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Hilda''s pov
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Let me check my progress so far, system?
Checking progress.
Notifications.
Level.
Achievements.
Stats.
All available functions related to progress are shown.
Hmm, notifications.
As she mentally selects the notifications options , she goes through the old notifications.
Huh? What''s this?
All first three clears are shown world wide to every user.
User means everybody with the system right?
Yes.
Oh that''s not good.
Was my name shown?
All identities during the first ten floors are hidden unless the user personally tells their other users.
Oh nice, this way I don''t have to care about people being salty about losing the first kill achievement.
What other achievements can I get that are possible or easy right now?
Information is restricted.
Should have expected that.
What can you tell me about the lesser mental spirit?
Lesser mental spirit.
Description.
The lifeform is a low level spirit having not lived for more than 10 years, they typically live alone as they will attempt to steal other lesser spirits controlled lifeforms, they typically do not wander far from their homes.
Dam, that means there are none nearby, how far apart do they live?
Estimated average range is 1-1.5km.
Great… Can you tell me where the nearest decent strength monster is?
Information is restricted.
Can''t you make an exception?
…
Well, I didn''t expect it anyways.
Loading…
Huh?
Exceptions can be provided at the cost of a penalty.
What penalty?
The severity of the penalty depends on the request.
What about my most recent request?
Please define decent strength monsters.
Huh? Why?
Your request was too vague.
Oh, I mean monsters that are around my level and maybe slightly weaker, along with any monsters stronger than me that can use mental magic.
Penalty:stats are reduced by 30 percent.
Why so much?
This request would give an unfair advantage too early into the tower.
Fine, maybe my trait will help negate it anyways.
How does my trait work?
Need more information.
What information?
Access to your trait.
Will you give permission?
Sure whatever.
Permission granted.
Loading…
Information needed.
What now?
Confirmation, are you in the tower because of your sister?
Yes.
Loading…
Information needed.
What now?!
Why are you in this tower for your sister?
To prevent her from dying once she enters.
How do you know she will enter?
Because my fut–
System denied permission.
Huh? What does that mean?
Refreshing…
What…
Refresh complete.
Based on your original question:”how does my trait work” based on the information provided, your trait will help anytime you need strength to kill other lifeforms to level up, or anything related to getting stronger. Trait may stop providing extra strength after required strength is needed.
Oh.
How will the trait know when I have enough strength?
Your trait is a part of you, and has access to the system''s information.
Sure.
Wait, you already reduced my stats, is that permanent?
No.
Ok, how will I know where other monsters are?
Check your status.
Aren''t you my status?
…
No response? Seriously?
…
Fine.
Hilda opens her status to see a new function.
Map(temporarily unlocked)(temporarily allowed)
Oh wow.
She opens the map to see a bunch of red dots, a blue one.
Nice, I''m gonna assume the blue is me?
Yes.
Alright.
Hilda starts going around to start killing monsters, most being weaker than her at level 1.
Hilda realizes that seems feels faster than normal even with the penalty
Huh? This feels so weird but nice.
She checks her trait to see jt buffing her Agility stat to allow her to reach each monster faster.
Due to killing monsters half your level at level 1, experience has been reduced by half.
Annoying, also won''t increasing my agility strain my trait again?
Negative, user has a higher level, and total stats increased are lesser.
Oh yea, I guess it''s only buffing my agility..
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30 minutes later
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Oh my god, I''m finally level 4.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Hey system, where are the mental magic monsters at? I remember asking for those too.
Monsters with affinity to mental magic are few.
Great.
Where''s the nearest one?
100 meters to the right.
No penalty this time?
User already has a penalty for the “Map” function. The “Map” function helps provide locations of monsters, reducing a new penalty. The user already has a penalty, reducing a new penalty. These two together can offset a low level penalty.
What''s a low level penalty?
User is currently afflicted with a low level penalty.
This idk it''s a low level one, what''s a high level one like that?
An example of a high level penalty is.
Damage to vital organs.
Temporary loss/paralysis of a limb.
95 percent reduced stats.
Won''t those kill?!
The system is unable to kill, at most places the user is on the verge of death, any death caused will be by other afflicted injuries.
So what if I''m injured and you damage a vital organs of mine, won''t I die?
Yes.
Didn''t you just say you couldn''t kill?
The death will not entirely be the system''s fault, therefore it will not be my responsibility.
So your saying it''s not your problem as long as somebody else shares the responsibility?
…
Great.
Hilda starts heading to the mental magic monster at 100 meters to the right to find a… unicorn?
What? A unicorn?
Let me check its stats.
Race: Horse.
Bloodline: unicorn(13 percent)
Level:5
Achievement second to kill a level 5 monster(epic) is taking place. Increasing users'' level temporarily by one.
Huh? Interesting, well this should be easy.
Hilda picks up a nearby rock and hits it firmly, causing it to grunt in pain before turning away and sending her back with a powerful kick
Ouch dammit that hurt, system, didn''t you say it uses mental magic.
Yes.
Then why is it so strong?
The bloodline provides it with low level mental magic while being a horse allows it to be physically strong.
Crap so monsters with mental magic can be physically strong too, how did I completely ignore that.
Hilda watches as the horse charges at her with its short but very pointy horn, which is more than enough to leave a hole in her.
Crap, barely dodged.
Hilda checks its stats only to see.
(8 S) (6 E) (8 A) (5 M)
Warning Host is fighting an opponent nearly twice as strong.
Would you like to activate your trait?
How is it considered twice as strong, don''t we have the same stats?
Due to being of the horse race, the lifeforms body and strength are higher than the users despite having the same stats.
Fine, activate it!
Warning, users will suffer recoil after recoil after deactivation.
Warning: trait “sis con” will be temporarily deactivated in 30 seconds if strained to that extent.
Why? Didn''t you say my trait gets stronger as I level?
User has been increasing agility stats for an extended period.
Didn''t you say it won''t strain me?!
At the present time when trait was activated, user was not in immediate danger.
So your saying due to not being able to see the future, it isn''t your problem? Hilda asks, annoyed as she narrowly dodges another hit.
…
You''re the best at avoiding responsibility, you know?
Screw it, just increase my agility as much without straining me.
Affirmative.
Hilda checks her agility to see it reach 7 from the previous 5 she had which was decreased to 3.
Hilda looks around for anything she can use to defeat the horse except for the worthless rock in her hand.
Hey system!
…
Is there a lake nearby or any other bodies?
Yes.
Where?
Check the map, location has been updated.
Hilda quickly opens her map and starts running to the nearest lake with the horse behind her catching up.
I''m here!
She attempts to bait the horse into falling into the river but it doesn''t fall for it too easily.
This thing''s smarter than expected despite just being a horse with a really really sharp horn.
Hey system, can you increase my strength stat instead of my agility?
Yes.
How much do I need to lift the horse?
(10 S) is required.
Warning trait will be overstrained.
Do it!
Affirmative.
Hilda feels her body getting stronger immediately as the horse runs at her, and she dodges but scraps due to the decrease in agility, she ignores the little bit of pain before going to lift the horse up.
As she lifts the horse up, it kicks her in the stomach nearly causing her to throw up and drop the horse but she persists through and finally lifts it over her head causing her arm to strain in pain before throwing it into the slightly deeper part of the lake.
Dammit, the lakes not deep enough, but it can still slow the horse down.
She jumps onto the horse''s back with her arms still in pain as she interlocks her fingers and starts bringing her hands down onto the horse''s back, causing it to struggle and nearly send her flying off but Hilda clings on tightly with her legs and keeps bashing the horse.
As the horse keeps struggling, Hilda keeps bringing her hands back down onto the horse''s back while struggling to stay on its back.
Come on, I''ve got more than enough strength to kill it!
Hilda keeps hitting it, eventually succeeding in making it faint.
Level up.
All stats +1
Trait has been improved slightly.
Requirement reached.
Shop(unlocked)
Inventory(unlocked)
Achievement unlocked
First to reach level 5
First to unlock shop
First to unlock inventory
Oh my god, finally dead, this is so unfair, why do other races get to be stronger despite having the same stats?
Humans and other intelligent species who are usually weaker due to evolution, have the advantage of the system to grow stronger quickly, where as non intelligent races such as a horse lack the means to grow stronger quickly.
Then how do they level up?
A lifeforms level without the system is simply an estimate of their strength compared to others of their own species, and towards intelligent species, causing it to be lower than its actual strength due to being compared to its own species.
Warning, stat increase is about to end recoil occurring soon.
Crap. Hilda tries running to find a safe place to hide before eventually fainting in the shallow part of the lake.
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A while later
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Hilda wakes up and finds some level one fish biting her, but due to their low strength they are not able to cause harm.
Irritating… I guess I could use them as food.
Hilda grabs them, not letting them swim away before bringing them out of the water and letting them die.
Hey system, did they give experience?
No.
Great, guess indirectly killing them doesn''t kill experience.
What about poison, would that work?
Yes.
Nice.
Hey, can you let me see how much experience I get?
Yes. Would you like to enable it?
Yea.
Hilda suddenly starts hearing the system slowly names out everything she killed and the experience they give, causing her to not be able to close the system, making it constantly block her view.
Hey!!! Get rid of the screen in my face.
Not possible, updating notifications to show experience.
Then just turn the experience off!
Affirmative.
Oh my god, finally there''s nothing blocking my sight and it''s quiet again.
Show me my recent achievements.
Reach level 5(common)
Tip coupon
First to unlock shop(rare)
50 percent discount coupon(expiry 3 months)
First to unlock inventory(rare)
Plus 10 m3 of space
Why are they both rare?
They have the same rarity due to having the same requirement.
Makes sense.
Why does the reach level 5 give a weird item called tip coupon?
To give new users tips.
Thx for the useless information anyways, how do I use it?
Check your inventory.
How do I use that?
Just open it.
Hilda enters the function and a blue square appears similar to the system screen.
What should I do?
Put your hand in and think of what you want.
The appearance?
The name works too.
Oh, what if I forget about something?
You can check the names of what you have.
How?
The names of the things you forgot will appear at the top of the inventory.
How do you know what I forgot?
I am able to read your mind.
Huh? Then where''s the privacy?
I am only authorised to read your mind about things you forget.
How do you read my mind about things that I forget if I forget them?
Everything you experience is in your head, even if you forget it, you simply cannot recall them.
Wow, interesting.
Ok, I got it now what?
Tear it.
Sure? Hilda tears the tip coupon and gets teleported to a cube room with white walls all around with a person in the center.
Who are you?
The person turns to look at her, letting her recognise him as the guide she saw at the start.
Oh it''s this weirdo again. She thinks while crossing her arms.
Weirdo? That''s rude, you know?
…
Hello? You gonna talk?
The system can read my mind, this guy probably can too can''t he?
Indeed, hilda. He smirks as he confirms her suspicions.
Where''s the scene of privacy? Hilda now knowing that she can''t hide says out loud uncrossing her arms.
There''s none, but don''t worry even if you have some fantasies about me I won''t judge you.
Trust me, I won''t ever have such thoughts.
How unfriendly.
So you gonna help me with the tips or whatever?
What tips do you need?
I don''t know?
Then why did you tear it?
I don''t know.
Fine, think of this as a gift for being first to visit the lonely me.
What?
Open the shop.
Why?
Do you want to listen to my tips or not?
Hilda reluctantly opens the shop for the first time and sees that she''s gathered a good amount of points and only one thing in the shop called, “skill function”.
What''s this?
Buy it, you have enough.
Sure?
She buys it and sees a bunch of new skills appear.
Hm, why didn''t I get the first for the skill function?
Some people''s traits gave them the skill function.
Why didn''t they get the achievement?
They got it for free upon entering the tower, so it was easier than common rarity and therefore not deserving of an award.
Great, anyways what should I get? I still have some points.
You have just enough for two common skills.
So, what should I get?
Low level mana control and a mental skill.
Why mental skill?
Because if you don''t have resistance to some types of magic, it hurts you to use it.
How would mental magic hurt me?
In common cases, headaches, mild cases, fainting and the worst going insane, or losing one of your senses forever.
Would that happen to me?
Not with the level of mental resistance you got, just don''t use too strong of mental magic until you reach level 50.
What mental ability should I get? Hilda starts scrolling through the skills and sees all types such as elemental ones, physical ones, support, healing and more.
You can filter out mental skills.
Huh? Let me try… done, wow, but I can''t afford most of them.
You can filter out what you can buy too.
Really? Hilda looks through the filter again and finally finds the option.
Oh there it is, this is convenient. Hilda looks at the three skills she can afford.
Low level obedience magic.
Allows you to make other lifeforms weaker than you obey you with a slight sense of loyalty, scales with level.
Low level illusion magic.
Creates any illusion you want as long as they are not too big or many, scales with mana.
Low level mental attack
causes slight headache, scales with level and mana.
Which do you think you should get?
I don''t know, you tell me.
I can read your mind, I know there''s one you want.
Fine, I want the illusion one.
Why?
You''re reading my mind, so why ask?
I don''t always read your mind, or life would be too boring without the anticipation.
Fine, it''s because I have no mana obviously.
You do though.
Huh?
Hilda opens her stats to check and sees…
(6 S) (6 E) (6 A) (1 M)
When did I get it?
When you get the mana control skill.
How nice, but doesn''t each level up increase each stat by one, it''s only at 1 right now.
That''s a misunderstanding, when it says each stat increases by one, it means the limit, so from Now each level up will increase your mana, but if you want the 5 you missed out on you have to use your skill more often.
By the way, do skills have a level?
Why don''t I see any on my low level mana control skill though?
Two reasons, first is that passive skills don''t have levels, and second is that you can''t see the level of level 0 skills.
Great, so should I buy the illusion skill or not?
Yes.
You sure?
Yea.
Confirm?
Just get it.
I''m just making sure.
Yes, I''m sure, if you ask again I''m gonna reduce your level.
You can do that?
Yea so stop asking it''s getting irritating.
Fine fine. Hilda buys the skill and instinctively knows how to use it.
By the way, since this doesn''t use mana, it uses stamina.
Stamina? But that isn''t a stat?
It''s part of endurance.
Oh, I thought it was just like how tough I was?
No, anything that falls under endurance works.
Anything?
Yea, even sexual endurance.
I wasn''t thinking of that.
You were.
I wasn''t.
Actually it''s pretty normal, it''s in the deepest part of your mind so you aren''t actively thinking of it, but your mind goes through every possibility that you may know of.
Shut up.
Fine, anyways you also need will power which your trait also provides, how lucky, anyways you''re basically suited for mental magic.
Any questions remaining?
Yea, how did the other people enter the tower?
They simply wanted something badly, which the tower can provide, you''re a unique case.
Am I unique? How nice.
I allowed it to happen or your future self would have never been successful in going back in time, even if it was just an illusion.
So I''m not as unique as expected?How sad.
Don''t lie, I can tell your emotions too, and I can tell you don''t give a damn.
Cool, send me back.
The guide flicks her forehead, sending her back and leaving a slight sting on her forehead.
Well that was unnecessary.
She tries creating some illusions, being able to create up to three before feeling a slight headache.
Why do the illusions look transparent?
Your resistance to mental magic causes that.
I thought it would be more though.
This is the minimum amount of transparency.
Do other people see it transparent too?
Not unless they have mental magic resistance.
Oh nice.
A level 3 monster appears making Hilda turn over to look at it.
A test subject, how nice.