Anti-Mage

Brandon focused on the flashing icon in his vision, and a new message appeared.

Before distributing Attributes, please establish resource pool allocation. You earn 400 points per level as a Demi-God Magcarius. The Magcarius Class normally determines this allocation. Demi-Gods, however, may choose how their resource pools progress.

Resource Pools

Hit Points: 0

Stamina: 0

Mana: 0

Psychic Energy: 0

0 of 400 Allocated.

Brandon considered how to proceed. The easy answer was to put 100 points into each category. The reason was simple. If a Common ranked class was only getting 15 points per level to distribute, they probably put 5 points into the three primary resource pools for that class. As for how he’d distribute the points, he did have that note about his class not being psionic. He thought about it for a minute. Then he decided to put 120 points per level into his Hit Points, Stamina, and Mana, and 40 points per level into his Psychic Energy so he would be able to utilize psionic abilities if he learned any. He made his allocations.

Hit Points: 120

Stamina: 120

Mana: 120

Psychic Energy: 40

400 of 400 Allocated

Is this Correct, Yes or No?

Brandon Chose “Yes.”

You earn 50 Spell Points per level, which may be allocated between Spell Points and Psionic Ability Points. Spell Points are used to learn spells. Psionic Ability Points are used in much the same way to learn Psionic Abilities permanently.

Please allocate your 50 spell points.

Spell Points: 0

Psionic Ability Points: 0

0 of 50 Spell Points Allocated

Again, Brandon realized he had an extreme advantage. He did want to be able to utilize Psionic Abilities if he could learn any, so he decided on a 35 / 15 split.

Spell Points: 35

Psionic Ability Points: 15

50 of 50 Spell Points Allocated

Are you sure you wish to allocate your Spell Points as listed? Yes or No?

Brandon chose “Yes.”

Base Resource Pool and Spell Point allocation set.

Class Levels 1 through 5 … applied.

You now have 1,000 free attributes. You may choose to have these applied automatically as you level, or you may allocate your attributes manually as you level.

NOTE: Individuals with Common or Basic classes receive 4 attributes per level to distribute. As a Demi-God, you receive 200 per level to distribute between the following eleven attributes: Strength, Agility, Dexterity, Endurance, Constitution, Perception, Intelligence, Wisdom, Willpower, Charisma, and Luck.

Brandon thought about what the attributes represented, and then he reread the message. Standard classes only had four attribute points per level to distribute each level. He was earning 200. He couldn’t just divide 200 by 11. That was 18, with the remainder of 2 points. He could put 18 into every attribute except Luck and put the last 20 points there. Since whatever had just happened to him seemed to like the word luck, that sounded like a great idea.

Brandon set his attributes to be automatically distributed each time he leveled: 20 to Luck and 18 to every other attribute. He was asked to confirm his choice. When he did, the world went dark.

Brandon came to crumpled on the floor. How long had he been out? He picked himself up off the floor and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He activated it and saw that it was now 10:30 a.m. A moment later a new Message popped into his vision.

SYSTEM Message!

Magical Density has reached 8%

8%?

Magical Density had increased twice while he was unconscious? That meant the rate of saturation was increasing. At this rate, whatever Magical Density was, it would be 100% in less than a day. Brandon’s thoughts were interrupted when his eyes registered something odd. His hand seemed bigger than his phone and he also felt taller. He was 5 foot 10 inches, but now things have appeared a little off. The BDUs he was wearing seemed a little small on him. Luckily, his BDUs were loose, so they still fit. So he was taller and he might have grown an inch or two.

He brought his attention back to his messages and opened them again. The messages continued as if he hadn’t just dropped unconscious.

Attributes allocation complete

As a Magcarius, you receive the following spells at 1st Level:

Cloak of Darkness

Magical Sphere: Dark

Spell Level: 1

Mana Cost: 1 per turn

Upon Activation, the Cloak of Darkness surrounds the individual in darkness, making it significantly more challenging to see in dark environments. +50% +1% per Spell Level to Stealth, Camouflage, Hide, and similar-based skills and abilities when in dark or poorly illuminated areas.

If used in brightly lit areas, this spell has the opposite effect.

Earth’s Embrace

Magical Sphere: Earth

Spell level: 1

Mana Cost: 10 per Hit Point healed.

Maximum per use, Spell Level.

You are able to draw upon the magical nature of the Earth to Heal yourself and others with your touch. You may heal up to your Spell Level per activation. This spell does not have a cool-down.

Death’s Vision

Magical Sphere: Death

Spell Level: 1

Mana Cost: 1 per turn.

Once cast, your eyes are shrouded in shadows. You still see normally, but automatically detect any living or undead creature within range. Your Range of Vision is 20 Feet +5 feet per spell Level.

This spell will automatically pierce all but divine-ranked magic that attempts to obfuscate another living or undead creature from your sight.

The spells were interesting. Not very powerful, but interesting and useful. Brandon continued reading his notifications and messages.

There are two ways to improve a spell's level. The first is to use the spell. The second is to invest Spell Points into the spell. For a quick comparison, the SYSTEM will share the spell cost and required uses of a spell to level through level 5 for all individuals new to The SYSTEM.

Spell Levels, unlike skill Levels, will not deteriorate over time.

Spell Level / Spell Point Total Cost.

Level 1 / 1

Level 2 / 3

Level 3 / 6

Level 4 / 10

Level 5 / 15

Spell Level / Cumulative uses.

Level 1 / 10

Level 2 / 40

Level 3 / 100

Level 4 / 200

Level 5 / 350

Brandon read the following message, which explained how earned Skill levels deteriorated if a skill wasn’t used. Once he read that the benefit of utilizing skill points and spell points became apparent. A skill, once improved with skill points, wouldn’t be forgotten. Spell Points, on the other hand, allowed someone to invest in spells and increase their power quickly, though they would still increase with use. While he read, he wondered if he had a character sheet or something like that. Brandon went back to his messages.

At Level 3, all attacks from Stealth using HTH, Short Blades, or spells from the Dark, Earth, and Death Spheres of Magic inflict triple damage. This is increased from the standard double damage.

At Level 5, a New skill was gained: Move Silently.

All adjustments have been added.

Your Personal Status is as follows.

Name: Brandon J Parker

Race: Human

Age: 27

Weight: 210

Birthday: June 16th, 2011

Classes:

1st Class: (Divine): Demi-God (Magcarius) / Level 5

Total XP: 178,600

Attributes

Strength 200, 100 100% efficiency. (+190)

Agility 258, 103 150% efficiency. (+248)

Dexterity 258, 103 150% efficiency. (+248)

Endurance 196, 98 100% efficiency. (+186)

Constitution 196, 98 100% efficiency. (+186)

Perception 200, 100 100% efficiency. (+190)

Intelligence 196, 98 100% efficiency. (+186)

Wisdom 196, 98 100% efficiency. (+186)

Willpower 196, 98, 100% efficiency. (+186)

Charisma 196, 98, 100% efficiency. (+186)

Luck 2365, 215, 1000% efficiency. (+2,355)

Chaos 0, 100%, 0 (-10)

Order 0, 100%, 0 (-10)

Skill Slots: 270

Spell Slots: 236

Psionic Slots: 193

Primary Stats

Carrying Capacity: 2,000 lbs / 953 kgs

Physical Damage Resistance (PDR): 2

Hit Points: 886

Health Regeneration: 5 per hour

Stamina: 2,560

Stamina Regeneration: 20 per Turn (10 seconds)

Mana: 2,560

Mana Regeneration: 20 per Turn (10 seconds)

Psychic Energy (PE): 312

PE Regeneration: 2 per Turn (10 seconds)

Movement

Running Speed: 143 MPH/ 210 FPS

Standing high Jump: 20 Inches.

Note. Falling Damage is not mitigated by maximum jumping Distance.

Flying Speed: N/A

Base Attack

Unarmed Attack: 97 (2 Base + 95 Damage)

(Attacks from Stealth, Damage x3)

Short Sword: 99 (4 Base + 95 Damage)

(Attacks from Stealth, Damage x3)

Standard Critical Damage Maximum Damage x2

Abilities:

Complex Soul

Divine Luck

Perks

Basic Map (SYSTEM Granted)

Personal Storage (SYSTEM Granted)

Titles:

Luck of the Draw

Skills

Perk Granted Skills

Basic Map / Level: 1

Personal Storage / Level 1

Other Skills:

Dodge / Level 1

Long Blades / Level 1

Long Range Firearms / Level 1

Martial Art (Jujutsu) / Level 2

Move Silently / 1

Short Blades (Purchased Skill) / Level 2

Short Range Firearms / Level 1

Stealth / Level 1

Two-Weapon Fighting Style / Level 2

Spells

Dark Magic

Earth’s Embrace

Death’s Vision

Treasure

On Person

Copper: 48

Silver: 40

Credits: 0

Gold: 0

Platinum: 0

SYSTEM Bank

Copper: 0

Silver: 0

Credits: 0

Gold: 0

Platinum: 0

So, he did have a character sheet of a sort. He also had a Basic Map. As soon as he had the thought, a map appeared in his vision of everything within 100 feet. Currently, the mop closet he was in showed himself and seemed to be fully detailed. Outside, the door to the closet showed the halls, stairways, and doors he knew about but was fogged out like the fogs of war effect in a lot of video games.

He also had the Personal Storage, or inventory he’d already discovered, and he had treasure? Where were the copper and silver listed? Brandon pulled up the information about his Personal Storage, and sure enough, there were two stacks of coins listed. He pulled one of each out of his storage into his hand and looked at them. Once he had a feel for the weight of the coins, he willed them back into his Personal Storage, and they vanished.

SYSTEM Message!

Magical Density has reached 9%

Brandon checked the clock, 10:45 a.m. It had only been about 15 minutes since the last notification, 20 minutes before that. If the rate of increase continued to follow the pattern, there would be another increase in 10 minutes.

It was time to stop thinking and start working on the problem.

First, a group of hostiles had invaded the capital near the White House and killed predominately innocent people; He’d witnessed that.

Second, If the messages were to be believed, he would be at least 50 times more powerful than anyone with a basic class. Until he tested his strength, he wouldn’t know for sure.

Third, he needed to use this new power to do something, but he wasn’t sure what. Going to the ground wouldn't help, especially if the White House was under attack.

He knew what he had to do. Before he could do that though, he needed to improve his chances. It looked like he could increase some of the skills he had with the skill points, and he could also increase what his spells could do with his spell points, so he’d start there.

Brandon raised the levels of Basic Map, Personal Storage, Dodge, Jujustsu, Short Blades, Short Range Firearms, and Two Weapon Fighting Style to 5 for 15 Skill Points each. The last two skills he raised were Stealth and Move Silently, which he increased to level 10. Each skill cost 55 Skill Points. That left him with 55 Skill Points he could use on any new skills he learned. For the only three spells he had, he had enough Spell Points to increase Cloak of Shadows, Earth’s Embrace, and Death’s Vision to level 10

Brandon quickly scanned the effect of each level increase, but it wasn’t much. His Basic Map had increased from a 100-foot radius to a 150-foot radius, and his Personal Storage could hold up to 7 cubic feet of material. His combat-related skills increased by 1% in effectiveness per level. Since he didn’t know what that represented, he didn’t know if his high attributes or the higher percentage was going to be more significant. As for the spells. He could now use Earth’s Embrace to heal 10 hit points for 100 mana. Considering he had 886 hit points, it wasn’t that much, but for someone with lower attributes, it might make a difference.

Before he knew it, 10 minutes had passed, and another SYSTEM Message arrived, this time stating that the power in the building had failed.

SYSTEM Message!

Magical Density has reached 10%

Magical Density has reached the minimum Threshold required for random magical manifestations. Technological devices and infrastructure that are not naturally shielded or magically reinforced may have issues working in a highly magical environment. The more complex the device, the less likely it will work as Magical Density increases. At 100% Magical Density saturation, non-magically reinforced microcircuitry will cease to function.

Random Magical Manifestations can include, but are not limited to:

Randomly appearing items, people, and monsters.

Gateways and portals to alternate dimensions and universes.

Manifestations of pure magical energy from any sphere of magic.

To unlock the SYSTEM, you must either kill a system-registered combatant or earn enough experience to reach Level 1 for the classes for which you may qualify. Required XP is based on the Rarity of the class, which is as follows:

Common / Basic: 1,000 XP

Scarce: 2,000 XP

Rare: 3,000 XP

Advance: 4,000 XP

Master: 5,000 XP

There are higher rarity classes, but they are only available if the SYSTEM is unlocked through combat.

The notifications in Brandon’s vision ceased as the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and he felt like something wasn’t quite right. He opened the door to the mop closet and looked into the Laundry room as he saw water flow from the basin against the wall out into a blob of water that shimmered and then moved toward him.

Brandon wasn’t sure what it was, but he was pretty sure it looked like a water elemental. Brandon activated Death’s Vision for the first time and noticed that the blob of water had an inner globe of radiant light, almost like a life force that he could now see. If this was true for all creatures that were alive, he could understand how he’d be able to see someone who was hiding or invisible. They’d shine in his vision.

Still, this was a creature made of water, and he didn’t have very many ways to damage something made of water that he could think of. Brandon stepped from the mop closet and moved into the laundry room to give himself some maneuvering ability. As he moved toward the Water Elemental, it froze, and the water started quivering. If he didn’t know better, it looked like it was having a fear-related reaction to him. There was also a new icon flashing in the corner of his vision. Since the Elemental wasn’t moving, Brandon focused on it and modified the window that popped up so it only covered half his vision, which allowed him to keep an eye on the Elemental.

Combat Log

You have initiated an Aura Attack.

Current Aura Strength: 22.06

Elemental Aural Defense: -4.9

Brandon focused on the term Aura Attack, and a small window popped up over the log.

Note: The auras of creatures and magical items, if present, interact constantly. When two auras conflict, they clash. Typically, a stronger aura will prevail, but this is not always true. A typical result is that a creature will feel intimidated or have the desire to flee something with a more assertive aura. If an aura something is facing is significantly greater than its aura, that creature may be immobilized by fear. In rare instances, an Aura can be utilized as a weapon and leave physical damage up to and including death. The difference between the auras determines the effect of one aura on another. The scale is logarithmic, not linear. A single point of difference may be significant.

Brandon closed the small window and focused back on the Combat Log.

Water Elemental immobilized

Brandon closed the Combat log and looked at the Water Elemental that was quivering in front of him. He wasn’t doing anything, but it was frozen in place. So, what to do now? Well, he couldn’t just leave it alone. It could attack someone else. Brandon walked up to the water elemental, targeted the brightest concentration of life that he could see with Death’s Vision, and struck with a flat-palmed strike. The result was immediate and unexpected. The water elemental exploded.

Brandon opened the Combat Log again.

Palm Strike initiated against target.

Damage Inflicted to Target: 9 (Initial damage of 97 Reduced by 90% due to the nature of the target)

Focused Strike has unlocked the Psionic Ability Aura Strike.

Additional Damage: 22

Target Hit Points Reduced to -25

Target has died.

100 XP and 1 Copper earned.

Brandon closed the Combat Log and looked down at the mess all over the floor. He also watched as the water elemental's life force, or aura, disappeared. That was interesting. The water spread out across the floor as a new gold star symbol appeared in his vision, which he focused on and opened.

Congratulations!

You have unlocked the Psionic Ability Aura Strike

Aura Strike

Aura Strike allows you to harness your Aura to inflict damage on any one creature utilizing your aura. Damage is physical but leaves no marks on the target as their hit points are reduced.

Range: Aura Strength in Feet + Aura Strike Level

Maximum Damage: Aura Strength + Aura Strike Level.

Psychic Energy Cost: Equal to Damage sought up to Maximum Damage.

Brandon closed the notification and pulled up his Personal Status. Could he increase the Aura Strikes level right now? He had 193 Psychic Ability Slots. Yes, he could increase his Psionic Ability to level 10 for 55 points, which would allow him to attack up to 32 feet from himself with a thought. That could come in handy. Brandon spent the points and accepted the choice.

Brandon double-checked his Psychic Energy. He only had 312 and regenerated 12 per minute. He could utilize this attack form 9 times before he would have to rest for a full day to restore all the Psychic Energy he used. But it was another attack form that didn’t leave a trace. That could be handy.

Now, though, he needed to help the White House. If he was a Demi-God, through some stupidly lucky roll of some cosmic dice, there was no way he was going to let some dimension-hoping alien invaders take over his country. He was going to put this new power he’d unlocked to good use.

Brandon kept the spell Death’s Vision active and then activated Cloak of Shadows. Each spell had a mana upkeep of 1 per turn. He regenerated 20 mana per turn. He could maintain both spells and still regenerate 18 points of mana per turn. Brandon looked around the room and then leaped across the puddle on the floor to the door to the stairway. Utilizing all his training, he moved quickly and quietly upstairs.

Brandon listened at the closed door. He could hear muffled sounds outside the door but nothing that seemed to close. The door he stood at was on the east side of the building, with I Street about 30 feet to the North. There was a parking lot on the north side of the street. The noise could be coming from there. Brandon slowly opened the door and watched as the shadows that surrounded him also seemed to reach for the door, as if they were trying to flow into every nook and cranny. At night, that would come in handy; right now, not so much, though he was in the shadow of the apartment to the west, so the shadows might help him slip out.

As he stepped out of the building, he realized that he needn’t have worried; anyone he could see was either running or driving east or north, which was the exact opposite direction he needed to go. The noise was coming from the parking lot as people entered their vehicles and drove east away from downtown Washington, D.C.

Without thinking about it, Brandon moved from shadow to shadow while staying off the main roads. Time seemed to slow as he moved past people who seemed to be walking in slow motion. Cars also appeared to be doing less than 5 miles per hour. Brandon moved from shadow to shadow and ended up in the garage, looking at the back door to CVS in 10 seconds. He’d counted the steps one day, and the distance was approximately 2,000 feet. He was fast, very fast. He also wasn’t winded in the slightest.

Brandon quickly checked his Personal Status and saw that he’d used ten stamina to move at what the Event Log considered normal movement. His Stamina was also full again. There was a note next to the movement information, which he focused on.

Movement

You may move at up to one-half your normal movement at no Stamina Cost.

You may move at one-half your normal movement rate up to your normal movement rate for 10 stamina per turn.

You may increase your movement rate to 125% for 10 additional Stamina per turn: 20 Stamina per Turn.

You may increase your movement rate to 150% for another 10 Stamina per turn: 30 Stamina per Turn.

You may increase your movement rate to 175% for another 20 Stamina per turn: 50 Stamina per Turn.

You may increase your movement rate to 200% for another 20 Stamina per turn: 70 Stamina per Turn.

You may Sprint, increase your movement rate to 300% for another 100 Stamina: 170 Stamina per Turn.

Brandon closed the note. Effectively, he could move at up to 125% of his normal movement rate and not worry about it. Better yet, with a Stamina of 2,560, he could Sprint at three times his normal movement rate for 15 turns or 2 minutes and 30 seconds, after which he’d almost be out of Stamina. If he were only generating 120 stamina per minute, it would be over 30 minutes before his Stamina fully recovered. Brandon opened his Personal Status again and checked his movement speed.

143 Miles Per Hour!

210 Feet Per Second

What?

If he wanted to Sprint, he could travel 429 Miles Per Hour or more than the length of two football fields in a second. If he used sprinting sparingly, He could sprint and then move up to his average speed and recover the 170 Stamina in about two and a half minutes. That brought up the question of why he would need to move up to 2100 feet in one 10-second Turn. If he sprinted, that would be 6,300 feet in a 10-second period, which was 1,020 feet more than 1 mile.

Now that he’d stopped moving for a moment, though, the sound of gunfire and screams brought his attention back to his current location. Brandon hopped the parking garage wall, moved to the rear entrance of CVS, and pulled the door open. There was a bit of a crunch when the door gave way. He’d seen his attributes but hadn’t understood what it meant to have a strength 20 times what other people started with, if a 10 in strength was near what was considered average. He’d pulled the door off the hinges without straining.

Brandon stayed out of view as he moved to the front of the store in a flash. He came to a stop at the side of one of the glass windows and looked out. 14th Street Northwest, which ran North-South, appeared to be empty; he watched and waited for a full minute before he exited through the open front door and dashed across the street and into a covered ally. He made his way to a fire escape that led up to the roof and quickly climbed it. As he came to the lip of the roof, he saw two men about 200 feet west of his position on the east side of the building looking down the road that ran in front of the Treasury Building.

As he watched from the top of the fire escape, the man on the south side of the building must have taken a sniper shot to the head because his head exploded. Interesting. So, there was at least one sniper on the Treasury building across the street, which was good to know. Brandon turned slightly sideways so that the American flag patch was visible as he made his way up to the second invader. He didn’t know if the Sniper would be able to see him, but if he could, he’d like the sniper to realize he was a friendly, or at least not hostile.

While he could have rushed forward, he decided to take it nice and slow after seeing the other man’s head explode. He wasn’t sure if the bullet would hurt him, but he didn’t want to find out. He also decided that this would be the perfect time to practice his Stealth and Move Silently skills.

Brandon was able to sneak right up behind the person looking down through a grill in the side of the building. Once Brandon had made it halfway down the roof, he started using a cover to keep himself out of sight of anyone on the Treasury roof as he made his way forward. His Stealth skill must be working because the invader didn’t look back in his direction once. That’s when Brandon had a funny feeling and glanced back behind himself to make sure no one was sneaking up on him. He didn’t see anything.

Brandon turned back to the invader and moved until he was within striking distance. He was within three feet, just around the corner of one of the air conditioner handlers. Brandon glanced around the corner slowly. The invader was crouched down, frozen and trembling. Was his aura doing that again? If so, that was awesome and scary. He’d never be able to have a conversation with anyone until he could shut off his Aura. It's something he’d have to look into sooner rather than later.

As for the Invader, It looked like he had been looking through a grill in the wall on the street below. Brandon moved up behind the man and put him in a headlock as he stood and looked down on the street and across to the Treasury building.

His high Perception allowed him to see where three snipers were placed on top of the Treasury Building. Two were placed on the corners of the building and appeared to be watching the streets below, while the third had the barrel pointed in Brandon’s direction. Brandon pointed at the sniper who was locked in on him and then at the patch on his shoulder before he lifted his prisoner by his uniform and tossed him out over the edge of the building, where he fell to the road below.

Brandon saw a flash from the sniper rifle. Honestly, he hadn’t expected that. He was about to dodge but realized that the round wasn’t aimed at him. It was definitely aimed close to him but not at him. Brandon dropped into a crouch and turned to look where the sniper had been aiming just in time to see the round slam into the chest of something Brandon could only describe as a Black Yeti or a Sasquatch, which was rushing toward him.

The sniper round struck the creature but didn’t seem to faze it as it kept rushing toward him. When it was about 20 feet away, its legs locked, and it lost control of its body. Brandon’s Aura must have affected it once it came within range. Unfortunately, the rules concerning momentum are universal, and the body continued toward Brandon.

The other thing that sucks about momentum and physics is even if you are able to move and catch an object that is traveling at you at what feels like 10 miles per hour, which he did. If you’re not planted or braced, well, you travel with the object. The force of the attack and the angle pushed Brandon back into and through the wall.

His first thought as he crashed through the wall was, “That it didn’t hurt as badly as it should have. His second thought was, Where did this big guy come from? Which was quickly followed by, Oh Shit! I can’t fly! When he found himself tumbling through the air toward the pavement below.