I was resting outside. My ID tucked into my bandages. I had classes today going over procedures and other requirements, like paperwork. It was boring, but I had made sure to pay attention. Now that that it was over there was nothing to do but rest.

While it was tempting to remain in my apartment, I wanted to get some sun, so I was back in my spot outside, off by myself. I also wanted to speak to Mes about Mousethief. ‘Avatar,’ I thought.

‘Hello User Mittens,’ Mes said as they came into view. The tiny floating cat was lazing about in the air, like I was.

‘Mousethief, what can you tell me?’ I asked.

‘You do not have permissions to know about previous users. But since he has revealed himself, we parted on good terms. He wanted money, and I am not a money making System. I am a weapon, first and foremost.’

‘And his comments, about other skills?’ I asked.

‘Mittens. I am a weapon. Not a crafting system, or a support system, or a hand holding system. My single purpose is to improve your ability to kill things. Getting to those things is rated as a lower priority since you didn’t indicate a preference of skills in that direction until Smell. I then included that in the options I presented you.’ That was true.

‘While I can observe your thoughts and experiences, there are multiple paths to power in our partnership. From direct combat, energy manipulation, traps, weapons, and so on. While the costs on some more esoteric things would be quite high, I can do quite a bit to support you.’ Mes had been up front with me the entire time. I just felt blindsided by Mousethief in a way I didn’t like. What he had done had helped me, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.

‘Interface,’ I mentally said. The floating blue screen appeared and I looked at my skills.

Experience: -18,900 EXP (-1,500)

Features: Interface, Avatar, Skill Attunement

T1 Skills: Movement (79/100) +3, Balance (54/100) +2, Listening (52/100) +0, Breathing (24/100) +23, Smell (10/100) +9

T2 Skills: Danger Sense (38/100) +3

T3 Skills: Claw Combat (49/100) +4

I liked looking at the numbers going up. Movement and Claw Combat had slowed down massively despite the training I had with my father.

‘Why aren’t the numbers going up more?’ I asked.

‘Training has a limited impact. Killing things and the intense concentration helps integrate the skills better.’ I knew this, since I had asked this before, but seeing everything slow down in terms of growth was frustrating.

‘What about nerve pinch, how much would that cost as a skill?’ I asked.

‘It is very low tier energy technique. Using an injection of opposing energy to disrupt the control a creature has over their body. Go to the store,’ Mes suggested. I quickly thought ‘Store’ and the screen quickly adjusted to show the skill I had asked about.

Nerve Pinch (T1) – 5,000 EXP

‘Only tier one?’ I asked since I thought it would have more depth.

‘It is only about the striking, not an complimentary fighting style. If you want everything, fighting style included, then this is what you would be looking at.’ The screen changed.

Nerve Pinch Combat (T3) – 50,000 EXP

‘But Claw Combat was only 5,000 EXP and tier 3,’ I pointed out.

‘It doesn’t use energy as an innate part of the fighting style. There are certain movements and adjustments that come with an energy based combat style. Since you don’t have the features necessary to act as a support, the style has to account for you managing your energy.’

‘If I got certain features, it would be cheaper then?’ I asked.

‘No. The parts of the skill would change to learning how to interact with those features.’

‘Can I get it on credit?’ I asked. I was hoping the answer was yes. While it would be hard to master, I really wanted the style.

‘Unfortunately, no. There are no exceptions or workarounds I can use.’ That was unfortunate, but not surprising.

‘Can’t I gain skills from learning things regularly?’ I asked. The screen shifted.

Passive Skill Attunement – 1,000,000 EXP

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

My eyes went wide at that number. ‘Almost anything is possible if you can afford the price. Passive skill attunement is incredibly powerful and you would improve at an exponential rate.’ I really wanted that feature.

‘What about a discount feature?’

‘That is one of the few things that isn’t possible. The more advanced the feature or skill, the more resources I have to expend to implement it. While I am happy to assist you, I am not a charity system.’ I got it, you are meant for killing. Mousethief was right, Mes really wanted to just kill everything.

‘Are there things out there that will give me more experience?’ I asked.

‘I estimate those clerics or that high cleric you have met, would give you over 10,000 EXP and possibly up to 50,000 EXP.’

‘Wait what?!’

‘It has to do with the energy. Your father Tom Cat is at the peak of what an individual can be without energy enhancements. But the clerics channel energy, in a limited manner. A trace of that is left behind.’

‘So, this energy is EXP?’ I asked.

‘In a way. I have to process it. But effectively yes. So, killing an Ancestral Spirit or its projection, will net more EXP as I consume and process the energy left behind. You need to start killing if you want that EXP and all those amazing features and skills,’ Mes said.

‘What is the Inventory feature?’ I asked since Mousethief and mentioned it. The store screen shifted once more as Mes lazily drifted above it.

Basic Inventory – 50,000 EXP

‘You get time and space locked slots you can store items in. Basically, think of it as a box only you can access. Each slot can hold one item of limited size. Further upgrades of this feature, allow for bigger slots or boxes, and more of them. Quite useful for when you are away from supplies,’ Mes explained. Mousethief had killed a lot of creatures.

‘Anything you can do about my claws to speed things up?’ I asked.

‘I am already doing something. I provide ongoing support to the various skills making tweaks and adjustments as needed at no extra expense on your part. Claw Combat and Movement are both updating for your changed circumstances.’

Oh, I didn’t realize Mes was doing that. I hadn’t even considered that issue. ‘Thanks,’ I thought back.

‘You are welcome, User. It is my job to assist and support you. Providing with the best possible support to kill lots of things. A healing skill would be energy based, for the most part. That would require additional features to manage properly.’

‘How good are my claws against ancestral spirits right now?’ I asked.

‘They would be on the same level as a tier one enchanted weapon. Horribly weak using my scale, but I have high standards,’ Mes scratched their nose with a haughty look on their face. ‘But for your current purposes they are fine for the most part combined with other skills. I have an idea,’ Mes said.

‘What?’ I asked curiously.

‘The celestial ore, is just slightly attuned iron. But there are skills you could use to increase the base level potency of your claws. Let me pull up a list,’ Mes said with a wave of their paw.

Imbue Energy (T1) – 20,000 EXP

Focus Energy (T2) – 200,000 EXP

Direct Energy (T3) – 2,000,000 EXP

‘While you can only afford the first option. It is quite powerful. Even without additional features. It would defeat any projected threat that Ancestral Spirits might pose during their manifestations. I can’t speak to an elder snake, but at the very least you should be able to wound it.’

‘Really?’ I asked surprised. From what I had been told, they were incredibly dangerous and even a group of paladins would struggle.

‘Really. Something to work towards. Like I told you at the start, you just need to request the areas you want to improve in, and I will provide the best options in reference to killing. I am here to help you Mittens. While I can read your mind, I don’t control it. I can only make suggestions and searching the store as easy as possible.’

‘Also helping me out,’ I replied with a slight grin. Mes looked away to the side.

‘That was a tutorial. So, it was allowed. I hope to have a long and profitable partnership with you Mittens. That is why trust is incredibly important.’ It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Mes had things it wanted me to kill. I was curious how dangerous and powerful the things it considered enemies were and who made Mes.

‘What about user privileges or levels?’ I asked. The store screen changed once again.

Privilege Level 1 – 1,000,000 EXP

‘At that level you will be allowed to query on tier 4 skills and corresponding features. You can gain history and knowledge related skills. That’s it.’

‘Wait, what about past users and don’t I have knowledge related skills?’ I asked, a bit confused.

‘You have skills. But they aren’t knowledge based, where the knowledge is beyond your understanding. A good example would be a Gafjun Ritual Disperser Chant skill. You couldn’t train such a skill. So, the knowledge has to be directly given to you. Like a driving skill, but there are no cars to drive. It would be useless.’

‘As for past users and history, you would be allowed general information about reality. But you wouldn’t be able to inquire about past users. A much higher privilege level would be required.’

‘How high?’ I asked.

‘That information is not available to you.’ Mes shook their paw in a no-no motion. ‘Additional features will be unlocked including what the next upgrade will bring. Consider it a bit of motivation to work hard and find out.’

‘But it would help me to know, now,’ I replied.

‘Actually, it wouldn’t. Trying to tailor your combat style to an end build is not practical. It is far more important that you work with what you have and focus on the present. Like I keep saying, the only way forward is to kill, kill, and then kill some more.’

I rolled my eyes that Mes. ‘I got it, thanks. I need to think about things for a bit,’ I replied.

‘Not a problem. Call me whenever you want to talk,’ Mes said and instantly disappeared. That was informative, but also not very helpful. I hated having my paws wrapped up like this, being unable to do anything. At least I only had to wait a week to fully recover.

I had skills I could work on. And with Mousethief helping me, I would make fast progress. I couldn’t believe it, my father’s success was built on Mousethief, but he didn’t help him out. I was wondering why not. I would have to ask him and get an answer to see what the issue truly was and if Mousethief was telling the truth.

My tail lightly dangled off the side of the bench I was laying on as I enjoyed the sun. It felt nice against my fur as I began to doze. I didn’t fall asleep, but dozing in the sun was incredibly enjoyable. I guess I could understand Mousethief wanting to live his life on a peaceful island for a long time. The sun sounded nice, but the water sounded terrible.