System Alert: Heat Resistance (Passive) learned.

Description: Resistance to heat-based attacks increased by 5%. Current level: 1

The ping resounded inside Cain’s head, but he currently had other issues to worry about than the small screen hovering off to the side. Specifically, he was trying to not get burnt to a crisp by one of his sister’s infernal contraptions.

C’mon, move FASTER!” Ariana shouted, turning a dial on the machine slowly. The heat began increasing and Cain could see the flames below him growing in size.

“I’m moving as fast as I can! You’re the one who put weights on me!” Cain shouted back, lifting a heavy arm and grabbing another notch in the rock wall he was currently climbing. “The weights are COMPLETELY unnecessary you know!”

One week had passed since Cain had registered at the Association, and the entire time had been spent training with his sister during the day. Sometimes she set up automated systems, and went around to actually work, but most of the time she was watching him.

System Alert: Strength increased by 1 point.

System Alert: Vitality increased by 1 point.

“Would this thing stop updating at the most inconvenient times?” Cain muttered to himself, pulling himself up to the top of the wall and falling on to his back. The fire below stopped, and he uttered a sigh of relief, grabbing the water bottle that sat next to him and draining it.

“System, view status.”

Name: Cain Darkgleam

Rating: Four-Stars

Title: None

Health: 110/110

Energy: 110/110

Strength: 12

Vitality: 15

Charisma: 11

Dexterity: 16

Intelligence: 21

Active Bonuses: Danger Sense, Heat Resistance, Axe Mastery.

Available Stat Points: 35

“Three more points huh? I don’t have many attacks right now...” Cain muttered, sitting up and rubbing his shoulders. Turning his head, he looked over to Ariana who had climbed the wall.

“I have three more unassigned points right now. Where should I put them?” he asked, untying the weights. When they dropped to the ground, he felt as light as a feather and stood up to stretch his back. He had been dangerously close to cramping that entire climb up there.

“Hmm... Well, you really are a blank slate right now. I don’t want to mold you into the same job I have, so where ever you see fit I guess,” Ariana responded, crossing her arms and looking at him. “It looks like you gained a couple things from the repeated training sessions too.”

“Yeah, every stat went up a little bit besides charisma, and thanks to YOU, I received another bonus; heat resistance.”

“Oh, that’s a nice one. I didn’t think you’d actually get it from the training though,” Ariana said, smiling innocently and ignoring the glare Cain sent her way.

“Well, if it had been one day, probably not. But it has been a week!”

His sister waved her hand and looked like she was about to say something before her phone rang. Holding up a finger, she fished her phone out of her pocket and walked away, muttering to whoever was on the phone.

Cain turned back to his System screen, looking at the stats before a light bulb went on it his head.

“System, view skills.”

Available skills:

-Mental Blade

-Creator

-Earthquake

Earthquake. Cain had almost forgotten about that skill. The damage and radius were determined by his energy level and his strength, and although he wouldn’t be using it any time soon, it would be good to increase the functionality early. Swiping the window closed, he opened his status window again.

“Assign three points to strength.”

Three points will be assigned. Proceed? Y/N

“Proceed.”

Points assigned

“What did you assign them too?”

Cain jumped slightly, unaware that Ariana had finished her phone call. Silently, he thanked the heavens that he had closed the skill window before assigning the points. He would have been worried about her seeing the unassigned points as well, but he had found out early on that it was only viewable to the user. He had freaked out for a full day the last time she had snuck up on him, worried about that.

“Strength. Since I have the axe, I figured I should at least make some use of it. Although neither of us actually know what the deal is with it, but it is still a weapon.”

Nodding, his sister motioned towards the ground, jumping off the wall and daintily landing with ease. Grumbling, Cain headed towards the stairs and walked down, knowing full well that if he tried to imitate her showing off, he would be in for a world of pain. The finesse wasn’t there yet.

“So, who was that on the phone?” he asked, reaching the ground.

“The Association. There was a sighting of a gate about 10 miles outside of the city. Normally we can detect them early and prepare, but this one slipped right through our systems. They want both of us to show up tomorrow and help explore it.”

“Wait, both of us? Why me? I just registered!” Cain exclaimed, holding up his hands in defiance.

“Because you are the first four-star rating in the past three years, and you need the experience. You’re now a valuable government asset,” Ariana retorted, shoving her arm through Cain’s and accentuating each point with a poke to the chest.

“Mostly, it’s a learning experience for you. To see how the Association handles new gates, the procedures involved, etc. But they are going to want to see what you can do, and a simple communication skill won’t cut it. Which means I need to teach you at least one basic combat move you can use tonight.”

Blood rushing from his face, Cain stared at his sister in horror as she reached into her bag and pulled out an axe. Almost identically similar to his own, the only way he could tell them apart was that hers did not have the slight flow of energy attached to it that his did.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to use it against you. Watch closely though, Ariana said, closing her eyes and focusing slightly. The axe began to glow with a faint light, intriguing Cain before he jumped back as she swung the axe.

About one hundred feet away, the tree she had been facing split in half, followed by a thundering clap and the sound of the tree being split. Cain’s mouth dropped open, unable to believe what he had witnessed.

System Alert: Due to the presence of high energy and concentration, a new skill has been created. Skill Observe has been added to the list.

Description: Activating the skill allows for the user to generate and see basic information about the target. The higher the level, the more information that can be seen.

“Now recreate that. Charge the axe with your energy, and then when you swing the axe, fling it off. Think of the axe kind of like a sling shot.”

Cain nodded and pulled his axe out of the holster, closing his eyes and focusing the energy line from his hand into the axe. Opening his eyes to verify the weapon was glowing, he imitated Ariana’s stance and swing the axe, flicking the energy off as hard as he could.

BOOM!

“Where the hell were you aiming???”