Published at 9th of September 2025 12:25 pm

Book 5: Chapter 6 Aftermath [Part 1]

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In the name of the Goddess, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

They seized Her Herald and Prophet, peace be upon him, and bound him in chains of iron, condemning him to harvest the fruits of stone in the depths of the earth. Humbly, he toiled in darkness and solitude until the revelation was bestowed upon him by the grace of the Goddess. With this divine guidance, he broke his chains, and by the miracle of the Goddess, he was set free.

- The New Surahs by Cordelia de Aserac.

Alone with nothing but my thoughts... I felt truly alone. No one calling for me, no voices demanding I deal out miracles as if they were mere trifles. By myself now, it reminded me of when I first came to this strange and fantastical world; though instead of a tree on a hill, I was living in relative luxury.

There is a thing that happens when a man fasts—a sense of clarity that washes over you once you overcome the first pangs of hunger. With each passing hour, the world seemed sharper, more vivid. Colors intensified, sounds grew clearer, and even the whispers of the wind carried secrets I had never discerned before. My mind, unshackled from the demands of the flesh, wandered freely through memories and dreams. The chains of the mundane loosened, revealing paths to insights hidden beneath the veil of consciousness. Fasting became not just an absence of food, but a journey inward—a pilgrimage to the depths of the soul where true Wisdom resides. In solitude and hunger, I found a profound connection to the very essence of existence, a silent communion with the unseen forces that bind our world together.

And the world supported my actions.

You have gained 1 Wisdom.

The notification intruded upon my navel-gazing introspection, spurring me to action. I had learned all that I could by denying myself of my bodily needs. Funny, for I did not feel much wiser. A part of me almost felt the whole act was insulting to those who had no choice in the matter… and here I was doing it for… I don’t know, the words did not come to me.

Mechanically, I ate some slightly overripe fruit, biting into sweet purple flesh. Not ravenously did I eat, like an animal, but like a machine that knew that this was much-needed fuel for what it was that I had to do. As was my habit, I looked over my character sheet.

[STATUS] Calling: Gilgamesh lvl.23 Paladin/Reaver

Strength: 41

Dexterity: 41

Constitution: 58

Intelligence: 30

Wisdom: 35

Charisma: 21

Luck: 28

Entropic Mimic [Creature of Entropy - lvl.26]

Health: 749/749

Stamina: 79/79

Mana: 2/2

Adaptive Defense (lvl.5)

Shield Form (lvl.5)

Absorb (lvl.4)

Perception (lvl.3)

SKILLS & PROFICIENCIES

Improved Pain Nullification (lvl.1)

Improved Power Strike (lvl.5) 10

Improved Endure (lvl.5)

Stealth (lvl.3)

Advanced Rest (lvl.1)

Backstab (lvl.4)

Improved Dodge (lvl.3)

Advanced Polearms (lvl.2)

Improved Dual Wield (lvl.2)

Improved Critical Hit Mastery (lvl.4)

Advanced Unarmed Combat (lvl.4)

Improved Hammers (lvl.5)

Improved Flails (lvl.3)

Improved Maces (lvl.2)

Advanced Shields (lvl.1)

Improved Medium Armour (lvl.3)

Improved Heavy Armour (lvl.5)

Improved Axes (lvl.4)

Improved Daggers (lvl.5)

Throwing Weapons (lvl.5)

Double Throw (lvl.4) 5

Improved Shield Bash (lvl.3) 10

Riding (lvl.4)

Improved Dash (lvl.4) 10

Advanced Swords (lvl.3)

Crossbows (lvl.5)

Blind-Fighting (lvl.4)

Improved Rush Strike (lvl.4) 20

Tracking (lvl.1)

Trap Detection (lvl.2)

Improved Frenzied Strikes (lvl.3) 30

Monster Taming (lvl.4)

Lotus Palm (lvl.1)

Manticore Claws (lvl.1)

SPELLS & MAGIC

Heal (lvl.5) 5

Rust (lvl.5) 2

Identify (lvl.5) 1

Silent Casting (lvl.3)

Improved Mana Regeneration (lvl.2)

Purify (lvl.4) 3

Greater Heal (lvl.5) 10

Holy Aura (lvl.4) 2

Decay (lvl.4) 1

Greater Drain (lvl.4) 2

Improved Entropic Aura (lvl.2) 2

Inferno Bolts (lvl.3) 2

Sage’s Sight (lvl.2) 2

Freezing Aura (lvl.3) 2

Holy Strike (lvl.2) 1

Entropic Strike (lvl.2) 1

Aura Manipulation (1)

GIFTS

Curse of Entropy: -20% to all starting attributes.

Mark of the Paladin: 10% resistance to Dark/Holy magic. 5% resistance to Physical.

Embrace of the Void: 15% reduced resistance to Holy/Fire magic, 35% resistance to Mental Effects, 25% immunity to Mental Effects.

Mark of the Adaptive Helix: 15% resistance to Physical, Regeneration.

Mark of the Mantis: 15% greater affinity with all weapons.

Entropic Gift: 10% lowered experience gain, 10% greater affinity with all Entropic spells.

Heavenly Gift: 5% extra experience gain, 10% greater affinity with all Holy & Divine spells.

Experience to next level 5934/6624

Health: 863/863

Stamina: 99/99

Mana: 23/23

Bloated and long, a tale of my deeds was written here, much like Enkidu’s name. It was my own saga and a constant reminder of greatness. There were gains here and there, but it was not enough. Could not be enough.

I stripped off my armor and entered the baths in my apartment. Luxuriating in the hot water, I felt some of the grief seep away, as if the water itself was drawing it out of me. What remained was a calm, resigned clarity of purpose.

Reviewing my stats sheet, I took stock of my recent gains. My Sisyphean efforts to save my friend had not been entirely in vain; as a small consolation, I had earned a point each in Constitution and Intelligence. The bonus experience from that ‘feeder’ quest had put me in a promising position to push for the next level.

With a deep sigh, I stepped out of the bath and dried myself with a towel so soft it felt like wrapping myself in clouds. Donning fresh robes, I allowed myself a moment of quiet emptiness, thinking of nothing at all.

Then, the doors to my apartment burst open.

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