Chapter 10:Aspectal Forms
[Attributes are conceptual aspects manipulated by Reapers. All Grim Reapers originate from the Angel of Death, the Lord of the Ouroboros. Thus, the only aspects available to Reapers are Death and Soul.
Query: Are you listening, Host?]
"Yeah... I am," Arthur muttered. His form, tired of standing—or perhaps cautious of depleting more stamina—had already crouched onto the damp grass. The bladed tips prickled his skin with a cool, wet touch. He laced his hands behind his head, resting it against a weathered gravestone as an improvised cushion. Well, he'd already apologized to whoever's resting inside...
Idly, his fingers plucked a delicate white lily—Eternal Rest Bloom—from the flower pot beside the stone. He lifted it to his nose, inhaling its sweet, perfumed fragrance. It was surprisingly soothing, almost like it had been laced with essence for the departed.
[Observation: 87% of humans show respect for the resting places of the deceased. Yet you are using it as a cushion. Desecration detected.]
Arthur dropped the flower back into the pot, resettling his hands. "Well, guess I'm in that 13% minority. And by the way..." His eyes tilted toward the gigantic worms, their shrieks echoing as they scoured the graveyard. "...I'm using this as a hiding spot." In a subconscious whisper, he added, "And besides, I apologized."
[Clarification required: To whom?]
"To the dead fellow slumbering within. Anyone else you have in mind?"
[The deceased? But they are deceased.]
"So? I know they are." He crossed his legs, leaning back further.
[They cannot perceive or respond to your apology. The purpose is unclear.]
"Just how dumb are you, bot?" Arthur heaved himself up slightly. "I thought you were created to mirror human customs and all that. I said it out of courtesy—not expecting the dead to chat back. If they did, they wouldn't be 'dead' anymore."
[Apology: My analysis was shortsighted. Human customs regarding the deceased are now updated and comprehended.
Request: May I resume the tutorial?]
"Yeah... no, wait." He jerked upright, hand to his chin. "So you're saying all the Reapers around the globe only have these two aspects?"
[Affirmative, Host.]
"Isn't that kinda stagnant?" He reclined again, his head smacking the gravestone. He winced silently.
Curse these damn stones.
[It appears stagnant at first, but differentiation comes from Aspectal Forms, Domains, and Authorities. These evolve with rank advancement through centuries of refinement. I'll hold off on deeper details for now—our priority is enlightenment for survival.]
"Continue then."
There was no telling when those Corpse Diggers would sniff him out. Even now, peeking over the gravestone, he spotted one lurking closer, emitting its eerie, stupid cry. Killing it wouldn't be an issue, but his gaze stretched to the others—it would surely alert the horde. He crouched lower. By his estimate, he had 10-15 minutes before that worm slithered his way.
"Just sum it up. We can dive deeper later."
[Query processed, Arthur.
Your Attributes:
- Death
- Soul
- Illusion
As a Juvenile, you cannot exert an Aspectal Domain or Authority. Such actions would shred your vessel.]
"Okay, so what's the catch?"
[As a Juvenile, Aspectal Forms for Death and Soul are embodied in the Mythic Scythe you wield. This amplifies those aspects, allowing you to enforce the concept of Death against Soulless entities that lack the anti-concept of Life, even alongside their own attributes. The Soul concept is currently limited to channeling and storing souls in your vessel—it isn't developed for offensive purposes yet.
Once you surpass the Juvenile threshold, additional Aspectal Forms will become accessible, and you may begin to forge partial Domains and Authorities.
I'll save the full explanations for later.
Do you comply with this, Arthur?]
Arthur was barely listening. His eyes fixed on the colossal worms—not just the lone one approaching, but more slithering behind it, now just 25 feet away.
"I get it, bot. Move on."
[Correction: Explicit agreement is necessary.]
He nearly face-palmed. Wasn't that basically agreeing?
[Specific consent parameters are mandatory.]
His hands gripped the gravestone tightly, stopping only when he felt cracks forming beneath his fingers. Then, weakly and lamely: "Alright... proceed. Satisfied?"
[Consent confirmed. These rules apply only to the Attributes: Death and Soul. They are direct gifts from the Lord of the Ouroboros.]
Arthur's mutter trailed off the system's words, his eyes brightening with realization.
"But not the aspect... Illusion."
[Affirmative, Host. You may derive an Aspectal Form for Illusion. Domains and Authorities are not yet available due to insufficient Intelligence and Mental Fortitude.]
That won't be a problem, he thought. There was still time to grow. If he could kill all these Corpse Diggers, he'd gain the required intelligence for sure. But for now...
"Tell me, bot—all the Aspectal Forms available for the Illusion attribute."
[Connecting to the Grand System.
Scanning for information on Soulless entities with the Illusion attribute, past and present.
Subject identified: The Ten-Horned Decarion.
Rank: Calamity.
Status: Deceased. Date: August 12, 1601.
Location: Oradour-sur-glane, France
Attribute: Illusion (Advanced).
Available Aspectal Forms:
1. Mirage
Creates a simple, static visual illusion, such as a false wall or an illusory box. It disperses easily upon physical interaction.
Cost: 5 Intelligence points.
2. Invisibility
Bends light around a target, rendering them completely unseen. It's a strong tool for personal stealth but offers no other benefits.
Cost: 5 Intelligence points.
3. Phantasm
Projects realistic sensory input—sight, sound, and smell—directly into a target's mind. It bypasses the eyes and ears, making it hard to dismiss through logic alone.
Cost: 10 Intelligence points.
4. Simulacrum
Generates a semi-physical, autonomous duplicate of a person. It can interact with the world, fight, and even cast spells, though it's weaker than the original.
Cost: 50 Intelligence points.
5. Aversion
Implants a subconscious command in a target's mind, making a specific place, person, or object seem utterly repulsive or terrifying. This influences their actions without them realizing it.
Cost: 100 Intelligence points.
6. Overwrite
The pinnacle of Illusion. It temporarily overlays a false reality onto the true one, causing everyone to perceive and react to it as if it were genuine. For a short time, the illusion becomes the truth.
Cost: 500 Intelligence points.
Recommendation: Select Mirage and Invisibility for their low cost and high efficiency in your current situation.]
A dark panel etched in glowing purple script displayed the message as the system vocalized it.
If he activated Mirage and Invisibility, he'd lose ten points total. With only 22 Intelligence, leaving him at 12—how the hell would he function? He'd be reduced to the mental acuity of a school kid. And God knew how a kid would fare against these monsters.
[You seem mistaken, Host. The Intelligence stat (22) is subdivided as:
- Knowledge: 10
- Memory: 12
You can choose which sector to deduct from. I recommend Memory.]
Arthur's form went silent, the night wind caressing his skin as his eyes stared blankly into the dark sky.
[Arthur... shall I proceed? Deducting ten points from Memory?]
When he finally replied, it was a low, downcast hum.
"Tell me, bot—if I absorb the essence of those creatures.." His hand caressed a blade of damp grass. "Would that increase my Memory from the gained Intelligence points?" He uprooted it, the roots sprinkling tiny molds of sand that kissed the ground soundlessly.
[No, Host. All gains are assigned to Knowledge. You cannot acquire new memories directly—only form them through lived experiences. The Memory stat increases gradually over time, based on your subconscious deciding which events are worth retaining.
Shall I proceed, Arthur?]
He fell silent, as if pondering, with only the worms' cries piercing the air—from about seven feet away now.
[Your hesitation is understood, Arthur. But time is not on our side. From scans of your subconscious, your past is filled mostly with sad events. There's a high probability these ten points could erase them entirely. They don't matter to your survival now, do they?]
So that's why,Arthur thought. This was why Reapers lose touch with the world. It's not some curse—it's the process. Who knows? A Phantom might sacrifice memories to unlock Forms. That cool-headed Indian guy... maybe that's why he forgot his origins.
Slowly, he rose, eyes wandering to the disoriented worms still searching sideways. Bending down, he scooped up the flower pot with the lilies he'd admired earlier—after muttering another quick prayer of mercy to the soul beneath.
[Alert, Arthur: What are you doing?]
He ignored the bot's warning. He had a plan. Those years at camp weren't wasted after all.
"Hey, fuckers!!!!" he screamed, hurling the pot. It smashed into one worm's head, detonating it into a pulp of viscera and soil. The body slumped in a stump, stained flowers drowning in the ichor.
The rest swarmed in multitudes, their cries and bellows intensifying, beckoning the others. The horde responded, crawling forward and blotting out the trees and moonlight from his view.
"Hey, bot—activate Aspectal Form: Invisibility." Darkness, as if torn from the night, convulsed before birthing the scythe in his grasp. "Drain five points from Knowledge."
[Confirmation required: Are you certain, Arthur? You know the effects.]
Yeah, he knew. That's why the plan would work.
"Yeah. You know, bot, wanna know why 'bad' memories are important?" He cracked his shoulders, eyes locked forward. "Because without them... the good ones wouldn't mean a damn thing." He smiled. "Read that in a psychology book."
[Analysis: That's a touching sentiment in human terms, though a bit cringe. Consider refining the delivery for better impact.]
Veins popped on his forehead. That was his cool character moment..
[Integrating Aspectal Form: Invisibility.
Process complete. Aspect fully integrated.
Intelligence points: 22 (-5).
Knowledge: 10 (-5).
Memory: 12.
Activation query: Do you wish to activate the Aspectal Form?
Yes // No]
Amid the sudden disarray in his mind—the missing pieces of knowledge—his mouth responded affirmatively.
"Yes."