Looking out over the bright, colorful crowd of bustling people, I took a moment to use Observe at random, wanting an average level for Remnant.
Ashton - Lvl. 23
Grayson - Lvl. 21
Daisy - Lvl. 24
Veronica - Lvl. 19
Ivor - Lvl. 27
Looking across a sample of the returns, I for a moment couldn’t believe the results. I mean, if the Beowolf I’d met out there was level three, and the average level is around the twenties, then how the hell do the people ever lose?!
It took me a few minutes of my brain shortcircuiting to realize something. The Crafter class. These people were almost certainly noncombatants, who didn’t have a way to fight back, and didn’t have the Game to manually increase their capabilities with each of their levels. I could only assume the Game was somehow turning their capabilities in whatever they did into the closest level equivalent for me. Unfortunately for me, this meant the level’s people had would mean very different things than my own level. When I become level ten, I’d probably be around as physically capable at the average person, while they’re at twenty. The stat points the game gave me made each of my levels count for more than the regular persons. In fact, I quickly brought up my status screen to see what my earlier fight with the Beowolf had done.
Name: Cato Emrys
Title: None
Race: Human
Class: Fighter 1/50 [79%]
Level: 1
Health: 237/275 (0.11/Sec)
Mana: 150/150 (1.00/Sec)
Str: 11
Dex: 11
Con: 11
Vit: 10
Int: 10
Wis: 10
Cha: 10
Lck: 10
Free Points: 0
I blinked in surprise for a moment, seeing the 79% next to my class. Then again, the Beowolf had been triple my level. While not hard to do at low levels, it still probably made it count for more than usual.
Taking a moment to clear my mind, I felt in my pocket for the lien and gacha token, only to come up dry. It took me a moment to realize what that most likely meant. A grin spread across my face as I thought the word, ‘Inventory’. A moment later, the lien and token were available for me to summon to my hand. I could only grin as I suppressed my desire to dance wildly in joy.
The inventory was one of the Game’s most powerful abilities, and I was just glad I had one. With that knowledge in mind, I quickly set out to find a place to stay for the night, as the sky was darkening quite rapidly.
Walking through the slowly thinning streets, I couldn’t help but feel both awed and overwhelmed. I’d read so many stories about Remnant and wished to see it with my own eyes so many times, and now it was actually happening. I was so absorbed in the sights of the city alone that I almost missed seeing the sign saying, “Sun’s Rest”. I let out a small snort, remembering that Sun would be an actual person, finding it at least a little funny.
I pushed open the door to inside with a faint jingle, I looked around to see a somewhat dimly lit room with a dog faunus standing behind a worn down counter reading. He looked up with a faint look of annoyance before placing a bookmark in the page and closing the book. “Hello, welcome to Sun’s Rest, how can I help you?” He said, the words obviously rehearsed if the bored tone was anything to go by.
I couldn’t help a small smile from crossing my lips at the memories of tired customer service workers crossed my mind, it seemed to be something that was universally true. Walking up to the counter I said, “I was wondering the rates for a room for the night as well as for longer term rates?”
He raised an eyebrow for a moment before responding, “A room for the night will cost 110 lien, but if you book a room for a week or longer than the rate will drop to 85 lien a night.”
I frowned faintly, “Hmm, I’ll take a room for two nights then.” The man nodded before fishing out a key from below the counter. At the same time, I reached into my pocket and summoned the lien into the wallet the guard had given me. I quickly pulled it out and paid for the room, receiving the keys before the man pulled out his book again.
It didn’t take me very long to find my room, up two floors and a few doors down a hall, I entered without a fuss and took a long look around. The room was rather basic, only a bed, dresser with a smaller old tv, and a small one person bathroom adjoined. I let out a long groan as I sat on the bed, the feeling of getting off my feet a glorious one.
I sat there for a few moments, simply enjoying the rest before focusing once more. I debated with myself if I should roll the gacha before deciding to do it the next day. Hopefully I’d be more awake and ready. Besides, I already planned to try and test out the instant dungeon the next day. Glad to be done with the decision, I quickly stripped down and went to sleep, welcoming the quiet and comfort of rest after the immensely long day I’d just had.
Waking up again was surprisingly easy. I was surprised to see my status screen upon waking up, but when the only change was apparently my health rising back to full, I could only guess that it might just pop up when I wake up.
Swiping it away irritably, I rushed through what passed for a morning routine before sitting back on my bed. I sat there for almost a whole minute before shaking off my anxiety and retrieving the gacha token from my inventory. “Well… Here goes, huh?” The token was a small gold ball with a fancy uppercase G on it. Taking a wild guess, I crushed the ball in my hand, the ball seemed to dissolve a moment after I crushed it.
Gacha Item Received!
Gae Bolg [Spear: Mythical] - [Fate Universe]
For a moment, I just stared at the words in disbelief. There was no fucking way I was that lucky. I’d been a bit worried about what weapon to use in the dungeon or for my mastery skill. I’d even been prepared to try and manage it with fisticuffs. And the gacha just hands me an apparently mythical weapon?! I retrieved it from my inventory without a second thought and stared at it in disbelief.
The spear had a wooden shaft, the wood had hundreds of small runes in spiraling patterns all across it and upon a closer look, they had a faint dark glow that could only barely be seen up close. The sturdy wooden shaft led to the bone crossguard and spear head. The spear head was razor sharp with three distinct runes etched into the material, though two of them seemed dim and inactive. While I had no idea what the runes did, I could feel that they were powerful. Almost hesitantly, I used Observe.
Gae Bolg [Spear: Mythical] - [Fate Universe]
Gae Bolg, the spear wielded by the legendary Hound of Ulster, Cú Chulainn. The spear was gifted to the mythical warrior by his mentor, Scáthach. With a shaft of rune-engraved Yew and a spear head carved from the Curruid, the spear possesses great power.
Purpose of Form: Gae Bolg has but one purpose, to pierce. The spear tip cannot be stopped by mundane material or armor, no matter the material or skill in crafting. Magical means can deflect or even stop this weapon, but at greater cost than usual.
Heartseeker: [Locked]
Field of the Fallen: [Locked]
“Holy shit…” I murmured, running my hands along the masterfully crafted weapon. Looking at the names of the two locked abilities, I could only guess that Heartseeker was the causality-reversing attack that causes the spear to pierce the heart of the target and that Field of the Fallen was the ability that allowed the spear to multiply in midair when thrown. Seeing one of three abilities active also made it obvious that the runes on the spearhead corresponded with each ability. While I didn’t have any clue on how to unlock the two other abilities, just the first one was enough to almost make me ecstatic.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
The ability to easily pierce any mundane armor or material? That was an almost incredibly broken ability! I’d just been ready to try and punch an undead to death, but now, with this spear, I could probably bring down undead with a single strike. I didn’t wait another moment, I triggered my general weapon mastery skill with the spear in my hand.
Skill Gained!
[Fighter] Spear Mastery (Novice): You have begun to learn the art of wielding a spear. The basic manuevers and forms are all you can grasp, for now.
+10% Damage with Spears
Almost as soon as the skill changed, so did the way I held the spear. Whereas before I was merely gripping the spear and admiring it’s construction, now I held it and admired it’s ability. The spear was absolutely perfectly balanced, and almost but not quite too light in my hands. I almost scrambled to my feet and began slowly moving through the basic movements and forms that the skill had given me. I could almost feel the spear helping me move faster, more efficiently, just better. Once I was done, I held it out and just marveled at it once more.
Eventually I shook my head and focused once more, slowly accepting the insane luck I’d had in receiving such a weapon. A moment later, I spoke out loud, “ID Create.”
The space in front of me in the room seemed to almost shimmer and then shudder. Right as I began to grow worried, the very air split apart into a shining black portal that swirled with energy. The portal was just big enough for me to pass through and I eyed it warily for a few seconds. Eventually, I steeled my nerves and passed through.
Stepping down onto hard stone, I glanced around quickly. The portal had brought me to a wide, long hall made of roughly-carved stone. There was a faint dampness and mustiness in the air that made me quickly assume that the undead dungeon rightly took place in an underground tomb of some sort. But what took my attention the most, was the animated skeleton standing across the hall from me, and the door that was closed behind it.
Skeleton - Lvl. 1
I watched the skeleton warily for a moment before it seemed to notice me. It’s bones clacked together loudly as it raised the horribly rusted short sword it held in one hand while it’s jaw bone fell open. I firmed my grip on Gae Bolg and carefully walked forward to meet it in the center of the room.
I was about to keep walking as we grew closer when the knowledge imparted on me by the spear mastery skill reminded me that I had a greater reach with the spear. With a clenched jaw, I lunged forward in a long thrust.
A moment later, the skeleton came to a halt as the spear head went straight through the skull with barely any resistance. It was as I retracted the spear and the bones fell into a heap on the ground that I remembered, Gae Bolg could pierce anything, which combined with it’s longer reach would make it beyond easy to kill more unintelligent undead. More than that happy bit of knowledge, what made me smile was the level up notification I’d gotten.
Name: Cato Emrys
Title: None
Race: Human
Class: Fighter 2/50 [7%]
Level: 2
Health: 275/275 (0.11/Sec)
Mana: 150/150 (1.00/Sec)
Str: 11
Dex: 11
Con: 11
Vit: 10
Int: 10
Wis: 10
Cha: 10
Lck: 10
Free Points: 3
My smile widened upon seeing the three new stat points. Looking over the potential places to put them, I frowned. Eventually I decided upon two Dex and one Con. Gae Bolg on it’s own made sure that I wasn’t lacking for the ability to deal damage, so strength was fine where it was for now, and while I did want to increase vitality, I would much prefer that dexterity would help me just not get hit in the first place. So, with a little hesitancy, I allocated my points and entered the next room.
The next room was identical to the first, with the only difference being the two level one skeletons across the room from me. Taking a deep breath I went to meet them. Again, I killed the first one with a simple and quick thrust. Unlike the first skeleton though, this time I quickly backstepped to avoid a swing by the second. The wild swing left the undead wide open however, and I quickly slew it as well.
I brought up my status quickly to see roughly how much the two skeletons had given me, finding my progress to the next level to be at 43% instead of the 7% it had been after reaching level two.
The next few rooms were almost exactly the same, with just increasing numbers of the same skeleton. Luckily, they remained as unintelligent as ever, and I could easily kill one then dodge and kill the now unguarded skeleton that had attacked. There were a few close calls, but I could already tell the difference in my speed, even if it was slight.
After going through a room with over seven level one skeletons, I brought up my status screen once more.
Name: Cato Emrys
Title: None
Race: Human
Class: Fighter 4/50 [65%]
Level: 4
Health: 300/300 (0.11/Sec)
Mana: 150/150 (1.00/Sec)
Str: 11
Dex: 13
Con: 12
Vit: 10
Int: 10
Wis: 10
Cha: 10
Lck: 10
Free Points: 6
I nodded slightly, enjoying the progress I’d made while catching my breath. With a little thought, I quickly point one point in strength and vitality while putting two each into dexterity and constitution. Having recovered from the small bit of exertion, I did a few stretches and a couple short spear forms/ I grinned as I could feel the difference, however faint.
Walking into the next room, I stopped for a moment.
Skeleton - Lvl. 2
There were two level two skeletons waiting for me. As we both walked towards each other, I could see them moving a little faster and they seemed a little more cohesive as well. Despite the difference however, they died just as easily as the level ones. The upgrades to their physical abilities not a match to my own improvements, and their intelligence just as low. I grinned at the sweet, sweet level up notification.
As I cleared the undead dungeon, slowly but surely, the pattern became obvious. The number of skeletons would increase up to seven, before it would fall back down to two, but they would be one level higher.
As I slowly reached the level nine and ten skeletons, I was starting to be glad for the stat points and levels I gained ,because I was relatively certain that these skeletons wouldn’t have any issues dealing with the me from even just the morning.
Eventually, after I’d finished a room with six level ten skeletons, I took a moment to rest and recuperate, having decided mentally that the next room would be the last for the day. As I was taking my break, I brought up my status to admire how it had changed.
Name: Cato Emrys
Title: None
Race: Human
Class: Fighter 16/50 [88%]
Level: 16
Health: 500/500 (0.20/Sec)
Mana: 165/165 (1.20/Sec)
Str: 20
Dex: 25
Con: 20
Vit: 20
Int: 11
Wis: 12
Cha: 10
Lck: 10
Free Points: 0
I was noticeably faster, stronger, and tougher than before. I could feel my speed, strength, and even endurance growing as my level increased. I could admit that it was a little addictive, seeing the instant, quick and obvious rewards for my hard work. Mentally making a note to keep an eye on that feeling, I reaffirmed my grip on Gae Bolg and entered the next room. Immediately, I felt a wave of anxiety crawl up my throat.
Skeleton Mage - Lvl. 10
Skeleton Warrior - Lvl. 10
Skeleton Warrior - Lvl. 10
Skeleton Archer - Lvl. 10
Skeleton - Lvl. 10
Skeleton - Lvl. 10
Skeleton - Lvl. 10
Quest Received: Ambushed!
An undead ambush has surprised you! Can you hold out, or will you fall?!
Objective: Survive the Ambush!
Bonus Objective: Win without taking Damage!
Reward: 1,000 Lien & Leather Armor!
Bonus Reward: [General] Alert Skill!
“Oh shit.”