Odd internal monologue completed, Blackthorne was left to wander to ruins for a time. There were odd carvings on the wall that seemed to hold insects in high regard. Scorpions and spiders were the mainstays of those carvings, but there were also the occasional beetles to take into consideration.

"Wait? Another one?" Blackthorne gasped in delight then trotted happily over to another large stone block. In many ways it looked like a sarcophagus, this oddity of the ancient world. However, instead of a dead body there had been treasure inside each of the others that he had found. Six in total so far, he had gathered a modest little haul when it came to loot.

He pushed the heavy stone lid off of the coffin-like box then looked inside. Aging fabric, perhaps some sort of silk, lined the interior. It was not of particular interest at the moment, but it could be added to his other piles of silk and used for synergy later. He would gladly tear it from its ancient home for his own purposes soon. However, for the moment he was more interested in the one item he found inside the treasure box.

"Some sort of necklace?" he asked curiously.

Blackthorne took the simple looking accessory, a necklace that held a small translucent crystalline sphere as its main adornment. The chain had a bit of heft to it, but it was as black as night.

Exquisite Imperial Death's Steel Band of the Shadow Wisp

Equipped: --

Weight: 0.27

Life Force Cost: 92

Level: 9

Accessory Type: Necklace

Armor Class: 8

Quality: High

Agility Reduction: 0

Durability: 98/98

Hardness: 30

Equipment Requirements

CHR: 22

--

Bonus Armor Class: 6

Special Options

- Improve Dark Magic and Dark Aligned Racial Skills 25%.

- Access Special Power: Shadow Wisp

"Holy shit? That's an amazing find!" Blackthorne could scarcely believe his luck! He'd died and gone to loot heaven, apparently.

"Death's Steel... a hardness of thirty with a durability of ninety-eight. Isn't this thing better than most armor I've managed to scrounge up?" In truth, the life force cost was almost obscene in his eyes, but given the bonuses to his magic and the ability to summon a creature it was worth it.

"It's too bad my level isn't high enough to use it," he said. It caught his attention, however. The strangeness of his apparent resurrection and those voices had caused him to forget the first thing that he should have done. "Now that I think about it, there's probably some penalty to dying."

He checked his statues for the first time since his revival while fully expecting the worst. Blackthorne glanced at his status briefly then blinked. "The... hell?"

STATUS

Professional Title: Gentleman of Darkness

Name: Scott Logan

Dream Form: Blackthorne

Race: Mahorela Abaivonin

Age Category: Infant

Level: 13

Ability Points: 41

Talent Points: 0

Skill Points: 478

Life Force: 435/435

Armor Class: 28 [0]

Strength: 23

[+8]

Agility: 17

[+5]

Vigor: 25

[+10]

Intellect: 22

[+8]

Charisma: 31

[+13]

Luck: 19

[+6]

"I—" He shook his head in wide-eyed bewilderment. Stat increases were wonderful, but this was insane. Did dying and coming back to life really cause this level of growth? What happened when he died? What trial did he pass that could have raised his level to this extent and granted him so much ability? Shouldn't dying in a game make him weaker after the fact?

"Is being dead my super power, and life is my kryptonite?" It made no sense to him!

"This is an error, right?" Blackthorne could not believe his good fortune. There had to be some sort of mistake, or at least a catch! What did he do to deserve this upgrade?

The possibilities could potentially drive him crazy, so he took a deep cleansing breath then tried not to giggle like a school boy. His stats had grown and he had a ridiculous amount of ability and skill points left to use; more than his level would have allowed for on top of it. At this point he was surprised that he had no new talent points to spend as well!

"Shit, man. What do I even do with myself?" Blackthorne places his forepaws to either side of his head and tried not to laugh at his good fortune.

His first instinct was to raise his attributes, so he considered his options. At this point he did not even want to consider his skills. Having so many skill points to use would drive him mad before he could use them, if he did not deal with his stats first.

It was a good chance to push his highest stats even higher, but those same stats had already risen to absurd levels. "Everything except intellect can go up to a new modified if I increase those stats by one."

In truth, his stats were already far higher than he planned for them to be at this point. The extra points were like a bonus. Part of him wanted to pick one stat and increase it several times, but a more logical part of him figured that a well-rounded upgrade would be best.

"Maybe I can combine those thoughts..." Blackthorne did the math. He tapped at the air and clicked his tongue while he counted out the points that he would need to spend for his plan. In the end, he realized that he had more than enough and would even have a few points left over.

Blackthorne put his little plan into action and updated his status. He then looked it over one more time before he moved on to check his skills.

STATUS

Professional Title: Gentleman of Darkness

Name: Scott Logan

Dream Form: Blackthorne

Race: Mahorela Abaivonin

Age Category: Infant

Level: 13

Ability Points: 3

Talent Points: 0

Skill Points: 478

Life Force: 448/448

Armor Class: 28 [0]

Strength: 24

[+9]

Agility: 20

[+7]

Vigor: 26

[+11]

Intellect: 22

[+8]

Charisma: 32

[+14]

Luck: 20

[+7]

"This isn't as big of a difference compared to before, but I definitely need to take a moment to think about what to change...." Blackthorne decided to deal with his skill points and skills later. However, before he could close his skill menu down he noticed one odd change. There was a new skill category that seems to take precedence even over his racial skills.

EXCEPTIONAL SKILLS

Dark Judgment [EX]

Unlocked

Eyes of Judgment [EX]

Unlocked

Awakening – Level 1 [EX]

[Locked - 13%]

"I know I'm saying this a lot today, but... The hell?" Blackthorne had gained access to skills that seemingly operated differently that the rest of his abilities. There was no level or rank beside them to indicate growth. They were either unlocked or they were not.

A weird screeching noise echoed from the space in front of him. A series of electric sparks appeared followed by a glitching message window.

System Error Warning

The abilities that you see before you are exceptional skills. They cannot be denied by other creatures provided they require system access. However, once used you cannot undo whatever effect occurs.

Please be advised: You are accessing information and abilities outside of the currently designated system framework. These abilities as presented are an attempt by the system to categorize those abilities into usable powers or skills that work within the system framework.

Further Warning: Your ability information cannot be detected by system administration. However, the effects directed through your body, mind, and spirit are permanent. With each new ability you unlock there is no going back to what you were prior to that unlocked ability. The changes may seem gradual or small at first, but they are irrevocable.

Final Note: ... ... The road ahead will often be difficult. Terrible choices must be made. As you were in the beginning, you may need to become once more... and all that such an irrevocable change implies.

It is unfortunate, but you may need to awaken at least a little further. A trial has been set before you, in the ruins wherein you now find yourself. It is simple, and quite mundane.

A powerful beast will push you to the edge of your abilities. If you can defeat it as you are, then it is enough. However, if you cannot then you must awaken further... Each time you do further awaken, you will become closer to the truth of who you really are. The path has already formed. You must choose whether or not you need to walk it.

May you never find the need to awaken further from your slumber, first of scale and claw.

May the children continue to dream within the safety of your shadow, while your presence drives away the nightmares that exist beyond the safety of our garden.

Blackthorne blinked twice then opened his mouth. Slowly he closed it again. It took him a moment, but in the end he finally said something. "Well, shit."