Chapter 4 (Patreon)

Mana Shield.

Any magician worth their salt knew how to cast one, and I didn’t see myself braving the streets of Chicago without some form of protection.

I pulled what was left of the pillow and rake combo off the fence and dumped it in my trash, still wearing my exercise clothes. It earned some odd looks from my neighbors, but I ignored them.

Peons. They didn’t understand my genius. I chuckled at myself.

Hustling inside the house, I settled down to meditate, grateful that I’d cracked the skill earlier on than later.

At level 2, it boosted my regen rate by 8% and saved me nearly two minutes off of my mana regen time. 

I got to work the second my mana topped out.

Calling on mana manipulation and drawing from my core, I pushed out vaporous clumps of energy, but this time I didn’t force it into the shape of a ball. I flattened it and stretched it out like pizza dough, making it vaguely rectangular.

I was sweating by the end, and the effort cost me over 30 MP. No shield skill came from the effort, and it was clear why. My hand went through the vaguely solid panel of energy like it wasn’t even there, but I did get something for my hard work.

Mana Manipulation has reached level 3

+2 INT

+1 WIS

I let the proto-shield slowly break away while I started on another, this time with a slightly different approach, aiming to make the shield smaller, about the size of my upper torso. 

I ran out of mana after my third try and meditated to fill myself back up and went back to shield-making. I repeated the cycle six more times before I got the notification I wanted.

Mana Manipulation has reached level 5

Meditation has reached level 3

Mana Shield level 1

Rarity: Common

Type: Active

Condense mana into a protective barrier around your body or a targeted area. 

Effects:

Absorbs Damage based on INT and mana invested

Drains per second while active (30 MP to create 3 MP/sec while active)

Flexibility, strength, and size improve with levels

Whoot! 

I threw my hands up in the air, staring at the stable, nearly transparent bluish shield hovering in front of me. It’d been able to withstand two of my punches before giving up the ghost. I snapped another into it, rattling it violently before it shattered like glass, wisps of mana vanishing into the air. 

Rising from my seated position, I stretched, even though it was unnecessary. It would be a few more minutes until I had enough mana to practice my shield and mana bolts. Until that time, I stepped back into the garage and squared up, slipping forward and throwing a punch.

The heavy bag whipped this way and that as I brutalized it, taking short breaks between intense rounds to pace myself. Struck by inspiration, I grabbed my laptop and looked up a few basic Taekwondo kicks and started practicing and mixing together my forms.

I sliced into the heavy bag with a precise front kick and followed up with a charging superman punch. I sent it whipping at the ceiling of the garage with a sharp sidekick and finished off with a roundhouse.

In the eyes of a trained fighter, all of my moves were amateurish and obvious, but it was enough for the system.

Taekwondo Level 1

Rarity: Common

Type: Passive

A disciplined striking art focused on speed, flexibility, and powerful kicks.

Effects:

+3% striking damage per level

+2% movement speed while unarmed and lightly armored per level

+2% balance and aerial control per level

Idly, I wondered how high my stats and skill levels have to be for me to punch somebody into orbit.

I shook my head. There was no use thinking about it with basically no fighting experience under my belt. 

I continued to practice my strikes and kicks until my mana filled back up again, and then I produced shields and started to hammer away at them with punches and kicks. They lasted slightly longer this time, but in no time at all I ran out of energy, and it was back to hand-to-hand combat.

Hours passed by while I feverishly trained, cycling between magic and physical skills. I would take breaks to meditate every twenty minutes or so and burn myself to the nub.

Boxing has reached lv 6

Meditation has reached lv 5

Taekwondo has reached lv 4

Running has reached lv 6

Mana bolt has reached lv 4

Mana shield has reached lv 3

+2 INT

+1 WIS

+3 END

+ 2 DEX

I got creative after the third hour, trying to alter the shape and boost the power of my magic skills to little success, but I did make solid gains. And after the fourth hour, I started training with the free weights.

+3 STR

By hour six, I was thoroughly exhausted and gave the squat rack one last look before heading back into the main house. The smell of sweat and burnt fabric clung to me, sharp and unpleasant.

I found myself staring at the kitchen on my way up the stairs, and on a whim, I decided to try my hand at cooking.

According to Gamer Body, I didn't need to eat or even sleep anymore, but doing so brought benefits. Since I wasn’t in the mood for a nap, I figured I might as well make myself some breakfast and see what happens.

Walking over to the fridge, I yanked it open and stared blankly at the state of it. Some stale veggies lay at the bottom. There were three eggs left over from an old carton and a half-eaten loaf of bread.

How did Old Danny ever let it get this bad? 

Right. Grieving Teenager.

I spread the ingredients out on the kitchen island and saw the beginnings of a half-decent meal. 

I slipped in some cold, slightly stale bread into the toaster and put on a pot of coffee while I washed the vegetables and diced them with my fingers tucked in and the knife falling rhythmically, just like Old Danny’s mother taught him.

You’ve demonstrated considerable skill with the knife: You’ve learned Knife Mastery.

Knife Mastery

Rarity: Common

Type: passive

You’re proficient in the use of knives.

Effects

+3% damage with knives per level

+1% attack speed when using knives per level

+1% precision and weak-point targeting per level

A smile blossomed on my face when I saw the notification.

Then, I cracked the eggs into a bowl, mixed in the veggies, garnished it, and then scrambled it with a touch of olive oil.

The toaster went off, and I patiently plated my meal, poured myself a mug of coffee, and set up on the dining table.

Cooking lv 1

Rarity: Common

Type: Passive/Active

Through knowledge and preparation of various delicacies, you’ve begun your journey into the culinary arts.

+Slightly reduces waste when preparing ingredients

+Cooked meals restore +0.1% HP and SP (over level)/sec

+1% boost in preparation efficiency and speed per level.

You can now make common-quality meals, which grant between 10-200 HP, MP, or SP over time.

Now…this is promising. Perhaps, just as promising as magic or my growing list of combat skills. If I’m reading this right, I might not need to rely completely on healing and meditation to carry me through hard fights.

With no small excitement, I inhaled my plate and waited for the results. 

You’ve consumed a (common quality) plate of scrambled eggs, toast, and coffee. 

+10 HP and SP over a minute (eggs and toast)

+20 SP over a minute (Coffee)

+0.1 HP and SP/second (Cooking Skill bonus)

Not great. But it’s a hell of a start.