Chapter 7: Maumar
...2 years had past since Ele disappeared...
Even though Erick was now 10 years old, he could speak and read every language and understand it thanks to his system. He was dubbed a prodigy within school and the orphanage.
The adults who came to the orphanage were only interested in Erick and none of the other kids got any attention.
All the other kids were jealous of him. He never had any friends as a result.
...
Sitting in the grass, a young boy with messy light brown hair and empty brown eyes was humming the tune of a nursery rhyme.
The boy was staring at an orange and gold, five-petal flower field; held out his hand, and muttered "[Increase: Quality]."
For a moment, the flower glowed red. When the glow faded it showed the same flower, shape and all.
A black, blue, and gold panel appeared in-front of the kid.
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[ You have Increased the quality of a B-Grade to an A-Grade ]
[ +25 Mastery for ability: [Increase] ]
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'Analyze.' The boy directed this single thought towards the power he possesses, or rather the power that possesses him.
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[ Regrow Flower (A-Grade) ]
Type: Material/Consumable
A flower capable of permanently increasing ones Strength and Vitality and regrows its petals every month.
Can be used as an ingredient for cooking or an edible.
Effects: +5 Strength, +5 Vitality
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The boy held a smile on his face in reaction.
He then took one of the petals and ate it.
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[ +1 Strength ]
[ +1 Vitality ]
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He once again looked at the black panel and called out to it "[Status]."
{ Error System: [Status] }
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[ Erick Rorin (Lv. 0) ]
Exp: 0/10000
Lifetime: 1000009y 0d 1h 23m 06s
Titles: (Tap to Open)
Bloodlines: (Tap to Open)
Abilities: (Tap to Open)
Stats: (Tap to Open)
Traits: (Tap to Open)
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Tap..
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[ Stats : (Tap to Close) ]
Strength: 49
Vitality: 47
Agility: 13
Magic: 4
Spirit: 0
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He ate the remaining petals.
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[ +4 Strength ]
[ +4 Vitality ]
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Tap..Tap..
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[ Abilities: (Tap to Close) ]
Increase: (Tap for Info)
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Tap..
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[ Increase (S-Grade): (Tap to Close) ]
Mastery: 350
Type: Active
Increases the quality or quantity of anything.
*No gain from increasing Lv.*
Limits:
-Quality: A-Grade
-Quantity: 1
Cooldown: 5h 56m 32s
=====
'Hide.' With that thought, the panel disappeared.
He then walked back towards to orphanage and got ready for school.
...
Ever since Erick was a baby, he had never felt the comfort of a mother nor a father. He was just found one day at the doorstep of an orphanage crying his eyes out.
This world was a cruel one. Since ancient times in Maumar, there were portals that led to small pocket dimensions filled to the brim with 'monsters'.
With the portals eventually came 'systems'. Everyone had a chance to get the power they beheld yet only a couple hundred around the world were chosen at first. These systems only appear to a lucky few on their 18th year of living. Only the non-matured ruled the world for a long time. That time was called the 'Dark Age'.
It is said that gaining a system will immediately shower you in power. Because of this, many grew corrupt and greedy. It weren't monsters that threatened to destroy Maumar anymore but it's own inhabitants that did.
The Dark Age wad long gone by the time Erick was born. 83% of the population had a system by the time they turn 18. There were academies built for the 'players' where they learnt about monsters and their weaknesses as well as how to control their own abilities. The monsters also grew more powerful as the players did.
Plenty of technological advancements were made with the items and materials gained from monster bodies. Cures for many diseases were discovered. Prices for regular food went down and prices for monster meat went up.
Despite the times, it was rare to find any player who would still care for all the normal people.
Erick learned most of this during his history class while some of it was just common sense to everyone at Maumar.