May 24, 1256 of the Second Era.

The midday sun was already high. Mother Fae and Emhe were descending the massive stairs of the ancient and magical city of Antharia. "They already tried to kill you?!" Emhe nodded as she ate a chicken and cheese sandwich the old woman had bought for her when they passed by the market. "If 99% of rookie adventurers die before their first year, you have it even tougher! Ha ha ha ha!"

Overwhelmed, Emhe gave her a sidelong glance. "Only 1% survive? No one suggested this was so dangerous. It all seemed very..."

The old woman interrupted her with disdain. "90% die in the first month! It is the fate of the useless who allow themselves to be seduced by the traps of the adventurer's life! I guess the Nexus brings from your world everything it catches! If it were more selective, maybe the percentage would be different!"

Perplexed and unable to remember anything that would place her in any environment other than the caverns and the city of Antharia. "From my world? I have come from somewhere else?"

Annoyed, the old woman sighed. "Great, I'll have to babysit a lobotomized child!" Lowering her tone and staring her straight in the eye. "You don't remember anything? Nothing at all?!"

Uncomfortable, Emhe tried to avoid the old woman's gaze. "I only remember my father's voice! Nothing else! Not even his face."

Leaving the stairs, the old woman turned right followed by the girl. "I see! Good! Let's focus! Theoretically, you should go to the Nexus after passing by the market. There, you would join a group of strangers, teleport to a place where you'd have to survive by exploring wisely, collect as much as you can, without stealing of course, and then trade what you got. Naturally, along the way, you would kill everything that moves and is hostile to gain experience and level up."

However, despite the girl's bewilderment, the old woman denied. "No, that's what 99% of idiots who hopelessly die do!" On second thought. "Although... maybe if you act like an idiot and do that, you can avoid being noticed."

Emhe stopped eating in astonishment. She was torn between not missing a single word and the incipient thirst caused by the delicious sandwich. Whispering, the old woman approached her. "You must have noticed that those of us like you and me, in addition to experience, gain essence." Sensing the girl's thirst, she offered her a leather canteen that she took from her tunic.

Without raising her voice and whispering close to Emhe's face. "The most important thing is to max out your attributes before you level up. Otherwise, it will cost you more to level them up in the next level. That is, every time you level up, your body mutates and increases its limits. That makes it more difficult to reach them later. That’s why you have to try your best to reach your limits at each level. By the way, if you gain 10 points in each of your attributes, you will automatically level up! Even if you don't have enough experience!"

Suddenly swallowing what was in her mouth. "So you can level up without killing?!"

Very upset by the girl's tone. "Shsss! Keep your voice down!"

Glaring at some adventurers who passed quite close until they moved away. "In theory yes, but eating isn't free and leveling up without getting equipment to match is practically a suicide. The Nexus tests you according to your level. You can't go in there at level 5 without getting enough gold and equipment first. Do you understand?"

Emhe drank uncomfortably due to how hot the water was. "While I was fighting in some caverns, my Power, Dexterity and Willpower increased by one point each!"

The old woman laughed aloud. "Good! You only need 37 more points before you can level up!"

Emhe didn't seem too happy to hear that, so the old woman tried to encourage her. "Believe me! There's not that much difference between a well-trained adventurer at Level 1 and a useless wretch at Level 4 who's only raised 5 points in Power, 4 in Dexterity and 3 in Willpower plus the 15 points he's earned for raising those levels! They want you to be obsessed with killing and selling everything you can get your hands on."

Emhe's face lit up as he looked up at the top of the city. "What level is the Wywern Slayer?"

Disdainfully, the old woman spat to one side. "That's a useless piece of shit who didn't take what I've told you into account! He's level 67, but I bet if you reach level 43, you'd give him the beating of his life.

If you do as I tell you and if you had his equipment, ultra expensive. Oh, and if you could attack him, of course! But you can't! PVP is forbidden in Antharia! Outside the city there is no such restriction."

Emhe was puzzled by the term. "What? What's that PVP?!"

The old woman snorted. "I forgot you're lobotomized!" Annoyed, she raised her voice at having to explain. "You can't hit another being brought by the Nexus in this city. Do you understand? You can't kill anyone in Antharia. Technically. In practice... it's more complicated."

Excited and ignoring practically everything the old woman had said in the last few seconds. "How long will it take me to get to that level?

The old woman's look of disgust was palpable in the air. "What did I just say to you, you brainless moron? All idiots who have that stupid approach are destined to die soon. It's not leveling up that matters. What matters is how well-trained you are at each level, how powerful your skills are, and above all, the quality of your equipment and how you perform with it!" After a brief pause in which she intended to say something else. "It's a long and slow process that I highly recommend you enjoy."

Disappointed, Emhe snorted. "So what's the level for? Does it just increase the limit of our attributes and skills?"

The old woman replied angrily. "Are you deaf, dumb or is your amoeba brain not understanding what I'm saying? Leveling up also gives you points to spend on your attributes. Points that only fools believe make them powerful beings. Pathetic idiots!" Thinking for a moment if she should explain the matter further. "Believe me! Level and gold are the lures they use to push us to improve. One level after another. One million after another. Forgetting to maximize our attributes and skills. Averting our eyes away from the true goal of those running all this theater!"

Without knowing how, Emhe uttered a few words that her mind regurgitated, as if they were engraved in fire. "The Dark Harvest!”

The old woman raised her eyebrows. "You said you didn't remember anything!" Examining her with a mischievous smile. "Did one of those whispering bastards tell you that?"

Emhe shook her head slightly and asked, lowering her voice. "What is the Dark Harvest? Who are they and why are they in my head?"

Disappointed, the old woman kept silent for several seconds. "It's too soon for you to know. First of all..." Visibly regretting bringing up the subject. "Never mind!"

Emhe became more and more nervous as the old woman continued to walk nonchalantly. "Never mind?! No! It does matter! What do they want from me? Why are they in my head?"

Downplaying the importance of the matter. "They're not in your head, child! Besides, you shouldn't worry about them! You have a huge advantage by having them on your side. Worry more about what you are, and why they tried to kill you before you got here!"

Without giving the girl time to utter a single word, the old woman turned abruptly with a face so serious it was scary. "Don't even think of asking me anything about that! You will know in due time, and only if you are worthy to know!"

Restless from the sudden change of attitude of the old woman, Emhe walked silently, thinking about the cause of her murder attempt. Suspiciously looking at some adventurers outside some stone houses. "Have we all been brought here by the Nexus? Are there no natives in this world?"

The old woman laughed at the idea that this world had been colonized by them. "Ha ha! No! All half-humans have come here brought by the Nexus. The natives of this world are pure races. Some are similar to the fantasy beings you call elves in your world, others to dwarves. There are also giants, orcs, trolls, goblins, ogres and everything else you can imagine."

The redhead looked at her without understanding what she was referring to. "Dwarves, trolls, orcs...? What is she talking about?"

Looking around in the hope of finding one, her gaze met again with that of some adventurers about to cross paths with them. Disgusted, she noticed that they were leering at her. The old woman also noticed and grumbled. "What a bunch of monkeys! They seem to turn into rutting beasts as soon as they see you!" The redhead blushed uncomfortably. Regretful for having created herself like that. Little did she know, however, that those decisions only appeared to be hers.

After a loud throat clearing, the old woman started with the important stuff. "Pay attention! Energy is of utmost importance in this world. Don't be fooled by the astronomical numbers you see on your character screen! If your Energy drops to 80%, that is, [Weakness II], you will be in trouble! The rest is the Energy needed for your organs and muscles, as well as your body fat. Therefore, if you reach the state of [Weakness III] you will have serious difficulties, and in [Weakness IV] you won't even have the strength to move. If it drops below 50%, you will go into a coma. And long before you reach zero, you'll be dead. As I've already told you, everything is full of traps that lead to overconfidence!"

*[Weakness III]: Condition. You only have 70% of your Energy:

-40% to Power and Willpower. You will move with difficulty.

-20% to Dexterity. You feel too clumsy.

+25% to Intelligence. Your mind is going faster than ever.

You have reached the state of [Malnutrition].

*[Weakness IV]: Condition. You only have 60% of your Energy (Completely immobile):

-70% to Power and Willpower.

-40% to Dexterity.

+5% to Intelligence.

*[Weakness V]: Condition. You only have 50% of your Energy (Comatose state):

In the event that you were able to recover your Energy, the damage will be so severe that it will take you months to recover.

-90% to Power and Willpower.

-70% to Dexterity.

-50% to Intelligence.

*[Weakness VI]: Condition. You only have 40% of your Energy (Clinically dead):

-99% to all your attributes.

*[Malnutrition] Debuff. Your state of [Weakness] has begun to become extremely severe:

-1% to all your attributes per day.

It will take you twice as many days as you have been in this state to recover your normal state.

Momentarily approaching her again, the old woman murmured. "By the way, don't tell anyone that you can see a character screen at will. Practically no one can do that without the help of the Nexus. You'll arouse too much suspicion. Remember that, in theory, you should be dead. As soon as they detect you, they'll come after you again."

Allowing no interruptions, the old woman continued her lecture. "It doesn't matter what the food tastes like. Eat it without complaining! The only thing you should care about is that it gives you valuable Energy. Any cooked meat gives you more than twice as much as raw meat, and in the case of vegetables, only 25% more. Raw meats can poison you. Things are not disinfected here. Eat them raw only in case of extreme necessity."

Pointing around, the old woman smiled. "Do you see fountains anywhere?" Faced with the redhead's distrust, the old woman turned serious. "If there's anything as dangerous as blood loss, it's [Dehydration]. Don't let your body water percentage drop below 1%. Don't say later that I haven't warned you!" Stopping for a brief moment. "Water is very expensive here, you'll soon discover that it never rains!" Pointing towards the massive protective spell that encompassed the entire city. "You can see it as an incentive from the Nexus to fight or as just another trap. It doesn't matter!"

Realizing that she was forgetting something. "By the way, the only way to have your attributes increased after any exertion is to have the [Rested] effect. There are substances that provide it, but generally, you get it after resting for at least a few hours. That is, you can't get it in the middle of a combat unless it comes from encrypted information stored in fragments of essence. You'll rarely find something like that, but don't rule it out so easily."

"How are those fragments of essence?"

"Don't worry about that!" Feeling her throat go dry, she gestured to Emhe to return the water. "Back to the subject. You can heal passively, but you'll bleed out first. Always carry healing material with you and get as soon as you can a decent reconstruction skill. Learn alchemy as well. There are many potions that can help you while you don't manage to have all that.” Taking a short drink break. “Don't confuse HP with blood. HP is the maximum damage your head and vital organs can take. If any weapon hits you in those areas exceeding that value, you will die on the spot. The other areas can take that damage without you dying, but not without consequences, obviously."

Emhe recalled the critical hits she had inflicted while fighting with that magnificent spear. She felt helpless without it now.

As Emhe was about to finish her sandwich, they came to a large area where several training dummies were placed. Although no one was training there.

Leaning on the cane with both hands, the old woman looked at the dummies. "All who come to Antharia brought by the Nexus and are not natives of this world, possess a minimum of 10 mastery points in one or more weapons." Staring at Emhe. "I don't see you have any of that!"

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Emhe was puzzled. "How do you know that? Can you see my character screen?"

Very self-confident. "I know a lot of things, child! And the ones I don't know, I can figure them out in a matter of seconds! I recommend that you start mastering the fighting styles linked to the weapons you'll always carry with you. "Grinning mischievously and pretending to wield a sword, she swung the cane as if to cut off Emhe's legs. "Unless they’re amputated, of course!"

After an awkward silence, the old woman concluded. "Next, you will move on to those cheap weapons made out of wood like rods, staffs, spikes and bows. Finally, metal ones. Those are way more expensive. You know! Swords, daggers, axes...”

Emhe looked at her hands and then looked at the old woman inquisitively. "What kind of enemies am I going to encounter in the Nexus? Because fighting with my fists against the giant rats or the disgusting beings I've encountered so far seems almost suicidal to me!"

The old woman spat on the floor between the two of them and looked into her eyes. "You think you're always going to be the dung heap you are now? With 500 of Power, you'll blow the skull off any level 1 enemy with a single punch! And that's without mentioning that your legs are usually stronger!"

Pretty bummed out after a quick estimate. "You said 500 of Power? How many levels is that?... 40 levels?"

Disappointed, the old woman snorted. "What about the skills that boost your attributes? What about the temporary buffs that provide meals? What about the enchanted weapons and equipment you'll be able to buy after great effort? What about your blessings? What about the skills that...?" Considering if she should say it. "You'll get there sooner than you think!"

Without even realizing it, Emhe saw her hands again. Realizing that she was not that far from reaching such a number. Drunk with excitement, she clenched her fists, eager to start training. A tedious task that the old woman did not intend to witness. Turning away. "No one comes to train in this area. I'm going to run some errands. Stay here and don't waste your time!"

Emhe looked around perplexed, imagining the powerful beings that were after her since she first woke up. "Don't waste time? Alone? But I don't..."

"I've explained you the basics. Don't ask me what you should do! I would be very disappointed if you did. I don't help those who disappoint me! Have you understood?!"

Emhe nodded curtly. "Yes, ma'am!"

Seeing the old woman walk away, Emhe surveyed her surroundings again. "It's true that there's no movement out here. Good! That way no one will bother me."

Arrogant and somewhat more confident after remembering that in Antharia they couldn't kill her, she focused on the training dummy. "Okay! I guess I'll start with the introductions. Hello! My name is Emhe and I'm here to beat the crap out of you! Shall we begin?" After two seconds in silence, she smiled. "I'll take that as a, smash my face in any time you want!"

"Bleep! [See Beyond] has been activated!"

Slightly surprised. "Does this also have a description?!"

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[Training dummy]

Unbreakable magic item.

Each impact has a multiplier effect on the progress of:

(x10) Skills Improvement.

(x10) Attribute improvement.

(x10) Energy consumed.

Returns any projectile.

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"Oh, wow! It's great... and... well! As a target, it sucks!" I guess I shouldn't throw anything at it!"

One of the voices whispered to her again. It was the male voice of the being known as Athest. "If you give me some of the essence you have managed to collect, I will give you the knowledge needed to unlock some melee skills. What do you…?"

Bluntly. "No way! You may not have noticed, but I know things I still don't fully understand! I have a feeling that either the Nexus gives them to me or..."

The feminine voice of the being known as Erum interrupted her haughtily. "You don't get them from any Nexus, dear. You don't even understand that the Nexus is only food to feed creatures that have evolved into corrupted beings. In fact, two of them are the ones who have tried to kill you! And if they have managed to circumvent the..."

Another female voice, which Emhe had not heard until now, quickly spoke up, interrupting Erum. Her name was Avaram. Showing sarcasm and utter contempt. "Erum, you stupid and forced companion! Don't you think, with that residue you have for intelligence, that it's too soon to say something like that to her?" Getting overly hostile. "She needs motivation, idiot! Don't get her down!"

The hissing male voice of the being known as Supherm shouted furiously, echoing in her mind. "Shut up, you damn bastards! Not only do I have to listen to your prattle tied to this lovely and cute girl, but I also have to witness how that scum named Athest intends to take over what is rightfully mine. The essence is mine, dammit! Don't ever try to steal it from me again!"

The end was put by the Dark God, with the simple and eerie sound of his breathing. A breath that made Emhe shudder. Nothing was heard for long seconds until he spoke again. "I'm sorry you had to realize that our coexistence is... difficult! Please! Go ahead! Follow your instincts! You haven't done badly so far!"

With mixed feelings, Emhe realized that, so far, the only one who had really helped her had been the Dark God. Not like the others. Suspicious, but more trusting. "Why do you help me when you feel like it and not when I ask you? Just to motivate me to fight?" To the redhead's outrage, no one answered.

Focusing her attention back on the training dummy, she clenched her fists. "If I have to start at the bottom, so be it!" Closing her eyes, she tried to remember something of that supposed world she came from with no satisfying result. Nothing. Not even the image of the voice of what she thought was her father. Tears tried to well up in her eyes, but she held them back by clenching her jaws tightly. "No!"

Without the slightest regard, Emhe side kicked the training dummy in an attempt to vent his pent-up anger. The impact on the instep of the foot was surprisingly painful. "Ouch! Shit! This dummy is so hard!... Or maybe I'm too squishy!" Looking at her sore leg. "If only I had some guards for my legs and arms!... No, don't worry Athest! I'm not going to lose the essence I've worked so hard to achieve just to avoid some pain!"

"Bleep! [Tense] has been activated!"

Hitting even harder. "Wow! It still hurts!" Even more tense. "That's better! Again! Again! Another one! Another one, damn it!…” After kicking the dummy several times. “FUCK, IT HURTS!"

Switching legs, she started again. But this time, she was considerably tired. "I can't believe I'm so exhausted. Maybe food doesn't give me instant Energy! Come on! Another one! Another one! Keep going!" Suddenly, she didn't have the strength to throw another kick.

"Bleep! [Tense] has been deactivated!"

"Bleep! You have discovered a new weapon skill that allows you to perform a slow sidekick where maximum tension is applied. Mid-height strike. Do you want to name your newfound skill?"

Emhe smiled, elated by her achievement. "Wait, wait! Can I modify that definition and the skill itself to make the kick faster or slower?"

"Bleep! No! The skills already exist, you can just discover them or learn them from others. The only thing you can customize is the name. Speed depends on your Dexterity and Power. I repeat. Do you want to name your newfound skill?"

Emhe closed her eyes and imagined herself doing it, violently. "Yes! I want it to be called, Hip-Breaker!"

"Bleep! New weapon skill [Hip-Breaker] (Level 1)!

You have discovered a new combat mastery! Hand-to-Hand Combat!

Your Hand-to-Hand Combat Mastery has increased by 1! Your current value is 1!

You have discovered a new combat mastery! Kick Combat!

You Kick Combat Mastery has increased by 1! Your current value is 1!

The bonus can now be applied to weapon masteries!

Your Kick Combat Mastery is at 1 (12)!"

*[Hip-Breaker] (Level 1): Weapon Skill. Mid-height strike. You perform a slow sidekick where maximum tension is applied.

Maximum Blunt Damage (MBD): It’s value is the sum of:

20% of Weight:

Extra weight (On the leg).**

(40% of Power).

(20% of Dexterity).

(5% of of Intelligence).

(15% of of Willpower).

(Hand to Hand Combat Mastery).

(Kick Combat Mastery).

Critical Hit: MBDx2.

While executing the skill you acquire:

(1% to Power).

(2% to Willpower).

(3% to Dexterity).

Stamina Consumption per hit: 5% of Weight.

**Any item equipped on the leg that increases its total weight. Such as boots, armor and extra protections.

It wasn't the pain that made Emily's tears want to well up again. It was hearing her father's voice in her head. "Don't give up! Do you hear me?! Never give up!"

She immediately understood that the only ones who could do that were them. "Did you do that?"

Supherm's voice hissed. "I hope you'll be more receptive when it comes to making deals with me later. I have a deal to propose to you! A very profitable deal. But first, you must rest."

Emhe clenched her fists panting and smiling, enduring the pain as tears came to her eyes. "Ok! But first, I'm going to try it with my fists!"

"Bleep! [Tense] has been activated!"

Taking up an offensive stance again, she threw a light punch. However, the effort of the blow made her dizzy a bit. As if her strength had failed her. "Gods! I'm dead!"

"Bleep! [Tense] has been deactivated!"

"Bleep! Your Energy level is too low!

You are suffering [Weakness II]!

An Energy regeneration buff will start in 28 minutes provided by [Chicken and Cheese Sandwich]. It will provide you with 2435 Energy points.

Energy 104759/131000

Stamina 1/(302)"

Excited to understand how it worked. "If each action with the training dummy equals to 10, and I've landed around 10 kicks, that means I only need to do something around 100 times to unlock a new skill? Cool!"

Sitting on the ground and facing the sun, she leaned against the training dummy, closed her eyes, and concentrated on the character screen. In an orderly and harmonious manner, three panels integrated into one appeared. "Wow! This wasn't like this before! Why has it changed?"

In the center, a complete image of herself. An image that she could zoom in and out at will. To the right of the image, her attributes; and to the left, several tabs. Some of them, locked with a gray tone. The ones that were unlocked were; Character Sheet, Skills, Domains, Health, Inventory, Knowledge, Diary, Pacts and Discovered World. Among the locked ones, there were three that caught her attention. Mutation, Link and Professions. "All these didn’t appear before. Well, whatever!"

Focusing on "Discovered World", she could see a blue arrowhead icon marking her current location, as well as her orientation in an overhead shot of everything around her. There were also several marked icons in the area she had discovered. One was the portal called, "Gate of Worlds".

"Bleep! I remind you that you are qualified to level up! If you initiate a scheduled rest of at least 2 hours, you will be able to start the process to level up!"

Remembering what the old woman told her. "So it was 2 hours! I'll need a bed then! You don't expect me to lie here for 2 hours, do you? Besides, the old woman said..."

"Bleep! Rest mode is still active, but your essence is being transported to a different plane! Supherm has a deal for you on his plane."

"Bleep! ERROR! A problem has appeared!

…

A severe disconnection with your attributes has occurred!”

Emhe was as puzzled as she was excited. "What?! Since when can this happen?" Gradually, an intense drowsiness slowly enveloped her into a deep sleep.