Lying on the cold solid ground inside complete darkness made Derek uncomfortable. His damaged body didn't improve his mood either. Still, a part of him hid undeniable excitement about the current situation. A part of him felt truly alive like never before.
Derek concentrated his attention at the bottom-left corner of his sight where three horizontal bars could be detected.
The green bar was completely dim except for the small leftmost section, while the red and the blue stayed bright.
I wonder if I can make those bars and the text disappear? he thought. It would be annoying if they'll stay in my sight all the time.
As if following his command, both displays disappeared, as if he turned-off a head-up display in a video game.
Wow, I guess they react to my intentions. How the hell does it work? Is it somehow connected to my brain?!
Trying not to think too much about it, he made the colored bars reappear and then focused his mind on them. Instantly, a very simple screen entered his sight.
HP: 4/100
AP: 20/20
MP: 10/10
Well, it doesn't tell me much... Other than the fact that I've almost died. I want to know more. His wish came true immediately, and, what he learned as a result, shocked Derek Smith deeply.
Status
Name: Derek Smith
Level: 1 (0%)
Primary Class: [None]
Subclasses: [None]
Race: [Royal Dwarf] (Dormant) - level 3 (47%)
Professions: [Mastersmith] (Rare) - level 9 (56%), [Student] (Common) - level 4 (30%)
HP (Health Points): 4/100 (/R=20 Per Hour)
AP (Aura Points): 20/20 (/R=40 Per Hour)
MP (Mana Points): 10/10 (/R=3 Per Hour)
Attributes
...
"Wait, WHAT?" Derek couldn't help but exclaim, even before he could read everything to the end. Even the ever-closing growls couldn't stop the boy from raising his voice.
Derek Smith always knew that he was different from other people. He had never met his real parents and spent the first seven years of his life at an orphanage. He and those close to him often joked about him being a dwarf, and Derek definitely felt close to this fantastic race, but he always thought that short people like him and those with a medical condition known as achondroplasia (which doctors confirmed he didn't have) were the real-life sources of the legends. Throughout the history of humanity, discrimination was common. So it wouldn't be strange if humans who looked different were treated as some non-human beings.
Up until now, he spent his life always being certain that he is a human, like his friends and family, just a little special. But, according to this Status thingie, his actual race was Royal Dwarf!
This couldn't be true. It just couldn't... Derek repeated as he stroked his black beard to calm himself down.
The boy always believed that it doesn't matter who his real parents were. His foster family treated him kindly, loved him, and he had never felt the need to find those related to him by blood... until now.
Why would a dwarf child live among humans without knowing anything of his origin? Why had his real parents separated him from the rest of his kin? Derek Smith didn't know, but now he wanted to find the answers.
For a start, I would like to learn more about my Race... he mentally said, and the System didn't disappoint his expectations.
Royal Dwarf (Dormant) - level 3 (47%). The Dwarf Race is a Humanoid Race preferring to live underground and mostly found on already Awakened Planets of Gamma and Beta Grades. Dwarfs are generally known for their sturdy bodies, outstanding craftsmanship, powerful earth magic, and relatively short statures. Biologically divided on those of Common, Noble, and Royal blood, dwarves live in a strictly hierarchical society. As a Royal Dwarf, even if Unawakened due to your lifelong separation from Ether, you have exceptional potential for growth and multiple special boons. Yay! :))
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Racial Talents: [Dwarf Senses], [Mineral Consumption], [Stone Body].
I expected something more informative, Derek thought as he read. I still don't have the slightest clue as to where I should look for my kind. What the hell does "Gamma and Beta Planets" mean? Well, whatever, I have more important matters to worry about. For example, escaping this mine and finding the people who really care about me, unlike the supposed family I've never even met.
Still, he needed to know what those three "talents" did. He had a hunch that they would be really useful to help him survive.
[Dwarf Senses] (Active): Dwarves are well adapted to live in underground cities, caves, and mines. Very useful ability if you like dark places! Due to you being still Unawakened, the Talent requires manual activation and Mana to use. ;((
Effect: This Talent allows you to see even in complete darkness (150m*R.level), to sense rare ores in your vicinity (0,5m*R.level), and to perceive vibrations through solid matter (100m*R.level).
Duration: 10 minutes plus 5 minutes per Race level.
Cost: 5 MP.
Hell yeah! the young dwarf cheered inside. With this ability, the lost flashlight wouldn't be a problem. I just need to know how to activate it. I'll figure that out later.
[Mineral Consumption] (Passive): Deep underground where dwarfs live, normal food is often scarce. But it isn't a problem when you can literally eat rocks! O_o This Talent allows you to consume and digest minerals (but not pure metals). You can also store them inside your body for further use. Not the healthiest diet for the long term, but it could sustain you for a couple of months! Awakened dwarfs can survive on stones alone - let this fact be your inspiration! ^_^
Maximum Storing Capacity: 5 kg plus 1 kg per Race level.
Currently Stored Minerals: 0/8 kg
Are you serious? Hey, is this real?! Derek didn't get the answer from his System no matter how he willed. Maybe it couldn't read his mind that well, after all...
The existence of this Skill reminded the boy of a couple of events. When he was just a little kid, a few times, he had eaten actual stones and found them tasty - only to be scolded by his mom later. And now he has learned that this could have been not just a childish curiosity at work, but his instincts as a dwarf...
[Stone Body] (Passive+Active): Dwarves are famous for being tough. Like, really tough. This Talent is the reason! Passively, it makes your bones and muscles relatively hard to damage. But there is more - you can activate this Talent to deplete minerals stored in your body and, as a result, make your skin hard as stone! The better are the minerals - the better is the effect. Pro Tip: try using diamonds! ;))
Passive Effect: Bonus 5 CON, additionally 1 CON per Race level.
Active Effect: Minerals are absorbed to create a defensive barrier and increase the durability of the body. How high is Armor of the created barrier depends on the composition of the minerals and your Race level. (mineral hardness+10%*R.level)
Cost: 5 AP or 10% of total AP (whatever is higher) per 1 kg of consumed minerals.
Duration: 10 seconds per 1 kg of consumed minerals.
Cooldown: 180 minutes minus 15 minutes per Race level. (180-15*R.level)
Currently: 135 min.
Derek didn't doubt the passive effect of this Talent. Since his younger days, the boy showcased extraordinary sturdiness of his body. One time, while still being inexperienced in smithing, he hit his finger with a hammer. It freaked out his father, but for naught. Let's say that the one to get broken wasn't the finger...
Now that I think about it, throughout my whole life, many things hinted at my true origin... But how could I just believe in something so crazy without any real evidence? Soon though, I'm going to confirm this reality first-hand.
Derek checked his Healthbar.
HP:8/100
He vaguely felt how a sort of soothing energy overlapped with his body, slowly improving his condition. The boy tried to stand up, only to find himself losing his balance and hitting his head on something solid, eventually ending up on all fours. A new notification appeared.
You have taken 1 Physical Damage!
It barely hurt, but he decided that, before trying to move again, he should test his dwarf talents. So he stayed in his awkward position with his toes, knees, and hands on the floor and tried to activate his newfound ability. If it works, it would be undeniable proof of his origin.
The System answered his intentions.
[Dwarf Senses] activated! You have lost 5 MP. The calculated duration time is 25 minutes.
Derek could feel how something inside of him channeled to his head, adding clarity to his mind. And, as if his senses awakened, he started to see the world around him, as if someone turned the lights on.
It worked... It fucking worked... I'm really a dwarf! the boy thought with amazement. What happened proved that everything he experienced so far was real - that the System worked, that it told him the truth.
As he looked around absentmindedly, Derek found himself at the center of a large cavern. The place didn't look like an artificial mine anymore. Grey stalactites with pointed tips hung from the ceiling, and brown stalagmites with rounded tips grew from the floor. Even with his newfound sight, the boy couldn't see the top of the hole through which he "descended".
As he was still on all fours, he noticed something out of normal - he could sense distant vibrations through the ground with his hands. And this feeling seemed to be rather accurate. He could determine the location of four entities that unhurriedly got closer to his cave chamber from different directions.
Shit, he cursed inside. One of them is less than a hundred meters away from the cavern's entrance.
He didn't know what exactly this creature was, but he doubted that it would be very friendly.
I guess my best bet is to use my new senses to hide from whatever this thing is... Just as he formed this simple plan, a certain item caught his attention.
Derek Smith wanted to exclaim but held himself back at the last moment.
My treasure! he thought with glee.
At last, what he came here for was almost within his reach.