As the foreign presence responded in his mind, Adrian rushed to the nearest window, pressing his palms against the cool glass. The scene outside had transformed in moments. Castellaverde's citizens stood frozen in the streets, faces upturned in confusion and terror. The solar-powered street lamps continued their soft glow, an eerie contrast to the unnatural storm that had materialized above. The sky, which had been clear blue minutes ago, now stretched with purple-tinged gray clouds extending in every direction to the horizon—a canopy of cosmic malevolence that defied meteorological explanation.
"Ki: The Path of Bodily Transcendence," the system's voice echoed through his consciousness, ancient and melodious. "Ki draws upon the physical-spiritual energy residing within all living matter. It begins with the creation of a Ki Core, refining and purifying the body's energies to enhance strength, speed, durability, and sensory perception. It consumes minimal Essence and progresses primarily through physical training and cultivation techniques."
Adrian turned from the window, moving swiftly to lock the heavy wooden door of the library. The bolt sliding into place felt absurdly inadequate against whatever was happening outside.
"Dao: The Path of Conceptual Mastery. Dao harnesses the power of pure ideas, allowing practitioners to embed concepts into their actions and surroundings. A Lesser Dao might imbue a strike with the concept of 'cutting' or 'weight,' while Greater Dao might manifest broader abstractions like 'fear' or 'distance.' It requires moderate Essence expenditure and develops through philosophical introspection and conceptual insight."
Behind him, he could hear Gherta attempting to explain to Luccio what was happening, her voice maintaining a calm that Adrian suspected was entirely for her son's benefit.
"Is this like your game, sweetie? The one with the magic people?"
"No, Mama. It's better! It's real! Can I be a dinosaur now?"
"Mana: The Path of Metaphysical Chaos," the system continued. "Mana manipulates the chaotic energy that fills the spaces between structured reality. It enables traditional spellcasting—elemental manipulation, shields, illusions—through Channeling, which imposes structure upon inherent chaos. It demands high Essence consumption and precise mental control, but offers versatile applications limited primarily by the practitioner's imagination and skill."
Adrian's mind raced, processing this information through the analytical framework that had served him through years of philosophical study. The concept of Ki resonated with numerous Eastern philosophical traditions he'd studied—the vital energy that Hindu texts called prana, the Chinese qi, the Japanese ki. Was this the literal manifestation of those concepts, or merely a convenient metaphor? The Dao clearly referenced Taoist philosophy, while Mana seemed to draw from Western occult traditions.
"Pneuma: The Path of Spiritual-Divine Energy. Pneuma accesses the divine spark residing within mortal souls. Through Emanation, practitioners can produce effects similar to divine miracles—healing, purification, summoning, and spiritual manipulation. It requires massive Essence expenditure but grants power closest to the gods themselves. Progress comes through spiritual focus and understanding of the divine."
He needed to choose. Two Paths, Solomon had said. The apocalypse was clearly beginning outside, and whatever advantages these Paths offered would be crucial for survival. Logic dictated a practical approach.
Adrian assessed himself honestly. He was no warrior—the extent of his physical training had been mandatory physical education during his school years. Since then, his exercise had been limited to carrying books in college and shelving volumes in the library, often carrying them virtually in the former. His body was not prepared for an apocalypse.
Survival first, advancement later.
"I choose Ki," he announced to the empty air, hoping the system would register his choice. "If my body fails, nothing else matters."
The response was immediate and physical. Energy surged through him, originating from a point near his navel—what Eastern philosophers had called the dantian or the hara, the center of vital energy. The warmth spread outward in waves, simultaneously energizing and calming him, as though he'd been existing in a half-awake state his entire life until this moment.
A notification appeared in his mind's eye, glowing with soft blue light:
[Path of Ki Awakened]
Passive Skill Unlocked: Ki Core (Level 1) Your body now generates and refines Ki, enhancing physical capabilities and serving as foundation for further abilities.
Please select an active skill from the available list, or provide skill prerequisites for filtering options.
Adrian glanced toward the window again. The storm had intensified, purple lightning now arcing between clouds. Time was running out.
What did he need most? Protection, certainly. Something to keep him alive through whatever was coming. And if he was injured—which seemed increasingly likely—the ability to recover quickly would be essential.
"I need something that enhances regeneration," he thought, directing his request to the system. "Something that will help me heal faster if I'm injured." A secondary benefit would be ideal—perhaps a way to channel this vitality into other abilities.
The logic was sound: with a strong, regenerating body, the chance of dying from something trivial would be minimized. That would provide the foundation for whatever came next. The philosopher in him appreciated the pragmatism; the terrified human in him just wanted to survive.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"I'm telling you, Luccio, yes, you can be a velociraptor if that's what you want," Gherta's voice cut through his concentration. "But we need to be careful about these choices."
"But Mama, dinosaurs are the strongest! They ruled the Earth for millions of years!"
"And then they all died, tesoro. Let's pick something that won't go extinct, shall we?"
Adrian smiled despite himself, then refocused on his request. "I need an ability that significantly enhances my regeneration while consuming minimal Essence, and ideally provides some way to amplify other abilities."
The system responded with a single option:
[Skill Available: Echoing Blood]
Accelerates healing by 85% by circulating Ki through the bloodstream. Allows blood to be used as a medium for amplifying other abilities. Costs Essence per minute of active use.
This was exactly what he needed. A strong foundational ability that would give him time to learn and adapt. With near-doubled regeneration and the potential to use blood as a power source, he'd have flexibility for whatever came next.
"I select Echoing Blood," Adrian declared.
The moment the words left his mouth, a new notification appeared:
[Synergy Detected]
Ki Core and Echoing Blood have high compatibility. Evolution available:
Combine to create HeartForge? [Yes/No]
Without hesitation, Adrian mentally selected Yes.
A surge of power, more intense than before, radiated from his chest rather than his abdomen. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, then steadied into a stronger, more deliberate rhythm.
[Synergy Complete]
[Skill Evolved: HeartForge (Level 1)]
Your heart and blood have been fundamentally transformed. Passive regeneration increased by 110%. Blood now serves as a potent catalyst for abilities, requiring 40% less Essence when used as a medium.
Adrian couldn't suppress a grin. He'd barely begun, and already his choices were yielding unexpected benefits. He quickly relayed this information to Gherta and Luccio, whose conversation had continued unabated.
"It worked! Gherta, the Paths—they're synergizing together! My regeneration ability just evolved into something called HeartForge!"
Luccio's eyes widened with wonder. "See, Mama? I told you it would work!"
Gherta gave Adrian a measured look. He simply shrugged and said, "He's just like you."
She sighed deeply. "Luccio, wait until the adults have chosen and explain what you want. Then we'll see." Under her breath, she added several colorful Vesperian curses before returning her focus to her own selection.
One Path chosen, one to go. For his second choice, Adrian considered the options carefully. Given his academic background, Pneuma held particular interest. The concept wasn't foreign to him—pneuma appeared in Stoic philosophy as the vital breath, the creative force within the universe. The idea that this metaphysical concept could be harnessed directly intrigued him.
"I choose Pneuma for my second Path," he stated.
The sensation was entirely different from Ki's awakening. Rather than warmth spreading outward, Adrian felt as though his lungs had suddenly expanded, taking their first true breath after a lifetime of shallow respiration. It was like breaking the surface after being submerged in icy water, only to find himself wrapped in a warm blanket.
[Path of Pneuma Awakened]
Passive Skill Unlocked: Emanation (Level 1) Your body now generates and refines Pneuma, Through Emanation, practitioners can produce effects similar to divine miracles.
Please select an active skill from the available list, or provide skill prerequisites for filtering options.
Drawing on his knowledge of esoteric concepts, Adrian searched for something that would serve as a foundation for this new power.
"I need something that will help me manage Pneuma efficiently, given its high Essence cost. Perhaps a skill related to visualization or manifestation."
The system offered:
[Skill Available: Visualization]
Reduces Pneuma technique costs by 25% through improved mental focus and spiritual connection. Enables clearer manifestation of spiritual constructs.
"Perfect," Adrian thought. His goal was to create some form of summoner, capable of conjuring weapons or creatures to aid allies. With Visualization to reduce costs, he could potentially manage the high Essence demands of Pneuma.
"I select Visualization," he announced, expecting another synergy like before.
Instead, a different type of notification appeared:
[Lateral Synergy Detected] Combine with Emanation to create:
? Armament?
? Conjured Soul?
? Structure and Fill?
? Living Matter?
? Elemental Incarnation?
? Ethereal Manifest?
? Anima Conjuration?
Anima Conjuration caught his attention immediately. The description revealed exactly what he'd been hoping for—a method to summon creatures for support and protection.
[Anima Conjuration]
Creates semi-living entities from spiritual energy that can act independently or under direct control. Constructs maintain form until destroyed or dismissed.
"I select Anima Conjuration," Adrian said decisively.
Just as the words left his mouth, he heard Gherta muttering, "What the hell is the system calling me?" Her face was scrunched in concentration, clearly dealing with her own selection process.
Before Adrian could comment, another notification appeared:
[Evolutionary Synergy Detected]
HeartForge and Anima Conjuration have discovered an unexpected compatibility.
Evolving to: Anima Ferrea [Evolution cannot be declined due to metaphysical resonance]
A profound sense of unease washed over Adrian. "Oh, shit," he muttered, then quickly added, "Sorry, Luccio." He read the description with growing alarm:
[Synergy Complete]
[Skill Evolved: Anima Ferrea (Level 1)]
Dramatically enhances regeneration and defense. Your Ki and Pneuma have fused with your blood and flesh, allowing your body greater malleability and the ability to consume Essence for additional capabilities. Your body can now absorb Anima to create permanent physical enhancements.
Adrian stared incredulously at the text floating in his mind's vision. This was not what he had intended. Rather than creating a summoner who could remain safely at a distance, it seemed he'd inadvertently transformed himself into some kind of living weapon—a frontline fighter.
While still processing this unexpected development, Adrian felt Luccio tugging insistently at his sleeve. The boy's eyes were wide with fear, fixed on something behind them.
"Prof. Adrian," Luccio whispered, his voice trembling.
Adrian turned to follow the boy's gaze. In the center of the library floor, a purple-hued rift had opened—a wound in reality from which something was emerging. A furry head pushed through the opening, followed by elongated limbs ending in curved claws.
Outside, the purple lightning flashed with increasing frequency, casting the library in alternating shadows and harsh illumination. The storm had arrived, both figuratively and literally.
The time for choices was over.