Cold. Hungry. Weak.
Those were the first sensations that greeted me when I opened my eyes. The stench of rotting garbage filled my nostrils, and the rough texture of cobblestone pressed against my bare arms. I was curled up in a filthy alleyway, my body frail and clothed in tattered rags.
What… the hell?
Memories flooded my mind my death, the truck's headlights, the crushing impact but also… new ones. The life of an orphan in the Re-Estize Kingdom, begging for scraps, beaten by guards, surviving day by day.
Did I reincarnate?
A faint chime echoed in my skull, and a translucent blue screen flickered before my eyes.
[Welcome, User.]
[System Initializing…]
I blinked. A system? Like in those novels?
[Status]
[Quests]
[Inventory]
[Skills]
[Store]
[Gacha]
A manic grin split my lips. I focused on [Status], and my information appeared.
Name: Kael Arcanis
Race: Human
Level: 1
HP: 20/20
MP: 5/5
STR: 2
AGI: 3
VIT: 2
INT: 4
LUK: 1
Pathetic. Was the only thing I could think as I saw my stats.
[Quest: First Blood]
Object: Kill a living creature
Reward: 50 EXP, 10 System Coins, Random Skill Scroll
I exhaled slowly. Kill, huh?
A rat scurried past my feet, sniffing at the refuse.
Perfect.
Ignoring the disgust curling in my stomach, I spotted a rusted dagger in a pile of trash. It was dull and pitted, but it would do. I wrapped my fingers around the hilt, took a deep breath, and lunged.
The blade pierced the rat's side. It squealed, thrashing as warm blood trickled over my fingers. My heart pounded. I didn't stop. I twisted the knife and forced it deeper until the twitching stopped.
I stared at the corpse, breath shaky.
A soft ding echoed in my mind.
[Quest Complete: First Blood!]
[+50 EXP]
[+10 System Coins]
[Skill Scroll Acquired: Minor Poison Resistance]
My body stiffened as a strange warmth filled me.
[Level Up!]
[You are now Level 2!]
[+5 Stat Points to Allocate]
I dumped the points into STR and AGI, feeling my muscles tighten, my movements sharpen.
Next, I decide to look at the news skill that I have acquired.
[Minor Poison Resistance]
You are resistant to the effects of weak poisons and toxins. Can be improved through repeated exposure.
My stats were still weak by any real standard, but the increase in STR and AGI was noticeable. My body didn't feel as frail, and my movements were a little sharper.
I clenched my fists. Progress.
Now, I needed more information.
I pushed myself off the cobblestones and stepped out of the alley, squinting as sunlight hit my eyes. The city streets were bustling peasants, merchants, and the occasional armored guard moving about. The scent of fresh bread mixed with the filth of unwashed bodies.
I found a cracked window in a nearby shop and studied my reflection.
A boy stared back at me thin, with sharp, malnourished features and messy black hair. My clothes were ragged, my skin pale from lack of proper food and care. If I had to guess, I looked around ten or eleven.
I exhaled through my nose, ignoring the frustration creeping in. This wasn't some game where I could skip ahead. If I wanted to become an adventurer, I needed strength and right now, no guild would accept a starving street orphan with no combat ability.
So, the question was: How fast can I fix that?
I had [Quests], [Store], and [Gacha] as options. Maybe I could farm more rats for EXP, or see if the system had anything cheap that could boost my growth.
I stepped back into the alley, away from prying eyes, and opened [Store].
A new menu appeared, listing various items and upgrades.
[Basic Stat Boost – 10 System Coins] (+1 to a chosen stat)
[Basic Health Recovery – 5 System Coins] (Restores 10 HP instantly)
[Beginner's Weapon Pack – 50 System Coins] (Contains a random common weapon)
[Basic Skill Book – 30 System Coins] (Unlocks a random basic skill)
I only had 10 System Coins. Not much.
The best option was obvious I tapped [Basic Stat Boost] and chose VIT.
A pulse of warmth spread through me. My body felt… a little tougher, a little more resilient.
I checked [Status] again.
VIT: 3 (+1)
Not a huge change, but every bit counted.
I clenched my fists. If I kept grinding, gaining levels, and using my coins wisely, I could grow stronger fast enough to reach the adventurer's guild before anyone would dismiss me as just another street rat.
But first I needed more EXP.
My gaze flicked to the shadows of the alley. If there were rats here, there were probably more in the slums or the sewers.
Time to hunt.
-later-
I kept to the edges of the alley, slipping between the shadows as he made his way deeper into the slums. The further I went, the worse the stench became rotting food, unwashed bodies, and the unmistakable stink of human waste.
The slums of Re-Estize were a breeding ground for disease, crime, and death. No one batted an eye at a starving orphan wandering the streets, but if I collapsed from hunger, there'd be no kind soul to help me.
No. I had to keep moving.
I needed a way into the sewers. If there were rats in the alleys, there had to be even more down there bigger ones, maybe even mutated ones. And more creatures meant more EXP.
Eventually, I found what I was looking for.
A rusted iron grate was set into the side of a crumbling brick wall. It was meant to keep people out, but time and neglect had loosened the bolts. I crouched, wrapping my fingers around the bars, and pulled.
Groan.
The metal scraped against stone, but it gave way.
I slipped inside, lowering myself into the darkness below.
The moment my feet hit the damp stone, the smell hit me.
Rot, mold, and the overwhelming stench of waste. I gagged, pulling my shirt over my nose, but it barely helped.
The tunnel was dimly lit by patches of glowing moss clinging to the walls. Dirty water flowed sluggishly through the center, while the walkways on either side were slick with grime.
[New Area Discovered: Re-Estize Sewer System]
[Low-level creatures detected. Recommended for Levels 1-5.]
Perfect.
I pulled my rusted dagger from my waist and moved forward, keeping my footsteps light. The air was thick with the sounds of dripping water, distant squeaks, and the occasional skittering noise in the darkness.
Then, I saw them.
A pair of red eyes glowed from the shadows.
Then another. And another.
A group of sewer rats larger than the one I had killed in the alley. Their fur was matted, their yellowed teeth bared as they sniffed the air.
Another ding rang in my mind.
[New Quest: Extermination]
Objective: Kill 10 Sewer Rats.
Reward: 150 EXP, 25 System Coins, Random Item.
A grin crept across my lips.
Good. More EXP.
I tightened my grip on my dagger and lowered my stance.
I took a slow, steady breath, his fingers tightening around the rusted dagger.
The sewer rats sniffed the air, their beady red eyes locked onto him. One of them a particularly large one let out a high-pitched screech.
That was all the warning he got before they lunged.
The first rat darted forward, its teeth aimed for his leg. He reacted on instinct, sidestepping and driving his dagger down. The rusted blade sank into the creature's skull with a wet crunch. The rat convulsed, blood pooling beneath it.
[+10 EXP]
The second rat came from the side, aiming for his arm. He barely managed to twist away, but its claws raked his forearm, tearing through the rags covering his skin.
Pain flared, but he gritted his teeth and lashed out. His dagger caught the rat's throat, cutting deep. It let out a choked squeal before collapsing.
[+10 EXP]
The third lunged for his ankle. This one was faster.
Teeth sank into his flesh, and white-hot agony shot up his leg. He snarled, slamming his foot against the sewer wall, crushing the rat between stone and bone. It screeched, but he didn't stop he ground it against the wall until the squealing stopped.
[+10 EXP]
His breath came in sharp gasps. His leg throbbed. Blood dripped down his ankle, mixing with the filth of the sewer floor.
A ding echoed in his mind.
[Minor Poison Resistance Activated!]
[Lowers effect of Sewer Rat Bite Poison]
He smirked through the pain. Guess that skill was useful after all.
The remaining rats hesitated, their whiskers twitching as they took in the corpses of their fallen.
He didn't wait.
He charged.
His dagger flashed, stabbing, slicing. He moved on instinct ducking low, dodging bites, driving his blade into exposed flesh. Blood splattered against the stone walls. The creatures squealed, their screeches echoing through the tunnels.
One by one, they fell.
[+10 EXP]
[+10 EXP]
[+10 EXP]
His body ached. His muscles burned. His wounds stung. But he didn't stop.
Another rat. Another stab. Another kill.
By the time the last corpse hit the ground, He was panting, his dagger slick with blood and filth. His hands trembled.
A loud chime rang in his head.
[Quest Complete: Extermination!]
[+150 EXP]
[+25 System Coins]
[Random Item Acquired]
[Level Up!]
[You are now Level 3!]
[+5 Stat Points to Allocate]
He let out a ragged breath. He did it.
He wiped his dagger against his rags, glancing at the carnage around him. The sewer floor was littered with rat corpses, blood pooling in the filth. The stench was overwhelming, but he barely noticed it anymore.
Instead, he opened his [Status].
Name: Kael Arcanis
Race: Human
Level: 3
HP: 35/35
MP: 5/5
STR: 4
AGI: 5
VIT: 3
INT: 4
LUK: 1
Points: 5
He dumped his points into STR and VIT, feeling his body toughen and his muscles grow denser.
Then, he checked his [Inventory] for the random item.
A single object sat inside.
[Item: Bloodstained Leather Gloves]
A pair of old, worn gloves soaked in dried blood. Increases grip strength slightly. Provides minor protection against cuts and scratches.
He slipped them on. They were a little loose, but they fit well enough.
He took a deep breath, his pulse still hammering in his ears. His body ached, his wounds stung, and exhaustion tugged at his limbs.
He glanced down at his bitten leg, where blood had mixed with the filth of the sewer floor. The pain was duller now, likely thanks to [Minor Poison Resistance], but he wasn't stupid just because it reduced the poison's effects didn't mean it made him immune.
If he pushed further, he risked infection, more injuries.
A part of him wanted to keep going, to keep killing, to keep growing.
But he wasn't an idiot.
Grinding meant nothing if he died in the process.
Kael exhaled sharply and turned back the way he came, retracing his steps through the winding tunnels. His muscles burned, and every step sent a sharp jolt of pain up his leg, but he pushed through it.
When he finally reached the entrance, he pulled himself up through the rusted grate, his arms shaking from exertion. The fresh well, fresher air of the slums hit him like a wave, and he took a deep breath.
The sun had dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the filthy streets. People moved about, minding their own business, ignoring the ragged orphan covered in blood and sewer grime.
He leaned against a crumbling wall, his heart still pounding.
He'd done well today.
He clenched his fists. He hated retreating, hated stopping when he could've kept going. But he wasn't going to throw his life away for some extra EXP.
There was always tomorrow.
For now, he needed to find a place to rest.
XxX
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