Chapter 6
Loot and Skills
----------------------------------------
With heavy clouds hanging overhead, I awoke to the sounds of rain pitter-pattering after taking my much-needed sleep for what felt like eons of exhaustion. My body still looks like a zombie, but I feel better than when I was immobile and dead. Well, I am still considered dead, but it's undead now. Jokes aside, I feel better overall considering my body's state, and it feels even better to be able to move my arms and legs again.
Finally getting to think more about my resurrection into this world, I feel my chest start to warm up. The childish wonder I used to have is once more being lit aflame, making me excited about seeing this new universe I'm in. What races are there? What new foods would I be able to eat? New scenery, animals, plants, and all sorts of stuff that is mine to explore now. Anyone would be eager to at least explore a world they've been thrown into.
I realize now that I have essentially been reborn as a walking dead. I chuckled at the thought. Who knew that Callum Hurst Foster would have risen from the pits of hell to another world of swords and magic? Just the idea of it is already something only an insane person would say.
Examining my current state, I noticed how some of the eaten parts of my body look like they healed a little bit. But what surprised me was how my opened stomach looked healed up through my battered sweatshirt. There’s still that scar left over from the pecking of Satan’s hellspawn, but considering the sight of my body before I got Frankensteined, this looks better.
I guess that reaper really did a good job stitching me up to shape. I should thank them when I get a chance. I thought to myself, a bit sorry for the problem I and my patron god caused the poor fella.
With another scan of my body, I started studying my motor skills. Moving my arms feels natural, but the sight of them still mangled is a bit distressing. Next, I opened and closed my hands, and it felt like what it used to be when I was still alive. Moving on, I tried wiggling my feet and toes. Emphasis on the word ‘tried’ because when I did, it felt like my whole foot was under a cast, making mobility down there a bit strained. But that’s about it. The only different thing is the constant hunger I keep feeling whenever I try to move at all, which is concerning, but I've been through the worst.
However, before I got to my feet and started stretching my weary bones, a chime sounded out in my head and a screen pop-up appeared before my eyeless sockets.
Congratulations! You have completed a quest!
You've gained a (Simple Tunic), a (Common Sword), and 10 copper
May adventure await you, dear traveler!
Wait, what?
With confusion still written all over my face, the screen disappeared and the clatter of metal threw me out of my stupor. Looking down, I saw what looked like a short sword made with a simple leather handle and lackluster design. To its right is a clean beige clothing that is neatly folded, and is what looks like to be my size. To the sword's left is a small cloth pouch that is neatly bundled up with a small rope.
Picking up the sword first, I found that my hands perfectly fit the hilt of it, making it comfortable to the touch and makes it easier to grip. Doing a couple of practice swings, which would look amateurish to any outsider in this world, I found myself in what felt like a trance. A couple of swings later, I finally set the sword aside on the tree I slept under and picked up the tunic on the ground.
Inspecting the cloth first, It felt like I was holding a pretty good quality shirt. The fabric is silky smooth but still firm to the touch, making it hard to stretch out.
Getting my fill on the texture of the tunic, I took off my tattered checkered jacket and hole-riddled sweatshirt and put the tunic over myself, but not before gawking at how my form looked a bit sturdier than before. Is it just me, or do I look much more bulkier than when I was back on Earth? Thinking more about how this system could change my body is just going to lead me to nowhere so I'll let future me handle that.
The feeling of the clothing was amazing, but what shocked me more was how perfectly the tunic fitted me. Too perfect, actually. But I guess that’s just what I should expect whenever I finish my quests from now on.
Speaking of quests, I opened my status screen thinking of the word in my head. Looking at it, I noticed how most of my stats have changed since before I was tortured by my now-reaper butler.
Status Condition: Alive Personal Information
Name:
Age:
Race:
Class:
Level:
Callum Hurst Foster
25 (October 12, 1997)
Undead Revenant
N/A
1
Quests There are no ongoing quests in your quest bar Resources
Health (Rotun):
Stamina:
Mana:
39/47
32/52
18/18
Title
Permanent:
Temporary:
Special:
Transmigrator, Messenger of Death, Reborn
N/A
Defier of Death, Rise from the Dead
Attributes
Strength:
Dexterity:
Endurance:
Vitality:
Intelligence:
Wisdom:
Charisma:
Unspent Points:
17
15
23 (+25%)
14 (+45%)
8
18 (+5%)
21
12
Skills
Ceremony I Lvl 1, Dark Showl I Lvl 1, Death's Shadow I Lvl 1, Enhanced Senses II Lvl 5, Fortitude I Lvl 8, General Skills I Lvl 1, Iefir's Quest System I, Intimidate I Lvl 1, Inventory I Lvl 1, Mana Manipulation I Lvl 1, Othim's Myriad Tongues I Lvl 1, Pain Tolerance I Lvl 7, Passive Regeneration I Lvl 1, Soul Fortress II Lvl 1, Undeath's Oculus I Lvl 1
So it really was that skill, and by that skill, I mean the [Iefir Quest System] skill. I guess I couldn't see it because I was dead before, but now that I'm alive again, the skill works, I guess? It has its section in my status screen now, but there aren't any labeled there right now.
Hmm, I still don't have a hang of this whole system thing. It wasn't there back on Earth, so it's going to take a bit of getting used to. If it was, there wouldn't just be two world wars that'd happen there, it's just human to fear something that they don't know, and most of the time it would be others of their kind that they'd fear.
What am I even thinking about? I'm not human anymore, there's no point in dwelling on the past.
Examining my status more thoroughly, it seems that I've gained two new titles and some skills. Not only that, but my condition has gone from deceased to alive, which just cements that I really am a living person now. My race has also turned from Not Available to Undead Revenant, and my resources section isn't all zero anymore. And I even have mana now!
Damn, I guess that saying "no pain, no gain" really does work wonders in this world.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Putting my attention on my title list, I started with one of the permanent ones.
Reborn
(Epic)
Defy the heavens and walk the path of life once again.
The holder gains a 40% increase in vitality and a 20% increase in endurance
I see, that's why I've got more health and stamina than before. It's also an increase by percentage, meaning that It'll scale up when I get more points on those attributes. Isn't this a little powerful now that I think about it? Having a 40% increase in my vitality would make it harder for me to die. Not only that, but the 20% increase in endurance would mean that it'll take a long time for me to get exhausted. That doesn't even take into account how my last percentage bonus adds up to this title, adding 5% more to those stats.
Aren't I turning into a tank now? Well, more accurately, an undead tank.
Well, I guess having more health and stamina would mean that my survivability just got higher. But that's not taking into consideration the monsters that I'll be meeting in this world. I mean, this is a world of magic, so a dragon or a demon wouldn't be tales of myths anymore, right?
Shaking my head to get rid of the possible dangers that I'd encounter later on, I moved on and looked to my second title in the special category.
Rise from the Dead
(Unique)
Stand against death himself and resist his eternal embrace.
Gives the title holder the skill [Intimidate I]
Gives the title holder the skill [Passive Regeneration I]
Gives the title holder the skill [Mana Manipulation I]
The holder gains resistance against the Frightened condition
Disregarding the part where I stood against death since I definitely asked for death to come and take my soul several times, I read over the benefits of the special title. And it seems like it's one hell of a title that I've once again painfully gained.
So this is why some of my injuries have kind of healed a bit. But that doesn't really add up to how my opened stomach healed overnight considering that my peck and bite marks are still there. Unless the Reaper Butler really did patch me up. Maybe I'll put in a good word for Thellius whenever he magically shows up again.
Anyways, The resistance against being frightened is something I can get on with. There are bound to be some monsters that would scare the shit out of me in this world, so being resistant to those is gonna do me a lot of good. Not only that but if the situation calls for it, I wouldn't be freezing up in fear when something horrifying comes my way, making the chances of me surviving all the more likely.
Nodding to myself and the benefit of not getting scared 'till I piss my pants, I looked over the skills the title gave me.
Intimidate I
(Rare)
Suppress those who dare to challenge you by your mere presence alone.
Lets the user of the skill spread their aura and impose it on another creature. The creature under the influence of this skill gains the Frightened condition and is afraid of you.
Passive Regeneration I
(Epic)
The body is but a vessel of your soul, a temporary existence to the eyes of the heavens.
Lets the user of the skill passively regenerate any wound or injuries on their body at the cost of halting their mana regeneration.
Mana Manipulation I
(Uncommon)
The elements are but mere tools for you to shape the world.
Lets the user of the skill manipulate the mana surrounding them.
With the name of the skills alone, I got the whole idea of what it could do, and it seemed that I was mostly right about them. The only thing that I didn't account for is the part where I don't regenerate mana when I am passively healing.
Isn't that kind of inconvenient? If the skill isn't a passive skill but an active one, then it might not be a problem, but entirely stopping my regeneration of mana whenever I get a paper cut is just a major flaw of the skill. Does that mean that I'll have to wait for all of my wounds to heal before I get more mana? What if I was in a dire situation and I needed to use a skill to get away, only for it not to work because I had a bruise I needed to heal?
Sighing at the thought, I put the problem aside for now and looked to the more exciting skill that I've got.
So, [Mana Manipulation I] huh? Isn't this every kid's dream? To wield magic? Anyone would get excited at the notion of it, and I've tried doing some magic back on Earth by using cards. Well, magic on Earth is more on perspective than anything, but it's still entertaining to watch a guy pull out a rabbit from their oversized top hat.
Getting giddy after seeing the description of the skill, I decided to try out the skill there and then.
I straightened my posture and closed my eyelids. Focusing on the sensations in my body, I tried calling over the skill in my head. A few moments later, I could feel something cold pulse out of my chest, sending my body into a shiver. The coldness spread toward my extremities and circulated all over my body. The feeling is akin to when you eat something cold and you feel that coldness sits upon your stomach on a hot day. However, this cold circulating in my body is different. It isn't the kind of cold that makes one's body uncomfortable. If anything, it feels comfortable, like a cold pillow on a hot summer day.
I basked in the feeling for minutes until I felt my head roar in pain, sending me out of my trance and that comfortable cold.
Even though I've gained a lot of levels of my tolerance skills to the point that all of them have reached tier two, the sudden headache I'm experiencing now is still painful. Clutching my head for a few more minutes, the pain subsided and left my body all tingly and a bit numb
"What the hell was that?" I thought out loud. My voice sounded lower-pitched than I expected.
"That, Sir Callum is the side effect of mana depletion." A deep voice replied.
Flinching at the sudden company, I quickly swiveled to look at the man speaking to me, making me stumble a bit at the sudden motion.
The rain has stopped in the middle of my trance, and some rays of sunlight is streaking through the tree's canopies, giving me a full view of the stranger in front of me.
"I suggest that you must rest a bit more, Sir Callum."
Looking at my new arrival, I shuffled near the tree with my newly gained short sword resting against it. The man is wearing a formal suit and a bowtie, his hands covered by white gloves. He wears black slacks that complement his attire, and black shoes that match his look well. His form is a bit unsettling, what with the wisp of shadows coming off of him from time to time. And that's not even talking about his head, which is covered by a dark hood that only shows his white streaks of eyes that dance like a flame. Done examining the man, I replied to his suggestion.
"Sorry...Who are you?"
I don't know why, but I feel like I've met this guy before, but the memory is a bit hazy now that I've gotten my sleep.
The stranger seemed startled at me asking the question. Actually, he seems to be in a bit of turmoil. I could see it in his eyes, literally. His streaks for eyes are wildly moving as if it's under a storm right now.
"Surely you have not forgotten me, death's messenger."
Wait a minute, I don't recall a guy knowing that I'm Thellius's prophet. Unless...
"You're that reaper that Thellius appointed to me...right?" I asked, a bit apprehensive if I was talking to the same reaper that tortured me for days.
"Yes, that is correct. It seems that you have not forgotten, Sir Callum." The reaper applied with a hint of joy in their voice.
"Wow, I mean, I almost didn't recognize you with your voice and new looks. How'd you end up looking and sounding like that anyway?" I asked.
Like really, the last time I knew the guy was when he was but a cloaked figure with bones for hands. The biggest takeaway is the man's voice. The last I heard him, his voice sounded like an eerie whisper you'd hear in a horror movie. Now though, he sounds like Morgan Freeman with a British accent. His tone doesn't give me that sense of dread anymore, if anything it's a bit more soothing to hear.
"The Lord advised that this form would make you feel more comfortable if I were to accompany you with your travels. He said that attendants in your world wear these formal attire to ease the minds of those they serve. It took some time, but I think that this form would be to your liking."
That damn fox of a god. What did you tell your employee when I was getting some shut-eye? He had to go and make the guy expend some effort to change his whole being.
"Was it painful to change your form like that? I remember you having a more imposing voice before." I said with worry evident in my voice.
I swear to the heavens that if that sly old man forced his idea of a butler from my world into this guy, I'd slam him down six feet under.
"The pain was worth it if it would serve you well, Sir Callum." The reaper said with pride.
"I see."
A bit horrified now at the thought of the pain that the poor fella went through, I mentally swore to supplex my patron god the next time I see him.
Is this how people treat their employees in this world? How irresponsible can you be?!
"There is no need to worry about me, Sir Callum. I should say that I am honored to be your attendant as we Reapers must help our lord and his prophet at all times." He said, elegantly bowing towards me.
I stopped him from completing the bow since it just felt wrong for someone to lower themselves for me. I mean, I didn't even do anything that deserves some bowing.
Sighing, I spoke once I saw him raise his head and look at me.
"No, now that I'm your supposed master, I am now responsible for your well-being. If anything, I see you as an employee given to me by our CEO, so you don't have to bow down to show me respect. If you have to show me respect, then just do it with a nod or something. I don't like it when people bow to me for no reason, it's just uncomfortable, you know?"
"Apologies for this one's impudence." The reaper quickly said, once again bowing to me to say sorry now.
Now I just feel guilty, but this just won't do. I thought, mentally sighing at the man before me.
"I just said that you don't have to... never mind." I sighed.
Giving up on the matter, I got back to the topic beforehand.
"So, what's this mana depletion you told me?"
"Mana depletion happens when a creature expends all of their mana reserves. Usually, the creature in question would be given a warning by way of exhaustion. However, it seems that you were so focused that you didn't notice the signs of your mana stores reaching critical levels.
"A normal mage would have been in a coma for a week before regaining consciousness after depleting their mana, but it seems that your tolerance skills have helped you allay that predicament by way of a headache." The Reaper explained.
So that's why I felt like my head was going to explode. I didn't even know that I was using mana when I tried [Mana Manipulation I].
Opening my status for a bit, I looked over to my resources and just like what the Reaper Butler said, my Mana had a whopping zero next to it.
"That's gonna be a problem." I thought out loud.
"How so, Sir Callum?" The reaper asked.
"Well, you see."
I then explained how the skill [Passive Regeneration I] halts my mana regeneration whenever I am healing my body. The skill is useful, don't get me wrong, but a bit of pain doesn't match up to magic. I mean, seeing your body heal with your naked eye is still magical, but what's more magical than summoning fire at the tip of your finger?
"There is no need to worry, Sir Callum. There are other ways to gather mana. If not, every undead would not have been able to live at all for they are creatures of my lord's magic." The Reaper said, putting my mind at ease for a bit.
"Wait, but if I've run out of mana, shouldn't I be a corpse by now?"
He said that undead creatures are made from magic, so wouldn't depleting my mana just lead to me dying? Mana is magic, right?
"Mana is different from magic, Sir Callum. Think of mana as the energy used to power magic. They are tools meant to bend the laws of this world. However, magic uses an algorithm that gives instructions on how the mana should manifest into our world. After the magic has taken effect, mana would not be in the equation anymore since it has served its purpose.
The mana that you have right now is your own. It doesn't affect the magic that keeps you alive and well. I hope that this information has been of use to you, Sir Callum."
I see. I kind of get it. So mana is like gas and magic is the car. Even if the car doesn't have any more gas, I still have the use of driving it to my destination, serving its purpose. It's a little complicated to wrap around my 8 points in intelligence, but I get the gist of it.
"So, I don't have to worry about me emptying my mana."
"Precisely."
"Okay, I kind of get it. But how am I supposed to get more mana if I can't recover it passively?"
"Undead creatures have a way of gaining more mana through the use of a living creature's life force."
"Wait, so I have to kill a creature to get more mana?"
"That is one way of doing it, yes. However, any food containing some mana would also help you with your reserves. Hence why, I have gone out of my way to prepare a meal for you."
With a flick of his wrist, the Reaper pulled out a platter of roasted steak out of nowhere. A fork and a steak knife followed behind and accompanied the plate on his gloved hands. A circular table appeared next, where he then laid the plate and utensils neatly onto.
I stood there a bit stunned at the whole display, but I just couldn't help myself drool at the sight of the juicy steak in front of me.
With my stomach uncontrollably rumbling, I stepped toward him and stumbled a bit when a chair rose from the ground in front of me.
"Have a seat, Sir Callum"
"Can I? I don't even know what I did to get this treatment out of you." I said, still staring at the meat just ahead of me, waiting for someone to take a bite off of its tender insides.
"I am here to serve you, Sir Callum. This kind of treatment is normal in this world." The Reaper replied, bowing his head a bit, and pulled the seat for me to sit on.
Taking the seat, I couldn't help but tear into the steak in front of me. I don't even know how long I haven't had a good meal, but this meat tastes like premium wagyu beef that just melts in your mouth.
Reveling at the delicious food and the forest scenery before me, I started to feel a bit blessed that I get to experience this world now that I have been reborn.
"This is bliss."