The Abyssal System
My mind blanked at the scarlet wording written over the notification panel. Unsure of what it meant or what would happen, my heart dipped—tightening my grip around Laevatein, the Katana within my hand pulsed. Almost like a heartbeat, it throbbed.
Trepidation crept through my mind, and before I could run for safety, a slew of notifications raced through my eyes, one after another.
[Downloading]
[Abyssal Will Installing]
[Installing Update]
[Installing Add-On]
My eyes blinked, followed by another, then another. Perplexity skimmed over my heart, and for a moment, I just stood there waiting until a full minute or two had passed. Unease stirred but quickly faded. I could not do anything about this, not now, anyway. I needed to find water. It hadn't been the first time I had been abandoned on an island.
Uncle Zariel had tossed me out of a helicopter on my sixth birthday on an inhabited island. It was one hundred percent child abuse, but he had trained me well to survive. He had given me all the tools I needed to survive for years instead of the week I did live there.
Pushing this System nonsense to the back of my mind, I hooked Laevatein to the left side of my waist and donned my mask. Although I was unsure why they granted me such a thing, I was never one to reject their gifts.
The mask fitted my face perfectly. It felt as though it were a part of my skin. And in seconds, it felt like it wasn't even there.
Looking around for any more hints within the leather casing, I moved towards the goblin, whose leathery skin seemed pale under its bloodless corpse.
"I wonder if you're edible?" I said, then shook my head. "Let's—
[System Installation Complete]
Oh no.
"Welcome to the Abyssal System!" The System shouted, blaring in my ears so loud my footsteps came to a halt, " I'm back, bitches!"
"Dear God, what fresh hell is this? Who are you?" I snapped, hearing that effeminate voice scream.
"So your, Izalith! Nice, just like your mother when she was your age," The System said, almost as if giving praise. "You got the ass and the tits. You can call me… Lili… No, that won't do. That's what your mother called me… Let's go with Lily. I like Lilies."
My shoulders dipped at her candid voice, soft as a sweet melody yet beckoning with natural allure, tempting me to fall. I'd recognize the voice. It was mine.
"Well, Lily," I said, unsure of myself, after listening to my voice. "Who the hell are you?"
"Me? Little old me! Well, I'm you. The Abyssal Part of you, that is. Each Abyssal Fiend has its version of Lily. Yours just so happens to have bits of on your mama trickled in." She said, "I'm here to make sure you live up to your bloodline. You seem way too reserved. We need you to start flexing. So, take this!"
[Ding]
[New Mission: Extermination]
-Kill Fifty Goblins
-Reward: 1 - Cultivation Manual
-No Time Limit
"Interesting," Although I was confused about what this all meant.
"Right? Right?" Lily cheered, "So let me clear a few things up. If you don't want to die, you need to kill or be a basic bitch, and absorb ether from Heaven and Earth. As you should already know, cultivation is the building block of how humans or Fiends like yourself grow."
"I know."
"I know, you know. That is how I'm telling you this. So now you know most of what I know." She said, and I could almost imagine a mini version of myself nodding her head. "Now, let's get a move on!!"
"Wait, what do these skills do on Laevatein?" I hastily asked when suddenly a large screen appeared.
[Laevatein (Sealed)]
Classification: Abyssal
Rarity: ???
History: ???
Skill: [Madness] [Infernal Wounds] [Amorphous]
Soulbound: Izalith Snow
[Madness:???]
[Infernal Wounds: Any injury caused by Laevatein cannot be cured and will bleed endlessly.]
[Amorphous: Laevatein can shift into any weapon desired.]
"Damn, Girl! Look at that!" Lily cheerfully sang. "I may be new to this, but I don't think you should have this sword."
Amazed by what lay on my waist, my mind spun in action. And on my waist, Laevatein shifted before my very eyes, morphing between forms faster than I could blink, changing from a katana to a longsword to a dagger, a shield, a gun, and even a ring. It did it all and more. I was blown away and jittery at the same time. Trembling, I thought of my mask, my second gift and—
[Mask of Izalith(Sealed)]
Classification: Darkness
Rarity: ???
History: The Mask of Izalith was crafted by the Lord of the Abyssal Sin for his firstborn, with the help of the Night Mother, to ensure his daughter's safety and innocence.
Skills: [Amorphous]
Innocence. I loathe that very word—no more than what it represents. An idea that I, or woman, are less or more valuable dependent on innocence. It was a stupid double standard. Crowe was left to do as he pleased and seek relationships while I was forbidden. I didn't care much for relationships, but I found the reason why I wasn't allowed to be ridiculous, if not laughable.
Dummy Papa!
"So? What makes you different than other systems?" I questioned; Lily seemed to have a cheerful personality. She was a bit of a foul mouth, but she seemed harmless for the moment, at least.
"Hmm, I give out missions, more skills, and treasures collected from around the Myriad Heavens while I help you come into your bloodline. The Madness held in your blood is far stronger than anything you will ever know. It's so great that I, along with that sword of yours, was created to contain it." She said. "Maybe even that mask."
I hoisted my hand over the pommel of Laevatein. Now in the form of a longsword, where the hilt seemed to be a devouringly deep onyx black, sucking me in with its abyssal hue, my eyes broke from it. I had not even drawn the blade yet, but I could feel its icy intent against my neck.
Knowing it was finally time to leave, I gave one last glance to Mr. Goblin and left, heading into the forest's depths. Alert of whatever lay in wait, my eyes vigilantly traced back and forth, listening.
[Ding]
[New Skill Acquired: Alert Lv 1]
[Discription: You are constantly on guard, enemies will have trouble masking themselves from your watchful eye.]
Joy swelled, and in a single moment, the ground beneath my feet, the winds passing through my fingers, hair, and flesh, all seemed to blend seamlessly in my mind.
A sense of security washed over me. I felt an awareness that was my own wrap around me.
My pace increased, and I began to weave through the forest. At the same time, the sounds of chimes rang idly through my mind.
[Ding]
[Alert Lv 1→ Lv 2]
[Ding]
[Alert Lv 2→ Lv 3]
[Ding]
[Alert Lv 3→ Lv 4]
My mind surged with awareness, more so than I would have ever imagined. I could hear the sounds of buzzing, the breathing of the various wolves some unknown distance away. I could smell the scent of the musky forest, the sweet pollen, and that rancid sourness once more.
I followed the aroma, and my throat burned with anticipation. I didn't know what came over me, nor did I care for that matter, but my steps had gone soft, and my breathing gentle and even. My fingers tightened around the hilt of Laevatein, which felt cool to the touch.
[Alert Lv 4→5]
[New Skill Acquired: Novice Assassin Lv 3]
[Description: You are a Ghost. One who dwells within the shadow. A reaper whose blade, once drawn, shall seek blood.
[+3 Str, Dex, Con, Int]
I adroitly approached, scaling the bark of a tree without a sound like Father had taught me. Power was streaming through my veins. It was storming through me, strengthening me. Desire pulled at my heart, and I pulled back, wishing for more, craving it. My eyes settled on the seven goblins, gorging upon what seemed to be the remains of some beast. The remains were unrecognizable as only bones seemed to remain, but the bones seemed large, and there was a faint imprint of a claw mark on the bones.
These goblins did not kill that beast. Something else did, something significant. I took a long breath filling my chest with air till my lungs could no longer expand, and exhaled. I'd always done so when my prey was locked in my sight.
I pounced.
—
Name: Izalith Snow (Sealed)
Cultivation: N/A
Str: 10 →13
Dex: 10→13
Con:10→13
Int: 16→19
[Arcane: 20]