"Ninety-eight."
"Ninety-nine."
"Hundred."
I collapsed onto the mat, panting like a dog. My arms trembled, sweat dripping onto the floor.
Your Constitution has improved through continuous efforts.
Constitution Level Up (F1->F2)
Fucking finally.
I felt as if my muscles were contracting and expanding. It continued for a few seconds, and then everything went back to normal. It might be a placebo effect, but I felt as if my muscles were less sore than before.
I checked my new updated status.
Name: Kevin Kolt
Rank: F2
Attributes:
Strength: F1
Agility: F1
Constitution: F2
Endurance: F3
Vitality: F3
Intelligence: F2
Wisdom: F2
Perception: F2
Willpower: F3
Charisma: F3
Skills:
Gamer's Mind
Gamer's Body
Observe
Driving (Expert)
Martial Arts (Novice)
First Aid (Apprentice)
Stealth (Novice)
Acting (Novice)
Missions:
Taxi Driver (100/100) (Complete)
Vigilante (19/100)
Paramedic (56/100)
Delivery (22/100)
Burglary (19/100)
Art of Persuasion (63/100)
Party Members:
Frances Barrison
With the increase in the Constitution stat, my rank finally increased to F2. It was a slight increase, but it showed that I was slowly but steadily climbing in the right direction.
Nothing much changed other than that. My skills remained the same. There were small progresses in the various missions.
The only thing new was the Party Members section. I wasn't even aware I could create a party. But one day, it suddenly occurred to me that since it was a Gamer System, it might have a party function. And I was right.
The number of party members was dependent on my rank. At F1, I had only one slot; now that I had reached F2, another opened.
Though its function was somewhat different, as long as I put anyone in my party, that person could use a limited version of my system. That included being able to view their full status, just like me, and to improve various skills and stats by grinding; however, the effect was less pronounced than mine.
Speaking of improving skills.
"Frances, how is your training for Rokushiki going on?" I asked the woman sitting beside me, who was also drenched in sweat.
She wore a blue sports bra and black sports shorts. Her taut stomach had visible abs lines. Her legs looked built for motion; they had a dancer's grace and an athlete's power.
Her face no longer looked pale, as it had before, with heavy dark circles; instead, it had a rosy glow. Her long black hair also had a healthy sheen.
She no longer looked like a strung-out addict but someone burning with power.
"It's going great, boss. Tekkei has finally reached the Novice level, so I have started Kami-e," Frances replied with enthusiasm.
Then she looked at me with an expectant gaze.
I chuckled mentally, seeing that. "Good job, Frances," I praised her with a smile.
"Thanks, boss," Frances said excitedly.
I looked at her status.
Name: Frances Barrison
Rank: E2
Attributes:
Strength: F2
Agility: F2
Constitution: F3
Endurance: F3
Vitality: F3
Intelligence: F2
Wisdom: F2
Perception: F3
Willpower: F2
Charisma: F2
Powers:
Sonic Scream (Novice)
Skills:
Sound Manipulation (Novice)
Martial Arts (Novice)
Rokushiki: Tekkei (Novice)
Relationship:
Affection: 100 (Locked)
Loyalty: 100 (Locked)
If my status increased slowly and steadily, hers shot up like a rocket.
Her attributes were all at F1 earlier. But they increased massively to their current level after her first dungeon dive.
Through her, I had found out a new system achievement.
Feat Achieved!
Dungeon Survivor (F)
Survived 24 hours solo in a dungeon (F).
Either kill 100 Normal (F) enemies or one Elite (F) enemy.
Rank doesn't exceed F3.
Reward: All stats increased by one minor grade. Limit F3.
This achievement can be attained by anyone who meets the requirements.
However, it was limited to once at an F-rank dungeon. If achieved once, even if the requirements were satisfied in another F-rank dungeon, it couldn't be achieved again.
There were similar achievements for higher-ranked dungeons, but I was not clear about their specific requirements.
I had also tried the dungeon a few times in hopes of getting the achievement, but I was unsuccessful every time.
Killing 100 enemies was still too hard for me. Not to mention an elite enemy.
I still shudder to this day at how that lizard effortlessly swallowed me.
Of course, I didn't start using the dungeon immediately after Frances' first run. The main objective of sending her inside was to verify that death in the dungeon had no consequences. Since she didn't die, it was a failed experiment.
What? I am not taking chances with my life.
If a willing guinea pig is available, I will, of course, use it to scout the way ahead.
Only in the third run, she died because she was overrun by a swarm, but appeared back unharmed, other than being somewhat shaken for literally dying. But after finding out she couldn't die inside, she calmed down.
It was only after that that I decided to try to earn that achievement. Of course, I failed.
Frances had achieved it only because she used her powers to kill the tree monster.
It could even be considered a close call for her, because if she hadn't, she would have forever missed the chance to gain that achievement again in an F-rank dungeon. The next time she entered it, she would be considered an E-rank due to her powers.
Since she had awakened her powers inside the dungeon, she was still eligible for the achievement in the first run.
With this achievement, all her stats reached F2. But that was not all. The tree heart she obtained from defeating the tree monster provided her with another stat upgrade, increasing Constitution, Endurance, Vitality, and Perception to F3.
The stat upgrades gave her a complete makeover and not only repaired whatever damage she had done to her body with her drug addiction, but also improved it.
She still took drugs sometimes. But she was learning restraint. And her higher Willpower stat made the cravings less of a chain around her neck.
Her power was similar to her canon counterpart. It was gained after she activated her X-gene under extreme stress. There was still the Emotion Inducement power that she hadn't awakened; it might take some more time.
But the Sound Manipulation skill was new. Here, the party system came into play.
To improve her power and use it properly, she continuously trained. That grinding awarded her the Sound Manipulation skill—something the original never had.
This skill was currently at an extremely low level, but at higher levels, it could elevate her sound control to the pinnacle. She might even reach Black Bolt's level with enough training, but that's something for the future.
The other skill was Rokushiki.
That was a reward for another achievement.
Feat Achieved!
Gain 100% loyalty of a Superhuman.
Reward: Rokushiki Training Manual (One Piece)
I had achieved this a few hours after sending her to the dungeon. I still wonder what led me to earn this achievement.
My inner fanboy practically screamed at the thought of using Geppo. Walking on air, yes please.
But the reality was cruel. There were strict requirements even to start training each technique. For example, Tekkei needed at least F3 Constitution, whereas Kami-e needed F3 Perception and F2 Constitution.
It wasn't as if I couldn't practice without satisfying those. However, without meeting those minimum requirements, the body was simply not strong enough to withstand the training. Forceful training would only result in injury.
Moreover, it was not as if reaching the Novice level for a technique would automatically grant the user the corresponding superhuman abilities. The Novice level was merely starting.
Tekkei just meant "tougher punching bag." Kami-e? Better dodge instincts. Moonwalking in the sky was still miles away.
Even with these limitations, I was still very excited to start training these techniques once I reached the minimum requirement.
But there was another important reason for training them. These techniques doubled as body training exercises. The six techniques, when combined, worked on the entire body, with each targeting distinct aspects.
As long as I continued training them, I could effectively use them to train my body to E rank peak, and might even do so in D rank.
I also earned another achievement due to Frances, this time after she had completed the first dungeon dive. It was when she checked the changes to her body after the stats increased.
At that time, I felt as if she looked at me with obsession bordering on fanaticism. Nah, must be my imagination.
Feat Achieved!
Gain 100% affection of a Superhuman.
Reward: Relationship Module Unlocked
That was a system upgrade. It was not a full-on dating sim module. It just showed the affection and loyalty someone had for me.
The numbers were from 0 to 100. And as expected, the closer it was to 100, the harder it was to increase. However, once it reached 100, it would be locked in place forever.
Frances was maxed. That's why she held the only party slot; for now, I only trusted her with this knowledge. A second slot sat empty, and it would stay that way for a long time.
Because affection was leverage, loyalty was a leash.
And no one else was trustworthy enough to wear that leash yet.
With Frances, I had my first loyal enforcer.
In canon, she gave herself to Carnage, but he never appreciated her. It was similar to the relation between Joker and Harley Quinn. Both idiots only knew how to treat their women like tools, but forgot that even tools needed maintenance from time to time. That led to those women betraying or abandoning those fools.
However, I am aware of the basic principle of occasionally offering a carrot to maintain subordinates' loyalty.
It's true that with her current relationship with me, I never had to worry about her betrayal. However, there was something called morale. To maintain it, an occasional carrot was still necessary.
That's why I gave her the Rokushiki training manual once she learned the Sound Manipulation skill.
As a leader, both rewards and punishments are necessary.
I had given her an order to stay and train in the dungeon whenever she could.
I also ordered her to defeat that tree monster again and give its heart to me, which she happily complied with.
Unfortunately, that was impossible. Although it was called a dungeon, it wasn't.
What the system had done was turn one of the infinite hell dimensions in the multiverse into a pseudo-dungeon. Using the system, I or anyone I wanted could go there anytime, and even in death, I would return without any injuries. The only penalty was that I couldn't use the dungeon again for 24 hours.
But the monsters in it were not dungeon monsters; instead, they were the inhabitants of that hell dimension. So, there was no monster respawn.
The tree monster that Frances killed couldn't respawn. The only option was to search for another similar monster. And the search had been fruitless so far.
"Be ready, we will be leaving in 15 minutes," I said.
"No problem, boss," she answered, quick and eager.
Today I didn't have any classes in the morning, so I decided to go to the dungeon to practice shooting.
I was only going to use guns on the monsters, so I had called Frances to protect me in case another monster attacked me.
I had called her earlier, so she was following the Old Man Kobayashi's exercise regimen with me.
After a quick shower, I changed my clothes. I took out the pistol from the drawer. I had already prepared many spare magazines and bullets.
Finally, I willed it. Space twisted, and the stench of brimstone filled my lungs.
We were back in hell.
We landed in the wasteland, grit crunching under my boots. I pulled the pistol, checked the safety, chamber, and magazine. All good.
"Pick a direction," I muttered. Frances fell in step beside me, alert but silent.
It didn't take long. Two buzzflies buzzed into view, wings whining like saws.
Perfect. Targets.
I aimed, squeezed—
BANG. BANG. BANG.
Nothing. The bullets whizzed past like I was firing blindfolded. My jaw tightened.
"Fuck."
The damn things dipped and swerved midair, mockery with wings. I kept firing, chasing their movement, each miss gnawing at me. Magazine clicked empty. One. Just one bullet connected, tearing through the abdomen. It shrieked and dropped.
My accuracy is shit. My magazine emptied faster than my patience. At least the fucker screamed before it died.
I quickly replaced another magazine. This time, I didn't even hit once. Before I could replace the magazine, I saw the remaining one fire its stinger. I hurriedly dodged to the side, cursing it.
I quickly changed the magazine and started shooting madly again. Once again, empty magazine. But this time, I hit it again, and the critter was down.
My chest heaved. My aim was trash, but at least the increase in Constitution dulled the recoil ache. Without it, I'd be nursing bruises already.
"Great job, boss," Frances said brightly, like I'd just put down a kaiju instead of wasting three magazines on two bugs.
We pressed on. A lone shellcrawler crawled from a dune, carapace glinting. It charged upon seeing us.
Bigger target. Better odds.
I steadied and fired. Out of five, one bullet hit its carapace and punctured it. The monster writhed for a few moments before becoming motionless.
It was fortunate that the bullet was able to puncture the carapace, as I didn't have the skill to aim and shoot at its joints. Guess, the carapace was strong, but not strong enough to withstand bullets.
The journey continued as we came across many of those monsters. Luckily, there were only one or two of them every time.
But it seemed luck was no longer on our side as we came across four buzzflies at the same time.
Frances screamed at them. Two of them were directly in front of the sound wave and died directly. The other two wobbled in the air.
I took that opportunity to shoot at them. This time, I shot them both down using just one magazine.
Seeing that there were no more enemies nearby, we sat down against a rock. I took that opportunity to reflect on our earlier fights.
After that, I refilled the magazines with bullets. Through live practice, I observed a noticeable improvement in my skills. Previously, I used one magazine to shoot down a buzzfly; now I could do it with two bullets less.
Sigh. My aim was shitty before, it was just less shitty now.
More than two hours passed as we continued our journey. Then, suddenly, we heard strange, laughing noises.
We looked at each other, and our expressions became serious.
The source of the laughter was finally visible. There were five canine-like monsters—the Black-spotted Flesh Hyenas.
Their bodies looked flayed, raw muscle and veins exposed, black patches like rotting fungus. Their mouths split in four, packed with rows of serrated teeth. When their eyes locked onto us, they laughed again — a wet, guttural cackle that made the skin crawl.
I had only come across them once and had to face a group of four of them on my own. I barely killed one and injured two others, but I was barely standing by then. Skin shredded, limbs half-useless, one leg practically dangling. And that was with just four.
With no other choice, I had to quit in between as I was not a masochist.
Frances had also come across a few times, as she told me. Every time she met those hyena monsters, they were in a group. Other than the tree monster, she suffered the most injuries with them, but at least she managed to destroy the group each time.
Frances and I looked at each other and nodded. Then we turned to face our enemies again.
I waited for them to come within a suitable range. They ran and stopped a short distance away from us, then started growling at us. They were watching us, looking for the perfect opportunity to pounce on us.
Fortunately, they were within a suitable range for me to shoot.
I aimed and started shooting. They panicked, howling and laughing, but I didn't stop until the magazine was empty.
Bingo. Headshot.
I emptied the clip, and one hyena monster was already down, hit by the lucky shot to its head, and two more got hit by stray bullets. Shooting them was much easier than shooting those buzzflies.
Frances used that opportunity to shout at them. But they were already on edge with the previous barrage, so they immediately leapt out of the way of the shockwave. Only one of them, who was hit in the leg with the bullet, was a beat late, and died with its brain turning into mush.
The rest growled threateningly as they divided into two groups of two and one as they circled on either side of us—two towards Frances and one towards me.
I quickly reloaded my pistol, but the hyena monster had already run towards me in the meantime and was already in front of me.
I quickly sidestepped at the last moment, its attack landing on empty air. It turned around quickly, but I had already aimed the gun nozzle at its head, the distance between them less than a foot.
I shot before it could move out or attack me.
"Smile for me."
BANG.
Brain matter sprayed. It dropped.
My shitty aim didn't screw me over, and the bullet accurately hit the hyena in the head.
On the other hand, Frances had already taken down one of the hyenas with another sonic scream. With her relentless practice and increased endurance, she could use her powers repeatedly.
The other hyena was out of the shout range and had already come up to her. Frances didn't panic and pulled out two sticks, holding one in each arm.
She hit the stick at his head mid-pounce. It dropped in between whining. She didn't let it stand and kicked its leg, and it fell again.
She stabbed her stick into its throat with such force that it punctured the throat. The monster gurgled and then went still.
Previously, I had to run away. Now, even if I took help, I was standing, and these hyenas were on the ground. Progress.
After the deathmatch against the hyenas, we didn't come across any other group of them, which was very welcome to me.
No more eerie laughter.
With the two of us together, hunting these monsters wasn't that hard.
We did come across a colony of those shellcrawlers. There were at least a hundred of those in it.
We noped the hell out of that place as soon as we saw them. None of us was strong enough to fight a swarm of those crawlers.
Finally, after three hours of hunting, I got what I came for.
Due to your actions, you acquired a new skill: Firearms (Novice).
Fucking finally. I officially have less shitty aim now.
It hit me like someone dumping a manual into my brain at high speed. How to grip properly, how to brace for recoil, how to breathe before squeezing the trigger. My stance shifted on its own, my posture locking into place as if it had always been that way.
I raised the pistol and aimed. Five bullets and the buzzfly was down.
Now that was progress.
I practiced with my upgraded skills for two more rounds. After that, I left the dungeon, and Frances continued her journey in hell.
It was time for classes.