The translucent screen floated before Retnan, stuck on the same text.
[ WELCOME BACK ]
[ ??? ]
"Do you know what this is?" He pointed at the screen asking Mava.
From her view, he pointed at nothing. But she has an idea of what he meant since she had one herself.
"That is your manual, every awakened person possesses one. Takes away the stress of tracking your progression and stats."
'Hmmm, it's like a game.' Retnan stroked his chin as he focused on the screen, curious. "So I can check my stats?"
"Of course. You can interact with the system with thoughts." Mava got seated back. "Try it. Just command 'stats'."
Retnan nodded and followed her instruction. 'Stats.'
---
[-Name: Retnan Cain]
[-Mana Lvl: SSS (Accessible: C)]
[-Nexus: 0] [-Flux: 0] [-Wish points: 2/2] [-Affinity: Conceptual]
[-Physique: Dustborne]
[-Attributes:
{Strength: 5} {Agility: 4} {Speed: 4} {Comprehension: 10}]
[!] [-Seal of Fate is preventing host from accessing full mana potential]
[-Seal Timer: 30 days]
[Do you wish to break the seal? Y/N]
---
He read it twice. Blinked once, slowly.
'What are all these terms?' He read down to the last sentence.
'Wait I can wish the seal was broken?'
'But doing so would be a foolish decision.'
His shoulders loosened. 'No. Leave the seal.'
[Are you sure? Y/N]
[Due to the seal, host can only spellcast [Mundane Wishes] (Wishes naturally obtainable but granted instantly)]
[LOCKED!]
[(Miracles) (Omnipotent)]
Retnan's eyes narrowed on the screen. 'I knew you wanted me dead. No need to make it obvious. Mundane wishes aren't bad. So I stand by my previous decision.'
[As you wish]
The notification vanished, leaving the blue translucent screen displaying only his stats.
"Nexus zero, Flux zero do you know what that means?" Retnan asked.
"Sure. Nexus is your power core, built by cultivating Flux. While Flux is the energy that exists around you you absorb it to build your Nexus to grow stronger. Do you understand?"
"Yes I do."
"Good. Your affinity is conceptual. Since it is based on the concept of wishes."
"What are the advantages?"
She smirked. "You're among the strongest. You aren't limited to affinity Flux. You can absorb any type of Flux and grow your Nexus faster."
"My physique is Dustborne? Is that bad?"
"Yes. That's the reason you can't keep up with the mana level. You'll need to gain Conceptual Physique, which is the highest. But the physique is tied to the artifacts with many more abilities."
"Where are the artifacts?" Retnan tightened his jaw.
"In another world. Universe Zero." She tilted her head. "Are you ready to leave?"
"I am. It would be unfruitful to waste any more time here. The artifacts are in an unknown world. Each second here lowers my chances of finding them. Except" He narrowed his eyes on Mava. "...you know exactly where the artifacts are."
Her lips twitched, her attention drifting away. Retnan caught it all. 'She knows something.'
"The artifacts are hidden in six different countries. But their exact locations are hidden. The easiest one to retrieve would be the one in the Land of Avalon."
Mava stood close to his bed and offered a hand. "Let's get going."
Retnan swung out of bed. He paused briefly, feeling the cold tiles beneath his feet, before standing. 'Mom… I'm leaving.'
He took Mava's hand, feeling the warmth of her palm.
"Fate-craft. Fated destination."
A dim light from below caught his attention. He looked at the ground and found they stood in a magic circle. He studied the words written in its rings. 'This isn't English.'
It gained brightness gradually, then burst out. Once more the room was painted lavender. Retnan snapped his eyes shut, yet his vision went white and his consciousness faded away.
•••••
Retnan's eyes peeled open, feeling a sandy texture on his face. He sat up gently. Rubbed his misty eyes. 'How long was I unconscious?'
He looked up. Cobwebs hung down like tattered banners heavy with dust. Jagged stalactites with cracks snaking at their base one pointing directly down at Retnan.
'What the'
Immediately he stood, taking some steps away. He paused midway. Dusted his clothes and smeared the dust across his face.
He looked right. Large crystals lined the wall, illuminating the path. The rocky walls stretched down, disappearing into the shadows.
"I'm in a cave? No it's more like a dungeon." He adjusted his gown to sit properly on his collar. 'Why did she teleport me into a dungeon alone? This is really creepy.'
'I need to get out of here. If this dungeon is possible to walk out of, then [Mundane Wish] will work.'
Retnan squeezed his eyes shut. "I wish I'm out of this dungeon!"
By the time he opened his eyes, the walls were still gray rock, bioluminescent crystals torching the path, jagged stalactites above.
"Oh no. It didn't work." He blinked once, slowly. "So I can't leave this dungeon naturally."
Retnan scanned the dungeon once more.
"Now I think of it I've seen a similar scene before. But I don't know exactly where. Think!"
He stroked his chin. Stopped. Then snapped his fingers.
"I got it. 'Dungeon Life!' I once played a similar game. I remember having to defeat the boss to escape. This might be similar."
His gaze dropped to the ground, then returned.
'I wish for an athletic body.'
'...'
Nothing but his hospital gown, still slacking off his shoulder. His fingers, still toothpick-size.
His jaw tightened. "Why isn't it working? Did she trick me? Or am I not doing it right?"
'System!'
The blue screen materialized with the same stats as before.
'Manual do you have any?' Retnan held his gaze as the words on the screen changed. His lips twitched.
[-No manual found]
Instantly his throat tightened.
'Of course it won't have a manual. Arghhhhhh.' He took a deep breath. 'My wishes might not be working now. But I can find a way out.'
Despite his heart drumming against his ribs, Retnan took a step.
His hand remained in contact with the wall. Each step taken, he paused scanned his surroundings before taking another.
'Crunch.'
"Shit." Retnan froze. He lifted his leg off the dry bone to find a magic circle beneath his feet.
He quickly spun on his heels, about to bolt.
'Zap.'
A deep pit replaced where the ground had been. His body dropped. Instinctively he stretched out, catching the cliff edge. His feet dangled in the air. Retnan glanced down sweat beaded on his forehead.
'Come on. You can do it.' Retnan gritted his teeth. Friction burned his fingertips as they slipped away.
The cliff cracked. His eyes widened. The cliff broke.
"Noooo~"
His side impacted with the ground. He folded, clutching his side. 'Argh!'
Fortunately the height wasn't great and his ribs wasn't shattered.
Still folded up. Something dropped on his face, liquid and sticky. It streamed down his nose. His breath caught. He looked up to see a shillioute of a beast shadowed him.
Hot breath. Crimson eyes locked on him.