Chapter 10: The Center of the Impact Zone
"Handbook, have you been hiding stuff from me? What is a level and why don't I have one?" Grumbled Blake. Thankfully, the Handbook was more forthcoming with information than the System.
Popping back into existence, the reply was depressing.
"Levels are a reflection of growth for various species. Typically, save for cases of forced evolution, mutation, and intelligent species, levels can also be seen as a measurement of how old a species is. For example, a level 1 creature is typically an infant. An adult would be a higher level. Because of the natural cycle of aging, level regression is common for old age.
Stats are a reflection of the capabilities of a person. These typically grow as one grows up, and decrease as one becomes old.
Skills and perks are an exception to this rule. They are imprinted on one's soul. Thus, an older human may have weaker stats than an adult in their prime, but have a few tricks up their sleeve to defend themselves or pass onto another.
Participant does not have a form that grows. Thus, they have no level."
As the Handbook calmly gave the explanation while slowly gyrating in the air, Blake was at a loss. Clearly, there was plenty of logic behind the reasoning that was given. Yet this meant that for now, Blake was trapped as a stone. They could certainly gain more skills and perks, but how much time would pass before they could solve this problem? Currently, the planet hadn't even finished forming the two moons hanging in the sky. Debris still trailed behind them like children running back home for the night. Not to mention the first living thing ever encountered was a monstrous Lava Snake.
This world was simply inhospitable to basically everything that came to mind. Even water bears might find the current circumstances difficult. Sighing once again to the unforgiving situation, the rock below Blake gave a small hiss as it continued to melt. Since this was not the time nor place to get lost in thought, another steppingstone was created and the journey continued.
Along the way, several other Lava Snakes were found, but a simple yank of some of the elements that formed them drove them off. After a half dozen failed attacks, the horrible serpents stopped entirely. No point in attacking that tasty looking rock if it meant a near permanent injury or death. Another day and night passed, and soon a large black shape stuck out of the horizon. Blake had gone in a bit of a spiral to ensure that all of the filled in crater was discovered. Thus they knew this was the exact center that they were looking for.
Getting closer to the goal made trepidation appear in any who gazed upon it. Composed entirely out of glossy obsidian, the primitive tower looked like a natural looking home for liches, demon kings, and giant flaming eyeballs with a love for rings. Lacking any architects in this world, the place looked like the lava had been tossed in a massive wave and solidified. If the Magic Source Meteor was a kid pulling off a cannonball in the local pool, the frozen resulting splash was this tower.
"Perhaps if I live long enough someone will take up residence in this place. It would be nice to have some neighbors to talk to, even if they are evil. Insanity does make for interesting company." Blake mused. They had hit rock bottom in standards. If the Lava Snakes had the capacity for thought, there was no doubt Blake would have tried to invite them to an afternoon cup of molten slag.
Now just a single leap away from the spike-filled shoreline, the area the spire rested on was quite large. Being just 5km (3.1 miles) in diameter, the ground was composed of the same material as the tower. The entire place had smaller spears of cooled rock jutting out everywhere. But only the largest contained the pulse that Blake had become accustomed to over the past several days. On the minimap, this was the pin sized dot that remained unfilled. Now that the time had come, there was no use in delaying it anymore.
The climb up the tower was steep. Yet to Blake, who had crossed mountains before, it was nothing. Mountain goats would be the only animal that could be a better rock climber. And with the bit of earth magic they had learned, Blake could create resting spots if there were none. The base of the tower was seamlessly fused with the ground. However, there were no doors to enter. Only a single pavilion several hundred meters up was the only open area. With excitement towards finally solving the mystery, Blake climbed. The hot wind blew harder and harder as they went up. Wind elements reigned in the sky soon becoming the only other element that was around save for the spire.
Finally, the peak was reached. Flinging themselves inside, the Magic Vision had long covered the area in Blake's view. Nothing to the average person could be seen. Yet to those with magic eyes, the place was awash in a prismatic shower of elemental particles. The colors that Blake was familiar with predominated the area, but some others that they had never seen before were present as well. Blues of the ocean, whites that blinded, grays that felt empty, eerie blacks, and dashing yellows. All the colors of the rainbow and more shot out of the floor like a geyser. Marvelling at the view, Blake used Inspection to know just what they were seeing.
"Magic Geyser: A somewhat rare phenomenon that increases and decreases in number and size based on the mana cycle of the planet. Participant's current planet is undergoing transition from nominal to magic world. These natural wellsprings are responsible for spreading all types of magical elements into every corner of the world. The closer something is to the pillar, the more magic is infused into it."
The description given didn't do justice to what was before Blake. The Magic Geyser was giving birth to new types of life. The monsters in the lake were a prime example. Nothing on Earth was composed entirely of molten rock and spat out fireballs with more power than a grenade like those Lava Snakes. Had the asteroid that nearly killed Blake not landed, there would have been nothing interesting around save for them. Now that it had though this world would radically deviate from their former universe.
At the same time, several other notifications rang out.
"Participant has explored an entire world. Achievement earned: One Small Step. 100 system points earned.
The Mapping Module has reached the max level. Available for upgrade at 20,000 points.
The Inspection Module has reached the max level. Available for 20,000 points."
The small amount of points earned paled in comparison to the amount that were about to be spent. Glad to be a saver and not a frivolous spender, Blake confirmed the purchases. Now sitting at 33,100 system points, Blake had never felt so poor. Had other participants heard this across the multiverse, they would have been astonished at Blake's mentality. Most participants only relied on the initial perks of the system and maybe a few thousand points at most over the course of their lifetime.
With the two modules upgraded, they now worked at full capacity. The mysteries of the universe would be laid bare before Blake now. If there were anything interesting to look at around Blake to begin with. But even with the upgrades, the modules couldn't give any direction for what to do next in this life. While the Lava Snakes had been a horrifying experience, they also drove home the fact that there wasn't a single person to converse with. Life wouldn't evolve without water, which may take hundreds of millions of years to occur. The sheer amount of eons facing Blake were impossible to wrap their head around.
There was, however, one entity that could easily be reached for a chat. With a mischievous grin, Blake looked for the cheapest object in the store. After a quick browse, for a single system point, Blake found something no one would bother purchasing.
A moss covered rock.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
smithnj
smithnj Not quite a journey to the center of the earth, but close enough. I've gotten questions on if Blake will turn back into a human, and let's just say a passible body is already in store. But not for a long while.
I've enjoyed responding to your comments and seeing people come read my little book. Thank you all for the support and I look forward to hear from you all again.
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