We're back, and I'm infinitely thankful for the encouragement and nice words I've received, it really means a lot to me.
In response to one lovely guest review: Yes, I have read such stories too and it's just weird to me that the stats aren't affecting the "bars" or anything. Jaune will soon enough realize the value of his points, in this chapter, probably. No perks, but some skills will act like perks, skill books are a yes, minimap is a no (for now), and the pairing is in the description (Jaune x Yang, Gold Shield all the way, woot woot!), but given how ignorant of love Jaune is, it'll have to be his powers shoving the information in his face before he realizes that he's making multiple girls fall in love with him without realizing, and all thanks to a special "System Update" that will happen very, VERY soon.
And in response to another: *looks left, looks right* Maaaaaybeeeee~ *kicks a box labeled Plans behind the door*
Also! For those of you who don't know the difference, I changed the skill "Observe" to "Gamer's Sight" for this story. I was talking to a friend and they suggested it and it fit so well, since it's a skill only The Gamer has, so why not?
Anyways, that's enough responses and explanations.
Let's get to the chapter, shall we?
Remember, I don't own RWBY, The Gamer, or even Undertale. There are no Foxes here, Toby or otherwise.
Chapter 2: Big Dungeons and Little Dragons.
Exiting out into the cool night air, I grabbed a few things from my inventory.
Fruity Nutrition Bar
Description: A bar of oats and grains stuck together by a sticky, sugary solution, and embedded with fruits and nuts.
Effects: Restores 5 HP and 25 SP
Type: Restoration Consumable
Monster Energy Drink
Description: A Monster brand energy drink, flavored like lemon.
Effects: Restores 15 SP, boosts SPR by 50% for 10 minutes. +3 VIT for 15 minutes
Type: Restoration Consumable
I tore open the nutrition bar and ate it as I walked, feeling relief from the tiredness I had just felt, as well as a bit of HP restored. It was an odd feeling, like the relief you get from taking a shit, but moreso with a pulled muscle. It felt liberating, almost.
"Enough about shit, let's just get this over with." I popped the tab of the energy and chugged the whole thing, Gamer's Body handling the rest.
You fully consumed the Fruity Nutrition Bar. Restored 5 HP and 25 SP!
You fully consumed the Energy Drink. Restored 15 SP! Gained status effect "Energy Drunk"!
I checked the status effect and found it was exactly as the description of the energy drink said, a 50% boost to my SPR, my Stamina Point Recovery, for 10 minutes. Smiling, I checked my profile.
-/\/\/\/\-
Name: Jaune Arc
Title: Novice Hero
Level: 2
Class: (none)
Nickname: (none)
HP: 35/180
MP: 0/0
SP: 70/180
Strength: 20
Dexterity: 23
Vitality: 18
Intelligence: 23
Wisdom: 29
Luck: 15
Stat Points: 7
-/\/\/\/\-
Humming, I found myself irritated by the uneven numbers, as well as confused on why Novice Hero had changed to a title. I checked through a few windows and found that they game had corrected a mistake during an 'self analysis report', which I suspected was code for me thinking about my power and how it worked.
I looked back and with my seven stat points, I quickly corrected them, then blinked when I looked at the bars again.
-/\/\/\/\-
Name: Jaune Arc
Title: Novice Hero
Level: 2
Class: (none)
Nickname: (none)
HP: 55/200
MP: 0/0
SP: 90/200
Strength: 20
Dexterity: 25
Vitality: 20
Intelligence: 25
Wisdom: 30
Luck: 15
Stat Points: 0
-/\/\/\/\-
I felt tougher and healthier, and I silently thanked the forgiveness of the system for letting me recover more SP and HP just by raising a stat.
I hummed a tune, continuing to walk.
A special action has created the skill "Humming"!
I checked the description. Yep, I was able to hum with more skill, pitch range, and control, it also opened a new folder, Creation, and the subsection Music.
I cleared my throat and thought of a song, then one came to me, from my random browsing of anime late at night, and it described my situation extremely well...
I never wanted to be ... just-another cog in that corrupted world's machine.
All my life felt like a dream ... I was never who I really wanted me to be!
But then God shattered that dream's cage,
and rose me up to a new stage.
Cut it away like a sharp knife,
And gave me this new life,
And suddenly there's a new twist,
A reason to really exist,
I want to rise up from flames and hear this new world cheer my name,
I see my destiny clear - and I don't care about what they may say,
I'll pave the way,
This is my chance to break through,
so I'll rewrite my story and finally change all the rules!
I'm forgetting fast, about my past,
about the world back then ...
Now's the time ... to put up a fight,
and reach the end - I'll play my hardest - to win this!
I'll give it my best, this is a test,
and I won't ever lose!
I won't waste this chance that's been given to me,
Gonna take my aim ...
And until I win I'll keep playing - this brand new game!
I felt a startling connection as I sang the song quietly, a nervous energy building within me, and before I knew it, I was standing outside of the store I'd set my eyes on, panting for breath, and looking at the new windows that had appeared.
A special action has created the skill "Singing"!
A special action has created the skill "Run"!
Run's level increased by 1!
By pushing yourself to move faster, your DEX has increased by 1!
At some point I'd begun running, and checking the skill, I both paled and lit up at the implications, like some kind of albino christmas tree.
-/\-
Run (Active) Free, Level: 2, Exp: 50.00%, Cost: Free
A simple act performed by moving one's legs at a quicker pace. Using stamina, you are able to speed yourself up. Stacks with other speed boosting skills.
104% increase to movement speed.
Costs 10 SP per second
-/\-
In a new folder called Movement.
I groaned, okay, so this was like Cry of Service, I could only Run for about 20 seconds before I was exhausted. GREAT.
I better get a LOT more SP then, and better SPR... which then makes me think, and I quickly checked something.
Hovering over the green SP bar, I found that I currently had a 2% SPR, from my base 2% from Vitality.
Hold on... so if I increased my VIT to 20 and it got 2%, then at ten through nineteen, it was 1%, so...
People who have less than 10 VIT don't even recover HP or SP without items?!
No, no no no hold on, Jaune, don't have a panic attack, you're projecting again.
Just like how my being a game character isn't going to change store hours, it's not going to change basic biology. People get hurt and then heal all the time, even sickly little kids!
I'm the exception, not the rule.
I just have to remember that. Normal people probably have some kind of permanent biological status effect that makes them heal naturally.
*ring ring~*
I snapped out of my reverie and looked to see that I was still standing outside of the store. I lowered my hood and walked inside, grabbing a basket and looking around.
My list was short, I grabbed energy drinks, nutritious and easy to keep foods like nutrition bars and beef jerky, and of course I used Gamer's Sight on everything in the store.
Chips and cookies had a chance of inducing the status effect "Junked Up" and "Sugar Burn", which were basically the same thing with different names and causes, they temporarily lowered VIT and gave some SP, but at the cost of making you feel bad. My nutrition bars had a status "Unfulfilling", which reduced the amount of Hunger they restored...
I checked my side and saw that I indeed had a yellow Hunger bar.
Groaning, I looked around myself for the wind-THERE.
SYSTEM UPDATE: Consuming food and drink has added "Hunger" to the game.
So... if I had never eaten or drank anything again, I'd never know that I didn't need to, because Hunger wasn't part of the system yet?
This power is weird.
I got some protein powder, the best one I could find, which gave a total of +5 STR, +7 VIT, and +3 DEX while its status "Protein Packed" was active.
Paying for everything I walked outside and stuffed it into my inventory so I didn't have to carry it in my hands. I drank one of my new energy drinks and reaped the benefits, before freezing in place when I heard someone coughing.
I saw a man walk past me, coughing a little. I used Gamer's Sight on him, wondering what the many levels I'd gained from examining everything in the store was.
Barry Klein
Title: A Shouter of Forceful Business
Level: 8
Class: Radio Speaker
Nickname: The Brick Smasher
HP: 150/150
AP: 0/0
SP: 230/500
Strength: 21
Dexterity: 13
Vitality: 16
Intelligence: 43
Wisdom: 40
Luck: 34
Age: 35
Birthday: August 23rd
Race: Human
Height: 6'3
Weight: 180
Build: Medium Muscular
I hummed curiously, recalling him from listening to the radio in car rides sometimes, advertising for cars and 'smashing the price expectations'
So this was the man behind the voice, eh? Interesting. I'm also curious how he's level 8 with those stats, then again he has a far different life than mine.
My Wisdom was telling me that it probably had something to do with function, rather than form.
Sure he had the form to learn magical techniques and probably swing a sword, but that's not what he does, he shouts on the radio and advertises for cars.
If I was the rule to my own power, then I had to consider what makes me at my level.
I'm in perfect condition and always will be, I'm of clear and sound mind all the time, I have these stats, but I think levels for the game are calculated differently than levels for actual people.
Still, breaking down the differences between myself and a normal person, I can conclude several things:
1) Disabilities will severely reduce someone's level, while enhancements will increase it
2) Stats play a role in one's "potential" power.
3) One's mindset plays a very key role. A serial killer is bound to have a higher level than a pacifistic hippie. Since I'm the most level-headed person possible, I'm at a neutral mindset.
4) Combat experience plays a role too, I'm sure Mr. Klein has never fought anyone outside of maybe a highschool bully.
5) Aura must play a role too, as well as HP and SP, since those are technically stats too.
6) Um... actually that's all I got.
I blinked, then smirked when I saw my WIS increase by one and my INT increase by... wait WHAT?
By using Gamer's Sight to learn more about the world around you, your INT has increased by 5!
I didn't even notice the new sharpness to my mind, or the window appearing.
So now... I was smarter just for having learned...?
*smack*
"Ow." I groaned, having facepalmed so hard it hurt, before the pain faded in just a few seconds.
...
I ran home, well... I Ran towards home, and jogged the rest of the way, taking off my hoodie because it felt a little uncomfortable now.
"I'm back from the store." I called out as I walked back into the house, before suddenly flailing at something launching itself at my, before my Gamer's Mind took over and I grabbed at what I knew was there.
Too late. My shirt was now off of my body and in the mouth of...
Sebastian Arc
Title: A Feline Shirt Thief
Level: 1
Class: None
Nickname: None
HP: 30/30
AP: 15/15
SP: 50/50
Strength: 5
Dexterity: 15
Vitality: 7
Intelligence: 2
Wisdom: 2
Luck: 35
Age: 5
Birthday: November 29th
Race: Cat
Height: 1'2
Weight: 30
Build: Sleek Feline
I growled, "Give it back you little thief." I lunged for him, but his Dex was higher in regards to his body than mine, and he ran off to one of his secret hidey holes, "Dammit." I groaned and went back to the training room, "Sebastian stole my shirt... again."
I swear, that little bastard only ever treats the maid right, I don't even know why we still have him.
At least he only stole shirts, I shudder to think what would happen if he stole pants.
I ran up to my room and quickly stuck half of my shirts and hoodies into my inventory, then closed the drawer and turned to the door with a clean white shirt on.
My dad was standing there, "So... didja get everything you needed?" he asked with a smile, and I nodded in response, "Good, I'm goin' to bed, alright? I gotta mission tomorrow, so it's up to you to hold down the fort while I'm gone."
I mostly ignored him while waving a hand, "Yeah yeah, I got it dad." I said with nary a thought towards him as I arranged my items in my inventory. I looked at him and realized that he hadn't even begun to notice my hands waving around in front of me.
Was... was he not noticing things I was doing in regards to The Game?
He had to be, I was quite clearly waving my arms around.
I closed my inventory, but continued the motions.
"Uh... what are you doing?" he raised an eyebrow at me.
"Just, uh, stretching, trying out a new stretching technique." I lied, putting my arms at my side.
By increasing your understandi-
Yeah yeah yeah, another WIS, big whoop, but that confirms that I was right. If I was right and nobody could perceive my actions when interacting with the game, then what would happen if I brought someone into my party?
I shook it off inside my head, I'd cross that road when I got to it.
"...-ke me up if something happens, okay?" I wasn't listening to what my dad said! Shit!
"Alright dad, goodnight." I said with a smile and waved him off, sitting at my computer.
He walked off and I cracked my knuckles, getting to work.
I was shaken out of my reverie when I heard a new sound of a window.
Well well well, what do we have here? You still haven't finished the Prologue? Tsk tsk tsk, that's lame! You're lame!
"Don't fucking patronize me, superpowers, you're supposed to HELP, dammit." I nearly growled at the asshole I was sure was on the other side of these windows, "Just help me with your stupid bullshit." I closed the window, only for another to replace it.
Here's what you can do to finish the Prologue and get into the game proper. Just doing one of these tasks will finish the prologue and grant you full access to everything The Game has to offer.
A) Unlock 5 system updates (4/5)
B) Raise a stat to 40 (Highest stat: 35 WIS)
C) Complete 3 quests (1/3)
D) Reach level 5 (level 2)
E) Raise a skill to level 20 (Highest skill: Unarmed Skill level 16)
Do one of these things and the restrictions on growth will drop, however your safety nets will be lost as well. Still, it's far more than worth it.
Oh! And before I forget, here, for raising your INT and WIS to new heights AGAIN, here's an upgrade to your complimentary starting item.
You gained the item "Golden Amulet"!
Golden Amulet
Description: A beautiful necklace with the Double Crescents symbol of the Arc family engraved on a golden coin, hung on a necklace of black wooden beads. It gleams with significant magical power.
Effects: +15% magic damage, +30% ease of casting, +3 INT and WIS when worn.
Tier: Conditional complementary starter item v3 (INT and WIS)
I felt the weight around my neck shift once again due to the heavier item, and looked at it.
The perimeter of the coin was thicker than the inner area, better than the thin slab that was the copper amulet or the convex disk that was the silver amulet. It felt stronger, not just in magical power, but in structure as well. The Double Crescents were proudly engraved onto it with masterful skill, and the black wooden beads were a little heavier than the two other sets, but it added to how strong the item felt.
I felt my mind grow sharper and clearer as I took my next breath, letting it out as I checked my profile.
-/\/\/\/\-
Jaune Arc
Title: Novice Hero
Level: 2
Class: (none)
Nickname: None
HP: 200/200
AP: 0/0
SP: 200/200
Strength: 20
Dexterity: 25
Vitality: 20
Intelligence: 31 +3 = 34
Wisdom: 35 +3 = 38
Luck: 15
Age: 17
Birthday: November 20th
Race: Human
Height: 5'10
Weight: 170
Build: Lite-Med Athletic
-/\/\/\/\-
I groaned, vowing to increase my strength by any means necessary, AND increase my height. Sure I just turned seventeen about four months ago, but I should have grown some more!
I mused as I looked around, then went down to the training room again. I was going to hold off on getting the prologue revoked until I could reap the benefits of it. If I was safe, then I didn't have to care, all I'd be wasting is time.
And if it's time I'm talking about... I have my whole dust-damned life.
I dropped to the floor, groaning as I landed with a small splash into a puddle of my own sweat.
I weakly opened my profile again, curious of all my gains from working throughout the night, focusing on the important parts.
HP: 200/260
SP: 10/260
Strength: 23
Dexterity: 28
Vitality: 26
Luck: 17
Height: 5'10.5
Weight: 172
-/\/\/\/\-
Grinning, I checked the skills I'd developed over the course of the night.
By creating a physical object successfully, you've learned the skill "Craft"!
You used Protein Powder and Monster Energy Drink to create a new item! Gained item "Monster Protienergy Drink"! (x29)
Monster Protienergy Drink
Description: A mixture of Lemon-flavored Monster brand energy drink and Protein Powder to create a smoothie-like drink.
Effects: Restores 25 SP. Grants status effect "Fitletics Surge" boosts SPR by 50% for 30 minutes. Gives +5 STR, +5 DEX, and +10 VIT for 40 minutes
Type: Restoration Consumable
-/\/\/\/\-
Creation:
Craft (Active) Level: 4, Exp: 15.25%
A skill denoting one's ability to create new things out of physical materials, by will, skill, and power. Quality of crafts increases with skill level, requisite stats, and supporting skills.
Special Crafting Trades: Alchemy, Armorsmith.
-/\/\/\-
Attacks:
-(Weapon Skills)-
Unarmed Skill (Passive) Level: 19, Exp: 95.50%
A skill denoting... well... a skill for using Unarmed Attacks.
Damage Increase: +20%
Stamina Discount: -10%
Backlash Resistance: -10%
-/\-
Sword Skill (Passive) Level: 19, Exp: 99.50%
A skill denoting... well... a skill for wielding Swords.
Damage Increase: +20%
Stamina Discount: -10%
Sword Toughness: +1
-/\-
Axe Skill (Passive) Level: 19, Exp: 95.50%
A skill denoting... well... a skill for wielding Axes.
Damage Increase: +20%
Stamina Discount: -10%
Armor Penetration: 9%
-/\-
Dagger Skill (Passive) Level: 19, Exp: 95.50%
A skill denoting... well... a skill for wielding Dagger-class weapons (these weapons are not necessarily knives, but rather weapons that have a striking area shorter than your forearm)
Damage Increase: +20%
Stamina Discount: -4%
Precision Bonus: +11%
Penetrative Bonus: +4%
-/\/\/\/\-
I smiled, then frowned, realizing that I'd have to essentially never throw a punch, or swing a sword, or an axe, or a dagger again until I broke through the boundaries of the Prologue. However, I found out that I at least didn't have to level up multiple skills for various types of crafting, they were all categorized under Craft, which was fucking weird, but I was willing to go with it. However it was a bit odd that it counted the... thing I'd made when I taped my gloves down as crafting armor. Then again, I guess it technically WAS armor.
Sighing heavily, getting up and getting a towel. I started to towel up my sweat, and cringed when I noticed that Polishing had leveled up. Shaking off the implications of that, I finished up, then went to the kitchen to make breakfast.
...
I heard the now familiar sound of a skill leveling up and found that Craft had leveled up and gained another Special Crafting Trade, which was Cooking, and after tasting the eggs I'd made, I was sure that they were better than before.
Singing softly as I cooked, I smiled, feeling happy with myself. Right now I was cooking bacon, leveling up Craft and Singing, and when I was done, I was going to go to the gym.
I poured grounds into the coffee maker and set that up to brew, still singing softly.
"You can't fill your cup until you empty all it has
You can't understand what lays ahead
If you don't understand the past
You'll never learn to fly now
'Til you're standing at the cliff
And you can't truly love until you've given up on it~!
...
That's why we won't back down
We won't run and hide
Yeah, 'cause these are the things that we can't deny
I'm passing over you like a satellite
So catch me if I fall
That's why we stick to your game plans and party lines
But at night we're conspiring by candlelight
We are the orphans of the American dream
So shine your light on me~!
I had begun to dance a little, gaining a skill for it and leveling it up as I stepped between various prepared foods, beginning to plate everything up. I heard a rustling of a newspaper and froze in-step, nearly falling over if not for my Dexterity giving me a boost.
"Hehehehehe, what? Come on, I was about to join you on that." my dad said with a grin, "It looked like you were having fun. I don't think I've seen you smile like that in years, son. Were you thinking about some girl?"
I laughed back, smiling, "Nah, just enjoying a little song and dance." I excused while checking to see that I had gained a point in DEX during that... what... maybe an hour of dancing?
Granted I had been doing plenty of moves, but... wait, of course, duh!
As my stats increased, it would be harder to increase them. At some point I'm just going to be too strong to get stronger unless I exercise with, like, literal tons of weight, or so fast that I'd have to race bullets, or so smart that I'd have to do my own applied sciences.
I mean, it was just human nature, after all, and it said it right on my profile that I was a human.
"Where'd you get the necklace, champ?" my father asked, and I mentally cursed to myself. I'd forgotten about the necklace entirely! It just felt so natural to have it.
"Uh, I was just looking through some old boxes upstairs and I found it." I lied quickly, "I felt like it was only proper that I wore it."
He smiled at me as I set the plates out, "Well, that's good, m'boy, I'm glad you're taking pride in your family. Remember what I always tell you?"
I smiled back and nodded, "Family is important." then I frowned, and upon seeing my frown he frowned too, and I saw his entire demeanor shift towards a dark and brooding place. I cleared my throat and spoke up, "H-hey dad? I was thinking about going for another shot at being a Huntsman."
Blue eyes, darker than my own, stared back into mine, as if my father was staring into my very soul. He smiled, as if he were a teacher who'd just been given the correct answer by an unexpected student, "That's good, Jaune, do your best, and I'll support you the entire way." he reassured me with a smile, even though the six feet between us that was the length of the kitchen table felt more like the length of a goddamn Grifball field.
I nodded again, still smiling, "Thanks, dad. I love you."
"I love you too, son." he practically parroted back to me, taking another bite of his breakfast sandwich.
I felt it.
I truly did feel it this time.
Status Effect: Well Fed
Description: You've eaten a substantial amount of fulfilling food.
Effect (depends on food eaten): -50% Stamina Discount to all actions for 15 minutes. -25% Stamina Discount to all actions for 30 minutes. +200% SPR for 1 hour. +50% Temporary Max Stamina for 10 minutes.
I saw the number for my SP become bright green and go up from 260 to 390, grinning. I began to Run, watching the number tick down by only five every second. About every two and a half seconds I saw the number for my SP tick up by one, and after a good while, I'd ran enough to level Run up enough to... well...
-/\-
Run (Active) Free, Level: 11, Exp: 4.54%, Cost: Free
A simple act performed by moving one's legs at a quicker pace. Using stamina, you are able to speed yourself up. Stacks with other speed boosting skills
122% increase to movement speed.
Costs 9.5 SP per second
-/\-
I stared and groaned, "There are decimals of points?" I asked nobody in particular, then winced and glanced around to make sure nobody heard me. After assuring that, I groaned and rubbed my hand over my face. Okay, so this was probably a thing that happened when it reached level ten. If it followed that scheme then if I'm not mistaken, it should only cost 5 SP per second by the time it reaches level 100.
Level 100... that was a LONG time away. I leaned against the building I'd stopped in front of to catch my breath before the pain in my sides disappeared. I knew that my skills got harder to level up as their level increased, but it seemed like this lower level skills were rather easy to level up. I'm about 99% sure that my higher-power skills will be vastly harder to level up. I'd spent all night pushing myself to exhaustion after exhaustion, and I'd only just barely managed to level up what I'd done.
Sighing, I no longer had the temporary boost to Max SP, but I still had the -50% Stamina Discount. I looked at where I'd ended up.
Fitness Dungeon Gym. I laughed at the tagline 'Get monstrously in shape', then headed inside.
The cashier greeted me and I observed her, noting her high VIT with a lack of any excessive STR or DEX. Humming to myself, I smiled at her, "I'd like to become a member."
"Ah, well you're in luck." Shannon, as I'd learned her name was, said with a bright smile, "For early and late Resolutioners, the signup fee is only twenty lien. However it IS forty lien a month after that, so take that into consider-" she paused when I pulled out twenty lien.
"Money isn't an issue, Miss Shannon." I smiled and slid it across the counter, "I just want to sign up and start as soon as possible, if that wouldn't be any trouble." I chuckled a little bit.
The brunette nodded, pulling out some forms, "Just fill these out and we'll get you a card so you can get started." she handed them over.
A couple of minutes and an amount of forms later, I was signed up. I had my picture taken and I gave my best smile, then I took the card and put it onto my painfully empty keyring, the only other thing being a key to the old house and a key to the house with my dad. I sighed lowly, then let Shannon walk me through using my card after hours. I took it all in stride and then got to work.
I walked into the gym proper and looked around, seeing dozens of people with levels averaging 9-15 and with physical stats between 20-30. I whistled upon realizing just how BIG this place was. I also realized that all of these people were in rather good shape, but due to the limits of how levels work for people who aren't me, their levels were far lower because of their lack of battle experience and combat value.
I observed all of the machines as well, and Gamer's Sight told me which ones were best for which workouts. I leveled up the skill a couple of times during all the observation and went back over the people I'd gone over before, getting a meager amount of EXP for it, not even a single percent for my new observations.
With a couple of new INT points under my belt, I went to a lateral row machine and sat down after taking off my hoodie (which nobody noticed) and started on a decent weight.
I continued until my sore and tired muscles couldn't be ignored anymore, and I found that I'd drained some HP to feed my exercise, the window warned against continuing for too long after that point, and I couldn't help but agree. I moved to a bench and drank a Protienergy Drink, guzzling down a few just to see what would happen. When I was six deep, I saw a new notification.
You gained the status effect "Energy Rocket"
Description: With the chemicals rushing through your veins, you're going to speed through everything and then crash.
Effects: +400% SPR, +30 STR, +40 DEX, +20 VIT for 15 minutes. WARNING: When this status effect expires, all remaining SP will be drained.
I sighed, looking to see my SP moving up about every two and a quarter seconds, then I immediately got to work.
...
I collapsed backwards onto the bench, panting heavily. I'd increased my stats a good bit, smiling at my profile now. I'd cheated and kept drinking more protienergy drinks, I had a habit of abusing restoration items until I almost ran out of them, and I was paying for it now, because I felt like my heart was going to explode out of my chest!
-/\/\-
Jaune Arc
Title: Novice Hero
Level: 2
Class: (none)
Nickname: (none)
HP: 160/300
AP: 0/0
SP: 0/300
Strength: 29
Dexterity: 29
Vitality: 30
Intelligence: 33 (+3) = 36
Wisdom: 35 (+3) = 38
Luck: 17
Age: 17
Birthday: November 20th
Race: Human
Height: 5'11
Weight: 175
Build: Medium Athletic
Hair/Eye/Skin Color: Bright Blonde / Bright Blue / Fair
-/\/\-
Smiling, I sat up, drank my second to last protienergy drink, restoring some SP. A few people had left in the time I'd taken, and a few more had taken their place.
Nobody looked special, just more people with the same level 9-15, physical stats between 20-30, though I saw one guy who was obviously on steroids who had 35 Strength, but that was it. I looked around a little more, did another set of lateral rows, and then... I saw her.
...
Yang Xiao Long
Title: Hotter than the Summer Sun
Level: 36
Class: Brawler
I whistled lowly, then wondered what the fuck kind of title that was. Everything else had been pretty straightforward, if a bit poetic, like "A Shouter of Forceful Business", or "A Feline Shirt Thief", or even "A keeper of the fitness archive" that Shannon was.
This... this was weird, and that level, dat level tho. I briefly wondered how old she was.
My continued staring at her led to more information being revealed.
Hit Points: 900/900
Aura Points: 1500/1500
Stamina Points: 1100/1100
Strength: 67
Dexterity: 38
Vitality: 52
Intelligence: 16
Wisdom: 21
Luck: 16
She has her aura unlocked, and a LOT of it! God DAMN.
I couldn't help but blink and stare. My GOD, not only is she very beautiful, she's also over twice as strong, about a fifth faster, and two-thirds tougher than me, though I have her beat in mental stats. Still... I felt just a little bit emasculated. Fortunately, Gamer's Mind helped me ignore that shit, and the shit involving her lovely chest, and stomach, and backside, and legs, and... god DAMN, I think she's breaking Gamer's Mind, I can hardly keep my eyes off her!
She looks just a little too immature to be a full-grown woman, even with dat body tho, so I couldn't help but wonder how old she wa-Suddenly a new window popped up after I'd observed her for too long.
Age: 17
Birthday: December 12th
Race: Human
Height: 5'7
Weight: 145
Build: Medium Athletic
Hair/Eyes/Skin: Golden Blonde / Lilac Purple / Light Tan
She's only 17? HOW?!
Groaning and wishing I could know her secrets, I got up, stretched a bit as my soreness faded when Gamer's Body kicked it, worked out the kinks in my joints, and then walked over and leaned against the wall, watching her silently as I tried to make myself less noticeable.
A special action has created the skill "Stealth"!
I looked as it moved into the Movement folder alongside Run, then sighed and waited.
She grinned cheerfully, looking damn beautiful doing it, and went over to the lateral row that I'd been practically glued to. She put the weight to a bit over quadruple what I'd been doing and then proceeded to work out, not even seeming to break a sweat after a full minute, where as I'd been sweating enough to need a sweatband by that point. It was probably our different VIT scores.
'To be honest, the fact that I haven't slept has still been making me think I'm just dreaming all of this.'
I watched as she finished up at the lat row, then went and did some other machines. I watched for about half an hour as she did everything what must be her routine, without even breaking a sweat. I saw her finally going to a treadmill, starting it up and running at a decent pace. I couldn't help but notice the incredible display of gravity she was putting on.
'But to be fair and optimistic... there are far worse things my teenage mind could imagine than a person like her. It's like a warrior princess was combined with a pornstar... NO NO NO NO NO!'
I shook my head, watching as she ran at a decent speed easily. I sighed softly.
I understood how strong she was, even with just a bit over twice my STR, she'd been able to lift four times the weight. It was her great experience and higher HP, AP, and SP limits... she was probably in Signal, and meanwhile, I was at a gym, a fairly big gym, trying not to stare at her breasts.
Before a wave of what I realized was self-depreciation could settled upon me, I shook my head as Gamer's Mind clarified everything. No, I was a Huntsman-in-training too, goddammit! I could grind levels and get loot and get to her level, even get PAST her level.
Let's see, 34 levels, that's 170 points. My physical stats were already 30-31-32, while hers were 64-37-51. That meant that I could spend 69 points to get on her level...
'Fuck yeah I'd like to 69 on her level... wait NO NO NO NO NO! Stop brain! Stop that!'
My Wisdom was telling me to talk to her, to make friends and such. It sounded crazy, but it was worth a shot.
I got on the treadmill next to hers, observing hers, which Gamer's Sight told me was going at ten miles per hour.
I turned mine onto the same speed, smiling as I noticed her finally sweating. The difference in physical condition between the two of us was astounding. I noticed she was moving with less grace now, and was showing signs of fatigue, but she was still going at her pace, though she turned it down a bit.
She looked tired, but I went for it, this might be my only chance, "Uh, hey there." I greeted with a bright smile.
Yang blinked in surprise, nearly tripping up, then she looked over at me and gave a light smile, "Hey there. You a newcomer?" she asked curiously, "I haven't seen you around here before."
I chuckled, breathing heavily, "Yeah, I am." I smiled and looked ahead.
She giggled just a little bit, "Well, good to know that people care about getting in shape and stuffs." she smiled wider and brighter at me, still softly giggling, like a pretty little fairy. She turned her treadmill off after a little while, going and sitting down.
I did too before I passed out. I shoved away a DEX and VIT notification and smiled at her as I took the spot next to her, "Well, I'm beat."
Yang giggled a little more, and I found myself enjoying the adorable sound, "If you're in need of recovery, members get a free protein drink from the bar per day, but like, every one after that is like 10 lien. It's a rip, but they gotta keep the lights on somehow." she shrugged and giggled.
I nodded and jogged over, grabbing one and using Gamer's Sight as I jogged back.
Big Bill's Protein Shake
Description: A protein-infused milkshake flavored like chocolate and designed to help one recover. Drinking it will increase your physical stats by a small amount.
Effect: +5 STR, +2 DEX, +4 VIT, +25% SPR for 10 minutes, additional +975% SPR for the first 1 minute
I downed it quickly and thirstily, watching my SP shoot up to 30% of maximum in just a minute. I definitely had to spam-buy these.
I looked over at Yang and watched her drink from her sports bottle. I saw her SP shoot up far faster than her VIT should have allowed. I observed her drink to make sure she didn't have some sort of magical alchemical potion of energy.
I was surprised.
Monster Protienergy Drink
Description: A mixture of Orange-flavored Monster brand energy drink and Protein Powder to create a smoothie-like drink.
Effects: Restores 50 SP. Grants status effect "Fitletics Surge" boosts SPR by 100% for 30 minutes. Gives +10 STR, +10 DEX, and +15 VIT for 45 minutes
Type: Restoration Consumable
I laughed, "Nice drink you got there." I pulled out my last bottle of the stuff, "What is it?"
She hummed curiously at me, then realized what I said, "Oh, yeah, it's Monster mixed with some 'tein~." she giggled softly, "Some good ol' 'tein~." she grinned playfully at me, her eyes lingering on my sweat-soaked white shirt, "But yeah it's better than you'd think." she took another swig of it, "Anyways, I'm feeling pretty recovered, so I'm gonna keep going." she got up and went back over to a machine.
I watched her restored grace. I wondered how she could recover so quickly. Further use of Gamer's Sight showed me that her semblance wasn't some kind of recovery power, but rather something akin to a meter that filled with pain and energy and fueled her raging fires. I found it oddly appropriate. Her name, as I'd figured out from my Sight, meant Sun Little Dragon, so the sun's semblance was fire.
I chuckled, then went to work out for another round.
I found myself walking through the city streets, regretting having missed the point where Yang had left, since conversation with her was kinda fun, all things considered. I bought a few six-packs of those Big Bill energy drinks and stored them into my inventory as soon as possible. It was still morning when I was done. I quickly changed into different clothes, an orange t-shirt, black hoodie, and clean underwear and jeans. I smiled a bit, sighing as I felt refreshed after my shower at the gym, combined with Gamer's Body taking away all of the pain and soreness from working out, and I was feeling like a million bucks.
After downing one of the protein shakes and waiting a little bit, I checked my profile.
-/\/\/\-
Jaune Arc
Title: The Gamer
Level: 2
Class: Novice Hero
Nickname: None
HP: 330/330
AP: 0/0
SP: 54/330
Strength: 31
Dexterity: 32
Vitality: 33
Intelligence: 33 +3 = 36
Wisdom: 35 +3 = 38
Luck: 18
Charisma: 13
Age: 17
Birthday: November 20th
Race: Human
Height: 5'11
Weight: 177
Build: Medium Athletic
Hair/Eye/Skin Color: Bright Blonde / Bright Blue / Fair
-/\/\/\-
I would have spit out my drink in surprise if I hadn't swallowed it already.
When the fuck did I get a new stat?
I looked around my field of vision and found it.
SYSTEM UPDATE: Successfully interacting with a person of a high level of beauty and charm has added the stat "Charisma" to the game!
I closed it, and immediately a new window opened up.
Congratulations! You've completed the prologue! Your growth can now proceed as normally allowed, however some safety nets have been removed.
Enjoy playing The Game!
I closed the window with a small growl.
Goddammit Yang, why did you have to be so fucking beautiful that you made the game add a whole new stat that I have to grind?
Ugh, it doesn't matter now.
I need to stop thinking about her fantastic, lovely body and start thinking about how to progress!
My dad gave me a quest, and it gave me enough EXP to level up. I hummed, then opening my eyes, "Alright... um... new quest... take a walk around town?"
I waited... nothing happened.
Can I not give myself quests? Dammit. Alright, fine. I'll just go to where I can find someone who can! I'll try... the park! The park should have plenty of people who might need some amount of help.
...
Running to the park was tiring, but I see plenty of people here this morning. I walk slowly, calmly, like my only business is just enjoying the cool weather. Of course I spam Gamer's Sight like no tomorrow. Shut up, it's free to use and it can lead to increased Intelligence.
Out of the corner of my eye I notice an old man standing at an old war monument. I see him looking at part of it, probably old friends' names on the stone slabs. Suddenly, I see him shudder and stumble, leaning heavily against the monument. I immediately rushed over, fearing his knees might have given out from under him.
I helped him to his feet and got his cane back into his hand in a firm grip, "You okay, sir?" I asked while lifting him up surprisingly easily, it must be my increased Strength.
He nodded, coughing a little bit, "I'm okay-ish, not really." he chuckled raspily, "Can you help me out?"
NEW QUEST!
Quest: Help the Old Man
Description: This poor old man needs some help, will you take it upon yourself to help him?
Reward for completion: 10 exp, Secondary Quest
Penalty for failure: The old man potentially falls and hurts himself.
I felt like my power just threw this quest together at the last second, but sighed and accepted with a thought, "Sure thing, sir." I said with a small smile, helping him over to a nearby bench. He nearly fell again, but my Strength let me keep him standing, since he was lighter than he looked.
"Thank you young man, I was just visiting the monument and, ohhh~ my knees ain't what they used to be." he said a bit breathily while leaning his other side on his cane.
After almost half a minute, we reached the bench and I sat him down with his cane, smiling a little, "There you go sir."
"Thank you, laddie." he smiles at him, "I wish I was sprightly enough to move around like you youngin's do, hehehe." he chuckled with a wheeze, "So um... the names Jenkins, what yours?" he looked up at me.
I smiled a little wider, "The name's Jaune, Jaune Arc, nice to meet you." I shook his hand.
QUEST COMPLETE
Completed quest "Help the Old Man"
Gained 10 EXP
He smiled and nodded, "Thank you young man. So... Arc, eh? You wouldn't happen to know about a Matthias Arc, would you?"
I chuckled, "Know him? He's my grampa." I sat down next to the old man Jenkins, giving him an Observe.
Robert Jenkins
Title: Forgotten but not Lost
Level: 17
I could see he was in poor condition, given his advanced age, and he had no aura either, but a few pieces of backstory I could now gain from my leveled up Gamer's Sight let me see that he had fought in the Faunus War, "You were a soldier in the Faunus War, weren't you?"
"Hehehehe, how'd you figure that? You growin' young adults nowadays never open books unless you're told to." he said jokingly, the kind of offensive joke a man of his age was allowed to make because he was just so damn old.
"Hey now, I prefer reading over rotting my brain with television." I laughed back, smiling and noticing a window for increased Charisma pop up.
He smiled, "So ya prefer reading then? So I take it you know where the library is?"
"2541 Butterfly Road." I recalled the information easily, probably my increased Wisdom clearing my mind.
"Well uh, I'd do it myself, but my knees, y'know? So um. Could you take this book to the library for me?" he lifted up a bag that I'd noticed but hadn't observed.
NEW QUEST!
Quest: Jenkins' Book Dilemma.
Description: Old Man Jenkins needs to take his library book back in, but he can't make it with his weakness for walking. Make the trip for him and return with the turn-in receipt.
Reward: 250 exp, 10 lien.
Time Limit: 1 hour
I accepted and took the book, "I can do that, don't you worry."
"Thank you, Jaune, please try to hurry, a friend of mine is picking me up in about an hour, and it's a good distance." he wasn't all that wrong, but it was actually only about a mile, which for me was far less of a distance than for him.
"Alright, I'll be back as soon as possible." I stood up and started jogging towards the library.
You gained the item "Skill Book: Summon Elemental"!
You have gained a skill book. Would you like to read it?
I looked at the book curiously, "The Phoenix King... huh, I think I've read this one." I thumbed through the pages a little, finding bits of pieces of story that led me to believe that the protagonist had basically dedicated part of his soul to fire.
My Wisdom told me that this book might be the key to activating my Aura... I hummed curiously at the thought, taking time to expand upon it after sliding the book into my inventory and beginning to Run.
Essentially the process would take a splinter of my soul that is already there, just deactivated, and activate it by aligning it to a magical element. I would, in essence, be jump-starting my soul with a magic ritual.
It could work in theory. I could hope for it to work. If not then I could just go for the old-fashioned way and get my aura activated, but this way seemed much cooler.
I grinned and entered the library, throwing a Gamer's Sight glance at the librarian.
Annabelle Sytrus
Title: Keeper of the Books
Level: 9
Fit for her age, good genes most likely, and good diet and exercise, her title made sense, and thinking on it, knowing her semblance made Yang's make sense too.
I chatted her up, smiling and returning the book 'for a friend', but then saying that I wanted to check it out too, showing my library card and watching Charisma flow in just by being a natural smoothtalker when I wasn't worrying about what to say.
Walking back to Jenkins with the book in my inventory, I hummed and checked over some things.
Some classes had requisites of both minimum and maximum types. I had unlocked a few new classes with my increased stats.
-/\/\/\/\-
Classes:
Warrior (high STR): +20% physical attack damage, 25% reduced negative effects from all armor, all armor increases in usefulness by 15%
Rogue (high DEX): +25% attack speed, -20% attack damage, allows usage of 'Sneak Attack' that deals triple damage
Tank (high VIT): +10% physical resistance, +50% HPR, +50% SPR
Mage (high INT): +30% APR, +20% magic damage
Monk (high WIS): +20% efficiency to Meditation, +5 to ALL Elemental Affinities
Wizard (higher INT+WIS than DEX+LUK): +50% APR, +25% magic damage, -50% physical damage, +5 to all elemental affinities
-/\/\/\/\-
I hummed curiously. What was it about DEX and LUK that made them the opposite of INT and WIS?
Also, why was the word 'all' capitalized in Monk's description, but not capitalized in Wizard's description? "Eh, doesn't matter right now." I selected the Tank class due to its increase in my SPR, then began Running back to the park.
...
I arrived back, huffing and puffing a little, recovering in just a few seconds, then I returned to the bench I'd helped Old Man Jenkins to, "Got it done." I said with a smile as I handed him the return receipt.
I checked the time while he said some thanks and pulled the lien out of his pocket. I smiled and declined with a shake of my head, "I couldn't take your money, sir, it just wouldn't be right." he smiled at me a little, obviously surprised at how I didn't ask for compensation for doing the ridiculously easy quest.
Speaking of which...
QUEST COMPLETE!
Succeeded quest "Jenkins' Book Dilemma"!
You gained 250 exp!
Bonus Objective "A pretty little bell" was succeeded!
-Description: Chat up the librarian and get the book for yourself.
-Reward: +15 exp, +3 Charisma, Skill Book: "Summon Elemental"
Bonus Objective "Don't worry about it" was succeeded!
-Description: Refuse the money reward from Jenkins
-Reward: +10 exp, +3 Charisma, +5 Closeness with Old Man Jenkins.
Your level has increased by one!
I hummed softly, smiling, "Well, have a nice day, sir." I said while turning to walk away.
He smiled and waved lightly, "Thank you again, have a nice day Jaune." he said as I walked to another area of the park.
...
Nestling in between the roots of a large oak tree, I looked out upon the lake in front of me. I hummed softly as I looked over my profile one more time for reference.
-/\-
Jaune Arc
Title: Novice Hero
Level: 3
Class: Tank
Nickname: None
HP: 560/560
AP: 0/0
SP: 53/560
Strength: 31
Dexterity: 33
Vitality: 33
Intelligence: 33 +3 = 36
Wisdom: 35 +3 = 38
Luck: 17
Charisma: 25
Stat Points: 5
-/\-
I had really good stats for a person who was only level three. I smirked, "If I can keep up my growth rate, accounting for diminishing returns, even with Run now having increased my DEX, I could become WAY ahead of the curve." I laughed softly, then looked at the book in my hands. The Phoenix King.
I looked at the window to read it and nodded, then began reading it.
A long time later, I finished it, all 200-something pages, and I looked, only to frown when I saw that the window hadn't gone away.
"Did I seriously just waste, like, four hours for nothing?" the fact that I'd read at a rate of almost four pages per minute was astonishing, but my Intelligence-sharpened mind obviously was faster than before. I'd gained another point in Intelligence and another in Wisdom after deeply and intimately analyzing what I was reading.
The Phoenix King had empowered his aura by splintering it, similar to how a bone breaks and heals back stronger, but he'd healed it by aligning it to Fire, an element of magic. He grew the splinter until it was a twig, and then a branch, and finally it was like his soul was a might tree that had burgeoned and grown in two directions, one of pure mana, the other of fire. It's foliage glowed with the light of his soul and the incandescence of fire. I was painting a rather amazing picture in my expanded mind.
Regardless, I knew what I'd do if this skill wasn't limiting me to summoning a Fire Elemental.
I hit Y on the reading window, then looked down at the book.
It slowly began to break apart into tan light. T'was gold as desert sand, I mused. It then began flowing up to my head until nothing of its physical mass was left, leaving just a feeling of knowing.
I realized that the book had been destroyed by the process when it wasn't in my hands, nor my inventory. I frowned, "Dammit... that's going to be hard to explain. 'Oh sorry, my semblance ate the book and taught me ancient knowledge it contained', yeah, THAT'LL go over well." I laughed to myself, sighing before standing up and starting to walk back home to do the Summon Elemental ritual.
I just had to...
Is that...?
No... no it can't be...
It...
Shit...
Well, this was a problem...
Dust fucking dammit...
Juniper Arc
Title: ?
Level: ?
It was my mom.
Woot woot for updoot doot! *gets caught by skeltal* Introducing the first of the other seven of the RWBYJNPR group, in a fitting setting.
Yeah, the mysterious reason for Juniper and Johnathan splitting up might be revealed next chapter, or it might not, who knows?
I do! Mwahahahahahahahhahahaha!
So yeah, that's it for now.
Stay tuned for next update.
Oh hey, I'm gonna start posting Jaune's stat block at the end of each chapter, because I feel it's necessary.
-/\/\/\/\/\-
Jaune Arc
Title: Novice Hero
Level: 3
Class: Tank
Nickname: None
HP: 560/560
AP: 0/0
SP: 56/560
Strength: 31
Dexterity: 33
Vitality: 33
Intelligence: 33 +3 = 36
Wisdom: 35 +3 = 38
Luck: 17
Charisma: 25
Stat Points: 5