I look back at my quests, focusing on the sub-quest.
"There are villages around here? The word 'village' doesn't seem to be very modern"
It makes sense that I should try to head to one of them for now, and forget about my skill for a bit. I start walking towards the edge of the 30ft patch of grass I'm in. Before I can cross into the trees, however, I feel pushed back by something, and a screen pops up.
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[Locked Area]
You must be Level 2 or higher to leave the area, Summoning Grass Patch.
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“Looks like I’m gonna have to try to find some way to level up in this empty area, if I ever want to get out of here...”
I start pacing back and forth for a few minutes, seriously thinking through my options. This skill can get me something extremely powerful, but it could also just end up killing me.
“What if I use it on something other than myself?”
I consider this, but then remember that I’d always be in the range of the skill. If I used it, I would still be risking my own life, although the chance of it affecting me would at least be smaller. Right now, all I have to work with is my skill, the small bit of crystal dust, and the Boulder of Treasure. The dust is pretty much worthless to me, and I definitely would not be able to break the boulder anytime soon.
“Looks like I don’t really have a choice but to use it again… Fine!”
I snap my fingers, materializing the purple table in front of me again. The same message from before pops up as a dice rolls onto the table.
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Rolling Infinity Dice
. . .
Rolled!
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I look around to see if anything happened. The only items or creatures in range were myself, the boulder, and the dust, right? I don’t notice anything appearing anywhere, and I get no messages in my vision.
I reopen the skill screen and decide to open the "excess information" section.
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[Skill Information]
Unique Skill: Dice
Skill Form: Infinity Dice (Lvl 1 Form)
Information: Tap here to view.
Excess Information:
* When randomly targeting, the skill will avoid any creature or item smaller than 1 inch. This rule doesn’t apply to creatures or items that are at or above A-rank.
* You must wait 1 minute between rolls.
* Balancing system will be unlocked for this form at Dice level 2.
Passive Skill Effects: Tap here to view.
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I stare at the first note. It means that things like the crystal dust, or any insects in the ground, wouldn’t have been targeted by the skill. What was targeted, then? I look around once more before realizing something.
“Of course, my clothes!”
Not wanting to take off my clothes at the moment, I try to think of an equipment menu. One shows up right in front of me.
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[Equipment]
Weapon: None
Head: None
Chest: Hero’s Top (White)
* Effect: Toggle Glow
Legs: Hero’s Bottoms (Blue)
Feet: Hero’s Running Shoes (White)
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I immediately look down at my shoes to see if the “running” on them meant anything important. Unfortunately they didn't increase my speed, and were just normal white tennis shoes. I move my eyes off of them and onto my sweater.
“Toggle Glow?”
My sweater starts to glow brightly with a white light that shines throughout the small field. It's bright, but not enough to negatively affect my vision in any way.
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“That’s… Pretty useless.”
I toggle the glow off, my sweater returning to normal. I’m relieved that it’s not bad, but it isn’t exactly useful either. I sigh and wait another minute before I snap my fingers again.
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Rolling Infinity Dice
. . .
Rolled!
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This time, the result was much clearer. Something glove-shaped materializes in front of me and falls to the ground. I reach down and pick it up.
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[Item Information]
F-Rank Weapon: Fist of Shadows
* This weapon is unable to harm any tangible creature.
* After activation, any punches made with this weapon will start a fight with a shadow. (This effect can be toggled on and off)
* This weapon’s rank will increase over time, alongside the shadows bound to it.
* There are 9 shadows bound to this weapon at F-rank. Defeating them all over time will increase the rank of the weapon and will allow each shadow to be refought.
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I stare at this black leather glove in my hand. It has dark purple threading on it, and honestly, looks pretty cool to me. It's a bit thicker than a normal glove, but it still feels perfect on me as I slip it onto my right hand. I chuckle to myself and punch forward with it to see how it feels. I then remember what I had just read, and the screen that appears in my vision reminds me as well.
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You have started a fight with a shadow.
The shadow’s affinity is normal.
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I immediately tense up and get into what I think looks like a pretty reasonable fighting stance. I glance around quickly, but of course, I don't see anything. Out of fear, I quickly punch forward again, and this time I feel my hand make contact. It feels like glass, but not at all shatter-able.
“Gah!”
I pull my hand back and shake it rapidly to try and calm the pain down. It doesn't’t feel that bad, but it still hurts way more than I had expected it to. I wait a minute longer, but don't feel any punches in return. I come to the conclusion that I was the only one able to attack, but if the shadow was this annoying to punch, I really didn't want to have to hit it again anyway. I look back at the glove on my hand and have the thought that it might be pretty satisfying to snap my fingers with it on.
“Fine… I’ll give it another go.”
I bring the idea of deactivating the effect of the glove to the front of my mind, and sure enough, the dark purple threads on the glove fade to a much darker and almost unnoticeable shade of purple. Another screen appears notifying me that “the shadow fight has ended.” I smile and wait another minute before I snap my fingers. I'm wrong, as I can't even snap properly with the glove on my hand. However, the intent was still there, so the table appears once more.
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Rolling Infinity Dice
. . .
Rolled!
(This is your 4th roll. You are one roll away from a prize.)
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“A prize..?”
The messages intrigues me, but I barely have any time to react to it as I hear a strange sloshing noise behind me. I turn around. Instead of the boulder, there's a giant sphere of light blue slime sitting there, jiggling gently. I notice some sort of metal in the center of it, which I assume to be the previously mentioned treasure. I grin. Finally, things are going my way.
“Heh heh, progress!”
I shove my arm into the slime, my fingers spreading wide apart, ready to get to the center and grasp the item. I suddenly stop, but not of my own volition. My arm is stuck. I try to yank it out, but I'm too weak to pull it back out.
“Darn it…”
I probably look pretty dumb as I stand here, my right arm stuck in the slime boulder.
“What even happened to it?”
I focus on analyzing the giant sphere of slime, and a screen appears near me.
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[Item Information]
?-Rank Item: Boulder of Treasure
* At the center of this boulder lies a random ore that remains unknown until excavated out.
* It can be any type of ore/mineral/crystal already existing within the world.
* Effect: Slime Morph
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“Slime Morph, eh? Doesn’t take a genius to figure out what that means…”
I try one more time to pull my arm out, to no luck. However, I suddenly remember the “prize” that the message from just a bit ago had mentioned.
“Ohoho, here we go! Finally, something actually good!”
Seeing as how my next roll would most likely be pretty good, I focus on myself, the only time I could be 100% accurate with my targeting. I awkwardly wait another minute before I quickly snap my fingers with my left hand, the table appearing to my side. The Infinity Dice rolls again.
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Rolling Infinity Dice
. . .
Rolled!
(This is your 5th roll. You have obtained a prize.)
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I grin once more, waiting for my prize, but nothing happens or appears.
“Did I just get scammed—?“
I get interrupted as a red screen appears in front of me.
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WARNING.
You are under the effects of a dangerous effect, Stat Rot.
* Stat Rot will lower your stats by 25 points over the span of 5 minutes. It will begin with your highest level stat.
* A stat that is lowered to 0 or less will become completely unusable until at least 1 point is gained in that stat.
* WARNING. YOUR STATS ARE DANGEROUSLY LOW.
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I try to read all the information being presented to me, but before I'm able to finish completely, another red message pops up.
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Your strength stat has been lowered by 1 point.
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