Leon did not voice his desire that they obtain a bigger boat to the group. He doubted they would appreciate a joke after witnessing a man being eaten by a shark that went extinct millions of years ago and was bigger than a bus.
Leon was now forced by the changing circumstances into treating this absurd situation as reality. He'd been clinging to the idea of it all being some hallucination as a defence mechanism, but with potential life and death on the line it was time to treat this seriously.
The survivors were now regrouping around the man who'd gathered them in the first place though Leon pointedly ignored them. His priorities had shifted and for now they did not include any other humans. First, he observed the environment. The beach was tropical in appearance, though felt temperate in climate. Palm trees lined the forest's edge, though the heat of the sun was tolerable and the humidity far below what Leon would have expected on a tropical island.
It was too little information to go off, though Leon suspected this Tutorial was granting them a concession. The challenge wouldn't be as simple as surviving the environment.
Second, the stat sheet would need to be consulted in depth. Leon refused to go off half cocked, he wouldn't play the game before understanding the rules.
He whispered under his breath, hoping the shocked survivors would be too busy consoling themselves to see that he wasn't really shaken up at all. A little trick he used anytime life hit him with some negative feelings or a bad situation; focus on the here and now, bottle up all your emotions, one day you'll die and they won't be a problem anymore.
"Status"
The sheet was unchanged, save for the level he'd gained in [Inspect].
Leon shifted his attention to each of the main stats, pulling up their descriptions.
"HP- Monitors physical wellbeing- maximum value and regeneration rate are governed by Constitution."
"MP- Monitors mana reserves, maximum value is governed by Intelligence, regeneration rate is governed by Wisdom."
"Power-Governs your might, stamina and potential."
"Speed- Governs your perception, celerity and dexterity."
"Constitution- Governs your toughness, resistances and healing speed."
"Intelligence-Governs your mana power, maximum mana and cognitive ability."
"Wisdom- Governs your mana regeneration, comprehension ability and casting speed."
"Fame- One of two stats visible to all perception skills, Fame is gained from significant actions."
"Infamy-One of two stats visible to all perception skills, Infamy is gained from significant actions."
A lot to take in, though it seemed simple to Leon. Power to hit things, speed to hit them fast, constitution to survive getting hit, intelligence to hit things with magic and wisdom to hit them more often with magic. Fame and Infamy were outliers in the 'hit things' model though he doubted they were used in combat.
Inspect had redeemed itself in his eyes, curious he checked its description to see if anything had changed.
"[Inspect]- the weakest of all perception skills, granted to every sentient being under the care of the System. Level 1/2."
While he'd been investigating his status sheet, the rest of the survivors seemed to have come to a consensus. Their leader was now approaching Leon, one hand outstretched for a handshake, the other tightly gripping a sword identical in appearance to Leon's.
Before the man spoke Leon gave him a once over. Tan with short brown hair, a skin fade haircut alongside a tamed and groomed beard being the most striking features the man had. Lean, but wiry with defined muscle mass. A handsome young guy, in his mid 20's at most, with an easy smile and sparkling green eyes.
"Hey you all right man? That was pretty rough, if you need someone to talk to...well I know it's kinda weird to just open up to someone you've just met, but we're in this together now- we're all in the same boat. Name's Mike, Mike Hamilton."
His hand was still outstretched- Leon shook it just to dispel some of the awkwardness. Going with this group for now was acceptable, safety in numbers, until Leon could figure out how to grow stronger. Though if there was a problem with group cohesion Leon would leave. He knew he could rely on his sword and himself, these people were untested. Unreliable.
For now though, he would play the social game.
"Nice to meet ya Mike, name's Leon. You know how to use that sword of yours?"
Mike seemed slightly disconcerted by Leon's calm response, though he swiftly recovered his composure.
"Uh, no not really, I just picked the sword since it seemed the easiest to use y'know?"
Leon bit back his response. He'd be stuck with these people for a while, he couldn't just go off on a rant about how swords were actually incredibly hard to use effectively compared to spears or axes. At least Mike had picked the sword that was a point in his favour right?
"No shame in that Mike- what's the plan then?"
"Well we need to find a source of running water, Gillian and the rest of the girls want to get off the beach in case that shark comes back. Heading into the forest seems like our best bet unless you have another idea?"
From the way Mike had phrased it, the decision had already been made, Leon would look like a dick if he went against the group. Plus, it wasn't the worst idea.
"No objections from me Mikey, if it's all the same to you I'll walk in front and you guys can follow? I'm pretty decent with a sword."
Mike's smile stretched wider upon hearing Leon's offer- maybe he'd just been nervous the loner was going to challenge his group leader position? Leon filed away the observation- Mike appeared to be more concerned with being in charge than understanding this strange new reality they had been thrown into.
His thinking might have been appropriate for the old world, though Leon doubted it would hold up to this Tutorial.
Mike turned to return to the group, speaking loud enough to be heard by the others.
"Go ahead then, I'll let the rest of the guys know and we'll be right behind you."
His decision to lead the way was based on a simple desire- Leon wanted first crack at any threats waiting in the woods.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Leon didn't wait for the group to follow him as he set off into the trees. The forest shifted rapidly as he walked, palm trees giving way to towering redwoods. It was eerie though, there was a silence here that you didn't get in normal forests, there was no birdsong, no crickets chirping. It was unnerving.
Leon couldn't shake the feeling of unease, even after he stumbled upon a river within minutes of setting off to find a water source. The rest of the group rejoiced, downing tools and drinking from the river while Leon maintained his guard. It was too easy, like someone had placed the river here specifically for them to find.
Once the group sated their thirst they were back to talking again, more arguing it sounded like from the pitch of their voices. Leon didn't get involved. Mike was establishing himself as the group leader, no reason to butt in now. It would also be more than a little awkward, as Leon couldn't name anyone aside from Mike. He resolved to learn their names later, once he'd figured out his personal next steps.
Mike didn't seem to want to move any further in, determined to set up a base camp of some kind next to the river and he'd managed to get the rest of the group onboard. Leon was turning over all the knowledge he'd gathered so far in his head, leaning against a tree a short distance away from the rest.
The tablet had said the island was to fuel their growth, they were given weapons so the logical progression was that the forest should have been filled with monsters. Where were the monsters?
A flash of movement from the corner of his eye broke Leon's concentration. Whirling around to follow the movement, Leon caught a glimpse of what looked like a ball of water rolling behind a tree in the distance.
"Mike, you got a minute?"
The man came running over, detecting the note of panic in Leon's voice.
"Yeah, what's up man?"
Leon pointed to the tree the water ball was hiding behind.
"That tree, something rolled behind it- I'm going to check it out. Keep the group calm, I'll be back in a minute."
"Leon- I get it- you're nervous, but running off alone is the opposite of what we should be doing. Let's get settled in, get a fire going look for something we can eat-"
"Mike, no offence, but I don't need your permission. If there are monsters out there I'm not letting them get the drop on us."
Without waiting for Mike's reply Leon was off, his trainers pounding deep imprints into the dirt as he raced towards the tree the water ball had hidden behind. Reaching it Leon discovered the water ball must have kept on rolling, its path clearly marked by the wet dirt trail it had left.
He followed the sodden dirt track as it led him deeper and deeper into the woods, the trees growing taller and the canopy of leaves thicker until he reached another cave entrance. Something about it seemed wrong and Leon focused on the cave entrance.
"Tutorial Dungeon- Level 1-5, The Slime King's Court."
So the water ball had been a slime? This dungeon was close enough to the group to be a threat, Leon would need to investigate this dungeon to make sure it wasn't a threat.
The rest of the group would be fine while Leon investigated, they had safety in numbers.
Slimes were often the first enemy fought in games, an easy opponent.
All these rationalisations were secondary to Leon- he just wanted to fight, to wield his sword in combat.
He walked into the cave full of confidence. It was knocked out of him when the blue box popped up.
"Entering Dungeon, party size: 1. Dungeon entrance sealed until dungeon completion."
Stuck inside a cave that was full of murderous slimeballs.
Great.
Walking through the cave's tunnel Leon was shocked to see the rugged stone shift to ornate brickwork, covered in ornate golden script. Reaching the end of the tunnel spat him out at the end of a corridor built of the same bricks, the tunnel he'd exited from rapidly vanishing as the brickwork seemed to grow over the hole.
It looked like a castle, high vaulted ceilings, walls covered in artistic depictions of blue slimes fighting against red slimes, stained glass windows depicting a bulbous slime with a golden crown, sun somehow shining through, despite the fact Leon was now underground.
The king slime- this was his court. His castle, and those slimes at the other end of the corridor were in his service.
Leon focused on the slime, willing [Inspect] to give him something to work with.
"Level 3 Blue Slime- The weakest of all slimes in terms of physical might, these slippery creatures can be deadly in packs."
Individually weak, strong in packs. There were only three of them. Hardly a pack. Leon liked the odds.
Sword grasped in a two handed grip, Leon wished he'd been given a longsword instead. Approaching the slimes was a nerve wracking endeavour, one step at a time. Until the closest slime turned to face Leon and began rolling his way. This was unexpected, Leon had assumed they were passive creatures. It was also strange- they were blobs but he could tell it had turned to look at him.
"Oh ho? You're approaching me slime? Come as close as you like then- our battle will shake the heavens and crack the earth!"
The slime was a slow creature, shlorping and oozing along the ground to reach Leon. It was roughly the same size as a cat, or a small dog. Once it was in range Leon sliced the slime in half, the two halves falling to the floor.
Flourishing his blade to cleanse it of the remnant slime, Leon couldn't resist throwing out a cheesy line in honour of his first kill.
"Pathetic, I didn't even have to use 1% of my power."
The slime's corpse took exception to Leon's taunt as the creature's two halves rapidly reformed into a whole. The slime reached Leon while he still shocked from the creature's resurrection and rammed itself into his leg.
"Ow, fuck! That actually hurt- no more fucking around, playtime is over!"
The sword descended, the slime was bisected...only to reform again.
This time Leon spotted the reason- an orb at the centre of the slime, invisible from the outside. The slime may have looked like living water but its body was opaque concealing the core which kept the creature alive.
Leon thrust his sword into the slime not giving it another chance to attack, accurately skewering the core with his blade's point. The slime's body lost all cohesion, collapsing into a puddle on the floor, the cracked core stuck on the sword tip.
A new pop-up, similar to the skill level notifications, it vanished as Leon read it.
"You have slain a Level 3 Blue Slime!"
A sudden hot rush filled Leon's body, starting from the tips of his toes and saturating his body. It felt like he'd just been plunged into a hot bath- pleasant but unexpected. The feeling passed and Leon pulled up his status to investigate any changes.
Name- Leon Knox
Race- [Human]
Grade- [H]
Class- [Classless]
Job-None!
Stat Block:
HP-59/60
MP-0/60
Power- 7
Speed- 7
Constitution- 6
Intelligence-6
Wisdom-5
Fame-0
Infamy-0
Skills:
[Inspect]-Level 1/2
The slime had managed to deal a point of damage but the more interesting change was he now had a class. Though it was [Classless]. A use of [Inspect] revealed more information.
"[Classless]- You have made your first kill and gained mana- however more mana is required to acquire a class."
Well, that was a redundant class- the System could have just left the field blank.
The two remining slimes were making their way towards him, Leon grinned watching their slow progress. Removing the cracked core from the tip of his weapon, Leon thrust his sword into the second slime, then pivoted his waist while pulling back his sword arm and thrust at the third as well.
"You have slain a Level 3 Blue Slime!"
"You have slain a Level 2 Blue Slime!"
Two satisfying cracks rang out and Leon felt another two hot rushes of mana flood his body. This was it. This was what he'd been born for, the thrill of combat.
He couldn't identify the Level 2 slime with his naked eye and while that was concerning Leon figured he could just remember to [Inspect] every enemy going forward, it would help level the skill as well.
Rolling up his tracksuit he inspected his damaged leg- it was bruised, horrifically so. A dull red, covering his shin and turning purple at the edge. Sore but not bad enough to impair his movement. He'd tough it out until, hopefully, his stats would kick in and fix him up.
Having no use for slime goo or their pierced cores and lacking any way to store them, Leon left the drops behind and continued until he reached the corner which led to the next corridor.
Peeking around the corner revealed another trio of slimes in the middle of the corridor, though they were joined by a new slime. A red slime.
[Inspect] activated as Leon scrutinised the creature.
"Level 1 Red Slime- Similar to their blue cousins these slimes are physically weak. Their advantage lies in their greater mana capacity."
Well, that said a lot and also nothing at all. Scanning the other slimes Leon noted their levels.
"Level 3 Blue Slime"
"Level 4 Blue Slime"
"Level 4 Blue Slime"
There was a clear pattern. Two of a higher level per pack and one that was a level lower.
"[Inspect] has reached Level 2!"
Curious to see if Level 2 was as impactful as Level 1 Leon scanned the Blue slime again.
"Level 4 Blue Slime-The weakest of all slimes in terms of physical might, these slippery creatures can be deadly in packs. Their primary method of attack is to break open the enemies flesh, then burrow inside to feast on their innards"
Revolting, Leon was doing the universe a favour killing these monsters. The Red Slime description was updated as well.
"Level 1 Red Slime- Similar to their blue cousins these slimes are physically weak. Their advantage is their greater mana capacity which allows them to utilise spells in combat."
Mage slimes- this would be tricky.