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Chapter 5 - [Debugging...] Innovate or die!

  Two towers [an unknown location in the new world], local time [1783.04.20]

  What does ‘Soul-linked’ mean?

  I have so many questions right now…

  Define ‘safely’… Or not, I don’t really want to hear it. So, we have a plan? Good to know. Why do I need to agree to this advanced testing anyway? And what options do I have for the first problem?

  It was becoming quite complicated already.

  What a bad pun… Anyway, this time, make sure I don’t spend more than a day reading. Can you do that?

  When did I become a child?! I lived for 30 years alre… oh, Regeneration and lifespan increase… level discrepancy... Whatever, existential problems later. Definitely not because he needed to distract himself, he started reading, and, oh boy, was there a lot to take in.

  It took him a while to decipher everything important, but this time the System actively helped by directing him to the right parts.

  To summarize everything. When someone kills an entity with a Soul, the Soul separates from the body. Parts of it fall off, or fracture, at that moment. Like the parts responsible for linking with the body, or even parts containing unwanted memories. And yes, Souls are basically a conglomeration of one’s life experience… But it was a different topic, and he was directed away. The System is collecting those Soul parts, and purifying what it can. Those fragments then are used to enhance the killer’s Soul. The System uses some mumbo jumbo to determine who is getting what part. Like, sometimes even crafters that made your weapons get some. It’s complicated, ok? Not like Zeph was able to remember how it works from just a glance, the System directed him elsewhere. A Soul contains four main components: information about an entity, information about the body, information about ‘elements’, and ‘pure’ fragments.

  The first is cleansed by the system and becomes a ‘pure’ Soul fragment.

  Second can accumulate as a ‘Soul contamination’ but is naturally changed over time to fit the body you have. Some information still stays with you… Zeph wasn’t sure what, as the System again redirected him.

  The third is much more complicated, it’s not exactly an ‘element’… it’s like an affinity to a certain… ‘Mana type’? Redirected. Anyway, at some point, you can start to produce certain ‘types of Mana’ to decrease the costs of certain… ‘Spells’? Redirected. The entity killed needs to have enough percentage of such contamination in their Soul for it to be meaningful for you, though. Soul fragments of different types can be found in the Exchange at higher levels… Redirected.

  The fourth is just what it is, a ‘pure’ Soul fragment, which could… Redirected.

  Depending on what you want to do, you could change a method of leveling up. For example, you could give up 'race' fragments, exchanging them for Universal Points. Same with ‘elemental’ and 'pure' ones. When you got to 5% of any contamination, percentage being an important detail here, it will show up in the Interface. It was a threshold at which a Soul starts generating ‘elemental’ Mana, and… Redirected. And yes, Soul was responsible for generating Mana, but overall energy in the environment was self-balancing… Redirected. This ‘elemental’ Mana is constantly reacting with your body and your surroundings. Because of that, at a contamination of around 15%-20% a body modification of some kind is needed to allow you to survive at all, like… Redirected.

  The opportunity Zeph had was quite unique. He was lacking almost 20% of his Soul. This means he could fill this gap with ‘elemental’ Soul fragments if he so wished, and could afford it, despite the fact he didn’t yet meet the theoretical requirements to have a Soul fragment implanted. Those fragments' cost was exorbitant, but as he was level 0, he needed the smallest of fragments.

  Also, it will be tricky to keep the contamination above 5% without drastically decreasing his leveling speed. The ‘race’ and ‘pure’ Mana fragments are the majority of what he will get from killing enemies, thus the ‘elemental’ percentage will drop if he won’t agree to exchange those fragments for Universal Points instead.

  ==============================

  It took him a while to gather himself. If he could, he would massage his temples. WTF, couldn’t you just tell me all this?

  Yea, everything you do is optimal, isn’t it? Let me guess, available Classes depend on the Soul contamination, and available Professions on General Skills?

  I kind of saw this coming, with the Intuition achievement… But aren’t there any special Classes?

  Right… Oh, right! I should have some affinities already! Like every organism with a Soul. Can you show me? He became excited, it was the first step into true magic.

  Sure! He immediately did just that. He had problems at the beginning, but after a few minutes he managed to understand what the Interface was trying to show him. It was the first time he consciously used a Stat, and was aware that using it outside the Interface will be more difficult, but the feeling was intoxicating. Hmmm, rounding it is hard. 39% Human, and 36% Pure were easy enough to see. I am sure those two differ from the locals, too. Hmmm, around 1% of… is it a ‘Chemical Group’? Do I understand it correctly?

  I will just call them ‘groups’ then. So, 1% for four groups each: Blood, Tissue, Bone, and Neural. Some… random stuff, also at around 1%. And 2% of… of… His non-existing head started to throb. All he got was some blabbering. What the fuck is this?

  Oh, my unique physique is finally giving me an advantage! An unknown magical element? Fuck yea! He exclaimed as excitement flooded him.

  Give me a break! I can’t really control my emotions here! The happy moment was blown away immediately. Whatever, can I see the Exchange? It’s time for some decisions. Or do I need to ‘read’ some more?

  Ye ye, I wouldn’t spend millions of points on 'common knowledge' either way.

  Interesting… There are no Will enhancements?

  What it is, even? I have a feeling it’s connected to the moments in my life that changed me. Well, not with the grandma dying, maybe…

  …you have a point, but I hope it’s not a 'lost knowledge' on this planet or something like that?

  I have bad premonitions every time you speak laconically. Are you sure there is nothing more to say?

  I knew it! You just want me to spend my points!

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Fucking microtransactions! You know what, I learned, I will just ignore it, but I will not forget it! Another explosion would deepen his existential crisis, it was better to avoid it.

  Zeph read and then promptly ignored Energy Enhancements, as most of them needed ambient Mana to work at full power. It would get rid of his main advantage – an ability to survive without Mana. He wanted to be as independent as possible, at least until he learned more. Bolstering his race quirks was a first step in gaining an advantage over the locals.

  Body modifications, he thought.

  He started to read through the Exchange. It was A LOT to read. Very quickly, he noticed that the number of options was too much for him.

  Haaah… how much for an advanced search function?

  …Do you know someone from the EA? Isn’t that a basic functionality? Jesus, those microtransactions are killing me!

  Your existence is starting to be offending! Go fully into microtransactions and I guarantee that the human race will revolt! He spent the next few minutes cooling down.

  Just give it to me. He whined finally. The permanent one. One could hear the tears falling down.

  At least now he was able to speed up the process.

  ==============================

  Zeph spent the next three days searching through the many modifications. Some of them were truly a science-fiction thing. Helpfully, the options requiring strange materials were greyed out. Even the options available on this planet were greyed out, when the resource needed was inaccessible. The cost also depended on the resources' proximity.

  The System knew of materials in the vicinity, but Zeph had another idea. He could understand the basic parameters of necessary materials, and found a few things that could potentially use what he had on himself as a substitute.

  He managed to convince the System that analyzing the plastic was a good idea. After all, even if the material itself was known to the System, it was impossible to say if it had something new inside without checking it out. The only thing he got from that was a rude warning.

  You want me to get rid of ALL that knowledge?

  Wait, aren’t you the one who wants, and processes, knowledge? Why do I need to visit the Library Goddess?

  …I don’t even want to ask why a Notepad is too much for you to include in the Interface. But let’s go back to the more important topics. I want you to analyze the alloy of my suit. Are you able to analyze the Prana batteries without destroying them?

  Ugh, ok, let me explain first. Look at this Symbiont, Biological Implant, and those Microorganisms. He thought while opening corresponding entries. The material for the Implant is very similar to my suit's. Those microorganisms work similarly to the contents of batteries. And this Mutagen has a chance to change the Symbiont’s compatibility with the material, if you modify it a little. Can you substitute those materials then?

  I will pay AFTER you make sure I don’t have anything new on me. Or do you have better propositions?

  Yea… how many living organisms on this planet can live without Mana, again?

  Did you just suggest I should get rid of my reviving opportunity, just to change my race for something with less survivability?

  You know I want to travel, yes? Between worlds even. This is the one worst piece of advice you could have given me! Even ignoring the possibility of ‘spells’ that zero the Mana in the vicinity, why should I even get rid of my race's quirk?!

  You really need to learn how to do customer service better, or how to communicate properly, for that matter.

  …Somehow, I am sorry…

  Yes, please.

  Wow, isn’t this quick? Oh, wait, I am thinking 10 times slower…

  Thank God… Gods… So, can this work, and are those three compatible with each other?

  Remember, I want to travel worlds in the future. Mana isn’t exactly the only thing I can come into contact with. I was thinking of getting 5%... ugh, ‘Hot Plasma’ Soul fragment… He stopped for a moment, then send the impression of the one he wanted instead of trying to name it. This one, to sustain the Symbiont. It should work if I understand it correctly.

  The impression of the new Soul fragment group he got was hard to place. It had something to do with space, Soul, and energy. Hmmm, the closest thing I can think of is a black hole? But it doesn’t make any sense?

  The suggested Implant was easier to understand.

  Well, it’s not the worst. It will dry my points, though. 5 million is a little too much, I think.

  So, you are suggesting using the best from the beginning? I can see the synergy. And Adaptability Set?

  I wanted to leave those problems for the last… It’s becoming more complicated with every minute… Can you just show me my actual shopping list? I would like to increase my ‘affinity’ to 5%, if possible. I am not sure taking your recommended Soul fragment is a good idea, let me check the Exchange some more. Furthermore, I will not decrease my Soul fragmentation below 10%.

  Right, we need to decide the details, too. He thought while scanning the list. As for the rest of my points, I want to use those Soul-linked microorganisms on my suit. After we decide which parts of it you need. Also…

  ==============================

  It took almost three days. His time here was coming to an end, but he was finally satisfied. All upgrades had some level of synergy and high potential.

  He eventually found a Soul fragment that was, at the same time, functional, compatible with the Symbiont, and present in the 'residue' Soul contamination of creatures on this planet. It was a space group variant, related to living organisms in some way. The Symbiont had to go through more modifications to be able to use this type of Mana, which further decreased its efficiency. It was the only viable option for him, though. Not many things were working in Manaless environments, had a high upgrade potential, and possible compatibility with theoretical energy sources other than Mana.

  Finally… He sighed mentally. Let’s see the summary.

  5.2) "New race in this sector," the System said. What does this mean, when there were reports of a System in Earth’s Fissures earlier?

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