Time and Space (2)
Behind the adventurers guild, I clutched my heart in exhaustion as I examined my status window in confusion.
"Huff... So this time freeze thing must use up a lot of mana, huh?"
[MP: 0/274]
...
Okay, I'll rest for today. The system even suggested that the daily quests will begin tomorrow.
One day later, after interacting with the main and secondary characters in the bar yesterday, I had a few spare coins, 3 bronze coins to be exact, enough to hire a room in an inn for three days.
I awoke tiredly from my bed, stretching my arms and rubbing my eyes. After staring at nothing for a few seconds, I searched my pockets for any leftover cash. And as I open my palm to disclose 21 bronze coins, the system window appears in front of my face, reading the contents of the quest I'll be facing soon.
[Daily Quest: Slayer I
0/20 Monsters Slayed
Reward: 1000 XP
Failure: Penalty Zone.]
I appeared demotivated to do it, complaining as I looked down, annoyed.
Seriously, system? Do I really have to battle monsters every day to avoid getting into that penalty zone? I mean, it might be better for me anyway since I can gain levels every day.
What's inside the penalty zone, anyway? Does it kill you immediately, or does it abruptly teleport me if I don't finish the quest in time?
Though it is kind of easy to kill 20 monsters in a day...
...since I defeated 31 boars anyway trying to get to this place.
Anyway, I will have to complete this mission. I should also prepare for the Shigai Cave raid so that I can withstand the boss's attacks.
I reflected in my mind as I prepared, dressed, and sheathed my sword, which I had purchased from a random blacksmith the day before.
As I exited from the front door of my inn, I was pleasantly met with the familiar sight of the bustling street.
It's the same scene again; the familiarity never changes, does it?
The crowd's natural loudness, the people's echoing footsteps, and the yell of the vendors...
...they're all the same. Every single day.
But I don't really mind. It feels rather refreshing and nice compared to the hopeless and pathetic begging noises from my former rural neighbors in my old village...
...
Oh!
I halted in my steps as I looked at the exit sign of Crescentia.
[Thank you for visiting Crescentia; we hope you'll visit again!]
I'm here already; Crescentia's outskirts. There's a lot of monsters and beasts near this area; I really hope I encounter something stronger than boars... I've killed 31 of them already.
Anyway, I haven't checked my status window in a while. What does it look like now?
[Zankoku Hanzou
Age: 16 Gender: M
Level: 51 (+8) (25/528) Race: Human
Class: All-Rounder (Adaptable)
HP: 486
MP:274
STR: 59 (-5)
VIT: 62 (-5)
AGI: 39 (-5)
INT: 96 (-5)
DEX: 43 (-5)
LUK: 38 (-10)
Special: Anomaly's Perspective (SSS) [2], Willpower (B), Focus (B), Unlucky One (F), The Cursed (F)]
Where did I get 8 more levels? Did I perhaps get those from the guild scene yesterday?
...Also, let me see how to actually use the anomaly's perspective skill properly. Open Description.
[Anomaly's Perspective (SSS) [2]
1.) Your thoughts seem to come true, generated or not.
2.) You can choose the best response and counter only on something that is slightly stronger than you or something weaker than you. Overly powerful people cancel this skill.]
...
I had a flashback of earlier events, notably from the day before, when I appeared to have frozen time.
When the system window asked me to select the best "response," time unfroze, and I automatically, instinctively palm-struck Katsuro, sending him flying.
As I gazed overhead towards the sky and reflected on the previous day's events, I returned my attention to the system window. And as I looked much closer at the contents, I saw the second description and understood why.
"2.) You can choose the best response and counter only on something that is slightly stronger than you or something weaker than you. Overly powerful people cancel this skill."
So that's what it meant, huh? It won't work on people much more powerful than me, though... That's why I have to get much stronger.
But still, it's pretty overpowered; the only drawback, though, is the fact I can only use it once. Since it drains almost all of my mana.
...
I thought, my eyes entering a focused state as I realized that I was getting much more powerful than before. So, I either have to use this skill sparingly or only use it in times of desperation.
I can't just rely on these skills. I have to survive on my own as well, because who knows, maybe one day my skill will disappear and I'll be left with nothing...
A couple of days later, located in a deep forest, I could be seen checking my status window after a fight with a boar.
"Alright, that's 19. Is it really so easy? There has to be some kind of twist, is not there? But, I'll try to find one more boar while I am at it..." I murmured thoughtfully as I walked away after picking up the boar carcass.
A few minutes later, I felt a hazy vibration resonating down the deep ground. My senses informed me that whatever was causing the vibration was deadly and was heading in my direction.
[You have used your skill: Anomaly's Perspective (SSS).]
[An enormous snake pounced on him, charging so quickly that he had no chance to react. At the time he reacted, it was far too late; he looked at his side and it had already torn both his legs.]
"Huge snake... Huge snake..." I murmured as I bit my nails while a drop of sweat streamed down my face. A realization hit me.
That should be Vicissim! Why the hell is it here? Damn it, I had to encounter this monster while doing my daily quest. Unlucky or lucky? Who knows, I might just have the strength to slay this one. This is my last monster as well.
[Daily Quest: Slayer I
19/20 Monsters Slayed
Reward: 1000 XP
Failure: Penalty Zone.]
Vicissim is a type of large snake similar to the Titanoboa, but it just had one weakness.
The reverse scale.
Every Vicissim had a reverse scale that would instantly kill it when it is torn.
But I can't just use my time-freeze skill blindly; it's way stronger than me. I need to use this skill to live...
[As the snake darts towards him, it blindly opens its mouth, its sharp fangs piercing through the skin of his left arm, the venom killing him instantly.]
...shut up! I don't want to grow depending on this singular skill; I want to grow with my own efforts! I want to continue being strong even if this skill is taken away from me!
[As the snake darts towards him, it blindly opens its mouth, its sharp fangs piercing through the skin of his left arm, the venom killing him instantly.]
I've gotten stronger thanks to you, but I don't need your help every single time...!
[⍲⎎ ⍑ℍℇ ⎎☊⍲⏧ℇ ⟄⍲☈⍑⎎ ⍑⌾⏙⍲☈⟄⎎ ℍ⟟⍓, ⟟⍑ ⌦⎾⟟☊⟄⎾⍦ ⌾⍴ℇ☊⎎ ⟟⍑⎎ ⍓⌾⌰⍑ℍ, ⟟⍑⎎ ⎎ℍ⍲☈⍴ 🜅⍲☊⅁⎎ ⍴⟟ℇ☈⍧⟟☊⅁ ⍑ℍ☈⌾⌰⅁ℍ ⍑ℍℇ ⎎⏧⟟☊ ⌾🜅 ℍ⟟⎎ ⎾ℇ🜅⍑ ⍲☈⍓, ⍑ℍℇ ⍻ℇ☊⌾⍓ ⏧⟟⎾⎾⟟☊⅁ ℍ⟟⍓ ⟟☊⎎⍑⍲☊⍑⎾⍦.]
[...]
[Alright.]
I took a deep breath as I readied my steps, intently looking at it for any harsh and sudden movements.
But even if I'm weak, don't underestimate me, because the weak have knowledge of every monster's weakness just to survive.
...
I lunged in front of Vicissim as it readied its charge. Surprised, Vicissim opens its mouth, sharpening its fangs as its ready to bite—but to its unexpected surprise...
...I unsheathed my sword, looking like I was about to slash his eye, but instead, I gently dropped the sword facing down on its mouth. When it closed its mouth in panic, the sword pierced through its skin, the blade visible on the bottom as it writhed in pain.
At the moment it was still in pain, I dashed to Vicissim's side, looking for its reverse scale. A few seconds pass, and I found it.
It was located on its tail, the hardest part to strike since its the part where snakes move the most.
...I shouldn't just rely on this perspective skill!
I thought as I jumped upright, its tail wriggling as it was still panicking to remove the sword out of its mouth.
Vicissim looked at its reverse scale knowing and started wriggling its tail much more, trying to confuse me and buy time.
"This one is smart; it knows the reverse scale is its weakness! Damn it. Should I use the skill so I can kill it? I probably should..."
...
No!
I want to win with my own efforts and knowledge...
...and not just relying on this stupidly overpowered skill!
My eyes flared with determination as I jumped upright, using my knowledge of snakes to predict where it would wriggle its tail next. I found the next spot where it would put its tail, landed on the spot perfectly, grasping its tail as I looked at the reverse scale, gripped it with all my strength, and snapped it in half.
[Level up! +1000XP (Quest) +500XP +Anomaly's Perspective, Level up! (2) -> (3)]
I might be weak, but because I'm weak, I know all sorts of knowledge, just to survive in this world.
[Zankoku Hanzou
Age: 16 Gender: M
Level: 54(+3) (14/1054) Race: Human
Class: All-Rounder (Adaptable)
HP: 497
MP:288
STR: 63 (-5)
VIT: 67 (-5)
AGI: 45 (-5)
INT: 105 (-5)
DEX: 48 (-5)
LUK: 42 (-10)
Special: Anomaly's Perspective (SSS) [3] (+1), Willpower (B), Focus (B), Unlucky One (F), The Cursed (F)]
...What, this skill leveled up when I decided to not use it?