For the Record

It occurs to me as I pull myself out from the most recent of seventeen separate ghost traps that if I actually did have a mortal body, I’d be exceedingly tired by now. For all its drawbacks, being a spirit can be pretty convenient. I’m not really sure what to do next though, since my circuit around the settlement has taken me right back to the first trap I cleared.

(You could check your messages,) Nyx mutters, and she’s right.

[Manaphage (Lesser) slain, 50 Experience has been awarded!]

…

[Manaphage (Lesser) slain, 50 Experience has been awarded!]

[Consume reached Level 5!]

[Mimic Lure reached Level 3!]

[Partial Phase reached Level 3!]

[User has earned enough Experience for a Level Increase!]

[Begin Level Increase Process? Y/N]

Haha, no. I’ve learned my lesson, we can save that for later. Just how many did I eat anyway?

(Eighty-four, not counting the ones from the first trap.)

Huh. That’s more than I’d thought, but I suppose it explains how my skills have leveled up this much. I assume mimic lure and partial phase are from riding a decoy between traps and leaving the traps, respectively. I’m bored though, there’s only so many meat paste nugget equivalents you can eat before you want a taste of something else, and I’m not going to deny that even at level 2, that apprentice mechanic was delicious in comparison.

(Sentients are always more appealing. Some say wraiths were created specifically to vex the mortals, so it makes sense you’d be built to prefer eating them to each other.)

That makes sense. For the time being I decide to wander the town, just to get to know the area and see if there’s anything particularly interesting. You know, see the sights.

And, maybe I’m a trouble magnet, because it only takes me ten minutes to bump into what is definitely ‘the sights’ – someone in the outskirts, cornered by four others. I’m not particularly interested in the conversation, so I tune it out. Something about a debt, and not having the money right now. Whatever.

Hello.

All five of them jump, but at least one of them has the guts to answer.

“What the hells are you?” This one’s lanky, with ears drawn to low points from the sides of their head. Their brow hangs heavy, shading red eyes set in gray-green skin. Their teeth are pointed, two short tusks jutting from their lower jaw, made to look even shorter by the metal spike they hold in their hand.

That’s a strange greeting. I tilt my head and deliberately blink.

“Dunno Boz, pretty sure that’s a monster,” a chubbier and shorter version of mister lanky (apparently Boz) mumbles.

“Monsters don’t talk,” number three replies, noticeably more nervous than the others.

Some do! And I won’t deny being a monster, though some would argue being a monster is more about actions than a Status. Would you agree?

While I have their attention, I notice their victim carefully slink further down the alleyway, casting one last glance over their shoulder before they book it around a corner. I can hear their footsteps getting further away.

“Don’t like it, nope, not one bit,” number four mutters while starting to back away.

Boz’s eyes go hazy for a split second, after which is says, “only level 1, but its status is red.”

“What does that mean?” number three asks.

“Colors are unique. Red is universal hostile,” chubby answers. The others respond by brandishing their weapons – a hodgepodge mix of shivs and clubs.

Violence, then?

Apparently the time for words has passed, because all three of them (number four was wise and ran for it as soon as the others moved) have decided to try their luck.

But I don’t feel like gambling, and it only takes one Wail of Torment for them to freeze in place, eyes wide, bodies shaking. The chubby fellow is apparently strong enough of will to back away, slowly at first before breaking into a full shrieking scramble in the opposite direction as fast as their limbs can carry them. The others aren’t so lucky.

I decide to play up my advantage, and drift closer to Boz specifically while dragging the toes of my feet along the ground. I stop to his side, and lean over so my face is an inch from theirs.

You know, your fourth had the right idea. You have no idea in your poor, frail mortal mind what devils and dangers you court.

I wrap the fingers of one hand around the blade of their shiv held feebly in front of them and corrode the blade to dust. I watch their eyes widen as the situation begins to set in, and gently caress both of them with a touch of consume – not enough to kill, but enough for them to feel their vitality pull suddenly and sharply from their bodies.

That’s finally enough to snap them out of their stupor, Boz falling on their ass while the other cartoonishly throws their weapon in the air and runs for dear life. To be fair, I’m starting to lose interest in the lot of them, though their reactions were at least entertaining. I suppose I’ll wrap this up then.

This is the part where you run, ‘Boz’. Pray that we do not meet again.

They take the hint, and after scooting backwards while wailing like a small child, Boz scrambles to their feet and flees in the same direction their compatriots took only a moment ago.

Well, that was fun I guess.

(Nice.) Nyx doesn’t seem to disagree with how I handled it.

Thanks. I, uh, think we should probably find Nerin and…

(Yeah. This is gonna start rumors.)

I don’t doubt that.

***

Nerin is unsurprisingly horrified that I took it upon myself to terrify the local goons, but at least it sounds like they work for a loan shark. I can’t blame the parasites for feeding, and it wasn’t really my problem to begin with, but the look on their faces was delicious, and so was their vitality.

Anyway, I take that as my cue to exit stage left, back through the sewers and to my apartment to take advantage of that level increase notification.

[User has earned enough Experience for a Level Increase!]

[Begin Level Increase Process? Y/N]

Yes.

Wham, bam, a solid hour later, I wake up with a bright shiny Level 2 in my Status. I bet nothing changed agai-

[User has earned enough Experience for a Level Increase!]

[Begin Level Increase Process? Y/N]

Eh?

(You have enough experience to hit level 3. Don’t act so surprised, you killed a lot of wraiths, and not all of them were lesser.)

I see. Fine, sure.

Another hour later… wait this one was two hours. Do they just vary?

(Yes,) Nyx sighs.

Alright, fine. Good. Level 3. Did anything change I should know about?

She gives me a flat stare for a moment, before finally saying, (messages.)

Ah right, those build up don’t they.

…

There’s nothing new.

(Correct.)

I sigh, which manifests as swirling some of my ash. Although… on a whim, I open my status.

[Status]

[Name: Nemesis]

[Race: Manaphage (Spirit, Ephemeral)]

[SYSTEM: TYPE E – Level 3 – XP 170/4000]

[Inherent Skills:]

[Charm 0]

[Consume 5]

[Corporeal Form 2]

[Mimic Lure 3]

[Partial Phase 3]

[Temporal Corrosion 1]

[Wail of Torment]

[Sensory]

[Mana Sight]

[Spectral Sight]

[Class: N/A – Level N/A – XP N/A]

[Class Skills: N/A]

[General Skills:]

[Identify 0]

[Nightvision]

[Stealth 1]

[Thought Projection 0]

[Sensory]

[Mortal Sight]

[Mortal Scent]

[Mortal Hearing]

[Language]

[Interplanar Common]

[Traits:]

[Mana Thirst]

[Titles:]

[Autophagic Cannibal]

[Stigma of the End]

Nope, nothing new there either.

(You shouldn’t be surprised, everything is based around fives or tens.)

Then why didn’t Consume do anything?

(Skills only usually change on evolution or a breakthrough event.)

You’re being very helpful, I observe.

Another flat glare is her response.

Yeah. Compulsion, I know.

I pat the top her head with a feeler, which she promptly swats away.

While you’re being helpful though, what’s the deal with Classes? I’ve had a big fat N/A staring at me in my Status for quite a while now.

(You should get your first options at level 5. The options are typically based on the kinds of things you’ve done, trained for, or are good at. I fully expect you to have options like ‘pest control’ or ‘village idiot’.)

Wait, those are Classes?

(No. Idiot.)

Seems I’ve used up my ration of kindness for the time being, so I distract myself poking at the bits and pieces still on the makeshift workbench while Nyx longingly gazes at Philip, who has once again thoroughly wedged himself irretrievably deep under the sofa.

***

The settlement has a convenient artifact that projects light from the top of the room during the day, and it’s the only reason why I know it’s the next day and also morning. Nerin doesn’t seem particularly happy to see me, which isn’t particularly surprising.

“I was right, you know. There are already rumors about the horror, the specter, the vampire that haunts the backstreets, looking for souls to steal and blood to drink. They say it speaks deep in your soul, but if you hear its true voice it’s already too late for you, and that the best you can hope for is to run to a brightly lit place and pray it deems to show mercy.”

Aha, that good huh?

“Good? I thought your goal was to be able to talk to people.”

And I am! Hello Nerin.

The grocer sighs.

Why does everybody sigh when I talk?

(Because you are exhausting,) Nyx quips.

I see. Meanwhile Nerin’s gaze makes me think they’re wondering if I’m joking, so they probably agree.

See you later, friend.

They look startled for a moment but then answer. “Yes, see you later, Nemesis.”

I drift off toward the outskirts again. I’m curious just how quickly the traps build up prey, it may or may not be a method for power-leveling. On my way, I happen upon a half dozen children huddled by the side of the road. And, I just can’t help myself.

Hello.

Just like that, half a dozen pairs of eyes locked firmly on me.

You look hungry. Which, they do. From the look of them, it’s been some time since they’ve had a proper meal.

They do not reply, other than looking vaguely terrified.

(Are you surprised?) Nyx says.

No, not really.

I understand, I’m hungry too. Speak with Nerin the grocer, they might consider work offered in trade.

I begin floating away, leaving them with one final comment. Seek shelter at night, and beware the backroads.

(Why did you tell them that?)

Because they could run into folks like Boz and his gang. The last thing those kids need is that kind of trouble, none of them even have Systems.

(You… you don’t even… you know what, fine. Nevermind.)