The world exploded into brilliant fragments of light as my mana awakened for the first time in this life. Not the verdant emerald of my past life, But a radiant… Gold? “What the?” i muttered as the interface revealed itself in its entirety
AWAKENED: Theo
FORMATION CARD: Chained by Fate
MANA: Gold
AFFINITY: ????????
RACE: Human
TITLES: The One Bound By Fate. Returner of time. (Reward Pending)
TUTORIAL: YES/NO
#ER#^#% S@_L C#RS%D
The world shattered as my body was seized with pain, The feeling of my soul being torn apart and put back together over and over by the Harbinger as time meant everything and nothing. Only feeling the soul twisting pain of the “Curse of Sanguinis” caused nothing but pain to fill my soul and mind and body. My hands shook as i reached out to anyone, anything to help ease the pain and put me to a neutral state.
The golden interface pulsed faintly in my vision, a hovering command floating within reach:
AWAKENED: TUTORIAL
YES / NO
My mind struggled to focus on the letters, the light of the prompt piercing through the haze of torment. No voice beckoned me. No guiding hand reached out. Just the glyphs, waiting for a decision.
Each second stretched endlessly. My body screamed at me to shut down, to give in to the nothingness. But something deeper—instinct, desperation, or perhaps the faintest ember of defiance—forced my gaze to steady.
Yes.
I didn’t think. My trembling hand moved on its own, a single, deliberate motion. My fingertip brushed the menu, and the choice was made.
The pain vanished as suddenly as it had arrived, a stark, jarring shift that left me breathless. My body went limp, my eyes fluttering open to the warmth of my family’s presence. But I couldn’t see anything. Darkness pressed against my vision, an all-encompassing void. “What the hell just happened?” I mumbled, my voice hollow and trembling. The pain that reached deep into my soul seemed to echo in my words, a lingering ache that refused to fade.
DING!
“Damn it!” I screamed mentally, gritting my teeth as I forced my eyes shut again. The persistent, staccato sound of the notification window shattered the silence, a piercing reminder that the nightmare wasn’t over. I felt a strange, suffocating weight pressing against my soul, a pressure that coalesced into something I couldn’t name. When I finally dared to open my eyes once more, all I could see was my soul space—an infinite expanse of golden mist, swirling in a hypnotic dance that seemed to pull me into its depths. The air, if it could be called that, was thick with the sound of an invisible wind that whispered past me, caressing but not touching. It carried an almost metallic scent, sharp and electric, that made my skin crawl. Chains, ornate and golden, crisscrossed the endless expanse, glistening with runes that seemed alive, their lines shifting as if they were breathing. They called to me, beckoning with an irresistible force, each link whispering my name.
I stumbled forward, my footing uncertain, as the ground beneath me shivered with the weight of unseen forces. The chains stretched out, swirling in the distance, a radiant network that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. My fingers twitched with hesitation, but I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out. As my fingertips brushed against one of the links, a jolt of raw energy coursed through me, sending a shockwave of visions crashing into my mind. Battle after battle, the scene of my last stand before I was sent back—crimson skies ablaze with smoke, anguished screams filling the air, and the harrowing, soulless eyes of the High Harbinger. Memories, raw and jagged, flickered in quick succession, each one leaving an indelible mark on my mind.
DING!
“Ugh.” The sound of the notification was an unrelenting irritant, pulling me back into the here and now. The interface appeared before me once more, its glitching message mocking my disorientation. The error message still loomed large, flashing between hues of green and gold, a cascade of unsettling colors that seemed to burn into my eyes, refusing to be ignored.
TUTORIAL: YES/NO
THE INTERFACE WILL BE FULLY UNLOCKED UPON YOUR DECISION, CHOOSE NOW!
The chains, which I had only just begun to understand, tightened their hold around me. They coiled and pulled, threatening to rip through my very being and unravel my soul. The pain was still there, lurking, promising a return if I hesitated. My breath quickened, my chest heaving as the weight of the decision pressed down on me. I reached for the “YES” option, my fingers shaking as they hovered over it. The gold of the interface shimmered with an almost mocking glow, but it was my only chance to escape this torment. I pressed down, surrendering to the unknown with a whispered, desperate “Yes.”
———————————————————————
The golden mist faded away into a blank space, the whiteness of the tutorial room a startling contrast to the golden area of my soul space.
DING!
WELCOME TO THE TUTORIAL!
The robotic voice of the interface greeted me with its blank tone.
YOU ARE THE FIRST WIELDER WITH THE TITLES: “The One Bound By Fate” AND “Returner Of Time”
CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE SURVIVED A HIGHER BEING ABSORBING YOUR SOUL!
TUTORIAL ENHANCED! FATE HAS BOUND YOU! TUTORIAL ENHANCED! REWARD ENHANCED!
“Oh great, they’re gonna get harder aren’t they?” I knew how the interface worked, any time something was “enhanced” it just means they get harder exponentially. But to put this simply.
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“I’m Fucked”
TUTORIAL 1: FORMATION CARDS!
This tutorial is based around utilizing and explaining Formation Cards.
I internally groaned as the tutorial began the lecture.
Formation Cards are the foundation of a wielders mana and the basis of their soul space. These mystical cards are formed from the wielders personality, goals, aspirations, and latent potential. These mystical cards are the key to any wielders deck and are the truest representation of the wielders core abilities.
The world shifted to a beautiful forest. I heard the singing of birds as they chirped in the sky, the rustling of leaves in the wind. it was a picture of beauty if there wasn’t that one single outlier. The dull iron chain that seemed to be taunting me next to the training dummy.
CONTROL THE CHAIN TO STRIKE THE TARGET, FOCUS YOUR MANA!
Taking steps forward, the serenity of the forest seemed to amplify the stillness between me and the dummy with its unassuming figure. I could see little drawn on angry eyes, showing the target to be a hostile. I chuckled a bit at the whimsy my soul decided to use for the tutorial.
The words of the tutorial snapped me out of my daze, another reminder to complete the tutorial. My eyes fixed on the chain that would seemingly be my weapon for the tutorial. Every link in the chain glinting in the light of the tutorial, seeming to call out to me with whatever connection i had to it through my formation card.
Well nothing to it but to do it right? I thought internally while trying to focus on my connection to the card. It was a completely sensation to my old Formation Card and Affinity, not the ongoing effect of eternal healing but an active effect? “Yikes” I pondered aloud. My brow furrowed as i tried to connect with the chain. This is simple… at least it should be… in theory.
A cold bead of sweat fell down my face as i tried to push my mana out of my body and into the chain. A vast discomfort filled my soul as mana left it for the first time in decades, even in the previous life i always had reinforcement or defensive cards and abilities, never sending mana out of myself. I could see it… The golden mana trickling out and slowly making its way to the chain and slowly entering it.
SNAP!
My body and soul reeled as I felt a connection to the chain, I knew the chain in every way, from the metals within, the strength and mobility, and how to control it. “Freaky, mana manipulation was hard as heck in my past life, even internal manipulation took forever to get a handle on.” I was flabbergasted by the rapid improvement. Mana manipulation, the advanced technique of moving one’s own mana outside of cards, was seen as a trivial and excessively difficult method of training and combat. Nearly impossible to use or train for any wielder.
Why is it so easy to not only manipulate my mana, but also move it around outside of my body?
Something was going on, but I had no time to ponder on it more as the Dummy started to move. It seems the tutorial is done with me taking my time to learn. I willed the chain to snake towards me and wrap around my forearm, leaving a few feet off of me for combat.
The Tutorials Voice came once again, seeming both proud and urgent in its monotone voice.
CONGRATULATIONS ON LEARNING YOUR FORMATION CARD! “CHAINED BY FATE” IS A GROWTH CARD, AT THE END OF THIS TRIAL YOU WILL GAIN AN INCREASE IN ITS RANK AND A WEAPON REWARD! DEFEAT THE DUMMY TO ADVANCE.
The Training Dummy lurched towards me with an unnatural Creak! Closing the distance rapidly as my eyes darted to chain on my arm and especially the part hanging off my arm. “Ooh that could work. Let’s see what this can do” I said before dashing at the dummy, punching forward while willing the chain to lash forward. CRACK! The chain thwacked the dummy right in the chest and it stumbled backwards.
Taking the opportunity, I sent more mana into my chain. A light, golden aura seemed to materialize around the chain as i wrapped it around the dummy and pulled with all my strength to yank it towards me.
SNAP!
An explosion of wood and the scream of warping metal sounded out across the forest of the tutorial
DING!
TUTORIAL ONE COMPLETED! YOUR FORMATION CARD HAS GONE FROM “TRASH” TO “COMMON” YOU CAN NOW CONTROL METAL CHAINS WITH FULL CONTROL! CREATING REWARD!
The world dissolved back into the blank tutorial space, the forest fading away alongside the splinters and ruined remains of the testing dummy, and also… “Where’s my chain?!” I yelled out.
The tutorial weapon is supposed to stay with the trial taker so where the heck did mine go? Am i just screwed for the combat trials or what?
Then I remembered what the interface had just said, “Creating Reward”. Commonly the tutorial was jsut a way for wielders to learn how cards worked and their mana affinity, maybe some figuring out their combat style even. But they certainly never give rewards, even in my past life my tutorial jsut focused on learning how to focus my regeneration and distract enemies with cards.
My focus was split as i saw a golden glow start to appear around my right arm, a familiar weight falling upon it.
DING!
REWARD GENERATED: MANA BLADE CHAIN (BRONZE RANK)
The Interface screen appeared before me as the chain materialized around my arm, the gleam of the silver contrasting with the golden runes etched along the links.
[Weapon Information]
Name: Mana Chain Blade
Rank: Bronze (Upgradeable)
Type: Hybrid Weapon (Blunt/Bladed)
Description:
A unique, soul-bound weapon forged for the mana of its wielder. The Mana Chain Blade is versatile, functioning as both a blunt and bladed weapon. Its adaptability in combat is limited only by the wielder’s skill and imagination.
Specifications:
?Blade Length: 0.5 meters (fully materialized)
?Chain Length: 2 meters (extends to 2.5 meters with mana infusion)
?Material: Mana-infused alloy, unbreakable by standard means
Special Properties:
1. Blade Manifestation: The Chain is built to channel mana and forge a mana blade on the end of it, this blade can be manifested by directing and controlling mana throughout the chain and focusing it into a. blade shape.
2.Soul Bond: This item will bind itself to Wielder (Theo Hollowstep) Forming a soul rune upon channeling mana through it. The weapon will grow and evolve as you do and may unlock new capabilities based upon mana control.
Growth Path:
?Next Rank (Iron): Unlocks additional length, enhanced durability, and improved mana efficiency.
Current Progression: 0% to Iron Rank
As I inspected the window and the chain, I felt a tug on my soul from the weapon. A pinprick as it tried to siphon mana itself without my input.
Greedy little bugger aren’t you? Already trying to sample the mana without being offered.
FORM SOUL RUNE? YES/NO
Why is the tutorial being so weird this time? I wondered to the blank space of the tutorial waiting room. My hand slowly reaching out to hit YES, i made the selection. As my fingers lightly brushed the Interface window, my vision exploded into a radiant gold hue.
A sharp, searing pain radiated from the back of my hand, spreading like divine fire coursing through my veins. I gritted my teeth, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I watched the golden glow race along my arm, spiraling down to the chain coiled around it. The runes etched into the links flared to life, glowing fiercely as if feeding on the pain.
Then the Rune Etching began, Intricate symbols and shapes began to emerge on my skin, burning themselves into me like a hot brand on cattle skin. The symbol forming a circle of chains circling an odd rune i had never heard of in my years of training and combat. The chains links seemed to be burying themselves tighter into my arm as the connection flared, the pain intensifying as an aura of golden mana enveloped both me and the chain.
DING!
SOUL RUNE COMPLETE! You are now bonded to the “MANA BLADE CHAIN”!
The pain subsided instantly, a wave of relief washing over me as the chain collapsed duly onto my arm.
Man, that was almost as painful as the soul flux. The “Enhancement” must be making the trials harder, especially if the first one is giving a soul bound item.
DING!
ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: SOUL SKETCHER
You have formed a Soul Rune! Congratulations you have used your soul as a sketch pad! Sure hope you didn’t muck it up forever right?
SKILL GRANTED: [Rune Etch, Rank: Bronze 1]
“By the Hunt…” I stared, flabbergasted, at the interface window. Achievements, Skills? This was a completely different system to my old time.
Cards were key back then, your strength relied on your cards. Your survival relied on your cards. If you couldn’t overcome an obstacle you either found the right cards or died trying to find the right cards. There was no “Achievements” and certainly no “Skills” Everything was cards. The world was structured for them and the interface as the messenger of their effects, no more and no less. A cold but accurate interface, purely for information. Now it seemed… Alive, Like something or someone was a direct influence on it either currently or millennia ago, also…
“What’s with the snark?” I chuckled as i pulled up my, seemingly new and improved, interface window to review my “skill list” as it seemed to be called in the interface window.
SKILL LIST
[Rune Etch, Rank: Bronze 1]: Allows the wielder to carve and activate runes into surfaces, success rate: Varies, mana cost: Varies.
It wasn’t anything too fancy, just allowing me to carve runes, but it was still leaps and bounds away from the interface I knew. It seemed to have an intelligence never seen int eh previous world, A sort of… sentience.
“Well let’s not dwell on that horrific thought for a moment that the all knowing system of the world can think” I tried to dodge the mental thought stream forming. Walking around the blank tutorial room and wondering when the next trial would begin, I began idly pacing back-and-forth, pondering the implications for he new interface when suddenly the system alerted me to the new trial.
DING!
TRIAL 2: [PHYSICAL CARDS]
DEFEAT THE BEASTS USING TEMPORARY [PHYSICAL] CARDS
COMPLETION: DEFEAT THE WAVES
FAILURE: RESET OF TRIAL
BEGIN? YES/NO
Making sure the Mana Blade Chain was secure on my forearm, I selected yes.
The tutorial space shifted into a large colosseum, rivaling the likes of the sigilhaven capital dueling arena. Large walls, gates of enormous proportions, and the grinding of the sand upon my boots greeted me to the second trial. “Let’s see what you can do” I called to the arena, as the first goblin spawned and snarled at me with its dagger held ready
