I was a fool to think that I could easily perform magic. The skill Lesser Magic Manifestation does allow me to create magic, but I failed to consider the fact that magic is extremely difficult to learn. I could spend my only SGP on getting a specific spell branch within a skill tree or I could spend it on something else, but the point remains that even after a few days, I still failed to create the most basic of spells.
Magic in this world is complex and it was said that mathematics is involved, however that is only partially true. Magic itself revolves around toying with fundamental laws and humans drew the short straw in terms of magical ability.
Any other race that has magic or Ki or whatever has a natural born gift for the arcane, but humans don't have that, which is why magically gifted humans form covens and groups. It allows a person to help someone else or get help with creating and testing out spells. Sadly, I am alone and since I'm no super genius or anything, I can't just automatically learn how to do any magic in the right way.
But, with that being said, I found a way for me to cheat with my power and have an easier time performing magic, but it's a risky skill that I am looking at in one of my skill trees.
The skill is called [Devour] and it allows me to absorb arcane or mundane objects in order to enhance and unlock new abilities for my sacred gear known as [True Requiem].
My logic is that this sacred gear can change its powers in accordance with the user, meaning that even if I create a Balance Breaker ability, it will be something different from previous users. My sacred gear doesn't give me messages or anything, but based on the lock skills that are almost endless, I'd say that these are skills and abilities that other hosts have used.
"If I unlock [Devour] I could basically do anything like the main hero in the rising shield anime, but that requires me to go out and hunt monsters, which isn't something I can't handle at the moment." I said to myself with a sigh as I rested on my bed.
"This skill is strong, but I'll have to get it another time." I said before I started looking over some of the other skills, I had available to me. "This could be useful." I said to myself before I purchased a more practical skill.
[Heart Engine] Purchased!
SGP: 0
The skill basically enhanced my stamina and enhanced my stamina recovery as well as making it easier for me to enhance my muscles and physical abilities.
"Now I've just got to start training more intensely." I said to myself before getting dressed in a sweatshirt and pants with sneakers on my feet, before I gather my phone, wallet and house keys into my inventory before I head outside and start jogging for a bit around the neighborhood.
I've been jogging for a while before I had to sit down and regain my breath. My stamina has certainly increased, and I can push myself harder than before, but I still have clear limits that I need to work on.
I sit on a wooden bench near a local park as I wipe some sweat off my brow and look around to see the various people going about their business and enjoying their day.
"What the hell?" I asked in a whisper as I saw some strange people walking into the park. They are all dressed in martial arts uniforms, and I saw a person in a kendo uniform walking with them, as if the person was the groups leader. "A martial art gathering or class event? It might be worth a peek."
I stayed a fair distance behind them, and I saw the group of ten start training for a bit and frankly it is awesome watching martial arts in real life instead of watching it in anime or an action movie. However, the sparring was short lived before something bizarre happened. The air suddenly felt heavier, and the sky turned dark.
"Everyone ready yourselves! The mist is coming!" The leader of the group said before a massive smoke covered the entire park, and I think it might have covered even more.
The fog actually had a sensation within it. The sensation of wrongness, disgust, twisted evil and I don't want to be within it. I quickly made my escape and tried heading out of the park, but as I moved the area around me had transformed before my eyes.
The park had morphed into a twisted and dark forest from a horror movie.
"This is freaky, and I don't like it." I said as I looked behind me and saw that the rest of the park had changed as well, however, in front of me on top of a large hill was what looked like a Victorian style mansion. "Hopefully this isn't Dracula's castle or some shit." I said before I walked up the hill and towards the mansion's main gate entrance.
To my surprise the gate opened, and I saw several large dogs, but they didn't attack me or even growl. They simply looked at me before laying back down on the ground.
"This is a welcome surprise." A voice said as a man left the front door of the mansion and came towards me in an elegant looking wheelchair. This man has light brown skin with grey hair on his head and a full beard to match. He looked fit yet also frail, and he is dressed in old timey clothes. Basically, a suit that would be much cheaper to make yourself by hand, instead of buying it from a store. Hell, his shoes were shining in the moonlight, and he had a red scarf around his neck.
This dude screams old fashioned royalty.
"Who are you and where am I?" I asked the man bluntly as he smiled.
"My name is Regenald, and I am an Alchemist now, but in the past, I was what is known as a Hunter. This my lad is Rodova's Fort. A haven for Hunters such as yourself. Many souls drift in and out of this plane you see, and it serves as a place where Hunters can rest, improve or buy new equipment, train with other Hunters and the list goes on." Regenald explains calmly.
"I don't think I'm a Hunter. I just wandered into this place."
"The fact that the gate allowed you entry is proof enough that you are a hunter my lad. No other beings can enter, not even the God's of this world of yours." Regenald said back to my shock.
"So, I'm in a different world?"
"Yes and no. But first you must go inside to hear this story. I have some hot tea and biscuits waiting." Regenald said before he turned around and went into the mansion.
"I guess I don't have anything else I can do." I said to myself before I entered the mansion and followed the man.
We stopped in a fancy room with a few bookshelves and other furniture. A woman in a black bodysuit brought us tea, teacups, a plate of biscuits, and some sugar cubes.
"Now, let us resume our conversation. Rodova's Fort exists between the realms of reality, and you wandered here from one of the many domains that threaten your world." Regenald explained before I took a sip of my tea after adding in some sugar.
The tea actually isn't too bad.
"What do you mean by domains?"
"Think of them as unholy prisons for evil and powerful beings. They multiply and fall apart when a new domain lord is created or killed. Hunters are tasked with eliminating domain lords."
"I see…That sounds like an intense job."
"It is; however, it is necessary. Domains contain beings that can affect the waking world, which is already full of monsters to begin with. Hunters are needed to prevent these domain lords from causing chaos to the waking world." Regenald spoke before taking a sip of his own tea and eating one of the biscuits. "Not only are the lords dangerous, but the domains also kidnap all manner of beings from the waking world."
"Is that how I got here?" I asked him before he set his cup down.
"That is likely. So, why don't you explain how you got here in your own words?" Regenald asked before I explained everything to him. "I see. The mist kidnapped you and several others. The others you saw must be within the domain that the mist summoned."
"Can't you send out a few hunters and save those people then?"
"Unfortunately, no. Hunters are in short supply across the waking world. Those that are already within Japan are either on their own missions, dead, or turned their backs on this responsibility."
"Damn it." I cursed with my fists balled up.
"So, why don't you go out and save those people?" Regenald asked.
"I can't. I don't have any weapons and my powers are extremely limited. I'd just be a hinderance."
"Don't sell yourself short lad. You were chosen to be a Hunter for a reason, besides as a hunter you are giving some gifts and liberties here. So, follow me and I'll show you something that might help you." Regenald said before he left the room, and I followed him once again.
After a short walk on my part, we entered a room that looked to be made for blacksmithing. A woman in revealing metallic armor is hammering away at a hot slab of metal that she pulled out of the furnace in this room.
"Greetings Regenald, who is the new hunter?" The woman asked as she glanced at me.
"My name is Samson."
"Samson here is in need of some weapons and some armor as well Fulsie." Regenald explained before Fulsie looked me over a bit more.
"You're a bit on the scrawny side, so heavy armor wouldn't do you any good, neither would any of my more powerful weapons and armors in stock. Then again since this is your first visit, I wouldn't give you those items anyway. So, I'd recommend some light armor along with an easy-to-use starting weapon, such as a basic short sword or broad sword." Fulsie explained before she started taking measurements of my body before she reached into a large treasure chest in the room and took out the appropriate armor along with a wooden buckler and a steel cutlass sword.
"Wow." I said in amazement at what I saw.
"These are soul bound weapons and armor. When you wear them, they will connect with your soul and will be able to be summoned via thought and mental effort. These will be the only free items you'll get from me, kid. Now, simply touch each item and you'll be able to equip them." Fulsie explained before I walked over and touched each item a bit.
When I did, I felt a strange pulling sensation within me and saw each item vanish from site, however I focused, and I was able to summon the armor and weapons.
The armor is tough leather in the form of a cuirass, gauntlets and leg guards. The wooden buckler was in my left hand and the cutlass is in my right hand, with a sheath appearing on the left side of my waist.
"Wow. Thanks." I told her honestly with a smile.
"Don't mention it. Just remember to come to me if you want to upgrade your gear or buy new items." Fulsie said before I followed Regenald out into the main lobby of this place, where a few other people gathered.
Regenald specifically led me towards a man in silver armor that made him look like a royal knight from a kingdom from the medieval age. His entire body is covered with armor and a matching helmet, he also has a large claymore blade planted in the ground next to him. He was leaning against the blade as if it was a piece of furniture.
This man is Leo. Regenald tasked him with teaching me how to fight, or at least how not to die immediately in the field…I tried telling him that I didn't have time since the people were in danger, but Regenald explained that time flowed differently within this place and in a domain.
I didn't want to argue with the man, so I accepted his answer with no protest. Leo gave me a hearty laugh and said that I had a lot of spirit, so he pulled his sword out of the ground with a single hand and rested the blade on his shoulder with his hand on the handle. We moved outside and towards the backyard.
I don't want to go into too much detail about the suffering I endured at the hands of the knight, but he was making sure that I wouldn't die out in the field.
Even if I felt like he was going to make sure that I'd die by his hands…It felt like hours had passed while I was being taught how to use my shield and buckler properly. However, the training paid off and I managed to learn two new skills.
[Lesser Sword Proficiency]
[Sturdy Block]
"Not bad kid. You've got the heart of a lion if you managed to endure my lessons." Leo said with a laugh as I was laid out on the ground with my sword and shield out of my hands.
The skills I acquired were weak and couldn't do much against a warrior like Leo.
"Thanks, but I feel like shit." I told him before he planted his sword into the ground and offered me a hand up, which I took. When I stood up, he placed a hand on my chest and his hand glowed a bright emerald light. I felt my wounds heal almost instantly along with my stamina.
"There, you're fully recovered. I'd say your at least decent enough to attempt to rescue your friends, but do not engage the lord of the domain under any circumstances." Leo warned in a serious voice.
"I understand, but how do I reach the domain? Or go home for that matter?"
"That is simple enough. Your soul has already bounded with this plane of existence, and you can leave or return at will, however, to reach the domain in question, you must return to your world and enter the domain properly. You should be able to see the entrance now that you are aware of it. The entrance will appear to be a doorway of mist." Leo explained calmly as I picked up my buckler and sword.
"Thank you, Leo, and tell Regenald I said thanks as well." I told him and he nodded before I focused on going back to the park where I was earlier, and sure enough I felt as if the world was shifting around me. Then when I opened my eyes, I found myself back in the real world, in the park and standing in front of a literal doorway of fog.
"I'm back, and in front of a fog wall…Damn. At least now I have a way I can try and get stronger."
Due to getting trained and learning two skills. You have earned 2 SGP!
"Useful." I said before I summoned my True Requiem and spent my two SGP points to earn two more skills.
[Devour] Purchased!
[Cresent Slash] Purchased!
"This new skill became available when I unlocked my lesser sword skill, so now I can harness my magic into my sword and send out a crescent shape blade at enemies." I said to myself before I walked through the fog wall and again the world shifts around me and I find myself inside of what looked to be a long hallway of a fancy mansion and sitting against the right wall was one of the martial artists.
"Hey, are you alright?" I asked as I kneeled towards him, and I saw blood on his uniform and in front of his stomach.
"Who…Are you?"
"I'm a guy who came here to try and help you guys." I told him as he chuckled.
"Why would you? Our boss sent us here to get stronger…But I think he just wants us dead."
"Your boss?"
"The leader of the 'Crazy Eighty-Eights' gang." The man said before he slumped down onto the ground. I knew he just died and couldn't answer my anymore, his pulse was gone.
"These guys are members of the Eighty-Eights gang?" I asked myself in confusion before I started moving down the hallway before I saw some figures walking towards me from the opened doorway at the end of the hall.
These figurers are a total of seven zombies, and these zombies were running towards me, so I readied my sword and shield before I focused and generated magic into my sword before I thrust it sideways and released a crescent shaped blade of blue energy at the zombies.
The skill had some range and it cut two of them in half. Luckily that killed them, instead of the classic case where zombies only die to headshots. Anyway, I have five left and I charged up the skill again while I had time and killed another two, before I had to raise my shield and maneuver around the monsters a bit.
It took some time, but I killed the zombies with my cutlass before I activated my True Requiem and prepared to feed it some materials. What I did was cut off fingers from each zombie and I fed them to the gem of my sacred gear and saw them get absorbed into it, before a brand-new skill tree became unlocked.
You have unlocked the [Necromancy] skill tree! You have gained 1 SGP!
"I'll save that for later." I said to myself before I left the hallway and found myself in a massive room that actually reminds me of a Castlevania level from the GBA games. So, I start looking around the place and fight a few more zombies before I made my way into one of the rooms of this area and see that it is a relatively safe room with a woman shaped statue in the center of it.
I also spot another two dead martial artists.
"Damn. They tried to hide in here." I said to myself a bit sadly before I left the room. Now instead of zombies appearing in front of me, I see new enemies heading towards me.
"This place is just full of undead zombies." I said to myself before I cut my way through a few more of them and found several more dead martial artists throughout this massive place before I stumble my way into what looks to be a dungeon.
The cells are empty except for one at the end of the dungeon room, and within it was the person who I assumed was the leader of the group, but kendo clothes are in tatters and her helmet is missing, showing me that she has black hair with green died tips, black eyes and an athletic frame.
"Taking on human form? You won't break me." The woman said before I spoke.
"If you think I'm one of those monsters, you're wrong. I came here to try and help you guys out of this place, but it seems like you're the only survivor." I told her as she scoffed.
"If you made it this far, that means you haven't triggered the actual enemies in this place. We were fools to think that this place would be weak."
"One of your guys told me that you came to this place for some kind of training." I told her as she looked at me.
"That's right. But, after clearing out several zombies without breaking a sweat, the real dangers of this domain made themselves known." The woman said before I took a step back.
"Back away from the cell for a moment. I'll break you out." I told her as she looked at me for a moment before stepping back as I charged up my blade with magic and sent a magical slash at the lock, which broke it and allowed the dungeon gate to swing open.
"Thanks, but if you came here, I'm surprised you didn't leave me to die and take some of the treasures of this place for yourself." The woman said as she stepped out of her cell.
"If this place has treasures, it might be worth a look, but not right now. I just came here to save you and your friends."
"That means you're a decent Hunter, I guess. My name is Li Xiao by the way."
"Your Chinese?" I asked before we carefully started walking out of the dungeon area.
"Yeah, and your American, so what?"
"I didn't mean to imply anything; I don't care about your background info. But I do want to know why the Eighty-Eights are interested in domains. And how do you even know about them?" I asked her before we both heard what sounds like a haunting groan of a nightmarish beast.
"The real guards are coming." Li said with fear in her voice after we had escaped the dungeon room, and appearing out of puddles of black ooze on the ground are humanoid figures that have enough muscles to rip their own skin apart, they are clad in various armors and wielding various weapons.
"What are those things?" I asked her as we went unnoticed for a moment.
"They are Ogres. They are dangerous." Li said before we started moving back towards the entrance where I came from, but one of the Ogres noticed me and rushed towards me with heavy foot stomps.
"I don't have much mana left in me, but I managed one last mana blade, but it only cut his chest instead of doing more damage. I dodged out of the way of his large butcher's blade, which he stabbed deep into the ground. My buckler wouldn't have protected me at all. So, I take the moment to use my sword and slash at the Ogres hand wrist to hopefully disarm it, but the monsters skin felt like it was made from concrete or something.
The blade barely cut him before he smacked me away with his free hand and freed his weapon as he once again charged at me. I quickly got up and ducked under his slash and attacked him with my own. My blade can cut him, but it seems that his body is extremely tough with the level of strength that I have.
"You're a serious problem. I can see why the martial artists struggled against you." I said with a heavy breath as I spent this entire fight simply dodging him and counter attacking.
He never changed his strategy which means he isn't too smart, but if anything, that just makes this match a stalemate, until Li finally joins the fight and hit the Ogres head from behind with some kind of magical blast of her own, which luckily took off the bastard's head, causing him to fall dead onto the ground.
"Are you alright?" Li asked as she walked up to me and helped me up.
"Yeah, I'm good. Thanks, by the way." I told her honestly, and when I touched the monster's butcher blade, it magically shrunk to a small size. Now in my hand it was comparable to a long sword instead of a massive body destroying blade that the monster was using. "Here."
"You're giving it to me?" Li asked with confusion. "Who's to say I won't kill you with it?"
"If you wanted me dead, you wouldn't have helped me, besides it looks like that magic blast drained you, so you'll need something to protect yourself."
"It was Ki actually, and thanks I guess." Li said as she held the weapon with both hands before we carefully sneaked our way past the Ogres and made our way back to where I originally entered the dungeon, where we saw the fog wall still up. "Sora." Li said as she kneeled next to the man I had spoken with.
"Was he a friend?"
"Yeah…His death will be avenged." Li said with anger in her voice before the two of us left the domain and returned to the park.
"Take time to rest and let me worry about the domain. I'll figure out a way to take down the domain lord and avenge the death he caused, but I still need to know the real reason why a gang wanted to enter this place."
"Our boss is the current leader of our gang, but it wasn't always like that. He killed our old boss and took his place. He is ordering us to train to the point that we collapse, and this was supposed to be a test of our strength and will. The fact that only I survived will likely embolden him to continue this rough treatment as if it was a success." Li said in a sad tone of voice.
"Why don't you speak against it?"
"If I tried, I would have to challenge him for the right to rule the Eighty-Eights and that is a fight I won't be able to win. You have my thanks for rescuing me, but I need to leave." Li said before she took off and left me alone as I stored away my equipment and weapon to reveal my normal clothes.
"My world just got a whole lot bigger it seems. Maybe asking for a bit of help won't be a bad thing, because there is no way I can take this place down on my own." I said to myself before I started walking away and headed towards my home.
This day has been too long for me, and I want a nap.
END
A/N: Okay this chapter is done and it might look like I'm using elements of Bloodborne, but in reality I am using elements from Dungeon and Dragons 'Ravenloft' book along with some other sources of mystical information to inspire me.
Anyway, feel free to fav, follow and review because it helps.