[Tainted Lands] 4 – My Unique Skills

[Mana Shield - Level 1 - Active - A spell that has saved many a mage across existence, one of the best shield spells due to its possibility for growth and cost. Summon a shield in the shape of a Parma Shield, providing some coverage against physical and magical harm. Be wary; some spells can and will tear right through the shield easily, especially when faced against an opponent or environment far stronger than the caster. With each level, the durability, duration, and size of the shield increases]

[Fire Bolt - Level 1 - Active - One of the most common elemental spells due to its sheer utility and stopping power. Summon forth a ball of fire that can burn your enemies. Be wary; fire is one of the most common magic elements due to its nature. Many creatures and entities have developed a resistance or full-blown immunization to fire through the skill that can evolve to bypass these resistances. With each level, the spell’s speed, heat, and size increases]

Upon focusing on the skills, I was met with their full descriptions, which were surprisingly more in-depth than what I was used to. Both skills included a warning of sorts in their descriptions. 

However, it wasn’t much of a choice as one was better for me, especially as I already had an offensive spell. My life was…precious. I did not want to die again, so I did not hesitate to choose [Mana Shield], though I had no idea what a Parma Shield was and its supposed size.

After my choice, I found myself thrust back to my cabin, multiple screens still floating beside me, including the two final skills I had yet to examine, and arguably the most important if the ‘Unique’ type was anything to go by.

[Rebirth] and [King of Golems]

The first, I am guessing, is why I survived the encounter with those monsters in town. The second...I had no idea.

[Rebirth - Unique Skill - Due to your unique heritage, you have obtained a lesser version of one of your parent's racial skills and made it your own. Once per day, after death, you may revive near where you died]

Heritage? Wait, what  does it mean by 'lesser version of one of your parent's racial skills?' That can't be true; mom died when I was a child and dad a few years ago; if one of my parents had a skill like [Rebirth], then how could they have died? I distinctly remember seeing both my parents being buried, and what does it mean by lesser? How could the skill be any better? Full-blown immortality? 

Left with more questions than answers, my concern grew. I didn't know much about either of my parents, let alone their sides of the family and whether anyone was on either side to begin with. Dad certainly didn't like to talk about Mom or her family, nor did he want to talk about his life and family. 

Shaking my head, I knew there wasn't any way I'd get answers any time soon, not while I was stuck in this hell, so I looked at my other unique skill.

[King of Golems - Unique Skill - You who can mold clay and carve wood can bring inanimate objects you molded, personally, to life to do your bidding. The effectiveness and strength of the Golems depend on the mana used to create the Golem, the material, and the method in which they are created]

What is that supposed to mean? Does that mean all I have to do is carve or mold something with clay and pump it with mana, and it can turn into a Golem? 

Sighing, I got up from the couch, dismissing all the screens floating before me.

Grabbing a notepad and pen, I walked to my fridge and pantry. I began to list down everything I had, from canned food, fresh food that would spoil within the week, and frozen goods inside my freezer, leaving me to realize I only had enough food for a week at best before I'd have to leave and search for more. As for water, I had enough to last me a week and a half if I used it sparingly...

Sighing again, I realized that I'd have to return to the town and face those monsters sooner or later if  I wanted to get more food...but as I am right now? I'd die again, without a doubt...so if I want to survive, I need to prepare and train myself...

...

The next day.

Sitting in my bedroom on my bed, I sat down in a meditative lotus pose with my hands reached out. Two [Mana Bolts] floated above each hand as I attempted to control and manipulate my mana. I felt my mana course through my body from my chest to the Mana Bolts above my palms.

I was trying to figure out how the System was forcing the mana in my body to summon these spells. Was it a willpower thing? Did I have to will the mana in my body out? Was it some physical focus I had to do, like in movies? Where I have to breathe a specific way or some shit to move the mana or cast spells?

I still had fifteen free attribute points I could use on one of my attributes, and I was tempted to use them right away, but I held myself back. It was better to wait until I knew what I needed to improve before I put the points anywhere. 

At first, I was half-convinced that this was all a hallucination or a dream, but the pain? The feeling of the mana coursing through my body? That felt far too real to be some dream and the pain I felt when I died? There's no faking that...

Taking a deep breath, I focused all my mind on willing the mana in my body to move. At first, nothing happened, at least not for a while, but eventually, much to my surprise, I felt my mana that was flowing into the Mana Bolt move, as in move off course and away from the Mana Bolt.

Canceling the spell, I felt my mana flow back into my body and flow all the way right back to my chest. Though I did notice some of my mana was gone, did the mana leak from the spell? Before I’d test moving mana by will alone, I recast [Mana Bolt], finding the mana flowing down my chest through my arm and down to my hand, where it quickly gathered into a sphere in my hand. 

Focusing and staring at the Mana Bolt, I saw it. Tiny mana streams flowed from the Mana Bolt into the air, dispersing. Could I stop the leakage somehow? 

[Mana Perception has leveled up! x3]

How did it level? Was it because I focused hard enough to see the mana leakage of the spell? I shook my head and canceled the spell again, feeling most of the mana soak back into my body.

I checked my mana bar in my status screen and noted the small amount of mana I had lost from the mana leakage. It turns out that it was such an insignificant amount that I managed to regenerate my mana to full within a few minutes. 

Taking a deep breath, I tried, willing the mana in my body to move, but nothing happened. I tried again, again, and again. Nothing happened, but eventually, something did.

[Mana Manipulation has leveled up!]

[Mana Manipulation has leveled up!]

As I willed the mana to move, I was quickly spammed by notifications of Mana Manipulation leveling up. With each level, I found it easier and easier to move the mana in my body around, though it was far from precise as I moved entire chunks of mana around haphazardly around my body.

Trying to force the mana down to my hand, I abruptly stopped before bending over and coughing blood.

Taking deep, struggling breaths, I managed to ask, “What…the fuck?” 

My hand gripping my chest, I leaned back into the bed's headboard and took labored breaths. 

What…happened? 

Feeling for the mana, I moved in my body; I found it was currently in what I’d estimated to be one of my lungs. Did I just hurt myself by moving the mana? Did I do it wrong somehow? 

Coughing blood, I felt my mind begin to go groggy as pain flooded my senses. 

[Mana Manipulation has leveled up! x2]

Not even noticing the notification, I struggled to breathe, grew lightheaded, and struggled to focus on my surroundings.

As my vision faded into black, I felt my body begin to grow cold before death embraced me.

[You have perished from internal bleeding!]

[Pain tolerance has leveled up!]

[Unique Trait: Rebirth has activated!]

[Stats gained: +3 Vitality and +2 Endurance]

[30 Minutes until Rebirth]