Valentine cleared his throat to get Ceres' attention.
"I hate to interrupt but we need to figure some things out and fast," He said.
"Can't a girl have a moment?" Ceres replied.
"What do you remember, after the vines wrapped you up that is? Explain in as much detail as you can remember." Valentine interrupted but Ceres didn't mind.
She was quite a playful person. Thus she started, "The inside of the cocoon was a lot bigger than expected but I didn't get much time to appreciate it when this horrible sensation hit me. I've been through quite a bit since I've been in here but that feeling, that pain was far worse than anything I could ever imagine.
Every part of my body felt like it was being burned—well, more like liquefied from the inside but with burning acid. I could barely focus on anything at that point but I could swear I saw parts of my body start to wither away. Brrr.
What else, oh yeah. I woke up in this field with beautiful flowers slowly blossoming but it didn't last long. There was this, this—what was it, um, right I got it. There was a sudden walls of energy that kept sweeping through the place. I closed my eyes out of instinct and when I did open them all the greenery had be transmutated into monstrous beasts with the ground also turned pitch black. They all attacked me and honestly I don't know how I was able to last as long as I did but it happened.
The last thing I remember was several killer vines wrapping themselves around me before I passed out. I don't know how long I was out for but I suddenly felt a warm, loving embrace — a sensation that I am incapable of explaining but it felt divine.
It spread all throughout my body, relieved the pain I was feeling but I also... how do I say this? It felt like shackles were lifted off me, if that makes sense. Anyway I suddenly felt a call to wake up and when i did, I saw a beautiful lady. She might be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Her hair, lashes and that lipstick. I might have to get one when I get back, probably green, no pink, no red!..."
"Ceres!" Valentine called out,"focus."
"Oh right. Um, where was I? She pressed her hand on my heart and said, well she didn't say anything its more like i could feel what she meant. She told me that I shouldn't worry and that my fate and future had been changed for the better. That I could breathe life into this world again, something like that. Anyhow, what happened to you? I faintly recall her mentioning something about chaos energy. Was that the scarlet energy wave that obliterated everything?" Ceres questioned Valentine, looking at the complete desolate and destroyed settlement they were currently in to which he replied,
"Yes, it was."
"The old man I saw also said something about the future. Something about saving himself and creating an anomaly. I'm guessing this has to deal with a future threat they're trying to solve or overturn by going back to the past. That makes sense, but what if they're seers. If that were the case then what do the two of us have to do with anything. Are we meant to play a role...., or do we die." Valentine says almost as though he was talking to himself,
" but how would that be possible. We just started the game. How could the lore already have progressed that much?"
"That's a lot of assumptions. Maybe we should just check our status window and see whatever changes were made. Hold on a sec, what about you? You look the same. How come nothing changed, I thought you said you also met a strange person in that subconscious space." Ceres asked as the realisation came to her.
Valentine answered and said," I did but it just switched back my usual avatar."
A string of lengthy notifications popped up in front of him before he could open his Player status window:
[Player Valentine has been exposed to chaos energy.]
[Player Valentine has lit the seal of the Prince ]
[Player Valentine has successfully changed his race to a Half Djinn.]
[Player has unlocked his racial skill: Genie magick]
[Player has gained the skill Wish Maker]
[Player has gained the skill: Genie Core.
[Player Valentine has gained the passive skill: Half bound.]
[Player Valentine's has formed a special Genie core.
Genie core has devoured a substantial amount of chaos energy and has undergone a minor evolution.]
[Player has obtained the coin of fortune by pure luck and coincidence]
Name: Valentine
Level: 1
Race: Half Djinn
Titles : Worthy Rogue, Last Djinn.
Job class: Rogue.
Health: 100/100. M.P. : 100
Exp: 0/ 100
Strength: 2
Vitality: 5
Intelligence : 5
Defense: 2
Endurance : 4
Undisputed stat points : 10
Skills: Genie core, Wish Maker, Half bound....
He quickly clicked on these new things to learn what they did and what they were for.
Name: Genie core (Shatter core).
Description: A core of the condensed essence and energy of a genie. It holds their power and potential and is formed from their innermost depths. This one however was formed by a strange Oldman and was powerful enough to devour chaos energy. Despite its strangeness and strength, it shattered in the evolution but was not destroyed, thus forming the unique shatter core.
Special effects: increase stat bonus per level and Increases genie magic mastery. Increased potency and purity of genie magick.
Name: Half bound
Description: You are only partly a genie and so the you are all but exempted from the curse of genies. Thus you will not be bound to a lamp.
Name: Genie magick.
Description: Genies are rumoured to be formed from the light and fire of creation. They hold the powers of reality, to bend physical world to their will so it could be true.
Name: Wish maker.
Description: A skill that allows the caster to alter a very minor thing in reality. It's Effects depend on the caster.
Restrictions: Effects are temporary and can be dispelled by a more powerful target.
Mana cost: none.
Cooldown: none
Name: True form.
Description: shed your mortal shell and assume your form as the last Djinn.
Effect: boost all skills and spells by 100%
Name: seal of the Prince.
Description: ???
Effect: ???
Name: Coin of fate 2x.
Tier: rare
Description: A mysterious Coin given to those lucky enough to change or survive their certain fate.
Effect: boost chances to overturn a sure loss into a victory by 5%
Title: Worthy Rogue.
Description: A thief with a heart of gold.
Title: last Djinn.
Description: you are currently the last Djinn in the world. All others of your kind have been killed. As such the world gifts you with her blessing amidst her tears.
Effects: boost in all Player stat bonuses.
Valentine studies his status window and his notifications quick but thoroughly, learning all his new strengths and powers. He learned that genies had the power to manipulate reality, sweet. He was still at level one but as his mind roamed he realised how busted this race was.
The question is— if they were so powerful, then what at all could drive them to extinction? His eyes bulged and his heart skipped a beat at the thought. Could this game be that challenging?
" Hello? Are you there," Ceres called, snapping her fingers to get Valentine's attention since he was a bit too in his thoughts at the moment. "Figure anything out?" She asked.
"Sorry. I was a little lost in thought. What does your status say? What changes have you undergone?" He asked
"Oh. You won't believe how crazy this is. Turns out nymphs not only have command over nature but also life itself. I've only got like a couple spells but — I just imagine what I could do once I level up again. I also got um, yeah, I got this thing. I'm not sure if it's a skill or a curse 'cause the wording is a bit strange but essentially it gives me immortality? Let me just show you" Ceres says to Valentine after her mini rant.
She shares with him a screenshot of her status window and he's quite intrigued by it.
Name: Ceres.
Level: 1
Race: Nymph.
Titles: Mother(expand).
Job class: Healer
Health: 100(full bar)
Secondary Health:100(full bar)
Exp: 0/100
Mp: 100
Strength: 5
Vitality: 10
Intelligence: 5
Defense: 3
Endurance/stamina: 4
Undisputed stat points: 10
Skill: seed of immortality, forever green pulse, wild life(expand).
Equipment: enchanted robe(expand)
Items: Coin of fortune(expand)
"I'm not one to play these games but it I assume that the double health bars are not a normal thing, or am I wrong?" Valentine points out.
"I know!" Ceres spueaks excitedly, " What's even more amazing is once both bars are filled and exceeding the limit, a second stack is added turning the health bars from green to purple. So my race basically gives me four lives. Hehehehehehe. Plus I have insane regeneration and dare i say it—i look good."
She starts checking herself out again, checking her nails and her body suit type outfit made of leaves, vines, twigs and flowers.
Valentine let's out a little sigh at Ceres' antics but it still couldn't fully take his mind off how amazing Ceres's powers were and how incredibly difficult it would be to defeat someone like that in the future. With a high enough level it would be hell, especially if they can regenerate their health as fast as they lose it. Even then it would be scores above those of the same and even higher levels.
"What about you?" Ceres asked after she was done checking herself out, jolting Valentine from his thoughts. "What?" He asked.
"What is your racial power? It's only fair since I've told you mine." She replied.
"It's reality manipulation," he said calmly.
This answer shocked Ceres to her core and made her throat dry up instantly from surprise and shock. "Uh, I'm sorry. What was that? Please just kindly walk me through that one more time?"
"My race has the power to alter reality." He said again, the same okay tone like it wasn't an absolutely crazy thing at all.
"Okay. Reality manipulation, that's cool. I guess if I had any doubts about being pals they're all gone now." She joked.
"Can you heal the land, fix it even?" Valentine asked.
"I've been trying actually but it seems I'm not at a level I can help. Even if I were to heal it, it would revert back to its current state due to the chaos energy." Ceres replies
"Not even of we do it together?" Valentine pressed on.
"No." Ceres answered with certainty.
Just before they could say anything more people started to show up around them. It was quite a surprise to both because they assumed they were killed by the chaos wave bit by some miracle they were saved. Most of them probably and judging by their faces they were pissed. Who better to blame than the new arrivals.