Disclaimer: I own nothing; just the OC

'Thought'

"Talking"

*Action*

"Powerful entity (gods, dragons, etc.)"

[System]

It's been three weeks.

Three weeks since I arrived on Remnant.

Three weeks since I joined the Branwen Tribe.

"GUAAAAK!"

Silver Birdman {Boss}

359/700

200/800

Description: A rare type of birdman, said to have command over the winds. Its defense is higher than most because of its metallic nature and is capable of firing its feathers like bullets.

And right now, I am fighting the boss of this dungeon.

The birdman spreads its silver wings and fires its feathers straight at me. I dodge them all but a stray feather manages to grace my cheek causing a cut to appear.

I bring my hand up to my cheek and touch it. When I look at my hand, there is a bit of blood on it. "Alright then…" I clench my hand, "you wanna play? Let play."

I activate [Monotone] and summon two hands: cyan and blue. The cyan hand conjures blue wires that wrap around the birdman's wings and the blue hand creates two saw-like constructs. I launch the saw constructs at the boss and tear off its wings, effectively crippling it. The birdman yelps in agony as rolls back and forth…

...it's honestly a bit sad to watch.

Just a bit.

"Let's try this out." I aim at the monster, "[Inferno]"

The instant I utter the word, a sea of fire erupts from nothing and devours the birdman's body. It twists and turns, trying in vain to put the flames out but it's useless.

"Hm… smells like fried chicken." I said.

The birdman collapses as its body breaks down completely, leaving nothing but ashes.

You have killed the Silver Birdman! You have gained 9,500 EXP! You have earned 7,900 Lien!

Level Up! x2

Skill Level Up! x2

[Inferno LVL. 25/100]

[Monotone LVL. 35/100]

You have found Elixir (x2)

[Elixir]

Rarity: A+

Fully recovers HP/MP

Sent to Inventory.

I stare at the red flask for a moment before it disappears, now stored in my [Inventory].

The dungeon begins to fade and I am back in my tent. This has been my routine for the past three weeks: after sparing, I would enter a dungeon and farm for EXP and items. So far, after the Zombie Dungeon, I haven't had much luck in finding any more skills…

…except for this one.

[Heal LVL. 1/100]

200 MP to cast

4th Tier magic. Allows the user to restore 15% of health

At level 15, the user can restore 30% of health

At level 30, the user can restore half of health

At level 45, the user can restore 80% of health

At level 70, the user can restore 100% of health

At level 100, the user can resurrect the dead

I found the Skill Book for this one last week in the [Roach Dungeon]... and I never want to go back to that dungeon again. Thanks to [Gamer's Mind], I didn't throw up on the spot because, trust me on this, the dungeon is more disgusting than you might imagine. But no, that's not why I refuse to go back.

No.

It is because the roaches there can stand on their hind legs and I found that disturbing as hell, but I managed to persevere long enough to beat the dungeon boss.

Which was just an even bigger cockroach.

After shivering at that memory, I fall on my bed. "I should probably check my status."

Name: Asmodeus Endaira

Tittle: The Gamer, Dungeon Seeker

Race: Human

Age: 17

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Level: 20

HP: 5,200 (520 per minute)

MP: 6,300 (630 per minute)

SP: 4,600 (460 per minute)

AP: 2,700 (270 per minute)

VIT: 130

STR: 230

DEX: 90

INT: 90

WIS: 210

MAG: 210

LUK: 130

CHA: 110

Money: 30,568

[Inferno LVL. 25/100]

400 MP to cast

6th Tier Magic. An evolved form of [Fireball]. Sends a wave of flames that are so hot that they are capable of burning all enemies down to ashes.

At level 45, inferno will have a 100% chance of [Scorch], dealing an extra half of the damage.

At level 100, enemies will burn from the intense heat alone.

[Some skills are capable of evolving should they reach a high enough level. This {Skill Evolution} is a unique feature of this system, allowing for your skills to ascend, gaining new abilities that enhance its versatility as well as the user proficiency to use them since they signify that you have mastered it]

I raise my right hand and stare at the ring on my middle finger. It is a golden ring, though it looks like it has been knitted with gold threads. It has four gems embedded around the ring itself and seem to glow whenever I use my spells.

[Sage's Ring]

Rarity: EX

Description: It is the most powerful ring, boosting the power of the user's elemental attacks by 100% as well as absorbing all elemental damage.

Now this is an interesting story. I found this item inside a Grimm, an Alpha Beowolf, while hunting for food. It seemed to be sick, unable to keep up with any of my movements and simply died after a few minutes. When the Grimm dissolved, all that was left of it was this ring.

Did it eat it and cause it grow weaker overtime, or was it ambushed by Huntsmen and it was on the verge of dying when I found it?

"Either way, it's my win." I chuckled.

Just then someone enters my tent, it's Vernal.

"The boss wants to see you." Vernal states and immediately walks out.

I quickly get up and make my way outside. Despite how much I don't like her, it's not a good idea to keep Raven waiting, she'll make you see why.

For imagery, just think of getting hit by a semi-truck repeatedly.

As we make our way to her tent, Vernal is staring at my left hand; especially the [Sage's Ring] on my finger. I follow her line of sight and move my hand to my back, "no way in hell you're getting this."

Vernal's only response is a confident smirk.

We enter the tent and the first thing we see is Raven sitting on the table drinking tea. She merely takes a glance as Vernal walks to her side, "sit."

I take a seat on the other end of the table as Raven continues drinking her tea. After what felt like ages, she puts her cup down. "You've gotten stronger, I'm impressed." She waves her hand and Vernal walks towards a tea set across the room. "I have a mission for you."

"A mission?" I ask as Vernal sets a cup of tea in front of me. Compared to the last time Vernal served me something, Vernal's expression here is less animated and more stoic much like how she behaves around Raven.

I take the cup and drink the tea. 'Hm… not bad.'

"One of my scouts has found an abandoned settlement a few miles away from here. Normally, we would ignore it, however, a large pack of Grimm were seen inside the ruins. With Grimm this close, it'll only be a matter of time before they find us." Raven explains.

I put the cup down, "I'm guessing you want me to take care of them."

"Yes, however, you will not be going alone." Raven stands up and proceeds to grab her mask and [Omen]. She walks towards me, mask in hand and Ōdachi on her waist. "Let's go." With that, I stand up and follow her, not objecting to the reason why she wants to come. Is she bored? Does she feel her skills are getting rusty? I honestly don't know what goes on in her head, for all I know she's just a battle maniac. I can see why her team had such a hard time understanding her.

Heck, I don't think even Qrow, her own brother, understands her.

"Before we leave, you should get a new weapon." Raven states as we enter a tent; it is slightly larger than the rest. Inside the tent, there are a large assortment of weapons within dozens of boxes. Swords, spears, guns; they have everything. "Hurry and pick one, I don't have all day."

I went through a couple of crates and while there are a couple weapons that I found interesting, I couldn't exactly find one that "fits" me if you catch my drift.

That's when I saw it.

Sitting in a corner gathering dust is a handgun with a black gunmetal construction. Its barrel is long with a red intricate design engraved into the metal that clashes with the black. The grip of the gun is plain, but has an interwoven pattern and is not uncomfortable to handle. In between them is a blade guard from which the barrel seems to emerge from.

[Palindel]

Rarity: EX

Damage = 800 + WIS

Description: A double-barrel handgun with a black/red gunmetal design. In gunform, it's primary feature is its ability to use the wielder's aura and fires it in a compressed state that explodes on impact. A hidden switch on the side of the barrel transforms it into its sword form: a long blade that doubles as a sniper rifle capable of piercing through armor.

A smile forms on my face. "Yeah… this will do nicely."

I walk out of the tent with [Palindel] in my hand, feeling like I just bought a new game. Raven simply looks at the weapon in my hand and raises an eyebrow, "I thought we got rid of those."

"You know what this is?" I said.

"It was a few years ago." Raven began. "We raided an Atlas train for what we thought was Dust. But when we opened the cars, we found it to be full of weapons. It turns out Atlas was creating weapons capable of manipulating Aura to such an extent that it could replicate the effect of a Semblance."

I blink a couple times. "Wow… that's pretty ambitious of them." Even by Atlas standards. I mean there's Penny and that whole Aura extraction machine thing… and Ironwood threatening to bomb Mantle out of spite.

Raven nods. "But when we tried to use them ourselves, it drained our Auras so quickly that after two shots we were spent. We tried selling them but no one wanted them, not even the Spiders, so we had the weapons destroyed… all except for one it seems." She eyes the handgun for a second before shrugging, "you can keep it, it would be wasteful to just get rid of it." With that, Raven puts on her mask and heads towards the gates.

[Since you're able to regenerate your Aura reserves every minute, you can use it without any issue]

I stare at [Palindel], my reflection on its surprisingly polished barrel. "Well then…"

And like that I am out in the woods in the middle of the night… again...

Sighing I look at Raven, who is ahead of me with nothing on her back while I am carrying a day's worth of supplies. Apparently after we deal with the Grimm, Raven will open a portal back to the tribe thanks to her bond with Vernal.

Personally compared to Maiden power, I think Raven's Semblance is seriously OP. I mean, she can open portals to almost anywhere but the only drawback is that she has to form a bond with someone.

Just then, Raven stops walking and turns to me "we'll be camping here for the night. You will be taking the first night shift."

My body instantly snaps up, as I look at the raven-haired bandit horrified.

"You must be joking, right? I just got done carrying all of this crap and now you want me to go through sleep deprivation!?" I said as I undo the bag and let it fall on the floor. "Really, how much stamina do you think I have!?"

Removing her mask to stare at me, Raven scoffs. "Vernal wouldn't be complaining."

I roll my eyes. "Of course not, because Vernal kisses the ground you walk on. Seriously, that girl would jump off a cliff if you tell her to."

Raven narrows her eyes as set up a campfire with a bit of fire dust.

"Tell me Asmodeus…"

"Hm?"

"Where are you from?"

I freeze at the sudden question as Raven crosses her arms, looking at me with suspicion.

What's this all of a sudden?

"I never had the time to ask, mainly because I was busy with other things." She began. "You weren't from that village and I'm pretty sure you are not from Anima either, correct?"

'Man, she is insightful!' I turn to her with a skeptical look on my face. "Why does it matter? It doesn't change anything."

"It actually does, it bothers me that I don't know a thing about you. You stand out far too much even at the tribe, like you don't belong there."

'You have no idea how right you are.' I snickered inwardly.

"Most, if not all the villages and settlements on the west side of Anima can't defend themselves against bandits like us." She pauses for a second. "Yet, you managed to take down a few of my men with nothing but a worn sword and no Aura. There's no way some random civilian could be capable of defeating them, Aura or not."

I keep staring at her in complete silence.

"So tell me Asmodeus. Who are you? And why are you here?" I could see her slowly reaching for her sword, ready to pounce at any moment.

I say nothing and just stare at the fire I made.

"…"

"..."

"..."

"...you're right, Raven. I'm not from Anima." I admitted. "But I'm not going to tell you anything else."

"Why wouldn't you tell me?" Raven growls, now grabbing the handle of her sword.

I give her a deadpan look. "Why should I? Is it because you gave me a roof over my head? Is it because you trained me? Or is it because you let me keep this gun?" I spat. "Do you think that because you gave me all of these things, I will immediately trust you? Are you telling me you're that naïve to believe I will tell you anything!? Don't be stupid."

Raven grows annoyed at my continued defiance. "You will tell me the truth…" She slowly begins to unsheathe her katana.

I scoff. "I don't have to tell you jack, Raven and you can't make me. Besides what exactly do gain from knowing that?"

"I will know where you stand in all of this. You were passing by that village, correct? That means you have a place to return to, and yet you don't seem to try and fight your way out of the tribe and I honestly don't understand. Don't you have a place to return to?" Raven explains.

I blink at the question and turn my attention to the broken Moon hanging in the sky.

"...You're wrong."

Raven flinches.

"While I am passing by, I no longer have a place to return to." I told her.

"What happened?"

"..." I say nothing.

Raven lets out a frustrated sigh. "You need to trust me, Asmodeus. I am just looking out for my tribe."

My head whips back at what she just said. Trust? Is she seriously talking about trust!? Raven Fucking Branwen!?

"You wouldn't know what trust is if it hits you in the face." I hissed.

"What was that?"

"I said what the hell do you know about trust!?" I snap as I rise from my seat, and turn to her. Silver Eyes begin to glow. "Do you think you can just throw that word around like it is a pebble!? What have you done to conjure such a thing!? Do you think you have earned my trust because you let me live!?" I let out a laugh. "What a joke!? Raven Branwen talks about trust when she can't even trust her own goddamn family! I mean if that isn't funny, I don't know what is!"

Raven twitched, her eyes narrow as anger set in. "You don't know anything."

"No please, indulge me because I can't seem to comprehend how someone like you, who abandons everything and everyone, even understands the concept of trust!" I mocked. "Trust is about being reliable, to have someone by your side who will help you and confident that you'll do the same. You are wretched! How could you just abandon them like that!? Did you even care about them!?"

Raven, who is fuming with anger, looks like she is about to burst. "And what do you know!? You don't know the things I've seen, the choices I've made! Who are you to judge me for what I've done!?"

"I will judge you however I damn please! Because you've been wasting your life here for no fucking reason! I've seen you fight Raven, you are the strongest person I know so why are you just hiding in the woods!"

"Because brute strength doesn't matter against someone like her!" Raven yelled out.

I blink in, albeit fake, shock. "Is that why you're living in the middle of nowhere? Because you're afraid of someone!?"

"You would do the same if you knew who I was up against." Raven growls. What does this boy know? Nothing! He doesn't know the truth about this world, or about her.

"So not only are you a hypocrite but also a coward, huh? You're such a joke." I chuckled a bit.

Raven glares at me.

"People at the tribe respect you because you are the strongest, and yet here you are, afraid of someone no one has ever seen or met before. Do you realize how pathetic you are right now?"

Raven is shocked by my words, her eyes begin to glow with power. "Don't underestimate me, boy. I've stared death in the face over and over, and every time I have spat it in the face and survived; it's because I'm strong enough to do what others don't!"

I laugh, "Strong? Please, who are you trying to fool? You have others fight for you and when push comes shove, you run away and turn your back on your family. You're just a selfish coward, Raven."

"Stupid brat, you don't know what you're saying! There are forces in this world that are beyond your comprehension!" Raven angrily retorted.

"No Raven, I do understand. It's just that you don't seem to get that running wouldn't solve anything. Eventually, your past is going to come after you and when that happens there will be nowhere left to hide." I told her.

Raven just stares in distraught. His stare seems to tell her that he's seen things, knows things that no one should ever know. His silver eyes glow ominously with every word he spat. Those damn eyes made her feel so small. She wanted to kill him, but that would just prove his point.

Coward.

That word damned her, condemned her. Cut her deeper than any wound.

[Raven Branwen's affection decreased by -5]

I turn back and sit back on my spot. "Get some sleep, I'll take the first watch."

*WHOOSH*

I hear the sudden sound of wings flapping. When I turn around, Raven is missing and all that's left are two black feathers.

"Goddammit, Raven…" I groaned.

Author Notes

So, a time skip happens, and the MC and Raven go on a Grimm extermination mission. While setting up camp, Raven confronts the MC about his origins to which the MC doesn't answer, upsetting her. She triggers the MC when she starts talking about trust, calling her a hypocrite and a coward for thinking that she understands the meaning of trust. Overwhelmed by so many different emotions, Raven runs away.

I can understand if this came out of nowhere, that the MC pretty much shot himself in the foot by giving out such information and I agree, but this will be important later on.

Anyways, leave a comment/review and tell me what you think. If you have any constructive criticism or a way that this can be written better, don't be shy to let me know. You can PM or message me on Discord.

Peace~