Jack found himself adrift. Above the ruined hall of Mist Palace. In the Mirror World.
Below him, the chaotic battle still raged on. Crashing and clashing sounds. The guttural roars of the Valiant Ape and the monstrous growls of the Glorious Demon.
The latter, a grotesque abomination of corrupted flesh and unholy ambition, was clearly at a disadvantage. Jack could sense its power waning. Its form buckling. Under the relentless onslaught of the white-scaled gorilla.
System notification choices were still hovering in his vision. Stark and demanding. [Werewolf's Lycanthropy], [Lich's Necromancy], or [Minotaur's Vigor].
Jack didn't hesitate. The Werewolf's Lycanthropy might retain its lunar dependency. It was a non-starter. He preferred to operate on his own terms. Not dictated by the phases of some celestial object. Or objects in his new world's case.
Lich's Necromancy might be potentially powerful. But, it was a path he found distasteful. The desecration of dead bodies. The manipulation of souls against their will. It rubbed him the wrong way. His vengeance was for the living. It was not a morbid fascination with the dead.
That left Minotaur's Vigor. This, he reasoned, would likely grant a significant boost to his physical capabilities. Enhanced natural strength. A tougher skin. Increased stamina.
It sounded practical. Direct. It might be pretty much useless for his current Jack Mystery form. But his other incarnations, Judge Jack and Jack Night, would certainly benefit.
And most importantly, it didn't come with any obvious inconvenient limitations or moral quandaries.
Unless the trait granted him some debilitating quirks. Like a crippling sense of direction. Just because in Greek myth, Minotaur was a creature trapped in a labyrinth.
Still, it didn't compromise his methods. Or his burgeoning, if self-appointed, moral code. He would choose [Minotaur's Vigor].
But, he decided, he wouldn't make a choice here. Not in this dangerous realm. The Mirror World was too unstable. Too prone to sudden appearance of unforeseen dangers.
He needed a controlled environment. A safe place where he could assess the implications of such a significant power upgrade. Without any distraction.
With his silent, spectral movement, Jack phased out of the ruined Mist Palace. The night air in the Mirror World was heavy with the strange residue of magical energy.
Ignoring the beastly roars, explosive blows, and demonic growls in the ruin behind, Jack floated around. Seeking a reflective surface.
Soon, he spotted a small, still spring. Nestled amongst the crumbling stones. Its surface mirroring the star-dusted expanse of the night sky.
Jack activated his innate trait, [Mysterious Mirror World]. He brushed against the spring's surface. The world rippled. The reflection was serving as a gateway.
He was back in the real world. But, he didn't move anywhere.
With a practiced mental command, Jack activated his [Mysterious Mirror World] trait again. But this time with a different destination.
He returned to the familiar space. His own personal Mirror Space. This pocket dimension was tethered to his very being. It was his sanctuary. His laboratory. His private reality.
Inside his personal Mirror Space, a calm, almost sterile environment pulsed with contained energy. The world here was his to command. Shape-able by his will and energy.
He didn't pay much attention to his surrounding inside the space. Instead, he swiftly navigated to the system interface. His spectral form coalesced slightly as he focused his intent.
He decisively selected [Minotaur's Vigor].
Suddenly, the confirmation prompt flickered into existence. An entirely unexpected notification. It glowed with an intensity that made his non-existent spectral eyes widen.
[COMPATIBLE SUPERNATURAL TRAITS DETECTED.]
[INITIATING TRAIT FUSION.]
[WARNING: FUSION PROCESS IS AUTOMATIC AND IRREVERSIBLE.]
Another trait fusion? Jack's spectral mind reeled. The last time this had happened, five different traits which affected senses had melded into the formidable [Mysterious Anomaly].
What would this fusion this time entail? He felt a prickle of unease. Automatic and irreversible. That meant no take-backs. No regret.
Before he could contemplate further, the process began. The system's cold, immutable logic took over.
[FUSING THE TRAITS AUTOMATICALLY.]
[INCUBUS CHARM, MINOTAUR'S VIGOR, AND DEVOURER PHYSIQUE... FUSED.]
Jack was utterly baffled. Incubus Charm? Devourer Physique? What in the nine hells did any of those have in common with Minotaur's Vigor?
He recalled that he gained [Incubus Charm]. It was that time he watched a decadent orgy, and left them alone. As all of them were willing participants.
He remembered that. And he still had the same viewpoint. His judgement would still be the same. He was no guardian of morality. Or the spoke-person of virtues. He was the Harbinger of Vengeance.
Anyone who wanted to degrade themselves could do as they wished. Anyone who forced others to do so would face his judgement.
As for the [Devourer Physique]... It was what he gained in the volcano of the prehistoric spatial realm, wasn't it? The one he gained as he evolved from a draugr into a Black Buto.
Why did these two fuse with the [Minotaur's Vigor]? The system provided no context. No explanation. Just the cold, hard information.
The light show intensified. A swirling vortex of raw power reconfiguring his very essence. Then, silence. The notifications settled. Presenting the outcome of the arcane amalgamation.
[FUSION COMPLETED]
[DOMINATOR PHYSIQUE ACQUIRED]
[NOTE: ONLY EFFECTIVE ON PHYSICAL INCARNATIONS]
Dominator Physique? Jack mused on the name. It sounded… imposing. But the caveat, 'Only effective on physical incarnations', immediately drew his attention.
That meant his current spectral form, Jack Mystery, would not benefit directly. This was a power up specifically aimed for Judge Jack and Jack Night.
Then suddenly, a barrage of new information notifications flooded his view.
[NOW POSSESSING THE CHARACTERISTIC OF DOMINATING AURA!]
[NOW POSSESSING THE CHARACTERISTIC OF INEXHAUSTIBLE STAMINA!]
[NOW POSSESSING THE CHARACTERISTIC OF MYSTICAL METABOLISM!]
[NOW POSSESSING THE CHARACTERISTIC OF RAPID ENERGY ABSORPTION!]
[NOW POSSESSING THE CHARACTERISTIC OF ENHANCED LIBIDO!]
[NOW POSSESSING THE CHARACTERISTIC OF SUBJUGATING INTERCOURSE!]
Dominating Aura. Inexhaustible Stamina. Mystical Metabolism. Rapid Energy Absorption. These sounded like straightforward and powerful enhancements to his physical forms.
But the last two… Enhanced Libido and Subjugating Intercourse? Jack felt a phantom shiver creep up his spectral form.
What the actual hell was that? What kind of fusion process resulted in sexually charged abilities? And 'Subjugating Intercourse'? The implications were… unsettling, to say the least. He had no desire for such bizarre additions to his repertoire.
This was precisely why he preferred to choose his upgrades deliberately. The system, however, seemed to have its own chaotic agenda.
"Great!" He muttered sarcastically to the silent confines of his Mirror Space. "Just fantastic. Super strength and stamina, I can roll with. But… this other stuff? What am I going to do with them, turning myself into a sex demon?"
Jack felt he needed to see this new physique to understand what the system had wrought. The spectral form was insufficient. He needed the flesh and blood. The muscle and bone. Of either his human incarnation. Or Black Buto one.
With a decisive mental command, Jack transformed. Within a minute, the ethereal mist coalesced. Solidifying into the rugged, battle-hardened form of... Jack Night. The transcendent human mercenary.
His Jack Night form was in battle-ready state. His Steamrune Shotgun was slung across his back. The twin handguns holstered at his hips, ready for immediate deployment. The last time he was in this incarnation was when he was about to face the Bone Wyvern after all.
Once fully manifested in his human guise, Jack opened his status panel.
The familiar holographic display shimmered into existence before him.
[CHARACTER STATUS]
[Name: Jack Night]
[Incarnation Type: Human]
[Persona: Jack Night]
[Race: Transcendent Human]
[Class: Steamrune Engineer]
[Archetype: Mortal Creature]
[Power Source: Spirit of Judgement]
[Attributes: *Physique (85) *Mysticism (85) *Passion (85) Essence (99)]
[Karma: Positive]
[System Sight Modes: Eyes of Judgement]
[Supernatural Traits: Mysterious Anomaly; Mysterious Mirror World; Incarnation Shift; Treasure Detecting Radar]
[Permanent Traits: Mysterious Nature; Mythical Adaptation; *Dominator Physique]
[Characteristics: Mysterious Nature - Paralysis Immunity]
[Characteristics: Mythical Adaptation - Cold Immunity; Pressure Immunity; Shock Immunity; Bleeding Immunity; Imbalance Immunity; Madness Immunity; Poison Immunity; Lightning Immunity; Heat Immunity; Hyper Regeneration]
[Characteristics: Dominator Physique - *Dominating Aura; *Inexhaustible Stamina; *Mystical Metabolism; *Rapid Energy Absorption; *Enhanced Libido; *Subjugating Intercourse]
[Status Effect: Transcended]
[Personal Artifact: Nightmare Mace; Daydream Undersuit; Nine-Anchor Portal Ring; Artifact Seeds (2)]
[Steamrune Skills: Steamrune Fusion; Steamrune Enchantment; Steamrune Compression]
Jack immediately looked at the description of the new entries:
[Dominator Physique. A fused trait resulting from the combination of three traits... Incubus Charm, Minotaur's Vigor, and Devourer Physique. This trait grants the host significant enhancements in his physical incarnations, in the matter of charisma, willpower, mental defense, stamina capacity, and physical recovery. It results in relatively balanced increase of all attributes.]
Jack nodded. So, this was why all his attributes received three additional increase. Well, his [Essence] was already maxed, so it didn't really affect that one.
[Dominating Aura. A characteristic of the Dominator Physique. The host passively emanates a powerful aura that can influence and intimidate those around him with weaker willpower. This aura can weaken the resolve of weak-willed enemies and make them more susceptible to the host's commands and influence.]
Jack nodded again. A useful characteristic.
[Inexhaustible Stamina. Another characteristic of the Dominator Physique. The host possesses an unparalleled level of stamina that allows him to exert himself for extended periods without tiring. This characteristic makes him a formidable opponent in long battles and ensures that he can continue to push his limits without faltering.]
This one was an amazing characteristic.
[Mystical Metabolism. The third characteristic of the Dominator Physique. The host's metabolism has been enhanced to the point where he can consume any object if he is willing to, even the hard to digest or the harmful ones.]
This one was definitely from the Devourer Physique. He could eat anything now. Even stone, poison, or corpses. Not that he wanted to.
[Rapid Energy Absorption. The fourth characteristic of the Dominator Physique. The host can absorb energy from anything he consumes at an accelerated rate, allowing him to rapidly replenish his strength and vitality.]
Jack grinned. This one paired well with [Mythical Metabolism]. Giving him a valid reason to consume strange objects whenever it was needed.
As for the other two...