[Stat screen]

Name: Allan Rose

Type: Support Type Mage

Level: 10/???

[Health] 41/100

[Stamina] 85/110

[Mana] 20/20

[Stat points]

Available points: 0

Vitality: 10 +

Strength: 22 +

Agility: 28 +

Intelligence: 10 +

Dexterity: 10 +

Faith: 10 +

Luck: 10 +

It's been an hour since I've left kryse's place. An hour of agony and pain. From my recent experience, losing health in battle is less painful due to my adrenaline being through the roof and my focus being on the action. So what could be said for when my health is low and I'm hiking?

"Ah, this sucks!" I yelled in exhaustion. "Even my stamina is running out faster..."

[Stamina] 83/110

Krrr...

Boom!

In the distance I could hear crashing lightning, and soon rain began to pour. Rain in a chasm under the earth.

"Ok rain in a cave... now you're just fucking with me."

I thought as I sat down near the base of a mushroom tree and away from the rain. From here I could see the hill kryse's house sat on in the distance. The storm clouds seemed to be concentrated even more so around there.

"Hmm, I really didn't travel far... wonder what they're up to. I wish I could ask them about this rain."

Swish Swish

Suddenly I heard some shuffling nearby. I quickly crouched down and jumped into some bushes. There was something there, but I couldn't make it out through the bushes.

'...A ghoul?'

I peaked closer. The creature had four skinny legs and hooves.

'No. This is a...deer.'

It's face and body looked like a deer, but there was something different. For one there were no eyes on its face, just some sort of bone plate that went from its nose to its forehead, and it's nose had small tendrils like a mole.

'If it's just this I shouldn't be worried-' I thought as I was about to stand up.

Plop

Plop plop

A strange goob of clear liquid fell onto my shoulders, something clearly different from the rain. It was absolutely foul smelling, and it's consistency was worst.

'...Huh, the hell is this stuff?'

I looked up, and instantly froze. From this perspective it was hard to make it out, but it was clearly some sort of odd looking wolf beast. There was no fur on its body, only hardened skin, but the one thing that stood out the most was it's large, well defined jaw muscles.

'How long was this creature standing above me for?'

I wondered as I held my breath, not daring to make my presence known.

'Hurry and attack the deer you smelly dog, I can't hold my breath forever! Wait what if I...'

There were pebbles everywhere. I picked one up and quickly threw it at a nearby tree. The deer was alerted immediately and looked towards me and the wolf's direction.

In an instant the wolf dashed out the cover of the trees and assassinated the deer. Ripping into its neck for a precise and quick kill.

"Eeek!" It screamed.

'Perfect, now I'll just get as far away from here as possible-'

"Grrrr..."

Maybe it was because I was so focused on getting that wolf away from me that I didn't notice the other two right behind it watching me. I barely had a moment to react as I came face to face with one of them, and it tried to bite my head off.

I dodged, and began to roll down a hill in an effort to escape, but it was no use. What was one, became two, and the two was joined by the one and became three. All facing me head on.

'What kind of stupid animals are these, why attack me when you just killed something. Unless...'

They attacked me before I could finish my thought, and I barely dodged once again. In a situation like this, it was good that I had a pretty high agility. It meant I could dodge multiple enemies attacking me at once, but I knew I shouldn't be careless with my already low health.

I distanced my self, and finally unsheathed my sword. A smile of pain and agony crossed my face.

'So this is what it's like being a true wanderer... My health is low, my body is fatigued, and no matter what I do, I run into monsters at the worst possible times imaginable.'

[Notification]

Fortified Mind strongly activated!

[Notification]

Skill fortified mind (lvl1) cannot resist your mental distress and has been forcefully deactivated!Attempting to reactivate

[Notification]

Reactivation of the skill fortified mind (lvl1) failed!

"Alright then, you battle craved beasts, if you want to kill for fun I'll gladly join you!"

I yelled as I ran into the battle.

'That's right, what's the point in thinking about it. I'll either live or die. The only thing I can do now is fight for my survival..!'

The wolves were strong, and fast. I couldn't imagine many losing to them, but in my frenzy I was beyond what they could comprehend.

My abnormal movements, and lack of care to be cautious once again became my ally. They couldn't make out my movements as well as they had hoped.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

One of them chased me very aggressively as the others dashed to my sides. I knew what I was suppose to do, which was attack the one in front, but if I did they others would get me. So my only choice was to dodge upwards of backwards.

I did neither and grabbed the mouth of the dog in front of me. It's raging snarls and bites were hard to control, but in my rage I held its mouth open tight even as it bit down on my fingers.

"Open the fuck up!"

With all my strength and then some I struggled against his jaw to open it up. As I was doing that another wolf bit into my side, but I didn't pay it any mind.

Snap

I broke the wolf's jaw and immediately used its body to smash into the last wolf who was in the middle of attacking me. Then I elbowed the forehead of the wolf who grappled onto me with its giant teeth, and continued to do so until it fell to the ground.

As soon as the battle was over I opened of kryse's goodie bag and drank a health potion. One of the only two I had.

"I wanted to save these but I rather use them before I die."

Ping, ping!

[Notification]

You've leveled up! 3 stat points have been added to your level up screen!

[Notification]

You've unlocked the skill, (longsword mastery) (lvl1)

My eyes widened at the notifications. I expected to level up after that, but a new skill was surprising.

"My third skill... long sword mastery." I mumbled as I reviewed its contents.

Longsword Mastery (lvl 1)

Longsword type weapons are easier to use.

+10% Speed

+10% Damage

-10% Weight

Cost: Passive

I took a deep breath, and readied my sword. Then I began to swing.

Swoosh swoosh swoosh

"This.. I can really tell the difference. Each swing is so much lighter and faster..!"

I continued to play around with the new skill as it cost no stamina or mana to use. After bit I stopped, and settled my thoughts. I couldn't help but feel excited.

'I know I shouldn't feel excited, but right now my heart is beating so fast with joy. This feeling of leveling up, unlocking new skills, and surviving battles is addicting.'

I thought as I looked ahead at my destination. A cluster of crystals that grew to created a triangular shape.

'Don't worry, I'm going to make it home in no time..!'

Two days passed since then, and what I've learned is that this journey was a lot more difficult than I initially realized. The closer I got to the secret exit, the more extreme and dangerous the monsters became.

When I realized I'd have to take it slow, I got annoyed and attempted to use my agility to simply run past everything instead of fighting. That didn't work, and I nearly died due to a monster that could snipe and was forced to use my last health potion.

"Fuck, fuck fuck fuck fuck!"

So I set up a base of operations where the huge mushroom trees were, and carved out a home into one of them. At first I had to keep fending off my home from ghouls, but then I found this strange flower that they seemed to ward them away. Naturally I spread its essence all around my area.

The next issue was food.

"Yeah, there's no way I'm eating this.."

I said as I stood over the eyeless deer I killed. Up close it was even freakier than when I saw it awhile ago. It's skin was a strange see through color with random dark spots and it smelled terrible.

The rest of the day was spent trying different plants and mushrooms. I only took very tiny bits from new foods and tried them. If my health went down, or I got a strange status effect then I'd know it was bad, and if nothing happened I'd know it was good.

There was a black mushroom that put me to sleep, a green flower that made me have to poop, and then a bunch of random things that were actually edible.

One great discovery was a red berry with white dots on it.

[Status effect]

You've consumed a food that increases health regeneration for a short time.

'Health regeneration! I've been progressing so slow because after every battle I'd have to wait for my health to go up which could take up to a day, but with this..!'

"I'll collect as many as I can."

I spent the rest of that day collecting these berries and storing them at my mushroom house. I found that one berry healed me for five health over a minute and stacked up to ten times. So it wasn't lightning speed, but it was better than nothing.

Doing everything on my own was very time consuming, and I had no choice but to accept that. In order to ensure my survival some days I had to just sit at camp and wait. Like today, it was raining again even though we were in a chasm, and I couldn't risk slipping during a fight and dying.

'This sucks.'

After three days I'd say I made it a quarter of the way there. I've leveled up four more times since the first day, and placed all my available points into health. With that, many of the creatures up till now didn't really stand a chance since I was much harder to kill, but unfortunately gave shit experience.

If I could see their levels I would probably be two or three levels higher than them. With that being said it was time to move in further.

It was now five days since I've been completely on my own. I'm now level twenty and have gotten around seventy percent of the way there.

That's where I was met with some old friends that nearly took my life awhile ago. The small fast ghoul, and the ghoul brute. I could tell they recognized me by the smiles they could hide.

"Did you miss me that much?"

I unsheathed my sword and instantly engaged in battle with them. I blocked the brutes punch, but the weight of his attack was heavy and sent my flying. That was the opportunity the quick ghoul used to catch up to me and pierce my heart.

"The same tactics as before... did you think I'd be the same?!"

Swoosh.

"..!"

My agility and other stats were much higher than before. I could not only see through their movements, but easily react. Although, that's not the only reason I was able to move so quick.

[Quick step] (lvl 1)

Your next step will allow you to move at incredible speeds when this skill is activated.

Cost: 7 stamina

'When I reached level 20 I received this skill, and it's actually extremely useful.'

With one simple spin I dodged the ghouls piercing claws and sliced off his head.

"..keuk!"

Beads of sweat appeared on the brutes face, and his demeanor completely changed.

"Don't make that face, it's too late to ask for forgiveness."

I said as I casually walked up to the brute, and disappeared with quick steps. In the next moment I appeared before him and ended his life.

Enemies like them were common now, and they only became more abundant and powerful, but it was fine for me. Fighting the same types over and over again became redundant and I learned the way they fought. Even if I were to revert back to level one I'm sure I could kill a couple on my own simply by knowing their ways.

Nearly a week passed and I've finally reached level twenty five. With every level up I received less experience from weaker enemies, and the experience required increased.

"At this rate it'll take me a couple days to level up only once soon."

I observed my stat screen, and everything I've achieved so far.

[Stat screen]

Name: Allan Rose

Type: Support Type Mage

Level: 25/???

[Health] 640/700

[Stamina] 192/195

[Mana] 20/20

[Stat points]

Available points: 0

Vitality: 30 +

Strength: 30 +

Agility: 45 +

Intelligence: 10 +

Dexterity: 10 +

Faith: 10 +

Luck: 10 +

[Skills]

Limit breaker (lvl 1)

Fortified Mind (lvl 2)

Longsword mastery (lvl 4)

Quick step (lvl 3)

Tough skin (lvl 2)

Everything was looking really good. In particular I liked this new skill I received soon after my health surpassed thirty points.

'I'm not sure if I obtained this skill because my health surpassed a certain threshold or because of all the beatings I've been taking...'

[Tough skin] (lvl 2)

All attacks deal 5% less damage and 10% less damage when below 20% health.

Cost: passive

"I've really grown." I said as I thought about my family. "Aremi, Heather, I can't wait to see the expressions on your faces."

I then looked forward, and right ahead of me was the exit I've been journeying towards. Right within my grasp. All I had to do was take a couple steps forward and I'd be on my way home.

As I was entering the tunnel I began to feel somewhat of a longing feeling.

'I'm finally heading home. This place, I won't ever forget it. The place where I was reborn.'

I glanced back at the chasm behind me. I could see everything from here, even the emperors castle in the far distance.

It was beautiful.

"Good bye." I said as I noticed something strange.

In the distance there was black smoke roaring into the sky. That area was familiar.

"That smoke, it's coming from..."

'That's where kryse's house is, why is there such a large smoke coming from there?'

I frowned.

"No, it's not my problem. I'm nearly done with the quest, I'm sure they're fine."

That's what I said, but something strange happened to my body. It didn't listen to me, and suddenly I was racing towards kryse's house.

'Damnit what am I doing?!'

[ Time limit: 2:21 ]

[ Penalty ]

-15 to all stats for 3 months