War for Remnant
Chapter 2: Study"8,9...T-" I paused in mid-count, trying to catch my breath as my arms grew numb from the strenuous amount of push-ups I'm in the progress of doing. Sweats were slowly but surely forming near my forehead. Despite the fatigue building up, I preserved. Lowering myself slowly against the ground, I pushed myself upward using every ounce of strength with both hands pressed against the ground beneath me. Juts as I had finished my task, I fall to the ground shortly.
Having completed a strenuous task, you gained 1 point in Strength.
Strenuous task, I silently thought bitterly. Ten push-ups. Two handed. Not ten reps of diamond push-ups. Only ten reps of regular push-ups which just shows how weak I am in comparison to my family. Not to mention, this is my second set and I had even taken a ten minute break earlier as well. Father can do at least a thousand of this and he would barely break any sweat. Mother, well,anyone with eyes can tell with a glance she is specialized in physical labour. Those muscles of hers weren't just for show.
"Guess this is my limit huh," I stated to myself bitterly, turning my body so I may sit on the floor. My shirt and pants were soaked with sweat as I had spent the last two hours training. I did some calisthenic and ran laps around the basement for several hours. The results were mixed. I'd received one points in Strength for every ten push-ups and I'd done twenty with breaks in between, making it two points in total. Eight laps I'd ran and I'd received two points in Vitality for all my hard work. Despite the fatigue wearing me down, my lips curved upward into a smile.
Guess the physical stats can be increased via training just like my mental ones although Dexterity is left alone. Dexterity is a mixture of the skill I possessed with my hands, flexibility and speed rolled into one. I need to find some ways to improve I should learn how to use chopsticks? Those are rather difficult to learn or maybe something else. Running had only increased my Vitality and I couldn't think of anything else.
As my eyes scanned the area, they landed on the various gym equipments placed on the right side of the room. Racks of dumbbell and barbell with a few skipping ropes placed at the side. Father had bought and placed exercise equipment in this place despite knowing the powers of Hunters are set the moment they'd awakened. What they were given is what they have; no more no less. I'd questioned his decision s once when I was younger and he'd responded that having one's Aura awakened doesn't automatically gives you a well-sculpted body.
Currently I am in the basement and it is one spacious room designed specifically for sparring purposes. A large circular ring occupied the middle of the room and off to the far right were racks filled with mock weapons; spears, swords, knives and even more peculiar ones such as flails and nunchaku. Think of a dojo usually seen in those old martial arts movie but built on a larger scale. Mom and Dad had it commissioned since they needed a place to train whenever they weren't out on Hunters' business.
The basement was built deep underground beneath our home as they didn't wanted to bother our neighbors with the disruptive sounds. The walls were made of metal enhanced with-I would've called it Aura but given what my System's term had used-I'm tempted to call it Mana. The reason behind such enhancement was clashes between Hunters tends to be very disruptive, especially when the ones involved are two National Rank Hunters. Also, Mom and Dad had used this place to train my sisters. They had gave me permission to use this place since I asked so nicely. Which struck them odd given the fact I barely focused on my Hunter training. Also, I'm awakened on the level of a Rank E Hunter so it's no use either way.
I merely told them I wanted to lose some weight. They seemed pleased with my answer enough to leave it at that. Now, here I am all alone in a house by myself.
"Perk List."I called out. Perk List was one of the few benefits of this power of mine. It allows me to buy bonuses that are-in a sense-similar to Passive Skills but these can only be unlocked via the Perk Store which comes with the Perk List. Perks are different than Skills as they are set at max upon procurement and does not utilize mana. In order to buy a Perk, I would need Perk points, a currency that can only be earned via feats unlike Stat Points which are earned through leveling up.
All Perks in general has an Alignment Requirement which had apparently followed the classic tabletop RPG games, Grimm and Hunters; Lawful, Neutral and Chaotic which are followed by either Good or Evil with True Neutral as the sole exception. And it just so happens I have come to be classified under Lawful Good. Perhaps this is a reference to how I dream of becoming a Hunter just for the purpose of helping others? I can't be too sure.
Perk List
Perk Store(Enter)
Jaune's Perks:Good Genes, Beloved Child,Beloved Brother, Mediocrity. In School.
I chuckled at the list of perks that were apparently held by me. It was already shown to me during the tutorial provided by the System. All four are Perks that I already had from the start. I checked all four Perks yet again.
Good Genes(Max)
A blessing often endowed on those who are results of a union of good genetic donors. As you are the child of a [Redacted] and [Redacted, you are gifted with this boon.
Effects: Add 2 points to Strength, Dexterity, Vitality and Intelligence for each level up.
Alignment Requirement: None.
Beloved Child.(Max)Unconditional affections only given by parents to their child. As the only son, you are held dearly by your parents, no matter what are your flaws nor how many you possessed. Only lose this ability upon your parents death or having grown independent.
Effects: Your parents cared for you greatly. That's it.
Alignment Required: None.
Beloved Brother( Max)As the youngest of eight siblings and the sole brother to seven older sisters, your sister loves you dearly and will go through hell and back just for you.
Effects: Your sisters cared for you greatly. That's it.
Alignments Required: None
Those redacted things again? I frown to myself as I placed a hand underneath my chin. Mind confounded by the appearance of this thing. Why would they take pride in someone like me? Is it the one who made the System? What is it do they actually want from me? Money? Power? Or do they actually want him to become strong? And if so why?
Bah, forget it. I thought to myself with a huff. All of their thinking will lead me nowhere.
Mediocrity( Max)
For reasons unknown, you are the sole member of your family that possess not enough talent to outshine any of your family. You are able to be apart of the populace but not stand out amongst them.
Effects: Reduce learning progression speed by half for all skills.
Alignment Requirement: None
A frown made way to my face after finished reading the skills' effect. Guess this only confirms my opinion because one of my Perks (or should I say debuff), practically spelled it to my face. Not that it changes anything other than giving me a simple confirmation. In School was a Perk I'd gained upon entering this place to train. Supposedly it improves all weapon learning speed by 50 percent, essentially negating my Mediocrity Perk.
Guess this means certain places can grant me perks as well. Sweet.
"Now let's do this. Inventory." I spoke and upon command, a five by ten table box appeared. Three of the boxes were filled and all three were books. Books dad had bought for me a while back but I had never gotten around to it. Too lazy. Too disheartened to do anything. Hands shoved in and the Inventory boxes surface rippled like water. Once I pulled it out a book came out along with it. The books cover has my dad posing on it, one hand holding a sword upright like some of knight.
A Sword and You
A book that contains knowledge on the basics of swordmanship to whoever desired the skill. This book contains knowledge on how to use swords of any kind. Written by the world renowned swordsman and National-Rank Hunter, Richard Arc.
Do you wish to learn this skill?
(Y/N)
I chuckled at the description and a full-on grin comes to my face when the familiar screen popped up. The book was something dad had written and meant as a guide for since h was too busy with work. I had used it before but we're never really motivated to use it.
Anyway, shortly after my parents had left the house, I grew curious at what is the extent of my Gamer's ability. I had went back into my room and went through my stuff, searching for books I can use. Just when I had grabbed onto one, imagine my surprise when my suspicion was confirmed.
The ability to learn any ability. A very powerful ability and I'm the one who has it. I had tested it with other books in the house and apparently I can learn skills using a book of all things. Just thinking about the possibility had me giggling. Sure, Hunters can learn skills from the Runestones only available in Boss-level Grimm. Unable to contain my excitement any longer, I practically smashed my fist into the Y button.
Error. Unable to learn this skill as Player Jaune Arc already has this skill.
Hmm, Guess I can't level up pre-existing skills. I thought to myself in dismay. Guess the same can be said for my Shieldmanship skills.
"Whatever, guess I can only use one book then." A shame really. I had thought I can upgrade my skills if I'd just used a book regarding swordmanship. At least this proves my theory.
Bare hand is Fun
A book written by one of the S-rank Hunters of Vale, Taiyang Xiao Long, a well-known professional fighter who had relied on his bare hands to carve his way up to the world of martial art.
This book is a must-have for any who desired to learn the way to the fist.
Would you like to learn this skill?
(Y/N)
I pressed Y and the book glowed a bright blue before dissolving into crystalline powders.
Congratulations, you have learned Boxing Lv1(0.00%)
"Hmm, level one? That's a shame. Aah, what the heck, I'll just train it up then." I make way to the weapon racket, picked up a sword and shield and begun to train. But first...
"Character Sheets." At my words, my Character Sheets appeared. I gave it a look over and frowned. All of this stats look like crap. I need to improve them quickly and I don't know how long will it take to bring them up to snuff through normal training.
I allocated my stats Points and smiled at the final result.
Character Sheets
Name:Jaune Arc
Level:1 (50.00%) Class: None
HP:140 MP:144
Strength:12
Dexterity:10
Vitality:14
Intelligence:12
Wisdom:12
Luck:1
Stat Points:0 Perk Points:5
Alignment:Lawful Good. Lien: 10
4 points into Dexterity, 2 points into Strength and two more into Vitality and the remaining four distributed equally between Intelligence and Wisdom. Should be enough as it is. Int and Wis can be increased should I get my hands on some problems that requires critical thinking. Already I can feel changes going through my body. I don't know how to describe it, it felt like something is coursing through my body. The sensation stopped as fast as it started.
Hopefully this works now. Already I feel stronger and my Mana bar has increased. Judging from the number, I guess it is a product of multiplication between my Int and Wis. Which raised even more question. Is the size of one's aura/Mana reserve dictated by how smart an Awakened is?
"Not important," I shook my head, like trying to physically remove that thought. "Let's get to work."
Skill List
Passive Skill: Players' Body(Lv Max), Swordmanship(Lv 1), Shieldmanship(Lv 1), Boxing( Lv 1)
Active Skill: Observe (Lv 1) Shield Bash(Lv 1), Cleave (Lv1)
"This is ridiculous."I huffed in anger. Twenty minutes. The exact amount of time spent on practicing with a sword and shield only to see no increase in either skill. I had done what my skill tell me to do, holding my shield upward and sword in the right position. It wasn't an actual vocal one telling me to do anything, more on the line of something instinctual; it felt like I knew how to do it. Must have been the work of the knowledge I'd consumed.
After that I had tried to imagine an imaginary opponents and struck at said opponents. I'd kept doing it for ten minutes and stopped altogether when I hadn't even seen any progression for my Swordmanship nor Shieldmanship. Maybe I need to use a live opponent for it to truly work? Dad did said the best teacher would be experience and what better way other than doing the real thing.
At least I received two active skills from this endeavor.
Shield Bash was created when I had tried -as the name stated-bashed the air with a shield. Cleave was a skill I'd created when I'd swung my sword in a wide horizontal arc. Observe was the only one granted to me. All three uses Mana and aren't too costly much to my joy. At least I can use them should I fight. Though with their creation, I wonder if I can create anymore skill? It seems if I do specific actions, I might one for my trouble. And books, I should definitely find more. Maybe I can learn something powerful.
Four passives and three actives, not bad for a beginner. I chuckled. Player's Body was the Passive Skill that was granted to me, apparently it allows me to live my life like a game character. Says that it will heal me of any affliction and restore my HP and MP to max once I sleep for eight hours per day.
Swordmanship is the skill I possessed with a sword and Shieldmanship is the same except this one is associated with shields. Boxing is pretty much the level of my skill with said art. All three are at level 1 and the stupid part is that the only way to level up any of them is by (possibly) engaging in real-life combat situation. There's only one place to do so.
"Well, time to visit the local Gate then." I spoke as I placed back the weapons in their original place. Maybe I can level up my passive skills through this method.