Chapter 3 – Link established
Tom mind settled in a proper working condition. His worries were put aside and he looked again at his status.
He skipped the parts of the bloodline and soul type as not important and focused on the attributes. He thought that things should have been better explained and the system responded;
[Strength: quantifies physical aspect of the user to interact with the environment. It is also related to the physical endurance and stamina].
[Swiftness: quantifies reflexes, reaction times, agility and dexterity of the user].
[Intelligence: quantifies the speed of user's thought process, his ability to comprehend complicated matters. Intelligence does not make user smarter but it boosts learning speed].
[Vitality: Correlates to the lifespan, overall health and resistance to mundane diseases and poisons. Directly affecting HP, regeneration rate and life aura strength].
[Soul: Relates to the user's ability to hold and store mana. It affects directly the ability of a soul to resist external influence].
Tom carefully read the descriptions. He had some things that need further clearance.
Next were the class skills: System immediately provided guidance:
[True sight (passive)(RARE) – User gaze easily penetrates through the mortal and arcane. Nothing remains hidden. Easily breaks illusions and the majority of demon's disguises].
[Soul Fortress (passive) (RARE) - Shields user's mind from outsides negative influences like demon miasma influence, mind control spell, different demon afflictions like succubus charm, vampire's puppeteer and many more. This skill is obligatory for every commanding officer of FoL army since the the disaster in Vega sector. (see details in your local library)].
"Hmm quite the useful stuff, both are marked as passive. Does that mean that they are active permanently?!" he pondered
"Now the cavalry!" Tom looked at [consume] and [exorcise] spells. He had already tasted their power last night. Both were marked active and obviously required mana to perform and execute.
He focused on "consume" and willed the system for details. Instead of neat and comprehensive text, Tom's brain was flooded with a massive flow of never-ending rune-diagrams, strange equations and speeding text in unfamiliar language. For a second he thought his head will just explode. He screamed "STOOOP", the system obediently complied.
"haaaahght" Tom was massaging his temple. His brain felt overheated.
It took 10 minutes for him to get his shit together.
"This looks like another screw up of Kornelius" Tom concluded
He looked suspiciously over "exorcise". He cautiously willed its description. Same stuff hit him, but this time he was ready.
"STOOOOP" squeaked Tom.
"Idiot..my partner is a very smart idiot" sighed Tom.
Then he looked at the "Exorcist" class. It also suspiciously felt like Kornelius doing being marked as "unique". Its rank was" hero" but Tom didn't feel like a hero at all. He was a nuclear plant engineer.
"better check it now when I am ready" He mustered his courage and willed it happen.
[Exorcist- The demon's bane"]
Tom was surprised for yet another time
" That's it?! Kornelius couldn't think for a better description? Haa more likely he did not care thinking it is irrelevant. Or may be, he did forget. Plausible. Yet these words strangely affected Tom. He smiled - it sounded cool.
He jumped and pumped his right fist high in the air:
"I am Akira Ryu the demon's bane. Hehehe .."
He kept giggling for few more seconds…
-" So I guess it is the new me now. Tom Tailor died in a car crash. I bet no one of my friends and family could recognize me".
"Well Akira, nice to meet you" He bowed in an improvised Japanese greeting.
-"let's see what's next"
[Sponsor: Kornelius /dual link/] – Kornelius has been assigned as your designated sponsor. You can receive system resources via "dual link"]
"Link testing, testing 1 2 3 testing" Once Akira thought about the link it immediately activated. He felt a connection establishing with another person. Similar to a telephone, but different in the same time.
" huh is it not working?? HELOOOOOOOOU ANYBODY OUT THERE!"
"Bah, who is it….. Aaa is it you Tom?"
"Kornelius, were you sleeping while I was busting my ass here beating monsters?"
"NO, of course not. I just took a nap when everything got under control"
"Control, CONTROL??" How are you going to explain this?"
"What do you need assistance?"
"This body. The fact that I am no longer Tom but Akira Ryu"!!!
"Well.."
"SPEAK, fool"
"It was not my fault I swear!"
"I don't believe you. You screw up something, I can smell it from here"
"It was an accident, A force-majored situation!"
"An accident you say. You somehow accidentally disintegrated my manhood and grew me a pair of boobs?"
"I tell you again, it was not my fault. Blame the enchanter of the "demon barrier breach array".
Akira took a deep breath to subdue his anger.
"Explain in details. Everything"
What followed was a detailed review of the events from Kornelius POV from the start to the current moment
Akira was sitting on the grass, playing with a loose strand of hair while listening to Kornelius's explanation.
... ...
"And that concludes the recent events" finished Kornelius
"Haah, OK. I wont blame you for this thing. It is just not productive" (Akira)
"There is great news I wished to share with you before you jumped at me with all those terrible accusations"
"Really?! I am all ears"
"Both core modules worked. I did it Tom, I made it happen"
"Well congratulations, and call me Akira Ryu from now on. I want to commemorate this young girl whose body I stole and mark the new beginning of the same time"
"Sure, Akira. You know that it was not your fault the she died. It is just how the things are. Very few people live to see old age these days because of the war getting worse"
"I know but some how I can still feel her presence near me, inside me. It is strange feeling"
"Really, give me a moment to check with your system"
"Well it could be related to the abnormal healing and this [soul gestalt]. Both are not familiar. I need to consult with a specialist. Anyway I believe it is not dangerous or relevant to our current situation".
"If you say so..." /Akira/
"Do not forget where you are, we need to proceed with caution from now on" /Kornelius/
"Right.." /Akira/