The funny thing with skills was the awareness they came with. One moment you didn't know how to do something and the next you had the technical know-how. It was even more pressing when it involved someone who had never seen magic, someone like Gaus.

For ten minutes, Gaus sat there silently staring into the distance and contemplating the existence of magic and its influence on human life. Was life generally better with magic or without it?

Sigh.

To put his dilemma to rest, he decided to try something new. With a mental command, he appeared three meters away from his spot. He didn't feel dizzy or something; it came to him naturally, like he was born with it.

He opened the loopers book.

Loopers book

{Map} {Loopers Interface 0/3} {Inventory 0/15}

He spent some time on the map to find the location of the academy and the many entrances of the academy 'sub-dungeons' before he moved to inventory. When he clicked on it, a small semitransparent window with fifteen grids popped up. All were empty. He could add and retrieve items from the grids. To satisfy his curiosity, he touched a nearby pebble and it disappeared only to appear on the first grid as a miniature version of itself.

That done he moved to the interface.

You can't communicate without adding friends but you can send messages or complaints to the Academy.

Send a message to the Academy? Y/N?

Add friends? Y/N?

Adding friends could wait. He turned to the save library. He had earlier received a notification about 'assessing previous Rewinds'.

Assessment complete.

You've 49 books and 10 skills from previous saves.

CP is fully recharged. Use it to activate books/skills? Y/N?

Could he really copy other people's skills? His heartbeat shot up just by thinking about it. With a trembling hand, he pressed yes for the first skill.

Stealth

Rank: common

A mage is naturally a beacon fire for all to see. As a mage, your presence is intensified by your mana, making your body more distinguishable and conspicuous. This is invaluable for intimidation but it is not needed for discrete jobs. It is often vital to remain hidden from foes. This skill allows you to erase your footsteps, body, and mana.

Cost: 1MP per minute

Activate skill for 1 CP? Y/N?

Mana sense

Rank: common

This is a basic enhancement of the human sense of touch. It gives the ability to perceive mana through the body as heat. The range is determined by the difference in mana Between you and the target, the presence of protective mana devices on the target, and mana taming.

Range up to 6m

Cost : 0.5MP per sec

Activate skill for 1 CP? Y/N?

Swordplay

Rank: common

There are many swordplays across the Multiverse. Some have names and some don't. What they have in common is an increased ability with bladed weapons and better control over the sword they play. Swordplay enhances control over all kinds of swords.

Cost: 0.1MP per minute

Requirement(s): none

Choose the skill? Y/N?

Metalmancer

Aility to shape steel.

Rank: Rare 1

Requirements: none

Turn a minimum of 50g of any metal to any shape.

Cost: 1MP per 50g

Choose the skill? Y/N?

Iron sand

Convert mana to sand and sand to iron.

Requirement: earth spirit immortal or a contract

NB: You haven't reached the requirements.

Raging Tiger

Channel mana into your fist to temporarily enhance your speed and strength.

Requirement: strength 30, constitution 30.

NB: You haven't reached the requirements.

Blader

Rank: Rare 2

Convert mana to a quality steel sword.

Requirement(s): none

This skill allows you to create swords of choice. Quality depends on the mana used and the size of the sword.

-created blades give feedback from attacks

Cost: up to 10MP

Choose the skill? Y/N?

Fireball

Rank: common

Convert mana to fire.

Requirement(s) : lightning spirit immortal or a contract.

NB: you haven't reached the requirements. 

Lightning bolt

Rank: common

Convert mana to lightning.

Requirement(s) : lightning spirit immortal or a contract

NB: you haven't reached the necessary requirements for this skill and thus you can't use it.

Skywalk

Rank: common

Skywalking allows you to walk on air with the necessary physique. Press against air resistance to gain the necessary physique. Air is the most abundant of matter and it's now your opponent. To learn how to skywalk you must master the ten levels of air resistance.

Cost: 1MP per minute

Activate skill for 1 CP? Y/N?

Ten skills copied effortlessly without the consent or the knowledge of the users. Gaus heaved a sigh of relief. He might have been defenseless before but not anymore.

Are you sure you want to select the following skills:

Stealth?

Mana sense?

Skywalk?

Blader?

Metalmancer? Y/N?

Swordplay?

Y/N?

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

The choice made is irreversible.

He waited for ten minutes every time he activated a skill to recharge his CP before he could activate the next skill.

Skill book

{Loopers book} {save library} {blink} {stealth} {mana sense} {skywalk} {blader} {metalmancer} {swordplay}

Exp waiting to be assigned: 0

Stealth lvl 1/20 (0/100)

Mana sense lvl 1/20 (0/100)

Skywalk lvl 1/20 (0/100)

Blader lvl 1/30 (0/100)

Metalmancer lvl 1/30 (0/100)

Swordplay lvl 1/20 (0/100)

Save library lvl 1/100 (0/100)

Skill ranks were ordinary, common, rare 1 to 5, and finally archaic 1 to 3. Ordinary skills could only level up to level 10. Common could level up to level 20. Rare could level up to level 70: rare 1 to level 30, rare 2 to level 40, rare 3 to level 50, rare 4 to level 60, and rare 5 to level 70. Archaic could level up to level 100: archaic 1 to level 80, archaic 2 to level 90, and archaic 3 to level 100.

In retrospect, he had probably learned stealth from either the policemen, the two wood clones tailing him, or Tyren. They were the three people who could sneak up on him without him realizing. Mana sense could be anyone, but he suspected either XM9999, Tyren, or the clones. Swordplay was obviously XM9999; he was the only person who had used a sword against him. Blader should be from the arena, specifically from the woman who won block E battle royal. But she didn't use it against him, he was just standing close by when she used it. Probably, the copied skill didn't have to be used directly against him, he could copy it by just being close enough to the caster. That would explain the fireball, the iron sand, the metalmancer, and the lightning bolt. He vividly remembered some people using these attacks from the arena. What he didn't know was the extent of the skills he could copy. Were there any limitations? A question for another day.

For 10MP, a double-edged, short sword appeared in his hand. It was heavy but it felt right in his hand. When he swung it sideways it came naturally despite it being the first time he wielded any sword.

Ordinary sword

Wt: 1kg

Purified to 1%

Sword is connected to your Mana reserve and hence it can give feedback on attacks.

Ordinary? He shook his head as nothing sounded ordinary about it.

He slashed the ground in front of him.

The target is at least 94.3% harder than the sword used on it. It would be nigh impossible to create an opening.

Probability of success .00012%

No weak spot identified.

Feedback, huh?

He channeled 1MP to the skill. What he got was the same sword but dull on both edges and much lighter.

Ordinary sword

Wt: 0.1kg

Purified to 0.1%

Sword is connected to your Mana reserve and hence it can give feedback on attacks and you will have an increased ability with it.

In other words, he couldn't channel less mana and expect the same results.

He sent both swords to his inventory.

Inventory: 0/15

He frowned. Shouldn't that be 2/15?

Do you want to retrieve items 2 & 3? Y/N?

He pressed yes and two swords appeared in his hands. Apparently, even the combined weight of the two swords and the pebble didn't register as a slot.

Good.

He retrieved the smaller sword and used metalmancer to turn it (or at least half of it) into a spear, creating something of a sword-spear abomination - the hilt and the first half of the shaft had turned into a thin spear while the rest of it remained the same. Metalmancer could shape steel into any shape but the weight had to be less than 50g. However, the sword was 100g, hence only half of it was shaped.

Both blader and metalmancer were invaluable skills and even more so since they complemented each other. With high enough levels he could turn his swords into any weapons.

Another thing was how easily he could wield the swords. He suspected it was from the so-called 'feedback' from blader, but it could also be from swordplay. He needed an actual opponent to confirm it.

Next was stealth. When he clicked on it he saw:

Stealth lvl 1

Muffle sound? Y/N?

Become invisible? Y/N?

Hide mana? Y/N?

He pressed yes.

Stealth lvl 1

Footsteps and any sounds from you have been muffled by 3%.

1% invisibility cloak activated.

Mana presence suppressed by 0.3%.

Now, that was unexpected.

Next was the skywalk. He must have gotten it from La Magia when doctor Arna trained him.

Activate skywalking? Y/N?

He pressed yes.

Skywalking level 1 has been activated around you.

The air is now your opponent.

The air solidified instantly. To move he needed to press against the sudden resistance of the atmosphere. He pressed against the air resistance as if he was pushing against a wall.

+1 speed

He tried to jump and he was rewarded.

+1 strength

Even when he couldn't move anymore and the pressure crushed down on him, he was rewarded again.

+1 constitution

He turned off the skill to breathe some air and to clean the blood that had dripped from his nose. Then he went over it again.

Skywalking level 1 has been activated around you.

The air is now your opponent.

He did it again and again recklessly until he received:

You've reached the limit of level 1.

He opened his physique.

Physique

Speed: 11

Strength: 13

Constitution: 11

Could he retain the changes when the loop reset? Earlier when he tried it failed, but he didn't have the skill book then.

As of now, he was armed.

One final thing was... a gun. Firearms were the most powerful and destructive weapons on Earth, any earthling would try to recreate them. The problem was Gaus didn't know much about guns besides their general structure and that they were used to fire a bullet at a speed that could punch a hole in any bone, no matter how sturdy.

Let's see, a pistol would have a grip, a trigger, and a... He shook his head as he realized it didn't matter. He could just create his own type of gun, he just needed a shell strong enough to fire a bullet at a high speed, that's all. It would take some time and resources but he would do it. With a gun strapped to his waist, no looper, temporary or permanent, could control his life.

Every idea needed a starting point. His starting point was...

He created a hundred-gram sword using blader and he used metalmancer to turn it into a small metal projectile that looked just a normal bullet. A bullet might be small but it was a start. One day, he would be strong enough to mold a whole pistol.

He retested the skills one more time, careful not to exhaust his mana reserve. In the morning, he went to the library to see the library receptionist who was earlier accused of destroying the police headquarters - Minorita. The same woman (or at least her namesake) was also accused of being part of the loop by XM0033. According to the temporary looper, she was a relic from the first civilization of the time loop.

"Hey." Gaus greeted.

"Hey." She said without looking at him.

The same old meany...

She didn't look like a looper, but that could be because she was good at acting. Even he wouldn't have been caught by Tyren if he'd known that the city was filled with loopers. He took note of her posture, hairstyle, and the number of times she blinked in a minute. Later on, he would use this information to reassess her. Anyone could maintain a constant daily schedule, but what they couldn't do was reenact the same minute details from a previous day every day. Some things were bound to differ.

Now that he thought about it, it was a miracle that he survived this long. Any looper could have picked him up from the gambling shop or any other of the several places he'd been while gallivanting around.

His next destination was the academy. Being a registered looper in the academy would help in several ways. One, it would eliminate the risk of being caught by another Tyren because one way or another he would slip up and someone would see him. Two, the academy would teach him how to become a looper - skills which he couldn't get otherwise would be available to him there. Three, he got to live with other loopers and know how it felt to be looper, at least that would kill the boredom looming over him. Four, it could be a way to shield himself from Tyren if the latter thought he had been in the academy even before their meeting. Honestly, that's a big if. Of course, running away from the academy wouldn't prevent Tyren from causing problems for him there, so he just decided to take his chances and eat from the lion's den. Something about the benefits outweighing the risks.

The map led him to a small apartment on the outskirts of the city. He knocked only once and the door opened.

"Who are you and what do you want?" She asked with a befitting girly tone. Gaus just couldn't help rolling his eyes at the short figure in front of him. She was dark and pretty with an unhappy face for a girl of her age.

"I'm XM0000." He finally said

She scrutinized him for several seconds before she let him in.

A small corridor led to a sizeable parlor.

"There," she pointed at the first door on the left, "take note of it because if you were to accidentally enter a wrong door..." She smiled wickedly, leaving the rest hanging.

"Thank you." He said sarcastically.

"Go on." She said when he didn't start moving toward the door.

Gaus pushed the door open and stepped inside.

You've entered a blessed dungeon.

Gaus frowned as a blinding flash hit his eyes.

A second later, he was standing at the front gate. His frown deepened. Just what the hell was going? He was supposed to be in the academy, not in some dungeon.

"Welcome to LA," the gate said, "letting him inside."

Yes, the crappy, wooden gate grew mouth and spoke.

For the first time, Gaus realized why he needed sunglasses. The sun was literally a meters away from the ground. It might not be an actual sun, gauging from the heat, but it was blinding. Anyone would need sunglasses. Forget about the sun, the buildings were actually practically alive, announcing their 'dear' names and inviting every passerby to come to them. It was so disorienting that Gaus spent three hours before he reached the initiate block which was separated from the main campus by an encircling wall. According to one initiate, the wall was to ward off monsters from the dungeon, and it was necessary because initiates were too weak to protect themselves.

Dorm 4, room 66 on the second floor. It was a real pain finding it out. He finally understood why XM0033 decided to teleport him there.

The room wasn't locked and the keys were on the bed, just like yesterday. He collected his uniform and sunglasses from the block admin before leaving for class.

Now he was in front of the class. His map was really helpful in bringing him there, but he still had to deal with being late.

11:12 AM

He stepped into the classroom. A blindfolded boy sat on a chair in front of the class, facing the board. A girl stood by his side and an older man opposite him.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned around to face Gaus.

"Here's a latecomer." The older man said. Gaus supposed he was the teacher.

"What's your name, latecomer?"

"I'm Gaus Lake."

"You're welcome. Please, don't be late again."

Gaus nodded and proceeded to an empty seat at the back of the class amid the scrutiny of his new classmates. After he was seated, the teacher decided to introduce himself and the class.

"We've had introductions yesterday, but since this is your first time we'll just take you around." The teacher said, "I'm XM1002, but call me Linc." He pointed at the girl beside the blindfolded boy. "This is the class representative, noble Antelina. This one," he pointed at the blindfolded boy, "is Jordan. We don't have time to reintroduce the remaining twenty members of the class but you'll have a lot of time to socialize. Now," he turned to the desk behind him, put his hand inside a red bag that had been lying there innocently, and retrieved a... stone, a small tablet engraved with runes, "let's carry on." He aimed at the boy's head and threw the tablet.

Pop.

"Aaargh.." the boy screamed as the stone hit his forehead. The class laughed.

"These are charged tablets," the teacher explained, casting a meaningful glance at Gaus, "you must be able to sense them if you want to stay in this class. Next."

Another boy came forward. Antelina untied the blindfold from Jordan and put it on the newcomer. Once he sat, the teacher started throwing stones at him. He dodged four while six hit him.

"Failed."

Another came forward and it was the same 'failed', again and again until nearly all the class had tried it. The last five students dodged more than six each and they got 'good'.

The teacher turned to him. "It's your turn, Gaus."

Antelina put the blindfold on him and directed him to sit on the chair.

"I'll throw ten mana charged tablets at you. You must dodge at least five to pass. Its training is solely designed to help you 'learn' mana sense."

Mana sense? I think I have that.

Mana sense activated.

1MP per minute.

Suddenly, twenty-three beacons lit up around him with several other much smaller beacons clustered just behind the teacher. A beacon flew toward him and passed harmlessly by the left side of his head. Another flew to the right. Two more to the right and then one flew directly at his forehead. He dodged to the right. Another came from the right and he moved his head to the left side. Just like that, the beacons kept coming and he kept dodging them.

***

Noble Antelina

Noble houses from the fifth world, northern hemisphere hid their surname and just used Noble instead. It was dumb, really dumb, and Antelina didn't like it the least bit. But somehow she registered as 'Noble'. She had been in LA for five months now and all the emotional ramifications of the loop on her had already waned off. It was time to become the best and surpass everyone just like how she always did.

Initially, she thought she was lucky because her older brother was supposed to represent the family in the pilgrimage this year, but he got sick and she took his place. But now that she thought about it it wasn't luck, not really. It was her superior skills and insane affinity for mind magic. That was why she was admitted. A temporary looper once told her that if she wasn't starting the loop in Fydeba The Master wouldn't have chosen her, but that was a lie. The Master could have chosen her even if she started the loop on the First World because she was the best.

She had been proving to everyone that she was the best over and over again. Today, she would do it again and prove to the entirety of the looping world that she was the best.

Here he comes... She clenched her fist as the supposed prodigy walked into the class. The upper echelon had apparently vouched for this person. They said he was promoted to their class after spending just one day in the academy. Some even said he was as powerful as a temporary looper. She would challenge him to a fight. Once she won she would be regarded as the only prodigy.

The person in question was dressed in the same uniform as the rest of the class. He looked simple, ordinary even. He didn't smell like nobility and his eyes didn't carry the peculiar arrogance of the greater houses.

"I'm Gaus Lake." He introduced himself.

Lake?

Okay, he wasn't a noble since there wasn't any noble house with that name in all of the multiverse, but who was he? She frowned as she suddenly realized she'd been asking the wrong questions. The important thing was to defeat him, it mattered little who he was.

"I'll throw ten mana charged tablets at you. You must dodge at least five to pass." Mister Linc told him before he threw the mana-charged tablets.

She set a record by dodging 28 on her first try. No temporary looper could dodge as much.

1, 2, 3... She counted in her mind as he dodged.

10, 11, 12... Anyone could do that.

15, 16, 17... Huh? That's kinda impressive for a commoner.

20, 21, 22... ...

25, 26, 27, 28... You've got to be kidding me.

30, 31, 32, 33, 34... He's cheating. He must be.

"Sir, he's cheating." She reported him to the teacher.

The teacher stopped and turned to her with a questioning look.

"He is, I'm sure of it."

"How do you suppose he is doing that?" The teacher asked.

"Er... It must be the blindfold. Let's change it."

Several of her classmates nodded in agreement.

"Well, if you say so, but..."

He was interrupted by two people walking into the class. One was an older man and the other was just an adolescent girl with dark green hair.

"Good morning, Linc," the older man greeted the teacher, "this is the new student you were informed of earlier. She started yesterday but her affinity and skills have far surpassed that of class 1. The upper echelon has agreed to promote her to this class. I hope you will welcome her."

Linc frowned at the man. "There's only one transfer student, right?"

The man nodded. "Just one."

Linc slowly turned to Gaus who was still sitting, blindfolded. "Then who the hell is this boy?"