I rubbed my forehead. "Rob, we need to talk about consent."
No answer—just the soft glow of the interface, now loading my four perks.
I sighed quietly. "Alright, guess that's that."
Still, I knew the deal with Rob was worth it.
And somewhere in the back of my mind, I could already hear the sound of metaphorical slot machines spinning up...
The interface shimmered.
Spell Draw
Name: Origin and Element
Source: Kara no Kyokai
Chapter: Source
Cost: Free
Origin and Element are attributes of the soul and one's deepest being in this world. Everyone has one of each, some people have more, but this just helps you decide on the importance of your own ones.
The words poured into my brain like a PDF being uploaded directly into my frontal lobe.
Origin and Element.
Soul-deep stuff. Conceptual identity and magic affinity. One was like a symbolic truth hidden in your core. The other determined how easily you could learn and wield different forms of magic.
I read over the explanation again.
The Origin was more flavor than function — at least for now. Something personal. A hidden truth.
Taboo, Worthlessness, Nostalgia... poetic, eerie, and totally optional for now.
But the Element? That was more my speed. It was a real buff — a specialization that shaped my magical growth. Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Ether — each with deeper meanings than just the basic Avatar breakdown.
I chewed my lip. Ether sounded tempting—"mystery magic" usually came with cool visual effects and fewer resistances.
But I wasn't about to lock in anything yet.
Nope. Not yet.
"I'm not locking this in," I muttered, eyes narrowing. "Not until I see the other draws."
The system didn't argue. Instead, a little tab popped up at the corner of the interface:
[Draw 1 Saved — Pending Selection]
(You may return to choose Origin and Element at any time.)
"Alright," I exhaled. "Let's see what comes next…"
The interface pulsed again, and the second draw began to load.
The interface shimmered again.
Spell Draw
Name: Mouthpiece
Source: Warhammer Fantasy: Beastmen
Chapter: Illusion
Cost: 100 CP
You speak the will of the Dark Gods, and the Horned Children listen and revel in your preachings of the Four Ruinous Powers. The chieftains, Wargor, and Beastlords heed your wisdom with attentiveness, and none but other Bray-Shaman will challenge you or even seek you harm.
I stopped reading halfway through and squinted.
"…what the fuck is a Bray-Shaman?"
The rest of the description unfolded, and my confusion quickly morphed into a perfect storm of cult energy, beastmen, and religious fervor. Apparently, I could command dark followers, earn respect from both the devout and the delusional, and cause agnostics to nervously cross the street to avoid me.
"...Cool. So I'm either going full chaos preacher or turning into a walking panic attack at a Vatican conference."
My first instinct?
Hard reroll.
Harder than reformatting a cursed USB stick.
But… synergy? Maybe?
[Draw 2 Saved — Pending Reroll or Confirmation]
I stared at the new tab popped up, sighed, and moved on.
Spell Draw
Name: Treasure Map
Source: Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Chapter: Lore
Cost: 100 CP
A red scroll, opening to reveal a random location with a single red X. The only real guarantee? It's somewhere in the ocean. Find it in real life, and you'll uncover a treasure — maybe a magical artifact, maybe just some rupees. The map updates a few days after each discovery.
"…Of course it's in the ocean," I sighed, tilting my head back with the kind of deadpan dread reserved for people who know they're about to become very familiar with inflatable rafts.
I read it again.
No tricks. No deep lore tie-in.
Just an actual treasure map… in the most 'side quest from hell' way possible.
"It's giving Zelda meets Water Temple vibes" I muttered. "Except instead of a grappling hook, I get anxiety and early-onset scurvy."
Another pause. Another internal war.
Still... could be an artifact. Could be gear. Could be... plot-important?
"…Wait. If this links up with Mouthpiece, does that mean I'm collecting cursed relics to build my doomsday cult?"
I stared at the interface with real suspicion now.
"Is this a build path? Is the Grimoire nudging me into being a chaos-themed scavenger prophet?"
The reroll button flickered faintly in the corner.
I stared at it.
"Not yet," I whispered, sighing again. "Let's see what number four brings to this unholy bingo card."
Spell Draw
Name: Terrarian
Source: Terraria
Chapter: Source
Cost: Free
Your body has been transformed similarly to the protagonist of the video game Terraria.
I blinked—then blinked again—as a grin crept in before I could stop it.
"No way..."
"Inventory management, crafting on the fly, random loot drops, and a fully functional HUD?? This is basically my childhood dream come true.
I was grinning so wide my face hurt.
I exhaled, catching my breath. "Alright," then sat down with my hands on my knees. "Okay. Let's review."
Draw 1:Origin and Element – Still pending, but potential for long-term payoff.
Draw 2:Mouthpiece – Creepy cult flavor. Might sync with artifacts.
Draw 3:Treasure Map – Nightmare to locate, but potentially huge payout.
Draw 4:Terrarian – Actual game mechanics. Stats. Inventory. LOOT.
I squinted at the glowing card labeled Treasure Map on the HUD.
"Alright, let's think this through."
It looked harmless enough—red parchment, clean layout, one big red X. Classic adventure bait.
Could be anything: a forgotten artifact, magical loot buried in sand, or just a chest full of dusty coins and bitter disappointment.
Then I reread the fine print.
Random location. Ocean guaranteed.
I raised an eyebrow. "Of course. Ocean. Because life is pain."
Because that makes total sense. Let's just hope it's not halfway down the Mariana Trench.
"No flight. No teleport. No boat. I haven't even landed in this world yet, and already I'm stuck with the most passive-aggressive fetch quest ever."
Terrarian or not, I'm not swimming across half the Atlantic with an inventory full of hopes and dreams.
"If I had a way to move fast—or, you know, breathe underwater—I might keep it. But right now? This is just a headache wrapped in a bow."
I gave the map a solemn little nod, like I was breaking up with someone who meant well but brought nothing but drama.
"Sorry, X. You're not the treasure. Reroll time."
The card shimmered, dissolving into threads of red light that twisted and reformed into a new selection.
I leaned in, eyes narrowing.
Alright, card number two. Please don't be worse. And if you are... I might have to call up Mouthpiece.
One reroll down. No pressure.
The new perk shimmered into view over my HUD:
Spell Draw
Name: Physical Enhancement
Source: Generic MG
Chapter: Transformation
Cost: Free
Magical girls have to be fit, but when a monster's charging you on night one, gym goals come a little too late. Luckily, basic super-strength is built right in:
Muscles twelve times stronger—lift cars, punch through walls, sprint across rooftops.
Full-body reinforcement so even your hardest hits feel like soft taps.
Instinctive balance, reflexes, and acrobatics training—roof-hopping and pole-perching are second nature.
I watched the red hearts on my HUD pulse, and a notification popped up:
"Health would increase to 700 HP and Mana to 50 MP. Apply upgrade? [Confirm] [Cancel]"
A new message popped up immediately afterward:
"Heads up—you're only seeing a preview this time. From now on, you'll only get the stat changes if you actually keep the perk."
I tapped Confirm—obviously. No matter what kind of build I end up going for, this one's a winner. Instantly, my hearts filled and glowed brighter, a satisfying visual reminder that I'd just stacked a practical, can't-go-wrong upgrade.
Another message appeared:
"Health set to 700 HP and Mana set to 50 MP. Switch to numeric display? [Yes] [No]"
"You can always switch back to hearts later if you miss the cuteness."
I chose "Yes" once more—more numbers, less guessing.
Numbers are way easier to read when you're dodging death.
Locked Perks:
Physical EnhancementTerrarian
Then I Selected Reroll on Mouthpiece
Spell Draw
Name: Basic Magecraft - Hypnosis
Source: Tsukihime
Chapter: Control
Cost: 100 CP
The standard four practices of Magecraft: Reinforcement, Gradation Air, Hypnosis, and Formalcraft.
You must purchase each one for 100 points, which makes you adept in that particular field—not total mastery, but enough to be a threat against something unprepared for it.
"Alright, better than Cursed Pastor Simulator 3000. You're in."
I tilted my head.
"So… this one's free. Hypothetically… if I roll all four spells for free, does that mean I get full modern magecraft on a budget?"
I grinned to myself.
"Nice little exploit, right?"
DING!
A familiar retro jingle played, and a box popped up mid-air:
"Nice try. But no, You only get one."
"Still, since you caught that little easter egg… you can have this one for free."
Perk Gained: Magic Circuits (ID: 3)
I laughed.
"Hey, a win is a win."
Then I studied the Magic Circuits perk:
Spell Draw
Name: Magic Circuits
Source: Kara no Kyokai
Chapter: Source
Cost: Free
The pathways through which magical energy mixes, flows, and is expended. The circuits appear on your soul, though physical reflections can be found within your physical body, and generate heat when in active use.
I glanced at the updated stats on my HUD. After confirming the perk, my mana pool surged—from 50 to 250 MP.
I smirked.
"Good enough to be a threat if I get serious, but nothing close to a magical powerhouse… yet."
Locked Perks:
Physical Enhancement
Terrarian
Magic Circuits (Fate)
Hypnosis (Fate)
I leaned back, my eyes drifting toward the first perk—the Origin and Element. It was the foundation of my soul here, the core of what I was, deep beneath the surface.
Alright, let's see...
My mind flicked to Fate, one of my all-time favorites.
Origins don't show their full power until they awaken. Before that, they're just quiet background noise—more vibe than function.
Fujino's "Nothingness" turned her into a walking void. Tomoe's "Worthlessness" amplified every failure like a cosmic megaphone. Some Origins scream. Others, like "Imaginary Numbers," just confuse everyone.
I glanced at my perk: Origin and Element.
"Will mine awaken and wreck everything?" I muttered, half-hoping ROB would answer.
Silence. Figures.
I frowned, still staring at it. Imaginary Numbers. Or was it Eternity? Either way, it didn't seem useful now—just a dormant trait waiting to matter… someday.
Or to screw me over.
What if it activates mid-mission? Turns me into some walking paradox or philosophical black hole?
"Am I carrying a time bomb?" I muttered.
But then I paused.
I rolled high on the cheat die. I got Terrarian, Physical Enhancement, and a magic system that updates itself. None of that felt like a trap. So why would the Origin be one?
Maybe it's just another puzzle piece. Dormant now, useful later.
Still… even if it's safe, does it help me here?
I'm about to drop into a world of mutants and telepaths, not mystics and mages. No one's gonna care if my soul hums in theoretical math.
And sure, Origin and Element might shine in a more mystical setting… but I already have that covered with the Celestial Grimoire.
No point stacking potential I can't even use. Better to reroll and get something that matters now.
Something that might keep me alive in the next two weeks.
I tapped the Reroll icon.
The next card shimmered and reshaped itself into what looked more like a spy's dream perk than a spell (author note:From now on i will probably call them perks, or something along the lines.):
Spell Draw
Name: Mystical Infiltration
Source: Mage: The Awakening
Chapter: Illusion
Cost: 100 CP
Stealth is the cornerstone of espionage. As a magical spy, another layer is added to this conundrum as mystical detection is yet another thing one must be concealed from. You are now keenly aware of how your magic can be used to conceal your presence, as well as how to detect and get around both mundane and mystical means of detection.
I blinked at the description, my heart ticking up a notch.
"Now this is more like it."
In the X-Men universe, half the fun is secrets, hidden agendas, and covert ops—perfect for someone who just picked up a "ghost-mode" button.
I could already imagine slipping past patrols or tailing someone.
A slow grin spread across my face.
"Cover and concealment—my kind of magic."
I tapped Confirm without hesitation.
Between Physical Enhancement, Terrarian toolkit, and now Mystical Infiltration, I've practically built myself into a Swiss Army knife: speed, strength, extra pockets, and now full-on ninja invisibility.
I exhaled, feeling more prepared than ever to dive into a world of mutants, espionage, and shadow wars.
I let out a dramatic exhale—because nothing says "I'm ready for shadow wars" like a well-timed sigh.
"Alright," I said, voice low and excited, "let's see just how stealthy I can be."