The week came and went by fast as usual
[Meditation] broke Lvl 15, [Soul Manipulation] had the most growth in 4 level-ups and became Lvl 11.
[Soul Circulation] was right behind [Soul Manipulation] with 3 level-ups and was sitting at Lvl. 4 with a 20% bonus.
That made my max Soul Force gain at a 42.5%, a big difference since a week ago.
But today was the day I went out with Brian and some people from the gym.
And I can't deny that I'm somewhat nervous; most people who knew me said I was a very sociable person. But the ones who truly knew me would have said that that would be true for one day of the week, and the rest of it you didn't hear from him again.
But a part was also excited to have friends again. I was, at the end, still a human being and humans were a social animal, even if I needed less than most people.
My day went mostly as normal.
I woke up and did my flexibility routine—a flexible muscle was a strong muscle, after all.
The rest of the day I just Meditated and scrolled through my phone in between.
[Soul Force 1!]
At that pop-up, I decided I meditated enough for today; it was already in the afternoon and I still needed to eat dinner and make myself ready to go out.
Dinner was pretty simple, just chicken with rice, steamed vegetables, and some curry sauce.
I wouldn't say I was a great cook, but living alone for 3 months and counting had a way of teaching you stuff.
It was that or takeout, and my bank account wouldn't survive that long if I went that route.
Speaking of money, if my powers weren't going to provide a way to make money any time soon, I was going to have to find a job…
Please hear me, Being that put me here… don't make me look and apply for jobs, anything but that!
My moment of dread completed for the week, I cleaned myself up and put some of my nicer clothes on.
Putting the address of the Bowling Alley in showed me the 35 minutes that it previously said it was going to take.
The time when you put something in Google Maps in a city could differ quite massively if you're unlucky.
Fortunately, this wasn't the case.
The journey there was uneventful, leaving me even 10 minutes early.
So imagine my surprise when I wasn't the first one here.
"Sup Brian, you've been waiting long?"
At the mention of his name, he looked up from his phone and gave a friendly smile. A handshake later and he answered my greeting.
"No, arrived like 5 minutes before you. Living with my dad has a way of making you punctual."
A small laugh came out of me. I can definitely see Mr. Laborn drilling his children the military way.
"Yeah, I can imagine that. If he is anything like at the gym at home, I can guess living with him wasn't easy."
"HAH, you don't have to tell me. The day I turned 18 was the day I moved out, had everything already planned beforehand."
A small frown and what I think was some sadness appeared on his face.
"I know my dad loves us—for all he is hard on us, he never really punished us, or at least very hard. I just wish he would've been a little easier on my sister. The girl is in her rebellious phase and making me clean up her messes."
"That bad?"
"Pfft, like you wouldn't believe. She's a smart girl but a stubborn one. She lives with our mother now, but I'm trying to get guardianship so she doesn't have to stay there."
At the end, he apparently realized he was going into some pretty personal details. He even looked a bit surprised at revealing so much.
"So what about you, liking the city so far?"
Seeing the subject change for what it is, I just go along with it and reply.
"Haven't seen much yet, I'm not the most outgoing person. So except looking from the bus and the area around the gym, I don't know much."
Surprised, he asks, "Really? Not even the Boardwalk?"
At that, I roll my eyes.
"Well of course the Boardwalk I went to, I'm not a savage."
With a grin, he needles me.
"Well I don't know about that. So far, anyone knows you train like you're possessed and leave right after. Some of the people there are pretty curious about you."
Leaning in like he's going to whisper a secret.
"Some even think you have a dream of going professional. Not that you're anywhere close to that, but maybe I can convince my dad to sign you up for an Amateur Tournament in a few months."
Surprised, I'm speechless for a bit. Is that what it looks like? Like I want to make boxing my career?
"Well, that wasn't my intention, although I can't say it doesn't have an appeal. I just want to get in shape and have a way to defend myself."
At the mention of defending yourself, Brian is a lot more serious.
"While boxing is good, relying on it isn't in your best interest. A knife or even a gun would be better. Well, if you can run, then running is always better."
A bit taken aback by the sudden mood shift, I try to answer with my reasoning.
"I don't know where and how to get a gun, and if I'm caught with a knife I shouldn't have, then my living situation can become… complicated."
At my answer, Brian questions further.
"Complicated how?"
Maybe he sees in my expression that he overstepped a bit, but I can see the concern in his eyes and decide to at least give him a vague half-truth answer.
"My parents aren't in the picture a lot. It works for us, even though I do miss them sometimes. I don't think the cops would appreciate it."
Understanding overcomes him, and while I don't think he actually understands anything, he apparently has experience with difficult living arrangements.
"Well, if you need anything, I could probably help you get some protection. You seem like a good enough guy to offer you that at least."
At the somewhat poorly landed joke, we keep the rest of the conversation light until the rest of the guys, and one of their girlfriends, join us for bowling.
The rest of the night was nice. One of the guys named Kevin was apparently a really good bowler, so he beat us soundly.
I was 3rd, right behind Brian, around the middle of the 7 of us, which I was fine with.
I mostly talked with Matt, who was a quiet one who apparently liked reading, which we bonded over.
Then we had Johnathan, or rather 'Johnny,' who was a boisterous dude, taking last place in good humor.
And the couple Leia and Spencer—I didn't really talk with them much as they were much too preoccupied with each other and I didn't really want to go in between them.
The night ended on a good note and Ian even asked if we could talk some more after the training Monday.
Going back was, while not a quiet affair with the gunshots and sirens in the distance, uneventful.
Cleaning myself up, I immediately went to bed. No matter how fun it was, I was not made for loud places…
The next 2 weeks went by pretty fast, if I do say so myself. Level-ups were slow but steady.
[Meditation] was at 17, [Soul Manipulation] at 13, and [Soul Circulation] was hanging at 9.
The latter became much more difficult to level than I expected.
So that was what I was focusing the most on the last 2 days.
Sitting on my bed, I willed my Soul Force to move faster in my body. It was unbelievably difficult for such a low-level skill, but I didn't get here by wishing my problems away.
Maybe I should try that?
Shaking my head a little, I focus back on the task at hand… with a little prayer at the end.
I will never know if that is what did it or not, but not soon after, a notification popped up with multiple following after.
[Soul Manipulation has leveled up]
[Soul Circulation has leveled up]
[Soul Circulation has reached the current Max level.]
[To reach higher levels in 'Soul Circulation,' please reach the requirements.]
This is new. Opening up the skill doesn't appear to give me much info.
Soul Circulation Lvl. 10 (Current Max)
The natural flow of Soul Force through the body has many benefits; that doesn't mean it can't be improved though.
While active, increases Soul Force gain by 50%
requirement not met to elevate Max Level (0/1)
Well… at least I know it's just one requirement instead of something stupid like five or something.
The frustration doesn't leave though; I need all the help I can get to reach Bronze Star-1 and now one of those ways is cut off.
[Status]
Name: William Brooks
Class: NA
Soul Realm: Red
Soul Form: Disordered/ [Redacted]
Soul Attribute: Neutral
Sp. Physique: NA
Soul Force: 69
Body Force: 76
Money: $4829
Looking at my status, a little bit of pride comes to me.
I worked hard to get this far—months of work are in those two numbers.
Three if you count the decreasing money in my bank account, *snort*
With one month until the deadline of the 'My Soul is My Strength!' Quest, I still think I'm cutting it close. But I'm feeling pretty confident that I'll make it.
With a Cultivation Technique in my hands, my Soul Force gain should speed up massively.
Then, once I reach the Silver Rank, I can fuse with a Demon Spirit and actually go out and be a Hero.
Question is—how the hell do I get a Demon Spirit? But we'll cross that bridge when we get there. …
I was half expecting my system to give me a Quest anyway… …
Huh. Good to know.
My frustration and the Level limit of [Soul Circulation] still with me but more subdued, I go back to the grind.
I still have other skills that can level, after all.
AN: We're almost to the good bit and into the actual 'being a gamer' bit, except praising the grinder of grinds, Chad the Chaddest.
We can't forget that.
It's a smaller chapter, which I'm not too happy about, but it was that or writing myself into a bind.
For those of you that are very perceptive (and can read my mind), I left a little hint there on how the System handles Quests.
Because this chapter was a little bit shorter, I thought I'd give a bit of explanation about the Rankings in the ToDaG Cultivation System:
Bronze:
100 Body Force / Soul Force = 1 Star
200 BF / SF = 2 Star
300 BF / SF = 3 Star
400 BF / SF = 4 Star
500 BF / SF = 5 Star
Silver you reach at 1,000, and every star higher is 1,000 more
Gold is the same but 10,000
Black-Gold is 100,000
Legend is 1,000,000
Also, fun fact (not for MC's opponents): 1 Body Force is 1 pound of an overhead squat…
Make of that what you will…
Anyway, till next time.