I walked closer, glancing at the faint shimmer of mana still fading from the gun in her hand.
"How are you feeling, Eriri? Was that magic or a skill? Can you tell how many times you can use it before running out?" I asked, realizing that unlike in games, our status didn't show clear numbers for mana usage or remaining energy.
Did she feel any dizziness or exhaustion? You know, I read that using too much mana can knock people out cold. Bell even fainted after spamming fireballs the first time he learned magic.
Eriri gave a small, triumphant smirk, lowering her sketchpad. "I'm fine. It's just a little draining, but nothing I can't handle. Though…"
She paused, pressing a hand against her temple, "maybe I should stop after four or five shots next time. My head's already starting to feel a bit light."
"Also, it seems that once something I draw becomes real, it disappears completely after use. So if I want to use the same item again, I have to redraw it from scratch," Eriri said, glancing down at her sketchpad, which was now blank after activating her Art Creation skill.
"I see," I replied, nodding thoughtfully. "So there's a trade-off—strong ability, but limited duration and you need to redraw it each time. Still, three minutes is plenty for battle." I paused, tapping my chin.
"Alright then, we've learned a bit. Next time, maybe we should try testing your other skill—see how it works in combat."
Eriri gave a small nod, determination gleaming in her eyes. The idea of experimenting with her powers in an actual fight seemed to excite her. Meanwhile, Bell, still amazed from earlier, stared at her sketchpad as if he'd just witnessed something out of a dream.
Not long after that, we encountered another goblin—and since Eriri still had the gun in her hand, she effortlessly took it down once again. I wasn't sure whether her shooting skill came from natural talent, a boost from her stats or system, or maybe she was just blessed with what people call beginner's luck. Either way, every shot she fired hit its mark perfectly, killing the goblins in an instant.
"Ah…" Eriri murmured as she watched the pistol in her hand slowly dissolve into particles of light.
"Looks like the three minutes are up… so, let's try something else this time," she continued with a satisfied smile, clearly enjoying this brief adventure we were having.
"Alright then, Bell… next time, let me fight the monster alone. I need to get used to battling them myself," I said, giving his shoulder a reassuring pat.
"Yes, alright," Bell replied with a simple nod, his response understated.
This time, when we stumbled upon another goblin, I stepped forward before Eriri could act.
"Don't buff me this time," I told her, tightening my grip on the weapon I held. "I want to see what I can do on my own."
Eriri looked slightly surprised but quickly nodded in understanding, her expression calm yet curious.
The goblin snarled and rushed at me, its crude blade raised high. I steadied my stance, feeling my heart pound—not from fear, but from anticipation.
Basically, I had never fought a monster before—at least, not outside of games.
Even back on Earth, I rarely exercised. But this new body of mine felt incredible—far beyond what I'd ever experienced in my old life. Though my height hadn't changed, my physique was clearly built for combat. My grip was firm, my movements sharp, and drawing my sword felt as natural as breathing. I could swing it one-handed with both speed and strength that genuinely surprised me.
Even though I had never fought goblins or anything like them before, when I finally stood face-to-face with one, I didn't feel a shred of hesitation. The creature was small, barely the height of my chest, with sickly green skin and a twisted, ugly face filled with malice. Its sharp fangs gleamed under the faint dungeon light, and its filthy claws twitched restlessly as it hissed. Everything about it screamed monster—something born to kill or be killed.
The goblin lunged first, snarling as it swung its crude dagger toward me. I sidestepped instinctively, my body moving faster than my mind could process. In one smooth motion, I countered—my sword slicing through the air with a sharp whoosh. The blade met little resistance as it cut across the goblin's chest. A burst of blue light flickered, and the creature let out a strangled cry before collapsing into dust, leaving behind a small magic stone that rolled to my feet.
For a moment, I just stood there, staring at the faint shimmer of the fading monster. It was almost too easy. It felt surreal to actually cut down a living creature—but maybe I should be grateful that it was just a goblin. Their ugly, twisted faces and foul growls made it hard to feel any guilt about it. A quiet sigh escaped my lips as relief washed over me; at least I could handle myself in a real fight.
"Okay, Eriri. How about we try your buff skill?" I said, tightening my grip on my sword just as two goblins emerged from the shadows ahead, snarling as they spotted us.
"Yes…" Eriri nodded, flipping open her sketchpad once more. Her pencil danced rapidly across the page, and in seconds, glowing patterns began to form in the air. A soft, red light enveloped my body—warm, pulsing, and brimming with power.
The red glow surrounding me indicated that Eriri's buff was enhancing my STR status.
I could feel the weight of my sword suddenly felt lighter in my hand. "Whoa… this is incredible," I murmured, my eyes widening. "So this is what your buff feels like, huh?"
Eriri smiled proudly, closing her sketchpad. "Then show me how strong it makes you."
"Ahaha, okay… let me show you." I said with a grin before dashing forward and cutting down a goblin in one clean strike, my sword moving almost faster than my eyes could follow. Bell handled the other one beside me, looking just as motivated. When I glanced at my status afterward, my STR had risen by ten percent—from 102 to 113. The effect was undeniable.
With that, the three of us swept through the remaining monsters on the first floor with ease before descending to the second. Through these fights, Eriri and I discovered that her buff skill, Color Burst, lasted for about three minutes, didn't drain much mana, and could target all three of us—though it only boosted one stat at a time. Curiously, Bell mentioned the effect on him felt weaker, while Eriri noted that the connection between her and Bell seemed unstable compared to me. We eventually concluded that her buffs worked best only on those connected to the same Multiverse VR System—the link that tied Eriri and me together.
That's too bad, but either way, we continued our descent to the second floor.
[author]
Each chapter is about 1,000-1,200 words, and I'll post whenever I reach that mark. Sundays are my day off, so no updates then.
Hm, I feel like the pace is a bit too slow. Maybe I should speed things up a little. I wonder… what do you think?
[/author]