Scan: This skill cases the user's surroundings and/or allows the user to observe the stats of a particular individual or article.
Anything and everything that serves, or may serve as a means to attain that which the user currently desires, is highlighted.
NOTE: Pre-requisite condition or target must be specified beforehand.
'Talk about convenient...' I inwardly whistled, thankful that I was still able to use the 'System' as they referred to it here, though no other person seemed to possess one as such. The concept was confined to a form of entertainment these humans came up with, called roleplaying games or 'RPGs'
I sighed, Donovan was quite fond of them 'To have died so-' I shook my head in guilt, I would mourn him later, but I had to focus on recovering first 'Status!!'
NAME: ???? RACE: Human AGE: 12 years HEALTH: 5/10 STAMINA: 1/12 TITLE: The Bullied STRENGHT: 3/8 AGILITY: 4/14 SKILLS INTELLIGENCE: 175 CHARM: 5 LUCK: 130 ABILITIES
I had prepared myself, but I still couldn't help but cringe at the sight. My stats were beyond dismal, even worse than before I'd started training to become an Explorer (and I mean way worse)
In addition, the entire screen had become smaller, not to mention the loss of all my hard earned titles 'The Bullied?? Seriously?!' even my name was unspecified, which I figured was probably because of the System's reconfiguration.
On the other hand, Luck and Intelligence had largely remained the same, though I'd lost a couple of points in the latter 'Probably due to the lack of mana' I reasoned.
Mana had a variety of uses, aside from combat, once you had a good enough control over it. You could use the Mana to help heighten your senses, or such as in my case, help you process information at a much faster rate.
'Please be there, please be there, please be there!!' I concentrated on the skills option, it expanded to reveal a list of skills I currently had.
LEVELLABLE
These skills can be improved upon as the user's experience, and/or knowledge regarding the same, increases.
COMBAT
Stealth (Intermediate)
NON-COMBAT
Cooking (Intermediate)
Musician (Advanced)
Dismantle (Beginner)
Lying (Master)
Scan (Beginner)
STATUS
These skills, directly affect the user's stats, their effectiveness cannot be improved.
Vigor
Rampage
Dash
LOCKED
The user does not currently meet the conditions to use these skills.
Riding (Proficient)
Elven art of War (Intermediate)
Disguise (Master)
Swordsman (Intermediate)
Gunslinger (Proficient)
NOTE: In some cases, the name and/or functionality of a particular skill, upon getting unlocked, may change to meet the rules of the current plane.
'Fuck!!' I'd initially thought that only those skills that were mana related would be removed, boy was I wrong, not even a quarter of my skills remained. Thankfully, the skill I was looking for was still there, and it wasn't locked (I think my luck stat came into play there)
'I wonder what abilities I still have??' I wondered somewhat fearfully, I knew that pain resistance was one of them, but as for the others 'Maybe I should che-'
Excessive bleeding... HEALTH -1
'Crap!!' now wasn't the time to be worrying about that!!
'Vigor!! Cost two!!'
Skill activated successfully...
HEALTH -2
STRENGTH +1
STAMINA +1
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I immediately felt strength course through my (Donovan's) body, everything seemed functional 'Okay!! time to get out of-' the world spun around me as I tried to sit up, prompting me to empty the contents of my stomach 'I guess it was a good thing Donovan skipped lunch' I grumbled, as I waited for the nausea to settle.
Vigor was always a handy skill to have 'And it seems to function the same...' I opened up the skill's description just in case.
Vigor: The user sacrifices health in order to momentarily gain strength and stamina. NOTE: Amount gained equals half the amount of health sacrificed.
'Yup, no changes there..' I took in a few deep breaths, while my eyes wandered around the 'Dungeon' I'd thought I was trapped in.
Towards my right was, what looked like a flight of stairs, presumably leading into the villa above. I was currently in an underground room called the 'cellar' which, save for some a solitary wine rack at one end, was otherwise empty.
'Well, here goes nothing!!' I'd mentally prepared myself for the worst, it was true that I had a pretty high luck stat, but I'd learned the hard way not to heavily rely upon it 'Luck only takes you so far...' I shakily got to my feet.
'Condition: Health regeneration!! Scan!!'
Skill activated successfully...
I looked around the cellar once more, though my body had already tensed in case I had to go with the alternative plan, which involved running out of the Villa and heading for the local 'Hospital' I wasn't very fond of the idea, then again I didn't have much a choice.
Nothing happened, signifying that there wasn't anything I could use to heal myself 'Well, here's to hoping I won't run into any of those Bullie-' I abruptly turned towards the wine rack which I noticed, from the corner of my eye, was glowingly dimly.
How'd I missed it before?? Well, it wasn't glowing then. And more importantly, the light didn't seem to come from the rack but from the wall behind it, so it was partially hidden from my view.
Additionally, the glow wasn't green like I'd expected, it was a dull shade of red 'What's that supposed to mean??' and I walked towards the rack, momentarily forgetting that I was quite short on time.
I noted that the borders of a particular stone brick, on the wall, were glowing 'Was there something behind it??' I grabbed a wine bottle (I figured that it was probably worthless, else why would anyone leave it behind??) and promptly smashed it against the rack, its contents spilt on the floor.
I hardly paid heed to the echoing sound of breaking glass, tracing around the stone with a particularly sharp shard of the shattered bottle. The walls were lined with what looked like dried earth, I had to jiggle with the stone for a while before it finally budged and seeing as I didn't have the strength to lift it up, I let it fall to the floor.
The crash that followed, now that was loud...
I coughed, at the amount of dust dislodged in the process, and stared blankly at the cavity that was formed. There was no longer any glow since the skill had already timed out 'Here goes nothing...' I tentatively reached in with my arm.
I couldn't help but shiver when my hand brushed against something hard and cold 'A box' I realized, one which I pulled out immediately. It was simple in design and smooth to the touch, made of wood that had grown black with age. Unfortunately, the metal latch was corroded beyond use, which left me with no choice but to force open the lid.
A single vial set securely on a ruined velvet cloth, that was all the box contained, causing me to wonder if the System possibly got it wrong 'It's alright, I still have time fo-'
Excessive bleeding... HEALTH -1
Fuck it, all or nothing now...
'There has to be a reason why it showed up when I used the skill!!' I grabbed the vial, it was barely the size of my palm.
I set it as the target and used 'Scan' once more, a screen popped up instantly.
Blood Vial: Contains blood essence of unknown origins... NOTE: Possible effects upon ingestion include stat updates and/or addition of new abilities and skills.
'That explains it...' I grimaced 'Can't do much else, can I??' I was frankly surprised that such a thing existed in this plane 'Seems there's more to this world than what meets the eye...' it was a gamble, but I had nothing to lose either way.
So, I chugged the freezing dark liquid held within the vial, in one go.
A series of notifications popped up, which I quickly dealt with. They majorly consisted of alerts, telling me that a foreign agent that had entered my body and prompts, asking me if whether I wanted to change my bloodline (hell yeah!!) it was only when I saw that last one, that I paused.
Merge with the user completely. Merge with the user gradually over time. Controlled merging
Blood essence is exhausted immediately.
Blood essence is suppressed at the heart, allowing user's body to slowly adapt to the new bloodline. User can specify the amount to be merged and/or suppressed.
Large increase in all stats, possible addition of new skill and/or ability...
No immediate change, but better overall stats and higher blood purity will be achieved, high chance of acquiring new skills and/or abilities... Stat increase and bloodline purity correspond to the amount merged/suppressed respectively, moderate chances of acquiring new skills and/or abilities.
'Under normal circumstances, I would most likely go for the second option' getting stronger gradually and steadily, was always the best method, but given my current state...'Suppress ninety percent and merge with the rest'
Merging process beginning in 2:00 minutes NOTE: The user will be rendered unconscious for the entire duration of the process...
I sighed, throwing the empty vial against the wine rack. It shattered, and the pieces mixed along with those already broken on the floor, making one indiscernible from the other.
My limbs were already starting to feel heavy, so I leaned against the wall and sank to my feet 'Donovan Greystone... your dreams and aspirations, I will realize them in your stead' I vowed. The corner of my vision started to go black, but unlike the darkness that surrounded me, there was nothing within it.
'Rest in peace youngling... and may you find solace' I finished, just as the timer hit zero.