First Mission

The 10 days were up, the people that had gone to Earth came back a few days ago and prepared their weapons, having some last-minute training at the same time. The others that had stayed in their quarters or played around in the Community Room stood near me, some talking with each other, some checking they hadn't forgotten anything, and one anxiously waiting for the arrival of a certain someone: "Julia, you'll be able to see him once the Mission starts.". "You don't understand, the last time I saw him he had been in a sort of trance, if he's like that when he arrives he'll die the moment we leave him.".

I couldn't argue against Julia, she was our Healer after all, she knew best about how to deal with people: "Esteban, on the first night of the Mission, I'd like to convey a meeting to discuss what I gathered on Fan Yu.". Dimitri, our Strategist, who at first had been quite reluctant to investigate Fan Yu, now seemed a bit more eager, though that was my years of experience with him that told me that: "You don't have to ask for permission, I already told you. I may be the leader but you're our Strategist, your orders count as much as mine.". He bowed in response, returning to a spot a bit further away to check his notebook.

His role came with a great amount of responsibility, I missed the old him but if a stone-cold heart was his way to better himself, trying to change him would be stepping over his boundaries: "Pandore says there's an 80% chance the setting is one we know of and that the Mission is related to survival. We've already prepared basic necessities but the new guy hasn't been informed yet.". Harang Dae coyly gave me a run-down of what we would surely face, I felt bad seeing him act like this in front of me while I knew he'd do whatever the hell he wants once he grouped back up with Pandore: "This Mission will be a breeze, I'll tell you in advance but I plan to have the team take a vacation if it really is survival.".

I needed Harang to open up with the rest of them, at least at a quicker pace: "I'll inform the others of this possibility.". I smiled at the sight of his attempt at concealing his joy: 'Maybe he should keep to himself a bit more in the end.'. I let my thoughts wander while patiently waiting for our transportation, stroking my rapier in the meantime.

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.

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"Transportation is due in 5 minutes, shouldn't you go to the Waiting Room where your teammates are?". I looked up from the book I was reading and checked the time: "Yeah, Esteban had told me that it'd be preferable for me to talk with them before the Mission began.". I changed my clothes and ate a few snacks while checking up on my Status.

[Name: Fan Yu]

[Race: Human/Earth/Milky Way]

[Points: 41]

[Health: 63/63]

[Stamina: 40/40]

[Strength: 26]

[Vitality: 27]

[Agility: 28]

[Intelligence: 38]

[Wisdom: 37]

[Luck: 82]

[Perseverance: 34]

[Skills: Persevering Heart (LV 2), Sensory Boost (LV 3), E-Rank Observer (LV 2), Rapid Thinking (LV 3), Pain Resistance (LV 2), Curse Mastery (LV 1), Broken Mind (LV 2)]

[Curses: Lowest Immobilize (Left Hand), Banshee's Opera (Left Ear)]

[Inventory: Books (200), Used Sacrificial Knife, Guidance]

The next curse I put on myself had been worked on through the usage of Guidance, it had taken a whole week but the result was similar in the end. Now I'd be hearing cries of pain and wails of despair every few hours during my sleep: 'Why are you doing this to yourself? Can't you use an object or something?'. 'I will do that, but the books stipulate that, at an elementary stage, cursing yourself is necessary to attune your body and soul to Soul Qi.'. 'That's not what I mean but whatever. Suit yourself.'. I seemed to have gotten an attitude with me focusing on training these past few days, I hadn't been as talkative previously.

I had been surprised at the rapid increase of my stats, though Sam told me it was partly because I was absorbing the residue left by the injections, and partly thanks to the process of manipulating resentment, which had sharpened my mind. I came back to the Waiting Room, squinting my eyes to see a multitude of people staring at me: "Here I am, the main attraction of today's show!". I struck a pose that I had seen at a circus long ago: 'I'm so embarrassed, why did I do that?'. 'Don't show it! You'll make this even more awkward otherwise.'.

"Hey, you have a sense of humor! That's a surprise.". Pandore was the first to walk towards me, her blue-gloved hand held in front, palm pointing to the ground: "Pandore! Cease pandering to this person or else! May I remind you that our carrier hasn't been designated yet?". A tall woman, with a callous voice and copper skin, pinched Pandore's ear, making her step back. 'She's quite to my liking body-wise.'. 'Don't say stuff like that, she may be beautiful in your eyes but it's not a reason to ogle her.'. Though I had to admit that she did have her charms, and the clothes she wore left little to the imagination.

"Preposterous! You let your gaze linger on my body and don't deign to compliment me? Have you lost your mind?". The grand gestures that accompanied her sophisticated tone made me want to distance myself from her: "Don't mind Mythri, everyone gets used to her antics after getting to know her". Peter had approached me from behind and put his arm over my shoulder, bringing me closer to him: 'He's hugging you.'. 'It feels like it, it's nice.'.

"Peter, my wrath won't come unto you as I understand your brain suffers from mild latency but I'll be the guiding light of this young man and aid him in discovering the truth about the personage that I am. Arya Esha Charu Laranya Krisha, this name shall be branded in your memory as your lifelong happiness for it is mine.". Her hand lightly hit the exposed top of her chest, making it ripple. 'This sight is a bit too much for you, you should avert your eyes.'.

I ignored what I said and kept my composure: "You shouldn't get any ideas towards Mythri, she isn't the romantic type.". Peter had murmured in my ear while a cheeky laugh escaped his mouth, his arm holding me a bit tighter. Esteban clapped his hands, gathering the focus of everyone in the Community Room, making them stop whatever they were doing: "Harang has surely informed most of you but this Mission won't be ours this time around. Fan Yu here will be left to his own devices while we will relax, and if some want a bit of action, I'll concoct a training program. Any questions?".

No one interjected, what was due to happen was quite clear and a weird feeling passed over my heart. 'He's trying to incur animosity, that's a strange way to go about to include you in the team.'. 'His plan's already failed then. I don't want to be a part of the team, I'll just do what they ask of me.'. It's easier that way, for everybody. I regained focus and interrupted my thought process, I had better things to do.

I distanced myself from the rest and drew a gibbous moon across a cat-shaped sun in mid-air, this was the symbol I had picked to summon my inventory space. A small bag the size of a marble appeared in my hand, I opened it and a curved knife came out of it. It was a special weapon I had bought to protect myself and train in cursing objects. This knife apparently had been used to kill a bedeviled man who had terrorized his natal village by eating the newborns and transforming the cattle into maddened beasts.

The knife fused with the resentment the villagers felt and the evil heart of a devil to become a cursed weapon, though I had to uncover its powers as it was currently in a dormant state. 'A sharp knife is good enough, I'll use the resentment it emanates when I need to train.'. This plan had formulated in my mind when I paid more than 300 Points for it, emptying my supply that had already bled from buying the inventory space.

"Oh, what have we here? The newbie's got a cursed weapon and he doesn't brag about it, fascinating. Mind if I take a look?". A hand snatched the knife from my grasp faster than I could digest the words I had heard. I sprung up and came face to face with a young man with tattoos, I recognized him from the time he had laughed at me with Pandore. A cursory glance at his attire gave me an idea as to why he had been in Pandore's company. The dark green chains that wrapped around each of his members and the sleeveless black shirt, the boots which would quake the earth at each of steps, the silver hair... I didn't want to comment on that. He was a tad too eccentric to my taste.

"I've got my fair share of experience with cursed weapons but you've bought a truly vile one, makes one think what type of person you are behind this average guy mask.". He handed me back the knife, the tip of his fingers holding the blade. "It's useful for curses.". I didn't want to talk to this guy, just as much as I wanted Pandore to leave me alone. "Yinyue She, I already know your name so giving you mine should be considered understandable, right?". He turned his head yet his eyes seemed to look at me, and with an expectant gaze at that. 'Does he want me to thank him?'. 'Shake his hand, maybe he'll leave if you're boring enough.'. I did so yet She ignored my extended hand and went back to discuss with other people.

I was still processing what emotion I was supposed to feel when my vision suddenly distorted and the white space was replaced by a prairie surrounded by what seemed to be a forest to the east and north, and a mountain range to the south and west. "Fan Yu, you'll be going towards this mountain range. I want you to try to find a guy in a white robe, if you do you'll be given a prize.". Esteban's voice spoke to me, but something seemed weird and it was only then that I realized it had seemed to grow more distant as he talked. 'They left in a hurry, they really don't want you to follow them.'.

The 20-ish people that had been transported with me had suddenly disappeared, and a black panel filled with information had appeared in their place: [Mission: Survive for a hundred days. Reward: 2000 Points. Bonus missions: Find the Operator (Unknown Reward), Kiss the Saintess (Reward: Stat Boost), Destroy Lazayr's remnants (Reward: 450 Reputation) ...]. The list of bonus missions was too long for me to go through and I didn't want to have to think about doing them while I wasn't even sure I'd be able to survive a 100 days in this place.

I held my knife tightly and took my first step towards the mountain range, only to trip over something and fall down on the yellow grass. I swore and had my face removed out of the dirt, though not of my own volition as a green tentacle had grasped my ankle and was currently holding me upside-down. I used my abdominal muscles to their best potential so that I could turn around, only to see a dozen green spikes approaching my face while countless eyes stared at my face. I screamed internally and swung my knife randomly, in hope that I'd hit something.

I apparently did as I was flung away and rolled on the ground before finally opening my eyes and looking at what had just attacked me.