"Huh, so I guess we didn't die…"
I turned to Frey, who was practically glowing with excitement.
"Are you that happy we didn't die?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
She smirked, her confidence as unshakable as ever. "You said you loved me~"
My face burned as I quickly looked away, pretending to focus on the glittering walls of the cavern. Frey chuckled and leaned closer.
"Aw, don't get all shy now. You'll have plenty of time to confess properly later."
"Don't push your luck," I muttered. Thankfully, another panel appeared in front of us, giving me a much-needed distraction.
[Head Start Players, Batch #1, 300/300]
[Head Start Round 1 in Server UR4NID18 will commence in 60 seconds.]
[If you wish to group up, now is your chance.]
"Huh? Groups?" I glanced at Frey, who immediately perked up.
"You're the leader, obviously," she said, giving a mock bow.
I sighed. "Obviously."
Before Frey could reply, my phone buzzed. I fished it out and dialed Geomi's number. To my surprise, she picked up almost instantly.
"Hey, Geomi, are you also in this weird crystal cave thing?"
"Yes. Are you?"
"... Dumb question."
"What server are you in?"
"UR4NID18. You?"
"Same."
"Let's team up."
"Sure. Where are you?"
"Under this giant opal-looking thing. You can't miss it."
Geomi arrived quickly, her steps light and purposeful. Her long salmon-pink hair, fading into a soft strawberry blonde at the roots, was tied back neatly with a ribbon just above her waist. Her seafoam green eyes sparkled behind round glasses. She was slightly taller than me, her calm demeanor contrasting sharply with Frey's energy.
"Hey, Ms. Fluffy~" she greeted lightly, adjusting her glasses.
Frey's eyes lit up as she stared at Geomi. "Wow~"
I sighed. "Could you not ogle her for five seconds?"
"She's cute, though," Frey said with a grin. "she kinda looks like a pastel version of you."
"What does that even mean?!"
Geomi giggled, clearly amused. "This'll be fun."
[The time limit is up.]
[Parties must make physical contact with the party leader before transportation.]
[Transportation in 30 seconds.]
"Huh? Party leader?" I mumbled, confused.
Before I could say anything, Frey and Geomi both placed a hand on my shoulders.
"Well, I guess that answers that," Frey teased.
A flash of light engulfed us before I could respond.
The new cave was eerily similar to the last but emptier. Only two other people stood nearby, looking as lost as I was. Just as I was about to ask if everyone was okay, I was cut off by another message appearing.
[You have entered Tutorial Level 1. There are 100 levels; try to get as high as possible.]
[Say keyword: ???? to open status.]
"There's only one obvious answer," I muttered. "Status."
The familiar panel appeared, displaying my stats, titles, and skills in vivid detail.
[Name]: Rika Nagayoshi
[Race]: TBD
[Level]: 1/5
[XP]: 0/5
[HP]: 225/225
[MP]: 200/200 (locked)
[Str]: 15 Governs physical power, enabling stronger hits, greater endurance, and the ability to wield heavier weapons. "Great for breaking things—doors, bones, your enemies' hopes. Just aim carefully."
[End]: 15 Determines durability, stamina, and resistance to harm. Essential for surviving battles. "Think of it as your buffer against death. Invest wisely."
[Dex]: 20 Controls agility, precision, and speed, aiding in dodging and quick strikes. "If you can't outmuscle them, outmaneuver them. Just don't trip."
[Wis]: 20 Influences intelligence and magic (if unlocked). Enhances MP regeneration and mental resistance. "Smart choices save lives—and get you fewer 'I told you so' moments."
[Ins]: 19 A combination of perception and intuition. Helps spot hidden traps, uncover weaknesses, and adapt quickly to changing situations. "It's not psychic powers, but it's close enough to freak people out."
[Luk]: 30 Governs probability-based outcomes like critical hits and rare item drops. "It's not gambling if you're lucky enough to always win."
Titles
[Lucky Lineage]: You've inherited the incredible fortune of your ancestors, granting you exceptional [Luk] growth and bonus HP. This title makes the improbable seem possible, tipping the scales in your favor during battles, exploration, and everyday life. Its effects grow stronger with each level, ensuring your luck remains a constant ally."Your ancestors really pulled some strings for you. Don't squander it."
[Fast Learner]: Your ability to pick up new skills is astonishing, whether through observation, practice, or guidance. You grasp the basics quickly, master techniques faster than most, and rarely repeat mistakes. With help, your learning speed doubles, making you an ideal candidate for mentoring or collaborative growth."You're not a genius; you just learn smarter, not harder."
[Jack of All Trades]: Your natural curiosity and adaptability allow you to dabble in all skill classifications, from physical and magical to spiritual. While this versatility is unmatched, it comes at the cost of mastery—you'll need to focus if you want to excel in any one area."You're a Swiss Army knife of talent. But don't expect to be the sharpest blade."
[Sadist]: Whether it's a natural inclination or an unfortunate coincidence, you draw strength from the pain of others. Inflicting visible pain heals you, restoring a percentage of your HP based on the severity of their reaction. This title may enhance your ability to sustain yourself in prolonged battles. "Kinky. Just remember, there's a fine line between effective and unsettling."
[Split]: (Locked)
[Sponge]: You possess an extraordinary ability to absorb and adapt to external energies, such as mana, ki, or holy power. Harmful energies may affect you initially, but extended exposure allows you to build resistance or even manipulate them. This title also enhances your ability to detect energy fluctuations, making magical sneak attacks easier to anticipate.This skill can and will gain partial skills that have a chance of evolving into true skills once they've been maxed out. "Absorb first, adapt later. Just don't fry yourself in the process."
[Adaptable]: Your body and mind instinctively adjust to physical and environmental conditions, allowing you to survive in extreme environments or overcome injuries more quickly. This includes developing resistance to physical effects like poisons, toxins, and harsh climates. The longer you're exposed to a challenge, the stronger your adaptations become. This skill can and will gain partial skills that have a chance of evolving into true skills once they've been maxed out. "They say 'adapt or die.' You've clearly chosen the former."
Skills
[Basic Martial Arts] (Lvl:1): A foundational combat skill that helps refine movements, minimizing openings and improving defense. It's effective against untrained opponents or creatures but lacks the depth to handle skilled fighters. "Think of it as training wheels. Useful, but not for long races."
[Stealth] (Lvl:1): Reduces your detectability, making you harder to spot or track. Works best in low-light or crowded environments but isn't foolproof. "You're not invisible, just really good at being ignored."
[9th Sense] (Lvl:weakend): A heightened intuition that lets you sense approaching danger or hidden opportunities. Often vague but invaluable when it counts. This skill is in a weakened state due to you not awakening to mana yet. "It's not clairvoyance, but it'll save your ass when it matters."
[Mind's Castle] (Lv: Locked):
[Evasion Techniques] (Lvl:1): Improves your ability to dodge and maneuver out of danger. Effective against straightforward attacks, but feints can trip you up. "Why fight when you can just not get hit?"
[Acrobatics] (Lvl:1): Enhances flexibility, balance, and coordination for complex movements. "You'll look cool dodging, but try not to faceplant."
[Perfect Affinity] (Lvl:1): Increases your alignment with elements and energies, improving effectiveness. Rare affinities take more effort to master. "Perfect? Not quite. But better than most, so don't complain."
"What the hell is this?" I muttered, staring at the panel.
"What's wrong?" Frey asked, leaning over to peek.
"I got a title called [Sadist]," I admitted.
Geomi smiled knowingly. "Me too."
"What?!"
Frey burst out laughing, leaving me to groan.
"By the way, does anyone else have those notes under each description?" I asked trying to change the subject.
Geomi seemed like she was waiting for someone to ask because she immediately answered. "Yeah, I have them too. The way mine talked kinda reminds me of how my"
"How your administrator talked?" I cut in.
"Yeah, its a little weird...."Geomi said with a slight shiver.
"You know what's really weird!" Frey's voice snapped me and Geomi out of our thoughts. "I have the Masochist title!"
____
Average Hp: 100-150
Average Mp: 100-150
[Str]: Average: 10 Range: 5–15
[End]: Average: 10 Range: 5–15
[Dex]: Average: 10 Range: 5–15
[Wis]: Average: 10 Range: 5–15
[Ins]: Average: 10 Range: 5–15
[Luk]: Average: 8 Range: 5–12
(In the future I won't have big blocks of description like this unless the skill is important or entertaining. All the not-as-important skill descriptions will be in the paragraph comments in the "Rika's status" auxiliary chapter. Oh, there's a "Rika's status" auxiliary chapter now. In the future I'll make one for the other characters)