Chapter 85: Noble System Expansion
[CRITICAL SYSTEM UPDATE]
[Noble expansion updated.]
[New features unlocked.]
Suddenly, Jack’s interface exploded with new information that made his head spin even more violently than before.
Windows and menus cascaded across his vision like a waterfall of data, each one revealing aspects of his noble heritage that he’d never known existed.
[Noble system dashboard activated.]
[Territory overview: City of Sorne.]
[Population: 4,117 citizens]
[Overall Approval Rating: 72%]
[Economic Status: Stable]
[Infrastructure Rating: Okay]
’Wait, what?’ Jack stared at the information with growing confusion. ’I have an approval rating? From who?’
[Your citizens, obviously. Did you think being heir to a duchy was purely ceremonial?]
[Social Class Relationships]
[Nobles: 35% approval]
[Merchants: 45% approval]
[Farmers: 72% approval]
[Guards: 65% approval (Loyal to Alaric, uncertain about Jack)]
[Commoners: 68% approval (Mixed feelings about absent heir)]
Jack felt a sinking sensation in his stomach that had nothing to do with dimensional displacement.
Thirty-five percent approval from the nobles? Sixty-eight percent from commoners? These people barely knew him!
’Why is my approval rating so low?’ Jack thought with growing concern. ’I saved the city from that business crisis, didn’t I?’
[You’ve been unconscious for ten years. Many citizens question whether someone who vanished during their formative years is truly prepared to lead. Also, you haven’t actually implemented any policies or made any decisions yet.]
’So I’m being judged for being in a magical coma? That’s hardly fair.’
[Life rarely is. Welcome to politics.]
[Notable Citizens]
[Guard Captain Adrian: Respectful (75/100)]
[Marriage Opportunities]
[Aurora Sunblade (Engaged): Unknown relationship status]
[2 other potential matches available]
’I guess I should talk to Aurora at some point.’
[Military Assets]
[Personal Guards: 0/100 ]
[City Watch: 85/160 (Loyal to Duke Alaric)]
The military numbers were even more sobering than the approval ratings. He had zero personal guards? The city watch wasn’t even fully staffed and their loyalty was to his father, not to him personally?
’This is a disaster,’ Jack thought with growing panic. ’I’m supposed to be heir to one of the most powerful duchies in the kingdom, and I have no power base whatsoever.’
[Correct. Your ten-year absence created a leadership vacuum that your father filled, but it also means you have no independent political standing. You’ll need to build your own power structure from scratch.]
’And how exactly am I supposed to do that?’
[Start small. Help citizens with their problems. Make good decisions. Prove you’re worthy of leadership rather than simply entitled to it by birth.]
The System’s advice was practical, but Jack could feel the enormous weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders like a lead blanket.
He’d gone from worrying about learning magic to suddenly being responsible for four thousand people’s wellbeing.
"Jack?" Priestess Lyanna’s voice cut through his internal crisis. "You’ve been standing there staring into space for several minutes. Are you experiencing divine visions?"
’More like divine reality checks,’ Jack thought grimly, but he shook his head at the priestess. "No, just... processing everything I experienced during communion."
Brother Matthias stepped forward with eager anticipation radiating from every pore. "What did the Forgotten One reveal to you, Divine Avatar? What cosmic truths were you shown?"
Jack considered how to answer that question. The truth. That he’d learned gods were mostly selfish manipulators who treated mortal lives like chess pieces.
"I learned that the supernatural world is far more complex and dangerous than I’d imagined," Jack said carefully. "And that I have a great deal more responsibility than I’d realized."
Sister Elena clasped her hands together with religious fervor. "The burden of cosmic significance! You begin to understand the weight of divine purpose!"
"Something like that," Jack agreed, though his concerns were considerably more practical than cosmic.
Sera pushed away from the wall where she’d been leaning. "Fascinating as this theological discussion is, we should be moving."
Jack nodded, grateful for the reminder.
But before they could leave, Jack needed to make a decision about his class progression. The choice between Arc Mage and Lightning Apostle wasn’t an easy one.
’System, if I choose Arc Mage now, can I still access Lightning Apostle later?’
[Yes. However, advanced class combinations may become available at higher levels. Your choice now will determine your immediate development path.]
Jack weighed his options one final time. Raw destructive power versus divine enhancement.
In the end, the decision came down to practicality. He was about to venture into a world where gods, chosen ones, and various supernatural entities would be trying to manipulate or eliminate him.
He needed every advantage he could get, and that meant choosing the path that offered the most immediate power.
’I choose Arc Mage.’
[Class selection choose.]
[New Skills Available.]
[Lightning Mastery increased to Advanced Level]
[Static Field: Creates a spider web of electrical currents that can paralyzed and slow your enemies. Range: 2 meters wide, 3 meters tall. Slow/stun is determing by Magic stat. The higher your magic, the more likely you will be able to effect someone or something.]
[Arc Blast: Shoots out a blast of lightning in small streams. Range 3 meters. Damage is determined by Magic × 4. Skill can be constantly used for long periods or the user runs out of mana.]
’Okay let’s get both of these skills system.’
[Confrim usage of 70 Skill Points]
[YES] or [NO]
’Yes!’
’Damn,’ Jack thought with satisfaction. ’This feels incredible.’
[Your power output has increased. Blue lightningis more unique than purple. All spells while class is equppied do an extra 20% damage. Try not to electrocute yourself or anyone you actually want to keep alive.]
’I’ll try to contain my enthusiasm,’ Jack replied, though he was already imagining the look on Sera’s face when she saw what he could do now.
Priestess Lyanna noticed the change immediately, her eyes widening as she observed the blue lightning dancing around Jack’s form. "Remarkable," she breathed. "Your divine blessing has evolved. Such rapid advancement is unprecedented."
The cultists looked equally impressed, their religious fervor reaching new heights as they witnessed what they clearly interpreted as divine favor manifesting in spectacular fashion.
"The Divine Avatar grows in power!" Brother Matthias proclaimed with obvious satisfaction. "The cosmic forces align to strengthen their chosen instrument!"
’If only they knew,’ Jack thought wryly, ’that this has more to do with RPG mechanics than cosmic destiny.’
[Speaking of which, you should probably start thinking about building actual political power rather than just magical power. Your approval ratings suggest considerable room for improvement.]
Jack nodded internally. The System was right - impressive lightning displays wouldn’t mean much if he couldn’t convince people to follow him. But that was a problem for later. Right now, he just wanted to get back to civilization without being attacked by supernatural entities.
As they prepared to leave the sacred site, Jack took one last look around the temple complex. The ancient stones seemed to hum with residual divine energy, and he could feel the weight of cosmic attention still pressing down on him from multiple dimensions.
Somewhere out there, gods were making plans that involved him. Other chosen ones were positioning themselves for future conflicts. Political forces were gathering like storm clouds on the horizon.
"Let’s go home," Jack said aloud, blue lightning crackling around his fingers with anticipation. ’I have a duchy to learn how to rule.’
"Divine Avatar, surely you will come with us to Sanctorium now?" Brother Mathias asked.
"I said I would listen to my god and decide. I will visit Sanctorium one day, but not now. There is too much i have to do now."
"But..." Brother Thomas interjected.
"Shhh...." Jack stuck up one finger. "We had a deal and I honored it.
Jack and Sera walked away and retreated from the cultists.
As they walked away from the Ruins of Divine Convergence, neither of them noticed the shadow that detached itself from the temple’s eastern wall and began following at a discrete distance.