Gamer of Capes and Worms

Let your thoughts flow through you, like a leaf through the wind.
Mind like a still pond, serene and reflective.
Don't think about a pink elephant.
…
"That wasn't in the book, was it?"

My calm state completely broken, I open my eyes to look at the book beside me.

The title read [Meditating for Dummies], and while it wasn't very flattering, I was grasping at flies at this point and catching nothing.

Sitting in the still somewhat unfamiliar room, I can't help but lament what my life has become.

Getting transported into what I once thought was just a very depressing story and de-aged to 17 wasn't my version of a good time though.

What did make it a little bit better was the gift I got with it though.

---

[Initializing integration of Gamer System 4.0 into Chosen User]
[…]
[Integration Complete.]
[Choosing starting Template]
[…]
[…]
[Template chosen: Nie Li (Tales of Demons and Gods)]
[Integrating Template]
[…No compatibility issues found]
[…]
[…]
[Template integration complete]
[Tales of Demons and Gods Skill Tree Unlocked.]

---

[Status]
Name: William Brooks
Class: NA
Soul Realm: Red
Soul Form: Disordered / [Redacted]
Soul Attribute: Neutral
Sp. Physique: NA
Soul Force: 3
Body Force: 31
Money: $5437

---

That was the first thing I saw when I woke up.

Now, like most avid fanfic readers, at first I was ecstatic. Like, who doesn't want to become a [Gamer]?

That joy slowly faded the longer I went without receiving any skills and found no way to increase or even feel my Soul Force.

Hell, the only thing I've been doing these last two weeks is going to the gym, which is the only thing that made something increase on my status page.

And buying books on meditation and reading online to get any idea of how to increase my Soul Force.

I can't even feel it.

I've been playing hide and seek with something that should be fucking obvious, considering I didn't have it before.

At least my bank account transferred with me to this godforsaken place and rent was already paid for a few months, because if I was going to need to find a job with all that's happening,

I'm gonna have an aneurysm.

I don't know what kind of being picked me and set me up in this world, or what exactly it wants me to do, but since there wasn't even a note or a message in the system it stuck me with, then I can just assume it wants me to do what I would do naturally in the situation it put me in.

*piep pip piep pip*

In my rumination on the clusterfuck that is my life right now, my alarm warns me I need to get going for boxing classes.

20 minutes later, I arrive at The Furious Boxing Gym. It wasn't a big place, but that was fine. I could just do the workout the coach gave me in the beginning until it didn't strain me anymore, and ask someone to spar at the end for a bit.

By now, I'd gotten into a rhythm that calmed me more than any meditation session ever did.

Doing my movement drills and focusing on my footwork sharpened my mind like few things could.

So it shouldn't have surprised me that the notification I'd been waiting two weeks for finally appeared in front of me.

[You grasped your Soul Force for the first time! +5 SF!]
[Skill Created! 'Moving Meditation' Unlocked]

The first thing that came over me was shock, and then elation that I'd finally created a skill.

The second thing that happened… was me tripping over the equipment I was using and falling flat on my face.

"What was that?!"

Pushing myself off the ground, I answered the big man that came powerwalking over.

"I fell, coach!"

Now in front of me, the man crouched and pushed his face so close to me I thought he was going to headbutt me.

"And why, for god's sake, did you do that, Brooks!"

"I was distracted, coach!"

"Distracted?! Why would you do that, for Christ's sake, Brooks!"

"I don't know, coach!"

"Well now that you're on the ground anyway, because you apparently love it so much you don't even know why you kissed it—give me twenty and continue your workout plan!"

"Yes, coach!"

If you couldn't tell, the coach of this place is a military man…

That wasn't, sadly, the only time I fell, and I think I broke my personal record for pushups in a day.
It also probably—maybe—not a good idea to end my training session with a few spars.

If it wasn't obvious with that decision that I don't have a lot of brain cells, then doing that reduced that already low number even lower.

Moving Meditation levelled up twice thought!

I was even debating with myself whether I should jog back to my apartment, but my body was firmly against that idea.

Thinking over whether I should listen to it, or go try for some more skill gains, I didn't notice the coach walking toward me.

"Brooks, you okay today? I know we go hard in this gym, but at the end of your sparring I couldn't help but be a bit worried."

A warm feeling came up in my chest at that—it feels good to have someone worry for you.

"I'm okay, coach. There's just been a lot going on in my life right now that I have to figure out. It distracted me today more than normal."

That didn't really alleviate his worry apparently, but he didn't inquire further.

"Okay then. If you want to talk about it, then my door is always open. While I know you aren't as troubled as some of the youth that comes here, I don't want you to join them in their circumstances. This city has enough of them already."

"I will if I need to, coach." And I give him a smile, hoping to convey my understanding of the offer.

It appears he got that, and ended the conversation with, "Good. And call me Mr. Laborn when your session is done—I'm not drilling you into the ground outside of training."

Letting out a laugh at that, I can't help but say with a small salute, "HAH. You got it, Mr. Laborn. Sir!"

He walks off after that, grumbling about disobedient youth and rebellious youngsters, but I saw the small smile he tried to hide.

Getting on the bus, I look over my first skill.

---

[Moving Meditation - Lvl. 3]
Meditation doesn't always have to be sitting still and trying to think of nothing. Some people need to get moving to reach that special state of mind.
You are one of them.

Allows you to enter a meditative state even while moving your body.
Increases Soul Force gain by 1.5%

---

It even increases Soul Force?!
…
Would it be weird if I started running up and down the bus?
It definitely would be weird…
Could I try to feel my Soul Force now?

Closing my eyes and focusing on my breathing, I try to feel the energy.
And while I couldn't feel it on the ride home, I somehow felt like I was getting closer to grasping it than I ever was.
I wanted to start immediately after eating, but tiredness hit me and I decided it's better to give my body the rest it clearly asked for.
Falling into my bed, it didn't even take 10 seconds for sleep to take me.

Waking up refreshed, I had a quick breakfast and did a small workout more focused on flexibility.

[Body Force +1]

Yes!

It's only one point, but progress is progress. When my Body Force reaches 100, I will officially be a Bronze 1-Star Fighter. I'm hoping there's a reward waiting behind it.

[Received a Quest]*

---

Quest: Become a Fighter!
Reach Body Force 100.
Reward: [Skill]
Accept Quest? Yes/No

---

My first Quest!

I really wanted to start on that quest, but my body was tired and needed rest. It was vexing, but I wasn't 100% sure my body was changed to become more like a gamer character, besides the obvious system.

I still got tired, still felt my body burn after a workout. I couldn't risk being injured in this hellhole I called home.

After all, living in the Cape Capital of a world that is being controlled by a shadow organization and threatened by a depressed space worm isn't that great for my health—physical or mental.

This brought me back to my previous dilemma: stay inside or go outside.

I'm not that social a person… I mean, I can talk with people just fine, but I firmly fall in the introverted category.
And considering my rather abysmal showing yesterday at the gym and how exhausted I felt, I don't think Mr. Laborn would like to see me working out so soon.

…
Who am I kidding—I already decided before I even clearly thought about my options.

Going back to my bed and finding a comfortable position to sit, I focus on my body, looking for that elusive energy.

It's weird, nothing really changed from my previous meditation attempts. I focused less on my breath maybe, and I could feel every movement of my body a bit more clearly.

But there wasn't anything I actively changed about my approach.

So imagine my surprise when, not even 30 minutes later, a wisp of something was felt inside.
Sadly, the moment I shifted my focus, it disappeared.

This did prove to become a familiar pattern. I finally had something to focus on in these sessions, which appeared to make all the difference.
Each attempt to feel my Soul became shorter and shorter—from 30 minutes to 25, to 20, to 10, to 5.
With each try, my excitement became stronger and stronger, but at the same time more focused.

My mind was made up apparently—I will grasp that energy today.

*grumble grumble*

After some food…

-----

Putting my empty instant noodle cup into the trashcan, I cleaned my face up a bit and got back to the grind.

Somehow, I felt that my next attempt was going to be successful.

Sitting on my bed, my breath was even, my body still.

The sounds from outside faded away, and the only thing I perceived… what I could perceive… was my body.

The energy, my Soul Force, appeared again, around my navel.

I held in my excitement that previously got the better of me every time and kept focus on my breath and movement.

Slowly, the energy started to spread—or maybe my awareness of it did.
It felt like it was flowing out from my navel, going toward my heart and into my head and limbs.
Carefully, I shifted my focus toward it, approaching it like a scared animal.
Ever so slowly, my concentration moved until it was fully on my Soul, and I could finally attempt the next step.

I grabbed it.

*Gasp*

The feeling of touching my Soul Force was indescribable—it was like before, I was only half complete and didn't realize it.

I wanted to bask in that feeling.

My system didn't let me.

[Skill Created! 'Soul Force Manipulation' Unlocked]
[Skill Created! 'Meditation' Unlocked]

Opening the notifications, I look at my two new skills.

---

[Soul Force Manipulation – Lvl. 1]
The art of moving and controlling your own Soul Energy.

---

[Meditation – Lvl. 1]
Meditation is all about connection with something—from everything to yourself or the world around you.
Or in this case, your Soul.
Increase Soul Force gain by 1%

---

Soul Force Manipulation was pretty simple and didn't give any bonuses, but every game knew that control of your own energy pool was paramount and something to continue training in.
Meditation was what I expected it would be from the info I got from [Moving Meditation], though the bonus was stronger in the former.

Suddenly, another notification popped up in the corner of my eye. Opening it, saying I was surprised would have been an understatement.

[You have 2 Meditation Skills. Do you wish to fuse them? Yes/No]

What?

Uh… should I? I don't think the system would give me the option if it wasn't to my benefit, and I couldn't deny that my curiosity also played a large part in it.

Clicking Yes, the next pop-ups felt like there was a lot more going on behind my system and its processes than I was previously aware of.
That wasn't much, to be fair, but I found it noteworthy enough.

---

[Fusion of 'Meditation' and 'Moving Meditation'…]
['Meditation' is a higher-ranked Skill. 'Meditation' chosen as Primary Skill]
[Fusing 'Meditation' and 'Moving Meditation'…]
[Fusion Complete!]

---

[Meditation – Lvl. 2]
Meditation is all about connection with something—from everything to yourself or the world around you.
Or in this case, your Soul.
Increase Soul Force gain by 2%
While in movement and meditative state, increase Soul Force gain by 1%

---

Well damn…
The flavor text stayed the same, but now I could train my body while also training my Soul. This would massively increase my training speed.
I could maybe even become a Spiritualist in a reasonable time!

---

[Received a Quest]*

---

Quest: My Soul is My Strength!
Become a Bronze 1-Star Demon Spiritualist in 3 months' time.
Reward: [Cultivation Technique]
Accept Quest: Yes/No

---

I never clicked Yes so fast.
Being a Demon Spiritualist is what being a cultivator in Tales of Demons and Gods is all about, and probably where most of my strength is going to come from.
Seeing a path toward actually meaning something in this place, I fully dive back into meditation and can't wait for tomorrow so I can go work out again.

Chad the grinder would be proud.

Having 2 Quests I can complete now gave me a more visible path to follow.

Obviously, I will focus my attention on 'My Soul is My Strength' as it has a time limit.

The only reason I can imagine one quest having a limit and the other not is that the limited

Quest has a better reward.

So that's how my new schedule began.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday I went to the boxing gym and worked out while trying to meditate (not while sparring—I learned my lesson the first time).

The other days were fully spent meditating at home to the absolute possible minute. I did take breaks in between meditating though—sitting still so much has a way of making you go stir-crazy.

Normally, you'd assume being constantly on the move would be the better option, but it's damn hard to stay in a meditative state while working out or going on a run with all the noise around you.

Not that it isn't getting easier with every level up, but just sitting at home made entering that mindset a lot easier, even if I couldn't hold it as long as I would've liked.

A month went by like that. Having just finished my workout in the gym, I looked at my progress in the locker room.


[Status]
Name: William Brooks
Class: NA
Soul Realm: Red
Soul Form: Disordered/ [Redacted]
Soul Attribute: Neutral
Sp. Physique: NA
Soul Force: 33
Body Force: 53
Money: $5021

---

It's solid progress. Normally I would be worried that succeeding the quest would be very close to the deadline, but the skill level-ups should increase my gains.

Talking about skills, they also got a nice bump.

---

Meditation Lvl. 13

Meditation is all about connection with something—from everything to yourself or the world around you.

Or in this case, your Soul.

Increases Soul Force gain by 13%
While in movement and meditative state, increases Soul Force gain by 6.5%

---

11 level-ups wasn't that bad. I would've wished for more, of course, but my System apparently didn't come with a growth boost.
Soul Manipulation was lagging behind at lvl 5, but the skill was too low to do anything with, and I didn't have the time to play with it and level it up.

Cleaning up and going out of the locker room, I saw that Coach Laborn was talking with a big Black young man I hadn't seen in the gym.

Seeing me walk away, Mr. Laborn signaled me to come over, and after a second of thinking it over, I went towards them.

"Yes? What is it, Coach?"

With a small scowl, he replied, "What did I tell you about calling me Coach?"

"To only call you that when in training, Coach," I answered. I knew the next training session would be hell, but I couldn't help but needle the old man a bit.
That he only grumbled a bit just told me he was in a good mood for some reason.

"Youngsters these days, no respect." Taking a small breath, he continued,

"Anyway, this here is my son Brian. He thought it was finally time to come back to the gym for once."

At that, I looked to the man who apparently was the son of my trainer.

As I previously mentioned, he's a big man—probably nearing six and a half feet—and has the well-built physique that tells me martial arts runs in the family. He has a big jaw and that rugged look.

It's his eyes, however, that unnerve me a bit—they have a calculating look for some reason…

Is it that weird that his dad introduces somebody to him?

He gave me what I think is a friendly smile and greeted me with his hand extended.

"Brian Laborn. Nice to meet you. It doesn't happen often that my dad feels the need to introduce me to someone in the gym. Well, I know most of them already from the past, haha."

Brian Laborn… Why is that name familiar?

Anyway, I shook his hand and introduced myself.

"Haha. Yeah, I've been coming here for the last two months. I'm William Brooks, but call me Liam."

After giving me a strong handshake, he looked back at his father.

"Well anyway, Dad, I gotta go again. I need to go pick up Aisha."

At the name, I saw a hint of sadness in Mr. Laborn's eyes, but it was gone as fast as it appeared.

"Yeah, you go do that."

At the rather abrupt ending of the conversation, everyone went their separate ways.

On the way home I couldn't help but think back to my short talk with the two men, and why Brian's name was so familiar.

And than it clicked.

A big black young man, a physique that was made for fighting…

And last but not least, his name… Brian Laborn and the name Aisha…

I just met Grue, leader of the Undersiders, or in the future anyway, considering I haven't heard anything on them online yet.

And I have been training under his father the last two months…

Just sitting there, I let all that wash over me.

To be fair, while I don't know how many people have the last name Laborn, I would have never linked the man with Grue.

After all, Coach Laborn looks like the typical white construction worker—maybe a bit more built and fit than that because of his boxing.

Going home, I don't even go into meditation immediately like I normally do. I just take a drink out of my fridge, noting that I'll need to go grocery shopping soon, and just sit in my kitchen.
…
I just met a cape…

While normally people would assume you'd immediately recognize a named character, I've already been here two months and this is the first time I've seen one up close.

Yes, I've seen some of New Wave fly over some buildings before, but I don't really count that.

I live in downtown where capes don't really patrol. The only reason gang violence is so low here is because it's a somewhat better neighborhood in the Merchant territory.

Yes, they have those, even if not a lot.

It's too nice to peddle drugs on the street, but just not nice enough to be worth stealing.

That's also the reason there aren't a lot of patrols in the area. So far as I know, there have only been three in the last two months—and I missed all of those.

After the knowledge that I've met my first cape (that I know of) has set in, I make a quick meal for myself and go back to the grind.

The next few weeks when I'm at the gym, I see Brian more and more. Sometimes just walking around speaking with some people, other times we train at the same time, but we never really talk to each other except for greetings and goodbyes.
Is it because I know that he's a cape that I'm so hyper-aware of him, or does he just have that presence?

I mean, you need quite some charisma to keep a bunch of teenagers in a cape group, shadow boss or not. And smarts too, to survive so long as a cape like Grue did.

And he was active—even if not in Brockton Bay itself. The man was a known man-for-hire in New York, though so far as I know, he isn't currently involved with the Adepts, as I know he will be for a short period.

One time, when I had just finished my workout and was in the locker room, I saw Brian in there just getting ready to train.

"Sup, Brian."

Somewhat surprised—he didn't hear me come in—he looked back and gave me a friendly smile.

"What's good, Liam? Just done?"

"Yeah, I wanted to get home before rush hour."
Nodding with an 'ah of understanding,' he replied.

"Anyway, now that I got you—do you want to go bowling with some of the guys from the gym this Saturday?"

At the rather abrupt invitation, I needed a second to process this. I couldn't help but question it.

"Don't take this the wrong way, Brian, but where does this suddenly come from? You've known me for a few weeks now and never really started a conversation with me, so this is a bit out of nowhere."

He let out a small smile at that, and even seemed a little embarrassed.

"Well, to be honest with you, man. My dad asked me to invite you. He's worried since he sees you so much at the gym but doesn't see you interact with the people here much except for sparring."

Now I had that look of understanding on my face—so it was Mr. Laborn that basically asked me.

"Ah, well in that case, I'd be happy to join if I'm welcome. I basically just moved here and don't know the city that well."

At that, he looked rather shocked.

"I didn't know you were new to the city. Do you know The Dancing Bowling Ball? No? Wait, let's exchange numbers and I'll send you the address."

After that exchange, we did a bit more small talk before he needed to go train and I needed to catch my bus.

On the bus, I reviewed the conversation in my head. Brian seemed truthful, and if it was a lie, it was one too easily checked with just a short talk with Mr. Laborn.

It's true that right now I don't really have a social life, and while not completely happy, I am fine with it—I never was the outgoing type.

This does give me the opportunity to get close to a cape for my eventual debut in this Hero and Villain world.

It also wouldn't be amiss to go and get to know the people from the gym better.

Getting off at my stop, I walked the last bit home and stepped into my apartment.

Putting my gym clothes in the wash, I made a quick egg on toast and went back to meditating.

It's starting to become easier and easier to get into a meditative state, now not even taking a minute.

Granted, the moving version of it still isn't easy, but getting into the 'zone' is becoming more consistent by the day. And I'm dreaming that one day I will never leave that state of pure peace and focus.

It does sometimes get boring though—in the beginning, just seeing my Soul Force move was fascinating, but it's kinda terrifying how fast humans can get used to something.

But for good things and bad.

Trying to use Soul Manipulation in this state has a chance of pulling me out of [Meditation], but somehow I'm feeling pretty confident today.

Using Soul Manipulation feels weird to me. Trying to move my Soul Energy one way can feel so much more difficult than another.

I've been mostly trying to move it in more difficult directions, but today I wanna see if I can basically try to push it in the way it already wants to go.

Grabbing my Soul Force, it feels like I'm basically feeding a rope into something.

Following the energy and gradually speeding up appears to make it more active.

Seeing something new happen, my concentration peaks—and so did apparently something else.

*Ping ping ping*

Being abruptly yanked out of my meditative state is always going to be jarring, but seeing 3 notifications pop up brings my mood right back up.

[Meditation has leveled up!]
[Soul Manipulation has leveled up 2x]
[Skill Created! 'Soul Circulation' Unlocked]

---

Soul Circulation Lvl. 1

The natural flow of Soul Force through the body has many benefits. That doesn't mean it can't be improved though.

While active, increases Soul Force gain by 5%

---

What?! This is huge! 5% at Lvl. 1 is insane.

Kicking myself mentally for not trying this earlier, I do the mental math on when I can activate everything at once.

That would be… 24.5% faster Soul Force gain. That's not bad considering I'm basically flying in blind. Maybe I have some more wiggle room than I thought before.

But I can't get complacent—I still need to put my all into completing my quests. It isn't good to get cocky now when I still haven't arrived at the starting line of being a cape.

Getting back on the grind, I meditate for a few more hours and make dinner. After that, I watch some videos online and go to bed.

Before Morpheus takes me, a thought came to me.

What should my cape name be?

---

AN: No really, what should it be? Because I have no idea. Half the time my writing does whatever it wants and doesn't follow the little bit of plotline I had prepared.

ANN: I've been messing with some AI stuff to help with correcting some spelling and grammar mistakes an it's been kicking me in the genitals.

I think I have nice middle ground now where it's actually useful and I can focus on writing the story without going over it with a comb (which I'm very bad at)

Again, sorry for the many changes, still in the figuring everything out fase.

Next Chapter will be posted friday!

The week came and went by fast as usual

[Meditation] broke Lvl 15, [Soul Manipulation] had the most growth in 4 level-ups and became Lvl 11.

[Soul Circulation] was right behind [Soul Manipulation] with 3 level-ups and was sitting at Lvl. 4 with a 20% bonus.

That made my max Soul Force gain at a 42.5%, a big difference since a week ago.

But today was the day I went out with Brian and some people from the gym.

And I can't deny that I'm somewhat nervous; most people who knew me said I was a very sociable person. But the ones who truly knew me would have said that that would be true for one day of the week, and the rest of it you didn't hear from him again.

But a part was also excited to have friends again. I was, at the end, still a human being and humans were a social animal, even if I needed less than most people.

My day went mostly as normal.

I woke up and did my flexibility routine—a flexible muscle was a strong muscle, after all.
The rest of the day I just Meditated and scrolled through my phone in between.

[Soul Force +1!]

At that pop-up, I decided I meditated enough for today; it was already in the afternoon and I still needed to eat dinner and make myself ready to go out.

Dinner was pretty simple, just chicken with rice, steamed vegetables, and some curry sauce.

I wouldn't say I was a great cook, but living alone for 3 months and counting had a way of teaching you stuff.

It was that or takeout, and my bank account wouldn't survive that long if I went that route.

Speaking of money, if my powers weren't going to provide a way to make money any time soon, I was going to have to find a job…

Please hear me, Being that put me here… don't make me look and apply for jobs, anything but that!

My moment of dread completed for the week, I cleaned myself up and put some of my nicer clothes on.

Putting the address of the Bowling Alley in showed me the 35 minutes that it previously said it was going to take.

The time when you put something in Google Maps in a city could differ quite massively if you're unlucky.

Fortunately, this wasn't the case.

The journey there was uneventful, leaving me even 10 minutes early.

So imagine my surprise when I wasn't the first one here.

"Sup Brian, you've been waiting long?"

At the mention of his name, he looked up from his phone and gave a friendly smile. A handshake later and he answered my greeting.

"No, arrived like 5 minutes before you. Living with my dad has a way of making you punctual."

A small laugh came out of me. I can definitely see Mr. Laborn drilling his children the military way.

"Yeah, I can imagine that. If he is anything like at the gym at home, I can guess living with him wasn't easy."

"HAH, you don't have to tell me. The day I turned 18 was the day I moved out, had everything already planned beforehand."

A small frown and what I think was some sadness appeared on his face.

"I know my dad loves us—for all he is hard on us, he never really punished us, or at least very hard. I just wish he would've been a little easier on my sister. The girl is in her rebellious phase and making me clean up her messes."

"That bad?"

"Pfft, like you wouldn't believe. She's a smart girl but a stubborn one. She lives with our mother now, but I'm trying to get guardianship so she doesn't have to stay there."

At the end, he apparently realized he was going into some pretty personal details. He even looked a bit surprised at revealing so much.

"So what about you, liking the city so far?"

Seeing the subject change for what it is, I just go along with it and reply.

"Haven't seen much yet, I'm not the most outgoing person. So except looking from the bus and the area around the gym, I don't know much."

Surprised, he asks, "Really? Not even the Boardwalk?"
At that, I roll my eyes.

"Well of course the Boardwalk I went to, I'm not a savage."
With a grin, he needles me.

"Well I don't know about that. So far, anyone knows you train like you're possessed and leave right after. Some of the people there are pretty curious about you."
Leaning in like he's going to whisper a secret.

"Some even think you have a dream of going professional. Not that you're anywhere close to that, but maybe I can convince my dad to sign you up for an Amateur Tournament in a few months."
Surprised, I'm speechless for a bit. Is that what it looks like? Like I want to make boxing my career?

"Well, that wasn't my intention, although I can't say it doesn't have an appeal. I just want to get in shape and have a way to defend myself."
At the mention of defending yourself, Brian is a lot more serious.

"While boxing is good, relying on it isn't in your best interest. A knife or even a gun would be better. Well, if you can run, then running is always better."
A bit taken aback by the sudden mood shift, I try to answer with my reasoning.

"I don't know where and how to get a gun, and if I'm caught with a knife I shouldn't have, then my living situation can become… complicated."

At my answer, Brian questions further.

"Complicated how?"

Maybe he sees in my expression that he overstepped a bit, but I can see the concern in his eyes and decide to at least give him a vague half-truth answer.

"My parents aren't in the picture a lot. It works for us, even though I do miss them sometimes. I don't think the cops would appreciate it."
Understanding overcomes him, and while I don't think he actually understands anything, he apparently has experience with difficult living arrangements.

"Well, if you need anything, I could probably help you get some protection. You seem like a good enough guy to offer you that at least."

At the somewhat poorly landed joke, we keep the rest of the conversation light until the rest of the guys, and one of their girlfriends, join us for bowling.

The rest of the night was nice. One of the guys named Kevin was apparently a really good bowler, so he beat us soundly.

I was 3rd, right behind Brian, around the middle of the 7 of us, which I was fine with.

I mostly talked with Matt, who was a quiet one who apparently liked reading, which we bonded over.

Then we had Johnathan, or rather 'Johnny,' who was a boisterous dude, taking last place in good humor.

And the couple Leia and Spencer—I didn't really talk with them much as they were much too preoccupied with each other and I didn't really want to go in between them.
The night ended on a good note and Ian even asked if we could talk some more after the training Monday.

Going back was, while not a quiet affair with the gunshots and sirens in the distance, uneventful.

Cleaning myself up, I immediately went to bed. No matter how fun it was, I was not made for loud places…

The next 2 weeks went by pretty fast, if I do say so myself. Level-ups were slow but steady.
[Meditation] was at 17, [Soul Manipulation] at 13, and [Soul Circulation] was hanging at 9.

The latter became much more difficult to level than I expected.

So that was what I was focusing the most on the last 2 days.

Sitting on my bed, I willed my Soul Force to move faster in my body. It was unbelievably difficult for such a low-level skill, but I didn't get here by wishing my problems away.

Maybe I should try that?

Shaking my head a little, I focus back on the task at hand… with a little prayer at the end.

I will never know if that is what did it or not, but not soon after, a notification popped up with multiple following after.

[Soul Manipulation has leveled up]
[Soul Circulation has leveled up]
[Soul Circulation has reached the current Max level.]
[To reach higher levels in 'Soul Circulation,' please reach the requirements.]

This is new. Opening up the skill doesn't appear to give me much info.

---

Soul Circulation Lvl. 10 (Current Max)
The natural flow of Soul Force through the body has many benefits; that doesn't mean it can't be improved though.
While active, increases Soul Force gain by 50%

requirement not met to elevate Max Level (0/1)

---

Well… at least I know it's just one requirement instead of something stupid like five or something.

The frustration doesn't leave though; I need all the help I can get to reach Bronze Star-1 and now one of those ways is cut off.

---

[Status]
Name: William Brooks
Class: NA
Soul Realm: Red
Soul Form: Disordered/ [Redacted]
Soul Attribute: Neutral
Sp. Physique: NA
Soul Force: 69
Body Force: 76
Money: $4829

---

Looking at my status, a little bit of pride comes to me.

I worked hard to get this far—months of work are in those two numbers.

Three if you count the decreasing money in my bank account, *snort*

With one month until the deadline of the 'My Soul is My Strength!' Quest, I still think I'm cutting it close. But I'm feeling pretty confident that I'll make it.

With a Cultivation Technique in my hands, my Soul Force gain should speed up massively.

Then, once I reach the Silver Rank, I can fuse with a Demon Spirit and actually go out and be a Hero.

Question is—how the hell do I get a Demon Spirit? But we'll cross that bridge when we get there.
…
…
I was half expecting my system to give me a Quest anyway…
…
…
Huh. Good to know.

My frustration and the Level limit of [Soul Circulation] still with me but more subdued, I go back to the grind.
I still have other skills that can level, after all.

---

AN: We're almost to the good bit and into the actual 'being a gamer' bit, except praising the grinder of grinds, Chad the Chaddest.
We can't forget that.
It's a smaller chapter, which I'm not too happy about, but it was that or writing myself into a bind.
For those of you that are very perceptive (and can read my mind), I left a little hint there on how the System handles Quests.

Because this chapter was a little bit shorter, I thought I'd give a bit of explanation about the Rankings in the ToDaG Cultivation System:
Bronze:
100 Body Force / Soul Force = 1 Star
200 BF / SF = 2 Star
300 BF / SF = 3 Star
400 BF / SF = 4 Star
500 BF / SF = 5 Star
Silver you reach at 1,000, and every star higher is 1,000 more
Gold is the same but 10,000
Black-Gold is 100,000
Legend is 1,000,000
Also, fun fact (not for MC's opponents): 1 Body Force is 1 pound of an overhead squat…
Make of that what you will…
Anyway, till next time.

[Soul Force +1 SF]
[Soul Force has reached 100!]
[You have become a Bronze 1-Star Demon Spiritualist!]
[Class changed to 'Demon Spiritualist']
[Quest: My Soul is My Strength is Completed]

Made it. With two days left, I finished my most important Quest.

---

Quest: My Soul is My Strength!
Become a Bronze 1-Star Demon Spiritualist in 3 months' time.
Reward: [Cultivation Technique]
Accept Reward?

---

I clicked Accept faster than the Flash can move. Immediately after, the screen disappeared and a book appeared on my lap.

It looked old. The leather that bound it appeared to almost crumble.

Carefully, I reached to grab it, but the moment I touched it, a screen popped out of it.
The text took my breath away.

---

Do you wish to learn the [Heavenly God Technique]?
Yes/No

---

The most broken of cultivation techniques there is—the ability to hold 7 Demon Spirits and, when cultivated to completion, able to cultivate any technique for its benefits.

I was always hoping that this is the technique I would get. It's one of the reasons I've been pushing myself so hard.

Clicking yes, knowledge streamed into my mind, almost feeling like a sort of enlightenment.

When I look back at my lap, I see the book has disappeared, like those Skill Books in fanfictions.

But except on how to cultivate it, it also gave me the reason why [Soul Circulation] didn't level up after Lvl. 10.

Because I didn't have enough knowledge about cultivation—because that was what the skill was.

Me cultivating.

Looking at the screen of the technique, my eyes widen even further.

---

Heavenly God Technique (Chapter 1)
The Heavenly Dao way shines. Heaven shrouds but cannot contain. The Great Dao envelops but cannot dispute. Know all, perhaps, perhaps not.

This technique allows you to cultivate until the Demigod Rank
Able to hold 7 Demon Spirits
Able to cultivate other cultivation techniques with the same attribute as current Demon Spirits the user holds
Increases Soul Force Density
Increases absorption efficiency to 100% of cultivation medicine
Allows user to train Body Force while in use (1/4th of total Soul Force gain)

---

That's a lot of things that I can do, although the technique seems to have changed a bit.

Instead of waiting until I completed the full technique (and wasn't that a bummer—that I only got Chapter 1) to cultivate any technique I come across.

It's now limited to what Demon Spirits I hold. But I can also start cultivating it immediately.

Most of the information on it I already knew, though some was speculated and wasn't sure it was exclusive to the Heavenly God Technique.

Like the density of Nie Li's Soul Force, it was assumed because it took that much longer to cultivate and being able to fight above his weight class.
...
Or would that be Cultivation class?

Anyway, the most useful benefit Heavenly God gave me was the ability to train my body with my breath while cultivating.
…
That's literally what it says in the book, 'using the heart to refine the breath, then using the breath to refine the body.'

Here, read it.

Right there.
...
Why am I trying to show something to myself...

Anyway, the SF Density was also going to be useful once I have combat techniques that use Soul Energy.

And while the medicine benefit was handy, it was currently completely useless.

The Heavenly God even had a few other basic techniques in it.

But before I try for those, let's take this bad boy for a spin, shall we?

Breathing like the instructions say, immediately I feel like my Soul Force wants to go into certain directions, using Soul Circulation and Soul Manipulation to speed the process along.

[Ping]
In
[Ping] [Ping]
Out
[Ping] [Ping]
In
[Ping]
Out

After one full cycle, I let my concentration slip and focus on the annoying pop-ups.

They're irritating, but at the same time, they train my focus.

After all, if I can't ignore something like that in a safe environment, then I don't have any business being a cape.

Opening them all up, I'm bombarded with notifications.

[Soul Circulation has Leveled Up!]
[Soul Manipulation has Leveled Up!]
[Soul Circulation has Leveled Up!]

[Soul Force +1]

[Soul Manipulation has Leveled Up!]
[Meditation has Leveled Up!]

Just one Circulation brought those kinds of benefits already.

To be clear though, I'm not stupid enough to think those gains will continue that fast.
But for the time being, I will enjoy it.

Looking at my phone to see how late it is, my eyes widen uncontrollably.

"I'm gonna be late for training!"

Jumping out of my bed and almost landing on my face.

I was like a hurricane through my apartment, trying to get ready and not be too late to catch the bus.

Luckily, I made it in time, but I would've never guessed cultivating the Heavenly God

Technique would have taken me so out of it. Hopefully I'll get used to it or something.

On the bus, I still had a little bit of time to at least look at the 'side' skills the Heavenly God mentions.

Soul Reinforcement was pretty obvious in what it does—strengthening my body with Soul Energy and enhancing my speed and agility, my strength and endurance.

The other, probably harder skill to master but no less essential, was Soul Sense.

The ability to sense the Soul and Soul Force of others from a distance.

This one will be very important for me in my hero career. Sensing a few people in a dark alley will clue me in that something suspicious is going on.

Or in a rescue operation, sensing people could mean life or death for some people.

Thinking about what I could all do with my future and current skills and imagining scenarios where they'd be useful made time move faster than I expected.

Because in what felt like 5 minutes, I was already at my stop.

Walking towards the gym, I heard someone calling my name from behind me.

"Hey Liam! Going to the gym?"

Turning around, I saw Matt run towards me.

"Sup Matt, yeah, I almost missed my bus getting here."

"Me too. By the way, have you read that story I linked you? What do you think?"

Grinning while we step into the gym, I answer.

"Yeah I did. It's good, but a little too dark for my tastes—I like my adventure and fluff stories more."

At the mention of fluff, he puts on a fake disgusted face and replies like I'm beneath him.

"Fluff?! How dare you, good sir! A story needs darkness, strife, a will to go on!"

"Pfft, yeah. Why don't you yell that to the rest of the gym?"

At that, Matt starts looking around, wide-eyed. Of course, no one was looking at us. In here, if you're not focusing on your training, then you're not actually training.

He turns back toward me with a face I can't decide is of disbelief or embarrassment.

"Hey! That's not nice." Smirking, I shot back.

"Well, you should've known."

"I know you for 4 days!"

Walking into the locker room, I think for a moment before I reply.

"That's long enough."

"It isn't!"

Bantering some more and preparing for practice, we then focus on our training and barely talk to each other except between breaks.

Matt mostly comes to the gym Mondays and Fridays. So he's the one I'll probably hang out the most with. Plus, having the same hobbies is nice.

Sadly, the fanfic section of this world is mostly capes making out with each other...

Also, considering we're around the 2010s, fanfics can still be pretty chuuni...

Johnny comes in on Fridays only—apparently, he also plays high school football... which I can see.

Dude is built like a brick house.

Kevin, Spencer, and Leia come in on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I'm not expecting to see them much.

Once I heard that, I asked how Matt knew them, and apparently, they all went to the same school and try to hang out.

As for Brian, he comes periodically. He mentioned at bowling he is now training at an MMA gym, but comes back to his dad's gym sometimes to catch up with people and keep his boxing skills sharp.

After the workout, which was getting easier, so I should talk with Coach Laborn about that,

Matt came to me a bit nervously.

"Hey Liam, would you maybe like to go to the boardwalk this Saturday with me?"
A bit weirded out by how shy he was being—it was almost as if he was...

"Uh... before I say anything, this isn't a date thing, right? Because I don't swing that way..."

Eyes widening and mouth open, he yells out surprised.

"What?! No! What made you think I was gay?!?!"

Looking at him with an eyebrow raised.

"You ask me all shy and fidgeting if I wanna hang out with you in a popular dating spot. I'd rather be blunt now IF you were gay and raise your hopes up.
And even if you were, I wouldn't look at you differently, dude."

At the end, I add a little bit extra.

"Well, unless you're coming after my ass, in which case I would be a bit weirded out, to be honest."
...

Huh, I think his jaw is about to fall off.

"Wha-, Whu-, I'm not gay!"

Smirking, I reply.

"In that case, I'm good for Saturday."

Imitating the fish very well, I don't think he knows what to feel right now.

He takes a deep breath and just goes: "I'll see you Saturday at the start of the boardwalk."

And leaves.
...
Rude.

Going back home was a normal affair. I came home, I showered, ate, and cultivated.

It was the next day that was a bit more exciting.

Waking up, I did my morning ritual of a small workout and a small breakfast with some extra fruit.

Going for the couch for a change instead of my bed, I recall the knowledge of one of the skills.

Soul Reinforcement—deciding to go with the more difficult skill.

Reinforcement was a combination between Soul Circulation and Manipulation.
I needed to circulate the energy, but use Manipulation to basically 'spread out' my Soul Force through my muscles, bones, and organs.

It felt a bit like unraveling a crumbled-up paper, spreading out but not as smooth as it was supposed to.

Eventually though, after many tries, I did get it.

[Soul Manipulation leveled up]
[Soul Manipulation leveled up]
[Skill Created! 'Soul Reinforcement' Unlocked]

---

Soul Reinforcement Lvl. 1
The use of Soul Force and reinforcing your body with it—a must for every Cultivator.
Adds 1% of Soul Force toward Body Force while in use.

---

A very weak skill right now, but I can see how it's a must-have for every Cultivator like it said. It definitely has a lot of potential.

It also explains why Body Tempering was discarded later in the journey of immortality.

Not focusing on my new skill, I immediately try and get the other skill.

Soul Sense was something completely different from Soul Reinforcement.

If the latter was about Soul Manipulation inside the body, this one was all about it being outside of it.

The difficulty of the skill wasn't so much in performing it, as the mental gymnastics I had to do to convince myself that part of my being was supposed to go outside my body.

This wasn't really a thing of continuously trying until you get it right, and more needing a 'Eureka!' moment.

And Eureka I did…

That sounded dirty for some reason.

[Soul Manipulation leveled up]
[Skill Created! 'Soul Sense' Unlocked]

---

Soul Sense Lvl. 1
The ability to sense Soul Energy outside the body.
Current distance: 3 ft

---

…

Soul Sense was weird. It wasn't like I could see that radius of 3 feet, but I was aware of it—was the best I could explain it.

Playing with the new skills was pretty fun though.

Trying to move with them was difficult but doable—Soul Sense was a doozy though.

So that is what I did for the next 2 days: trying to move with, and level up, those 2 skills in between cultivation.

Until Friday in the afternoon, another few pop-ups came.

[Soul Force +1!]
[Body Force +1!]
[You have reached 100 in Body Force!]
[You are now a 1-Star Bronze Fighter]
[You can change your Class to Fighter]
[Demon Spiritualist is a higher-ranked Class than Fighter. Do you wish to change it?]
[Quest Completed!]*

Clicking no on changing my class—I haven't checked on what Demon Spiritualist does yet, but I wasn't going to change it for Fighter any time.

Opening up my quest.

---

*Quest: Become a Fighter!
Reach Body Force 100.
Reward: [Skill]
Accept Reward? Yes/No

---

Clicking yes on this one, a book appeared on my lap again.

And when I touched it, my smile widened so much even the Joker would be unnerved.

After all, the skill this book gave me was…

---

Do you wish to learn the Skill [ID Create/Destroy]?

---

Ooooh—let's fucking go.

[Skill Created! 'IR Create/Destroy' Unlocked]



IR Create/Destroy Lvl. MAX
One of the classic skills of the gamer, in name if not in function.
Allows the user to create Imaginary Realms to go in and explore.
Current Realms available: Undeath

---

The bread and butter of Gamers, Dungeons. Or in my case, Realms.

And I meant that quite literally, because if I'm right, then I will never have to find a job again.

Wait…

Does that mean my prayers were answered? Or was this already part of my system?

No, calm down Liam, you're counting horses before you got them.

…

I also need to prepare before jumping into the realm—some weapons and first aid will not be amiss.

So the first thing I do is go to the drugstore to buy a first aid kit. Seventy bucks lighter and a little bit more sure of myself, I head to the nearest department store and buy a fireman's axe.

It's the deadliest thing I can buy without drawing any attention.

Getting home, I watch some videos on how to use my first aid kit. Better safe than sorry.

Prepping myself, I have a kitchen knife tucked into my belt, first aid in my backpack with some extra bandages and secured so it doesn't move as much, and the axe in my hand.

Activating my skill, a screen appears.

---

Which Realm would you like to create?
Options: Undeath

---

Choosing Undeath, I appear back in my apartment.

The only reason I know it's my apartment is because the layout looks the same; otherwise, I would think there hasn't been someone here in decades.

The furniture is rotted, there is a small plant growing out of the sink, and there is dust everywhere.

Going towards the hall, I see my front door is off its hinges and on the ground.
Walking over it and into the hall proper, the downtrodden and aged look continues.

Walking slowly and carefully, I move towards the stairs.

The door to the stairwell seems to still be intact. Trying to open it is difficult, and when I look at the hinges, I can see why.

They're so orange that they look more rust than the steel they're supposed to be.

Giving it another attempt to move it open, and failing, I don't see any other choice than kicking it down.

Even with all the training I did these last few months, it still took half a dozen kicks until I heard the screech and it fell down.

Waiting for any chance something might come towards me, I wait a few minutes.

When nothing comes running, I go down the stairs.

When I'm on the ground floor, I again need to kick the door open.

Waiting again and being ready to bolt back or destroy the realm, I let out a sigh when nothing comes after the sound.

On one hand, this is good—it means I won't be overrun anytime soon, and I can take my time going over this place.

On the other, my body is working on full adrenaline right now and it's mentally exhausting being so high on alert.

At least the door of the building was off its hinges. As I walked out of the building, I saw it.

A zombie.

About a hundred feet from the building entrance was a rotten corpse just standing in the middle of the road.

It wasn't looking at me, but I could still see the whitish-green flesh hanging on its crumbling clothes.

Mentally preparing myself for being so close to the gruesome sight, I hold my axe tighter.

Moving slowly towards the dead creature, the first thing was something I hadn't prepared myself for—something I really should have seen coming.

Or smelled, rather.

And oh god, was it disgusting. I once had to clean an animal corpse up from the road, but this was a hundred times worse.

Back then I was barely holding in the need to puke.
This time I wasn't so lucky.

Barely not puking on my clothes, I was hanging over myself and I was so happy I had a light meal instead of a bigger one.

Sadly, I couldn't puke my guts out in peace.

"Guuuuh"—because the zombie heard me.

Looking at it from the corner of my eye, I saw it coming towards me fast.

Eyes widening and in a panic, I started to run away.

Spitting out the taste of puke and looking behind me, I realized that the zombie wasn't actually that fast—more like a fast walking speed than the full-on run it felt like.

Wiping my mouth on my shirt, I mentally prepared myself.

The zombie was now thirty feet from me and coming fast.

So I set my stance, axe ready to swing, and waited.

Anticipating when the zombie came in my range from experience in months of sparring.

I swung.

And hit it right in the head. And it fell down.

Just like that.

At the rather anticlimactic ending, I just stood there.

And then the smell hit me again.

"Uegh, uegh." Running out of the smell zone, I looked at my handi—or axe work.

One hit, clean to the side of the head and firmly stuck in it.

Taking out a bottle of water from the side of my backpack, I cleaned my mouth as best I could.

Then taking one big breath, I ran over my slain enemy and yanked out my axe before running away from it again.

Having everything with me again and not being in a place that makes cleaning toilets at Chipotle smell refreshing.

I looked at the notification that was bothering me in the corner of my eye.

[You have slain a zombie!]
[$8 added to your bank account.]

Joker smile back in place, I already know what I'll be doing when I'm not cultivating.

Watch out world, because William the Zombie Slayer is in town.

Doing a quick reset of going home and changing my shirt, and cleaning my axe while I'm at it.

I also take a second shirt and basically douse it with perfume before letting it hang around my neck.

The next time I find a zombie, I can just cover my nose with it and try to overpower the smell as much as I can.

Going back in the Undead Realm, I start at the exact same spot.

While I'm pretty sure I clicked the screen from the other side of my kitchen.

Interesting.

Keeping that bit of information in the back of my head.

I again do the trek downstairs, the doors that were kicked open back on their rusted hinges.

As I do everything that I did before, with a little bit less caution than is probably smart, I come back to my first opponent.

The zombie on the street.

The exact. Same. One.

So the realm resets environment and monsters completely. I wonder if loot would be the same.

Putting my perfumed shirt over my nose, I again slowly and quietly walk over to the undead creature.

This time I don't puke my guts out, and while the smell is still there, it's so faint I can ignore it easily.

This time going for an overhand swing, I raise the axe, and with a small hmp swing downwards.

It, of course, hits—there wasn't any chance of me missing that.

It folds easily, falling down and pulling me with it a little bit before the axe loosens and becomes free from the head.

[You have slain a zombie!]
[$5 added to your bank account.]

It again only gives me some money, but maybe that's fair for a creature this weak.

I probably wouldn't like what it gives anyway.

Cleaning the axe with a spare cloth I brought, I walk further from my 'spawn point'.

The next zombie I meet was from an alley, and this one was already looking in my direction.

Seeing me, it bolts as fast as it can towards me.

Trying to think of a quick plan basically comes down to me waiting and timing a front kick to the zombie's center and swinging my axe when it's down.

[You have slain a zombie!]
[$7 added to your bank account.]

Clean and quick.

Well… not 'clean', but you get the point.

The next dozen zombies met the same fate. Some I could sneak attack, but most were in alleys and already looking at me.

With those plus the 3 zombies beforehand, I already made close to 150 bucks, and it hasn't even been 30 minutes yet.

So getting back to work, I spend the next few hours looking for and killing the walking dead and earning my pocket money for the week.

There were a few close calls where there was more than one zombie and I had to do the equivalent of CoD kiting and hitting them in the legs to slow them down.

Apparently, axes get stuck a lot in zombie heads… who knew about that?

I'd probably have been better with a blunt weapon or something, but for now, the axe worked and I didn't want to reset again when I was in the swing of things.

Get it? Swing of things? Like I'm swinging my axe…
Tough crowd…

That crowd being myself…

Because that's what I'm doing… talking to myself…

I'd say I need a life, but no one here has one!

Badum tish!

…

Deciding that after the next couple of zombies I'd call it a day, I went further in.

Killing the next one in an alley.

[You have slain a zombie!]
[$8 added to your bank account.]

A chill suddenly went along my spine.

Looking around, I saw nothing except dirt and trash.

GAAAAAH!

Shocked and spooked, I looked up, and what greeted me made me pale.

Because a zombie was falling down on me.

Taking three steps back, the thing just missed me.

But instead of splatting and dying like I hoped, it just took a second and jumped at me.

Holding the axe in front of me, I used its momentum against it and threw it over me against the wall.

Not planned at all but happy it's there, it just happened that a big trash can was under where I threw the creature, making it fall in it.

Quickly, I tried to leave the realm, but…

[You cannot leave a realm while in combat.]

Goddammit!

This wasn't the time!

Thinking quickly, I ran towards the trash can where the zombie fell in and prepared myself to swing as hard as I could.

The timing couldn't have been more perfect. The moment I was there, it stood up, its upper body showing.

I swung for its head,

And missed.

The creature dodged, making me still hit it, but in its shoulder.
It was still a devastating attack—I knew because of the scream of pain it yelled.

GAH AAAAAAAH!

Or rage, that could be it too.

With the axe still in my hand but having no give for making it detach from the dickhead, I used it to keep its claws away from me.

Putting my hand at the end of the axe, I used my other to reach for my knife.

We were in a stalemate.

It tried to reach me and claw my neck out, pushing into the axe and making its wound worse. But I couldn't finish it off.

If I tried to get my axe back, I would lose my only barrier against it.

If I tried to finish it with my knife, I would have to discard the axe altogether to reach it.

So the only thing I could do was hold on for dear life and wait until it exhausted itself…

It took 10 minutes to reach that point, where it wasn't trying to reach me.

Well, it was still trying, but the blood loss and the shoulder wound—now extending into its chest—prevented it from doing anything.

Then, with determination, I moved as swiftly as I could.

Pushing the axe to the side, I used the knife and with one step and thrust, thrust the knife into its eye socket.

Immediately I abandoned my position and left the knife in it, but that apparently wasn't needed.

Because it was already dead.

[You have slain a ghoul!]
[$54 added to your bank account.]
[You have gained 2 Healing Pills.]

---

Healing Pills
Heals superficial to light wounds.
Heavenly God Bonus: Heals light to medium wounds

---

Leave, leave, leave!

Appearing back into my apartment, I just fall to the floor like a sack of bones.

With the adrenaline leaving me, I started to understand what almost happened.

Had I been a few seconds slower to react, then the ghoul would have landed on top of me.

Had it not yelled out… It would have landed on top of me.

Had it landed on top of me… I would've died.

And then the fight…

The whole thing was surrounded by luck.

Had it run at me instead of jumping, I wouldn't have had the instinct to throw it and instead would have been waving my axe around like an idiot trying to keep it away from me.

That that trash can was there was also luck—it gave me the few seconds to get my bearings and come up with a, now admittedly hairy and risky, plan.

…

I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon. The near-death experience is just too vivid right now.

Cleaning myself up a bit first, I check my equipment and clothes and find two small balls wrapped like candy in my pocket.

Those must have been the Healing Pills the ghoul gave me.

Looking at the description the system left me, I was pleasantly surprised the Heavenly God Technique included healing pills into its effect.

Setting the pills aside, I cleaned up everything I used in the dungeon and went in for a long warm shower.

Sitting on my couch, I went over what needed to be done to be more secure and confident for the next time I go into the dungeon.

Not that it'll be anytime soon.
First things first.

My Soul Reinforcement is too low. So low, in fact, I didn't even bother to use it.

And while I did use Soul Sense, it was also basically useless—the 9 feet it has now is unacceptable now that I know what awaits me in the ID.

The axe was also a mistake—not in the sense that I shouldn't have bought a weapon, but in the sense I bought the wrong weapon.

Next time I'm bringing a metal bat.

And my skills will be much higher leveled.

Next time I will be prepared.

---

AN: Wel wasn't that a lot of things in one chapter, at least that was what it felt like to me.

We had the excitement of using a classic gamer skill with the confidence to match. Only for that confidence to crash into terror as Liam experienced his first fight to the death, and is at the same time the first fight in this story portrayed.

then we have the realisation that this is in fact NOT a game and real life, and there are no second chances.

What do you think? Let me know what you liked and disliked, want more of or want nothing like that ever again.

Also got my first bit of feedback, which was... weird. I get were they come from, but at the same time I can't change a lot because I have written some chapters for a rainy day.

So I took the middle ground and changed what I could without needing to rework a lot of writing.

'ID Create/Destroy Lvl. MAX' was changed to 'IR Create/Destroy Lvl. MAX'