I'm trying to stay calm.

I'm trying to stay positive.

Even though I've been placed inside a dungeon to level up, I'm trying my best to remain calm.

Even though I have a sarcastic personal assistant, that seems hit and miss with the information I receive 'and how I receive it', I'm trying my hardest to be positive.

Even though I'm fucking naked and can not see a god damned thing in this stupid dungeon of darkness. I've been enduring well.

But no more. How the hell am I suppose to become a powerful wizard if I only have 5 MP? Every time I feel like things might actually start going my way, the carpet is abruptly pulled from underneath me, and I'm thrown into the metaphorical shit pile.

Man, my luck must be -5 if there is actually such an attribute.

"Temi, I thought you said I was made from pure mana. In my opinion, pure mana sounds awesome. It sounds way better than 5 MP so why the hell is my mana so low, it makes me feel weak just thinking about it."

'You are weak. You are Level 1, just like a human infant from Tironia. Also, your body is not 'made' of mana. It was created by mana and turned into a physical form which was only made possible because of the organic material here at the time of need.'

I listen carefully to Temi's explanation this time, wanting to understand. Plus I daren't say a word when she is offering helpful information, just in case she decides to stop being informative.

'As you where 'created' by pure mana, that means the body you now control has a faster and much greater potential for growth than the average human inhabitant of Tironia. Certain decisions or actions my help you raise your attributes from time to time, but only XP can raise your level. When your level rises you will receive a boost to all your attributes at once. The level up boost is where your mana created body will shine, with each level up, you will grow at a rate of almost 4 times faster than a regular person. So whilst you may be weak now, know that you have the potential to be strong in the future assuming you don't die here.'

Wow, I think that was the best piece of information Temi has ever given me.

Ok so attributes, XP and a level up boost thanks to my awesomely new, rocking bod. Got it.

This really feels like those old RPGs I used to enjoy, for some strange reason I can't recall their names, just like my own, but I'm sure I played them, I can almost remember it. Maybe it's not just my name that is taken upon death, what if I lost more than I thought about. Either way, I suppose it's not important now seeing as how everything I was or had are all still in a different world.

Anyway.

I'm going to assume that monsters are a real thing then too. Seeing how there is magic in this world, it's not as though I'm stretching the borders of the imagination by believing that. I speculate that my XP will come for them as well and I believe I can handle that. Unless I am actually attacked by another person, what do I do then? I don't want to kill anyone. Monsters would be manageable, I think, but an actual person? Maybe if they attacked me first and I killed them in self-defence, however, I still feel as though I would be committing an evil act.

That fact that I saved another persons life, one of the 'not many' memories I retain, is how I ended up in this situation in the first place. I don't believe I have a hero complex, but I'm all about defending people not killing them.

'In order to acquire XP, you will have to kill monsters. The ones that you kill inside the dungeon will be able to be looted, by doing this you will acquire items that you will need to survive. When looted the remains will be reclaimed by the dungeon and the monster will spawn again, at some point in the future.'

This is insane!

Absolutely, bat shit crazy!

However, all I can do is accept what I have been told and move forward because sounding out in my cold small room, I hear the noise of inevitability.

...Rumble...

"So, what can I get to eat down here Temi?"

'Once again, it was a wasted effort trying to impart knowledge as you obviously weren't paying attention.'

"I was, I swear. I wasn't daydreaming that time or anything, honest. You said kill monsters, get XP, level up, loot bodies and.....and.... that's it right?"

'That is correct, well done, good job, you did listen. Great. So you should know what to do now then.'

Eh, no! I'm still stuck at the idea of food. Succulent chicken breast, stuffed and seasoned with complimenting herbs wrapped in more meat, mmmm.

I'm salivating.

A horrible idea just rolled through my brain station at a terrifying speed. Monster meat, would that drop as a loot item? Potentially. If I was a betting man I would take that gamble right now. I have a perfectly good personal assistant in my mind but I'm a little worried to keep the conversation going with her, she seems to be back into an irritable mood which I'm too blame for apparently, I can just sense the sarcasm rolling off her tongue.

Let's try another approach with her, this might work.

"Temi, what can I do about the darkness here?"

'Nothing. It is always dark here.'

..........

"Yes, but how am I suppose to see?"

Shit, please don't capitalise on that opportunity I just handed you on a golden platter.

'Aquire the needed skill or magic.'

Yes, back to helpful Temi, Nice.

The systems light blue, star-filled frame appears before me once again. This time showing great news.

Skill Acquired: Night Vision Level 1

Sweet and super sweet. Just what the doctor ordered.

"A skill! Thank you, Temi."

'That was not me. I cannot seem to activate that function at the moment.'

"If that wasn't you, then who's sending me text messages?"

Hehe.

'That is the System in charge of Tironia and its inhabitant's growth. I was the System in charge of the soul sphere.'

"So there's more than one System? And everyone has access to the world system? So in other words, I didn't need to bring you as everyone has access to it anyway? Damn, did I really just waste the opportunity of a lifetime? I could have brought a Jet Bomber right, they're real, or a Tank, that's also real. Why did none of these ideas surface when I sat there for.... time!?"

'Everyone is connected to the System but no one else can interact with it.'

"Oh, so you mean its just me?"

'Us.'

"Us?"

'Yes, we.... are unique.'

I spot an almost visible outline in the darkroom that I call home and start to focus on it, whilst also continuing to pay attention to Temi's knowledge.

'All races know of their general stats and are also notified by the System when reaching a Level up, acquiring a skill or magic, or when receiving a title or class.

Skill: Night Vision Level 1 has reached Level 2

The strange outline in the dark seems to be a large gash down the wall. It also turned out to be right in front of my face. That's how hard it is to see in here. Right beside the crack, I can see the outline of the exit of my room. Beyond that is more darkness. I really need to find something to eat, and any source of food in this place is definitely down that tunnel, but I daren't leave yet.

I'll keep practising by focusing my eyes in the dark to hopefully level up this skill and then I might be able to see further. Walking out into an eerie dark passage, whilst naked, unable to see is literally suicide and I most definitely want to live this new life. As weird as it may be, this is where I am now. I need to adjust to the situation.

Pain radiates from my stomach, informing me that I'm still hungry and have yet to eat.

Stupid world.

Skill Acquired: Starvation Level 1

My pain eases up slightly but doesn't disappear fully. I suppose that makes this world a little better, still stupid but better nonetheless. Trying to ignore the now lesser pangs of hunger I concentrate my focus back to the room before me, my efforts eventually leading to success.

Skill: Night Vision Level 2 has reached Level 3

A scary thought washes over me as my happiness recedes.

"Temi, what would happen if my MP runs out?"

'You will become tired and fatigued, with a slight pain from lack of mana. The worst-case scenario is that you pass out from reaching zero. The natural ambience and power in the atmosphere will be absorbed by your body, replenishing your own mana reserves over time. The higher the mana density the better the restorative effects.'

"Ok, so not super dangerous. Awesome. Can I use magic now?"

'Yes.'

"Can you explain how I can learn it?"

'Yes.'

Why?

Why was I expecting a better answer? Is it because she has been helpful in a steady stream of information recently that I forgot her split personality?

More time passes and I'm still stating at the walls, maybe I can't level up night-vision any further here? I really want to learn magic and I've been thinking of a way to get Temi to help me out. I'm going to be.... super nice.

Alright, I need to project my best self. My most sincere inner being and come across as grateful because I really want to learn magiiic!

Here goes.

"Temi, please would you be so kind as to explain to me, how I begin to understand magic and how I can start using it. Please. Thank You."

'I suppose it wouldn't be too bothersome. It's simple really, magic is only limited to one's power and imagination. All you have to do is imagine what you want to happen and then create it with your mana.

Skill: Night Vision Level 3 has reached Level 4

Skill: Starvation Level 1 has reached Level 2

Skill Acquired: Pain Resistance Level 1

Yes, Night Vision. Everything is looking... grey, which is better than black I suppose.

Shit. No time for those, I just got a good answer albeit weird as hell.

"Simple..... That sounds incredibly vague Temi. Imagine what I want mana to do, then do it? That's basically what you said, right?"

'........'

"Oi Oi, don't ignore me now Temi, have you ever used magic before?"

'...... Of course, I've used magic before. How do you think I created your body here, whilst we were on the Astral Plane?'

"Ok, good point. But why does your explanation on magic suck!"

'That's just how it's done on the Astral Plane. Think, shape, create. Simple. The humans on Tironia learn magic the same way they do with skills. With practice, teachers and books. However, did you even try my method or did you just complain straight away?'

She got me there.

In that case, I suppose I should give my wise teachers technique a try. I should at least attempt it once before I complain about how stupid it sounds, right?

Hmm.

What to create.

Hmmmmm.

............

What the hell!

Why has my mind gone blank? It's exactly the same as the moment you are asked a question, that you clearly know the answer too, but you just can't remember the answer.

Relax.

Deep breaths.

Patience is key here.

Right, now that I have calmed down I can remember quite a few different spells. I may have used these in games or I may have seen them on the various anime programs that I had watched. My memories of my past life are hazy and come and go, sometimes memories are there but others are completely non-existent like family or my name. Concentrate on one problem at a time fool.

The problem now is that the spells I'm thinking of, I'll never have enough mana to cast as they're all boss killing spells. All of them far too destructive for my small room and most of them will almost certainly kill me. None seem to fit the situation. I can guarantee it.

I try to rein my thoughts in and get them under further control. I just need something small, really really small. Like a light. I try to imagine what light is to me and I instantly picture it as a light bulb. I can see it illuminating my mind. I try to pull the light from inside the bulb in my head, but it won't budge.

Well, I didn't expect much from it anyway, but I'll give it another shot so I can at least say I put the effort in. Once again I picture the light bulb in my mind, this time imagining it without the glass casing. I feel butterflies in my belly and followed by an opening sensation from within me. As though something was just released, I have the urge to pull the light from my mind and merge it with the sensation I now feel within me. It takes less than a second, a sphere of light just as bright as the one I had pictured in my mind, appears above my hand. The light refracting and slowly folding in on itself, it appears to pulse continuously, before emerging again following an infinite loop of brightness.

'......E...Erin, I didn't actually think you would be able to do that.'

"Hahaha behold!"

I grab hold of the sensation I used before, swelling within me and I start pushing it towards my sphere of light, it starts to shine even brighter, exactly as I want it to, rotating in on itself faster and expelling just the same. It looks exactly the opposite of a black hole but instead of sucking light in it seems to be pouring light out instead. It looks beautiful for the split second I'm able to hold my gaze. It lights up the room easily but I'm too fixated on my magic to notice anything else in the room, maybe it's because it's the first spell I've ever cast or just the fact that it's magic could be causing my marvel. In the time it appears to the time it takes for the light to hit my eyes, It so bright that I'm a little worried my new body will go blind. I shield my eyes with my free arm releasing them from their first encounter with light, all whilst thinking that this spell definitely deserves a good name.

"Sphere of Illuminating Light!"

'You shouldn't.....'

Mwahahahaha.....

A sudden pain shoots into my mind, like my brain, is trying to shred itself, and my Sphere of Illuminating Light fades away.

"Ow, you never mentioned severe head trauma during our magical training lesson."

I feel groggy all of a sudden, what's going on.

'You do not have severe head trauma. Nor did you have a magic lesson. I merely explained the basics of how I use to use magic. You just forced the rest of your mana into your spell.'

I drop to my knees, luckily I'm on the mossy side of the room still or I'm pretty sure I would have grazed skin after hitting the floor. My consciousness is slipping but I desperately try to think on one phrase from what Temi just said.

Use to use?

Does that mean that she can't use magic anymore?

Remorseful thoughts go through my mind as my consciousness fades deeper.

Well shit.

Now I feel like a fool.

And not just for forcing all my mana into one spell.

I'm just beginning to use magic and it seems extraordinary, so if she is no longer able to cast it because of me then no wonder she keeps giving me the cold shoulder. She must hate me for depriving her of such a gift. I suppose there's nothing I can do about it for the moment so I'll just have to keep it in mind for my future goals.

Maybe I could create her a body?

I should definitely apologies at some point as well, for dragging her along.

My last thought was, I really hope I don't get eaten and with that, I passed out on what I still believed to be the mossy ground missing an important notification.

Magic Acquired: Sphere of Illuminating Light