[Running] skill is now level 10. You have gained 1 Path point. Passively Increases running speed by 10% and decreases stamina used while running by 10%.

[Leg Muscle Enhancement] is now level 2. You have gained 1 Path point. Actively increases Running Speed by 21%. Uses 2 mana points per second.

[Meditation] is now level 7. You have gained 1 Path point. Increases mana regeneration by 7% while the skill is active.

[Overweight] skill is now level 0. Skill has been deleted.

[Path of Endurance 10/25] The second step is taken, nothing out of norm. Endurance increased by 1.

[Path of Endurance 15/25] Slow and steady. Endurance increased by 1.

I finally felt the difference while running, I could run 4 kilometers now without resting which allowed me to train for longer. My speed increased as well, especially with [Leg Muscle Enhancement] active, even if only for a few seconds. Focusing on Endurance was a good idea. With ten more path points gained over the last three days I am now at 15/25 at the [Path of Endurance]. There were already some people that completed it and shared the information online. There was another point in Endurance at twenty path points and two more points with a passive skill at twenty five path points which granted 1% stamina and health regeneration.

With [Running] leveling slower and slower as levels went by I decided to focus one new skills that used stamina to train. I took a knife, and started stabbing it at the wooden board.

[Melee Weapon Mastery] is now level 1. You have gained 1 Path point. [Path of Melee Weapons] opened. Increases handling of the melee weapons. Increases Strength while using melee weapons by 1%.

The path itself was said to give Strength and Dexterity, with an active skill at the end that was impossible to gain by replicating the mana movement, it was ‘Unique’ in some sort. There were apparently no limits to the number of skills one can possess so I want only to upgrade it to level 5 to gain few path points. [Ranged Weapon Mastery] will be next.

The bookstore that I worked in was opened but I informed the manager that I decided to quit. I was a part time worker so there was no problem in me leaving so suddenly.

There was more disturbing news. Information about skill leveling speed increasing while fighting for life became known worldwide. There were already a few hundred murders in my own country by people blinded by power gain, though even if a person doubled it’s Endurance points they could still be easily killed with bullets.

More sane people decided to create a movement similar to those of adventuring guilds often found in books. There were some politicians that approved of it and wanted for them to gain rights to hunt creatures that were now described as ‘Monsters’, though most politicians preferred to leave the matters to the military.

There was always a possibility of getting targeted by human-hunting mad people and so I made sure to always leave enough mana and stamina to be able to run away. I aimed to have at least 70% of mana and stamina left after finishing training, it became quite annoying to train in such small bursts in increased frequency but it was needed for survival.

-

[Melee Weapon Mastery] is now level 5. You have gained 1 Path point. Increases handling of the melee weapons. Increases Strength while using melee weapons by 5%.

[Ranged Weapon Mastery] is now level 5. You have gained 1 Path point. Increases handling of the ranged weapons. Increases Dexterity while using ranged weapons by 5%.

[Meditation] is now level 9. You have gained 1 Path point. Increases mana regeneration by 9% while the skill is active.

[Leg Muscle Enhancement] is now level 3. You have gained 1 Path point. Actively increases Running Speed by 22%. Uses 2 mana points per second.

[Path of Endurance 20/25] Even slower, but much steadier. Endurance increased by 1.

[Path of Endurance 25/25] Step by step, ferociously. Endurance increased by 1. [Lesser Regeneration] perk gained. Increases the regeneration rate of Stamina and Health by 1%.

[Path of Running 10/25] The first great leap taken, only to slam into the ground with your own face. Dexterity increased by 1.

It took four days to gain all these levels, there were more and more monster sightings, prices increased and finally Monster Hunting Association was officially opened with government approval. There was news that some country on the other continent was taken over by the military, the General that ruled there now claimed that it was for the protection of the citizens. There was some disturbing news coming from that country about what was happening to those citizens.

With supplies low I decided to go shopping, the store was fully stocked but two policemen still guarded the entrance. One the way to the store I also noticed few military and police patrols. There were posters encouraging people to join the military and police. Every country was increasing it’s militaries, which was necessary but also disturbing.

It was getting dark as I was returning to my apartment. When I walked next to my block I suddenly felt pain.

[23 Damage received] Health 137/160

[Pain Resistance] is now level 1. You have gained 1 Path point. [Path of Pain] opened. Decreases pain by 1%.

I was forced to kneel because of the pain, logic told me to evade the second attack even though I didn’t know that it was coming. I leaped to the right as a glowing missile sailed through the space that I was just in. I didn’t evade the third one.

[27 Damage received] Health 110/160

[Pain Resistance] is now level 2. You have gained 1 Path point. Decreases pain by 2%.

Intense pain lasted only a few seconds before somewhat subsidizing, and finally I was able to see the attacker. He was thirty meters away with a hood over his head and a long cape over his body.

“Really?” I spat. “You look like an idiot” I needed more time, hoping that someone would come help me.

“Your opinion doesn’t matter, in the end you are no better than an animal.” God he was an idiot, was he one of those that wanted to level up by killing humans? It was [Mana Bolt] that he used three times now, he has at least two shots more, perhaps even five if he completed [Path of Intelligence] or [Path of Wisdom].

He can kill me.

Another [Mana Bolt] sailed towards me, I moved towards my left but it still managed to hit me, even if barely.

[13 Damage received] Health 97/160

I grunted from the pain as the man spoke. “So you invested in Endurance, huh?” Mocking clear in his voice. “Typical animal. You don’t know what real power is.” Is that man so deranged?

I had a knife on me, but I didn’t fancy myself being able to kill someone in cold blood. Running away is the better option.

Stamina 124/160 Mana 24/100

I could easily outrun him and head towards the people. There were barely any people outside at this hour, but the main streets were often patrolled by the police and the army. I looked at the murderous man and waited for him to make his move first. [Mana Bolt] cannot be shot quickly one after another and three seconds were needed to be able to cast another one. Unless he had a skill that decreased that cooldown.

I lunged to the left again while he aimed slightly to the right. He lost the roll of 50-50 chance and I sprinted past him towards the street.

[Leg Muscle Enhancement] activated.

All I had is twelve second of this skill but it will allow me to easily run towards the street. He hadn’t shot again and instead followed me trying to keep up after me. His range is probably limited, his footsteps grew dimmer the longer I ran.

Mana 0/100 [Leg Muscle Enhancement] deactivated.

[Running] skill is now level 11. You have gained 1 Path point. Passively Increases running speed by 11% and decreases stamina used while running by 11%.

I slowed down once I was out of mana but it didn’t matter. I was already at the main street and I saw a military car coming in my direction. The man didn’t know that yet and once he got onto a street he shot another [Mana Bolt] at me.

[22 Damage received] Health 75/160

[Pain Resistance] is now level 3. You have gained 1 Path point. Decreases pain by 3%.

The soldiers saw the [Mana Bolt] hit me and a single gun shot sounded through the neighborhood. It scared me, but I quickly looked at the man that tried to kill me. His body already falling to the ground, blood splaterred all over him.

A headshot from a machine gun at over one hundred meters in the dark, shot from atop the moving car. How? Was it a skill?

The man died before his body hit the road. So much for his magic cult like obsession. As I looked at the body of a man that wanted to kill me just level up his skills the car approached. I was safe, yet I didn't feel it. I doubt I will feel safe ever again.

“Are you alright?” The masked soldier asked with a gun in his hands. Three more soldiers from his patrol closed in slowly to the body of the madman, wary of any movement. I nodded and noticed that two men were still around me together with the soldier that asked the question, wary of me. “What is in the bag?”

I looked at my hand and noticed the groceries bag that I clutched in my hand. Am I an idiot? Why didn’t I throw it away? It weighed me down the entire time. “Groceries.” I answered simply, though the soldiers didn’t believe it. After all it looked like the man tried to rob me, while I tried to protect the bag with my life. I put it on the ground and slowly spread the bag for all to see. The soldier looked at me with a worry in his eyes this time.

“Are you alright?” I didn’t know if he ment my mental health or he asked about injuries.

“That madman hit me four times with [Mana Bolt], I lost most of my health.” The man nodded and asked further.

“Do you have any statuses like [Bleeding] or [Broken Bone]?” I quickly checked my status and answered. “No.” The man nodded, I saw the soldiers pick up the body and place it into the car. Not the usual way of handling the body. What about the police? What about the witnesses?

“Go back to your apartment citizen and rest, if you get any negative status head to hospital.” That's it?

Yet, I quickly obeyed and went back home, I shut the doors using every lock that it had. Surely those locks will at least somewhat keep me safe.

This is the last time I leave my home when it’s dark. Fucking psychos. I spent the rest of the night looking through forums. Sleep didn't come easy to me that day.

[Sleep Deprivation] debuff added. Mana and Stamina regeneration decreased by 50%.

[Sleep Resistance] is now level 1. You gained 1 Path point. [Sleepless Path] opened. Passively decrease need for sleep by 1%.