[Quest: Defeat one monster . Accept? Reward: $50 . ]

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The prompt startled him a bit . He selected yes in his head . Despite accepting the task, he didn't see anything . After fifteen minutes of walking down the dead streets, he decided to just go home . That's when he felt something . . . An approaching danger . Something unsettling . Chills iced his veins and the cold sweat set his heart to pounding .

Click . Click . Click .

He turned and saw…something in the distance . A shadow approached him slowly, head tilted to the side, moving step by step, muttering something . It took Clyde a moment to make out what it said

He turned and saw…something in the distance . A shadow approached him slowly, head tilted to the side, moving step by step, muttering something . It took Clyde a moment to make out what it said .

"Smells nice… . smells nice…hungry…smells nice . "

"f.u.c.k this," Clyde snarled but for some reason, he didn't feel terrified… He was certain he would've taken off running like a normal person . Why did…Oh, his combat abilities .

When the shadow stepped under a streetlight, he made out its features .

It appeared to be a puppet-like thing, about six feet tall with grotesque features, torn clothes, and wicked claws . Its head looked like a pumpkin with human eyes crying tears of blood . Razor sharp teeth paraded in its mouth . A snake-like tongue wiggled out, tasting the air . Tasting him . As if things weren't obvious enough, the red outline of radiation was perfectly visible around it . Clyde a.n.a.lyzed it .

Pumko .

Level 3

Type: monster .

Work under: N/A

Special: Your hostile detection isn't high enough for this .

Weakness: Your hostile detection isn't high enough for this . Trial and error will do .

Resistances: See above .

Secret: Your hostile detection, luck, and will isn't high enough for this .

Clyde was really tired of the hostile detection restrictions . He needed to level it up as fast as possible or he'd be entering battles blindly . He unsheathed his sword and took aim .

[You have entered combat!]

Clyde dashed toward it, efficiently and quickly, and swung his sword . He surprised himself at his movements—just knowing—connecting the slash .

[Enemy health dropped to 60%]

The monster screeched then took a swipe at Clyde . He dodged, only taking a grazing, but the stinging pain reminded the young man that this wasn't a game . The prompt revealed to him the enemy's activation of a skill .

[Enemy activated blistering howl . ]

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The pumko let out a deafening howl that made Clyde instinctively cover his ears .

[Your defense has dropped by 10%]

The creature took that opportunity to swat Clyde . But it wasn't a mere tap . The impact sent the young man flying a few yards . He hit the ground, stunned .

[Your health is now at 80% . ]

The monster laughed .

"Smells nice . So nice . Hungry . "

Clyde quickly got up, his fear of being chomped by this thing snapping him into full alert . As if matters weren't bad enough, the thing blocked his sword . Clyde would have to fight it unarmed . He aimed one hand at it .

[Activated energy ball . ]

This seemed to surprise the monster, as its eyes widened as the ball of energy rocketed toward it . It was the like a miniature sun, the size of a basketball . It hit with an impact strong enough to knock the monster over .

[Enemy health dropped to 15%]

[Your MP is now 80% . ]

Clyde wanted to activate energy ball again but noticed that it was grayed out within his head . A timer hovered above the text . Less than two minutes remained on the cooldown . f.u.c.k . He shouldn't be surprised that an attack this powerful, with a knockback effect, had limitations . Maybe if he leveled up more, the cooldown would reduce to nothing .

He raced to his sword, scooped it up, and then plunged it through the monster's skull before it had the chance to recover . The monster burst into a purplish flame then vanished . A prompt made Clyde smile .

[Battle completed . Victory! Reward: 100 EXP and $20 . ]

[Congratulations, you have reached level 5! Stats increased! You have learned Roundhouse kick . ]

[Quest completed!]

Clyde was about to take off when someone spoke behind him

"To think someone gifted was my neighbor . "

He turned to see Harumi standing with her arms folded . He was a little surprised that she smiled at him .

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"It seems like I won't have to fight those things on my own anymore . "

"I kind of want no part of this," Clyde said, backing away . "But I wasn't going to stand there and let it kill me . "

"I saw the entire fight," Harumi continued . "You're among the gifted . Well…your power is different, almost foreign, as if you're from another world . But that's why I think if trained, you'll be a force of nature . I'd love your help to make this city safe again . "

The minute she mentioned the good cause, Clyde relaxed . But…there was no way this low-leveled… . when he a.n.a.lyzed her, his eyes widened .

Harumi

Level 15

Type: gentle spirit .

Relations.h.i.+p: friendly-a.s.sociate

HP: 90%

MP: 40%

Stats: Relations.h.i.+p isn't high enough .

Special abilities: Relations.h.i.+p isn't high enough .

Skills: how many times do I have to tell you, relations.h.i.+p isn't high enough, you dolt .

His eyes widened .

"How are you so strong?"

The pink-haired anime girl smiled .

"You can read power I see . " She winked . "I hide mine during the day to seem as harmless as possible . "

Clyde nodded, fascinated . In truth, he was glad to not be the only one aware of the levels and monsters .

"If you don't mind having a burden at your side . "

"Burden? Clyde, the magic you used is very rare . Maybe even lost . " She gave him a glance over . "Meet me here tomorrow at eight . The best way to train is to keep killing those things . There are many demons out there and some of them are incredibly powerful . If we can locate the demon lord of the city, they'll disappear . "

"Demons," Clyde said softly . "So, the demon appearances are due to demon lords . Stomp it out and we're clear?"

"Pretty much," Harumi said . "That won't stop another from taking root though . In the meantime, we just keep getting stronger . "

"Have you ever faced one?"

"No, but an old friend of mine told me she did before she moved," Harumi said . "She was the one that taught me everything I needed to know . Anyway, it's getting late . Let's head back . Tomorrow, we start strong . Also, good work on buying that awesome sword . "

[Harumi has joined your party! Know this, companions are very important . You have their back and they have yours . Do not go into battle without them . ]

That night, a smile curled across Clyde's face . His stats were shaping up into something amazing . Soon, he'd drop noob-hood for something impressive .

Clyde's stat sheet . You may skip to the next chapter .

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Name: Clyde .

Level: 5

Type: Main character/ Stone .

HP: 100%

MP: 100%

Attack: 12 (+5)

Defense: 10

Speed: 14

Luck: 9

Will: 12

Intellect: 17

Form: 0

Special: ???

Special Abilities: none .

Skills:

- Athlete: 10% bonus to speed and Will . [Pa.s.sive] .

-Hostile Detection 1: detects hostiles within a certain range of you . [Pa.s.sive] .

-Heart Protection 1: you're 25% less affected by unwanted mental magic or skills from enemies . You gain a 10% bonus to your ability to convince others to do anything that would protect their hearts . [Pa.s.sive] .

- Secret sword and martial arts combination . Random unknown increases to speed, defense, and will during battle . Chance to critical increases by 2% . [Pa.s.sive] .

-Roundhouse kick . [Attack] – does physical damage . Change of knockdown at 5% .

Combat level: basic . Combat style: basic .

Magic:

-Energy Ball . Type: spiritual . Cla.s.s: mysterious .

Talent:

Main character stuff .

Bonus:

10% boost to relations.h.i.+p stats with Harumi and her friends .

+5% damage for a physical attack .

Inventory:

$ 103

-Map of Lot City, Satovia .

-Smartphone .

-Key .

-Reminder for practice- note .

Equipment:

-Beginner's sword- +5 to attack .

-School uniform or casual clothes .

-School shoes or casual shoes .

-no accessory .

-no rings .

Cla.s.ses: (year1) .

-Satovia History 1 .

-Romance Literature 1 .

-Sciences 1 .

-Crafting 1 .

Phone numbers:

-Chika .

-Harumi .

Quest log:

-Find a printer . Optional step: raise money .

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