Jolly was the first to react, and gave me a little speech.
"We are people who sighed up for the CSI, and they usually go out and do a bunch of random things according to some kind of Captain!"
He answer joyfully as he somehow had all this information and still chose to gatekeep it from us.
Quiet spoke up.
"And you were gonna tell us that when?"
Jolly looked sheepishly at Quiet And responded.
"Oh! Uh... Probably never if I wasn't reminded by... Uh. Yeah I don't know his name"
Oh, yeah! Just because I call them by the names given by the CSI, don't mean they don't got their own names!
I spoke up after my revelation, hoping to learn their actual names.
"So, Uhh... Whats y'all's name?"
Jolly responded immediately.
"Doug Eggshell!"
Hearing the last name of the fat ass that got me stuck here in the first place, I realized I saw a little bit of a resemblance.
Also, who names their child Doug and actually loves them?
Could this guy be related to the spoild basterd that ambushed me in the desert?
...I honestly don't even want to think about him right now...
Quiey spoke after a bit of motivation from Jo- I mean Doug.
"Just call me Freed."
Ok...Freed. I can remember that.
I looked over to Warm, expecting some kind of answer, but they were just looking into space as usual.
"My name is Ga- I mean Jonny!"
Oops, almost just gave them my actual name.
My face turned blush red in embarrassment, but I slowly turned away and started walking towards the closest land mark that I could see over the trees after a little inspection.
The others didn't question me about it, and we continued walking towards the large hole on this dark forest we were in.
----------------------------------------
After completing this little dungeon, I was sent into a vibrant field with a multitude of waterfalls and green lush grass.
I gave the area a quick sniff, and recognized the undead smell coming from the North, so I started walking in that direction.
.
..
...
After a while of running, I reached a little town with a multitude of species that aren't very common In new Arcadia. I have some locals a little discription of the kid I was looking for, but none of them wanted to speak with me for whatever reason.
After a little 'Talk' with the locals, I threw my victim back to the street after he gave me the information I needed. I did quite a number on him, but this guy seemed to be more important that he seemed to act, so I slit his throat just to be sure.
Level Up!
Oh, Neat.
I allocated all my stat points towards Flexibility, and started running towards the little point in the map that my little friend marked for me.
Sigh* this is gonna be a long run.
----------------------------------------
We finnaly arrived at the location, and in front of us we saw a large open area with like 2 buildings made of some kind of fancy wood and a large quest board, Both of these were glowing A light Blue that calmed something in my mind whenever I saw them.
Ah yes... Ye ol' quest Board!
I ran up to the board, completely forgetting my companions as I looked soon a fountain of goals challenges and experience of which was... Nothing
Like absolutely not-
Zoop.
A system window appered in front of me suddenly causing me to flinch and dodge back in surprise. I Thunk-ed into Freed on accident, but just looked at him sheepishly then looked at the screen.
[Rank F Task board]
FF rank Team found, giving on level Task.
...
Task found!
[FF Rank mission]
[Task: Complete the Task given by the Mayor
[Details: Mayor Guildlock of Guil Town has requested the services of the CSI to help with the Construction of a new town hall after a monster wave destroyed the surrounding area.
[Reward: 10 Gold each, Elevation of rank, Access to the Training Field.
...
Hm... Ok, the rewards look pretty good, but who do they think they are calling FF rank? I mean, sure we aren't swinging around Flame swords like that other guy but we can't be that bad... Right?
I turn around after hearing a noise, and see Warm face down in the mud after they attempted to pick up a root from the ground, thinking it was a stick.
...I'm starting to think who ever gave us that Rank was right.
Freed spoke.
"What you see there?"
I looked at the screen, then to him, then gave somehing a little go.
"Share with Freed!"
Fwoosh!
Freed flinched back after being surprised by the system window like I was, but after the initial shock he just looked the screen.
If it worked for him, then it's gotta work for all of em', right?
"Share with Team?"
I shared with the whole team, and the remaining 2 who hadn't yet been jumpscared got what was coming to them, as warm julted on the ground and Doug started running around like the scaredy cat his was.
After a second to look over the mission, all of us seemed to agree that it looked pretty good.
We weren't exactly sure on how we were supposed to completely this mission exactly, but we at least hoped we wouldn't have to walk there, cause there was absolutely zero location showed in the mission.
Can't we just like... Teleport?
WHOOSH!
We were whisked away by a neon blue beam of light as I finished my thought.
----------------------------------------
I reassembled into the world without having to see the Eldritch for a second time, and I breathed a breath of Cold air.
... Actually, freezing air.
Fuck! Why is it so cold?
I had never felt anything this cold before, not here or on earth. And that was saying something, because I've literally been to the coldest place in earth.
The toilet in the morning.
Besides my stupid joke to ease myself from the frost that I could see growing in my feet in real time, I was trying to be smart at the moment.
I thought about the time that I went to Antarctica for what ever reason, and tried to think of what I could reasonably do about this situation.
Chatter*
My teeth were loudly chattering against each other as I looked back to my party, who were having absolutely none of the problems I was having.
You lucky bastards...
I looked around for this so called town we were supposed to help build, but I could see no such thing.
All I could see in all directions was a blankets of thick white snow as it seemed to fall from the sky never endingly.
At this point I started paceing around just to keep the frost from getting to caked onto my boots.
"Ca-n an-n-ny of ya-a-ll see the v-village!?"
They don't respond immediately, then start looking around with me.
Freed is the first to speak.
"Yeah, no."
Doug shrugs his shoulders and responds.
"Me neither."
Welp, at the very least I know we're lost in bum fuck nowhere.
I attempted to take a little look around with [Mana sight] but it wasn't working very well in this place despite the utter lack of any living life... What is that?
I could see a cload of orange mana from Warm, but I could also feel something similar to Warms glow from else where.
[Mana Sight] told me that something with vast amounts of mana was traveling towards us in rapid succession.
The Aura around the newest character was a deep blueish purple. They looked almost identical to Warm except they had a little Tattoo on their eye, somewhat similar to the eye of Ra.
They wore stariotioical purple wizard clothes, and had a little book in their hand. There were little signs spralled over the book, almost in a frantic manner, as I could see the Mana pouring from both the book and the carrier.
I could easily tell this figure was some kind of elemental like Warm was. But for some reason he seemed more believable, despite wearing the same skin they acted completely different.
Warm stayed stoic and calm, while this one seemed cheerful and alive. I got a taste of voice as he screamed in excitement.
"OH! Corpses, thank God you are finally here! Come, we have much work to once we are there!"
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
He quickly waved his hands around as he spoke, then Started running frantically once he finished his sentence.
KRUSH KRUSH KRUSH!
He quickly crushed through the snow, and before I could look at my party to make sure this guy wasn't a scam, they ran after him.
[480/480 Sp] [257/320 Mp]
Looking at my stamina and Mana, I decided to activate [Body Enhancement] just to take it for a test run, and started sprinting forward.
+2 Str
+2 Dex
WHOOSH!
As I activated the buff and ran forward as fast as I could, I caught up to my team.
[360/480 Sp]
End +1
My Stamina burned as I kept running forward, but at this point I wasn't even thinking about catching up, this was now a dick measureing contest with Doug.
He saw me run past them, and seemingly took it as a challenge, so he hit some kind of gang sign, then started running almost as fast as I did.
WHIIP!
He sprang forwards in front of me, the wind was to loud to hear him, but I could tell he was snickering.
[240/480 Sp]
End +1
My Stamina has burned down to half, but I just ignored the strain in my legs and lungs as I felt my body heating from the excursion on my calves and thighs.
This is... Exhilarating!
I felt like a little kid running from building to building like I was a super hero, as I basically slid on the snow with how fast I was going.
Flib! Flib! Flib! Flib!
The small amount of skin flapping on my body held me back from going even faster.
Without thinking about it, I activated [UV] to burn away at the skin, and my body heated rapidly.
[120/480 Sp]
End +1
My Stamina lowered to 1/4th, I felt the strain on my lungs and muscles was starting to effect how well I was running, but I pushed through one final time.
[0/480 Sp] You are exhausted! Turning off stamina consuming skills...
End +1
SLAM!
[5457/5600 HP]
A break through of something I didn't know existed, shattered as my Stamina bottomed out, and I slammed into a Large red wooden wall.
You have learned the skill [Sprint].
"Huff...Huff...Huff..."
Both of us huffed as we fell to the ground.
"Nice try, but I'm obviously first!"
Before I could Regen enough Stamina to stand up, Doug had stood up and patted off the dust and snow from his clothes, as he reached out a hand to help me.
Seeing the hand lay open in front of me I hesitated to take the hand despite loosing, But I swallowed my pr-
Slap.
A weak slap that barey even made a noise sounded as I slapped Doug's hand, without even thinking about it.
"Hey! What was that for?-"
Before I could apologize, the rest of the team and the Mayor had appeared out of the snow fog that collapsed around this wooden structurre, and Doug ran towards them with a happy smile on his face, more then likely because he has won.
We all stopped, and sat for a second to Regenerate a little Stamina.
[347/ 608 Sp]
Neat.
The whole break, Doug looked at me with a pityfilled face, like I was a smoldering sore loser.
I don't even know why I was even mad that I had lost, or why I had slapped away his hand.
...I don't know.
It just felt like something inside of me was begging for me to do something about losing, to do something about failing made something inside me spiteful, jealous, mabey even a little butt hurt.
Moving on from the feeling, I walk towards Doug, and give him a handshake, Just like what my Caucasian Father would do for any of his closest friends.
I raise my hand in front of him, but he doesn't know what to do. Oh yeah, This place doesn't have the same customs of earth... Why do I keep forgetting?
Seeing his confused face, I decided to teach him what it means.
I brought his hand up to mine and a Crisp CLAP made its way to all of our ears.
All the others turned back to see that we had finished the Final slide, and started walking back to them.
Doug looked over to me.
"What was that?"
I smiled at his foolishness.
"It's a handshake done by my people, to show that we hold no grudge or Gripe against one another."
I had answered truthfully, but Doug seemed to not believe me.
"Please don't tell me you just signed a deal between me and some evil god!"
Those exist here?
...
Whatever.
I attempt to clear myself of suspicious intent.
"NO! It's nothing like that! It's just a custom of where I come from..."
For once Warm spoke.
"And where do you originate from?"
Their voice was calm, but the moment I heard those words I felt my palms get sweaty despite the Cold that surrounded us.
What would they do if they found out I was from anouther world? What if the CSI somehow finds out and takes me hostage to find something ou-
"It's alright, nobody needs you to disclose that... We got work to Do! Chop Chop!"
The Ice dude Ran up to a seemingly random place in the wall, then it disappeared like nothing as he Ran through it.
Ohh! Magic!
I turned on [Mana sight], but I could only see a whole bunch of mana, But absolutely nothing behind it was completely obscured.
I mean why not? This is what we came here for!
I walked through the wall with the rest of my team behind me and I was stunned at what I saw on the inside of these massive walls.
...
Fucking Nothing!
There was absolutely nothing behind these walls, just a snowy floor with small rock poking out of it just like the outside.
Ice Mayor spoke up.
"It doesn't look like much for now, but with you help it will be a thriving town! I will go gather up Trees from the North, while you guys figure out what to do with these."
ZOOP.
Suddenly I saw Multiple large red logs appear in a blue light, and Multiple sets of basic tools.
Axes, Hammers, Nails, and everything and anything in-between. There were even extra pairs of boots!
I looked to my team and gave them a wide happy smile to show I was happy with this predicament, but Doug just jumped back and fell on his ass as Freed seemed completely unaffected.
Sighing at my useless team, I picked up my set of things and walked towards the closest Red log.
I active [Body Enhancement].
Str +2
Dex +2
Taking my Axe, I attempted to strike the wood.
With one foot in front of the other I brought my axe down an-
RINGGGG!
Class Exp gained!
I felt a buzzing in my brain as I ineffectively struck the wood and feel back on my ass.
I had that fuzzy feeling in my teeth, but I ignores it only to hear Doug snickering at me from a couple feet away.
"Hehehe!"
I could feel the Vain pop on my head as I yelled at him.
"Then how about you do it!"
He seemed surprised that I actually responded to him, then has a shit eating grin spread all over his face.
"Gladly!"
He grabbed an axe, and walked up to the same log that I just failed at.
He steadyed his center of mass, lifted the Axe above his head and-
KRACK!
The Wood split like old butter, and he threw his Axe away like he hadn't just made his arms completely numb.
"S-See! E-Easy!"
He then fell to the ground.
...Yea, I'm not helping him.
...
Acutually, I think There is something I can do about this?
I de- activated [Body Enhancement] from myself, and attempted to 'Cast' it on Doug.
Bzzt.
The gental buzz of green mana Surrounded by palm, then suddenly appeared on Doug's body.
BOING!
And audible spring noise sounded as soon as Doug jumped up.
"Holy Hydra, I feel great! Who cast [Revitalize] on me?"
I quickly raised my hand to get the rightful credit, but he didn't even ignolage me, before he started Breaking down logs into precise planks before my very eyes.
Each second he was moving through mabey 2, and I could feel a drain on my Mana.
[246/360 Mp]
My mana was draining quickly, quicker then every other time I had casted [Body Enhancement] on my self, But I had zero idea why.
Mabey there is some kind of cost for casting on things other than yourself because your body is already attached to your mana?
You have understood a Law of Mana!
Rewarding...
Your proficiency in Mana has greatly enhanced!
[Mana Mastery] Lv. 3
[Mana Mastery] Lv.4
Mana Mastery: Lv 4 (38% to level 5)
I felt a wave of invigoration enter my soul, like little pricks of Warmth prodding at my core.
I could feel the Drain in my mana significantly slow down, as I felt my mana become more concentrate, not like there was more of it, but that it was just worth more then before.
Neat.
As Doug chopped away we all got busy, well I got busy as I was the only one having trouble cutting up the wood.
How did warm do it you ask? He used fucking Mana Axes! That's right Axes made of Mana.
Why do I never gain any strength!
----------------------------------------
Huff* Huff* Huff*
I made it.
I had finnally made it to this stupid fucking building after 3 hours of sprinting.
Thank Jull for [Dash]...
I ran over towards the large towering Mountain hill thing, and before I could make it over to the entrance, I could already smell the Greenery that his inside.
Walking through the massive entrance to this supposedly secret organization, I found what I was looking for... At least I think?
I was looking at a massive tree smack dab in the middle of this Forest from my vantage point, and I was amazed by the Blue glow that gave light to this place.
The light bounces off every tree in a mesmerizing way, like a mixture between light and water, like a near perfect stream of liquid funneling down the trees like a spout.
Focusing back in I smelled around for my target, but I could smell was burning.
Looking around, I made sure my location hadn't been compromised yet.
Nothing
Must have been the wi-
SLICK!
[10285/18000 HP] Bleeding!
Danm! I thought I had turned off all of those pescky notifications...
My arm fell to the ground and I felt pain spread through my bones.
Shit! At least I don't need to cauterized it...
My stump of an arm sizzled as I took a good look at the human who just attacked me.
Large flaming sword, Deep Blue uniform, amber skin, and Clearly human.
I also flicked my eyes to something behind him, but I couldn't make it out before it disappeared.
"What Business do you have here intruder?"
His voice added to how intimidating and large he seemed as I slowly hugged my wound as he walked towards me.
"Wait Number 1, I think this is the guy we were sent to deal with on that one mission at Killagon!"
Somthing high pitched spoke but I still couldn't see or smell them, so I made sure there weren't any traps before I could make my excape.
I slowly inches my way towards the edge of the vantage point I was on, but I still wasn't sure about what I could do.
"Let is take him to Chrome, then we can get the information out of him."
"W-"
Before I could try to say something, I was knocked out cold.
----------------------------------------
[0/608 Sp] You are Exhausted!
Damm, guess that's of with...
I fell and collapsed onto the snowy floor after a 3 hour long wood cutting session.
It was excruciatingly hard, but I gained something out of it.
End +3 (19 →22) *Perk unlocked
Str +1 (1→2)
My First point in Strength! And the system seems to show my progress if I increase stats at the same time...
I lazyly flapped my arms in joy after seeing the massive gains because I did something that didn't endager my life!
My team looked at me weird for that one, but they wouldn't understand.
But only one point tho... Whatever, Perk!
You have reached the first milestone for Endurance!
Reawarding...
You have gained the Perk, Stamina freak!
[Stamina Freak]
When you are using large amounts of Stamina, your Sp Regeneration is doubled.
*Side effects
...Yeah, cool perk but what does it mean by side effect?? Why would it tell me it had a side effect but not what the side effects is???
I had no more time to think as the Mayor of the new so called town, was back with stuff.
In his hand he held a large green glowing crystal and multiple large blue prints.
"Oh! Y'all have really been at work here, good job!"
I looked back to see the large trees were all cut down into planks, and were currently drying under a little hut made out of spare Bark we couldn't do anything with.
All of my team were sitting around the little campfire we scrounged up and were laying next to it just as I was.
At this point The [Body Enhancement] I put on Doug had completely worn off, and was left laying there like that one dry alien.
"Food..."
Doug pleaded as he sat around the camp fire.
Ice dude heated this and quickly summoned a pile of un cooked meat with out completely turning as he got to the middle of the area.
THUNK!
He threw the crystal straight into the ground with a surprisingly powerful throw, and the glow of it was completely obscured by the dirt of this snowy area.
He then lines one of the Blue prints with the crystal then started waving his arms around.
Bzzz.
The buzzing of mana was heard as the dry planks were removed in a pillar of light, as the outline of something was created.
Ice dude wiped his hands on his robe then sat around our camp fire.
"Alright guys! Just a few more modifications through the pilon, and you all can head back to the CSI!... That reminds me, do any of yall want to become partial owners?"
Hearing the word owner sent shivers down my spine as I thought about the little phase I went through where I bought a bunch of property then splurged all my money in my next little phase.
Never again...
"I'm good."
I waved off the offer and started trying to cook the meat, but it was going to take forever because of the dying fire.
I looked over to Doug who was attempting to not bite into his piece of uncook meat, but then I had an idea.
I mean, I already ate zombies?
KRUNCH!
Using [Bite] I just bit through the bone and all of the piece of meat I had.
Mmmm!
I started scarfing the food down my gullet, only choking occasionally.
All of the others look at me with a crazy face, but I ignored their looks so I could enjoy my food.
How did I forget I was this goddamn hungry?
I kept eating,
And eating,
And eating.
"Slowdown."
Freeds voiced knocked me out of my trance, and I looked around to see that I had consumed all of meat before I could cook it.
He was holding a large corn like plant with mushrooms sticks on it over the fire as he used he burly arms from biting into Doug's pile of meat.
"You got quite the appetite, Don't ya?"
The Mayor dude had spoken and more food appeared in front of me, so I gladly got back to it.
I checked my status as I ate away.
Name: [Johnny 'xxMASTERGRINDERxx' Wilson]
Title: [Claustrophobia]
*Class: [Punching Bag] level 2 (47% to level 3)
Race: [Human Male] (Stage 0)
Level: 6 [15% to level 7]
Mana Stage: [Stage 2] (Concentration)
Condition: [480/ 480] (End x 10 x Will) (Regen End / 5 / Min)
Health: [5600/5600=2800+2800] (Res x 35 x Will) (Regen Res x 2 / 30 sec) (0.08 Per sec)
Mana: [35/320] (INS x 5 x Wis) (Regen Wis/ 3 +10% of Mp per 30 sec) (2.06 per sec)
Stats:
Physicals:
[Strength: 2
[Dexterity: 6
[Endurance: 21
[Resilience: 25
Mentals:
[Insanity: 20
[Wisdom: 3
[Willpower: 22
Soul:
[Luck: 2
[Divinity: {PAIN} (Cursed)
[Empathy: 3
Perks:
[Iron Will]
[Forged Body]
[Stamina freak]
Mastery:
Mana Mastery: Lv.4 ( 39% to level 5)
Skills:
Base Tier:
[^Mana Sight] Lv.2 (Tier 0)
[Poison resistance] Lv.1 (Tier 0)
[Pain resistance] Lv.3 (Tier 0)
[Bite] Lv.3 (Tier 0) {Pestilence}
[Retaliation] lv.0 (Tier 0)
[Unyielding Vitality] lv.0 (Tier 0)
Beginner Tier
{Predator} Lv.1 (Tier 1)
Spells:
[Body Enhancement] lv.1 (Tier 2)
...Mmm, very nice.
My eyes drifted around as I slowly left consciousness.
I sighed in relief as I finally felt full.
I felt resonace in [Bite] as I fell asleep.
----------------------------------------
End of Chapter