There were some people walking on the wide, and clearly old, worn down stone street. Large two to three story wooden and brick houses could be seen on both its sides. The number of soilders was a bit excessive in my opinion, like they were preparing for something. A few shops here and there, and a blacksmith right next to the gate. The sounds of conversations, the faint smell of roasted meat and of smoke, everything was the way I would imagine it to be in a late-medieval city, except there was no foul smell, probably because of either magic, or this world being a bit more advanced than I originally assumed.
First, what I need is money to be able to do anything around here. Buy armor, food, get a place to live among many essential things. Overhearing a conversation by some jewelry shop, I notice there's no language barrier, so gamer's mind can function as a translator? Seems like it.
A pair of gray pigeons fly high above the rooftops, below a beautiful blue sky and small fluffy clouds, such a rare sight it was on my old world, the doomed Earth...
Approaching a random passerby, a lean blond guy in almost-clean brown clothing I ask,
"Can you point me in the direction of the adventurer's guild?" There was no harm in asking such a question, should a guild exist then this new world would most likely be classic fantasy- a demon lord, quests, monsters to kill... And if adventurers aren't a thing, then it's probably a more realistic medieval setting, maybe even an alternate Earth. Either way, knowing that will make my plans on what to do much more precise.
He scowled, "What does a woman such as you have to do with the guild? Go back to your man."
Why is he so... Oh, wait. This is a medieval society after all, even if there could be some female heroes, there's no respect for 'normal' women, like me.
"I am a messenger, there's some letters to people who live there." Lying, simple as that.
He reluctantly pointed me to a building at the end of the street, leaving almost instantly. It was obvious that I'm no messenger, he was probably in a hurry, and the guild is most likely public, so it was easier to just point there instead of arguing.
"Thanks?" Looked in his direction before I left, feeling content, even though the conversation was less than pleasing.
...So there is a guild, that's great as completing quests is probably one of the best options to get some money. Even if the ones assigned by people, rather than the Game, didn't give EXP directly they still payed, and killing a few wolves may grant EXP regardless.
Coming up to it, the guild was a medium building, not standing out from the rest, but there were some people clad in random armor, ranging from basic leather to steel plate around the place, and a sigil of some sorts with two swords crossed, beside the door.
I entered, the first thing to notice is that it's suprisingly clean. One would think that a gathering of travellers and mercenaries, mixed in with alcohol would be filthier.
I approached a young guy running the desk where people most likely go to register as adventurers.
"Hello." turning to me, "What do you need?" he asked, smiling politely.
"I was thinking of becoming an adventurer." After I said that, the man raised a brow in confusion.
"For a woman to be a successful adventurer she should know a few healing and body strengthening spells, besides I don't see a magic staff on you, casting is much more difficult without one. If you're thinking of wielding a sword, forget about it, there's always a brute in any party, unless you're planning to go solo...? Of course, nothing is stopping you from doing any of that, but it would be foolish, especially for one of your gender." So being medieval was his problem? I was worried it was something like 'you need to pay to become an adventurer', fhew, that's a catastrophe avoided. Don't want to work anything tedious to get the money, especially if it doesn't give EXP.
"By the way, you need to pay a 10 silver fee to become one of us." ...Well, there goes my happiness. One should never tempt Murphy's Law. Maybe a dungeon would help me in this crisis, there's a good chance that if loot exists in there, then it's gold, which should eliminate the problem. But then, what's a good weapon for an ID? Would a large rock suffice? Probably not. Either ways, I need to try going through a dungeon- without gold becoming some homeless beggar would be a problem. Not having a house isn't that bad when there's no need for sleep, but to have the most OP ability in all of existence, and still somehow fail at life? That, is bad.
Now then, if that's what my desire is, then the weapon... A simple rock would actually be a pretty good weapon if I carved some runes onto it. To think about it, these are my best choice for now. Easy to draw runes on, can be used as a melee weapon, and they are everywhere.
So I ventured out of the confines of the city to gather some of them, and there were a lot even at the entrance, however the guards are also here, and they might assume me stacking things into my inventory was pocket dimension magic, which could be reserved for the most powerful mages, or even be mythical. Drawing too much attention to myself at the start is not a good idea, doesn't matter if it's even just a medieval world.
I was walking near the wall for a while, scouting for the pebbles.
Oh, there's one, hidden in the grass. Coming to pick it up, to put it in... My hoodie pocket? There's no other place to store it in, except this and the inventory which I don't know how to access yet. Maybe willing it to disappear would do something?
Added Rock (Common) x1 to your inventory.
Yay, it worked, so reading all that fanfiction wasn't a waste of time.
There was no wind, and no people around the city. These fields would normally be occupied by some herders, but now it's almost eerily quiet, that may be because most are eating dinner. Only sounds coming to me was the occasional chirp from some bird, and my own footsteps.
Here's another pebble, rested under an apple tree, nearing the line of the forest. Let me test a theory, can I make things go into the inventory from a distance? So, extending my arms and focusing myself on it...
Added Rock (Common) x2 to your inventory.
So I can. Maybe in the future this ability could become stronger, to pocket trees, mountains, continents, or even planets... And what kind of insane riches might that bring me? To break a planet down into its basic components, it could be trillions of tons of gold, diamonds, silver and other minerals along with enough building materials to make multiple death stars. Of course, I'd only steal planets that harbour no life, doing otherwise would be such an unimaginably horrible crime...
Also, why did it pick up two rocks this time?
[It was one; the pop-ups add up, so your vision wouldn't be wholly blocked by them.]
Thanks, you're good to have, game.
-x-
The sun was setting as I picked up my thousandth pebble, the pop-ups stacked up a lot. One can lose their sense of time when they apparently don't need to eat, which is what I discovered today. Really, should've realized it after my day long journey. Such a level of self susteinance, the only thing missing now is biological immortality. Or maybe it isn't, I don't know, haven't been here for long enough.
Added Rock (Common) x1000 to your inventory.
This implies that my inventory could potentially be infinite, and it means that the feats of getting planets in there may be doable in the far future. I really should train this ability.
To think about it, why so many rocks? One would've sufficed, draw the start and magic missile runes and it's done. Guessing I got caught in a sort of trance. It wasn't something particularly alien to me, as a programmer there were numerous times when that kind of psychological stage got a hold of me, but not to this degree. Because now that I have gamer's mind and gamer's body, my innate sense of time is a bit haywire with no hunger or other needs presenting themselves.
To think of it, there's no actual need to return to the city at this time. The goal I have set on reaching now is to get rich, and a dungeon is my chosen path, which would be better to activate without anyone seeing me.
Taking out two pebbles from the inventory, I start carving.
It takes a few minutes, the runes aren't that easy to draw by scratching rocks together, but getting it done isn't much of a problem.
The system recognizes my creations, and that's pretty convenient. So, in the end I made this-
[Rune Program]
[Material - u6t0yAb]
[Contents]
[Start] - [Summon Magic Bolt] (10.2 DMG)
[MP Cost Sum]
20 MP
Why does it say 10.2 damage? Didn't the bolt deal exactly 10? Game, any help?
[It's because of the rarity of the material it was carved on, I don't know the exact mechanics behind it. Vingnish, my creator, is the only one who has the exact script. Though, for example, if this same rune was put onto a red diamond you'd get around 12 000 000 extra damage, but I can't be too sure.]
Aren't you the system? Shouldn't you know everything there is to you?
[It might come as a suprise, but I'm not truly omnipotent. Vingnish always said that there is no such thing at this time- the Writers and Readers are the closest, in a plane of existence above ours, above any. No matter how powerful you become, you may never reach their level. But even they can't reach the true pinnacle of power, and won't for millions of years, if they survive that long.]
I... I remember this from a few fanfics, are you... Breaking the fourth wall? Are you implying that someone is reading our conversation right now?
Actually, I couldn't care less, this place is absolutely real for me. The chirping birds, the flowing rivers, the high mountains, the hard-working people, the deep forests... Even if what's you're saying is true, then the story should end in some time, meanwhile I'll be on my way to dominating the omniverse as always, nothing changing.
Looking up to the sky, I point there. "If you're really watching, reading or writing this, thanks. Not against some company." Smiling, I give a thumbs up.
[Ving would've liked you.]
Anyways, coming back to the topic. There should be a bit rarer rocks on me, remember picking up a light brown one with a very smooth texture some time ago. It was unusual, and a kind of rock I've never seen before, it should give the bolt rune some more strength than simple sandstone.
After some more time, it was done.
[Rune Program]
[Material - uOtr9Ebph6y7ob]
[Contents]
[Start] - [Summon Magic Bolt] (18.6 DMG)
[MP Cost Sum]
20 MP
Not as high as I would've wanted, but should do for the dungeon, not like the very first ID would be dragons or something.
I extended an arm into the air, and said "ID Create". Expecting a portal to open up in front of me, got a little startled when my surroundings changed instantly instead.
A silent night loomed over me, full moon illuminating the...
In all directions the ruined heart of a metropolis could be seen. Most windows intact, but a few broken or missing, fallen pieces of skyscrapers partially blocking some streets, rusted abandoned cars... Colorful ads worn down by time, and electricity clearly gone for decades, gray all around me except for a few small plants here and there seemingly growing out of the asphalt, nature always finds a way. Long shadows cast by the lunar light had the illusion of movement.
This is almost certainly a zombie dungeon, what else could it honestly be? Almost all other options are way too difficult for me in my current state, and considering the few other probable possibilities, this setting doesn't suit them, not to mention the faint smell of rotten flesh.
My prediction proved correct as a sickly green body with flaps of skin falling off, barely dressed in some rags that resembled an office outfit, stepped out from around some rubble.
I shuddered at the disguisting sight, this is the first time someone, or rather something, has the intent to kill me and at the same time is relatively near.
Why isn't gamer's mind soothing my emotions? Wait, game, don't answer. It's because the ability only holds onto my sanity, and doesn't care about my other emotions, right? Yeah, probably that- I remember it from some of the fanfics, ones that were difficult for the main character. Hoping it's not like that for me, but it shouldn't be, I already have a very good level of self susteinance and with the potential my inventory has, truly doubting it'd be even half as hard as in some of the fics.
Aiming my rock at the zombie, I do nothing. As the undead slowly closes the distance, panic crosses my face.
I have no idea how to use magic.
Trying to will it to work gives no effect, posing and naming the program, as stupid as that sounds, doesn't work as well. The enemy is only a few meters away from me now, and I decide to use the heaviest rocks I remember picking up.
Dematerializing the rare rock to get two regular ones, appearing in a few seconds on both of my hands, them being larger makes it harder to take out. It's a bit difficult to carry them, but I don't care about that now. With the momentum of their mass being strong enough, I crash both on either side of the zombie's head, crushing it. Grey goo, along with a lot of rotten flesh, brittle bone fragments and some fluid that certainly isn't blood, splatter everywhere, coating me in one of the grossest things my senses have and probably are going to ever experience.
[+10 EXP]
Not caring about the message, I quickly drop the rocks and frantically take off the filthiest clothing, which was my favourite hoodie, damn that zombie. That leaves me in a dark gray shirt and black leggings. Stashing the hoodie to my inventory, I roughly cleaned my face from the undead chunks and asked,
"Game! Why the hell didn't you tell me how to do magic?!"
[I'll instruct you when you finish this dungeon.]
"And how exactly should I do that? Not doing the rock head attack again ever." I respond angrily, scowling.
[Throw them? You literally have hundereds in your inventory.]
After staring at the message dumbfounded for a good few seconds, I say "Didn't think of that, the near-death experience clouded my thinking...?"
[Sure, sure.]
Fuck, throwing rocks? Glaring at the message, I attempt to resolve myself to ignore the sheer idiocy that my panic has caused me to commit. Zombies are the strongest in melee combat, and my retarded self actually let it come to me, all the while having that many things to throw!
Equipping another pebble in my right hand, I choose to start walking in the middle of the widest, cleanest street, to not get jumped by possible lurking monsters.
Spotting a zombie slowly making its way out of an alley, this one looking more like a skeleton coated in chunks of meat, after steadying myself and aiming I toss the rock, it striking the undead at the shoulder, tearing a whole arm off. With all the time the bonds in flesh and bone had to weaken, the terrible sight wasn't that suprising.
Pleased that the walkers are so weak, I continue attacking. A few rocks miss, but one hits the neck, almost tearing its head off. With that, the monster lost balance, falling on the back.
To finish it off, I take out a larger stone.
I'm still frustrated that game decided not to teach me magic in here, what if I die?
[First off, it takes some time to learn. Second, I find it rather unlikely that you'll die here- the ID automatically changes its difficulty and rewards considering many factors like your level, attack power and health. Even if you learned how to activate runes, the dungeon would become slightly more difficult, the zombies wouldn't get downed by a rock to the face no more.]
That explains why they are so weak, other than the fact they're just rotting corpses.
Grumbling to myself, I toss the heavy rock with some effort. It hits, and splatters the undead's insides.
[+10 EXP]
With that done, I continue on the lone path, wary of any possible dangers lurking around the corner.
Encountered three more monsters standing in the middle of the street, one on the right being a bit larger than the other two.
Dealing with them wasn't that much of a problem, they were as weak as the earlier ones. I wonder if there would be any real challenges in this dungeon. Well, game did say that once my runes become useful, the ID will become harder.
Letting out a sigh, I continue on.
-x-
After half an hour the number of zombies killed rose to 50. The biggest threat to encounter was a group of ten, had to retreat and attack them from above, the first story of one of the buildings.
I was getting nervous, such a long time in the dungeon and no sight of any treasure.
The boss chamber was inside a supermarket, an obese undead roughly two times my size sat in the middle of the main hall. Glass sliding doors allowed me to see into the room, I had a plan on how to deal with it, but for that a backdoor to the place was needed. There's a passage connecting two second story balconies inside, conveniently placed right above the boss' head.
-x-
Hours of searching for any doors, reachable windows, even air vents, but nothing, absolutely nothing came up.
I have only defeated 20 more monsters in the time, seems there just wasn't that many of them in the dungeon.
Damn, the only way to enter the chamber is by the front doors, isn't it? That's really bad, would be dangerous to face it now, my only means of attack at this time is literally throwing rocks. Of course, they were effective against normal zombies, but a boss? Game did say that the ID adjusts to my level, and if I actually tried then defeating it could be possible... But to attack a three meter, mindless and most likely rampaging brute with only pebbles? Is there an option to leave the dungeon and come back later, better equipped, if only to feel more comfortable defeating it? Should be able to I think, there was a way to do that, I remember Game mentioning 'ID Destroy'.
"ID Destroy"
The entire city shook, buildings turned to rubble, then dust, grass grew on the streets, trees sprout from the ground. Before I knew it, everything around me changed back to the forest from before, except it was already night, a starry night. Why didn't it do this kind of thing when I created the ID?
So it is possible, that's convenient. Now should it get too dangerous in a dungeon, the ability to leave is always available.
By the way, game, you said you'd instruct me on casting magic after I finish the dungeon, so can we start?
[I said after you finish it, not leave before defeating the boss.]
[Here's a quest]
[New quest] -
[Objective] -
Defeat the dungeon boss.
[Reward] -
Knowledge on how to use magic
1000 EXP
+2 to WIS
+2 to INT
I decide not to answer to that, as angering the exact entity that gives you power is not a good idea. I guess, having that quest isn't really so bad, not saying no to that EXP and stats...
Walking back to the city, I notice something very important, a detail incredibly significant, yet so tragic... There was no gold in the ID.
Fuck, that complicates things, no gold from dungeons means no work as an adventurer.
But to think about it, I wanted to become an adventurer to obtain money. There's actually no need to become one, stealing should prove pretty easy if I just stored the things in my inventory.
A frown crossed my face, this is bad- thinking of stealing like it was some everyday thing... The greed trait may help me in some ways, but it is one of the deadly sins after all.
But there's no denying that inventory has the potential to become a broken ability; Someone's attacking me with a legendary sword? Pocket the sword. A boulder from a catapult is heading my way? Pocket the boulder. Some powerful wizard is casting a spell with a staff? Pocket the staff.
It would be even more over-powered if storing sapient beings was allowed...
However, I remember from my rock gathering that the higher the mass and the further something is, the harder and more time consuming getting that into the inventory is. It'll be some time before this ability would become truly viable in combat, and so much longer till the time of making mountains or planets disappear.
Wait, wouldn't other Gamers steal the things I draw my runes on when the Battle starts in two centuries?
[Gamers can't use inventory on other Gamers' items, Ving made sure of that, said it would otherwise be "anticlimactic"]
That does resolve the imminent problem.
Standing before the city gates, I scowl. A metal barricade blocking my path, it was closed for the night. Why?! Couldn't they just have more guards at the entrance if they're so scared of something? No, people aren't that stupid, the thing they're so worried about must be much more dangerous than just some bandits or wolves.
As I glance at the edge of the forest, a fealing of unease washes over me. What could hide in the utter darkness covering everything below the canopy? If the source of their paranoia would actually come, then it's best for me to hide somewhere safe... Like in a dungeon! Yes! Hiding in an ID shelters me from everything except the monsters inside, and these can be disposed of quite easily.
So, not wanting to tempt fate, I attempt to enter the dungeon, and yet nothing happens after saying the words.
I can only do it once per day.
Now is the first time I felt true fear in this new, unknown world, turning around to see nothing, but this terror, it's telling me something is near. Shadowed by the night and forest, a blood-carving creature right out of Lovecraft's twisted imagination...
Then I heard someone scream something intelligible from afar, after which the sound of a deep horn reverberated everywhere, and hundereds of lights appeared in the dark tree line, furthest away from the city as they can be. Are these... Magic circles?
A rain of colorful missiles came upon the city wall, and clashed coming to contact with an invisible barrier, evaporating to thin air just before they hit the stone. Ran away as fast as I can to the relative safety of behind a large boulder near the forest and wall. Once there, catching my breath I think of what is occuring. The gate wasn't closed without reason, this is either the beginning of a siege, or of a singular attack.
Assessing the situation, I see people running on the wall, across it were mages, positioned in vital areas, chanting something up there while holding staffs. Dim light was coming from them, they were keeping up barriers. Regular people were countering the attackers with bows. Peeking my head out, I see many mages in dark blue robes with light grey lining casting numerable spells, a few entities only describable by either of the two words 'angel' or 'golem' trailing behind them, floating in the air.
If only Game taught me how to activate my runes, make one to shoot as many bolts my mana allowed me, try to help defend the city...? Would I though? Don't know if I'm actually capable of such bravery, or idiocy to some.
I need to get out of here, go far enough so that the attackers won't find me, but not so far as to be unable to find my way back.
After steeling myself, I dash the short distance between the boulder and forest, almost stumbling when entering it, then run slower for a few good minutes beside the wall, the sounds of battle slowly dying out. My own breathing and the sound of me running being the only things I hear now.
[Stamina Depleted]
Stopping, laying my hand on one of the many trees, to catch my breath, I glance in the direction I came from. Seems like noone is following me, but to be completely safe it'd be best to go to some nearby hill from where the city is still visible, but there's no danger of getting caught in this chaos.
As I continue going away from the wall and battle at a slower pace, there is something that grabs my attention; I got tired from running. Is it an action, or an ability not listed anywhere? So walking doesn't have an effect on stamina, but running does? Eh, there were a lot of games back on Earth with this exact mechanic, there's no reason to be too annoyed.
-x-
Not even an hour later I'm on a small clearing, a higher point than the forest, the wind's stronger here, the city is visible above the tree line, despite being in the distance. Small flashes of magic can be seen as well, allowing me to know should the battle end. I'll wait till morning, see if it calms down by then.
Even though it didn't work this time, to have the option to escape the most powerful threats this multiverse has to offer once a day, it's still pretty good.
After seating myself on the thick grass I start waiting...
[A/N]:
guest-
Gamer's mind/body and dungeons are THE classic abilities of the gamer genre, and one can struggle a lot even with those.
Plus, gamer's mind doesn't make her emotionless, just stops psychic attacks and going insane (along with few other minor boons), she still feels all the feelings as you would.
And, gamer's body makes it so she has no need for sleep, eating, drinking etc.
About gamer's body, her body can't be torn apart, but she would still feel all the pain, and if her HP reaches 0 then she dies.
Dungeons don't give gold, she can only enter one per day, and they don't stop time.
Besides, this fic is one of the rise-to-power kind, if you don't like the genre, then don't read this fic. Thanks for the long review regardless, I'll try to keep the dungeons not too overpowered, as I said she can only enter them once per day and they don't give money directly. Only EXP.
adam110902-
thanks :)
recordman-
thanks for giving me some ideas :)
I encourage you to make more reviews like this, point out some realistic things, or not so realistic that may happen.
VASH581-
thanks, I'll try to keep the story on the level I set with the first chapter, maybe even improve as time goes on
mattboi-
I'd do the same, I'll try to keep the training off-screen. Maybe the first dungeon would be described, and then only a few mentions of training, or something like that. The story wouldn't be that interesting if she became OP so early on, so it's probably gonna be few dungeon sessions across the next chapters.
lucasg gyn-
thank you :)