Lore Cores

"To make your second wish possible... I'll have to create an entirely new reality, basically a fanfiction version of the HDXD universe where all the games you've played will fuse with it. This means there will be a lot of new elements you're unfamiliar with. However, since you already know the lore of HDXD and the other games, that knowledge should give you a significant advantage. Just keep in mind that your second wish has made the HDXD universe infinitely more challenging than it was before."

Upon hearing this, Dane looked at Beatrice, shocked, trying to process what he had just heard as he began to speak.

"I see, that does make sense, and very scary at the same time, not going to lie."

Dane admitted, his fear evident, but his excitement did not go down.

However, there was one problem with this entire situation.

As such, he had to address it.

"...But the only thing not making too much sense to me here is the leveling system or the way you are trying to approach it. How the hell do you traverse a world so diverse and full of gaming mechanics and not have a leveling system to track the progress of one's own power—that is basically the rule of thumb. That's just, how do I put it here, hmmmm... Yeah, unbalanced?"

When Beatrice heard these words, she just nodded, as she merely replied.

"Like I said, to hell with leveling; that is so cliche these days. Level up this, level up that. As the next Witch of Fantasy, I can't make something so lame like that, at least not something I am investing my own power into making, the other witches would laugh at me."

"That is why no exp... no level 1, or level 2, no HP, no MP... no system storage, none of that bullshit... by Mother Maria just thinking of it is making me cringe."

This was surprising for Dane to Comprehend, as a hardcore gamer, leveling up was one of the major concepts of any open-world game, and even in some visual novels, that allow for such a concept to exist, it was a unit of measurement everyone knows of.

And now, in this case, that was not even the case here anymore.

"Sigh... so no killing rats to get exp, no fireball, no basic four elements, no quest, damn I can only imagine the sheer weirdness of that world... it's not a game if there is no grind."

"I didn't say there was not going to be a grind, to be honest with the new system I am adding to that world, grinding will be essential to the whole universe, I just said I am removing the level concept from that world, and replacing it with something vastly better... something that screams hard work, proof of one's progress and existence, no need to burst your brains trying to understand stupid numbers, and letters."

Replied Beatrice, to which Dane.

"Oh... So what do you have in mind then, because numbers are the Og parameters?"

This one statement annoyed Beatrice, as she said, palming her face.

"Ugh, mortals... Always obsessed with numbers and quantifying, such a flawed and limiting concept does not work for existence. Do you think the universe cares if you're level 72? Please... How naive, numbers are literal proof of limitations... This isn't a spreadsheet, it's life. Or, well, existence."

She leaned back, floating cross-legged in the void like she was lounging on an invisible couch, as she began to speak her mind.

"Here's how the power system works in the new HDXD universe: power isn't about some arbitrary number. It's about your Story... or rather your Lore."

Said Beatrice, making Dane raise, an eyebrow as he replied back.

"Story?!...

"Yes, Story."

Beatrice said and then continued.

"The weight of your actions... The ripples you leave in the world... You do something wild? Something unforgettable? The universe remembers... archive it... And it rewards you for it."

Dane squinted.

"So… it's like… achievement hunting? But with magic?"

"Sure, if you want to dumb it down."

Beatrice said, flicking her wrist.

A glowing thread appeared in her palm, twisting and fraying like a living thing.

"Every person in the new fuse universe will have something called a lore core, or to dumb it down for you, a soul shaped by their choices, their triumphs, their failures. Think of it like… the universe keeping a scrapbook of your life. The bigger, bolder, or crazier the pages are, the stronger your soul becomes. And that determines your power... Lore determines one power, like strength, speed, defense, intelligence, interior & exterior build, past, present, and possible future, you know things like that." 

She snapped her fingers, and the thread exploded into a tapestry of light. Scenes flickered inside it: a knight slaying a mountain-sized serpent, a thief stealing a god's laughter, a farmer's quiet defiance sparking a rebellion.

"See that? Those aren't just deeds. They're feats. And feats write your story, the longer, your story is, the stronger your soul is, as the soul determines one overall existence. Do something insane enough, and the system spirits, whatever cosmic bureaucrats run this dump, give you abilities based on what you've done. Not some menu you clicked through."

Dane scratched his head and then said.

"So if I, like, um, punch a dragon so hard it starts crying?...

"Then congratulations; you've just earned the [Dragon's Regret] Lore."

Beatrice said dryly.

"Which, knowing you, would probably let you breathe fire or seduce reptiles. The point is, power here isn't handed out... It's earned... Or stumbled into. Or stolen. Depends on how creative you get."

"But wait?!"

Dane interrupted, holding up a hand as if playing along with Beatrice's antics.

"What about my DLC's? Those were pre-purchased. Do I get credit for those?"

Beatrice's grin turned sharp.

"Oh, you cheeky little min-maxer. Yes. Because here's the funny but utterly unfair part: your old DLCs aren't just items or skills. Their existing backstory is placed into a pre-destined scenario in favor of you, the one destined to wield all of them as you traverse your own story, eventually unlocking all the perks."

"To the universe, those achievements are already woven into your eventual lore. Take Lord Grimm's spear; for example, that weapon was a Pay-to-Win weapon from Castle of Gods Online. It was only obtainable through The First Era DLC, which was available for purchase during a limited-time paid event. Once the event ended, there was no way to acquire it again. Despite this, though, the spear possessed the ability to bypass all forms of durability. The system spirits recognize it as an integral part of your story, meaning only you can reclaim it. However, you'll still need to complete the necessary scenarios to recover each benefit from your DLCs, one by one."

Dane blinked at this info as he asked.

"So… I'm basically cheating by lying?"

"No, you're cheating by retconning."

Beatrice corrected.

But here's the initial catch though: your DLCs cheat are just the start. To keep growing, you'll need new feats. Real ones. The kind that leaves scars on the world or makes legends in the modern to become myths in the future. The stronger your soul gets, the more your Lore Core solidifies... And once it's strong enough?"

She leaned in, her voice going down to the level of quiet whisper. 

"You stop being a character in this story... and transcend to become the author... or, in simpler terms, Me... something like me, as I stated earlier."

Dane frowned.

 "But what's the point? Why not just make everyone overpowered from the start?"

"Because stories and their systems matter to existence, as far as existence is concerned, you are just a being of the lesser world."

Beatrice snapped, suddenly serious. 

"A soul without a story is like a book with blank pages... empty, unqualified, insignificant. In simpler terms, weak... like a flimsy, easily torn piece of wet paper. But a soul that has lived, one that has fought, loved, lost, and burned, becomes something the very Will of Existence can no longer ignore. That's what pushes them across the threshold, forcing them to stand on this side of the immense divide."

"That's why the strongest beings aren't the ones wielding the biggest swords. They're the ones with the wildest legends, the ones who have reached the peak of one difference only to embrace another. They are the ones who changed the world, not through brute force alone, but by altering even the smallest of fates, shaping existence through the weight of their own story."

She flicked the thread she summoned to make the blanket vision dissolve into sparks.

"So here's your homework, hotshot... Go live a life worth reading. Do stupid, brave, ridiculous things. Be the self-insert main character or become the self-insert villain, and make the universe notice you. And maybe, if you're lucky, your lore core will outlive your body when you die."

Dane paused.

"...Wait, when I die?"

Beatrice smirked at his horror as she said.

"Oh? Didn't I mention it? Souls here don't fade... because they're no longer just souls. Instead, they become ideas of the highest order, concepts that transcend everything within the Related... But we prefer to call ourselves Sources of Being; entities that simply are. However, reaching that point isn't guaranteed. You'll only achieve it if your story is good enough... or, in your case, if your soul... or rather your Lore Core is worthy."

Dane stared into the void, quiet for once.

Then he snorted. 

"I am... so fuck aren't I?"

Beatrice burst out laughing and then said.

"Yes! Finally, he gets it! Welcome to HDXD, kid. Where plot armor is literal, and the only thing stronger than magic is narrative convenience."

And before he could say anything else, Dane lost consciousness, as Beatrice iseakied his ass.