Thanks to all who took the time to review.
PCheshire: I'm sorry, but there's not going to be a yaoi pairing, at least for Han Jee-Han. It's just my preference. I might put in a side character yaoi or yuri romance, but it'll be peripheral at best. I'm not confident in my ability to write about a pairing that I'm not partial to, considering that I'm straight.
I would like to know if it's possible to follow a story without signing up. In the period before I made my account, I didn't see such a feature, but there are many more follows than favorites. Maybe others prefer to get an email rather than seeing it on their Favorite Story page, I dunno.
xxXXxxXXxxXXxx
Dialog Cheat Sheet
Emphasis
Game Text
[Activating game ability]
SHOUTING
Cutting someone o- short
xxXXxxXXxxXXxx
"[Power Strike]."
I paused when I didn't feel the buildup of energy that heralded a [Power Strike]. Huh, must've run out of MP again. Might as well check the time… 8:30!
Oh god, this is bad! It takes over an hour to get home from here! Ah man, what am I-
Calm.
… Damn, I love [A Gamer's Mind]. So fucking useful, let me tell you.
I stretched and opened the Skills menu, checking the levels of [Power Strike] and [Axe Mastery].
Power Strike (ACTIVE)
LVL: 4
Strikes the target with a strong force.
+19% Critical Rate
+90% Damage
Not bad, it seems that the Crit Rate goes up by 1% and the Damage goes up by 10% per LVL. Except for the first LVL; I checked after the first LVL UP and the bonus doubled. I suppose that was done to make the stats look neater.
Ax Mastery (PASSIVE)
LVL: 5
Allows the user to freely use axes.
+50% Damage
+10% Attack Speed
Pretty much the same thing here, for what I assume are the same reasons.
From this data, [Ax Mastery] might seem like the best skill here, but it only applies to ax-type weapons, while [Power Strike] applies to any melee weapon, I presume. Plus, [Power Strike] can be applied on top of [Ax Mastery]'s bonus. If the buffs stack the way I think they do, my damage is more than doubled!
I also noticed another facet of [A Gamer's Body] that I didn't think of before; my stamina sucks, but it replenishes really quickly. I can swing an ax for a while, collapse under a tree, rest for 30 minutes, and be right back to swinging that ax. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to help much with how many ax swings I can make before needing a rest. Well, without points in VIT.
So, in any combat situation, my only real advantages right now are the damage I can do with [Power Strike] and [Ax Mastery] and the ability to rationally think through the situation thanks to [A Gamer's Mind].
I need more skills and stats.
xxXXxxXXxxXXxx
Have I ever mentioned that I absolutely fucking hate the rain?
I ran my hand through my hair, trying to slick back the soaked bangs so I could see. Not that there was much to see, with the area beyond about two meters shrouded by the downpour.
Sigh. Rain: so depressing it turns me emo. Well, more emo. Oh god, am I really an emo!? But I don't want to write depressing poetry and contemplate cutting! I do want to wear black; black is the greatest badass of the color spectrum. Hey, something's going on here…
I glanced around me, glaring suspiciously at the buildings and side streets on the road I was walking down. Wait, how the fuck can I see the buildings now?
Sure enough, it stopped raining. I would think that I just walked out from under the cloud, but there's no storm behind me. The only weather near me was a pretty dense fog. Now what could cause that?
I blinked as an answer came to me: that dome thingy the MiB and redhead fought in. It was completely lifeless, aside from us three, but when it broke, the residents and pedestrians came back again.
"It's quiet… too quiet."
I wonder where that quote came from? Eh, when in doubt, Google it. Hold the nonexistent phone, what's that?
A figure shambled out of the fog. It was a pretty heavyset person, presumably male, with… some kind of jacket on.
"Hey, uh, sir? You alright?"
Because no one healthy would walk with a gait like that.
No response. Eerie as fuck, am I right?
"You're kind of creeping me out right now. Say something? I'll give you 5000 Won."
That's almost the equivalent of a fiver in American Dollars. Amazing pay for almost no work. I would swallow my pride for that money, if the situation was reversed.
The man seemed to stumble into the light of a streetlamp. Now that I could see him clearly, though his face was turned down, he seemed kind of unhealthy with- HOLY SHIT!
The guy was a fucking zombie!
ZOMBIE!
UNDEAD MONSTER!
Calm.
Jesus, that is freaky. Just like always. Now that I'm not panicking anymore, let's observe the monster.
Observe.
[Observe].
Damn, I can't believe that I forgot about that. Didn't I tell myself that I would start training it?
"[Observe]."
Zombie LVL: 8
HP: 800 (800) MP: 50 (50)
A walking corpse. No matter how it died, it hates the living, attacking and devouring their flesh. Although slow, a zombie's strength and endurance is greatly increased from its previous life.
Ugh, one of the zombie's eyes has popped out of the socket, hanging on by the optic nerve. Like most office workers, the corpse's wearing a brown business suit, though tears and cuts litter the suit and flesh. All in all, classic movie zombie.
I pulled up the Inventory screen and tapped the ax icon, letting it materialize in my hand with a pretty light show.
"Alright, bitch. You want a piece of this? Come get some!"
…My combat taunts need work.
Eh, what's… holy shit, there's more. Well, my combat plan is scrapped. Damn my tendency of shouting before combat.
Alright, new plan. I need an alley to funnel them down so I can only be attacked by one at a time. Or a high surface so I can take them down at my leisure. Ooh, both are near me. I think I'll go with the high ground option. I mean, isn't that what all strategies say to do: take the high ground?
I started toward the wall whose edge was within jumping height and- FUCK!
I turned to notice a zombie had snuck up behind me and grabbed my shoulder. It was a woman, in her mid-twenties and wearing a sundress, with almost no signs of zombieism, aside from her gray skin and dead eyes.
Wow, that's a lot of detail to take in when I'm about to be bitten. Is this the power of adrenalin?
Wait, when the hell did I decide to get muched on by a fucking zombie?! I'm Han "Fuckmothering" Jee-Han! I dive in front of trucks and get turned into babies, for chrissake! I'm not going to let a pissant zombie nibble on me without a fight!
My left hand pulled back slightly, before rocketing forward with all of my 4 STR might. To be honest, I actually forgot to use [Power Strike]. Still, the… the zombie's head exploded!?
… The power of adrenalin?
Screw it, let's get to the top of that wall, first.
xxXXxxXXxxXXxx
Whew, that was close. Hah, can't sneak up on me now, can you!
Climbing up here was a bitch. Those points in strength will be much appreciated later. Eh?
A skill has been created through a special action.
When did I get this? … Is this the [Climbing] skill?
A skill to directly use mana, [Energy Bolt], has been created.
Fuck yes, magic skill!
Energy Bolt (ACTIVE)
LVL: 1
A skill that emits mana from the hand. Attack power increases with INT.
Range: 10m
Awesome, I got Magic Missile! Or at least this universe's equivalent.
Let's test it out, shall we? I think that foreign-looking zombie down there would be a good test dummy.
"[Energy Bolt]"
Ah, there's a health bar above the zombie's head now? Maybe my [Observe] LVL's good enough to get that, now? Useful, either way.
…Only 10%!? Gah, that's weak. I suppose it's a ranged attack, but still! Wait, what's the MP usage?
… 5 MP, eh? Not bad.
Wait, the zombie was knocked down, right? So maybe this isn't meant as a damage-dealing skill so much as an opening move for melee combat? Alright, just hop down and take these fuckers out, I guess.
That same zombie from before should do just fine.
"[Energy Bolt]."
Knockdown! Now, to finish him off in melee.
"[Power Strike]! [Power Strike]!"
Two love taps to the head and he is down! Onward to the next!
"[Energy Bolt]. [Power Strike]. [Power Strike]."
I should get some kind of theme music. This game has the worst soundtrack, yet the best SFX.
"[Energy Bolt]. [Power Strike]. [Power Strike]."
And another one bites the dust ~. Queen did that song, right?
"[Energy Bolt]. [Power Strike]. [Power Strike]. [Power Strike]."
Slipped up on that one; I missed the head on the last swing.
Ooh, portly businessman at five o'clock! Arming [Energy Bolt].
"[Energy Bolt]."
Engaging in close combat maneuvers.
"[Power Strike]. [Power Strike]."
You've gained one LVL.
Really? How much EXP do these things give, anyway?
You gained 350 EXP.
…Oh. Lost in a berserker rage, I ignored important information. Why didn't [A Gamer's Mind] snap me out of it!? I guess I can't rely on it for everything. I really have to reign in my bloodlust, wow saying that makes me feel melodramatic.
Anyway, back to the wall for point spending.
xxXXxxXXxxXXxx
Name: Han Jee-Han
Class: The Gamer
LVL: 3
XP: 40/3000
HP: 130/130
MP: 134/175
STR: 4
DEX: 7
VIT: 4
INT: 12
WIS: 8
LUK: 5
Points: 5
Money: 0W
Hmm, what to buy. INT, definitely, but STR or WIS? STR would increase my melee damage, but WIS would probably increase my… something. Common sense?
Wait, would that make me less, I don't know, stupid in combat?
Yep, 3/2 spread of INT and WIS. [Magic Mastery], here I come!
Name: Han Jee-Han
Class: The Gamer
LVL: 3
XP: 40/3000
HP: 130/130
MP: 134/190
STR: 4
DEX: 7
VIT: 4
INT: 15
WIS: 10
LUK: 5
Points: 0
Money: 0W
What does WIS do, anyway? Something with magic, but… maybe if I tap it.
Wisdom
Governs sensibility, willpower, and how "down to earth" you are. Increases MP Regen.
Really? Wasn't it a flat 1 per minute when I checked it earlier?
MP
The source of mystic, demonic, and angelic power. Allows the user to perform supernatural feats.
Capacity: 190
Regen: 2 per minute
WHAT! When did that happen?!
My WIS is now 10. Maybe the Regen increases with increments of 10? That… that makes no sense, why no decimals?
So I guess I can't neglect WIS if I want to be a mage. Wait, do I get 2 MP per minute or 1 MP every 30 seconds? There's a difference.
Just wait 30 seconds and check the Status screen, I suppose.
xxXXxxXXxxXXxx
So, my MP actually went up by 2. So I guess it's per minute, unless I finds accessories that decrease the Regen time.
Joy.
Hey, where are the zombies? Dammit, I was going to farm those!
Hey, MiB, good to see you again! What's that red orb thing? Why are you raising your other hand!
PAIN!
xxXXxxXXxxXXxx
… So these zombie areas are just like that place I previously saw the MiB. And, apparently, you can destroy those barriers with a gesture.
After throwing a territorial cat off my face and onto the street below, I continued toward home. Toward mom, worrying about me. Toward punishment for being late.
I wept.
xxXXxxXXxxXXxx
Please review with any compliments, concerns, or hate, so long as it's processed into civil criticism. Raw haet will be ruthlessly mocked by yours truly.
I have, however, been convinced to include a summary of Jee-Han's stats at the end of each chapter. I'm not including skills, as that would eventually take up too much room.
Name: Han Jee-Han
Class: The Gamer
LVL: 3
XP: 40/3000
HP: 130/130
MP: 134/190
STR: 4
DEX: 7
VIT: 4
INT: 15
WIS: 10
LUK: 5
Points: 0
Money: 0W