[You have gained an Epic Item: Silver Lining.]
"Woah!"
I exclaimed in bewilderment in response, to the breathtaking scene before me.
Did it go to my inventory?!
I inhaled sharply before opening my inventory.
[Inventory:] School Uniform, Blade of Grass, Rock Pebbles, Twigs, Acolyte Leaves, Glass Bottle, Wrapped Meat (5), Box of Seasoning, Hunting Knife, Quill-Book, Leather Map, Silver Lining
Sparkles suddenly ignited in my eyes when I saw it stashed inside my inventory. I seemed like a little kid who had just gotten a new toy.
"I've gotta check it out!"
I focused on Silver Lining and thought.
Inventory Open.
Suddenly, an outline of a katana formed before countless sparks weaved it's form into existence and after a few moments, the silver katana that I had dreaded was right in my hand.
Once I grasped it, a rush of adrenaline seeped into my blood and I felt immense joy.
So, this is what it feels like to hold a katana...
I stared at it with reverence, taking in all of its features. The Silver Lining was an uchigatana with a grey blade, a regal-styled guard and a silver handle along with a pommel that further emphasizes its regal origin.
Was it made for a prince or some noble?
I looked down at the skeleton.
Was he a prince?
No... I don't think so...
I pondered for a moment and said, "I haven't read that book...maybe I should it..."
Along with the items in the hunter's backpack was a book and a quill. The book had a strange lock sealing it so I was unable to read it.
"Yes! I can slash it open with the katana!", I exclaimed with a tone of realization but then I shook my head, "No... that lock was put by a human being, and if it was why can't I open it as well?"
I shook my head, dismissing the thoughts about the book and then turned back to the katana.
"So, I practically own a katana now.", I said, forcing a sly grin to form on my face.
"Hahaha! Let's see how those bastards back in my class are gonna treat me now!"
Calm down, virgin...
My inner voice spoke.
You! Where the fuck have you been?!
Fucking my hoes...something you'll never experience...
An expression of apprehension formed on my face then I said, "Too bad, you're a part of my consciousness...had you been real I would have struck you down instantly."
Pfft! Can you even use it?
My inner voice spoke and instantly regretted what it said.
Suddenly, I thought in a cold voice.
Ah...so you fucked your brains out as well...
HAHAHA! Watch then...
I bent down to pick up a bone from the skeleton; its femur.
I weighed it in my hand and tossed it up once, then said, "Yes this will do well for my flex."
The Silver Lining was in my right hand while the femur of the Lost Skeleton was in the other.
"Watch and learn, mf."
I tossed the bone into the air and immediately took my stance.
[Skill: Martial Arts has been activated – Iaido.]
Instantly, I took a slightly kneeling stance and positioned the silver katana as if it were in a scabbard. The bone upon reaching its max height suddenly succumbed to the pull of gravity and plummeted down.
My face was eerily calm devoid of all emotion. The moment the bone fell into my line of sight, my sword flashed in a horizontal arc meeting no resistance while the femur, a bone which is stated to be the thickest of all the other bones in the body and being that of a hunter, no less was cleaved in two effortlessly.
CLACK!
As the sound of the bones crashing into the soil resounded through the woods, I was already standing up straight with a furious expression.
"'I can't even use it' did you fucking hear yourself?! Weren't you watching me when I performed this slash 1000 times?!"
At that my inner voice went silent.
I frowned before shaking my head, "This is stupid...pride will get me nowhere..."
I lingered for a moment feeling sour before deciding to continue checking out my new weapon.
Hmm...I think it should have a description like the skills...
[Inventory:] School Uniform, Blade of Grass, Rock Pebbles, Twigs, Acolyte Leaves, Glass Bottle, Wrapped Meat (5), Hunting Knife, Quill-Book, Leather Map, Silver Lining
I focused on Silver Lining and thought.
Describe.
[Inventory:] Silver Lining: A dying prince stood before a tarnished crown, brandishing a silver sword in hand. This sword brought forth a flame of hope to the prince's heart and with that hope came great solitude. This Epic Item has the effect; Undying Will.
"Undying Will...is it the will of the dying prince...?", I pondered as I read the description.
[Effect:] Undying Will: With great solitude, comes great power and great revelations.
"Uhh...what?", I blurted out, seemingly bewildered at how the Effect was described.
This description is ambiguous as fuck!
"Do they mean the lonelier you are the stronger you are? Or does the sword get stronger and make the user lonelier...?", I muttered before sighing, "These developers are a literary bunch, huh..."
I stared at the silver blade then at the Lost Skeleton's corpse.
"I don't think...this sword belonged to this hunter...the owner left it here...but why...? Did they resent this hunter greatly? To have stabbed him to a tree and leave his body to rot?", I muttered to myself and then looked away.
"Doesn't matter now...though."
"Store."
The silver katana scattered into several sparks of light before disintegrating, returning back to my inventory.
[Unequipped Item:] Silver Lining
Inventory Open.
[Equipped Item:] Leather Map
In its place, the leather map I had looted from the Lost Skeleton's corpse weaved itself into existence.
I grasped it in my hands and before skimming through it.
I vaguely remember the direction I ran in... I think I ran left of the Lost Skeleton's tree...which means that I am west of the waterfall which means ironically, I advanced in the direction of the x mark...
"So, if I keep heading forward, I'll reach it...", I concluded as I peered forward into the thicket.
As I stared forward, I suddenly felt uneasy.
What are the odds that I'll run into some eldritch horror...? Something even more dreadful...than a walking skeleton...
I sighed, "Fuck..."
I looked at the Lost Skeleton and muttered, "I have to be careful...I got lucky with this one only because it was merely Level 3 and a mindless beast...if I run into something of a higher level..."
I'll be screwed...
I lingered for a moment and shook my head, a grin spreading across my face.
"Pfft! Didn't I say I won't die to a goddamn game."
I laughed and then proceeded to walk forward, but then I stopped and looked down.
My clothes...
Indeed, my clothes were in... horrible shape. Torn in so many areas, extremely dirt and soaked with a sizable amount of my blood. The once civilized pink uniform I wore was now nothing short of rags.
I sighed and turned to look at the slightly better clothing resting on the corpse of the skeleton.
"Tsk...beggars can't be choosers...", I said with a grimace before crouching down to salvage the skeleton's clothing.
A couple of minutes later, I was en route to the x marked area.
"I wonder how long... it'll take me to get there...", I muttered to myself as I stared at the sky; it was already past noon.
What is there anyway?
As I was walking, I pondered on that question before deciding on an action.
Inventory Open.
With that command, a rectangular outline formed on my left hand followed by countless sparks which merged together to form a book.
[Equipped Item:] Quill-Book
I grasped it before examining the strange lock on its cover.
"I have to crack this..."
The Quill-Book was a medium-sized book made up of paper and animal skin while having a strange lock mechanism on its cover. The strange lock prevented anyone beside its owner from figuring out what was inside.
Which means that whatever is inside...is extremely valuable...but...
"Why would they protect it with animal skin?", I asked inquisitively as I continued to examine the lock.
"Ah! So that's why!", I spoke in a tone of realization when I discovered a part of the lock mechanism. It seemed to look like a miniaturized version of an igniter for a flintlock rifle; the way it had been cleverly integrated with the lock mechanism made it hard to distinguish from the whole device.
As I scrutinized it, a dark expression made its way to my face.
This igniter was meant to destroy the book if it wasn't opened correctly and to some extent harm the perpetrator...!
"How devious...", a wide smile made its way to my face as I raised the book up to my eye level.
Whoever came up with the idea of this book needs a raise...but I wonder...isn't it kinda a waste...?
If I had never come this way, I would have never found this book...and no one would have either...so why put so much braincells into making a masterpiece like this...?
I contemplated for a moment and then shook my head.
"Whatever this book contains must be truly forbidden...heh...all the more reason to know!", I grinned from ear to ear and then turned back to the lock system.
"For starters, I've gotta figure out how the hell this thing works and...", my eyes darkened and my voice grew colder,
"I only have one chance."
...
[Name:] Dex
[True Name:]???
[Level:] 1
[EXP:] 0/100
[Skills:] Saturation, Dominator, Ease of Learning, Fear Inducement, Solitude, Seduction, Persuasion, Luck Enhancement, Glass Affinity, Ranged Arm Knowledge (appreciated)
[Aliases:] OG, Stripper King
[Debuffs:] Brain Rot, Rake, Weakness, Ease of Learning, Gyatted
I stared at my stats before dismissing them with a hiss.
I walked up to the shore of the lake after taking off my clothes, leaving behind a pair of red beach shorts.
I took one step in and then let out a relieved breath as the water of the tranquil lake reeled me in.
Damn...so relaxing...
I turned to Fawn and asked, "How the fuck did you guys find this place?"
"Actually, Dave found it...he heard rushing water and followed the sound, we followed him and here we are.", he said in a chill tone as he soaked in the lake as well.
I actually have a fear of water but this lake just seemed rather different...I just felt like entering it was right...and oh boy was I right...
I breathed out another sigh of relief and then looked around.
All of my classmates were present...I think.
Some were playing in the lake, some were just chilling in it, some were smooching with each other on the shore but overall, everyone was chill.
"This game is amazing.", I heard Fawn mumble as he floated on the lake's pristine surface.
"Yeah, you're right.", I spoke with a dazed tone.
Damn if I could just get to grind some peachy ass...this will be paradise...
As if responding to my wish, a lithe and feminine figure swam into my view.
"Ha?"
The feminine figure had fair skin and slightly auburn hair which was tied up in a pony tail, she had brown eyes and a modest chest. Her rather supple ass complimented her lower curves nicely giving her a generous figure.
The girl in question was none other than my girl, Marilyn and she was currently, sporting a white singlet and a black bikini short which hugged her ass a little...too tight.
I've gyatt to grind that ass...
Marilyn's slender body swayed in a coy manner as she ascended from the water with a smile on her face. Her expression was playful and endearing but beneath her eyes was an underlying neediness.
Suddenly, something perked up.
"Dex come on...let's play...", she said as she grabbed my hand and begun pulling me to the water.
Immediately, I took a deep breath and gazed at her supple ass, "Yeah...let's play..."
It's been a while since I've beat it anyway...