As I strolled down the sidewalk, the gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of lavender, offering a fleeting moment of tranquility on an otherwise chaotic day. The world seemed to slow down, allowing me to escape the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind.
But that calm was quickly interrupted as my thoughts turned to the 100 Stat Points I had earned from surviving the brutal duel against Mason. The memory of that fight—the adrenaline, the sheer determination it took to come out alive—lingered with me.
Curiosity tugged at me. How could these points further enhance my abilities?
"System, show me my status."
The familiar screen materialized before me:
INFO Name: Dominic Eñerforte
Age: 15
Title: None STATS Strength: 180.5 (D-)
Endurance: 192.5 (D-)
Agility: 183.5 (D-)
Speed: 194.5 (D-)
Mana: 0 (F)
Luck: 402 (C+)
Instinct: 747 (A+)
Charisma: 362 (C)
Stat Points: 100 MANUAL ARTS Basic Gun Arts (D+) – Beginner (97%)
Basic Gun Arts encompass various fundamental firearms combat techniques, from ranged shooting to close-quarter combat. Mastery of this art requires physical dexterity and a deep understanding of firearms, maintenance, bullet types, and shooting physics.
A slight smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I reviewed my stats. Slowly but surely, I was growing stronger. My progress in 'Basic Gun Arts' was especially gratifying, nearing completion at 97%. I wondered if, once it reached 100%, my skills with firearms would see a noticeable leap.
That was certainly something to look forward to.
With renewed purpose, I focused on the task at hand. The newly acquired points burned a hole in my pocket, and it was time to put them to good use.
"System, distribute 25 points each to Strength, Endurance, Agility, and Speed."
Strength: 180.5 > 205.5 (D)
Endurance: 192.5 > 217.5 (D)
Agility: 183.5 > 208.5 (D)
Speed: 194.5 > 219.5 (D)
As the points were assigned, an immediate change swept over me. My body felt lighter and more responsive like I had shed invisible weights. I finally broke into the [D] rank—a significant milestone in my journey.
One more push and I would reach [D+] rank and unlock a new system update. Encouraged by the tangible improvement, I continued my walk with heightened anticipation.
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Dominic's feet carried him through the familiar gates of his middle school, his mind preoccupied with the routine that had become second nature. His thoughts flickered to Arthur.
'Arthur might be behind me... now!'
As usual, he turned quickly, expecting to see Arthur ready to drape an arm around his shoulders in their customary greeting. But today, there was only space behind him.
A strange emptiness settled in his chest. Over the past week since his arrival in Sylvestria, Dominic had grown accustomed to Arthur's spontaneous displays of friendship. On days when he least expected it, Arthur would appear out of nowhere, his presence a reassuring constant in Dominic's new, unpredictable life.
Yet, on days like today, when he anticipated these moments, Arthur seemed to vanish.
"Haa..." Dominic sighed deeply and resumed his path.
As he walked through the schoolyard, he became acutely aware of the weight of stares and the murmur of whispers trailing him. It wasn't new, but today, it felt different.
A pang of loneliness struck him, unfamiliar and unsettling. His hand instinctively touched his chest as if trying to understand the source of this odd sensation.
Dominic had been a loner in his previous life, and his socio-economic status isolated him from his peers. He was accustomed to solitude, to being judged and marginalized. But in this new world, the absence of Arthur's friendly gestures left him feeling unexpectedly... alone.
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'Is it because of my body reacting this way?' he wondered.
Logically, it made no sense to feel this sad. After all, he had only known Arthur for a week. But his emotions seemed to betray his logic. Despite occupying Dominic's body and lacking his memories, his emotions reacted as though they were deeply intertwined with experiences he couldn't recall.
It was a puzzling realization.
Dominic understood that the body and mind could hold memories and habits, responding to situations based on past experiences and relationships, even if the conscious mind couldn't grasp them. This connection to Arthur felt deeper than mere acquaintance; it was as though his body remembered a friendship his mind had yet to comprehend fully.
As he mulled over these thoughts, Dominic continued walking through the school corridors, feeling his friend's absence more profoundly than ever. The tension within him, born of confusion and a creeping sense of isolation, grew with each step.
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Dominic slowly opened the classroom door, eyes scanning the room until they landed on Arthur. There he was, seated at his desk, one hand propping up his face, intently focused on whatever was displayed on his Commlink. The furrow in his brow and the tight line of his mouth made it clear that he was deep in thought.
'There he is!' Dominic thought.
Dominic's face lit up with a smile at the sight of his friend. He stepped into the classroom and made his way over to Arthur's desk.
"Hey, Arthur," Dominic greeted him, his voice full of warmth.
Arthur jolted at the sound of his name, his eyes snapping up to meet Dominic's. The sudden interruption pulled him out of his thoughts, and he looked taken aback for a moment. As Dominic's face came into focus, a flash of his father's words from the previous night surged through his mind:
-"At this point, that Manaless boy, Dominic, will surpass you again."
Arthur's fists tightened under the desk, and a surge of emotions—jealousy, frustration, and rivalry—rose within him, fueled by his father's harsh words. But as he looked into Dominic's friendly, unsuspecting face, he forced himself to push those feelings aside.
Taking a slow, deliberate breath, Arthur relaxed his fists, trying to smooth the creases of his expression into something more neutral. He mustered a smile, though it felt strained, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly as he struggled to keep it in place. It was a mask, poorly fitted, barely hiding the storm underneath.
"Hey... Doms," Arthur finally replied, his voice steady but lacking its usual enthusiasm.
Unaware of his presence's inner conflict, Dominic nodded and pulled up a chair beside Arthur.
"What were you reading?" he asked, settling in with casual curiosity.
Arthur hesitated, his mind scrambling for a plausible excuse. He hadn't been reading anything; the Commlink had merely been a prop, a barrier to keep others at bay while he wrestled with his thoughts.
"Oh... I was just..." Arthur faltered, searching for anything to say to steer the conversation away from his turmoil.
"Just?" Dominic prompted, leaning in slightly, an encouraging smile on his face.
"I was just reading some web novels," Arthur finally settled on a harmless lie.
It was easier than admitting that he had been consumed by doubts and fears stemming from his father's relentless expectations.
"Web novels? What's the title?"
Dominic's tone was light and friendly, and his interest was genuine. The mention of web novels piqued his curiosity, especially since he had read many of them in his previous life. Finding good ones in this new world intrigued him.
Arthur felt a pang of guilt at Dominic's effortless camaraderie. Here was his friend, genuinely interested in ordinary things, unaware of the internal battle raging within Arthur. It made him feel both grateful and guilty—grateful for Dominic's friendship and guilty for the envy and bitterness he harbored.
"Yeah, I'll send you the names later," Arthur replied, trying to stabilize his voice. "They're quite engaging."
Dominic smiled, clearly pleased. "Cool, I look forward to it."
Before the conversation could continue, a new voice cut through the air. "Greetings, Dominic and… Arthur."
Both boys turned to see Lumi standing there, her expression as impassive as ever, betraying none of the complexities underneath.
Dominic offered a nod and a polite smile in return. "Hello, Lumi."
Arthur's reaction was less welcoming. A soft grumble escaped him as he muttered, "Looks like someone finally noticed me."
His words were laced with a mixture of sarcasm and genuine annoyance.
Lumi, seemingly unfazed by Arthur's tone, shrugged and sat beside Dominic. Her calm and detached presence added another layer of complexity to the already tense atmosphere.
Arthur's struggle intensified. Not only were his feelings toward Dominic tangled in a web of jealousy and rivalry, stoked by his father's harsh words, but now Lumi—a direct rival and someone he disliked—had joined them. The situation quickly became a test of his ability to maintain composure.
Under the weight of these emotions, Arthur took a deep, silent breath and exhaled slowly, focusing on regaining his calm. He knew he needed to control his emotions, especially in front of Lumi. His pride wouldn't allow him to show weakness or emotional turmoil in her presence.
As Lumi settled in, the dynamic at the table shifted subtly but noticeably. Arthur's jaw tightened at her proximity.
Arthur felt the urge to react, to put up walls, or to lash out. Still, he knew that would solve nothing. He would only shatter the fragile composure he was barely holding together.
He took another deep, almost invisible breath, letting it out slowly, silently coaching himself to remain calm. He adjusted his posture slightly, straightening up as if aligning his spine could help fortify his resolve. With a glance at Dominic, then at Lumi, he prepared himself to engage in the conversation, no matter how much he wished he were elsewhere.
-Poof!
A cloud of white smoke suddenly filled the front of the classroom, and as it cleared, Maurice appeared. His usual dramatic entrance elicited little more than a raised eyebrow from the students who had become accustomed to his antics.
"Okay, class! Let's start Homeroom!" Maurice announced with his usual flair.
The tension in the room eased slightly as the attention shifted away from the trio, giving Arthur a brief reprieve from the emotional tightrope he had been walking. But even as the lesson began, the undercurrents of rivalry, jealousy, and unspoken feelings swirled beneath the surface, waiting for the next moment to rise again.