Name:

Jarek

Level:

18

HP:

28/28

Physical Defense:

16 (+4)

Strength:

20 (+2)

Mental Power:

11

Dexterity:

10

Agility:

10 (+4)

Perception:

20

Mana Pool:

41 (+1)

Mana Regeneration:

20 (+1)

Available Points:

0

Coins:

0

Class:

Mana Modulator (D-rank)

Profession:

Rune Master

(E-rank)

Titles:

Skills and Spells:

Identify (E-rank)

Mana Modulation (D-rank Core)

Death’s Defier (A-rank)

Mana Sensing (E-rank)

Affinities:

Internal Mana (D-rank Low), External Unattributed Mana (E-rank Low)

Equipment:

Mana-infused Knife (F-rank): +1 Mana Pool, +1 Mana regen.

Orc Helmet (F-rank): +2 Physical Defense

Orc Breastplate (F-rank): +2 Physical Defense

Orc Boots (F-rank): +2 Agility

Orlan Blade (E-rank): +2 Strength, +2 Agility

Interdimensional Pouch (E-rank):

As the auction wrapped up, I tried to process everything I had gained. Most notably, I now had a profession and the tools to develop it. I had four rune pattern blueprints:

Durability Rune Pattern Blueprint (F-rank): Necessary to create a Durability Rune Pattern (F-rank). When complete, the Durability Rune Pattern increases an item’s durability. Equipped items with the Durability Rune Pattern add +2 to the owner’s Physical Defense.

Strength Rune Pattern Blueprint (F-rank): Necessary to create a Strength Rune Pattern (F-rank). When complete and equipped, adds +2 to the owner’s Strength.

Proximity Ward Blueprint (F-rank): Necessary to create a Proximity Ward (F-rank). When complete, alerts the owner of any approaching beings within a 10 yard radius.

Interdimensional Pouch Rune Pattern Blueprint (E-rank): When complete, turns a pouch into an Interdimensional Pouch (E-rank). Creates a weightless interior space of 5x5x5 feet.

In addition to the blueprints, I had bought as many sets of materials to complete each item as possible.

Fortunately, materials were far cheaper than blueprints and professions. I had Stilwark Leather for Interdimensional Pouches, Reinforced Granite tiles for Proximity Wards, and Mana Beads for the Strength Rune Pattern and the Durability Rune Pattern. Since I would be turning the leather into pouches, Samantha also had me buy a needle made of an E-rank metal and a spool of very sturdy thread.

On top of all this, Samantha had me spend down to my last coin on what she called essential goods—a water flask that would refill itself every 24 hours, a compass that would point to the nearest town, a mana-based lighter, and so on.

“And with that, ladies and gentlemen,” Mrinda said, flapping his translucent wings in excitement, “We will conclude the Atropos Schema Hard-mode Tutorial Auction! Don’t forget to reach out to me at the Merchants’ Faction if you need anything in the future. I believe you all have a planet to defend, so farewell, my friends!” Mrinda smiled at everyone, and then in a flash, the world around me disappeared.

I reappeared standing on top of my bed in my small apartment in L.A.

I stood motionless for a moment, taking everything in.

I had been thinking, hoping, this whole time that everything was just a dream. But here I was, back in my room, fully decked out in armor, with a sword in one hand and a knife in the other.

If this was a dream, then it was a hell of a long nightmare.

Glancing around my room, I could immediately tell that something was wrong. There were small differences. My tv was gone. My laptop was gone. Even the lightbulbs were gone. The walls were slightly cracked, and several books had fallen out of my bookshelf, lying half-open on the floor. The only light present came from the sunlight streaming through the narrow window in my apartment.

At first, I thought someone had robbed me. But most of the room looked completely untouched.

Samantha? Why does everything look different?

Samantha said, with her all-too-familiar, fake-positive tone.

How—how is that even possible? And why would the Atropos Schema care?

Samantha sighed.

I didn't sit down. I started pacing, back and forth, from my desk--missing my computer--to my living room, where my mounted TV should be. My TV and my computer, both the most expensive things in my apartment, the only two things I had ever splurged on in my life, were gone.

Samantha, of course, continued as though this were par for the course.

That still makes no sense, I thought back. As usual, Samantha was quick to move on to her next topic—Luck—but I was still caught up on losing technology. I’m sure you can do the exact same things using mana or modern technology. Right? Why bother removing our technology?

It took me a moment to fully focus on what Samantha was saying, and then something clicked.

Is that how your vial was placed in the tutorial?

They live in Boston, Massachusetts, I thought back, despondently. The other side of the country. My priorities have been straight this whole time. No planes, no trains, no cars--how the hell am I supposed to get to Boston?

I wanted to punch a wall, but Samantha had mentioned “monsters entering your world” a dozen times already. I couldn’t see or hear any monsters yet, but that didn’t mean they weren’t around. I wouldn’t mind punching a monster right now, actually. But I didn’t want to follow Samantha’s combat shadow.

Samantha said.

Samantha paused to let that sink in, and then continued.

This was good stuff to know, although I wasn’t sure yet how it would connect back to my family.

Samantha continued, anticipating my frustration.

I took out the compass that Samantha had encouraged me to buy. A compass that would point to the nearest Schema-recognized establishment.

The compass pointed to the west.

I glanced briefly out the window. I lived in an apartment in South Central Los Angeles. I was on the third floor, which gave me some sense of safety, considering the approaching monsters.

The streets were ominously empty. I couldn’t see anybody, anywhere. No monsters, no people. I could see cracks in the street, as though there had been a massive earthquake, and several buildings around me had collapsed.

Samantha was giving me too much information. I’d just take things one step at a time. First, find a town.

I started gathering anything that seemed remotely useful from my apartment. I had a seldom-used hiking backpack in my closet, which I stuffed with boring things—a some clothes, a set of cooking knives, a pot and a pan, an extra water bottle, matches, and the like.

I still felt like hiding the existence of my magic pouch when I could, so I was going to wear my backpack as I explored.

Samantha said.

I thought about it. Excited as I was to find my family, Samantha was right. And for once, it seemed Samantha was advocating for the safer option.

I discarded my packed bag on the ground, opened my pouch, and started taking out the necessary materials to make a Proximity Ward.

It was time to see what my profession was all about.