Oh fuck, I have been gone too long. I don't even know how long I was beating that Coyote like animal. I start running back, but my pain is returning as my adrenalin rush is fading and it slows me down. I'm not sure if I should be concerned that I actually enjoyed beating that coyote into an unrecognizable sack of blood and bones. All I know is I enjoyed it and I really want to have that feeling back. It made me actually feel alive.
I get back to the compound and the guy yelling for me starts smacking me around. My already bruised face starting to deepen in color as bruises seem to form on top of old bruises.
"Where the fuck where you bitch?!"
I get rocked by a sudden punch to my left temple. I hit the floor as a barrage of stomps and punches rain down on me. I ensure my already broken ribs are under me and protected. I have become pretty good at blocking or lessening the damages caused by the blows, but I can only do so much, and the beatings still take their toll. After beating on me, the man just walks away without telling me what he needed. Never mind, I know exactly what he needed, the same thing I needed from that Coyote. This isn't uncommon. I'm the punching bag they need if their raid doesn't go well, or God forbid someone gets killed. Then it's a full night of beatings. I'll be bruised head to toe for a couple weeks after that happens.
There have even been days where the beatings were so bad, that I could only crawl around on my hands and knees. One time in particular was so bad that my left leg wouldn't work for a while, and I could only get around by pulling my lower body along the ground in a sort of army crawl.
I hobble back to my cell if you will and curl up in my favorite corner. I haven't looked at my status in a long time, so let's take a look. This whole time I thought this status, this fantasy world I was in, somehow made me special. What a fucking joke that is. All that worrying I did that day with my parents. HA! The government is going to execute me because of my skill. What a crock of shit. Look at me now. LONG past my so-called awakening should have happened, and long after I was supposed to register with that government. I'm already a criminal in the eyes of the government... If they even know I exist. Fuck them and fuck everyone! Status open.
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[https://i.imgur.com/1We7hmC.png]
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This is a comforting sight. For so long I spent every night staring at this screen. It became my best friend. The thing that took the place of video games in this world because to me, I'm living in the game! Some fucking game huh? I don't even know if I am going to even live long enough to really find out that this fantasy world has to offer. I wonder how many times my HP has reached 0 from all the beatings I took. There have definitely been a LOT of times where I would lose consciousness in the middle of a beating and wake up in the same spot sometime later. I would often have to drag myself away, not having the energy to stand up and walk.
I might have once considered this world to be a living game, but this is NOT a game. This is real. The blood is real. The pain is real. The death is real. I can't escape those simple truths. For now, I'll keep on living. I'll keep on surviving. It's all I can do. but I will be honest, it is getting harder and harder to do. I can't tell you how many times I just wanted to give up and sleep forever.
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This miserable existence has gone on for years and years. I have lived through almost half a decade of torture. That's half my life that I have been beaten mercilessly by my captors. Abused in ways I never thought possible; emotional, psychological, and physical abuse. I'm just an object to them, something to be used and discarded. I'm not even human. I'm not even sure they see anyone else as human. I know they sure as fuck aren't human, not to me at least. They are monsters. God, I would love to kill these monsters. One day... maybe one day... I just need time... but I swear...
Almost 5 years has gone by. It has seemed like an eternity. Every single day, with every single beating, my hatred grows. My own malice and dark thoughts have been seething just beneath my decaying morality. The result of this battered body and mind of mine. The bruises and bones heal, but the scars they leave stay with me, and fuel my rage. I need to get out of here. I have leveled up 6 more times throughout the years. Each time while in the forest, those Coyote-like creatures stalking me while I'm dumping the waste of the shitheads I serve. It's not enough though. I wish I had dozens more levels. Maybe then I could fight back.
Unfortunately, I'm nowhere near strong enough to fight even 1 on 1 with even the weakest of them. I'm still just a 10-year-old kid. Still have the same useless spells. It is rather difficult to get stronger when you are beaten every day and starved. How can I possibly fight back?! Perhaps if I wasn't always in so much physical pain often to the point of immobility, I could have perhaps ventured into the Forrest to hunt monsters to level a bit more. Perhaps I could have used my time away to practice spells or come up with new ones.
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I'm going to have to find new spells. I need a spell that will give me actual firepower. It's has to be something powerful. After all, my mother was able to create massive explosions that tore her attackers apart, flinging body parts all over the yard and the house. But, even with that, she still died. Even with all her crazy power, she still was no match for them. So, what can I possibly do! I have no clue how strong these guys are, but I do know how weak I am.
So, I decided I would start experimenting again, and practice I did. Every night in the confines of my cramped quarters, I silently practiced. I experimented trying to find new spells. Results happened faster than before though. Perhaps it's because I have larger MP reserves now? It only makes sense that more potent spells require more MP to activate.
The first spell I figured out, was another dud. I thought if I can manifest fire, water, and wind, then why not earth?? I need a spell that shoots at a distant target. Like a bullet. That's it! Let's try this one.
"Let's go! Stone Bullet!
A pebble manifests and is launched away impacting the far side of my closet with barely an audible noise. Really?! That's it?! I could have found a stone on the floor and threw it harder and father than that bullshit! This spell was basically no different than if I picked up a pebble and lightly tossed it at the wall.
Magic Skill Acquired
Earth Magic: Stone Bullet
Yeah, wonderful, new magic acquired. I let out a disappointed sigh. In the past I would have been jumping for joy, now I'm just disappointed. Well, at least it's something. Let's try something else. Over the next several weeks I fiddled around until I had an idea. What about icicles?! I always took them off the eves of our home and pretended they were swords. That could work, right?! It would be a sharp weapon I could create! Let's give it a go!
"Icicle!"
An 8-inch icicle protrudes from my palm. Nice!
Magic Skill Acquired
Water Magic: Icicle
Sick! Ok that's something I can use in a pinch, I guess. Icicles are fragile though, but I could probably get one good shot in! I would have to make it count though and hit just the right spot to do some damage that would count.
Over the next several days, something came to me. A piece of information from my OTHER past. I remembered something from chemistry class. In that class we frequently used a Bunsen burner to heat chemicals. The burner produced an extremely hot but efficient flame. This was due to ducts on the base of the burner that allowed air to be pulled up through the tube, mixing with the natural gas fuel, creating what is called complete combustion. That is why the flame was blue and produced no smoke and left no soot on the flasks.
So, how about we see what would happen if I cast Flame and Breeze at the same time? Is such a thing even possible though? Would that work?! Theoretically the air shooting up through the flame should increase the combustion. Well, let's give it a try and see if it works!
"Flame!"
Alright, the flame is set. Let's see if I can even have two spells active at the same time. I concentrate on my mana control as I say the next spell.
"Breeze!"
The flame flickers as the stream of air erupts from underneath it. Suddenly, the flame turns a vibrant blue, and elongates into a concentrated stream.
Magic Skill Acquired
Fire Magic: [Special class] Torch
Special class?! I wonder if that's because it's the result of mixing two spells and achieving it an augmented form of a previous spell.
Suddenly my door opens. I quickly smother the spell and try to hide away. Well, it looks like my first beating of the night just walked in.
"Hey shu wittl bitch!"
Ahh fuck he is drunk off his ass. These assholes frequently get drunk. What else do they have to do around here. I never know what I'm going to get with a drunk asshole. A beating, get slapped around, or sometimes they just need me as a foot stool.
"Comere! Wur gun have shum fun tonight!"
He starts fumbling with the string holding his pants up. Oh shit! This happens every so often. One of them gets a little too happy and tries to sexually assault me. However, someone always pulls them away and redirects them. I guess they at least have SOME morals. Then I get beaten for having the audacity to seduce someone! Can you believe that shit!
Why is nobody coming in to stop this guy?! Shit where is everyone?! The guy lunges for me and starts grabbing at my tattered shirt. I put my hands on his face and try and push him away. He is much bigger than me, and heavier. I'm pushing as hard as I can, but he isn't budging! Fuck, I have to do something! I concentrate mama into both my hands and yell out.
"TORCH!!"
Blue flames erupt from my hands, instantly scorching my assailants face. He pulls away and I feel some of his charred skin peel off on my hands. He rolls around screaming in agony. Good! Fuck you! I wipe the charred skin stuck to my hands on my shirt. I have to leave now before someone else get here after hearing this guy's screams! I just attacked one of the raiders. I don't want to even imagine the punishment. It has to be now. I got to escape right now!
I get up and run out of my room and head to the door across the common room. Halfway to the door, another guy runs into the room and sees me heading for the door. The guy in my room crawls out, and the other guy sees the guy's face, mangled with devastating third-degree burns.
"What the fuck is going on in here?!"
"The bitch burned my fucking face!!!" croaks out the man without a face.
The other guy immediately runs to me and grabs me, tackling me to the floor. With one hand around my neck holding me down, he cocks back his arm ready to deliver a bone crushing punch to my face. If I let him strike me, I'll lose consciousness and it's over for me! I concentrate tests mana and...
"Icicle!" I manage to choke out.
An 8-inch icicle forms in my right hand, and I jab the icicle as hard as I can into the man's ribs. I feel it tear through his shirt and sink in about 5 inches into his chest. He immediately releases my neck and screams in pain. He reaches to his side and pulls out the icicle. His screaming turns into gurgling as bloody frothy foam starts forming at his mouth. I pierced a lung! I have definitely overstayed my welcome. Time to go!