Chapter 5: A Year

One year later..Michael was doing what he usually does. Sit at his desk and wait for patients to arrive.

Though this particular day was special.

Michael stared blankly into the mirror and muttered "Status"

+---+

Name: Michael

Age: 9 years old

Race: Human

Class: Healer [Common]

Level 9 [9000/9000 EXP] (+)

Titles:

-Born anew [Unique] [Temporary]

# Increases experience gain by 50% until level 10

-Stats

HP: 340/340 / Regen 48 HP Per Hour

MP: 520/545 / Regen 89 MP Per Hour

STR: 4 -> 40

END: 2 -> 48

AGI: 2 -> 37

INT: 17 -> 89

CHA: 5 -> 6

-Skills

Hand to hand combat [Level 5 0/2500 EXP] [Common] [Passive]

# Increases STR by 5% when fighting using only your hands

Discipline [Level 7 250/3500 EXP] [Uncommon] [Passive]

# Mental magic has a 7% reduced effect on you

Shooting mastery [Level 6 0/3000 EXP] [Uncommon] [Passive]

# Any kind of projectile has a 6% increase in velocity

Heal [Level 10 MAX] [Common] [Active]

# Heal the target / Restore 150 HP

Cost: 25 MP

Focus Heal [Level 10 MAX] [Common] [Active]

# Heal the target's injuries in the area focused / Restore 150 HP

Cost: 15 MP

+---+

Michael had gotten an extra 5 Unassigned stat points each once he maxed out both of his healing skills. That coupled with the single point he got per a skill level up, netted him quite the sum.

Due to his intense training, he was able to level up Discipline 3 times. Gaining 3 stat points.

He also invested all the points that he received from leveling up thus far into INT. bringing his net total to 89.

The other stats stopped growing as much. At first, the growth rate was rapid, but later on, it took a week to even see a single stat point appear. Even that was not guaranteed.

Congratulations, you finally reached Level 10. All you have to do is click the button now.

Over the past year, Michael did nothing but work, train, eat and sleep. That was his entire day's regimen.

It was akin to torture. But Michael persevered and is now looking at his results proudly.

The relationship between Michael and the system was similar to that of brothers. Though Michael was the younger brother.

He noticed that the system's personality is very similar to his. And when he raised a question about it, the system told Michael that a piece of its sentience contained some of his memories.

He was quite shocked to hear that. But it did explain why the system knew so much about him.

'Anyways' Michael turned back to the system interface and focused on the plus sign next to his level, then clicked it.

-DING

[Level up! 9->10 0/10000 EXP]

[Health and Magic Points fully restored]

[5 Unassigned Stat points obtained]

[Milestone reached! +10 to all stats]

[HP and MP Ratio readjusted 1:5->1:6]

[New System Functions added]

Michael was assaulted by a wall of text. But before he could rejoice that it was over, another sound rang in his ears.

-DING

+--+

[Random Healer Skill generated]

Purify [Level 0 0/100] [Rare] [Active]

# Purify the target, curing all diseases and illnesses

Cost: 100MP

+--+

'Curing all diseases and illnesses?' Michael thought. It seemed a little overpowered.

That is correct, because it is overpowered.

'Bastard, now you can hear my thoughts!?' Michael exclaimed in his mind, he didn't expect this development.

That is one of the new functions yes. Though the best one of them all is [Skill Merging]

'Oh? Can I Merge my shooting and hand to hand combat skills? I don't use them anyways.'

No, the skills not only have to be the same rarity. They also need to be active skills, since you can't merge passive skills. The skill levels need to be maxed out as well.

'That's a bummer.'

Well look on the bright side, you no longer have to say your skills out loud like some idiot, all you have to do is just think about them and they will manifest.

'It's not my fault this system handicapped me' Michael shrugged.

The only one handicapped was you when you started training. Now go combine your healing skills.

'Fuck off' Michael thought before turning on his status interface and clicking on [Skill Merging]

A window popped up and showed only 2 skills that he could merge [Heal] and [Focus heal]

Michael selected both of them and a button appeared asking whether he wished to proceed. He clicked yes and instantly heard a sound.

-DING

[Skills merged, generating new skill]

+--+

Greater Heal [Level 0 0/100] [Uncommon] [Active]

# Heal your target / Restore 500 HP

Cost: 20 MP

+--+

Michael's eyes widened in shock '500HP!?'

That is certainly more than I thought myself. This is closer to being a Rare rank skill. Though I guess the only reason it's not is because it is just a simple heal in the end.

'Maybe' Michael thought while shrugging. He didn't really care, he would merge this skill with another one if he were to obtain a second Uncommon ranked active skill.

Go check out your status screen. I already used the stat points.

Michael nodded, and out of habit said "Status"

+---+

Name: Michael

Age: 9 years old

Race: Human

Class: Healer [Common]

Level 10 [0/10000 EXP]

Titles:

None

-Stats

HP: 448/448 / Regen 58 HP Per Hour

MP: 724/724 / Regen 104 MP Per Hour

STR: 40 -> 50

END: 48 -> 58

AGI: 37 -> 47

INT: 89 -> 104

CHA: 6 -> 16

-Skills / [Skill Merging]

Hand to hand combat [Level 5 0/2500 EXP] [Common] [Passive]

# Increases STR by 5% when fighting using only your hands

Discipline [Level 7 250/3500 EXP] [Uncommon] [Passive]

# Mental magic has a 7% reduced effect on you

Shooting mastery [Level 6 0/3000 EXP] [Uncommon] [Passive]

# Any kind of projectile has a 6% increase in velocity

Greater Heal [Level 0 0/100] [Uncommon] [Active]

# Heal your target / Restore 500 HP

Cost: 20 MP

Purify [Level 0 0/100] [Rare] [Active]

# Purify the target, curing all diseases and illnesses

Cost: 100MP

+---+

'So are you now just going to put every single stat point I earn into INT?' Michael asked the system with a smile that seemed to not portray his inner feelings.

Pretty much, yes.

'So my opinion is not needed anymore?'

No? I am only distributing your stat points. I am still going to ask you for your opinion before leveling up.

'Whatever..'

Michael noticed his working hours were over. He walked to the reception and clocked out, before starting to walk towards the stadium where he usually trained.

It has become a habit of his. At some point down the line, he started going there willingly.

Though as he was walking there. A woman came up to him and stepped in front of him.

She had a blank expression on her face, one that lacked emotion "Rebecca wishes to see you."

With those words, she left.

'That was a bit strange' Michael thought but nonetheless headed towards Rebecca's office.

She was under some kind of mind affecting spell.

'Can't I use Purify on her to remove it then?' Michael wondered.

It won't work. She was afflicted with magic, and for that you would need something that could dispel said magic. But you don't have that.

'I see.'

After a couple minutes of walking, Michael finally arrived in front of Rebecca's office. As he was about to open the door, Hilda appeared and opened it for him, then proceeded to follow him inside.

She is also brainwashed.

At the system's nonchalant comment, Michael visibly flinched.

"Is something the matter Michael?" Hilda asked.

"It's nothing.."

'Could you at least try to give me a heads up!?' Michael exclaimed at the system.

My bad.

'Your bad my ass, you waited to tell me didn't you' Michael asked. But it seemed the system chose to ignore him.

"Thank you for coming Michael" Rebecca said whilst standing up and going around the stacks of paper on the floor.

She then turned to Hilda and told her to wait outside, and she did just that.

Afterwards, she pointed towards a chair filled with dozens of paper stacks and used her powers to lift the paper away "Sit down."

Michael maneuvered around all of the paper on the ground. It was way worse than last time, almost as if she hadn't done paperwork for a whole year.

"Why was I called?"

"There has been a little situation..though before that, place your hand on this again" Rebecca said as she pulled out the device that showed people's levels.

Placing his hand on it, the hologram appeared.

-+-

Name: Michael

Age: 9

Class: Healer

Level 10

-+-

Rebecca's face turned to one of shock, his level increased by so much in just a year. She knew that it was difficult to level up at the start, especially as a healer.

Clearing her throat "Perfect, Michael how would you like to accompany a party that is going to go hunt monsters?"

Michael lightly tilted his head "In a dungeon?"

Rebecca lightly shook her head with a small smile "Nope, there are a couple of monsters that escaped a dungeon. They are not very strong so the government is using them as practice dummies."

She continued "That is why I thought you might be interested. It is better to get to know the real world earlier."

Michael decided not to immediately accept, but first think about it.

In his own opinion, he felt like he had grown quite a lot. But he has never once used his newfound skills or physical abilities anywhere outside of work or training.

As a former veteran, he had a lot of field experience. He has seen many people die, and he took some lives himself so he was not worried about freezing.

You should go.

The system's voice rang out in Michael's head. Ever since the system reminded him of how weak he was, he never thought it would actively tell him to go into danger.

Don't overthink it. Trust in the training you went through. You are strong enough to keep up with adults, you seem to forget that most people only awaken once they are 10. You have a headstart above everyone, and you still have to reach Level 20 to go into dungeons. I do not go back on my word.

Michael couldn't help but feel slightly warm inside. They had many disagreements and arguments, but in the end, they were still like friends or brothers.

He turned towards Rebecca and said "I will go."

"Great! I will come pick you up in a week, oh and here" Rebecca pulled some sort of key card out of her pocket. seaʀᴄh thё NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"These are the keys to your new room, I was going to give them to you on your birthday, but I was a little busy, sorry" She looked down apologetically.

'A new room..' Michael thought. Feeling relieved that he no longer had to sleep in a bunk bed with the other children all around him. It was getting quite tiring, mentally.

"Thank you.." he expressed his genuine thanks.

"It's no problem, you can go now, call Hilda in once you leave" Rebecca said before standing up and walking back to her chair. Hiding behind the paperwork on her desk.

Michael nodded and said his goodbyes, before walking out of the office and heading towards his new room.

-----

Hilda walked up and around the stack of papers on the desk. Arriving in front of Rebecca "Miss, why did you do that?"

Rebecca looked up at her and spoke in a low voice "I had to do that to meet Reinhardt no? What difference does it make if you were there or not?"

Hilda stared back at her expressionlessly "I suppose it doesn't matter. What level was the boy?"

"He was level 6. Quite the fast speed for a healer."

"I see, did you tell him about the monsters?"

"Yes, he agreed" Rebecca put on a smile that didn't quite seem genuine. She then continued "Was this all necessary though?"

Hilda flashed a cold look at her "Do not question orders from above."

She then proceeded to disappear into the shadows. Once again not letting out a single sound.

Rebecca stared at the wall before sighing.

'Reinhardt thinks of others as tools, he is planning on mind controlling Michael' she thought.

Over the last year, she conversed more and more with him and was able to determine the type of person he was.

'Manipulative, sadistic, crazy..'

During one of their conversations, he was talking about magic affecting the brain to do another's bidding.

She steered the conversation in a way she could gain some information. And found out he was involved in her brainwashing.

He didn't bother with her even after telling her she was brainwashed. He was sure she was still under his control.

'He is mysterious, his goals are unknown, but the fact that he ordered me to send Michael on this monster hunt, means he plans to do something' Rebecca surmised.

'That is when I will confront him..'