Dungeon at the End of the Universe

Prshky, Ram, and Ditti had been training in the moon Dungeon for close to a week now. Of course, none of them remembered the previous loops, so it didn’t feel too repetitive for them.

After many gruelling challenges – which began with the class trials, continued with class specific training under a certain fae, and ended with learning to sense mana – they were now going from fight to fight in order to gain some levels before their return home.

They had just finished a fight against a group of constructs which, at last, pushed them to level nine. Only a few more and they’d reach their goal of level ten.

As they were preparing for the next fight, an oppressive feeling descended upon them out of nowhere.

“What is this?” Ram asked. “Prshky?”

The wizard of the group closed his eyes, concentrating.

“Nothing,” he replied after a while, “At least, it’s not a mana based attack.”

Although all three of them had learnt to sense mana, Prshky excelled at it. Perhaps it was due to his wizard class, perhaps it was something innate.

“Ditti?” Ram asked the groups rogue. It was a long-shot, but if the cause of the feeling was physical, they’d know.

Unfortunately, it was not to be. Dittillapp only shrugged their shoulders and shook their head. They also had no idea.

“Fuck. Alright. Let’s take a short break, see if it won’t pass.”

They all set up a rudimentary camp. However, the feeling of oppression didn’t go away. At least it seemed like they were getting used to it, but only ever so slightly.

As they were trying to rest and relax, a huge amount of mana began to gather around all three of them. Immediately, they jumped up and got ready for a fight. Yet nothing was there.

Tense and high-strung, they scanned every bit of the room. And turned up empty.

Just as they were about to relax ever so slightly, the gathering mana reached an unknown precipice. It began to flow into them. They had no way to stop it, no way to defend. Not even Prshky had any idea of what to do.

Despite that all, it appeared to be completely harmless. In fact, they barely felt a thing.

And once it was done, a System screen appeared in front of each of them.

And the oppressive feeling vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.

New Ability gained!

System, can you tell if they’re still under the effect of my presence?

Positive.

They are!?

Negative.

Oh. That’s good.

…

But screw you System! Don’t worry me like that! You knew what I was asking.

Ah, whatever. The blessing went through, so at least that’s good. Thank goodness for mana. And that mana is so cooperative and does things I wouldn’t have any idea how to do. Only thing I slightly regret is not having the time to modify the blessing notification they got. Here’s to hoping the System’s default one isn’t too bad.

But enough about that, let’s look at this shiny new Ability!

Grant System – Blessing (System/Eldritch)
With a combination of slight reality bending and the hijacking of the System’s connection to its Users, you bless a User. This grants them User status (if they weren’t one beforehand) and a minor expansion of System functions.
But to count as a proper blessing, you have to grant something that’s supported by your power alone. Current benefits include {unknown}.

Oh damn. So, what you’re saying is nobody has any idea what this does? Again? Just like with the Eldritch?

At least it achieved what it was intended for. My stupid aura of fear won’t affect them anymore. Speaking of which, I should maybe start making System Users out of my resident Sipaloons. The feeling can’t be pleasant, and to live their whole life like that?

No. This will create a whole other issue of a superpowered society where everyone is a User, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.

In the meantime, let’s catch Faellen up to speed on what has happened. I’m sure the little fairy will be soooooo glad hear what I’ve done. I do need its advice on how exactly to distribute the blessing to my Sipaloons, so I’ll suffer through it.

“How are things on your end?” I send over.

“As good as they might be. I told them this was a challenge by their god, to see if they’re worthy and can live like this.”

“Well, good news. I can fix.”

“And what’s the catch,” Faellen quickly catches on.

“I’ll have to make them System Users.”

“Oh. Well, that’s not too bad. I’ve been telling you to do so. How does that fix things anyway?”

“Oh, you know,” I reply, “Apparently Bonds like the one we have significantly reduce the pressure I emit. And the System told me blessings, which I can do now as an [Eldritch god], are similar enough to count.”

“…”

“…”

“And what does that have to do with making them Users?” for perhaps the first time in, actually for the first time since we met, I don’t hear any emotion it Faellen’s voice.

“Uhm, the Ability description says that I’m somehow hijacking the System’s connection to Users and using that as a conduit for the blessing?”

“…”

“Look, I have no idea what’s bad about that this ti-”

“Bless me,” I am suddenly interrupted by the fairy.

“-me… What?”

“Bless me,” Faellen repeats.

“Oookay? Sure? Why thought?”

“Because fae don’t get access to the System. We can’t. A deal was made between System and Wyld,” it takes a deep breath, “But if you’re hijacking the System’s connection… and if being a User is only a side effect of being blessed… well, nothing in the deal forbids us from gaining blessings.”

I think I’m starting to understand. “And even if that doesn’t work, my Paradox Ability should still circumvent whatever restrictions are in place,” I finish the thought.

“Yes.” Pause. “Well, I wasn’t thinking about that Ability, but yes.”

“Alright. Well, here goes nothing.” Let’s hope this works.