FRIENDS?

Bell: Uh, hey... Wait, what? I'm running, but it doesn't look like I'm getting close to her at all! What the heck? Am I running on some treadmill or something? Oh no, the womanly figure is fading!? Heyyy! Wait up! Who are you? Waittttttt!

{??? Woman}: Do well.

"Waiittttt!" Bell woke up in a surprised manner. "Huh... What? Where am I... What... Huh... A ceiling? Wait... Was I dreaming? Huh huhh?!!! I'm alive?! What??? How???" Bell's brain grew more and more confused with each passing second.

Marc: Hey! Stop rambling. Ugh, you're at the orphanage. What else?

Bell: Huh... Wha... Oh... Yeah, sorry.

Bell was still in confusion, but he quickly caught on that questioning in panic wouldn't do any good. He looked at the boy, whose name was Marc. Bell had noticed Marc yesterday because he had very eye-catching characteristics—his eyes, the Ruby and crimson like blood, Bell astonish. So, of course, he took notice. But that was really all there was to it. Even though he had a very nice appearance, his personality wasn't that great. He had already rejected five offers from people who wanted to adopt him, including a noble family, he simply didn't like it.

Bell: Uh, hey, how did I get back here?

Marc: Huh? Oh yeah, I was out on a hunt for some mushrooms and then saw you lying there, so I brought you back in. Man, you were covered in blood, but I couldn't find a single scratch or injury on you. What happened back there?

Bell: Uh... Well...

Marc: Forget it. You have your reasons for not telling, so I shouldn't really force you to.

Bell was surprised to see such maturity in a child.

Bell: Hey, wait. How old are you?

Marc: Huh? We're the same age.

Bell: ?! Ehhh?? But your response just now isn't like any 9-year-olds.

Marc: Uh, thanks? I don't know if that's a compliment or not.

Bell: Uh, sorry. I don't mean it as an insult or anything. Anyways, why are my clothes still covered in blood, and why am I still lying on the ground, and why the hell are we in the back of the orphanage??

Marc: Huh? What dumb questions do you have? To avoid scolding, of course. I may have decided to stay at the orphanage willingly, but I still don't like the naggy orphanage lady. She annoys me. So, while carrying you on my back, I just dropped you here so she wouldn't know. And of course, your clothes would still be covered in blood. What the heck? You expect me to change them for you? You're 9. Grow up. (-_-)

Bell: Eh, uh, hah...

Bell had a mix of weird emotions, being told to grow up by a 9-year-old.

Bell: Uhm, okay, so why did you help?

Marc: Huh? What a stupid question. I don't want any of my family to die.

Bell: Family.(⁠•⁠ ⁠▽⁠ ⁠•)..?

Marc: Anyways, I'll go now. There are some clothes next to you. They're raggy old clothes, but it's better than nothing, right? Anyways, I'll go now. I have to make some soup, or else I'll get scolded again.

Bell: Huh, oh yeah, thanks.

As Marc left the back of the orphanage, Bell finally had time to quench his curiosity. He said, "System," and the system appeared in front of him, replying, "Is there something you want to ask, Bell?"

Bell: Yes, what exactly happened? How did my arm regrow, and where are all my injuries?

And then the system told Bell every detail, not missing a single one. Even Bell listened carefully and spent 30 minutes absorbing the information.

Bell: Woah, really? You did that, system? Aww, pft, thanks.

System: You're welcome.

Bell: Alright, let's see. Stats, open.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Name - Bell Aize

Age - 9

Gender - Male

Race - Human

Attribute - Mix mana

Title - Rock Frog Absorber

Old Title - The Greatest Mage

(locked)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Strength: 20 (+10)

Speed: 16 (+10)

Vitality: 25 (+10)

Intelligence: 65 (+3)

(locked)

(locked)

(locked)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Bell: Uhm... What the hell?????? Rock Frog Absorber???? What kind of title is that? This is some stupid plot. Man... Dark Mana User was better. *Sigh* Anyways, I finally gained an attribute? Mix mana? So, like, I can control both mana and dark mana✨? Hehehe.

Bell said with a grin on his face.

Bell: Woah, the strength grew a lot... Is it because of forcing my body to the limit? Well, it's not just my strength, but my overall stats actually gained quite a lot.

Bell: Alright, time to check the skills. Open skill sets.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SKILL SETS:

(Dark Regeneration)

(Cut)

(Dark Claw)

(Mix Mana Regeneration)

(Mana Leap)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bell: Woahhh, two new skills✨! Hmm, although Mix Mana Regeneration is helpful for big injuries, it could also cost a lot of mana to use. It's still useful, though. And hmm, let's test out Mana Leap.

Bell then concentrated on his mana, closing his eyes, and then... nothing happened, since Bell was running low on mana.

Bell: Oops.

Marc: Bell, come on, it's dinner.

Bell: "Coming." Bell replied while heading back. Bell had a warm smile on his face, seeming happy with the new skills he had received and, at the same time, feeling glad he got to talk to Marc. As they all ate dinner and it was time for bedtime, Bell couldn't help but feel thrilled. His eyes couldn't feel sleep in fact, he felt like sneaking out again to replenish his mana. And that's what Bell did. He tiptoed to the window again but got caught. "Where are you going?" Marc said while lying down.

Marc: Planning to go out again? What are you, the main character? Anyways, I'm sure you couldn't sleep, huh?

Bell: Uhhhh...

Marc: Hey, are you planning to be an adventurer? If so, just be careful. My dad died that way.

Bell looked surprised but, at the same time, had a thought of "I didn't ask, dude(⁠-⁠_⁠-)." But of course, Bell couldn't just say that. Instead, he replied, "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Hey, do you want to come with me?"

Marc: Huh? Be an adventurer?

Bell: What? No, I mean, like, go outside. The moon is very bright, so we could see clearly.

Marc: What? Are you stupid? We're gonna get killed. We're just 9-year-olds. What can we do?

Bell: It's scary... I know that... But it's still fun to explore. this big world wouldn't be ashamed if we just stayed put? I mean, yes, we're young, but that's what makes it fun learning young.

Marc was surprised as to why he suddenly felt motivated to leave the orphanage, even though he knew what might happen. He let his feelings win, and in the end, he agreed to go with Bell.

Bell: Heh, I knew you'd come to your senses.

Marc: Actually, it's the opposite. I'm completely insane going out of the orphanage at night and following a 9-year-old.

Marc said with a gentle smile, and Bell noticed it and also smiled. They escaped the sleeping room and were now at the back of the orphanage.

Marc: Guess all that excitement was all for nothing. There's a big wall, plus there are tiny needles on top of it.

Bell: Hmm...

Bell spotted a line of ants and had an evil grin on his face.

Marc: Wtf

Bell: Alright, so do you know about mana?

Marc: Duh, who doesn't?

Bell: Okay, good. So, like, I kinda have a special kind of mana. It's like some dark mana that I can only obtain from dead beings.

Marc looked confused and now had second thoughts about coming with Bell. He had thoughts of "Crap... I might be hanging out with a completely insane, delusional kid!"

Bell looked at Marc's expression and knew that Marc didn't believe him. So Bell said, "Okay, watch. I'm going to kill these ants, right? I'm going to absorb dark mana from them, although it might be a little."

Bell stomped on the ants, muttering, "Hehehehe," with an evil grin.

Marc looked concerned and was now convinced that Bell was an insane delinquent.

Bell: Hey! Don't look at me like that. Just watch.

Bell extended his right hand and faced the dead ants. A slow flow of dark mana began to come out from the dead ants, and the ants slowly withered away.

Marc: Woah!

Bell: Hehe, see that? Yes, I did that! (⁠ ⁠´⁠◡⁠‿⁠ゝ⁠◡⁠`⁠)✨

Marc: Alright, what now?

Bell was surprised that Marc didn't ask any more questions, although he was somewhat disappointed because he wanted to flex a little bit more.

Bell: Get on my shoulders and grab the edge of the wall, and then you can hop out.

Marc: What?! Are you stupid??? Did you forget that there are needles? Are you trying to get me killed?

Marc replied with a confused and frustrated face.

Bell: Calm down. How do you think I escaped in the first place? Of course, I climbed. I don't have any injuries because I have dark regeneration, and I'm sure that I can also heal your injuries and wounds.

Marc: Hah? Nah, you're crazy—

As Marc was complaining, Bell scratched Marc's arm using a sharp wooden stick, causing it to bleed.

Marc: Ahh! What the hell?

Bell covered Marc's mouth and simply said, "Watch."

Dark mana started to slowly flow out from Bell's hand and into Marc's arm, completely healing it.

Marc: Woah... Guess you aren't that crazy.

Bell: Ha.ha, funny. Anyways, do you believe me now? I want to explore this world, and it'll be boring if I just do it alone.

Marc sighed and, in the end, gave up on reasoning and questioning, going along with Bell.

As Marc stood on Bell's shoulders, he replied, "I'm surprised you can handle this."

Bell: Shut up and grab the edge of the wall already.

Bell said with some sweat on his face. Bell was lucky that his strength had grown otherwise, he wouldn't last a second being used as a stepping tool. Though he was a bit frustrated, even though it was his own idea.

As Marc grabbed the edge of the wall, his hands were instantly impaled by needles.

Marc:...

Marc kept quiet and forced his body to continue moving. Now, two of his hands were impaled with needles, and sweat covered his face.

Marc: Ugh, hurry up and use the regeneration.

Bell nodded and used dark regeneration on Marc as he attempted to climb out. Marc's face was on the verge of tears, but he pushed through it and now stood on top of the wall. His feet were impaled with needles, but he jumped off, landing on the grass.

Marc: Ugh, I'm getting more insane every second I hang out with you.

Bell commended Marc for his bravery and said, "Heh."

As Marc's wounds completely healed, he waited for Bell to climb out next. But to his surprise, Bell simply leaped so high, higher than the wall. It was some sort of leap, a mana leap. Bell smiled smugly about his leap, feeling like a bird flying through the sky. However, Bell hadn't thought about how to get down safely.

Bell: 🗿

.

.

Marc: 👁️👄👁️

...

...

.....

Bell fell to the ground face-first, bleeding from his nose and with broken fingers.

Marc: Bell!

Dark regeneration was then used to heal Bell.

.

.

.

CURRENT STATS

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Name - Bell Aize

Age - 9

Gender - Male

Race - Human

Attribute - Mix mana

Title - Rock Frog Absorber

Old Title - The Greatest Mage

(locked)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Strength: 20 (+10)

Speed: 16 (+10)

Vitality: 25 (+10)

Intelligence: 65 (+3)

(locked)

(locked)

(locked)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SKILL SETS:

(Dark Regeneration)

(Cut)

(Dark Claw)

(Mix Mana Regeneration)

(Mana Leap)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Map:

(Ishka Village) Population: 200+

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>More<

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