I stared at the sheathed sword sitting on the table. It was clear even from its appearance that this was no ordinary sword, but a [Relic] of some kind. Having it appraised cost the majority of my remaining inheritance money, and all I was able to get out of it was that it was an F-Ranked [Relic], and that unsheathing it would count as accepting a contract with it.
Finding this [Relic] was a bit of a funny story. Ever since the [Arcanum] struck Earth things like these [Relics] and of course the [Dungeons] have been popping up all over the place, sometimes even in the most random of locations, but never directly in inhabited places. Apparently due to how long I've been squatting in the ruins of my own home, it is no longer classified as "inhabited" by whatever [System] controls this sort of thing, so I found it laying in the middle of my bedroom floor when I woke up.
[Relics] like this [Armament] or a [Skill Book] are the only way for someone born before the Arcanumfall to become [Awakened], and even then it's a gamble as to whether or not you're able to control the power you're given. Because of this, Relic Hunters the world over search for all kinds of low-rank [Relics] and sell them to the uber-rich. Even an F-Rank can fetch as high a price as 10,000,000 USD, and a professional [Appraisal] can rival that in cost.
I am sure that in a couple decades the world will calm down a bit about this whole thing and the prices will drop to something reasonable. I do not have a couple of decades, but luckily I do have a home-grown [Relic], (almost) free of charge.
Taking a deep breath and steeling my nerves, I picked up the sword by both the handle and sheath, and with some effort, separated the two. There was a bright light from the [Armament] as it morphed from a generic one-handed shortsword into a Japanese katana, perhaps personalizing itself to my cultural fascinations. Once the light died down, a [Screen] appeared in the center of my vision.
[Welcome, Alec]
[You have accepted the Sword's Burden]
I reached up with a finger and tapped on the [Screen] causing it to disappear, and to be replaced by another listing my [Stats];
[Name: Alec Beckman, Title: Holder of the Sword]
[Class: Swordsman (locked), Subclass: (locked)]
[Level: 1]
[STR: 10(+5)] [DEX: 8(+4)]
[END: 7(+3)] [CON: 10(+5)]
[INT: 4(+2)] [FAI: 4(+2)]
[ADP: 10(+5)] [ARC: 5(+2)]
[Party: 1/5]
For the most part my stats were easy enough to understand. From my limited research I knew that 4 was average for a non-[Awakened] person, so I was glad to see most of my stats were above that. The first four are the physical stats; Strength and Dexterity are self explanatory, Endurance is stamina, and Constitution dictates maximum HP. The latter four are the metaphysical stats; Intelligence and Faith decide how well you can cast [Magic] with different types requiring different amounts of either, Adaptability is how fast you grow when you [Level Up], and Arcane is sort of but not really "luck".
But then there were those "bonuses" and the fact that one of my [Party] slots appeared to already be filled. I had a hunch those two things were related, so tapped on [Party] and it expanded to show everyone in it.
[Name: N/A, Title: Sword of the Burden]
[Class: Armament (locked), Subclass: (locked)]
[Level: 1]
[STR: 5] [DEX: 4]
[END: 3] [CON: 5]
[INT: 2] [FAI: 2]
[ADP: 5] [ARC: 2]
The sword itself was part of my [Party], and its stats matched the "bonuses" that were being added to my own. I know that weapons and armor have their own [Level] and stats, but it wasn't supposed to be the same as an [Awakened]'s stats and they certainly don't "level-up" like we do either. I puzzled over this for a while, but then it hit me: This was my [System].
[System]s were fairly rare, and were like unique little blessings that some people got when they became [Awakened]. They always started out small, but had insane growth over even small periods of time, and mine was no mystery as to how easily it would become totally busted. But, I've lingered on my [Stats] screen for long enough, so I tapped on it, causing it to disappear.
"Alright, what next… I think [Skills] was what the guide suggested?"
At saying [Skills], said screen appeared. It was large but rather empty, containing only a single [Skill] at the very top of the list: [Strike]. It was the bread-basic [Skill] that everyone started with, unless of course you became [Awakened] through a [Skill Book], wherein the associated [Skill] would be there as well. But considering I had a [System], I half expected some sort of bonus here, maybe something to do with my sword.
"Wait, I'm an idiot. [Equip]."
The sword in my hand gave off a small flash of light and another [Screen] popped up with my [Equipment] slots. The [Sword of the Burden] occupied my Right Hand slot, and the plain jeans and t-shirt I was wearing were in the Bottom and Top Clothing slots respectively. Now that the sword was equipped I looked back over to the [Skills] screen and saw that [Strike] had changed into [Sword Strike]... the starting skill for the swordsman class. I sighed.
"I guess I should be happy I started with a [Class] even." I muttered, waving a hand and dismissing all open [Screen]s.
I stood up and grabbed my backpack, equipping it to my Back slot. I looked around my house; As mentioned before, it was in absolute ruins. There wasn't a single wall that didn't at least have a hole in it, the roof had collapsed in most places exposing rotted wood beams and water-damaged drywall. I had only really stayed here for so long because it was the only place I could stay for free, but now I think I have options.
I stepped over the barely-standing wall and into the blue tall grass that had infested the area after the Arcanumfall. A small [Screen] briefly popped up to tell me I was "entering Wilderness". My hometown wasn't very big, but everyone still abandoned it when the disaster struck, leaving the loose smattering of 20-25 houses to be claimed by the alien flora the [Arcanum] brought.
I'd always been pretty good at spotting the low-level grass [Monsters] that infest the town, but now that I'm [Awakened] it's stupidly easy. Every one of the small Seedlings had a little glowing dot above their heads that turned into a health bar when I focused on it. Level 1 [Monsters] are weak enough that even non-[Awakened] people can kill them, and those that are can be expected to easily take on [Monsters] up to three levels above them.
I wasn't planning on fighting at all as I made my way out of town, but I got curious and swiped my sword through a Seedling that hadn't noticed me yet. The poor little creature took more than twice its max HP in damage and died instantly.
[Combat Cleared!]
[Rewards: 1G]
[EXP: 3(2+1) Overkill Bonus]
[No bonus Item due to no Scavenge/Forage Skill learned]
I blinked. Huh.
So it turns out that either killing a [Monster] in a single hit, or killing it by a certain amount over it's max HP gives bonus EXP. 3 EXP barely makes a dent in my next Level, but it's good to know. But weak little Seedlings aren't what I'm planning on fighting. No, what I'm after is a [Dungeon] with much higher Level [Monsters]. Most of the [Dungeons] in the region are either controlled by the City or a gang, but there is one that's been overlooked in just the next town over.
The Abandoned Foundry is considered a "F-Rank Tier-2 Dungeon", which means it's a suitable challenge for an F-Rank [Awakened] who is Level 2-5, or for a small Party of Level 1s. And the latter is exactly what I am.
As I stepped outside town, I got a popup saying:
[Entering new Greater Wilderness]
[World Map Unlocked!]
[Map Pins Unlocked!]
["Overgrown Hometown" Added to universal World Map]
"Universal World Map" sounded to me like I had just added this place to other people's maps. I smiled faintly at the thought.