1 Chapter 1 - The Beginning
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Greetings Humans
To prepare you for integration to the System we have prepared a tutorial space for every member of your species. In it you will face waves of enemies to be defeated and each wave defeated results in a reward to you. Every member must survive one wave, after which they may choose to complete their tutorial returning them to the newly integrated world.
When joining the Tutorial you will be given the option to join a team of fellow humans of your choosing, but be warned. The difficulty of each wave's enemies will correspond to the number of humans in that instance. Please note that before The Waves begin you will be allowed fifteen minutes to ask questions and prepare for battle.
Tutorial begins in 1 hour.
1:00:00
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Leo froze, bent over as he was putting on his pants.
'I have to confirm this is real.'
He finished putting on his clothes and ran out of his house and saw that a few of his neighbors were lost in confusion, probably for the same reason as he was.
"Hey Frank! Did you see that message that popped up?" he heard to his right. A few people were grouping in the street to discuss what was going on. He decided to confirm that what he saw was indeed true and jogged over to them.
"Guys did you see the screen as well? Talking about a System and waves of enemies?" he asked in a rush hoping to leave himself enough time to prepare.
"Yeah, we did. Do you know anything about this? I mean it has to be a joke right." Frank questioned.
"Joke or not, you should all prepare to survive when the tutorial starts. I'm sorry, but I must go prepare myself." he replied before turning around and jogging back to his home.
Rushing through his house he went to change into more combat-oriented and rugged clothing. Once changed, he started gathering food and water into a backpack before he headed out to his ranch. As he was pulling out of the driveway he checked the timer
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0:53:24
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'Still enough time to grab everything and build what I need. I just hope the roads aren't full yet.'
Fifteen minutes later he pulled up to the barn that sat across the front yard from the house. Taking his backpack with him he sprinted towards the barn and shoved open the doors. He grabbed a rake and moved a pile of fresh hay from the first stall away to reveal doors leading underground. Opening it up he slid down the metal ladders and landed with a grunt. A second later a metallic click disturbed the peaceful quiet and the lights snapped on revealing a small workshop with only a single table placed perfectly in the center of the room.
He turned to the blank wall and placed his hand at shoulder height over one of the planks and lights sprung to life and scanned his hand. A green light lit up the outline of a hand after a few passes, the walls split open and retreated into the adjacent walls revealing a room ten times larger than the dummy workshop.
A sigh of relief found its way out of his mouth as he took but a second to gather himself before he got to work. First he went to the back of the room and grabbed one of the .50 caliber machine guns from a table and started piling ammo boxes on the center table next to the gun.
Next was the M4A1 he placed on the center table with its requisite ammo. Lastly he grabbed another duffle bag and began filling it with white phosphorous grenades. Twenty in total sat next to the other guns and their respective bags of ammunition.
He checked the time to see if it was worth bothering to make the real nasty stuff he could.
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0:28:11
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'Just enough to get a few made before it starts.'
Rushing to the back of the room and to the right he arrived at his chemistry lab. He went about preparing five charges of C4 to be armed in a moment's notice and placed them neatly in a bag.
As he returned the new bag to the center table a minute remained. Each second that ticked by seemingly ticked his heart rate a little bit higher. He gathered himself and cleared his mind. Breath in and breath out. He repeated this 10 times until the meditation was complete.
Feeling calm once again he grabbed the samurai sword that sat on its very own wall and attached it to his waist before working all of his other gear onto his person. Four extra bags slung over every limb possible while the two guns sat cradled in his arms waiting for the timer to hit zero.
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
And in a blink of an eye he was in a vast white space and a second later a third screen popped up. He quickly checked his person to confirm that his weapons were there and they were. Relieved he brought his attention to the screen.
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Greetings human, would you like to form a team with anyone?
Yes/No
***
He mentally projected 'No' to the screen and it reloaded with new information.
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A System assistant has been assigned to answer your questions.
***
"Greetings human #456-2432-19920, I am the System assigned helper here to answer your questions. Due note the fifteen minutes have begun." a monotone voice sounded out.
"Is this integrated world that we return to going to be Earth with changes or a completely new planet?" he asked with an impatient shaking flowing through him hoping he'd be able to ask all of his questions.
"The world you return to will not be Earth, but a similar planet with different life and laws."
"Is there magic on this new planet?"
"Yes"
"How does it function?"
"It functions through the use of Mana which permeates through all space in this new world. Mana energy is consumed, either from the Soul, an item or from the world, to create effects on the world or to modify reality."
"Was I transported here through the use of mana?"
"Yes"
"Will there be other intelligent life on the planet with humans?"
"This current batch consists of Elves, Dwarves, Demons, Beastmen and a rarity, High Angels."
"How will this System affect me?"
"The System provides its users with levels, ascensions, upgradeable stats that determine your rough ceiling of capabilities, skills to be learned or purchased and upgraded, classes to provide additional assistance to progression in a plethora of areas and lastly callings to guide you to a greater path."
"Can you tell me how to use Mana now?"
"Although this space is an exact mirror of the reality which you will soon depart for, meaning Mana permeates throughout it, I cannot directly guide you in using it."
"When I go to fight the waves will I travel to another space where the enemies are or will they be transported here?"
"Your enemies along with appropriate environments will be created in this space for you to eliminate."
"What is available for rewards after each wave?"
"Each wave will award System points to be spent at the System Shop at the conclusion of your tutorial in addition to items or skills or bonus experience."
"Where, in comparison to the other races, do humans rank in terms of fighting ability before the system?"
"Humans rank last in natural fighting ability due to their lack of access to Mana, but if technology is calculated they rise to just above Dwarves."
Leo checked the timer wanting to leave himself enough time to prepare his loadout for battle and he saw he only had time left for one more question.
"Are there equivalents to a dungeon or tower where monsters are harder and more frequent but give greater rewards?"
"These areas do exist as dungeon spaces, a dimension of space that burst into reality and attached itself to a world inhabited by sentient beings. They persist for thousands of years and provide rare resources to those who are able to extract them properly and safely."
As Leo finished racking his weapon the assistant began the countdown for when the enemies would spawn and at zero he felt a wave of energy wash over his back. When he turned around he could see 5 short green creatures charging at him.
When Leo calculated they were fifty feet away and saw that they held no weapons Leo slung his rifle to his back and drew his sword wanting to conserve ammo. Within ten feet he saw that their only danger to him were short but sharp claws and rows of jagged razor teeth. He began his approach at a slow but accelerating pace. As the first enemy came within range of his weapon he slashed the sword up. His strike met no resistance and he only used the sound of the body hitting the floor to confirm its death.
Adrenaline rushed through his veins and it surged him forward. He used his momentum in tandem with two clean alternating slashes to cut down the next two. As he was recovering from his strike one of the last enemies lunged for him. A swift spin to the side was all he needed to give himself the perfect opening to behead the creature who had not taken a leap of faith.
The remaining enemy was struggling to get up from its failed lunge when both of its arms were cut off and its hamstrings severed.
When the final enemy was neutralized Leo took a few breaths to calm his racing heartbeat. 'Exhilarating' was the only thought running through his mind. A foreign feeling filled his emotions and he pondered on what this feeling could be. "Ah, this is what father always said it would feel like, finally satisfaction and purpose."
Leo didn't think the thing's screeching was going to be so bad and wished he had brought a gag or at least some duck tape. It wriggled on the ground about thirty feet away from where he had dropped his gear. He assessed that although the creature still had use of its mouth as a dangerous weapon he didn't think the thing posed a threat to him anymore. Finally, he could focus on the true purpose of this Tutorial. He could finally learn how to use this Mana that the Voice in his head had been telling him about his whole life.
Leo sat down and began the journey to a deep meditative state of mind. When his mind was focused solely on everything his body was feeling he began searching for the source of Mana that rested within him.
After thirty minutes and no progress towards sensing Mana he slapped his knee in frustration.
"Fuuccckkkk!!!."
Leo stood up drawing his blade and started sprinting at the small green man that had somehow not bled out yet. He raised the blade above his head and released his frustration as the blade came barrelling down.
'STOP!' came the Voice that had been with Leo his whole life. And so he listened, the blade rested just inches from the creature's neck.
'I can help you. You just need to listen and relax.'
The Voice's proclamation puzzled Leo. He had always thought it was some sort of manifestation of his subconscious that wriggled its way to his conscious mind to help himself in difficult times. But why was it claiming it could help him with his Mana problems. Sure it had been telling him about this his whole life, but the world had convinced Leo that his sister's death had driven him insane.
"I know you always have pretty good advice for me, but how can you help me now? With something we've never experienced before or thought possible." Leo posed his thoughts to the Voice, for some reason it could never read his thoughts only hear what he spoke to it.
'Just trust me. Have I ever led you astray?'
Leo's ears perked up at this point the Voice made. Now that Leo really thought about it the Voice truly had never led Leo astray.
"You're right. Hmph. I never really realized that, but thanks for pointing it out. What do ya need me to do?"
With Leo's cooperation, the Voice led Leo down the correct path once again and this time the reward was astonishing.
First, Leo opened the floodgates from his Soul to his Body and Mana soon filled every inch of him. It was vibrant and energizing. He remembered feeling small snippets of this sensation growing up, but it could never compare to how he felt now. He somehow felt more complete, more himself.
Once Leo could sense Mana he began manipulating the energy through what the Voice called 'Mana Pathways'. Sort of like veins and arteries they fulfilled the purpose of cycling Mana through his body.
Now that Leo's body was primed for the use of Mana he was prepared to start casting spells. "So, what spell are you going to teach me first? I was thinking something that was quite versatile. Maybe an extra pair of arms that can help me fight stuff?" Leo started shadow boxing as if he had two extra arms while he waited for an answer. "Hey, Voice? Are you there? I hope all that teaching didn't take too much out of you."
Leo continued shadow boxing when all of a sudden his chest was overwhelmed with a sensation of burning. "Oh man. Am I having the nastiest case of heartburn or what?" Leo stopped boxing to feel out what was wrong with his chest. Then the pain knob was turned up to max and the shock brought him to his knees. Each breath became harder than the last as the burning intensified. Soon it felt like someone was carving something into his Soul with a red hot iron spike. The heat spread to the rest of his body and he could see the flowing waves of steam coming off of his body. 'Sorry' was the only thing his mind could think of as his vision went black.
___
Leo slowly returned to consciousness and each second that passed he could comprehend more and more of what was happening around him. When the feeling of his body returned an aching beyond anything he had ever felt assailed his chest. He tried to open his eyes to inspect his chest for any burn marks or scars, but as soon as his eyelids let in a sliver of light a headache started hammering his brain.
Leo closed his eyes and just laid there, resting. Unsure of what he should do to end his pain or if he would even survive wherever he was.
"Wait. Where am I?" he barely managed to croak out of a dry throat. His headach had miraculously cleared enough to let him take in his surroundings. Behind him he could hear the loud snoring of his grandpa. The old man never could get to his bed before passing out.
"Grandpa, you're asleep in the living room again. Wake up! Don't make me carry your old farting ass to bed again. I have work tomorrow and I'd like to avoid breaking my back for work." Leo said, chuckling, hoping that his humor wouldn't anger the waking beast. Leo tried to stand up but almost immediately fell off balance. He accepted his inability to stand and instead chose to spin on his butt to face his grandfather.
As Leo's eyes absorbed the light, not of his grandfather, but of a mutilated green creature screeching to be put out of its suffering it all came rushing back to him. He never had a grandfather, he wasn't even on Earth right now. And his mind returned to him; the System, the Tutorial, the Voice, the magic and the monsters.
"Woah. What the hell was that? And what happened to my chest?" Leo looked down and pulled his shirt away from his body so he could get a better view of his skin. Perfectly fine. He gave his chest a few poking prods and a hard slap, but no immense pain greeted him. And then an aching soreness slapped him out of nowhere.
"So it's not a physical pain? It must be my soul then."
Leo followed the Voice's guidance to once again observe his Soul and Mana pathways. The pathways appeared to be intact and healthy, no noticeable damage that he could detect but they did appear a bit shriveled. But on the veil that acted as a gate between his Soul and his physical body rested a symbol. A simple connection of lines and grooves obstructed the otherwise smooth surface of the veil. He sat there just watching it, completely clueless as to how it got there, what it did and if he had to worry about it affecting him.
As he watched it he noticed that whenever some Mana would naturally flow through the part of the veil that this symbol rested on the Mana would get sucked into the symbol and never reappear. Each time he observed this his body experienced that same aching pain that it had been since he woke up, but each time the ache grew weaker.
An idea burst into Leo's mind after he observed the symbol absorb some Mana for a third time and he was going to try it, no matter how painful or reckless it may turn out to be. He braced himself for the pain and began pulling Mana from his Soul to the symbol. It started with just a bit more than he had observed and he gradually increased it, gritting his teeth, until he reached his pain threshold.
Leo pulled for all of three seconds and in a flash an energy released from the veil and shot to his right hand. A three dimensional figure that at certain angles reminded him of the symbol on the veil rested within the Mana plateau of his hand. He was lost in the figure's beauty and didn't realize the building heat in his hand until the figure's stability started to waver.
Leo's hand started to turn red like it was about to combust into fire at any moment and he didn't know what to do. All he wanted was for the pain to stop and suddenly instincts took over. Leo felt his body push the figure out of the palm of his hand and out came a two foot diameter ball of fire. It burned the air that it traveled through as it traveled along its arc before crashing into the ground about one hundred feet away from where Leo sat, thankful that he had moved his hand away from his body in fear that it was going to explode.
When he was done marveling at what he had just done he noticed a small blinking blue light in the top right corner of his vision. When he focused on it a blue screen, like the one that announced the arrival of The System, popped into his vision once more.
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New Spell Learned!
Fireball:
Summon forth the power of raging fire to burn down your foes.
Damage: Variable
Manacost: Variable
Cast time: Variable
***
"Well. That's helpful information." Leo was a bit disappointed at how useless this System message was but he soon forgot it in favor of the excitement of casting more Fireballs.
Leo cast and cast Fireball after Fireball and then he rested when he couldn't cast any longer. But returned to casting the moment he felt he had the Mana to cast more Fireballs. After five cycles of completely draining himself and consuming a third of his rations he finally felt comfortable enough to attempt using Fireball in a combat situation.
Leo stood from where he was resting and walked over to the green creature that acted as a sheath for his sword. He was amazed at how the thing was still alive and kicking, although not with much energy at this point. He removed the sword from the creature and swiftly ended its life. As soon as the head was done rolling off into the white expanse a ding rang out all around him accompanied by a new blue screen.
