Okay, Isaac. Let's think about this carefully. A whole bunch of monkey shit has been flung at you and you need to clean it up. I've already checked all the new features this S.O. has offered, and it's easy to navigate through. First off, the Missions tab has a countdown and something big will happen once it reaches zero. Other than that, I'm not worried about it. Next are the stages that were mentioned in the pamphlet. The only thing I can think of when it comes to stages in a world like this is that there are trials or some shit we need to complete. There's probably going to be a variety of them too so that each one is different from before. What I don't know is how that's going to work at all, so I'll just have to wait and see how it plays out.
Finally, the most interesting part of this whole situation: points. These points are definitely going to be the new currency that everyone will use from now on. How do I know this? It's because of the Point Store. A catalog of weapons, armor, and important items people will flock towards. If there's one thing I've learned through all of this, it's that you're an idiot if you carry the mindset that whatever you're seeing is 'impossible'. I have a feeling that these items will magically appear out of thin air, even though that will go against the laws of the world. Then again, that's already been broken eight months ago.
These points will be earned by killing monsters, contributions in these stages, and achievements. For achievements, it'll probably be like the one I've just gained moments ago, about me and Sophie being the first to kill a C-Rank monster. In fact, the points have already been sent to me.
"Status."
Name: Isaac
Rank:1st
Points:250
Strength:64 Agility:53
Durability:60 Mana: 90
Masteries: Marksmanship Lvl 4 Swordsmanship Lvl 6 Energy Manipulation Lvl 6 Heat Resistance Lvl 4 Poison Resistance Lvl 3 Frost Resistance Lvl 4 Mental Fortitude Lvl 1
Yep, I've got two hundred and fifty points to spare. I'm able to use those points for the Point Store. I can't buy anything expensive though since I'm broke. I'm only able to buy a wooden sword and shield, and each of them costs fifty points apiece. I've noticed that the higher the material grade is, the more points it'll cost. This also goes both ways for potions and armor. Ingredients or raw materials also cost more the rarer it is.
As a gamer, I'm one hundred percent certain this Point Store will be a lifesaver. I'll have to save as many points as possible so I can get the good shit. Hunting monsters and gaining achievements is what I must do. As for the contributions in these stages, I'm obviously going to shoot for number one. The higher the contribution, the more points you'll receive.
"Hehehe…."
Oops. I'm laughing to myself like a maniac. Just thinking about dominating the competition and hogging all the points for myself is making me look like a psycho. Well, in this new world, your personality and beliefs are bound to change, for better or for worse.
Hmm… I think I've got everything understood. Gain points, get stronger, and complete the stages. Once that's done, I'll kill the Cardinal with my bare hands and then go after the Pillars. My path for revenge is still ongoing. If I want to avenge Solgen, Morgac, Myra, and Zelke, I'll have to destroy the ones responsible for their deaths. How dare you kill the one's close… I don't care if others call me a murderer. I already am one, after all.
"U-Um, Isaac?" A meek voice called out to me. I looked up to see Sophie standing right in front of me, squinting at me. Did I do something to worry her?
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"…You had a scary look on your face when you were in that thinking pose. You also let out that creepy laugh as if you were about to do something terrible…" Upon finishing, Sophie shivered. It was now nighttime- a gentle but cold breeze was blowing in. She was also still only wearing a sports bra so…
"Sorry about that. I was… thinking about some stuff. Did you need something?"
Sophie pointed behind me and said, "Yea um… I've been calling your name for a while to tell you that we have company."
I frowned at her words. "What? We have company?"
I glanced over my shoulder to see a bunch of monsters funneling inside the stadium. They were coming in droves from that hole Orthrus made with that air pressure attack.
"Oh shit! Did the racket we've made during our fight attract them here?" I swiftly stood up and stuck my arm out to Sophie. "Let's get out of here. We need to go find Iris and head back to bunker three. I'll fly us out."
She nodded and stuck her arm out. I wrapped Sophie in my arms and quickly took flight. As I ascended higher into the sky, the monsters down below were now growing smaller, almost like little toy figurines.
"Hey, Sophie! What do you think could be these stages?" I shouted over the rushing wind.
"I have no clue! What I do know is that there's a high chance fighting may be involved! You remember how the front cover of the pamphlet looked, right?"
"Yea! Monsters, humans, and athios were in a three-way face-off! It looked like they were about to fight! Are you saying the front cover could be hiding some clue?!"
"I think so- Isaac, look over there! Near the museum!"
I gazed over to where Sophie was pointing. A crowd of people was preparing to head out with Officer Richard and Iris at the front. They were surveying around frantically as if they were searching for something. I turned on the jets and flew even faster. In just two minutes we reached our destination. I slowly descended from above and landed right in front of Officer Richard and Iris.
"Ah, good! You're both here safe and sound!" Officer Richard cried out in glee. He rushed over to the both of us and shook our hands.
"I assume you and Sophie dealt with that ferocious monster?"
"Yep. That thing is long gone and buried six feet under. You don't have to worry about it anymore." I puffed out my chest, smirking. Iris, who was behind Officer Richard, was mouthing curse words. When reading her lips, I was only able to understand one sentence, and that was 'He can fly?'. The crowd of civilians was staring at me in awe. It's understandable, to be honest, they just witnessed a human flying with their own eyes. At this point, they might even worship me since I saved them. I wouldn't mind that at all...
"Hehehe-" Oops, there goes the maniacal laughter again.
"Anyways… Iris!" I motioned for the Greek woman to come closer. She reluctantly trudged over with a frown. Me, Sophie, Officer Richard, and Iris were formed in a circle, our bodies close to one another.
Iris let out a low grumble and said, "What do you need from me?"
"This is serious," I growled. "You guys received that pamphlet and heard that video. We should talk things over inside the museum."
"Our savior is right," Officer Richard butted in. "I fear for the future ever since I heard the distressing news. I'll have my co-workers guard the museum while we talk inside. We should be safe, for now."
Officer Richard broke away from the huddle and went on to issue orders, signaling for the civilians to head inside while getting them up to speed on current events. While that happened, we three entered the museum, waiting for Officer Richard to finish on his end. We were sitting at a table located on the third floor of the building. It was a bit dusty, but we weren't bothered by it at all. A lot of the tables and chairs were missing, so it was quite empty other than display cases and paintings.
"Hey, Iris. What's the progress on those runes you were making?" Sophie asked curiously. Iris reached into her small Dimensional Pouch and brought out five runes.
"I've only been able to create five because of the disruption. Now that that's over, I have enough mana to create five more runes." Iris then shuffled the runes into three different piles.
"These two runes on the left are Offensive Runes. The one in the middle is a Defensive Rune, and the two on the right are for Support. To easily distinguish which one is which, you'll notice that each of the three categorized runes has a different scripture on it."
Oh… she's right. There really is a difference between the three. Although faint, I can see colors radiating out of the scripture. Offensive Runes are red, Defensive are blue, and Support is green. That makes identifying them so much easier.
"That's so cool! Can you teach me how to do rune scripting, Iris?" Sophie said excitedly. From just a single glance, I could see that Sophie was thrilled at the thought of rune scripting. Iris, on the other hand, was at a loss for words.
"...Learning rune scripting isn't easy. It requires intense concentration, patience, and sheer will to be able to attain the mastery. It took me months just to be able to write my first ever functioning rune."
Since rune scripting piqued my interest, I joined in on the conversation. "I wanna learn it too! Teach me your ways, master!"
Learning rune scripture will surely help me in the long run! Using runes also looks fun as hell to use. Just thinking about all the different combinations of runes I could utilize…
I could feel a trickle of spit coming out of the corners of my mouth. I didn't know that I was drooling from all the possibilities of rune scripting. My gamer senses must have taken over for a little bit. I wiped away the drool with my sleeve and begged the woman further.
Iris recoiled away in disgust, wrinkling her nose.
"PLEASE TEACH US! I'LL DO ANYTHING, I SWEAR!" I was down on my knees, head hung low as I begged the woman furiously. That only seemed to annoy the woman further, but she agreed, nonetheless.
"Alright, Alright I'll do it! Damn… Don't forget you swore you'll do anything for me!"
Aha! It seems that my negotiation skills haven't dwindled over the years! I haven't used this secret art since my school days when I had to beg my teachers for extra time to turn in my projects. It's a terrifying skill that only a select few students have mastered. Even though I hate begging, this was the only way I could think of- other than threats, to dabble in rune scripting.
"Thank you, Messiah!" I shouted, returning to my seat. Iris laid sheets of small paper on the table, handing the both of us pencils.
"While we wait for Richard, you'll practice your penmanship. The lines and curves you'll draw must be nearly perfect. Any blemishes or mistakes and the rune will not work."
"That's it?" Sophie smiled. "If my penmanship is all I have to worry about, then this will be easy-"
"Who said this is going to be easy?" Iris interrupted while smirking. "To get things started. I want you to write down the whole English alphabet…"
Tsk. That's for babies-
"…Fifty times, twenty-five the regular way, and twenty-five backwards. Oh, and do it in under five minutes."
...Um, excuse you?