After a few meters of nothing I got worried. The sun was going down, I was covered in blood, and I probably smelt like hell. Plus, to top it off, I was carrying meat.

I was a preditors wet dream!

Even so, I kept moving forward. It was better to distance myself from whatever is left of the dead rabbits. Hopefully predators will go for the already dead meat than the still living meat(aka me).

As I continued my stealth like march into the unknown, I was replaying the fight in my mind, over and over again. I pointed out my flaws and what I should have done when I was attacked a second time. The whole fight was a mess. I had no control on it and I left everything to chance.

It was only by the skin of my teeth that I survived.

I started to get angry at myself for not dodging the attack or thinking that there might have been more nearby, and I was trying to overlook the fact that I almost died because of the pain of being stabbed in the leg.

‘Hell, I felt more pain when death threw me against a tree than that little prick on the leg, but I still acted like I was going to die from it. I let myself be consumed by my panic and fear long enough to almost get killed!’

I know my weakness now. I didn't let myself think. I was reacting instead of acting the entire time. In fact, that's what I’ve been doing ever since I got to this world, reacting.

‘I can't let myself be distracted by the pain or the fear. I need to keep calm and think. I need to take control.’

I realized that I was played. I had let my guard down. Thankfully, it was against a weaker opponent but if it was a smarter or more powerful opponent then I would have died. I need to learn tactics. I need to learn how to fight and I need to heed my surroundings.

If I can control the space where the fight will take place then I can control the outcome.

‘It's no secret. I am weak. Hopelessly so. My only advantage here, in this world, is my intelligence and quick thinking. I mean, I had played video games before that could be considered simulations of what to do in this kind of scenario with monsters and magic.’

Human’s superior intelligence is what kept mankind, in the stone age, from dying out. They formed plans and placed traps, they controlled the field of battle, and they gathered or created weapons that could help kill bigger or more powerful beasts.

If I am to survive here then I must become stronger, physically and mentally, like those in the stone age. I have grown to cushy in the technological age and that's coming to bite me in the butt hard now.

I took a deep breath.

‘I need to think this clearly. I need to analyse my opponents.

For example, the rabbits seem to only be able to attack with the horn. They didn't attack me with their claws so if I can dodge their initial attack then I can counter with a bash to their head. The back of the head seems to be their weak spot.

But that is better said than enacted.

One of my major flaws in that battle was that I wasn't fast enough. I could not react fast enough to the attack. If I am to survive then I will need to be able to be faster than my opponent.

I have the strength thanks to the clothes’ boosts, but my other stats are far too lacking to be helpful in this environment.’

As I was thinking this I noticed again the red flashing light in the top right of my eye. For the longest time I thought it was just blood and tuned it out of my mind due to my situation. But now, within this moment of clarity and calm, I was able to take heed of it.

‘I really need to keep up with my notifications.’

It was all so new to me that it had slipped my mind.

I silently opened my notifications box and was welcomed with a interesting surprise.

[Congratulations! You have completed the necessary requirements to obtain a skill!

For sneaking up to and killing a monster 10 levels higher than you, you have learned the skill Sneak.]

[Congratulations! You have leveled up to level 2!]

[Congratulations! You have leveled up to level 3!]

[Congratulations! You have completed the requirements for a skill!

For re-focusing your mind during the heat of battle and using your body’s instincts to beat an enemy whom you had no hope of beating based on your level differences, you have learned the unique skill Focus.]

[Congratulations! You have leveled up to level 4!]

[Congratulations! You have leveled up to level 5!]

[Congratulations! You have leveled up to level 6!]

‘Wow. I leveled up! Nice. This should help me. I also got some new skills. So the encounter was more fruitful than I thought. Let’s find out what these skills are.’

[Sneak: Passive skill Level 1. Makes your body quieter when stalking prey and makes you less likely to be heard when walking.]

[(Unique)Focus: Passive skill Level 1. When you focus on a task or an action you have a 10% chance of completing it successfully.]

‘Huh. Well, that should be helpful in the future. I guess that's how I was able to take control of that fight when I was focusing solely on beating that rabbit upside the head.’

This brings up more questions about this world though. I mean this is great and all that I leveled up and got these skills, but how did I level so much from just two rabbits? Is leveling normal? Is it rare to level? What is my standard? And how do you complete the requirements for a skill? Are there known requirements to help you gain other skills?

‘hmmmmm...……..I don't know any of this.

I need to set some control to my thoughts.

First, I need a standard of logic for this world. I also need to think before doing anything else. I was quick to just jump into this world and face it head on and it almost got me killed.

So, if I’m going to base this world and the happenings in it on the video game ideologies and systems in them, then I can possibly start answering some of these questions.

Now, for leveling, in the games I played on my world leveling isn't rare. In fact it's common among not only other players but the monsters too.

What also could be true if my game theories stand correct, is that if you are weaker than the enemy you are fighting and the enemy is must higher in level then you, then, after killing them, you recieve more rewards as a result of the increased danger you were in. This could explain why I only leveled up twice with the first rabbit and three times with the second rabbit. I was in more danger when I killed the second rabbit.

However, could the other theory stand true as well; where you need more experience for each level? Does that then mean that the experience needed to level up increases with each level?’

“If that is true then the second rabbit gave a ton more experience than the first one.”

‘Why though? Could it be the way I killed them? There didn't seem to be any difference in the rabbits appearance or power. I mean I didn't really find out if the first rabbit had the same power as the second one.’

“Hmmm..”

‘I still can't answer these questions. I will need to perform more tests to find out more, but I don't have the time to the ability to test it out.

I will just have to go with my gut for now.’

I then brought up my status screen to check what leveling does to your stats.

[ Name: John Scythe

Title(s): Revenge Seeker, Worldcrosser, Champion of Death, One Cursed by Death, Marked One

Race: Human

Level: 6

Health/Health Regen: 50/(3 per hr)(2.5/minute)

Stamina/Stamina Regen: 196(40*0.15)(150)/(4 per hr)(2.5/minute)

Mana/Mana Regen:80/(4 per hr)

Unallocated stat points: 30

Unallocated stolen stat points: 20 Agility

Strength: 8(100)

Agility: 9

Vitality: 5

Constitution: 3(150)

Endurance: 4(150)

Dexterity: 4(150)

Perception: 5

Intelligence: 8

Wisdom: 4

Carisma: 6

Luck: -1

Resistances

Mind: 25%

Fatigue: 15%

Pain: 50%

Fire: 15%

Lightning: 15%

Water: 15%

Ice: 15%

Earth: 15%

Death: 15%

Shadow: 15%

Holy: 10%

Affinities

Fire: 0%

Lightning: 0%

Water: 0%

Ice: 0%

Earth: 0%

Death: 55%

Shadow: 55%

Holy: 0%

Passive Skills

Pain Resistance Lvl 5

Sneak Lvl 1

Focus Lvl 1

Active Skills

Fallen Army Lvl 1

Brand of the Reaper Lvl 1 ]

‘Oh sweet! So I was right, leveling gives you stat points. It looks like each level gives you 5 stat points.

These unallocated stolen stat points must be from the rabbits.

Those are a lot of stat points from the rabbits. It seems their highest stat was their agility and speed. That's why I gained the agility stats from them.

This seems like too much though. But I guess it make sense when you compare the differences in our levels.’

“These stat points are just what I needed. It's not much but it's a start.”

‘I need to allocate these wisely. First off, I need to put things where I need them the most.

Putting 10 in vitality will triple my health and give me a bigger cushion should anything happen.

Next would be constitution. I’ll put 10 stat points there because I don't want to constantly rely on my clothes. For one, if they are too ripped or I take them off, I am defenseless and could die very easily.

This way I can increase my natural health regen and it should toughen my body up according to the definition. I also hope that the increase in this stat will help me so I don't freak out from being stabbed or hurt all the time.

Nest would be dexterity. I’ll put 3 into you to help me command my body easier, or at least that's what the definition said. I don't know why my body didn't follow my commands earlier in the fight to dodge. But maybe it's because my body is not fast enough to react to my commands. It might be able to perform what I ask but I can't do it at the speed I want it to because my body’s speed is lacking.’

“Hmmm…..that theory will require more testing to be sure.”

‘Then I’ll put 5 into perception. I need to be able to perceive my surroundings better so that I don't get jumped again.

Finally, I will place the last 2 into intelligence. I’m a little concerned with how this will affect me mentally but I hope it helps positively.’

“It seems the stolen stat points can only be used for agility so I’ll just put all 20 into agility. That should help me move quicker and dodge incoming attacks.”

The second I hit confirm I was hit with a powerful wave of pleasure. It cascaded over me in waves. I couldn't stop myself from letting out a low moan. It was so good.

Then it abruptly stopped and I was reluctantly brought back down to reality. Once I did though I noticed some amazing things. I felt lighter and faster. I could see farther that I could before and I could hear things around me clearer. It felt like I was wearing headphones and a blindfold before. I was a completely different person now, but I buckled down and determined not to let it go to my head like the last time when I got my skills.

I then pulled up my stat screen.

[ Name: John Scythe

Title(s): Revenge Seeker, Worldcrosser, Champion of Death, One Cursed by Death, Marked One

Race: Human

Level: 6

Health/Health Regen: 150/(13 per hr)(2.5/minute)

Stamina/Stamina Regen: 196(40*0.15)(150)/(7 per hr)(2.5/minute)

Mana/Mana Regen:100/(4 per hr)

Strength: 8(100)

Agility: 29

Vitality: 15

Constitution: 13(150)

Endurance: 4(150)

Dexterity: 7(150)

Perception: 10

Intelligence: 10

Wisdom: 4

Carisma: 6

Luck: -1

Resistances

Mind: 25%

Fatigue: 15%

Pain: 50%

Fire: 15%

Lightning: 15%

Water: 15%

Ice: 15%

Earth: 15%

Death: 15%

Shadow: 15%

Holy: 10%

Affinities

Fire: 0%

Lightning: 0%

Water: 0%

Ice: 0%

Earth: 0%

Death: 55%

Shadow: 55%

Holy: 0%

Passive Skills

Pain Resistance Lvl 5

Sneak Lvl 1

Focus Lvl 1

Active Skills

Fallen Army Lvl 1

Brand of the Reaper Lvl 1 ]

After checking that everything was correct in my stats I noticed the red flashing in my eye again. So, I pulled up my notifications and almost laughed, cried, and groaned at what I saw.

[Congratulations! For reaching a milestone in your agility stat you are awarded a random skill. Random skills are chosen based on your luck. Choosing now.]

[Congratulations! You have earned the Uncommon passive skill Dodge. This skill is for those who have learned the way of dodging. This skill is awarded to master dodgers in battle. They show what it truly means to dodge an attack.

You have shown great promise in dodging and thus you are awarded this skill. This skill allows you to dodge attacks much easier. Thanks to it being a passive skill instead of an active one, any natural dodging movement you try to make will be 10% more likely to succeed.]

[Congratulations! For reaching a milestone in your vitality stat you are awarded a random skill. Random skills are chosen based on your luck. Choosing now.]

[Congratulations! You have earned the Rare active skill Self Poison. Sadists galor! This skill is for those who love to be poisoned. You who have received this are either someone who loves to be poisoned or you are extremely unlucky. This skill allows you to poison yourself whenever you want for as long as you want. You cannot poison others with this. The type of poison and strength of the poison increases with level.]

[Congratulations! For reaching a milestone in your constitution stat you are awarded a random skill. Random skills are chosen based on your luck. Choosing now.]

[Congratulations! You have earned the active skill Iron Skin. Tough as nails and hard as iron. You forge your body every day. This is the result of your training. This skill allows you to increase your constitution by 1/3rd of your base stat constitution for a period of time. While active though you cannot move your body.]

[Congratulations! For reaching a milestone in your Perception stat you are awarded a random skill. Random skills are chosen based on your luck. Choosing now.]

[Congratulations! You have earned the active skill Identify. This skill is the basic to survive. You can identify objects and people. Amount of information available depends on level and intelligence.]

[Congratulations! For reaching a milestone in your intelligence stat you are awarded a random skill. Random skills are chosen based on your luck. Choosing now.]

[Congratulations! You have received the active skill Sense Aura. This skill allows you to sense the world and beings around you. This skill can sense hostile intentions and magical ability. Leveling it up can increase it's range and accuracy.]

After reading them all over one more time, I had to stop myself from laughing. I had found the first barrier to learn skills faster than I thought and it gave me some interesting results. From what I can guess it happens when the stats passed 10.

‘I think this system has it out for me. I couldn't dodge before and then it goes and states how great of a doger I am when I get the skill dodge? Hahahaha.

Then there is this self poison skill! Who would ever want that?!? It's crazy.

Iron skin will be good for defence, Identify and Sense aura will be good for scoping out my surroundings, and dodge will help me when I attack.

But if I knew that if you got your stats to 10 you would get a random skill, then I would have put all of the stats to 10 before doing anything else. However, agility is over 20 and I didn't receive a second skill from my agility stat.

I guess that means that you don't get a random skill every 10 points.’

“This will require more research. For now thought I will test my skills and see what they can do. These should help me when I face enemies in the future.”

After reading through all my skills again I looked at a small tree next to me and tried activating Identify. I didn't have any idea how to so I just assumed you could activate it the same way you open your notifications or status pages.

Thankfully it worked and I was able to identify the small tree.

[Tree Sapling Lvl 1: Not fully a tree yet.]

‘Well that was helpful.’

I roll my eyes and start identifying all of the fauna and trees around me. Most had the basic sentences of what they were. I was surprised that they all had levels. I didn't know what that meant for plants but I assumed it was just how much health they had. Soon I found the limit of the ability. I found that I couldn't identity things that were farther than 3 meters away from me. At the farthest my skill would go I identified the highest level tree in my immediate area, which was a level 10 tree at the edge of my identify radius. It was a pretty big tree with a wide trunk. However, none of the trees had the fruit I was looking for. I did find some nuts on a bush that seemed edible and quenched my hunger for now, but I wouldn't be able to survive long without something more sustainable.

I was still thirsty but the day had ended and night had come forth. I decided to stop for the night here and wait until morning before continuing.

‘If I have to sleep tonight I think I’ll sleep on that level 10 tree. It's branches are high and thick enough up that I can hide in the darkness of the leaves and lay on the branches without worrying about falling.’

Making my decision, I climbed up the trunk easily with my new agility stat, which startled me at first.

I was so surprised at how fast I could move and how nimble I had become with just 20 stat points that I almost fell from the tree.

I decided to bury the meat beforehand into the ground by the tree sapling to hide it from predators and I kept one of the horns on my person for protection.

After settling in to my now shadowy branch bed I looked all around me for predators and enemies. Finding none for now, I looked up at the stars and wondered in amazement at the beauty of the night sky of this world before drifting to sleep.

‘I’m a little stronger and a little faster, but I am still too weak. I need to rest and push forward again tomorrow morning.’