Chapter VI

Cash scratched in between Opie's ears and hardened his resolve. It wasn't just himself stuck in this new reality. He had his best friend here with him too. His soul-companion. If he couldn't find the determination to survive within himself; he would do it for Opie.

Sitting down next to Opie at the mouth of the entrance to the tunnel, Cash decided it was time they figured out what was going on. Opening up his status sheet again, Cash felt like he had a good grasp on what the attributes meant besides a few of them but there were new lines below that. The new lines were called Titles and Skills. As he read over them, he felt that tug on his mind again and focused on the last line he read. He heard a ding sound in his head and a blinking light flared in the corner of his vision before a new window appeared before him.

SKILL LEARNED: IDENTIFY (BASIC)

Cash's eyebrows rose as he realized he had discovered something significant. He had learned a skill. This had to mean that he could learn other skills if he attempted to or figured out the right way to unlock them. Tucking that bit of information away in his mind he refocused on the top of his Status Sheet and said, "Identify". What followed next was Cash identifying everything in his status sheet that he could.

ATTRIBUTES:

STRENGTH: Description: Increases the power of the inductee and has a slight effect on health pool. 

ENDURANCE: Description: Increases the longevity of the inductee by increasing health and stamina pools. 

AGILITY: Description: Increases the speed and flexibility of the inductee and has a slight effect on stamina pool. 

DEXTERITY: Description: Increases the reflexes and coordination of the inductee. 

CHARISMA: Description: Increases the power of the inductee's words. 

WILLPOWER: Description: Increases the power of the inductee's soul. 

INTELLIGENCE: Description: Increases the inductee's mana pool size. 

WISDOM: Description: Increases the inductee's mana pool recovery rate.

LUCK: Description: Increases the inductee's chances for higher rarity loot and favorable outcomes. 

TITLES:

FORERUNNER Description: Title earned for being the first of your species to be introduced into the multiverse. Effect: Earn 2x Experience. 

FIRST TO KILL Description: Title earned for being the first of your species to kill another inducted creature. Effect: Weapon damage increased by 1.5x the original amount. 

SECOND CHANCE Description: Title earned for recovering from a fatal injury. Effect: Health pool increased by 1.5x the original amount. 

SOUL-BOND Description: Title earned for forming a soul contract with another species. Effect: Soul-bound companions are able to speak telepathically with one another, share experience, and revive one another. Both soul-bound companions must be slain for them to truly die. 

SKILLS:

BLUNT ONE-HANDED WEAPONS (BASIC LVL. 1) Description: Skill earned for using a blunt weapon in battle. The level of skill corresponds to the inductee's effectiveness with a blunt one-handed weapon and increases damage. 

BLADED ONE-HANDED WEAPONS (COMMON LVL. 1) Description: Class Skill earned from the inductee's Class. The level of skill corresponds to the inductee's effectiveness with a bladed one-handed weapon and increases damage. 

BLADED TWO-HANDED WEAPONS (COMMON LVL. 1) Description: Class Skill earned from the inductee's Class. The level of skill corresponds to the inductee's effectiveness with a bladed two-handed weapon and increases damage. 

IDENTIFY (BASIC): Description: Skill learned intuitively. Displays information to the inductee when used.

After reading all of the information displayed in his Status Sheet, Cash felt relieved. Being unable to understand what any of the attributes meant when he was choosing his class was agonizing. Now he could better plan his attribute point spending not that he would change much. He felt like his plan of focusing on strength, endurance, and dexterity was good but might include more points into agility as well. He noticed that some of the attributes talked about his mana pool and spell power but since he had no spells currently, he decided not to think too much on it.

The next thing that stuck out to him was the rewards he got from his titles. Being a gamer himself, he understood that titles would play a huge part in his success. The ones he had so far would play a tremendous part in survival and growth. What really made Cash stumble was when he read over the description of Soul-Bond. He and Opie could revive each other. They would never be apart. As Cash thought this, tears came to his eyes and leaked from their corners as a massive weight lifted off his chest.

His best friend would never pass away. Not without Cash coming with him. This was the true sorrow of any animal owner who had a strong bond with their companion. They knew that one day their beloved pet would pass away. Not for Cash. When they die, they'd now do so together. Cash reached over and hugged Opie and let out a choked cry. Opie leaned into the hug and licked up at Cash's salty tears.

"Looks like we're stuck with one another huh?" Opie said. 

"Forever buddy." Cash choked out. 

"You have an ugly cry you know that." Opie teased. 

"Shut up. It's the damn blue flames right outside burning my eyeballs." Cash laughed. 

After separating, Cash and Opie stood up and turned back down the tunnel they had entered from.

"Let's head back down and figure out how to survive before we do anything else buddy." Cash said.

Opie barked and together the duo hardened their wills and began their walk back to their starting cave.