《Thorn》 Chapter One Behold a Pale Horse ¡°Any plans for after work?¡± Octavia Rossi asked as she stepped through the automatic doors of her shitty corporate job. She ran her fingers through long, flowing red hair that she spent all morning straightening. Something that she strongly disliked, but because of the nature of her work, she had to look her best. Even if precious time was spent doing it. ¡°Nah, nothing too grand. Just gonna head to Scipio¡¯s after work. They have some mean brews there.¡± The man who walked alongside her nodded sagely as they both walked across the large open foyer. His face was handsome, yet weary with time as it slowly crept up on him. Though he was only in his late twenties, he had already developed some grey in his face and his neatly trimmed hair. Dozens of people were already arriving in the hours before the sun rose, no doubt trying to avoid the cruel onslaught of morning traffic. The opening salvo of dawn crept in through the glass doors of the building, gently lighting up the ostentatious display of wealth only a multi-million dollar company could afford. A thin smile crossed the woman¡¯s face as she brushed a few strands of her crimson red hair that fell just over her dark brown eyes. ¡°Ah, I was thinking about that. But I don¡¯t think I can handle another night of drinking with you, Derrick.¡± ¡°Blah. It¡¯s not that bad. Trust me, when I was younger and working in restaurants, I drank like a man in the desert.¡± The man chuckled as he ran his hands across his stubble. ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah. You say that a lot, old man.¡± She teased him as she took long strides towards the elevator door, her black dress pants flowing easily as she moved. The banter was a pretty normal part of the day, and has been a pretty habitual thing since she started here five years ago, which made her just shy of twenty-six now. Oh, how the years have passed her by. It wasn¡¯t all bad, though. She made good money and had a lofty spot as a project manager for a few years now. A position that she earned through her own blood, sweat, and tears. She was always striving to be better than yesterday. It was a curse, as much as it was a blessing that she learned from her dear parents. It¡¯s what helped her climb the corporate ladder, and what got her top marks in college. It was a mindset tattooed on her bones from her dear parents as a parting gift. Excellence is not attained through inaction. That¡¯s what her father taught her. Even now, after all these years, she could remember his face as he hounded her every step of the way, pushing her further and harder. ¡°What can I say? I¡¯m a man of simple taste.¡± Derrick mused as he glanced around the lobby. The distant sight of the elevators neared as they both walked in tandem. Octavia¡¯s steps were lithe but filled with purpose, his were loose, and relaxed. Both are opposing, yet the same, unified, as this was the same ritual they have done together every morning and night for the last few years. ¡°Hardly a man, yet very simple.¡± The woman¡¯s red lips swept upwards into a small smile as the sounds of her high heels clicking against stone faded as she crossed over to the carpet. Polished marble and granite adorned the walls and ceilings, as well as countless portraits that displayed greener pastures frozen in time. Easily dozens of people were already here, gathering around the six elevator doors. ¡°You wound me, truly.¡± A faux frown crossed his handsome face, causing his skin to wrinkle around his ocean blue eyes. It was a look that could rival that of a hurt puppy. ¡°Boo hoo.¡± She winked as she neared the elevator. The ambiance of multiple conversations filled the air in a constant, dizzying murmur. One that was too loud for this early in the morning. Thankfully, the lingering effects of coffee cut through most of that annoyance. Though it was only going to last a few more hours until she could get to the second cup. Silence fell between the two friends as they waited patiently for the elevator to arrive. Seconds ticked by, almost painfully slow. ¡°Oh, hey Octavia, and Derrick. How are you two this morning?¡± A familiar voice cut through the ambiance, causing the woman to glance at the new arrival.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. It was their mutual friend, Julia who they took under their wing when she joined the company roughly a year and a half ago. She was a shorter girl, easily a meter and a half tall. Her long black hair was tied up in a low ponytail, dangling over a black sports jacket that she had yet to take off. ¡°Good. Just another day.¡± She threw a cheerful smile towards the woman. Julia was always a beam of positivity in an otherwise dreary corporate environment. The easiest thing to equate her too was like a golden retriever with infectious energy. One that kept Octavia from growing frustrated with the constant ineptitude displayed by a vast majority of her coworkers. ¡°Oh, you know, I¡¯m here.¡± The man replied with as much energy as a sloth as he shrugged. He wasn¡¯t much of a person in the early mornings. ¡°I see! How are your reports coming? We have a big meeting today, after all.¡± Julia shifted her plain black purse to the front and rifled through it for something. ¡°Already done, with the team budget accounted for. The team should finish before next week¡¯s deadline with the rate we are moving.¡± Octavia shrugged as she pulled her attention back to the front. It was light work for her, after all. Her team¡¯s morale was high, and their productivity even higher. Because she wouldn¡¯t suffer from the general inefficiency that plagued this company. Granted, there were still issues here and there, but what team didn¡¯t have problems? ¡°I finished mine a few days ago.¡± Derrick shrugged again before he ran his calloused fingers through his short trimmed hair. ¡°Ugh, I wish I was as good as you guys. I¡¯m a little behind myself, but hopefully I can finish it before noon.¡± Julia pouted as she pulled out two tubes of generic chapstick, handing one over to Octavia. "Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll get there. It took us a bit to learn time management.¡± The red-headed woman consoled her as she took the spare chapstick. Using the polished metal near the elevator door, she applied it and glanced at her makeup as she did so. It wasn¡¯t anything extreme. Just enough to make her eyes pop and emphasize her sharp features and narrow nose. If it wasn¡¯t for trying to look nice at this place, she wouldn¡¯t wear makeup at all. Julia nodded as she slid her chapstick back into her oversized bag. Derrick, luckily, said little as he stared at the elevator door. As much as he liked to downplay it, his long nights of drinking were catching up to him. The elevator opened with a soft ding, and the harsh white lighting spilled into the dimly lit foyer. As one, everyone rushed into the elevator, packed like sardines. Octavia pushed in near the opening, and quickly adjusted her maroon blouse. Just another day, and hopefully a quick one, so that she could go home and catch up on some sleep. She waited patiently while everyone selected their destinations, and when she saw her chance, she hit the button for the fourth floor. As the door shut, the elevator jerked slightly before it traveled upwards. ¡°Is it too late to go home?¡± Derrick broke the strangely silent elevator ride, eliciting a few chuckles. ¡°Yeah, we just missed the exit.¡± Another voice called from the back. Someone that Octavia recognized as Tony from IT. He wasn¡¯t someone who she interacted with a large amount, but he was a pretty chill guy from what she knew. A short time later, the elevator came to a halt and with a soft ding; the door opened. A large handful of people exited, leaving the elevator a bit more sparse. Mentally, Octavia whistled to herself as she struggled with the rising feelings of annoyance. Honestly, she just wanted to go home and crawl into bed. This place was getting on her nerves more and more. It felt like every second that she was here; the walls were closing in and choking the air out of her lungs. This job was stifling. Yes, it paid well, yes it was such a rare opportunity, but now, it was just getting old. Either she moved up the ladder this year, or she was going to quit. That much was certain. Another ding reminded her she was on the second floor. Another step closer to her exit. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to steady her nerves. Another ding sounded, and Octavia took another deep breath. She pumped herself up mentally. As much as she didn¡¯t want to be here, her emotions had to be kept in check. The final ding heralded her arrival to her floor, and a sigh escaped her lips as she opened her eyes, but the light of the fourth floor did not greet her. All she saw was the snow white words that floated in the darkness.
Welcome! Your world has passed into the multiverse! Please stand by as you are taken to the tutorial zone.
Chapter 2 The Advisor Octavia¡¯s heart dropped as the words hung in the darkness. A multiverse? Why were there words hanging in the air? Fear blossomed in her chest as all her senses faded. But just as suddenly as it all faded, a blazing white light exploded into existence, followed by the taste of a sterilized room touched her tongue as the feeling of the ground under her feet brought her back to reality.
Please standby as introductory preparations are made..
Her vision once again filled with white words. Each was whole, yet they were opaque enough to see through with no detriment. The words appeared briefly before disappearing, leaving Octavia alone in the unfamiliar room. She whipped her head around, seeing that she was now seated in a white-tiled room. Despite the absence of a light source, the harsh white hospital lighting emanated from above. Two chairs and a single white table sat in the center, with Octavia sitting on one of them. Was she drugged? Knocked out? Was she dragged into this room to play a game with an angry toddler on a bike? The options were myriad, yet everything came up blank. ¡°Hello?¡± she called out into the room, only to find her words stifled at conception falling flat into the stale air.
Preparations completed, please stand by for your advisor.
Once more, the floating words appeared, startling her. Her advisor? What the hell. She tried to bat them away, only to see that her fingers passed right through them as if they didn¡¯t exist. A soft sound split the silence, causing her to jump as she noticed a mannequin who sat across from her. There were no features. Just a flat face on a head shaped like that of a person. There was no hair, just a shiny porcelain sheen that shimmered in the harsh lighting. ¡°Greetings, human. I will be your advisor as you prepare for your tutorial.¡± Its words were a twisting male and female voice, but they were not in sync, only layering amongst each other. ¡°Advisor for what tutorial? Who the hell are you?¡± Octavia hissed as she jumped up in shock. The chair screeched across the floor, and much like her words, the sound fell flat, unable to percolate across the room. The advisor regarded her with its blank face, following her movement. ¡°It is advised to sit. Time is limited.¡± The feeling of chains slithering around Octavia¡¯s legs punctuated its strange words, pulling her down onto the chair, dragging her back to the table. A feeling of helplessness settled on the woman as the strange power unfurled and took over her legs. ¡°Are you god?¡± The words left her lips as she came to terms with the fact that death may have come for her early. Was this her judgment? She tried her best to be a good person, yet staring at whatever this made her doubt all the choices she¡¯s ever made up to this point. ¡°Negative. I am the system.¡± Its strange voice echoed in the air. ¡°Regarding your previous query, the system is a multi-universal force. Your universe has just passed the age requirement to join. So welcome.¡± This didn¡¯t seem to be real. This had to be nothing more than a dream. Maybe she overslept and still hadn¡¯t woken up. Now that she thought about it, she couldn¡¯t even recall her morning. But if this was a dream, perhaps, it was best to go with the flow. It wasn¡¯t often that she had lucid dreams, but if it was, all she had to do was take a deep breath. If it wasn¡¯t, well, it was still for the best to go with the flow. Either way, it was happening, and panicking was only going to screw her over. No, she had to take it slow and be pragmatic. Even though she was terrified. ¡°How many universes are there, then?¡± ¡°Currently, one hundred and three. Yours is the most recent.¡± The strange being shot back with no hesitation. That was a strange number to be given. If this was a dream, was her subconscious trying to tell her something? If it wasn¡¯t, then her worldview was going to shatter, and she wouldn¡¯t be ready for that. Instead, Octavia asked a simpler question. ¡°So, what is the role of this system?¡± The strange mannequin tilted its head, seemingly as it stared at Octavia. No more than two seconds later, it spoke. ¡°After consulting your planet¡¯s data, it would seem that the populace has a negative connotation towards a system arriving in a large amount of novels and video game culture.¡° It paused again, and a strange chuckle filled the air. One that sounded like boulders rolling down a mountainside. ¡°How interesting, it seems that your planet knew a little too much.¡± There was a threat implicit in the strange being¡¯s words. One that dumped cold water into Octavia¡¯s soul as the mannequin seemed to grow. Her breath was stolen, and her heart raced, but as soon as it started, it stopped, as if it was nothing more than an illusion. ¡°Unlike the negativity that your reference material portrays, the system is designed to help life grow. From those who seek to grow through combat, or the simple farmer who tends to their crops. The system performs a myriad of functions to aid in that endeavor. Though death is an unavoidable fact of life.¡± The advisor replied, as it sat there, unmoving. Octavia shuddered at the casual display of indifference. Whatever this was transcended reality in a way that she just couldn¡¯t comprehend. Trying to question it seemed fruitless, as no matter how she looked at it, it seemed too good to be true. So what was the underlying reason? There was no such thing as altruism. Everything wanted something, and it was safe that this system was no different. ¡°I see. But what for? What do you get out of it?¡± The words left her lips in a whisper that once again fell flat compared to the swirling voice of the mannequin.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The advisor stared at Octavia. Its response came slower than before, as if it was judging how much it should tell her. ¡°As you are curious, I will answer with some truths. Think of the relationship as mutually beneficially. The system allows growth that wouldn¡¯t inherently be natural to your universe. In turn, it gets data and alternative sources of internal growth. As for the rest, it doesn¡¯t matter to you until it does.¡± Octavia¡¯s eyebrow drifted upwards at the revelation. It was a seemingly beneficial relationship, but there was something more. Not that it mattered. What was she able to do? If what this thing said was true, it¡¯s already taken over whole universes, what was she but a speck of dust?. ¡°Ah, well, in that case, how do I access this sys¨C¡± As the words left her mouth, a screen appeared.
Name: Octavia Rossi Race: Human Class: N/A Level: 0 Subclass: N/A Health Points: 70/70 Mana Points: 80/80 Stamina Points: 60/60 Stats: Strength: 5 Dexterity: 7 Agility:8 Vitality: 7 Constitution: 6 Perception: 9 Will Power: 8 Endurance: 6 Free points: N/A
The words burned themselves into her brain. Meaning that was inherent to each formed in the depths of her mind and how they interacted with her body. It was a truckload of information implanted into her brain in the blink of an eye. It left her twitching, as if she¡¯d just binge studied the night before a major test without sleeping. Something she was acutely familiar with, as she did it many times. ¡°If you have no further questions, we will begin the next phase of preparation. You will select your class. Please note once again the system offers many branching paths. From growth solely through combat to the use of classes that are designated for civilian life. Whatever you choose is solely up to you. But be aware that any class you choose is simply a starting point.¡± As the entity spoke, the pressure that filled her brain vanished, and the knowledge hung just out of reach, though it was easily brought back if she just focused on the words. Her mind, though, was still lagging as she tried to keep up with the mannequin. She felt small and worthless and knocked off balance. Everything that she thought she knew turned out to be false. The reality of it all was too much to bear. But at least now the option was freely given to her. This was a moment in time that she could finally determine her own future, and she would hold on to it till her fingers bled. But did she want to fight? Seeing as there were magic and stats, it was a pretty safe assumption that there were monsters to deal with as well. Maybe not monsters in the traditional terms that she thought of them as, but things she would have to fight nonetheless. The sheer amount of choices was overwhelming. If what this thing said was true, it would simply serve as a catalyst for growth. She could live a simple life away from everything, tending to a garden, or maybe exploring the secrets of this new life? Carefully, she balanced her choices. Growth through combat felt wrong, yet there was an allure to it as though it were a forbidden fruit that could unveil a whole different life if only she took a bite. Growth through her own strength. Excellency wrought with her hands. ¡°I want to do a combat dominant class.¡± The words left her lips in a soft whisper. This was the right choice, a way to unshackle herself from her life. No longer would she be the same woman she had been before. For the first time since she got there, the advisor waved a porcelain hand.
Please choose a class archetype: Warrior: A basic class with a focus towards both offense and defense options. Primarily uses one handed/two handed weapons and shields. Rogue: A basic class with a focus towards swift, overwhelming damage. Primarily uses lighter one handed weapons, and some ranged options. Caster: A basic class with a focus towards magic and the arcane. Primarily uses mediums to cast. Archer: A basic class with a focus towards ranged usage. Primarily uses bows and off-hand weapons. Tank: A basic class with a focus towards defensive skills and crowd control. Primarily uses one handed options with shields.
Octavia¡¯s eyes widened as she took in the classes. They were exactly how she would have pictured a game. The only option that she was missing was a healing class, which made sense because she asked for all combat classes. Regardless, she peeked through them to make up her mind. The first option was the Warrior, which looked like it was the all purpose class. Contextually, it looked like the class that someone picked if they were not sure what they wanted. The next class was the Rogue, which she felt rang with her a little more. While she wasn¡¯t quite eager to pursue the alley of assassinations she associated with the class, it was definitely the option that she felt comfortable with. In the end, she desired freedom and the ability to move as she pleased. While she could probably get that from the warrior class, there was just something about the Rogue that sang in her chest. Was it the freedom to sulk around in the shadows, or was it knowing that there would be no door that could bar her path? However, she did at least want to look at everything else before a final decision was made. The Caster class seems interesting simply because it dealt with magic. Who didn¡¯t want to wield magic with the power of a god? Granted, that god was relative, as she didn¡¯t believe in any kind of god, but it still made for some fun imagination. So, that would definitively be a contender for the class selection. As for Tank and Archer? They were both no-go¡¯s in her eyes. Put simply, she didn¡¯t have any interest in being an archer. While she had nothing against using a bow, it really wasn¡¯t her forte or anything like that. The last option was the tank. Which, no. Just no. She wasn¡¯t a masochist by any stretch of the imagination. Chapter 3 A Weapon Chosen So that left just two classes to consider. The caster and the rogue. Both rang with Octavia, deep down in her heart. But there was only one class that resonated the most, and that was rogue. With no doubt in her heart, she selected that class and watched as the words flickered in the air.
You have selected the rogue class! Dex:+2 Agi:+1 Perc:+2 End:+1 +1 free stat point per level. You have unlocked: Acrobatics (Inferior): The rogue is graceful, with a keen sense of balance. Passively grants a miniscule buff towards balance. Quick Step (Inferior): Move across small distances in an instant. Identify (Inferior): With a mere glance, information that was hidden will be revealed to you.
As Octavia read through the words, a strange sensation washed over her head. It felt like hundreds of needles poking into her head. Images flashed through her mind¡¯s eyes, bringing with it knowledge of how to use her new skills. It was a strange feeling of knowing how to do something, yet never having done it once. ¡°Congratulations rogue! Now, time for you to select your equipment. Your class allows you to use lighter weapons, like short swords, daggers, hatchets, rapiers and similar armaments. We stock most kinds so please, make a choice.¡± The porcelain figure spoke up, tearing her from her thoughts. The feeling of needles pulsing up and down her skin and into her brain faded into a slight tingle. It was enough to just barely bother her, but the annoyance was easily pushed away. So, it was time to choose a weapon, but she wasn¡¯t sure what she wanted. A short sword seemed fun, but it fell flat. Whatever she chose, she wanted to excel. Mediocrity was not an option. So what weapons would be best? A rapier? The thought of it conjured images of musketeers and fencing, and she¡¯d be lying if she didn¡¯t like the idea of it. She could remember the countless years she spent on the couch, watching the Olympics and seeing how the contestants moved faster than the blink of an eye. It was exciting, yet, with all these choices, it was paralyzing. She could reach for the stars, and in turn they were blinding. ¡°Can I test a few weapons?¡± Her senses slowly came back to her, as did the final tingles that scintillated across her body. The porcelain mannequin nodded its head as it sat there, staring at her with its purely blank face. ¡°In that case, can I try a rapier,dagger, and just for shits and giggles, can I get a large Chakram?¡± The rapier, naturally, was a strong contender, simply because of the memories that it had in her childhood and the time she spent watching the sports with her parents. Having the dagger as an off-hand weapon could be crucial if things took a turn for the worse. Which, usually, they did. That one was going to be non-negotiable. The final one was the Chakram. This one she didn¡¯t have too much information on. All she knew was that it was a ring weapon from India. She only knew about its existence from watching gameplay videos featuring a character using a giant one to do wild things. Like throwing it like a boomerang, or splitting it into two, and using them as orbiting weapons. The advisor nodded and waved its hand. Three weapons dropped onto the table with a brief clatter. The first was a simple steel dagger. The handle was nothing more than twine, and the blade looked rough, as if no one had taken care of it since it was made. Second, the rapier wasn¡¯t what she had expected. Perhaps it was because of a built expectation of watching fencing on TV. But this was a beast. It was the length that she had expected, but the blade was easily five centimeters across at the base, where it met the simple knuckle guard. The blade itself was seventy-nine centimeters and gleamed in the harsh lighting of the training room. Last but not least was the Chakram. It was far larger than she was expecting, easily taking up more of the table then the other two combined, The ring¡¯s blade tapered to a fierce edge and traveled along its circumference, till it met what looked to be a small handle wrapped in the same brown twine like substance of the dagger. ¡°Can I pick the dagger, and then one of these weapons?¡± The words left her lips as the desire to touch them bloomed within her heart. ¡°That is fine.¡± The advisor replied in that strange mechanical voice. It¡¯s featureless face staring into her soul. Octavia nodded as she reached out and touched the rapier¡¯s hilt, lifting it. The first thing she noticed was how heavy it was. It wasn¡¯t overly cumbersome, but it was more than what she expected, perhaps somewhere around two kilograms. Tentatively, she flicked her wrist, and she felt how the blade danced through the air with a soft whistle.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. It felt fine, even if it didn¡¯t really fall into her expectations, so it was a definite contender. Gently, she set the rapier down, and moved to the giant chakram next. This was a unique weapon. One that only came to Octavia¡¯s mind as the most exotic choice she could think of at this moment. Her fingers curled around the twine-like handle, and picked it up. Shockingly enough, it wasn¡¯t as heavy as she thought it would have been. Granted, it was still heavy but only slightly more so than the rapier, which was weird, considering the size of the weapon. She carefully positioned it and gave it a small swing. It cut through the air with a soft whistle, much like the rapier had, but something felt different about this weapon. Yes, it was a giant ring, but the way it flowed felt right. Even more so than the rapier. Carefully, she brought it close to her body, tracing the sharp edges of it with her eyes. Yes, there was something there that she couldn¡¯t seem to put her finger on. A resonance that stirred within her heart and beat heavily in her chest. While she wanted the rapier, this gave her a strange feeling that she wanted to explore. Trusting her gut, she pulled the chakram away from the table. ¡®I¡¯ll take this one.¡± With another wave of its porcelain hand, another set of notifications appeared in her vision.
General Skill Unlocked: Large Chakram Usage(Inferior): The large chakram is an exotic ring weapon. Used in both close range and long, it is a weapon few use, and even fewer master. Basic One handed Weapon Usage(Inferior): Unlocks basic proficiency with most one handed weapons. All rogue skills are now tied into the large chakram usage tree. New skill unlocked: Wrathful Disc(Inferior) The chakram is thrown, imbued with both mana and stamina. It travels across a small distance, shredding up to three separate targets before returning.
This time it felt like a bucket of ice cold water getting dumped directly into her brain. With it came images of how to use her dagger, and how to move with the giant ring weapon. Seconds turned into minutes as the information seeped into her mind. Eventually, however, the feeling faded, allowing Octavia to suck in a lungful of stale air. ¡°Fuck, that was rough.¡± She groaned as she fell into her chair, heaving for breath. ¡°Congratulations on selecting your weapon. The large chakram is a rare choice indeed. Now, please, collect your gear while I prepare your tutorial.¡± The advisor waved its hand once more, and a few items appeared onto the table. Octavia¡¯s eyes tiredly took in what she saw, her recently gained inspection skill kicking into effect.
Rogue¡¯s cloak (Inferior); The most basic clothing item a rogue carries. Its color helps to blend into the shadows, while keeping the wearer warm or cool depending on the environment.
The first item was exactly what the skill said it was. It was a square folded black cloak that looked like it was made of wool. Carefully, she took it and noticed how light it was. Yet the familiar prickle of wool dug into her skin, causing her to grimace. Maybe it was a sensory thing, but feeling it made her skin crawl.
Rogue¡¯s tool belt (Inferior): A key essential of any rogue. This tool belt carries anything from potions to lock picks.
The item looked pretty normal, and was made of low-quality leather. Octavia took a deep breath to clear her throat, and calm her racing mind as she stood up. She took the belt, found a small metal clasp, and quickly undid it, sliding it on over her dress pants. Next, she quickly unfolded the clock and donned it. Thankfully, the clothing that she already wore stopped the wool from grating against her skin. As she glanced at the table, she noticed a few more items. The first was three small flasks filled with a brilliant red potion that sparked in the air. Next to it were six more identical flasks. The first set of three was such a vibrant green they looked like emeralds, and the second set was such a deep blue they glimmered like sapphires.
Health potion (Inferior): A health potion collected from the bottom of the barrel. Restores twenty health. Stamina potion (Inferior): A stamina potion, collected from the bottom of the barrel. Restores ten stamina. Mana potion (Inferior): A mana potion collected from the bottom of the barrel. Restores fifteen mana.
As Octavia read, she could only shake her head. Well, how kind the system was to give her its scraps. Chagrined, she reached out, took the small flasks, and quickly set them into her belt, finding that each of the pockets fit three perfectly. Last but not least, she saw a small cluster of small strange looking items. They were no larger than a bobby pin and looked like oblong keys with missing points.
Lock picks (Inferior): A set of old discarded lock picks. High chance of breaking upon use.
Grumbling, she reached out and grabbed the small stack, counting out five. The system had the audacity to take her from her job, tell her the world is getting assimilated, and then hand her over what amounted to scraps? Under her breath, she cursed whoever created this system to never have a cool side to their pillow ever again. Chapter 4 ¡°As you have selected a combat oriented class, you will be deposited into a combat tutorial along with a small team of people. As the goal of this tutorial is to assist you in growing, it will be with people that you are familiar with. Please note that the tutorial duration will last forty five days as your region of the planet designated ¡®Earth¡¯ is assimilated.¡± The advisor spoke, this time vanishing before reappearing by a door that had formed against the far wall. Octavia shivered; the advisor¡¯s casual tone implied that the tutorials were consistent. This really wasn¡¯t a dream, was it? Trying to process the events, she clenched the rough handle of her Chakram tightly. There were so many questions that were building up that desperately needed to be answered. ¡°What do you mean, my region? What¡¯s happening with the Earth?¡± The words gushed out of her mouth as panic rose in her chest. Being pragmatic could only go so far, and she couldn¡¯t deny that she was becoming scared. ¡°The Earth will be split into multiple regions as it is assimilated to preserve life. The regions that are not currently undergoing a tutorial will be frozen.¡± Once more the advisor spoke with a cold clarity that made Octavia wince. As much as it spoke of preserving life, it seemed so detached and uncaring. ¡°Frozen, eh? Like frozen in time?¡± ¡°Correct. All life forms not taking part in the tutorials will be frozen. After your tutorial and city formations are complete, we will release all frozen beings in batches.¡± With another wave of its porcelain hand, the door swung open. Rays of golden light poured into the room, squashing the harsh white that came from the ceiling. The sound of wind blowing filled the room, followed by the scent of a lively forest. ¡°I see.¡± So it really seemed to want to save as much life as possible. It definitely wasn¡¯t altruistic, but what was the goal? She shifted as she stood there, watching the strange mannequin, trying to come to terms with her new future. This all felt too real to be a dream. Even more so, it happened so quickly. There wasn¡¯t much of a chance to become acclimated. Nor was there a chance to have all the questions building in her chest answered. Her time was running out in this room, and it would leave her searching for answers herself. Not that it really mattered, as she was always the one to go out and take the world by its throat. Though, did it really matter if the system had come and changed everything? A sigh escaped her lips as her brown eyes settled on the open door, noting the irony of it. One door opens, and another shuts, huh? Hopefully, her friends are okay, and her team as well, since they were the closest things she had to a family. ¡°As all required material has been collected, please head through the door to the tutorial zone.¡± The advisor stepped to the side, its form melding into the wall. ¡°Sure thing. It was nice meeting you.¡± Octavia glanced over the table, to make sure she retrieved all her new gear before she walked to the door. The sound of her high heels clinking against the ground rang heavily in the air. ¡°Happy hunting human¡­¡± The advisor melted fully into the wall. Its strange voice hung in the air far longer than what was possible, before it too vanished. Octavia stood in the room alone, taking deep breaths to steel her nerves as she stared out of the open door. Before her stood a forest. Trees reached high into a deep blue sky. The wind coursed through the air, carrying with it the pure scent of nature. She closed her eyes, enjoying the serenity of it all. Unlike her, the trees grew unbothered. Their world wasn¡¯t just rocked and pulled out from underneath them. Maybe it was, but yet they grew uncaring of it all. When she opened her eyes, the room had vanished, leaving her standing on a metal platform in the middle of the forest.
Welcome to the combat tutorial! This is the first floor of the deep dungeon tutorial. Your objective is to delve into the deep dungeon as far as you can in the allotted time. Monster kills will be rewarded in Reward Points (RP), which can be cashed out at the end of the tutorial. Please note that all RP gains are hidden until the tuturial is finished. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. As this is a tutorial designed for the newly initiated, death is not permanent. However, dying will have consequences. Floor One ¡®The Verdant Forest,¡¯ Tutorial duration: 45 Days A foreign power fills the air, stirring the once peaceful beasts. Survive the beast wave and find the source of the strange power. Congratulations! As you are in the 1% of humans to be selected for the tutorial, you have been granted the title of Precursor. Precursor: You are one of the first on Earth to be given access to the system. Lead your people to greatness. +1 to all stats. Gives access to universal language translation.
The words poured through her vision, along with another wave of information. It wasn¡¯t much, but it gave her the general gist of the area. She was still a little on edge, but she was forcing herself to stay calm. Losing her head in a situation like this would only get her killed. Even if death wasn¡¯t permanent, a warning blared in her head at the thought. The consequences would be severe even if she didn¡¯t know what they were. ¡°Octavia! Are you alright?¡± Derrick¡¯s voice tore her from her stupor as she turned to look at him. He still wore his work clothes, but over the top of it was what looked like a light blue mage¡¯s robe. He appeared so suddenly that Octavia didn¡¯t notice his arrival. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine. I''m a little overwhelmed, but I¡¯ll be okay.¡± She flashed him a small smile as she brought her chakram up and rested it on her shoulder. Truly, she was okay. A little shaken, but mostly calm. Once she got settled in, however, it may be a different story. ¡°Good, good.¡± Derrick shuffled over to her, and reached into his pocket, and pulled out a box of cigarettes, slamming his palm into the carton before pulling one out. She eyed the man as he brought it to his lips. Personally, she didn¡¯t enjoy smoking; however, it was his way of dealing with stress, so she¡¯d be shocked if he didn¡¯t smoke at that moment. ¡°Are you alright?¡± She asked as her eyes swept around the oddly quiet forest. The only sound was that of the leaves rustling with the wind. It was unnerving to stand in a strange forest, and only have the sounds of the wind to accompany you. She was almost certain her father had told her something about a silent forest being a bad sign once, but that was in a long, distant past. The clicking of a lighter split the silence before he spoke again. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be alright. Just need to process things.¡± The acrid smell of burning wood and earthen overtones of a burning cigarette wafted through the air as Derrick stood, carefully nursing it. ¡°What does this mean? Why us?¡± She asked in a huff as her attention was pulled to the sky. Not a single cloud was in sight, only a deep, expansive blue that threatened to consume her mind as she stared into its azure depths. ¡°Hell if I know. It¡¯s so far above me I stopped being scared. Now, I¡¯m just exhausted.¡± He sucked on the cigarette once more. The cherry embers grew bright before they faded. ¡°Me too. I really need to sit down and process everything. But from the looks of things, we won¡¯t have the chance.¡± Her eyes went back down to the forest as she studied the shadows. The light failed to pierce the canopy in any meaningful amount, causing what looked to be a twilight effect. What felt like two pairs of eyes had settled onto her. ¡°Out of the frying pan, and into the fire. Fucking cock sucking system.¡± He took a final drag of his cigarette before flicking it to the metal below, grinding it under the heel of his shoe. A small smile split Octavia¡¯s face, as she turned away from the forest, and looked at the man. ¡°Yeah, fuck the system.¡± Her eyes lingered on his robe for a few seconds, before something a little more mischievous replaced that smile. ¡°Oh? Is that a mage robe I see? I didn¡¯t take you for that kind of man.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Did you expect me to be some hulking man swinging a sword around? Truly, I¡¯m wounded Octavia.¡± A faux look of sadness crossed his face as he reached into his robe and pulled out what looked to be a wand. ¡°Wow, not only are you wearing a mage robe, you are roleplaying as Harry Potter. You truly are a shameless man.¡± She chuckled as her hand travelled the length of her chakram back towards the handle. ¡°You know, I wish I knew the killing curse. It might get you to shut up for once.¡± ¡°You love it, and you know it.¡± Octavia flicked her hair, and turned her head away pointedly. ¡°Yeah yeah, yeah.¡± He huffed and crossed his arms. The bantering brought back a sense of normalcy that was violently ripped away by the sudden upheaval of this so-called system. Life wouldn¡¯t go back to normal, but at least this was something she was used to. ¡°Hey, do you think..¡± As Octavia went to ask if he thought Julia was going to be alright a small glimmer of silver light appeared in between them and there was another woman they both recognized, stumbling out with a sword and shield. ¡°Hey, Derrick.¡± Octavia stared at Julia for a second, noting that the woman was wearing what looked like leather armour over her dress shirt. ¡°Yes, Octavia?¡± ¡°Does this mean that Julia is more of a man than you?¡±