She told me to hide.
But… I couldn't. I didn't want her to get hurt for the sake of my own self being, but she begged me and one look at her face left me with no other options and I jumped into the closet in the corner of the room. Since she was sluggish from being bedridden she barely managed to wiggle her way under her bed when the intruders barged in. They seemed to know what they were doing by the looks of things since they checked every inch of the room. They hadn't found me by the time one of them reached under the bed and dragged my mother out, tears streaming down her face all the while. Seeing her caught, I panicked and tried to fight the burglars empty handed.
Despite what happened next, I still don't regret my decision.
They were surprised to see me leap from the closet and the one closest to me swung his iron bat at my head, nearly knocking me out cold on the spot. It was one of the worst pains I'd ever felt in my life. My mother was screaming at the top of her lungs at this point, loud enough to alert the neighbors. The intruders immediately moved to silence her, one of them pulling out something that nearly killed me just from having it so close to her. From my angle on the floor, I could see the pistol's simplistic western design and without even thinking, I ran towards them, immediately snatching the wrist of the thug brandishing the firearm. Moments of me struggling to point the gun away from my mother went on only for it to fire accidentally, I wasn't entirely sure where I was shot, but the moment it went off my vision went dark in a split second.
So… I'm dead then..? My hands began to shake as I realized what had happened. I was broken from my thoughts as a large box with white letters appeared before me.
[Hello, welcome to The Game] it read before the words changed [You have been selected to join a world in peril as 'The Gamer']
I stumbled slightly at what I had read "So wait," I began "Is this like one of the fanfictions that I've read? Do I get to choose what world I go to?"
My question was met by the words changing yet again [Simply speaking, yes this is somewhat like the fanfictions and no you will not get to choose the world you will be joining] I was slightly disappointed by this, not that it was possible to tell [Now, let us begin the tutorial. Would you like the game to be set to mental or verbal commands?]
I thought for a moment before 'nodding'. "I would like both to be enabled." I said awaiting the next response from The Game.
[Interesting decision… Now to begin say or think "Menu"]
"Menu" I thought and immediately some more options appeared in my field of view, remaining in the same spot no matter where I looked. It read.
[Stats]
[Skills]
[Inventory]
[Friends]
[Shop]
[BGM]
[Options]
[This will most likely be your most useful system command as it allows you access all the other modules. For the Game Master's sake, please think or say "Statistics" or "Stats"]
I was slightly confused by the 'Game Master' comment but did as I was told and spoke "Stats", this time the screen that appeared was much more detailed than just a couple of words.
[Name]: ?
[Level]: ?
[Species]: ?
[Title]: None
[Skills]: None
[HP]: ?
STR or Strength: ?
END or Endurance: ?
VIT or Vitality: ?
DEX or Dexterity: ?
AGI or Agility: ?
INT or Intelligence: ?
WIS or Wisdom: ?
LUK or Luck: ?
CSM or Charisma: ?
[Skill Points]: 0
[Next you must select your 2 'Banes' and 'Boons'. Unlike some games with this feature, the stats you apply them to will be isolated from the others. For example should you make STR your boon, it would not reduce your END as well.]
I blinked twice, that was very useful… but before I made any decisions on what I would set as my bane and boon I should probably understand what each stat actually meant "What do each of the stats represent?" I asked.
[STR: the ability to lift, throw, or swing heavy objects. This does not affect your skill level with the item.
END: Damage resistance and stamina.
VIT: Health and health regeneration.
DEX: Precision and skill with hands and weapons.
AGI: Speed and ability to dodge.
INT: Book smarts, memorization and Aura regeneration.
WIS: Practical smarts, ethics, morals and Aura capacity.
LUK: Fortune in situations with multiple outcomes such as gambling.
CSM: Social skills and ability to interact with others]
With this information in mind I placed my banes as INT and STR and my boons into CSM and AGI . "Everyone always underestimates the usefulness of charisma… EVERY situation has multiple possible outcomes." I thought as I looked upon my stats once again.
[Name]: ?
[Species]: ?
[Title]: None
[Level]: 1
[Dependent Stats]
HP: 100/100
STR: 5
END: 10
VIT: 10
DEX: 10
AGI: 15
INT: 5
WIS: 10
LUK: 10
CSM: 15
[Skill Points]: 0
The boy looked on happily as The Game backed the screen out into the main menu.
[Now that you have created your stats properly please open the 'Skills' menu. There will be no alterations to make this is just so you understand your capabilities]
"Skills" the boy called into the void, interested to see just what his abilities would be.
[Gamer's Body Lvl: Max (Passive)]
Prevents any lasting harm unless requested to by The Gamer (Decorative scars etc.) and also provides a passive resistance to poisons. Health is determined by HP.
[Bow Proficiency Lvl: 5]
Your skill with a bow has carried over to this new world. This skill is how efficient you are with a bow. (5 Ability Points until LV 6)
"At least I have abilities to use a weapon." I thought as I looked through the few skills that I owned. Looks like I'm gonna be an archer.
[You have 3 Ability Points! You can use this to level up an already known ability or you can buy a new one]
Ability List:
[Sniper: LV 1]
The Gamer can increase damage and accuracy of all hits you make with a bow. If you get a critical hit than the arrow can hit another target in a straight line from the target.
[Light Weapon Proficiency: LV 1]
The Gamer is able to use light weapons such as Daggers, Shortswords, and Rapiers
[Improved Tracking: LV 1]
The Gamer is able to track animals, beasts, and Humans fairly well.
[Shadow Stealth: LV 1]
The Gamer becomes skilled in stealth and staying quiet. You can make your footsteps make no sound, you can hide in crowds easier, and you are quick to find the best hiding spot in the current situation. Critical Hits are more often to happen.
[Hawk Sight: LV 1]
The Gamer is able to see things farther than normal people. You have 20/20 vision for up to a mile. The Gamer is also able to see things in a finer detail.
I blinked at the skills I was able to use. I pressed my finger on the Shadow Stealth, Light Weapon Proficiency, and Sniper ability. It seemed the most useful to the type of fighter I was going to be.
[If you are finished, hit the continue button to join your new world!]
Continue?
I tapped the button and waited. I waited 5 seconds, 5 seconds turned into 5 minutes…. I sighed as for a moment, no more screens popped up. I waited….. I waited some more….. "Screw it! Are you the- AAAAAHHHHHHH!"
A surge of electrifying pain shot through my body. It was like I was being tased by one of those police tasers. It was like someone shoved a bolt of lightning through my chest. It was like…. I can't make up any similes but it just freaking sucked!
The last thing I saw was a screen with my stats.
Name]: Robin Redwood
[Species]: Fox Faunus
[Title]: None
[Level]: 1
[Dependent Stats]
HP: 100/100
STR: 5
END: 10
VIT: 10
DEX: 10
AGI: 15
INT: 5
WIS: 10
LUK: 10
CSM: 15
[Skill Points]: 0
—
My eyes snapped open, a gasp escaping me as I jerk up from being prone on the ground. It was like I just awoke from some sort of dream. Sweat was dripping from my face as I started to finally sort out what the hell just happened. So! I died, went to some sort of weird void thing, and then awoke here. But where is here?
My vision started to focus as I began to realize I was in some sort of forest. The light from the sun slowly peeled out of the clearing as it looked to be morning. I slowly stood up and looked at my clothing. It wasn't anything to special. Just a red and tan tunic with brown pants and boots. Okay….. what now?
Though, now that I'm inspecting myself, I realize something else is very different, I'm not scrawny anymore. The baggy clothes I used to wear hid it, but I had no real muscle mass and was a bean pole. Now though, even through the leather jacket I could feel that I actually had some muscle on my bones and putting my hand on my stomach made two things apparent. One was that I had a light six pack, and pushing my shirt against my abdomen made it clear I had pecs too.
"YES! I AM NO LONGER SCRAWNY! VICTORY!" I shout happily, throwing my head back and my hands in the air, shouting to the purple/orange-ish morning sky. Getting up and brushing the dirt off my knees I take a look around and see that forest around me is vibrant and full of life, what is either late morning or early morning sunlight streaming through the trees, setting a rather beautiful and tranquil scene..
"Now! Time to start my adventure! Alright to do list." I said as a began my walk through the woods. My fox like ears twitched a small bit, which I am NEVER going to get used to. "Join Beacon, meet up with the main cast, prevent the fall of beacon from happening, and….. something else I don't know." I said with a smile.
I was snapped out of my thoughts as I heard the bushes near me start to rustle in the bushes behind me. I blinked and walked towards the sound. What I was met with was two, blood red, eyes with a body covered in black dark fur. They glared as I slowly began to back up. "Oh shit." A screen popped up as I slowly started to back up.
[Quest Gained: Big Bad Wolves
Description: You hear a growl in the bushes as the beast stalks its prey. You are the prey. Good luck with that.
Objective: Kill Beowolves 0/3, or run and survive until ? Arrives]
THAT ONLY GIVES ME ONE OPTION TO DO! I began to run like hell!
(3rd person P.O.V)
A man with greasy, slicked back black hair and red eyes was walking through the forests of Remnant while drinking from a flask of alcohol. He's wearing black pants and shoes along with a gray overcoat with the sleeves flipped upwards from the elbows overtop of a black cape with a red interior.
The mission was simple. Clear out some Grimm that were near a village. He didn't think much of it as he drank some of his drink out of his flask. Would drinking be the best idea during a mission? No. Did he care? No. So he just drank it anyways.
The man paused when he heard the sound of footsteps as something began to run closer to the him. He sighed and put his flask up while pulling out the giant sword that was on his back. "Let see what we got here….." He muttered as he took a stance.
The footsteps got closer and closer, running at a pretty fast speed like they were running for their life. They got closer and as soon as the man went to take a strike at the creature, a young boy, who couldn't be above the age of fourteen began zooming out of the bushes. The boy had dark tan skin and cherry red eyes that looked to be filled with tears. He had crimson red hair and a small red feather was in his hair. He was fairly short, standing at 5'3" and wearing a brown tunic and brown pants. The most notable feature however was the pair of Fox Ears that were poking out of his hair. He didn't seem to have any weapon on his person, so he couldn't be much of a threat.
"YOU HAVE TO HELP ME PLEASE!" The boy exclaimed, hiding behind the huntsman. The man blinked as he looked down at the boy. He wondered what all this commotion was about, but then he heard a growl. A growl that came from a bit further in the forest. Three adolescent beowolves began to slowly walk to the boy and the huntsman. The man got in a stance and readied his sword. "Hurry. Find a place to hide!" The man said to the boy.
Without question the Fox Faunus ran to find a hiding place away from the man. He smirked lightly as the beasts began to charge.
The first Beowolf ran towards the man, stood up on its hind legs, raised its hand up to claw him in the face. The man saw this coming and easily blocked the attack with his blade. He overpowered the beast and pushed it back onto it's stomach, stabbing it in the chest in the process. The beast chomped at the man before slowly resting its head down and disintegrating.
The other two tried to double team the huntsman. They both began to circle the huntsman before the man began to do something. He pressed a button on his sword and its form began to shift. The sound of gears turning could be heard from the weapon as the weapon turned into a large scythe. The two beowolves charged him.
Time felt like it was slowing down as the man swung the scythe in a circular motion, slicing both Grimm's head off in the process. The two beasts fell onto the ground dead as he turned his weapon back into a sword and looked around. "Kid? Are you there?"
The boy poked his head out of the bushes and looked at the man with stars in his eyes. "That… THAT WAS SO AWESOME!" He exclaimed as he ran to the huntsman. The huntsman smiled slightly and patted the teens head.
"Now. Shouldn't you be going home now?" He asked. The kid blinked for a small bit and looked down. "I… I don't have a home anymore." The Fox Faunus said, tearing up as he looked down to the ground.
The huntsman looked at him with a sad expression. He sighed and looked at the boy. "Hmm…. Well we can't just leave you in the forest by yourself. How about you come with me. I know the perfect place for you." The young teen rubbed the tears out of his eyes and looked up at the huntsman. "R-Really?"
"Yes. My name is Qrow." The man said with a smile. The boy gave a bright smile and bounced up and looked up at him.
"My name is Robin!"