"Hey Valerian."

"Yes brother?" He responded with a smile as we walked away from the courtyard.

"Does this village have an origin stone?"

He turned to me, "It does. I had heard that humans had found a way to access the Archaic System. I didn't really believe it though.... I'm assuming you want to go and advance after killing the Grootslang?"

"If it wouldn't be too much of an inconvenience. I need to get stronger before our journey, there are those I still need to protect and find." I said solemnly.

"Not a problem. How is it that humans are able to access the Archaic System? From what I understand you all are from a place very different from here." He said as he led me through the village.

I saw no harm in telling him, "Our government developed a technology called ALIC that allows us to absorb the essence of things we kill and connect with the origin stone to access the Archaic System. I'm not sure exactly how it works, we were never given those details."

"Ahh, it seems we have underestimated humans, while you lack raw power, you have great intelligence." He sighed.

"That is true. Back on earth humans ruled the entire planet due to our intelligence. However, that is also how we destroyed it."

Valerian turned to me in shock, "Your planet is destroyed?"

It seems I may have said something I shouldn't have. In my timeline, all the natives eventually found out about human history and knew we ruined our previous planet.

"Well not destroyed exactly, it's more like we used up all the resources the planet could provide. On earth, we don't have something like the Geodenisis Arboreth which provides vitality and resources to the planet."

He noticeably calmed down, "Oh ok. That makes sense. I was afraid your race had destroyed its world tree."

"No nothing like that. Our worlds operate in different ways. Our world works off concrete rules of physics and science. Yours seems to function based on some kind of transmutable essence. It is something beyond our understanding."

"I see.... Well here is our origin stone."

I had been so engrossed in our conversation that I didn't realize we had arrived at the location our destination. In front of me was a structure comprised of large white stone blocks that had been fit together. There were four entrance through large arches with the origin stone located in the middle. Stairs leading up to each entrance with steps that were slightly larger than the steps I was used to. Clearly, it was tailored for the G'eth who can grow significantly larger than humans.

Not all origin stones are located in structures like this one. Some are even in the middle of the wilderness with grasses and moss covering them, making them look like normal rocks. However, all origin stones have three things in common. A blue crystal that is embedded on the top, the fact that they are completely indestructible and that they cannot be moved. Someone from my past life tried digging underneath one but realized that the stone extends down into the earth. No matter how far he dug he never got to the end of it.

"Thanks for guiding me here Valerian."

"No problem brother."

I went up to the origin stone, climbing the large steps of the structure. Memories flooded my mind from my past life. So many times I stood in front of these stones to get more powerful. So many times I trained arduously just to get that little bit stronger. So many times I sacrificed my blood, sweat, and tears just to cling to the hope that I could rise above those who pushed me down.

I took a deep breath. This time would be different. This time I will be unstoppable and those who looked down on me before will have no choice but to tremble beneath me.

I placed my hand on the blue crystal.

Name: Troy Williams

Level: 1 (0/100)

Essence: 22008

Stat Points: 0

STATS

Strength: 7

Constitution: 9

Willpower: 7

Dexterity: 8

SKILLS

Snake King Aura: (Inactivate) (0/20000)

You have defeated an apex existence of the Grootslang species and absorbed its essence. You can now use essence to develop its unique ability. This ability allows you to have dominion over all lesser snake species and can induce a fear effect in an enemy. The effect is stronger the more your willpower exceeds your target. A significant difference can induce paralysis.

I stared at the notification appearing in front of me. I blinked a few time to make sure that I wasn't dreaming. It is real!

"Hell Yes!"

I couldn't help shouting out!

First time upgrading and I gained the chance to earn an amazing new ability! Snake King Aura looked extremely useful and I could already imagine many different scenarios where it could be used. Since the ability was a mental ability it shouldn't affect my appearance.

Another surprise is my starting stats which are significantly higher than in my previous life. In my last life, my highest stat was willpower at 7, but the rest were all at 5, which I could only assume was because of my weak physique and lack of involvement with sports.

What caused the change? I thought back to what has happened.

It had to be the treatment of the Geodenisis Arboreth sap, that is the only thing that could have impacted the fitness of my body. Such amazing stuff, no wonder the G'eth would want to keep it secret.

Now I was faced with a decision. Use all my essence to level up, or use the essence to unlock Snake King Aura and use the rest to level up. The increase in fitness from leveling up would be immense, however, Snake King Aura would significantly increase my combat abilities. Not to mention I would have to save 20000 in the future to get it. Whereas I can still level up quickly using what's left and my knowledge of Agartha.

I put 20000 essence into Snake King Aura. The notification changed.

Snake King Aura: (Active)

This ability allows you to have dominion over all lesser snake species and can briefly induce a fear effect in an enemy if their willpower is lower than yours, even paralyzing them for a moment if it's significantly lower. To use this ability focus your mind on domineering thoughts and direct them at your enemy.

First I checked my face then body to see if any changes had occurred and fortunately nothing had changed in my appearance. Then I tried using my ability. Unfortunately, without a target it mind it seemed to not do anything, although I couldn't be sure. Unlike a video game where you can instantly use an ability, when you gain skills from the Archaic System you have to learn how to control it and use it properly on your own. It could be that I'm just not using it right.

Lastly, I still had 2008 essence left and can use it to level up. I started pouring the essence into my level.

Level 1: (100/100)

Level 2: (200/200)

Level 3: (450/450)

Level 4: (750/750)

Level 5: (0/1100)

At the end, I was level 5. I gained 8 stat points and had 508 essence left over. The reason I didn't put all the leftover essence into level 6 is because of a piece of advice an old man in a tavern gave me in the last life. He said, "Never dump essence into your level unless you can level up. You never know if the next time you come to an origin stone you have a chance at a new skill and sometimes skills are more important than a level up." So it became a habit to hold on to the leftover essence.

Now it's time to distribute the stat points. I decided to distribute the most into willpower and then dexterity. This is because Snake King's Aura can cause an enemy to pause in fear and in that moment if I deliver a quick blow I can kill them immediately. For the moment willpower and dexterity are my most important stat. However, strength and constitution cannot be overlooked. Constitution was greatly boosted by the Geodenisis Arboreth sap so I didn't think it needed increasing however, strength could use another point.

Name: Troy Williams

Level: 5 (0/1100)

Essence: 408

Stat Points: 0

STATS

Strength: 7 + 1

Constitution: 9

Willpower: 7 + 5

Dexterity : 8 + 2

SKILLS

Snake King Aura: (Active)

A cool feeling shot through my hand and into my body. I could feel my muscles tightening then expanding. My mind felt refreshed and my joints loosen up. You never get tired of that feeling, the feeling of getting more powerful. It's intoxicating.