Striding around the forest, Kazuma was still thinking about magic. After all, it was a factor that everyone was obsessed with.
No matter what sort of terms the things Kazuma has read used, they all used the same reference. Magic.
But seeing is different from actually doing it. He gets it from references that some methods use luck, like the sudden awakening of circuits or mana core, something like that. Some used skills and techniques so that they could 'open' the locked potential of what a human body could possess.
The problem is, Kazuma got no clue whether it was the former or the latter when it comes to this world. Well, he did notice the requirement of having B-rank talent to unlock mana. From that, some conclusions could be made.
Kazuma noticed that all of his stats are F-ranked. So he could assume that it was the average stats of a normal human being. Hence, he was but a casual human from the peaceful modern era. But from that, it could be concluded that he was significantly weaker than the locals here.
For that monsters and mana exist. But that begs the question, how significantly stronger they were?
Kazuma pondered for a while before looking over a log of trees at the side. His current strength is F Plus, so, how much force could it exert?
To figure that out, he charged his arm towards the log.
Bam!
Common sense would expect that the fist would be bruised, hell, maybe even break, but Kazuma feels a sense of shock.
The log was slightly crushed, leaving behind a small hole, while his hand only received some dark marks resulting from the crumbles of the log.
"Just a half-rank increasement is capable of this?"
It had to be known that wood is significantly stronger than bones. And that's not even counting that bones were significantly thinner than wood. So for his fist to be capable of damaging wood mean that it was capable of breaking bones.
Average humans in no way could crush bones with a fist alone.
Amazing.
Kazuma nodded to himself. Gaining such strength while being a normal human is very mystifying. He began to wonder what sort of things he would be capable of if his strength reach rank-A.
Probably reached the level of levelling down a mountain. Probably.
He wears out the superfluous thoughts. Rather than that, isn't testing his other stats more interesting?
Speed and Vitality. To test that out, he could do so easily with some running.
His knees buckled and he began to run. The sudden wind resistance is truly an eye-opening for him how ridiculously significant that increasement was.
At his current speed, Kazuma could bet that he could outrun the fastest runner alive back in the modern era.
'It's just a half-rank increasement...!'
Kazuma refused to underestimate a half-upgrade from now on.
After running through the forest and getting used to it, bruising himself by running into bushes and branches multiple times in the process, he finally felt that his energy is wearing out. To run at that pace for that long...
Kazuma released a sigh. This world and this system are more amazing than he thought. If F Plus stats are capable of that... Kazuma admits, he cannot imagine what this world had to offer.
Now, it could be imagined how utterly rare it was for one to have mana, as the requirement is having B-rank talent.
After catching his breath, he began to look around and felt a pleasant surprise.
"Ah, I finally found a pavement."
Usually, a pavement is navigation for travellers and adventurers to reach their destination. So from this, Kazuma could expect to reach some towns as long as he followed the pavement.
If not, well, at least he could meet some people.
So far, the journey has been good. There are no monsters or obstacles. Supposedly, he was to be at ease, but peace isn't always a good sign.
Kazuma narrowed his eyes, getting ready for anything in the way as he walked forward. Expecting the worst is always a good principle to live by. Increases your chance in life by severalfold.
His hand gripped the handle tightly.
There's a sudden shiver that passed by. Cold-sweated, Kazuma swung his sword around, and when he felt it hit something from right behind, he knew.
This, is his first encounter with a monster.
The sword managed to graze the monster a little bit, with the eye-catching blood that flows out of its dark fur. A feline type of creature, with sharp claws protruding from its paws and yellow slits as eyes, glinting with ferociousness.
Kazuma, with his sweated hand, readied himself.
He wanted to initiate an attack or formulate a plan, but this is truly the first time he was assaulted by a genuine monster. The nervousness of his life being threatened couldn't be imagined.
In this kind of time, Kazuma could only move instinctively.
When the feline jumped on him, he shakily swung his sword to fend off the attack. But the feline possessed two paws, while he only had one sword. He succeeded in wounding one of the paws, but the other one graze his chest.
"Fuck!"
As the feline retreated, groaning in pain, Kazuma felt a sense of rage when he suffered the pain in his chest. He did nothing to it yet it fucking grazed him on the chest?! He may fear it, yes, but that doesn't mean he would just take some blows!
Overwhelmed by rage that overshadowed the fear, Kazuma ragingly gasped for air before rushing towards the feline, not showing an ounce of mercy as he swung his sword. So what if it was a monster? In the end, it looks like a cat.
In reality, it looks more like a tiger. But Kazuma cannot care about such a thing.
"You fucker!"
The feline succeeded in dodging Kazuma's rage-filled swung, but in its mid-action, the pair of raging green eyes shifted to it, and then a sword mercilessly swung in its direction.
A feline may be known for its agile moves, but in the end, it cannot compare to a human's intelligence. The only thing that exists within its moves is instincts.
However, it did manage to escape death by shifting its head to the side, but its shoulder was sacrificed as it was sliced down by the razor of the sword. Blood spluttered out, bathing the feline and Kazuma's sword in blood.
At this point, the feline only wanted to run. But every action has consequences, and a raging Kazuma is what it had to face. With one of its limbs useless by its critically wounded shoulder, the feline could only hope that a miracle could occur.
Unfortunately, its fate has been sealed.
"Die! fucking shit!"
Finally, a rage-filled swing of the sword executed the feline, ending its short life. The sword cuts down the feline's head in half, revealing the things inside. And Kazuma, whose rage has been satisfied, has the urge to puke.
The smell and the sight are the main initiators. It was truly a repulsive experience for a modern-era human like him. With how inexperienced he was, how could he stomach it?
Besides the corpse, Kazuma kneeled and puked.
He cannot handle it.
«First monster has been defeated!»
«Congratulation on the achievement!»
«Reward of Achievement › An Upgrade Point, 100 Class Points»
«Option Unlocked › [ Class ]»
Several notifications appeared on his face, but he was still experiencing his first time. Blood. Lots of blood. Monster's blood always smells sickening, and for Kazuma who rarely saw even human blood, the experience was intensified.
To experience the worst the first time, Kazuma is quite unlucky, at least for the current moment.
He shifted his gaze and saw the littering organs, resulting from the huge blow he performed at the monster.
Such a graphic scene.
Kazuma puked, again.
After several minutes, he finally managed to stand up, albeit shakily, while locking his gaze on the organs. It's extremely repulsive, but in this monster-infested world, this is but the tip of the iceberg. He knew he must get used to it.
If not.
How could he ever see her face again? How could he even be worthy of her?
With a pale complexion and blood dripping down his chest from the wound, he escaped from the scene. With sword gripped by him dripping with blood.
A resolve is unconsciously emitted by his green eyes.
«[ Swordsman Class ] could be upgraded, do you want to elevate it with 100 Class Points?»
The incident prior flashed through his mind. Kazuma wondered, what would happen if he actually met a stronger monster? Wouldn't he die while having leftover points that he could actually use to strengthen himself?
In the first place, why would he save up these points? For the future?
If his current self would suffer and possibly die, what kind of future there be to speak of?
That is no good.
Leaning on the tree at the side of the pavement, Kazuma unhesitatingly pressed his finger against the screen.
«Congratulation! Your [ Swordsman Class ] has been upgraded to [ Swordmaster Class ]!»
«You received [ Sword Strike Lv 1 ], [ Sword Wave Lv. 1 ], [ Sword Play ( Beginner ) ] has been upgraded to [ Sword Play ( Intermediate ) ], Your agility and charm increased by half a rank!»
[ Swordmaster Class ]
«A more advanced version of [ Swordsman Class ], it is the minimum requirement so one could register as an Adventurer. It is also a starting point for many heroic figures! The ones that left their visages remain irreplaceable in the hall of fame! Increase your strength, vitality and charm by half a rank. Increase your agility by a rank»
«Agility › F Plus» -› «Agility › E»
«Charm › F» -› «Charm › F Plus»
[ Sword Strike Lv. 1 ]
«A simple skill that many heroes learned at the start of their journey. Swung your sword at your enemy with a powerful intent!»
[ Sword Wave Lv. 1 ]
«With a powerful slash, the sword would release a devastating shockwave that would gradually dissipate until it disappears after it travelled over 5 meters»
[ Sword Play ( Intermediate ) ]
«A skill to master a sword. The Swordsman way is the sword!»
Noticing that his charm has increased, Kazuma raised an eyebrow. He wonders what kind of change did it initiate. Looking around, he noticed a puddle of water not too far from his location.
Curiously, he walked over and intriguingly check out his reflection.
"Oh wow..."
Auburn bangs hung over his forehead, with one of them blocking his green eyes. Sharp eyebrows and captivating green eyes, with his olive skin complemented his face. All were contained in a youthful facial structure.
Kazuma remembered that he was not looking as good as this. The original traits were there, yes, but it was as if all of them were enhanced, turning them more compatible with his other traits.
But some things got his excitement got over the chart. Yes, he received skills!
As soon as he noticed this, he hurriedly grasped his sword and tried to activate the skill. Suddenly, a sense of force formed within his chest, it travelled over his arm before reaching his hand. Then, the force was transmitted into the sword.
All occurred in less than a second.
Magically, there was a sense of knowing when he wanted to perform the skill.
Thus, he swung it.
His voice may not be there, but his green eyes are enough to know that there would be a destructive strike coming from his sword.
This is a sword skill that heroes learned when they were rookies.
'[ Sword Strike ]!'
The sword landed on the ground, and the force explosively crushed the ground, creating cracks over 2 meters radius from where he was. A sense of fulfilment and power, as he grasped the sword that caused it all.
He was almost arrogant. If not for his experience of competing with his genius classmates back in the modern era, he might let it take over. Hence they, who did not put in an ounce of effort could compete with a study maniac like him.
Those years taught him humbleness.
Putting them aside, he then swung his sword again, but in a different form. While prior it looked like he cuts with his sword, now, he horizontally swung it, creating a slashing motion.
'[ Sword Wave ]!'
The same process of force commenced again, but now, when the force was exerted by the sword, it moves through the air. The destructive swivelling sound came from the 2-meter wide wave of shockwave as it hits a log.
Even when the power has mitigated a bit by travelling a couple of meters, the result was, however, mind-boggling. It destroys the tree with ease! As if it was cutting through butter!
Kazuma hissed in awe. He cannot believe that this world he already held in high regard exceeded his expectation yet again. If a hole on a log created by a fist could break bones, then what's this capable of?
Crushing them into oblivion might not be an exaggeration.
A level 1 skill was capable of such a thing...
No matter how many times he felt amazement, Kazuma doubts it would come to end soon. And perhaps in the future.
An idea circulated within his mind ever since he witnessed his skill and power. His eyes gleamed.
"I wanted to try it out on monsters..."
The silhouette was still there, as if waiting for him. He, Satou Kazuma, cannot wait to reach the stage where he could stand with her side by side. Even if she was a Goddess-reincarnate.
Many people would ridicule him if they heard of it. But they never witness what he saw. The incomparable being that showed such a compassionate aura. He may be overestimating himself, but that's fine.
After all, feelings aside, she saved his life. So it's only right for him to return the favour.
This whole time, Kazuma actually couldn't understand why he, a green soul with a fear of violence, desired to fight so much since he arrived in this world. It was truly odd. Even now, when he already experience the gruesome death of the monster.
How utterly repulsive it was to witness it.
The game as his sole purpose of living prior is a commendable reason, but that's not enough. Kazuma knew that. It was illogical to think that for the love of games, he was willing to go through those pukings and killings.
But when he saw that silhouette, the doubts cleared themselves.
Kazuma seemed to understand.
Maybe it was fate. That when he was presented with no purpose in this new world but was granted this system, she appeared.
The most perfect existence he'd ever seen.
Raised by the shittiest of environments, treated by the vilest of treatment and surrounded by the greediest of people... For him, meeting her was like being rayed by a shining light full of warmth, as if it told him that what exists in this life isn't only suffering.
A hope that he could encounter such a beautiful aspect of life. A hope that wears out all falsehoods of life and brings his perspective to the best of what this life could offer.
Eris Godfrey did all of this alone for him.
When one was more beaten and worn down, the more impactful it would be when one was shown the light.
Perhaps- no, it must be fate. Must be a sign that he must fight for her.
A fire was lit. Such a feeling that he lost since ten.
Well then, if that is what fate wants. Then Kazuma has no objection.
With a laugh and a wide smile, he followed the pavement. He would gladly utilize this system to meet with her again!
-0-0-0-0-
Looking over to the side, Kazuma wanted to see if there would be monsters. It's been a quiet time since he travelled down the road. Well, at least almost completely. Down the road, he would encounter some beasts, like those felines, wolves and heck, he even encountered bears!
And no, they're not species of animals. They are species of monsters!
Even so, her silhouette would encourage him to raise his sword and filled his heart with the will to fight.
"So, that is what they meant by knowing what we're fighting for."
It was enlightening as he realized the feeling it could give him. The will to fight! To struggle! To raise his weapon and fight until his enemy was defeated! To reach the thing his very being has been fighting for!
He realized the importance of purpose. Without one, how could one know what they are doing? What's there to be excited for? To look forward to?
It's pointless to do it, hence purpose is a must. But the purpose isn't made by itself, but was formed by the aspiration of a person.
And for Kazuma...
It's that gorgeous silhouette.
Taking a relaxed breath, he lets it out as he looked over the azure screen before him.
«Talent › F» -› «Talent › C»
«Vitality › F Plus» -› «Vitality › D Plus»
[ Upgrade Points: 0 ]
[ Remaining Affectum Points: 300 ]
[ Remaining Class Points: 70 ]
He poured all of his [ Upgrade Points ] and a couple of hundred Affectum Points into vitality and talent. Because those two stats worked passively. Plus, both of these stats are what he needed the most.
According to his experience, talent would always be connected with comprehension rate. With skills in hand, Kazuma could bet that talent would significantly increase the rate of upgrading these skills. After all, he noticed that to raise the levels, he needed to master the skills.
Do remember that these skills were already so powerful at level 1!
And to do that, he needs to understand, or at least be adapted to cast it. What's more important than talent when it comes to these factors? Besides, it brought him closer to using mana!
As for Vitality, there's no need to explain. It directly filled his body with more stamina! Now with Rank-D Plus stamina combined with Rank-E agility, he could run at a pace that put the fastest runner alive back then in shame for hours.
Ridiculous, isn't it?
With these in his arsenal, he could easily kill monsters that were on his way. Well, except those bears. Those big furballs are too powerful. He was forced to do a couple of self-destruct attacks to kill them off. [ Sword Wave ] is ridiculously powerful when it hits the target at a point-blank distance, but he was affected too.
Thankfully, he came out with just some brutal wounds on his limbs and chest.
Well, it was better than dying.
Unfortunately with that, he was forced to spend 200 Affectum Points to buy a dozen of health potions from [ Exchange ]. But they were pretty handy. So he did not take it as a loss. Besides, killing monsters provide him with Class Points!
Talking about Class, Kazuma hadn't checked out the information yet. So he did just that with curiosity.
[ Class ]
«This option could be used to upgrade the host's acquired classes. Classes could be acquired from achievements or buying them from [ Exchange ]. Acquiring Class Points is to kill monsters, with the amount corresponding to the strength of monsters that the host killed»
[ Current Class(es) ]
»Swordmaster Class«
› Upgrade Cost: 1000 Class Points
[ Class Points: 70 ]
"This system gets better and better the more I utilize it."
[ Exchange ] and [ Upgrade ] are good enough, but then it gotta add [ Class ].
With this, Kazuma isn't wrong to harbour some confidence. But the sight of a literal dragon flashed in his mind, depleting his proud chest. The sudden appearance of a swarm of orcs depleted his chest even further.
Kazuma revealed a strange look.
"Huh, where did you guys come from?"
All he received is a wave of guttural grunts and roars. With no warning, their huge, explosive figures reacted and they charged at him.
However, now that they were getting closer, their figures are gradually getting clear.
His complexion changed.
"No wait, they aren't orcs! They are-!"
"Female orcs!"
A sudden voice ambushed him from behind, he looked over and blinked.
"What's-"
"Honeeyh~!! We got a nice prey this time!"
"Yahoo~!"
"Mine! He's mine~!"
As soon as words came out of the orc's mouth, Kazuma's complexion paled.
"Fuck! What sort of nonsense is this..?!"
"I don't have the time to explain! Stranger guy, follow me!"
The voice that ambushed him appeared beside him and put a hand on his shoulder, as to urge him to follow the figure. However, seeing the soft, fair skin on the hand makes Kazuma assume that this hooded figure was a girl.
'Huh, a pole...?'
The hooded figure was holding a huge pole in her hand, it was laced with a layer of clothing, making it indistinct.
With the same thing in mind, Kazuma nodded.
"Let's go!"
A flash of a huge, funky-looking hat strapped onto the girl's back greeted him before it was covered again by the hood.
"No~! Come back~!"
Determined, Kazuma makes a run for it.
He believed that these orcs are hundreds of times scarier than what he knows!
Current Status:
«Host»
[ Name: Satou Kazuma ]
[ Affectum Points: 300 ]
[ Bond: 1 ]
«Eris Godfrey [ Rank S ] ( Interest Lv. 3 )»
[ Status ]
› [ Physical Status ]
«Strength › F Plus»
«Agility › E»
«Vitality › D Plus»
«Charm › F Plus»
«Talent › C»
› [ Locked: Magic Status ]
› [ Upgrade Points: 0 ]
[ Class ] [ Newly Unlocked! ]
»Swordmaster Class«
› Upgrade Cost: 1000 Class Points
› [ Class Points: 70 ]
[ Skills ]
› [ Sword Strike Lv. 1 ]
› [ Sword Wave Lv. 1 ]
[ Exchange ]
Look, I give in. I shall acknowledge it.
Anyway, Imma on my way to writing the next chapter. Cya.
Editing is the hardest part, but all would be worth it when the result was out!