System 2.0

  Lucky

  Ch 7

  Lucky for me, it is turning out to be a good day. As I slid like I was some super cool action hero, the charged card hit its target dead on. The panther made a weird noise while the dark green flames rushed over it. Then it took a step towards me and stumbled. Guess it hit a small hole in the ground, which caused it to lurch forward, and my blade slid clean into the center of its chest.

  Those eyes full of hatred met mine as I stood there watching the panther take its final breath. I think I just got some wood with how cool that was. Finally, the beast slid off my blade, and I wiped it off on the panther's body before sheathing it. I turned towards the nearest camera, gave a wink,

  A blinking in the lower right-hand of my vision caught my eye. I acknowledged it, and the screen shot up from my wrist where the [System Bracelet] was. So cool and high tech, I was loving this. Even if I bit the big one right now, I would die with a smile on my face with what I just got to experience.

  Do you wish to loot 2 [Displacer Panther]

  Fuck yes, I did. I got to kill shit, and then I got loot out of it. This was straight up like one of those video games I always heard others talking about. I just never had the extra money to afford more than the necessities of life.

  Received

  2 Beast core rank G

  2 Displacer Panther Pelts

  6 steaks

  15 copper pieces

  5 silver pieces

  Experience gained 100

  The pelts,steaks, and cores slotted nicely into the bracelet. I now saw a currency tab showing my System credits and local currency. I wouldn't pretend to understand why you needed separate currencies. That was beyond my pay grade. I saw I had a few other notices, but I would wait, as Ari said. I had to earn 1500 experience just to reach level two. I wondered if it was cause of the Grade of my class?

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Standing there, I watched with interest as the bodies faded, turning into little motes of light before fading away. Well, that was convenient. Again, trying to understand why. I reminded myself it was not in my pay bracket. Scanning the area quickly, I didn't see any other threats, so I headed back into the cover of the woods. I figured I would make the cliffs an hour or so before nighttime.

  Wait. She had called this Super Earth . So was time the same. I stopped as I felt knowing how time worked would be a good thing. It took a few minutes of fiddling with the settings, but I did find out that a System day was 36 hours. A System week was 7 days, and a System Month was 49 days. Finally, a System year was 15 months.

  Now all I had to do was look up and to the right, and it would tell me the time. I had to set the time to a 36-hour military time format. Anything else right now would just confuse me. It was currently 1300 hours. Sunset wouldn't happen until 22:00.

  Now that I had that all figured out, I felt a bit better.

  Still, as I walked, my mind kept going over the fight. It was easy. Too easy. Allowing the sigh from my lips to escape, I knew why. My powers made the difference. I was starting to understand the value of the skills, but I was still too green to rely just on them to carry me. If anything, I should have been skewered several times in that fight. One to many times those tentacles came within a pubic hair's distance from hitting some part of me.

  Now that the adrenaline had drained, I was catching my breath while replaying that fight in my mind. I should definitely be panther food right now. My abilities literally saved my hide, and sure, that was great, but I was leaning too hard into them right now. I needed to learn to utilize my skills and my abilities, which should be treated more as a side dish, not the main course.

  That sounded all wise and smart. I snorted at my own thoughts, “ Well, folks, that time I was really lucky. I think I might need more time to get used to all of this. “ I took a moment, leaning against a tree, and pulled out a smoke. Quickly lighting it, I took a slow drag. I needed time to calm my heart and my nerves as the anxiety started to grip me again.

  I was feeling way out of my depth. Fuck. A few hours ago, I was sleeping, waiting for my Princess Charming to come, kiss me, then wake me the fuck up. Now I am some sword-wielding low-rent cross between Gambit and Aladdin.

  Sighing again, letting out a polluted breath. Finally feeling a bit calmer than I was a few moments ago. I had to accept that this wasn't a dream. I think part of me was thinking it was, but that little battle brought it all to reality. Still, I was impressed that I had kept a cool head during the battle. I did get to test out my abilities, and they were cool. I did enjoy doing that stupid shit like sliding on the grass coated in blood. Hopefully, it looked as cool as I imagined it.

  I wonder if I would get to see the highlights.

  Laughing, I finished my cigarette slowly, feeling a bit better . The weight of reality was heavy in the back of my mind. Yet I understood that what had happened with the System was out of my control. The only thing I could do that made sense was make the best of my situation with the things I could control.

  It was a thought I had carried with me for ten years now, since my mom was killed. Stress too much about the things you can't control, and it gets you nowhere. Just a hamster spinning that stupid fucking wheel.

  With my little pep talk over, I flicked out the cherry and made sure to snuff out the ember. Remember, only you can prevent forest fires.

  Fuck. Whatever.

  Moving back in the direction of the cliffs, a part of me was hoping to find more kitties to play with. Another part thinks that the first part is fucking nuts.

  Yeah, we found more kitties along the way.

  Also, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching me...

  No, not the drones either.