N/A: I'm just correcting this
The relief of having found shelter lasted exactly twelve minutes.
At first, it was just an annoyance: a persistent itch on my arms where the vines had scraped my skin during the escape. I thought it was dried sweat, or maybe some residue from the corrosive worm's slime.
But the itch turned into a burn.
I examined my arms under the dim light filtering in through the cave entrance. What I saw froze my blood: red, winding lines spread out from every point where the vegetation had touched me, as if my skin were a map and someone was drawing rivers of poison.
—Aurora, we have a problem.—I've already detected it. Analyzing… Multiple toxic agents detected. Beginning classification according to Sothoryos patterns.
A screen appeared in front of me, showing a diagram of my body with different colors marking the affected zones.
[TOXICOLOGICAL ANALYSIS IN PROGRESS]
Identified plant species by contact:
Caustic Vines: Cytotoxins level 3
Numbing Creepers: Neurotoxins level 2
Parasitic Moss: Blood Corruptors level 1
—Explain that in terms I can understand before I die.—The vines are destroying your skin cells. The creepers are gradually blocking your nerve impulses. And the moss… is draining the vitality from your blood.
As if to confirm it, I felt a numbness spreading from my right arm toward my chest, while the red lines throbbed with pain that intensified with every heartbeat. But the most disturbing part was a sensation of emptiness, as if something essential were being extracted from within me.
—Estimated survival without treatment: 90 minutes for the cytotoxins, 2 hours for the neurotoxins, indeterminate for the blood corruptors.—And with treatment?—That depends on whether you're willing to face worse poisons to cure yourself of these.
I looked toward the cave entrance. The sky had darkened considerably, the clouds taking on a sickly greenish hue. The wind was picking up, bringing with it a sweet scent that made my stomach churn.
—How long until the toxic rain?—42 minutes. And I've detected something important: that rain is not just contaminated water. Preliminary air analysis indicates the suspended toxins come directly from the local vegetation.
Another screen appeared, showing a complex chemical composition:
[REGIONAL TOXIC RAIN ANALYSIS]
Estimated composition:
Neurotoxins (40%): From paralytic ferns and brain-flowers
Cytotoxins (25%): From corrosive plants and devourer fungi
Irritants/Asphyxiants (20%): From choking mosses
Blood Corruptors (10%): From vampiric herbs
Soul Fragmenters (5%): Indeterminate mystical origin
—You're saying that to develop full immunity to this rain, I'd have to expose myself to each of those groups of poisons separately.—Exactly. A single exposure would give you minimal resistance. You'd need multiple deaths from each type to develop significant defenses.
The numbness reached my shoulder. I could feel my right hand beginning to lose fine coordination. The red lines had spread to my neck, and the inner emptiness intensified.
I struggled to my feet, my legs weak. I had two options: go out now to search for plants that could counter the poisons already killing me, or turn my inevitable death into a tool for survival.
—Aurora, the Soul Fragmenters… what exactly do they do?—They attack the connection between consciousness and body. Symptoms include severe depersonalization, loss of coherent memory, and eventually… identity fragmentation.
A chill ran through me that had nothing to do with the poisons.—And if I die from that?—Data is insufficient. There are no records of resurrections after death by soul fragmentation. You might regenerate your body, but… would you still be you?
The reality of what I was considering hit me. It wasn't just repeated suicide. It was betting my very existence on the hope of becoming stronger.
I walked toward the cave entrance, feeling every step take more effort. My vision blurred intermittently. The metallic taste in my mouth grew stronger.
Outside, I identified some of the plants Aurora had mentioned:
About twenty meters away, a cluster of pale blue ferns swayed gently. Their spores glowed faintly, even in the dim daylight.—Paralytic Ferns. Neurotoxins level 4. A controlled exposure could give you basic resistance.
Closer, clinging to the trunks of several trees, grew a moss with an innocent appearance, its vibrant green standing out against the gloomy surroundings.—Choking Moss. Irritants and asphyxiants level 3. Their particles expand on contact with moisture.
And there, almost hidden in the shadows, a plant that made me hesitate: flowers with translucent petals that seemed to move of their own will, releasing an aura that slightly distorted the air around them.—Spectral Flowers. Soul Fragmenters of unknown level. I… wouldn't recommend approaching those.
For the first time, I detected something like unease in Aurora's voice.
The wind grew stronger. The first drops began to fall, but they were still just normal water. I had maybe ten minutes before the toxic rain began in earnest.
—If I go out now and die from the plants, how much resistance would I gain?—Depends on how you die. Gradual exposure would give you 0.5–1.0 resistance points. Direct death by consumption, 2–4 points. But the consequences…—What consequences?—Every violent death leaves psychological residue. I've observed that champions who die repeatedly develop… personality changes. Some become more aggressive. Others, more calculating. And some…—Some what?—Some lose the ability to value their own existence.
The rain began to fall harder. It wasn't toxic yet, but it already carried that sweet scent that made me dizzy.
[CHECKPOINT AVAILABLE]
Survival System Activated
Save current progress
Multiple decision routes detected
Proceed with controlled exposure?
I looked at my hands, where the red lines now reached my wrists. The numbness spread, and the emptiness grew. In my previous life, I would have chosen the safest option, waited until I had more information.
But my previous life had ended with a fall.
—Aurora, in my world, when I was a kid, I was afraid to swing the bat. I preferred to let the ball hit me in the face rather than risk missing.—I logged that in your initial memory analysis.—That mentality haunted me my whole life. I always chose the "safe" option, even when I knew it wouldn't get me where I wanted to be.
I walked toward the paralytic ferns. The raindrops were becoming more frequent.
—And look where that mentality led me. To a rooftop, being pushed by someone I trusted because I thought they were the safe option.—Are you sure about this?
I stopped in front of the ferns. Their spores glowed more brightly now, as if reacting to my presence.—No. I'm not sure about anything. But for the first time in my existence, I have the chance to face my fears directly, to pay the price to be better, instead of settling for mediocrity out of fear of pain.
I reached toward the ferns.—You know what's ironic, Aurora? In my previous life, pain came no matter what I did. At least here I can choose the pain that makes me stronger.
The spores clung to my skin on contact. Immediately I felt my muscles tense involuntarily.
[NEW TOXIN DETECTED]
Neurotoxins level 4 – Paralytic Ferns
Current resistance: 0%
Progressive symptoms initiated
Estimated time until full paralysis: 15 minutes
...
The effect was immediate and brutal. My muscles began contracting uncontrollably. Fine coordination vanished completely. But my mind remained clear, clinically observing how my own body betrayed me.
I staggered toward the choking moss, stumbling but determined.—This is going to be… interesting— I managed to articulate as my lips began to go numb.
I inhaled deeply over the moss. The invisible particles entered my lungs and expanded instantly. The sensation was as if someone had filled my lungs with wet sand.
[NEW TOXIN DETECTED]
Irritants/Asphyxiants level 3 – Choking Moss
Current resistance: 0%
Pulmonary edema initiated
Estimated time until asphyxiation: 8 minutes
...
Now not only could I not move my muscles properly, but each breath was a desperate struggle. But I could still think, still choose.
The rain intensified. The first toxic drops began to fall, recognizable by their faint yellowish color and the hissing sound they made as they touched the leaves.
I turned toward the Spectral Flowers. Even through blurred vision and burning lungs, I could see them moving without wind, as if aware of my presence.—Aurora… if this goes wrong…—I've recorded all your progress. Your determination has been… remarkable.
I approached the flowers. With each step, I felt something fundamental in me… blurring. As if my sense of who I was began to fray at the edges.—You know what scares me most? It's not dying. It's realizing I wasted another opportunity out of cowardice.
I touched one of the translucent petals.
The world shattered.
It wasn't physical pain. It was the sensation that "I" was breaking into pieces, each with its own memories, fears, hopes. For one terrifying moment, I didn't know which of those fragments was really "me," or if any of them were.
[CRITICAL TOXIN DETECTED]
Soul Fragmenters – UNKNOWN
levelConsciousness integrity: 47% and falling
Time until complete fragmentation: UNDETERMINED
WARNING: Death by this cause could be permanent
...
As my consciousness unraveled, as my lungs drowned, as my nervous system collapsed, and as the toxic rain began to fall in earnest, burning my exposed skin, I had one last clear realization:
For the first time in two lives, I had chosen the hard path because it was the right one, not because it was safe.
And when everything went black, I smiled.
[CHECKPOINT COMPLETE]
Recorded deaths:
Soul Fragmentation (First recorded)
Asphyxiation by irritants
Neurological paralysis
Exposure to toxic rain
Acquired resistances:
Neurotoxins: +2.5%
Irritants/Asphyxiants: +1.8%
Soul Fragmenters: +0.3%
Blood Corruptors: +1.2% (toxic rain)
Cytotoxins: +0.9% (toxic rain)
Achievement unlocked:
"Leap of Faith" – Consciously choosing the hardest path
Developed trait:Unbreakable Determination level 1
Aurora's note: "Adaptive behavior observed. Supervision recommendation
updated: from 'prevent suicide' to 'facilitate controlled growth.'"
…
I awoke once more, floating above my corpse. But this time it was different. This time, when I looked at my body ravaged by multiple poisons, I didn't feel despair.
I felt progress.
—Aurora, are you still there?—Always. And I must say… that was unexpected.—How so?—Most champions try to minimize pain, optimize survival. You just turned suffering into a strategic tool.
A pause.—I respect that.
I looked toward the Spectral Flowers still swaying in the toxic rain, now realizing that what I had felt when I touched them wasn't destruction, but… clarity. A brutal clarity about who I truly was when all the layers of fear and self-deception were stripped away.
—You know what I discovered, Aurora?—What?—That in my previous life, I didn't fail because I was weak or cowardly. I failed because I was afraid to bet everything and lose it. But now… Now I have you and I have the system…
[NEW MISSION UNLOCKED] "Architect of Pain"
Develop level 5 resistance in all poison groups
Time limit: Before the next major toxic storm
Reward: Access to advanced immunity abilities
The toxic rain kept falling, but now I had a plan. And for the first time since my death, I had something more valuable than a plan.
I had the certainty that it would be worth it.
To be continued…
Supplemental Notes (Poisons of Sothoryos)
(Optional – for those who want to fully understand the poison system. This section is more expository and not part of the dialogue. I relied on AI assistance for this because it's too much to handle alone.)
Conventional Groups (Biological Basis)
Neurotoxins
Mechanism: Attack the nervous system, disrupting nerve impulse transmission.
Progressive symptoms: Numbness → Partial paralysis → Convulsions → Respiratory arrest
Common plant sources:
Paralytic Ferns: Release spores that cause ascending paralysis
Numbing Creepers: Sap contains alkaloids that block nerve receptors
Brain-Flowers: Petals release compounds altering perception
Cytotoxins
Mechanism: Destroy cells directly, causing tissue necrosis.
Progressive symptoms: Irritation → Blisters → Ulceration → Massive necrosis
Common plant sources:
Corrosive Plants: Leaves secrete concentrated cellular acids
Devourer Fungi: Release enzymes breaking down cell proteins
Caustic Vines: Thorns inject necrotic compounds
Irritants/Asphyxiants
Mechanism: Inflame mucous membranes and respiratory tracts.
Progressive symptoms: Coughing → Inflammation → Pulmonary edema → Asphyxiation
Common plant sources:
Choking Moss: Release particles that expand with moisture
Tear-Bushes: Produce vapors that irritate eyes and lungs
Stinging Roots: Release concentrated histamines when disturbed
Mystical Groups (Magical Influence)4. Blood Corruptors
Mechanism: Alter blood composition through supernatural forces.
Progressive symptoms: Fatigue → Mystical anemia → Blood transformation → Death by "dead blood"
Common plant sources:
Vampiric Herbs: Drain blood vitality, leaving it inert
Iron Flowers: Transform hemoglobin into toxic metallic compounds
Parasitic Moss: Feed on vital essence through skin contact
Temporal Distorters
Mechanism: Alter the perception and flow of biological time.
Progressive symptoms: Temporal disorientation → Accelerated aging → Temporal loops → Chronological disintegration
Common plant sources:
Anachron Trees: Pollen causes cellular temporal regression
Yesterday's Creepers: Trap victims in time loops until death by exhaustion
Tomorrow Fungi: Accelerate biological processes to instant death by old age
Soul Fragmenters
Mechanism: Attack the link between soul and body, causing existential dissociation.
Progressive symptoms: Depersonalization → Memory loss → Consciousness fragmentation → Spiritual death
Common plant sources:
Spectral Flowers: Their aromas gradually separate soul from body
Forgetful Roots: Erase memories essential for self-cohesion
Empty Leaves: Drain spiritual essence, leaving only a biological shell
Environmental Groups (Specific to Sothoryos)7. Inverse Adaptogens
Mechanism: Revert evolutionary adaptations, making victims vulnerable to the environment.
Progressive symptoms: Loss of natural resistances → Environmental hypersensitivity → Immune rejection → Death by maladaptation
Common plant sources:
Regressive Ferns: Revert organism to primitive evolutionary states
De-Adapter Moss: Cancel resistances acquired against toxins/diseases
Primitive Lichens: Force genetic regression to less evolved forms
Ecosystem Synchronizers
Mechanism: Force organism integration with the toxic local ecosystem.
Progressive symptoms: Forced symbiosis → Biological transformation → Ecosystem integration → Loss of individual identity
Common plant sources:
Assimilating Orchids: Transform victims into extensions of the plant
Hive Fungi: Integrate consciousness into a fungal collective network
Mother Vines: Turn organisms into living nutrients for the plant
Progressive Resistance System
Resistance Levels per Group:
Level 0: No resistance (immediate death)
Level 1–3: Basic resistance (temporary survival, severe symptoms)
Level 4–6: Intermediate resistance (manageable symptoms, possible recovery)
Level 7–9: Advanced resistance (mild symptoms, fast recovery)
Level 10: Complete immunity (no symptoms, potential to harness poison)
Acquisition Mechanics:
Passive exposure: +0.1–0.3 points per accidental contact
Controlled exposure: +0.5–1.0 points per intentional exposure
Death by poison: +1.5–3.0 points depending on intensity
Direct consumption: +2.0–4.0 points (high risk, high reward)
Group Synergies:
Some groups reinforce each other (e.g., Blood Corruptors + Soul Fragmenters)
Others counteract each other (e.g., Inverse Adaptogens vs. natural resistances)
Mystical resistances require understanding of underlying magical mechanisms
Implications for Regional Toxic RainEach region of Sothoryos would have a unique "toxic signature" based on:
Dominant flora: Determines primary poison groups
Mystical concentration: Influence of local supernatural forces
Ecosystem interactions: How different poisons combine in the water
Seasonal factors: Toxicity variations according to natural and mystical cycles
This means immunity developed in one region doesn't guarantee survival in another, requiring continuous adaptation and cautious exploration.