__________________________________
[Name: Jackson Maverick]
Level: 0
Title: Incel|Loser
[STATS]
Points: 0
Strength: 3
Speed: 2
Defense: 2
Mana: 0
Calamity Point : 100
[SKILLS]
---
---
---
---
---
[QUEST]
[SHOP]
__________________________________
Staring at the stats contemplating if spending my points on strength and speed is correct; Mana wasn't that needed right now because I don't have any skill to spend Mana on and Defense is relatively good. Both Speed and Strength were definitely my weakest stats so for now I accept my decision.
It's been two days since the failed attempt at that dungeon. I haven't failed the quest. I just simply quit the dungeon, so it's still possible to raid the dungeon at a later date.
When spending the points on strength or speed I expected to feel something changed inside of me but so far nothing really felt weird. I still feel like myself, I wonder if spending more points in strength will get me automatically ripped. Then asked the System about it.
[NEGATIVE THOU WILL NOT GAIN ANY MUSCLE IF THOU INCREASE THY STRENGTH, ALL THE STATS WON'T CHANGE YOU PHYSICALLY BUT INSTEAD INCREASE THE CONCEPT TIED TO IT.]
"Ah ok so that makes sense, guess I won't need to work out then? Since if I increase my strength there's no need to workout." I said kinda thankful. In the past, I had tried to work out in order to impress girls but not a week later I gave up because it was too hard.
[NEGATIVE I RECOMMEND DOING EXERCISES DAILY BECAUSE IT INCREASE THY STRENGTH STATS WITHOUT NEEDING TO LEVEL UP]
"Well ok, guess I gotta start exercising then," I said, the problem is I don't exactly know how to do any exercise aside from push-ups. Maybe I'll look into that later with this world's equivalent of the internet.
"Still that freaking sucks, exercise is too hard." Laying on my very comfy bed. For the Time being Lucian, god bless her. Had agreed to let me stay in the guest room. Snuggling up in the big warm white blankets, it was so easy to fall asleep at any moment . . .
[WHAT ABOUT THY REASON TO FIGHT? WILL THOU TREAT IT LIKE TRASH?]
"Jeez, no need to get grumpy I want to rest in this comfy bed that's all. Back in my old world, I had no such luxury." Heck, it would have been lucky if me and my sister were able to stay in a crappy motel for two nights. Yeah, I want that special reward Lucian promised. Guess I'll start exercising.
Before leaving the bed someone was knocking on the door; must've been Lucian. "Come in!" I said.
The door opened and Lucian walked in, still having the sweet angelic aura around her. She was wearing a simple plain white dress. Carrying a tray of breakfast. It smells delicious. My mouth was already salivating from the scent. "Lucian, is that for me?" I said.
"Yep! I made it extra delicious for you." She gave me a warm smile. Then sitting on the bed's side, putting the tray on the table right next to me.
"You shouldn't have, it's already embarrassing you let me stay in your house, and now this. I'm forever in your debt" Honestly shocked Lucian would go this far for someone like me - pretty much a complete stranger.
"Silly you, did you bump your head into something? I already stated before that I like cute boys and you certainly fit that~." Scooping up some food from the tray and pointed it at me. "Now open wide," Making an example by opening her mouth.
"It isn't necessary, I can eat by myself," My cheek heated up from the scene: a beautiful girl offering to feed me, this was like a dream come through! But it's embarrassing to be treated like a child.
"Well you said you're indebted to me, so this is how you can repay it." She gave me a mischievous smirk, damn her but fine this is a small price to pay for her kindness. Plus some very small fraction of me like this so complied opening my mouth wide.
She kept feeding until all of the food was gone, which tasted superb. After finishing up wiped away any crumbs on my face with a napkin. In this peaceful moment, Remembered there was a question about Lucian.
"Hey Lucian, I have to ask something."
"Sure, ask anything you like." She shrugged, putting the spoon back on the plate.
"Well, what's your Arcana?" I said, after she explained to me the concept of Mana and an Arcane, I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't interested in seeing it.
"Sure, my weapons Adam and Lilith can shoot Mana-condensed blasts that can phase through any object." In her hand, a white gun appeared.
"Check this out." Pointing at the walls, at the barrel of the gun blue energy circles around it; it was akin to lighting. Then at the very peak, she pulled the trigger; the pristine white gun shot a blue laser to the words. Just like she said the laser didn't destroy the wall, instead it went through it like the wall didn't even exist. "Woah . . . " Amazed at seeing it.
"Another neat thing is I can control the length and what direction the laser goes, even bending it, see." The laser turned back around phasing through the wall and going straight to me!
"Ow crap!" Shielded myself accepting my inevitable death . . . Yet I wasn't feeling any pain. I peeked through my fingers, the laser had stopped a good few meters away from me. "That wasn't funny Lucian," I said.
"Ah I'm sorry I couldn't help myself~," said Lucian.
"Ok, still that was pretty cool!" I stared at her guns in amazement, I imagined myself being some kind of action hero shooting at monsters with those two guns. Lucian chuckles.
"Since you're all rested up it's time for you to train," She crosses her arms.
"Training?" I repeated.
"Yep I was able to secure you a spot in the Arcane Academy's Entrance Exam, it's one month away so we need to train hard for you to pass! Come on!" She grabbed my hand and dragged me out of my precious comfy bed.
"Nooooooo!"
__________________________________
"Come on, you can do it!" Hearing Lucian shouting from a distance, It felt like my arms were about to explode. And done! Fifteen push-ups in one go. Oh god, I'm tired; my arms are akin to noodles now . . .
I lay on the ground in the small pool of sweat panting like I'd run an entire marathon. "Finally done now . . . "
Lucian walks over and hands me a water bottle, Immediately drinks it. Feeling the cool refreshing water washing my throat and mouth from this. Once the bottle was completely empty then tried to stand but my legs wouldn't hold it any longer and stumbled down, thankfully Lucian was fast enough to catch me. "Thanks, Lucian."
"No problem," She made me sit down on the floor. Turning to the two maids behind her. "Can you make lunch please?"
"Yes, Madam," The two maids bow before leaving. Getting pretty hungry right now.
"The first step of being a skilled Arcana User is to learn Mana Reinforcement," Said Lucian.
"What's that?" I said.
"It's a basic application of Mana, even kindergarteners master this easily so it won't be hard," She said.
"Well if you say so. What does Mana Reinforcement do? Like enforcing my body with Mana?" I said.
"Yep spot on!" She pats my head, my cheeks were probably red as a tomato after that.
"It's a technique where you cover your body parts with Mana: thus making them sturdier and stronger, though how much the boost in strength depends on how much Mana you're inputting." She explained then pulled down her sleeve to show me her arm. "Here's an example." Then a faint blue light shone on her arm. On it too were very faint blue marks resembling vines.
"See?" She said.
"Woah." Taking a closer look at her arm. The vine markings were all over her arm. I have to admit it looked cool as hell. It looked like it came straight from an anime I had watched a while ago.
"Impressed?" She gave me a cheeky smile.
"It looks so cool!"
"Yeah, this is Mana Reinforcement. Since you're still a beginner you'll have to only input small amounts of Mana, cause we don't want you to accidentally input all your Mana and die instantly." Instantly stiff upon hearing that.
"I-I'll die!"
"Don't worry it's a one in a million chance you'll die from this, and today we're only inputting small amounts of Mana so won't happen." She said, with a beautiful reassuring smile. Seeing it made all my concerns melt away.
"So first up for anyone to use Mana they'll need an Image Trigger," She explained. Hearing that strange word asked her about this.
"Image Trigger isn't an actual thing but a psychological trick we use to have better control of Mana," She explained the idea clicked to me.
"Oh ok, so how do I get an Image Trigger?" I said.
"Well just think of any image, and then move it. For example, think of a door and then open the door, that's what's an Image Trigger. Or think of a lighter getting lit," Ok, so that's how it works.
"My Image Trigger is a gun shooting, literally anything can be your Image Trigger as long as you feel satisfied by it."
Closing my eyes and focused, trying to think of something but the only was just darkness, tried to focus harder to conjure up something, and eventually finally conjured up an image; it was a closed door. Just as Lucian said, guess this was my Image Trigger. I followed her advice and made the door open. No this wasn't it, I don't know what but something was off about it. The feeling was akin to seeing a Large Black splotch on a beautiful artwork: it was annoying and you would want to get rid of it. Looks like this wasn't it.
Maybe my Image Trigger is a gun shooting like Lucian so tried thinking of that; a revolver appears in my mind. Pulled the trigger. Again like the previous image something about this was wrong, it's incomplete in a way; like I'm almost there but not quite. So I think harder. A sheathed sword appears in my head. It looked simple yet elegant at the same time.
Pulled the blade out of the sheath and felt it. Something awakened inside of me. A power waiting to be unleashed finally got its desire fulfilled. The floodgates of Mana poured inside of me, it was an amazing sensation. It almost made me think I could do anything.
"Did you see it?" Lucian's voice echoed in my mind.
"Yeah, I see a sword getting unsheathed, it's like I could do anything!" I said. The image replaying of a sword getting unsheathed.
"Good now, focus on your arms." I then conjured up what Lucian instructed. A pair of arms took over my mind.
"It's working!" I opened my eyes and saw something amazing!
My arms felt lighter and filled to the brim with power. It had the same very faint blue vines-like markings wrapped around my arms. "Woah . . . " Being completely left speechless and at the same time was ecstatic.
It was so freaking cool! It was like having anime superpowers! Images of being a complete badass filled my mind.
"It's cute seeing your reaction," Lucian said, chuckling.
"It's freaking awesome, Lucian!" I threw my hand up, closing and opening them.
"Try to punch that wall, test it out." She pointed at a wall.
"Uh, you sure? Won't it be expensive getting it fixed?" I don't want to break Lucian's thing after all the kindness she gave me.
"Remember I'm a noble, a simple crack or even a destroyed wall is just a minor thing compared to my wealth." She waved off my concerns. She continued. "Well then try it~."
"Ok . . . " Walking over to the wall. Readying a punch but still hesitated, Why am I hesitating it won't hurt right? My arm is infused with magic. It'll be fine . . . I hope so. Then punched the wall as hard as I could, mustering all my strength.
My hand went through the cement wall like it was nothing it felt like less cement and more cardboard. All around the hole I made cracks started to form, spreading from the epicenter and reaching far to the side.
What the hell!
"Impressive~" Lucian walked beside me, seeing the extent of the damage.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry." Mentally kicked myself for destroying her stuff. I waited for her to scorn me yet the only thing greeting me was a mirth laugh. "Silly didn't I say it's fine?" Lucian said.
"But it still feels wrong destroying your house despite all the kind things you did for me." Scratching the back of my head in shame.
"Fine if you really want to repay me then become strong, try to impress me, and earn that 'special reward'~. " She whispered that last part near my ear.
My face was heating up, it was practically on fire.
"O-ok!" I said, invigorated to become stronger!
"Oh! Looks like lunch is here." The two maids arrived carrying some snacks.
After we ate the delicious meal the two maids had cooked up for us. Lucian left as she had some business to take care of.
Walking back to the park where the gate of that dungeon appeared. It was nerve-racking but at the same time very ready, this time more prepared than ever to beat those stupid dogs. Checked my inventory screen one last time.
__________________________________
[Name: Jackson Maverick]
Level: 0
Title: Incel|Loser
[STATS]
Points: 0
Strength: 3
Speed: 2
Defense: 2
Mana: 5
Calamity Point : 100
[SKILLS]
---
---
---
---
-Mana Reinforcement-
[QUEST]
[SHOP]
__________________________________
So Mana Reinforcement was considered a skill interesting, I wonder if the skill cap is truly six; if so then I have to be careful in picking skills.
[IS THY READY PLAYER?]
"Sure am," I said, jumping around, trying to pump up my blood. My heart beat thumps faster from the anticipation, yet a dark inkling of dying still lingered in my mind: akin to a bug pestering me. But something inside was telling me this time would be different, that I have some knowledge and skills now. This time I won't run away.
The cracks of reality reappeared and walked in.
Seeing the stone brick hallway and in the middle was them.
The three shadow wolves were still as terrifying as ever. They growled. Bearing their teeth of darkness at me.
My hands were all moist from the sweat. My feet were telling me to run away, screaming how I'd die. But I held my ground, I wasn't gonna run away, I will become strong!
The image of a sword being pulled out of its sheath appeared in my mind. The feeling of power as Mana was poured into my body. Not just my arms but every single part from the legs to my eyes. A sense of serenity washes over me.
My mind is clear of any distractions, focus on one goal. Winning this quest.
[+3 in Strength]
[+3 in Defense]
[+3 in Speed]
Rushing over the dogs, much faster than before but it wasn't the time to appreciate it for the wolves were already on me. One of them jumped to my face.
The wolf was met by my fist in the face, sending this thing to the wall. It fell down whispering in pain while the place where it collided on the wall was a giant hole.
Both the other wolves rush to me at the same time. The other jumps while the second dash to where my foot is. Thanks to Mana Reinforcement it was easy to react to the Wolf aiming for my face, dodging it. Then kicked the other wolf.
Not stopping there. I grabbed it by the head and using all my strength flung it to the first wolf. Both monsters explode with black dust scattering everywhere. Yuck!
I crouched so the wolf would jump over me. It landed turning its back to then growled. I put up my hands. "Come at me!"
This thing followed my order, running to me and again jumping. This thing sure loves to jump. Moved my head out of the way; as the wolf passed by grabbed its tail and slammed thing things on the hard smooth rock.
Before this thing could stand, Mana poured into my leg and stomped on the wolf's head. Just like its brethren, this thing exploded in black dust.
"Finally I-I b-beat those things. . . " Slumping over to the wall, panting like I had run a marathon, all over my body was sweat. Despite being completely exhausted beyond belief I was proud as hell to beat those beasts. One step for me to become strong.
[CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE LEVELED UP TO ONE!]
Wait what!
Staring at the display screen saying I had leveled up. Was the System serious? No way I finally leveled up!
[+3 Points]
"System show me the inventory screen!" I said, the screen appears. I saw the Points being three now instead of zero. Now the question is how to spend these points. Maybe put more on defense, but at the same time, I really wanted to put points in speed so I could clear this room faster and dodge attacks because they hurt like hell.
Checking which Stat was higher I decided to put an increase on defense and speed since my strength is already high: two for speed and one for defense.
With Mana Reinforcement to further increase their power.
Staring up head to the dungeon hallways, there are probably more of these wolves and other monsters stronger than them. But with these new stat upgrades and new skills, I wasn't scared but more nervous. Time to beat this dungeon.
__________________________________
[Name: Jackson Maverick]
Level: 1
Title: Incel|Loser
[STATS]
Points: 0
Strength: 3
Speed: 4
Defense: 3
Mana: 5
Calamity Point : 100
[SKILLS]
---
---
---
---
-Mana Reinforcement-
[QUEST]
[SHOP]
__________________________________