Some Progress

Rin eyed his friend and found he was the only one in the group who was clean. That irritated Rin more than he would like to admit.

Rin had an urge to do something about it. His lips curved upward, finding the amount of blood smeared on his body.

Rin drew closer to Luke.

"It's been so long, Luke."

Rin embraced Luke, wrapping his arms around him tight so that he wouldn't be able to escape.

"I thought I lost you that day. It's really good to see you again."

He rubbed his face on his cheek as if cleaning away the stain.

"Fuck off," Luke shouted, struggling to getaway, however, his low stat wouldn't let him.

"I would, but let me hug you properly." Making sure he had enough, Rin let go of Luke.

"So, I remember you're talking about water."

Luke snorted, wiping away the bloodstain from his cheek.

"So, what's on your chest?" he asked, gesturing at the greenish circular symbol on Rin's chest.

"What are you talking about?" Rin asked, checking his chest. Barely looking. "There's nothing on my chest other than stinking blood."

"I'm talking about that?" Luke pointed right at the mark.

Rin tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. Without further consideration, he drew his palm to touch Luke on the forehead.

"Are you alright, mate?" he asked, acting worried. "It seems all this brutality and heat got to your head, and you're seeing things."

Luke shook off his arm and glared. "Don't try our old tricks on me," he snorted. "I'm too old to fall for that."

"Really?" Rin touched his chin, considering. "Let's ask Elise then. It will prove whether you're going crazy or I'm right."

Rin turned towards Elise, who was at the back of them. He showed her his chest, gesturing with his eyes to keep silent. "Elise, do you see anything?"

"Ahh," Elise's lips hung open for several seconds as her eyes drifted off between the two fellows, unsure whose side to take or even say anything about the situation. However, her silence for a few seconds was enough for Rin.

"See, she doesn't see a thing," Rin said. He shook his head next and rubbed Luke on the shoulder. "I know it's hard, mate. Just hold on for a few days longer. We're going to take you to the best hospital there is. I know earth doesn't have that good treatment for insanity, but medical science is evolving, so who knows."

"Hmm, are those. . ." Elise's voice trailed off, her eyes staring at the scars on Rin's body. "Are those--"

"These are nothing," Rin cut in. The blood smeared on his chest was hiding most of the scars, but a few of them became visible after he wiped himself of Luke. "Just some surgical scars."

Elise was old enough to know, it wasn't a topic she should be prying on.

"Yo boss," Rin called his former captain. "You'll have sunstroke in this weather. Give me your cloak."

Luke who was aware of those scars, knew Rin didn't like to talk about it. So he didn't wait ceremoniously and strip off his cloak immediately to give it to Rin.

"Much appreciated," Rin croaked as he snuggled himself into the cloak. "Now, about the water you promise."

Luke had the intention to check out the cavern from where the deadmen came from, but with Rin's relentless intent on getting water made him reconsider his priority. Well, there was Elise too. The poor girl suffered too much of her trauma already. Even though she said nothing, Luke could make it easier for her.

"In a minute," he said eventually, "let's loot the corpses first."

Rin didn't move from his spot, even though most kills were his. He thought Luke would eventually divide his gems to him. Why bother touching those disgusting monsters?

"Alright, we're done here," Luke said, after they finished collecting all the corpses.

He turned to Rin again. "Now let's talk like an adult for a moment. Are you going to tell me about that mark now?"

Rin bit his lips, evident worry in his eyes. "Poor Luke," he said, wiping his dry eyes empty of tears, "he still thinks there's something. Don't worry, mate, I will take good care of you."

Luke grunted.

Rin burst into laughs, having all his fun, displeasing his friend. Well, sometimes, he just likes to act like a prick.

'Mmm, maybe I'm a prick.' Rin mused. He couldn't say that self-realisation put him through anything.

"I see you haven't changed much," Luke said. "Still with that carefree and careless attitude."

"And still getting somewhere in the game even when I'm not trying my best," Rin added with a chuckle, stabbing Luke in his sour spot.

"You two have a pretty sketchy relationship," Else said. Her face was red from the sun.

"I know right," Rin said, "but don't worry, this is totally a healthy relationship between two dudes. No homo."

Elise gave the two of them an incredulous look.

Luke slapped him on the shoulder. "Don't make it sound any weirder."

"I mention nothing weird," Rin said as they continued on the walk. "It would be weird if I mentioned I totally had the intention to bone you if you're a girl. That reminded me, I thought you were a girl when we were little. Back then, you're totally into me."

"Just shut your mouth."

However, Rin was far from being finished. "I was almost heartbroken to find out you're a dude, dude." He slapped Luke on the shoulder. "That was not cool. You know how many children's hearts you've broken in kindergarten?"

"Shut up," Luke shouted.

"Luckily, you have a sister," Rin burst into laughter after that, while Elise was laughing too, looking at the red-faced Luke.

Rin stopped pulling Luke's leg after that as they talked about their experience in this foreign world on their way to the hideout Luke and Elise discovered last night.

As they moved, Rin checked out the notifications that he missed.

[Your proficiency in Swordsmanship reached LVL 4.]

[You have learned Archery.]

[Your proficiency in Archery reached LVL 2.]

[Your proficiency in Focus reached LVL 7.]

[Your proficiency in Archery reached LVL 3.]

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[Outworlder: Ulysses

Specie: Human.

Rank: None. (Progress: 17%)

Class: None.

Origin Mark: Seed of Protection

Bloodline: Normal (B+).

Attributes:

[Health (R) : 178/220 (18.4) Mana (R) : 74/164 (14.4)

Physique: 18.4

Mind: 12

Spirit: 16.4

Fortune: 67]

Abilities:

- Superhuman Intuition, LVL 2.

- Mana Cloak, LVL 2.

Art and Skill:

Mana Application: LVL 2.

Sub skill: Mana Sense, Mana Discharge.

Swordsmanship, LVL 4.

Archery, LVL 3.

Focus, LVL 7.

Title:

Outworlder.

Avalon Credits: 1641]

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This seemed like good enough progress for a game he was completely clueless about. This was probably the top tier speed for any normal pro player. Besides, he barely played for two days. Still, he was missing a few skills. And a class.

Power felt this amazing when he barely got it, he wondered how drunk he could get in it after he rank up.

The place Luke led him to was an abandoned farmhouse. And as for the source of water, there was an old well, right by the twenty by twenty metres spanning farmhouse.

"This is what we managed so far," Luke said, showing him the farm. "There's no shortage of melons or water, and it's relatively safer at night."

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