The entombed body took in a deep breath, the first it had taken in a millennium. Its eyes blinked as if it struggled to believe the world around it. Carefully, the second body used its hands to lift itself out of the marble coffin and smile back at Jack.
While the women were in awe, Jack blinked and smiled back. Jack waved to himself as his second body did the same. They leaned back from side to side, like they were reflections of each other.
"I think that's enough playing around, Jack," Daruun laughed. "Before you do anything, let me explain a few things."
"Okay."
"You got it, Gramps."
Each of Jack's bodies replied, proving to himself and everyone else that they were indeed linked.
Nodding, Daruun explained, "First off, you should notice that your second body is still lv. 85. There's a way to instantly change that, but don't do it. Not yet."
"How? And why shouldn't I?" asked Jack.
"As you're linked spiritually, you can decide whether you share energy or whether each body should have isolated energy siphons. If you open the link right now, then the surplus energy of your stronger body will immediately rush into your weaker body until there's a balance. Doing it right now would mean you'll drop to lv. 90 while your other body will reach lv. 90 and ascend instantly."
"Then--"
"But trust me, you don't want to do that, at least not yet," stated Daruun. "You'll see why in a few days so save that moment for later. Also, you can later close that link and allow one of your bodies to focus on gathering cosmic energy. Then, you can open the link and the stronger body will pass it's extra EXP to your linked bodies. It's how I can train while I'm busy governing a district."
Jack nodded slowly, taking in that fact.
"Also, there's something you should know, given how you've yet to experience it," Daruun added. "Your bodies are designed to run purely on energy, not oxygen."
"WHAT?! How can--"
"It's something that all cosmicians can learn. Sometimes it takes some minor body alterations or finding a special technique, but it's common for two-stars and stronger to do so. But since your bodies were handmade or personally altered by me, I made sure to include that ability. It kicks in once you ascend, so you're immortal self has no need to breathe oxygen. You'll be able to go underwater without worry, or any other liquid that would impede normal breathing. Also, it means you'll be able to traverse the void without any extra technology or a ship, an ability commonly used for battles outside of an atmosphere."
"And… my other body?"
"Just as I've modified the body to mimic your true appearance and reprogrammed your system into it, I added that feature as well. Once it ascends, your second body will also gain that ability." Daruun mentioned, "And since we're talking about complex leveling and surviving the void, you should know that your mutual seal and your pacts won't be the same. Both of those were designed to handle the energy of Kartonia. You'll still keep your mental links and your skill lists but sharing energy between you won't be a thing, not including your second body."
"So… apart from what we do on Kartonia, I won't gain EXP from those outlets anymore?"
"You won't gain EXP at all," corrected Daruun. "You'll begin gathering raw cosmic energy once you enter the void, the rawer the better. So you'll have to rely on yourself and your extra bodies to grow stronger and surpass two-stars, three-stars, and so on."
"You'll also want to check your skill list."
Hearing the smile in Daruun's voice, Jack instantly opened his menu. The hero broke out in hysterical laughter the moment he opened the list.
"All the effort you poured into Kartonia as Jack J. hasn't gone to waste. Wouldn't you agree?" Daruun asked.
"Definitely!"
Jack was overwhelmingly happy! His list of acquired skills had more than doubled in an instant. And by the look of all the new skills, Jack easily figured out how it happened.
"Since you've regained all of your lost skills, don't focus on buying any new skills. If it becomes necessary, create one with your system skill."
"Hmm? My system skill?" Jack flipped to a new tab labeled [System Skills]. There, Jack found [Spirit Replication] and [Skill Consolidation].
Continuing, Daruun explained, "In the void, everything is a skill. Spells are mystic skills and martial skills are what you call skills in Kartonia. You can call them abilities and techniques but the most common term is skills among mystic and martial cosmicians."
"Now that the lesson's over, what are you going to do?" asked Daruun.
"After my medicine bath, I'll ask Dragas for help."
"Are you going to show off your new body?"
"No… This will remain a secret… That way, even if one of my bodies is destroyed, I'm still alive, right?"
"Correct…" Daruun nodded. "Also, there's no better intel than intel you'll secretly gain for yourself, without any middleman to filter the information. If your second body is a secret, then the possibilities of espionage are amazing to think about."
"So I'll talk with Dragas and focus on leveling up everyone in the guild. Including a few demigods will let me level up too." Jack paused for a moment, scratching his head in thought. "If my second body is already a god, would it also--"
"Yes, so long as your second body is a god, both bodies will level up from aiding a demigod," answered Daruun. "But that boost in level only exists while you're here in Kartonia. If you select a demigod and they ascend while you're off-world, then you won't receive any of the leftover energy."
"Then I'll need to take advantage of the level system in Kartonia while I still can," Jack chuckled, making both of his bodies turn and smile to his wives. "I'll keep my other body hidden at all times, but it may show up later tonight…"