Panda laughed at me and patted my back as the vomit burned my throat. It was over as fast as it began but still, I hated throwing up.

I’d always been jealous the guys that could go on a night out, head to the bathroom for a five-minute tactical chunder and then come back to the party as good as new.

I’d never been able to do that. Throwing up was a drawn out and unpleasant experience for me. There had been times where I was so paralytic from the need to vomit that I’d laid on the bathroom floor for hours before being able to actually do the deed.

However, this wasn’t like that and I was pleasantly surprised, if not a little caught off guard, by the speedy recovery I made post-vomit.

As I picked myself back up and looked towards the screen, I saw only a single word.

Congratulations!

It seemed my class selection had taken.

“Don’t worry about the sickness kid,” Panda said, still laughing slightly. “It happens to everyone. It’s a side effect of receiving so many stat points all at the same time. Honestly, you didn’t have it that bad. A lot of new adventurers are a much higher level than you when they get their classes.”

I wondered why Panda hadn’t told me that before. He probably thought it would be funny to watch me get surprise sickness. Normally I’d admonish him in some way but I was too excited about my upgraded class and new stat points to care.

I hurriedly checked my updated stat sheet.

Status Sheet:

Name: Kaleb Akabane

Race: Outworlder

Class: Apex Predator (unique)

Level: 9

Map Pieces 2/10,000

HP: 101/101

Stamina: 1/139

Strength: 89

Agility: 39

Perception: 35

Vitality: 51

Intelligence: 16

Personal Skills: Speak English Damnit!

Class Skills (Passive) Skills: Bow (lvl 3), Novice Bowman, Dagger (lvl 4), Acid Dhampir Dagger, Acid Arrows, Environmental Hazzard

Blessing: Blessing of Wealth

Familiars: Panda (Daemon)

Smiling to myself as I read through it, I noticed a few interesting changes. There was the obvious addition of my class and my upgraded stats. My new skills had also been added and I was pleasantly surprised to see that I’d kept my previous Bow, Dagger, and Novice Bowman skills.

It must have been because bows and daggers were explicitly included in the skills given to me for the Apex Predator class.

I also noticed another change. My combat skills section had disappeared and all my new skills and the old combat skills had been placed under Class Skills (Passive). I wondered if that meant I’d eventually unlock active skills. Panda had mentioned them before as skills you activate on purpose.

My current skills were on all the time, so I could only assume an active skill would be more powerful. I also noticed that my stamina, though massively higher than before, was currently sitting on 1/139. I did feel exhausted.

A knock at the door stirred me from my racing thoughts and I turned towards it as it creaked slowly open.

“Pardon the intrusion, I heard the retching and thought you might be finished with your selection.” Director Lucas said as he poked his head through the door.

He smiled at us and, upon seeing the congratulations sign on the screen, entered the room fully.

“Director, what a pleasant surprise.” Panda said, turning to the tall man.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

“Think nothing of it, I simply wanted to see what class a fellow such as yourself would select. Call it professional curiosity. As it happens I can also issue your temporary Adventurer permit whilst I’m here.” He said in his silky-smooth voice.

He walked towards the back wall and waved his hand. A small keyboard popped out of the wall and he typed something in. There was an affirmative beeping followed by the kind of sound a cash register makes. He turned and walked towards me clutching a card in his hand.

“Hmm, let me see. An archer, light skirmisher hybrid? Not exceedingly rare but still an odd choice. Very interesting.” He began, thinking aloud as he perused the card which presumably had my results on it.

I had planned on keeping my new skills a secret but I guessed if the Adventure Society gave me the class they also had the ability to look at it.

“You’re only a level 9?” He asked, looking between me and the card. “You’re weak as shit,” he said, his voice going up an octave with his surprised outburst. “I know you’re new here but most children are at least level 10.”

Panda burst into raucous laughter as he fell off the table and began rolling on the floor clutching his stomach. I felt my face get hot and I snatched the card from his hand.

Adventure Society ID:

Kaleb Akabane

Level 9

Rank: temp

Class: Archer / Light Skirmisher

It was a simple ID card, not too dissimilar to the kind you’d wear in an office back home. I was relieved as I saw that the class section only gave a vague overview.

I was worried it would tell anyone who saw it all of my fighting tricks. Panda seemed to be of the mind that I should play my cards close to my chest so I’d hoped to be able to follow that advice, for now.

“This card is yours now. Once you add it to your inventory it will bind to your very being so you can never lose it.” Director Lucas began, seemingly recovering from his earlier shock.

“As I’m sure you are aware, you need to complete three quests before attempting the adventurer exam. If you come here tomorrow morning I will assign a mentor to help you with the first one.”

I opened my mouth to object but he raised his hand calmly and continued talking.

“This is mandatory for all new members. We don’t want our new recruits to die on their first quest now do we? You’ll need rest after gaining your class so I’d suggest getting a room at one of the inns.”

I nodded at him. I was tired and I did need to sleep. It also occurred to me that I’d barely drank or eaten anything since I’d arrived in this world. That couldn’t be normal.

“Do adventurers need to eat?” I mumbled, mostly to myself.

“Of course we do, but the higher your rank the less often you need food and water. You’ll also find that with a higher rank comes the added benefit of needing less sleep. Each time you gain a rank your fatigue and hunger are also reset. So you probably haven’t even felt it until now have you?” Lucas answered.

“No, I haven’t.”

“That makes sense considering you’ve gained 9 levels in only a day and a half. I have to say, considering your summoned daemon familiar I was surprised you didn’t pick a caster class.”

“He doesn’t have any magic.” Panda said, still giggling a little as he pulled himself from the floor and looked up at Lucas.

So much for playing my cards close to my chest. I thought irritably, shooting Panda a deadpan glare.

“Ah I see, low mana wouldn’t give you any good magic choices.” Lucas said, rubbing his chin between this thumb and forefinger.

“No I mean he has literally no mana.” Panda replied.

Lucas looked up from his thoughtful pose for a moment as if it took a few seconds for Panda’s words to process.

“Wait what?” He replied in his higher octave again. “Having low mana is relatively common, but to possess no mana at all, that is completely unheard of!”

“It can’t be that rare.” I muttered, becoming increasingly more annoyed with the two of them.

“Well I’ve certainly never heard of a person without any mana. How do you sense the world around you? Mana is integral in assessing the power levels of others at the very minimum. That ability dictates the pecking order of polite society.” He sighed and took a moment before continuing. “Anyway, it does not matter for now. I’m sure you’re exhausted so allow me to give you a parting gift before you leave.”

He handed me a small sphere. I focused on it and a notification appeared.

HUD Upgrade: Map

Install?

Y/N

“It is customary for new adventurers to receive the map upgrade if they don’t already have one.” Lucas explained.

“Thank you.” I said, immediately asserting yes on my HUD.

The map had been added to my option page and I took a cursory glance at it as soon as it appeared. It was probably impolite, but I couldn’t help myself.

A large map of the world appeared on my HUD. It appeared to be a facsimile of earth. There were some differences, but for the most part it looked pretty similar.

Using that similarity as a basis, I looked at the small blue dot on the screen. When I focused on it I realised it was me.

I appeared to be on an island somewhere near where the Bahamas would be on earth. We were pretty close to what would be the Florida Keys and the continent of North America. I wondered if that was the continent that had been mentioned earlier with the strong adventurers on it.

Most of the map appeared as a shadow, outlining islands and continents but with no further information. However, if I focused on the island I was on and zoomed in, some of It was in colour. There was a little tag next to a white dot beside my marker.

It said City of Havar. So the map must update based on the places I’d visited. My own experiences must be the key to filling in the colour. How very game like.

“I take it you’re looking at the map as we speak since your face has gone blank.” Director Lucas chuckled. “You might want to consider upgrading your intelligence if you want to look at your HUD whilst still engaging in conversation. A high intelligence allows you to multitask quite efficiently.

“It’s mostly used to increase mana count and regeneration but as that doesn’t apply to you it probably doesn’t matter.”

I switched off the screen and looked at the director.

“Thanks for the map. I should probably be going now, I’m pretty tired.”

And I have loot boxes to open when I get to the inn. It better be counted as a safe space. I thought.

***

After Kaleb and his Panda daemon left the room, Lucas stayed behind for a moment with his and his god’s thoughts.

So, the outworlder has no mana. That is very interesting, I knew keeping an eye on him would be fruitful.

“Yes, it is strange isn’t it my Lord? That task you gave me to keep him alive might prove harder than I thought.” Lucas replied aloud, pondering his orders.

I’m sure you’ll do fine Lucas. The god replied exasperatedly. If he dies completing basic quests then he was never going to be useful to me anyway. I just want you to protect him for the other powers in the city.

He might be coasting relatively unnoticed for now, but sooner or later outworlders always make their mark. That is how it has always been.

“I suppose you’re right. I’ve already instructed her to keep an eye on him whilst he’s in the city.”

Good.

With that Lucas felt the presence of his god leave him. He fell back into a seat and groaned, placing his head in his hands.

This was going to be a pain in the ass.