About half of the second arc has been planned out in general detail. I have to work out a few details before I can begin writing the first draft. After this chapter, the first arc will have two chapters left. Again, those two chapters are already written. I am also pleased to announce there are actual damage calculations in play with my writing.
"I did not expect to visit you so soon, Gamer.", said the being. I could feel that the being was furious, despite their voice sounding calm. "First off, I apologize for my hostile demeanor. However, do you recall my explanation of Gaia and the Abyss?", asked the being calmly while radiating an aura of danger.
"Yes.", I said carefully. I glanced at Alice but she was calmly inspecting the being. Specifically, she was focused on the text above the being's head. The text still revealed nothing about the being.
"Now, I neglected to hand you this as I was unsure of what choice you would make.", said the being. A small blue flame sprang to life from it's left hand. The flame disappeared quickly, leaving behind what looked like a small card. "The information on this card will lead you to an information broker of the Abyss. They will be a costly and invaluable method of survival.", said the being as it handed me the card.
"Now, an incident occurred at the house of Darren's friend. He will be home shortly.", said the being as the familiar blue flame engulfed it's body, signaling it's departure. Alice and I looked at each other for a moment. Earlier, I had told her about the being. She had been far more skeptical than me about it's intentions. We stood up and left the dungeon. It only took about two minutes to reach the apartment.
"I wonder what happened.", said Alice as she took off her jacket. She tossed it onto the arm of the couch and headed for the kitchen. I pulled my hair off to the side and sat down on the couch.
"Well, from what I've heard, Mac's mom tends to pick bad boyfriends. He's gotten into a few fights with them. Usually, it's because the boyfriend hit his mom, can't hold a job, or picked a fight with Mac.", I explained as I hugged my legs against my chest. Alice pulled two glasses out of the cupboard and filled them with tap water. She didn't say anything until she made her way back to the couch.
"Jun, sweetheart, you really shouldn't sit like that with a skirt.", she said gently as she offered me a glass. "Pull the back of your skirt up and tuck it between your legs.", she said as she waited for me take my glass. I did as I was told. I took the glass as soon as I was done. "We'll need to get you some new clothes and underwear.", she said as she sat down.
"Both of us need new clothes.", I corrected her before taking a drink of water. I continued after I was done taking a drink. "We also need to find a better way to fight. You're running out of MP way too quick. Punching stuff is great but it's too easy for me to get mobbed.", I said. Alice nodded in agreement as she took a drink.
"Before we can get into that-.", she said as she put her glass on the coffee table. She stripped off her bra, tossed it to the other couch, and let out a sigh of contentment. "I need to relax.", she said as she picked her glass back up.
"Well, I did already make a list of things to try based on MMOs.", I said. I picked up the notebook I had left on the couch. She read over it while we waited for Darren to get home. She was smiling by the time she was done.
"Skill books, huh?", she asked with a smile. "I have an old book on meditation techniques. At one point, I used them to help keep my head in a good place.", she explained as she handed me the notebook. "You'll find the book on the top shelf, left side.", she said.
I got up and headed into her room. I looked at the far side of the room. The bookcase was to the left of her closet. I searched the left side of the top shelf and found the book in question. I was shown a small window when I picked up the book. It was such a surprise that I almost dropped the book.
Would you like to learn the following skills?
Meditation(Ki)
Ki Manipulation
Basic Understanding of Ki
"Alice! Skill books are a thing!", I called out as I tapped the 'No' button. It was Alice's book. So, it was only right for Alice to use it. I ran back to the living room and presented the book to Alice. She kept staring off into space. "Alice.", I said softly, starting to get worried. I watched as she snapped back to reality and looked up at me.
"Sorry, I-", she started to say something but let out a sigh instead. She just sat there, like she was trying to hold something back. "I just spaced out for a second.", she said as she looked up at me. I knew she was under a lot of stress. It wasn't easy to work two jobs. Then, someone knocked on the door.
"Here we go.", she whispered as she stood up. I set the book on the couch and followed her to the front door. When Alice opened the door, I saw Darren standing there with a cop. The cop looked Alice over for a moment. We stepped back and the cop came in with Darren.
"Sorry to bother you, miss. Are your parents home?", he asked as he looked around at the apartment. The cop looked lean and fit. He looked like he was the kind of cop I hated running from the most: persistant and able to run for a long time.
"I'm Darren's sister and his guardian. What's this about?", asked Alice, clearly a little nervous. She crossed her arms and waited for the cop to explain why he was there. As I expected, Mac had gotten into another fight with his mom's newest boyfriend. The neighbors heard the screaming match and called the cops. The brawl had started long before the cops got there. Darren wasn't in trouble but Mac was sitting in jail, facing assault charges. Mac's mother was at the hospital with a mild concussion.
"Sorry to have bothered you so late, miss. We couldn't leave him alone at the house since he doesn't live there.", said the cop before leaving. Alice walked Darren to the couch and they sat down. I headed for the bathroom and shut the door. I sat on the toilet and tried to block out their muffled voices. I wanted to give them some space and privacy. After a bit of time, someone knocked on the bathroom door.
"Jun, can you come out? I need your help with something.", said Alice. I got up and opened the door. She pulled me into a loose hug as soon as the door was open. "Don't hide like that. You live here too.", she said softly before letting go of me. She pulled me over to the couch and we sat down next to Darren.
"Alice said something happened to you too. So, what happened?", asked Darren. I started off by inviting Darren into our party. Naturally, he thought the party invite and our explanation of the Abyss was an elaborate joke. Then, I helped him create his own protected space. I used what little MP I had recovered to blow a hole in the wall. Once he calmed down, I taught him how to leave protected space.
"Now that you know a few things, I want you to say 'Create Character'.", I instructed to Darren. I knew he'd make a big deal about it but it felt wrong to hide that command from him. Everyone had something they wanted to change about themselves or their life. Darren gave me an odd look for a moment.
"Create Character.", he said. His jaw dropped once he saw the sheer number of options available to him. "Man, I got full control over everything? Even the thickness of my arms and legs?!", he hesitated for a second and looked at us. "Uh, I think I'm just gonna do this in the bathroom.", he said as he rushed for the bathroom. He was in there for almost half an hour.
"Okay, I'm done.", he said as the bathroom door came open. When he came out, he was holding his pants up with one hand and for a good reason. He had gone from being very overweight to skinny. "Hey, Alice, I need to borrow some jeans since I changed my weight.", he said as he flopped down on the couch. He really did look like he'd fit into Alice's jeans.
"Man, I can't believe this shit is actually real.", he said as Alice headed for the bedroom. He looked me over for a second. "So, you're a girl now?", he asked. I pulled my skirt back, revealing my boxers. "Oh man! Don't show me!", he said as he got up. "Geez, there are times where you are just straight up weird as hell.", he said as he headed for the kitchen. I didn't bother getting up.
Instead, I looked at Alice's book on meditation. I could learn three skills by using it but, in MMOs, skill books disappeared when they were used. She said the book helped her through bad times. I shelved my thoughts when Alice came out of the bedroom with a pair of my boxers, a pair of her jeans, and a belt. Darren took them and headed for the bathroom. Alice and I waited in silence for Darren to finish changing pants. It didn't take long for Darren to change either.
"Man, it can't be right for a man to wear another man's underwear.", said Darren with a shiver as he left the bathroom. "I wanna see what it's like to be a game character. Who wants to kill some monsters?", asked Darren with a enthusiastic smile on his face. I was starting to get excited too. Alice held up her hand.
"Hold that thought.", she said as she went back into her bedroom. She came out with a wooden baseball bat. "I can't believe I didn't think about this earlier.", she said as she offered the bat to Darren. "You'll want it when you're out of MP.", she said.
"Alice, what about the book?", I asked, curious if she remembered what I said earlier. She tipped her head to the side and looked at me. She crossed her arms and looked me over. She smiled after a moment of thinking.
"You use it. I don't need it anymore.", she replied as she headed for the couch. "Besides, I still remember the techniques for meditating.", she said as she bent over to pick it up. "Oh!", she exclaimed when a pop-up appeared in front her. She brought the book over to me. "It seems the skills are more for ki instead of mana anyways. You should definitely use it.", she said as she held out the book.
"Whoa, hold up! We can learn skills from books?!", asked Darren, shocked at the idea. I nodded as I realized I had forgot to tell him that earlier. Alice lightly waved the book up and down to get my attention. I hesitantly took the book, causing a window to pop up.
"But, Alice, this is your book. It might disappear when I use it.", I said, frowning. I really didn't want to use her book. I had already been given so much. She grabbed my hand and moved my finger over the 'Yes' button.
"Go ahead and use it.", she said. I looked at the window and hesitated again. She gave a weary sigh. "Jun, just use the book.", she said, smiling. I tapped the 'Yes' button and a second pop-up appeared.
This skill book requires 15 Strength and 15 Intelligence to be used.
"Of course there would be stat requirements.", grumbled Darren. I set the book on the counter. I raised my hand and created a dungeon. "Man, about time we get to go killing some monsters.", he said as he readied his bat. It didn't take long for us to hear zombies moaning and moving around in the hallways. "Oh, that sound is creepy as fuck.", he said with a shiver. Alice slapped him in the back of the head.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to use the F-word?", she snapped, arms crossed while she glared at Darren. Darren muttered something under his breath. It wasn't my first time seeing Alice scold him for using certain cuss words. I also doubted this would be the last time she did.
"Let's go.", I said as I headed for the front door. I stopped at the door and listened. I didn't hear anything on the other side. Darren chose that moment to speak up.
"What are we waitin' for?", asked Darren. A zombie slammed into the front door, snarling and moaning. I jerked back and quickly pulled away from the door. Alice stood in front of us, a nasty smirk on her face.
"Watch and learn, little brother.", she said with a hint of arrogance. "Magic Blast.", she said calmly. As before, her spell destroyed the door and door frame. She entered the hallway with confidence. We followed behind her. A small group of zombies were shambling towards us from the hallway on the right. The path to the stairwell was blocked off.
"Alice, knock them down with Magic Blast. Darren and I will take care of them.", I said as I got ready to dash forward. Alice blasted the zombies and we charged forward, clubbing and punching as many zombies as we could. One zombie grabbed my leg and pulled.
"Darren!", I screeched. Darren repeatedly smashed the zombie in the back of the head. He pulled me away from the two remaining zombies. Once we had some distance, he raised his hand up. I quickly got behind him.
"Magic Blast!", he yelled. His blue fireball put down the two zombies. Two fives and a tooth were our rewards for the trouble. We headed for the stairwell when I saw something move off to my left. "Get this fuckin' thing offa me!", he yelled. A zombie grabbed Darren from the hallway on our left. They tumbled to the ground before Alice or I could anything but that didn't stop us from acting.
"Strong Blow!", I yelled as I kicked the zombie in the ribs. My attack sent the zombie skidding to Darren's side. The zombie bit into Darren's arm. I kicked it with another Strong Blow and broke the zombie's hold on Darren. The zombie started to pick itself up off the floor.
"Shit, that thing almost killed me! I damn near got no HP!", yelled Darren. I watched Alice grab him and rush him down the stairwell. I looked back at the zombie and checked its level, concerned by what Darren said.
Lv.8 Zombie
The zombie started slowly walking towards me. I had seen the zombies' lunge enough time to know the lunge was an attack in itself. They always started with a lunge and followed up with trying to bite their target. I had to hit it with a Strong Blow during it's lunge attack or I'd get grabbed and bit. I heard a sound effect go off.
A new skill has been created: Observe.
"Observe.", I said as I slowly backed up from the zombie. A large pop-up window appeared in front of me.
Zombie Lv.8
HP: 93/200
A corpse that has been reanimated through some means. The zombie is a mindless entity with a strong grudge against the living. A zombie's grip is powerful and not easily broken. Zombies will lunge at a target to grab them. Once a zombie has grabbed a target, they will proceed to bite the target.
I turned my attention back to the zombie. It had only gotten a little closer to me while I was reading. I started walking towards the zombie. I would only get one shot at this. I knew I could die if I messed up the timing. The zombie lunged at me.
"Strong Blow!", I yelled as I swung for the zombie's face. I felt a joy unlike anything from playing games overtake me as my attack connected. My attack finished the zombie. After the zombie disappeared, I picked up five bucks from where it had been. I heard the shuffling and moans of zombies behind me. When I turned around, there were three more zombies coming out from a corridor next to the stairwell.
I looked over the hallway railing and hopped over the railing. I planted my feet inside the railing slats and waited for the zombies to move past the stairwell. I jumped as soon as the stairwell was clear and landed on the first floor. I looked up and, as I thought, the zombies were heading for the stairs. I felt and heard multiple explosions rock the building. Several pop-up windows appeared in front of me.
You have gained 491 exp.
You have gained 474 exp.
You have gained 489 exp.
You have gained 457 exp.
You have gained a level.
"Oh no.", I whispered after glancing at my party window. Alice and Darren had practically no HP or MP left. I dashed through the front door of the building and out onto the sidewalk. I heard something explode off to my left, causing another pop-up to appear. I ran towards the alleyway Alice and I had hidden in earlier. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw they had climbed up the fire escape.
"Having fun yet, Darren?", I asked as I walked into the alley. The alley was clear of zombies. So, I started collecting the money that had dropped from the zombies they had killed.
"Man, don't get me started! We almost died just gettin' up here.", said Darren. I looked up to see him leaning on the railing, bat in hand. Alice was sitting on the steps of the fire escape. She was watching the street.
"Jun, look at the street.", called out Alice. I turned around and saw a few zombies heading straight for me. I cracked my knuckles and left the alley. "Jun! What are you doing?", she yelled. I could hear the calmness in her voice. The Mind of the Gamer was getting a work out today.
"I'm gonna go level up.", I said as I started making a mental kill order. There were five zombies coming for me. One was close to the sidewalk but the others were halfway across the street and huddled close together. The first zombie would be easy but the others would be difficult to seperate. "Strong Blow!", I said as I interrupted the zombie's lunge. I watched the zombie stagger backwards but it refused to fall down.
I decked the zombie with another Strong Blow, finishing it off. I had no loot to show for my trouble. I noted the locations of the other four zombies. They were huddled a bit closer together now. Some of the other zombies in the street had noticed me as well. Fortunately, the tight herd of zombies gave me an idea.
"How are you two on MP?", I yelled. It didn't take long for more zombies to notice me due to my yelling. Now, there was a group of five zombies on the other end of the street coming for me. Still, it didn't matter how many zombies there were as long as I could run a literal circle around them.
"I've got enough for three spells!", she yelled from the fire escape. I smiled as I counted up the zombies. There were four zombies in front of me, six off to my right, and five to my left. That made fifteen zombies in total that were shambling and staggering towards me. My tactic was frowned upon by the rules of a dozen or so MMOs but it would definitely make things easier here.
I ran down the street and started herding the group of six zombies. I looked over my shoulder and, as expected, the other zombies were still moving towards me. I ran in a circle around the two groups of zombies, drawing them closer together. I lured the two groups closer and closer together until they were side by side. Then, I dragged them towards the group of five that managed to get close to me. I ran to the alley and watched my undead entourage slowly follow behind me.
"Jun, what are you doing?", asked Darren once I got to the alley. I looked up and smiled at him. I pointed at the batch of zombies I rounded up.
"I'm kiting and grouping the zombies until you and Alice can nuke them in one go.", I said with a laugh. Darren just shook his head. Alice got up and headed to the fire escape railing. Alice and Darren took care of the zombies once they got close. I collected the money drops and dealt with any lone stragglers that survived. Meanwhile, Alice and Darren waited and recovered their MP. The zombies stopped respawning once the sun started coming up.
I kept a close eye out for respawning zombies, to be safe. At the same time, Darren and Alice climbed down from the fire escape. They gave me a hard time for my more-than-cheap tactic as we left the dungeon. We tiptoed up the stairwell to avoid disturbing Old Man Crocker, who was sleeping in his room. Once we were in the apartment, I reached into my pocket to pull out all the money I had gathered from our kills. Except, my pockets were empty.
"We may have a problem.", I said slowly. "I don't know where all the money went. I know I was putting it in my pocket but it's not there anymore.", I explained, feeling a little sad.
"Ha, did you check your inventory?", asked Darren. My eyes went wide. I didn't even check for that feature!
"Inventory.", I said, hoping Darren was onto something. I breathed a sigh of relief when a window opened up. I saw a window section for my equipment. Below that, I saw a money counter. "So, we farmed about a hundred bucks.", I announced to them. Darren gave me a high-five.
"That's about what? Three grand a month? Hell yea!", said Darren, clearly overly excited. Alice walked up behind him and put her arm around him.
"Don't forget, little brother. All of us need new clothes. Also, we've got rent, groceries, and some other stuff to buy as well.", said Alice sternly. "And Jun, don't think I haven't noticed that you leveled up twice. I won't force you to use my book but I really do think you should use it.", she said. I sighed and opened up my status menu. I felt like I didn't have a choice when she put it like that.
Name: Jun Tachibana
Occupation: The Gamer
Level: 6 Exp: 49.01%
Age: 15
HP: 540/540
MP: 70/70
Strength: 26
Agility: 15
Intelligence: 5
Wisdom: 4
Luck: 4
Points: 10
"Fine, I'll use it if you think it'll help.", I said as I raised my Intelligence. I felt something change in my brain as soon as I pressed 'Finalize'. "Oh man, that feels so weird. It's like something just rewired my brain.", I said as I massaged my temples. I headed for the kitchen, where I left the book earlier.
"Hey, Alice, what stats do you think I should raise?", asked Darren as I picked up the book. Like before, I saw the same window open up and ask if I wanted to learn three skills. Again, I hesitated but I still pressed 'Yes'. The book glowed with a soft yellow light and broke up into fragments. The fragments of the book flowed into my body. I could feel myself learning the knowledge behind the skills as the fragments entered my body. A pop-up window appeared in front of me.
You have learned the following skills:
Meditation(Ki)
Ki Manipulation
Basic Understanding of Ki
"Now that this is dealt with, I'm going to get some sleep.", said Alice as she headed for the bedroom. She stopped at the doorway and turned around. "I suggest you guys do the same. You can cry all you want but I'm waking both of you up at noon.", she said sternly. We knew she meant business since it involved our sleep schedules.
"Alice, what about our jobs?", I asked as she went to shut her door. She paused and came back out. She gave me a cocked eyebrow with one hand on her hip. After a moment, she crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame.
"Screw 'em. We made more money today from zombies than we would at our jobs.", she said. She smiled, headed back into her room, and shut the door. Darren just shook his head.
"I ain't even tired. I'm not even a little freaked out that I was almost a zombie's manwich.", he said as he headed for the couch. I followed behind him. We pulled the cushions off and pulled out the bed. It didn't take long for either of us to get comfortable and fall asleep, despite Darren's protests. I woke up to the sound of someone beating on the front door.
"Alicia Rockwell, open up! It's the landlord. Now open up!", yelled an old man. I moaned and rolled over. "God damn it, Alicia, I know you're in there! I didn't see you leave for work this morning!", he yelled, followed by more pounding on the door. I heard Alice's door slam into the wall. She marched across the living room to the front door.
I picked myself up off the bed and sat up. With bleary eyes, I watched Alice open the door and step outside. She shut the door behind her. Everyone in the apartment knew it was always a bad thing when Old Man Crocker was at the front door.
Crocker is an asshole. That is all.