My voice echoes through the room. Antoine shoots me a puzzled-concerned glance over his shoulder.

"Hey, we don't want you having a nervous break. Are you really alright? There's a reason there are still so many people in the waiting room. As I said, there's no shame in restarting some ten minutes in--"

"Can it, okay? I actually, legitimately got this!"

Antoine's eyebrows rise to his hairline, his eyes slightly widening at my outburst. Heat rushes to my face.

Awkward millennia pass within milliseconds. Then a faint amusement colors his expression.

"Hm. Seems that you do."

NEW SKILL ACQUIRED

Makeshift (Active):

You have a 5% chance of transforming [Mundane] items into equipment with each activation. Restricted to handheld items. All [Makeshift] equipment perishable.

SP Cost:

Base 2 SP, doubling with each activation

I stare at the window, dumbfounded. My desperation... paid off. I'm not sure whether to be proud or ashamed, but by the faint glow of the plank, my ego matters little in the face of success.

Antoine summons a chat bar and fires off another message in wingdings. Valeria? Who knows. I leave him to it and inspect my newfound armaments in the [Equipment] screen.

MAKESHIFT MACE

(Unique) (Weapon)

MEMO:

A scrap of wood re-purposed for combat. Bound to creator. Cannot be sold, traded, or enchanted.

ATK +2

Durability: 100%

The 'unique' tag jumps out at me. I've heard from [Merchants] that Heroes paid impressive GP for [Unique] items. Granted, they were more practical than this glorified stick, but damn if I don't feel accomplished!

"Move over, Antoine."

Discarding the last of my self-respect, I vault over the table, past Antoine... and into a small circle of 「Jellies」.

Exclamation marks materialize above all five. They lunge with a collective 'gloop', but I'm ready.

Oh, am I ever ready.

"Take this!"

I slam the plank against one's head, and deflect another with a sharp swing. A third collides with my back, costing me 2 HP and momentarily my footing, but I bat it away in retaliation.

「Sour Jelly」was defeated!

「Sour Jelly」was defeated!

「Sour Jelly」was defeated!

I'm sure I look like an idiot, a madman, or both, but I manage to dispatch my immediate assailants in under a minute. Their siblings take it personally. The dozen-ish remaining 「Jellies」glide towards me.

Well, that's that. Time to run!

I rocket for the doorway across the room. Damn, these little「Jellies」move quick! I blast a path through the crowd with my pistol and swat away who I can with the plank. Despite my efforts, two 「Jellies」manage to tackle me from the side.

"Gah!"

「Sour Jellies」 are heavy! HP -4!

I collide with the floor and, true to form, roll a couple feet. My assailants hop closer. I dispatch one with a [Concentrated Strike] and flatten its friend with my mace.

「Sour Jelly」was defeated!

「Sour Jelly」was defeated!

My attention strays to the lower left-hand corner of my HUD.

NPC-RND-4394

No Title - No Class - No Party

HP: 34/40

MP: 0

SP: 30/40

All this flailing and rolling's taken its toll. If not for constant SP regeneration, I might not survive the next room. I scramble upright and evade the last 「Jellies」on my way to the exit.

The doorway--finally--just a little more--

I merely shudder as I barrel through an invisible barrier, but the blobs pursuing me aren't so fortunate. They fizzle and explode upon leaving the room. I collapse against the nearest wall, catch my breath, and take great satisfaction in their fiery deaths.

Antoine strides through the barrier, accompanied by his chat bar. He fires off another message in wingdings and dismisses the window with a snap of his fingers.

"Room one, clear."

Not that it matters, but... I think he's impressed.