Skill Orb

"What's this?" Said Zephyr as he held it near his face and began to observe it.

It was a transparent orb the size of a teenager's fist, filled with green particles which kept moving.

He narrowed his gaze and his eyes burnt with more curiosity. Xenon's voice rang out.

[That is what you call a skill orb, it contains skills used by the leopard]

"I thought it was supposed to be a skill book"

[Skill books are similar but are mediocre compared to skill orbs]

"Bee-cause?" Zephyr asked with a tone signifying continuation.

[Well, skills are created by using mana in a specific pattern or way]

[These are called 'Elemental-Type skills']

[Whereas, 'Physical skills' also exist as well as 'Transformational skills']

[In any case, after completion, skills are then imprinted onto the nova core]

[Skill books and skill orbs are just extractions of those imprints]

[During the extraction of imprints into skill books, a lot of nova essence is lost with the extracted skill being one rank lower]

[This is the reason why skill books are inferior to skill orbs]

[Skill orbs are able to preserve the skills far better so they don't fall in rank. At times, you may even find two or three skills in a single orb]

"Huh? But that means the problem isn't the product(Skill book), but the extraction process.

[Well...that is correct to an extent]

[A planet's core created skill books while Gaia created skill orbs, they shouldn't be compared]

"Then what was the point of what you just said?"

[You were the one who asked a question]

"Tch, I don't have time to argue with you, just tell me how to use the storage space".

[Aren't you going to use the skill orb]

"Not yet, I need to find shelter first. Staying out in the open like this makes me a rabbit holding gold" Zephyr had grown unknowingly because of the last battle.

His awareness also increased substantially, which was why he knew staying in the open might cause him to encounter another Expert tier beast.

That was what he was actually afraid of.

[Good point, now close your eyes and concentrate]

"Why?"

[Don't you want to use the storage space]

"Then why do I have to close my eyes?"

[I need you to focus, only then will be able to guide your consciousness towards the storage space]

"O-ok then" Zephyr stuttered as he still felt a bit insecure towards Xenon.

It couldn't be helped, for someone who had novels and anime as companions throughout some of his teenage years because of the scornful gazes of his peers, this level of insecurity was not bad, no, in fact it was commendable.

Most NEET's would have been uncomfortable talking to anything that wasn't 2D.

Xenon knew this and replied.

[Always remember that I'm not those people. I'm part of you]

"Yeah, I know" Zephyr said as he closed his eyes and sat in a lotus posture with many things going through his mind as he reminisced on past events.

His past life, then his death to alien invasion and then now. Through it, he realized the difference.

The difference between a nobody and somebody.

His goal was becoming clear to him, but it was abruptly cut short as Xenon's voice was heard.

[I'm done, you should be able to use the storage space easily]

"Then...why didn't I feel anything?"

[You lack proficiency in matters concerning the mind]

[Basically, you're still horribly weak]

"I know that already! You don't have to repeat it!"

[Then, what are you going to do about it?]

INHALE! EXHALE!

Zephyr took a deep breath and slowly pushed down the rising anger as well as the frustration.

As Xenon was essentially part of Zephyr, it understood his feelings more than anyone else, and it was doing it because of that.

His cowardice and incompetence was fully shown when he fought against the leopard.

He also didn't know any way to attack Xenon, so he could only endure.

"Huuu" Zephyr inhaled as he relaxed his mind as he was still sitting in a lotus position with his eyes closed.

Shortly after, his mind instinctively recognized the storage space, and he was able to access it without much difficulty.

At the same time, notifications rang out.

[The 'Storage space' has integrated with the player]

[The player has achieved the 'unprecedented']

[The title "The one who holds space" has been granted to the player]

[The 'Storage space' is unique to the user]

[Additional @##%#%%@#**###@@#%%]

"What the heck? Xenon, what went wrong this time?"

[It seems to be a glitch of some sort. I'll see what I can do]

"OK, how do I put the crystals in the...what did you call it again?"

[An inventory]

[Just touch the crystals and use your mind to think of the inventory you want to put it in]

Zephyr currently held the green skill orb in his hands. He used his consciousness to follow the guided path made by Xenon and projected his intent towards it.

Not long after, he felt the object within his palm disappear and then opened his eyes to confirm. True to it, the orb was now contained in the inventory.

"What about bringing things out?"

[You do it the same way]

"Okay" Zephyr answered but he didn't waste time checking it immediately.

He began transporting the rest of the crystals into the inventory with haste, as the terror of the leopard laid at the back of his mind.

Alas, when we're things ever so easy.

Eighteen-percent of the crystals still remained on the ground when Zephyr's ear picked the sound of a feet stomping heavily, trees breaking and hideous growls.

Zephyr immediately knew that his fears had come true.

A predator similar to leopard in strength was currently heading in his direction.

What it was though, Zephyr didn't have a specific answer yet.

He only knew that it was a mammal that ran on four legs and it wasn't a beast of the cat species because it didn't roar, only growl.

Fear crept up in Zephyr as images of the leopard came to mind.

He looked forward to the direction where the beast was coming from before gazing back at the crystals in his hand.

It was at this moment that a feeling new to Zephyr suddenly bloomed within him. And it was...

Greed

Zephyr was a NEET but he was from a very wealthy family. The scornful gazes from people only pointed out his inferiority, which caused his inferiority complex.

But, there wasn't really anything Zephyr lacked or couldn't have.

He never had to fight for food, clothing or shelter.

To sum it up, he was born with a silver, no, a gold spoon.

This was why the feeling of not wanting to leave the crystals and run was new to him, because he never had anybody who snatched away his things.

Even his parents only ever seized it, and even that was a rare occurrence, and because of this, his natural instincts had been suppressed to a very low state.

After going through the ordeal of an invasion, his repressed instincts had come into light, but not all instincts would appear in all situations.

And now one had appeared, the instinct of greed.

Killing intent suddenly began to waft from Zephyr's body as his eyes were also changing in color, but it stopped when...

[Oi, what do you think you're doing]

[If you keep being overwhelmed by new emotions, you'll definitely die soon]

It was then that Zephyr came back to his senses as the killing intent died off and both his eyes returned to their silver color.

INHALE! EXHALE!

Zephyr took a deep breath as he shook himself out of his reverie and brought his mind back to the task at hand.

He forcefully calmed himself down and pushed his brain into overdrive.

He wasn't mediocre compared to his siblings, but even then, he was a genius in his own right, so he began to weigh gains and losses.

[Weren't you going to become stronger]

[I hope you know cowardice will only lead to death]

[So what will you do now]

Zephyr continued contemplating as his senses were still on edge against the incoming enemy.

The enemy will arrive within a minute.

Now, what would Zephyr do?

Will he flee?

Or

Will he fight?