Death Loop

"So since we both seem to be stuck in this place for now and you are the senior when it comes to this white abyss why don't you tell me exactly what we are supposed to do here?"

Kumi started the conversation.

"You don't know?"

"All the info I have is that the objective is to escape. How, where and what awaits is totally unknown. Plan number one for me has failed since I have no clue how to read the blocks of text in the computers so info gathering hasn't gone quite perfectly."

"Yeah... But wait, why don't we first get to know more about each other. Strengths and weaknesses. To be fair escaping this place isn't the easiest thing in the world..."

Kumi stood up from her chair as she then asked.

"Alright, bet. How long have you been in here anyway?"

"I... Don't really remember. No way to tell the time considering that clock resets at every death."

He pointed at the pale yellow clock that had yet to start ticking.

"Years probably."

"The butler won't help?"

"What butler?"

"...As far as I'm aware there should be a butler in every one of these things. They give refreshments, advice and training if it's needed."

"Through my time here, haven't seen anything like that. Haven't even seen another living person here. How did you get into this session anyway? Considering the time that has passed they would have turned the server that this space is in off."

"You are using words that I don't quite understand here."

"Ah. Right. Kid."

"Kumi."

"Right, my bad Kumi. Each of these spaces, of which there should be hundreds are all part of a big server. A group controller type object. Each of the machines is connected to a server and to a group so that people don't have to go through this hellhole alone. Though in this group I am the only one that's ever been here. No idea why."

"Yeah. That's sad."

"Very comforting."

"I didn't try to be."

"Gods. You are like. Nothing like a kid."

"Great observation there Parkour. The main topic was to discuss strengths and weaknesses."

Vaeril let out a sigh as he nodded.

"Yeah, though I don't expect much."

"Rude."

Kumi said blandly as she sipped on her coffee.

"Well- wait. Is that my mug."

"Nope. Mine now."

"Gods. Kids shouldn't be drinking those types of drinks."

Vaeril reached out to grab the mug out of Kumi's hands but before he could, she tossed the mug up and backflipped onto the thin wall that divided the cubicles where she sat down and caught the mug out of the air.

"I'm not drinking it. I'm experiencing the taste through my mind guy. And I take the 'not expecting much' as pretty rude."

Not surprisingly, Vaeril was quite shocked at the sight.

"Gods.."

"Stop saying that, I doubt they can help in here."

"You talk like you've interacted with them."

"Who knows. I wouldn't remember."

"Who would forget- nevermind. You're just a strange one."

"Umcommon would be more accurate."

"Bah. Shut up. An uncommon kid is someone who has rare talent not someone who acts like an adult and has movement skills like that."

"Fair, probably."

Kumi said as she sipped on the hot coffee.

Seeing the sight, Vaeril sighed.

"Come on let's go to my cubicle. We can continue over there."

He said as he turned around and started walking back towards his cubicle.

"Aighty."

Kumi jumped off the wall and followed from behind.

"Though..."

Vaeril suddenly stopped in his tracks. Kumi was about half a metre or more away from him yet before she could even react, her vision was filled with a blinding red light.

Suddenly Vaeril had appeared right infront of her and released an attack.

Kumi couldn't even react.

The pain assaulted her as the red light vanished and Vaeril flicked her on the forehead.

"So you are actually real. I thought for a moment that I was hallucinating. Sorry Kumi."

"Yeah. Ow. I can still feel pain in this place you know."

"Sorry sorry."

Vaeril laughed it off and apologised as he tried to pat Kumi on the head. The attempt was easily dodged.

"Don't even."

"Haha. Right right."

The two moved to Vaeril's cubicle where he sat down on his chair and Kumi hopped on the desk.

"So you have good body control and instincts. Anything else?"

"Those are my best strengths right now, yeah. And if I know what's coming then I can prepare pretty well."

"Prepare?"

"Mentally, physically or with items."

"Disregarding items, how would you prepare mentally or physically?"

"Resistances and regular physical training. For example if I had to compete in a race, running, I would train my legs and practice different styles of running, the best methods to suit my situation. Whether it is a long or short race, if stamina will play a part, if I had to do things besides running.

Simple stuff to prepare for."

"That's simple?"

"Quite."

"Then mentally prepare. What do you mean with that?"

"Straightforward meaning. Mentally prepare as in if I had to fight someone who has some hidden ability like superspeed. Don't show your surprise, based on the possible character, plan ahead and try to figure out their style of battle. Anticipate what someone would do with their hidden ability, when they would use it and how and prepare my corresponding actions accordingly. Based on the possible situations that might occur, plan ahead from predictable events to unpredictable events and so on until whatever the enemy does, it is already anticipated.

With that I have an easier time. Though it is tricky to pull off and I need at least some sort of deeper understanding on the situation or person in general."

"So. All of that mental preparation and you just call it tricky. Now I haven't known you for long at all here, and don't take it personally, but you don't seem like the type of person to have an immaculate memory to remember all those plans and situations."

"I don't. That is where simple insticts kick in. I don't have that great of a memory but I have great instincts at least. A situation may seem familiar even though I have never experienced it, so, following that familiar feeling I slowly remember the branch of plans that I had laid out previously and go from there.

Or at least that's how I think I do it. Haven't done it a lot."

"You don't even know how you do it?"

"Not in great detail. I just Do it."

"That is..."

"Impressive. Thanks."

"That's what you call a genius you idiot."

"You're contradicting yourself there."

"A genius can still be dumb Kumi."

"Okay. Fair point. Well, those should be some of my strengths. How about you?"

"My mobility, body control and split-second decisions are on a good level. In the physical department I'm not lacking in anything either."

"Well then, explain your strengths in further detail too."

"Sure. I have a few mobility Skills that let me have above average acceleration. I don't really need to get in position for a good start at sprinting, you can look at it like that."

"Like when you randomly attacked me yeah."

"I did apologise. My body control I fully honed in this place. I kind of needed to get it maxed out so I got rid of a few fighting Skills, following that my attacks might be a little weak compared to others my Rank but my Agility and Mobility overpower that disadvantage by a great deal."

"The faster you go the more power behind attacks right?"

"Right. So on to my-"

Before Vaeril could continue, Kumi cut in and asked.

"Wait on. What did you mean when you said you got rid of some Skills? Is there a limit?"

"All races have a limit to the amount of Skills they can have you know? Well, the amount can be increased with some rare items or a few even more rare Skills and it slightly differs when it comes to race too. Elves have more Passive Skills and Catfolk have more Active Skills then regular while Humans have a balanced limit."

"I haven't had any such Skill limit thing."

"Then you haven't hit your Skill limit. Humans have about 10-12 Skill slots on average, the difference is based on Potential. How many Skills do you have anyway? Disregarding Resistances."

"... More than 12."

"How many more?"

"Double."

Kumi hesitantly said while looking away.

"D-"

Vaeril stopped for a second.

"Double?"

He asked.

"Two. Four."

"Gods... What type of human blood do you have?"

"I don't. I'm not human."

"...Okay. That explains it to some degree."

"It does?"

"Well Elves have about 16-18 Skill slots on average. And their not the most powerful race out there either, for good reason. Angels, Demons, Dragons and Fairies outpower them in terms of Skills. Though the average amount of Skills those races have is unknown. I mean Dragons and Fairies are basically Myths among Myths."

Kumi stayed silent as she waited for him to continue.

"I won't pry what race you are. Don't particularly care either. If you can help me out of this hell then you could be a goddamn goblin for all I care."

"I am not."

"I can see that, Kumi. No green. Anyway, my best strength. Split-second decisions. It's a Skill, it helps me make the best decision in less than the blink of an eye."

"What do you mean 'Best Decision'?"

"The thing I want to accomplish at that moment, the Skill guides me down the path that is most likely going to get me there."

"So how are you still here?"

"Knowing the way and traversing it are two very different matters, Kumi. Though, now that I'm not alone here, my options will skyrocket."

"And that's good."

"And that's good, yes."

"Well let's see if we can finally get you out of this death loop then. I don't really like it here either. We will use each other here to get out of here. Sound like a good deal?"

They continued to talk to each other and discuss their strengths and what Kumi will need to prepare for as they descend down towards the exit.