Those Left Behind (2)

I followed Michelle under the night sky. Since it was about 7 P.M., the streetlights were on, illuminating the dark streets. People here and there could be seen walking, going about their own business, but once they saw me, they quickly avoided my gaze and left in a hurry.

"… I guess being the sole and suspect really made people anxious around me."

"Well, yeah… If I didn't know the circumstance around it, I would probably avoid you too."

Any normal person would avoid me if they knew I was indirectly a part of a mass disappearance, which I am currently. We talked while we walked… Things about what I thought about some students, what I was doing during the incident, etc. Everything regarding the incident, Michelle asked for my input. Of course, I answered honestly because specifically, there was nothing to lie about. And even though I am a loner, I was a kind of loner who had no problems talking and socializing with people, just the type to avoid it.

"We're here…"

Just when she finished asking me about her questions, we arrived at a building. The building was in a clean state, which told me how the owner of this building takes care of this place. Above the door was a sign saying 'Welcome'.

"What is this place?"

"A bar."

"… Excuse me…?"

"This is a bar."

"…"

I was stupefied at this sudden revelation. This girl, who had muscle for brains and always acted innocent in the university, actually frequents a bar? I stared at her just in case she was actually lying, but she just brushed it off.

"Yeah, you weren't the only one who had that kind of expression when I first introduced them to this place."

With a retort, she unhesitatingly entered the bar. I followed course, and found myself inside a tidy room with round tables scattered cleanly inside. Some people were enjoying drinks, while others were just busy talking with each other, well, until I showed up.

The room went silent and most of the gazes went to my direction.

'Well this sucks…'

Some people were staring daggers at me like they wanted to kill me. Thankfully, they had their rationality holding them back, except for the drunks that is…

"YOUUU!!!!"

One man in particular rushed towards me as he held a wine bottle in his hand.

"I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOUUUU!!!"

With his rationality gone, as well as the unperturbed hatred in his eyes for me, he had no qualms with attacking an 18 year old with intent to kill. The shout startled most people in the room, including Michelle, but not me.

'Guess this is what happens when someone hates you to death.'

"GIVE ME BACK MY DAUGHTERR!!!"

With one swift, but messy move, he brought his bottle up high and swung it down on me. Even so, I didn't just stay put as I saw the swing hurling down on me. I leaned my whole body back and dodged the swing, while the man lost his balance and crashed to the floor, his red face indicating his either drunken state or rage and embarrassment.

"HEY!!! NO FIGHTING INSIDE!!!"

Once the commotion was known, the owner, or barkeep, rushed towards the man on the ground, picked him up, then threw him out.

"…"

Me, speechless at the sudden display of something from a novel, looked to the man who threw the man out. He had a tanned body, black hair, and burly chest. He was a head taller than me, who was 168 cm, and had a menacing look on his face.

"And you…"

With a voice as deep as the sea, I sensed some hostility being directed at me. His eyes looked like they were looking at something less than trash.

"… If you cause trouble, then you're permanently banned from this shop, got it?"

"… Yes, sir…"

I had no other choice but to nod my head in agreement at the menacing aura he had. Once his business was done, he went back behind the counter and continued taking orders.

"…"

"… Ren, don't let it get to you."

"…"

Realizing the attempt Michelle did to cheer me up, I turned my eyes to her and nodded, although it had no effect.

"Alright, you see those four people there at the back? Those are them."

"… Are you serious?"

"Yes I am…"

The four staying at the corner of the bar farthest from the door, were those who I knew very well.

"Damn it, are you a prostitute?"

"Hell no!!"

She ushered a silent scream at her rejection of such a thought.

"Anyway, they are the only 4 who were not included in the disappearance."

"Well of course they wouldn't. They're not even at school during lunch time."

The 4 people Michelle was talking about were the worst of the worst delinquents of the university. The 4 who had so much money that even the school bows before them. The 4 who can get their pick on any girl they like just because they were loaded, those types of guys.

"Screw you. I'm not going anywhere near them."

"Just hear them out for a minute."

"No means no."

With a threatening voice, I turned around and left the bar. I was not going to get myself involved in those 4 again. Last time that happened, I was sent to the hospital and lived there for a month.

"Time to go back, I need to find out how to use my powers properly."

When I got back to my apartment, I washed the dishes, went into my room and checked my Status Card once again.

Name: Ren Cruz

Age: 18

Gender: Male

Class: N/A = LVL 1

Titles: [Loner] [Invitee That Has Declined]

HP: 1050/1050 (50+1000)

MP: 26957/27025 (25+25000+2000)

STR: 212 (12+200)

AGI: 209 (9+200) 210 (10 + 200)

INT: 712 (12 + 500+200)

WIS: 215 (15+200)

VIT: 210 (10+200)

Skills: [Space-Time Magic Lv. 1]

When I opened my Status Card, I was greeted by something unexpected.

'My AGI increased? But for what reason?'

Since I was still confused about what this acronyms mean, I didn't quite understand what it signifies.

'Ah right, I forgot that I can check what the keywords mean in Status Card…'

Name – Name of user

Age – Age of user

Gender – Sex of user

Class – User's class. Identifies what specific stat will be increased upon leveling up and determines what skill the user can and cannot learn.

Titles – User's gained merits. Titles gives specific bonuses based on merits.

HP – Health Points. The user's life force measured in numbers. Once HP reaches 0, the user dies.

MP – Mana Points. The user's Mana capacity measured in numbers. Using magic and specific active skills consumes MP. Low current MP can cause side-effects like dizziness, vomiting, light-headedness, fainting, weakening, etc.

STR – Strength. The user's body power measured in numbers. STR strengthens the body, making it durable against physical attacks. STR also determines capable body output in force.

AGI – Agility. The user's body swiftness and control in number. AGI increases body memorizing capabilities, as well as speed output.

INT – Intelligence. The user's magic capability measured in numbers. INT increases magic output and magic control.

WIS – Wisdom. The user's brain capability measured in numbers. WIS increases mind memorization and critical thinking.

VIT – Vitality. The user's rate of regeneration and resistance against diseases measured in numbers. VIT strengthens the immunity system, organs, blood, cells, and tissues.

Skills – The user's learned magic, active skills, and passive skills.

'Ohhh… Thanks to this, I can finally figure out which is which.'

Basically, STR is how much can your body defend and output force, AGI is your control and speed, INT is your magic capabilities, WIS is your brain power(IQ), and VIT is the bodies antivirus, as well as strengthener.

'I need to check how strong I am based on this numbers…'

I went outside and saw the dark sky littered with stars. Since it was about 8:00 PM already, there were less people outside. I looked for rocks and gathered them up in one place, from smallest to biggest. I even surprised myself by lifting a 15 Kg rock with one hand without difficulty.

Once that was done, I picked up the smallest rock the size of the pebble and held it in my hand.

'Here goes nothing…'

Then I squeezed it hard. The rock in my hand disintegrated into dust and fell out of my palm.

"…"

I went speechless. Of course, crushing a pebble with my hand wasn't an uncommon thing for me, but for it to turn into dust, just what kind of force did my body output to turn a rock hard pebble into dust?

My gazes turned to the next rock with higher expectations. The rock this time was the size of my hand. The same as I did with the pebble, I squeezed it hard. The next thing that happened surprised the living daylights out of me.

The rock burst into pieces as it landed on the ground. My eyes, wide as a saucer just kept on staring at the broken rock pieces. My corners of my lips twitched and began to rise, while my heart beat faster.

The next rock I looked at was the 15 Kg rock I had no problem carrying with one hand.

'… What if I punch this rock…'

A scary thought to regular people emerged in my head. Normal people wouldn't try to do it lest they want to get their hands broken.

I placed the rock on the ground and situated my fist on top of it. Since the rock was on the ground, my posture was that of kneeling. One my stance was ready with one swift movement I raised my fist and brought it down, smashing it on the poor rock.

The rock smashed, scattered into pieces, but my hand didn't stop there. It went straight on the ground and made loud impact. When I lifted my hand up, what I saw was the smashed rock, and a hand imprint on the ground. The most surprising thing was that my hand was unscathed and not in any pain.

"Ha… Haha…"

I couldn't help but stifle a chuckle at this unimaginable situation.

'Good thing I did it in an isolated alley.'

Who knows what would happen if they saw me smashing a huge rock and leaving an imprint of a fist on the cement with just one punch.

But I also realized one more thing.

'My fist was too fast.'

The fist I used to punch the rock was a blur in my head. It just happened too fast for my current eyes to catch up.

'Aren't I a superhuman already?'

Super strength, super speed, super endurance, and space-time manipulation, heck, I don't even know if that is superhuman or just plain alien.

While I was in contemplation, I heard a rustle behind. I quickly turned around and saw a cat just walking around.

"… Damn it…"

Because I was lost in observation as well as excitement, I lost sight of my surroundings, as well as my time.

'I need to go back… I'll continue this tomorrow.'

It was getting pretty late, so I went back to my apartment, but when I arrived, Michelle greeted me with urgent news.

"REN!! THE 4 DELINQUENTS WERE KIDNAPPED!!"