Hiding under a patch of leaves, I used my [masseuse] skill once more to calm my beating heart and ease my mind.
"Okay, I just have to survive for 3 minutes until my system goes back online and I can use my skills". I muttered to myself as I drew up a plan in my head, but to be honest I was using that means to console myself.
"Haaa...what skills do I even have that could help me in this situation". Placing my heading the cold ground, I sighed in defeat as I tried to recall any remotely useful skill that I had.
"[Liar]?, what am I gonna do, lie to those bat creeps and play dead?". Looking around, I steeled myself and crawled out slowly out of the patch of leaves and entered a tall tree with an opening large enough to fit me.
'This was a bad Idea, I should've waited a little bit before hunting beasts I knew nothing about'.
'My emotions clouded my judgement so I've gotta pay the price for my rash actions'.
"Okay, get yourself together and stop whining". Slapping my cheeks, I held the scythe in my hand and examined it closely.
"This stuff takes a lot of mana, but that's if I give it mana in the first place....".
It was a gamble but if it paid off, I could survive till my system goes back online.
*Kieeeeekkk* *Kieeeeeekkk*
Loud screeching noises startled me out of my thoughts as I hid even more and poked my head out a little to see what was making those sounds.
'It seems Lady luck is on my side today'. Two wyverns fighting for territory, one was heavily injured and the other could barely fly due to part of it's wings being torn off.
"Huuuuu...calm yourself and get into an advantageous position". Mumbling to myself, I came out of the tree trunk and moved extremely slowly and hid behind a large rock that was close to where the wyverns were fighting.
*Kieeeeekkk* *Kieeeeeekkk*
It was an intense battle and they were so focused on each other that they didn't notice my presence, so I waited for the perfect time to strike.
'Two birds with one stone hehe'. With a smirk, I readied my scythe, ' I'm going to need to train to fight with this bad boy if I'm going to perform well in the tournament'. Making a mental note to start my training from there, I bent down and prepared to launch myself with my feet.
'Novel knowledge, come to my aid Pleeease'. Begging the novel gods to make my plans come to fruition, I tried infusing mana into my legs and store them to propel me forward.
"It's like thick air". I mumbled to myself as I watched the flow of mana react to me, 'Okay, so how do they do It again?, Oh yeah, so I've got to circu–'
*Kiiiiiiieeeeekkk* *Kieekk*
A louder screech resonated through the forest and jolted me out of my thoughts,'I've got to attack now'. I thought to myself as I readied my position and pushed myself upwards with all the strength I could muster.
"Surprise motherfucker!". I lifted my scythe behind my back and swung downwards with every bit of force that I could muster.
*Kieeeek?* *Kiiiiikikikeekkk*
'Shit!, it's calling for help'. Slashing down, the wyvern dodged my attack and it's already injured wings was cut off by my blade.
'Shit, I missed'.
I rolled on the floor as deep red blood spilled out of the large creature in the process of it moving around frantically.
'B-blood.....', My heart was in dissaray as the metallic and nauseating smell of the blood of the wyvern drenched my clothes and the side of my face, 'Now's not the time to be normal, get a grip!'. Clearing my head, I ran with my scythe in front of me and swung blindly at the wyvern.
*Keeeiiiiekk* *kiikkk*
The wyvern dodged once more and attacked with it's elongated talons extended on my direction.
Dodging the desperate attack by the bird, I ran to it's back and jumped on it.
*Kieeekkk* *Kieeekk*
It's loud screeching nearly burst my eardrums, but I knew I couldn't let go or else I'll be dead meat.
Extending my scythe with great difficulty due to the wyvern constantly moving and trying to shake me off with it's loud screeching, I brought the blade to it's neck and.....
*Slash*
I sliced the neck of the wyvern and it's blood sprayed out as it's movements became less and less frantic.
Eventually, it fell with a thud and it's breathing ceased.
"Haa..haaa....haaa". Breathing heavily, I layed on top of the dead wyvern and tried to catch my breath.
A sharp metallic smell permeated my nose as the blood of the wyvern coloured the ground with a reddish hue.
I got off the wyvern as my nose wrinkled, to make sure it was dead, I poked it with my scythe a few times.
"I–is it over?". I mumbled hesitantly as the glassy eyes of the wyvern lost it's light and I confirmed it was really dead.
Yes, I triggered a flag.
*Kiiikk* *kiiiiekkkk*
Snapping my head in the direction of the low screeching noises, I walked over carefully and saw the other wyvern with wounds all over it's furry body.
"You're almost dead, huh". I looked at the numerous blood-red eyes that reflected my bloodied figure as it stared at me like I was it's worst enemy.
"You must be scared.....I'm scared too.....like really scared". Sitting on the ground next to the dying wyvern with a weak smile on my face, I poured out everything that I held in my heart.
"I thought I wouldn't be affected by all this blood since I've read all about it in the fantasy novels in my past life, but boy was I wrong".
*Kiiiek* *kikik*
As if it understood what I was saying, it screeched lowly to my words.
"I'm sorry I had to kill you guys for my own gain, but that's how the world is right?". I smiled weakly as I continued.
"I needed to get all the basics of this world down so my guardian could leave sooner, so I had no choice"
*Kikik* *kiiiik*
"The person I thought was my companion told me I was nothing more than extra luggage...heh, I guess I'm not as hot as I thought". My vision became blurry as I looked at the sky.
"You know, I didn't ask for any of this...I didn't want to have a second chance at life or any of this bullishit". I spoke as I pierced my scythe into the ground.
"I just....want to go home....to earth, even though I don't have anyone back there, at least I won't have to fight for my life"
Clenching my fists and biting my lips, I tried to stifle my sobbing and stop the tears from rolling down my eyes, but it was all for naught as they flowed freely anyway.
*Kikik* *kieeek*
As the wyvern writhed in pain, I wiped my tears and looked at the furry body of the dying wyvern.
"I'm.....sorry, I was selfish and made you experience more pain than you were supposed to". Standing up with a neutral expression, I raised my scythe and slashed down, "I'll put you out of your misery".
*Pierce*
Looking at the blood flowing out of the body of the wyvern with my face reflected clearly with it, the reality finally set in, that this wasn't some fantasy novel that I could predict the plot and that the characters weren't NPC's.
********
[Ding!]
[System update complete!]
[Skills are now available for use]
[Host's information interface has been updated!!]
[Information bank has been updated!!]
[Mission interface is back online]
[Mission: kill 15 wyverns]
[Progress: 3/15]
[Reward: –5 weeks from rate of improvement and new skills]
[Remark: ...are you okay?]
*********
Looking at the system interface, I located a nearby stream and washed my bloodied face.
'My information should be more detailed with this update no?'. Thinking that to myself, I opened my information panel and studied the differences.
********
Name: Clark Thompson
Rank: F
Class: Battle mage
Lvl: 5 (Congratulations to the host for advancing one level!)
Exp points: 30
Mp: 23/99
_________________
Strength: 17
Agility: 15
Vitality: 16
Intelligence: 19
______________
Weapon in use: Aether scythe
Weapon rank: Mythril – touched
Weapon proficiency: 5%
______________
Skill(s) in use: Masseuse lvl.4
Skill proficiency: 10%
_______________
"Those are.....alot of changes". I was dumbfounded by the detailed status that the system gave me, completely unlike how it was before.
"Hmm....i assume the exp points is the 'fee' the system was talking about back then". Sitting on a rock, I rubbed my chin as I studied my status.
"I have alot of training to do...haaah". Sighing, I stood up and looked around the forest to find a place I could sleep.
'I'm not leaving here until I complete my mission'. My thoughts reaching this point, I carved open an abnormally large tree and snuck inside, 'Mhm, it's warm enough and I can hide in here if I get in a pickle.'
Examining my 'home' one last time, I came out and held my scythe, "I've gotta get used to–"
*Rustle* *Rustle*
"The fuck?". Hearing the rustling sounds, I hid behind a tree and readied my scythe to attack in case it was a monster.
"Hey, I think there was someone here!". A male voice belonging to a man in his twenties resounded as he seemed to be calling his comrades.
"Young master, please be careful". A polite and refined voice called out to the man.
'Young master?, what is a noble doing in these parts?'. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I was debating whether or not to reveal myself.
Two more men with white hairs and with small wrinkles on their face appeared behind the young man with a respectful expression on their face.
'They're strong...'
Although I couldn't sense any aura from them, I could tell they could kill me with a snap of their fingers, heck I'm sure they've already noticed my presence but didn't see me as a threat.
Not sure if I was to be happy about that or not.
"And we have a friend that's already here, don't we?".
The voice sounded towards my direction and my heart sank, 'Can't say I didn't see it coming'.
Coming out with a neutral expression on my face, I examined the young man before me.
A tall, handsome and well–built man with red hair, he wore a silver armor that was most likely [enchanted] rank or higher and he had a condescending gaze on his face – a characteristic of most nobles.
'I don't like that attitude'. I thought with narrowed eyes.
Maybe it was because of the issues with the wyvern hunt or with Laura but I was much more sensitive to things I would've easily overlooked on a normal day.
" Hm....an F rank in these parts....., you're a foolish one aren't you". He commented as he examined me with condescending eyes with a derisive smirk on his face.
'He's a noble all right'. I thought as my anger rose.
I activated my system and took a look at his status.
********
Name: Greg Vandemire
Class: Swordsman
Rank: C–
MP: 290/300
______________
Strength: 71
Agility: 92
Vitality: 97
Intelligence: 76
_____________
'He outclasses me in every way, but I guess it's to be expected'. Sighing lightly, I turned back and walked towards my tree house to avoid any unnecessary trouble.
"You dare walk out on me?!".
Of course, the universe would love to kick me while I'm down by sending me a snobby noble.
'I'm sure he's going to start yelling 'Courting death' any minute now'. I thought as I looked at him with uninterested eyes.
"You're Courting death!!". He shouted as he unleashed his aura.
'Called it'.
********
Skill [Rank nullification] is in use!
Time limit: [6:00]
**********
"I don't want any trouble, I'm just an F rank, I'm sure your pride won't allow you to bully someone as weak as myself". I spoke with a bland tone as his expression changed.
If there's one thing I learned about nobles it's that they value their pride above all else, so obviously I was going to use that to my advantage.
"You've got balls, I'll give you that". Observing me with narrowed eyes, he continued, "You even managed to handle my aura– no manage is an understatement, you were completely unfazed by it".
My eyebrows raised slightly in surprise, 'I guess he's not some brain dead noble after all'.
Nodding internally, I stared at him with a blank expression on my face.
"I can tell you're not simple, despite you being an F rank, you're unfazed by a rank several times higher than yours, you probably have some tricks up your sleeve".
My eyes narrowed in suspicion, I didn't like the way this was going....
"Therefore, I will duel with you and of course I will limit my rank to F rank so we can have a fair fight". Affirming my suspicion, Greg proposed a duel with crossed arms and an arrogant smirk on his face.
'I could use this chance to train my scythe skills and get some battle experience, it's a good deal all round'.
Weighing the pros and cons, I nodded in agreement to the duel, "Alright, but if I win, you will do anything I ask of you". The bodyguards' eyes narrowed as they heard my condition and I hurriedly added, "of course I won't ask anything outrageous".
Greg sank into deep thought for a while before nodding and saying, "And if I win, you will serve me throughout my journey".
I nodded and we shook hands, "Tomorrow, before noon, in front of that stream". I pointed to a nearby stream as I set our location.
"Very well, prepare to serve me, peasant". He agreed with a confident smile on his face.
'Your arrogance will be your downfall Greg Vandemire'. I thought as a smirk formed on my face and I headed down to my tree house.