Getting Your Feet Wet
"Phew...home sweet home..." muttered Vahn, the words bringing a smile to his lips as he looked around his hotel room before hanging up his uniforms and promptly plopping face down on his bed. Someone had made it while he was away, but that was apparently normal unless he informed the staff not to.
(Good night, Vahn...) said Sis, her voice gentle as Vahn's consciousness slowly slipped away. It was only 2:17 PM, but since he had been up since the previous evening and had never met and interacted with so many new and interesting people before, he was thoroughly exhausted. It wasn't like the usual exhaustion, though. It was soothing, pleasant even...
As the last vestiges of Vahn's consciousness slipped away, replaced by a dreamless slumber, a figure with crimson hair briefly appeared in his mind. He had developed crushes on several female characters in the anime and manga he had seen and read, but meeting Rias had awakened Vahn to the realization that he may actually be able to get a real girlfriend someday. It probably wouldn't be Rias, as she was a super high-ranking Noble, but he was certain there was at least one person within the limitless Records just for him...
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After rousing from his slumber, Vahn checked the time to find it was 8:43 PM, meaning he had slept a little over six hours. He expected to sleep at least ten, but since he awoke feeling completely refreshed, he decided to get up and pick up where he left off the previous night.
"Okay, I'm ready," affirmed Vahn, sporting all his equipment, including his Legendary Spear. In response, he felt a tugging sensation as his vision briefly zoomed in on a single point before expanding outward, his view of his bathroom mirror replaced by a dimly lit chamber of stone with a single direction for him to head.
"This is the Corridor of Intertwined Fates...?" asked Vahn, swiveling his head and body to take in his surroundings. The room he was in appeared to be a cube roughly five meters in all directions, and the only observable light source was a blue-green glow flecking the floor, ground, and ceiling, which, upon closer inspection, were revealed to be tiny crystals.
(More accurately, it is the Starting Point of the Inner Sanctum's First Strata.) stated Sis, further explaining (Monsters cannot cross over the threshold separating this place from the stratum beyond, and you'll need to return here or find a checkpoint when you're prepared to return.)
"That's really useful information..." Vahn noted. "Is there anything else I should know before leaving this room?"
(Yes. As this world ultimately exists within yourself, you will not perish even if you sustain serious injuries or fall in battle.) explained Sis. (But that does not mean it is completely safe. The pain from those wounds is very real, and the trauma of sustaining a critical injury or perishing could result in a mental shutdown. Please keep that in mind if you invite others here in the future.)
Surprised by Sis's final words, Vahn raised his brows and asked, "Other people can enter this place?"
(Indeed.) confirmed Sis. (An important part of growing stronger is forming bonds with others. You may even encounter regions or special areas that can only be accessed by having a certain number of people present or fulfilling certain conditions. And as you grow and mature as a person, the structure of this place will change alongside you.)
"Now I'm even more excited..." contended Vahn, his voice a little shaky and his body trembling from its core as he advanced toward the only passage leading away from the chamber. It was long and dark, but there was a bright green light at its end, giving him the courage to keep moving forward. What awaited him when he reached the end left him speechless as he was in a lush forest with a clearly denoted path laid out like spaces on a grid.
Noticing something in the corner of his eye, Vahn looked over to find what appeared to be a large, semi-spherical mound of bright blue jello, a meter across and with a grapefruit-sized sphere suspended near its center.
Confirming Vahn's suspicions, Sis revealed (That's a Slime, the lowest-ranking monster in the First Stratum. As for why it's currently sitting still, it's due to the Laws regulating this place. Due to your lack of confidence, enemies can only move when you or someone else takes action, so if you find yourself weary after a difficult fight, staying put functionally prevents time from advancing.)
"That's...incredibly useful..." expressed Vahn. He couldn't help feeling it wasn't fair to the monsters, but since he wasn't in a hurry to experience pain or be overwhelmed, the restriction gave him time to ease into things.
Putting Sis's explanation to the test, Vahn tentatively stepped onto a new grid space. The moment he did so, the Slime bounced forward precisely one space, clearly moving in his direction but waiting patiently for him to make the first move.
"If it's like this, couldn't I use a bow or a gun to eliminate enemies from afar?" asked Vahn.
(It is indeed possible.) confirmed Sis. (However, most monsters would take more than one bullet or arrow to eliminate. And the moment you take action, the monsters will begin to advance in six-second intervals or when you move to a new space.)
"Then let's try this," said Vahn, inverting his hold on his Legendary Spear, hefting it over his shoulder, and then hurling it like a javelin thrower at the Slime, positioned eight grid spaces, or approximately twelve meters away. The average Power and Proficiency of an adult human was apparently ten and fourteen, so he was curious to see the effects of his Legendary Spear boosting his Proficiency to twenty-nine.
Seeing his spear impact and sink deep into the Slime's gelatinous mass, Vahn's expression lit up. Unfortunately, while he had struck his target, he would ostensibly need to destroy the sphere suspended within the Slime as it promptly bounced forward, waiting for his next move. At least, that's what he assumed before it bounced forward a second time a few seconds later.
(As I mentioned moments ago, monsters will take action in six-second intervals after engaging them.) stated Sis. Vahn's cheeks warmed when he heard this, but since it would take the Slime more than thirty seconds to reach him, he had plenty of time to collect him, extend his right hand, and mentally recall the Legendary Spear to it using his [Returning] effect of his [Bracelets of Dominion].
Instead of throwing the spear a second time, Vahn lowered himself into the stance recorded in his mind. Sis had advised that he purchase a few technical manuals regarding martial arts and spearmanship, and since his brain could eventually automatically store the information of books placed into his Inventory, the forms appeared in his mind the moment he thought about them. They were unfamiliar to him and would require much practice to develop into muscle memory or a Skill, but were it not for the existence of such information, he wouldn't have known how to hurl the spear or take a proper stance.
Waiting until the Slime was within range, Vahn slid his left foot forward, shifting his weight, and executed the most rudimentary forward thrust. The tip of his spear entered seamlessly into the Slime's body, but due to its momentum disturbing the interior tension of the gelatinous creature's body, the core was pushed out of the way.
Reacting quickly, Vahn retracted his spear and shifted back several steps to evade its counter. It was still only taking action every six seconds, so if he timed his attacks and evaded within that window, he should be able to dart in and out without risk of injury.
Catching Vahn by surprise, the surface of the Slime's body rippled before it shot out a pressurized stream of frigid water, impacting the center of his chest and causing him to stumble and roll backward two grid spaces. The unanticipated impact left his heart pounding in his ears, but he was even more surprised to realize he wasn't in pain, allowing him to hastily clamor to his feet as Sis explained (Most of the monsters you encounter on this level are F-Rank with stats comparable to an ordinary human's. With your equipment being B-Rank and granting you a 40% Resistance to Water, you have little to fear from a Slime.)
"Well, that's convenient...!" exclaimed Vahn, his expression determined as he lunged forward, intercepting the Slime's bouncing tackle by slashing at it as he evaded to the side. The tip of his spear was shaped like a gladius, so he was able to leave a large gash in the Slime's body, causing it to stop for a moment after landing. Vahn noticed this but assumed he only had six seconds to act, time he used to stab the Slime's body three times, striking and fragmenting its core with the final stab.
Proving that the sphere floating within it was, in fact, its weakness, the Slime's body lost its integrity, deflating rapidly and releasing what looked like water that spread out in a large puddle before it abruptly burst apart into motes of vibrant blue light.
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Acquired 17 OP for defeating a Blue Slime(F-Rank)
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Though startled by the sudden notification, Vahn couldn't help smiling at the realization that he had actually defeated a monster. It may have been the weakest monster, and his equipment undoubtedly gave him a massive advantage, but it was a significant step forward toward his tertiary goal of becoming like the protagonists he idolized in anime and manga.
(And there's no need to rush things.) said Sis, revealing (The flow of time within the Corridor is much slower than outside, and the potency of this dilation grows stronger as you descend. On this level, time passes at a rate of six-to-one. In other words, you could spend six hours here and only an hour would pass outside.)
Doing the math in his head, Vahn noted, "So even if I only use this place at night...that gives me twelve full days to train before the term starts on the 1st. And if I remain in here the entire time, that's like a full month...this place keeps getting more and more amazing..."
(It's because there are entities within this Record that could present a serious threat to you.) explained Sis. (You've already experienced it, but to many, you are an anomalous element and a potential threat. Even if you wish to live a normal life, there will always be those like the scientists and politicians in your past life, people who seek to make use of you to further their aspirations or line their pockets...)
"Does that include people like Sona and Rias...?" asked Vahn, a glimmer of hurt marring his expression.
(Based on their efforts to recruit you, it can be inferred that is the case.) affirmed Sis, causing Vahn's expression to turn sullen until she appended (But I do not believe either harbors malicious intentions. That Rias girl, in particular, seems to have taken a genuine interest in you.)
"What do you mean...?" asked Vahn.
(I do not have enough data to speak with absolute certainty, but when she asked you to become her Knight, she seemed genuinely enthused by the prospect. There was even a hint of affection in her gaze, but whether that was the result of romantic intrigue or simply because she found your innocence refreshingly amusing is something that can only be ascertained with time.) explained Sis.
"You're saying she might like me? Like...like like...?" asked Vahn, his brows raised and eyes widened in disbelief.
(At the very least, she has taken an interest in you.) answered Sis. (It will take time to nourish deeper sentiments, but since you acquiesced to joining the Occult Research Club, you will have the time and opportunity to grow closer. Just keep in mind that if you wish to pursue a relationship with her, it will likely involve siding with the Devils in any future conflicts.)
"Oh, yeah..." muttered Vahn, the excitement swelling within him promptly settling. Based on his interactions with Sona, her presumed Peerage, and Rias, he could surmise that Devils weren't inherently evil. However, there had to be a reason they needed a combat-oriented group like Peerage, so if he was serious about exploring the unfamiliar and exhilarating feeling he experienced when first meeting Rias, he would very likely need to fight for them...for her...
'My heart...it's racing...' noted Vahn, shifting his spear to his left hand and reaching up to touch his chest with his right. At the same time, he couldn't help recalling the memory of Rias supporting and caressing his arm or the feeling of his hand resting against her incredibly soft and warm breasts. It took until that exact moment to realize it, but he had accumulated some pretty remarkable experiences during his inaugural visit to Kuoh Academy. At the very least, enough that he was greatly looking forward to his next...
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