Chapter 36: August's Personal System at Level 2, Accepting the Evolution and Another Life
Year 0008, Month XI-XIII: The Imperium
---
Day 58: Morning Preparations
August woke before dawn, as was his habit. The Finn household was still quiet, the twenty-two residents catching what rest they could before the day's demands began. He moved through his morning routine with practiced efficiency: physical conditioning exercises to maintain his combat readiness, meditation to center his mind, and a quick review of the village's current status through mental checklists.
But today was different. Today, he would finally address something he had been postponing since completing the trials: accepting the full consequences of his Personal System reaching Level 2.
He had delayed this moment deliberately. The integration of the Kotoko Beast Folk Clan had required his full attention, and undergoing a major personal transformation in the middle of that crisis would have been irresponsible. But now, with the initial integration proceeding smoothly and the village settling into its new rhythm, he could finally turn his focus inward.
After his morning routine, August retreated to the small private corner of the overcrowded household that served as his personal space. He settled into a meditative posture and mentally accessed his Personal System interface.
The notification still waited, patient and unchanging:
[STORED EXPERIENCE: 2,200,000 XP]
[CURRENT LEVEL: 25/25 (CAPPED)]
[NEW LEVEL CAP: 50]
[ESTIMATED LEVEL AFTER APPLYING STORED XP: 48]
[APPLY STORED EXPERIENCE NOW? Y/N]
August took a deep breath and mentally selected: [YES]
---
The Transformation
The moment he confirmed his choice, the world exploded into light.
A radiance of beautiful blue and gold enveloped him, so brilliant that it seemed almost ethereal in its beauty. The light didn't burn or blind; instead, it felt alive, pulsing with contained power that resonated with something deep within his soul. August could feel changes occurring throughout his entire body, a comprehensive reconstruction to incorporate the massive power increase.
His muscles didn't swell grotesquely but became denser, more efficient, each fiber optimized for maximum strength and endurance. His height remained the same, but his frame seemed to carry its mass with greater ease. His mana vessels expanded dramatically, the pathways through which magical energy flowed widening to accommodate vastly greater volumes of power. His mana heart, the core organ that processed and stored magical energy, became significantly more active, beating with a rhythm that felt both familiar and entirely new.
He felt reinvigorated in a way that transcended simple physical wellness. This was a fundamental optimization of his entire being, body and soul working in perfect harmony.
The transformation lasted perhaps a minute, though to August's heightened awareness it seemed to stretch for hours. For anyone with the ability to perceive magical energy, the display would have been breathtaking, a human form wreathed in cascading waves of blue and gold light, power made visible.
When the light finally faded, August opened his eyes to find himself fundamentally changed.
[PERSONAL SYSTEM: CONGRATULATIONS, MASTER. YOU HAVE REACHED A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE. YOU ARE NOW LEVEL 48.]
[DO YOU WISH TO ACCESS A FRAGMENT OF YOUR OTHER LIFE'S MEMORY? Y/N]
August, still processing the changes to his body, didn't answer immediately. He needed to understand what had changed before diving into mysteries about past lives. He mentally selected: [NO - REVIEW CURRENT STATUS FIRST]
System Analysis
The interface responded immediately, presenting a comprehensive breakdown of his growth:
[PERSONAL SYSTEM LEVEL 2 - STATISTICAL ANALYSIS]
Growth Period: 1,775 days since last major system update (approximately 4 years, 10 months)
Passive Stat Growth: Average of +10 stats/sub-stats per day through training and experience
- Total Passive Growth: 17,750 stats/sub-stats
Level-Based Growth Changes:
- Personal System Level 1: +2 stats/sub-stats per level
- Personal System Level 2: +4 stats/sub-stats per level (DOUBLED)
Current Level Growth:
- Levels Gained: 23 (from Level 25 to Level 48)
- Stats/Sub-Stats from Levels: 92 (23 levels × 4 stats per level)
Trial Completion Bonuses:
- Base Trial Rewards: +6,000 stats/sub-stats (2,000 per trial × 3 trials)
- Exceptional Completion Bonus: +4,000 stats/sub-stats
- Total Trial Bonuses: +10,000 stats/sub-stats
CUMULATIVE STAT/SUB-STAT INCREASE: +27,842
August stared at the numbers, his mind struggling to comprehend the magnitude of improvement. He had effectively gained more than four years' worth of passive growth, plus the level increases, plus the trial rewards all at once. The transformation he had felt wasn't merely psychological; it was a genuine quantum leap in capability.
"This is... significant," he muttered to himself, a massive understatement.
[PERSONAL SYSTEM: WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVIEW SYSTEM-WIDE CHANGES? Y/N]
[YES]
Personal System Level 2: Major Changes
The interface displayed a comprehensive list of modifications:
[PERSONAL SYSTEM LEVEL 2 - MAJOR CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS]
CHANGE ONE: HEALTH AND MANA DOUBLING
- All Health Points (HP) DOUBLED
- All Mana Points (MP) DOUBLED
- All skill damage values DOUBLED
- All equipment damage values DOUBLED
- *Rationale: To accommodate the increased power scaling at higher levels*
CHANGE TWO: CLASS RESTRICTION REMOVAL
- Expert Rank restrictions COMPLETELY REMOVED for All-Rounder Class
- All-Rounders may now achieve Grand Master rank in any discipline
- No penalty for pursuing multiple specializations simultaneously
- *Note: This change applies only to Personal System users with All-Rounder classification*
CHANGE THREE: PARTY SYSTEM RANGE INCREASE
- Party System Chat function range increased by factor of 10
- New Range: 1,000 kilometers from host (previously 100 kilometers)
- Enables coordination across vast distances
- Signal strength remains constant regardless of distance within range
CHANGE FOUR: MYTHERIUM INTEGRATION UNLOCKED
- Mytherium ore acquired from raiders may now be incorporated into equipment
- Current Mytherium quality: Sufficient for armor enhancement, insufficient for weapon crafting
- Integration will require legendary to mythical-level smithing and mana manipulation
- *See attached information panel for Mytherium properties*
August's eyes widened at this revelation. The Mytherium he had recovered from the raiders who attacked the village years ago had been sitting in storage, a mystery material he hadn't known how to utilize. Now his system was telling him it could be integrated into his armor, transforming it into something even more powerful.
CHANGE FIVE: TRIAL REWARDS AUTO-APPLIED
- All stat/sub-stat rewards from trial completion have been automatically applied
- No manual distribution required
- Optimized for balanced growth across all attributes
CHANGE SIX: DIVINE TIER SKILL GRANTED
- One Divine Tier Active Skill added to magical index
- Skill Name: PRIMORDIAL FLAMES
- Classification: Class V - Grand Master
- Tier: Divine (Highest possible tier)
August's breath caught. A Divine Tier skill. He had heard legends about such abilities and techniques so powerful they could reshape battlefields, destroy armies, alter the course of wars. And now he possessed not just one but two as of this moment, which is still quite a shock to him.
The system provided detailed information:
PRIMORDIAL FLAMES - Divine Tier Active Skill
Classification: Class V - Grand Master (Divine Tier IV)
Core Properties:
- Flames that CANNOT be extinguished except by equal or higher tier abilities
- Burns perpetually until target's life is extinguished OR user wills it to cease
- Maximum area of effect: 100 kilometers radius (user as anchor point)
- Flames may be shaped into any form according to user's will
- Flames respond to user's intent, pursuing designated targets
- Can burn through physical matter, magical barriers, and even conceptual defenses
Damage Output:
- Base Damage (Tier IV): 600,000
- Personal System Level 2 Multiplier: ×2
- Total Initial Damage: 1,200,000
Rank Classification Bonus (Cumulative from Novice to Grand Master):
- Base Bonus: 5,500
- Personal System Level 2 Multiplier: ×2
- Total Rank Bonus: +11,000
Damage Over Time (DOT):
- Damage Tick: +311,000 per 5 seconds of activation
- Damage accumulates continuously while flames burn
- No diminishing returns over time
Resource Cost:
- Mana Consumption: 4,000 MP per minute of activation
- Cost remains constant regardless of area covered or number of targets
- Flames can be maintained indefinitely provided mana supply continues
Tactical Applications:
- Area denial over vast territories
- Siege breaking against fortified positions
- Anti-army operations
- Elimination of regenerating or undying enemies
- Terrain modification through sustained burning
Limitations:
- Requires line of sight to initial target point
- User must remain conscious to maintain flame control
- Indiscriminate burning if user loses focus
- Can harm allies if not carefully controlled
- Massive environmental impact requiring careful consideration
---
August felt a chill run down his spine despite the warmth in the room. This was power on a scale he had never imagined possessing. A single activation of Primordial Flames could devastate everything within 100 kilometers. Used carelessly, it could destroy the entire village and everyone in it. Used deliberately, it could eliminate threats that no conventional force could defeat.
The responsibility of possessing such power was staggering.
CHANGE SEVEN: CRAFTING TIER EXPANSION
- Legendary Grade equipment/items now craftable
- Mythical Grade equipment/items now craftable
- Requires appropriate materials and crafting expertise
- Personal System will provide crafting guidance for eligible items
[CONGRATULATIONS, MASTER. YOU ARE NOW SIGNIFICANTLY MORE POWERFUL THAN BEFORE. ADDITIONAL SYSTEM FEATURES AVAILABLE THROUGH DEEPER MENU EXPLORATION. SYSTEM PATCH 2.1 HAS BEEN APPLIED TO ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION PANELS.]
August sat back, his mind reeling from the information overload. His eyes hurt from reading the extensive system updates, but he understood that this was merely the surface level. There would be countless other changes and improvements hidden in deeper menu structures that he would need to explore over time.
For now, he needed to process what he had learned and test his new capabilities carefully.
---
The Memory Fragment
After resting his eyes and giving his mind time to absorb the magnitude of his advancement, August returned to the question he had postponed: the memory fragment from another life.
"Let me access the memory fragment," he said aloud to the empty room. His Personal System understood the intent immediately.
[PERSONAL SYSTEM: ACCESS GRANTED. GENERATING MEMORY FRAGMENT OF SOUL 777-777 FROM THE SYSTEM AERTHE]
[WARNING: YOU WILL EXPERIENCE FULL SENSORY IMMERSION IN ANOTHER EXISTENCE. YOUR PHYSICAL BODY WILL ENTER DEEP SLEEP STATE WHILE YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS INHABITS THE MEMORY. DURATION INDETERMINATE. PROCEED? Y/N]
August hesitated for only a moment before confirming: [YES]
Everything turned black.
Out of Body
August's consciousness separated from his physical form in a sensation unlike anything he had ever experienced. He found himself floating above his own body, watching himself lie peacefully on the bed below. His physical form breathed steadily, deep in a sleep state that appeared completely natural.
This was his first time seeing himself from an external perspective. He studied his own features with detached curiosity, the young man's face that had seen so much violence and responsibility, aged beyond his sixteen years by experience and trauma. From this external viewpoint, he looked vulnerable, almost childlike despite everything he had accomplished.
He was actually waiting for something to finish loading. The concept of "loading" came to him instinctively, though he didn't fully understand where the knowledge originated.
Then a familiar chiming sound echoed through the void: [Ding!]
[PERSONAL SYSTEM: MEMORY FRAGMENT GENERATION COMPLETE. YOU MAY NOW ACCESS YOUR OTHER SELF'S EXPERIENCES. INITIATING TRANSFER...]
August felt gravity reassert itself, though he had no physical body to be affected. He was pulled downward or was it forward? Sideways? The direction had no meaning in this space between spaces. He traveled at tremendous speed yet felt no discomfort, his spiritual form immune to the forces that would have destroyed his physical body.
And then, abruptly, he was somewhere else entirely.
Another World: First Impressions
August found himself standing in a place completely alien to anything he had ever seen, yet somehow the basic structures felt vaguely familiar. Buildings with roofs, windows, and doors surrounded him, but their design was radically different from anything in Centuury. The architecture was more angular, more precise, constructed with materials he couldn't immediately identify.
He looked around, taking in details. Greenery everywhere carefully maintained grass, ornamental plants, trees that seemed almost too perfect to be natural. Birds so small they seemed like insects flitted between branches. Everything in this world felt diminished in scale, though he realized that might be a matter of perspective.
He understood with sudden certainty: this was not his world. This was the world of his other self, another soul that was somehow connected to his own existence. And he was looking at it directly through that being's eyes.
August glanced down at his hands or rather, the hands of the body he was inhabiting. They were human, which came as a profound relief. At least he wasn't experiencing this memory as some beast or alien creature. The movements were familiar, the basic physiology recognizable.
But something felt wrong. His steps were unbalanced, his center of gravity too low. This being was quite short, and his field of vision confirmed it. He was seeing the world from a perspective significantly lower than his own six-foot frame. It took him several mental moments to adjust to the different proprioception.
Then August tried something instinctive: he reached for his magic, attempting to channel mana through this unfamiliar body.
Nothing happened.
He tried again, focusing intently on the familiar sensation of mana flowing through his vessels.
Still nothing. Not even a spark.
The realization hit him like a physical blow: this being had no magic. None whatsoever. The very concept seemed absent from this body's understanding of reality. In the world of Centuury, such a being would be called an "ancient human" , the theoretical ancestors from before humanity awakened to magical power.
This place, this world called "Aerthe," apparently had no such thing as magic.
"Peculiar," August thought, though he had no mouth to speak with in this memory state.
The person whose body he inhabited seemed to be heading somewhere with purpose. August relinquished direct control, allowing the memory to flow naturally rather than trying to force his own will upon it. He was an observer here, experiencing but not truly directing.
As they walked, August couldn't help but notice something that made him mentally cringe. He glanced downward and confirmed his suspicion: yes, this body's masculine anatomy was... significantly less impressive than his own. Considerably so. Almost microscopically so.
"Poor guy," August thought with genuine sympathy before forcing his attention back to more important observations.
The Strange City
The memory-self was traveling through what August could only describe as a city, though it bore little resemblance to any urban center he knew. The streets were impossibly smooth and uniform, paved with some material that had no visible seams or joints. They stretched in perfect straight lines far into the distance, marked with painted lines and symbols he couldn't decipher.
Other people walked these strange streets, but their appearance shocked him. They wore no armor, no practical traveling clothes, no indication of their profession or status through their garments. Instead, they dressed in colorful, form-fitting clothing that seemed designed purely for comfort and aesthetic appeal. The variety was staggering bright colors, complex patterns, materials that looked impossibly thin and smooth.
But what truly astounded August were the vehicles.
They looked vaguely like wagons, with wheels and enclosed passenger compartments, but that's where the similarity ended. These machines were constructed entirely of metal and glass, shaped with smooth curves and angles that suggested sophisticated design principles. They moved along the streets at speeds that would require multiple horses to achieve, yet they pulled themselves with no visible beasts of burden.
August watched in fascination as dozens of these metal vehicles passed by, each different in size and shape but operating on the same basic principle. They made strange mechanical sounds humming, purring, occasionally rumbling that suggested some kind of internal mechanism providing motive force.
"But this world has no magic," August thought, puzzled. "So what powers these machines?"
The memory-self raised his hand, and one of the vehicles immediately slowed and stopped directly in front of him. This was apparently a form of public transportation, designed to carry multiple passengers. The memory-self entered through a door that opened with mechanical precision.
Inside, the vehicle was clean and well-lit with an artificial light source August couldn't identify. Several other humans occupied seats, but something about their behavior struck him as profoundly strange: they made no gesture of greeting or acknowledgment toward each other. They existed in separate worlds despite sharing the same physical space.
Most of them were looking at small rectangular devices they held in their hands. These devices had glass or crystal surfaces that glowed with internal light, displaying moving images and text. The people ran their fingers across these surfaces, and the images responded to their touch, changing and shifting according to some logic August couldn't follow.
"Moving pictures," August thought with wonder. "Captured in a device small enough to hold in one hand. What magic is this?"
But he reminded himself: this world had no magic. Therefore, these miracles must be achieved through some other means of technology, perhaps, though he barely understood the concept.
Technology and Mundane Miracles
The vehicle traveled through the city for some time before stopping at the memory-self's destination. The person August was inhabiting reached into his pocket and retrieved several items: a metallic object that jingled, several pieces of paper with images and incomprehensible writing, and one of those glowing rectangular devices that seemed ubiquitous in this world. He gave the metallic object to the coachman or was it a driver, he didn't know what it was for but maybe some form of payment?
The memory-self activated this device with a touch, and its surface illuminated with crystal clarity. He manipulated something on the screen, and the device transformed into a camera of some kind. When pointed at the surrounding environment, it displayed exactly what it was seeing on its glowing surface in real time.
Then the memory-self pressed something on the device, and August felt a subtle vibration. The device had captured the image permanently, storing it somehow within its impossibly small form.
"This is sorcery," August thought, even knowing it couldn't be. "Capturing perfect images with a device that fits in a pocket. Preserving moments permanently with a touch. This is beyond anything we have in Centuury."
The memory-self pocketed the device and began jogging along one of those impossibly smooth roads. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. It was beautiful, August had to admit. Despite all the alienness of this world, a sunset remained a sunset.
That sunset image had been what the memory-self captured with the device, a small moment of beauty preserved perfectly forever. August found something poignant about that, this person who lived in a world of technological miracles still stopping to photograph something as timeless as a sunset.
After a few minutes of jogging, the memory-self stopped, gasping for air. August was shocked by how quickly this body tired. A few minutes of moderate exercise and the person was already winded, struggling to catch his breath.
"How weak," August thought, then immediately felt guilty. This wasn't weakness, this was simply the normal physical limitation of a human body without magical enhancement, without the martial training and Body stat improvements that August took for granted. This was what humans were naturally, before magic and the system transformed them into something more.
The memory-self traveled home on another of those vehicles, sharing space with more silent strangers absorbed in their glowing devices. August noted there was only one moon in the darkening sky, not three like in Centuury, just one. That single detail more than anything else convinced him absolutely that this was another world entirely, operating under different fundamental laws.
Home and Modern Conveniences
The memory-self's home was located in an uphill area, somewhat isolated from neighboring structures. There was something peaceful about the location, quiet and removed from the bustle of the city below. August felt an instinctive sense of comfort and safety associated with this place, similar to his own; these were the memory-self's own emotions bleeding through, recognizing home.
The person entered through a door that unlocked with a metallic key a security measure August understood, at least. Inside, the home was illuminated immediately by lights that activated with the press of a switch on the wall. Bright, steady illumination that put torches and even magical light spells to shame, all provided by some technological means August couldn't fathom.
The memory-self went to what was clearly a kitchen, though it looked nothing like any kitchen August knew. He opened a door to reveal a cold storage space, some kind of magical preservation similar to magical storage crate as a close comparison, except this world didn't have magic, so it must be technological preservation. The memory-self removed food items, fresh and perfectly preserved, and began preparing a meal.
The cooking implements were fascinating. The memory-self turned a dial, and flames appeared in a perfect circle on a flat surface controlled fire produced on command without flint, steel, or magic. The person placed a familiar-looking pan on the flames and began cooking.
Despite being merely a spiritual observer, August found he could smell the food. Somehow, the memory allowed him to experience sensations even without a physical form. The aroma was incredible, nothing like anything he had encountered in Centuury. The ingredients were prepared and seasoned with techniques that spoke of a sophisticated culinary tradition.
When the memory-self tasted the completed meal, August experienced the flavor fully. It was transcendent complex layers of taste that his world's cuisine couldn't match. How was he tasting anything? He was a spirit inhabiting a memory, yet the experience was completely real to his senses.
"I don't understand how any of this works," August thought, but he didn't fight it. He simply experienced.
After eating, the memory-self washed dishes in a sink where water flowed freely from a metallic spout with just a turn of a handle. Clean water on demand, hot or cold, apparently unlimited. In Maya Village, such convenience would be considered the height of luxury. Here, it was simply normal.
Finally, the memory-self went to bed. August felt sleep approaching even in his spiritual form, a drowsiness that made no logical sense but felt completely real nonetheless.
The memory began to fade, darkness encroaching from the edges of his vision.
[PERSONAL SYSTEM: MEMORY FRAGMENT ENDED]
Return to Reality
August's consciousness snapped back to his physical body with jarring suddenness. He gasped, his eyes flying open, his heart racing as if he had just run a great distance.
He tried to stand immediately and nearly fell. His sense of height was completely wrong. He felt too tall, his center of gravity too high, his limbs too long. His body felt alien and unfamiliar after experiencing the memory-self's shorter, weaker form.
He stumbled, his coordination completely disrupted by the conflicting proprioceptive information his brain was trying to process.
Several household members happened to see him struggling to walk, moving with all the grace of a newborn foal. Betty, who had been passing through the common area, rushed over with concern.
"Gus? Are you alright? You look like you've forgotten how to walk!"
Erik and Isabel appeared from another room, drawn by Betty's exclamation. They stared at August with a mixture of confusion and worry as he took slow, careful steps like someone relearning basic movement.
"I'm fine," August assured them, though his voice sounded strange to his own ears after experiencing the memory-self's different vocal tones. "Just... readjusting. I'll be alright in a few minutes."
The others exchanged uncertain glances but returned to their activities, though August noticed they kept watching him peripherally. The sight of the usually graceful and coordinated August Finn stumbling around like a toddler was clearly concerning.
August made his way to his fathers chair, a comfortable seat near the fireplace that had become an informal spot for important conversations. He sank into it gratefully and allowed his mind to process what he had just experienced.
Another world. Another life. Another version of himself or perhaps the same soul in a different existence. A place called Aerthe where magic didn't exist but technological miracles were commonplace. Where humans were physically weak but possessed knowledge and capabilities that would seem like sorcery to anyone from Centuury.
Moving pictures captured in handheld devices. Vehicles that propelled themselves without beasts or magic. Water and light provided with simple switches and handles. Food preserved perfectly for extended periods. Communication and information available instantly through glowing rectangular devices everyone carried.
And somehow, through the mystery of whatever system governed souls across worlds, that person was connected to August Finn. They were the same soul, experiencing different existences simultaneously or sequentially he wasn't sure which.
"Soul 777-777," August murmured, remembering the designation his Personal System had used. "From the System Aerthe."
His Personal System was part of something larger, he realized. There were other systems, governing other worlds. Aerthe was one. Centuury was another. And apparently, souls could traverse between them, carrying memories and perhaps other things as well.
The implications were staggering. If he was connected to that other life, did that mean his abilities, his Personal System, his rapid growth were they related to knowledge or capabilities from that other existence? Was that why he had access to a unique system that no one else in this world possessed?
Questions multiplied faster than answers, but August felt a strange sense of peace beneath the confusion. He wasn't alone in the cosmos. There were other worlds, other versions of existence, other possibilities beyond the violent and magical reality of Centuury.
And somehow, he was connected to all of it.
August gave a brief review of the status panel with a mixture of awe and trepidation. He was now more powerful than he had ever imagined becoming. The numbers were staggering, the capabilities almost frightening in their scope.
But with great power came great responsibility a phrase from somewhere, perhaps the memory fragment he had just experienced. He would need to be careful, deliberate, and thoughtful in how he used these new abilities.
The village depended on him. His team trusted him. And now, apparently, he carried the memories and perhaps the hopes of another life in another world.
It was a heavy burden, but August Finn had never shied away from responsibility.
He would carry it, as he always had, one day at a time.