Ding!
[Your 'Status' screen has been updated!]
The notification jolted Leon awake, Leon. The notification alone was enough to wash away his tired part, filling him with excitement.
And following notifications were there to only make him fly above the clouds.
[You've unlocked a new tab, 'Universal Energy Arts'!]
[Congratulations! Your Universal Energy Arts level has been raised to Level 1!]
[You've earned '1' unassigned stat points!]
[You've earned INT +5]
"Status!"
[Name: Leon Rastia]
[Race: Human]
[Universal Energy Arts: Level 1 ]
[STR: 0 (+4) STA: 0 (+6) ]
[AGL: 0 (+7) INT: 0 (+6) ]
[Unassigned Stat Points: 6]
[Magic: ----]
"Great! Now it started to look like something!"
"And yeah, INT was related to energy arts!"
His excitement followed by a feeling that waved through his entire self. As though waves from the ever blue oceans became one and went through his body. Instead of drowning him, made him feel a kind of ecstasy.
Clenching his fists, he marveled at the newfound power, akin to the awe ancient people felt when encountering what they called aliens.
"I can feel the power…"
However, as the initial surge of elation settled, fatigue set in, and Leon realized he had been meditating for about an hour. His legs were numb, but the ecstasy of power and the joy of the status screen overshadowed any discomfort.
"Haaah… What will I do with those stats, though…"Leon pondered, lying down and contemplating his newfound abilities.
-—
Weirdly, the first thing that came to my mind was: is it still Tuesday?
It's been a hell of a day. I feel like I've aged quite a bit in just two damn days. Yet, I can do nothing but let matters into the hands of the future.
My mother is still alive. I've the useless looking system and universal energy arts right now. Plus, Rebellious's backing.
I can get stronger.
I've every means that I ever need to get stronger than anyone else. As my mother said, I'll get stronger. I'll be a Level 6 and go to see her.
Now that I think about it, Level 5 also is quite strong, isn't it? Well, yeah, I can just find her at Level 5.
"Status."
[Name: Leon Rastia]
[Race: Human]
[Universal Energy Arts: Level 1 ]
[STR: 0 (+4) STA: 0 (+6) ]
[AGL: 0 (+7) INT: 0 (+6) ]
[Unassigned Stat Points: 6]
[Magic: ----]
"It feels good. Hahaha."
Now, the other problem is, "Magic."
Nothing happened.
"Open the magic status."
Yep, nothing.
There goes the last try, "Can you open the magic screen for this once, please?"
Aaand nothing again. Alright, that's it. Seems like reaching Level 1 couldn't solve this problem.
Now, let's take a look at what I've learned so far.
First of all, seems like leveling up my universal energy arts level earns me stat points. But, it shouldn't be just it. It's possible to take it as an achievement system from games. After accomplishing some kind of achievement, the system will give me stat points kinda. Hopefully.
However, that shouldn't be the case here. There has to be another way to get those stat points. If it won't make the user get stronger, what is the existence of this system, right? So, by logic, I should be able to get stronger by doing something else other than regular training.
Second of all, magic part. As I've already thought before, it should be related to Level 3.
At my first try, my level wasn't even on the status screen since I didn't even have one. But having it on the screen proves that the system takes universal energy arts as some kind of pillar or something.
I mean, they are like buddies of crime. Maybe the more I get stronger, the more panels will unlock on the panel.
Yep, at the end of the day, it all comes down to training and getting stronger.
Get stronger to get stronger. Yeah, sh*t.
I'm kind of curious about magic, though. I feel like it should be more than meets the eye. I mean, there should be something this system actually can do, like a kind of special field to it, right? That always been the case in those novels.
Sigh…
Well, I'll see it in the future, anyway.
Now, the only thing left to ponder are the stat points. I doubt that miserable '6' unassigned points mean anything, though. Still, my train of thought turned out to be the correct one.
INT was indeed related to the energy technique. So, it should be the same as in the games. The higher my INT is, the stronger my magical attacks will be.
"Haah… That's pretty much settles everything… So, what I can do right now is…"
Yep, I think sleeping is the only thing I can do right now.
--
Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!
Once again, the door knocked the hell out of its existence. Leon, who was sleeping peacefully without a care in the world, jumped from his bed out of reflex.
The one knocked on his door was as if they were dying and Leon was the only one can cure them.
"What do you want!?"
"Were you sleeping?"
"As you can see," gestured towards his bed.
"Ah, sorry about that," seemingly unfazed, entered and dropped a box on his table.
If someone enters your room and puts something you would naturally, "What's that?"
"Before that," her eyes still were shining as brightly as ever, "Did you become a Level 1?"
If the other times were from excitement, this time was from expectations.
Put on his nonchalant tone once again, but still slipped a sneak look at the box, "What do you think?"
"Hmm… Seems like you couldn't," nodded, "Yeah, it could be hard for you to be Level 1 in one day. Well, I know that I'm a genius and all since everyone states so—"
"I'm a Level 1. I'm the real genius here."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course—"
"I'm talking about the former. The latter one is obviously a lie."
"Hmph. It's, but of course, real."
"Then, let's go and have someone check it for us."
"No need. I'm absolutely sure that I'm."
"Are you really, really sure?"
"I'm really, really sure."
"For real?"
"For real."
An unexpectedly serious face took over her façade before her next words, "Can I really hold on to your words?"
Since she asked seriously, it was only right for Leon to answer such, "I'm absolutely sure."
"Good," and with that, Triss reverted to her usual self, "Do you remember what I've told you yesterday?"
"You've told me many things yesterday. It was the longest day of my life."
"Hahaha. I was talking about the money part."
"Now that you've said it," Leon stopped a second and pondered over, remembered the cafeteria moment, "Yes, you told me something like that."
"Sooo, let's go earn some money," tapped on the box she had left on top of the table.
"You know that I've many questions, right?" Realized it was time to open Pandora's box and slowly reached for it.
"I will answer them one by one. No worries."
"Alright."
The first thing he saw inside of the wooden box was a mask. It was an old-school emotion mask, a happy one. Eyes and mouth were the only parts open, meanwhile the entire mask was as white as the north continent, Arcticia's eternal snows.
The second one was also as old of a thing as the mask, a knife. To be precise, it was M48 Tactical Commando Knife. Black knife with some grays on the upper part, above of the sharp edge, was absolutely gorgeous to eyes.
Third and last one, which is the thing stood on the left side of the mask from the beginning, was a watch. It was the same watch as Triss wearing right now.
Shape-wise, no different from the regular God Watches. In fact, it's color also was the same as Leon's previous one, the one that he broke just two days ago, black.
'Tch. Brings back the bad memories…'
Yet, he was smart enough to do what's needed to be done. On top of that, he himself also experienced the unnecessary troubles being a watchless one may bring upon his head.
Quietly, without even waiting for Triss's persuasions, put it on his left wrist.
"Alright, I think it's time for some beans to spill, isn't it?"
"Yeah. So, first of all," pointed at the knife, "That's for just in case. And the moment we use it, we have to run as fast as we can."
Raised a brow, "Why?"
"Because we will steal a guard's credit card. Hehehe."
Stupefied, Leon's expression mirrored his disbelief.
"Are you serious?"
"I'm serious to the bone."
"You know that there are many problems," at that moment, recalled her questionable acts, "You know, right?"
"Sigh… Do you take me as an idiot or something?"
"Well…"
"Fine, fine. I'll get to the details."
Followed Triss towards his own bed, Leon sat down next to her, eyes at the knife, playing to get used to it.
"I know that guard, and I've been tailing him for a long time. And I want to get back to him somehow."
"Is it for revenge?"
"Yes, and while we're doing that, we will earn some money, too. We will kill two birds with one stone."
"I see. I'm in, b—"
"I knew I could trust you!"
"But after hearing everything in detail."