"Status Window."
I willed for it to appear, and to my surprise, it didn't show up in front of the vessel, but instead surfaced within my "divine kingdom".
So, only I can see this screen? Or why did it appear here?
It wasn't a trivial observation. If I was correct, no one could peek into my vessel's information.
It also meant that Velmoryn's had some unique way of checking their ranks, because I clearly remembered that Aria knew about Roy being Bronze. The news was an important one, but I was more excited to check my vessel's stats.
I had to see what this new body, the one I'd just claimed from the Goddess Herself, was truly made of.
✦ Status Window ✦
⟡ General Information
Name: Avenor
Rank:Silver
Race: Half-Elf / Half-Velmoryn
Age: 111
Status: Normal
God: Verde
Title:Divine Vessel
Class:Essence Reaver
⟡ Attributes
— Physical Traits —
• Strength: 40
• Dexterity: 24
• Agility: 24
• Constitution: 28
• Endurance: 22
• Fortitude: 16
— Mental Traits —
• Intelligence: 7
• Wisdom: 10
• Perception: 15
• Insight: 12
• Willpower: 18
• Empathy: 1
— Magic Traits —
• Mana: 8
• Magic Power: 2
• Magic Control: 9
• Magic Resistance: 15
Total Attribute Points: 251
⟡ Skills
• Crimson Rite — Max
• Hollow Core — Absolute
• Essence Reaver — Max
• Sylvan Heritage — Unique
• Mimic Shell — Intermediate
I was a little disappointed to see that it was only Silver Rank, but I expected that. The system had already warned me that the vessel's rank would be adjusted to match my current level. And I wasn't naïve. In terms of godly power, I could barely be considered divine at all. If anything, I was relieved it was Silver and not Bronze.
The title ['Divine Vessel'] was pretty self-explanatory, and Guidance obviously refused to give me anything more on it. Apparently, my Rank wasn't high enough. So, I moved on to the next thing that intrigued me the most - Race.
The vessel, which I had been so sure was Velmoryn, was listed as Half-Elf.
And if a God's race determined the race of their vessel, then the goddess who had created this body was either an elf or a half-elf. Because I knew for certain that I was Velmoryn, the system had confirmed it.
I'd be lying if I said I was disappointed. If anything, I was a little thrilled. I'd always liked Elves. They were elegant, deadly, and a little stuck-up, just like me. And now my own vessel was part Elf. A piece of the fantasy I'd always desired had become reality.
As excitement faded, I switched my focus to Class – Essence Reaver. I had no idea what that meant. Not a single clue. And naturally, Guidance refused to elaborate. That annoying silence made me wonder if all the improvement that impressed me earlier was some kind of trial period. Maybe now the system expected payment in Divinity Points, like a classic bait and switch.
Still grumbling in my head, I noticed something interesting buried in the list: one of the vessel's skills shared the exact same name - Essence Reaver, and it was already maxed out.
That, at least, was promising.
I didn't waste time. I activated Guidance.
[Essence Reaver - Max]
Passive skill. Increases the growth gained from consuming any essence by a factor of 10. Greatly enhances the effectiveness of attribute development through essence absorption.
For a moment, I actually hesitated, wondering if this kind of skill would truly be useful. But that doubt lasted no more than a second.
Skills that enhanced growth were always top-tier in RPGs. As long as you could survive the early grind, those passive effects would snowball into something broken by mid to late game. That's exactly the kind of skill Essence Reaver was. A long-term investment with a godlike payoff. This vessel might not be powerful now, but it wouldn't stay that way for long, especially with the cheat move I had already planned - blessing.
I was going to bless my vessel the same way I'd blessed Roy. Only this time, I wasn't stopping at just one. I'd keep pouring Divinity Points into it until it became outright overpowered.
I was just about to check the vessel's stats when another skill caught my eye – Hollow Core.
It was not the most comforting name, but what really stood out was its value: Absolute.
That wasn't a tier I saw often. Actually, I'd only seen it once before - on the Oak Guardian. My expectations shot up. I activated Guidance, fully prepared for something incredible, but then…
[Hollow Core - Absolute]
This vessel was forged without a soul. Divine power can not take root. Immune to all blessings, boons, and curses granted by gods.
The moment I saw the information, I realized how naive I'd been. Not only did this mean I couldn't bless my vessel to make it stronger, but it also forced me to change my entire plan. I couldn't act as my own apostle if the body I was using couldn't even receive a blessing.
Apostles probably channel or wield their god's divine power and this body can't do that.
The disappointment hit hard, but honestly, compared to gaining a vessel in the first place, it was a small price to pay.
I wanted to keep analyzing the vessel's information, but Roy was getting restless.
"Are you well?" he asked, taking a small step back.
Shit. I've been silent too long. That probably made him even more suspicious. I could've easily multitasked and kept up the act while checking my stats, but I didn't. I was still new to this whole god thing, and inexperience got the better of me.
"I am Avenor," I said at last, deciding it was safer to reveal my true name. I still didn't know how Velmoryns checked Ranks, and if their method showed names and other details, lying now would only backfire later.
"Elar Roy, do you know where we are? My memories are still… incomplete," I added, trying to pry more information from him while also laying the foundation for my new persona - Avenor, a Velmoryn who doesn't remember his past.
"This is one of the shrines of the God… the previous Velmoryn God," Roy said carefully. "We believed it abandoned long ago, but it seems the missing priestess was working on something here…" He trailed off.
I could feel through our connection that he regretted saying that much. Even after witnessing me "blessing" this body, it still was not enough to earn his trust.
Maybe it's possible to fake a blessing… or maybe he is not convinced that it was I who blessed Avenor. Still, I didn't doubt Roy's loyalty for even a second. I could feel it. He was genuine and more importantly, his faith in me hadn't wavered through any of the danger he'd just faced. He was the kind of believer worth protecting.
"We shall wait here a few hours before departing," Roy said, already turning. "For now, let us explore separately, it will help us cover ground more quickly."
He probably doesn't want to trust his back to some stranger in this mysterious place. I sighed, smiling at the thought, and that small, familiar gesture reminded me just how much I'd missed expressing emotions through my own face.
I still had to learn how to properly control this body, so I started walking too but in the opposite direction.
My biggest advantage was that while seeing through Avenor's eyes I could also observe from my divine consciousness "above". This granted me a full 360-degree field of vision. That would definitely be priceless in battles to come. But right now, I just wanted to check what was in the next room, because I could feel the faint pull from there.
I approached the door but didn't touch it. Even with the Window letting me observe from above, it still didn't show everything, especially not traps.
Considering the state this place is in, I should be able to break down a wooden door easily enough.
I glanced around, looking for something heavy. Unfortunately, the room was empty. Nothing but walls, floor, and the platform my vessel had woken up on, which was too massive to move. Definitely not something I could lift or toss.
That's when my gaze landed on the skeleton slumped near the wall.
If Roy were here, he'd probably consider it sacrilege. But he wasn't.
So I bent down and picked up the skull, and as I was about to toss it lightly in my hand to test the weight, I realized the weight of what I was doing.
Is this really okay? The thought gave me pause, but I quickly shook off the unease. I didn't have any better options. Let's hope it's sturdier than the door.
Amused by my own line of thinking, I smirked faintly and stepped toward the door, adjusting my stance. I didn't have much experience with throwing objects since becoming a God or even before that, but I still remembered the way a human body felt when you gave it a command.
The moment I launched the skull with full force, I felt every fiber and muscle in this Velmoryn-Elf body engage. The back, the arm, even the legs bracing with precision. It wasn't just strong. It was different from my human body.
The skull hit the door with a violent crash, blowing straight through. Shards of wood and bone scattered across the floor like glass. The sound of the wooden door shattering was unusually loud, but I thought that only proved my vessel's strength.
This body is powerful. I smirked, pleased with my might. I even clenched my fists, as if to check how much power I could muster.
Since Roy wasn't with me, I allowed myself a split focus. Half of my consciousness was back on checking the vessel's status window. And this half-elf, half-Velmoryn body was on a whole other level. Stronger than any Velmoryn in my tribe by a wide margin.
My physical stats were incredible. But the magical ones lagged behind.
That's fine. A strong physique means I can hunt. And hunting means essence. With time, I'll build up every stat myself.
I wasn't just planning to make this vessel strong, I was going to turn it into something invincible.
After tossing the rest of the skeleton's bones into the next room to check for traps, I finally stepped inside.
The room was a mess. Splintered wood and bone were scattered across the floor. Not that I was surprised. It was my doing, after all.
But aside from the wreckage, there was nothing. The pull I'd felt earlier had also vanished completely.
I looked around once more, slower this time, just in case I'd missed something. But I still could not find anything. So I turned to leave.
Let's check where Roy went. Maybe there's something actually worth seeing.
I was disappointed, but what could I do? I took a few steps back toward the hallway, but then my foot landed on something that did not quite feel like a bone. I glanced down.
I saw a thin, pale fragment. Not quite stone or metal, but rather something closer to ceramic. Just one word was etched across its surface:
"Seal."
My disappointment grew, and I also felt ashamed. Either the thrown skull or the force of the shattered door had damaged it. Whatever this thing had been - most likely some kind of charm - it clearly hadn't survived.
Great. I hope this thing wasn't something important. I thought, crushing what was left in my hand. I wasn't about to leave it lying around for Roy to find and start asking questions.
By the time I returned to the chamber with the platform, Roy was walking in as well.
"Did you discover anything of note?" he asked, feeling weirdly dejected.
"No. Just rubble. And you?" I answered casually, a poker face came to me easier than breathing.
"I did," Roy said, and pulled two blades from behind his back, offering them to me. "You can have these. They're not Velmoryn weapons. None in the tribe shall wield them."
The way he handled them made me realize it wasn't just some throwaway gear he'd picked up. There was history here. I could sense it. The faint tension in his shoulders, the pause between words. These weapons weren't random finds. He didn't like them, not one bit.
"Do you know whose they were?" I asked, not expecting a real answer but curious anyway.
Roy hesitated, shooting a piercing gaze my way. I didn't know what he was trying to confirm. Maybe he was trying to find out something through my reaction, but all I could sense through our link was sadness and anger. His gaze lingered for a brief moment, until he finally relented.
"They were forged by Elves," he said. Despite all the disgust and anger, his voice was still calm and dignified. "Discard them once you find proper weapons."
He turned away without another word, and I was not about to chase him.
I unsheathed one of the blades. The weight, the grip, the balance - it all felt… familiar. Too familiar. Not just a natural ease or good design. It was like my body already knew this weapon, so I looked for an explanation until I found one.
[Sylvan Heritage – Unique]
Innate knowledge of elven swordplay and weaponry, passed down through blood rather than training. Grants natural proficiency with elven blades and fluid combat instincts known only to those born of the Sylvan blood.
I knew it, the Elves are the best.
**
A/N -
I've not yet decided what kind of notes I want to leave on GoV. I like to talk to my readers and I also don't want to give away spoilers xD
With this chapter, the plan of releasing 20,000+ words on a launch day is complete - it's actually over 22,000.