They Are All U-rank?!
As you may have realized by now, this book is a work in progress (draft) which I am only releasing in this account for the sole purpose of test reading it. Still, your comments and words of encouragement would be highly appreciated in finishing this book. Thanks!
The Center Part.
It is also known as the Forbidden zone in the Tutorial. It is a zone populated by S-grade monsters who are rather territorial. And in the deeper part, there was the existence of SS-grade monsters.
Earlier batch of players only ventured up to the edge of the Inner part of the wilderness. It came as a tabboo that challenging the Center part would result to infallible death.
And in this Center part, a group of E-grade Semanticore came rushing as if they had lost their sanity. As they set foot in the Center, humongous arms came hurling, crushing their numbers.
It started with group of 150 Semanticore and before they could even reach the deepest part, their numbers had already dwindled to 3.
Before the last Semanticore met its death in the hands of an SS-grade monster [Valiant Wyvern], it saw a rather shocking scene.
In the nest of the wyvern, a boy surrounded by a circular golden translucent shield was sleeping as if it was a cozy place. It was evident that his guard was dropped to the lowest with that shield on.
"That's where he is. In the wyvern nest", Hiraya uttered as she received the vision of the last Semanticore.
If the group had known that she had tamed 150 Semanticores, they would have realized that her conceitedness was justifiable.
With serious expression, Kevin touched his chin as he pondered.
No one wanted to battle with a group of S-grade monsters, even for Kevin. Dealing with a single S-grade monster took a toll on their body, much more a group of such monsters.
Pondering, he was trying to look for the safest path possible.
It took so much time as he was unfamiliar with their skills. If they were a proper group, with their high ranks, they could pull it off. But, everyone was reluctant to reveal their skill, even Kevin himself.
Giving it much thought, Kevin couldnt think of any. Relying on his one-time use skill would be destructive.
Kevin grew up being branded as the genius of the Netherlands. He never failed a challenge thrown at him and always rised to the top. But, this time, he felt conflicted.
For this first time in his life, Kevin showed a troubled expression.
"Ahmm, Kevin? Are you okay?", Alab uttered as he saw the change in his expression.
In the short time they spent together, they got acquainted with each other. He knew that Kevin is a Genius with dry humor.
He was akin to a coin with two expressions, either annoyed or the calm expression.
Thus, Alab felt his heart sank at seeing Kevin feeling troubled. Althea and Hiraya were feeling the same. They couldnt help but tap the shoulder of the troubled Kevin, seemingly to console him.
"*cough, Im s---sorry, but, I cant think of any way.", he muttered, his face showing a yet another expression. He was humbled.
The mighty and confident Kevin said sorry for the first time. Clenching his fist, Kevin was ready for mockery he would receive. After all, he wasted their one hour for his nonsense.
"Im so–"
He was about to say sorry once again when three hands tapped his bowed head. At this touch, he couldnt help but open his eyes.
Raising his head, and looking at the players' comforting smile around him, with no malice or mockery, Kevin felt his heart throbbed for unknown reason.
He never felt this reassured…
"Its okay, Kevin. You dont have to feel sorry, okay?", comforted Alab
"Everyone makes mistakes haha, even the mighty me makes mistakes at times", exclaimed Hiraya
"You should worry not, little Kevin!", giving him a nickname, Althea uttered.
At this moment, Kevin felt his eyes turning watery. He didnt know just how much had he longed for reassurance, validation, and acceptance. From his experience, he knew that failing would cost you mockery and disdainful eyes from people, that was why he did his best to live his life to meet their expectations.
It was only his Mom that cared for him and who would always will… that was what he thought.
And now, looking at the three players around him, Kevin felt that he could make a mistake even a hundred times. He felt that if it was them, he could make mistakes no matter how much and they would judge or laugh at him.
With a drop of a tear that he rapidly wiped off, Kevin uttered.
"These idiots, dont count me in with you guys, I could make a way … but"
"But?", the three of them asked.
Fixing his eyeglass, Kevin looked at them seriously, prepared to be rejected, after all…
"but, you have to trust me and show me your skills", he muttered.
Hearing this, the three players heaved a deep sigh.
'As I thought, they wont trust me, right? Its such a big matter, after all', he thought as he was prepared to take back his words and throw a dry joke.
But, he was yet to open his mouth when the three of them looked at him with a smirk.
"As I thought, our little Kevin is a nice person."
"We trust you, Kevin. You should have told us earlier!"
"Its fine, we are friends after all, I would definitely punch whoever would betray us"
The group uttered, consoling the down Kevin. With that words, they said.
"Status window share!"
Three [Status Window] were then unearthed on their very eyes.
AN: really tho?! I didnt expect it to turn out like this /(-_-)/, my plan was not followed -_-
[Name: Alab Cain
Rank: F (based on the highest-ranked awakened title)
Level: 1
Exp: 1,062% (they cannot level up on the Tutorial)
HP: 60/60 (10× the constitution value × level)
MP: 100/100 (10× the intelligence value × level)
Physical Attack Damage: 8 (strength value × level)
Magic Attack Damage: 10 (intelligence value × level)
<Title>
-Necromancer Lord (U-rank) (Locked)
-The One who will be forbidden to enter the Tower. (F-rank)
<Attributes>
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 6
Intelligence: 10
Constitution: 6
Free Attribute points: 5 (cannot be allocated in the Tutorial)
<Items> Sword of Avarice (S)
<Karma Points> None
<Skills>
Stack (F)
Skeleton Summon (U) (Locked) ]
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[The One who will be forbidden to enter the Tower. (F)
Description: A title given to a player who will be forbidden to enter the Tower in the fated time.
Skills:
Stack (F)
Damage: tentative
Description: As you have alerted the Tower with your unknown future feats, you will now possess the power to destroy everything that blocks your path. Your attack damage has no definite value, an increment based on your stacked damage will be applied to your single attack.
Effect: When activated, stacks up all the next successive attacks. With the host's current rank, you can only stack up to one day. The stack damage can be dealt with in a single attack only within that day.
Mana usage: exhaust the remaining mana
Cooldown: None
Other skills: (locked)]
[Name: Hiraya ???
Rank: U (based on the highest-ranked awakened title)
Level: 1
Exp: 1,062%
HP: 80/80 (10× the constitution value × level)
MP: 80/80 (10× the intelligence value × level)
Physical Attack Damage: 8 (strength value × level)
Magic Attack Damage: 8 (intelligence value × level)
<Title>
-Taming Empress (U-rank)
-Bearer of Hope (U-rank) (Locked)
<Attributes>
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 10
Intelligence: 8
Constitution: 8
Free Attribute points: 5
<Items> None
<Karma Points> None
<Skills>
Empress' Taming (U)
Ulgram's Breath (U)
Holy Light (U) (Locked) ]
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[Summoner Empress (U)
Description: A title bestowed to the Empress of the Tamers.
Skills:
Empress' Taming (U)
Description: It is you who is bestowed with the power to tame mythical monsters. In your word, the entire clan of monsters shall bow down.
Effect: When activated, you can tame monsters to aid you. At your current level, you can tame A-rank monster with ease. To tame monster of higher level, you have to weaken them. The percentage of success taming will depend on the user's connection with the monster.
Mana usage: ⅕ of the maximum mana (0 mana usage for monsters below A rank)
Cooldown: None
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Ulgram's Breath (U)
Description: Ulgram is the strongest dragon to exist in the Tower. He is known to always be on rampage. As the Empress Tamer, it is your duty to suppress him.
Effect: When activated, you can borrow the breath of the mythical dragon. A dragon's breath that could kill enemies below SSS-rank shall aid you in your battle. At your current level, only enemies below S-rank can be killed in one hit.
Mana usage: exhaust the remaining mana
Cooldown: None
Other skills: (locked) ]
[Name: Althea ???
Rank: U (based on the highest-ranked awakened title)
Level: 1
Exp: 1,068%
HP: 80/80 (10× the constitution value × level)
MP: 70/70 (10× the intelligence value × level)
Physical Attack Damage: 6 (strength value × level)
Magic Attack Damage: 7 (intelligence value × level)
<Title>
-Heir of the Witch (A-rank) (locked)
-Goddess of Life (U-rank)
<Attributes>
Strength: 6
Dexterity: 9
Intelligence: 7
Constitution: 8
Free Attribute points: 5
<Items> None
<Karma Points> None
<Skills>
Life Drain (U)
Life Heal (U) ]
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[Goddess of Life (U)
Description: A title bestowed to the one who will obtain the bloodline of the Goddess of Life. You willl now have the ability over life itself.
Skills:
Life Drain (U)
Description: One of the attack skills of the Goddess of Life You can drain the life force of your opponent. At your current level, you can only drain the life force of S-grade and below.
Effect: Drain the life force of the opponent. The higher the rank and level, the longer it would take.
Mana usage: ⅕ of total mana
Cooldown: None]
[Life Heal (U)
Description: As the Goddess of Life, you can heal a life and even revive it. Using the life force you drained from your enemy, you can heal small-high scale damages.
Effect:
: heal depending on the amount of life drained stock
Mana usage: 50
Cooldown: None]
"What about you? Do you trust us?"
Having shown their [Status Window] for everyone to see, Alab spoke to Kevin.
'Remember Son, you should never show your weakness to anyone, okay? But, if your heart tells you to do it, then do it. Trust your intuition'
Another advice from his Mom resurfaced in his mind. Digging deeper into his heart, Kevin shut his eyes and mind as he tried to feel what his intuition was telling him. And in that moment, he knew it…
"I will trust you all", he said as he opened his eyes.
His intuition was telling him that they can be trusted. With his words, Kevin heaved a deep sigh as he uttered.
"Status Window Share!"
And the group began the moment of inspecting each other's skill. At that moment, Alab only had a single thought.
"What the?! They are all U-rank?!", he exclaimed in shock.