War for Remnant
Chapter 3:ProgressionName: John Snow
Lv:3Age: 6
Bus seat.
Bio:It's just something you put your butt on
Bus hand holder.
Bio:It's something you hold onto.
Caerulium Jones
Lv: 8Age:20
Annie Maw
Lv 6Age:19
Leather handbag.
Fascinating.
It seems Observe works differently basd on the target. Humans will only show me their level and name while objects only show me their bio and name. The description for the objects aren't that descriptive either.
I drummed my finger along my thighs, looking around as I kept silently casting observe to the other people around me. None of them seems to be bothered partially because it isn't illegal to look around. The reason why I had been spamming Observe on anything I can find was because I drew the conclusion the only way to increase Observe is by using it. Hypothetically speaking, if I can only increase my combat-related skills through actual fight so the same must be said for this.
Which was proven true as the skill had levelled up. I couldn't help but grin at it. Judging from the people's level, it seems I can learn about the levels of people based on the difference in level between me and my intended target. Though this raises questions on why I can't see the levels or any information pertaining to my parents. Perhaps I should level up or my skills are the one that needs an improvement, I don't know. Could be either one or possibly both.
But the possibility do get me giddy. Will I be able to learn more information should I levelled up Observe? What kind of information I can discern from them if the skill did improved? Their stats? Their private life? Their ability? My ability shows me information about myself so it wouldn't be far-fetched I can do the same to others with Observe.
For coming into a logical conclusion about your ability, you gain one point in Intelligence
"Haha." I laughed. Very funny. Screw you System. Although i won't look a gift in the horse's mouth. Will I keep increasing my Int stats by thinking up hypothesis? I=Oh, do keep the gifts coming.
"Mommy, why is he laughing?" I overheard little John Snow asking, curious.
"Shush, don't point at him. He's just loony." I felt a sharp metaphorical arrow pierced through my chest. That damn woman! She should be thankful I didn't admonished her. Can't you see-
Oh wait, I forgot normal humans can't see my System stuff. I've tried it out by summoning Character Sheets while I was on the bus. No one mentioned about a floating textbox nor do they make any sign of noticing it. Score. To add icing on the cake, I can even allocate my points with mental commands. At least people won't give me weird looks if I were to try and placed my Stats points.
"Hey kid," I turned to the source, the bus driver, an old man had apparently called for me. An elderly man with wizened face, evident by the wrinkles. A faded out blue cap rest on the top of his head. The old driver was dressed in a casual clothing, brown jacket over black shirt and blue jeans accompanied with black leather shoes. if I recalled correctly, his name was something along the line of Cameron or something.
"Get off, we're here."
It took a second for me to comprehend what did he meant by here. Once I did, I smiled and got up from my seat but not before Crocea Mors was strapped onto me properly. Like always, the sword is sheathed inside the transformed kite shield. The blue grip and golden crossguard stood out at the top. I then make my way to the exit and paid for the funds. The light over the doorway lit up and the door opened up on its' own. I thanked the elderly bus driver and moved towards the door.
"Hey Hunter-boy," I turned my head slightly, enough to catch the driver from the corner of my vision. He gave a toothy smile and a thumbs up. "Give'em hell kid."
"Thanks mister." I beamed at the man. I stepped out of the bus and took several steps away from it. By the third steps, the bus's engine hummed to life and drove off. Standing several dozen feet away from the bus stop was a giant building, about twenty floors tall and grey in color. It's two distinguishing features would be the sheer size of it and how it stood out amongst the various modern buildings. This is the one of the few buildings left standing after the Revolution War in all of Vale. A cylindrical tower with multiple statues lining the outside. Hanging above the building was a big whiteboard with the words 'Vale Hunting Ground' written in black bold letters built at the top.
The Vale Hunting Ground. Despite its' name, it was actually a building serves to be the hunting ground for Hunters. Specifically Hunters who aren't affiliated with any existing Guild as they are too weak to be worth hiring it. Hunters such as myself in fact. The building was created somewhere around a hundred years ago or so by the ancient king of Vale. A temple of sort to built to honor the king. If my memories serves me right, it was King Richard II. Supposedly the man was a big fan of art although he imposed an ungodly amount of tax on the peasant to fuel his desire. Also, the narcissistic fuck was only interested in art depicting him in a good light.
Damn it, I wonder how the late king would feel about the very same building created from the money of the people is now used to help the people make money for themselves. The thought had me chuckling. Irony at its' finest.
In any case, thirty years ago, this historical monument was repurposed as the government wanted to get in on the Gates business. Supposedly scientist from Atlas had theorized that the existence of more than one Gate within close proximity would cause more Gates to come forth. The reasoning behind that line of thought were due to the mana exuded by the various Gates would cause it too... congregate(?) in one particular area and create more, I think. Something along the line of two E-ranks in one area and more similarly levelled gates would pop up. I can't really remember what was the exact reasoning but in any case their test was a rousing success and all four Kingdoms began trying it out. For reasons unbeknownst to me, they had apparently decided to use this place as it only takes up space but the Council had apparently decided it could be used to accommodate those multiple Gates. I'd remembered coming down here often to work as porters for any Hunter teams.
The Kingdom wanted more Gates to appear because of the unique resources behind the Dungeons. Those places contains resources that are highly sought out by all four Kingdoms. Sure, Hunters can hunt Grimm in the wild and people can mine Dust in the...well, mines but the Dust found in the mines are weaker compared to the ones found in Dungeon and Grimm in the wild aren't restrained by the Gates.
I make way to the entrance and saw a double door made entirely of glass. The handle was made of gold although a quick scan showed me that they were made from steel coated in iron. Huh, I always thought they made it from actual gold. Stupid of me to assume so.
Grabbing hold of the door handle I opened it and entered the place. The inside of the place looked spacious, very spacious. The ceilings were covered with mosaics depicting Hunters of the past fighting against the forces of Grimm, horrible monsters that lives in the Dungeon, the place connected to Earth via the Gates. This place looked like it hadn't aged a day despite the fact it had been built for over fifty years ago. The pillars scattered around the lobby were gilded with gold and much to my amusement, they are actual gold. Intricate characters of Ancient Valean decorated the shafts of the many white pillars. I almost forgot this is actually a temple dedicated to one of the deceased Kings.
Standing in the middle of the lobby was a giant statue made of gray marbles. It stood tall and strong, the smooth gray surface was a reflection of how well it had stood against the test of time. A knight dressed in shining armor with a shield in hand and a sword in another. The same sword raised high up as if he was waving for a crowd. The knight stood proudly over the deceased Beowolf.
Beowolf, one of the most common species of Grimm found in Dungeons. The wolf-like Grimm looks like how a wolf would look like only the creature has bone plates covering the fore and hind legs and a bone mask modelled after a wolf skull rested where the face would be.
Grimm are the sole inhabitants of the Dungeon, the plane of existence located on the other side of the Gate. These monsters come in a many shapes and sizes. Some resembled the common animal they have and others looked like the stuff of nightmares. In any case, these are monsters that people such as myself, a Hunter, must hunt down. Not just to protect the human race but to earn a living/
I shook my head at the sight and walked past it, heading towards the receptionist desk. A young woman who I don't recognize. With a quick Observe, it told me her name was Jasmine, a fellow blonde who had tied her hair in a neat little bun. Unlike me though, she has sea green eyes and those orbs of hers are too busy focused on a something else. Weird, what is it could get her giggling and face beet red.
I leaned over the desk and I'd wished I hadn't. Oh god, what are they doing?! Oh god, I fought the urge to barf all over her, stumbling away from her as I held a hand over the mouth. Trying my best to swallowed down my food. What kind of sick person who want to read...that? Men giving another men... oh lord, I think I'm gonna be sick. The woman noticed me groaning and looking sickly shrieked indignantly and promptly stashed it away. She made a fist and coughed into it and had the gall to look rude.
"What do you want?"She asked, annoyance in her voice. I noted how her ears were a tad shade of red. No doubt flustered by what just occurred.
"Where's Agnes?"
Eyes were rolled and a helpless shrug was given. What the fuck crawled up her ass and died, I thought to myself.
"My grandmas too busy in the hospital, trying to fight against cancer or something. Now, I'm stuck here as her sub." My heart dropped when I heard what she said. Oh, that poor old woman? And did she said her grandmother? How could she talked about her own family like that?! Agnes was such a kind old woman.
"O-okay." I said." I came here to hunt."
" Where's your team mate? Do you have your assigned Gate number on hand or what?"
"Inside. And my teammates has it. He called in earlier for a Gate for two people." A derisive snort was given.
"What?" I asked, baffled by her reaction.
"You're going in with those?" She gestured at me.
I bristled slightly at the intonation. What is up with her? What's wrong with this armor? The breastplate offered a good defense. So what if its' not made out of Grimm body parts? Dad even said this thing can tank an Ursa Minor head-on. Of course it's not a bug deal as there are far more dangerous Grimm like an Elasmotherium or a freaking Taurus but still.
"What about it?" I asked, trying my best not to sound angry. The woman huffed and inspected her nails. Oh, this condescending bitch really needs to get her face decked hard. What's her problem with me anyway? As far as I can tell, this is my first time I'd met her. Despite the raging fire within my chest, I held them down and took a deep breath.
"Nothing. Just wondered whether you're poor or something." She stated."Anyway, your Hunter ID."
I stared at her briefly, wondering whether she was mental or what but regardless I pulled it out of my pocket and handed it to her. I did my best to not just shove it into her eyes. Once her eyes landed on my card, her face changed from bitchiness to super bitchiness. Huh, that's funny. I thought she would get shocked and apologized profusely to me for offending me. Most people do that at least when she found out about my parents. Intended, she just went about her business and handed me back my card.
"If you think I'm gonna act shocked just because your daddy and mommy is some big deal Hunters, get a life." She stated plainly. An eyebrow twitched vehemently at how she spoke."Im more famous than your stupid parents."
"How?" I inquired. Genuinely curious at the level of crap she'd spouted.
"Come on, look at this." She gestured to herself. I don't really see anything. Her face looked like she's used too much chemicals. Her eyes rolled in disgust, as if she can't believe what she's dealing with. "Whatever, I shouldn't asked a loser's opinion. Take your card back." She unceremoniously dropped it onto the desk top. "You're cleared loser. Try to die."
I stomped away and did my best to ignore her less-than-kind comment about me. What was wrong with her? After walking in, I made several turns and walked up the staircase leading upwards to another floor. There was a door and beside it there was the letter E-1 on the side. I ignored it and made my way up. I'd kept walking, past E-2,E-3, E-4 and finally reached D-1. I'd noted how I wasn't heaving like most times. Must be the results of my upgraded Stats.
I pushed open the door and entered a room filled with Gates. To my right was a bunch of benches for Hunters and some of them were occupied. Last I checked there are around twenty D-rank Gates on this floor. Each floor can only have a limited number of Gates as they don't want people to be overwhelmed.
"Hey, Vomit Boy." One of them called out, waving at me. The others who sat near him noticed my appearance. I walked over towards them, embarrassed by what he had called me. It was a one time thing and he'd promised me not to use it anymore.
"Hey Cardin." I smiled. "How are you?"
The teen opposite to me laughed. Despite the fact we were in the same age group, our body build differs greatly. While I was tall and scraggly, Cardin Winchester was taller than me by a foot and a half and twice as wide. Although that might be the armor he'd wore making him looking larger than he's supposed to. The teens' breastplate, gauntlets, shoulder and shin guards are grey in color and each pieces have gold trimmings. Underneath all those armor was a black suit and a red sash tied around the waist. The breastplate has Cardin's family coat of arms, a golden phoenix, proudly on display for all to see. My friend favored a long, black mace with ten flat titanium flanges being extended farther outward than a regular mace would and a red crystal placed at the center, kept in place by four claws.
Observe, I thought. My Observe had levelled up earlier. Lets' see what information I can now discern. Instantly a character sheet appeared.
Name:Cardin Winchester
Age:16 Race:Human
Title: A Fledgling Bird Lvl:29(29.0%)
Level 29?! The heck man! He's as old as I am but his level is well above me! We're in the same age group hod damn it! Cardin's a freaking Rank B Hunter after all but that's a little too much. Then again, my mom and dad are so powerful to the point I can only see their name with Observe. If Cardin, a mere Rank B Hunter, is this strong, then how strong are the Rank S? What about the National Rank Hunters? Dad and mom are apart of that and the hilarious part is that they are part of the lower ten.
Also, A Fledging Bird? Man , why can't I get a cool title like that? It isn't fair! Heck, I don't even get a title.
"Dude you alright or something?" He asked, waving his hand over my face several times. The gesture snapped me out of shock. Right, right, focus on the task at hand.
"Nothing really. I'm fine actually." I laughed good-naturedly. The Winchester snorted, lowering down the mace to the side, head first into the ground. Cardin gave a bored look at me, blue eyes meeting my own.
"Then why you're spacing out for? Don't tell me you invited me for nothing."
I rubbed the back of my head in embarrassment. Aah crap, what should I say to him? Should I tell him the truth? Or pull an elaborate lie? I can tell him I want to improve my skill? No, that's just plain ridiculous. Everyone knows Hunters can't increase their power. Or maybe I should tell him that I'd awakened my Semblance? Maybe I should? Cardin's my friend after all. And I did asked him to come out. He's obliged to the truth at least.
"Thanks for coming dude." I spoke up.
"No problem. Got nothing better to do anyway." He leaned in closer and whispered into my ears."So, is it true what you said on the phone?"
My only response was a curt nod and that smile of his exploded into a full-on grin.
"Nice. Follow me. Our assigned Gate is here."
We make way to one of the Gates, a blue swirling portal just like all the others in the room. Underneath was the word D Gate-1.
Gates, portals that connect our world to another teeming with monsters dubbed as Grimm. For hundred of years, they have been appearing across our world and the one thing that's stopping anymore from coming over are the Hunters, individuals who gained powers due to the energy released by the Gate.
I almost laughed at the idea. In the distant past, people would fear this as Gates left alone for a certain amount of time, the monsters behind the portal would be able to escape from their world to ours. Now, we uses this thing like how we would with plants and domestic animals. Keeping interdimensional tunnels that grants horrible abominations access to our world. It's almost hilarious in a way.
Cardin jumped into the portal and I too followed behind.
"So you're telling me that you gained the ability of living your life like a game character?"
"Yes!" I cried out as I dodged a swipe from the Beowolf. A quick command of Shield Bash and my shield connected with the monsters' face. My arms shook after I'd landed that blow. Sadly, the Stun Effect didn't kicked in and it got angry. It snarled at me and tried to bite my head but I ducked underneath and thrust Crocea Mors sword components deep into the chin underneath. The sword pierced clean through its' skull and I felt the body above me went limp. I pulled out my sword and pushed the dead body off of me with relative difficulty.
The body fall to the ground with a thud and dissolved, leaving behind three items; a neatly arranged stack of Lien, a single white bone shard and a black book with its' cover having the word 'Ripper' at the front. There's also a Monster Core.
Congratulations, you have levelled up two times.
Congratulations, you've gained 400 Lien
Congratulations, you've gained a shard of Lobos.
Congratulations, you've gained Ripper skill book.
Congratulations, you've gained a D-rank Monster Core.
Score.I immediately grabbed the money, bone shard and with the two other items and stashed them away into my same thing had occurred with the Grimm that I'd personally killed. However, this phenomenon will only occur with me not others.
"How many exps you gained from that?" He idly asked, twirling the Executioner, his mace, in one hand. The teen was leaning against a wall, lookin bored. The sudden and magical appearance of money doesn't seem to bother him much as it had already lost its' element of surprise. I gave a smile in response.
"Enough to level up twice." I stated as I tried to catch my break. After a few breath inhaled and exhaled, I felt great. No doubt the work of Gamer's Body. The perk changes my body similar to that of a game character. The implication is...nice to say the least as it has many implications; all are beneficial for me in one way or another. I shook the sword as to get rid of the black blood. Those dark, viscous liquid splattered on the ground as I shook my sword. The Winchester frowned at the sight.
"You're sure gaining a lot of levels from D-rank Grimm." He said. The Winchester teen poked one of the deceased Beowolf with the black mace. It didn't responded, mostly because the canine-like Grimm head was smashed into a bloody pulp, a clear sign to how the poor monster had died. I snorted at the action and surveyed the area surrounding them. For the past several minutes, they had been hunting down any Grimm they could find. The area they're in were littered with the bodies of deceased Beowolves. Most suffered crushed skulls or broken bones, courtesy of Cardin with the one I'd killed having disintegrated into nothing.
This has been the strategy we'd been using for the past several minutes. I would use Observe on the monsters we'd encountered and based on their level, I'll take on the lowest levelled one while Cardin handled the rest. True enough, my passive skills with the sword and shield had steadily levelled up as I used them. My Boxing has also levelled up because I had subconsciously using my footwork.
"Yeah well, your status as a B-rank would make these," I emphasized by poking the deceased Grimm lying beside me with my sword. The one I'd killed recently. "Look like chumps to you. There's also our respective levels that need to be taken into consideration. The highest levelled Beowolf we'd encountered so far is just a level 10."
Cardin snorted at the mention, shaking his head all the while. The young man pushed himself off the wall and hoisted up Executioner, placing it against his shoulder. The man waltzed over to one of the Grimm, a dead Beowolf whose torso was caved in, and promptly sat on it. The sight of it reminded me of the statue in the lobby only this one seems more casual.
"Aren't you tired?" Cardin asked.
"Nope."I said, popping the 'P' with a grin. "You remembered playing Grand Theft Auto. In that game, we can play as the character until dawn? I meant like, how the...uh, character doesn't get tired at all in-game time at least. He was able to.move from dawn until night-time and the other way around and didn't even show a single sign of fatigue. My ability make me into something like that."
He stared at me, blinking wearily while he tried to process what I said. I hoped I gave a proper explanation. Well, I think I did at least. Hope that was good enough for him.
"I got a question for you, Jaune." He spoke up after a moment of silence.
"What is it?"
"Can't you form a party with me or something?" He asked."I mean, all I'm all doing is culling down any pack we'd encountered so that you can take on the most dangerous one. I want to get some form of reward from all this. Maybe some of your powers will...I don't know, come to me or something like that?"
"I don't have that feature."I answered him
"What?!" My response was a helpless shrug.
"Earlier, the System, one of my Semblance's features, gave me a rundown on my abilities. I can do many things with my Semblance. But the ability to form a party is not one of them."
He stared at me in disbelief before shaking his head.
"You can learn skills using books, sleep to recover from any injuries and can even increase your own power. Not to mention you can store possibly an infinite amount of items in your personal inventory. In addition to those, it can reward you with materials seemingly conjured out of nothing. Despite all of that bullshit powers, you can't even form a party with someone else?! "
"Sorry?" I shrugged helplessly.
"Your Semblance is bullshit. It's just is." I smiled weakly and shrugged like saying 'what you're gonna do about it?'. Truth be told, I really felt bad for him. Cardin had went out of their way to help out with my test. Sure, he did it for superficial purposes but he still chose to help me out. Good deed shouldn't go unrewarded.
"How about this, after we're done, I'll give you half of the money we've earned."
The brown-haired Hunter seems hesitant but ultimately relented. Shaking his head as he did so."Nah, keep it. I'll take the D-rank Monster Cores for myself. Besides, I'll look suspicious if I came out with a fuck ton of cash. At least it'll seem plausible for me to come out with a bunch of magical crystals. I'm stronger than you."
I would've taken offense to that but I only nodded slightly. It is true after all. The strength of a B-rank Hunter is far beyond than a mere E-rank. To put things into perspective, imagine a nice trying to fight a cat. Yet that's how big of a gap our strength is. In addition to those, Cardin is a very powerful Tanker, Hunters specializing in defense and strength.
"Alrighty then." It's his choice not mine. He'd make it himself.
"Just one question, your ability allow you to harvest Monster Cores automatically or not? Cause I didn't brought a knife with me."
"Um, kinda." I shrugged."I can harvest it without tearing open a hole in their chest but I need to be the one to kill them."
It took both of us a second to process what I had said. Once the realization dawned on us, Cardin said "Shit." After that, the two of us spent the next several minutes, harvesting monster cores.