Heyo, sorry this chapter has been delayed a bit past what I wanted! The interest and support for this fic has been crazy, and I'm really excited to see how this goes! Now this is my first Gamer fic, and as such, I'm playing this by ear and from what I've read. Please don't be shy in pointing out anything I could adjust or streamline to make things more understandable!
Four days.
Four days since I started at Kuoh Academy.
In those four days, I have learned three undeniable facts.
First, avoid the second floor east wing as much as possible before and after school. With how many clubs the school had, it made sense for a few of them to be a bit…much, especially considering the ratio of girls to boys. The photography club and Manga Appreciation club…I felt shivers run up my spine just from thinking about them.
Second, the rumor mill at Kuoh academy skipped past the obvious and went straight to utterly ridiculous. It wasn't just me thankfully. There were plenty of other people that were the object of flying rumors, and almost everyone had a given name that seemed to have been collectively agreed upon by the other students. The Silent Shadow was at least better than the Perverted Trio or the Prince of Kuoh.
And third, Rias Gremory just didn't make sense.
She was gorgeous, even I would admit that. Perfectly smooth pale skin, brilliant blue eyes, and hair that looked a moment away from bursting into flames, she was a burst of color amongst a sea of brown and black.
She was graceful too. Not in the same way as Shitori-kaicho, who walked as though her student council armband was a crown, but like a dancer who didn't need an audience to perfect her step. She drew eyes from the moment she entered the room, mine included. It was instinctive, unassuming, and all too natural.
But more than her looks, she was, above all else, kind. That first day, when the whispers started about me, she was the one who stood up and shut them down. I hadn't expected anyone to care; it's not like any of them knew me. But she did. She stood up and berated them for talking about me, as if I was some science project for their whispers to dissect.
And then she smiled at me. And, for a moment, I wasn't alone.
The slight crooked curve of her lips, the light in her eyes, the faint dimple on her left cheek. It wasn't some idol smile, something trained and crafted with the utmost care. It was fleeting, genuine, warm. It didn't demand attention, but it was impossible to ignore. For that one moment, when all I could see was her, I felt lighter than I ever had before. And I could think only one thing.
Beautiful.
I would have been satisfied with that.
But, over the past few days, Rias Gremory was there. She was the flicker of crimson in the corner of my eye, the welcoming smile I got as I stepped into the classroom, the melodious "Have a good day" right after the last bell. I found myself actually looking forward to it, to seeing her, to hearing her voice…and I hated it.
I didn't deserve her kindness. I didn't deserve the smiles she gave me, as if she was trying to draw me out of the shadows I had willingly confined myself to. That warmth in her eyes, the kind of warmth that made you feel seen—really seen—was the last thing I should have been able to claim. I was nothing more than a broken shell, a light breeze away from shattering once more. She was light, bright, everything I wasn't and could never be. She shone in every room she walked into, perfect and poised.
Meanwhile, I was the scarred, voiceless mess sitting in the back corner, trying to pretend the world didn't notice me. Trying to convince myself that I preferred it that way.
I couldn't stop the sick feeling from bubbling up every time she approached me. Every time she offered some small, kind gesture, I found myself shrinking further into my own head, replaying the countless ways I had failed, how I had let myself end up like this. The scars on my hand were nothing compared to the ones etched inside of me, the ones that whispered in the back of my mind that I wasn't worth anyone's time, least of all hers.
What does she want from me?
That thought haunted me. What could Rias Gremory possibly gain from talking to me? Was it pity? Some sense of obligation? Did she see me as a project, something broken she could fix to feel better about herself? The idea made me sick, but it also made sense. People like her didn't interact with people like me out of genuine care. Not in the real world.
But when I looked at her, when she smiled that soft, genuine smile... it didn't feel like pity. It didn't feel forced or insincere. It felt real, and that terrified me more than anything else. Because if it was real—if she truly cared, for whatever reason—what did that mean for me? People like that didn't exist. People who reached out without asking for something in return, who saw through the mess of scars and silence and still chose to be kind. They just couldn't exist.
And that made me angry, in a way. Angry at her, for making me feel things I didn't want to feel. Angry at myself for wanting it. For wanting her attention, her warmth. For wanting to believe that maybe I wasn't permanently broken like I had thought.
But the anger was always drowned by something darker. Guilt. Shame.
How could I accept her kindness when I couldn't even face myself? When every glance in the mirror reminded me of the things I had lost, the people I had failed? My younger sister's face flashed in my mind, and the familiar weight of regret sank deeper into my chest. How could I stand there and let someone like Rias Gremory look at me like I mattered when I had let the people who truly did slip through my fingers?
She didn't know. She couldn't know.
I leaned back in my chair, staring up at the ceiling as the quiet buzz of the classroom carried on around me. Rias was at the front, talking to a few students, her laugh, polite as it was, drawing everyone in like it always did. And I—I—was just sitting here, caught in the crossfire of my own wretched thoughts.
Beautiful, graceful, warm... and wasted on me.
I clenched my fist, feeling my scars stretch, protesting the sudden motion. Maybe, one day, she'd realize that too. Maybe, one day, she'd stop looking at me with that soft, inviting smile and see the truth—see the hollow person I really was.
"Goodbye Ono-san, have a great rest of your day." Rias called out to me from the door, a flutter of her fingers accompanying her grin. My lips moved on their own, pulling into a pitiful version of a smile as I nodded her way. Her grin widened by another tooth or two before she vanished in a swirl of crimson hair.
Damn it, I did it again.
DING
I had just finished off the last bite of my dinner when a floating window opened itself in front of me, nearly sending me out of my chair.
[Daily Quest] Rest and Recovery
Physical wounds may have been stitched together, but the damage runs deeper than that. Pushing yourself too hard too soon will only hinder your recovery. Now is the time to focus on regaining your strength, both physically and mentally. Rest, nourish your body, and allow the healing process to continue. Survival wasn't the end—it's just the beginning of rebuilding.
Objective 1: Sleep for at least 7 hours (7.8/7)
Objective 2: Eat nutritional meals (3/3)
Objective 3: Perform 30 minutes of stretching (30/30)
Earned Reward: -1% HP reduced by [Critical Condition]
[Critical Condition] debuff has reached 0. [Critical Condition] removed.
Criteria Met!
Upload Commencing…5%...12%...37%...83%...100%
Upload Complete
[Welcome To The Game]
I heard as much as read the last line, a prickling sense of unease running up and down my spine. This…this sounded familiar. Like I had heard or read these words somewhere before. But where…
DING
Another beep startled me out of my introspection.
[Proceeding with System Introduction.]
Before I could even react, more text appeared, unfolding in front of me as if the System had anticipated my confusion.
Welcome, Player.
You are now subject to the parameters of the Game. Your existence has been integrated into a controlled environment designed to enhance and quantify your abilities. This system operates under the principles of optimization and survival.
You are expected to perform or die.
You will be monitored. Every action, decision, and hesitation will be recorded and evaluated. The path forward will be difficult, but progression is non-negotiable. Your failures will define your limitations. Your successes will determine your worth.
Adapt. Evolve. Survive.
Rewards will be given to those who meet expectations. Penalties will be administered to those who do not. This system is absolute. Your existence, from this point forward, is quantified.
There is no escape.
You have been chosen.
Proceed with caution.
Oh, and mind your fall.
As soon as the final line faded from view, the world around me warped. I blinked, and the familiar, dimly lit interior of my apartment dissolved into nothingness, replaced by a jarring, stomach-churning lurch.
It felt like being pulled through a vacuum, my breath caught in my throat as reality bent around me. When I opened my eyes again, I wasn't home.
Where am I?
The air was heavy, dank, and cold. The scent of damp stone and musty rot assaulted my senses, and the distant sound of dripping water echoed off the walls. The ground beneath my feet was slightly uneven, the floor made of rough stone that stretched out into a dark, sprawling cavern. The faint flicker of torches cast ominous shadows against the walls, and for a moment, I stood frozen, my mind trying to process what had just happened.
It was a dungeon. Like, an actual, classic JRPG dungeon.
Crumbling stone walls, iron gates that lined the corridors, and a low ceiling that made the entire place feel suffocating. This wasn't some immersive VR game—this was real. I could feel the cold biting at my skin, hear the faint scrapes and distant shuffling of something moving within the labyrinthine depths.
What the hell just happened?
DING.
The sound was sharp, cutting through the oppressive silence. My heart lurched as a glowing notification popped up in front of me.
[Quest: Learn the Game]
Objective 1: Open the [Menu]
Objective 2: Open the [Stat] tab and allocate points
Objective 3: Locate a weapon
Time Limit: 10:00
Reward: [Gamer Body], [Gamer Mind], Observe Skill
Failure: Death
10:00
9:59
9:58
…
Oh look, a countdown. And to my death too. Could this get any more cliche? Rolling my eyes, I try to press on [Menu, but my finger just passes through the window. Seems I can't touch it, so instead I focus, doing a mental push and envisioning the click of a mouse.
[Stat]
[Skills]
[Magic (Locked)]
[Perks]
[Achievements]
[Quests]
[Inventory]
[Shop (Locked)]
DING!
[Objective 1 Completed: Open the [Menu]
"Thrilling," I muttered to myself, half-expecting the Game to respond with another annoyingly chirpy notification. But no, just the soft echo of that damn countdown.
9:32…
Time to check out just how pathetic I was in numbers.
I sighed, focusing on the [Stat] tab. The window shifted.
Name: Ono Kuo
Title: The Gamer
Level: 1 (0/100)
HP: 10
MP: Locked
STR: 1
CON: 1
DEX: 1
AGI: 1
MAG: 1
LUK: 3
Stat Points: 10
HP: This stat measures your life force. If it hits zero, you die, unless prevented by an item or an ability. Keep careful track of your HP.
MP: Magic Points, a representation of your current pool of magical energy. Since you are a typical human, you start off with nothing but can gain access to Magic through a variety of ways.
Strength (STR): This stat measures your physical power. Every point in Strength improves your ability to deal damage with melee attacks, lift heavier objects, and endure physically demanding tasks. At a Strength of 1, you're as weak as they come—barely able to throw a decent punch, let alone swing a weapon with any real force.
Constitution (CON): Constitution governs your physical resilience and endurance. It directly affects your maximum HP and how much punishment your body can take before you collapse. A low Constitution means you're fragile, prone to injury, and tire easily. At 1, you're barely above paper-thin, every hit could knock you out cold.
Dexterity (DEX): Dexterity is your control over fine motor skills, precision, and hand-eye coordination. It impacts how well you handle ranged weapons, your accuracy, and your ability to perform delicate or precise tasks. With a Dexterity of 1, you'd struggle to even throw a ball in a straight line, let alone handle more complex maneuvers.
Agility (AGI): Agility determines your speed, reflexes, and ability to dodge attacks. The higher your Agility, the quicker you can move and react to threats. With an Agility of 1, you're sluggish, slow on your feet, and easy to hit. Quick escapes or nimble dodges aren't happening at this level.
Magic (MAG): Magic represents your ability to wield and control supernatural forces. It governs your magical potential, power, and effectiveness when casting spells. With Magic locked at 1, any magical aptitude you might have is currently sealed away, leaving you utterly powerless when it comes to tapping into anything beyond the physical realm.
Luck (LUK): Luck influences chance-based outcomes, improving your odds in everything from critical hits in combat to finding rare items or getting favorable outcomes in uncertain situations. With a Luck of 3, fortune is pretty neutral to you. You have some good and some bad, you're just average.
Stat Points are able to be allocated to any stat you choose and are the primary method of the Player growing in power. You can earn points from leveling up, completing quests, and using specific items. You begin with 10 unallocated points, please distribute them now.
What a pain. At least it was kinda simple. I hadn't been much of a gamer–still wasn't–so damage percentages and shit would have been a nightmare. Let's see…Well it seems kinda a waste to pump stuff into magic if I didn't have MP unlocked, so I was down to five stats.
Constitution seemed important, especially considering that it was directly tied with my life, so maybe 2 points into that. Agility also seemed important, better to dodge something than get hit, so another 2 points.
That left 6 points. Though, my Luck stat was already higher than my other ones.
[Being selected by the Game is an incredibly lucky event! By having [The Gamer] title equipped, your Luck stat receives a 2 bonus.]
Well okay then. After looking at the remaining points and stats, I decided to split them into Strength and Dexterity.
Name: Ono Kuo
Title: The Gamer
Level: 1 (0/100)
HP:20
MP: Locked
STR: 4
CON: 3
DEX: 4
AGI: 3
MAG: 1
LUK: 3
Stat Points: 0
[Are you sure this is your final decision for your starting Stats? YES/NO ]
I select Yes, and the screen blips away.
DING!
[Objective 2 Completed: Open the [Stat] tab and allocate Stat Points]
6:19
6:18
6:17
…
I still have to complete the last objective, find a weapon.
I scanned the dim, dungeon-like room, trying to ignore the dwindling countdown.
6:16…
"Find a weapon", the Game had said. Simple enough, right? My eyes darted around, but the room was still barren, scattered stones and moss-covered walls from wall to wall.
Then, I heard it—a low, guttural growl from deep within the shadows ahead. Something was in here with me.
Of course.
Before I could even process what I was hearing, something lumbered forward from the darkness. The torchlight barely caught its outline, but it was enough to make out a hunched, twisted figure about the size of a small child. Its skin was gray and leathery, its eyes glowing faintly, and it dragged long, lanky arms behind it as it crawled toward me, the sound of its claws scraping against the stone floor.
No weapon. No plan. Great.
DING!
[Quest: Learn The Game] Objective 3 modified.
New Objective: Find a weapon…and defeat the enemy before you.
The notification vanished just as the creature lunged, its body contorting unnaturally as it leapt straight toward me. I didn't have time to think—I turned and ran. My heart pounded in my chest as my feet slapped against the stone floor, the sound of the monster's heavy breathing and clawed limbs pounding behind me. Every instinct screamed at me to keep moving.
5:47…
I could hear its snarling breath closer, feel the rush of air as it swiped at me. A claw grazed my shoulder, sharp enough to send a shock of pain through my body. I stumbled, catching myself before I fell face-first onto the cold stone. My heart raced, my mind spinning.
-4 HP
HP: 16/20
I felt the sting where its claws had grazed me, but pushed through the pain and kept running, my breaths coming in ragged gasps.
I darted down the narrow corridor, hoping I would find a fork or side path to dash down. Unfortunately, the dungeon seemed built in a linear fashion, all a series of connected rooms, each with only one other exit. The torch light flickered erratically, casting long shadows that seemed to twist and stretch as I sprinted. But the creature was relentless, its guttural growls echoing off the walls as it closed the gap again.
Another swipe—this time, its claws caught my back, just enough to tear through my shirt and leave a burning line of pain across my skin.
-4HP
HP: 12/20
I lashed out, turning and soccer kicking the thing right in the head. A twinge of pain lanced up my leg, but the thing was much lighter than I thought. It tumbled head over tail backwards, screeching angrily.
I ran again, my foot throbbing, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. A pain in my side flared with each breath, but the countdown was ticking down, and I wasn't about to let some monster tear me apart in a dungeon like this. My mind raced as I desperately searched for something, anything I could use to fight back.
Then I saw it—a glint of metal, half-buried beneath rubble. A sword, rusty and chipped, but a weapon nonetheless. I scrambled toward it, ignoring the skittering scrapes behind me, and yanked the sword from the debris.
The weight of the blade almost made me stumble, but I gripped it with two hands and held it out in my best imitation of the kendo stance. My heart was pounding in my ears, my breathing rough and ragged, and blood slowly trickled down my back and arm, making my scars twinge. But this was nothing like then. I had a weapon. I had some stupid gaming power behind me. I wasn't pinned to the wall, I wasn't helpless, and there was no one else to get hurt aside from me.
"Come on then!" I found myself yelling, the loudest I had been since the hospital. "Fight me!"
The skittering had stopped. I tried to keep the sword up and steady, but it wobbled, and that's when the creature struck. It shot through the darkness, a terrible screech on its lips, my blood still staining its jagged claws.
I barely managed to get the sword up in time, the rusted blade catching its claws mid-swipe with a metallic clang. The impact sent a painful jolt up my arms, nearly making me drop the sword, but I held on if barely.
For a brief second, we were locked in place, the creature's glowing eyes locked on mine, its rancid breath hot against my face. Its claws scraped against the blade, a high-pitched screech as it tried to overpower me. My muscles screamed in protest, the weight of the sword too much for my weakened body.
Too slow. Too weak.
It broke the stalemate first, pulling back for another strike. I swung clumsily, aiming for its side, but the creature was faster. My rusty sword barely kissed its leathery hide, the jagged edge leaving a shallow cut, but it wasn't enough.
I had overreached, and it retaliated with a vicious swipe, claws raking across my chest. Pain exploded through me as I stumbled backward, wildly swinging the sword to ward off any further attacks. Blood seeped through my shirt, soaking into the fabric. My vision blurred momentarily, but I forced myself to focus. I couldn't afford to go down now.
-9 HP
HP: 3/20
One more hit and I'm dead.
The creature circled me, waiting for another opening. Its movements were jerky, animalistic, yet there was a cruel intelligence in its glowing eyes. It was toying with me like a cat does a mouse, waiting until it could finish me in one go.
I staggered to the side, barely avoiding another swipe. The rusty sword felt like a lead weight in my hands. It was too heavy, too slow. My breaths came in harsh gasps as the creature lunged again, its claws aimed at my throat. Desperation took over. I swung wildly, more out of panic than skill, and the blade connected with a sickening thunk.
The jagged edge of the sword bit deep into the creature's side, rusted metal ripping through flesh. It let out a shriek of pain, falling back, but I didn't let up. I knew I couldn't. I gripped the hilt tighter, my knuckles white and pulled the near broken sword back. Pieces snapped off inside the creature's side, but there was still an edge, if barely.
I raised my blade and screamed. It was a cruel sense of irony that, while I had lost my voice, the same sound I had made back then could still claw its way up my throat. I continued screaming, even as I smote the creature with my sword. The blade hit with a crunch, sinking into the creature's skull before snapping off close to the hilt. The creature let out one last, gurgling screech before laying still on the ground. I stood there, panting, covered in sweat and blood, the rusty sword still embedded in its skull.
The dungeon fell silent, save for the fading echo of my scream.
I won.
You had defeated an [Imp]! You receive 50 XP! Would you like to loot its body? [Yes/No]
Loot its body? This really was like some shitty RPG. Oh well, might as well see what I get.
Loot Received
1x Stoney Fang
1x Stoney Hide
I shrugged and swiped away the notification only to be met with a much longer one.
[Quest: Learn The Game] - Complete
Objective 1: Open the [Menu] (X)
Objective 2: Open the [Stat] tab and allocate points (X)
Objective 3: Locate a weapon…and defeat the enemy before you (X)
Time Remaining: 2:14
Reward: [Gamer's Body], [Gamer's Mind], Observe Skill
Skill: Gamer's Body - Lv MAX
Your body now obeys the rules of the Game
Injuries and fatigue will be significantly reduced with rest
Conditions such as [Crippled] or [Dismembered] can be recovered with enough rest
Player will feel pain from injuries initially, but pain will be muted so as not to impact combat prowess
Skill: Gamer's Mind - Lv MAX
Your mind is now shielded by the rules of the Game
Your internal thoughts and emotions are protected from intrusion.
You are restricted from imparting knowledge of the Game
You have gained resistance to overwhelming emotion
You have gained resistance to mental conditions [Fear, [Depression, [Panic, [Controlled, and [Insanity].
Skill: Observe - Lv 1 (0%)
Through the lens of the Game, all may become clear
Gain insight on a specific spell, item, creature, or condition. Information gained determined by level of user and skill.
I wasn't sure how I felt about the description of the two Gamer skills, but at least they seemed to be worth the potential trouble they could cause. Healing would be appreciated, and the resistance to mind reading (cause that's a thing apparently) and resistances were nice, but the way it could just casually stop me from communicating about the Game sounded sketchy. Not that I really had anyone to tell anyways, but it was the principle of the thing.
Stepping away from the corpse of the now identified imp, I slowly looked around the room I had found myself in, with a single thought on my mind.
How do I get out of here?
It had taken longer than I care to admit to figure it out. It was, after all, spelled out right in front of me.
There weren't any clear doors or exits in this room, and there hadn't been branching paths in any of the rooms. So, there was some sort of trick to this. It was only after I happened to be going through the menu that I reread the description of Observe and gave myself a well-deserved face-palm.
Using [Observe] took a bit of doing. I had to focus on something and push like I did to interact with the Game. Of course, the first time I did it…
[Observe] - Stone Wall
It's a wall made of stone.
…it was less than helpful.
I did use it on the two distinct things I had lying around though.
[Observe] - Rusty Sword (Broken)
A sword neglected for far too long. Its rusty, jagged blade was broken in combat.
[Observe] - Imp (Deceased)
The corpse of an Imp. Slain by [Rusty Sword].
DING!
Through repeated usage, [Observe] has risen to Lv 2. Additional information may be learned.
Achievement Discovered!
[The First Step]
Every journey begins with a single step
Requirements:
Level up a [Skill]
Reward:
Skill [Observe] receives an additional Level.
[Observe] has risen to Lv 3. Additional information may be learned.
Hopefully there is some way to lessen the number of notifications I get from this stupid thing. Might as well try this again.
[Observe] - Rusty Sword Hilt (Broken)
A sword neglected for far too long. Its rusty, jagged blade was unreliable and broke in battle, but in desperate times, even the most worn-out weapon is better than none.
Type: Melee Weapon (Sword)
Rarity: Common (Poor)
Durability: 0/30
Damage: 0
[Observe] - Stone Imp (Deceased)
A small but vicious demonoid, often found in dungeons or ruins. Stone Imps possess sharp claws, stone-like fangs, and a cruel intelligence, making them dangerous despite their size. Their movements are erratic, driven by a malicious desire to torment prey. While sturdier than other Imp's, they are slowed by the stone they coat themselves with.
This Stone Imp is deceased.
A much better result than last time. If that was the difference a few levels could make, then hopefully I was right in thinking [Observe] was how I get out of this dungeon.
[Observe] - Stone Wall
It's a wall made of 398 identically cut stone blocks. It seems solid.
[Observe] - Stone Wall
It's a wall made of 398 identically cut stone blocks. It seems solid.
[Observe] - Stone Wall
It's a wall made of 398 identically cut stone blocks. It seems solid.
[Observe] - Stone Wall?
It's a wall made of 382 identically cut stone blocks and wood. It seems somewhat solid.
Bingo. The wall to my right wasn't as solid as the others, and had wood. Possibly a disguised door? Once I knew what I was looking for, I carefully examined the wall and found an incredibly camouflaged door, the hanging moss from the stones above it artfully arranged to hide the slight gaps between the stone and the wood. I pressed on it, and after a few shoves, it creaked open on rusty hinges.
Inside was a small room with two things. One was an honest to god chest, the wood smooth and the metallic trim a shiny chrome. The other was a raised platform of stone with a floating blue crystal lazily spinning in the center.
I first went to the chest. A simple touch of my hand had the chest dissolve into motes of light, yet another popup appearing.
You have discovered a chest! Please select your reward:
- [Basic Sword Wielding] Skill Book & Bronze Sword
- [Basic Spear Wielding] Skill Book & Bronze Spear
- [Basic Axe Wielding] Skill Book & Bronze Axe
- [Basic Dagger Wielding] Skill Book & 2x Bronze Dagger
- Random [Basic Weapon Wielding] Skill Book & Associated Weapon]
I stared at the options in front of me, weighing my choices. My eyes flitted over the options again: sword, spear, ax, daggers—or a gamble with the random selection.
Using a sword seemed like the obvious choice at first. It was simple, straightforward. I'd already been using a sword, if you could call that rusty thing a sword, so maybe sticking with what I knew made the most sense. An improved sword would be a massive upgrade from the broken scrap of metal I had now, and it would make me feel less... helpless. But I had to admit, my performance with a sword wasn't exactly stellar. The rusty thing had barely made a difference in that last fight, and it had felt kinda awkward in the fight.
Then there was the spear option. Longer reach, keep enemies at a distance, which sounded appealing after getting sliced up by that Imp. I didn't need to get close and personal, just poke them from afar. But... did I have the coordination for that? The thought of swinging around a polearm in the cramped quarters of this dungeon made me hesitate as well. It seemed more situational than I would like.
An axe? Too heavy. Too slow. I wasn't exactly the poster child for physical strength, and the idea of lugging around an axe just didn't feel right. Plus, axes seemed more suited for someone with a more aggressive, brute force fighting style. That wasn't me.
Then there were the daggers. Fast, agile, probably light in my hands. Two weapons meant more versatility, more attacks, maybe even a chance to counter faster enemies. But daggers also meant getting up close, and after facing that Imp, I wasn't thrilled with the idea of fighting close up without some sort of protection.
My gaze drifted to the last option.
Random could be anything. It could give me a sword, spear, daggers, or something I hadn't even considered. It was a wild card. But… wasn't my entire life already a gamble? I was thrown into this dungeon, fighting for my life because some Game told me to. Honestly, if not for the Game, I'd be dead already. An afterlife of peace with my family ripped from my hands. This dumb Game owed me.
Fuck it.
Random [Basic Weapon Wielding] Skill Book & Associated Weapon has been selected.
[You have acquired [Basic Fan Wielding] Skill Book. You have acquired Bronze Fan]
Bronze Fan
A traditional style tessen made with bronze instead of iron.
Type: Melee Weapon (Fan)
Rarity: Common (Average)
Durability: 25/25
-Damage: 3*
-Defense: 3*
A fan? What kind of joke was this? But as the notification disappeared and the weapon materialized in front of me, I realized this wasn't some dainty paper fan.
The Bronze Fan was modeled after a tessen, the type of war fan used in traditional Japanese martial arts. While traditionally made of iron and bamboo, this one had a solid bronze frame. The paper was a thick black paper that felt more like parchment, the sharpened bronze ribs glimmering against the dark backdrop. It looked delicate, easily held in one hand, but there was a weight to it as well. Compact, elegant, but with a punch to it.
Do you wish to use [Basic Fan Wielding] Skill Book? [Yes/No]
Immediately after I agreed, I felt a flood of information snap into place. My hands fixed themselves on the fan, holding it in a way that, while amateurish at best, was at least close to feeling right.
New Skill Acquired: Basic Fan Wielding - Lv 1 (0%)
Often underestimated due to their appearance, the tessen or war fan was historically used by samurai and aristocrats in feudal Japan. It was favored for its ability to be carried discreetly in diplomatic settings where larger weapons were prohibited, allowing its user to defend themselves against darts, knives, and even swords with unexpected lethality.
- Passively grants 1 Damage to [Fan] weapons
- Passively grants 1 Defense to [Fan] weapons
I flicked the Bronze Fan open, the ribs unfolding without a sound. It was a little bigger than a hand fan, but the small bronze points that peeked over the black paper spoke to its functionality as a weapon. My newfound knowledge guided my hand, taking me through a few basic movements, the fan snapping open and shut as it swished through the air.
It wasn't what I thought of when I pictured a weapon, but it was one just the same. It had a hidden depth, meaning beyond its appearance. In that way, as weird and stupid as it sounded, I felt a sort of brief kinship towards the little fan in my hands.
Closing it with a final snap of my wrist, I awkwardly looked for some place to stow the fan. While it would probably fit in my pocket, the idea of one of my last HP getting taken out by my own fan spikes was too embarrassing a fate. So, I just kept it in my hand as I approached the floating crystal.
It was a gradient of blue, lighter on the edges and darkening towards the center, until one couldn't tell if it was blue or black. I had the oddest urge to touch it, but I held myself back. In what I felt was going to quickly grow into a habit, I used [Observe].
[Observe] - Teleport Crystal
A remnant of a type of magic lost to the ages, Teleport Crystals are constructed by human hands to mimic the transport capabilities of supernatural beings. Unfortunately, Teleport crystals have to be attuned to specific locations and cannot change their set destinations once programmed.
This was man-made? And supernatural beings? I mean sure, there was the Stone Imp, but supernatural could encompass a lot of things. Yokai, Gods, Monsters…could those all be real as well? The fan I had been feeling somewhat proud of suddenly felt a lot less impressive in my hand.
I stepped closer towards the crystal, as if proximity would give me more answers, but the second my foot made contact with the raised stone platform, the crystal began to glow. In a flash of light, the scenery around me changed, the dungeon melting away and leaving me standing in the middle of my apartment, as if I had never left. The only evidence that I hadn't imagined the whole thing being the Bronze Fan I still held in one hand, and the wounds of the Stone Imp still on my body.
[Congratulations! You have completed [Tutorial Dungeon]! This concludes the initial tutorial phase of the Game. Other mechanics will be explained, but only once you discover them for yourself. And, as always, strive to win the Game, or at least make your death entertaining.]