TravelingDreamer
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Chapter 3: OP MC? Me?
🕑 Added 2024-04-29 18:29:26 +0000 UTCIt was time to delve into my Profile, or Personal Information, as the system called it. I took a fortifying breath, ready for the new weirdnes, and tapped each line with my mind.
First, there was my name. There was this odd sense of potential or possibility would be the better word. Like I could change it with a thought. Why would I want to change my name? It made little sense.
I shook my head, bewildered. Moving on.
My age had an edit option, too. I had no idea why I would want to use it, so I left it until I could figure out the reason for this option.
Then, I reached “Class,” clicked, and a new block of text scrolled in front of my eyes:
Gate Traveler
Unique Class
A Gate Traveler can move between worlds through Gates that connect to different planets, planes of existence, and parallel universes.
This class grants a variety of unique abilities designed to aid the Traveler and accelerate the acquisition of new Skills and Spells. A Traveler needs a wide range of knowledge to travel successfully.
The first three Class abilities are free, but additional abilities cost Ability Points.
Each level grants +1 to all traits, +5 free points, +1 ability point.
I read the description twice, letting the words sink in. The line about "planets, planes of existence, and parallel universes" lit up my mind with images—things I saw on Star Trek, things I read about in the old legends when I searched for information a few days ago, and some other things my mind made up. Each one felt like a door cracked open, waiting for me to step through. A chill crept down my back. It was exciting and scary at the same time. The unknown held a measure of threat, because it was, well, Unknown, but also a sense of exploration and wonder. This wasn’t just travel. It was everything, all of it, suddenly real. Not just something out of a sci-fi flick.
My body vibrated with excitement, but a gut-wrenching wave of sadness immediately followed. Sophie should have been here for this. I could almost hear her voice. That familiar voice full of teasing warmth mixed with a sharp spark of curiosity. Her words would spill out faster than she could think of them, brimming with unstoppable energy, and her hand would grab my arm every other word to make sure I was listening. I could almost smell the faintest trace of her favorite perfume—a soft, sweet scent she always wore—mixing with the brush of her hair as she leaned in close, her eyes wide, saying, “What do you think the worlds are like? Maybe there’s a world where the stars light up in different colors, or where trees can talk.” She’d have dozens of theories and get lost in imagining every one, dragging me along for the ride.
A hollow ache, heavy as a stone, lodged under my ribs, pressing into my heart and lungs, making breathing hard.
God, I miss you, baby.
For a moment, it felt like she was right there, leaning on my shoulder, laughing at the absurdity with me, her hand squeezing mine like she always did whenever I was about to do something I was unsure about. That steady, grounding presence she had. I stayed there a while, rubbing my chest, letting the memories ebb. When the ache dulled, I drew a shaky breath, wiped my face, and returned to the screen. This curveball that life threw me shocked me out of my pain, and I had no intention of letting myself submerge again under the onslaught.
Gates. Nothing new popped up, which was disappointing.
Finally, I tapped “Class Abilities,” and text exploded across my vision, blocks of information stacking up faster than I could blink. Just reading it all made my head spin. I had a ton of options, and each one was a mystery. Overwhelming didn’t begin to cover it.
GATE TRAVELER ABILITIES
Conversion between stat points and ability points
Unique Class Ability
Exchange 5 stat points for 1 Ability Point.
No cost in mana or Ability Points.
I squinted at the text. “Five stat points for one ability point?” I mumbled, rubbing the back of my neck. “Are those points that valuable?”
Keep looking and then decide.
Travelers’ Archive
Unique Class Ability
By Travelers for Travelers.
Gain access to the Travelers’ Archive, where Travelers share knowledge. In each new world, access notes from other Travelers to help you navigate that world.
Before you leave, add your own experiences to assist future Travelers.
Explore the General Information section for tips on becoming a successful Traveler.
No cost in mana or Ability Points.
That was unexpected. The idea of a Traveler network, a kind of interdimensional guidebook, was both welcome and surreal.
“A cosmic travel blog?” I asked the screen.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. It might actually save me a lot of headaches, and embarrassing mistakes.
Identify
Common Ability
Look at a creature, object, or being to reveal basic information about them.
No cost in mana or Ability Points.
I rubbed my chin, imagining the possibilities of getting real-time info with just a glance. An instant ID app. I chuckled, thinking of my annoying habit of forgetting names. Practical … if it worked as promised. I made a mental note to test it the next time I headed out. A twinge of excitement nudged me to check what came next.
Storage
Unique Class Ability
Unlock a storage space with an initial size of 64 cubic meters (4x4x4m). Items in this space stay suspended.
Expanding it by 4 meters in each direction costs 1 Ability Point, allowing storage growth from 64 m³ > 512 m³ > 1728 m³ > 4096 m³. Expansions are limitless, but can cause mental strain without increased traits.
No mana cost, but accessing Storage on worlds with mana levels of 10 or below takes more time and concentration.
I breathed out a low whistle, imagining the possibilities of a portable storage space.
No more luggage, I realized, my eyes widening.
Finally, freedom from the curse of waiting at the airport baggage claim. Leaning back, I smilled, until I noticed the line about “mental strain.” My excitement faded as I rubbed my temple, frowning. Let’s hope it’s not the kind of strain that leaves you with a migraine for days.
Traveling light was too tempting. I bought my first 64 m³ of space, bracing for the mental strain, but nothing happened. Shrugging, I checked the next ability.
Local Adaptation
Unique Class Ability
Spoken Language: Gain a basic understanding of a language by listening to it and improve by speaking it.
Cost: 1 Ability Point, with a one-time mana cost of 500 per language.
Written Language: Learn to read a language by viewing at least five words, and improve fluency by reading.
Cost: 1 Ability Point, with a one-time mana cost of 500 per language.
Runes/Magic Script: Understand the meaning and use of runes and magic symbols. Mastery grows with additional symbols.
Cost: 5 Ability Points.
You can learn three types of rune or magic script languages; each extra language costs 1 Ability Point.
Mana cost: 50 units per rune or symbol.
I ran a hand through my hair, imagining the possibility of picking up languages on the fly. Instantly understanding a new language was amazing, like unlocking a secret superpower.
“Einstein, eat your heart out,” I joked to the empty room.
I could see Sophie’s face, just for a moment, rolling her eyes and scrunching her nose in a playful, exaggerated way, her lips curling at the edges despite herself. She always did it when she thought I was being a smartass, and I could almost feel her presence at my side, her hand squeezing mine. The ache in my chest flared again. I held onto the memory for a moment longer, and let it go.
Even if I never left Earth, this ability wasn’t a luxury, but essential. Working in the ER, I’d lost count of how many times I’d struggled to communicate with patients who didn’t speak English. Those moments were a nightmare of clumsy charades and desperately hunting down someone to translate the basics. “Where does it hurt? Are you allergic to anything?” These were such simple, vital questions, but the language barrier turned them into obstacles. The idea of not experiencing that again was fantastic. I almost wished I hadn’t spent my free Ability Point on the Storage.
Then again… I glanced back at the Storage description. I’d never lost my luggage in transit, but I’d heard enough horror stories. No more luggage hassles. Maybe I’d made the right choice after all.
Travelers’ Map
Unique Class Ability
In each world, access a Map of that world, updated by other Travelers. The Map will continue updating as you explore.
You can study existing maps to pre-fill parts of your Map, but these additions won’t update the general Travelers’ Map or be visible to other Travelers.
Cost: 1 Ability Point, with a one-time mana cost of 100 in each new world.
This one was lackluster. More precisely, if I stayed on Earth, it’d be pretty useless—Earth’s maps were detailed enough. But if I decided to travel, then it’d be invaluable. No wonder Ability Points were so valuable, needing five stat points to get one.
One of the Crowd
Unique Class Ability
Everything a Traveler needs to hide their status as a Traveler.
In many worlds, abilities or devices exist to view Personal Information. This ability lets you cloak or modify your details:
–Change your name to blend in with local norms.
–Display one of your sub-classes or professions as your primary class, or show a false class based on your Skills or Spells.
–Hide parts of your information and replace them with question marks (Warning: This can draw unwanted attention).
In some worlds, identification is required, such as papers, badges, or ID chips. Use this ability to conjure suitable IDs.
Mana cost: 100 mana for standard ID creation; 500 mana for advanced IDs, such as central database-linked chips.
If the world doesn’t recognize your race, apply a glamor to appear local. The glamor drops once you pass through a Gate to a new world.
Mana cost: 300 mana per world.
To travel successfully, a Traveler may need extra documentation. This ability enables you to conjure any necessary documents.
Mana cost: varies based on specific requirements.
Cost: 1 Ability Point.
This one was incredible. Total anonymity, even here on Earth. I’d lost count of the times I wanted to blend in and melt into the background like some invisible bystander. High school alone had been a minefield of moments I’d rather forget, and the thought of finally having an escape hatch from that kind of scrutiny? Tension melted away from my shoulders just thinking about it. I imagined myself slipping through a crowd, unseen, a ghost able to vanish when the world closed in. Wish I’d had that back then.
Maybe I’d been too hasty with that first Ability Point on Storage. If I were to ever decide to travel, this would be a game-changer. Well, here on Earth as well. Be somebody else, escape scrutiny and expectations.
I grinned to myself. “Guess I’ll have the perfect disguise next time I wander into a bar full of little gray men,” I joked, imagining the absurd scene. My laughter echoed in the empty room, filling the quiet space, and for a brief moment, it almost felt like Sophie was right beside me, laughing along. The warmth of that thought settled over me, turning a slight grin into a full smile.
Sub-Classes/Professions
Unique Class Ability
Allows you to acquire up to three additional classes and professions to support your travels. While these are less powerful than primary classes, they offer valuable abilities.
1st sub-class/profession: 1 Ability Point
2nd sub-class/profession: 3 Ability Points
3rd sub-class/profession: 5 Ability Points
No mana cost to gain a sub-class or profession.
My grin spread wider. Picking up random skills sounded like a dream. Why stop at Gate Traveler when I can also be a blacksmith or a pilot? I thought, excitement bubbling up. I could be the ultimate jack-of-all-trades. Leaning back in my chair, I shook my head, imagining all the ridiculous combinations. Gate Traveler by day, baker by night.
General Spells and Skills
Unique Class Ability
Travelers can learn any Spell or Skill from the connected worlds, allowing for versatility and adaptability.
Each new Spell or Skill costs 1-3 Ability Points and starts at level 1.
Mana cost for use varies by Spell or Skill.
SEE FULL LIST
Level 10 in the Gate Traveler Class unlocks additional options
The spells and skills list was like a never-ending library of powers and knowledge. At first, I was excited, but as I scrolled, that excitement turned to something closer to awe… and a touch of panic.
There were martial skills from every discipline I could think of, from Earth’s traditional martial arts to combat techniques that sounded like they belonged in some ancient myth or futuristic sci-fi epic. Fencing, swordsmanship, archery, staff fighting, hand-to-hand forms that had names I had never heard of, and a range of weapon skills spanning from medieval axes and crossbows to hydrogen emitters and gravitic pulsers—some sci-fi tech straight out of a blockbuster.
That was only the beginning. The list covered skills for driving, sailing, and piloting every imaginable type of vehicle, from basic cars to sailboats, motorbikes, helicopters, planes, and even spaceships. Spaceships! I could almost picture myself cruising the stars at the helm of some advanced vessel.
Then I reached the magic section, and the list got wild. Every school of magic you could think of, and many I’d never even heard of, were there: Elemental Spells from all the elements I knew of and some I didn't even know were considered elements, like Darkness or Light. Healing, Necromancy, Illusion, Shadow Manipulation, and even more obscure branches like Dream Weaving or Echo Manipulation. Categories contained subcategories, which themselves contained further subdivisions. It was like every fantasy trope had been stuffed into this endless database.
But it didn’t stop at combat or magic. I found professional skills for every imaginable trade, from blacksmithing and carpentry to less common crafts like glassblowing, crochet, and gem crafting. There were skills I never would have thought were worth training for, like sail sewing, knot-tying, bookkeeping, and utensil repair. Some labels sounded like things from fairy tales—rituals, magic circles, spellbinding, formations. Even cursing had its own category, with subsections from minor hexes to full-blown banishments.
And then, of course, there were the general skills. An encyclopedia of everything a regular person might pick up over a lifetime. Cooking, basic repairs, and sewing were the basic ones. Still, there was also swimming, rock climbing, fishing, and playing any instrument under the sun, moon, and stars, from piano to lyre to some instruments I’d never heard of, like a Thermablaster or Susirr. Industrial machines had their own skills, covering everything from factory-level production to delicate work with micro-machines or nanite programming. The list even included skills like diplomacy, negotiation, and spycraft, all just waiting to be learned and improved.
I scrolled and scrolled, and the list continued to grow. It was like it had a life of its own, constantly adding new skills and spells to tempt me with possibilities I couldn’t even wrap my head around. The sheer scale of it all hit me like a tsunami, engulfing me in an ocean of endless options. This class wasn’t just overpowered—it was ridiculously overpowered! I could be anything!
A laugh escaped me before I could contain it, then another, louder. I sounded like one of those users from the book forums raving about ‘OP MC’ that I didn’t understand last week.
I could be an OP MC!
The thought flashed through my mind, and I snorted. I imagined myself in some over-the-top action pose, shooting lasers from my eyes or fighting like Bruce Lee while shouting, “Hiya!” That mental image did me in. I doubled over and laughed so hard my stomach cramped.
Dr. John, the OP hero.
I laughed until tears streamed down my face, each gasp bringing another absurd image: a spaceship navigator in a sci-fi space suit, a dandy fencer in a hat with a feather, a ship captain with an eye patch and a parrot. The ridiculousness of the situation was hysterical, sending me into peals of laughter—laughter that came from somewhere deep, a mix of awe, disbelief, and sheer overwhelm.
Me! An OP MC!
Another wave of hysterical laughter …
