Whilst I would have liked nothing more than to spend my time playing with the fire I had created, I simply couldn't. As of right now, the cost for my [Pyrokinesis] Aspect was too high, and with my limited Mana Points—well, in only four seconds I had nearly run out of the mystical energy.
It was slightly embarrassing, being reborn with such a little amount of Mana Points. But it at least gave me some direction on what to spend any Stat Point I may receive at a later date.
That, and it wasn't all for nothing.
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|| [Level up!] ||
|| [Aspect]: [Pyrokinesis]-[Level 1 > Level 2]: [Progression: 10%] ||
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Whilst I was surprised to see it receive a new level so quickly, I wasn't going to complain about it. If the System worked like any of the novels and stories I read, a higher level meant not only more power and control, but also a smaller Mana Point cost when activating it.
Though, as of right now, the cost still remained the same.
"Hey System, how long does it take for my Mana Points to regenerate back?" I asked, looking at the singular hundred displayed on my stat screen. A new screen flashed next to me, displaying more than I had asked.
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|| [Recover Rate of Stats] ||
|| [Health Points]: [100MP/H] ||
|| [Mana Points]: [200MP/H] ||
|| [Energy Points]: [300EP/H] ||
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"I'm guessing the only way to improve them is through other Aspects, isn't it?" I muttered, watching as another, familiar screen appeared.
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|| [For coming to a logical conclusion, you have gained a [+1] to your [INT] stat] ||
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"I'll take that as a yes then." I huffed with some amusement. I wasn't going to say no to a free extra stat point. "Show me the next Aspect of the Starter Pack, System."
My stat page, and the other smaller windows closed at my words, before the next of the Aspects was pushed to the forefront.
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|| [Aspect]: [Imperial Dawn] ||
|| [Level 1]: [Progression: 0%] ||
|| [Omphalos Designation]: [Passive/Active] ||
|| [Description]: [It is said that this was once a flowing and serpentine dance meant to embody the grace of eastern dragons. It was created to appease a lonely goddess who hid herself away in a cave and plunged the world into darkness. One mortal rose above all others and mystified the goddess as she showed her the beauty with which he viewed her domain. Soothed, this goddess took the mortal as husband, brought light back to the world, and blessed his dance with the radiance of the sun] ||
|| [Note]: [This fighting style is bathed in sunlight and divinity, focusing on flowing, never ending movements that all transition into one another to unleash devastating strikes hidden within quick movements and heat hazes] ||
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As with my [Pyrokinesis] Aspect, the knowledge for how to use this specific fighting style came rushing to the forefront of my mind, slotting seamlessly into both my memories and muscles.
Honestly, it felt more like I had learnt this fighting style long ago, and had forgotten it, only to just begin remembering small bits and pieces of it. It felt almost like a puzzle, but I only had the first five pieces out of the hundred which made its entirety.
It was a weird sensation, but not an unwelcome one.
I stood up cautiously, my body suddenly burning with the need to release some energy. My feet fell into a paradoxically familiar, yet unfamiliar stance. My right foot—my dominant leg—was at the front, with my left foot behind me and slightly bent, and my weight being placed on my toes.
A small breath left my lips, and my hands came up in a loose boxer's stance.
The sand beneath my feet kicked up, as I suddenly lunged forward. An invisible opponent appeared in my head, more a faceless dummy with a boxer's stance of their own, and through a combination of both instincts and memories, I began to move.
My right foot lashed out, swiping through the air and kicking at their midsection, the imaginary enemy took a step back, avoiding the strike, but I wasn't done. My entire body moved with the motion of my foot, and the moment it touched the ground, my left leg thrust through the air.
It hit their chest, pushing them back, and I was suddenly rushing forward with my right foot, kicking up the sand again and only moving faster as my left touched the ground.
My right fist struck their chest again, the momentum of the strike making them stumble again. My left crashed into their cheek, my right leg kicked at the outside of their knee, bringing them low, my right hand grabbed at their shoulder, and I drove my left knee into their stomach.
They doubled over in my mind, but I wasn't done. I let go of their shoulder, let them take a desperate step back, and shot my right foot into their chin. They were airborne for only a moment, before I spun through the air, using the built-up momentum I had created, and whipped my left leg into their face, sending them falling to the ground.
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|| [BREATHE] ||
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I stopped at the message which appeared directly in front of my eyes and only had a moment to realise what it meant, before I was hunching over my knees, my entire body burning with pain.
'Cramp! Cramp! Cramp!'
I took greedy lungsful of breath, trying and failing to cry out in pain. I ended up choking on the pained screams that left my mouth, my instincts prioritising breathing over anything else.
I realised, through the pain and with an unnatural calm, what was happening to me.
I had gained such tunnel vision in my own movements—movements which my body simply couldn't perform currently—that I had not only forgotten to breathe and give my muscles the oxygen they needed but also pushed beyond the natural human limit.
Which had in turn, nearly torn my muscles—my body—apart and left the ones which had remained, cramping from oxygen deprivation.
I wasn't sure how long I remained there, buried in the sand. Clinging to consciousness as my body spasmed and burned in an effort to heal itself. My attention was entirely focused on breathing, that and trying to distract myself through any means possible.
The System was nice enough to give me something to look at. Though it was a combination of both pleasant and unpleasant news.
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|| [Warning!] ||
|| [Health Points]: [1400/2000] ||
|| [Energy Points]: [3500/5000] ||
|| [Recommended Action]: [Breathing and Temporary Rest] ||
[-][===][-]
|| [Level up!] ||
|| [Aspect]: [Imperial Dawn]-[Level 1 > Level 2]: [Progression: 100%] ||
|| [Aspect]: [Imperial Dawn]: [Level 2 > Level 3]: [Progression: 100%] ||
|| [Aspect]: [Imperial Dawn]: [Level 3 > Level 4]: [Progression: 37%] ||
[-][===][-]
'Forget the Stat Points going into Wisdom. I need them invested into Vitality, Strength and Dexterity. There is no way, I am going through this again.' I thought with a grimace, inhaling through my nose, and exhaling through my mouth.
I'm going to be here for a while.