Leveling-Up
"Brother, wake up."
'Who's there...?'
A silhouette of a woman's face greeted my eyes. My vision was blurry, so I couldn't discern what she looked like. Yet, for some reason, I felt a sense of warmth, tenderness, and comfort, as if I was in a presence of a someone whom I know for years.
I tried to move my body but realized that I couldn't move no matter how hard I tried. Feeling helpless, I tried speaking my lungs out, but that was also futile. Suddenly, my vision began to darken and the woman's voice became distant with each passing second. Before everything went dark, I barely managed to hear her words.
"Geez, you're such a heavy sleeper. Well, it doesn't really matter. I don't care what the family says, you will still be my br-"
-
"Hey, are you okay?"
When I opened my eyes again, it was now Elena's face that greeted me. I looked around for signs of the unknown woman, but found nothing.
"Umm. Miss Elena, was someone in the room just earlier, or perhaps did you see anyone exit the room?"
Confused, I quickly asked Elena about the unknown girl.
"Exit the room? I've been waiting for you to wake up for the past ten minutes, but you were sound asleep. However, you suddenly began muttering things in your sleep, and you were shaking violently. I was worried, so I planned to wake you up, but you already woke up before I could. Why? Did you see someone?"
'Huh? Was I dreaming?'
"No. It's nothing. Thank you for looking after me."
Everything that I saw must've been a part of a dream. However, the emotions, the strong feeling of affection that I felt for the woman, felt so real. It made me wonder if the person I saw was connected to the previous owner?
I pushed the matter to the back of my mind and stood up, fully prepared to see what my new world looks like. After asking Elena if it was fine for me to explore the village, to which she happily agreed, I finally gathered the courage to open the door leading outside the room.
"It looks... normal."
The place reminded me of my grandparent's place in the countryside, except that the houses' architecture looked similar to the houses of the medieval period. Houses made from pure laid out bricks partnered with wooden doors and windows, metal posts with lamps hanging from them; one looks was enough to realize that it differed from the modern world.
But other than that, everything looked normal. The air, albeit somewhat clearer, felt the same as on Earth, and the sun's ray that was blasting in full heat reminded me of the summer days in the countryside. Aside from the clear air, I also realized that Elpathion's gravity is a bit stronger than Earth. My body felt a little heavier, and I needed to exert more force just to move around.
"So? Remember anything?"
Seeing me examine my surroundings like a kid, Elena approached and asked me with a smile. Despite her freckled face, she definitely looked like a someone who would captivate the hearts of many men. Her slender body, coupled with her graceful and elegant aura, greatly enhanced her charms as a woman.
"I'm afraid not."
-
I walked around for a bit and noticed a few things about Ryden. First, I've observed that it was a self-sustaining village. Everything that they consume, from vegetables to livestocks, is all cultivated inside Ryden. Because Ryden was caged inside the foggy forest, fetching supplies from nearby villages was not an option.
"Miss Elena, how exactly do you level up?"
Elena acted as my tour guide and told me a lot of things as we walked, including how to level up. My conjecture turned out right; we need to kill monsters to level up. However, it wasn't just monsters that gave EXP, but any living entity. Even plants gave a tiny amount of EXP.
(GATHERED: LVL 1 - AERO GRASS)
(YOU HAVE RECEIVED 5 EXP POINTS)
The higher the level, the more EXP it will drop, and the higher your level, the more EXP is required to level up. Miss Elena, whom was already at the brink of reaching level 9, was planning to hunt a Tier 2 monster to finally reached level 10.
Tiers was a way to categorize lower class monsters below the level 50 mark. They are ranked from weakest to strongest, with Tier 1 being the weakest and Tier 5 the vice versa.
Tier 1 Monster - LVL 1 - 10
Tier 2 Monster - LVL 11 - 20
Tier 3 Monster - LVL 21 - 30
Tier 4 Monster - LVL 31 - 40
Tier 5 Monster - LVL 41 - 50
Apparently, there was another category for monsters above Level 50, but for someone like her, who lives in the village of Ryden her entire life, that is nothing but a legend. Thus, she didn't elaborate on that part.
"Miss Elena, is there any safe place to raise my level?"
Given that she is already going out of her way to guide me, I had to make use of every opportunity that I have to get stronger. However, I wasn't dumb enough to just pick a fight with any monster that I saw, and hope that I can kill it easily.
"There is a place called Hunting Grounds inside the forest. The surrounding area had mostly been explored, and every Tier 3 monster had been hunted already. So, its fairly safe, even for a level 1 like you, not to mention I'm also here."
Elena took me somewhere in the forest. I didn't know how, but she seemed to have a way to navigate through the fog. It wasn't clear what the source of the thick fog that haunts the forest, but according to a local legend, there is a monster in the center of the forest, which was responsible for creating the thick fog.
"We're here. This is the Hunting Grounds."
A barren field spanning across hundreds of yards was before me. It only took me a single look to see the various monsters roaming around the field. Wolves, gigantic frogs and snails, slimes, and even various moving plants.
'Yep, definitely won't see this on Earth.'
"All monsters here are low levels. The strongest one would be the Dark-Scaled Wolf, which is Level 5."
Taking a deeper look at the pack of wolves, I saw a wolf that look different from the rest. It was considerably bigger and its fur was pitch black that looked deadly spikes. Judging from the way the other wolves gathered around it, it was clear that it was the Dark-Scaled Wolf Elena was talking about.
"The Elder asked me to help you level up. Although your circumstances are... unusual, he still greatly emphasized the importance of being able to protect one's self, and that we should help those who are in need."
Her words made it very clear; Elder Yaga still has his doubts about me. However, they would still do what they can to help me, despite the hidden danger that it may incur.
"Give the Elder my sincere thanks."
-
"So, which monster should I try to kill? Any recommendation?"
Even after several minutes of examining the monsters, I still haven't found a suitaable target. Helpless, I decided to ask the veteran for help.
"Well, according to your stats, it sounds like you have a tact for casting many skills, given that you have high Intelligence points. Out of every monster here, the Tree Warrior is the one most susceptible to elemental damage, and it's only a level 2 monster, so it's your best bet."
Elena pointed at a gruesome-looking creature that resembled a tree. Its body was akin to a gigantic oak tree, but it had branches that acted like swords, and it used its roots to crawl around the ground.
'Are you for real? That thing is only level 2? It looks like a final boss of a dungeon...'
"Uhh... Is there another monster available? Like a slime, for example. That would be much easier."
With a wry smile, I asked Elena for another option. Despite having a powerful Class and Unique Skill, I was still a bit skeptical about fighting the thing. Being transported into a magical world was great, but I was still a human, and a low level one at that.
"Slimes, in particular, have a high elemental resistance. Are you sure you would want to hunt that?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
-
"What the hell is this?"
Elena did bring me to a slime... but it was ten times bigger than the slime I had imagined. Pale blue with a jelly-like body. It bounced around the ground, absorbing anything it could touch.
"It's a slime. I told you, right? These things have a tenacious body against elemental attacks. This one is called an Aqua Slime, a variant of slimes that has greater resistance against the fire element. C'mon, let's go back to the Tree Warrior. I'll weaken it first before letting you deliver the final blow."
Elena called for me to return to the Tree Warrior's area, but I was tired of going back. It didn't really matter what opponent was I up against, if I couldn't have the courage to fight, I'm better off dead.
"Miss Elena, I would like to fight this one."
-
ELENA RAYVENFOL
I knew that the man I found in the forest was no ordinary man. Even the Elder had said so. However, despite his peculiar story that doesn't match his level or whereabouts, I feel some sort of innocence in him.
"Miss Elena, I would like to fight this one."
'Fighting an Aqua Slime as your first hunt?'
If what the Elder was thinking was right, then no matter what kind of relationship could we cultivate with him, the lives of all people living in Ryden would be forfeited if something happened to him.
*A few minutes before Rei woke up...*
"Are you sure you heard him properly?"
"Yes, Elder."
It was the first time I saw the Elder so tensed and worried. Even when we encountered several Tier 2 monsters once when we were hunting, he was still composed. However, just hearing the name of an unknown man, a level one at that, made him sweat.
"Listen up. Do not touch that boy. Whatever he wants to do, let him. He wants to explore the forest? Allow him. He wants to get artifacts? Give him. The point is, we have to accommodate that man in the best way we can."
"But why?! Who is he?"
"You better off clueless about his origins. At least, not until you managed to reach the capital."
*Back in present*
'I don't know what you saw in this man, Elder, but I'll make you see just how irrelevant he really is.'
"Sure, I'll help you as much as you want."
[Elena Rayvenfol]
Level: 8
Stats:
[Str: 15]
[Vit: 15]
[Spd: 18]
[Int: 24]
Unique Skill: Augment
Skills: (Tier 1 Physical Boost) | (Tier 1 Magic Amplifier) | (Tier 2 Energy Beam) |
Special Skill: (Tier 2 Overclock)
Class: Enhancer
Titles: N/A
Artifact/s: N/A
[Augment]
-Temporarily double the stats of any being other than the user.
Range: 5 meters
Duration: 2 minutes
ASURA REI
"Thanks. I'll be counting on you."
Knowing that I'll have support, my courage grew even bigger. Even if I got myself in a dire situation, I knew I could count on Elena to save me. After taking a deep breath, I prepared myself and charged towards the slime.
"Reinforced Armor!"
[Vit: 10 (+5)]
A red armor made out of pure energy, a substance that felt like silicon but radiated immense heat, adorned my body. I was still a few yards away from the Aqua Slime, but I opted to take precaution before engaging the monster.
[Enemy Detected: Level 3 Aqua Slime]
(Unique Passive: Absolute Subjugation)
-ACTIVATED-
Stats:
[Str: 12 (+7)]
[Vit: 17 (+12)]
[Spd: 14 (+7)]
[Int: 22 (+7)]
Finally, the Aqua Slime took notice of me. It bounced on the ground before leaping up into the sky and slamming down onto me. Rolling to the side, I tried to punch the Aqua Slime, but it compressed itself into a flat disk to dodge my fist.
'It dodged?'
Realizing that I underestimated the Aqua Slime's intellect, I knew that the battle wouldn't be an easy one. After decompressing itself, the Aqua Slime grew two tentacles from its body that tried to wrap my body, but my Reinforced Armor burned them, forcing the slime to change its attack.
Making use of the opportunity, I dashed toward the monster, and kicked it directly on its body. However, the Aqua Slime was just pushed back for a few meters, but didn't seem to sustain any damage.
'Are you for real? It didn't even do any damage? How do you even beat this thing? It's this durable, even though its specialty is against elemental attacks?'
"Attack the core inside its body! That's the only way to kill it!"
As I was thinking of a way to beat it, Elena suddenly shouted. Trusting her, I quickly strategized my moves to reach the Aqua Slime's core. As if adapting to my Reinforced Armor, the Aqua Slime fused its two tentacles into a giant fist, before it launched it to me.
"Gah!"
I was sent tumbling down, but thanks to my Reinforced Armor and high Vitality Stats, I didn't sustain any major injury. Swiftly standing up, I dashed head-on towards the Aqua Slime. It tried to smack me again with its fused tentacle-fist, but I met it with a punch of mine.
I had realized it before when I first kicked it, but the Aqua Slime really was weak against physical attacks. However, my strength was still lacking to penetrate its jelly-like body. Even though I'm not strong enough to pierce its skin and reach the core, my fist still managed to deflect its attack.
'Damn it, if only I had an offensive skill...'
Running behind it, I tried to lodge my hands in its body and split it apart from the inside. Unexpectedly, that turned out to be an effective move, because I managed to chunk away a good amount of its body.
'This would work. I just need to pierce it deeper with my arms!'
Maneuvering past its next attacks, I scrapped away its flesh piece by piece. Despite having a way to defeat it, I still found it extremely difficult to reach the Aqua Slime's core.
It could compress and stretch its body at will, which made it hard for me to keep my hands on it. Furthermore, I also noticed one thing while fighting; I was quickly getting tired. I didn't know if it was because I've been using the Reinforced Armor for too long or because I was running around, but my body was running out of energy rapidly.
'I have to finish this quick or else I'll be the one getting finished.'
I had the strength to reach the Aqua Slime's core, but the problem was that I couldn't hold it in place. Because it was a few times bigger than my size, it was extremely arduous to keep my arms inside its body to reach the core. That was why I opted for a risky, yet efficient way to keep my arms on it.
Jumping on top of it.
"Haaaa! Stay still, you damn slime!"
The Aqua Slime rolled around, trying to shake me off its body, but I remained persistent. Little by little, I dug my hands into its body, scraping its flesh. I was constantly hitting the ground, which gave my body numerous bruises, but I fought through the pain until I managed to grab its core with my hands.
'Just need... to crush it'
Victory was at the palm of my hands. All I needed to do was crush its core. However, it was as if my curse was affecting me again.
[Unique Skill: Augment]
-ACTIVATED-
Target: Level 3 Aqua Slime
All Stats x 2
"AAAHHH!"
The Aqua Slime's body suddenly contracted, nearly crushing my arms. It felt like they were between two immensely thick concrete walls. Realizing the danger and feeling the pain, I had no choice but to take my hands off the core, and pulled my arms out of its body.
"What the hell happened? Miss Elen-"
Perplexed by the sudden changes, I tried to ask Elena about what happened, but saw no sight of her. I looked left and right, but there was no sign of my savior. Even if I wanted to ask her for help, there was no chance.
Focusing my attention back on the battlefield, I was horrified at what I realized. Not only did the Aqua Slime's durability increased, but its strength and speed were also on a whole new level.
It grew two more tentacle aside from its fused one that lashed out and wrapped around my left leg, despite my Reinforced Armor protecting it. Powerless, the Aqua Slime swung me around before smashing me onto the ground.
"Khaak!"
My Reinforced Armor wasn't enough to protect me from the attack, and I coughed out blood. The impact was so powerful that it even left a crater on the ground, which I helplessly lied in.
'Ah, fuck... This hurts like hell.'
A few of my ribs were broken, and I couldn't move my body. Due to exhaustion and the damaged from the attack, my Reinforced Armor had been deactivated. I thought, "Isn't this an eventful first day?".
'Dying as soon as I got reincarnated... the world just can't stop fucking with me.'
Unsurprisingly, I was once again cursing the world. However, it wasn't as if I hadn't expected something like this to happen. I knew that the world wants me dead. Suffering. Pained. It wants to live a bitter life.
"And you will just allow that to happen?"
'Who are you?'
As if I was dreaming again, I saw a faint silhouette of a person standing in front of me. However, this time, it was a young man, not an unfamiliar woman.
"You already forgot about me? You sure are cold."
'You are...'
Me. I was seeing myself when I was still a child, and was beaten up by my mother every day. It was a past of me that I wanted to forget.
"So, what now? You got reincarnated in another world... for what? To die again? All that system bullshit must've gotten into your head... for you to forget that you're a worthless piece of shit who doesn't deserve to live."
'You're wrong...'
"Am I? Who was it that let those kids steal in his grandmother's shop?"
'I didn't know...'
"We both know that's just a petty reason. But let's say that was not your fault... still, you didn't even think that they are connected to the people who killed your grandmother. That because of YOU forsaking THEM, they took revenge on your love ones. They killed your grandmother."
'That's...'
"See? You're naive. Extremely naive. You blindly put your trust in anyone who seems kind to you. All those cruel treatments and you don't even learn. They say experience is the best teacher, but I don't think so. Personally, I believe that experience is not the teacher but the lesson.
Teachers are only able to guide others through their own experience. Sometimes they use the experience of others to teach, but it's still under their personal viewpoint. However, lessons are different. They are unique to every person, according to their situation and environment.
Well, my point is that even if two people experienced the same thing, it doesn't guarantee that they will learn the same lesson; It doesn't mean that they will go down the same path and make the same decisions."
'What are you trying to say...?'
"That you're one naive son of a bitch who did not learn his lesson."
"GAHHH!"
While I was seemingly passed out, the Aqua Slime squeezed my body with its two tentacles and fused fist, nearly breaking all the bones in my body. The excruciating pain caused me to once again lose consciousness.
"You're gonna get yourself killed once again. Killed without even a chance to make your life better. Funny enough, it's about a woman leaving you again, HAHAHA! Seriously, you're a real piece of work.
Just die already, Rei (Ray)."
After strangling my body, the Aqua Slime threw me straight towards the ground, making another crater, which I bloodily lied in, again. At that point, I was too injured to even open my eyes, so I just settled there, waiting for my imminent death.
Unfortunately for me, even though death was slowly closing in, I was still seeing the figure of my past. Even near death, I still could not let go of the trauma that haunted me throughout the years.
Even in another world, I'm still powerless.
(That's right, just disappear like that.)
I hated him. Myself, I mean. I hated seeing that form of mine.
The person who struggled through any problems, every difficulties. The person who didn't give up despite the fucked-up, twisted situation he always got into.
(Disappear, so you don't have to bear the pain anymore.)
Yet, despite the hatred, I was proud of him. The man who fought against bad luck. The man who faced every adversary with an open heart. He, whom, despite the tragedies, never complained about his life, and accepted everything with a smile.
"Grandpa, why do I have to experience all this? I never stole or hurt anyone, so why is it that my life is going through so much misfortune? Why do I have to lose everyone I love? Why do I have to get hurt over and over again. Why does the world curse me so much?"
"Well, Grandpa doesn't really know why, but if I had to answer then it must be because you're strong."
"I'm strong?"
"Yes. The world knows you can take all the pain and go through all the adversaries."
"I'm not strong at all. I cry all the time, especially now that Grandma is gone."
Listen to me, Ray, people do not cry because they are weak, but because they've been strong for too long. I hope that Grandpa can support you forever, but I know that won't happen. So, when I'm gone, I want you to remember that it's alright to be hurt. It's alright to fall. As long as you stand up and continue, even if it took a million tears, you can go on and fight. I love you, my Grandson.
'If you want me to disappear so bad... then why the hell are you crying?'
Everything that had happened to me was because of my powerlessness. This world wants me to suffer, but it's because I just easily accept it, that I really do so. What I need is to do, is to be strong.
To continue fighting.
"I'm not... going to disappear. I will... kill you and... keep getting stronger."
I didn't know where I got the energy from, but I managed to regain consciousness, and even managed to stand up. Even though my body was all battered, I stood on my two legs, with life still in my eyes.
Maybe I really didn't want to die.
(Special Skill: Warden's Command)
-ACTIVATED-
For the next ten seconds, the user can manipulate any elemental energy at will.
"AAAAHHH! I will not die!"
Under the effect of Warden's Command, I could freely manipulate any elemental energy in exchange for losing 20% of my stats for a temporary period. However, for the following ten seconds, I felt like I was a god. Without even touching it, I managed to control its flesh, which was made of water element.
"I will live to see another day!"
Using the Warden's Command, I tore the Aqua Slime's body into pieces. Even though my strength was lacking, I only needed to think about it, and its body would follow. While in that state, everything that was made of elemental energy was mine to rule.
"I will defeat you! Devour you! Make you my source of strength! Use you to get stronger!"
I kept shouting things as I slowly reached the Aqua Slime's core. It was both embarrassing and amusing at the same time. I didn't even know if the one I was talking about was the Aqua Slime... or perhaps my past self. I wonder which one of the two did I really want to disappear?
I guess both.
'Grandpa, I'll be going now.'
*Crack*
(HUNTED: LVL 3 - AQUA SLIME)
(YOU HAVE RECEIVED 350 EXP POINTS)
(YOU HAVE LEVELED UP)
(YOU HAVE LEVELED UP)
(YOU HAVE LEVELED UP)
(YOU HAVE GAINED (9) STAT POINTS)
[FIRST LEVEL-UP BONUS RECEIVED]
SKILLS UNLOCKED:
(Tier 1: Aura Surge) | (Tier 2: Maverick's Presence)
-
[Asura Rei]
Level: 4
Stats:
[Str: 5]
[Vit: 5]
[Spd: 7]
[Int: 15]
Unique Skill: [Domination]
Skills: (Tier 1: Reinforced Armor) | (Tier 1: Aura Surge) | (Tier 2: Maverick's Presence) |
Special Skill: (Tier 2: Warden's Command)
Class: Warden
Titles: N/A
Armament/s: N/A