Outside of the village was a sprawling field of high grasses. They rose above even Faust, and within them he tracked shifting shapes.
I wonder if there's a tracking skill…
Following the movements in the grass he found blue slimes rolling through the field, dissolving grass into their bodies peacefully. They created a large clearing in their paths, giving him visibility.
Faust hummed with interest and moved on, stalking around the field to check out the monster types in the fields.
He found a lot of slimes lurking in the grass. They were easy to find, because of the patches of eaten grass and very simple creatures. They weren't even technically aggressive, unless you messed with them or their food.
[Acid Slime]
[Level: 1]
[Combat Power: 21]
[Details: Not very strong or durable, but their acid packs a punch.]
"How does a slime have almost as much combat power than me?" Faust wondered as he leisurely walked between the slimes.
Combat power was the addition of all attributes, so even if the monsters had no strength or resistance, they could have a surprising agility or spirit stat. Faust noted that; they moved slowly and looked harmless, but they were hiding something.
He became a slime whisperer. Learning what pissed them off and what they could do. Slimes were smart, efficient with their energy, and deceptively fast when they had to act.
Stroking the cool, viscous membrane of the slime, he smiled. They were actually not that bad.
I wonder if I can raise an army of slimes. Now that would be fun.
He moved on, finding another monster type in the lower fields.
They were black jackals that could crush rocks between their jaws. Faust had watched them for a while. The sword at his hip pleaded for some action, but he was still learning. And he was enjoying himself first.
[Bronze Jackal]
[Level: 2]
[Combat Power: 60]
[Details: They are fast and enduring. Their bites can crush metal easily. But they aren't very sensitive.]
The dogs were stronger than him. A whole level higher and three times as much combat power of a slime. Not that being stronger than a blue blob was anything amazing.
So he abandoned the jackals for now. Farming Slimes was the method.
First he wanted to exchange his sword for another weapon. A spear would be nice. Then he would look for anything that could make him stronger in the Novice village. Or at least information
He was saying goodbye to the slimes when he heard voices approaching them. He instantly used Stealth and silently skulked into the taller grasses to hide and watch.
His instincts were right. Three boys walked out of the grass and smiled wickedly when they saw the slimes.
"I knew this game would have some mobs for grinding!" one of them exclaimed. "What are their levels?"
"My Appraise skill says level 1," another boy replied. "And it doesn't seem like they can see us."
The third boy rushed towards the slimes with a dagger and a grin. "My exp. Stay back, slowpokes."
He pricked the slime slightly and it shuddered violently before unleashing a spray of acid into the air.
"AHHHHH!"
The sound of searing skin and the boy's horrified scream shook the small clearing. His friends watched in horror as the acid seemed to call all the slimes to the screaming boy.
The blue bloobs surged forward with surprising speed. They baptised him in the corrosive liquid and consumed the still screaming prey before his friends could react.
Faust shook his head. Slimes don't play around. If you're going to attack, kill them in one blow or the acid attracts the rest.
It's not like he didn't plan to kill the slimes because they were cute. He was rather waiting to get a spear and watching to understand them.
They had cores in their body. One good strike should be able to shatter the core and kill the slime in one blow.
He left the clearing behind, ignoring the screams of the boys and slushing sounds of their friend being eaten.
Treating these trials like a game was their first and, for one, last mistake.
◇◇◇
The Novice village was quieter now. People weren't beating the shit out of each other anymore and instead conversed and strategised in large groups, exchanging information and making plans.
Human beings are scary.
If this many people rushed into the field in a coordinated effort even the Bronze Jackals would be overwhelmed.
I have to move quickly and get out there to farm.
He only came back to check and make sure he wasn't missing anything and had all the information he needed.
During his stealth training in the village, he managed to spot a lot of people. Specifically a large group of people that he knew personally.
While it wasn't impossibe—1% of the human population is still a lot of people—it was pleasantly surprising when he saw Liora among them.
So upon his return to the village he went and found her first.
Many of his classmates gawked as he returned.
"Faust! You're here too? Where have you been?"
"That means only like ten people from our class weren't brought here."
Before they could ask any more questions, Liora got up and pulled him away. She had been sitting beside and energetically chatting up William, who looked very annoyed by Faust's return.
She looked not so pleased by his return. Faust just rolled his eyes. All he wanted was info not drama.
"Where the hell have you been?" Liora snapped. "Everyone else found us easily. What was so important you left your girlfriend alone for so long?"
Faust shrugged. "Recon. What's going on? Why's everyone so split up?"
"We're all from different places. Different schools, offices. Anywhere. The freaking system just grabbed up anyone in the area and threw them here."
So they automatically formed groups with familiar people. Logical, but a waste. A single unified group of what seemed like ten thousand people was scarier than two hundred isolated groups.
"Interesting," Faust murmured. "What about statuses? Attributes and skills?"
"Sure, don't ask how I am, or what I need. Ask about nerd stuff," Liora grumbled. "Most people have fives in their attributes and one skill, which are random."
So I'm above average. I have mostly eight points in attributes and two skills.
Faust watched William stalk away from the larger group towards them with an irritated expression. Faust wondered what he wanted for a second.
Liora's eyes widened suddenly. "Wait! do you have a Schema or System?"
"What?" Faust blinked, confused. He had never heard of game elements like that. A system was more of a webnovel thing than something players had in a game.
"You don't have either…" Liora muttered, glaring at him.
"What do they do? Are they important—"
"They're pretty important," William said with a smirk. He had been drawing closer and closer this whole time.
"Finally found your tongue, Willy?" Faust mocked.
William's eyebrow twitched but he still smiled. "You see average players have Combat power around 20 and one skill—or two if they're lucky. But special players have a Schema, a special ability that makes everything about them better. Then really special players have a system that improves their leveling speed or gives extra rewards."
"Let me guess, you have both," Faust said, shaking his head.
"Yes," William sneered back. "My Schema is Gold rank—Fortress. I can create defensive barriers and strengthen allies. And I have an Ally system."
Liora glanced between them hesitantly. "We'll join his group. His system can only support seven people. You, me, and his four friends. Then whoever else is useful."
"Hmmm," William hummed dramatically. "I don't know about that, Liora. Your Excess Essence Schema and your healing skill are a broken combo, but little Faust is just… average."
Liora pursed her lips. "He can be useful and he'll apologise for all those dumb fights. Right, Faust?"
Faust had put a hand over his mouth, holding back the laughter to make the situation tense. But what Liora said pushed him past his limit.
His loud cackling drew the attention of his classmates and people around them. His classmates stared at him like he was mad, whispering to each other that he finally cracked.
Cassie, the class rep looked, pale with fright, but there was a strange glint in her eyes.
Todd adjusted his glasses with a look of worry.
Fiona, the most popular girl in their class, frowned in distaste, whispering something to her flock of sheep.
When the laughter finally released him, Faust cleaned a tear from his eyes and said,
"It's good to see you get your balls back, Willy."
William turned red and charged him, but Liora got between them, raising her hands. "Enough! Faust, you fucking psycho, this is…. I wasn't going to do this now, but we're breaking up! You aren't enough. You've always been weird, but at least you were cool. Now you're just crazy."
Faust had been barely listening to her, too busy smiling at William. He waved her off carelessly.
"I don't care. You were always just a way to pass time. Too easy, too small, and just boring. So boring."
Liora gaped at him in utter shock.
This allowed an even angrier William to get past her and attack Faust.
"Don't talk to her like that!" he roared, throwing a haymaker.
Faust slipped under the blow with demeaning ease, hooked his arm around William's neck, and swept the boy off his feet.
It happened so fast that William's lackeys only got up, when his back slammed against the dirt.
Faust took a second to pat his face and say, "still too obvious, Willy," before rising and stepping back from the groaning boy.
William's lackeys spread out, each too afraid to be the first one to strike. This was usually when Faust struck, but he wasn't looking for a fight right now at least.
He raised his hands and backed up, speaking to the still pale Liora. "You need to make your picks a bit better. William is like a pile of shit. You can sprinkle gold on it but it'll still stink."
"Y-you," Liora stuttered, turning red with anger finally.
"This isn't over," William roared, staggering to his feet. "I'll get stronger soon. I'm going to make you regret being born."
Faust's grin grew so wide that everyone stepped back. " You'd make me the happiest man on earth. I look forward to you trying. I really do"
And with that, he just turned and left. He was done here. But he was also hiding a smirk as the system chimed in his ears.
Ding!
[Requirements met! Investments have been made! You have awakened a Schema and System!]
[You have awakened a 100% Drop Rate System!]
[You have awakened the Perfect Match Schema, A Legendary Grade Schema!]