I could barely sleep all day. Someone stronger than me had summoned me to this world. Obviously, they didn't care about the moral or ethical side of the issue. And there was nothing I could do to change it.
I decided to look at my Characteristics again:
Name: Sven Laokard Race: Human Class: ??? Subclass: ??? Traits: "Perfect Eye - Level 2," "Resilient - Level 1," "Aberrant Mind" Spells: "Mage Hand," "Shield from Weapons"
I tapped on the Mage Hand spell, and a small window opened:
"Mage Hand - Level 2"Spell, Invocation, Metamagic. You summon a hand, a phantom resembling purple water. You can extend it up to 10 meters, but in return, you will spend more of your Kir. Its duration also depends on Kir and concentration. You can use it by uttering: "Hand woven from a phantom, I call to you, fulfill my will."
It described how to use it. I sat on the edge of the bed: "Hand woven from a phantom, I call to you, fulfill my will."
A hand burst from my chest; it looked like water with dark bubbles inside. I felt it as if it were my own hand. It was good that all of Sven's knowledge was systematized within the System.
I opened the "Shield from Weapons" spell:
"Shield from Weapons - Level 1"Spell, Invocation, Abjuration, Metamagic. You summon a round, transparent barrier with figures. You can draw this spell up to 50 centimeters in size. It can withstand one instance of damage: crushing, piercing, slashing, projectiles, or falling. You can summon it by drawing a circle in the air with a star on top.
I used the Mage Hand to draw the Shield from Weapons in the air. Before my eyes, my drawing transformed into a barrier.
I stood up from the bed and struck the barrier. My hand felt nothing. The barrier shattered into small pieces, and those pieces broke down further until the Kir I spent on the spell dissolved into the air.
This could be useful. Over the next few days, I only read "History of the Eastern Dragon" and delved into the history of this world. It turns out the dragon Ryu Manju is buried beneath this city.
God, I need to walk around outside or my head will explode. I put on a black, knee-length coat, slightly wide white trousers, a blue shirt, and a white fabric jacket over it.
And my mother gave me two artifacts: "Bottle of Wind" and "Chain with an Arrowhead":
"Bottle of Wind" (Unusual): Charges with Kir. When used, you can fly and fall safely to the ground from up to 100 meters without harm. Gives +3 to elemental attacks."Chain with an Arrowhead" (Epic): Grants resistance to psychic and physical attacks. Can be used as a soul container. Can participate in special rituals (secret).
These artifacts aren't just useful—they are the best one could have at starting levels. I put the bottle in my left pocket and hung the chain around my neck.
Walking through the city, I looked around at the people. They looked very much alive. If this were a fabrication of my sick mind, they would look different.
The city's architecture was somewhat depressing—identical, gray panel buildings, interspersed with bright shops and slightly blue trees. Birds, similar to gulls, flew everywhere. It wasn't surprising; this place was located near the sea, where drugs, weapons, and artifacts were often smuggled illegally. On the waterfront, there was a secret entrance to the Dark Bazaar in the swamps.
I turned on the Support window and wrote:
[How can I earn currency and Transcendent Points?]
[Good question. Currency, or as we call it, Bao, can be earned by killing, completing quests, through the Battle Pass, for achievements, and for good reputation. Transcendent Points can be obtained through training. For example, reading a book gives you one Transcendent Point for Intelligence, and physical training gives you points for Strength.]
[Then give me a task I can complete.]
[Understood :)]
The chat window closed, and a mission window popped up:
Mission: Infiltrate the Dark Bazaar, then leave the Celestial Dome. Reward: 30,000 Bao, Potion of Rapid Absorption.
I said a mission I could complete! This stupid System gave me an impossible task. How can a 15-year-old boy pass through the Dome that seals an entire huge city? Plus, I look young.
I need to come up with a plan. In the game, there were several ways to cross the Dome. First: the official way, but I'm not even 16 to get out with parental permission, and even then, they wouldn't allow it. Second: via a tunnel, but it's on the other side of the country and requires an Epic artifact. Third: the Dark Bazaar has an artifact-based teleportation machine. These are installed in 14 out of 42 cities. Fourth: if a Level 15 mage helps me.
Right now, I can only leave using the teleport. I must infiltrate the Bazaar, find a round-trip ticket, give the ticket to the conductor, and teleport outside the walls.