Part Eight

I was sitting on a porch swing a fair distance from the shelter walls.

I can’t believe I let my temper get ahead of me. I should know better than that. I probably just caused a whole bunch of problems for those two.

It was just that… that I’d dealt with people like this for my whole life. My parents were a singer-songwriter duo from the 90s. While they’d only had one hit song, it had gone completely to their heads. They had a tendency to look down on those without musical talent. Like me.

I wasn’t abused or anything. It was closer to a constant sense that I’d disappointed them. No matter what I’d done or tried, nothing got their approval. They would dismiss any achievements I made completely, while praising my younger sister.

I didn’t resent her, not at all. We used to be close, well as close as siblings can be. She was only two years younger than me and while our parents were trash, she was a sincerely good person. Our relationship had only fractured due to pressure from our parents and the rest of our extended family.

After years of dealing with their attitude, I’d just left. I didn’t run away, I just moved out in the middle of the night. Clint had been the one who helped me out there. He’d somehow learned that I’d left, and set me up with my apartment and was helping me to get work. Though that’s out the window.

I simply had no tolerance for people like that, and I was very likely to get into fights. It had happened several times throughout my school life, and I’d even been close to getting expelled at one point. Goes to show ya, I still can’t rein in my temper.

I couldn’t keep wallowing in my past. If I wanted to survive, I needed to move on and keep gathering strength. Still… that was wonderfully refreshing. And the LOOKS on their faces! Priceless!

[Alicia’s POV]

She was worried. Exceedingly worried.

Michael had just run away, and she didn’t know where he was. Her Unique Skill allowed her to read the motivations and emotions of those around her. And she could say that none of the guys back at the shelter had good intentions. Moreover, when he had left, he’d been in intense emotional distress.

When she’d gone to chase after him, Cameron tried to stop her. He wasn’t a bad person, just worried for a young girl. But he couldn’t see past the immediate danger. The men there were just as bad as the monsters. Mike must’ve realized what was happening, or at least realized that he couldn’t trust them.

Ohhh! I just left on an impulse, but I don’t know where he could’ve gone. There are monsters everywhere out here, and those scumbags too. She didn’t have any way to track him. She knew he was likely to put distance between him and them, so the longer she took, the harder it’d be to find him.

Inevitably, she took to the rooftops, hoping to get a better vantage from there.

“Arooo, arororororow" She could hear the pitiful whining of monsters in the distance. Since she had no other leads, she headed towards the sound.

“Stupid fucking wolves! Stop badgering me! I’m pissed off enough.” It was him alright. He was surrounded by a large pack of Black Wolves. It was the kind of situation that would kill most people, but he seemed perfectly fine. No one else is crazy enough to do this.

Sighing to herself, she started to shoot the outermost wolves. Because she was still using his Cloak of Shadow, her attacks were undetected until she actually fired. This, plus her own skill, allowed her to kill several wolves.

She’d taken to the Cloak almost immediately. It’s Skills aided her ability to ambush enemies, making fighting much easier. She wasn’t used to killing, but using a bow made it easier than if she had to cut them.

As she kept focusing, she noticed a tingling sensation in her eyes, followed by her vision turning clearer. It was slightly concerning, but she tried to pay it no mind. She wanted to finish off the wolves so she and Michael could talk. But she did notice that her accuracy had increased, something that was greatly appreciated.

But Michael was doing even more than she was. Even though he’d been surrounded, he didn’t even seem injured. Even when her arrows had started to kill the monsters around him, he’d never flinched. It’s almost unfair how good at this he is.

They soon had the pack wiped out. Just as she was about to climb down, she felt a ringing in her ear, followed by a monotone voice.

::Individual has gained proficiency in Equipment Skill: Stealth. Skill has transformed into Normal Skill: Stealth Rank F. Individual has acquired Normal Skill: Accuracy Rank F.::

A strange feeling, like pins and needles, began to spread throughout her throat.

“W-W-WHAT!?”

[Protag’s POV]

Okay. So a bunch of shit just happened. Just as I’d resolved myself to become a loner, I run into a pack of wolves. Which, by the way, must be the unluckiest wolves in existence, because I was in a piss poor mood.

So I’m fighting the pack, when all of a sudden, arrows start killing the wolves furthest from me. Now, I’m a fairly smart guy, so I easily figure out that it’s Alicia. That wasn’t hard. I’m just confused as to why she’s here.

Even if that’s not confusing enough, after we dealt with the pack, I’d gone to talk to her, only for her to scream. Yep, I’m all kinds of confused. Sometimes life throws a curveball when you least expect it.

Status (Michael)

Race: Human

Archetype: Warrior

Age: 22

State: Healthy

Titles: Razor's Edge, Way of the Warrior, Conqueror of Trials

Rank: C

Skills

Normal Skills: Analyze, Survival Instinct,

Special Skills: Skanda Rank E,

Authorities: Insight,

Equipment: Scaleblade Armor, Metal Helm, Moray Gauntlets, Soldier’s Pants, Moray Boots, Warrior’s Bracelet,

Status (Alicia)

Race: Human

Age: 18

State: Healthy

Titles: None

Rank: E

Skills

Normal Skills: Analyze, Stealth Rank F, Accuracy Rank F,

Equipment Skills: Shadow Lurk

Unique Skill: Observer

Equipment: Cloak of Shadow

We’d decided to show each other our Statuses. Alicia had hit E-Rank at some point. Her Status was… well it was. Mine was similar to hers at one point, so I shouldn’t judge.

“Why did you follow me? You would have been safer in the shelter. There’s no telling what we could come across out here.”

“…….Do you really think that? I’m sure you’ve realized what was going on there. Or at least you had a clue.”

Damn it! Why is she so perceptive? I mean, it’s good that she figured it out, but this puts me in a bind. I’m not going to abandon her, but it’ll be hard to protect both our lives.

“Haaa…. Fine. Have it your way. But! I’m setting some ground rules. If I say something, you listen. This isn’t the kind of environment that pardons mistakes. One slip-up and we could both die.”

“Okay. But nothing creepy!”

WHAT THE HELL!? Does she think I’m no better than those assholes? I should just ignore that. It probably didn’t mean anything, right?

“Haaaa…. I feel like I’m sighing a lot.”

“Every time you sigh, a little bit of your happiness escapes.”

What? Why does she know that? And that isn’t true! Not in the least!

“So what’s the difference between the types of Skills?”

After our, whatever that was, finished, we started talking. The topic had eventually shifted to Skills, which led her to ask that question. I didn’t have an answer for her, as I didn’t know the difference myself.

“I have no clue.”

“What!? B-b-but that’s all you’re good for! If you don’t know this, than why did I bother asking you?

This occasional teasing of hers is getting on my nerves. I think I preferred it when she couldn’t talk.

“I do know one thing. Special Skills have a very specific requirement to get them. I’m pretty sure the other Skills are comparatively easier to acquire compared to these.”

“Requirements….. like what?”

“I only saw one, and that was after using Insight for an hour. They’re pretty much just some sort of insane task you have to complete. The one I know of was called Bloodthirst. It acts kind of like an intimidation skill. I don’t know exactly what it does, but the requirement was to kill a hundred monsters in a minute.”

The look on Alicia’s face mirrored the one on mine when I saw that. From what I could tell, Bloodthirst was an easy skill to acquire. Meaning that the stronger skills likely had even crazier requirements.

“That’s crazy! I don’t want to even try to get a skill like that. Wait, but you have one! What stupidly difficult thing did you do!”

Why did she ask that! I don’t know why I have Skanda, I just know I’ve always had it.

“Nothing, or at least nothing I remember. I had the skill when I first woke up in the dungeon. I’m not sure why I got it. The System went on for two minutes when I first connected, so I’m sure it said something about it there, but I’ve no clue what.”

“isn’t that unfair? You get such an amazing skill without doing anything. Absolutely nothing!”

“Hey! I went through hell in that dungeon. I was always looking around corners to make sure I didn’t run into monsters I didn’t want to fight. That takes a severe toll on someone.”

That place really was the worst. I couldn’t really rest while I was inside, and the stress would’ve given me an ulcer if that had been reality.

“Ah! Um, I’m sorry?”

“Why was that a question? …….I’m not upset, I just don’t like thinking about it. Not long after I moved away from my parents, this shit happens. It feels like everything just spits on me when I actually try. Nothing I did was good enough for my family, so I don’t have the best reaction to when people criticize what I’ve earned.”

Well that was a good idea! Just vent to a stranger. It’s not like she actually cares about my problems. Actually, are my parents still alive? Is my sister? And why don’t I care more? I’m feeling a bit disturbed by this.

“My parents hate me.” What!? Why would you say that all of a sudden? I know I started it, but that’s way too heavy to just drop on someone.

“It’s a stupid story. I was an unwanted pregnancy. My parents never planned to have children. I can still remember, when I was little, the nights my dad got drunk. He’d yell and scream, all about how his little bitch of a daughter cost him all his dreams. I can’t even remember my mother. She abandoned me shortly after I was born.”

Gack! Her eyes have lost all light! What the hell’s going on in her head? I’m more scared of her than I am of monsters. I take back what I said! Someone stop this!

“When I was ten, my dad killed himself while driving drunk. He wrapped his car around a telephone pole. But maybe that was lucky for me. His parents got custody of me, keeping me out of the foster system. They’ve raised me with a lot of love, even after what happened.”

Um, okay? This got surprisingly better? Or is this when the other shoe drops and things go back to being shit?

“So I know what I’m talking about when I say that your whole family can’t all be bad people. There has to be at least one person who’s worth knowing.”

Wha? That was actually moving. I feel like there’s something missing here though. Like there’s something she doesn’t want to mention. Guess I shouldn’t touch on it. But someone who’s worth knowing? Only Rina comes to mind.

“My sister is the only one to come to mind. It’s not like I know all my relatives. Both sets of my grandparents are already dead, and I’m not close to any of my cousins. But I’m not sure where she is. She should be on tour in California somewhere, but I don’t know where?”

Hm, I hadn’t been keeping track of her schedule. It’ll make it harder to find her.

“On-on tour?” was I thinking aloud?

“Ah, yeah. She’s a singer-songwriter. She is pretty popular, but I’ve never been into the kind of music she writes. Another thing my parents held against me. Alicia?”

Her eyes had glazed over, and she was quietly mumbling to herself. Because that’s not creepy at all.

“Michael!”

“Yes?” her suddenly snapping out of it took me by surprise. And scared me. That look in her eyes is terrifying.

“What’s your last name?”

“Walters?” why was that question?

“Your……… YOUR SISTER IS KATRINA WALTERS!?”

“Gah! Too loud! And stop grabbing at me! Hey, I said calm down!”

I finally calmed down her sudden fan girl episode. It was extremely tiring.

“I-I’m sorry. I just kind of lost it for a moment.”

She was doing an impressive job of ignoring the fact that she had grabbed me with bloodshot eyes. Honestly, it was terrifying. I think I might have been traumatized by her.

“Please never do that again. It’s extremely terrifying.”

“Okay.” And now she’s depressed. Yay.

“Now that we know each others depressing family situations, we need to decide our next step. Do we try to escape, or do we try and help Cameron?”

“Help Cameron?”

“Yep. You said that he seemed to owe Hansen something, right? If he’s not going to be able to leave, then we’ll have to find a way to keep him safe until we can convince him otherwise.”

“Ohhhh. I like that idea. Cameron’s a good guy. I’d like to help him anyway I can.”

“Alright then. We should stay near the shelter for the foreseeable future. The monster population is far lower here. We can take this time to train and master our skills. We might even find some more equipment for you.”

That was my number one priority. She needs some proper protection. Having some armor and maybe an accessory will go a long way towards her growth.

[???’s POV]

It looked at the puny creature crawling on the ground.

“Gya gagaagagya gyegya!”

As a superior being, there was no way it would know the language of inferiors like goblins. However, several of its kin were learned in such things, and one of them passed its plea on.

A group of humans had gone through its territory, massacring its subjects. The Goblin King believed that they were heading towards the human encampment. He was asking them to take revenge for his people, even if it took his head.

It contemplated the goblins request. The humans defenses had been rather tough lately. At first, many of the pests had died, and the ground was soaked in their blood. But as fewer and fewer were left, they began to fight back. They built fortifications and with the strange weapons that spat metal, the humans had pushed the races back. Even a few of its kin had died during the fighting.

An idea occurred to it. If the King’s horde had indeed suffered such casualties, then crushing the human’s resistance would be simple.

The Goblin King immediately agreed.

[Hansen’s POV]

Damn that little shit! His nose kept throbbing from where it had broken. He’d been gracious enough to invite the brat to be protected, and this was his thanks!? He’d even sucker punched his son! He was going to pay.

“If you find that shit, drag him back here. We’ll teach him to fight like a little bitch.”