READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 4: Soul Power
["I am Archmage Solastra of Vothar, creator of the Portalstone you used to cross worlds..."] The voice said calmly.
"Where are you?" I muttered slowly, my voice barely heard by the ladies.
["I am inside you, but that is not important now, you want to know how to use the coin correct?"] Solastra, the archmage said with a tone void of emotion.
I nodded.
["As I said before, focus your mind in your coin, imagine a blue light gathering from inside of your body into that coin."] Instructed Solastra.
I did as instructed, closing my eyes to block out everything around me. Slowly, I imagined a soft blue glow gathering in the pit of my stomach, like a faint light struggling to wake up. I pictured it moving, spreading through my veins and toward my hand, until it reached the coin.
["Good. Now, feel the connection between you and the coin."] Solastra's voice guided me, steady and clear.
Little Girl: "Tirlae, maën shaë dorë? Shael norë nai, lir'en var?"
(Translation: "Mom, what is he doing? He is not responding to us...")
Mature Lady: "Sush, doré shaë, shael'lem talor maël, aën shaë norë ai farë."
(Translation: "Shush, don't disturb him, he might be performing some magic.")
The older lady stared at me, her gaze lingering, as if thinking of something.
I focused harder, trying to sense something, anything. At first, nothing happened. But then, a faint warmth spread through my palm, the coin growing warmer as the light inside me seemed to respond.
["That warmth is the magic taking form. Now, command it."]
I swallowed, unsure of what to say, but I tried anyway, speaking softly, "Activate."
"Ehem" I coughed. "… is this thing working? Can you guys understand me now? Where am I?" I asked hesitantly, holding the coin up for emphasis.
The older lady's eyes narrowed slightly, but she gave a curt nod. "Yes," she said slowly, her voice carrying a deliberate weight. "We can understand you now."
The young girl clapped her hands together, her face lighting up with delight. "It really works! Big brother, your magic is amazing!"
"You're in Green Trunk Village," The mature lady said. "My husband found you near the forest's edge. You're lucky to be alive."
Green Trunk Village. The name sounded straight out of a fantasy novel, but I didn't have the energy to question it.
The older lady inclined her head slightly, a gesture of acknowledgment. "I am Elder Shaera," she said. "These two are Liriana,"—she gestured toward the mature woman—"and her daughter, Eria."
Eria beamed at me, while Liriana gave a polite nod.
I can't let them know I am not from this world, its better for me to integrate to this world first, find out where i am and possibly move in to a big city to gain foothold.
"Thank you Elder Shaera, Madam Liriana and Little Eria" i smiled at them, though, with my scars and burn mark, i might look like a monster.
"Big brother, now it's your turn to introduce yourself!" said Little Eria, her childish voice echoed as she jumped near me.
"My name is Azur," I said, my voice hoarse as I fought to keep it steady. The effort sent a sharp twinge through my side, and the burn throbbed as if it had its own heartbeat.
Little Eria's brows furrowed in concern. "Big brother, you shouldn't be moving yet," she said, her voice filled with worry. "Mama told you to rest!"
"Eria," Liriana said gently, resting a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Let him speak. But she's right, you know," she added, turning to me with a pointed look. "You'll tear those wounds open again if you push yourself like this."
I let out a shallow breath, leaning slightly against the wall for support. "I'll be fine," I lied, trying not to wince. "Thank you for taking care of me."
Elder Shaera stepped forward, her gaze steady but not unkind. "You're lucky to be alive. The burns, the bite marks… most men wouldn't have survived." Her eyes briefly flicked to the coin in my hand. "But it seems fate has a way of choosing its survivors."
"I don't know about fate," I said quietly, gripping the coin tighter. "But I owe you all my thanks."
Little Eria tugged at her mother's sleeve, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Mama, can he stay with us? At least until he gets better?"
Liriana hesitated, her expression torn. "If he does, it'll be in the barn," she said finally. "And only if he agrees to stay put and not overdo it."
"I won't cause trouble," I said, leaning against the wall for support. "I just need time to recover. That's all."
Elder Shaera's gaze lingered on me, her tone firm but fair. "Recover your strength, but keep that magic of yours under control. This village doesn't take kindly to trouble. You can stay in this room for now, it's my house."
I nodded, too tired to argue. For now, I had shelter, and that was enough.
Soon, the three of them left me alone in this temporary room.
"Solastra" I muttered.
["Yes, I am here,"] Solastra's voice echoed within my mind, calm and steady as always.
"Care to explain why you are in my body? I have all the time now." I said.
["I am but a fragment of my soul—left behind as the stone's power source. During your crossing, this fragment merged with your soul. It was the only way to protect you from this world's natural defenses against outsiders. Your act of absorbing the souls of those wolves or something you've seen as purple smoke gave me enough soul power to communicate with you. Now that we are merged together, you have the ability to absorb the strength of those you kill. However, their souls will be swallowed and can never reincarnate—they are turned into a source of power. In other words, you are stealing the soul source of this world, making yourself stronger... and marking yourself as the biggest enemy of this world."]
The weight of the words hit me like a punch to the gut. My fingers clenched as I struggled to process what I had just heard. "I see..." I said slowly, my voice barely above a whisper. "Does me becoming the enemy of the world mean... literally the whole world? Or is it something else? How can anyone even detect that I'm stealing souls?"
Solastra responded, its tone calm yet laced with an ominous edge. ["Not necessarily the people, but rather the world itself. Each world has a set of rules, a system that governs the cycle of life and death. When those rules detect a disruption—a decrease in the souls available for reincarnation—they will seek out the cause and eliminate it to restore balance."]
I swallowed hard, my throat dry as sandpaper. The room seemed darker now, the shadows stretching unnaturally around me. "So... this world's 'rules' will come after me?" I asked, my voice unsteady. "What does that even mean? How can i even survive that?"
Solastra remained silent for a moment, as if considering its response. ["The 'world' may act through natural disasters, powerful beings, or events that draw you into conflict. It's not immediate, but the more souls you absorb, the closer you bring yourself to the attention of these forces. Your actions disrupt the balance, and the world will not tolerate that for long."]
A chill ran down my spine. "Great," I muttered, forcing a bitter laugh. "So, I get stronger, but the stronger I become, the more this world wants me dead."
["Correct, however that is not all."] Solastra replied, its tone devoid of comfort.["You don't need to worry that much for now. The amount of missing souls needed for this world to notice you is astronomical—you'd need to swallow the equivalent of a whole country. Besides, you can help maintain balance by killing invaders, beings not native to this world. Demons, evil spirits, and the like. These creatures came through dimensional cracks that occasionally appear, and most of those that remain now are descendants of earlier invaders."]
"I see," I said, feeling the tension in my chest loosen. "So it's not like I have no choice but to fight against this world." A wave of relief washed over me, the weight of inevitable doom lifting slightly.
["Correct,"] Solastra affirmed. ["After this conversation ends, I will fully merge with you, becoming a source of energy to protect and strengthen your soul. Once that happens, we may no longer be able to communicate."]
"I see." I paused, the enormity of this truth sinking in. "But what do you gain from me absorbing souls?"
["Me? Nothing,"] Solastra replied matter-of-factly. ["I am already dead. As I said before, who you're speaking to right now is only a fragment of my consciousness. Considering your timeline, a couple thousands of eons should have passed. My main body might have already reincarnated, or resurrected through some means. Consider this a gift for surviving the travel."]
My stomach twisted at the word "surviving." I frowned. "What do you mean, 'surviving'? Could I have failed the transfer?"
["Of course,"] it said, its tone calm, as if discussing the weather. ["If your soul had been tainted with high karma from your previous world, your original world might not have let you leave. Instead, it would have bound you to its rules. Thankfully, you lived a decent life and never committed sins so severe that your world could not tolerate them."]
The words struck me like a cold wind. My heart raced at the thought of what could have happened. "So, if I'd lived differently… I wouldn't even be here?"
["Correct,"] Solastra said simply. ["Your arrival here was not just a matter of chance or choice, but also of compatibility. The portal is a bridge, and only those who meet its conditions can cross it. You should consider yourself fortunate."]
"I see..." I muttered, after a while I asked "Can you tell me about the Arcane Emporium?", curiosity burning in my chest. "Why did they choose me among so many others? And why has no one picked your stone all this time, especially since it was free?"
Solastra muttered softly, a sound that resonated in the air like the faint rustling of leaves. ["I don't know much. During my lifetime, I met one of their representatives. They were... peculiar but likable. I gave them my Portalstone as a gift—a token of goodwill."]
"Wait," I said, my brows furrowing. "You gave away something as powerful as the Portalstone as a gift? That's… generous."
["Perhaps. Since my main body liked them, they shouldn't be bad organization, them existing until now is proof of their strength at least."] Solastra admitted.
"Alright," I said, exhaling slowly. "At least for now, I trust they won't harm me." I paused, my thoughts shifting. "Say, you mentioned I can get stronger by killing and absorbing souls, but... I don't feel any different after absorbing the wolves. How do I even know if I've grown stronger or not?
Solastra hummed thoughtfully before responding. ["That's because the power you've gained isn't something as obvious as growing taller or suddenly doubling your strength. It works subtly, like water filling a cup drop by drop. You've absorbed a fragment of the boar's essence—its stamina, vitality, and instincts."]
I frowned, glancing down at my hands. "So... what? I'm supposed to feel like a wolf now?"
["Not quite,"] Solastra said, its tone tinged with amusement. ["The process of absorbing a soul's power depends on your body and how well it can integrate what you've taken. For now, your gains are small, almost imperceptible. You might find yourself recovering from fatigue slightly faster or enduring pain a bit better. But as you absorb more powerful souls, the effects will become undeniable."]
"I see," I muttered, clenching and unclenching my fists.
["Precisely,"] Solastra confirmed. ["Each soul you absorb contributes to a reservoir of energy stored within your own soul. If your body cannot immediately handle the influx, the excess is safely stored for future use. This stored power can be refined and allocated when your body and soul are ready to handle it."]
My lips curled into a grin as the implications set in. "So, no risk of overloading? Just steady accumulation? Why does this sound like a video game? it's like xp right?"
["Because I've read your memories while creating this function,"] Solastra replied. ["However, the process isn't automatic. You will need to consciously refine and channel this energy when you feel your soul calling for growth. This will become easier with practice, and the results will speak for themselves."]
"See, what you just said resembled leveling up like in those games back in my world." I nodded slowly, a sense of determination settling over me. This is it—my cheat, my golden ticket, my system. My thoughts raced with excitement as I realized the potential of what I had stumbled upon. For the first time since arriving in this world, I felt like I had a true advantage.
["As I said before, have read through your memories and created a function that mimics the status windows from the stories and games you enjoyed back in your world. However, unlike the systems in those tales, this is far from omnipotent. It can provide you with basic information about your attributes and allow you to allocate stored essence, but it won't give you detailed insights, automatic skill acquisitions, or any other conveniences. This is merely a tool to help you understand your growth."]
status window? The idea sounded straight out of the fantasy novels I used to read, and I couldn't help but smile. "How do I access it?"
["Simply will it to appear,"] Solastra instructed. ["Focus your thoughts and imagine a window that displays your current self."]
Closing my eyes, I concentrated. The word "status" formed clearly in my mind as I willed it into existence. With a faint chime, a translucent screen appeared before me.
[Status Window]
Name: Azur Denver
Age: 19
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Strength: 14 (Average Human: 10)
Mana: 5 (Average Human: 0)
Agility: 10 (Average Human: 10)
Vitality: 15 (Average Human: 10)
Charm: 30 (Average Human: 6)
Luck: 24 (Average Human: 10)
Skills: [
Silver Tongue
Rating: D
Grants enhanced persuasion abilities, particularly during negotiations, bartering, or conflict resolution. Spend 1 Mana to amplify charm and likelihood of success during critical interactions.
Instinctive Trader
Rating: B
Provides insight into the value of items, detecting hidden attributes, flaws, or strategic benefits. Spend 2 Mana to temporarily appraise an item's hidden properties or strategic value.
Keen Observer
Rating: D
Heightens perception, allowing you to spot subtle details, detect traps, or read people's emotions. Spend 1 Mana to enhance awareness for one minute, improving your ability to detect hidden threats or find critical clues.
Adaptive Combatant
Rating: F
Quickly learns and mimics basic movements of unfamiliar combat styles after observing them in action. Spend 3 Mana to copy a single non-magical combat move after witnessing it, retaining it for a short time.
]
Soul Power (Level): 1
Soul Essence (XP): 5
Status: Healthy
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The glowing screen floated before me, its contents almost surreal in their clarity. My eyes scanned the details again, stopping at two attributes I hadn't expected to see.
"Charm: 30. Luck: 24," I murmured, eyebrows furrowing. "That's... a bit much, isn't it?"
["Not at all,"] Solastra replied smoothly. ["These attributes reflect innate qualities. Charm measures your ability to influence others, whether through appearance, speech, or presence. Luck governs the subtle forces that align circumstances in your favor. Both are determined by the essence of your soul and your actions in your previous world."]
I moved my eyes down to the physical attributes: Strength, Agility, Vitality. While respectable, they seemed average compared to the over-the-top powerhouses I used to write about in stories.
"At least I'm not completely helpless," I mused. My eyes then darted back to "Mana: 5."
"Five mana... is that good or bad?"
["It's rare for an outsider to possess any mana upon arrival, this only happened because we merged, allowing your body to accept mana before even entering this world"] Solastra explained. ["While modest, this foundation allows you to begin training in magic if you choose. In this world, even a small amount of mana is significant."] He paused. ["Since we are fated, I will give you my magical manual, this should be enough to help you survive."]
I couldn't help but grin. "Thank you Solastra! So I can get started on magic right away. That's not bad at all."
DING ! GAINED A SKILL [Solastra's Mana Absorbing Art - ★★★★★]
Description:
A legendary mana cultivation technique inherited from Archmage Solastra's vast arcane knowledge. This art allows the practitioner to absorb and refine ambient mana from their surroundings or from defeated foes, accelerating mana recovery and enhancing its purity. Mastery of this technique grants unparalleled efficiency in mana usage, allowing the user to wield more potent magic with minimal energy expenditure.
Effects:
Mana Absorption (Passive):
Gradually absorbs ambient mana, increasing natural mana regeneration by +50%.Mana absorption rate increases in mana-rich environments (e.g., ley lines, enchanted areas).
Mana Drain (Active):
Cost: 2 Mana.Targets a living creature or magical object, draining a portion of their mana and converting it into your own. The amount absorbed scales with your level and affinity.
Mana Purification (Passive):
Refines absorbed mana, reducing its volatility and increasing its effectiveness. Spells cost 10% less mana.
The glowing screen lingered before me as I marveled at my newfound skill. Solastra's voice grew softer, a faint echo in the recesses of my mind.
"Solastra...isn't this a bit too overpowered? it even got stars like those items from the Store!"
["This is but the beginning of your journey, Azur. Use this gift wisely. Farewell"]
Before I could respond, a sharp pain surged through my head, like a thousand needles piercing my skull. I clutched my temples, the room spinning wildly around me.
Solastra's consciousness faded into silence, leaving behind only a lingering warmth and an empty void. My legs gave out beneath me, and the last thing I saw was the faint glow of the status window fading into darkness.