Just other oddities? You certainly hope so

The night was simply divine. You can’t even remember the last time you slept... so peacefully, the tender embrace of the minute adventurer bringing a pleasant warmth to your rest. But eventually, you are awoken by the rays of light filtering through the entrance of your shabby cave; you insisted on sleeping somewhere else, almost embarrassed to show this place to her. Alyanne, however, was adamant, and you eventually relented.

As you look down towards your chest, you can see her messy hair cascading around her sleepy face and letting her long and pointy ears show, the light breeze of the morning making them twitch and causing a slight chuckle from you. The moment you move your arm to reach for the improvised covers, you feel her muscles tense before looking up, her eyes seeking you.

“Trying to chew your way out like a trapped animal?” asks the small voice of the woman before you move her up along your body till your lips meet. “I’ll take thar as a no, for now,” comes a more steady voice accompanied by a melodious giggle.

“You won’t get rid of me that easily,” you reassure her, seeking her lips once more while sitting up. After another couple minutes of you two making out, you eventually speak again. “We should really move” your words sound more unwilling than you meant. “It’s been almost 24 hours till the update out there. If they notice what we’ve done, they may try to stop us” you continue as you summon a golden gem from your inventory.

Ancient Claimant Crystal (Relic)
You have achieved a magnificent feat to get this object; the System rewards you for your accomplishments.
Use Ancient Claimant Crystal to Claim Land?
Yes/No

You move your finger to the No option and make the crystal and the notification disappear at the same time. Alyanne has moved and after a few movements of her hand she is fully equipped with her gear, motioning to you and remarking amused, “Do you want to go out like that? Because I woldn’t complain if so” only then you notice that you have moved from under the thin fabric that covered your pride and were now in front of the woman in all your glory.

You take a couple minutes to make Alyanne stop laughing and eventually you move to the center of the temple, in the space that would normally be enclosed to form a reliquary or a sanctum. After weighting all the pros and cons, you both have decided that the temple was a more than worthy start for your domain. And the both of you were eager to finally be free from the preoccupations of being playerless avatars.

If all the information that you’ve put together is a sign of anything is that as an abandoned avatar you will be turned to an NPC of some sort depending on the land that you claim, and that is far better than waiting to slowly turn into a default Level 0 villager, devoided of all the little that remains of yourself.

Taking a glance at your companion you see her hands fidgeting with one another and move your left to grasp hers, the action seems to calm her somewhat and after a long moment of doubt in her eyes she nods in your direction urging you to act and take the crystal out once more.

Use Ancient Claimant Crystal to Claim Land?
Yes/No

This time you move your hand still grasping Alyanne’s and press the Yes option, making the woman flinch at the movement.

Due to log history, multiple option are available at the start of the process
Do you wish to manually chose the options?
Yes/No

Another moment of surprise stuns you but this time is Alyanne who strengthens the grip and brings you back to reality, you pres Yes once more and various pop-ups overlap, presenting you with your choices

Claim type:
Player Home
Guild Base
Neutral Faction Base
Monster Lair

“Paladin? Are you still there?” Asks the woman, making you realize you lost yourself staring at the option. “Problems Choosing?” She does not seem the slightest bit mocking or brash as per what you have seen so far when she catches you lost on your own. She herself seems to have read each option multiple times and at your slight nod, it’s once more her who takes the initiative. “Obviously, the first two options are out of the question. And I can’t really see a difference in your situation if you become a questgiver NPC, you’ll still depend on players to continue existing...” no more is said, not like it’s needed. You already know what she may be tinking.

“But becoming a monster is a bit...” You cut yourself, not managing to put the feeling in words.

“Abnormal?” She asks and once more you simply nod. “But if you become strong, you can even live like Shendranith, a queen under Imporne who fights directly as rarely as a World Quest appearance” It’s true that high-level bosses only fights when their names appear on some quest or when some crazy player tries to get the achievement for defeating her solo.

“So...? Am I going to take that chance? It certainly looks like the only that can grant some semblance of independence” as you move your hand and hover over the option, the push from Alyanne’s own hand is the last thing that helps you make your mind.

Monster Lair selected
User is not compatible with option
Do you wish to become a monster? (The option is irreversible)
Yes/No

Without waiting, you instantly accept and proceed to the new option when nothing happens.

The land you are trying to claim:
test_Mount.Imperion?_Spawn_Sanctuary_0.01_Location_0
Is part of an older version of the world building algorithm
Do you wish to allow the System to make changes to the area?
(This will allow natural and unique feature to be generated as there are none present due to lack of updates)
Yes/No

Once more, you are taken aback, but after the initial surprise, there is no time lost before you accept once more

In order to claim the territory, a named entity is needed
Do you wish to rename yourself?

“A name?” Asks the woman after reading the message herself, “Do you have something in mind? It would be pretty bad if you were to be known as Knucklehead” The slight teasing tone seems to have returned and you yourself smile at the idea before once more, making you mind based on instinct alone.

“Raziel”

Your name will be changed to Raziel.
Due to previous option the area has been surveyed and a potential minion has been detected
Do you wish to make Alyanne Stormchild your minion?
(Character will be turned into a lower rank monster of the same race as the user)
Yes/No

“WHAT?” Your outburst startles the woman who you still hold hands with but you don’t notice in your anger at the disembodied messenger “WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN BY... minion?” your voice roars once more before you calm yourself a bit feeling Alyanne’s hand squeezing yours again.

“It’s alright paladin” her voice is weak but seems grateful, maybe comforted by your anger.

But you have no intention of taking it without a fight and once more you almost scream at the message window. “If you were not there with me, how could I be here now at the beginning of a new story for myself? And what does this thing tell me to reward you with? MINION? you must be joking... piece of...” finding yourself stammering on your words a thought pass in your head and your head snaps in her direction. “You should use it. You have the higher level and all, maybe you can turn the both of us into monsters too”

She is on the point of talking when the both of you are stopped by the blinking window that seems to change in front of your eyes.

Due to user recommendation, a solution has been found.
High rank Claimant Stone can be used to assign Alyanne Stormchild as a Guardian
(Character will be turned into a unique monster of the same race as the user)
Do you wish to proceed?
Yes/No

“Oh, ahem... This does not sound so bad. Right?” There is a slight doubt in her voice as she tries to look at you without taking her eyes from the new message. You certainly understand her doubts, however. The System is not usually so kind to anyone, but maybe...

“What is this Guardian” you try asking knowing that you can’t really lose anything.

Guardian:

The highest rank follower of a dungeon boss, a Guardian, is both the closest aide and the strongest ally. All other followers bow in front of the Guardian as if in the presence of their master. As a Guardian, during the process of growth, up to three class options will be incorporated to form the arsenal of the right-hand monster in your lair.

“Ok, that is alright” you say after reading the text and stealing a glance at Alyanne, who seems incredulous at what she is presented with. “Can you tell me what kind of monster we will turn into?” Again, you try hoping to have drawn the right conclusion.

The decision will be made after the choice of Affinity for your domain
Do you wish to choose an Affinity now?

This time there is not even the request for manual input so you tentatively speak your intentions “Yes?”

In front of you, a list of your various choices unravels in a new pop up.

Realm Affinity:
Wasteland
Inferno
Aquatic
Glacial
Earth
Air
Storm
Gaia
Necrotic
Illusion
Light
Dark
Mystic
(The choice made here will influence the initial theme of your domain and the unique natural features that may be generated. This choice slightly influences the race that you will turn into)

Each option seems to unravel to let you see what each will grant and after you manage to finish you realize, there is no way this is how things normally go, maybe the strange crystal is the cause, before the window said that because of the rank Alyanne could be changed to be more than a simple minion. After convincing yourself that the explanation is nothing strange, you sigh and look at your companion and decide to ask for her input on the matter. “What do you tink we should choose?”

“Me?” she flinches in surprise before locking eyes with you and calming slightly. “I am not really sure” starts her voice almost in a whisper “If it was me I wold say Gaia, but you may be more compatible with Light or the Mystic” She speaks now more sure of herself maybe also to the fact that you still haven’t released her hand and have continued to grasp it for support, both yours and hers.

“Gaia and Light were also the ones I really liked. Mystic seems just extra bothersome for now, don’t really want the flora to become magic and start moving on a whim,” you say, chuckling. “Now just to see which...”

Chose Light and Gaia Affinities?

You are not left time to finish when the window blinks once more and questions your intentions.

“I can choose multiple? Can you tell me these things beforehand?” You pout as you see the response appear once more.

Two Affinities can be chosen, further instructions will include numerical value
Do you wish to choose Light and Gaia as your Affinities?

“Yes... Thanks” your words leave your mouth with almost a sense of loss. You now have the certainty that something is wrong. The System shouldn’t be this responsive, no scratch that, The Pantheon would not allow for anything similar. How can they be so accommodating?

Complete claim?

One last choice separates you from the new start that you longed for, it seems. One last glance at the woman at your side and you even take a step forward as to reinforce your resolve.

“Yes”

I have analyzed your choices, generating preview.
Please wait while all options are defined.

EDIT by Me obviously:

Almost forgot to add this, (Almost)

I had some ideas when I started the branch, but after the last chapter, new things came pouring, so I have a few doubts about the options that I wanted to choose for the paladin. Nothing major, just his “Pride” and other personal bits. Just want to have an idea about the majority preferences, I will still choose to do what I want in the end.

https://strawpoll.com/ypocavxa3