There was something to say about planning; a quote, or the like that fit his situation perfectly. Though as Alex looked at the slew of system prompts in front of him, he struggled to find the words to properly do so. Nearly thirty minutes ago, he’d marveling at the aisles upon aisles of bookshelves. The entire place felt like power made physical to his sensory skill, though he quickly learned whatever protections they held didn’t appreciate his inspections. As he walked Alex imagined the many types of fantastical knowledge each tome held. The smell of oiled leather and aged paper was thick in the air, and multiple times Alex found himself stopping to browse as if by instinct.
Reading, while not what he spent all his free time doing, held a special place in Alex’s heart. A researcher could condense fifty years of study into a single book. An author could fill pages upon pages with information about a world that existed only in their mind. A library, to him, represented freedom, learning, and in this tutorial, potential safety. Unfortunately, that mindset only lasted until he actually reached the section the first librarian had indicated.
The building’s layout reminded Alex of a superstore, with massive signs hanging off the ceiling to denote location and workers spread about the stacks ready to help. That image was further reinforced as he looked at the many bookshelves the section contained. When the older man had mentioned this part of the library having twelve aisles, he’d left out a few other, equally important, details. Each individual row housed seven sets of bookcases, all of which stood nearly ten feet in height. After his increased intelligence estimated a roughly three-digit book count per shelf, with eight shelves per bookcase, Alex began to doubt his plan.
It started with the idea that it was impossible to fill all those shelves with true information about such a small city. Though when he thought back to his conversation with the librarian Alex couldn't remember if this was the city specific section, or just where the information about the city was located.
‘If it’s not all just a distraction on the system's part.’
The thought niggled its way into his mind and Alex hesitated as he looked at the books with new suspicion. He’d decided on a library for two main reasons: it stopped from him raising suspicion by asking questions about even the simplest of topics and information about the forest. When he entered the city’s natural barrier - because it would only be a matter of time - Alex wanted to be as prepared as possible. Knowing information about the monsters he’d run into before analyzing them would drastically increase his chances of survival. There were plenty of other justifications he’d told himself; some more obvious products of procrastination than others.
Alex felt the buzz of another notification and his thoughts cleared slightly as he pushed it away. What he needed to do was make a plan, figure out how to best spend his time, and verify anything he read was real. Grabbing a seat at a table between sections, Alex picked up a pen and some paper, and began writing. Fifteen minutes later he’d narrowed down his focus into four main topics: The forest and its inhabitants, Local Rules and Regulation, Skills, and, if he had the time, some of the city’s history.
The information about the forest and the city he’d be able to directly confirm with someone at the house or even a random person off the street. His mind wanted to go a level further to ‘Well what if the system forced them to lie too,’ but Alex shut that line of thought down. There was nothing he could do if the whole world was literally against him, so at least this method would assure he didn’t waste too much time on the potentially useless.
The skills… well he’d always be open to more skills, especially more offensive ones. Hailing a librarian, this one a matronly woman in elaborate green robes, Alex described what he wanted. Watching as she walked into the shelves to find his first book request, Alex opened the notifications for what he’d missed.
***
For constantly showcasing your pathological tendencies even when having absolutely no reason to do so, you have received:
Acting (Uncommon)
***
Alex paused in his reading. Sure, he’d been purposefully doing it, but the way the prompt was written out made him seem like an asshole. Still, he excitedly read the ability’s description, he wouldn’t ignore a new skill because the system was being unnecessarily truthful.
***
Skill
Name: Acting
Rating: Uncommon
Grade: F
Level: 1
Mode: Passive
Resource Cost: N/A
Description: To be, or not to be, is irrelevant. For they shall only see what you decide to be prevalent. As one of the oldest professions in existence acting is the art of pretending to be what one is not. Master your emotions, to manipulate their perceptions. Prepare your body, to pierce their minds. Make your words the unequivocal truth, both on stage and in the midst of battle. Impress and deceive in equal measure because; being a smooth talker is better than being an honest one. Skill ability correlates to Charisma, Willpower, and Dexterity.
Your skill [Fear Resistance] has advanced to Level Four.
***
Closing the skill description after his second reread Alex looked up to the approaching librarian. She held a single massive book that, despite its size seemed to give her no trouble. Alex thanked the woman, tempted to find a way to test out the effect of his new skill, but deciding against it. Leaning back in the nice padded chair, Alex prepared for a long few hours of reading. The situation reminded him of life back on Earth, and for a moment he felt a comfortable familiarity in this strange world.
Opening the book to the first page Alex lost that feeling entirely.
***
System Alert - A mandatory quest has been issued. Please check the Quests tab for more information.
***
Its appearance had been automatic, ignoring most of the notification settings he’d changed. Cursing, and receiving a reproachful look from a passing librarian for doing so, Alex focused on bringing up his newest quest, only for another notification to appear.
Stolen novel; please report.
***
Citywide Announcement - Residents of Endor his majesty, King Leonis Salm, Eye of the Heavens and Piercer of the Void, has given word that the warden of the forest shall soon launch another of their heinous attacks. While the city’s defenses shall be more than enough, your King has graciously allowed for any and all who wish it to participate in the battle. A Quest has been issued.
***
The prompt came in both text and audio form, though the voice was different from the robotically feminine voice he was used to, this one instead pompous and male. Ignoring it Alex mentally navigated to what he needed, book forgotten in his hands.
***
Tutorial Quest - Citywide Quest - The King’s Call
An attack is being led on the city by forest inhabitants. The throne of King Salm has entrusted to you these tasks: take up arms in defense of Endor, drive back the foul beast, and show your power as a warrior by culling those that dare step foot on our claimed lands. For to the victor, go the spoils.
Rewards: Variable
Accept (Y/N)
Rewards - As this is a quest formed via a ruler’s intent, without a singular quest reward, the quest issuer shall be aware of a person's contributions in regard to the task issued, so proper rewards may be given. Quest acceptance subjects participants to the acceptance of these terms.
***
Alex supposed it made sense as he finished reading over the sudden flood of information. The tutorial was meant to be on insane difficulty, and he guessed this was the way the system naturally offered monsters for him to fight. Alex shuddered at the thought, they might be slightly weakened by the city’s defenses but fighting them was still likely to make his fight the day before look like a light spar. Smiling to himself he ignored the quest, if he hadn’t gotten lucky and ended up at the arena, he’d have been essentially forced to do it.
Anything was better than going into the E-Grade forest a level one with no skills, but now it just seemed like an unnecessary risk. He had a place to stay, money, and soon, he’d have the weapons, armor, and levels needed to truly fight at E grade. The rewards were tempting, they always were, but with their unknown nature, and the way everyone danced around the topic of the king, Alex was okay with missing out.
The elation of the dodged bullet combined with the realization that he had a real foothold on this tutorial was so much that for just a moment, Alex wasn’t entirely horrified that he’d ended up in the insane tutorial; at his current rate completing the main quest might even be doable. It was immediately after that thought he received the final set of system notifications, and he realized just how wrong he was.
***
Mandatory Quest - Tutorial Quest - Main - Subquest 1.2: Curiosity Killed the Cat
A wise man once said, “In seeking knowledge one attempts to better themselves.” However, gaining knowledge without power dooms to make your life sour, but worry not young tutorial taker, for salvation shall be granted this hour. Monsters and beast scout lands north, west, south, and east. Of their blood and bones, you shall feast. Gather courage; in your resolve you must stay firm, for once lost, no level of satisfaction will allow your life to return.
Mandatory Quest Requirements: Defeat at least five invaders, by doing at least eighty percent of the damage resulting in their death, to continue the tutorial.
Rewards: Dependent on number of invaders defeated.
5: Survival
7: (1) Spin on Larry’s Lucky Wheel™
10: (1) Achievement Unlock Token
14: (1) Scroll of Copy Skill (Transcendent)
19: (1) Scroll of Copy Class (Legendary)
25: (1) Scroll of Wish (Rare) (Tutorial Only)
32+: All kills above this threshold grant one level.
Invading Beasts Defeated (0)
Accept (Y/Y)
***
Another counter appeared in his vision, this one sitting to the bottom left across from his tutorial timer and sporting a big fat zero. Part of him was annoyed that he couldn’t read over the rewards, another part of him, his survival instincts, began to realize how fucked he truly was. There would be no rewards when he died.
“Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck. Fuck!”
While his earlier expletive had been a murmur, now he was full on screaming. The library had been silent before he’d spoken, but now sound seemed only a myth as the echoes of his voice faded. Alex didn’t notice any of it as he rose and ran. All that patting himself on his back for his genius plans when really, he’d just been fumbling his way through this deathtrap of a tutorial, getting by on sheer luck alone. Arriving at the front desk, the calls of librarians telling him to stop running ignored, Alex grabbed the earlier woman’s attention.
“This book,” He slammed the bestiary with more force than necessary, the poor tome receiving a portion of his anger, “I need to buy it, now.” While he couldn’t remove books from the library, Alex had been told he could purchase copies of the portion they allowed to be sold. The woman scowled at him and Alex scowled back.
“Look, I don’t know what you think you’re doing but you’re not going to-”
“No you listen here bitch,” Alex began as he found a new target for his anger. Almost subconsciously his aura grew in power, almost reaching that of Janet’s on the alley the day before. “I need this book, and I need it like every second you spend doing that pompous, spoiled daughter routine is costing me a second of my fucking life. So please, hold your tongue before I find need to re-”
“That’s quite enough young man,” and with the voice came an aura just as powerful as Alex’s fake one. It pushed back against his and Alex found himself completely outclassed, drawing his power back Alex whirled to find the old man, and a single book.
“That will be twenty gold. For the book, and distress you have caused my staff.” The man’s voice was tight, but Alex didn’t bother to examine further as he dropped the gold on the table. He nearly portaled the book out the man’s hand, only stopping himself at the last moment and instead manually depositing it into his inventory.
Alex looked at the now crying girl and felt a twinge of guilt. Guilt he didn't have time for. Ignoring it as he focused on more important things he walked away, the old man following in step until he was out the building.
“I hope if you ever return you don’t cause such a fuss, it would be… unwise.”
Alex grunted and his nearly subconscious use of Sixth Sense alerted him to the man’s added killing intent, but he paid it no mind as he resumed his run, attention far from the librarian’s words.
Accepting both Curiosity Killed the Cat and The King’s Call, Alex expected to be swarmed by monsters as he left. Instead, there were none at all, Cindel the vision of wealth and peace it had been when he entered. So he continued his run.
***
Your skill [Aura Control] has advanced to Level Six.
For making a little girl cry, you have received: Intimidation (Common)
Perfect Synergy Detected - Would you like to combine Acting (Uncommon) with Intimidation (Uncommon)? Due to perfect synergy combined skill will result in a rise in rarity and combination of skill levels.
Potential Skill -
Name: Acting
Rating: Rare
Grade: F
Level: 2
Accept (Y/N)
Skills Successfully Combined: Acting (Rare)
***
The skill’s combination shot a shard of pain through his mind as he sprinted, but he managed to get his feet under him avoiding a fall. Alex appreciated the upgrades to his body the levels had provided him. Before now, he hadn’t gotten the chance to really test it out, but as he moved, the added stats did not disappoint. Sure, plenty of others were beating him in their sprint to the gate, the people not participating in the fight becoming obstacles to dodge around, but with his new speed a pre-integration Olympian wouldn’t have stood a chance.
Taking the shortest route he could, Alex was through the middle district in less than ten minutes. Oudel, it turned out, was a tricky bit of town without a guide. Random dead ends and the unreasonable amount of side alleys making Alex rethink his earlier praise of city planning. Securing the dagger to his hip as he moved, Alex pulled out the map, saw he was about to hit another dead end, and made a turn, to the displeasure of a few pedestrians. Finally able to see the edges of the wall over the buildings, the sounds of battle reached his ears and Alex slowed to a walk, the reality of the situation hitting him. He felt what was likely the gain of another level in fear resistance, cursed a final time and ran ready for battle.