"Hehe, now now, let's uhh, talk about this."
Heh. Like that would work.
The towering bear started approaching me, snarling its large teeth.
It's time for me to use the line.
"Oh? You're approaching me?"
I've always wanted to say that.
It slowly crept up on me.
Well, of course, it's approaching me, it probably sees me as food.
The bear started growling, and its drool dropped onto the floor. Disgusting...
Well then, looks like I only have one more choice left.
...
And so I ran. I ran like my life was on the line. Well, my life IS on the line! There is no way I can beat that bear.
I looked over my shoulder to see if the bear was chasing me, and it was on my *ss. I started panicking and tried running faster while yelling like some dumb idiot.
Damn it, why am I so slow?
Hmm, now that I think of it, my agility isn't that high.
[Stats]
Strength: 5
Resistance: 5
Agility: 5
Perception: 5
Aura: 5
(Available stat points: 13)
13 stat points, huh? I guess I can put some into agility.
I looked back once more, and the bear was only a foot away from biting my *ss off.
"SHIT! JUST PUT IT ALL IN AGILITY!"
---
[Stats]
Strength: 5
Resistance: 5
Agility: 18
Perception: 5
Aura: 5
(Available stat points: 0)
---
Suddenly, this weird sensation spread throughout my body and the next thing you know, I was running a bit faster.
Well sadly, not fast ENOUGH! All that did was make my speed equal to the bear's. I can still hear its jaw snapping as it's trying to keep up with me.
Damn, if only I had something to fight it back with.
I took a look at my hands and my sharp nails.
I could attempt to do it like I did with the rat, but this is a bear, it won't be easy.
"Well, here goes nothing."
I purposely slowed down a bit so I can bait the bear to lunge at me. As I expected, it lunged itself at me, and as it did, I jumped to the side and tried jabbing it with my sharp nails.
As expected, it didn't do much. But the bear did yell in agony.
"RRROAAAAAARRRRRR!!!!!"
I should run now.
So I sprinted away as I had a head start. I could escape right now if I wanted, but I won't receive any rewards. Right now, I need anything that can help me. But what can kill a bear?
I looked up and noticed there was a bunch of stalactites hanging from the ceiling.
"I think I can use those."
It'll be better than getting my hands dirty with bear blood.
The bear had silenced itself and started searching for me, sniffing out the entire cave. Later, it noticed me by the wall. It growled at me, I can see that it really wants to kill me after what I did.
"C'mon, don't you want a piece of this?"
I said, beckoning the bear to come at me. The bear responded by charging towards me. As it got closer, I prepared myself to jump to the side. When it crashes into the walls, it'll shake the cave and the stalactites will fall down on it.
Thump-Thump-Thump~
It was getting closer and closer.
Thump-Thump-Thump~
"Now!"
I jumped to the side and evaded the tackle. The bear crashed into the cave wall and the cave shook.
Rumble!
Tink!
That's the sound of the stalactites breaking off. Will it work, though?
I looked up and the stalactites above the bear broke off, the sharp end of the spike sank into the back of the bear and the bear roared in pain.
How's that!
The bear was slowly bleeding; I don't think it's dead yet. I can still see it breathing.
I should put it out of its misery.
Let's see... what can I kill it with?
If I remember, I can use fire magic.
---
[Skills]
Fire Magic(Lv1)
Light Magic(Lv1)
Dark Magic(Lv1)
---
Yeah, I can kill it, no, roast it. It can satisfy my hunger...
I took a look at the dead rat that I killed, then at the bear.
Yeah, a bear would taste much better than that stinking rat.
Now... how do I use fire magic?
Do I just say... fire?
"Fire?"
...
Well, that didn't work...
Then I gasped.
"Maybe I just have to 'Channel my mana'... if I'm correct."
So, I focus all my energy into my hands and then-
Foosh!
A small orb made of fire appeared in my hand. I nodded my head, impressed by myself. Heck yeah, I'm smart.
[Mana: 0/10]
Nani? Making a fireball uses all my mana? Well, that's bad. It looks like I can only use fire magic once.
But discarding all my worries.
"I HAVE MADE FIRE!"
My voice echoed throughout the cave. I gulped. Man, it feels kind of weird being lonely.
"Well, I guess I should get to roasting."
I slowly crept up to the bear, and it was still breathing a bit. I waved the fire in front of it and it tried to swipe me with its claws, which I dodged, barely.
"Whoa, that was close. Well, time for you to be food."
I threw the fireball at the bear's face, and it started burning.
The bear started yelping as the flames spread throughout its body. Then, a few seconds later, a message popped up in front of me.
[Quest completed.]
Yes, now give me those rewards!
[Rewards: Jab(Lv1), Beast Killer]
[Skill learned: Jab(Lv1)]
Hmm, Jab? Is this going to be the enhanced version of what I did to the rat? Maybe it makes it more powerful and efficient. And what is... beast killer?
[Beast Killer: Damage dealt to beast-type monsters increased by 10%]
Oh, so it's an effect that gives me more damage, huh? That's nice to know.
Ring!
What was that sound?
[Level up!]
Level up?! Amazing! So what do my stats look like now?
Then the blue screen appeared in front of me.
---
[Info]
Name: Noctem
Level: 2
Grade: F-rank Demon
Health: 110
Mana: 20
[Stats]
Strength: 6
Resistance: 6
Agility: 19
Perception: 6
Aura: 6
(Available stat points: 3)
[Skills]
Fire Magic(Lv1)
Light Magic(Lv1)
Dark Magic(Lv1)
Jab(Lv1)
[Effects]
Blessed by the Light
Cursed by the Darkness
Beast Killer
[Storage]
Empty
---
Ahh I see, so my stats go up by 1 every level, and I also get 3 stat points for each time I level up. Hmm, since I wasted all my stat points on agility, I should put them in some other attributes. Maybe... 2 in strength and 1 in resistance.
---
[Stats]
Strength: 8
Resistance: 7
Agility: 19
Perception: 6
Aura: 6
(Available stat points: 0)
---
I'll place some in perception later, and what is... aura? Whatever that is, I'll eventually figure it out.
Well then, let's get to eating, shall we?
I inspected the now burnt bear. How the hell am I gonna get to the meat?
I pushed the bear over onto its stomach. The stomach is always the weakest part of most animals. Now, I should try that [Jab] skill.
I raised my hand and aimed my nails at the stomach. A swirling blue light engulfed my right hand as I focused my energy into it.
[Mana: 15/20]
So it takes half the mana I use for fire, huh? Maybe I should use this from now on.
Anyway, let's resume.
I trusted my hand into the bear and pierced the stomach easily. Then I slowly slid my hand across the stomach with my nails and the guts and blood spilled out. A horrible smell poured out from the stomach.
"Oh god, that smell."
Well, guess I should use fire magic to cook the meat.
I made a fireball and threw it into the open stomach. In a few minutes, it started to smell like roasted meat.
"Now that's what I'm talking about."
I took some of its flesh out and the texture. Oh, it looks like cooked beef.
"Well then, time to chow down!"
As I finished the first part of the flesh, I gained another level.
[Level up!]
So it looks like my level can also be raised by eating the creatures I kill.
I took a look at the rat, but I can already see some flies surrounding it. Definitely not eating that.
I think I'll just continue eating the bear.
*A few minutes later*
I eventually felt full and now I wanted to drink some water. But the only water around here was the small pool in the middle of this cave.
I walked up to the pool. I took a look at my bloody hands.
"Hmm, maybe I should drink some of it first before washing my hands."
I knelt down and hovered my head over the small pool. Then I took some sips. To my surprise, it tasted good. Well, water doesn't have any taste, but for some reason this did. I'm lucky that it wasn't saltwater.
After I felt refreshed again, I washed my hands in the water.
"Now... what should I do next?"
I looked around the cave, and there were multiple paths. I think I should head for the surface cause I don't want to be stuck in this cave forever; I want to see the sun for once.
Hmm... I should enhance my perception, I need enhanced instincts after all.
---
[Stats]
Strength: 9
Resistance: 8
Agility: 20
Perception: 10
Aura: 7
(Available stat points: 0)
---
That's better. Now, which path should I take?
There were three paths in front of me. Now that my perception had gone higher, I could sense the energy from other creatures. I felt an intense pressure coming from the left path. Definitely not taking that one. I looked at the middle path and the right path. I think I should take the middle one.
As I approached the middle path, a roar echoed through the cave. I gulped and backed up and went into the right path. Then I had a premonition that there was going to be an intense fight if I entered the right one.
Well, this is bullsh*t. All of these paths are dangerous.
Tti-ring!
The sound of the system rung inside my head.
[Choose a quest.]
Choose a quest?
[Quest 1: Exterminate the colony (0/100)]
[Quest 2: Take out the Iron Death Bear (0/1)]
[Quest 3: Kill the Lich (0/1)]
What are these?! Take out the colony? That must be the left path. Iron Death Bear? That sounds a bit... terrifying. That must be the middle path. And take out the Lich? The right path?
Hmm, if I recall, a Lich is a type of necromancer whose appearance is of a skeleton, right?
"Tch, I don't know which path to take! They are all too hard!"
Ring!
Huh? Another notification? Is it another quest? But there are no paths to take... unless.
And then the message popped up, all in capital letters.
[Quest 4: SLAY THEM ALL...]
[You are unable to escape...]