I stood in the middle of a jungle. I had taken a solo mission to get out of the village. And here I was. The location where the summoning was to take place. Only hours away from the deadline. I opened the screen and pressed confirm.
Host. You need to make a decision before we begin.
"What decision?" Strange.
The being you're about to attempt to contract is a creature of a similar kind to me. Thus, he will have knowledge of many things I haven't told you. But I have judged that this knowledge will do more harm than good. So please allow me the higher rank in the hierarchy.
Huh, that's interesting. So you mean I can bypass you?
Yes, but it might not be beneficial for you. I have judged that this summoning is necessary for you. But what it has to say is not.
On one hand, I wanted to tell the system to f..k off. But I also understood the risks of this. I had no idea what the system is or what it can do. And is the clan I'm approaching really an independent entity or just a manifestation of the system? And finally, do I really trust this thing to have my best interests at heart?
"We shall see. Let's meet the guys first?" Seeing no reply, I clicked confirm.
The token burned, but not the card. A rip appeared in reality as my soul left my body and rushed through the void. Galaxies passed as I took in my new form. I had a pale translucent blue body. A dark blue mass in my heart from which blue veins spread through my whole existence. As I watched it pulsed with power, propelling me forward. I was just starting to appreciate it when we came to an abrupt halt. In front of me was another smaller mass, just like the one embedded in me. But it was bodyless, black in color, and looked like it was withering away.
When I stopped, the withering mass of veins slowly churned. Like a sick dying man turns on his bed when someone enters the room.
Atrycvduwik iwrcb wkkndnwi hrbbb 34567sd kn?
It said something in a language I didn't understand.
Rfubr gfbfi ierty rwgbr hfnje hjke. The mass within me replied and sent a small glowing ball its way. But this time I recognized the voice. The blue mass was the system. So does that mean the thing in front of me is another system?
It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance, shard of the brilliant light.
The other system spoke. "You can speak my language!"
I could not before, but your memories that I have inherited have taught me so. This guy spoke like he was an old courtier in some grand divine hall or something.
"You have inherited my memories?"
Your time here is limited. Your system, as you call it, figured that it was the easiest and fastest way to apprise me of the situation.
"I see." I did not know how to feel about the fact that the system could show my memories to anyone it liked.
I assume you did not like that breach of privacy. I apologize for the rudeness.
"Oh, thanks, but I guess nothing can be done about it anymore."
Yes, that is so.
"So, since you already know everything. Will you come with me?" I questioned.
The creature sighed.
I wish I could. But I believe my presence will hinder more than help. And I'm tired. I know my purpose is to struggle. But I am really tired. Besides, you have an upgraded version of me. What need would you have of a failure like me who got his host killed?
I paused. "So you really are a system!" This was getting complicated. Why did the system want me to have another system?
No. I am not. I am the primordial creature your system is based on. But while almost all of my kind failed in our purpose, it's kind has succeeded sometimes.
"What's the difference between you two? And what is your purpose?"
Based on your memories. The nearest to what you know is Ascension. Our purpose is to empower you, and get empowered in turn. We are like the microbes that live in your body symbiotically. You do know that you humans use trillions of symbiotic lifeforms in your body to survive. Think of us like advanced versions of it. Our ultimate goal is the goal of all creation. Ensuring our survival, and by our nature, yours.
"But you can survive without me. Just like you. Your host died, hasn't he?"
Yes. And I will die within some of your hours unless I find another shard of light. Your kind is rarer than you think.
That is one of the reasons the one you have is better. It is a semi-artificial construct like a cyborg. But it does not have a will. Only cold, calculated reasoning. And it binds with you completely. Meaning it will die with you. It makes people trust it more. And of course, it is way better at the job than me.
"Then why does it want me to bind with you, too. Especially since you said it's better at the job than you?"
It does? Hmmm… Are you in a world where there is an afterlife and soulcraft?
Well, the pure land is considered the afterlife, right? "Yes"
I see. Well, that makes sense. It is correct. I am beneficial to you. Even in this, reduced form.
"Why, what can you do? Wait, does this mean I will inherit all the powers of your host as well?"
No. In fact, you will have to nurture me from the very beginning. My power is from my host. With his death, they die. What I can give you, though, is my innate power and 10532 years of experience that I had with my last host. If you'll have me, of course.
"But you still haven't told me your powers."
Ahh, yes. I am loyal, and I can create fragments of myself to embed in your followers. I can manipulate darkness. And I am good at deciphering world rules. For you, that is Chakra manipulation and Fuinjutsu. But those abilities of mine, after the initial super push, will not give you benefits anywhere near your system. The chakra I'll refine will be negligible in comparison. And honestly, I can't give you quests or daily SS. After sustaining myself. I could give you a total of 20, maybe 30 SS.
"Then why did my system make me spend millions of SS to get you?"
That's because your system isn't truly alive. It's created from creatures like me, but it is an advanced AI. So, can not manipulate laws of existence and your call at all. On a spiritual level, it can only pump energy into your soul mindlessly. It will work for weak souls. But after one or maybe two more soul evolutions. It will hit its ceiling.
From there, you have to strengthen your soul by yourself. I, on the other hand, can do all of that. Plus, in worlds with an afterlife. Unless you lose your soul to annihilation or lose your call somehow. With me present. You will not die.
Brain.exe has stopped working.