Novels2Search
NOT A GAME
1: Stepping foot in a harsh land

1: Stepping foot in a harsh land

It all started without anyone knowing. One hundred thousand people just suddenly disappeared one day, not even leaving a trace behind. Supposedly, they would go to another world where it would be extremely hard for them to live, let alone survive. With beasts and creatures so powerful and immense,  a single glare alone could kill a fully grown man before his body hit the ground.

[(Hydra-God-45): Honestly that sounds nice. Would y’all like to go as well? What about y’all editor, wanna come?]

[(memory_name): I’m not doing anything .)

[(Hydra-God-45): Why, just why you are not an isekai man.]

Everyone began in the same place as it has with Ben Vellen, a young high school student around the age of seventeen. With his long brown hair that barely reaches his neck, hazel colored eyes, and generic facial features. At the time, he had been reading a textbook for his test next period during his lunch break at school when suddenly, he felt extreme pain in his head as a blinding white light made him lose his sight. Then when his vision returned, he appeared here…wherever here was.

He was in a completely dark space, except for an odd glowing blue screen in front of his face, reading: 

Welcome young one!

You are currently within the Barrier between dimensions,

On your way to a new world that is around five times

The size of your old one!

Do not rejoice just yet though,

This world is a very unforgiving one

And there certainly will be death if you are not careful.

Fortunately, you will not go there powerless.

You will be granted this status screen to

View your stats and skills.

You will arrive at a mostly uninhabited island

Where you will begin your journey.

Now, you have the chance to pick

Four skills from the list provided.

Choose wisely because once chosen, it cannot be 

Removed. To increase a stat, it needs to be done manually.

Now choose your skills!

“Huh?” said Ben in confusion.

“What! A new world!?” he exclaimed in shock; he didn’t know if he should be happy or scared. According to what this blue screen says, this will be quite dangerous, and he will need to be cautious. Lacking anything else to do, Ben decides to check those skills.

Combat Skills

[Crude swordsmanship (+)] [Crude spear-manship (+)] [Crude Dagger Use (+)] [Crude Axe-manship (+)] [Crude Mace Use (+)] [Crude Bow-manship (+)] {Crude Martial arts (+)] [Crude Staff Use (+)]

Magic skills

[Weak Fire Magic (+)] [Weak Water Magic (+)] [Weak Earth Magic (+)] [Weak Air Magic (+)] [Weak Life style Magic (+)]

Note: A chant needs to be memorized. A notebook shall be given to you magicians with the chant for the element you have chosen. From there you must make up your own spells.

Note II: more Magic = Weak constitution.

Support skills

[Weak Strength boost (+)] [Weak Constitution boost (+)] [Weak endurance boost (+)] [Weak dexterity boost (+)] [Weak Jump Boost (+)] [Weak Speed boost (+)] [Weak Sight boost (+)] [Weak hearing boost (+)] [Weak smell boost (+)]

Production skills

[Crude blacksmithing (+)] [Crude Crafting (+)] [Crude potion-making (+)] [Crude Gathering (+)] [Crude woodwork (+)] [rude Mason (+)] [Crude building (+)]

Ben thought about it for a long time. This would not be like RPG games he’d played before. It will be on a kill or be killed basis, so he wants to be self-sufficient if possible. Since they won’t be around civilization, getting equipment would be hard if they outgrew the starting ones. So his obvious choice was [Crude blacksmithing] [Crude Crafting] [Crude potion making] and [Crude gathering]. He was aiming to be a production man before he could start training with weapons and magic.

[(Hydra-God-45): In my opinion, I would take 1 magic skill, a weapon, and 2 supports... What would you all pick out of this?]

Are you sure you want these skills?

[Yes]   -   [No]

Without hesitation, Ben tapped on yes. And then the screen switched to display his stats.

Ben Vellen

MP - 50/50 

Combat skills -

Stolen story; please report.

[Basic Martial arts] [Strong Hit] 

Magic Skills -

NONE

Support skills -

[Focus] 

Production Skills -

[Crude Blacksmithing] [Crude Crafting] [Crude potion making] [Crude Gathering] [Basic Engineering] [Basic Science]

Ben checked his stats and looked a little shocked at what he was seeing. There was a lot more skill than he had taken, so he checked what all of them did, which he should have done before choosing his skills.

[Basic Martial arts] -  A better form of [Crude martial arts] increases strength, speed, and endurance by 3 each when used.

Proficiency - 69.99%

[Strong Hit] - A Strong hit strong enough to crush stone.

Proficiency - 15.82%

[Focus] - You focus on the task you are currently doing while making sure of the presence around you. Increases perception. 

Proficiency - 80.24%

[Crude Blacksmithing] - Grants knowledge in the blacksmithing method for Noobs who just pick up a hammer. 

Proficiency - 0.00%

[Crude Crafting] - Grants crafting knowledge to noobs who want to learn how to make things.

Proficiency - 0.00%

[Crude potion making] - Grants you knowledge on a noobish way to make potions

Proficiency - 0.00%

[Crude Gathering] - Gives you a rundown on how gathering works.

Proficiency - 0.00%

[Basic Engineering] - You know a bit about engineering, so you won’t mess up when building things!

Proficiency - 90.10%

[Basic Science] - You understand the ways of chemicals and other shenanigans….a little.

Proficiency - 54.93%

“So we get to keep a few skills from our world? Good, because I know I have a lot more than this,” said Ben as he accepted his stats that was when there was a bright flash of light as he appeared in a massive clearing where hundreds upon hundreds of people stayed. Talking to each other and messing around with magic.

Everyone wore medieval-style tunics and trousers, some had better leather equipment on them due to the skills they chose, but they weren’t too different as they were made of the same cheap leather. 

Ben looked at himself and saw that he was wearing hard leather boots, khaki trousers, and a dull gray tunic. Around his waist was a satchel which was filled with food for 3 days, a few spices, a notebook, a feathered pen with ink, and a knife

Ben looked around the place to see if he could find anyone he knew in the place. He didn’t think he could, but he managed to recognize someone. 

It was a girl from his grade at his school. She was a kind soul and enjoyed helping everyone. Currently, she wore a cheap-looking cloth robe with a witches hat and a leather satchel hanging across her shoulder. And in her hands were a tall staff with a jewel on the top.

She sat on a log at the far edge of the clearing and was in the process of reading the notes within her journal.

“Hey, Mina!” waved Ben as he made his way towards her.

Hearing her name being called the girl lifted her head to see a familiar face walking towards.” Ben! You're here too!” she said as she stood up to hug him.

After they greeted each other they sat down on the log and began to chat about the event up until now.

“This is crazy huh.” Said Ben looking out at the crowds of people walking about.

“Yeah, I never thought something like this would happen. It is a good thing that a lot of the others are here,” said Mina, happy to see Ben here with them.

“Wait, the others are here too!” said Ben in excitement.

“Yeah, Jake, Kelcy, Luka, Verse and some others from the school are here. We're trying to find if some others are here,” said Mina.

“So what did you pick for your starting skill?” Asked Ben curiously.

“All the magic!” responded Mina proudly puffing her chest.

“Ha, so you went for the mage pathway huh….did you even read about the part where it says your constitution will drop a bit?” said Ben.

“Yup! But if I can become a good mage I will be able to counter all that!” she said arrogantly.

“Ok, if you say so.” Said Ben as someone hit his shoulder.

“Ben! You're too man!” said Jake, Ben’s childhood friend. Jake wore a leather breast blast along with a similar get-up to Ben. Along with that though, there was a good-looking sword in a scabbard on his waist. Behind him were more of his bodies.

Luca was in full thief gear, most of his clothes being dark with 2 daggers and bow with a quiver on his back.

Kelcy was in similar garbs to Jake with a long spear even taller than herself at her side.

Verse had a whole Axe on her shoulder with the sleeves of her tunic rolled up showing her muscles.

Finally, we had Erin, Jake's sister who also seems to have come over as well, was here with a metal gauntlet with spikes on the end as her weapons.

“Hello to you too guys, what did you all pick?” Asked Ben seeing what they had with them

Jake chose Swordsmanship, fire magic, strength boost, and speed boost. Luca went for daggers, dexterity boost, speed boost, and sight boost a classic thief. Kelcy has spearmanship, strength boost, lifestyle magic, and speed boost. Verse had taken Axemanship, strength boost, endurance boost, and constitution Boost. Erin Had taken Martial arts, with strength boost, air magic, and water magic.

“So that’s us, what about you man, you don’t seem to have any weapons.” Said Jake as he looked at Ben full of worry.

“Fufufu…” chuckled like an evil villain,” I’ve made the best choice I could. My skills are blacksmithing, crafting, gathering, and potion-making” said Ben proudly.

……” Are you crazy! Did you hear that this place would be dangerous! Why did you pick production skills!” said Erin in disagreement with Ben's choice.

[(Hydra-god-45): Yes, yes he is…..he’s out of his mind.]

“Hey, hear me out. The screen said that this place would be an uninhabited continent with like some native, meaning that finding a medieval store where we can buy weapons as a big no-no, so I wanted to start it off quickly with some production skills and get myself situated before I could train with weapons.” Said Ben explaining his motives.

“You have a point there, but can’t you just learn the skill after some time?” asked Mina

“Yes but that's the same with combat skills.” said Ben,” Although it would be a harder start, but worth it!”

“Alright if you say so. So are you going to join the large groups that are forming?” asked Kelcy.

“Groups?” Questions Ben in confusion.

“Well, a few leaders had popped up all over the place and began gathering people. Some ask for more people with weapons skill, while other crafters like yours and a few takes in both,” said Jake Informing him of what had happened while he selected his skills.

“Which one did you join?” Asked Ben.

“We joined Valiant. They are currently accepting both types so you can join too. Its commander is this guy who’s got an Expert level skill, in swordsmanship and Martial arts.” Said Erin.

“Seriously! How good is Expert?” Asked Ben

“From the training, we saw them doing with some other strong people, very good. Most leaders have 1 or 2 expert level skills with them,” said Luka pointing over at a guy with a long sword on his back, having the most Leather armor on him with a cape. He was Japanese and looked to be around 25 years old.

“Damn….that good. Well, I’ll be going solo. I like my loneliness.” said Ben getting up from the log.

“Dude! Are you sure you want to go that route?” Asked Jake full of worry about his friend.

“Yeah, I’ll see you all around,” said Ben before heading into the forest.

“Where are you going!” asked Mina.

“I’m going to train for a while, there are no monsters in here right?” asked Ben.

“No, we’re on a floating island. As far as we can see there's nothing around except this island,” said Jake.

“Thanks! See ya later!” said Ben as he went off by himself to test out and improve his skills.

- Note from author

Hey! thanks for reading! and also let's all applau the editors Memory_meme and Ax-master for editing this one!

also, comment down below if you would like to be sent to another world, and which skill from the list you would pick! Might upload every Sunday, so stay tuned!

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter