Chapter 3: Long way from Kansas

Kain stumbled along, absorbing the bleak sights around him. The same grim scene repeated itself: houses crammed so tightly together that they nearly touched, with people either sleeping or lifeless on the streets. The air was thick with stench that resembled a landfill, a nauseating blend of and neglect.

As he continued at a sluggish pace, Kain noted the unremarkable surroundings, devoid of anything magical or modern. The area felt like a snapshot of a primitive age, where the concept of hygiene was an afterthought. His heart sank as he observed the squalor that surrounded him, a stark contrast to the life he had imagined.

After what felt like an eternity of wandering, Kain's eyes fell upon an impressive building that stood out amid the decay. It resembled a grand medieval cathedral, its majestic architecture somehow untouched by the filth surrounding it. This structure seemed to radiate a sense of purpose, and Kain felt drawn to it, believing it could hold the answers he sought.

He glanced down at the ground, calculating his distance. After over an hour of walking, he realized that he had managed to cover approximately 500 yards, yet exhaustion weighed heavily on him. With a shaky breath, he absorbed the information—it had taken him roughly 800 feet from his starting point to reach this landmark, and he knew he was at his limit. If he pushed himself any further, he would surely collapse.

Steeling himself, Kain took a moment to gather his waning strength. The cathedral loomed before him, promising potential refuge or answers, but he would need to muster what little energy he had left to reach it

Kain reached the base of the church, gazing through the imposing double doors. Inside, he noticed several pillars made from a strange rock he had never encountered before. The pillars showed an intriguing blend of white and gray in an almost checkered pattern, evoking a sense of natural harmony. He took in the sight of about twelve rows of benches, which appeared to have been repaired multiple times. The dark wood, while worn, had a certain character to it, but not much more stood out.

His gaze shifted to a statue of an old man, intricately carved and surprisingly free of dust, making it the only noteworthy item in the vicinity. It was a sharp contrast to the disarray surrounding it. As his eyes adjusted to the light inside, Kain noticed a total of five people present. One was a male priest clad in a robe of white and blue, and the other four, dressed similarly to himself, were engaged in prayer, barely glancing his way.

This priest looks like the perfect person to ask for information—or maybe even something to eat, Kain thought, his stomach grumbling at the prospect.

With a surge of determination, Kain strode up to the priest and demanded, "Hey, Sir! I need food. Can you spare some?"

The priest turned sharply, an irritated scowl etched across his face. Kain squinted against the man's unkempt appearance and caught the strong scent of alcohol on his breath. "Look, I'm not giving my food away to a slum rat. Either pray or get out," the priest snapped brusquely.

A wave of emotions surged through Kain, from confusion to anger, then embarrassment, and back to anger again. He couldn't believe the lack of compassion from someone who was meant to give guidance and aid to those in need.

"Slum rat?" Kain shot back, his voice sharper than intended. "I'm just asking for a little help! Are you really going to turn me away?"

The priest only glared back, dismissing him with a wave of his hand, leaving Kain feeling a mix of indignation and desperation. What am I supposed to do now? He thought, unsure if he should retreat from the confrontation or press the issue. He felt the weight of the world pressing down on him, and for the first time, he began to question if he truly had the strength to navigate this new life.

Kain glared defiantly at the priest and retorted, "Eat shit and die." Fueled by a rush of adrenaline from his outburst, he stormed out of the church, but his momentum betrayed him. As he stepped outside, he tripped and fell face-first the ground. Embarrassment washed over him as he tried to stand, but his legs wobbled beneath him, refusing to cooperate.

After several failed attempts to regain his footing, Kain slowly crawled outside, his body finally succumbing to exhaustion as he collapsed just beyond the church doors. With the day's events weighing heavily on him, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, his journey for now at an end.

When he awoke, the sun was already well above the horizon, illuminating a new day—7 AM. Kain blinked against the light, somewhat disoriented but feeling slightly better. He noticed a notification hovering before him, fresh and clear:

New Daily Mission

Walk 1 Mile10 Push-Ups10 Sit-Ups10 Squats

Rewards: 1 Stat Point and 1 Skill Point (SP)

Kain sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he processed the mission details. Right, the daily mission is very convenient and seems pretty easy too. He felt a flicker of motivation spark within him.

Eager to learn more, he focused on the skill points (SP). "System, what can I do with the Skill Points?" he asked, intrigued by the possibilities.

System: Skill Points can be used to enhance your existing abilities. Here are your options:

Upgrade Existing Skills:

Investing SP in a skill will increase its level, enhancing its effects and bonuses.Example: Upgrading your Sleight of Hand will improve your dexterity and success rate in tasks related to it.

General Enhancements:

Invest in overall performance boosts, like:Physical Conditioning: Increases your Strength, Stamina, Agility, or other physical traits.Mental Resilience: Enhances your Intelligence or Perception, improving decision-making and awareness.

Kain's mind raced with possibilities. Finally having some control over his fate ignited a flicker of hope within him. Determined, he thought about what skills would best serve him in this unforgiving world

Skill points are used to upgrade skills. One point is required to upgrade each skill level, increasing each level by one, so level 1 to level 2 requires two points and level 2 to level 3 requires three points.

Kain wiped his brow and took a deep breath, feeling the weight of desperation pressing down on him. "I appreciate the offer, but I need food now," he said, voice steady but tinged with urgency. "Is there any way you can help me out with that?"

The response from the system was abrupt and unyielding. Host needs to solve this problem himself.

He let out a frustrated tsk, frowning at the lack of support. As he stood there, Kain suddenly realized it was strange that no one was questioning why he had been sleeping outside the church. He glanced around and saw that he wasn't alone; several people around him had claimed the same patch of ground to rest. Dismissing the oddity from his mind, he turned his focus back to the pressing issue of finding food.

In his past life, Kain had not been very social, and he knew this was going to be a significant challenge. Still, he swallowed his reservations. I need to do this, he thought and began to wander through the streets, asking for food and water.

However, the responses he received were disheartening. No one had anything to spare, and a couple of passersby even grew angry, shoving him to the ground as he approached them. Kain gritted his teeth, determination churning within him as he picked himself up and continued his search.

Eventually, Kain stumbled upon what appeared to be a blacksmith's workshop. Steeling himself, he entered the dim space, taking in the tools and materials scattered about. It wasn't much, but it looked better than most places he had seen. He approached the man working there, who was covered in soot from head to toe.

"I need food and water," Kain stated plainly.

The blacksmith, a stocky man standing at around 5 feet 3 inches with an unexpectedly deep voice, turned to him. "Listen up. I can give you food and drink, but there's a price to pay," he said gruffly.

Kain's stomach dropped. "What do you want me to do?" he asked, anxiety creeping into his voice.

The soot-covered man scrutinized him, looking him up and down. Kain felt the heat rise in his cheeks. "Whoa, whoa—" he began, but the man cut him off sharply.

"Shut up," the blacksmith said. "It's not like that. I'm just seeing if you could even handle it."

Kain exhaled an audible sigh of relief. "I'll do anything. Just not sexual," he added quickly, half-joking yet serious.

The blacksmith met Kain's gaze with a steely look, then replied, "I need someone to run errands for me, but since I can't trust you yet, we'll start with simpler tasks. You need to build some muscle first. My name is Vulcan, and you are?"

"Kain," he said, introducing himself.

"Nice to meet you, Kain. Now, I need you to clean up the shop. Everything you need is in that small room."

Kain nodded, feeling both the weight of the task and a flicker of hope. At least this was a start. Grateful for the opportunity, he headed toward the small room, ready to take on whatever Vulcan had in store for him.