The priest looked at the group of bewildered students-turned-heroes, his expression solemn but hopeful. Raising his staff, he declared, "Now, heroes, go forth on your adventures. Become the strongest heroes this world has ever seen, and defeat the evil spreading across the kingdoms. To aid you on your journey, we will provide gold and provisions to help you begin your travels."
The students cheered, their fear and confusion slowly turning into excitement.
"Yes, sir!" Chase exclaimed, his emerald eyes shining with determination.
The others quickly followed suit, their voices echoing in agreement. But Micah? Micah was in his own world, his thoughts spiraling with the possibilities.
Adventuring. Power. A fresh start… I can finally be myself here.
He laughed softly to himself, a wide grin spreading across his face. For the first time in years, he felt genuinely excited—free. "This world might not be so bad," he muttered under his breath.
Moments later, the priest distributed bags of gold and starter provisions to each of the summoned heroes. "May these aid you on your journey," he said with a bow.
"Thank you!" the students chorused, their enthusiasm growing.
As they received their items, the group began to split into smaller clusters, discussing their plans. The popular students quickly gravitated toward one another, huddling together as they talked excitedly about adventuring, exploring, and "making memories."
Scarlett, standing off to the side, glanced at Micah. She hesitated for a moment, then took a step toward him, wanting to talk. But before she could reach him, Chase and the popular group intercepted her.
"Scarlett, come with us!" Chase said, flashing her a dazzling smile.
"Yeah," another popular girl chimed in. "It'll be so much fun! Imagine the adventures we could have together."
"You have to join us!"
Scarlett was taken aback by their enthusiasm. She looked past them, her eyes landing on Micah. He was watching her, his usual smirk tugging at his lips.
Micah walked over to her, ignoring the stares of the popular group. Standing in front of Scarlett, he reached out and placed his hand on her head, ruffling her hair like he always did.
"Go with them," he said softly. "I'll be fine on my own. I need to do this my way."
Scarlett's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you sure you can make it without me?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Micah laughed, throwing his head back. "Of course! I've got everything I need. And I've got a new partner now." He lifted his magic gun, holding it up proudly. "Her name's Aria Nocturne."
Scarlett blinked, then laughed, shaking her head. "Whatever, nerd. See ya, dork."
Micah chuckled. "See ya, monster princess."
With that, Scarlett smiled one last time before turning back to join Chase and the others. Micah watched her go, a pang of bittersweet emotion tugging at his chest. "See you again, my friend," he said quietly.
Turning toward the massive wooden doors of the church, Micah walked forward. Pushing them open, he stepped outside, blinking at the sight before him.
The city was breathtaking. Towering spires of white stone rose against the blue sky, while cobblestone streets bustled with life. Merchants called out from colorful stalls, children ran laughing through the streets, and the scent of freshly baked bread filled the air.
Micah stood there, taking it all in. A smile spread across his face as he tightened his grip on Aria Nocturne.
"Let my adventure begin," he said, his voice filled with determination.
After leaving the church, Micah decided to check how much gold he had been given. He pulled out the leather pouch tied to his belt and opened it. His red eyes widened in shock as he counted the coins.
"Whoa… this is a lot of gold," he muttered, his voice tinged with excitement. He grinned to himself. "Guess I can afford to treat myself."
As he wandered through the bustling streets of the city, a shop sign caught his attention. It read: Adventurer's Attire & Gear.
Micah tilted his head, intrigued. "Well, I do need some new threads for adventuring," he said to himself before stepping inside.
The bell above the door chimed as he entered, and the store owner, a friendly-looking man with graying hair and a warm smile, greeted him. "Welcome to my store! My name's Garret. How can I help you today?"
Micah smiled back and introduced himself. "Micah Vale. Nice to meet you, Mr. Garret. I'm looking for something that suits me for adventuring."
Garret studied Micah for a moment, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm… I think I've got just the thing for you. Wait right here!"
He disappeared into the back, leaving Micah to glance around the shop. After a moment, Garret returned with an armful of clothing and accessories. "Try these on. I have a feeling these will suit you perfectly."
Micah took the items, his eyes lighting up at the sleek, dark design. He quickly headed to the changing room and put them on. The outfit consisted of a long black shirt with matching black pants, fingerless gloves, and a long white scarf that draped dramatically around his neck. The outfit also included a sturdy belt with several small pockets for holding items.
When Micah stepped out, Garret's eyes sparkled. "Amazing! It fits you perfectly!"
Micah turned to the mirror, examining himself. The outfit was lightweight but durable, and the scarf added a touch of flair. "Are you sure?" he asked, a little unsure.
Garret nodded enthusiastically, his smile wide. "Absolutely! You look like a natural adventurer."
Micah chuckled, feeling a surge of confidence. "Alright. How much for all this?"
Garret named the price, and Micah handed over the gold without hesitation. "Thank you, Mr. Vale," Garret said warmly.
"No problem," Micah replied, leaving the store with a newfound spring in his step.
As he strolled through the city streets, smiling to himself, he couldn't help but feel… free. This world was nothing like his old one. Here, he could truly be himself.
Into the Woods
Micah eventually found himself at the city gates, his curiosity driving him to explore the world beyond. The dense woods stretched out before him, and he ventured in, enjoying the quiet sounds of nature as he walked.
After a couple of hours, however, he stopped abruptly when he heard rustling in the bushes ahead. His heart raced as thirty goblins and two snarling wolves emerged from the underbrush, their eyes gleaming with malice.
"What the hell?!" Micah stammered, instinctively stepping back. "Monsters? Already?!"
One of the goblins lunged at him, its crude weapon raised. Micah barely had time to react.
"Activate Dodge Roll!" he shouted.
His body moved on instinct, rolling to the side and narrowly avoiding the goblin's attack. As he regained his footing, he took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.
"Alright… I can do this," he muttered.
He extended his hand, and in a flash of light, his magic gun materialized. The familiar weight in his hand steadied him, and he got into his stance.
Pointing the weapon at the group, he smirked. "Let's see what you've got. Skill: Ricochet Shot!"
The gun hummed as energy charged within it, and with a loud bang, the bullet fired. It bounced off the goblins' weapons and armor, striking ten monsters in rapid succession. Several fell instantly, but more were closing in fast.
Micah's grin widened as he tightened his grip on Aria Nocturne. "Let's kick it up a notch. Skill: Elemental Shot (Fire)!"
The gun glowed with fiery red energy as he pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the center of the group, detonating in a fiery explosion. The blast engulfed the monsters in a small inferno, the heat and light briefly blinding Micah.
As the smoke cleared, the area where the monsters had stood was now empty. No goblins or wolves remained.
Micah lowered his gun, his grin turning into a full-on laugh. "Hell yeah! You ugly monsters didn't stand a chance!"
The Rewards
Suddenly, he heard a series of dings echo in his head. His blue status screen appeared in front of him, displaying a flood of notifications:
• You have leveled up multiple times!
• New skills unlocked!
• Skills evolved!
• Unlocked Weapon
Micah's jaw dropped as he read through the updates. His stats had skyrocketed, and his skill list had expanded significantly.
Name: Micah Vale
• Class: Magic Gunman
• Level: 10
• Health Points (HP): 300/300
• Magic Points (MP): 500/500
• Strength: 25
• Agility: 30
• Attack: 40
• Speed: 35
• Luck: 15
• Intelligence: 40
Normal Skills
• Basic Shooting: Perform a precise shot with minimal MP cost. Deals physical damage. (Evolved to Enhanced Shooting)
• Enhanced Shooting: Fire a more powerful, accurate shot that deals additional damage. (Cost: 10 MP)
• Dodge Roll: Quickly evade an attack with a swift roll, increasing dodge rate by 25% for 2 seconds.
• Quick Reload: Reduce reload time for all weapons by 50%.
Ability Skills
• Magic Bullet: Infuse bullets with magical energy, dealing additional magic damage on hit. (Cost: 10 MP) (Evolved to Magic Bullet V2)
• Magic Bullet V2: Bullets now deal elemental damage (fire, ice, or lightning) based on the user's choice.
• Elemental Shot (Fire): Fire a flaming bullet that explodes on impact, dealing fire damage to a small area. (Cost: 15 MP)
• Elemental Shot (Ice): Fire an ice bullet that slows enemies by 30% for 5 seconds. (Cost: 15 MP)
• Elemental Shot (Lightning): Fire a lightning bullet that chains to up to 5 nearby enemies, dealing magic damage. (Cost: 20 MP) (New)
• Ricochet Shot: Fire a bullet that bounces off up to 5 surfaces, striking multiple enemies. (Cost: 20 MP) (Evolved to Enhanced Ricochet Shot)
• Enhanced Ricochet Shot: The bullet now chains with elemental damage when it hits targets.
• Burst Barrage: Unleash a rapid series of five magic bullets, each dealing moderate damage. (Cost: 25 MP)
• Piercing Shot: A bullet that penetrates through multiple enemies in a straight line. (Cost: 15 MP) (New)
Magic Skills
• Mana Burst: Create a shockwave of pure magical energy around you, pushing enemies back and dealing damage. (Cost: 30 MP)
• Magic Shield: Summon a barrier that absorbs 50% of incoming damage for 10 seconds. (Cost: 25 MP) (Evolved to Enhanced Magic Shield)
• Enhanced Magic Shield: Now reflects 10% of the damage absorbed back at attackers.
• Arcane Shot: Fire a concentrated beam of arcane energy, dealing massive magic damage to a single target. (Cost: 40 MP)
• Elemental Barrage: Unleash a volley of elemental bullets (fire, ice, and lightning) in rapid succession, damaging all enemies in a cone. (Cost: 50 MP) (Evolved to Enhanced Elemental Barrage)
• Enhanced Elemental Barrage: Now includes a wider cone and additional elemental damage effects.
• Teleport Shot: Fire a bullet and teleport to its location instantly. (Cost: 35 MP)
• Explosive Barrage: Fire a volley of explosive bullets that deal area damage. (Cost: 50 MP) (New)
Unique Skills
• Unlimited Ammo (Passive): Ammo count is infinite for all weapons. Reloading is still required.
• Mana Regeneration (Passive): Regenerate 5 MP per second outside of combat and 2 MP per second in combat.
• Bulletstorm: Enter a heightened state of concentration, doubling attack speed and magic damage for 15 seconds. (Cost: 50 MP, Cooldown: 3 minutes)
• Phantom Reload: Instantly reload your gun without using ammo. (Cost: 10 MP) (New)
• Phantom Shot: Fire an invisible, undetectable bullet that ignores all shields and barriers. (Cost: 50 MP, Cooldown: 2 minutes) (Evolved to Enhanced Phantom Shot)
• Enhanced Phantom Shot: Now deals massive damage to barriers and reduces enemy defenses by 30% for 10 seconds.
Weapons
• Aria Nocturne (Magic Gun): A sleek, silver-and-blue weapon engraved with runes. Fires physical and magical bullets. Capable of adapting to elemental skills. (Current Level: 1)
• Weapon Unlocked: Nova Fang (Dual Pistols): A pair of black-and-gold pistols with explosive rounds. Specializes in rapid-fire and short-range combat. (New)
Items
• Health Potion (x3): Restores 50 HP.
• Mana Potion (x3): Restores 50 MP.
• Teleport Crystal (x1): Instantly return to a safe location. One-time use.
Micah scrolled through the updates, his jaw dropping as he realized the full scope of his newfound abilities. His eyes landed on the Weapon Unlocked section, and his heart skipped a beat.
"Nova Fang?" he muttered, summoning the dual pistols. In a flash of light, the sleek black-and-gold weapons appeared in his hands. He twirled them experimentally, marveling at their balance and design.
"I've got options now," he said with a grin. "Aria Nocturne for precision… and Nova Fang for going full-blown chaos."
His excitement bubbling over, Micah dismissed the screen and looked ahead, the forest stretching out before him. The thrill of adventure coursed through his veins as he took a deep breath.
"Alright," he said to himself, his smile growing. "Let's see what else this world has to offer!"
Micah stared at the screen, his heart pounding with excitement. "I'm getting stronger… This is incredible!"
Clenching his fist, he glanced back at the woods. "If this is just the start, I can't wait to see what's next."
With his newfound strength and confidence, Micah turned toward the horizon. His adventure had only just begun.