Chapter 46: Finishing the First floor

Dashing in, Jayven dodged the flying disks one after another, and ran directly inside the mansion.

After getting in he noticed how weird the place was, it didn't have that much furniture inside, and there were some incomplete decorations.

"But the problem still remained inside as projectiles like the disk kept on flying in."

"Man, these are fast. How can I escape this?" As the barrage came, he hid behind a pillar, and then the attack stopped.

"Phew, that's good. Let's see what's next. Redirecting his attention to the interior of the house he saw three possible areas to go."

The hallway will most likely have more traps. The counter in the kitchen could be another trap and a room which is most likely another trap.

"Arghh which one should I choose?!"

He was so confused that he didn't notice that there was something wrapping around him.

But when he noticed he was already caught. Then with a sudden pull, an entrapment opened which dragged him out of the building.

"AAAHhhhhhh! guh. ptui, ptui. Damn, that bastard threw me so hard that I ate some grass."

He stood up again and thought of a way to face his current predicament. When he started to get hungry, he sat down and ate.

"Oh yeah, I only have a few rations and food left in my storage. If I don't do anything fast it will spoil. What should I do?"

As he thought of this an announcement was made.

[Hello Jayven since this is activated it means you need help so I will just leave this list here and let my AI assistant tell you what to do.]

[Hello, Sir Jayven My name is Miz I am the guardian of the house. Please ask me anything you want about this house and its rules. Do take note that there are things I can say and not say, to access some you need to pass certain trials left in the house that will randomly pop out. Good luck.]

Heading his advice, he asked his Master's AI assistant.

"All right then, Miz, what can I do about the food ration?"

[This is on the borderline of your access so I can only give a hint. Where is the food stored?]

"In the refrigerator! Of course. Thanks, Miz."

[You're welcome.]

"Well then for now I need to rest it's almost night time after all, but before that."

At this point, he started to manage his time, took out his notes, and studied to increase his INT.

"It may not be much but maybe it can help me think of an answer to this problem, and help in my application."

With that ready he started to read and when he started reading his history book there was writings about mapping places and how they have drones to fly everywhere to make maps for them.

Then when the invasion happened the use of drones wasn't useful anymore and handwritten maps were the thing they could only do.

But this also improves their understanding of terrain advantage. When this popped out Jayven then thought of doing the same.

"Yeah, I could do this. Let's map out first what I learned."

~~~~The Next Day~~~~~

With that, his plan started and it didn't take long for Jayven to cover at least half of the first floor after a whole day of going in. But then a problem occurred

"Where is the fridge? It's got to be here somewhere, right?"

Looking through the first floor he didn't find any food and this got him thinking and looking at the map he made.

"Hmm? Why? it should be right here after all the living room is here, but why is the kitchen here and the dining table?"

Then he realized as he rechecked it again, that this place was a mix and match of a house. Half of the living room is there; the bathroom only has a hand washing inside.

"This place is really unorganized but if I think about it this is a maze used to disorient a person's perception of space."

Realizing his own situation Jayven started to find ways to get over this floor.

"For now, I can't stay dumbfounded. I need to map this place out in a simpler manner and not guess it by the standard of a house structure."

By changing his thought process Jayven realized how stupid his thoughts were because after mostly covering the whole floor the difficulty started to rise.

Projectiles became numerous, the traps even hiding in plain sight and finally light in the house became less visible.

"This wasn't this fast before Also how come it can predict my moves now it wasn't like this before!"

This goes on for three days and finally, he finds the fridge and with it is the staircase to the second floor.

So he started running towards it but a trap activated. "Oh, shoot he didn't really make this easy" Then he fell into a pit and was kicked out.

"Damn! What should I do? It has already been three days since the day I arrived. And now that I found a way up it is simply impossible to bypass that."

He felt languished as he looked at the beautiful mansion that somehow turned into a modern haunted house in his mind.

After all, the last encounter just now was inhumane: the sudden activation of traps in the least unexpected moment, the rapid fire and the trap hole popping out of nowhere.

One thing came into mind and that was impossible.

"Should I change my approach this time? Instead of going there to look at the area, why not take this as a chance to increase my attributes?"

With an idea forming in his mind, he started to move and choose which stats were going to be increasing this time.

"I need AGI, DEX, and also VIT. With this I can find a way to overcome most of the obstacles much easier if I can boost my stats."

The next time he entered he was instantly wrecked but not giving up he got in again.

This happened for two weeks now and that is when he noticed that he won't be able to do anything about the mansion.

"This is hopeless. I barely passed the staircase. And my stats are already almost a hundred already."

He said looking at the current status.

__________

Stamina - 120/340

Mana – 100/340

STR – 70/90 (⬆35)

VIT –71 /91 (⬆35)

INT – 75/95 (⬆35)

AGI – 75/95 (⬆35)

DEX – 77/97 (⬆35)

SKILLS>>

     > RESTRAINT (USER) E> Second Awakening

          >RESTRICTION - Restrict the usage of body functions for a set amount of time. The current duration is 2 multiplied by X points of mana per second.

     >ADJUSTMENT- The effect of restraint can be adjusted from 1% - 99%.

STATE >>

     > Normal>

          > The user state is more than 80% of its full strength

TRAITS>>

     >Senses>

          >FEELING - 14

          >SIGHT - 12

          >HEARING - 13

          >SMELL - 12

          >TASTE - 12

     >Health Recovery (User)>

          >Able to heal injuries by 0.1% per second.

     >Mana Recovery (User)>

          >Able to restore Mana by 1 point per second.

     >Stamina Recovery (User)>

          >Able to recover Stamina by 2 points per second.

_____________

Ever since his arrival at the outskirts of the city or more like skydiving down it, Jayven's stats have reached a significant amount of increase in attributes.

But looking at the bruises he received and the countless trials and errors he did he really is concerned about what he is going to do now.

"Even though I passed the first level, the second one up to the top will be even more dangerous. What should I do?"

Realizing this found out how futile his efforts were to increase his stats to overpower the house. And this led him to a dead-end.

"I have the physical attributes to react fast, but reacting on time is different. Is there any way I can predict the outcome?"

Then a flash of light interrupted his thoughts with it a hologram of his master was made clear in his field of vision.

[Oh, looks like you have passed the first level since you arrived here.]

'Master huh? What is it now?"

[Since you just passed the first level, I guess you felt how weak you are right?]

'No shit Sherlock. Even though he wouldn't reply he still exchanged banter with him.'

{Well then remember the gift I gave you that Chris passed unto you?]

Hearing that he took out the Gem wrapped in machinery and with that, images popped out around him.

[As you know that is an ether crystal. A gem that we got from a different realm. And the things wrapped around it are a device we call a purifier... Do I have to explain it?]

[It's better if you do.]

[But I can let Miz do it]

[...]

[Fine, I will do it. I am going to record more of this and finish in a week.]

[Good. you will finish by then plus we can get there fast if we want to.]

Following the short banter between the two lovebirds, he explained the images shown, more like he was forced to.

[Sorry about that. Then let's explain the usage of the ether Gem.]