Anti-Mage

Anton looked around and realized that he was in a park. His surroundings looked familiar but the buildings on the skyline were a little lower. Was he in Central Park in New York City in 1928? Anton searched his memory. The Great Depression had started in the 30s. Weren’t the 20s remembered as the roaring 20s after the end of the first World War? That could be true if this alternate Earth followed his Earth’s timeline. There was only one way to find out.

Anton looked around and noticed a building off to his west that wasn’t too far away through the scattered trees. He turned and walked in that direction. After he’d taken 10 steps a yelp of shock came from a nearby tree where a man and woman were looking at him from a blanket they were sitting on. The man regained his composure before he asked his lady friend, “Where did he come from?”

The woman looked around, “I don’t know, there’s nothing over there but that thicket of bushes and trees, “The young woman said.”

Anton looked back in the direction he’d come from where he could clearly see the entrance to the exit and only scattered trees in every direction. There were no bushes to speak of. He was about to ask the two but realized the entrance must be hidden magically. In which case, he wouldn’t be able to see it because he was immune to magic.

Anton caught himself and looked at the two who had obviously been making out in what had to be the late afternoon and quickly apologized, “Sorry for the inconvenience, nature called and this looked like a good spot.

“Excuse me, Sir, I can’t understand you, what language are you speaking,” The man asked in English.

Anton switch to English and apologized again, “Sorry about that, I was practicing my foreign language with some friends…”

“That doesn’t sound like any language I’ve ever heard before,” The woman called out, “Even if it sounds familiar.”

“I’ve heard it before, up on Broadway when I was working in the theater as an attendant,” the man said as they both nodded which Anton took to mean that they thought only the rich used the language. Anton, on the other hand, realized that it could mean that there were others like himself living in the Broadway area which was good to know.

“I do apologize for intruding. I was taking a shortcut and lost my way. I need to get back to work now,” Anton said with a smile before he turned and walked toward the opposite side of the park. As he was just about out of normal earshot he heard the woman ask her man, “Where does he think he’s going, Broadway is back the way he came from south of here…”

Anton put the people out of his mind. After he’d walked until the two were no longer in sight and he didn’t see anyone else Anton activated Specter. A moment later he rose into the sky above the treetops and looked around. If he wanted to find the SYSTEM Shop he needed to find the library. While there were quite a few libraries in New York, Anton turned to the southeast and flew over to 5th Avenue before he began following it to the southwest.

Two and a half miles later 5th Avenue ended at Washington Square Park. Anton turned to the Southeast and followed Waverly Plaza three blocks to Broadway. He turned right and followed Broadway southwest for a little over a mile to Chambers Street. There, he turned left. On his right was the Courthouse and at the end of the block on his left was the library.

The Library looked just like it did in that one movie when the movie ended with the world entering a new ice age. However, the buildings around it weren’t as high as those in the movie, and it looked to be in a lot better condition. Anton found an alcove nearby and deactivated Specter. Anton looked around quickly to make sure no one had noticed him. Once he was pretty sure he hadn’t been seen, Anton stepped onto the sidewalk and walked up the steps into the Library.

As he stepped through the threshold into the Library proper he was surprised by how regal it felt. While the decorations were simplistic, everything looked to have had a place set aside for it. In fact, it looked like there was a place where everything belonged. Also, it was quiet. This library took silence to a whole new level. Anton walked inside and began looking for access to the SYSTEM Shop.

As he walked through the library a few patrons stared at him, most likely due to his attire, which he ignored. When he came to the center of the main room he noticed a female elf walking normally toward the wall opposite where he’d entered. No one else reacted to her elvish ears so either she was using an illusion to mask her visage or elves were known here. Either way, he decided to follow her. He kept a bit of distance and watched as she walked to the back wall.

There was an opening between two bookcases which she stepped through. Almost like a doorway, without a door. The only person who saw her step through the opening was himself. As he approached, Anton looked through the opening and saw the elvish woman reach out and touch a node before she vanished.

Anton stepped through the opening and looked around a small empty room which only contained the node resting on a pedestal at its center. Anton reached out and touched the node and received a shock as a notification appeared in his vision.

USER CANNOT BE TRANSLOCATED FROM THIS LOCATION!

Anton removed his hand from the Node and touched it again. Again, he received the same notification. Anton, took his hand off the node and replaced it one more time just to be sure. This time something changed.

USER CANNOT BE TRANSLOCATED FROM THIS LOCATION!

User’s mana channels have been severely damaged

User configuration is currently incompatible with Labyrinth.

Analyzing Configuration

Damage identified.

Specific Mana Channels have been sealed.

Anti-Mage Ability Noted. Note: Changes made to the ability, Anti-Mage, do not match historical records. Current unknown configuration does allow for continued existence without dissolution though.

Continued existence is possible with severe penalties to further progress

OR

The Labyrinth can unseal the various sealed Mana Channels.

What is your choice?

Anton paused, reread the notifications, and then asked, “What are the benefits and detriments either way?”

There was a soft pop and a blue-skinned male humanoid, that looked a lot like the Na’vi from the movie Avatar appeared in a flowing white robe. Additionally, Anton noticed that a bookcase had filled the exit that led into the main library and sealed the room.

The blue-skinned man smiled as he said, “Good Afternoon. I am Nabi. I have been sent to answer any questions you might have. How may I help you?”

“Nabi is it? The Node gave me a few notifications. I would like to know what the pros and cons are for staying the way I am or accepting help from the SYSTEM,” Anton said.

“One moment please,” Nabi said as he moved over to the node and place a hand on it opposite Antons. Instead of vanishing, his eyes fluttered for a moment and then he withdrew his hand before he said, “I see.”

“You see what?” Anton asked.

“It seems that your physical structure was modified somehow and in doing so the process sealed away your access to all but a few spheres of magic, which is lucky for you because if all the spheres had been sealed, you would have ceased to exist,” Nabi said with a smile.

“Yeah, that would have sucked. Back to my question please, why should I allow the SYSTEM to fix me now since it didn’t before?” Anton asked.

“Oh, it’s not the SYSTEM offering to fix your issues. This is a Labyrinth Shop Node. It is the Labrinth who is offering to unseal your access to magic,” Nabi explained.

“But I have the ability Anti-Mage. How will unsealing my access to magic interact with that ability?” Anton asked.

Nabi smiled, “Very carefully, of course,” When Nabi realized that Anton wasn’t in a joking mood he continued, “Currently, something happened to you that altered your fundamental makeup. Think about it like this. You are a cake and Magic is trying to eat you. You look like a cake, perform like a cake but if magic tries to take a bite out of you, you don’t taste like a cake. In fact, to most magic the cake doesn’t exist.

Anton sighed, “I understand that already. What does that analogy have to do with Anti-Magic and regaining access to magic.?”

“I was getting to that,” Nabi admonished, “Because of your legendary ability Anti-Mage all that unsealing magic for you will do for now is allow you to suppress your ability and interact with the world as if you were normal. Currently because your magical sphere channels are sealed, magic has nothing to connect to. With the ability Anti-Mage also in play magic doesn’t even have a chance to notice you to try to establish those connections. It’s why magic doesn’t work on you at all. If your magical spheres are unsealed all that will happen is that you’ll be able to use certain extremely powerful magical items.

“As an example,” Anton pressed.

“As an example, you’ll be able to use SYSTEM and Labyrinth nodes normally. Anti-Mage will still prevent you from utilizing most magic but eventually you might be able to suppress Anti-Mage enough that you’ll be able to use some magical items and even spells, if that is your wish. A more immediate example of the difference is that this room was covered by an illusion. You didn’t notice it because magic cannot make a sympathetic connection with you. If you accept the changes the Labyrinth wishes to make instead of not seeing the illusion you’ll see where the illusion is as a hazy outline of the spell. Because you are immune, it can’t affect you but, because your magical spheres are unsealed you’ll be able to sense the magic that should affect you.

“Wait, I’ve been attacked by spells before, and I was able to see them just fine. Why is this different now?” Anton asked.

“What kind of spells?” Nabi asked.

“I believe it was a Fireball,” Anton said.

“I see,” Nabi said thoughtfully. “If I were to hazard a guess, I’d say you could see that spell because it had an elemental component which created heat an light. Because the energy was generated by magic it couldn’t affect you but the light would still be visible. The illusion that created the bookcase behind you, before I sealed the room with a physical bookcase, used magic to connect to the mind and input a false memory or image. While you are still susceptible to mental and spiritual magic, the magic that tried to alter your thoughts was not originally of that sphere. The illusion was based on Air Magic, which you are sealed from.”

“Seems kind of flaky to me?” Anton said

“Well, considering you shouldn’t be able to exist in the state you’re currently in, that’s the best explanation I can give you,” Nabi said.

“Very well, is there anything else I should know before I accept this change?” Anton asked.

“Well…Almost immediately after you entered the Labyrinth a change to the SYSTEM which was originally designated as a Beta test cascaded throughout the SYSTEM. As the Labyrinth is a universe or universes unto itself, it could ignore the changes or allow them to propagate inside. The Labyrinth is doing the latter.”

“What does that mean for me?” Anton asked

For the most part, nothing. You might notice a slight change in the way attribute bonuses work but for the most part, since you only had one class, there isn’t any kind of change that I need to go over with you now,” Nabi said thoughtfully.

“Attribute bonus change, what do you mean?” Anton asked.

I’m going to use hypothetical numbers to keep this simple. An average person has an attribute score of 10. With a 10 in an attribute, there is neither a negative nor a positive modifier. Before the cascade event, every two points spent on an attribute increased or decreased the bonus for that attribute by one for every two points. An attribute of 8 would have given a -1 modifier while an attribute of 12 would have given a +1 modifier. The change makes it so that an 8 garners a -2 modifier while a 12 garners a +2 modifier. In other words, every point put into an attribute increases the chances that you will be successful in whatever task you are trying to accomplish.

Anton thought about it for a moment before he commented, “That seems like a much better way to excite people about allocating their attributes. What other changes will I notice?

“Skill Levels,” Nabi said matter-of-factly.

“Skill Levels?”

“Yes, Skill levels. Skill level rarity is gone. Skill levels now range from 0 to 100,” Nabi said.

Anton considered that for a moment before he asked, “What about skill points and leveling skills?”

“That change is a bit tricky. Also, spells and psychic abilities utilize the same type of system for leveling, “Nabi said as he paused for a moment to collect his thoughts before he began. “Skills are leveled by either spending skill points, using the skill, or receiving skill points through training.” Skill points are earned from leveling, training with Trainers, or from skill books and tome level skills by paying a number of skill points equal to the new level. 1 skill point for level 1, 2 skill points for level 2, or 3 total skill points, and so on.”

“And the other way?” Anton asked.

“Using the skill of course. Using Skill points will always be faster though,” Nabi said. “The information we’ve seen for the changes showed us an example for a level 10 skill. To level a skill to level 10 would cost 55 skill points. Depending on what type of skill or spell it was to reach level 10 would require you to use the skill 2,200 times or maintain the skill or spell for 367 full minutes.” Additionally, the total equivalent skill level is the sum of both. So, if you spent 55 Skill Points AND you used the skill 2,200 times or for 367 minutes, the skill would be considered level 20. Finally, no matter how many skill points you spend or how much time you put into a skill, the maximum level is 100.”

“That doesn’t seem to be too hard to understand. We earn skill points from leveling, training or finding tomes. Or we earn skill points by spending time to improve our skills. The first looks to be a lot faster than the other. One question, do we ever get the skill points back?”

“No. This change to the SYSTEM removed earning the skill points back. If you utilize skill points to artificially level a skill they are spent forever. Besides, now that skill points will be awarded as treasure it’s just easier to make it a once used and done scenario. Whoever instituted this change put some thought into it,” Nabi said thoughtfully.

Anton considered what he’d been told. Being able to at least recognize magic, even if he couldn’t utilize it, would be nice and it seemed like the changes to the SYSTEM would make it easier for him to level going forward so why not, “If there is nothing else I need to know, I believe I will accept the changes the Labyrinth has offered to make to me.”

“Very well. If you are ready, I will be on my way. A word of warning, this next part might hurt a bit,” Nabi said just before he disappeared.

Anton was about to ask what Nabi meant when a tube of light surrounded him and the node. The light was a variety of colors that, while bright, did not blind him at first. As the colors shifted they did become brighter until closing his eyes failed to stop him from seeing the color. At that moment, the pain began.

Fortunately for Anton, pain and death were close friends at this point and while he intellectually knew that the searing lights were painful as every part of his body began to tingle and then burn, it was a pain he could easily endure. The colors oscillating around him began to shift rapidly until everything turned white. The burning sensation intensified as the pain soaked into his bones and intensified to a level he’d only felt once before.

Anton felt as if he were next to the sun, deep underwater, buried in the earth, and being hit by hurricane-force winds while life poured into him as he rotted and he was surrounded in a halo of light while darkness tried to surround and smother him. Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Life, Death, Light and Darkness, those were…

The pain shattered Anton’s concentration as his natural regeneration from the ability Immortal kicked in and prevented the pain from killing him. Existence became agony. Agony was existence. Did it continue for a moment, a minute, or a year? Anton wasn’t sure. One thing he did know was that even with his Willpower and Endurance over 200, he couldn’t endure the pain, merely bear it.

Eventually, the pain receded and Anton found himself standing alone in the room with his hand on the Labyrinth Shop node. A moment later notifications began scrolling down his vision.

Life Mana Channel has been unsealed

Water Mana Channel has been unsealed

Darkness Mana Channel has been unsealed

Earth Mana Channel has been unsealed

Death Mana Channel has been unsealed

Fire Mana Channel has been unsealed

Light Mana Channel has been unsealed

Air Mana Channel has been unsealed

Proper Mana Channel has been unsealed

Absolute Mana Channel has been unsealed

Putrescent Mana Channel has been unsealed

Space Mana Channel has been unsealed

Time Mana Channel has been unsealed

Gravity Mana Channel has been unsealed

Divine Mana Channel has been unsealed

15 Mana Channels have been unsealed.

The following mana channels have been strengthened; Anti, Soul, Spirit, Mental, Order, and Chaos.

Unsealed mana channels allow magic to interact with and affect the targeted individual normally.

NOTE: Legendary Ability Anti-Mage detected. All magic sphere interactions except Soul, Spirit, and Mental are suppressed. Any ability, spell, or skill that utilizes magic from one of the suppressed magical spheres lower than level 81 does not affect you.

Additionally, magical items are still unusable by you unless the item is at least Legendary. Fortunately, all SYSTEM and Labyrinth Node and magical effects inherent to those two entities are considered at least Legendary in nature.

Conversion Implemented

Conversion Finished.

Rarities of all Skills, Spells and Psychic Skills Removed

Status Screen, Abridged

Name: Anthony Nicholas Thomson

Identity: Anton

Race: Human

Age: 27

Weight: 225

Birthday: September 13th 2013 (Friday the 13th)

Animae: Normal

Classes:

1st Class: (Rare): Specter / Level 37

Attributes

Strength 90, 45 100% efficiency. (+80)

Agility 92, 46 100% efficiency. (+82)

Dexterity 92, 46 100% efficiency. (+82)

Endurance 294, 147 100% efficiency. (+284)

Constitution 180, 60 200% efficiency. (+170)

Perception 178, 89 100% efficiency. (+168)

Intelligence 102, 51 100% efficiency. (+92)

Wisdom 90, 45 100% efficiency. (+80)

Willpower 483, 161, 200% efficiency. (+473)

Charisma 90, 45, 100% efficiency. (+90)

Luck 171, 57, 200% efficiency. (+161)

Chaos 0, 100%, 0 (-10)

Order 0, 100%, 0 (-10)

Skill Slots: 122

Spell Slots: 0

Psionic Slots: 192

Primary Stats

Carrying Capacity: 1,013 lbs / 459 kgs

Hit Points: 630

Health Regeneration:4 per hour (SPECIAL: NOTE: Immortal, fully healed after 14 seconds)

Stamina: 3,125

Stamina Regeneration: 30 per 10 seconds

Mana: 0 of 4,830 (See Ability Anti-Mage)

Mana Regeneration: 0

Psychic Energy (PE): 461

PE Regeneration: 5 per 10 seconds

Movement

Running Speed: 63 MPH/ 93 FPS

Standing high Jump: 18 Inches.

Note. Falling Damage is not mitigated by maximum jumping Distance.

Flying Speed: N/A

Base Attack

Unarmed Attack: 42 (2 Base + 40 Damage)

Critical Damage Maximum Damage x2

Abilities:

Anti-Mage

Immortal

Perks

Specter (Ability Immortal and Class Specter)

Titles:

I Ain’t Worried

I Can Take it

Goblin Slayer 3

Trifecta

Arbiter of Fate

Psychic Skills

Perk Granted Psychic Skills

Specter, Level: 41

Class Skills

Manifest (Specter), Level: 71

Spectral Reach (Specter), Level: 2

Spectral Scream (Specter), Level: 17

Purchased Psychic Skills

Analyze, Level: 1

Aura Sight, Level: 1

Battle Meditation, Level: 41

Detect Magic, Level: 1

Eagle Eyes, Level: 1

Hyper Focus, Level: 1

Identify, Level: 1

Meditation, Level: 51

Mental Refuge, Level: 1

Mental Shield, Level: 5

Mind Bolt, Level: 2

Planar Shift, Level: 1

Quickened Healing, Level: 1

Telekinesis, Level: 1

Telepathy, Level: 1

Skills

Perk Granted Skills

Basic Map (SYSTEM Granted Perk Skill)

Personal Storage (Tier 2) (SYSTEM Granted Perk Skill)

Purchased Skills:

ASL - American Sign Language - Level 1

Bows (Purchased Skill) – Level 21

Crossbows (Purchased Skill) - Level 21

Dodge (Purchased Skill) - Level 21

Long Blades (Purchased Skill) - Level 21

Long Range Firearms (Purchased Skill) - Level 21

Maggen’s Exceptional Storage (Purchased Skill) – Level 41

Maggen's Gift (Purchased Skill) - Level 41

Scavenge (Purchased Skill) – Level 1

Short Blades (Purchased Skill) - Level 21

Snatch (Purchased Skill) – Level 1

Two-Weapon Fighting Style (Purchased Skill) – Level 1

Treasure

On Person

Copper: 1,000

Silver: 1,000

Credits: 14,380,367

Gold: 2,302

Platinum: 1,000

SYSTEM Bank

Copper: 15,698

Silver: 1,263

Credits: 1,972,320

Gold: 0

Platinum: 26

Anton looked over the abridged information and immediately realized that the conversion had increased his level from 36 to 37. Additionally, the attribute modifiers had effectively doubled. He’d have to wait to see how that played out in combat but damn, that was a significant boost. The changes made implied that every point above 10 made a difference. Chaos and Order being at 0 and giving a -10 modifier were a bit worrisome. Finally, it looked like all of his skill levels had been converted. Manifest at level 71 was insanely high, but that had been a Legendary Psychic Skill so that made sense.

Anton shifted his feet. That slight movement shifted his hand which activated the Labyrinth Shop Node

Would you like to enter the Labyrinth Shop, Yes or No?

Anton chose “Yes” and felt himself get translocated into a small room with a few display cases and a kiosk. Before he could get a good look at anything a pleasant male voice spoke from the air directly in front of him.

“Welcome to the New York City Labyrinth Shop 1928. This shop contains only limited materials and items available at this location. Additionally, please note that one of the changes implemented by the SYSTEM and followed by the Labyrinth is that information can no longer be created by SYSTEM, and by proxy, Labyrinth personnel. At this time no information brokers have provided information for sale and all previous resources have been removed.”

Anton was disappointed. He thought about what he needed and what he needed to know before he asked, “Can I convert credits to the local currency and do you also sell clothes that match this era?”

“Currency is available, as are clothes and weapons appropriate to the location, culture and era,” The Labyrinth Shop said.

Anton stepped forward and touched the flat screen before him. It seemed to work just like a touchscreen tablet but Anton was sure that it was magic-based. Opening up his mana channels allowed him to at least interact with magical items. Or, could it be that the Labyrinth and the System items were considered so powerful that they bypassed his ability? He wasn’t sure but he had to admit it was rather nice to be able to interact with magical devices. Maybe he wouldn’t have to rely on technology anymore.

Anton looked over the items that he could purchase. The first thing he noticed was that the currency conversion was set to 1.5 credits for 1 U.S. Dollar. Anton was pretty sure that was highway robbery but he needed it so he spent 1,500 credits for 1,000 U.S dollars. He also looked through the clothing and found a couple sets of nice casual clothes, a business suit, ties, and both casual and business shoes for another 1,500 credits. Weapon-wise, he had plenty of weapons and ammo but decided to purchase a Browning Model 1922 with a silencer and ammo which set him back another 1,200 credits. He wanted to purchase some explosives but they weren’t available in this shop.

There were no spells or skills for sale and as there were no information brokers there was nothing he could purchase that might give him a hint about where he had to travel to next. Anton put all of his purchases into his Personal Storage and then added his new clothing to a few new preconfigured clothing sets for quick changes. Once he was ready he switched his clothing to a casual pair of shoes with nice grey slacks and a white short-sleeved shirt with a blue power tie. This outfit should allow him to blend in nicely.

When he was done he made his way back to the Shop Node, touched it, and reappeared in the room with a now visible illusionary wall back into the main library. Anton checked to make sure no one was watching and then stepped through the illusionary wall into the main library. Anton made his way out of the Library and found a coach waiting on the curb outside.

“Can I help you mister?” the driver called out as Anton walked down the steps to the street.

“I would like to stay in a hotel if that’s possible. Is there anything close?” Anton asked.

“Are you looking for a nice place or a cheap place?” the driver asked.

“A nice quiet place would be best,” Anton answered.

“The Merrymen is just a few blocks south of here, but it is a bit expensive at 10 dollars a night,” the coachman said.

“That’s perfect,” Anton answered back with a smile. “How much for a ride?” Anton asked.

“A quarter. Hop on in, I’ll get you there.”

Anton stepped into the Coach and sat down as the driver clicked his tongue and they were off. The trip to the Merryman was anticlimactic. Anton gave the Coachman a full dollar and let him keep the change. When he arrived at the hotel he paid 100 dollars to rent a penthouse guest room for a full week and then made his way upstairs. Instead of sleeping Anton stayed fully clothed laid back and entered a state of meditation. He needed to rest but he wanted to make sure he could react to anyone that might break into his room. He was in the Labyrinth after all. While he hadn’t seen any monsters yet, there had to be some here somewhere, didn’t there?”