Chapter 14:

Skills

RE-RUN


Geez…Thanks for the late warning!”

Excruciating pain corroded his entire body. Reed thrashed on the ground. The pain was so strong that it blew away his phantom limb pain.

His body started to pulsate with the pain. Thump, Thump, his body pulsed. Even sounds could be heard coming from his body.

“AH!”

Reed tried to heal himself. It quickly work and the pain subsided.

‘Phew…’

But a short time later the agony continued.

“Argh! What the….it didn’t help?”

Maybe his healing abilities are weak he presumed.

However he decided to heal himself once again, his healing started to restore his body by a little. When he was done healing himself, not long after the pain returned. Then he immediately repaired himself again.

Even his healing abilities could not stun the effects. His healing was actually backfiring here.

Reed screamed as he floundered on the ground. He banged his head repeatedly on the cold, hard floor at the unending sigh of his suffering. Even if he wanted to die, there would be none to grant his desire, so he gritted his teeth hard and endures the pain.

While he endures the pain, he heard a familiar beep.

{Skill: Flame has been learned.}

{Skill: Serpent Senses has been learned.}

Reed flat-out ignore the notification because of the pain.

As the pain intensified, he noticed that something strange was happening to his body. He felt a sudden surge of energy coursing through his veins, and he could sense a strange power awakening within him.

It was as if he had tapped into some primal force of nature, something that was both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. He could feel his muscles and bones begin to thicken, growing stronger and more resilient.

The pain slowly subsided, replaced by a strange tingling sensation. Reed blacked out for a moment.

Reed’s right hand twitched. His closed-shut eyes began to open slightly. His unfocused eyes settled onto his right hand. Balling his hand into a fist, he scratched along the ground. Reed slowly clasped and unclasp his hand to prove he was still alive. When he finished checking if he had control of his body, he slowly stood up.

“.…oh, yeah. You weren’t supposed to eat a lump of monster meat…I’m an idiot.”

Completely exhausted, Reed just snorted. Both his hunger and his pain disappeared after the little incident he went through. On the contrary, his body felt strangely light and overflowed with power. Even though he just went through that, it was in its best condition.

His body developed toned muscle. His height also increased.

“What happened to my body?”

While Reed inspecting his body, a familiar beep rang through his head.

Ta-Ting!

-Achievement Unlocked: Elite Hunt

{Hunt an Elite enemy} (Complete)

{Rewards: Five additional Stat points.}

“Stats points?”

Reed felt his hair shifting, and when he ran his fingers through it, he noticed it was turning white. His skin seemed to take on a tougher texture, and his senses sharpened.

“Wow, how unpleasant. Makes me feel like a demon…. what a joke. Oh yeah, the system.

He opened up the system, it shows a window displaying simple information about himself.

{Name: Reed}

-Level: 1

-Class: Healer

-Title: None

-Vigor: 26

-Mana: 20

{Stat}

Strength: 10

Agility: 10

Intelligence: 10

Endurance: 20

Wisdom: 10

{Passive Skills}

-Determination Lv. 1

-Serpent Senses. Lv. 1

{Skills}

-Accel Lv.1

-Heal Lv. 1

-Flame Lv.1

{Available points to distribute: 5}

The stat he saw was quite similar to a starting character from an online game he used to play many years ago.

“So… this is my current Stat value.”

His current level was 1. but all of his stat was rather unbalanced. He noticed his endurance was the highest of them all.

“Strange...”

He paid attention to the ‘Skills’ column.

A passive skill called ‘Determination’ and an active skill called ‘Accel’

For some reason, he felt rather familiar with them.

“Is it because…”

That time at the domain when they were being chased by shadow knights and monsters. and the unknown beast who attacked him at his penalty hour.

It happened probably after one hour of him constantly running for his dear life. He was suddenly greeted by a couple of new messages.

{Skill: Accel has been learned.}

{Skill: Determination has been learned.}

Back then, he was far too busy running to think about what they could have meant, but it was a different story now. And not long after his new skill called “Flame”. Reed confirmed the details for the skills.

{Skill: Accel Lv. 1}

Type: Active Skill

Mana cost: 5

- Increase movement speed by 20% for 10 seconds.

-Cool down time: 60 seconds.

Reed couldn't believe it. This skill could be incredibly useful in combat situations, especially when he needed to dodge attacks or close in on enemies quickly. He felt a rush of excitement as he thought about the possibilities.

"20% boost to movement speed? That's no small feat," he said to himself.

Reed knew that this boost could make a significant difference in his battles. He imagined himself darting around his opponents, striking quickly and getting out of range before they could retaliate. He could see himself escaping dangerous situations, getting to safety, or closing in on enemies before they could react.

{Skill: Determination Lv.1}

Type: Passive Skill.

Mana requirement: None

-Increase mental fortitude and resilience by 10%. Boosts willpower and grants resistance against mental and emotional attacks."

As he absorbed the words, a surge of determination filled his being. This skill resonated with him on a deep level. He understood that it would fortify his mind and spirit, making him more resistant to the psychological challenges he might encounter on his journey.

"10% increase in mental fortitude," Reed murmured, contemplating the significance of this enhancement. He envisioned himself standing firm in the face of adversity, unaffected by fear, doubt, or manipulation.

{Skill: Flame Lv.1}

Type: Active Skill

Mana cost: 15

- After defeating the Flame Serpent, you have acquired the skill Flame. you can summon and control flames. The intensity and range of the flames increase with skill level.

Reed couldn't help but imagine the potential uses for this skill. He could start fires, create distractions, and even use it as a weapon if necessary. His mind raced with the possibilities, and he couldn't wait to test it out.

Reed decided to use the skill but the problem was….

‘How do I trigger the skill?’

Hm…

Reed stared intently at his palms, trying to summon the flames he had gained from defeating the Fire Python. Frustrated, he spoke in an arrogant tone.

“Hey, bird. How the hell do I use it?”

[You have to focus your energy and willpower on the area you want to ignite. It takes practice and patience, boy.]

Reed rolled his eyes.

“Of course it takes practice. But give me something more specific, bird.”

The vulture let out a soft sigh.

[Well, you can try visualizing the flames in your mind and channeling that energy through your hands.]

Reed raised an eyebrow.

“Visualizing flames in my mind? That’s it? Fine, I’ll give it a shot.”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to conjure up the image of roaring flames in his mind

He felt a rush of energy flow through him. Flames began to appear at the tips of his fingers, and he was amazed at how easy it was to control them. He experimented with different intensities and shapes, admiring the beauty of the dancing flames.

“Ha! Got it!”

With a grin on his face, he knew he couldn't wait to level up his Flame skill and unlock even more potential.

Reed couldn’t contain his excitement as he finished reading the descriptions of his skills. His eyes widened with excitement, and a predatory grin spread across his face. He knew that with these skills, he could take on any challenge and come out victorious.

With determination a passive skill, he knew that he could push himself beyond his limits and achieve greatness. And with the accel active skill, he could move faster than anyone else, catching his enemies off-guard and delivering devastating blows.

‘Oh yeah before, I forgot…’

“Add two points to the agility stat.”

Ta-ting!

{Stat}

Strength: 10

Agility: 12

Intelligence: 10

Endurance: 20

Wisdom:10

{Available points to distribute: 3}

“Add the remaining points to the strength stat.”

Ta-ting!

{Stat}

Strength: 13

Agility: 12

Intelligence: 10

Endurance: 20

{Available points to distribute: 0}

His Agility jumped up from 10 to 12, while his strength jumped from 10 to 13.

{Skill: Serpent Senses.}

Type: Passive Skill

Mana cost: None.

-Grants the user heightened senses similar to that of a serpent, including enhanced sight, smell, heat signatures, and vibration detection. Level 1 increases all related senses by 10%.

His eyes widened as he considered the potential of such a skill in a dark and dangerous environment like the cave he was in. He could practically feel the heightened sensitivity in his nostrils, the sharpness of his hearing, and the precision of his vision.

“Awesome.”

He couldn't wait to test it out. With a grin on his face, he puts on his mask and closed his eyes, and focused on the world around him.

Reed stood in the dim cave. He took a deep breath, feeling the power of his new abilities coursing through his veins. The Serpent Senses skill allowed him to detect any nearby threats, while the Flame skill would be his only weapon.

As he scanned the area, he noticed movement in the darkness. The sound of shuffling feet echoed through the cave, accompanied by the low growl of a wild beast. Reed tensed, readying himself for the fight to come.

Out of the shadows emerged a hulking figure - a giant, snarling wolf. Its fur was matted with dirt and grime, its eyes glowing with a feral intensity. Reed could feel the heat of the Flame skill rising within him, urging him to strike.

{Shadow Fang Lupus} (Leader)

But he knew better. He had no sword, no physical weapon to strike with. Instead, he looked around him, searching for any advantage he could use. His eyes landed on a rocky outcropping jutting from the cave wall. With a smirk, he knew what to do.

As the wolf charged forward, Reed dodged to the side, letting the creature's momentum carry it past him. He sprinted towards the rocky outcropping, deftly leaping onto it with the grace of a serpent.

The wolf snarled and spun around, charging once again. But Reed was ready. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a stream of fire from his Flame skill, catching the wolf's fur alight.

The wolf howled in pain, rolling on the ground to put out the flames. Reed didn't let up, using his agility and Serpent Senses to stay one step ahead of the injured beast. He leaped from rock to rock, the flames of his skill illuminating the cave around him.

Finally, with a fierce roar, Reed struck the finishing blow. He pounced on the wolf's back, wrapping his arms around its neck in a tight grip. The creature thrashed and snarled, but Reed held on, squeezing tighter and tighter.

With a final, gurgling growl, the wolf fell silent. Reed released his grip, watching as the beast slumped to the ground, defeated. He let out a triumphant laugh, feeling the rush of adrenaline coursing through his body.

While celebrating he heard a familiar beep.

Ta-Ting!

{Daily Task: Monster Hunting}

-Hunt 10 Monsters (2/10)

{You have defeated the Shadow Fang Lupus.} (Leader)

{You have obtained 3 stat points!}

‘Stat points?’

To make sure he didn’t mishear that, Reed hurriedly accessed his Status window.

{Name: Reed}

-Level: 1

-Class: Healer

-Title: None

-Vigor: 26

-Mana: 5

{Stat}

Strength: 13

Agility: 12

Intelligence: 10

Endurance: 20

Wisdom: 10

{Passive Skills}

-Determination Lv. 1

-Serpent Senses. Lv. 1

{Active Skills}

-Accel Lv.1

-Heal Lv. 1

-Flame Lv.1

{Available points to distribute: 3}

He indeed has three available stat points ready to be distributed.

With a sly grin on his face, he navigated to the stat point allocation page and selected the strength stat.

As he clicked on the plus sign to add the stat points, With a deep breath, Reed closed his eyes and let out a satisfied sigh. The strength stat had increased from 13 to 16. and he could feel the power coursing through his body.

{Name: Reed}

-Level: 1

-Class: Healer

-Title: None

-Vigor: 26

-Mana: 5

{Stat}

Strength: 16

Agility: 12

Intelligence: 10

Endurance: 20

Wisdom:10

{Passive Skills}

-Determination Lv. 1

-Serpent Senses. Lv. 1

{Active Skills}

-Accel Lv.1

-Heal Lv. 1

-Flame Lv.1

{Available points to distribute: 0}

As Reed inspected the wolf's body, he noticed a glint of something in its mouth. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a shiny silver tooth. Examining it closely, he saw that it was not a natural tooth, but a well-crafted item.

In the status window, the description read:

{Silver Fang (Basic Item): A sharp and durable tooth made from a rare silver alloy. Can be used as a material for crafting weapons or sold.}

It wasn't particularly valuable or useful, but Reed decided to keep it as a trophy of his victory.

As Reed looted the wolf's corpse, the vulture inside his head spoke up.

[Impressive, to think you kill a monster using your bare hands.]

Reed glanced skyward, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"I appreciate the compliment, but this is just the beginning."

The vulture's tone turned serious, a warning lacing its words.

[Be on your guard, Reed. I sense the presence of more wolves approaching. They won't take kindly to their comrade's demise.]

Reed's smile widened, hidden beneath his menacing mask. His eyes gleamed with a mix of determination and anticipation.

"Let them come.”

The vulture fell silent, sensing the unwavering resolve emanating from Reed. With a final nod, Reed ventured forward, ready to face the oncoming onslaught with a calculated and fearsome determination.

Reed's eyes darted around as the pack of Shadow Fang Lupus slowly closed in on him. The dim light of the cave glinted off their razor-sharp fangs, and their glowing yellow eyes were fixed on him with a hunger that made his blood run cold. But Reed's smile didn't waver; if anything, it grew wider as he surveyed his enemies.

"Come and get me, you bastards," he muttered under his breath. He had no weapon, but he didn't need one; he would make do with whatever he could find in this dark, foreboding cave.

The first wolf lunged at him, jaws snapping. Reed sidestepped smoothly, ducked under its belly, and grabbed hold of its tail. With a flick of his wrist, he whipped the wolf around like a makeshift weapon, smashing it into two of its pack mates with a sickening crunch. The remaining wolves snarled and charged forward, but Reed was ready.

He leaped onto a nearby rock, using it as a springboard to launch himself at the closest wolf. With a savage roar, he tackled the beast to the ground, slamming his fist into its skull with bone-crunching force. The wolf went limp, and Reed used its body as a shield against the other wolves' attacks.

One of them managed to sink its teeth into Reed's shoulder, but he barely felt it. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, sharpening his senses and reflexes. He pivoted on his heel, using the wolf's momentum to swing it into the path of its comrades. They collided with a sickening thud, and Reed took advantage of the chaos to slip behind them.

He grabbed hold of a nearby stalactite and yanked it free from the ceiling, sending a shower of rocks and debris raining down on the confused wolves. Reed leaped into the fray, using the jagged edges of the stalactite as a weapon. He slashed and hacked, taking down wolf after wolf with a brutal efficiency that left the remaining beasts cowering in fear.

When the last wolf lay dead at his feet, Reed paused to catch his breath. His entire body was slick with sweat, and his knuckles were raw and bleeding from the ferocity of his attacks. But he felt alive, more alive than he had in years. This was what he was meant to do, he realized: fight, survive, thrive in the face of danger.

{ Wolf pelt (basic item)} - A rough and furry pelt from one of the Shadow Fang Lupus. Can be used for crafting or sold for a small amount of gold.

{Sharp fang (basic item) - A sharp and sturdy fang from one of the Shadow Fang Lupus. Can be used as a material for weapons or sold for a moderate amount of gold.}

{Clawed paw (basic item) - A tough and clawed paw from one of the Shadow Fang Lupus. Can be used as a material for armor or sold for a moderate amount of gold.}

{Shadow essence (basic item) - A dark and viscous essence that seems to be emanating from the wolves. Can be used for alchemy or sold for a moderate amount of gold.}

{Shadow fur (basic item) - A sleek and dark fur from one of the Shadow Fang Lupus. Can be used for crafting or sold for a moderate amount of gold.}

{ Shadow bone (basic item) - A sturdy and dark bone from one of the Shadow Fang Lupus. Can be used as a material for weapons or sold for a moderate amount of gold.}

{ Lupus heart (normal item) - A pulsating heart from one of the Shadow Fang Lupus. Can be used in powerful alchemy or sold for a high amount of gold.}

Reed inspects the items closely, assessing their value and potential use.

‘Where do I store all of these items.’

Reed looked at the items in his hand, unsure of what to do with them. He knew that he couldn't carry them all around with him, and he didn't want to leave them behind either. He looked up at the vulture, who was still perched on a nearby branch.

"Hey, do you know how I can store these items?" Reed asked the bird.

["I'm afraid I don't have the answer to that one, Reed. I'm just a vulture, not a storage unit."]

Reed sighed, feeling a little frustrated. "Well, can you at least give me a hint? Where do people usually store their items in this world?"

The vulture thought for a moment before speaking again.

[Ah, I see what you're getting at. Well, most people have something called an inventory. It's a magical space that can hold all sorts of things.]

“Oh yeah….”

He looked at the various options on the menu, and sure enough, there was one labeled "Inventory." He clicked on it, and a new window appeared. It was empty, but he could tell that it was meant to hold all of his items.

He smiled in relief, feeling a little foolish for not realizing it sooner.

"Idiot," he muttered under his breath as he began to transfer the items into his inventory.

{Daily Task: Monster Hunting}

-Hunt 10 Monsters (17/10) (Complete)

{You’ve killed a Shadow Fang Lupus.}

{You have obtained 15 stat points!}

He smiled.

“That’s many stats points.”

{Name: Reed}

-Level: 1

-Class: Healer

-Title: None

-Vigor: 20

-Mana: 5

{Stat}

Strength: 16

Agility: 12

Intelligence: 10

Endurance: 20

Wisdom:10

{Passive Skills}

-Determination Lv. 1

-Serpent Senses. Lv. 1

{Skills}

-Accel Lv.1

-Heal Lv. 1

-Flame Lv.1

{Available points to distribute: 15}

He distributed his points on all of his stats.

{Name: Reed}

-Level: 1

-Class: Healer

-Title: None

-Vigor: 20

-Mana: 5

{Stat}

Strength: 22

Agility: 15

Intelligence: 13

Endurance: 23

Wisdom:10

{Passive Skills}

-Determination Lv. 1

-Serpent Senses. Lv. 1

{Skills}

-Accel Lv.1

-Heal Lv. 1

-Flame Lv.1

{Available points to distribute: 0}

‘I killed a lot, but not enough to level me up…’

A familiar message popped up in front of his eyes.

Ta-Ting!

{You’ve completed ‘Daily Task: Monster Hunting’}

{You may now obtain the rewards}

{Would you like to confirm?}

“Confirm.”

Ta-ting!

{The following rewards are available.}

-Healing Tonic (Rare): This is a rare healing item that restores a certain high amount of health points and mana points to the user. The potion is contained in a small glass vial and can be consumed by drinking its contents. Upon consumption, the user's wounds will close and their energy will be restored.

-Iron Long-sword (Common): It is a sturdy and reliable sword made of iron and has a straight, double-edged blade. The hilt is wrapped in leather for a better grip and has a simple but functional cross guard. (Requirements 35 Strength,30 Agility, 30 Endurance. )

Reed inspected the small vial of liquid that he had obtained as a reward for completing his daily task. It had a faint glow to it, indicating its potency. So without hesitation, he twisted the cap off and downed the contents in one swift gulp.

As soon as the liquid touched his tongue, he felt a gentle green aura and sudden warmth spreading throughout his body. It was a pleasant feeling, and he closed his eyes, savoring the sensation. When he opened them again, he felt rejuvenated, as if his energy had been completely restored.

He felt the gentle green aura slowly dissipate. For some reason, he kinda felt a bit rueful.

His injuries from his previous battle disappeared one by one.

Reed lightly jumped up and down on the spot and stretched his body this way and that.

“Amazing!”

His heart which felt like it might explode was beaten in a calm manner, and his rough breaths had been stabilized as well.

The effect, in other words, was top-notch.

“Isn’t this really amazing?”

He quickly checked his stats window.

{Name: Reed}

-Level: 1

-Class: Healer

-Title: None

-Vigor: 100

-Mana: 200

{Stat}

Strength: 22

Agility: 15

Intelligence: 13

Endurance: 23

Wisdom:10

{Passive Skills}

-Determination Lv. 1

-Serpent Senses. Lv. 1

{Skills}

-Accel Lv.1

-Heal Lv. 1

-Flame Lv.1

{Available points to distribute: 0}

‘Nice, now then…’

Reed examined the iron long-sword with a critical eye, admiring its sharp edges and sturdy hilt. However, as he read the details of the item, his heart sank a little. The sword required a lot of strength and agility to be wielded properly.

He dredge out a sigh, knowing that he couldn't use the sword to its full potential just yet. He made a mental note to work on increasing his strength, agility, and endurance levels so he could properly use the sword in the future. In the meantime, he decided to equip it anyway, feeling its weight in his hands.

END OF CHAPTER 14