Chapter 5

A small white room with no real lighting, no grey shades forming from the lack of light on the walls, it was dead silent, this room was in complete vacuum...the only thing that existed inside of this room was a man...or perhaps a boy, violently swinging his fists, running around, taking weird stances, checking his balance

...

This is so surreal!...I wonder if this is what it's like to have a lucid dream?...my consciousness is clear, I can pretty much do anything...except I can't...this doesn't seem to work the same way dreaming does, where your only limitation is your imagination

There is literally nothing but my body in this realm, not even oxygen...I don't have to breath

I tried to see if imagining something would create anything but no matter how much focus I put nothing materialized

After giving up on that thought I started to use my skills one by one...as soon as I did I realized something incredible...power burst had no side effects on my body and no cooldown

...after a long period of time of smashing my fists into the wall, jumping from one end of the room to the other and doing pretty much everything you could imagine off...even trying to rip my own arm apart...which worked

...I thought it was about time to also use split mind in here....I had used it before and it was the weirdest thing ever

It was as if I had another brain, which was able to operate independently but still staying connected with the other

I tried to also try to push the limits of this one too, in the start I did simple things like doing calculations while counting the seconds pass by...then I tried something which I just had to...I cut the connection of the two "brains"...that felt even weirder...it was like there were two copies of me, they were both me and at the same time weren't...I masturbated and it felt like someone els...ow no, actually I didn't do that....

...trying to recover from self embarrassment I connected them again

After trying more things I thought of opening the status, just to see if it opens and if it has anything different...and surely enough it does

___

-Status-

Level:0. Experience:0/100 (for next level)

Name: Daniel age:12

Health:--- Mana:---

Stamina:210/210

-stats:

Vitality:--- wisdom:---

Endurance:19 intelligence:16

Dexterity:26 luck:5

Strength:27

Agility:30

Perception:1

-Skills:

Quick mind lvl2

Split mind lvl1

Extreme body control lvl2

Power burst lvl2

Water magic resistance lvl1

Meditative sleep lvl1

___

First of all I leveled up power burst...it's a shame the system doesn't give me a window each time a skill levels up, second... why are vitality, wisdom hidden? And with them health and mana?

The most logical explanation that I can think of is...because I'm in a sleep?...but then why show stamina and the others?

As I was thinking a numbing sensation invaded my body, in less than a second I had fallen to the ground and my consciousness became dull and my vision dimmed...

...

I slowly started to feel my body again...I opened my eyes but everything was blurry...After letting my body get it's energy back I realize, I have woken up

Fuck...I realized another thing

...I'm wet! ...I shouldn't had done it, this is such a pain in the ass!

...not that I did anything...

...

Everyone has woken up and we are currently eating breakfast at the cafeteria

This place really shows it's beauty in the morning, when the sun has just came above the horizon, the sunlight passes through the windows, hitting my skin and warming me up from the chilling atmosphere of the morning...the kids thankfully enough didn't recover yet from their sleep so they are rather quiet, not ruining the moment

I had taken the same sit as yesterday but the beastkins weren't here yet

After I was done with the food they showed up...but as soon as they did nun Marybeth, looking directly at us...clearly she hasn't forgot about yesterday

*Daniel and Vendar* she yelled as if to get our attention

*you two will have fun today, cleaning the toilets and the washroom*

Damnit...

...

Torturing my nose, is what I'm doing right now...by cleaning the toilets I didn't imagine we would have to get the "waste" out of them...they use what romans used, a wooden bench with holes, I used them before but I was quick enough to hold my breath

More than me, Vendar seems to be in pain, he clenches his eyes and firmly covers his nose with his left hand while holding the bucket full of shit with the right

Looking at him I think of doing it by myself, but I soon dismiss that idea...it will take me too long

*gathering shit...what am I even doing her?*

Vendar spoke, his words to me seemed like something I should be saying...

*say Verdan...why are you here?*

*didn't you lose? I don't think I have to answer*

*well if you ca...*

Vendar as if to avoid having to deal with my talking games decided to answer

*ok, ok, I would imagine you know of the red mountain range right?*

Mary mentioned it when I asked her to explain a bit of the geography

*I know where it is...*

With a sigh Vendar continued

*it's where my race resides...not a fun place, their rules are strict and with the new leader everything went to hell, whoever seemed like a threat to his ideas was killed on the spot by his mob, lots of us seek refuge to other countries...and well...the Ghenhar kingdom was the only to accept us*

He avoided telling me anything personal but I don't want to pressure him too much

*did you come here with your little friend?*

*Dein is my brother...*

He looked at me with a face you would make when you hear something stupid

*well I can't be sure till I hea...*

*anyway...how come you aren't scared of me?*

*Why should I?...I mean, I'm stronger than you*

*no you aren't...*

*yes I am, what about another chal...*

*no thank you...I don't wanna end up doing this again...and I don't want to see you fail that hard another time...though I kinda do*

He ended it with a grin

*excuses...*

...

The sun had yet to reach its climax and we were finally done with the chores

We still had some time till dinner so I went on a place that Vendar wanted to show me together with his brother Dein

As we were about half through to the destination I asked a question

*are you sure we can be this far into the forest without letting Marybeth nun know?*

*we wouldn't be able to come here if we let her know...* he said with smiling

*...I guess so...*

...the ground in the forest is really uneven, full of rocks and roots from the trees...not suited for humans to walk on, but I don't have much trouble running on it, I think it might be because of the perception stat

Suddenly Vendar slowed down and signalled me to stop

*we are close...be extra careful with your steps and don't make any sounds...*

He said with a whisper

*what are you going to show me?*

*you'll see...just stay quiet for now*

I nod

After following Vendar from behind, going uphill, we ended up in a steep cliff, he then again reminded me to not make a sound

...when I approached to look down I heard some sounds...of something moving...soon I realized it wasn't one thing moving

A whole horde of bunnies!

Not normal ones though, they were double the size of a normal one and had one sharp horn on their forehead

Some of them were eating some fighting with each other...and some, doing "what bunnies do"

...I really wasn't expecting this when Vendar said he wanted to show me something...this is a gold mine!

*those are horned bunnies...I discovered this last year...*

His mood shifted to a more serious tone...

*unfortunately when I found this place I was a bit... too hot headed...*

*you tried to fight them immediately?*

*yes...well...I somehow ended up getting away...thankfully enough I didn't bring Dein with me back then* he said while scratching his head

*so you brought me to help*

*yes...*

*do you have a plan?*

*kinda...just listen...*

Vendar went on and explained his plan...which...was not brilliant at all

Because the bunnies would never leave their area in small groups, he wanted me to...pretty much become a bait, get the attention of a few and lead them to an ambush

...it could work...but there is a high chance of attracting too many at once

...First I addressed another problem

*how are we going to fight them without weapons?!*

*well...we don't really need them...*

He explained about how he previously fought with them bare handed and that he had confidence in handling 2 alone

*and another thing... why did you bring Dein here?*

He again took his moody expression, looking down and said

*he...needs this, in 1 year I will be leaving the orphanage and I need him to be strong*

Vendar looked at Dein and patted his head...that kid never talks, Dein is probably 2 years younger than me

*ok, if we won't have weapons we at least need a good plan*

*but my plan wa...*

*it was terrible...*

...

After making them wait to think of a better plan... I feel defeated...there really is no other way we could use right now to do this...I criticized Vendar for having such a bad plan, but I can't come up with a better one

*Vendar...after all I think we should go with your plan...I did think of a better one...but since you found this place you get to decide*

Vendar asks me in confusion

*really?*

*yeah...*

...

I'm currently hiding behind a bush observing the bunnies...there are like 60 of them, which is dangerous, this horde could potentially be a threat to a small village, their horns are sharp, and from what Vendar said, they can easily pierce through me...their only downside is that their movements are predictable

I take a bunch of pebbles from the ground and throw them 6 meters away, some of them react and come to investigate...4 of them came...the others just went back to their business

And now...I run!!

As expected they noticed me and started chasing me...they are fast! but the terrain is actually on my side here, they would have easily caught up to me in a plain field...in this forest my more agile body is my advantage

This time I don't make the same mistake of looking back, I can hear them behind me and that's enough

In no time we had reached the ambush point

I take a quick right turn behind a tree

Two small figures appear behind the bunnies... those figures threw themselves on the back of the two last bunnies, with one hand they held their horns, the other wrapped around their stomach, and with their own legs they were securing the back legs

Before the front bunnies could notice, a traumatizing sight took place...

The two figures started to wildly chew on the necks of their prey ...the figures became red from the blood and the prey had stoped moving

... that's truly brutal

The other two were almost paralyzed, watching their friends die... ...that was my time to strike

I grip the two sharp sticks I had prepared and with no time to spare I impale them into their neck...*squiii* a light pitched screech comes out of their mouth as they spit the blood that continuously goes up their throat

They aren't dead yet... the one on the right is facing my way and from what I can tell Is preparing to charge, I jump towards the left bunny and I grab it, with my left arm its horn and with the other its leg

It struggles...but the struggles don't last long enough...as its buddy had just pierced through its stomach...

I quickly take the stick off the neck of the bunny I was holding and while standing on top of the one left alive, I stab...

And stab

And stab...and stab...and stab...

...not a pretty sight...I mean how can a fight of life and death be pretty anyway?

I look upon my victims, and I mentally ask for forgiveness...

...

While doing so...something familiar and yet out of place showed up...

____________

** !Congratulations! **

-- You have leveled up!

You are now level 1

-- You have leveled up!

You are now level 2

-- You have leveled up!

You are now level 3

-- You have leveled up!

You are now level 4

_____________

______

You now have: 20 unallocated stat points

_____

Those windows would have normally helped my mood...but unfortunately, they didn't help at all...