He wanted to know more about his abilities. He needed to know more about his Special Abilities in particular--whether or not they were on cooldown had been a particular point of frustration for him.

Mana Manipulation seemed like the way to go for that, but he couldn't increase that right now since he had no skill points.

He would increase his Magic stat, then. That might help.

[4 points added to Magic!]

[Special Ability Menu expanded!]

Name : Lance Samson

─ Race : Human

─ Level : 4

─ Class : None

─ HP: 19; Magic: 25; Strength: 18; Agility: 23; Luck: 20

─ Status Points: 2

─ Skills : Speed (S) +4; Perception (P) +1; Assess (P) +1; Stealth (E) +1, Mana Manipulation (M)

─ Skill Points: 0

─ Gear: Leather Jacket; Brown Belt; Black Trousers; Blue Shirt; Gun; Knife; Ring.

─ Special Abilities: [Mindread] (Charge: 97/100): Lance has the ability to read minds. [Presence Detection] (Charge: 56/100): He also can sense the presence of any other person within a ten-foot radius. He can use this skill to spy on people without them knowing. [Mind Attack] (Charge: 12/15): Lance can strike directly at another’s mind using his P stat (enhanced by M stat).

***

Lance walked behind the others, keeping a close eye on everything—even though there wasn't much to see; most of what was left outside of this buildings's perimeter wall looked either burned out or collapsed from all of the damage done during the apocalypse. The occasional monster attacked them here and there as well; each one brought up memories of the last attack. None of the people in this former restaurant had survived it: too many monsters coming at them at once, Lance assumed, and none of them willing to stop and take cover until it was over.

The whole thing felt like a bad dream that he wanted to wake up from. But he knew that wouldn't be happening anytime soon. Not with the world around him slowly changing into something else that didn't even look like Earth anymore. What had been normal just a few weeks ago had now become twisted beyond belief in ways he never could have imagined.

Lance thought through gritted teeth. He wasn't sure if anyone would hear his thoughts; it seemed to be growing harder to keep track of what was real and what wasn't since they'd entered the city. The presence thrummed again, pulling Lance back out of his headspace as it continued to build up.

Lance thought.

The presence didn't respond, but there was a feeling of intent there, echoing throughout his entire being.

As the others walked behind him, Grace kept her eyes peeled ahead of everyone else while Jacob's hand rested on the butt of his gun like he was ready to use it at any time. Jacob had grown quieter over these last few days, probably because they hadn't run into a single other group of normal survivors.

Lance glanced around him, searching for something he might recognize: a place that could help him figure things out before they all died out here in this abandoned metropolis.