Chapter 2:

Extend Gate

The Writer of Magic


'Inspection'

-Due to a high level difference, skills and talents have been rendered hidden-

Name: Tobias King

Level: 6

Weapon Proficincy: Swords, Daggers, Claymores

Class: Entrant (Possible growth to Swordsman)

Academy Ranking: 1

Title: Voyager of Destiny

'Voyager of Destiny' the title of the Hero who is destined to save the world. I made him like that because he reminds me so much of my idol back in reality.

He was a very charismatic and gentle person to boot, only the villains I made are the ones who hate his guts.

Then I turned my gaze to the Second Male Lead:

'Inspection.'

-Due to a high level difference, skills and talents have been rendered hidden-

Name: Lheon Khalid

Level: 6

Weapon Proficiency: Firearms

Class: Entrant (Possible growth to Marksman)

Academy Ranking: 3

Title: Dusk of the Barrel

Lheon Khalid, the third son of the Khalid family and an excellent marksman. He has soft silver hair, praire green eyes, and an expression that appears apathetic but he is actually a very expressive person.

I wrote him as a cold person towards strangers and enemies, but a warm individual towards his companions. He is also the voice of reason for Toby. As well as his greatest advisor in his journey.

Toby smiled at us as we approached the Warp Gate for our Assessment.

"Okay team, let's get over the plan! Uh... Leo, what's the plan again?" Toby asked his best friend and he massaged his temples.

"This assessment, we're going to be hunting a C-Class Monster, and our destination seems to be a Desert. I'm only speculating, but our target might be an Emperor Scorpion." Leo briefed and I applaud his rational mind. He knows the topography of our mission already and has an open ended suggestion.

"So, here's the plan. Toby, you should use a Claymore. That way, you can bust the hard exoskeleton. Claire, you take up a commando role. Try poking the soft bellies and make sure to stay clear of their large pincers and equally large stinger. As for me and the Wooden spoon, we'll provide rear back-up." Lheon just pointed me as if I was deadweight, but I just acknowledged it.

We entered the gate but, Lheon pulled me aside.

"You better pull your weight kid. Otherwise, you'll get more than expulsion." He threatened me with his piercing green glare. And I can only nod.

Clutching my grimoire, which I strapped to my side, I entered the warp gate. And as my eyes adjusted, I was greeted with an arid air and sandy foothold. This is one heck of a simulation.

Just then another screen appears in front of me:

-Sub-Quest! Water you Waiting for?-

Clear Conditions: Clear the Assessment by defeating the target with a Water Spell.

Clear Rewards: EXP, Title, Talent: 'Hydropathy'

Failure: None

Okay this is new... A quest that involves me using a spell. So that means, I am a mage or something. I then opened up my system and read the available skills:

-Script of Water-

Allows the spellcaster to create water out of formless energy. Recite words that symbolizes the power of water.

-Script of Wind-

Allows the spellcaster to generate wind out of formless energy. Recite words that symbolizes the power of wind.

-Script of Light-

Allows the spellcaster to weave light out of formless energy. Recite words that symbolizes the power of light.

Okay this system is vague as hell. How the heck can I use my magic?!

"Come on, since it's midday, scorpion species tend to hide deep in caverns to cool off." Lheon said.

We head out, the three had no problem navigating the desert environment, but for me. I was having a bit of a hard time catching up, but I didn't want to slow them down, so I trailed behind them.

The scorching sun was beating down on us, my sweat drenching my forehead and my back. All I see is sand and more sand. And it was getting unbearable.

"How much time has passed?" Claire asked when we decided to seek shelter in a rock formation. It had a protuding black crevice and the cliff was surprisingly sharp.

"Not much. We'll still be in the lead." Lheon said confidently.

I collapsed on the sand, my breathing was uneven and my feet would be screaming in pain if they have mouths. Why is this body so useless?

"You okay there?" Tobias approached me with a slapstick grin on his face.

"G-give me a minute." I heaved. My sweat dropping down the ground like bullets.

"We don't have that luxury." Lheon told me and they began to head out again to the desert.

But I stared at the ground, why is the sweat drop still lingering and hasn't been absorbed by the sand? Unless...

I looked at the crevice of the 'rocks', they look seemingly alive. No strike that... They ARE alive. And it's twitching in the wind.

"Guys? You better stop now before you step on something." I told them.

"Step on what?" Tobias asked and sure enough, when his left foot hit the sand, it made a loud thud. Like stone in an exoskeleton. Then the stones began to rumble and sink. The stinger of the target erupted and tried to impale Tobias, fortunately, he was quick on his feet and avoided an embarrassing end.

"Weapons ready now!" Lheon barked and he pulled out his rifle as Tobias pulls me behind him.

The Emperor Scorpion surfaces and unleashes a ghastly shriek, its pure ebony body glistening in the desert sun. But the three of them are unfazed.

"What now Leo?" Tobias asked as he summons a claymore from his sub-space.

"Stick to the plan. Now!" Lheon said as Claire proepls herself to the air, her spear poised to strike from above. When she landed, it pierced the hard exoskeleton like it was nothing. It shrieked again and flailed around wildly, Causing her to dismount from the monster's back.

Tobias followed up by slashing one of its legs like it was made out of butter. Green liquid was splashing around violently.

"Hey, if you're just standing there like an idiot, get out of the way!" Lheon pulled me down and fires a bullet infused with pyroclastic material. The bullet bursts and engulfs the scorpion into an inferno, but... It just turned the flame into an armor.

"Why isn't this thing dying?!" Claire asked, and she and Tobias can't close because of the flames. tt then sent them flying with a whip of it's now burning tail. Claire and Tobias were suffering from burns, but they were still standing.

"B-but the intel said that Scorpions are weak against fire." Lheon was taken aback for once.

I wondered, why didn't fire work. Then I remembered and activated:

'Inspection!'

-Due to a high level difference, skills and traits have been rendered hidden-

Desert Emperor Scorpion

Battle Rank: C

Level: 7

Weakness: Water

Water?! Wait... My sub-quest. But... I don't know how to use my magic. It just said, say something related to water. Like what?

Then something appeared, like a piece from my memories when I started my writing career, my friend always say:

"Spellcasters are better than most mages. They can create their own magic using their imagination alone. I like them because they're so original."

It was a gamble, but it's all I got. I took a deep breath, and opened my Grimoire. Particles of blue energy began to gather around me and an orb begins to spiral from the pages. I then recited an incantation with a shout:

"Raging cascades: Aqua Edge!"

I closed my book with one hand and the energy orb dissipates. Then in front of me, azure blades made out of water billows forth towards the Scorpion, dousing it and removing the fiery exoskeleton, making it extremely brittle.

The others were looking at me with surprise. And Lheon was the first to recover.

"Hey! Can you make a sigil?" He shouts as he loads on another bullet.

I gave him a nod and focused water energy again from my book. I then punched the air with that energy and made it stationary, like a gate made out of water.

"Energy's at max capacity!" I called towards Lheon and he steps behind the gate and aims.

"Full throttle!" Lheon shouts and pulls the trigger. But instead of a bullet, a beam of pressurized water blasts forth. Engulfing the Scorpion whole and defeating it.

"W-we won?" I asked and then a screen appeared:

-Sub-Quest cleared!-

You have leveled up!

You have leveled up!

Title: "Speaker of Water" received.

Talent: 'Hydropathy' received.

I then checked my newly received talent:

-Hydropathy-

Water Spells that hit allies will now heal them.

Tobias, Lheon, Claire and I were relieved as the simulation ended, and we're back to the empty gym. So we were the first ones back.

"You okay Toby?" Lheon asked and Tobias gave him a brave smile.

"Just a bit burnt, other than that I'm fine." He said, but he kept wincing.

Claire isn't doing too good, her arms were suffering from extreme sunburn and now actual burns.

"I... Maybe I can do something about your injuries." I offered and they all looked at me. I didn't wait for their reply and just channeled the spell:

"Oh spirits of harmony, purify our ailments: Recover!"

I directed it first to Claire, who was engulfed by a fresh blast of cooling energy. Sure enough her wounds closed up and her burns... were all gone. Her expression was that of relief and happiness.

I then repeat the same to Tobias and Lheon, and both of them felt actually relieved.

"Thanks Yman, that was great to see." Tobias said.

"Your magic... It felt different from what other mages use." Claire notes and I laughed nervously. Spellcasters are pretty rare in my novel after all. Since Mages here don't use incantations and just rely on the element their staff has.

"Still... That last Water Magic of yours. I couldn't believe a Unison Art would manifest." Lheon pondered and gave me a warm smile. "Looks like I made a wrong assessment of you."

"I'll say, you pulled your weight there... Y-Yman." Claire stuttered when saying my name. "Sorry, I'm just not used to say your name."

"It's fine. I'm not used to it either." I admit, whoever named this body must be laughing really hard.

"Hey, Yman. Wanna hang out after school?" Tobias asked and I was taken aback. Hang out? Back when I was in reality, I sacrificed my social life for writing. Now... I am living inside my discontinued novel, and who knows if I can go back or not.

But I don't want to live the same way as before. This time, I want to try it. Have a social life, even if I am an introverted person.

"Sure... Tobias." I smiled.

"Call me Toby." He said and we shook hands.

Maybe things will be different around here. And to be truthful, even though I never finished the novel, that means, the events in my knowledge can only get me far. And who knows, the tory must've changed at some point.

And for once, I'm not scared.

NuclearNachos
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