When I opened my eyes, I saw the moon.
I was floating around in a lake and I felt something nibbling on my back.
I quickly spun around and grabbed whatever it was and pulled it out of the water.
It was a fish. It looked like a salmon to me but I can't be sure.
Hmm… I can move my body. Looks like I'm back in this awful world.
I looked at the fish as it struggled to escape. It even slapped me across the face which hurt.
I touched my cheek and immediately felt a rush of adrenaline fill my body.
"You piece of shit!"
I immediately grabbed the fish by the head and began to squeeze it. In a matter of seconds, it's head exploded into blood and brains.
Ding!
"Huh?! What was that noise?!" I yelled as I looked around. It sounded like a bell.
[Leveled up!]
A demonic female voice spoke and I looked around again.
"Who is saying that? Come out?"
[Do not fret my master…]
"M-master? Who are you? Where are you?"
[I am the Qliphoth reborn. As a reward for passing my trial, you are granted the ability to wield my power at its fullest...]
"Qliphoth reborn?"
[I am taking the appearance of what is most common to you. In other words, I can be what you call a system. Please say or think status and I will provide you with your current stats...]
S-status?
Tti-ring!
Immediately, a purple and black window appeared in front of me with words and numbers on it. It read-
{Status}
Name: Naoko Akujin
Title: Inept Hero
Class: None
Status: Normal
Level: 1
Mana: [10/10]
Strength: 3
Agility: 9
Technique: 0
Perception: 1
Charisma: 0
Stat Points: 3
{Abilities}
Passive Skills: None
Active Skills: None
Skills: None
------------------
"Interesting… so I was able to level up. Wait, why is my charisma 0? Are you calling me ugly?"
[Yes and no…]
Wow, how blunt. So straightforward, eh?
[Charisma is not only appearance but it is also how good you are at convincing. Of course, you can just speak however you want but the higher your charisma is, the higher chance people have of listening to you…]
"Interesting…"
[Now normally I would tell you what you need to do in order to level up but I assume you already know everything…]
"I know some, but you're gonna need to walk me through just so I can make sure."
[Affirmative. I will now explain…]
As I trampled through the lake I was walking around it, the Qliphoth explained the whole thing to me.
It's like this. Strength is exactly what it says, but it also counts towards my defense as well. So two for one. Agility is the same as speed and dexterity. Technique is kind of like intelligence; the higher technique is, the more skills you can learn. Perception is the same and Charisma was already explained. All these stats can be raised by leveling up and the use of skill points. However, Charisma will be unaffected. It seems that I need to do that myself with the use of demonic critters.
"Demonic critters?"
[Demonic critters are creatures that can completely alter one's appearance. They can take the form of any animal but commonly they take the form of centipedes as it is easier for them to move around the body. However, they can only be used by demons. If they were to enter a human's body, they will be eaten from the inside…]
"So I can't use it?"
[Normally no but you have me. My presence will make the demonic critter think you are a demon and it will do whatever you want it to do…]
"What happens when it enters my body?"
[When it enters your body, it will strap itself to the heart and provide you the ability to change your appearance. However, this can only be done once, and once you change, you can never change back to your previous appearance…]
"Even if I use another critter?"
[Precisely. When you are done, the critter will fuse with your heart and become a part of you…]
Hmm, sounds disgusting but worth it.
"So that is the only way for me to raise my Charisma?"
[Yes…]
I see, so I just need to find this demonic critter and I can change my appearance. But right now I don't have the need to change it unless something comes up. But I should get one just in case.
"Can you show me one?"
[Yes but it will take a while...]
"How long?"
[Approximately 3 days...]
"Well jeez, that's a bit long but whatever you need to do I'll let you."
When I got out of the lake, I suddenly heard a growl.
[Danger nearby!]
"Yeah, that was pretty obvious."
I turned and there were 4 wolves in front of me. Hmph, their numbers shrink every time I see them again.
"This was a bad time to get out, wasn't it?"
[Yes, you are currently too weak to fight against them, let alone face one...]
Damn...
[The recommended action for this situation is to run...]
"No... I want to see just what powers you were supposed to grant me."
[Unfortunately, you'll need to level up to gain those abilities. This is a rule that all beings in this universe must follow. As a recommendation, please upgrade your agility stat...]
Level up to gain abilities. Makes sense.
I opened up my stats and poured all my skill points into the agility stat.
[Agility 9 --> Agility 12]
[Passive Skills Obtained: Sprint]
[Sprint: Automatically activates once the host starts running| Effects: x2 Agility]
Guess my only choice is to run...
Well, there is no other way.
I quickly turned and ran away. I was never a really good runner to begin with but for some reason, I was running like I never did before. My legs were light and I felt like I could run forever.
I looked over my shoulder and the wolves were chasing me. But with this sprint skill, they weren't catching up to me like last time. Instead, I was running at the same speed they were chasing me. An improvement, but not enough to shake these bastards off me.
Along the way, I saw a broken branch hanging from the tree. I quickly jumped and broke it off.
I inspected the stick as I ran and I was focused on the sharp end of the stick.
...perfect.
I turned around and waited till the first wolf got close to me. I didn't care whether or not I'd fail. As long as this works out, I won't regret my decision.
As it leaped towards me, I quickly thrusted the sharp end of the stick through the wolf's neck and it instantly penetrated.
"Yelp!"
I watched as the blood of the wolf dripped onto my face and into my mouth.
Ding!
[Leveled up!]
I felt no pity when I killed it but instead satisfaction. So this is what it's like to kill...
It feels... great.
I dropped the stick with the wolf still attached and quickly pulled it out.
I just need to do the same for the others...
But those three are going to huddle up once they see one of their own dead. I should plan if I'm gonna want to take them out.
And I have just the plan.
I broke off two more branches and sharpened their end. Then I climbed up a tree and waited till the rest showed up.
That'll only work if I don't mess up so I only have one chance.
Eventually, the other three arrived and they inspected the dead wolf. That's when they all got into a defensive stance. Perfect.
I took a stick and aimed for one of them. Then I threw it, the stick instantly penetrating one in the head.
[Leveled up!]
The two remaining wolves turned as they watched another one of them die. I quickly caught them off guard as I landed between them, shanking one with another stick.
"Yelp!"
[Leveled up!]
Just one more now.
I turned and the last wolf was already in a position to run.
"Running? What makes you think you can run?"
I took a step forward and the wolf backed up. It growled at me weakly and backed up against a tree. As a last resort, it attempted to tackle me. It managed to scratch me across my face and I quickly pulled away. It attempted to tackle me once more. However-
Shink!
I had impaled it with the last stick and its blood leaked down my arm.
[Leveled up!]
[Passive Skills Obtained: Bloodlust]
[Bloodlust: Automatically activates once the host bears cruelty| Effects: x2 Strength]
[Skills Obtained: Wolf's Blood(Locked)]
"Hmm? Why is the skill that I just obtained locked?"
[You do not meet the requirements| Strength: 15; Agility: 15; Perception: 15]
"Hmph, of course."
I opened up my status and inspected my current stats.
{Status}
Name: Naoko Akujin
Title: Inept Hero
Class: None
Status: Fatigued
Level: 5
Mana: [38/38]
Strength: 7
Agility: 16
Technique: 4
Perception: 5
Charisma: 0
Stat Points: 12
{Abilities}
Passive Skills: Sprint, Bloodlust
Active Skills: None
Skills: Analysis, Wolf's Blood(Locked)
------------------
12 stat points. I can put 8 into strength which would give me 15 but that would leave me with 4. If I put that into perception, it'll only become 9. I need to level up more. The more I level up, the stronger I become.
For now, I'll deposit my stat points.
[Strength 7 --> Strength 15]
[Perception 5 --> Perception 9]
I fell onto my knees and took heavy breaths. Crap, I'm already running out of stamina. My face hurts from that scratch. I overworked myself too hard as well.
[Status: Fatigued]
That would make sense... I think I'll just... take a nap here...
.
.
.