Author's Note: Like 6.1, this sub-section has several tables in it, so I decided to separate it to try and keep things simple and distinct for ease of reading (and for my own ease of editing).

“Stats.” Trying to delay the inevitable just a little longer, I took a moment to check my stats once more before going out into the hallway.

Name: Bloody HellTitles: The WitnessAge: 17Level: 1CP: 10STR: 8SYI: 8WIL: 7DEX: 8MYS: 8PRE: 7CON: 10SPR: 4LUC: 11HP: 30MP: 16SP: 8PD: 0DR: 0MR: 0SE: 1

Nothing had changed since I’d acquired my name, but I did want to try something else out before going back out of the room. When I’d touched the screen where the name was, it’d popped up a box telling me that I hadn’t chosen one yet and that I could do so. I’m assuming that the screen itself is somehow interactive, so I hesitantly poked a finder at the box which read STR.

CHING!

As I touched it, a sound echoed from out of nowhere once again and the status altered itself somewhat.

Name: Bloody HellTitles: The WitnessAge: 17Level: 1CP: 2STR: 9SYI: 8WIL: 7DEX: 8MYS: 8PRE: 7CON: 10SPR: 4LUC: 11HP: 30MP: 16SP: 8PD: 0DR: 0MR: 0SE: 1

I instantly noticed that my STR had increased by one, and honestly I even felt a little stronger as the backpack felt just a bit lighter on my shoulders. It took me a moment longer to look more closely and notice that my CP had went down by 8 as well. After thinking on it for a bit, I’m assuming they must represent some sort of Creation Points or Character Points which I could use to improve my abilities. To test my theory out, I touched the STR box once more, but this time I was answered with some sort of “BURZT! BURZT!” sound which reminded me of when I tried to choose God for a name and was told it was already taken, and nothing changed.

Seeing as how nothing bad had happened, I took a moment to go down the list and tap DEX and then CON to see what would happen. Both times, that same annoying buzzer sound happened and nothing else. After that I touched HP and was once again rewarded with the “CHING!” and the status changed once more. I couldn’t really say I felt any different or anything this time around.

My HP had increased by 1, and my CP had decreased by 1. Apparently different things cost different values to improve, and I couldn’t be certain what the cost was currently, or even at how quickly I could earn these character points to try and spend them. Only having a single point left, I went ahead and tapped HP again to see if the cost might’ve increased on it. A “CHING” was my answer, and my HP had increased once more while my CP was now 0.

Name: Bloody HellTitles: The WitnessAge: 17Level: 1CP: 0STR: 9SYI: 8WIL: 7DEX: 8MYS: 8PRE: 7CON: 10SPR: 4LUC: 11HP: 32MP: 16SP: 8PD: 0DR: 0MR: 0SE: 1

Figuring I had nothing to lose, I went ahead and touched the HP button once again, but nothing happened. No ching, no buzz, nothing. Apparently without CP, touching the screen doesn’t seem to do anything. I wish I would’ve had a few more of them – I would’ve tested to see if I could spend them on skills also. I guess I’ll try that when (and if) I get any more in the future.

For now though, I didn’t have anything else that I could use as an excuse to stop me from leaving the classroom, and with a gulp to try to help settle the butterflies in my stomach, I slowly stuck my head out in the hall and looked up and down it.

Nothing much had changed from my nightmarish memories of the evening before, and the hall itself seemed empty. Hesitantly, I eased out into the hallway and began my search for anything that might make a better weapon or armor, or any survivors. I don’t know what I’d do if I ran into another one of those minotaurs or some other horrible beast, but I couldn’t stay here forever and just wait on them to come back and find me. Moving forward was the only way to go, or else I’d lose my courage and just huddle here and be a sitting duck waiting for them to feast on my flesh. Or, after glancing back over my shoulder towards the human igloo, even worse…

Shivering, I bucked up my courage and slowly eased out and into the hallway.