Chapter 1
I walked around the school hallways bored. There was nothing else to do. The festive atmosphere was suffocating for someone like me who enjoys the quiet and calm. Sickleberry High School was having their end of year party today in the gymnasium. It was mandatory for the students and faculty to attend but I managed to slip out in the middle with the excuse of going to the health office. Looks like they forgot that the nurses were also attending the party.
*Crash*
A sudden sound from a nearby classroom jolted me from my reverie. Without noticing, I had wandered up the second floor stairs. Because everyone is supposed to be in the gym, the second floor is enshrouded in a perpetual darkness broken only by the dim, afternoon light seeping through the small jail-like windows. Actually, the architectect who built this school was a jail-designer. It’s pretty ironic actually. The students here get to have a taste of their future occupation.
*Crash*
The same sound again. Now, those who are familiar with horror movies and such would probably know that this was a good time to just walk away. People fear the unknown. They do not fear death or pain as much as how such a thing occurs. But I am a very rational and calm-minded person who does not believe in the existence of the supernatural. Therefor, death and pain must come in a logical manner. I turned to the classroom and opened the door.
I walked into the room letting the door slam shut behind me. Big mistake in a horror film..and, apparently, in real life. The first thing I saw was a very furry six-pack. And not any normal six-pack but boulders covered in shiny silvery hair. The next thing I saw- or more accurately felt- was air rushing towards my face. The experience I gained from doing martial arts a few years back kicked in and I ducked as a tree branch, thick as my waist, skimmed over my head. Now that is very strange. A tree branch should not be in this math classroom. I was interrupted from my musings as the air pressure changed again. I lunged to the right on instinct and ran for the lightswitch. I turned on the lights just as an animalistic roar sounded out. And for the first time, I saw what I was up against. It was a goddamn minotaur. I stared at it’s six-pack and my gaze wandered upwards to a very muscled frame and to a goat-like face and two horns that grazed the ceiling of the classroom. Of course, classrooms don’t usually have high ceilings but our school was built unnaturally tall. The monster’s head is a good one and half to two feet above mine. Oh and it was holding a tree branch. Which it just swung at me. I am usually a very calm person. But I unleashed a bloodcurdling scream as I lunged for cover. Ignorance really can be a blessing sometimes.
I ran to the door whilst screaming at the top of my lungs. My lung capacity really is showing itself right now. Now that I think about it, why am I screaming? Why do other people scream when they feel fear? There is absolutely no advantage in this action, especially if you’re alone. Plus, my lungs are feeling the strain. Abruptly, I didn’t feel like screaming anymore. I reached the door and quickly realized that it opens inwards towards the classroom...and the minotaur. There would be no time to open the needlessly heavy door and escape before getting clubbed. I ducked just as the branch swept by again. Ugh, no choice then, I have to fight. Steeling myself, I turned around and glared at the decked out goat. I wondered for a second if it was some very elaborate prank because the school party also allowed the students to dress up in costumes and the such. But then I noticed a small indicator as I stared at its body. Squinting my eyes… “Minotaur Lvl???”...?
Then it rushed me. I slid underneath its legs and ran towards the teacher's desk. Fumbling around a bit, I valiantly held up a pair of scissors against this abomination. The goat swung its arm down and I quickly ran up the exposed arm and spun myself around to sit on its neck. With my left hand holding onto one of the horns I breathed in before ramming the weapon into its right eye. Damn! The blade is too short. The minotaur let out a very peculiar sound similar to a...dying goat. Before I could analyze this sound- and my pun- more, the thing started throwing a tantrum. It dropped its club and ran around thrashing its head and flailing its arms. I sighed and proceeded to take the scissors out then ramming them back in its eye socket again, this time deeper. I repeated this action several more times before I finally managed to pierce its brain although half of my hand was in its head… With one last cry, it fell to the ground...and broke up into particles of light. I leapt up and stood mutely for a second to process what had just transpired. Suddenly a bell-like sound rang in my head.
*Ding*
I stood puzzled at the sound. And then a screen flicked into existence before me. It was translucent and was slightly tinted a pale blue. Then I noticed the words. And I smiled.
Congratulations! You are the first person who killed a monster. Title earned: The First
Effects:
Exp gain +1%
Vit +5
Congratulations! You are the first person to experience what is to come.
Agl and Str have merged
*Ding*
You have killed a monster over 10 levels higher than you. Title earned: Challenger
Effects:
Level suppression reduc -10%
Passive learned: Identify
Str +10
*Ding*
The new gods have noted your ruthless actions and calm. Title earned: Madman
Effects:
Crit dmg +1%
Spr +5
*Ding* *Ding* *Ding*
You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
This proceeded until I reached level 8.
*Ding*
You are level 8!
Stat pts +80
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Now, I am usually a very calm person. But, I can’t help from shivering at this point. Shivering with excitement! From these prompts, it is obvious that my world has turned into something else- something more. It has become a game. And I love games. After I laughed maniacally for a while, I regained my calm and started analyzing the information available to me. The part about the “new gods” imply that there existed one before. And now, for whatever reason, it is absent...thank god. They also associate my actions with the word “ruthless” which means that the new gods lean towards the ‘light’ or ‘good’ side. I frowned, my annoyance for self-righteous bastards showing.
Hm, well, this is all I need to get by. If this world turned into a game, then I shall be a god. I laughed wildly. This world was so boring. Everything was so bland, so normal. The feeling of adventure and wanderlust had all but disappeared from our monotone society. Never had my blood boiled so much. Never had my heart pounded like today. Never had I felt this adrenaline rush through my veins.
Right, before that, I need to bring up the stat screen. As soon as I thought that, a panel zoomed into focus. Whoa. Seems like the gods can read your mind. Either that or this system has been implanted into us somehow.
Lucian Ransol L8
Race: Human
Age: 16
Gender: Male
Vit: 17
Spr: 15
Life str: L1 100%
Mentality: L1 100%
Str + Agl: 33
Int: 13
Stamina: L1 100%
Dex: 12
Stat pts: 80
Used pts: 0
Well that’s unique. No set HP and MP numbers. And it looks like the beginning stats attempted to keep in line with my actual body conditions. With a few thoughts, I started organizing my mental user's interface. I set this world’s version of HP and MP indicators as well as my stamina in the top left with my name and level. I set the system notifications right below them and made them almost transparent unless focused upon. This would make sure that they don’t affect me during combat. I then set a transparent minimap in the top right corner of my vision.
I then confirmed that I can bring up my titles screen and skills.
Passive:
Mixed martial arts Beginner L7: 48%
Identify Beginner L1: 1%
Active:
I wonder what effects these passives has on my stats…
Mixed martial arts (Uncommon):
Learned:
(Taekwondo)
(Muay thai)
(Karate)
Physical Dmg +3.5%
Enhanced intuition +1%
Identify (Unique):
Can read stats on items
Can read stats on players and monsters up to 10 levels higher than you
A flash of light interrupted my musings. I looked over and saw another goat appear. I sigh and held up the scissors again. This time, however, I can see a “Lvl17” next to the “Minotaur”. I tried to get a read on its stats and saw:
Minotaur L17
Vit: 40
Spr: 15
Life str: L4 100%
Mentality: L1 100%
Str: 100
Int: 7
Stamina: L3 100%
Agl: 20
Dex: 21
After filing this information away, I charged at the minotaur as it roared at me. This time I vaulted off the desk to reach its head. Then history repeated itself, but this time went a lot faster as I shoved the scissors deep into its head on the second try.
I looked at my watch and saw that around four minutes had passed since I slayed the first minotaur. Well, it’s about time to distribute my stat points. It’s a pretty simple choice of where to put most of my points considering that one of my choices has two times the effect. So I brought up the merged stats to 80 leaving me 33. I put 3 in Vit and saw my Life str go up a level. Don’t know what it does yet but higher numbers are usually a good thing right? Drugs are good. I then allocated 5 points into spr making my mentality reach L2 as well. I then put 12 points into int and 13 points into dex simply to get to a number I like.
At this point, I noticed the screams. When I was meandering through the second floor, the muted sounds of the cheering in the gym was a low accompanying hum. But now, it is greater- louder. With the appearance of the minotaur and such, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what is happening to them. Massacre. The word whispered through my head. I slowly got up (after checking that there were no monster drops, of course) and started sprinting towards the stairs while listening for other creatures. My steps were lighter than before and I moved a lot faster. These stats will be hard to get used to.
When I finally reached the gym, I peeked through the windows and saw red. Lots of it. And flailing bodies as they flee from the three minotaurs in the center of the gym. I yanked open the doors and paused for a second. Did I really want to save these classmates of mine? While hesitating, I noticed some kid named Jason or whatever get torn to shreds. That made up my mind. Jason was a person of smiles. He treats everyone as a friend- even me, a loner. Some tears appeared in my eyes as I realized that he will never smile again. He will never make my McDonald’s meal ever again (he had a part-time job there). I looked around and thought about how many more Jasons there were in the gym being killed by some random goat. How many more work or will work at McDonald's in a future they will never experience? Thinking of this, I clutched my heart in agony and had a scary thought flutter through my head Who will flip my burgers then?
After my slight mental meltdown, I made a beeline towards one of the minotaurs while roaring at the other students, “SHUT UP!” Somehow, it seems the stats have increased the volume of my voice. The sound reverberated through the gym and drowned out the screaming. I then leapt up at one of the minotaurs but misjudged my newfound strength and overshot the head by a few feet. I kept calm though and on my descent, I brought the scissors down hard and buried the dull blades in the back of its neck. I left it there as I rolled across the floor to alleviate the shock impact.
I sprang off the ground and deflected a furry fist with my right palm while twisting my body counter-clockwise and backhanding the minotaur’s face with my other hand. Following the momentum, I leapt into the air and roundhouse kicked the last minotaur with my heel. As it staggered, I turned my body in midair and used the minotaur’s chest as a launchpad to leap back to the screaming one who borrowed my scissors. Again, I overshot. No worries though. As I passed its head, I reached out and grabbed one of its conveniently placed horns and swung myself onto its neck. In one deft movement, the scissors were out and plunged into a eye socket and into the brain. I leapt down and quickly incapacitated the other two minotaurs.
*Ding* *Ding* *Ding*
I leveled up to 11. Looks like I get experience reductions if I keep killing the same monster.
You are level 11!
Stat pts +30
I put them all into str+agl. Suddenly, a groan came from under my foot. I turned and noticed an injured girl laying on the ground. What was her name? It definitely started with an ‘s’. The scissor-borrower had nearly landed on top of her in its death throes. Luckily, the corpse shattered into motes of light before it could crush her. She had a long gash down her left leg. While bending down to check on her, I noticed a black book Sweet, the monsters dropped something! I picked it up.
Mana Sense Skillbook (common)(passive)
You are able to sense the elements around you.
With a thought, the skill book was learned and it burst into particles of light. I then observed my surroundings and noticed a slight change. Although I can’t pinpoint what the difference was, the environment seemed brighter. Wierd. .
*Ding*
Congratulations! You are the first person to learn a skill book. Title earned: Skillful
Effects:
Skill exp gain +1%
I continued to peruse the ground looking for more items, pushing the ‘s’ girl out of the way who let out a small shriek of indignation and pain. The search ended in disappointment however. Ah well. Time to get my priorities straight. Help first, search later. But since I’m such a good student who would complete tasks beforehand, I can already check off the second priority. I flipped the injured girl over with my foot and picked her up. I carried her over to a group of girls in nurse costumes and dropped s-girl at their feet. “Patch her up please,” I flashed my disarmingly handsome smile and walked away. There’s a whole world to explore. And some gods to kill for the heck of it-joke.