02 - Killing SYSTEM You have killed a monster of unknown origin. Learn its skill [Rift]? Yes No

Theo simply shook his head, sighing, before walking to a large tree root and sitting atop it. He really couldn’t handle this. The screen was still floating in front of his face. His vision was not obstructed, however, as the notification moved away from his focus when he tried looking behind it. He also instinctively knew what it said, though he really couldn’t wrap his head around the meaning at the moment.

Since I can’t really be here, I must be hallucinating. Maybe I’m in a coma? Was the accident worse than I thought?

He kept thinking about his dilemma while doing his best to stay calm. Theo had no real experience getting injured, and if he was in a coma… His family was probably worried sick. He’ll have to make it up to his parents. He’s also going to have to catch up in school. Of course, that was taking into account that he would wake up.

After a few minutes, he snapped back to reality to the soft growl coming from within the bush behind him. Ignoring standard procedures, he slowly lifted himself to his feet and turned around, trying to make out possible outlines of a hostile beast looking for food. The foliage shook slightly and out came a tiny furry white rabbit.

All he could do was stare at it, taking in its cuteness.

What an adorable creature, he thought.

When the rabbit turned towards Theo, its simple black eyes became a glowering red that seemed to lock right onto his soul. The rabbit decided to rush in with its head down. It was gradually accelerating until it started making good speed; enough to maybe break your legs with the barreling momentum.

All of this happened in the span of a few seconds.

Unknowing what to do in this situation, Theo sidestepped it. It flew right past him and hit a tree fullforce, destroying a good portion of the trunk as bark pieces and wood shrapnel exploded from the massive impact. Theo had seen cars do less damage to trees. The cars usually broke first.

What did that little bunny just do?

The rabbit’s head was stuck inside the trunk now. It shook its hind quarters as it tried to dislodge itself. After a while, it simply hung limp in the side of the tree.

Theo could not help himself; wide-eyed, he touched it.

Damn… it's so soft. What did this little guy do?

He had never been considered a weak-minded individual. On the contrary, actually, but tests never had questions like what this world was asking of him right now.

I'm supposed to believe all this? I should probably look at that window again…

It says here that I can learn this [Rift] skill. If somebody asked me, I was in a video game and bunnies have the [Charge] skill. It probably can’t hurt to be better equipped. Who knows? Maybe this is happening for real.

He accepted the message.

SYSTEM Congratulations. You have learned the [Rift] skill. SYSTEM I officially welcome you to the system, Theodore. The system is in place to grant the inhabitants of Hexia an opportunity to be greater than themselves by learning system skills. Your skills are yours to use but know that you must first learn to wield such power before unlocking it. Every five levels you unlock a skill slot. SYSTEM - STATUS You are currently at [Level 0] with [0%] progress to the next level. Skill slots [1/1]: [Rift]

It knows my name?

He shrugs, taking the rest of the messages in.

They haven’t told me how to learn the skills, or are they always "dropped" from monsters? Well, that doesn’t really matter right now. I have five levels before I need to know.

Theo was already planning his next objectives. Clearly, he couldn’t be affording to worry about that old man who was most likely the reason why he was here.

He might not even be dead...

He realized thinking about it would not help his situation. He could just go with the flow, like he usually did. First, try to understand it logically. If you can't, punch the nearest person. When all else fails, carry on your day like nothing ever happened. He followed this subconciously, of course, and naturally, Theo could not see anyone other than the bunny.

*Whack*

Just kidding. Take it as the hyperbole of him pulling it out of the trunk. He couldn’t bring himself to decapitate it for food in cold blood so he figured if it charged again he could kill it without feeling remorse. At least it would be in self-defence.

It charged like a freight train.

With a sidestep, Theo managed a hit to the rabbit’s neck and it derailed, tumbling to a stop. The frail animal died instantly from the blow, its body turning limp like a puppet. Theo deduced that the rabbit was not physically stronger than the normal versions.

The system never showed me stats... That impossible power was probably because it used a [Charge] skill.

That line of thinking left him with one thought: is his own skill that powerful? [Rift] did not sound like a simple [Charge] did and no training manual came with it. Even if one did, he assumed it was easier to learn how to use the skill than to find the instructions for it.

Hell with those windows.

He tried a few things, hoping they would work.

“Rift!”

Rift!

"Rift?"

His efforts were fruitless even after a few minutes. Try all he might, nothing seemed to work. Theo tried imagining the skill manifesting but to no avail. He could not use it.

Putting his new skill on the backburner, he decided to scout the area, tying the rabbit to his belt by the feet. He didn't have survival training, but he did glean information from movies and books. According to the sun, it was mid-day. He had no idea how to figure out north from south without the sun, however, so he forgo the idea of directions.

All around him were average-looking trees. They had their branches and leaves way up high. No way could he climb them for an advantageous position. The vegetation on the ground looked like it needed a lot of humidity; ferns, mushrooms and plants with weird colored fruit that he deemed unsafe to eat. Was he teleported to the heart of a forest? Forests could get big and it might take him a while to get out by walking.

He looked at the family truck.

That won't work. Too bulky and too little maneuverability for bushwhacking. Even then, I'd be running out of gas soon enough.

As he thought about the vehicle, Theo remembered something. He headed towards it and lifted himself back into his seat. He half-heartedly scavenged around a bit, but he knew that the truck was nearly empty because of the bi-annual vacuum clean. His family's stuff was once stolen by garage employees so they took out almost everything before sending it in. Content that nothing was overlooked, he grabbed his gym bag and threw away his gi, though he kept his deodorant stick. He wouldn't be needing this, since smells attract bugs and predators, but he kept it anyway.

Staying there would be a wait of attrition. He needed water if he wanted to survive and there were no signs of nearby streams. He'd have to leave the truck behind.

Inwardly cursing his situation, he started to walk.