precedence...
<System I would—>
The system interrupted him.
[Host is advised to use the DNA points to fix the deformity problem before increasing energy.]
<I forgot this thing can read my mind...>
He sighed.
<Why should I fix the problem before increasing the energy attribute?>
It wasn't that Erik didn't have an idea; it was just that he would do nothing before having confirmation of it. He had to know if there were potential side effects.
[The brain crystal will explode if it processes more mana, and you will die.]
"Ah that… Shit. I almost killed myself." Erik shouted. He couldn't believe what the System was saying. He was basically going to kill himself a couple of seconds ago. He sighed and swore always to ask the System what to do before doing anything.
<OK, then start the procedure to fix the problem.>
[The host needs to spend 100 DNA points to temporarily unlock the feature to fix the deformity problem. Do you want to spend them?]
"Yes." Erik couldn't wait.
[Initiating procedure: DNA editing and Brain crystal power editing temporary unlock.]
[Temporary feature unlock: activated]
[Warning: Physical pain may occur during procedure.]
"COULDN'T HAVE YOU SAID IT EARLI—AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Erik fell to the ground. A sharp pain ravaged his head. "IT IS FUCKING LIKE SOMEONE IS SCOOPING MY BRAIN WITH A SPOON! YOU MOTHERFUCKER! YOU PIECE OF SHIT, YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!"
The system didn't reply.
It became impossible for him to think. The world around him spun, and he felt a weird feeling in his ears.
His hearing decreased and increased without a reason, and he got persistent and hateful tinnitus. The pain only increased as the procedure went on. Now it wasn't more like his head was filled with molten lava.
"This is so fucking wrong!"
He tried to get up, but his legs weren't working. Then everything stopped. His brain shut down, unable to sustain the pain.
…
…
…
[Procedure complete. Brain crystal deformity fixed.]
Erik woke up to find the room in darkness. The only light came from faint artificial sources outside the window. He realized it was already nighttime.
Things seemed different somehow. There was actually no visible change; it was more a feeling than anything else. Erik tried to stand up.
After much effort, he got to the couch. He lay still for a while, unable to think clearly. When his mind was clear enough, he looked at his status again.
—PARTIAL STATUS—
[Host Information]
NAME: Erik Romano
AGE: 16
POWER LEVEL: 8
SYSTEM LEVEL: 2
EXPERIENCE: 10/150
DNA POINTS: 10
HEALTH: 120/120
MANA: 30/30
—END—
"It worked! It worked!"
His mana increased to 30 points from the initial 10.
"YES!" Erik shouted. The system fixed him, and with this, he could finally make neural links.
<But the system recognizes my Ferebitz rank at F. I guess it won't change unless I increase my energy points enough times.>
He sighed.
"I guess the nightmare won't stop anytime soon."
Despite this setback, Erik saw a chance to improve his situation. "Oh, right!"
Erik remembered about the attribute points he had available.
<System, put all the available attribute points to Energy.>
[Understood, five attribute points spent on energy]
Erik felt a rush of energy flow through his body. It seemed to start from his brain, probably from the brain crystal. He couldn't pinpoint the exact starting point, but he was sure it came from the tiny crystal.
It felt amazing.
<It makes sense. After all, brain crystals are, in a sense, like batteries.> With those five extra attribute points allocated to his energy attribute, Erik knew he could do much more than before.
Erik again looked at his status. Not only his mana reached 130 points, but his health increased to two hundred and twenty. This was not the best thing, though.
The most important change was to his brain crystal. It was now rated E on the Ferebitz scale instead of F. The higher rating meant Erik's brain crystal had become more powerful.
<All it took were 5 attribute points…>
Then Erik laughed and laughed. He laughed like he had never done in his life.
<This is a turning point, really! The system works!>
Finally, Erik felt like life was giving him a break. He had something real to hold on to now. No matter what challenges came next, he knew he had a chance to fight back and shape his own future.
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