Chapter 7 - Knowledge

Having gathered everything they needed, the trio left the cafeteria, leaving Kang and Jesse behind to pursue their own plans.

As Lucas led the group, Samantha couldn't resist asking, "Hey, why didn't they join us? I've heard Kang knows some karate, right?"

Lucas nodded, "Yes, he does."

Samantha frowned, unconvinced. "So why? We got you, if we add Kang in, we'll be unstoppable."

Lucas rubbed his chin thoughtfully before replying, "It's probably a saintess and her knight case."

Chloe tilted her head, clearly confused. "What does that even mean?"

"I supposed something is going on with Jesse and Kang doesn't want anyone else to know about it. You know, like how in some stories, the saintess is often on a secret mission, disguised to hide her true identity. The knight is there to protect her at all costs. Probably something similar," Lucas shrugged as he elaborated.

Scratching his chin, he added, “I suppose that isn’t the best example, but you get what I mean.”

Adjusting the strap of her bag, she glanced at Lucas. "Okay? So, where are we going now?" she asked, tilting her head as she brushed some loose hair from her face.

"Naturally, to the place where my brilliance can truly shine! The library!" Lucas declared, striking an overly dramatic pose as he pointed toward a distant building.

Samantha let out a sigh, crossing her arms. "Library? Why? Of all places," she questioned with an unimpressed expression.

Placing his hand over his heart, Lucas shook his head melancholically. "My purpose is beyond your mortal comprehension. How pitiful, oh uninitiated beings, to live in such blissful ignorance."

"You're impossible sometimes, you know that?" Chloe rolled her eyes but couldn't help chuckling.

Meanwhile, Samantha groaned in response, "Fine, lead the way, oh wise one. But this not be a waste of time."

"You will certainly find yourself in utter astonishment when you finally reach the promised wonderland, my dear lost lambs," Lucas placed his hand over his forehead, as he led the group.

Fortunately, the trio made it to the building where the library was situated without much trouble, apart from a few random encounters with goblins that they handled swiftly.

"Alright, follow my lead," Lucas instructed as his tone turned from playful to solemn.

Catching the seriousness in his voice, Chloe and Samantha exchanged glances before nodding, falling in step behind him.

The library itself was located on the second floor. The ground floor acted as a lobby, where vehicles would drop passengers off. It was designed so that even on rainy days, the campus bus shuttle service could drop off the students without getting wet.

Moving cautiously up the stairs, Lucas sharpened his focus, trying to catch the slightest sound or movement.

The library was in operation even during weekends, which attracted many students who sought a comfortable, air-conditioned place to study or relax.

Reaching the second floor, Lucas peered ahead carefully, motioning for the girls to stay close. "Keep quiet and stay sharp. We don't know what's waiting for us inside."

Carefully pushing the library doors open, Lucas took in the sight of the front reception desk in complete disarray. Papers were scattered, and chairs were overturned, suggesting a panicked evacuation

Normally, entering the library required scanning a student ID at the barrier gates. However, given the chaos of current circumstances, Lucas decided to forgo the formalities.

With a leap, he vaulted over the barrier gate effortlessly, landing softly as he scanned the surroundings.

The library was split into two levels. The first floor served as a reception lobby for borrowing or returning books. It also had various rental rooms for private study, group discussions, and other activities. It also housed the main collection of books.

The second floor was dedicated to reading and study spaces, complete with desks, chairs, sofas, lounge chairs, and cubicles for focused work.

Pressing himself against the wall, Lucas narrowed his gaze as he spotted several goblins prowling near the reception area. The green creatures shuffled about, chattering in guttural tones that sounded gibberish to Lucas.

He turned to the girls behind him and silently raised three fingers, signaling the number of enemies ahead. Chloe and Samantha nodded grimly while grabbing their weapons.

"Listen up, we'll deal with those freaks first and clean the area," he whispered, keeping his voice low. "Then, we'll head to the stack room."

Seeing the confusion on Chloe and Samantha's faces, Lucas added, "FYI, the stack room is where the books are stored. Got it?"

The girls were still intently staring at him. Lucas sheepishly said, "What? Anyway, let's just handle these goblins first, yeah?"

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Gripping his sticks tightly, Lucas crouched low and dashed toward the goblins with swift, silent steps. Not wanting to be left behind, Chloe and Samantha quickly exchanged a nod and followed Lucas's lead.

Within moments, the skirmish was over. The trio had dealt with goblins in a matter of seconds.

"Let's go. The stack room is over there," Lucas said, pointing with his sticks as he led the way.

"Say, Lucas, why are you so obsessed with books?" Chloe asked softly while her eyes were scanning for any threats.

"That's why I said my purpose is beyond your mortal comprehension," Lucas whispered as a teasing smirk appeared on his face.

They soon reached the stack room without encountering any movement, much to their relief.

"Okay, spread out and make sure there's no one or thing here. We need the coast clear," Lucas instructed as he shut the wooden door behind them. He then pushed a nearby cart full of books to block the entrance.

The girls nodded and did as they were told, searching through the aisles of bookshelves. Finding nothing but rows of neatly arranged books, they regrouped to find Lucas fiddling with a kiosk.

Navigating through the self-service kiosk, Lucas mumbled to himself while jotting down notes on a scrap piece of paper and pen he had found lying around.

"Good. A5 S3. A7 S1. A10 S5."

"Care to explain now, oh wise one?" Samantha raised a brow, crossing her arms.

"Well," Lucas glanced at the girls. "The system has enhanced our bodies and minds to handle its influence, like leveling up, and assigning points. But this doesn’t just apply to us. Everything around us has been touched by the system, even objects."

"Chloe, take out the kitchen knife you found earlier. Focus on it and tell us what you see," Lucas requested.

Puzzled, she still pulled the kitchen knife from her bag and stared at it. Suddenly, her eyes widened in shock. "A blue screen appeared! It says it's an essential cooking tool and can be used as a weapon in emergencies. It's Common rank, too."

"Exactly," Lucas nodded. "The system recognizes and ranks objects based on their utility and potential. And the same applies to these books." He gestured to the rows of shelves around them.

Samantha widened her eyes, realization dawning on her. "Wait, are you saying… Do you think that these books will somehow work like a Skill Book? The kinds that are from the game?" Her voice trailed off, but she could get what the man was implying.

Lucas grinned and continued, “To be honest, I was hoping to find a Skill Book or two lying around here. But even if we didn’t, our ‘heightened’ intelligence will help us understand the books faster, regardless of the subject. Since everything is affected by the System, I reckon us reading the books will give us some sorts of benefits.”

"But hey," he said, spreading his arms wide dramatically, "that's just a theory, a system's theory. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk."

All of a sudden, Lucas yelped as Chloe kicked him in the shin. She questioned, "Stop being a drama king. I suppose you already have an idea of what we should be reading, right?"

"Ah yes, my queen, certainly. I assume both of you have put some points into your INT, right?" Lucas said while rubbing his hands together like one of those suspiciously evil people.

"Yeah, mine is ten," Chloe admitted, chuckling at Lucas's comedic behaviors.

"Nine," Samantha added, glancing at the couple's interaction.

Nodding, Lucas gestured for them to follow. "Good, let's go."

Arriving at the first section on the list, Lucas scanned the shelves, his fingers running over the spines of the books. "Here," he muttered as he grabbed a few books.

After confirming the titles were what he wanted, he handed one book to each girl before moving to the following sections.

"Alright," Lucas said after collecting all the necessary books. "The books you're holding right now are related to surviving skills, fighting, and first aid. We have about five hours right now, so focus. Try to finish at least one of them."

He smirked slightly as he added, "If my theory is correct, there's a chance you'll gain a skill after reading them."

Samantha raised an eyebrow as she asked skeptically, "Are you sure this will work?"

"Well, that's why it's a theory. And theories need experimentations to prove them." Lucas shrugged nonchalantly.

In reality, Lucas was confident it would work. When he first fought the goblins in the lecture hall, he had no formal training in any form of martial arts, yet he was able to somehow replicate the moves he had seen in movies, videos, and games. Even shorts he barely paid attention to while doom-scrolling came back with startling clarity. It was as though the system had amplified his ability to process and mimic those techniques.

Finding himself a comfortable spot on a lounge chair, Lucas plopped down and opened his book on fighting techniques. "Come on, get to it," he urged the girls.

With a sigh, the girls stopped questioning him, each finding a place to settle. As they opened their books and started reading, the quiet rustling of pages filled the stack room.

***

Soon, time passed, and Lucas finished all three books in his hands, the words in them almost flowing naturally into his understanding.

Glancing at his phone to check the time, he realized only an hour had gone by. "Faster than I thought," he muttered.

Feeling an itch of curiosity, Lucas pulled up his status window, eager to see if his theory held true.

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Lucas Kun

Level 4

Class: None

Title: Forerunner

VIT - 6

POW - 8

AGI - 10

INT - 10

WIL - 6

Free Points: 0

Talent: Avid Reader.

Skill:

Knowledge - Lv 1

Combat Fundamentals - Lv 1

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Knowledge

Rank: Unique

Passive

Broader knowledge deepens perspective, enhances critical thinking, and sharpens mental acuity as more is accumulated.

Special Note: Level increases only through the acquisition of knowledge.

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Combat Fundamental

Rank F

Passive

Boosts the efficiency of combat-related abilities and accelerates proficiency gains during combat applications.

Special Note: Level increases only through the acquisition of combat-related knowledge.

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"Hmm, interesting. So the system does acknowledge learned knowledge," Lucas muttered, unable to suppress a small smile as he reviewed his newly acquired skills.