All Knowledge Is?

I've been here for about three months now schedule's routine. Thwack! Reverting to my younger teens put into perspective a lot of how good I had it during my middle school years. No one's concerned about too much of anything at thirteen years old therefore we can spend all the time we want having fun. Thwack!

After my endeavors, I desperately needed a short time to relax. The debacle that was my adventure on Mewni had no doubt shaved a few years off my life with all the insanity, in addition, there was my new family to worry about. Apparently, after my favorite councilwoman totaled Oskar's car he had called the police, but because of his reputation, they didn't take it too seriously until he mentioned that a kid went missing.

They got in contact with my parents at the art museum however they waved it off assuming I'd be fine. When twenty-four hours went by Mom and Dad filed the report. The police force was in a full-blown frenzy looking for me and, as I would come to learn, Mom would go into full mother bear mode to make sure no mistakes were made. The search was postponed until the next day but lo and behold that's when I dropped myself back on Earth.

Once the crying concluded things were awkward around the house for my once free-spirited parents had put a spotlight on me. The first week if I so much as wanted to go for a bike ride I needed to inform them. Even then I kept tabs on the two of my stalkers. I had worried them so until I can properly earn their trust back I'd accept their actions. I think it's working. Thwack!

I don't know if Marco had to deal with this before or if my meddling's already caused a severe butterfly effect but people cannot seem to stay away. Aside from my parents, there's Oskar and Janna to worry about. For one Oskar, he's still insistent on seeing a "devil-woman" that night and won't shut his big mouth about it, going as far to write a song. Every now and again when I see him around town I can get away but next year when I'm in high school it's going to be much harder.

Secondly, there's Janna, that sneaky girl. My interactions with her start early in the morning with there being some weird concoction akin to glue on my bike seat, snakes in my locker, or my things randomly disappearing. I don't lose much sleep over these pranks however that's where Janna's problem lies. I'm not playing it up enough to satisfy her. Even when I do react to these shenanigans I get the feeling that she must know something is off. She's laid off on the teasing and switched to an observer's role.

I've seen her staking out my place at night while I'm making skills due to her and all these other factors progress has been slower than I wanted but not horrendously sluggish. "And would you believe it I forgot my shoes in the wastebasket." My old science teacher jammed his story into the lecture attempting to keep us engaged.

My attention flickered out of the lecture. "Skills…"

Skills

[Martial Arts Mastery(Active/Passive) LVL 44 EXP: 44.6%] -Attack Speed +30.8%, Attack Damage +30.8%

Known Styles:

- Style 1: Karate- The striking art. Having learned this combat skill, the Gamer has gained a better understanding of enemy movements and where to attack and land higher damage. Critical Strike Chance +10%

- Style 2: Capoeira- Kick based fighting style focusing on quick and precise movements. Fighting with this style active combines power and speed to deliver more crushing blows. Armor Break Chance +5%

-Style 3: Iaido- Japanese sword art of quickly drawing one's blade and responding to attacks suddenly. Requires the user to have relaxed and controlled movements to fully utilize mastery. Critical Strike Chance +10%

[Nimble (Passive)]- Milestone for reaching 50 in Dexterity. +10% to accuracy and dodge chance.

[Magic Affinity (Passive)]- Milestone for reaching 50 in Intelligence. +10% increase in MP recovery. +5% increase in total MP. +5% increased damage to magic attacks. +5% increase in magic defenses.

[Manifest Blades(Active) LVL 19 EXP: 34.1% Cost: 10 MP] – A bullet-style skill that gathers magic into physical, hard-light manifestations. Can be used in lieu of an actual weapon. Piercing Effect 13.3%. Manifestation Limit: 4

Manifest Blades: Propulsion-EX Variation Cost: 20 MP – By combining spiral energy with manifest blades the Gamer can send spinning summoned blades flying at a targeted enemy. Can cause Stuck status if a target is impaled on a surface.

[Magic Bolt(Active) LVL 27 EXP 13.8% Cost: Varied]- Magic Bolt: Fireball-EX Variation Cost: 10 MP – Cast a fireball that scorches both heaven and earth with its power! Burn Chance 10%!

[Spiral Magic Bolt (Active) LVL 7 EXP: 9.4% Cost: Varied]- Spiral Magic Bolt: Burning Storm-EX Variation Cost: Varied – Summons an orb of magic mixed with fire. Burn Chance 25%!

[Burning Storm: Annihilation Cost: 600 MP]- If further action is taken igniting Burning Storm with Fireball causes an explosion of fifty meters incinerating what does not have the strength to resist. Burn Chance 50%!

This is my ultimate ability, the move that I'll use at the climax of a fight to end an enemy while saying an extremely arrogant line. I made this puppy entirely on accident on a smaller scale when I was helping my mother with dinner thankfully the kitchen only got covered with flour and the women in her book club are expected to grow back all their hair.

[Knockout Punch (Active) LVL 11 EXP 11.4% Cost: 40 MP] - One strike, one sleep. Chances to sleep a targeted enemy increase or decrease spending on mastery and dexterity in comparison to your own. Status effects also play a factor. +20% sleep chance.

[Magic Guard(Active) LVL 17 EXP: 23.5%] – Thin layer of protective magic that covers the user's body. Can be combined with elemental affinities.

[Dark Barrier(Active) LVL 15 EXP: 19.9% Cost: 30 MP] – An Outward shield that protects the entire body. Can be combined with elemental affinities.

My last two skills were undoubtedly the hardest to work on. Although I've been using these two as often as I could in my room they didn't gain very much experience makes sense as they do fall under combat skills. I wish I could use my more offensives skills but seeing as how opening IDs without alerting my enemies is off the table, I don't- Thwack! I won't use it on anyone on Earth even the eight-year-old who keeps shooting spitballs at the back of my head I'm out of luck.

"And that topic takes us into the topic of mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell." The bell for lunch rang. "Don't forget that we have a quiz on Monday don't spend your weekend goofing off!"

I ruffled the spitballs out of my hair, giving Jeremy the stink eye before heading to the cafeteria. On the exterior, my first friend on Earth I had made was waiting for me. We met during her father's classes and for some reason or another through various interactions at school we started spending time together.

She was staring down at her phone and rapidly pressing away. "Do you want to eat or are you going to fill your stomach with…funny VR chat videos?" I chuckled pulling her attention away from the device.

"What took you so long?" Jackie asked flicking her hair out of the way. She and I made our way to the cafeteria and got our trays. Most of the food consisted of fries, burgers, and random assortments of vegetables but my attention was all on the delicious confections at the end of the line, the dessert bar. I've been looking for something as delicious as that sponge cake, I tried every bakery in town but the only place that comes close is my school.

Delicious cupcakes, just for me! "Marvelous icing, soft texture, and wrapped perfectly on a display. Tell me is this what happiness is?"

"Marco you're talking out loud again." I gave her one of my uneven smiles and sat down in our usual spot. "Three cupcakes and some grapes how do you not get fat?"

"Well, I do work up a sweat pounding you in front of your dad every Monday and Friday it helps keep me in shape."

Jackie blinked twice. "…Gonna put some more context in that?"

"What context? I'm just talking about training. "


"Ow. Ow. Ow." The second part of my schedule involves me mindlessly beating myself until I go off and do one of my various activities. While doing that, I've been sifting through the list that I had stolen from Buff Frog and restoring the destroyed book.

[Physical Endurance has increased by 4!]

[Brutal Blow's level has risen by 2!]

[Blunt Weapon Mastery has increased by 3!]

Thanks to all my hard work the refurbishment process is done. "Observe."

[Summon Forgotten Elemental] Skill Book

Requirements: None

I absorbed them right anyway and went outside, using observe I checked the area thanking the stars that Janna wasn't nearby. I grabbed my sword and drew the summoning circle off to the side. The circle could stand to be better, I hope I don't get a crappy whatever elemental because of some bad handiwork. Assembling magic into my fist and slamming the flat markings on top beginning the chant. "I, Marco Diaz, humbly request that the spirit whom my soul reaches take on this contract. Come to me now by the elements of the world, by the light or dark!"

The circle burned brightly, I shielded my eyes from the ray grinning in delight. Whatever pops out of a light this blinding has got to be strong. The earth shook and splintered as the light collected and grew. It morphed into the shape of a human about a foot or so taller than me. It constituted a full suit of rusted armor with no one to wear it.

"…Master is that you?" The unhurried, regal voice rang in my ears. "Why have you taken so long to re-summon me? What has happened to the Queen?"

"Queen?" I inquired. "Slow down there buddy I'm not the guy you remember. I'm Marco Diaz pleased to meet you whatever elemental you are. Seeing as how you've answered my call-in accordance with the ritual I'm your new master. Let's start off our relationship right and have you tell me your name." I stared into the hollow suit.

It gazed at me. I don't know if it's out of curiosity or what. "No."

"No? I-Is that Mewman or something?"

"No, you insolent child, but if you must know it is the universal tongue of Mewmish. As for your question let it be known that I simply refuse to tell a boy with no bearings of his place my name."

I thought I could be rude but this damn elemental proved me wrong. "Ok, I formed the contract with you aren't their rules you have to follow? I mean you can't just say no I summoned you for corn's sake."

The elemental's armor creaked as it set its eyes on me. "Fine, then. I will not show you the history of my birth as others have. You shall see experience a true soul bonding."

The world went dark, a faint light cracked through the shadows. I could hear the crying of a baby, a green-haired woman with spade cheek marks, and a man draped in black armor. Torchlights flickered on the landscape behind them hundreds of voices all called out at once, thirsty for blood. The man shut the doors as the mother and daughter skittered through. Whispers that I could not make out levitated through the door as he wiped his tears the knight turned to face his foes. The High Commission stood before him.

"Baw. Bahbwah."

The knight smirked. "The view must be great from that glass house of yours! I may be a traitor yet I have my own sense of justice." He glowed with menacing dark energy that shattered the sky and as drew his sword. A pleasant smile formed on his face. "No matter what the world says she is my Queen! I refuse to bow my head to anyone else! Come to me ****!"

The hollow knight appeared and everything went black again. The scene continued on a more abysmal tempo, the man was beaten and bloody, Hollow Knight fought to make his last stand but shattered into fragments. Omnitraxus grind-ed the elemental into dust. "Forgive me my… master."

"They're in the inner sanctum, I think they converted it to some sort of nursery."

"D-do we have to do this?" A girl's voice asked.

"Rules are rules you know that. We need to tie up loose ends before the peasants catch on, starting with him." said the deepest voice.

Lekmet bawed quietly and squatted down by the defeated man, his hand glowing. His shackles restrained every movement, he writhed away from the commissioner, shutting his eyes only to have them forcefully opened. "No! No! Get away from me!" He roared. "Death, crystallization, eternal servitude but for the sake of all good things on Mewni don't take Eclipsa away from me! She was in love what does it matter that it was with a monster!?"

His plea fell on deaf ears. The old man cast his spell. "Me…mor…y...er…as…er."

"Now for Eclipsa." The room broke open to the scared family. Tears stained their eyes as the mother placed her daughter in the crib. She spun the musical device at the top and kissed her baby one more time. The baby with a tail cooed, then drifted off to sleep. Eclipsa faced the dark figures of the council, having accepted her fate. She took a step forward but only one.

No make it stop. Please! I don't want to see anymore! Pain seared in every cell of my body my eyes widened as the frame of my backyard came back into view. The knight showed ogled me as I hunched over the ground recollecting myself.

"You are not worthy of my name. When you are of sufficient strength I may listen to you, however, I doubt one with a weak soul such as yourself could ever do that."

The elemental shimmered into petals and danced off in the air. Although it hadn't given me a name I felt some sort of tether between the two of us. But if we're gonna work together he's going to not be such a jerk. I have a strong soul, I think, I'm just not ready to handle a beyond depressing cutscene. Not to mention Eclipsa…I sighed. I know she's the "Evil" Queen of Darkness and all but did she really deserve that? I shook the thoughts. "This must be the reason why this book was left unattended in the library." My head snapped down in disappointment. Months of work down the crapper.


I waited for my turn to throw someone on the mat for parent's night. A giant of a man with platinum hair and a thin beard called the match. It's the monthly meeting where Mr. Lynn Thomas proves to our parents that he's not wasting their money. "That concludes the match, both students bow, please. Would our last two competitors for the night step down! Mr. Marco Diaz! And my lovable, adorable, perfect-"

"Dad!"

"Ahem, and Ms. Jackie Lynn Thomas!"

I observed Jackie.

[Jackie Lynn Thomas Cooler than the Rain LVL 14]

HP: 1200/1200

MP: 1200/1200

Age:13

STR: 49 (58.8)

VIT: 30

DEX: 44 (52.8)

INT: 51

WIS: 29

LUK: 29

Status Effect: (Rivalry: +10% to STR and DEX! Top Form: x2 Status effects!)

"Jackie's taking this seriously." I took a deep breath and dug into the compendium on her.

[Jackie Lynn Thomas

Titles-

Former: Girl Next-door (+2 to ALL stats every 4 levels until level 20)

Currently: Cooler than the Rain (Naturalist Perk: Keeps character in top form at all times!)

Notable Skills-

Martial Arts Mastery LVL 49 EXP: 34.2%-

Main: Capoeira

Secondary: Lynn Thomas' Skateboard Technique (Unable to use without Jackie's Skateboard equipped)

"Jackie's stronger than me, but I could win this. I've got the edge on speed. Furthermore, with my high intelligence, I'm sure I could think about her tactics.

(Repeatable Quest!)

Friday Night's Dance Fight!

Engage your monthly opponent until they hit the mat!

Rewards: +4,000 EXP, $50, REP with Lynn Thomas Dojo increases, REP with Jackie increases

Bonus Rewards: Intimacy up with ?, Title (Win x10 matches),? ,?

Failure: No rewards, decrease in REP with Jackie

"Ready?" I readied myself in a defensive parrying style focusing on her more aggressive stance. Though she's "Cooler than the Rain" Jackie's goes full tilt right away none of the other guys seemed to catch on because of…obvious reasons. "Go!" Jackie rushed me sweeping below my legs. I sprang away catching myself on the edge of the mat, I quickly bobbed my hand at gut my intercepting her strike.

She took hold of my grabbed arm and palm struck me in the chin, sending me flying off with a painful thud. I jiggled my jaw back into place. "Nice one. Of course, you know this means war."

Jackie shrugged and offered me a hand back up. "Round two! Begin!"

She began charging at me again. "Not working twice." I focused on her flying fist that rushed past me. I prepared to attack back but she had kicked up speed keeping me focused on defense. I barely had enough time to sidestep and catch the front of the girl's gi as she made a fast break to kick me down, grabbing another chunk of her attire in my other hand I smash her back into the ground.

She blew a bit of her hair out of the way and got back up. "It's down to the wire! Any mistake will finish it! One…two...three!"

"No way she's going to do the same strategy three times. What are you planning over there?"

"Fight!"

"You're not getting the jump on me a third time." I ran up to her striking through thin air and threw a punch right back at me. I caught it between my palm, spun her around, and shot my leg straight hoping to end the match with an ax kicked. "What the-" My blow had hit its mark but not with the force I intended.

Jackie interrupted the full force of my blow and propelled my body off hers pushing me far away. She dashed for my chest with a roundhouse. "Not today."

Through repeated actions, a new skill has been created!

[Focus (Active) LVL 1 EXP 0.0% Cost: 50 MP] – Created by Marco Diaz's continued observation of a targeted enemy's movements! Psychologically slows down time to allows him to perceive attack patterns! Active for 7 seconds upon activation, will cause cerebral unfreeze. Extended use requires 50 more MP.

"Go!" I mentally shouted. My projection of reality slowed I shot my arm up deflecting Jackie's strike and dashed around her slipping my leg underneath to disrupt her center, catching her on the way down to balance my own body I used hers raising my fist at the end.

(Repeatable Quest Completed!)

Friday Night's Dance Fight!

You prevailed! Huzzah!

Received: +5,000 EXP, $50, REP with Lynn Thomas Dojo increases, REP with Jackie increases

Bonus Rewards: Intimacy up with ?, Title (Win x10 matches),? , ?

"Show off," Jackie replied, as she stood on her own. She and I bowed to each other and the audience of watchers. "Nice one Macho Man."

"I aim to please," I said blowing kisses to my parents who hollered at my victory.

When the last fight was, over families vacated the stands. My family was the last pair to speak to Sensei. "Marco's an absolute joy to train mainly because not too many students come in here and train as vigorously and dedicated as he does. I even let him take the younger kids and give them some pointers every now and again! Hahaha!"

"It's always, Marco! Marco! Can you show me how to do that move! You're so cool!" Jackie's dad said. "But he could stand to come to train a little bit at home…without too much supervision. He says he gets embarrassed when a certain family member's always watching him," Mr. Lynn Thomas hinted. "But that's just me." He said closing the door and coming to my friend and me.

Jackie bit into her granola bar. We were in the middle of a discussion about the flaws in our fight. "No more using karate, you'll never get better faster unless you only use one or the other." She whipped the food around.

"Not like I can just turn it off my brain's not a switch." That's not entirely false, I'd have to expand the skills menu then think the skills on or off and that takes a whole five seconds.

"Come to me my little mermaid!" Jackie stuck out her tongue and blew a raspberry before patting me on the back.

"Stay awesome Marco, you owe me one."

"Only if it works out," I said snidely. "Later Jackie."

I hopped into the car whistling to the song on the radio. "Space unicorn! Soaring through the sky! Delivering the rainbows all around the world!" Space unicorn is a cool song, so irritatingly and annoyingly catchy.

Mom raised her finger then looked over to my muscly father. He was jamming harder to the song that I was, the only way she got his attention was by shaking him pointing to the back of the car, where I was watching with a side eye. They exchanged differing grunts and faces with one another but mom laid down the finishing look with a determined glare. My father frowned and arced himself to me. "Marco…"

"Hey, Dad. What's up?

He squeamishly glanced back to my mother. She kept her eyes fixed on the road, he was completely on his own. "You know that your mother and I love you very much."

"Obviously, you guys are the best parents ever."

"But you do know why we've been hard on you recently right?"

"It's because you guys thought I was doing drugs?"

Bloodlust Detected at you. A chill draped over the room chilling me to my bones, moms are scary. "What of course not!?" My father made a slicing moment at his neck. "We trust you far too much to believe you'd be involved with anything like that at any age. But this conversation is about one thing, trust!"

"Jackie, you sly dog."

"We believe that someone of your age might be going through somethings," He said quoting the air. "With hormones and all and that sometimes you need to be alone. Your mother and I experienced the delicate age of blooming adulthood, the night time get-away, stealing glances and kisses, running into the cold waters of the ocean and casting away-"

"Dad you're getting off topic."

He blushed forging his words anew. "I mean we want you to know that we understand every bit of what you're going through and that you think the world especially your parents are your enemies. But we're not! We…" He looked to Angie. "Believe," Again. "That you deserve to be able to spend a weekend at home by yourself to prove that you understand the meaning of responsibility!" He breathed out and beat his chest. "That feels so good to get out."

"Score!" I kept my smile hidden underneath my hoodie. "Marco," the one woman of our family began. Angie's perturbed body language kept me on my toes. "Do you think you're responsible enough to take care of the house by yourself for the weekend?"

Don't be too eager, I swallowed the spit in my mouth. "Y-yeah I think I can do that. If you guys think I'm ready I don't want to disappoint you." Angie took her turn to breathe. There was my confirmation.


"Rafael and I are going to be back by five A.M on Monday morning. We don't want anyone outside the house aside from you and we'll be calling every now and again to check in on you, there are leftovers in the fridge and money for pizza."

I scrawled her instructions down on a notepad and happily nodded. "All down, on here and up here." She hugged me tight and planted a kiss on my forehead before revving the car and heading out with my snoring Dad.

I waved to them down the street and went back inside. Eventually, I reached into my jacket and pulled out my best friend who would rule my night, the toenail clippers. I kicked my feet up on the table and I flicked on the TV, swaying back and forth for a few minutes, I kept an ear out for anything unnatural. I heard the rustling of leaves and hushed voices. Nonetheless, half my sense was focused on the T.V and the others on my wonderful parents.

"-ee dear he's not doing anything."

"Just a few more minutes our flight's not for another two hours."

"But I want to be on the Sandy Palms of La Cucaracha before the happiest of hours begins."

"Be quiet he'll hear you!"

A skill has been created owed to recurrent actions!

[Eavesdrop LVL 1 EXP 0.0% Cost: 30 MP/min] – Drink in the true melodies of the world that you would otherwise ignore. Every heartbeat, every water drop, wait did a tree just fall in the forest? It did make a sound, didn't it?

-Extends audial range up to 15 meters.

"Too late for that you defectives," I yawned and took a soda from the fridge and sat on the counter top, making it a point to leave it open and on the counter. I heard a loud rustle almost as if someone was saying 'see'.

[Marble Soda- Increases movement speed by +10% for the next hour.]

An hour passed and they had not moved.

Rafael was anxiously locking in on his watch and Angie had her sights trained on me. Nine o' clock Mom's push is here. I pretended to nervously pick up the remote. I haphazardly shut the windows where you could see the box before returning to my seat. Once more I looked around before changing the channel. "This is the end Gyro I've mastered the art of self-movement and attack there is no chance for you to defeat me now!"

"You fool! I am the greatest in all of Korea! A filthy commoner like you must have many screws loose to believe you can defeat a grandmaster!" I won't lie the lines are cringy but damn is this some crisp animation for the fight scenes.

"If you had just taken my hand none of this would have to happen if you had not lied to me! We could have built an empire!"

"My love…Rosa that dream is for off like my memories! Let us engage in a battle of strings one last time!"

No one must know my dark secret of watching sappy Korean anime about vampires and pop singers. I curled up under the blanket on the couch. No movement. "Maybe in another life we could be together but not this one."

"He's just sitting there watching a very strange show. Is this one of those animes that's on the rage with kids in Marco's age group? Is this what his sense of fashion is going to be in the future?"

"As much as I would love to cosplay every day I don't think that go over well with people at school."

"Hm…" Angie paused probably thinking to herself. "Well, he looks like he'll be fine." She sounded content and not grumpy for the first time in months, I'll have to get her something nice while I'm out on. Once they were out of earshot I unfurled the shades I quickly shot up to our attic and watched them leave for real this time. I locked every entrance.

I turned on the T.V on in my room while un-equipping my street clothes. "Cosmetic clothing: Off!" My freshly mended Emperor's Attire floated onto my skin as I clenched my fist and equipped my sword. I skimmed the list off associates and the dimensional guide cross-examining them to make sure the places matched up.

Dearest Diary,

You better write back this time!

Buff Frog must get hands-on dimensional scissors for Ludo's plan to infiltrate Butterfly Castle and steal wand. Buff Frog may not trust septarian but for the sake of future children and maybe Mama Buff Frog, Buff Frog will be putting his personal prejudices aside for the sake of all! Planned meeting will be Jungle Dimension at client's home approximately 89 days from entry. Goodbye diary I will be expecting your reply when I return.

(Quest Created!)

A Dark Descent...

Evil doesn't begin grand, everyone must start off somewhere. Small times jobs build up to a big legend and this is a good first gig! Meet with Buff Frog's partner.

Rewards: +10,000 EXP, $10,000, 1000 gold, REP with ?

Bonus Rewards: +10,000 EXP to every extra objective completed, ?, ?, ?

Failure: No rewards, identity exposed, unable to progress on Dark Emperor's route.

If it's who I think it is this might be the opportunity I'm looking for. Leading the dogs to the snake and getting him caught now there'll be no one who can get in my way. I nodded confidently. Space cut open at the seams revealing a small-town teeming with houses that danced with fairy lights and people on the streets. I surveyed the landscape generating a map and went down into the bustling place filled with posters of incoming events one.

One of them was a poster for Saint Olga's inviting all royals to send their wayward princess to be "fixed" as it put. I crumbled up the paper before scanning the next one that was some sort of rare holiday in the cloud kingdom.

I eventually faded into the shadows but glanced up at the fairy dance every now and again. The dancers were adorned in white and gold while non-partisans wore similar fashioned clothing but in different coloring by the group. That left me few options for clothing and I'd hate to run into another main cast member by accident again.

I rubbed my chin as I eyed the sea of rainbows streets for anybody walking around alone. As luck, would have it there was someone. I spotted a toned man with torn clothing. I smirked to myself before calming the muscles in my face and putting on my safe-kid voice mixed with a bit of persuading.

"Excuse me!" I shouted, moving my hand to and fro with a friendly smile on my face.

"Yes?" He roughly asked propping his head on some flowerpots.

[Grunt Johansen Bear Tamer LVL 36]

I rubbed the back of my neck, "Sorry to bother you mister, but I got separated from my family a little while ago. They said to meet me at…well I don't know his name but you wouldn't happen to know this man, would you?" I showed a faded picture.

The man relaxed a little at my dulcet tones before wiping the grimed off his face, he nodded at me, "Yeah this guy lives on sixteen and mai- ack! "

I chopped the man's neck and seized his rags before he hit the ground, royalty gets around, don't they? I could have been reborn into his family so I decided to be the sort of nice guy that I am and gently set him down and took his items. I left him some of the gold in my pocket and the extra hoodie and pants from my inventory. The clothes are too small for him but that's his problem.

I slipped into the outfit.

Equipment

Total DEF 25

Head – Multi-terrain Cap. Rain, snow, sleet, or heat this cap repels it all! +5 defense.

Chest – Survival chest. Mish-mash of different kinds of thick materials. + 7 defense.

Hands – Berry picker's gloves. Gloves stained with berry juice you can still taste a few flavors on the fingertips. +3 defense.

Legs – Traveler's trousers. Trousers made for anyone new people who want to journey the stars. +5 defense.

Feet – Traveler's shoes. Shoes to go with the trousers that'll take you far as long as you don't stop walking. +5 defense.

[Common Set] Traveler's Gear- Made for long extended journeys and survival in the grittiest of places in the universe! +10% EXP gain to a survival based skills.

Doing that I became invisible to the townspeople. I hopped onto a trolley that my minimap lead me to. I walked past the town's main streets into a more slum-like area on the outskirts the roads that lead me towards the client were uneven and covered with glass.

More than once I had to flick my robe aside to fend off any preying eyes after navigating all the winding paths I found my way to the dilapidated shack with busted open windows and a single lamplight. I heard giggling of the non-male variety inside sweat ran down my back as the heat wafted through the doorway in waves and the door fell off the hinges. "Hello? Anyone home?"

"Are you my client?" I stood in the middle of the destroyed loft and headed towards the voice.

"Yeh," I hopped over a broken bottle. "Yvgeny Bulgolyubov- "

"Who?"

No one calls him that even in professional settings, good to know. "I meant Buff Frog! Buff Frog sent me."

"That guy? About time he came around?" The voice snorted. "When I'm done with this we can get back to the good stuff later."

"Should I leave until you're done with…doing the do?"

"Wait in there just need to uh finish in here." A bed squeaked. Oh, joy now I get to hear the final moves by the dancers on velvet sheets in the back. That undoubtedly is going to be haunting my dreams and I'm not even at home. I cracked my neck, waiting. I didn't have to wait too long. I flipped my cap over my head to cover my face entirely as two monster women shuffled out of the house.

I craned my head to the side as with a cough and a sneeze the serpent appeared, a full bottle of mewman swamp water in his hand. My twenty-two luck was rearing its head. Scales, tail, and all here he is.