Mutations are powers that can grant someone abilities similar to the peak of human potential. There are three categories: physical, mental, and sensory. Physical abilities are straightforward; those with physical mutations become stronger, sturdier, faster, or more flexible than what is naturally possible. Mental abilities enhance logical, artistic, and analytical skills to their maximum. Sensory abilities encompass various enhancements, including improved vision, hearing, and smell, among others. Many others exist, but these are the most well-known.
It might seem underwhelming, considering this world exists within a different dimension filled with floating islands and monsters. However, according to what Dave heard, these are only the tip of the iceberg. Max once mentioned that there are seven layers to Lucid, and according to several legacies, the deeper one goes, the stronger one becomes. Some even claim that on the deepest levels, a person can attain god-like powers. For now, the focus remains on Core Mutations, also known as Core Abilities.
They are the first step into the supernatural. They can be acquired by killing and devouring the core of a core nightmare, something like Spizara. The monster he encountered yesterday. Each core grants three unique skills, and most people develop their mutations to either enhance those skills or counter their weaknesses. A person can have only one Core Mutation, making the choice crucial. Many recommended a few cores to Dave: the Queen Bee, the Widow, and the Brood Mother. If so many suggest them, they must be exceptional. Should the opportunity arise, he plans to acquire one.
For now, Dave decided to focus on obtaining a single mutation and some basic equipment. Acquiring a normal mutation was simple enough—he only needed to visit a place called the Training Center and pay an instructor to teach him. Unfortunately, mutations couldn't be learned through a phone like regular skills.
Some kind-hearted natural dreamers also advised Dave to choose a nickname as soon as possible, since using one's real name allowed others to trace a dreamer back to reality. They also suggested that he change his appearance, as tracking someone visually was far easier than by name.
They all shared similar stories about friends or family being killed because they got tracked. Dave felt bad for them but was also very thankful, so that's the first thing he did. He took his phone, went to the profile, and selected a nickname. Soon, a tab opened and asked him to type one. He wasn't sure what to pick; he originally planned to use his gamer tag, then remembered it was created when he was a teenager, and it was an embarrassing one. It sounded cool back then, but now? Not so much.
There were a few recommended nicknames, the first one catching his eye: 'The Architect of reality.' It sounded grand, almost like a title, but he didn't want to choose that because it might reveal his profession. The others weren't much better either: 'The Crimson King,' 'The Narrator,' 'Monarch in Yellow,' 'Mother of Monsters,' etc. 'Who made these? It looks like an edgy teenager came up with them. And why are they recommended?' These were already strange enough, but the last one really took the cake: 'Do you know what a hentai is?'
'What the hell is this shit? If having a nickname means having this cringy ass title, I would rather not have one. Dave was frustrated, and in the spur of the moment, he entered without typing anything, the nickname tab closed, and a message was displayed, 'Nickname has been selected'. Dave paused 'What selected? I didn't even choose anything? Did it randomly give me one of those cringy names? Oh god, if that's the case, let it be anything other than. 'Do you know what a hentai is?' he quickly opened his profile to see what had happened, and there it was.
Nickname: Null
'Null? Null means nothing, right? So my nickname is nothing? Is this how it works? He was not sure, but he was glad that his nickname was not something like Do you know what a hentai is?. 'Well, that's that, now let's learn some mutations.' Dave then used Lucid Maps to locate the training center, and soon he was successful.
The Training Center looked abandoned at first glance. The paint had long peeled from its cracked walls, and the rusted sign above the entrance barely spelled out its name. Dust coated the windows, and weeds pushed through the concrete steps, yet faint light leaking through the grime hinted that the place wasn't entirely dead.
Dave was not sure whether this was the right place or not. By the looks of it, this appears to be an abandoned building that some homeless people have decided to use as shelter. However, he can't judge a book by its cover, so he decided to go inside.
Inside, the air was thick with the smell of alcohol and rot. Empty beer cans, glass bottles, and old newspapers littered the floor, crunching underfoot. Takeout boxes were stacked in corners, their greasy stains marking how long they'd been there. It was less a facility and more a dump that someone had decided to live in.
He suddenly felt a squishy sensation under his right leg. From the sound of it, it was wet and gooey. Dave felt nauseous, he definitely didn't want to know what he just stepped on. 'Maybe this was a bad idea,' he sighed.
"Is anyone home?" A few minutes later, someone came from the interior of the building. The man looked to be in his mid-forties, wearing a faded gray T-shirt stained with who-knows-what and a pair of wrinkled shorts that had seen better days. His hair was disheveled, sticking out in uneven tufts as if it hadn't met a comb in weeks, and a rough, unkempt beard covered most of his face.
The man soon spotted Dave and growled at him, "Who the hell are you? If you came here to sell something, I am not interested." Dave hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I-I came here to learn a mutation." The man simply looked at him and extended an arm as if asking for something. Dave was confused, but before he could ask, the man said, "Thousand coins."
Dave hesitantly reached into his coin pouch, only to see around 234 coins inside. He suddenly remembered he had spent most of his coins on the smartphone. He looked at the man nervously and asked, "Do you accept online payment?" The man raised an eyebrow, then shrugged, "Sure." He pulled out his own phone and showed a QR code. Dave scanned it and sent the money. After a few minutes, the man received the funds, a small smile tugging at his lips.
He looked at Dave and asked, "So what kind of mutation do you want to learn?" Dave thought for a moment, but if there was one thing he wanted, it was super strength, which, unlike most powers, is something you can easily feel. He looked at the man and said, "I want peak human strength."
The man gave a silent nod and tossed a handful of shimmering powder toward Dave. The particles caught the light, glittering like star-dust before swirling through the air and sinking into his skin. A sudden warmth spread through his body subtle at first, then growing until it felt like the pleasant burn after a good workout. The sensation lingered for a few seconds before fading, leaving only a faint tingle and the feeling that something unfamiliar was stirring within him. Dave looked confused. "Wait, that's it?" The man glanced at him with amusement and asked, "What else do you expect?"
"I don't know. I thought you were some kind of hidden master who lost faith in humanity, and when you saw me, you knew I was destined to surpass you. Then we'd have a training arc with some cool background music, and after a few months, I'd return fully changed, glowing enough to make any girl fall for me instantly." The man was taken aback by Dave's ramble, then scoffed. "We don't do that here. If there's nothing else, then get lost." The man practically kicked him out. Dave stared at the building for a moment, shook his head, and muttered, "Damn, there goes the training arc."
Dave opened and closed his hands; he didn't feel any change. He wanted to test his newfound power, but decided to do it later. He sighed heavily and walked away. The next item on his list was to change his appearance. To do that, he needed to visit a clothing store, and he knew exactly where one was. It was near the fountain. Dave soon arrived there.
The store was small but neatly organized, with racks and shelves full of a surprising variety of clothes, casual wear, light armor, travel gear, and a few stylish coats hanging along the wall. Despite its size, the place had a lively atmosphere, filled with the quiet chatter of staff and the soft hum of morning shoppers. Dave quickly stepped inside, noticing the pleasant floral scent.
Behind the counter was the owner, a young woman with luscious blonde hair that shimmered in the light as she moved. Her green eyes sparkled like polished emeralds sharp yet welcoming. She wore a simple white blouse tucked into a pale blue skirt that fell just below her knees. The outfit was plain but spotless and pressed. A thin brown belt and a small silver pendant completed her look nothing flashy, but she carried herself with a natural grace that made the entire store feel a little brighter.