As I dig deeper into the system, I find myself skimming through more options than I expected. The skill ranks are split into four types: common, rare, unique, and unranked. Common skills cost 600 points and are mostly basic, the kind of thing that only really matters in narrow situations, but they're still useful if you know how to combine them with something better.
Rare skills cost 1200 and seem far more practical. Not especially impressive in combat, but useful for survival, development, and anything that doesn't rely on brute force. Unique skills are a different story. Their effects are all over the place, and because they can evolve, comparing one to another is almost pointless. A unique skill can end up worthless in one person's hands and terrifying in someone else's. Getting one costs 6000 points, which is insane, but at least that part makes sense.
There's also a section for physiques tied to different classes. But since I'm cursed, changing mine is out of the question. Mages can increase mana sensitivity or capacity, while swordsmen can improve aura flow, flexibility, bone refinement, muscle growth, pretty much everything that would've been useful if I hadn't woken up in a curse-locked body. The system also lets me buy information, which is as suspicious as it sounds. 300 points gets information from up to fifty years back. 600 covers current information and the near future. And 1,300 lets me look up to a week ahead. There are restrictions, of course. There always are. Depending on what I ask, the price changes, and some things are just blocked off completely.
Materials are an option too, from low-rank to high-rank, plus some way to use them to strengthen skills, but the prices are ridiculous. I'd rather get those myself than waste points buying them through this overpriced system. I can alter history? This should come with a massive warning attached, but the explanation is vague enough to be useless. Apparently, I need to meet certain criteria first. Naturally, it doesn't tell me what those criteria are.
"Fine," I mutter, pushing myself forward. "If this thing wants to be difficult, I'll just take what I can get." Now that I know the basics, the next step is obvious. If I want to survive in this damn world, I'll need to get strong, and I know exactly where to grab myself a freebie. With that thought in mind, I start hobbling toward an elderly woman passing by.
"Excuse me, ma'am, could you help me out? I'm trying to find that old, run-down fountain," I inquire.
The old lady shoots me a look of annoyance. "Kid, you're asking for trouble heading to that dump. It's a breeding ground for diseases. You should steer clear," she warns.
"Yeah, I get it. It's just, I left some stuff there. Could you point me in the right direction?" I ask, trying to sound as sincere as possible.
She frowns, shaking her head. "Leaving your things there wasn't the wisest move. That place? Anything left is as good as gone," she chides.
"Please, it's really important. I need to get it back," I plead, dropping to my knees for effect.
She sighs, exasperated. "Youngsters these days... Fine, it's not my headache. Go two blocks down, take a right, and keep going. You'll find it. But watch out, it's crawling with vermin," she advises, her tone laced with concern.
"Thank you so much, you're a lifesaver," I say, rising to my feet. With a quick nod of gratitude, I start heading towards the fountain, following her directions.
The journey is agonizing, and I quickly find myself gasping for air. Despite the pain, I press on. The deeper I venture, the more squalid it becomes, which is no surprise. The area is deserted, shunned by most who believe it's cursed. The amount of garbage, human waste, and scurrying rodents is overwhelming. With my battered body, it takes me nearly an hour to reach the fountain.
And there it is, just as I described: a secluded spot connected by only two narrow alleyways. In the midst of this neglect stands a large fountain, dominated by the statue of a young woman kneeling, a blade held horizontally in her hands. The place reeks, the foul odor assaulting my lungs, and I fight the urge to vomit.
The fountain itself is in disrepair, riddled with cracks, and cloaked in stains and moss. The water has turned into a lethal black sludge. Dominating the center of the fountain is the statue of Ilka, about two meters tall. It's remarkably intact, save for the moss and stains marring its surface.
Standing here is revolting, but I suppress the urge to flee. This isn't just anyone; Ilka, a companion to one of the many heroes in history. The great demon war, a conflict sparked by human arrogance and their conquest of 30% of demon territory, which turned out dire.
When the great demons retaliated, they swiftly reclaimed their land and started invading human countries. When the tide turned, chaos erupted everywhere. Driven by vengeance, the demons rampaged unceasingly until a new hero emerged.
A hero's strength is fueled by belief... I think. I left that area vague in my story. The more people believe in him, the stronger the hero should become, gaining new abilities blessed by a god or goddess. During the war, this hero and his companions fell into a trap set by demons led by Aell. Injured and weakened, the hero struggled to fight with his usual might.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
-4,123 years ago
-In a mountain range near the tree of Junipra
The deafening sound of clashing swords and magic spells fills the air as the four warriors fight for their lives on the battlefield. Jackson, an expert archer, unleashes a barrage of arrows that take down dozens of enemies in a single second, his skill with a bow is unparalleled.
Ava, the group's mage, struggles to cast a spell amidst the chaos. Her movements are frantic, her hands shaking as she tries to harness her magic. "What's taking so long, Ava?" Jackson shouts over the sounds of battle, frustration clear in his voice.
"I'm trying, but these bastards are jamming my magic!" Ava shouts back, sweat dripping down her forehead as she continues to concentrate.
Meanwhile, Arthur, the hero, is locked in combat with Aell, a powerful enemy wielding a cursed sword. Although Arthur is a skilled fighter, he struggles to land any hits on Aell, who seems to effortlessly dodge every attack.
The battlefield is a mess, the once-beautiful mountain range now lies in ruins, the ground covered in rubble and the bodies of fallen soldiers.
As the battle rages on, I find myself in a one-on-one fight against a high-ranking demon, a fierce demon who is nearly as skilled in hand-to-hand combat. We trade blows, my fists meeting his kicks with equal ferocity. "What's your name, demon?" I ask, impressed by his fighting style.
"Huh? I was under the impression that humans detested demons, but my name is Baji!" he says as he proceeds to throw a combination of ninety-nine kicks.
"Hmhmhmhm. I still hate demons, but I should remember your name as a fellow martial artist before I kill you." I gather my mana and aura simultaneously into my palm and, in an instant, push a hole right through Baji.
"Hahahahaha, you have a fusion skill Khoff Khak Khak, well played," are Baji's last words before dropping to the ground. I look back at Arthur, he's sweating, and his movements are slow. "He's reaching his limit," I murmur. I run at full speed, although my Aura reserve is low. I can't risk Arthur getting hurt here. His mana is already depleted, and he barely has any aura left.
I make it to Arthur's side, but Aell is already there, his cursed sword aimed at Arthur's heart. "You're still a bit too weak, dear hero~" Aell sneers. "I'm going to give your heart to the demon king."
"Not if I have anything to say about it," I growl, clenching my fists. "Arthur, get behind me."
Arthur nods weakly, stumbling back as I step forward to face Aell. The cursed sword glows with an eerie light, and I can feel its malevolent energy radiating off of it. I need to act fast.
I charge at Aell, my aura flaring up around me as I prepare to strike. But Aell is quick, and he dodges my attacks with ease. I can see that his sword is draining my mana with each strike, and if I want to win, I need to finish this asap.
Arthur struggles to stand, his magic drained from the battle, but he manages to prop himself up against a rock, watching us with a fierce look in his eyes.
With one final burst of energy, I leap towards Aell, my fist charged with all my remaining energy. He swings his sword at me, but I dodge it and land a powerful punch to his gut. Aell stumbles back, it's over.
With the cursed sword in his hand, as he falls, he thrusts the sword toward me. I feel a searing pain in my chest as the blade pierces through me. I fall to the ground, gasping for air as blood pours from the wound. "I'm taking you with me, you bitch," Aell says before collapsing.
Arthur rushes to my side, tears streaming down his face. "No, don't die," he whimpers. "Please, don't die."
It's too late. The wound is too deep, and even if we make it to a temple, I won't be able to heal from this cursed injury. I don't have much time left. "Hahaha," I laugh, the sound raspy with blood.
"Why the hell are you laughing?" Arthur asks, his voice thick with grief.
Kneeling, I look up at the sky, "Hey, Arthur... Khoff Khak Khak... let my name be known far and wide... Khoff Khak Khak..."
Ava speaks up, her voice shaking with emotion. "Stop talking, the Saintess is on her way,"
I laugh weakly. "Hahaha... I never thought I'd see you with that face, Ava... Arthur, promise me I won't be forgotten... Khoff Khak Khak... I want to be remembered as the great Ilka... Khoff Khak Khak... bury me with this cursed sword... build a statue over my grave and have the people praise the great Ilka for her sacrifice... I don't want to be forgotten... Khoff Khak Khak... please..."