City of Goblins (In the System Book #1): LitRPG Series Page 2
The events seemed less and less like a dream and more like virtual reality, in the way science fiction authors liked to describe it. Sadly, scientists had never managed to invent those ‘full-immersion capsules’. Like any potential psychopath, I couldn’t accept the possibility of my own madness, just like other, even crazier theories. Let’s not get carried away. Let’s assume that I really will have to fight, and I need to pick the most useful skill right now. Of course, I would have preferred a firearm, but there were no range weapons in the list. There was magic, however...
Minor magical ability
Rank: F.
Level: 1/5.
Type: Characteristic.
Description:
— Uncovers the Wisdom parameter (86%) +1 point.
— Instills the basics of magical ability, however, you will need to go a long way before you can gain some benefit from it.
The first thing I noticed that it was a characteristic and not a skill. Basically, it was a way to gain a ninth parameter. As the help showed, the numbers in brackets that kept popping up were the ‘match value of the term’. It seemed that Wisdom was responsible for magical abilities, while the term itself was taken from a game and reflected the matter quite closely. For those 86%.
What idiot would say no to magic? But something stopped me from acting rashly. Was it really the best option? Could it be a trick? For example, there was no guarantee that there would be combat spells available. Or if there were, that they would be strong enough. Everyone had at least a vague idea of how to use a sword, but what about magic? Not even magic but something similar to this term? It’s quite an ill-defined notion in Earth’s culture. I started at the table, deep in thought, looking for a hint.
Attention (Intuition)! Existing combat skills are insufficient. The characteristic is not recommended as the first choice.
Aha! Looked like it was a bad idea. The hint actually gave me more than it seemed at first glance. If magic wasn’t recommended as the first choice, did it mean that there would be opportunities to obtain it later? I hoped so. I couldn’t see any classes here, so I shouldn’t hurry and follow clichés. Let’s go over it all again...
Why is it here at all, if it’s not recommended? As a trick? Or is it simply an option for those who are already masters of combat? Or professional soldiers at the least? Whatever, what’s next on the list?
Sword fighting
Rank: F.
Level: 1/5.
Type: skill.
Description:
— Teaches one how to use a sword.
— Slightly adjusts the body for the chosen weapon type.
I scanned the list of other skills. They were surprisingly repetitive, with the only difference being the kind of weapon I’d learn to use. I had the same problem here as with magic. I had to hope that I would be given a weapon later on, otherwise I’d have to choose hand-to-hand combat. Since magic was not recommended...
Attention (Intuition)! The characteristic is not recommended as the first choice.
Or not. These types of hints appeared with a delay, almost reluctantly. But nothing of the sort appeared when I looked at the weapon skills. Therefore, it made sense to assume that I’d be given a weapon. Let’s stick with that. Otherwise, I could end up being too clever for my own good.
Attention! If you do not make a selection in 5 minutes, the skill will be chosen randomly.
(300… 299… 298…)
Yet another timer forcing me to hurry. Grr... What was the point? Well, five minutes was quite enough to review my options again. Especially since the timer seemed to apply to choosing a skill and not as an overall limit.
The choice of optimal weapon usually depended on the balance stipulated by game developers, which could be completely different from real life. Since I had no other options, I decided to base my decisions on reality. As much as I could, really, considering that my knowledge of medieval weapons was mostly theoretical. It was based on books, films, and games, of course...
Alright, let’s start again. The sword is the ‘king of weapons’ and seems like the obvious choice. I’m sure that most players, who don’t pick magic, will pick a sword. Whether this is the right decision will largely depend on opponents. For example, what am I going to do with a sword if I have to fight against wild animals? Such as a bear? Plus, a sword is quite a broad term. It can be two-handed, one-handed or even a mix of the two, a bastard sword. It could have a variety of sizes, weights and shapes of the blade and cross guard. And this variety is not just for fun, each option is designed for a particular situation and a particular opponent. Still, it wasn’t a bad option.
Magic. Let’s go over it again. I would have to be guided by common sense and guesses rather than facts. I didn’t need to mention how ‘strong’ it was in real life, but it was endlessly popular in gaming. Mages are usually powerful in later stages of the game, but have difficulty leveling up and are weaker than fighters at the beginning. And there was no guarantee that I would be given combat spells. Should I ignore the warning? No, if I was sure that I’d have access to magic only at the start, I’d have done so, but... For some reason, this time I was certain that I would get another chance.
Daggers? Not a serious weapon. They’re too short and are only good against an unarmed opponent. It’s more of an accessory weapon. To finish off a wounded enemy, to slice some bread... I discarded the idea.
Axe... Not only a weapon but also a useful tool. However, it’s almost impossible to block attacks with an axe and it requires a shield to go with it, or better yet, a full suit of armor.
Mace... Worse than an axe in many ways, although it has its pluses. It’s unlikely to get stuck in an opponent’s corpse. And there’d be less blood. In the Middle Ages, warrior monks had used blunt weapons specifically to circumvent the religious ban on spilling blood. Not that I had taken such vows, so I might as well look for something else.
I glanced down the list and stopped at the next item.
Spear fighting
Rank: F.
Level: 1/5.
Type: skill.
Characteristics:
— Teaches one how to use a spear.
— Slightly adjusts the body for the chosen weapon type.
Not the most obvious option but probably the most universal. I had no idea whom I’d have to fight against, while a spear was suitable against both animals and humans. The main advantage, and simultaneously, the disadvantage, was the weapon’s length. It limited its use indoors and at close range, but enabled one to keep an opponent some distance away and, in most cases, to land the first blow. In a bout between a swordsman and a spear fighter, with no armor and roughly equal skill, I would probably place my bets on the latter.
In addition, if I wasn’t issued a spear after all, I’d be able to make a primitive one myself. If the location allowed me to find a stick, of course.
(23…22…21…)
Time was slipping away and I couldn’t put my decision off any longer.
Attention! Do you wish to study the skill ‘Spear fighting’?
Yes/No?
Reconfiguring.
As soon as I made my choice, the world seemed to explode and unfamiliar knowledge poured into my brain. The foundations... Types of spears, stances, how to correctly hold, thrust and slash, how to care for the weapon. Having obtained the basics, I followed my intuition and focused my attention on one of the memories, in which a young warrior skillfully used an infantry spear. It was two-meters long, with a wide blade that allowed him to stab and slash. It wasn’t created for fighting in formation, it was a loner’s weapon. As soon as I concentrated on the image, the flow of memories changed, focusing on this type of spear in particular. It was as if I had gone through many months or even years of training in those short moments.
The ‘teachers’ passed by in quick succession, but their opponents remained only blurred silhouettes. Shadows. The picture gradually dulled and began to fade, indicating that the course was coming to an end. I felt disappointment, as if there was something missing. Something important for my... survival? I needed... I needed more. If I would be forced to kill, I needed more than bare theory.
Attention! Checking access rights of (Eighth)... Approved. Censorship (51%) has been removed!
What bloody censorship? The picture grew brighter again and shimmered as scenes of battle appeared. The opponents became flesh and blood, and new knowledge flooded into me, albeit of a different kind. How it feels when a weapon plunges into flesh, pleas for mercy and the splash of blood on the face. The shock of the first kill, replaced by the indifference of a hardened professional. And corpses, corpses, corpses. Mainly human, but there were other creatures whose names I didn’t know. One who wants to live needs to be able to kill. It was not my thought but it felt so right.
* * *
“Damn.” I came to, lying on the floor and struggling to catch my breath. I had a body again. I tried to remember the last battle scenes, but the faces of those killed were blurry as if decades had passed, and evoked no strong emotions. My cramped muscles were gradually relaxing. The very same muscles that I needed for spear fighting, and many of which I hadn’t used since birth. The stone floor wasn’t especially cold but I knew that such sensations could be misleading and made myself get up. It seemed that I had been lying here for quite some time.
I was right. No matter what this was, it felt nothing like a dream. Such dreams didn’t exist – everything was too realistic, my thoughts were too clear, everything was just... too much! I wasn’t wearing any clothes, which I could consider as indirect evidence that I had landed here straight from my warm bed, since I normally slept naked. My own body looked utterly familiar, including the moles, scars and even dental fillings. I pinched myself, already knowing th
e result. It hurt.
“Looks like I’m here in the flesh,” I muttered just to hear my own voice. “The question is, where is ‘here’?”
A chill ran down my spine, intermingled with anticipatory fear. It looked like this would be interesting, at the least. Not the cleverest and in many ways, artificial thought, but right now, it kept the panic at bay. If life had taught me anything, it was to keep myself under control in critical situations.
I was in a strange room of around ten by ten meters, with a slightly glowing ceiling and a single set of doors. Or perhaps they should have been called ‘gates’, for doors seemed too trivial a name for them, stone-bound and decorated with an ornament, even if they were a bit small. I hoped it was a real exit and not some sort of fresco.
The temperature was rather comfortable and I had enough air, although I couldn’t see any source of ventilation. There was nothing in my memories to tell me how I’d gotten here. The last thing I remembered was coming home and crashing into bed. I could have had a memory blackout, but it seemed unlikely...
“Fine,” I licked my dry lips. If I couldn’t get out of here, I didn’t know what would kill me first: a lack of air, thirst or fear.
I was forced to console myself with the thought that if someone had cast me into this room, it was unlikely so I could die in here needlessly. I had to keep going, especially as the route was clear. And no, I didn’t mean the gates. A semitransparent bag hung in the air nearby. So, this was virtual reality, after all? My whole life experience contradicted the facts, so I couldn’t quite puzzle it out. It was pointless to keep guessing, but if this wasn’t a hint, then I knew nothing about games. As soon as I touched the strap, the bag became solid and dropped over my shoulder. It didn’t feel too heavy but it certainly wasn’t empty.
Bottomless bag
Class: F.
Status: System artifact.
Description:
— Bag for a beginner. Part of a basic kit issued to all players.
Properties:
— Allows system items to be carried between locations (83%). Items not belonging to the System will disappear on transfer.
— Conceals the size.
— Reduces the weight of stored items tenfold.
— Slightly slows down spoilage of stored items.
— Scalability (1/7). Can be improved by combining with other identical items.
The help worked in the ‘real world’ too, and the descriptions were quite helpful this time. I tipped the bag upside down and spilt its contents onto the floor. Bingo! A pile of clothing, underwear, boots, a flask of water. I screwed the cap back on. Judging by the smell, all these goodies hadn’t appeared out of thin air but had been lying in storage for many years.
Remembering the System’s love of timers, I tried to get dressed as quickly as possible. As I did, I tried to examine the items I’d been given, but the clothing was very simple with a paramilitary style. Pants, shirt, a jacket with pockets for... armor plates? It reminded me of a bulletproof vest. The clothing was free size and was easily adjusted to fit me using archaic belts and ropes. The boots were a little big but fitted fine with foot wrappings. I hopped on the spot, noting that the outfit was surprisingly comfortable.
Although the flask was silver, the water inside wasn’t of great quality, stale but still drinkable. I hoped so, at least. I rinsed out my month, put it back in the bag and finally noticed a small steel plate with an image of a spear on it.
Execute initial activation of the Weapon Card?
Yes/No?
Yes. Images of different types of spears appeared in my head, as if inviting me to choose. Long and short, throwing spears and cavalry spears, they zoomed through my mind in endless succession. I focused, trying to imagine the right type, since I doubted that I would be given a choice every time. A beam of light finally shot out of the card, which formed into a spear.
“Damn it,” I muttered, grabbing the shaft. “Life didn’t prepare me for this.”
The spear was around two meters in length, and made from a type of hardwood. The wide, leaf-shaped tip could be used to slash and stab. Yari? Bear spear? I had trouble with the classification but it was the exact type of spear that I had focused on during my skill training. It was exactly what I wanted to get. Apart from a machine gun, of course.
System Spear
Rank: F.
Material: gun steel, unknown wood.
Length: 2 m.
Weight: 3 kg.
Description:
— System Weapon. Enables the owner to absorb 40% of the spiritual and life force of the victim.
So, what could I tell from all this? Firstly, there were no damage indicators typical of games. Secondly, the weapon was of high quality, but I doubted that I was its first owner. There were slight scuffs on the shaft, dark spots and fine scratches on the blade... The spear had clearly been used long and hard.
I looked at the card again. It had changed after activation and was now showing the exact spear I held in my hands and not some abstract one. The card itself now looked faded. I immediately wondered if I could return the weapon. The answer was simple. As soon as I touched the spear to the card and made a wish, it instantly turned into a beam of light and disappeared inside, while the card regained its colors. Here and now, alongside everything else, this seemed quite normal. Also, I tried to guess the size of the ‘armor plate’ pockets in my jacket and found to my surprise that they matched the dimensions of the card.
I recalled the weapon and made a couple of practice moves. The spear felt perfect in my hand, as if I had spent a long time mastering the craft. Or was it just a skill for now? I tried a spin but it wasn’t too impressive – my new-found mastery didn’t extend to such tricks. There weren’t many moves but they were extremely practical. The level of a soldier from the Middle Ages rather than a Shaolin monk. Save one’s strength, don’t leave oneself open and, whenever possible, land the first blow. Not necessarily a mortal one, for even a superficial wound sharply reduced an enemy’s fighting ability. Pure pragmatism...
I suddenly felt a mild alarm but didn’t understand the reason at once. There wasn’t a clear warning this time, but somewhere at the edge of my consciousness, an invisible timer was counting down the last few minutes given for preparation.
(2:34… 2:33… 2:31)
I wasn’t going to check what a delay would entail. I returned the weapon to the card, slid it into a pocket on my chest, slung the bag over my shoulder and headed to the one and only ‘door’. If this was a dream, I would believe it once I woke up. If this was virtual reality, then, considering the lack of such technology on my home planet, I would probably wake up in the tender tentacles of some aliens. Well, if this was something else... At some point, the situation would become clear. There was no point in torturing myself with doubts, I needed more facts.