Extra Babel

Gasp!

My eyes snapped open, and I sucked in a desperate breath, heart pounding in confusion. The suffocating feeling of seawater in my lungs vanished, as well as the injuries around my body.

I looked around, disoriented. It was small and dimly lit, with a single armchair in front of a modest table. The bookshelves lining the walls were completely empty, their stark barrenness somehow unsettling.

This is the inside of Balam's door, I remember from the game.

Recognizing the place, I stood up without any problem, which was strange, because I clearly felt like dying before, but now I'm completely fine.

Those Trials are too realistic now. But that makes sense, since I'm now living in the game.

I stretched my arms and legs, checking if anywhere on my body there was remains of the injuries that damn fish gave me, but nothing was hurting, in reality, I even felt lighter, stronger.

That must mean…

"Screen!"

As I said that, countless letters and runes appeared in my vision, dancing together to form a few words, followed by a faint whisper:

[Congratulations, Challenger Kaleb. You have been the first to pass Balam's challenge.]

[You have been qualified as its Legacy, do you wish to accept]

[Yes/No]

I clicked yes without a single thought. As soon as I did, I heard a whisper:

[You have become the Legacy of Balam]

[... You have been awarded the Title of Child of War]

[... You have gained the Rune of Analyze]

[... As Inheritor of War, you have gained an Alma, Sign of War]

[Congratulations. Challenger Kaleb. You are now the Legacy of Balam, Child of War]

After receiving the whispers. I opened my Screen.

===Challenger===

Name: Kaleb

Title: Child of War [Click to expand]

Level: 1

Status: F

Points: 7

Strength: F

Agility: F

Stamina: F

Intelligence: F

Mana: G

Luck: E

Charm: E

Runes:

Rune of Analyze [Click to Assimilate]

Almas:

Sign of War [Click to expand]

Legacy [Click to expand]

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Hmm, my Status has increased, I've broken through a whole rank, from G to F, that's incredible, now I can be considered superhuman. And I've also gained a Title.

A Title is basically a medal given to a few challengers who did something extraordinary, they often grant you a specific ability related to the title. But just a few challengers in the first Trial.

Child of War is a Title gained by the first person who opens the door of Balam.

Using my fingers, I touched the runes of the Title and it revealed its description for me.

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Child of War: Born amidst the chaos of battle, forged in fire and baptized in blood, these chosen warriors bear the mark of war itself. They are the anointed instruments of conquest, wielding the symbols of their lord to sow strife and claim victory in his name. 

Effects: The user grows stronger when faced with death. As long as their will remains unbroken, they will rise again, and stronger.

============

After reading the description I nodded in understanding.

It's the same as in the game. It's very simple, and not so useful, unless I'm a maniac in battle, which I'm not, but this Title can evolve in the next Trials of Balam.

Shaking my head from those thoughts, I focused on the Screen once more.

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Sign of War: A divine weapon bestowed by the War Goddess upon her most trusted champions. This legendary lance can sunder the earth and cleave the heavens, a harbinger of conquest and destruction.

Grade: 1

Effects: The user must repair the weapon after three swings.

============

That's the weapon I wanted.

Almas are basically weapons in the game with different aspects and abilities, each have their own uniqueness, and are ranked in Grades, from 8 to 0.

Sign of War is a Grade 1 Alma, one of the most powerful Almas that exist, one of the few weapons that are close to the legendary Grade 0. 

In fact, Sign of War is not considered a Grade 0 because of its effect, it can be only used three times, and then the player has to repair before using it again, and repairing it is very complicated.

Though, if I disconsider that, I basically have a weapon that can one shot most of the upcoming enemies. Even against the latter antagonists of the game, Sign of War is a deadly weapon.

Later on I'll improve it to Grade 0 by removing its effect, then it will be truly a formidable Alma.

I want to test it, but I can't, I can only use three times, I need to keep it for urgent situations. So it's better I contain myself for now.

Shaking away my head I focused on the next part of the Screen.

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Legacy

First Legacy: (Claimed)

Second Legacy: (Unearned)

Third Legacy: (Unearned)

Fourth Legacy: (Unearned)

Fifth Legacy: (Unearned)

Sixth Legacy: (Unearned)

Seventh Legacy: (Unearned)

============

Legacy, that's the thing I wanted.

There is a reason why I chose Balam's path, despite not knowing its entire Path and all its Trials. It's because of its legacy.

A Legacy is something that only the first Challenger who completed the first Trial receives, a list of Runes and Almas that will be claimed as they finish the rest of the trials.

Runes and Almas are something rare among most paths, if you're not a Legacy, completing the Trials only increases your Level and Status, but nothing more.

That's why I chose Balam's path, because it's the only Path that no one has ever received its Legacy. That way I can claim myself, and grow stronger.

If it were any other Path, I would have to fight others for the Legacy, and I would be at an enormous disadvantage, since I'll be fighting a person strong, and with powerful Runes and Legacies at their disposal.

Talking about Runes, I need to assimilate the one I claimed.

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Rune of Analyze:

Description: A Rune that grants magical abilities in the realm of analysis, Insight, thinking process, intelligence, memory, learning, everything will be enhanced by this Rune.

[Do you wish to assimilate this Rune?]

[Yes/No]

============

If Almas can be considered an exterior part of a Challenger in this world. The Runes are the interior.

Runes are special symbols that grant the Challenger an specific power for them, an ability or function that is integrated in their being.

I already knew what there was to know about the Rune. So, without hesitation, I pressed Yes.

At that moment, an immense pressure crushed my chest, driving me to my knees. An electrifying surge shot through my brain, searing my nerves and almost frying them completely. The pain was unbearable, as though my skull would shatter in the process, my mind on the verge of exploding.

The agony quickly spread to my eyes, igniting a relentless burn as if they were engulfed in flames. It was a torment unlike anything I had ever endured—far surpassing the pain of dying twice over.

The pain seemed endless, stretching on for countless, immeasurable minutes. 

Just as I thought I couldn't endure any longer, a fresh wave of pain erupted from my back. It felt as if a blazing blade had driven into my flesh, not just slicing but carving with cruel precision, something on my skin.

I endured that torment for what felt like an eternity, until the pain in my back finally began to subside. It didn't fade completely, but the agonizing process of having my flesh carved into had ended. But the lingering ache of sliced skin remained.

Then, the agony in my brain and eyes vanished completely, leaving me disoriented, as though it had never existed. Gasping for air, I was left panting, trembling, and struggling to steady myself amidst the residual pain.

There I forced myself to stand up, and once more, looked at my Screen.

===Challenger===

Name: Kaleb

Title: Child of War [Click to expand]

Level: 1

Status: F

Points: 7

Strength: F

Agility: F

Stamina: F

Intelligence: F

Mana: G

Luck: E

Charm: E

Runes:

Rune of Analyze [Click to expand]

Almas:

Sign of War [Click to expand]

Legacy [Click to expand]

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