"Who would listen to a silent cry,
Beneath the cold, uncaring sky?
No sunbeam warms, no gentle hand,
Just phantom touch in barren land.
Shadows stretch, they mimic chains,
Whispering fears in the silent rains.
This tired heart, it beats so low,
Where does a forgotten spirit go?"
Jack's guitar shifted. A slightly more uplifting progression. Hinting at a glimmer of hope. Reina's voice gained a delicate strength. A fragile determination.
"But when the world begins to fade,
And weary thoughts are gently laid,
I close my eyes, and softly drift,
Beyond the veil, a precious gift.
To secret realms, where dreams take flight,
Illuminated by starlight.
A hidden door, a silver key,
Unlocks the world, just for me."
The melody swelled. A bittersweet symphony. Reina's eyes were no longer sharp and calculating. They were now unfocused. Gazing inward. Truly reliving the emotions of the song.
Her devotion to Jack. Despite being brought by forceful situation. The warmth and belonging he brought her... They made these lyrics intensely personal.
"In Dream World, skies are ever bright,
And colors burst in joyous light.
A warm embrace, a gentle hum,
A place where I can truly come.
A loving home, a hearth so warm,
Protected safe from every storm.
No bitter winds, no judging eyes,
Just open arms beneath a clear blue sky."
Jack's guitar became more vibrant. Almost playful. Yet still retaining that undercurrent of melancholy. The knowledge that this world was just a dream. A fleeting respite.
"I run through fields of emerald green,
The happiest girl you've ever seen.
No lonely nights, no bitter tears,
Just joy that banishes all fears.
The melodies, they fill the air,
A perfect life, beyond compare.
Though morning breaks, and dreams depart,
They leave their magic in my heart."
The final verse saw Reina's voice soften again. A poignant farewell to the dream. Yet with a lingering echo of its comfort. Jack's guitar followed. Slowing down. Fading into a gentle, resonant chord.
"And when I wake, the grey returns,
A hidden ember gently burns.
The memory of a world so true,
Helps me face the morning dew.
For in my soul, a seed takes root,
A promise of a sweeter fruit.
That one day soon, my spirit's plea,
Will find its Dream World, waiting for me."
The final notes of the guitar hung in the air. Slowly decaying into silence. Reina's voice faded on the last word. A breathy, almost mournful whisper.
The garden was utterly still. No wind stirred the leaves. The water in the pond was glassy.
Then, it began.
The statue depicting a woman holding a lyre shimmered. A soft white light blooming from its stone form. Then, the singing goddess. Then, the dancing goddess...
One after another, a total of five of the seven statues began to glow. With an intense, pure white light. The light pulsed. Growing brighter. Until it enveloped Jack and Reina entirely.
It wasn't painful. Nor overwhelming. It was a warmth. A profound sense of peace and rightness. One that seeped into their very essence.
Their bodies tingled. A gentle vibration that resonated deep within their bones. They felt clearer. Sharper. As if every cell in their being had been optimized. It was an undeniable, tangible improvement. An upgrade to their fundamental existence.
Jack smiled widely . He felt his awareness sharpen. His every cell was humming with a new, subtle energy. The guitar in his hand felt lighter. His grip firmer.
Then, the system overlay notification materialized before his eyes.
[BLESSING OF SYMPHONY DISCOVERED!]
[INCREASING PERMANENT ATTRIBUTES...]
[FOR CURRENT INCARNATION... INCREASING ATTRIBUTE: PHYSIQUE]
[FOR CURRENT INCARNATION... INCREASING ATTRIBUTE: MYSTICISM]
[FOR CURRENT INCARNATION... INCREASING ATTRIBUTE: PASSION]
Jack nodded slowly. Comprehending the notification.
'Figures!' He thought. 'A blessing that actually blesses the target's overall qualities. Direct, no-nonsense upgrades. Truly impressive."
He could feel the changes already. A heightened sense of physical resilience. A clearer mental focus. A deeper wellspring of resolve. The system didn't just inform. It affirmed the tangible shift within him.
Beside him, Reina gasped softly. Her hand instinctively finding his. Her fingers intertwined with his. Warm and firm.
"Dear, do you feel that?" Her eyes met his. Wide with a mix of wonder and delight. "It's… exhilarating. A tangible improvement in physical, mental, and spiritual qualities."
Jack squeezed her hand. "Indeed, Love. Our little performance paid off very well."
He activated his [Eyes of Judgement]. The familiar holographic data appearing over his vision. Allowing him to pull up his detailed status.
[CHARACTER STATUS]
[Name: Jack Night]
[Incarnation Type: Human]
[Persona: Jack Night]
[Race: Transcendent Human]
[Class: Steamrune Engineer]
[Archetype: Mortal Creature]
[Power Source: Spirit of Judgement]
[Attributes: Physique (90) Mysticism (90) Passion (90) Essence (99)]
He scanned the updated figures. Essence remained at 99, capped out as expected. As for the others? Physique... 90. Mysticism... 90. Passion... 90.
All of them were previously 85. A clean, undeniable five-point increase across all relevant attributes for his current human form.
This was a substantial boost. Five points on a scale nearing a hundred wasn't a tweak. It was a fundamental enhancement.
His physical limits had expanded. His mastery over mystic energies deepened. And his unwavering will strengthened further. He felt like a finely tuned machine. Optimized and ready.
Before he could do anything else...
[RESONANT EFFECT DISCOVERED!]
[INCREASING PERMANENT ATTRIBUTES FOR OTHER INCARNATIONS...]
[FOR ARCHFIEND INCARNATION... INCREASING ATTRIBUTE: PASSION]
[FOR SPIRIT INCARNATION... INCREASING ATTRIBUTE: MYSTICISM]
[FOR MONSTER INCARNATION... INCREASING ATTRIBUTE: PHYSIQUE]
Jack raised an eyebrow. A resonant effect? Rippling through his alternate forms? That was intriguing.
Each incarnation was tailored for a specific purposes. They seemed to receive a targeted, optimal enhancement.
He immediately shifted his [Eyes of Judgement] to read the data for the other incarnations.
He switched to Archfiend tab. Pulling up the data for Judge Jack. The hulking rakshasa. His most direct instrument of retribution.
[CHARACTER STATUS]
[Incarnation Type: Archfiend]
[Persona: Judge Jack]
[Race: Black Buto]
[Attributes: Physique (99) Mysticism (42) Passion (99) Essence (99)]
The greatest key attribute for this incarnation was Physique. But it had long reached the cap. The one increased by the blessing was Passion.
His Passion now was... 99. Also maxed. He recalled it being 96 the last time he checked. A three-point increase. Capped by the natural limit. Nice!
A great satisfaction bloomed in Jack's chest. Judge Jack now possessed absolute willpower and an indomitable spirit. His already terrifying conviction was now practically unassailable.
Next, the data for his specter form. Jack Mystery. The invisible and intangible stealth specialist. A master of illusion and nightmarish terror.
[CHARACTER STATUS]
[Incarnation Type: Spirit]
[Persona: Jack Mystery]
[Race: Mysterious Specter]
[Attributes: Physique (00) Mysticism (98) Passion (88) Essence (99)]
Mysticism... 98 now. Previously, it was still 93. Another five-point leap. Almost maxed out. Just one more point to reach the cap.
This meant Jack Mystery's mystical abilities had reached a new height. His control over his mysterious energy and mystic power were vastly amplified.
The mysterious specter was already a nightmare for those who didn't know how to deal with spirit. He would now be even more nightmare inducing.
With both [Mysterious Anomaly] and mystic spells from his spectral grimoire, he was practically an untouchable wizard.
...
Finally, Jack turned to the vigilante speedster. Racer Jack. The small, impossibly fast kamaitachi.
[CHARACTER STATUS]
[Incarnation Type: Monster]
[Persona: Racer Jack]
[Race: Kamaitachi]
[Attributes: Physique (93) Mysticism (43) Passion (99) Essence (99)]
His Physique in this incarnation was... 93. This had been 88 previously. Another five-point surge. And this high physique was different from the high physique of Judge Jack.
Judge Jack's physique was optimized for power. Racer Jack? Obviously it would be optimized for speed.
Racer Jack was already a blur whirlwind of razor-sharp agility. Increased Physique meant not just durability. But raw power and even greater speed.
His movements would be more explosive fast. His strikes would be imbued with even more cutting force. And his ability to endure impacts would be enhanced.
The swift, silent unlicensed crime fighter would be even more untraceable. And even more lethal. For those who thought they could outrun or outmaneuver him, this was a definitive death sentence.
The light slowly receded. Leaving them standing there, in the Symphony Garden. The five statues continued their gentle glow for a moment longer. Before fading back to their pristine, silent stone form. Their faces were still serene. But somehow… less distant.
They had done it. They had truly received the Blessing of Symphony.
Jack let out a low whistle. A sound of profound satisfaction at the efficiency of the upgrades.
"Well, Love, it seems our little concert was a resounding success beyond mere expectations." He glanced at Reina. His gaze softened at her radiant expression. "How is it?"
Reina's eyes were sparkling. "Amazing. It didn't just make me stronger in spirit, mind , and body. I also make me feel more attuned to my illusions and my fog creation. Incredible."
"Good!" Jack stated. Turning his gaze back to the now-static statues. The Symphony Garden had given them more than just a fleeting experience. It had carved an indelible mark on their very beings.
"This 'Blessing of Symphony' truly lives up to its name." Jack commeted.