I brushed the spider webs out of my face, staring down at the corpses at my feet.

After the first group of panthers, I had followed Samantha’s advice and started grinding. First panthers, then snakes, and now giant spiders.

It felt as though I had entered a sort of fighting fugue.

Everything had fallen into a reflexive action, rote movements as I followed Samantha’s combat shadow. I couldn’t really say I remembered most of the battles. I remembered a brief flash of surprise when I ducked down, following the combat shadow, assuming I was about to be attacked. Instead, the shadow simply plucked a flower that was growing in the detritus nestled between the interwoven branches. This happened a few times, and I quickly learned to tell the difference between a “duck for your life,” and a “stop and smell the flowers."

I remembered the fear from being poisoned by snakes, but Samantha encouraged me to continue fighting until I leveled up.

Physically, it was tiring, but mentally, there was something almost calming about following Samantha’s instructions, in the knowledge that Samantha was better equipped to call the shots and keep me alive.

After being poisoned by snakes, Samantha suggested that I add a few points into Physical Defense. Physical Defense increased my toughness, making it harder for me to take damage. It also functioned to counteract poisons.

I had gained four levels in this fighting fugue, and I’d split the available points between Strength and Physical Defense. It seemed counterintuitive, not adding points to the two stats that I relied on the most: Mana Pool and Mana Regeneration. But thanks to my Mana Modulator class, those stats gained points with each level.

I’d amassed a large collection of coins, which Samantha insisted would be useful in an upcoming auction.

Name:

Jarek

Level:

9

HP:

19/19

Physical Defense:

13 (+4)

Strength:

14 (+2)

Mental Power:

11

Dexterity:

10

Agility:

10 (+4)

Mana Pool:

23 (+1)

Mana Regeneration:

11 (+1)

Available Points:

0

Coins:

52220

Class:

Mana Modulator (D-rank)

Profession:

None

Titles:

Skills and Spells:

Identify (F-rank)

Mana Modulation (D-rank Core)

Death’s Defier (A-rank)

Affinities:

Internal Mana (D-rank Low)

Equipment:

Mana-infused Knife (F-rank): +1 Mana Pool, +1 Mana regen.

Orc Helmet (F-rank): +2 Physical Defense

Orc Breastplate (F-rank): +2 Physical Defense

Orc Boots (F-rank): +2 Agility

Orlan Blade (E-rank): +2 Strength, +2 Agility

Interdimensional Pouch (E-rank):

It was getting dark, but there was some kind of glowing moss on the trees, illuminating the rainforest with a sickly green color.

Samantha said.

I felt a tinge of anticipation. I had almost died, multiple times, for this class. I already thought it was good. What else was there?

Samantha paused, letting that sink in.

It was a confusing idea, for a number of reasons. Then what’s the point of a Mana Pool at all? Should I just put all my points into Mana Regeneration?

I’m getting lost. Just tell me what to do.

It was strange, like a sixth sense, but after a few minutes of looking, I found what I was looking for.

To my surprise, it wasn’t that hard at first. It must be my affinity for Internal Mana. I blocked the flow of mana, for one second, then two, but as time passed, I felt a growing pain in my chest.

As a teenager, I had worked in construction for a very brief time. Not my happiest memories. But trying to evenly disperse the mana throughout my body reminded me of trying to smooth out a layer of wet concrete. You slide your trowel back and forth over the wet concrete, trying to flatten one part this concrete, only to raise up more ridges elsewhere for your grumpy, more experienced partner to deal with.

I pushed weakly, at first, but then the mana started building in the areas where I was pushing it off to. I could hold it for a few seconds, before it felt uncomfortable again.

Samantha said, comfortingly.

I could tell she was trying to make me feel better, but it wasn’t helping. Thanks for pointing out I’m not a genius…

I’d gotten this vibe a few times from Samantha. That I was normal. That I wasn’t fit for her new world order. That of course I was confused by her explanation of floating points.

Well, I would prove her wrong.

I tried again, modulating a small amount of mana so that my Mana Pool was not full, and then trying to prevent the mana that my body was producing from entering my Mana Pool.

It was like herding cats. There were thousands of tiny motes of mana that I could see with my strange inner senses, and they were all flooding towards my mana center. I blocked their entrance into the mana center, and they all gathered together like a flood about to burst through a dam. I felt a familiar burn in my chest.

Samantha said. Then, as I watched, the mana that had been bunching up around my heart just… spread out. A second later, my Mana Pool remained unfilled, and the mana throughout my body just rested tranquilly, like the calm after a storm.

It took me a second to process what she had done. You can control my mana?

Samantha replied, laughing at me.

Right.

Samantha said. We had spent some time practicing this technique of controlling my mana outside my mana core, and I was much better at keeping my mana from bunching up in random places in my body. Whenever I would slip up, Samantha would immediately point it out and, when necessary, fix my mistakes.

I had peeked my head up to the third floor earlier, and I’d immediately been swarmed by giant birds. I had stayed around long enough to spot the direction of the tallest tree, and then I had descended rapidly.

Now, it seemed, it was time to rise to the third floor again.

I climbed the nearest trunk somewhat fearfully.

This next layer of branches were much thinner than the previous layer. I was able to lift myself up through the holes in the layer easily.

Glancing around, I was surprised by the silence. The carcasses of giant birds—rocs, according to the Schema—were strewn about this layer of the forest.

I couldn’t find a single monster near me.

Samantha said.

I felt a wave of excitement. I’d been alone so long—alone except for Samantha, at least—and seeing how other people were coping with this situation might help me get a grasp on everything going on around me. I wasn’t the most social person, and I would definitely consider myself an introvert. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been so excited to meet people.