First Step [I]

Lucian stared at the large screen, looking at the six hexagons around the [Initiate] Microlink. The concept was still vague, but he felt like he was starting to better understand how the system worked.

"We need to test it," He muttered. "But first, I need to understand these psyons and how to use them. Ed, now that I have Psyons, can you explain what they are?"

[Yes]

"Ed, can you please explain Psyons?" Lucian sighed deeply. He sometimes forgot that Ed was a machine and needed to hear a more pointed question.

[Psyon: Psyons are the fuel of the Universe. There are still theories about their origin, but the most popular is that they are constantly fed into the Universe by the core from which the Universe is still expanding]

"Core as in center? I didn't think the Universe had a center?" Lucian asked, perplexed.

[Error]

"Alright, alright! Quit getting sidetracked, Ed!" He snapped. "What are Psyons used for?"

[Psyons are used for controlling the laws of the Universe. The Ancients learned to harness their power to create, destroy, travel to places, or see things others couldn't.

The Microlinks are a system created by the Ancients that allow normal beings to access abilities that would never be possible otherwise. Each Microlink was a law that was harnessed by an Ancient through the use of Psyons]

Lucian read the response carefully multiple times. It wasn't that he didn't understand what it was saying. It was just that he couldn't grasp it.

Laws? Psyons? Abilities? Ancients?

These concepts were so far above him. If someone told him that this was all thought up by some movie producer or comic writer, he'd believe it.

But this was real.

"Okay, how do I use the Psyons?"

[Psyons act as a form of currency and can be used to unlock the truths of Laws or can be used to open new Tiles based on the Rank of Host's Domain]

"I can open another Tile?!" He cried.

[Yes]

Lucian looked excited, as he was desperate to find food and water, but he remembered that the rats had emerged from one of those shadowy walls, so he needed to be prepared first.

He focused on the grey Microlinks that surrounded [Initiate] once again. As he focused on [Strength I], a brief description and Psyon cost appeared.

[Strength I]

[Cost: I]

[Requirements: Initiate]

[Increases the Host's physical power, along with the influence that Host's physical interaction has on objects]

The first part was self-explanatory, though the concept was unimaginable! He could become stronger simply by purchasing this Microlink with a Psyon he'd earned from building a shitty house?!

That was fine, but it was the second part he was curious about.

"Ed, can you explain the second half of the [Strength I] description, please?"

[The Law of Strength affects more than just Host's physical prowess. The Law of Strength envelops the concepts of potency, intensity, and force]

Lucian still didn't quite understand, but he had a better idea. [Strength I] must be a basic version of the Law that affects the intensity of one's interactions with physical objects.

As wild as his theory was, he guessed that barely throwing a ball would launch it tens of kilometers. That might be greatly exaggerated, but it was the only example he could think of.

"I guess that I kind of get it..." Lucian mumbled, moving on to the next Microlink. Strength was something that he wished to possess, but he didn't think that it would help keep him from starving for the time being.

[Tempering I]

[Cost: I]

[Requirements: Initiate]

[Increases Host's influence when working with different objects while also toughening Host's body]

"Ed, what are the main concepts of Tempering?" Lucian asked.

[Hardening, fortifying, resiliency, and refinement]

"Oh?" These were concepts that he understood. Well, when working with objects, not how he would personally be affected by them.

Still, though resiliency was close, he didn't believe that it was what he needed to abstain from sustenance for long periods. His eyes turned to the third Microlink on the right side of [Initiate].

[Endurance I]

[Cost: I]

[Requirements: Initiate]

[Decreases the influence adverse effects have on Host's physical state and increases Host's stamina]

"This looks promising," Lucian murmured. "Ed, what are the concepts behind Endurance?"

[Tolerance, stamina, longevity]

"Tolerance and stamina, huh?" He looked over the other three options.

[Mental Fortitude] might help him ignore the hunger, but he didn't believe that it would assist in alleviating it. It had the additional effect of increasing his understanding of foreign concepts.

[Efficiency] was exciting and seemed like it would help his body not consume resources as fast. The description even made it seem like he would be able to move in a way that his body would need fewer nutrients.

That didn't help him with the dehydration and starvation he was already facing.

[Agility I] was equally as interesting as [Strength I]. It would help increase his movement speed and reflexes and even increase the rate at which he could process information.

Of his options, [Endurance I] seemed as if it would grant the most immediate benefits. At least for his current situation.

Lucian was hesitant to commit to the purchase. He understood the idea, but what would it do to him?

"Well..." He hesitated. "I guess I'm dead if I don't test it anyway. Might as well give it a try."

Lucian stared at the [Endurance I] Microlink with the intent to purchase. The Psyon count dropped to [2] and light green pixels rushed from the counter.

The pixels swirled around in front of him, and he felt a strange presence in the grove with him.

It wasn't intimidating.

In fact, the presence felt like something that had always been there but that he'd never noticed. It was strangely comforting.

The pixels streamed into the greyed-out Microlink, and it quickly began to change color. It looked like paint was being poured into a glass as the Microlink started to glow with a bright green light.

Lucian felt the changes as the hexagon filled with color.

The concepts behind the Law filled his thoughts, but one stood out from the others.

Tolerance.