Chapter 3: Gender confusion?

It's been about a day and a half since I have been in this new world. Will I be successful, hell I don't know but I have hit a bit of a snag. My new leveling system works like the system in a certain manga/light novel with a rabbit-like main character. Essentially I can increase his stats without a lvl up, but it will be very difficult to do it without using the native stat boost from increasing levels. Well, time will see as to whether or not I can survive and thrive or not.

I sit on a rock while I ponder the system. "I wonder if my stats increase only from fighting, or whether I can also increase them through general exercise? Well, only one way to find out." I do some basic exercises that include push-ups, jogging, pull-ups, swimming, and squats.

One hour later

I'm laying on the bed I made in the cave, wheezing like an asthmatic duck. "Okay so now we know my body has poor endurance, though I seem to have been able to increase my stats a little. I will need to hold off on leveling up so that I'm efficient with my stats."

Name: Jason Arm

RACE: Human

AGE: 18

LVL: 1

STR: 35

AGI: 30

WIS: 15

DEX: 25

INT: 16

SKILLS*: ???*, ???*

I sigh when I see my stats. "Only five points for an hour of strenuous exercise, not a good exchange. On top of that I couldn't increase either of the mental skills. I can't live like this I need to find a village or something, I can train on the way. The system should have a map.

{"Map"}

A very incomplete map appears in front of me. "Hmm The systems map seems to only map areas where I've already been or what is directly in my line of sight. This may be an issue." I lean against a tree trying to figure out a way around this problem. A large pine cone falls onto my head. I realize the solution to the issue. "The map will map what's in my line of sight, so If I climb up this tree and increase my range of sight, the range of mapping will also increase. Well time to climb a tree.

I climb for about twenty minutes. As I near the halfway point on the tree my range of vision increases greatly. "Wow I can see for miles. There's a village over there, now check the map. Sweet, I can read the name, though I don't know if that's the system translating, or not. name is Hartz. Looks like we have a bit of a trek to get there. I should get some provisions for the trip."

I make a fishing net from plant fibers, and use rocks as weights. I throw it into the lake and wait for it to sink to the bottom. "Alright, with this I should be able to catch a decent amount of fish, can also use it to hang the fish over the fire while they smoke. Okay, let's do this . Let's see what we caught. Only about ten, from what I saw the village is about three miles away and my body still doesn't have a lot of stamina, I'll probably only be able to safely travel one and a half miles before I need to camp. I need more fish.

As I am making my preparations the goddess Lyra is watching the orb again. Another god appears behind her. Lyra sighs and looks back, having noticed him this time.

Lyra: what do you need Fyre?

The god Fyre looks over to the orb with a quizzical expression and crosses his arms.

Fyre: I was just wondering why that human seems to be stronger than the rest. Even a base level one is capable of breaking bone with a single well-placed punch. Not to mention you said he was dumb, but he is showing a high degree of survival skills. Things just aren't adding up.

Lyra sighs and waves her hands, as if to demonstrate that it was a dumb question.

Lyra: Remember he died because he accidentally hit on five men's girlfriends at the bar, then as he was running from them he got hit by an out of control taco stand. And as for the first thing you asked, you know that when we reincarnate someone the starting stats they have are decided by what they did previously.

Fyre looks at her and sighs.

Fyre: That's what's bugging me, you say things like "I don't really care if he survives." but it's painfully obvious that you are actually quite fond of him. So I'm guessing you know more about him than I do.

Lyra sighs and looks back to the orb.

Lyra: You're too damn observant. I've kept watch on him for a long time. I probably know more about him than he does himself. I want him to succeed in order for him to get over his issues.

Fyre looks at the orb before speaking.

Fyre: Issues huh, I'm guessing that from the way you said that, that he's not in good shape up in the dome.

Lyra claps her hands in a way like she's tired.

Lyra: Ding we have a winner. When it comes down to it that boy is just completely broken.

Fyre stares at her before smiling. he walks over and pulls her into a hug.

Fyre: You poor thing, you are stressing yourself out. Though since you have shown such a caring nature for him I'm sure he'll do just fine. Get some rest, then check in to see how he's doing.

As the god Fyre is comforting Lyra, I'm finishing my preparations. "alright, I have enough fish for the trip now. I should make a spear for hunting on the way." I grab a stick and sharpen the tip. i then burn it in the fire to harden it. I make a couple of them and attach them to the bag that I had made.

I start on the way to the village. After a few hours I rest against a tree. "Fuck, having low enurance is a pain in the ass." As I'm resting I observe the animals around where I've stopped to rest. "Birds, squirrels, boars, and foxes...something isn't right here, why are predator and prey animals hanging out in the same area?"

As I question the state of the animals around me, I hear a loud sound. It sounds like a metal pipe hitting a brick wall. Against my better judgement, I decide to approach and see what the source of the sound is. When I get close enough, I see a girl with long red hair and silver eyes fighting a large monster. It appears to be a boar standing on two legs. (The hell is that? An orc...possibly?) The girl appears to be having a hard time fighting it. I decide to help her out. I take one of the spears I made earlier off of my bag and throw it. The monster raises it's head just in time ti be hit directly in the eye. It roars and shakes it's head, giving the girl an opening to slash it's neck. The monster's head drops off of it's body.

I walk out of the treeline. and lean against a tree while I wait for the girl to notice me. I'm not gonna call out, cause surprising someone with a sword is an awful idea.

The girl finally sees me and sheathes her sword. She then approaches me and lifts me up like a small child.

???: What's a little girl doing in the forest all by herself? Where're your parents, little lady?

My jaw drops. It takes a few seconds for me to process what she just said. (Well, I can understand them at least...just gotta correct her on that part.) "FYI I'm a dude, and secondly I'm eighteen.

The girl shakes her head with a stern look.

???: I'm not falling for that, you're coming with me back to the village so that we can check your identity and find your parents, little lady.

I shake and begin to rage. "For fuck's sake give me a break!!"

The girl covers her mouth with her free hand and gasps.

???: children shouldn't talk like that, especially girls!

I prepare to scream to the heavens. "I'M NOT A GIRL!! YOU DUMBASS!!" The girl ignores my cries of despair and carries me off, tucked under her arm like a football.