Aiden watched as students and teachers alike began to head outside to see what would happen, some were also gathering at the windows on various floors of the school buildings. He was currently the only one on the roof. He watched as people looked on with trepidation and disbelief, some were even crying outright. There were even children here now.

‘They must have come from across the street where the preschool/high school was.' They were being ushered inside by the adults. He saw there were more people heading this way from all directions and many seemed to be injured, ‘survivors from nearby shops and the gas station probably’. Seemed like people were gathering here. ‘likely because this is one of the only places left standing and is gated’. Aiden took a look around the surrounding area and saw that the buildings outside the college campus were mostly rubble now with one or two still standing, just barely.

The sight was rather horrifying, since he could imagine many people were dead and buried under the rubble. The surrounding area used to contain twenty or so buildings but now there were only six left standing that he could see.

Aiden looked back towards to court yard and saw most people with some sort of weapon in hand. They carried bats, table legs, pipes, a few police officers were there as well and they had guns. one big guy was even carrying two dumbbells. ‘I guess they're taking the announcement seriously.’

Aiden spent the next five minutes using inspect on the people there. For a few he could see their name, level, and a brief informative script at the bottom declaring the target as a Mana awakened human. Most however read as human and inspect displayed only their name. There were around thirty of the newly coined Mana awakened that he could find among hundreds.

Aiden finally sighed and looked away. That ratio seemed really skewed and he wondered why that was. “Fuck” Swearing to himself for forgetting he quickly brought up the menu and checked the quest he had pending.

Quest: Survive

Description: When the System arrived on the planet, the Planet was on the verge of a collapse due to environmental poisoning. It had at most 10 years left before its core shut down. The System determined that drastic measures needed to be taken and infused the Planet with Mana from its own reserves forcefully awakening it. Once awakaned the planet gained limited sentience and named itself Terra. The now named Terra noticing its predicament began a purging of its surface to rid itself of the poisoning. Unfortunately for the lifeforms residing on Terra (meaning you) such an event can be catastrophic to the inhabitants. With phase one complete the planet will now start spawning Mana Beast and Monsters alike to release all the accumulated toxins. Beasts will spawn once every 30 days for a year getting progressively larger and more powerful. (Such was implemented by the system because if Terra had released all accumulated toxins simultaneously all life on the planet would go extinct within a week.) Once a beast is killed it will turn into Mana and the toxin will be no more. Monsters will also be spawned out of accumulated Mana to fight and kill them thereby purging the toxins, but beware most monsters will just as easily attack you as they will a Mana beast.

Objective: Survive 30 days

Rewards: 100,000 Mana Essence / 500 High grade Mana stones

Bonus Objective: Clear your starting location (College campus and its 3 facilities and parking lot) of Mana beasts to create a “Safe Zone”. Safe zones offer protection against incursions from weak Mana Beasts and Monsters (Under lvl 50)

Note 1: Safe Zones must be claimed by a single individual to be used.

Note 2: If your contribution to clearing this location is high enough you will receive a special reward. (Only one person per land mass can claim this reward.)

Rewards: Variable (Dependent on % Clear contribution)

“Fuck” Just as Aiden finished reading the quest a new System message appeared.

Phase 2 starting, spawning Mana Beasts. Duration 00:59:58

Shapes started to materialize out of a thick miasma of what felt to Aiden as corruption. He didn’t know why it felt that way but that’s how it felt. It was already nearing night time and it was getting harder to see with no lights being on anywhere but there was still enough illumination to make out what was happening.

People started to run into the building screaming in terror but Aiden saw that the monsters were spawning inside the school as well. ‘shit’ Some of those with weapons gathered near the main buildings entrance to mount a defense. Aiden watched as the creatures emerged from the miasma and bounded towards the defending people, there were already dozens of the beast charging the defenders.

The creatures looked like some sort of demented nightmare, an amalgamation of lizard, insect and mammal. From here he could barely make out that they were black in color, ran on four legs and had sharp claws and teeth with three sets of eyes on an elongated face with small spike’s jutting out of their bodies. Most of the body was covered in a carapace that people were having trouble getting through with their blunt weapons. He used inspect on some of them to see what he could learn.

Mana Beast Spawn: Rank(g)

Lvl 1

Health 40

Stamina 50

Vitality - 4

Endurance - 5

Strength - 5

Agility - 7

Dexterity - 7

Skill - 3

Intelligence - 2

Wisdom - 0

Mana Beast Spawn: Rank(g)

Lvl 2

Health 50

Stamina 60

Vitality - 5

Endurance - 6

Strength - 6

Agility - 7

Dexterity - 7

Skill - 3

Intelligence - 2

Wisdom - 0

Mana Beast Spawn: Rank(g)

Lvl 4

Health 70

Stamina 80

Vitality - 7

Endurance - 8

Strength - 6

Agility - 7

Dexterity - 7

Skill - 3

Intelligence - 2

Wisdom - 0

The highest level he could see was lvl 4, their stats weren’t especially high and they had no Mana. He figured he could probably take one or two of them on if he needed to. Though they looked scary and ugly as shit. A shiver went through his spine as he watched. Most of the beasts reached the defenders and the battle started in earnest.

Aiden watched as both beast and man fell one after another. More creatures fell then people but the sight was horrifying non the less. Guts and blood everywhere he looked, people being torn apart and eaten. Some started to panic and run away. 'cowards!' He watched as his history professor slugged one with a pipe only to get pounced on from behind and had his throat bitten into and ripped out.

“God damn it” ‘I need to get down there and help!’ He was currently on the roof of one of the two side buildings of the university and most people were gathered near the main building. Backing away from the ledge and turning towards the roof exit he reached down and pulled his hunting knife from his boot. He started to sprint towards the stairs, before he got there however another beast started to spawn between him and the door. Aiden cursed and backed up slightly readying his knife in a reverse grip and taking a defensive posture. 'Steady now, you got this.'

The beast that spawned looked different then the others. It was nearly twice their size and looked more ferocious. The all black look of the others was altered slightly, with red veins running up its limbs and along the underside of the body which from this angle he could see had no carapace. ‘A possible weakness’ It also had red eyes and the others had yellow. He cast a quick inspect to see what he was facing, while the creature roared and headed for him.

Mana Beast (Elite): Rank(g)

Lvl 10

Health 220

Stamina ??

Vitality - 22

Endurance - ??

Strength - ??

Agility - ??

Dexterity - ?

Skill - ?

Intelligence - ?

Wisdom - 0

“Fuck” Aiden Cringed and prepared to dodge. 'It's 10 levels higher then me, and it has Elite in its name! Why here of all places. Damn it! If there was a luck stats mine would probably be a 1.' The creature on all fours lunged up and towards Aiden opening its maw to take a chunk out of its prey’s head.

Aiden switched his knife from a reverse grip and knelt down as low as he could causing the beast to over shoot and fly above him. Aiden stabbed at the underside of the creature while it was in the air and tore the knife through its torso while it sailed passed him. Black blood dripped all over Aiden and he cringed at the smell and almost threw up. It was like rotting flesh and tar mixed into one.

The beast let out a pained roar as it came down to land. It snarled and turned around this time charging straight at Aiden without leaping. It was slightly slower than before and was obviously injured but it still charged ahead. Aiden jumped to the left and stabbed downward toward its eyes. The knife made contact but so did the beasts claw as it found purchase in Aidens face and neck. Aiden screamed in pain as chunks of his flesh were torn off and he was flung back and landed into a backwards roll regaining his feet.

His body shook from the pain and he strained to refocus. He took a quick look at his health 28/60 ‘Shit’. Aiden circled the beast slowly towards the left hoping to use it’s slightly impaired vision on that side. He must have hit something vital because the beast seemed to spasm every few seconds. It finally seemed to shake it off and charged again. Aiden had been backing up towards the wall this entire time and when the beast was almost upon him he rolled to the left barely dodging another swipe of its claw.

The Elites momentum carried it forward and it slammed hard into the concrete wall stunning it momentarily. Aiden not wasting any time ran up and stabbed the creature repeatedly in the remaining eyes on its left side. On the third strike the beast froze up and crumpled to the floor.

The beast started to disintegrate almost immediately, turning into blue motes of light most dissapated into the air, but some flew into Aiden. He felt a wave of euphoria wash over him and the pain eased up, he could feel his wounds healing at a rapid rate.

Aiden poked and prodded at his neck and face with fascination, checking if he was really alright. He seemed fine, just a little bloody. He sighed in relief and checked the notification message that popped up after the fight ended.

“Congratulations! You have slain Lvl 10 Mana Beast (Elite): Rank(g) For defeating an Elite enemy 10 lvls higher then you by yourself bonus Mana essence has been awarded. For defeating an enemy 10 lvls higher then you by yourself bonus essence has been awarded. (500+200%x2) = 3000 Essence gained”

“Level up! You have reached Lvl 1! + 3 stat points awarded.”

“Level up! You have reached Lvl 2! + 3 stat points awarded.”

“Level up! You have reached Lvl 3! + 3 stat points awarded.”

“Level up! You have reached Lvl 4! + 3 stat points awarded.”

“Level up! You have reached Lvl 5! + 3 stat points awarded.”

“Level up! You have reached Lvl 6! + 3 stat points awarded.”

“Congratulations World First bonus! You are the first on your world to kill an enemy 10 levels higher then you by yourself. +1 permanent bonus to all stats”

“Congratulations World First bonus! You are the first on your world to kill an Elite enemy 10 levels higher then you by yourself. +1 permanent bonus to all stats”

As soon as the messages stopped Aiden felt that tingly euphoric feeling again only multiplied many fold, he almost passed out from the sensation. He watched in amazement as his body became just slightly leaner and his muscles a bit more defined. He stood up and stretched, throwing a couple of punches before trying to jump. He was definitely faster and stronger then before, and that jump! He could never dunk before but now he probably could.

'Damn! I feel great! This essence stuff is no joke! And those world firsts are insane! I pretty much gained 16 free stat points from them. That will definitely help me survive.' Aidens jubilation ended when he remembered the fight. ‘That thing almost killed me.., one hit of its claw and I lost more then half of my health, not to mention the pain.' Aiden cringed in remembrance. Sighing he checked the battle log.

“You deal a Critical hit! to Mana Beast Spawn (Elite) / damage (20+6-10x350%) = 72

“You deal a hit to Mana Beast Spawn (Elite) / damage (17+6-10)=13

“You take direct Physical damage from Mana Beast Spawn (Elite) / (35+10-13)= 32

“You deal a Critical hit! to Mana Beast Spawn (Elite) damage (20+6-10x350%) = 72

“You deal a Critical hit! to Mana Beast Spawn (Elite) damage (20+6-10x350%) = 72

“You deal a Critical hit! to Mana Beast Spawn (Elite) damage (20+6-10x350%) = 72

‘Shit! I got extremely lucky in that fight, if the thing didn’t get stunned from running in to the wall I wouldn’t have had those Critical hits and it wouldn’t have died so easily.’ Opening up his status menu he immediately used all the points he got from leveling up. He put 5 in Vitality, 3 in Strength, 3 in Endurance, 4 in Agility, 2 in Skill, and 2 in Dexterity.

Status:

Aiden Winters: Age 22

Race Human: Rank(f)

Level 6

Mana essence: 500/1500

Class 1: None

Class 2: None

Health: 130/130

Stamina: 120/120

Mana: 80/80

Defense: 12(18)

Mana Defense: 8

Vitality - 13

Endurance - 12

Strength - 11

Agility - 14

Dexterity - 11

Skill - 11

Intelligence - 8

Wisdom - 8

unspent points - 0

He closed the screen and tested out his body once more, jumping four feet straight up into the air and sprinting back and forth across the roof. ‘Wow... this is incredible. I’m almost twice as strong and twice as fast as I was this morning. If I can stay alive long enough to get even stronger I think I might just be able to live through this. Those other Beasts down there shouldn’t be too much of a problem now, unless I run into a large group of them and get overwhelmed.’

Aiden stretched one last time and picked up his knife. He started to head towards the door to the roof, but before he even went two steps he noticed something shiny and pulsating on the floor where the beast had died. Smacking him self in the head for forgetting that these things were supposed to drop Mana stones he went up to it. When he touched the light it shined brighter for a second then seemed to shoot into him accompanied by a message.

“You have received 100 low grade and 5 medium grade Mana stones (Valued at 10 System credits per low grade stone and 100 System credits per medium stone.)”

“You have received Ring of Agility”

Ring of Agility - (Uncommon) / Quality (Very Good) / +5 Agility

Active Skill: Rush Aura (Doubles the wearers movement speed for 10 seconds at the cost of 50 mana, 10 minute cool down. Channel Mana into the ring to activate the skill).

Aidein Removed the Ring from his Inventory and put it on his right hand ring finger. The slighly too large ring resized itself to a perfect fit. His Agility went up from 14 to 19. He thought it was a great accessory not only boosting his agility but allowing him a burst of speed if he ever needed it.

He tried focusing on channeling Mana into the ring and it was surprisingly easy, he got it on his first try. It was kind of like willing a newly discovered part of him out and towards the ring. He then took the time to exchange the Mana stones for System credits by opening up the shop’s sell from inventory feature netting himself 1,500 System credits.

He quickly checked the price of potions and bought 2 low grade health potions for 200 credits and 6 night vision potions for 50 credits each for a total of 550 credits. They showed up in his inventory a second later. He looked through some basic weapons and found a short sword that he could just barely afford that was better then his hunting knife so he bought that as well for 900 credits.

Low Grade Health Potion: Effect - restores 50 hp in 10 seconds

Night Vision Potion: Effect - Enhanced vision in the dark allowing you to see as if it was day. Effective distance 40ft. Duration 1 hour

Short Sword - (Common) / Quality (Good) / Damage Physical: 25-30

He inspected the sword once he took it out, the blade was almost two feet long by his estimation and the hilt was long enough for a double handed grip if necessary. It was a standard medieval short sword with a hilt guard and pommel and it even came with a sheath.

He looped the sheath into his belt and practiced drawing and sheathing the sword a few times so he wouldn’t accidentally cut himself later. He then took a few practice swings, getting used to the weight and feel of the weapon.

That done he ran up to the edge and took a quick look into the courtyard noting that most of the beasts outside were already dead, at the cost of maybe two thirds or so of the defenders. Those left were already heading back inside. He also noticed that someone started a fire in a trash can, most likely so they could see better. The only beasts remaining were those still spawning by themselves every so often, none were Elites that he could see but if there was one, there were probably others.

Aiden continued on towards the roof door, once there he took out a night vision potion hesitating only a second before drinking it down. It tasted like a mix of herbs or a bland tea, not especially bad but not horrible either. The effect took a few seconds to take, but once it had he could see a lot better. He blinked a few times to get used it and took a breath to steady his nerves. He opened the door and headed down. He crept slowly down the stairs trying not to attract any attention to himself.

As soon as he got down the stairs onto the third floor he saw a group of three spawn trying to get into a locked classroom. They were all level one’s and had their back to him so he unsheathed his sword quietly and snuck up behind them. When he was less then15 feet away, he sprinted the rest of the distance and swung down at the head of the nearest one.

The sword cut all the way through decapitating it, the carapace not seeming as effective as he first imagined. There was some resistance but it was barely noticable. Not wasting his initiative he slashed out at another for 33 damage following up with a piercing strike into its torso, killing it. By now the third beast was already lunging for him, Sidestepping the lunge Aiden raised his sword and with a shout, cleaved clean through the beasts neck while it was still in the air. It fell down dead in two pieces a second later. Breathing a sight of relief Aiden looked around for any more of them before checking his messages and collecting his loot.

“Congratulations! You have slain Lvl 1 Mana Beast Spawn: Rank(g) 20 essence gained” x3

“You have received 5 low grade Mana stones” x3

Afterwards he went up to the door and noticed there was some light shining out from underneath it so he knew someone was probably in there, he knocked three times and called out “Anybody in there?” and waited a bit for an answer. Getting no response but not ready to give up just yet Aiden tried again.

“Look, the three monsters that were trying to get in there are dead, but if someone is in there you need to be careful, these things can spawn anywhere including in that classroom and they will keep spawning for the next hour so make sure you have an easy way out of there.”

There was a few second’s pause and then he heard some shuffling of desks. The door opened a moment later. A head cautiously peaked out and shone a flashlight in his direction. Aiden cringed from the bright light and covered his eyes, the night vision potion he dranking making it far too bright for him. The person lowered the light a little and opened the door further.

After his eyesight returned he focused on who now in front of him. The person that appeared was a young woman around his age maybe a bit younger. She had black shoulder length hair and green eye’s and had a horizontal scar across her neck. She was wearing jeans and a gray sweater that was covered in black blood. She also seemed to have peed herself from fright. ‘Poor girl’ he thought.

Aiden recognized her, she was in his English Lit class, her name was Victoria and she was nonverbal, presumably from whatever happened to give her that scar. She was holding a bloody makeshift spear that looked to be the remains of a coat rack. He cast a quick inspect on her letting him know she was a Mana awakened like him. Her expression was grim and her eyes were focused, however she was trembling slightly and looked to have been crying recently.

Aiden raised his hand in greeting and smiled reassuringly. “Yo, I’m Aiden, Victoria right?” She nodded her head slightly, a little life returning to her eyes. “Mind if I come in?” She clutched her makeshift spear a little tighter hesitating but nodded her head and opened the door wider stepping back inside. He followed her in, closing the door quietly behind him and took a quick look around.

There was a pool black blood off in a corner along with a shining pulsating light. ‘She managed to kill one but didn’t pick up the loot. Maybe she doesn’t know how or that such a thing is even posible, I nearly missed it myself.’ He heard scraping behind him and turned around to see her place a chair under the door handle blocking off the room. She turned off the flashlight and set it down on a desk. The light from the loot drop was enough to see it seemed. She went over to the window and stared out into the courtyard.

Aiden followed her slowly and stood next to her and looked out as well. Outside Beasts were still spawning but now other things could be seen as well Monsters he figured and they were clearly sentient as they had crude weapons, clubs, swords, and slings. There were close to 100 of them, they were small and gangly with green skin and little to no clothing.

‘If I know my fantasy novels, and I do, then those are goblins.’ He though about what he knew of goblins from the books he read and what he remembered wasn’t good, especially for the human female population. ‘They need to be exterminated and quick before they can start breeding, If that’s how these versions worked.’

They were slowly making their way towards the building opposite where he was, which contained the gymnasium and cafeteria. They were killing any beast they came across and looting the corpses. ‘That’s not good, it means they can probably gain levels as well.’

There was one with them that was larger then the rest and was wearing armor and had a better weapon, what looked like a similar short sword to the one he had purchased. “Goblins” He spoke aloud Startling the girl next to him and making her jump slightly. She looked at him questioningly. Aiden sighed. “Have you ever read any fantasy novels or played any video games?” She shook her head no. Aiden just sighed again.