Panic! 2

"Okay Jerod, I have an answer for your request. It is possible to ask this Lindsay if she would like to assist you in your quest. However I want to point a few things out to you prior to you starting this process.

First, I will have to reach out to Lindsay and ask her if she would like to assist you.

Second, She will not be able to keep her body. Not only is she dying causing her soul connections to break but the process doesn't allow for her body to come.

Which brings me to point three, this would count as one of your two benefits, you would be requesting the tool named SOUL SYSTEM. This is a variant of the SYSTEM benefit. The system is an interface to assist you with many activities in the new world. If you have ever played video games in your world you can think of it as a standard user interface, UI, which allows you to see your stats such as strength and such. It allows you to gain experience and level up as well as allocates a dimensional storage space.

The difference between the standard SYSTEM and the SOUL SYSTEM is of course the one running the system. In the standard version we allocate an artificial intelligence which is fully versed in the knowledge of the system. This would aid you in using the system and knowing the limits that it can go to. The SOUL SYSTEM allows for you to have a real consciousness working the system. This allows for conversation, strategy, companionship, etc. However they will be as new to the system as you are and will have to learn everything from scratch.

So are you okay with all of this information? Selecting the SOUL SYSTEM benefit will default to you having the SYSTEM benefit if Lindsay declines losing her body and assisting you."

"Wait, I thought you said she was dying when you brought me here. It has to have been hours by now right? Wouldn't she already be dead? But you just said she is still dying?"

"Oh forgive me for not explaining that part. While we are in the process of transmigration reality slows down. So while we go through this process time is altered. This can't happen indefinitely of course but generally we have about a day to go through the whole process since this can be a shocking development for you mortals. So Lindsay is still in the process of breaking her soul shackles right now we have the ability to ask her. How about it, should we ask?

Jerod finally saw a light of hope. He couldn't even call it a ray of light as it was much bigger than that in his mind. Lindsay had always been there for him, she was the one person he couldn't live without. If she could come with him on this journey he wouldn't care if he had to beat up hundreds or thousands of bad guys to protect this balance the goddess spoke of.

"Absolutely! Please ask her if she would like to spend more time with me!"

Saurina started the soul connection with Lindsay keeping Jerod connected to her so all three could converse. She conveyed to Jerod to remain silent unless called on to ensure the process went smoothly.

"Lindsay Moore... Can you hear me?"

"Hello? Am I dead? Are you here to take me away?"

"Lindsay, my name is Saurina, I am a goddess. To answer your questions, yes you are dying and will be dead once time is resumed. As for taking you away, possibly. Let me explain.

I have with me here a friend of yours. His name is Jerod."

"Jerod! How are you connected with him? He didn't do anything stupid like kill himself because I died did he?!?"

"No no, he definitely did not kill himself..."

'Cough, I can't tell her that I essentially killed him before making the offer or she will think I will mess up again with her soul'

"Ahem, He is in the process of transmigrating to a new world through my department. I am one of the gods that deals with locating heroes to save worlds at risk of tipping the balance."

"Hero? Jerod? Are you sure we are talking about the same Jerod? He is a history teacher, some say teachers are heroes but I don't think it's the same as what you are referring to."

Jerod blushed in his mind at this remark. He knew he wasn't a hero nor did it occur to him that this is what he would be called by assisting the balance.

"Right, uhm, well it is the right Jerod he is the same one standing over your dying body. Please allow me to inform you why I am reaching out to you and then we can get into the details of the why him afterwards.

So anyway, in the process of transmigrating he is offered two benefits to assist him in providing divine intervention on the planet I will be sending him to. His first request was you to accompany him. Now before you interrupt I want to tell you the logistics behind this.

You are in the process of dying. There is no way your body can be brought with you for that reason and others. If you agree what will happen is your consciousness will be removed from your soul as it leaves your body. I will then place your consciousness into what is called a SOUL SYSTEM. This system will then be fused with Jerod's soul linking you in body and mind. What this means is that you would be able to share information in your mind, and see everything he sees. So it is an opportunity for you to continue living in a fashion. However, you wouldn't be able to have your own body, nor would you be able to separate from Jerod. Also since your consciousness would be tied to a system that is fused with his soul if he were to die so would you.

You would also be in charge of learning the SYSTEM benefit to assist Jerod in his quest. You have the option to say yes or no. If you decline the SYSTEM will be outfitted with an artificial intelligence that will help him so don't feel like saying no will be completely detrimental to him. Please take a moment and think about it. Once you are ready let me know your answer"

Jerod was listening to this explanation and learned a few new things such as being able to talk telepathically and sharing senses. When it got to the end however he started to get anxious, what did the goddess mean if she said no it wouldn't be detrimental. Of course it would, how would he go on without Lindsay? How could he be a hero while wallowing in despair?

"Could I ask just one thing before I give an answer? Would it be possible to hear Jerod to talk to him just to make sure it's him?"

"Of course! Jerod you can talk now."

"Lindsay! I need you. How is a history teacher supposed to be a hero? How am I supposed to be in a new world without you?"

"Haha I thought I told you to not be an idiot. Is there anyway I would willingly leave you to fend for yourself? You can't do anything without me."

"Okay so we have one benefit down and one to go. Jerod would you like Lindsay to assist with selecting your second benefit seeing as how she will be with you for your journey?"

"Of course! So you said for benefits I can have weapons, armor, tools, skills, or abilities right?"

"Yes let me do an explanation so Lindsay understands as well.

Weapons assist in combat, can be swords that cut through anything, bows that never miss, weapons that can change from swords to axes to spears to fit all situations etc.

Armors assist in combat defense, can be strong enough to never break, provide healing benefits, provide super speed, etc.

Tools assist in lifestyle development typically except for the case of the system which is very well rounded. Since you already have the system other examples would be crafting tools that allow you to craft beyond your prowess in various different professions

Skills can be for combat or noncombat and consist of things like fighting skills and techniques or unique skills like survival in hazardous environments etc.

Abilities are like skills however they are more specific to your body. For example seeing through walls, better magic attunement, super speed, super healing etc. Think super human abilities.

You can select one category and I can provide more examples if needed."

Now that Jerod had Lindsay he was able to think a little more clearly on what could help him with his journey. He felt he needed to ask a bit more about the world he was going to and the mission he was going to be tasked with prior to making this decision with Lindsay about this second benefit.

"So before we talk about which one can I ask about the planet and mission to have a better idea what might help? You mention magic and stuff like that but there was nothing like that where we come from."

"Right I guess I only mentioned it in passing. I can't give you a lot of details such as why the planet you are going to has magic and your world doesn't. It is a mystery that we gods aren't allowed to divulge to the mortal plane. The mission however will be you stopping a sorcerer that is trying to take over the planet that you are going to. This sorcerer is very ruthless and destroys cities, killing all of the inhabitants with no remorse. If he is allowed to continue on his path it is likely he will eventually destroy the planet ahead of the god of destruction's planned d-date."

"Wait, You are sending Jerod to stop a genocidal sorcerer? JEROD?!?"

"ERM.. I also have a question.... you said he is destroying the cities and stuff but you also said that since I don't have my body I have to start as a newborn? What is the timeline I need to complete this mission in?"

"I have full confidence in Jerod defeating the sorcerer with the benefits of the SOUL SYSTEM and which ever other benefit he chooses. As far as the timeline goes he just started his campaign. We know how it will play out for the next 30 years thanks to the convergence of time, space, and multiverse phenomena. No need to go into details on that. So basically we know the planet won't be too far out of balance by the time your new body reaches 30, however after that it could go from out of balance to total planetary destruction."

Lindsay couldn't believe what she was hearing. How was this history teacher who hardly stepped away from his school work supposed to be able to stop a genocidal maniac? Not to mention the person is a sorcerer? Who knows what kind of magic the person is capable of especially since they didn't have magic?

"Lindsay, I feel that I know what you are thinking. I don't know anything about magic nor do we know anything about the world we are going to. But I do know that with you there with me that I will be able to make it through somehow. If I have to stop even a hundred of these sorcerers I feel confident with you by my side. Saying that since we are going up against magic should we go for the magic attunement ability? That should help us to understand magic right?"

Saurina jumped in at this time " Yes magic attunement will allow you to better feel the elements and better adept at using magic."

"Jerod I don't feel nearly as confident as you do about this situation but I am here to help. I was the one that got you out to go hiking every year, and basically pulled you through most social interactions so at least we can do that together. I think it is smart to fight magic with magic so let's go with that."