[Mission in progress.
Mission complete.
Let the game begin.
Objective: Get 200 points on the first day. [00:19:58:42]
Progress: 100%
Reward: A shadow skill.
Failure: All stats set to negative.]
[Ding!]
[User has obtained a shadow skill.]
[Ding!]
[Skill acquired: Shadow Manipulation.]
[User Stats:
Name: Leo.
Age: 18.
Class: Lunar, Year 8.
Affinity: Shadow.
Skills:
Shadow Manipulation: Allows the user to manipulate darkness at will.
Details: No specific usage, depends on the user.
Mana Usage: Dependent on level of manipulation.
Reset Timer: None.
Proficiency: 20%.
Strength: 7.
Endurance: 5.
Agility: 10.
Intelligence: 23.
Mana: 110/200.
Charm (AFP): 100 (Limit of human).
Available Points:
SP: 0.
AFP: -243 (Negative) / +800 (Positive).]
"Why do I have so much positive AFP?" I muttered, staring at the number. Out of everything on the screen, that one made the least sense to me.
[I have no idea. Maybe because someone broke the limits of the charm stat?]
The sarcasm was completely unsubtle.
"But from who?" I asked. The only girl I'd actually encountered had tried to put an arrow through my head without hesitation.
[Are you sure all of them were actually attacking you?]
"Huh?" I frowned at that, not sure what to make of it, but before I could think it through any further:
Whoosh.
"Speak of the devil," I muttered, barely dodging the arrow by instinct alone.
She was back. The archer girl, and the calm, unreadable expression she'd had before was completely gone now, replaced by something that looked a lot like genuine hatred. Her brownish-green hair was disheveled from the shelf stunt I'd pulled earlier, and her uniform had seen better days, though now really wasn't the time to notice that. I took a step back, then another, keeping the distance between us.
"I will kill you," she said.
That was enough for me. I turned and ran.
How was I supposed to use Shadow Manipulation against her when the skill description gave me absolutely nothing to work with?
Whoosh.
"CRAP!"
BOOOOOOOOM.
I went through multiple shelves like I weighed nothing, hit the ground hard, and rolled. Pretty sure I cracked at least one rib.
"Damn it," I groaned, scrambling sideways.
BOOOOOOOOM.
The strap on my bag snapped, and everything inside scattered across the floor.
I was about to write it off entirely when I saw something among the spilled contents, and a thought hit me immediately.
Can this actually work?
Another volley came down before I could think it through further.
BOOOOOOOOM.
The veil of darkness caught most of the explosion, but it was already burning away at the edges, light eating through it fast. I ignored it, lunged forward, and grabbed the empty gun from the floor.
She saw it and reacted instantly, nocking another arrow and firing to cut off whatever I was planning. I anticipated it and threw myself behind a shelf, then came back up and pointed the gun directly at her.
Now came the part that could go very wrong.
[You know this could blow up in your face, right?]
"I know, that's why the size has to be perfect," I muttered, feeling the darkness beginning to pull together inside the barrel.
I was making a bullet out of shadow mana, and if I got the density even slightly wrong, the whole thing would backfire, literally. But I was out of options, and this was the only idea I had.
She nocked a single arrow, aimed directly at me, and held it.
We both fired at the same moment.
PUM.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM.