Orion raised a skeptical eyebrow, his focus narrowing on the first line of the status screen. "Weakened? Why am I weakened?" he asked aloud, a note of genuine confusion in his voice. He didn't feel weaker; in fact, the opposite was true. Orion felt like he had never been healthier or more vibrant before in his entire life! Every breath felt deeper, his senses were sharper, and a thrum of new energy coursed through his veins. It was a stark contrast to the constant, gnawing hunger and fatigue that had defined his existence in the back alleys.
"Taking into account the assumed and performance for a Radiant immediately after a successful Awakening, the All-Consuming Sky is operating at a considerably lower capacity than projected as he stands now." The delivery was perfect—clinical, direct, and devoid of any alarm. It was exactly how Orion would have liked such potentially worrying news to be delivered. He was really starting to like this disembodied, analytical voice coming from the depths of his own head.
"You trying to say I will be even stronger than I am right now once I recover from this 'Weakened' condition?" Orion questioned, a spark of excitement cutting through his confusion. The idea that this potent, amazing feeling wasn't even his baseline was staggering.
"Precisely," Pawn replied, its tone shifting almost imperceptibly, as if trying to encourage Orion. "Based on the spiritual potential mapped during the Awakening event, the All-Consuming Sky should be at least forty percent more battle-efficient when operating at Peak Condition. Current state is sub-optimal."
"I see," Orion nodded his head slowly, the concept settling in. He wasn't broken; he was just… buffering. He continued reading down the list. Right after 'Weakened' came the status of 'Shocked'. Yep, that made perfect, undeniable sense. He was truly, deeply shocked, and the encounter had left a palpable mark on his spirit. He was impressed that Pawn had even managed to pinpoint the exact source of his shock: the Monarch himself. It was incredibly specific and useful information.
His eyes then drifted to the next two headings: 'Important' and 'Notes'. 'Notes' he could understand—he assumed that would be a tab for important information he came across, observations Pawn made, or reminders. Very useful! But what the 'Important' tab was meant to signify wasn't immediately clear. It was just a header with nothing listed beneath it.
"That tab serves to highlight and track important ongoing tasks or processes being realized by this unit," Pawn immediately interjected, reading Orion's silent curiosity before he could even get lost in his own thoughts. The Familiar's connection to his mind was so seamless it felt less like telepathy and more like a perfectly organized internal monologue.
"Tasks?..." Orion mused, then it clicked. "Oh, right! You are like a second brain, aren't you? You can actually do things." He nodded in understanding. So Pawn could take on tasks and execute them autonomously. That was a fascinating level of utility. But what kinds of tasks? He really wanted Pawn to give a concrete example of what it meant. What did "tasks" look like on a spiritual level?
And just as he formed the thought, as if on command, he felt his physical body begin to undergo subtle, internal changes. It wasn't painful or jarring, but a distinct sensation of minute shifts, a reallocation of resources deep within himself. "Woah! Pawn, what's this?!" he asked, momentarily startled by the tangible feedback.
"Reassembling nutrients and hydrational balance within the body," Pawn explained promptly. "Since the last three hours, the All-Consuming Sky has lost a significative amount of liquids through the sweating glands due to physical exertion and psychological stress. This one is now spreading the remaining liquids more efficiently throughout the rest of the body's systems to optimize function and prevent dehydration-based fatigue."
Orion paused, turning his attention inward to analyze his own body. He did, in fact, feel more refreshed! A slight dryness in his mouth he hadn't even registered was gone, and a general sense of physical equilibrium settled over him. It was amazing! So even such levels of microscopic, biological management were possible? This went far beyond just being a combat guide; this was full-body life support. Absolutely amazing!
Looking back at the status screen in his mind's eye, he saw that the '❖ IMPORTANT' tab was no longer empty. It now read:
"❖ IMPORTANT ↳
✔ Redistributing Nutrients"
A content smile spread across Orion's face. It was working, and it was documented. He continued reading. It seemed like Pawn himself counted himself as a 'Relic', which Orion found oddly formal but fitting.
And now, he arrived at the really important stuff, the core of his new existence. Right below all those informational tabs were the detailed listings for his Aspect abilities. He read them again, each line brimming with potential:
"☯ Draconic Pontency Form
↳ (Imergent | ✖ Unavailable – Weakened)
☯ Half Form
↳ (✔ Available)
☯ Authority of the Skies
↳ (⬇ Reduced – Weakened)"
Orion pondered for a long moment, his mind racing. 'Draconic Potency Form'. From the name alone, it seemed to be a power that granted him the Potency of a dragon. But in what sense? Did it mean fiery breath? Impenetrable scales? Titanic strength? Or was it simply referring to the immense size he had witnessed in his soul sea? And 'Imergent'—that was surely because he was brand new, a Sparkling who had awakened just under three hours ago. Well, he realized, there was no need to sit and wonder. He had the ultimate user's manual built right in.
"Pawn," Orion asked the empty space around him, "what does Draconic Potency Form actually do?"
Someone replied instantly. "The term 'Draconic Potency' implies the embodiment of a core attribute or attributes inherent to a draconic kind. The suffix 'Form' shows that the primary manifestation is physical, related to the alteration of one's bodily form."
"So it's literally me taking on the form of a dragon? I am incarnating a dragon?" Orion clarified, his heart beginning to beat faster.
"Analysis of your soul's composition and the recorded event within your Soul Sea suggests this is the most likely interpretation," Pawn confirmed.
"Nice!!" Orion couldn't contain his excitement. Without a doubt, Familiars were the greatest invention in the entire world! He closed his eyes for a moment and imagined it—the power, the scale, the awe-inspiring presence of a titanic, massive dragon!!! How unbelievably cool was that?! It was currently unavailable, sure, but it wouldn't be forever! It was a confirmed future ability. And very easily, caught up in the thrill of the future transformation, Orion had completely disregarded the fact that just a few minutes ago, he *had* been a dragon, right there inside his own Soul Sea.
Instead, his practical mind turned to the tiny details listed next to the ability. "Draconic Potency is Unavailable because I am weakened?" he asked, seeking the specifics.
"Partly, yes," Pawn elaborated. "Due to your current sub-optimal condition, your physical vessel is unnable to bear the immense metabolic and spiritual burden of the full transformation. The process is therefore functionally disabled as a safeguard."
It pointed out a crucial distinction. "Partly?" Orion latched onto the word.
"Correct. The All-Consuming Sky is in its worst form right now, but the primary limiting factor is also a matter of energy capacity. The All-Consuming Sky still cannot circulate enough Spiritual Essence to support the activation and maintenance of such a massive and energetically demanding physical body for any sustainable duration."
Orion nodded, the reality of the situation settling in. So it would take a long time, and a lot of hunting, for him to become an actual dragon. The thought was a little saddening, a delay of his grandest fantasy! But no matter, he would do it eventually. He was determined.
Now, the next thing on the list caught his eye, a available option amidst the unavailable and the reduced. "Half Form?" he read aloud, intrigued by the name.
"Affirmative. Instead of wasting immense energies to initiate and sustain the Draconic Potency's full form, there exists a more energy-efficient method of partial transformation. It involves turning only select portions of the anatomy halfway into the beast form, granting a significant portion of its benefits for a fraction of the cost."
"I can do that?" Orion asked, hope surging again. An available power!
"Not directly but with this Pawn managing the intricate threads of Spiritual Essence required for the transformation, initiating and maintaining a stable Half Form state is more than manageable. It falls within current operational parameters."
Orion stared at the name on the screen intently, his mind racing with possibilities. "Half Form". This might just be his greatest, most immediate trump card!