《Age of Others》 Prologue: Innocence "Reeve they''re here again." With his garden dirtied hands he stood up, eyeing the people passing through. They are what the villagers called "otherworlders." He stopped planting new seeds to approach the visitors, due to his responsibility as the sole guard. The village was never a place that thrived, maybe due to it''s infertile lands or the monsters that commonly gather. It was their home and they make do with what they have to survive. A few years back, the able men built a wooden palisade that serves as protection from the monsters. But even with that there never was a month with no accidents occurring. This was the problem of the village named "Erdale" had to bear. The otherworlders had appeared once before. It was night, and the sky wasn''t in their favor when they came close to town. The elders invited them in to seek shelter from the rain and they gladly accepted. Due to the hospitality offered to them by the village, they asked if there were any problems they can help with. The elders then told them the situation about the mines north of the village causing us problems. It was a decrepit mine that held no more ores, the last one was mined before Reeve was even born. Now the mine was a nest for monsters called "goblins", they use the mines as their base and kill anyone who dared approach it. Several men in the village even went there to destroy the nest or even reduce the numbers but they lacked the power to even reduce the numbers. The majority of them ended up gravely injured and thus resulted in the situation where Reeve was tasked to guarding the village while they recuperate. Reeve wasn''t only a villager forced to guard the area. He truly loved the village and protected it more than once from occasional monsters that invaded while the men were out. His fighting skills is above average. The only reason he wasn''t part of the attack was that he was just 15. In this world, 15 was still considered a minor. You are recognized as an adult after you turn 16. So disregarding his plea to go with them, he was left in the village with the other kids. "Welcome to the village of Erdale. How can I help you otherworlders?" There were three of them. They didn''t even bat an eye when Reeve spoke as if they didn''t notice my presence. ''Are they deaf or something?'' He thought. After looking like an idiot for a few seconds, a man replied to his words. "We came here before. Has the situation changed? Have the goblins been doing anything weird lately?" "N-No but several men in our village attacked the nest but was pushed back. To be honest, I''m the only left in charge of the villages'' protection. Although I lack in ability, I''m certainly doing my best. If you guys could give us some sort of aid with regards to the destruction of the nest, I''m sure the elders will reward you." He knew that asking help from others was pitiful but the otherworlders based on news were stronger than the average soldiers. They possessed skills that are usually hard to achieve by people like him. If there''s even a chance of persuading them, he will take it. The village elders can roughly give out 5 silvers if the destruction of the nest came to be but other than that he knew no other rewards. It was told by the elders themselves when they told him that if there''s anyone who can grant them help that he would tell them of the reward. "Is this guy stup-!" One of the visitors signaled his companion to stop. He started talking after doing that. "What is this reward you speak of?" "Our elders will provide 5 silvers to the people who can destroy the nest of the goblins inside the mines." 5 silver was certainly not that much but this village can only afford to raise that much money. The rest of the money raised from selling crops and hunting were used to buy food that can last a long time. All of the villagers knew one another so they even didn''t keep personal belongings. Everything is shared to one another. This was the norm when it comes to villages like these. "I see nothing has changed. It''s still the same reward for the quest back then. I thought that it would be raised if the situation became a bit more dire." "Is this the limits of the game?" "Idiot! This game is state of the art and the first of it''s kind." "We can''t even logout for fucks sake!" "Well even if that''s the case being stuck in this world could be worthwhile if we could get stronger." Reeve didn''t understand some of the words spoken but something piqued his interest. The otherworlders said that they''re stuck here which meant that they can''t leave. Would that mean that the gods themselves have placed them here to live amongst them? Is that the penultimate purpose of their appearance? Are they the ones who will forge everlasting peace in this world? Those words brightened up his view of these people. If he could help them in any way he can maybe someday monsters wouldn''t exist anymore and the village will thrive. "Uhmm guys. If you think that the reward is not satisfying enough, I could also add some of my savings into it. I can add an ten extra silvers to the reward if you guys can beat the monsters." That was his whole life savings. Even if the villagers weren''t materialistic, he dreamt of traveling the world. He dreamt of doing adventures. Maybe even joining a famous guild and explore dungeons. He was saving all this money up for that wonderful dream but if it helped getting rid of the monsters why would he be selfish enough to deprive the village that he loves a way to end the danger. "So if we defeat the monsters that will attack the village then we get to have your reward?" "Y-Yes!" He was happy that they''d consider accepting the request. Finally the worries of the elders would cease to exist. ''The otherworlders will surely keep their promise right?'' He convinced himself as his eyes looked up to them full of admiration. As a child, Reeve grew up without any parents. He was a war child. Their king commanded that all the villagers to have some men help with the war. His father was the head of the village at the time but he volunteered. His mother died when he was born but he remembered that his father told him that she loved him dearly. The war ended but his father did not return. The village served as his parent after that. Him seeing potential heroes that might bring peace to the world brought him great joy. ''With heroes comes peace right?'' He smiled while thinking that. "Alright then we accept. I have high confidence that the goblins will be defeated tonight." "I-I see! Thank you!" "Now then we shall leave for now. Expect to see us tonight. We have some business to take care of." "Yes! Good Luck!" Reeve felt enthusiastic about the matter. When he reported it to the elders they were pleased by the news. The village maidens even cooked food for their returning heroes as a sign of thanks. It was supposed to be food that they would use only for the upcoming feast for the angels but today was a special occasion as well. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Darkness encroached the lands, the village was consumed by it as well. The torches lit the palisade as Reeve waited at the gates for the otherworlders. Hours passed but no one came, the cold of the night didn''t bother him too much. He became anxious for a moment but he remembered that they were all well armored so even if they couldn''t beat the goblines then they can escape without any problems. While pondering, he noticed a faint light from a distance. This light slowly brightened and with it came the three otherworlders. They were casually walking but he noticed that they were stained with blood.. green blood to be precise. Green Blood could only mean Goblin''s Blood in these parts so if he''s guessing right then they succeeded in defeating the nest. This made his heart beat fast with joy, he felt like passing out but this would be too pathetic of a look to be shown in front of the heroes. "Did you destroy the nest?" "Well.. Yes.." An emotionless face was shown by the person but that doesn''t matter! The nest has been destroyed. This was a great turn of events, he could almost jump for joy at the very moment. "If it''s not too much of a bother can you tell me your names? Our mighty heroes?" "Heroes? What the fuck is on about?" "Haha! Heroes he says! This is rich!" "Calm down guys! Maybe he just misunde-HAHAHAHA" He couldn''t quite figure out why they laughed so hard. Aren''t they the great heroes that saved the village? Aren''t they the ones that will forge peace into this world? Aren''t they the chosen people of god? "Wha-" He wanted to speak but his speech was somehow blocked. Air would come out but his voice was gone. "Enough of your talking brat!" "Come with us. Our quest isn''t over yet." They dragged Reeve into the center of the village. There they saw the food prepared by the villagers. "So this is for us? What a kind village this truly is!" "Haha if only they had cute chicks we could play with." "Where is the village elders?" The elder approached them and after seeing them drenched with green blood the elder happily gave them the reward. ''This is wrong! Something is wrong!'' Reeve thought as he was still dragged like a doll by one of the three. "Well then Alef place us in a barrier. Loto cast the paralysis onto everyone." ""Understood!"" After paralysing everyone, they casted a barrier near the food prepared. They ate as enraged goblins appeared slowly from the darkness. They were enraged by the destruction of their home so much so that the goblins turned red. In this world, goblins will turn red if their nest which is where their queen could live is destroyed. The goblins whose queen has been killed will enter an enraged state until they die or be killed. This is such a common knowledge that it would be nonsense to think that these three would not know of it. ''So if we defeat the monsters that will attack the village then we get to have your reward?'' His words rang into his mind. He came to a realization that they had not intended to help right from the start. Even though the villagers couldn''t move, the screams can be heard while they were massacred. Children, women, elderly and injured men alike were brutally killed by the goblins. Some tried to approach the barrier but it was for naught. It was stronger than any kind of attacks they can pull out of their skillset. Reeve''s tears flowed out as he watched them die helplessly in front of him. "K-Kill m..me." He cried those words out even though he was paralysed. "It seems that my silence spell has ran out. Don''t worry you''ll die soon enough but first." He looked at the man named Loto and the both of them left the barrier. They then killed all the goblins that approached them. Dawn had already come and the area stinked of both dead humans and monsters. After landing the final blow to the last goblin standing, they approached Reeve who now had his spirit broken. He sat there looking at the ground where blood had seeped through. The reality was too much for him. "I apologize. It seems that dawn has already come. I wasn''t able to finish the monsters during the night." ''I have high confidence that the goblins will be defeated tonight.'' A few more words rang in his head. ''Was this all just a game to them?'' He thought about this bitterly as his already bloodshot eyes couldn''t even spill any more tears for the dead. The man touched his chin and raised Reeve''s head gently so that he can look at him. "Well then? My reward?" ''So if we defeat the monsters that will attack the village then we get to have your reward?'' He recalled a few more after hearing his vile tone. "Isn''t this it?" "You stupid?! If we knew that he had it all along then we wouldn''t even go into all this trouble just to get those coins!" "I thought you were enjoying yourself back there." "Well yeah I kinda did! Haha" "Let''s take it from him and put him out of his misery." Loto took the money away from him. His savings.. The money he would use to travel someday to a faraway land. The money would now go to the man who destroyed everything. But he knew that that man wasn''t the one who destroyed everything. He did.. He was the one who was the culprit. He trusted them too much. He was a naive child who got carried away by his thoughts. The otherworlders are the devils themselves. They are the reincarnation of the Demon God. He made a deal with the devil and the whole village paid for it in blood. "Your name.." They noticed the cold tone of Reeve''s voice. "Huh? Is this NPC saying something?" "I asked you of your name." He looked at the man who seemed to be the leader. Words cannot express how much hatred can be seen in his eyes. If only he had the power to wipe them all of out. Not only them but all of this people called "otherworlders." He knew the others already but this man.. the man he was staring at right now has not revealed it yet. He wanted to kill them all. He was naive. They will bring no peace but suffering, chaos instead of harmony, and death not life. "Boss it looks like it''s asking for your name! Haha!" With an evil grin and a devil''s look, he touched Reeve''s shoulder with his left hand and said. "My name is Erdrick and thank you for everything." Yes, he was the one that brought all this upon them. His life couldn''t atone for what he did. He wanted to go back in time but this is impossible. All he could do now is watch as this man grinned disgustingly. After that, Reeve only felt pain. Erdrick had stabbed him in the stomach using a dagger with his right hand. As he struggled to push him back, Reeve realized that it was the reason why Erdrick''s left hand was clutched at his shoulder. He didn''t know what was more apparent. The lifesblood that is gushing out of him or the pain that comes with it. No, what in his mind isn''t the pain or the blood. It was revenge. Filled with vengeance, he suddenly felt lightheaded and after that nothing. Chapter 1: Awakening Where am I? I feel like I''m drifting. I can''t feel my arms or legs. Am I still alive? Ah yes I remember now. I died.. ''Has the situation changed? Have the goblins been doing anything weird lately?'' "Please stop." ''I thought it would be raised if the situation became a bit more dire.'' "I don''t want to hear it." ''So if we defeat the monsters that will attack the village then we get to have your reward?'' "Is.." ''Alright then we accept. I have high confidence that the goblins will be defeated tonight.'' "..this.." ''Now then we shall leave for now. Expect to see us tonight. We have business to take care of.'' ''I apologize. Dawn has already come. I wasn''t able to finish the monsters during the night.'' ''My name is Erdrick and thank you for everything.'' "..Hell?" The last moments of his life was still fresh in his mind. The gruesome death of the villagers. The lie of those monsters. The evil grin embedded in his mind. The pain of the dagger isn''t present but he can''t forget the feeling. Again and again those words rang while he listened. It''s as if the voices were looped to make him crazy. He wanted to close his ears, but he felt no hands. He has no body. He knew he exists. He was helpless, pathetic, weak and dead. "Kill them. All of them. All the scums." He repeated those words as if he was praying to the unknown. He knew this was hell, but no regrets about him being here can be seen. In his mind, it was right for the man who killed the village to be in eternal anguish. While the voices kept repeating, his only prayers was that of vengeance. After what seemed like an eternity in his mind, the endless room suddenly lit up. The area became smaller, he can''t see but he can sense that it wasn''t the same place he was in a second ago. This room has a lighter atmosphere than the last one. The voices stopped and another can be heard. "Halloooo!" "..." "Hey why aren''t cha talking?" "Who the fuck are you?" "Oooh! A scary voice. No need to worry, I''m not one of those otherworlders." "Then answer me, who are you?" "Man! If you''re that stupid then I can guess why your village died because of you." "..." "Oh I''m sorry that was mighty insensitive of me. I''m Raguel, the one who summoned you." "Summoned me?" "Yes! Cool, huh? I got all kinds of powers. This and that! But anyways let''s talk about why I summoned you here." "I don''t understand." "Ugh! Stop saying you don''t and understand the situation. Grow up kid! Your whole village died because of your stupidity. Remember? People died?" "I.." "Listen, I saw what those guys did to you and now I want you to ask you a simple question." "What is it?" "Do you want to live again?" "..Yes." He ignored common sense and accepted right away. Even if there''s a chance that he was being deceived, any form of help even if it''s with the devil will be accepted. He wants to make the people who wronged the village pay dearly. "Then let me ask you another question. Why would you want to go back?" "The answer is obvious." "Hohoho! You''re starting to learn kid! I like that keep it up." "I want to kill them personally. I''ll drag them with me to the depths of hell if need be." "Do you know why they''re here or why they''re stronger than the people of Erelest?" "No." "Because they''re the ones we called awakened. It''s pretty rare for a normal human in your world to achieve such state. The ones who do get awakened end up becoming famous heroes or even kings! It''s quite a secret. Yep! Indeed! They have the power to alter their strength similar to what me and my colleagues can do. Neat huh? Of course we''re stronger by a long shot! Haha!" "Then why are you just sitting here doing nothing while those monsters are around?" "We don''t intervene with human squabbles too much. Even talking to you is let''s just say irregular." "Then why did you?" "Can''t say. Maybe I just wanted to help? Maybe it''s for a greater purpose? Or maybe I''m just bored." "I don''t know what your plans are but if you could help me have my revenge then I''ll do whatever you want after." "Kay! I only have one request after you beat them. I''ll tell you if you survive." "Survive?" "Well yeah. Those guys are no joke for people like you." "Then can you give me the power to beat them?" "Nah! Won''t it be more interesting if you beat them with your own power?" "You just told me that they''re strong. As I was before I might not stand a chance." "The only thing I could grant you is the same thing they already have." "Awakening?" "Ooh! Using your head now! You learn quick! I like that! Yep! Indeed! Well I''m gonna send you back now. Oh and don''t forget to say ''hud'' when you wake up kay? See you soon!" "Thank you for this opportunity." He felt his consciousness wavering but with it came warmth. Reeve opened his eyes and felt the rays of the sun pass through his skin. If it weren''t for the stink of the rotting corpse, he would''ve rested a bit more. He touched the part where he was stabbed but there was only a scar left of the wound. He stood and saw the bodies of those dear to him. "Albert.. Anna.. Shiela.. Old Lewis.. Carter.. Roland.. Cath.. Tilly.. Rolphe.. Anton.. Edgar.. Clay.. Granny Ely.. Mary.. Little Mara.. Benjie.. Jun.. Randy.. Edwin.. Karl.. Paulo.. Gio.." He said their names as he buried each of their corpses. Dusk had already come when he finished. He sat and ate the food left from the slaughter. It tasted different than normal. It seems like a few days have passed since the massacre. After eating he took only the essentials and left burning all the houses that stood for decades. The only thing left will be the palisades. With one last look, he left the remains of Erdale. Vowing to kill those who wronged them, he followed the dirt road through the forest. After a few minutes of walking he remembered what Raguel had told him. He then uttered the words ''hud'' and much to his surprise, there in front of him are numbers and words that should only be seen in paper. "So this is what those fuckers saw."
Name: Reeve of Erdale Level: 13 Class: None[Assessment necessary] Subclass: None
Strength: 4 Constitution: 2 Dexterity: 4 Magic: 0 Charisma: 1 Attribute points available: 13[Add to attributes? Y/N]
Active Skills (0/10) Passive Skills(0/10) Skill points available: 13[Use skill points? Y/N][Learn a skill? Y/N] Pending Skills are available[Review? Y/N]
The hud was fairly straightforward, he could guess that the attributes are his basic capabilities. What intrigued him the most was the pending skills. He tapped the ''Y'' assuming it stood for ''Yes'' and it was a success. It showed a list of skills that he could learn.
Basic Sword Mastery [Learn? Y/N] Basic Shield Mastery [Learn? Y/N] Basic Hunting [Learn? Y/N] Detection [Learn? Y/N] Sprinting [Learn? Y/N] Unlock Battle Aura [Learn? Y/N] Unlock Magic Force [Learn? Y/N]
"I.. can learn all of these?" Reeve was surprised that there were a lot of skills he could learn from the get go. It''s crazy but he couldn''t help but smile because of the situation. Maybe due to the possibility of him becoming a lot stronger, his feeling of helplessness was reduced. "If I can learn all of these, why not learn them all right?" He eagerly touched the hud to click the yes button but he accidentally touched the question mark instead of the ''Y'' and it showed something easily missable. "Clicking the words shows the information of the skill? Then I''ll try clicking on other things as well." With this newly found information, he started clicking on the skills. The basic skills only said generic information like ''Teaches the basic sword handling motions.'' But other stuff like the Detection, Sprinting, Battle aura and Magic force made him stop for a second.
Detection(Passive) - Once learned, it makes you alert of the surroundings preventing ambush by hostile enemies. Sprinting(Active) - Once used, it makes your running faster for a moment. Unlock Battle Aura(Active:Unlisted) - Once learned, the character will realize the existence of battle aura. Greatly improves battle power. Unlock Magic Force(Passive: Unlisted) - Once learned, the character will realize the existence of magic force. Greatly improves magical aptitude.
After knowing the basic descriptions of the skills. Reeve learned all of the free skills given to him. One by one it seemed that something had changed within him even though he was still the same as before. The most prominent change is that he can see a faint glow surrounding his body and the environment if he took a closer look. "Are these the battle aura and magic force?" After a few moments, a message showed up in front of him that said.
Magic Force unlocked! Adding 1 point to Magic. Magic skill prices are now reduced.
Another one showed up when he dismissed the first one but the message was different from the first.
Battle Aura unlocked! Adding 1 point to Strength, Constitution and Dexterity. Character can now advance a tier of a passive skill. You may now choose 1: Basic Sword Mastery -> Intermediate Sword Mastery [Select? Y/N] Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.Basic Shield Mastery -> Intermediate Shield Mastery [Select? Y/N]
With the options shown to him, it would be dumb to not pick the sword handling because it''s his primary offensive means to battle at the moment. So after advancing from Basic to Intermediate, he immediately realized new motions that can be applied in battle. "Amazing! So this is what it feels like." Advancing the tier of the sword handling skill made him feel like he always knew how to handle swords that way. Of course this wasn''t truly the case. The villagers knew not of this way of handling the sword. If it weren''t for that he couldn''t have distinguished fact from fiction. He wanted to start practicing with a sword he picked up from the village before leaving but he knew that there are more things in the hud he needs to inspect. He checked the hud once more and now he''s looking at the place where he can use his points to learn skills. "So this is called the ''Skill Shop'' I didn''t know there were this much skills to be learned." He was looking at the general tab of the skill shop. It was overwhelming to see that many skills shown. Some are just basic stuff like Cooking, Sewing, Swimming and Gardening. While others are more combat oriented. "But these are all basic tiers. Let me check the intermediate." When he browsed higher tiers, it seemed that in order to check the higher tier class you''ll need to at least know the tier below it. Reeve saw that he can learn Advanced Sword Handling by using 30 points which is something too pricey. Assuming that each level can earn you a skill point then he''ll need 17 more levels and then use it all just to advance a tier. He was counting on the premise that he can advance the tier without expending that much points on a single skill. He sat down for a few hours checking and strategising about ways to make use of the points he had right now. Reeve narrowed the list of the skils he wanted to purchase to just a few.
Gauger(Active: Unlisted|Ungrindable) - [5 Point(s)](Purchase? Y/N) Enhanced Reflex(Passive) [3 Point(s)](Purchase? Y/N) Affinity Roll(Passive: Unlisted) [2 Point(s)](Purchase? Y/N) Sword Skill - Cross Cut(Active) [1 Point(s)](Purchase? Y/N) Battle Skill - Quick Counter(Active) [2 Point(s)](Purchase? Y/N)
Gauger - Gives the basic information of a monster. Enhanced Reflex - Grants you greater ability to perceive incoming attacks. Affinity Roll - Grants you a random basic mastery of an element. Cross Cut - A skill that creates a cross shaped slash to the enemy. Quick Counter - Gives you the opportunity to attack sometimes if you dodge or defended well in battle.
Reeve knew these skills are the most important to have right now if he wants to survive the journey to the settlements. He used all his skil points in one go without any regret. The affinity roll gave him a passive skill called ''Earth Mastery'' and a new skill called ''Earth Bullet''. While looking at the hud he also noticed that he can distribute points to his attributes. He added 5 points to Strength, 1 point to Constitution, 2 points to Dexterity and 5 points to Magic. The reason he put so much into magic is that he wanted to use magic while fighting. Magic although common in other races was rare for humans. They gain high social standing not only in local villages but also in the kingdom. Being able to use magic proficiently will turn the tide of battle if things aren''t going your way while using a sword. After finally spending all the points that he had, a message popped up.
Points are now distributed. Assessment of possible classes is finished. Would you like to select your class? (Y/N)
"Now that you mention it. It says none on the hud. Would it only show up after I finish using all the spare points?" He clicked yes and the list was shown.
Swordsman [Y/N] Vanguard [Y/N] Swordmage [Y/N] Mage[Y/N] Hunter [Y/N]
Swordsman: Has great affinity to swords. Growth Rate(Str: C+|Con: C-|Dex: C|Mag: F|Cha: D) Vanguard: Has great affinity when wielding both sword and shield. Growth Rate(Str: C+|Con: C|Dex: C-|Mag: F|Cha: D) Swordmage: Has great blend of magic and sword. Growth Rate(Str: C|Con: D-|Dex: D+|Mag: C|Cha: D) Mage: Has great control of the elements and can do well even in close range. Growth Rate(Str: F+|Con: F+|Dex: D+|Mag: C+|Cha: D+) Hunter: Has excellent hunting and tracking skills. Proficient with the bow. Growth Rate(Str: D+|Con: D-|Dex: C+|Mag: F|Cha: D)
As much as he wanted to take the Hunter class, he knew his best choice would be to take the Swordmage class. Being able to use both sword and magic could aid him well in battle. Reeve tried tapping the growth rate to see if there''s any information.
Growth Rate: Determines the distribution of attributes when characters level up.
And with that his mind was settled, he tapped the ''Y'' button near the name of the class he chose. A message popped up after picking.
Swordmage has been chosen as the primary class. Magic Force has increased by 2 levels. Battle Aura has increased by 2 levels.
"I guess this is how those monsters keep getting stronger. They can distribute the free attribute points that the unawakened can''t while also being able to learn skills easily." Reeve thought that this is quite unfair to be honest. A lot of people in this world needed to work hard to use a skill but the otherworlders with just a tap in the hud can learn many things. He now realized why Raguel warned him of their strength. The otherworlders cannot be underestimated. Each and everyone of them can get stronger if they wanted to. This was a wake up call for him. He can''t just look for Erdrick and his companions blindly without properly training. The otherworlders came to this world approximately three months ago meaning they had a head start of three months. He needed to find a way to increase his power fast while gathering information about the otherworlders. The dirt road heading to the nearest village is mostly safe but he knew that being wary of bandits and monsters is the right choice. He wanted to look at the hud more but he would need to wake up early tomorrow so that he could take advantage of daylight. He started a fire and slept near it. Weaker monsters instinctively avoid lit up places if they don''t have the numbers to back it up. Just to be on the safe side, he activated detection to sense enemies that might come to harm him. Reeve had hoped that there won''t be a group of monsters that attack him while sleeping. It was still dark, the fire has burnt out, the tree leaves swayed, whispers were heard but it''s only the wind. Reeve woke up with the sound of alarm ringing in his mind. Still groggy he didn''t know the severity of the situation. More than a dozen goblins are closing in on his area. Reeve knew that these monsters already located him. He wielded his sword while sharpening his senses. The detection skill only said that the enemy was close but it didn''t say the distance. After a few moments, goblins jumped out of the bushes screaming monstrously. They wielded a shoddy stone knives and crazily ran towards Reeve. It was a great opportunity to try out his skills. First he raised his hands and said Earth Bullet in his mind. Surprisingly, after saying that on top of his hand is a piece of rock that formed after some dust collected. He pushed the hovering pieces of rocks in the direction of the goblins. The rock''s speed was impressive. In just a second, it hit the goblin''s head and killed them before even coming close. He rejoiced in his success. He felt invincible. With magic he knew that battles will be easily taken care of. One by one, the goblins were killed. Some even ran away but the earth bullet hit them before they can even do so. After he finished the last remaining goblin, he let out a huge laugh and relaxed. Eleven goblin corpses lay there motionless while he remained standing. He was happy for a moment then he realized a shooting pain through his back and when he touched it he saw blood dripping from his fingers. "I''m.. bleeding?" His heart started beating fast, as he panicked but when he looked in his back, he saw the two other goblins. It seemed that they circled back while the others distracted him. He was a fool. The goblins laughed as he staggered. "This can''t be.. I''ll.. die if I don''t do anything!" He quickly distanced himself from the enemies by using his sprinting skill. The first one rushed to end his life once and for all, it screamed as it closed the distance. He had the same weapon the ones he killed had. Reeve prepared his sword and when the range between him and the goblin was close enough. He used his only sword skill. ''Cross Cut!'' He yelled in his mind. Gritting his teeth while feeling the pain in his back. His body moved and slashed the enemy in a crosslike fashion. Blood splashed onto him mixing with his own. Even though the battle just started his consciousness was wavering. ''My life can''t be over like this! I need to end this battle before I collapse.'' He said to himself as the desperation showed in his face. While feeling feverish, the last goblin soon came to his narrowed vision. It tried slashing Reeve recklessly but it was for naught. The goblin had missed. After successfully dodging the attack, it seemed for a moment, the world slowed down. He can clearly see the goblin''s movement as it finished the attack. ''Quick Counter?'' He thought. This situation is his only chance left to land the killing blow. Reeve placed his hand near the face of the goblin and yelled "EARTH BULLET!" It hit the enemy successfully! But Reeve didn''t notice. With all his strength, he casted the spell again and again until the enemy''s face was beyond recognition. It was then that everything went black. Chapter 2: Raid in the Heart ''Grow up, kid! Your whole village died because of your stupidity.'' Those words are the first thing he remembered when he came to. The pain in his back was ever present. The severity of the situation is what he feared the most. Reeve knew that if he doesn''t get help then he''d die right here. The life returned to him would be in vain. With that resolve, he tried standing up but someone smashed his head onto the ground. "Don''t stand up, idiot! Do you wanna die?" He quickly recognized that it was a voice of a girl. When he looked up, she noticed her staff glowing. It looks like she was healing him. After a few seconds, the pain gradually lessened as the blood stopped and the wound closed. The girl had saved him from certain death, she is exceptionally beautiful, with silver hair and light brown eyes. She wears modest garments and carries a long staff. Judging from her attire, she appears to be a mage. "Thank you." He was once again saved by someone. He understood that there wasn''t any difference from who he was before the incident. He was still cocky and overconfident. It made him feel pathetic. "You sure got guts, huh? Fighting all those by yourself. If you have a sword skill then I take that you also know of Battle Aura? Why didn''t you use it? Did you forget? Or are you retarded?" He remembered that he had that skill, but he didn''t know its purpose. It seems like Battle Aura is something that can be used during battle. "Wait, you also used magic. Does that mean you''re a mage? Then how the hell did you get a sword skill? What''s your class?" ''Mage? Sword Skill? Class?'' These are words from the hud. It would only mean that this person is an. "Otherworlder.. Are you an otherworlder?" Reeve said in a cold distant tone. His mood shifted from being grateful to being disgusted. ''The otherworlders are people you cannot trust.'' He said to himself. "Yeah got a problem with that? Aren''t you one too?" Reeve didn''t reply. He didn''t even look at her anymore. Being saved by an otherworlder left him with conflicted feelings. "Not replying? Not that grateful, huh? Well whatever expect no help from me in the future." The girl left him lying there still resting. Reeve can''t believe he got saved by them. Otherworlders are evil, he knew of their true faces. The greed behind the mask of lies. He felt his strength was coming back, so he sat up. A message showed up in front of him.
You have gained a level. +3 Strength +1 Constitution +2 Dexterity +3 Magic +2 Charisma +1 Skill Point(s) Skills levels updated! Cross Cut gained 1 level(s) Earth Bullet gained 1 level(s) Sprinting gained 1 level(s) Intermediate Sword Mastery gained 1 level(s) Basic Earth Mastery gained 1 level(s) Detection gained 1 level(s) Enhanced Reflex gained 1 level(s) Quick Counter gained 1 level(s) Near Life and Death Bonus gives you 5 extra skill points!
It seems as though the battle not only made him level up but also gave him a skill update. Add to that the near death bonus he got, he basically has a large amount of skill points he can use if he ever needed a new skill. He was surprised that he didn''t get any attribute points after leveling up because it was automatically distributed. If battles are the only way to gain levels then he wanted to kill many monsters in order to gain strength. He wanted to reach the nearest settlement to get better gear if he''s gonna hunt monsters. It proved in the last battle that normal clothing would get you killed. He wanted to avoid a serious injury in the future. Wyewood has a series of low stone walls that divides and encircles the village. This village was larger than Erdale by two fold. It was almost at the state where it could be called a small town. The most prominent tavern in the village is The Scoundrel''s Mace. Thankfully, it was still open when Reeve arrived at the village. His purpose here is to gather information but it was too early for the local guild to be open so he stayed at the tavern to kill time. Several people were also at the tavern, some are drunk, some sleeping, and some are waiting like him. The owner didn''t mind the customers as long as they bought something. Reeve ordered bread and water to sate his hunger while waiting. Dawn is almost upon them. He would not wait for long. "Hey guys Willes is recruiting again. If you want to join the raid then come with me quick!" The young man who came in was Alas, he has matted auburn hair and blue eyes. He wears a chain mail and wields a long sword and shield. Signs of his youth showed in his actions. Reeve followed them outside and saw numerous people lining up for a dungeon raid. Raiding parties like this might''ve started on another village but hop from village to village in order to get more men. Since conquering dungeons is quite difficult, the success of the raid depends on how many men you have with you. Several people lined up to enlist for the raiding party. Reeve approached one of the recruiters. "Oh hey! Wanna sign up? After we finish raiding the dungeon, at least 1 gold will be given to you!" 1 gold is a huge amount but it''s just a fraction of what you can actually earn during a dungeon raid. Every contribution you make in the successful completion of the raid will increase what you actually earn. The gold coin is the insurance if the raid is declared failure. The primary reason why people go there is because of the mana crystals that form deep into the dungeon. These crystals are used to make catalysts for magic. It seems that there is a huge demand right now. Monster parts are also taken and sold to alchemists and mages. There are even rare ores that can be found inside. The dungeons both scream danger and profit. One cannot exist without the other. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings."When will the raid take it''s course?" "We''ll be leaving today actually. The dungeon is not far from here and this is our last stop." "I see then sign me up." The raiding party is named ''Valiant Blades'', a newly formed party that is formed by experienced warriors. Reeve was assigned to the frontlines partly due to him asking if he could be there. The reason he joined is because of the opportunity of raising his level by fighting monsters. There will be a lot of people in the front so he won''t be easily ambushed like last time. He also wanted to test his skills during battles. "Okay it''s a done deal! If you don''t have an armor or a weapon then you can go request one from Leiver. Just tell him that Kurn wants to lend you one." The raiding party is generous enough to lend weapons. This is the norm when it comes to raids. The group will supply the weapons so that none will come unprepared. They might as well be walking corpses if they don''t have one to begin with. "Alright thanks." Reeve headed to the party''s armory. There he saw a line of people inquiring about weapons. The line was populated by ten people including Reeve. The others are now just waiting until the party moves. To his estimation, the raiding party had almost eighty people in it. The elites of the group had armors you can only get at cities and the mages in the group had expensive looking staves. Dusk creeped in as the moving party began it''s journey. They walked through the forest and are not following the dirt path. Occasionally, goblins will attack in numbers but they were wiped out. People around these parts are used to fighting off goblins. Reeve was part of the left wing in the front lines. With him are almost fifteen people. He took a iron sword and a wooden shield from the party''s armory and when he has an opportunity to practice it, he takes a couple of swings. He wanted to get used to the feeling of wielding a sword fast. None in his group knew that he can also use magic but it wasn''t that important to tell them he thought. The forest grew thicker and thicker as they traversed through it. Screams coming from the feral wild can be heard from a distance. The party grew anxious as they enter the heart of the forest. It was there that a cave below ground exists. It''s been there for years, several people tried exploring it but none who dared going to the bottom returned. Some tried mapping the first parts of the dungeon and they sold it for a hefty amount of money. And that is how the party was formed. After reaching the entrance, the party set up camps and stations. This will be the base of operations during the raid. They will try mapping the place until they reach the end of the dungeon. It will take a while for them to finish conquering the dungeon so they brought along a huge amount of supplies. Reeve ate the food serve to them. It was only a hot soup and bread but it was alright for him. While eating a girl suddenly talked to her from the back. "You really have a death wish huh?" Reeve looked back and saw the girl that saved her with her arms crossed making an imposing stance. He guessed that she was taking part of the raid to also raise her strength. He didn''t want to acquaint himself with otherworlders so he plans to ignore her until this is all over. "Don''t talk to me. I''ll pay you back for saving me in the future." He put some distance between her and him while eating his meal. "Why do you hate me that much? Did you really want to die back then?" "Yes, so go away." Even talking to otherworlders was difficult for him. He was reminded of the slaughter everytime he sees her. "Suit yourself! I don''t even care anymore." She left his sight and went into one of the tents. "Haha! You have balls boy! She even approached you and you turned her down that easily!" The man talking to Reeve was named Jeor. He was the captain of the left wing responsible for people like Reeve. Tomorrow, the left wing will be in his hands. "She''s an otherworlder. She can''t be trusted." Reeve didn''t care that he divulged that information. Whether or not the information about her being an otherworlder was important is trivial to him. "Oh I see! Well that''s lucky for us! They say they are stronger than us. I''m gonna have to prove them wrong I guess! Haha." He showed his biceps while saying that. The man in front of him had dark hair and brown eyes. Judging by the scars all over his aging body, it seems that he had his own fair share of combat. He has a steel axe strapped which covered most of his back. His most prominent feature may be his hand which had two missing fingers. "Don''t underestimate them. They''re monsters in battle." "I see.. I see.. Well that''s good news for us right? Having a ''monster'' like that in our party means less trouble." Jeor thought that what Reeve meant by ''monsters'' is that they excel in combat. "I''ll watch my back if I were you. People like her don''t care about us." Reeve finished eating and had decided to go to one of the tents. He wanted a good night''s sleep before any of the battles start. He left Jeor there without even hearing his reply. "Why did you talk to that kid? He looks a bit antisocial." The one who approached Jeor was the head cleric of the group, Lei. "I think he''ll be a great asset in the raid." Jeor looked at Reeve as he entered the tent as if he''s appraising him. "Why would you say that?" "I have this feeling that he''s not normal. He''s like us. He faced close to death situations. You can see it in his eyes." "I see.." The two had been working together for decades. Lei trusted Jeor''s words. They had faced many deadly situations before and his instinct never failed him. She would''t even dare going to the dungeon if Jeor wasn''t around that''s just how important Jeor is for the raid. "You should get some sleep. We scout at dawn." "Who will you be taking?" "That kid and the mage girl too. I''ll also take Kurn''s son." "Only three?" Lei was clearly worried, she didn''t want his old friend to die so soon. "Don''t worry we already have a map of the first part of the dungeon. We''re just going there to confirm the legitimacy of the map. The worst thing that can happen to us is if we accidentally enter a goblin''s nest and even then I could get out without a problem." "Just don''t underestimate a dungeon." "Yes ma''am." And with that the plan to enter the dungeon has been set. The less people you bring to a scout, the higher mobility you have. That is why Jeor only wanted a few people to come with him. Any more and it will attract attention. He looked forward to seeing the ability of Reeve and the girl. They were by far the most promising of the recruits. Chapter 3: True Colors The dungeon''s first floor boasted it''s darkness as the vines encroached the walls and moss ate the ground. It was unclear as to how many floors this dungeon had. There were rumors that it was about 10 floors deep. Saying its approximately ten floors means it would take over two weeks to finish conquering it. They say that this is the biggest raid that ever happened in the kingdom and that the king has personally sent some of his knights to aid the leader. The four walked through the darkness. The entrance is so narrow that two people won''t fit side by side. They had to walk in a straight line to proceed. The floor''s slippery due to the moss and smooth rocks that are plentiful in the floor. It''d be too embarrassing if Reeve were to slip so he walked while staying cautious. In front of him was the girl that saved her before. He''s still wary of her movements so he stayed at the back until they make it to the wider rooms of the dungeon. He didn''t know if he could trust the girl. He knew that she saved him but it''s far too suspicious. She''s too kind, and that''s not something an otherworlder would do in his eyes. While they walked through the tight path, they placed torches that would light the way for the raiding party. This was a common practice for scouts. Reeve was still surprised by Jeor''s proposal of scouting with him. They reached a wide room that may surprise many because of how narrow the opening was. "The map says that there''s a goblin''s nest near this place. We best be silent." With a group this small, being surrounded by goblins would not be a good way to start the raid. During the introductions, he learned that the girl''s name was Hekate or Katie for short. The one besides him was Alas, the boy who was recruiting yesterday. It seems like he was the son of the blacksmith who provided the weapons for the raid. Alas seemed too tense for his own good. Maybe it was his first time to scout? His weapons showing signs of being new supported Reeve''s hypothesis. Katie on the other hand wasn''t bothered by the warning. She placed the torches and walked casually. It looks as if she wasn''t in a dungeon at all. This struck a nerve to Reeve even he was kinda anxious. He had been almost killed by goblins but that was because of his overconfidence about the situation. He convinced himself that he looked forward to fighting the goblins. "Hey Reeve have you been to a dungeon before?" Alas whispered as they walked through the darkness. "No this is my first time. You?" "This is the first for me as well. I''m kinda worried that something might happen but excited at the same time. Hehe" His face clearly did not show his excitement. Beads of sweat can be seen in his forehead while he whispered that. "I see, there''s a chance that we''ll encounter goblins soon so look forward to that." "W-What?! Are you serious? We need to retreat!" Alas accidentally shouted making everyone looked at him with a surprised face. "I was clearly joking. Relax for god''s sake." "I-I see. Hehe. I knew that." A sense of relief was shown in his face after I told him it''s a joke but the chance of encountering some is truly high. "Can you both keep your mouths shut?" Katie looked at us with agitation as she followed Jeor obediently. She might also be scared of encountering goblins in the dungeon. Goblins are known to be much stronger in dungeons. Jeor didn''t seem to care about Alas'' scream it even made him chuckle a bit. A few hours passed and the first floor seemed like it''d go on forever. Before reaching the end, they encountered something unusual. A garbled noise was heard from afar. Reeve''s detection skill activated and warned him of hostile enemies. Jeor hurled his torch over to the source of the noise and there showed goblins with their sharp nails and nasty looking teeth. "Cave Goblins." Jeor said as he took the axe from his back and readied himself for battle. Reeve noticed an aura covering not only Jeor''s body but also his weapon. He guessed that it was Battle Aura. Following Jeor''s actions, he also activated his Battle Aura. The other two prepared as well, Alas raised his sword and shield while Katie as the healer and mage stayed in the back lines. Reeve and Jeor will serve as the vanguard while Alas protects the back line. This was the typical formation of dungeon parties. Cave Goblins are known for their ability to attack even in the pitch black darkness. They were born in caves so they rely heavily on their sense of smell and hearing. They attack in groups and are known to be smarter than the average forest goblin. These goblins lead to the death in the majority of dungeon parties raiding this place. "I see that you also know of Battle Aura so do be careful okay boy?" Jeor then charged to the enemy there are approximately 20 in front of them. "What do you mean?" Reeve shouted as he also ran following Jeor''s lead. "Katie! Light!" Jeor ordered as he started battling three goblins simultaneously. "Yes! Blinding Light!" Katie raised her staff and with it came a flash of light that blinded the goblins. Being used to darkness became their weakness as they all cowered back from the intense brightness. The spell gave Jeor and Reeve the opportunity to defeat several goblins while they were blinded. If Reeve had looked back, he''d also be blinded by the spell and thus be the end of him. Using his cross cut skill, he defeated many monsters one by one. The Battle Aura also helped a lot. He easily tanked all the attack because of the aura enveloping him. Battle Aura is the primary buff used by warriors of Erelest to combat mages and monsters. It significantly raises both defense and magical defense that the person has. Furthermore, the aura also increases your attack depending on how strong the aura enveloping your body has. It''s crucial for dungeon parties to have these kinds of people in the group but having a battle aura is uncommon even for experienced fighters. And that''s why Jeor was assigned as the leader of the left wing and the scouts. He excelled in using Battle Aura after years of training. He''s also an ex-knight of the Kingdom of Alarus, which is the kingdom where they are in. The goblin slaughter was inevitable with the light magic aiding Reeve and Jeor, the battle become so one sided that the enemies retreated. They quickly eliminated those who are escaping to prevent them from gathering reinforcement for a possible ambush in the future. The goblins didn''t stand a chance and couldn''t recover from the initial shock and them being blinded by the light. These factored in to their defeat. The fight ended with no injuries, it would be considered a great success for a scouting party. Jeor had also marked the area on the map he was carrying to serve as a warning next time they pass through here. After the battle, Reeve''s body suddenly became heavy as his breathing got deeper and deeper. It seems that using Battle Aura takes a toll of one''s own body. "Haha! Hey boy tired aren''t you? Are you just starting to get the hang of using Battle Aura?" Reeve has no clue if Jeor''s voice was condescending or was merely joking. He didn''t know that the skill would deplete his stamina after just one battle. "Is this normal?" Reeve asked knowing that the person he is asking was an expert. "Well yeah, I remember when I first started using the skill. I can''t even move a muscle after just one battle. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.It''s a surprise that you can even talk. Let''s rest here for a few minutes then head back to camp." Reeve saw that he has a new message that popped up. He was about to check it out when. SLAP! Reeve shocked from what happened looked at the person who slapped him. The one who slapped him was the otherworlder, Katie. When he looked at her, he saw her face that showed a stressed out demeanor. "IDIOT! IDIOT! YOU REALLY DO HAVE A DEATH WISH HUH?!" "What are you talking about?" Reeve felt clueless about the situation. He din''t know why she had to slap him. "You''re too careless! If you didn''t know how to use something properly, then practice without any danger! What you''re doing will be the death of you. Don''t you have anyone that worries about you?! Dying like this is idiotic! If we weren''t here, and you used that skill then what would''ve happened? YOU''D BE DEAD WHERE YOU STAND!" All became clear to Reeve, this girl didn''t want him to die. The girl that he hated for the sins of others. He ignored every bit of kindness she had shown him. In front of him was a girl who treasured life. Someone who would help a dying stranger whom she shouldn''t even be approaching. With that understanding, he finally talked. "I''m sorry to disappoint you but all of them are dead by the hands of you otherworlders. They let them be killed as they let me watch from afar. I saw women and children die. I saw people who treated me like family call out my name as they get murdered by monsters." Reeve reminisced with pure hatred shown in his face. She now knew that he wasn''t like them. He wasn''t from another world. He is from this world but has awakened on his own and is now seeking revenge that much is clear. If it continues on like this, he would live for vengeance and more people will die. "We''re not all like that." She wanted to convince him of that but she also knew the darkness that comes with the power given to them. Without the hud, all of them would''ve died already. In this world, people without magic or strength would be equivalent to pigs waiting for slaughter when fights are involved. The first days of having been transported here was rough for them. They didn''t know where to go and what to do. They even thought that this was just a game that would resurrect you if you die. It wasn''t the case. People that died never came back. It was a game set with a permadeath status, many thought. Lots of people killed by monsters before they mastering the basics of the hud. Some who survived got enslaved by kings and other nobility by means of contracts. They provided food and resources but it''s just a way of luring them in. Katie was one of the lucky few to have survived the first months. She was transported to a town that welcomed her and educated her about the world. After gaining enough strength, she traveled all over the kingdom in order to gather information about people like her. It''s there that she realized what had happened to those who are unfortunate. Even today, some are hiding from the general populace but some who grew in power went on a power trip while destroying every town they encountered. The latter victimized Reeve''s town and in turn awoken him. This was the way of the world right now. People call this era, the Age of Others. A worldwide power struggle between nations will happen soon after they amassed an army of otherworlders. Rumors of war can be heard all over the place. They knew that with this much disturbance in the world, war was inevitable. With great power comes the yearning for it. Human''s greed will play a part in this world''s destruction if people aren''t careful. Thinking about it made Katie tremble with fear knowing that they''d be used as weapons. The amount of lives that will be lost is too unbearable for her. She wanted to run away but she knew she had to do something. That was when she encountered Reeve in a near death state. She even followed Reeve on this raid in order to watch over him. She thought that if she could even save a few lives then she won''t feel useless about the situation. She didn''t know that who she saved might end up hunting people like her. Even though she now realized what she had done, no regret came across her mind. To her, every life is precious and there are already too many that have been sacrificed. "Now that you know my reason for hating you then don''t come near me. Seeing you otherworlders makes my blood boil. I''ll send you guys back to your world and make you think twice from ever coming back." All Katie could do was silently follow as the four of them make their way out of the dungeon. They successfully completed their mission but the atmosphere was too heavy for a celebration. By the time they got out, night had already fallen and the mood outside was completely different. Alcohol was overflowing, everyone enjoyed their last day of camping cause tomorrow will be the day that the group will start the raid. Reeve finally opened the message from the hud. He had forgotten to check it out while they were making their way out of the dungeon.
You have gained a level! +3 Strength +1 Constitution +2 Dexterity +3 Magic +2 Charisma +1 Skill Point(s) Skills levels updated! Cross Cut gained 2 level(s) Battle Aura gained 1 level(s) Intermediate Sword Mastery gained 1 level(s) Basic Shield Mastery gained 1 level(s) Detection gained 1 level(s)
After realizing that he has many unused points, he browsed the Skill Shop to see if there''s anything he needs. But much to his disappointment, there was no skills that can be bought by the skill points he has now. Reeve wasn''t at the camp when he opened this. He was training at a forest clearing away from the camp. He practiced using his Battle Aura so that next time he won''t run out of gas when fighting continuously. Morning arrived and Reeve was woken up by Alas who was rounding up people to prepare for the raid. The mood was tense as the leader of the party stood at the front lines. It was the first time Reeve had seen him. He can tell that the leader was in his prime. He can walk with ease even though he carries a huge sword in his back. "Men of Erelest! We of the kingdom of Alarus will now take part not of a journey but of a struggle! A struggle to- Fuhahahahaha! Sorry I can''t! Hahahaha" Alister can''t make a straight face and can''t even finish three sentences before he straight up laughed his heart out. Other veterans laughed as well. Reeve was astonished by the fact that their leader is somewhat carefree. "Anyway, I don''t have any kind of speech that will bolster your morales any more than I''ve given already. I provided alcohol and weapons and armor. I can even provide women if you survived this raid. You are in the best possible condition before raiding a dungeon so I will only say this once. Don''t disappoint me." He stretched out his hands to the troops like he was offering victory already. What he said was true. There''s no excuse for them not having the best state imaginable. He showed no emotion other than confidence. It was clear that he would not retreat even in the most dire situations. Everyone knew that they were entering a life or death situation once they are inside. This is the man they call Alister Greyheart, the dungeon conqueror.