Chapter 5: Preparation
The second time walking to the portal really had me craving a car. I definitely had the funds for it, I just hadn't taken the time to actually buy one. This thought made things clear, that before the end of today, I will have purchased a car.
While on the way, I called Lia to ask if she wanted to tag along to my class reunion tomorrow. She sounded ecstatic through the phone. I told her that I'd call her when I was on my way and that I'd call between 2 PM to 4 PM.
When I finally got to the portal which I had visited the day before. There was a huge crowd of people getting ready to enter. I went up to the inspection.
"Identification please."
I handed over my information, she confirmed it and handed it back to me.
"Here's your kit. Your guide Ilene will greet you at the portal."
I nodded, grabbed the kit and headed in to the portal area. The closer I got, the more attention I received from the crowd of people.
"Entering without proper gear?"
"Thinking he can take on monsters because he has money? Disgusting."
"Arrogance is going to kill him..."
What? Now that I looked closer. Almost everyone in the crowd had some kind of leather armor equipped. I had totally forgotten about armor. Was that why Dan was mad at me yesterday?
"Are you Ian?"
I fazed back to reality again after having been lost in thought. In front of me was a girl with leather armor and two daggers strapped to her belt. She had short red hair, a small face and a small build to match with her daggers.
"Ah yes. Sorry. I was lost in thought."
"Ignore what the others are saying. They are just mad that the guild forced them to work overtime today."
"Overtime?"
"Yeah... I guess there's no harm in telling you. One of the guides placed at this portal found something that needed inspection yesterday. You don't have to worry though. If it was dangerous, they would've shut down the portal for today."
Is that the same reason why Dan had to do something in the portal after guiding me? I got rid of the unnecessary thoughts and focused. Today was going to be a fruitful day. According to my calculation, I should be able to kill at least 5 goblins. That meant 25 more Stamina.
We entered the portal.
"So. What do you want to do? You have two op-"
"I want to go kill small goblins."
I didn't want to waste time. There was a lot to get done today. I grabbed my sword from the hilt that had been given to me and unsheathed it.
The girl stared at me blankly. I guess I surprised her.
"You've been here before?"
"I was here yesterday with Dan. I enjoyed fighting the small goblins."
"That was you? But you look so frail?"
Dan must have told her about me. Whatever it was, it seemed positive.
"Anyways... Sure, I'll lead the way."
We walked the same route as Dan and I did the day before.
"Remember, if you at any time feel like you are in trouble, just let me know and I'll jump in and help."
"Okay."
While she went to the exact same place Dan had been yesterday to lure goblins I positioned myself with my sword at the 'Goblin killing place', as I had named it. Ilene looked back at me.
"I'm ready!"
I smiled to her. We then repeated yesterdays fights. She would lure a goblin to me which then charged at me. I would then proceed to kill the goblin. After killing and absorbing the third goblin. I told Ilene that I wanted a break.
"Never thought you'd ask."
Something which I had realized yesterday before falling asleep was that I could open my character menu without having to actually speak the words 'Menu'. The same goes for when I absorb souls. I realized while killing these goblins that I could absorb them by just thinking 𝐻𝒶𝓇𝓋𝑒𝓈𝓉.
I opened the character menu and checked my stamina. 41/65. Increasing 'Agility' was a game changer. I will able to kill a lot more before having to stop. I sat down on the stacked corpses of goblins and started thinking. While it was nice being able to kill more, it still took quite a lot to cut through their bodies. I had decided, I put two points in to 'Agility'.
"Congratulations!"
"Due to you having reached 5 Agility stat. You have gained a new talent!"
"You have unlocked the talent: Haste"
"Description: Increase speed by 25%"
"Costs: 1 mana per 1 second"
"Talent level: F"
I couldn't believe it. This system that I have was able to unlock talents? My path to becoming stronger had opened up even more now that I knew unlocking talents was possible. When I looked around, the world had frozen just like last time.
"To activate a talent. Simply speak it's name with the intention of activating it. The same goes for deactivating it. Just speak the talent's name with the intention to deactivate it."
While time was frozen, I decided to put a soul in 'strength'. I wanted to see if the system gives me something at 5 'Strength'. I glanced over my character sheet one last time before closing it.
Name: Ian Leitch
Level: 1
Health: 50/50 Stamina: 51/75
Souls: 0 Mana: 20/20
_____--:Stats:--_____
Strength: 1 Vitality: 0
Mana: 0 Agility: 5
Corruption: 1
A timer appeared.
"3..."
"2.."
"1."
I hadn't been hit a single time so far. It felt like I was cheating the system by killing these weak goblins.
"Hey Ilene!"
Ilene had been sitting on the ground, cross legged the entire time.
"Yeah?"
"I'm ready to go again."
"But you barely rested any."
"Don't worry!"
I couldn't wait to test out my new talent. Ilene rose up and started flinging something at the goblins again. A goblin appeared and rushed towards me. I raised my sword and when the goblin got close enough. I whispered.
"Haste."
I instantly felt my body get lighter. It was like I had more control over myself and the goblin was moving slower than before. I quickly used this to my advantage and swung my sword in a way where I could cut off the goblins head. I cleanly separated the goblins head from it's body and a thud could be heard soon after.
"Haste."
𝐻𝒶𝓇𝓋𝑒𝓈𝓉
I quickly deactivated 'Haste' to save mana. I looked at my menu to see how much mana I used. Mana: 18/20. Stamina: 47/75. It seemed like using haste, decreased the amount of 'Stamina' I had to use.
"Damn. Nice attack"
"Thank you!"
We spent the rest of the morning using up all my 'Mana' and 'Stamina'. Of course I made sure to not use up all of it since I'll faint if I do. We started heading back to the portal and that's when I got bombarded with questions.
"Aren't you F rank? How are you this tenacious? Do you never get tired?"
"Hold on hold on!"
I guess it wasn't normal for an F rank to be able to keep going for this long.
"I will answer one question you have since we're soon back at the portal."
She looked at me in disappointment. I could see her cogs turning in her head. She was really thinking about this one.
"Okay. I've decided. Are you really F rank?"
That was probably the easiest question I could answer.
"Yes. I am indeed F rank. I got my hunter license just recently."
She once again looked disappointed.
"What? Did you expect me to not be F rank?"
"Well. You have way too much energy!"
We went back through the portal where we parted ways. I returned the equipment and on my way to the car dealership I opened my menu.
Name: Ian Leitch
Level: 1
Health: 50/50 Stamina: 13/75
Souls: 9 Mana: 2/20
_____--:Stats:--_____
Strength: 1 Vitality: 0
Mana: 0 Agility: 5
Corruption: 1
I had pushed myself for the last two souls and I was definitely feeling the after effects because of it. But this meant I could upgrade two of my stats to 5. I first put four more souls into 'Strength'. Nothing happened. I was a little disappointed since I was hoping for a new talent. I then put the rest into vitality. Sure, mana is great but I haven't gotten hit yet so I don't know what to expect.
Vitality didn't give me anything either. Disappointed, I looked at my character sheet again one last time before closing it.
Health: 75/75 Stamina: 47/75
Souls: 0 Mana: 18/20
_____--:Stats:--_____
Strength: 5 Vitality: 5
Mana: 0 Agility: 5
Corruption: 1
...
Before I arrived at the car dealership, I got a phone call telling me that I won the bid for the apartment. I asked them if I could visit later today and they said yes. Since my neighborhood is very poor, the risk of someone breaking in to my car and stealing it is very likely. The apartment would be the perfect place to temporarily park my new car.
When I finally arrived, I had a hard time choosing a car. Since I've never been a car person, I don't know what's good. I thought that a fast car equals a good car so I chose a sports car. I finished the paperwork and I was soon out on the streets with my new car.
I drove around for a bit before staying at a shop where they sold proper suits. I parked my car and it didn't take long until someone was in front of my car taking a picture for social media. I won't really mind as long as they don't touch the car.
I entered the story and it didn't take long until someone was disturbing me.
"Excuse me. If you're not going to purchase anything, please leave."
"Could you look at the car outside the window for a second?"
"What?"
The staff looked at where I was pointing as I put my car key within their vision as I unlocked the car. The girls that had been posing next to my car jumped and started frantically looking around. I then locked the car again. As I looked back at the staff, they were already excusing themselves.
"Good riddance..."
I bought the suit and headed to the new apartment to park my car for the night. I then took the bus home and almost instantly fell asleep. I barely spoke to my parents that were in the kitchen.
...
"Initializing Corruption Upgrade"
"11%"
"22%"
"45%"
"88%"
"100%"
"Corruption Upgrade Complete"
...
I woke up in a cold sweat. Everything was blurry. I dragged my body to the bathroom where I switched the light on. My eyes burning. I splashed some water in my face from the faucet, which strangely seemed to be placed lower than before. My eyes slowly got used to the light and when I looked in to the mirror in front of me I couldn't believe what I was looking at. My dull, frail body had not only grown but I had gained a six-pack. Even my face looked good now. This was as unreal as unreal could be.
"Menu."
Level: 2
Health: 75/75 Stamina: 75/75
Souls: 0 Mana: 20/20
_____--:Stats:--_____
Strength: 5 Vitality: 5
Mana: 0 Agility: 5
Corruption: 1
My level had gone up. Is that why? I was confused but happy at the same time. I couldn't help but check myself out. Then it struck me. The suit that I bought just recently that was ridiculously expensive wont fit me anymore. I facepalmed myself and headed back to sleep. Tomorrow was an important day after all.
...
I woke up, feeling much better with a full nights sleep. I put on the clothes I thought would fit me best. I ended up with sweatpants that didn't reach all the way down my legs and a red hoodie that thankfully was big enough to not show my belly button.
I walked downstairs and was met by stares from my whole family.
"Who are you?"
"It's Ian. I kinda had a growth spurt."
I chuckled at my own words. Even I couldn't believe my own words.
"Right~"
"Sweetie. I recognize that it's you but you're not doing anything illegal right?"
I will at least always have my sweet mother who loves me for me without conditions. My father however didn't seem too convinced.
"Dad, I know it's a bit hard to-"
"Don't worry son. I know it's you. But how did you grow that much?"
"You know how I took the hunter test?"
"I discovered my power and this is what my power did to me."
This was a solution for now but I wont be able to tell them about my ability later in life since I don't know what will happen in the future. I also don't know how the country would respond to my powers if they knew I can get stronger by killing monsters.
"I have to head out before it's too late."
"Okay. Be safe sweetie!"
...
I first took the bus to go get my car. There was no way any shop at the luxury district would let someone in my outfit buy anything. They'd probably think I got the money from illegal means. I stepped off the bus at the closest station and walked to my apartment complex. I'm glad that the staff members that work at the apartment knew what I look like because it saves me a lot of trouble, having to show everyone my ID.
I got to my car and drove off. I decided to enter another shop that sells high class suits to see their reaction but it was the exact same. Just when I was about to go pay I heard a voice I recognized.
"Is that you Ian?"
I looked around to see if I could see who was calling out to me.
"Ian?"
"Dan!"
I wasn't used to seeing Dan in anything other than his armor of metal.
"What brings you here? And what happened to you? You've grown a lot!"
"Take it easy with the questions. First of all, I'm here to buy a new suit since my old one wont fit me anymore. I have an important meeting later this afternoon."
Dan seemed to not be able to shake the fact that I had grown this much. I added.
"I think I grew because of my ability."
"Your ability?"
"Yeah."
I didn't know if Dan would buy it but he finally let it go.
"That's awesome! I heard from Ilene that you've gotten better with the sword. You'll have to show me some day."
"I definitely will. I have to get going. I don't want to be late to my first meeting."
We traded contact info so we would be able to meet and talk later. I didn't mind being friends with Dan. He seemed like a nice guy and had a great sense of humor.
It was now time to go back to the apartment to shower and make myself ready for my first meeting.