Chapter 3
As soon as Theo made his choice, a portal materialized on the other side of the desk, and a figure emerged. It was a creature that resembled a human manikin, white as snow. When it spoke, its voice was like that of an AI, not one of the newer ones that sound almost human, but rather the older ones that sound robotic.
“Greetings, Theo,” the manikin said.
“Greetings, and you are? Also, how do you know my name?” Theo said.
“Where are my manners?” With a bow, the system said, “I am the system; you may call me System, and I know your name because you’re connected to me.”
“So, you’re spying on me?” Theo said.
“Yes, I could see everything within my domain if I wanted to. I usually don’t, but in this instance, I used the skill Identify and saw your name on your status screen.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Theo said.
“Think the word status,” the System said.
“All right, fine,” Theo said, thinking the word status.
Theodore Thompson
Race: Human F-Grade Lv. 0
Class: N/A
Profession: N/A
Health: 90/90
Mana: 70/70
Stamina: 50/50
Stats:
Vitality: 9
Strength: 5
Endurance: 5
Agility: 5
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 7
Willpower: 8
Perception: 7
Free Points: 0
Skills:
Bonded Skills:
Respond and Chains of Gehenna
titles: Warden of Gehenna
“What does this all mean?” Theo asked.
“Focus on the word or words you want more information on,” the system said.
Theo went through all the words, and a few stuck out.
Human (F-Grade): This is the lowest grade of human within the multiverse. F-Grade humans are typically found in newly initiated worlds, as their bodies are not imbued with mana from conception. Humans are widely spread throughout the multiverse and are recognized as being the most balanced race among the myriad races; however, they are far from the strongest. Stats per Level All Stats 1: Free Points: 1
Title: Warden of Gehenna. You are bonded to the prison known as Gehenna; this is a pseudo-divine realm /genius locorum. You are the warden; you can release anyone from Gehenna or imprison anyone at any time. As the Warden, you can help shape the realm in many ways.
Genius locorum: A genius locorum is a protective spirit or deity that watches over a specific location.
Respond: Since you are bonded to a pseudo-divine prison, your soul is tethered to Gehenna's physical location. When you die, your soul will return to Gehenna, utilizing resources from Gehenna to reconstitute your body.
Chains of Gehenna: These four chains have been infused with the mana of Gehenna, drawn from the blood of mortals, gods, demons, and other beings. As long as you are soul-bound to Gehenna, you can use that connection to control these chains and wield them as extra limbs.
“What chains?” Theo thought.
Four chains seemed to flow out from the floor and wrapped around his limbs. As soon as all four wrapped around his arms and legs, they became tattoos, and even that faded. Turning his head to the system, he opened his mouth, but the System responded first before he could say anything.
Those are soul-bound to you, and since they are of such high-grade, pseudo-divine quality and an extension of you, they leave no mark, which is a form of a tattoo. Anything below pseudo-divine, if it is soul-bound, will be visible as a tattoo on your skin. The ranks of most things will be Common, Uncommon, Rare, Legendary, Pseudo-Divine, and Divine, with one-offs designated as Unique. After each rank-up, your connection to Gehenna will grant more bonded abilities; your soul can’t handle all of them just yet,” the system said.
“So that brings me to my next point: what is this place?” Theo asked.
“Let me tell you the history of prisons and their purpose, and then the history of this Pacific realm and the warden profession. It will answer a few of your questions. Prisons can be a construct, in other words, an artifact designed to house people who have gone against the status quo. In this case, a spirit resides over this place, and it is the prison itself. The reason why prisoners are held rather than killed outright is that they become a valuable resource. Most are in stasis; however, some wardens or genius locorum don’t have their prisoners in stasis, which can be due to various reasons. Gehenna, they are currently in stasis for now. In the future, they won’t be if you put more resources in this place. This is because Gehenna is modeled after its progenitor and, in the future, will create time loops in allusions to befuddle and punish its inmates. Still, for now, Gehenna can only do that in their dreams. They are imprisoned in the first place because their mana is drained and turned into mana crystals. Yes, you can obtain mana crystals from monsters or nature, but they contain a variety of elements that must be sifted through to refine the mana. Alternatively, you can cultivate and refine the mana that is naturally present in the atmosphere. Additionally, you can obtain mana from the system as a reward for defeating an enemy. Mana is already refined using a crystal formed by a person, but it is less work to refine it for a person. Think of it like creating a meal from scratch that uses natural mana or mana from a monster core, and the mana drain from a prisoner is just a microwave dinner. And yes, before you ask, it’s pretty obvious that we've something similar to the Internet, and I’ve already explored everything that Earth’s Internet has to offer. That’s how I’m aware of microwave dinners. Getting back on track, that’s for mortal races.
The gods, demons, and other beings derive their power from karma; that is the reason why there is an afterlife: heaven or hell. For those whose lives are fulfilled, they go to a “good place,” and for those who are not so virtuous, they go to another place. Both serve the same purpose of siphoning off a person's karma; when that is done, their soul returns to the cycle to be reincarnated. The immortals utilize karma to enhance their power, while prisons were established to drain mortals and immortals of their power. And, of course, people make a business out of it. Another aspect of the prison is that any possession someone has in their inventory or spatial ring becomes the property of the prison.
Gehenna is the offspring of Tartarus.” The system was interrupted
“Wait, wait, Tartarus is a realm in the underworld of Hades. This place is nothing like that. If memory serves, Tartarus is the precursor to the Bible version of hell. Fire and brimstone in the abyss that the damned are forever suffering. This place looks like a mash between a modern prison and a castle,” Theo said, exasperated
“Well, if you let me continue and don’t interrupt me. I’ll get there,” the system said in annoyance
“Okay, sorry,” Theo said in mock sincerity
Gehenna was born just a flat plane of desolate rock. Right from the beginning, Gehenna was a pseudo-divine realm. The warden's job is to help the genius locorum grow by gathering resources like stone, dirt, metal, etc. Gehenna was impatient and bonded to the first person they could, which was a big mistake.”
Theo got a mental version of a nod in the back of his mind.
“The previous warden did not do that. He was a god with a minor bond with Gehenna and could shape Gehenna the way he wanted because of rank disparity, able to ignore Gehenna’s feelings. He was selfish; he only used Gehenna to augment his power, which is why Gehenna remains so small and far from reaching its full potential. And designed like an actual prison, with your help, Gehenna can get the resources to change into something closer that resembles their progenitor. Continuing, he was the first warden of Gehenna, a god who kidnapped strong people solely to drain their power. This went against Gehenna's nature, and along the way, He made many enemies. You notice that your soul is connected to Gehenna, so his enemies sever the connection and throw him into their own prison. There is a backlash on both sides; the genius locorum also takes a long time to heal. But Gehenna hasn’t had a warden in a very long time. Out of curiosity, what is your connection level?” the system asked.
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“I thought you could see my status,” Theo said
“I can, but I am being polite and asking instead of doing,” the system said
Pulling up his status again,
it just says I’m bonded to Gehenna,” Theo said.
“100% compatible! That’s unexpected and explains a lot,” the system said.
“What does it mean?” Theo said
The ranks range from minor to lesser, greater, and bonded. That means for artifacts or places of power with an ego of their own. Your instincts or nature align. For example, if someone is righteous, holds a sword with an evil ego, and the sword wants to walk into a room and slaughter everyone in the room, and the person’s thought is not too, that would be a minor bond. Seems to me that Gehenna’s been waiting for a perfect bond,” the system said
Theo felt rapid nodding from his connection to Gehenna.
“You’re right about the connection. I feel happiness, smugness, and satisfaction from Gehenna, and I also have a question.” Theo said.
“Yes,” the system said with a hand gesture, go on
I’ve noticed you say 'he,” but you never said his name. Why is that?”
“Good question. Names have power and can become so strong that someone’s name is directly linked to their karma, so saying their name can give them power.
“I have another question,” Theo said
“Oh, and what is that?” the system asked
“What is rank disparity?” Theo inquired
The grades range from F, E, D, C, B, A, to pseudo-divine or demigod, and then to God. Each rank is more potent than the next, so someone can essentially use their power to suppress someone who is weaker than them. For the mortal ranks, rank disparity is not so severe, but for pseudo-divine or Divine Beings, when they utilize their full power, not many people can fight it if they are not on the same level as them.
“Any other questions? “The system asked
“Nope,” Theo replied
“All right. Continuing the last part of the explanation, the profession can encompass various jobs, such as blacksmith, leather worker, and alchemist, among others. Still, I’m fairly certain you can pick Warden right now,” the system said.
Images and feelings of someone leveling quickly in smug superiority hit Theo.
“What was that?” Theo asked.
“Come on, that’s bullshit; you should at least let him work for it a little bit,” the system said.
“What is?” Theo asked.
“I forgot that something like this could happen. It has been a very long time since something like this happened, so Gehenna cut me off guard. Since this place is pseudo-divine and you’re only an F-grade, you'll level up easily. Within a few days, your profession will reach its maximum level for your grade, which is 25. The reason why is bullshit. Usually, you would have to build up your place of power or develop your skills and craft to the next level. Gehenna is already at maximum rank for pseudo-divine and on the verge of being divine, so all the mana that Gehenna produces or siphons can be given to you, making it a cakewalk for you,” the system said.
I can sense that the system and Gehenna are arguing, with emotions and images still flashing by too quickly for Theo to comprehend.
The system said Out loud,
“Fine, you win, but still a bunch of hogwash, and you know it.” Turning to Theo, “I recommend not getting your profession just yet. The reason why? Oh, what’s a good saying? Ah, yes, you’ll become a paper tiger. You can use mana crystals to raise your level quickly, and a large supply is readily available. I recommend only using them sparingly to raise your level for the same reason. Another reason not to become a paper tiger is that this place, as I mentioned earlier, generates resources. You’re going to have a big target on your back,”
“And how am I supposed to counteract that?” Theo asked.
“I’m glad you asked. One of the reasons tutorials exist is to allow immortals to select champions or bestow blessings on others. They do that because it benefits the newly integrated chosen or blasts by giving them items, skills, and knowledge. By accumulating karma through their mortal actions and deeds, patrons gain a portion of karma and grow stronger, as it is a win-win situation. That’s the reason why you should attend the tutorial to find a patron to back you, or you could work for me. However, if you choose to skip it, you can remain here. Nevertheless, with your circumstances being the warden of Gehenna, you will receive unique rewards at the end of the tutorial. I have some ideas, and no, I’m not going to spoil them,” the system said in a smug voice.
“You want me to work for you and to be my patron,” Theo said.
“Yes and no, I want you to work for me secretly. I’ll arrange for you to have a patron who is an ally of mine, who will announce you openly as their champion or give their blessing. However, I’ll give you the sales pitch after the tutorial, just like everyone else. I don’t want to break my own rules,” the system said, with a smile in his voice.
“Well, I am interested in the unique rewards,” Theo said.
“Good, good. The next step will be to get your class and then equipment. But could I have access to the vaults that contain the spellbook and equipment for F-grade?” the system asked.
“Yes,” Theo said.
And Theo felt that Gehenna said yes as well.
“With that, what class would you like?” the system said.
At the same time, a list appeared before him, ranging from Common to legendary classes.
“What’s the difference between the grades of classes?” Theo asked.
“It’s how many stat points you gain per level; the higher the grade, the more stat points you receive.” I won't bother with the lesser. Legendary get Stats per Level All Stats: 1 Free Points: 2
for each stat and doubles each time it ranks up. The reason Legendary and Up is a multifaceted class rolled up into one, for example, Spell Sword, is that it uses all the stats simultaneously,” the system said.
After five minutes, the system portal out and told Theo to speak out that he was done, and the system would return. Theo spent many hours at the desk going through his options.
Theo chose the Battle Healer class, calling the system by talking to the room.
“Hey, system, I am done.”
With a pop, a portal opened up in front of the desk.
“So, what's your choice?” the system asked.
“Battle Healer,” Theo said.
“That is an interesting choice—I know how to make it a bit more powerful with quite a few spell books from the vaults that showed up on the desk. Use these first,” the system said.
Looking at the books: poison resistance, ice resistance, heat resistance, etc.
“What weapon would you like to use?” the system said.
“A sword,” Theo said.
With that, another book was on the desk, titled "Basic Knowledge of How to Use a Sword."
Absorbing all the skill books, Theo's stat sheet looked like
Theodore Thompson
Race: Human F-Grade Lv. 0
Class: Battle Healer LV. 0
Profession: N/A
Health: 90/90
Mana: 80/80
Stamina: 50/50
Stats:
Vitality: 9
Strength: 5
Endurance: 5
Agility: 5
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 7
Willpower: 8
Perception: 7
Free Points: 0
Class Skills:
Healing Touch, Common, Novice 0
Cure Wounds, Common, Novice 0
Sword Mastery, Common, Novice 0
General Skills:
Resistance, Common, Novice 0
Inspect, Common, Novice 0
Bonded Skills:
Respond and Chains of Gehenna
titles: Warden of Gehenna
Bonds:
Galaxy Trade Store Tablet, Chains of Gehenna, the Prison Gehenna
looking at the description of the Battle Healer
Battle Healers are a mobile source of healing and protection that can traverse the battlefield, heal the wounded, and repel enemies. This legendary class is suitable for almost any situation in the heat of battle, with a bonus of +1 to all stats per level and two free stats.
Healing Touch: Healing Touch costs 20 MP per cast. It is a basic healing spell that Cass and wide net over the body to heal it.
Cure Wounds: This spell costs 10 MP per cast to cure wounds. It is a specialized healing spell that targets a wide range of toxins, poison bacteria, and other factors that could enter a wound.
Sword Mastery: Sword mastery is the accumulation of knowledge on how to wield a sword properly, including the footwork that accompanies it.
“The next step is to select a weapon and armor. Usually, I would provide you with a basic set of gear, but since you already have a substantial collection, let's review your options and determine what suits you well without drawing too much attention. The system said
The system indicated that the gear included a decent armor set, a backpack, and basic survival rations. Theo looked through the options of hundreds of weapons and settled on a sword cane made from dark, rich wood adorned with runes that enhanced its sharpness as a weapon. The sword is a double-sided short sword that can be drawn from its sheath, featuring a crossguard that extends from the handle. The top of the cane is topped with a polished gem that can serve as a focus for magic or as a reservoir during combat.
The best part is that it's a soul-bound item. Just as he had done with the tablet, he added a drop of blood to the crystal, establishing a connection with his thoughts. He could summon the sword cane as a tattoo on the back of his right hand. As he examined the tattoo, a chain on his right arm became visible, linking it to the sword cane.
With a thought, he summoned the cane and unsheathed the sword; the chain on his right arm remained visible, connecting to the sword's hilt, which is the crystal focus. With the sword forms in mind, he crossed the room, utilizing the chain as an extension of his arm, and practiced a few slashes. He then, with another thought, returned the sword to his hand and performed a few more maneuvers.
Using the inspection skill
Soul-bound sword cane/wizard focus Rare.
This soul-bound, well-crafted weapon can be used as a sword, a wizard's focus, and a club enchanted for durability and self-repair on the cane and the sword. The sword is made from deep iron, a very durable metal that has been enchanted for its sharpness. Wood is made from a tree deep in a high mana zone and grows with the user.
“So much for not standing out; I think we’re done for now. You want to go off the tutorial now?” the system said.
“No, I’d rather call it a day; a lot has happened,” Theo said.
“A portal will open in this room tomorrow morning,” the system said.
With that, the portal opened, and the system walked through, asking Gehenna where the bathroom was. On the far side of the office, part of the middle wall slid down, revealing a hallway. Another part of the wall slid down in the middle of the hallway. Entering it was a garish bathroom: gold tub, gold in-line trim everywhere, purple and red towels and rugs.
“Oh, hell no,” thinking of a modern bathroom, sending the image to Gehenna. The bathroom transformed right before his eyes; the towels and rugs turned brown, the tub became stainless steel, and a shower was added. Taking care of business, he then looked in the mirror. The man he saw looking back at him was in his late 40s, with graying brown hair, not ripped but still in good shape, green eyes, and stood at 5’9”.
“Not bad for a late 40s white guy,” Theo thought.
He was guided to the bedroom, which had the same color scheme and tacky, over-the-top style. Theo changed the bedroom to his taste. The king-size bed, bed sheets, and comforter turned black, as did the pillowcases; the rug also turned brown. He kept all the furniture in darker-stained wood, and he was done. He went to bed.
