9 Life but with a Built-in Status Bar?

After the council left, Garyn told me to get back to sleep. I also decided that I should just put all the problems to my future self. Sorry to future me.

Then tomorrow came. Garyn started to teach us magic. By us I mean he'll teach me along with his daughter. His daughter currently knows the fundamentals and is now studying intermediate magic. Something like tier 4 magic. Advanced magic can go up to tier 10 which only Archdemons and Archpriests can do.

By daughter, I mean the girl from earlier. The one who tended to my wounds a few chapters ago.

Oh, by the way, she was named Kythaela. As the name implies she's a beautiful and a genius mage with ice attributes. Not to mention her ice-cold eyes. But those purple eyes burn with a fire I fail to put into words. And she walks like she owns the place. Eats like a princess, walks like a princess, probably a tsundere. I don't know, I never talked to girls. My only experience with them whatsoever was Eroge and manga.

She looks a bit like my favorite models from Earth, back when I was a kid.

I tried making small talk during a water break, but she never spoke back.

The basics were simple. First, I just need to exhaust and regenerate my mana to expand my cap. It sounded like a simple task, but after exhausting my mana, I usually feel drowsy and I'll just suddenly drop to the ground. After continuously exhausting my mana, my cap expanded over two times the original, but it's still too little compared to Garyn's daughter. Maybe because she's fully elf?

In this world demons and elves are leading in magic theories. They have systems where they cultivate talent from young ages; maybe starting from my age, or a year younger. They have many archmages and bishops. Standings in this world are based on how many Arch Mages you have in your country. In a nutshell, I think that the overall military power of a country is directly proportional to its number of archmages. Among other factors.

But seriously though, why would the humans wage war against this kingdom? Aren't they afraid of superior magic? Are they really that arrogant?

I've got plenty of questions to ask my dad once I get home.

Still, the modern magical theory is hard to understand. I have to learn a new language, too. But it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Elven directly translates to another language I spoke back on Earth. Upon reading other books, I've come to notice that many of Earth's languages correspond to languages spoken here in this new world. But I have to be careful not to reveal to too many people my intelligence level. I don't know who are my friends or who are my enemies.

Using up my mana and waiting for it to regenerate takes too long. My patience is very short. But I find the practice to be rewarding. Garyn says that I might learn how to throw fireballs any day now.

After using up my mana, I'll probably doze for approximately 10 minutes and then wait for another hour to fully regen all my used-up mana. In the meantime, while waiting, I practice my new sword style, Wolf Surge. I tried to imitate the wolf's attack pattern in the fight we had. Swift but deadly, an attack that focuses on striking the vital points of an enemy while maintaining a defensive stance.

But there's a drawback. I can't really understand what makes a wolf… a wolf. There's just something about their ferality, their ferocious tenacity, and the fact that they fight on all fours makes them hard to emulate.

Since the wolf's speed is unfathomable by humans, or elves, not to mention me, I'll make up for it by using the enemy's weak spots as targets.

*1 hour later

Since my mana is fully regenerated, I'll continue to expand it. Circulating my mana by going through every vein and every point without missing any. Then gather it in my stomach and release it in one go. Again. And again. Not stopping until I'm fully exhausted.

[Notice: You've been chosen as "His Reincarnation"]

[Attention: You leveled up!]

[Alarm: (Non-Magic) Skill Learned: Wolf Surge]

[Alarm: New Skill: Mana Blast]

[Alarm: New Skill: Exhaust]

[Alarm: New skill: (Passive) Last Stand]

[Alarm: Skill level up: Second Wind]

[Alarm: Skill level up: Fortify]

[Alarm: (Non-Magic) Mastery level up: Flash Steps]

[Alarm: (Non-Magic) Mastery level up: Lightning God Strike]

[Alarm: (Non-Magic) Mastery level up: Flow of Rushing Currents]

Wait, what is this? Did it pop out of nowhere? It seems to be…

No. F(redacted)***. way.

This is AWESOME!

(***Note: redacted is a way to censor something. Imagination is key.)

Oh, by the way, y'all remember that trope where you slap your chest and your stats come out?

That actually worked but there's an easier way of doing it by saying "Status".

My "Status" was questionable, however.

Yo, how'd I ended up with weak-ass defense?

[Status Screen]

Power Level: α

Attack: πδ

Defense: ξγ

Agility: ρα

Vitality: ρλε

Magic Power: κγ

Mana Capacity: λε

Magic Regen: νζ

Dexterity: πθ

Stamina: ϙβ

Senses: οη

Condition: Slightly Unstable (Mentally), Sound (Physically)

Overall Grade: οϛ

Grade Class: Bronze

Title: None

Job: None

Race: Half-Human, Half-Elf

Length: ρκ cm

Mass: κ kg

Eye color: Green

Hair Color: Black/White with Silver Highlights

Inventory:

Magic Sword {Rarity:ε}: +ν attack power {Skill Passive: Hunter: Decreases bloodlust while increasing stealth}

Journal

Elven Bread {stale}

Skills: {Show List}

I figured some of you might be wondering how power gets defined in this world.

According to my beloved Status screen:

Criteria:

"Class" Ranking:

God

Demi-God

Arch-Mage

Mythical

Legend

Diamond

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Bronze -Current Rank

Null {creatures without power}

I still don't know why some parts are censored. And some parts are in languages I don't know how to read. Scrolling through everything above, and then some, I noticed that there are some rather questionable entries.

"His Reincarnation"?

"Grade Class: Bronze?"

"ρκ cm" ????

Oh wait, I'm 6, I forgot, so maybe that last one, whatever it is, is probably decent. I hope.

Wait, what does that measure?

My grade class is bronze, which is probably above normal for my age, but I have no way of knowing what my real stats are. I'm guessing that they're in some sort of ancient language back on Earth?

I spent a great deal fussing over my stats. I don't really know how or why my stats got so whack. But I think I probably started from 0 all over, so in 6 years, that's probably growth.

I don't know about the reincarnation part. I wanted to talk about it with Garyn, but he laughed it off, saying that reincarnation is impossible. Well, can't fault him.

I'll just look in his library for anything about reincarnation once he trusts me enough to let me in.

I don't think other people know about stats. I tried showing Garyn my stats sheet, but he told me he saw nothing. I asked him about his stats, and he shrugged me off, saying he was busy.

Man, adults these days.

I tried asking his daughter, but she shied away from me. Wonder what her deal is. You know, upon closer inspection, she's surly, quiet, maybe shy, I think. You know, something about the way she looks at me; the scorn, combined with her loli-esque appearance…

Afternoon

The Lake

I collapsed on the floor, wheezing from the mana drain. Garyn was out today. He said that he had something to do, and entrusted me in his daughter's care. Or, at least, the note he snuck into my pillow last night said so.

I watched her lift water from the lake, condense it into a ball, and hurl it at a nearby boulder.

"Bruh. She's 6. What am I thinking?" My good-boy conscience went.

"But we're 6, too." My bad-boy conscience went. "And Garyn suggested that we become friends, right?"

"We have the mental age of a man in his twenties." Good-boy me said. "Can we sleep at night knowing we went for a loli?"

"She'll be of consensual age in a few years-"

"Shut up!" The main conscience went.

[Attention: Mental state is unstable. Your overall grade may drop.]

[Notice: Possible solution; Meditate and maintain focus]

[Attention: Bloodlust within the perimeter has reached danger level. Defensive measures are recommended.]

My vision flashed with notices. I scrolled quickly, trying to process the overload of information.

"Wait, wha-"

[Notice: Calculating enemy Grade… Rank A+... Chance of losing… 78%...]

[Notice: Fighting is not recommended]

[Notice: Adaptive measure: Run South/South West 50 meters to arrive at a safe location]

"Not recommended?"

Seeing the grade and the probabilities I might-, no. I will lose to it. Wait. I thought. I'm with Garyn's daughter. We need to run.

"An enemy is nearby-!" I yelled, running over to her location,

I tried to grasp her arm, hoping to tug her to safety. But we didn't budge. Confused, I turned around, only to see her cold, angry glare.

"Let go of me!" She slapped me as she tried to shake me off. "You pervert!"

The slap threw me off balance.

[Warning: You received damage. Total vitality left 87%.]

I know she's strong, but that was too much. What did I do to make her angry though? Did she force herself to come to me because I'm pitiful?

[Notice: Fighting is not recommended]

What?

She glared daggers at me. She raised her hands, and the air around me went frigid. Frost began to form around my boots as I tried to escape from the lake.

As I tried cutting myself out, I looked at her, and my blood ran cold.

Her eyes. They had killer intent in them.

[Warning: You have engaged in combat with a higher-ranked opponent.]

[Notice: Fighting is not recommended]

[Alarm: Your Sense stat increased to οη → πγ]

[Fortify Activated]

[Notice: Recommended response: Flash Steps/Wolf Surge]

So the enemy my system detected was her.

"Wait! Time out! Hol' up!" I tried to stop her from killing me. I couldn't fight her 'cause she's Garyn's daughter, and I can't win even if I wanted to. "What's with all this?"

"Your mind shall be purified." She said, drawing her staff, aiming a pretty big fireball at me. "Prepare yourself!"

The fireball came straight my way. Activating Flash Steps, I shattered the ice around me and rolled away just in time to not get toasted.

I ended up a few feet away from each other. We circled each other warily, scanning for opportunities.

"Your thoughts are impure." She spat. "To think that Papa would trust a person like you…"

"Wai-, you, you… saw? You're a psychic?"

The good news is that my defense will probably level up several stages, due to some of the goodies my status sheet uncorked.

The bad news is… I might die first. Help me God, if there is one.

"I-I'm sorry. Please spare this little kid's life." I begged. "Wait, aren't we at the same age?"

I got in close, trying to land a hit, and then make a run for it before she could recover. But before I landed a hit, she vanished into thin air.

"You're pitiful." Her voice rang out from the clearing in the woods. "To think that you're the kid that almost killed a demon wolf."

[Attention: Enemy Bloodlust increased and is already above the safe danger levels.]

[Attention: Enemy skill cast completed. Shelter recommended.]

[Notice: Fighting is not recommended]

[Notice: Calculating approximate damage: νϛ%]

"Hey, can we talk this out-"

"Talk to my fireball!"

We did not talk it out. A fireball the size of a small pick-up truck formed above my head.

I averted my eyes from the green flames, shielding my face from the scorching heat.

I caught her in the corner of my eyes. Her purple eyes shone with a brilliant light, as magic circles began to form in front of her. The air ionized, every muscle in my body tensed, as the sky darkened and the forest went quiet.

"Any last words?"

[Attention: Fortify Activated]

[Attention: Last Stand Activated]

[Notice: Recommended action: Use Flash Steps]

[Warning: Flash Steps Usage failure]

Why now? I have no time to waste.

[Warning: Flash Steps Usage failure]

[Notice: Flash steps were disabled by intense freezing on your feet.]

Shi- I'm gonna die...

[Attention: Due to tension and current enemy actions… You've gained the shadow attribute by proceeding with the required points to follow.]

[Alarm: New Skill Obtained: Shadow Movement]

[Alarm: New Skill Obtained: Shadow Exchange]

[Attention: You leveled up!]

The moment I received the skills I knew that there was a God. God, wherever you are, thank you.

But I didn't have much time to contemplate that, since the fireball came crashing down.

"Shadow movement." I muttered. I didn't wanna scream it out loud, because I'm not a chuunibyou. I don't wanna sound cringey. Can you blame me?

I mean I'm not Goku. I'm not Asta, nor Bakugo. I'm just your friendly neighborhood Zophiel.

My body went cold, and my vision clouded over. My gut froze, and my breath froze completely in my lungs. My sense of gravity distorted, my skin felt tight, and I really, really, wanted to go home.

And just when I thought I died (for the second time),

I bumped into something tangible.

[Attention: Skill Activated (Shadow movement). Mana reduced (λε → κη). Calculating regen time… approximately γ minutes.]

How do I describe this? It's something soft with blue stripes-, is this la romance cliche? Thank you so much, God, now I can die in peace.

"You… Enemy of women!" I fell down on dry soil. Which was weird, since I just came from the lake. Does the new skill enable me to warp through space? "Die!"

"Let me ex-"

"Judgement, befall on you!"

Then a fireball hit me. To be honest, I thought I was a goner.

[Attention: Brace for impact]

The next thing I saw after that was the sky. Already dark, illuminated only by unfamiliar constellations, it greeted me with scattered breezes. I tried to move, but my body didn't respond.

[Warning: Vitality reached danger level, movement isn't possible.]

[Alarm: Your Defense stat increased ξθ → ϙε]

[Alarm: Your Vitality stat increased ρλε → ρξ]

[Attention: You leveled up!]

[Shop System Unlocked!]

[Notice: Recommended action: Buy Healing Potion {Small}]

"Buy... hea...ling… po… tion."

[Notice: this costs ν points {Current: ͵α}. Will you buy it? Y/N]

"Y..."

[Purchase Complete: Applying now.]

[Current points: ϡν]

A tiny blue vial appeared in my hand. Without thinking, I drank it.

It tasted like honeysuckle and mangoes, Once I guzzled it down, the vial vanished.

[Current state: Hurt {Physically}]

[Attention: Current Vitality is still in danger level. Condition: Hurt. Movement is now possible]

My limbs felt lighter, and my body felt cooler. I made my way over to the lake from earlier. I washed my face and drank water. Even if it was dark, I still managed to catch my reflection.

My clothes were singed. My body was covered in soot, and I looked like I came out of the dump truck after it did the thing with the waste and the incinerator.

I groaned and rolled over. Everything still hurt, and I didn't know what to do.

Not knowing what to do, I stumbled home, guided only by starlight and an intense need to rest.

By midnight, I arrived back at Garyn's place.

"What happened?" Garyn asked. We were on the couch. I was showered, in my jammies, and ready to crash once I survived the interrogation.

"Mama didn't raise a snitch."

He set down his mug of chocolate, and stared dead at me, purple eyes flaming up.

"What did you do to my daughter?"

"She attacked me. That's all there was." I took a sip of my chocolate. "Can I get more sugar with this?"

"No. You need to sleep soon." He yawned. "What am I supposed to do with you?"

"I don't know, man."

"Still, you came home half-dead. If you came home a few minutes later…"

"I get your idea. You'll worry and try to find me, inform my parents then dad comes rushing and breaking through… blah, blah, blah." I yawned. "So why didn't you come to get me?"

He ignored the question.

"So, why did it happen?" Garyn took a good look at both of us seriously.

"He's a pervert." She stared daggers into me. I flinched a bit.

"What's a pervert?" I asked. I was 6. This was the time to act like one. I could play the" innocent" card. And so, I used it.

Garyn scratched his head, and looked at me uneasily.

"You know, kids, don't play too much to the point that someone gets hurt." He sighed. "Dismissed. Go to your rooms." He stayed behind, nursing his mug.

"But-!" Kythaela exclaimed.

"I don't wanna hear of this anymore. Get along, preferably before tomorrow, and then we'll continue training. If by tomorrow you two are still like this… then forget about learning."

Kythaela bounced in her chair, casting an angry look in my direction. I pulled my hood over my eyes and twiddled my thumbs.

"Kids these days". He sighed, as he took a long swig. "Where did I go wrong?"

We made our way to our own separate bedrooms. But before I unwinded, Kythaela grabbed my shoulder from behind.

"Kyaa! Pervert!" I mockingly cried out.

"Shut up, if you don't want to be entombed in ice."

"And what do you want from me?" I drew out.

"Just please shut up for once. Jeez, this is why I hate guys."

"Okay, Princess. Is there anything else you desire?"

I tried to play the nice guy for once. Was it my tone that set her off?

Angrily, she slammed the door of her room and then locked it behind her.

"Jeez, such an emo." I sighed, crashing on my bed.

"We'll be right back after this commercial break."

I just let my body sink into my bed. And dreams took hold of me once more.

[Notice: Sleep will explosively increase growth. Sleeping now from current position until the sun rises at 40.5 degrees from the equator will enha-]

But I zoned out before I could read the rest of it. Can you blame me? My body was 6 years old. I had to sleep; I slept.

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