Getting out from the river of countless ancient blood, jack sat on the dirt not sure what just happened. He'd came this direction to find any other living being as it was quite depressing being lonely, but he never expected to find this treasure.
At first seeing the system screen, he thought it was a quest or warning, but it was a blessing in disguise. Normally one would've never dared to go near this red river, not to mention bathing in it. But thanks to his system, he not only managed to aquire a new skill but also his first ever ability.
"Profile." Jack couldn't hide the excitement in his tone, rubbing his hands together like a little child about to open his present.
[Name: jack Anderson]
[Lv: 01]
[Strength: 4]
[Agility: 3]
[Stamina: 3]
[Intelligence: 3]
[Ancient blood: infinite]
[Hp: 60/60]
[Body state: 30/30]
(Free stats: 0)
[Title: Walker of worlds title: Allows user to travel back to his previous world for a duration of 5 minutes.
(Time left till host can travel back: 5 minutes 20sec)
[Bloody Samaritan: restores +10 hp to host for every bloody deeds.]
[Abilities: ancient bloodline ability]
[Skills passive:
Decay: grants user the ability to make any living thing he touches decays which he consumes restoring his body state or hp. (Note: user can only use this on a living being body state lower or on the same as his)]
[Blood decay: Blood decay is a technique that allows the user to decompose things by touching or shooting out their poisonous blood. (Note can only shoot out small shapes of poison blood balls for now.]
[Store: locked??]
[Shop: locked??]
[Reach lv 15 to unlock system store and shop]
'Huh! is this an evolved blood version of decay?' Jack thought staring at the both skills. It was no doubt blood decay was very similar to decay, as they both had the same purpose with slight differences. Being that his first skill decay, granted him the ability to make anything he touches decays.
While blood decay made use of blood properties, allowing him decay stuff he touches or came in contact with the balls he shoots from his poisonous blood.
'Could it perhaps be an evolved version.' Jack wondered but dismissed the thought, as the system clearly stated them apart. He'd never used his skill decay, so he didn't know how it worked. But he was thankful it was passive, and didn't require anything for activation. Same going for his new skill blood decay, he just got few minutes ago.
"Well it does make sense since I don't have an ability." Jack smirked a bit cocky.
"But wait.. system, how can I have a skill without having an ability?" Jack asked his system confused. Normally the skills of MC's were generated, or formed from their abilities or attributes.
Take a fire ability user for example. The skills he would used are formed from his fire attribute, like wings of fire or fire arrows. Same going for water and other ability user's.
[Wrong! User's primary ability is locked for now because host hasn't completed the requirements required.] The system said in a monotone voice.
"Requirements? Why wasn't I aware of this earlier?" This was the first time jack was being informed by the system, he had an ability that was locked talk less of some requirements.
[Host never asked, so I didn't find it necessarily to inform you.] The system uttered in a cocky tone for the first time, shocking jack a bit.
'B-bastard.' He inwardly cursed.
[You know I can hear your thoughts and feel your emotions, since am now a part of you right?]
"Shit! W-what are the requirements?" Jack asked, changing the topic before this got more awkward than they already were.
[Error! Reach lv15 to unlock the first requirement.]
"Great.. just what I needed." Jack sarcastically said rolling his eyes.
'What does this ancient bloodline ability mean?' Jack wondered gazing at the tab in his front. He found the ability a bit weird, as the name reminded him of something as a kid.
'I never did find out who left that drawing on the wall.' During his time as a kid he lived out in the streets, living off whatever scrapes he could find. But one day, he came across a strange drawing of a hooded figure with boney hands, holding an alluring red gem.
"System, can you give a description for the ancient bloodline ability." Jack calmly said. He'd thought the system would automatically display the ability description, like it did with the skills but it didn't. And when he tried looking for a three dot, or an I icon just like in the games he also came up short.
[Ancient bloodline ability: far beyond time, before the great fall----- across the dark realm. Born from blood of their enemies-----that binds them. Rulling with might and force ----- by one. Drowning them in their own blood~ (grants user the blood of the countless ancient ones from the great fall, giving host infinite blood at his disposal]
"Weird.. there's a story attached to it." Jack found it weird, there was kinda a story narrative attached to this ability. Usually from the games he'd played, there shouldn't be such in the descriptions.
"System the story is incomplete and some words are missing." Jack frowned. He really wanted to get the full details of this ability, hoping it might give him some information relating to himself or his parents.
[Error! cannot provide information.]
"Damn! Just when I thought I had a lead." Shaking his head, jack decided to dismiss the thought of learning about this strange ability for now.
[Time left: 2 minute 50second]
Checking the timer, he still had about 2 minutes left before he could transport back to Agathe. With nothing to do he decided to check both his skills, decay and blood decay.
"Decay!" Jack commanded, waiting for some sort of reaction which never came.
"Decay, decay, decay!" Jack said out loud three times, thinking the system didn't hear him. He even went as far as to demonstrate with his hands, hoping something might come out.
'System why isn't my skill working, do you have a glitch?'
[Negative.. I am operating perfectly. It is you that has a deficiency.] The system coldly said, and jack could've sworn it was mocking him.
'What do you mean deficiency? Am saying it right, aren't I?' Jack was still new to having a system in him, so he hadn't gotten the full hang of it yet. It was alternatively easy to access his profile and descriptions, using his voice as command. So he thought the same logic would work, when activating his skills.
[Due to host weak intelligence, attempting to activate a skill without proper practice would result in failure.]
"A-are you kidding me! You couldn't have told me earlier, instead of watching me make a fool at myself." Jack retorded, fuming with rage at his jerk of a system. It was meant to guide and help him grow stronger, not withholding any information that might be of use to him. But unfortunately, his cocky system was the opposite of helpful.
[Host didn't ask so-]
"Yeah, yeah~ you didn't find it necessary to inform me." Jack sarcastically said rolling his eyes.
[Would host like to learn proper practice for activation of skills?] The system asked to which jack nodded.
"Yes."
[Error! Host must first download the system beginners guide.] Another panel popped up in Jack's view.
"Wait! there's a beginner's guide? Ha~ whatever. Accept."
[Please wait while your request is being processed. Please note host might experience some slight discomfort.] After some seconds, a series of information flooded Jack's head causing him to shout in pain.
"Argh!" He screamed falling to the floor squirming, as his head was assaulted with series of codes. After 10 seconds the pain reduced, until it finally stopped.
"What the hell! this wasn't what I expected by 'slight discomfort'." Jack complained, not ok with the sudden pain he'd just passed through.
[I did say host would feel slight discomfort..] his system sarcastically spoke, making Jack's blood surge more.
"I'll make you feel slight discomfort." Jack growled. After some light bickering he then calmed himself down.
"A-am sorry, I didn't mean to be so.. repulsive."
[Apology accepted. Beginners guide has also been downloaded successfully, try activating a skill again.]
Nodding jack took a deep breath calming himself down.
"Decay." he calmly spoke stretching his hand out.
[Skill decay activated!]
A prompt system notification popped up in his view. Unlike before this was different, as he could feel it. A strange energy coursing in his chest where his heart was. It seemed to be alive, beating with life spreading through his veins.
'Now I just have to direct it where I want it to go.' Attempting to move the strange energy, he failed miserably at first. Trying again he also failed.
"I-i did it." Jack smiled panting a bit, finally succeeding after a couple of tries. Staring at his right hand, he could see it was now completely dark with strange black veins running all over it, pulsing with a foreign energy.
'Deactivate.' Jack inwardly said with his mind.
[Skill decay deactivated]
"Haha! it works." Jack smiled. He was tired of shouting out his skills for activation, for various of purposes. Mostly if he were in a fight. It would be a disadvantage to him, as his opponent would be aware of his attack thus preparing to counter.
'Activate blood decay.' Jack telepathically commanded.
[Blood decay activated!]
Just like before he could feel a strange energy, but more foreign than the last. It didn't start in his chest like before, instead it was in his whole system flowing through his veins. Directing it was also much easier, as it flowed freely to Jack's left arm.
'Bam!' A small ball of dark red blood shot out from Jack's left hand. moving with speed, it collided with a pile of dirt exploding upon impact. Sending bits of dirt's flying everywhere, with a sizzling sound.
"Nice." Jack grinned, staring at his arm pulsing with the dark red blood.
'Blood decay is definitely more effective than decay.' He didn't want to be picky, but if he were to choose then he'd go with blood decay. Not only was it more freely for him to use, but it also seemed more effective.
[Walker of worlds title cool down timer has elapsed]
[User can now use title effects!]