Oops, who left this chapter here?
I'm bored.
I watch as the last batch of ember bolts slam into the carapace of the umber hulk, killing it.
Quest Complete
"Defeat the Cave Boss (Hard)"
Objective: Kill the Umber Hulk of the Cave dungeon (Hard) (Success)
Reward: 3000 XP, 6 Gatcha tokens.
You have defeated Umber Hulk earning 1000XP
Would you like to loot?
[YES] [NO]
You have leveled!
Finally! I'm glad I decided to jump up to hard mode, my last run through the cave dungeon on normal didn't get me a level. I only get the quest to defeat the dungeon boss the first time I go through so this has been a real grind. I'm not where I want to be yet but I think I'm starting to go a little batty from the lack of human contact.
It's a scary world out there, but the inside of my own mind is terrifying when it has nothing to distract it.
I'm now dressed in a doublet and demi cape I got from earlier Gatcha, they're not too special, but the doublet, black with bright red piping, makes me comfortable no matter the temperature, and affords me a damage reduction of a single point. The demi cape is a deep red with gold trim, and increases my melee damage by ten. I've gotten mostly minor and lesser stat crystals from the Gatcha, but bringing my stats up isn't a bad thing, I got a few skills too, most notable are Smithing and Mend.
Smithing: Level 1 (0%)
The ability to work metal with fire and muscle. Allows the user to craft metal items of all kinds, but more advanced creations may require technical knowledge.
Quality effected by level.
Mend: Level 7 (38%)
Uses the power of the earth to restore and clean non-metallic items.
Amount restored increases with level.
Cost: 20 MP
Mend has been invaluable for keeping my clothes clean. I would have needed to exit the dungeons long before now if I didn't have it, just from the smell. Using it the first time unlocked Earth Affinity, much like my Fire Affinity, but it's my only earth spell so far, so it's not to important.
I got a handful of other skills too, like Science and Etiquette, but much like Smithing, the dungeons haven't really been a good environment to work on them. I'm not even sure how long I've been in here, my Scroll doesn't work in the dungeon and I haven't needed to sleep or eat, or even use the bathroom, so I have no way of keeping track.
Yeah that decides it, it's time to get out of here. Just let me use these Gatcha's first...
Minor Stat Crystal (WIS)
Boring, but useful. I crush the crystal and watch it absorb into my skin.
Perk unlocked for reaching 50 Wis!
Know Thy Self:
Decreases the time between MP regen ticks.
Okay, that's new. Status.
[Status]
Name: Alabaster Frost
Age: 14
Sex: Male
Race: Human
Class: Wizard (Fire)
Level: 78 (78)
XP: 140 (0.01%)
HP: 3120/3120 (Regen 2 per hour)
MP: 8297/8300 (Regen 5 per 30 seconds)
AP: (locked)
Str: 45
Dex: 35
Con: 20
Int: 40
Wis: 50
Chr: 46
Luk: 35
Available points 227
Skills:
I've been saving my points in case I suddenly needed them, but if I get a perk at fifty, it might be worth investing some of them. I should still hold back some, for emergencies, but I need to test this out.
Since it's the closest to fifty, I put four points into Chr.
Perk unlocked for reaching 50 Chr!
Winning Smile:
Anyone not actively hostile towards you is more likely to listen to you if you choose to speak.
Well, that's a thing.
I have five more tokens, let's see if I get anymore stat crystals before I go spending more points.
Box of packing peanuts
That makes two of those I have now. Pretty sure it's a troll reward since the last one was exactly what it said on the tin. Might be useful if I need to move something small and fragile, so I just leave it in my inventory with the other one.
Skillbook: Alchemy
Now that's interesting, I wonder if it's fantasy alchemy, or more like Full Metal Alchemist alchemy.
I pull out the skillbook and absorb it.
It's fantasy alchemy.
Still useful, I might actually be able to use a bunch of these crafting materials now.
Pocket Forge
Curious I pull it out. A small Forge and Anvil setup appears in front of me, unlit but usable. All told the forge is only about a cubic yard, and the anvil sticks out to one side by about a foot. A small rack of tools hangs above the anvil.
Pocket Forge:
A small, man portable forging set up designed for field work.
Well, that will make it easier to get into Smithing at least.
I put it back into my inventory for now, two more tokens to go.
Lesser Stat Crystal (CON)
Good my Con was lagging behind and with it tied to my HP regen that could have been an issue. I crush the crystal gaining ten Con.
Okay, last one then I'm outta here.
Legendary Item Obtained!
The Astral Hammer
wut...
This can't possibly be what I think it is.
Pulling it out of my inventory reveals a hefty two handed hammer, nearly large enough to be called a Dire Maul, but not quite. Runes engraved on the head, and the whole thing looking like it's made of metallic stone. Observe.
The Astral Hammer [Legendary]
The Hammer of Glory. Forged in the heart of celestial fire, powered by lasers entwined in a star, crystal enchantment of steel.
This weapon is known throughout the multiverse as the hammer that defeated the Dark Lord Zargothrax
Damage and abilities increase based on the worthiness of the wielders cause and the odds they face.
This weapon will only function for those it deems worthy.
Ho-Lee Fuck.
I can feel it vaguely, probing the edges of my mind. Not menacing, but curious.
Did... Did I just rob a universe of it's most powerful weapon? Is an entire dimension now doomed to suffer under the might of a mind controlling necromancer?
But wait, if it crossed dimensions it wouldn't function until re-attuned, I remember that much. So is this, THIS universes Astral Hammer? Have I doomed us all with a Gatcha roll?
I can't use this, I need to find a way to put it back!
I feel calm reassurance wash over me, drawing my eye back to the Hammer in my hands.
I feel acceptance.
Okay, but I'm only going to use you against the darkness, not all the time.
Contentment.
I reverently place the hammer back in my inventory.
This brings me back to the problem of morals I'm going to face once I leave the dungeon.
I have no problem doing terrible, nasty things to bad people. I actually look forward to it in some cases. But I'm early enough that some of them won't have done those evil things yet. Do I smite them for things they haven't done yet? Hell a few of them even have decent reasons for the things they do, is it really my place to judge?
I look at the icon representing the Astral Hammer in my inventory.
If I don't fix things, no one will.
Okay, I'll give people who haven't gone too far one chance to take a different path, if they don't my continence is clear.
That just leaves the whole 'Reincarnated into a teenager's body in a world full of hot young women.' problem.
I mean seriously, if the actual world is anything like the show, even the unimportant background characters are gonna be smokin hot.
Then again, it's not like I'm the only person in the world who has had to face this problem.
I can't exactly walk into Ozpin's office and demand to know what Ozma's thoughts are on all this, but I can look at how he's handled it. Those flashbacks clearly show him having a normal family at least once, and if he has been doing this for thousands of years I doubt that's the only time.
Okay, new life, new me. I'm going to take that aspect of things as it comes and if I get a chance to ask Oz how he handles it, I will.
Enough stalling.
Instant Dungeon Traverse
Select Dungeon
[Zombie] [Forest] [Cave] [Mountain] [Exit]
Exit
And just like that I'm back on the streets of Mantle, standing like an idiot next to a bus shelter.
I put my club back in my inventory. The Treant Root Club is a decent weapon, but not something I should have out on the streets of Mantle. My clothes are fine, at worst people will think I'm a huntsman in training, those people are always dressing weird.
I sit back on the bench as I pull out my Scroll and start checking on things.
Looks like I missed the Vytal festival. Was I really in there that long?
I look up as the light changes, the sun has just sunk behind a building. A quick check of the time on my Scroll shows it's evening. I should find a place to stay the night. I haven't slept... ever.
A shower would be nice too, Mend is great for keeping my gear clean and in good shape, but my body, not so much.
I still need that haircut too.
I find the nearest hotel by searching on my Scroll, and try to find the bus schedule so I can get there. Turns out the buses in Mantle haven't run in three years. Looks like I'm walking.
Night has properly fallen by the time I make it to the hotel, it's a squat brown building right on the edge of the industrial district and the shopping district, which suits me just fine. I have stuff to buy in the morning.
I pay for a weeks stay in advance and get no questions about my age. Just a quick scan of my Scroll on their system, and it's all set. My Scroll is now the key to my door as well. They really do use these things for everything. I head to my room, taking the elevator to the third floor and pressing my scroll up to the plate next to the door unlocks it so I can enter.
The room... Is a hotel room, a totally normal hotel room. Bed, two soft looking chairs flanking a small round end table next to the window, opposite wall has a desk with an appropriate chair, the only thing different is the wall Scroll instead of a TV. I guess some things are universal. A door next to the desk leads to the bathroom and it's assorted toiletries. As much as I would like to shower, I'll save it til morning, I'll want freshly washed hair if I find a barber, and I don't want to take two showers so close together.
I unequip my clothes and flop onto the bed. I'm going to need to pick up some pajama pants or something. I need an entire wardrobe for that matter. I feel like wearing the same thing everyday would get noticed, even if everyone did it in the show.
Alright, one quick pass over my skills to see what all I need to buy in the morning, then I'm getting some sleep.
Skills
Skills:
Core:
Utility:
Magic:
Physical Combat:
Knowledges:
Professions:
My core abilities don't change, so let's skip them and start with Utility.
Utility:
Stealth:
Right, nothing there that needs supplies. Let's move on.
Magic:
Fire:
Earth:
Mind:
Ah yes magic, my bread and butter. Conveniently sub-grouped once I had more than ten spells. After 9th level the rate I gained them dropped off severely though. I got two at 15, then only one on the tens after that. I should really get around to experimenting with my magic now that I'm a decent level.
Fire:
Fire Affinity:
Control Flame:
Kindle:
Ember Bolt:
Lesser Blast of Flame:
Burning Hands:
Blast of Flame:
Fire Arrow:
Fireball:
Greater Blast of Flame:
Delayed Blast Fireball:
Heat Metal:
Burn Toxin:
Flame Cage:
Flame Strike:
Breath of the Dragon:
Mind Flame:
Inner Fire:
Raise Temperature:
Ah fire magic, how the hell am I going to get by without showing that off to the world? I need my Aura unlocked before I can claim it's a semblance, need to figure out how to get that to happen too. We only got to see one person get their Aura unlocked on the show, but that can't be the only way. Someone had to be the first person to unlock their Aura so not everyone needs to have gotten it unlocked by someone else.
Regardless I don't need any supplies for this branch of magic.
Earth:
Earth Affinity:
Mend:
Ah yes, my whopping one earth spell and the affinity for that type of magic. And while Mend needs something to be cast on, I don't need anything extra to cast it. Pressing onward.
Mind:
Deep Thoughts:
Focus:
Ah yes, the spells I've taken to leading in with. They have their own category, but I wonder why there's no mind affinity?
Right, no material components for any of my spells.
Physical Combat:
Melee:
Called Shot:
Sneak Attack:
One Handed Blunt:
Two Handed Blunt:
Improvised Weapons:
Clubs:
Power Attack:
Parry:
Gonna have to rely on my melee skills for the near future, I need a new weapon, something that will fit in better than a wooden club, and isn't the Astral Hammer.
Knowledges:
Etiquette:
Science:
Computers:
Woodland Lore:
Right, the only one of these that has seen any use is my Woodland Lore while I was in the Forest dungeon. I'm not entirely sure what supplies I might need to work on the rest of them, but I'll make sure to keep my eyes open.
Professions:
Crafting:
Smithing:
Alchemy:
Here is where I'm going to need things. I should be okay on Smithing supplies for the moment, I have my Pocket Forge and a stupid amount of pipes to use as materials. I'll want better stuff later, but that should be fine to grind a few levels. Assuming I can find a place to set up. I'm sure if I try forging in this hotel room I'm gonna get kicked out.
Crafting is kind of a catch all, Smithing is actually part of the skill so I can level them together, but if I pick up some other types of materials I might be able to unlock other types of crafting skills just by trying to do them. Sewing at least would be a lot quieter.
Alchemy might be a little tricky. I can probably find a mortar and pestle, or failing that make a very basic one, but I know I'm going to need a bit more than that. I should see if there's a Remnant version of a kids chemistry set or something like it. Failing that I can always see if Crafting extends to glassblowing...
I'm going to need my own building if I want to do half this stuff. Or at the very least rent some industrial space where the noise is expected. I have a decent amount of Lien from running the dungeons so many times, but I'm not sure if I have enough to pay that kind of rent for very long. I'll look into it in the morning, for now I want to sleep.
You have slept in a bed!
Your HP and MP have been restored!
Well, that's a thing.
As soon as I intended to sleep, I actually fell asleep. And apparently slept through the night. I feel refreshed in a way that can only be compared to taking a shower after several days of forgetting to take one.
Speaking of...
I hop out of bed and head into the bathroom, turning the shower on and letting it warm up.
I wonder how they heat the water, fire dust?
Seems wasteful.
Dust is used for pretty much everything, and the Schnee Dust Company has the biggest supply, and most of the mines.
I mean sure, people back home use finite resources for nearly everything too, but at least we change it up a bit. Heating could be natural gas or electric, and electric could be provided by a dozen different methods.
I have the science skill...
Shower first, change the world later.
I'll give Dust water heaters this, they get the water good and hot. Just how I like it. I might spend a little longer in the shower than I should, but it's literally this body's first shower ever so I feel it's justified.
Once I'm clean and dried I re-equip my clothes and head out, looking up stores on my scroll as I head towards the exit of the hotel. I find a barbershop that's a bit further out than several stores I want to go to, but I head there first regardless. The sooner I get rid of this stupid hairstyle the fewer people see me in it.
As I walk I consider the hairstyle I want. Short obviously, but even though this isn't an anime, it is inspired by them, so I could get some fairly outrageous hair and probably pull it off. Anime protagonist hair that sticks up to the moon? I look to either side as I think this next part. Hentai protagonist haircut with bangs that hide my eyes?...
No, I'm just going to go for a fairly normal men's cut, with maybe a little extra in the front to see if I can actually get away with styling it upwards a little.
By the time I make it to the barbershop I've got a pretty good picture of what I want.
The barber is also the shop owner, an older dark-skinned man who says to call him 'Pops'. He nods along as I tell him what I'm looking to have done and gets to work as soon as we're both sure he's got the idea. Pops keeps up a good conversation, ranging from simple things like the weather, to local protests at the mines. He somehow manages to have an opinion on nearly everything, and talks about it such a way that it's all I can do not to nod along. Man may have missed his calling as a politician.
Before I know it my hair is done and styled just like I pictured it. Short in the back and on the sides, with the front and top having a bit of extra length and styled slightly upwards to one side. A bit like a young Elvis. In addition to paying for my cut I also buy some of the product he used to style it and leave a generous tip. Well worth it to be rid of that terrible bowl cut.
My next stop is an apothecary, yes an apothecary, it's roughly the equivalent of a pharmacy. I guess modern medicine isn't so modern when people are more concerned about injuries fighting Grimm than they are disease.
I pick up a mortar and pestle, and some glass vials. I grab a few packs of dried herbs as well figuring they might be useful in my Alchemy.
Finding a store that sells fabric and sewing supplies isn't hard, and the place is actually quite busy. I guess most people must make their own clothes around here.
Finding a place that sells leather is tougher. Most of the places with leather in the name either sell finished clothing, or furniture. It looks like Mantle's fascination with making their own clothes doesn't include leather jackets. Eventually I find a fairly unique store that sells tanned hides, and doubles as a butcher shop. They buy game animals and do all the processing on site, pretty impressive even if the place does smell pretty rank.
There's not a lot of call for the thicker hardened hides, so I get a couple pretty cheap. I guess Leather Armor never took off here.
I suppose Aura would do that...
Mantle is a fairly busy place. It's not the bustling metropolis one might expect, but it's definitely no small town. I don't see to many Faunus, but I guess that's to be expected. Just about the only employment they will get around here will be the dust mines, and with the buses no longer running their housing would need to be nearby, effectively isolating them from the rest of the city. Cruel, but people can't speak up about a problem they don't see, so even fair minded folk won't say anything about how the Faunus are treated, they never see any of it after all.
All told it's heading towards evening by the time I make it back to my hotel, the walking is annoying, but with all my purchases in my inventory at least I don't need to worry about carrying anything.
The clerk at the hotel's front desk gives me a look as I walk to the elevator, he must not like my new haircut. Well screw him then!
Heading up I start to research industrial property in Mantle. Looks like most of it is warehouse space owned by the SDC and its affiliate companies, but there's still some space available, just not at good prices.
The first thing I notice as I enter my hotel room is that the lights are on.
The second thing I notice is that there are three men in my room. Two obvious thugs in suits, standing to either side, and slightly behind the third person.
Sitting there in one of the rooms cushy chairs is Jacques Schnee.
"Close the door. You and I need to talk."
[AN]: Well, things are gonna kick off now it seems.