The ruins

{1st, POV, Ethan}

At the moment I'm walking towards the central region of the thousand monsters island. I decided to walk on foot, as I was in no hurry and sometimes it is better to simply walk on foot rather than using magic to travel, it's pretty relaxing. it's best to enjoy the peace while you can.

The forest is exactly what you'd expect from a fantasy world. It is identical to a huge rain forest very much like the Amazon, with thick layers of sponge and moss covering the earth. Gigantic trees tower over the sky enclosing the forest, making it appear more dark and gloomy as barely any starlight passes through them.

On the way, I came across many types of monsters, from plant types to lizards, wolves, some wild boars like monsters. They were not very powerful, most range from Adapt to masters. Still, I easily dealt with them. Right now only an imperial can truly defeat me with its domain, and some peak experts can fight me to a standstill. Still I won't lose.

After becoming an expert my progress will be very slow as the expert realm is actually divided into six minor stages, and the more powerful the intent the harder it is to break through to the next level, and the difference in strength between a 1st and 2nd level expert is quite noticeable.

Well, I don't have to worry about it and it will take me a long time to become an expert as I only just reached the master realm recently and I haven't figured out any kind of intent. The intent is simply the projection of your deepest desires, or what do you want to achieve by obtaining more power. And I haven't figured it out.

Now another matter needs more priority and I'm in a dilemma right now. After reaching level 25, I have to choose a class before I can move forward. Because of this, I didn't level up even after I killed so many monsters, the system said it is storing EXP and after I choose a class the accumulated EXP will be distributed.

But I'll have to choose very carefully as I cannot change my class afterward. If I choose a class not suitable for me, I'll be stuck with it for the rest of my life. Now, let's talk about the classes they are the same old RPG-like classes. The classes are divided into different groups— the first group or the common classes such as Warrior, magician, ranger, etc. Then the unique classes— such as Berserker, magic-swordsmen, close-combat master.

The thing that is causing me headaches is, I am having trouble with what to pick. The Warrior, Berserker, and close-combat master, classes are good but then I'll have to compromise on my magic, which I absolutely can't, like a dragon my mana reserves are huge not using magic is totally stupid. However, if I choose Magician I'll have to compromise on my excellent physique, I possess a chaos body with total magic immunity choosing the magician class will also be a huge loss, which I'm not willing to suffer.

That leaves me with only one unique class the magic swordsmen, as the ranger is out of the question cause it doesn't give me any relevant benefits, as I don't use any long-range weapons. But, what is really bothering me is I don't use a sword, so I'll not be able to bring out the full potential of this class. I already decided to select the close-combat master as my sub-class because it will help me a lot when I fight with my bare hands.

'Sigh!— let's think about it later, I don't really need to decide right now.'

There is also another interesting matter, I discovered in these six months, and it is related to the system.

(System, what new features will you gain if I upgrade you?)

Yes, I found out the system can also be upgraded with enough points. It said that more features will get unlocked as I keep upgrading the system.

[I cannot answer, but the system will definitely gain a nameless ego. Other features are still not known.]

(Wait a minute!!... Do you mean to say you will gain your separate consciousness if I upgrade you?)

If it's true then it will be a huge matter. The system will obtain a real soul and its own consciousness meaning it will not be just an AI but an actual living entity. This is getting more interesting now.

[Yes, and master can name the ego and choose its features.]

(Really??)

[Yes.]

Now, that is pretty interesting. Nevertheless, there is a big catch...

'Still, the upgrade is too damn expansive... '

Never mind that, let's take things slowly. I still have a lot of time, before the main story kicks in. So, there's no need to worry.

***********

[Three days later]

{1st, POV, Ethan}

It has been three days, as I kept walking towards the central region. The number of monsters has decreased significantly, as they become more powerful and intelligent. The stronger monsters are very cautious and don't wander around like those weak monsters, they all have their own territory and hardly ever another monster goes into other monsters' territory.

'Well, it is expected, as they become more afraid to die. The more intelligent they become.'

I can understand, why the more powerful monsters hardly fight. As their intelligence grows they become less willing to take risks and even more try to avoid death at any cost. They have fought a lot to obtain this level of power, so they wouldn't want to die by making enemies out of other monsters of similar strength. It is the nature of intelligent beings to be afraid of death, after all.

'The more one obtains the more they become afraid to lose. Whatever, it still made my journey rather peaceful.'

Yes, I did encounter some challenges along the road but the numbers are relatively less compared to when I was in the middle region.

(Hey system do you have any information about the resentment core?)

Now, that I am getting closer to the center, I wanted to know what actually is the resentment core. I am rather curious about the whole thing, the blogs never mentioned anything about this place in the game, so I don't have any information. Well, I'm not surprised because of it. This is a real-world similar to the game world, not the same game I once played so it is bound to be different.

[Negative, currently the system doesn't have access to any information regarding this world's past. However, if master truly wishes to learn more, master can still buy the information from the shop or you can decide to find the information by yourself.]

(Huh!!— the first option is out of the equation as I won't waste my precious points just to satisfy my curiosity, it's not like I'm dying to know. However, what do you mean I can find out about it myself?)

[Simple, the system is detecting massive amounts of negative energy from the very center of this island. The system assumes that place, is where the resentment core is present.]

'Ooh— then it seems I'll have to speed up, I'm getting rather curious about that thing. Might as well take a look.'

***********

[One day later]

{1st, POV, Ethan}

"Wow!!!— it is actually an ancient ruin!!!. I never thought there will be a ruin in the middle of this island. Form the appearance and condition, it is definitely a remnant of some ancient palace."

I'm currently walking towards a destroyed ancient structure. From its shape and design I deduced it to be a palace from ancient times.

It is not unaccepted for a palace to be here. This island was but just a small part of a much bigger piece of land that existed a long time ago, it was destroyed in the war, which happened tens of thousands of years ago.

(System, are you sure the source of negative energy is truly inside that ruin?)

The place ruin is enormous, the place I'm standing at the moment is still pretty far from the actual palace. From the structure of the broken buildings, I guessed them to be houses, maybe a city.

[Yes, from the wavelength it would seem the core is underground.]

(System, are you sure you don't have any map function? Then how can you still detect the presence of the core?)

[Yes, it's true I don't have any mapping ability. However, I do have a very detection ability, though very limited I can still detect minor changes in the surroundings. I also was able to detect Tiamt's omniscient because of this feature.]

'Huh... well that's a surprise. I would have preferred the map but detection is also not bad.'

I kept walking as I pondered, the system's words. Now that the system brought the matter of omniscience. There's still one question that still bothers me...

(System, how does Tiamt's omniscient function??)

It had been a while since I gave this matter any thought as I was busy improving my skills and getting stronger.

[The word omniscient is not hundred percent accurate. The term pseudo-omniscience would be more appropriate. For a being to be truly omniscient they have been omnipresent before. However, omnipresence is a paradox. Being omnipresent means you are everywhere and nowhere at the same time, making your existence a rather unique condition. An omnipresent individual doesn't possess a specific physical vessel, because they're practically everywhere.

In the case of Tiamat, she is not omnipresent. Yet her extreme control over space and overwhelmingly powerful divine sense allowed her to cover the whole area with her divine sense. Granting her the ability to sense and see everything, as long as something is not hidden within a separate dimension or an array which can restrict usage of magic and divine sense.]

(Hmmm— then what is divine sense??)

In this world, there are two types of direction methods people use— first magic sense, and second aura or ki sense.

Both are very self-explanatory, magic sense is the method to detect something by the magical powers they release from their bodies. Whereas aura or ki sense is used for people who can't use magic meaning for warriors everybody has a specific aura or ki around their bodies even if the person didn't awaken their aura, it doesn't mean they don't have any. Everyone possesses some amount of mana and aura respectively, it is just that if the amount is not enough for the person to make use of them, then they are deemed unable to awaken or rather can't control their aura, the same for the magic. But I never heard about divine sense before.

[The application is the same but the source is different. Tiamat is a demi-god, and a demi-god has a different soul, the divine soul. The divine soul is much more powerful compares to the mortal soul. Because of this, her senses are much more powerful and greater than others.]

'Huh— so it's because of her divinity... '

(Then system, how does one become a Demi-god?)

[It is advised for master to not think about this matter. You are still too weak and you have a long way to go. Further knowledge will be detrimental to the master.]

(Well... You are right. I should focus more on the current situation rather than thinking about the future, which is still very far away. I still have a harem to build beauties to conquer.)

[You are correct master and I will assist you in your path of conquest.]

(Thanks.)

Although, I realized the system's intention to try and change the subject. I decided ignore this matter as its argument is on point, there is no point discussing about gods and divinities at the moment.