POV Tobias

[Day 17]

I’ve have been thinking about it since yesterday, I've realized that I need a better plan… My previous plan was to simply attach myself to Rin and hope that everything will be okay. But… I’m starting to realize that won’t work.

I mean, it might keep me alive in the short term... but, if I end up causing Rin actual death...

Well… Let’s just say, I doubt my old plan of clinging to Rin will work long-term.

My foreknowledge advantage from my novel is disappearing like smoke by the day because everything is so different. Technically speaking, everything is the same but… It's much more realistic. Things that aren’t realistic or mentioned in my novel have been given realistic real life reasons. Some things I previously thought were extremely different aren’t actually that much of a stretch. For instance, it makes sense to grow the ears of a wolf in order to gain their level of enhanced hearing.

It might seem strange, but working on the assumption that this universe is simply more realistic... Well, it could well mean the dangers of this universe are far greater than I initially expected.

That glowing light yesterday? The one I wanted to go away? Yea… considering my new pendent seems to have changed to a coppery dull color and no longer reflects light (instead of its normal shiny silvery color)… It seems likely that light was actually some type of spiritual attack (attack that targets the soul).

It is possible that the spiritual attack caused me to glow… or maybe the pendant was glowing whist protecting me… if that is the case I’m glad it didn’t go out prematurely.

Assuming it was a spiritual attack targeting my soul… if Rin hadn’t given the heritage to me… I’d be dead.

Actually… thinking about it… maybe it took many earlier versions of me dying to reach this point…

That could explain a lot. Such as why Rin might have come from so far in the future. Although that only makes more questions. Such as, why would Rin bother to go through all that trouble for someone she had only known for a few days?

I mean I think I’m amazing, but honestly… I’m not that important to Rin. Realistically speaking she has only known me a few days… And according to what I know of Rin she doesn’t desire to save everyone. Rin with her power should understand more than anyone that sometimes people simply die. That's just life.

I suppose, I should simply be grateful she did. Still... spiritual attacks don’t randomly happen. Especially ones that seem to be specifically targeting me… Although I can make several speculations about why I was targeted, in the end, I simply don’t have enough evidence to come to definite conclusion.

It doesn’t matter though. Passively reacting has too dangerous to continue doing (due to the soul attack). Especially since the butterfly effect seems to be very real and my very existence is affecting the plot of the story… I have to become stronger quickly to ensure Rin doesn’t randomly die to some soul attack before she can save the universe (or find a way for us to leave it).

If I compare myself to the others in Hell difficult mode… I only have a few advantages… along with many more disadvantages.

My largest initial advantage, my foreknowledge, is fading quickly and seems to be becoming quickly outdated... and will soon likely be completely useless for the rest of this zone. Leading to my second, and currently largest advantage the basilisk’s manual. Although it might not seem particularly powerful… but that only because I haven’t really gotten hurt.

I know I have said this before, but largest advantage of the Basilisk’s inheritance is the increased regeneration speed and endurance.

At the inheritance’s current level, I could probably regenerate from a bullet piercing my heart in under a minute... not that I’m willing to test that. That would probably cause agonizing pain.

By the time it reaches level 4, it should be able to completely regenerate my heart in a few seconds and that's only if someone can break through the powerful translucent scales that should develop over the majority of my skin. Although, to reach level 4, would probably take around 4 months to over a year (varying based on the amount of mana I obtain to increase the speed of its growth).

Also, I remembered that yesterday that I've reached level 2 in my basilisk’s manual... Which means, I should have grown translucent scales... I hadn’t noticed anything while cleaning myself yesterday though...

After some brief testing, touching or examining my skin it still feels completely normal like regular skin. But… when I attempted to damage, or put large amount of pressure on my skin, it now turns extraordinarily durable.

Even with my knife I couldn’t breakthrough the skin. I might have tried… *cough*… for… ummm… science… Anyway! Apparently, my skin has become extremely tough and difficult to damage now.

Although, I suppose this probably means that all Inheritance Manuals will provide some type of trait associated with the being you accepted it from. One question solved… only several million others to go…

The third advantage I have over the majority of people in Hell difficult zone, my ability, The unnoticed, is a growing ability. It currently useful, but... if I don’t improve it, my ability it will likely be useless later on. Still, long as I continue to hunt monsters my ability will become stronger and stronger… Out of the five people in Hell difficulty, the only other person with a growing ability should be Stanley.

Not that growing abilities were uncommon in my story. They were actually far more common on other difficult levels than the abilities that don’t grow. The reason? People who obtained growing abilities couldn't survive the initiation into Hell Difficulty (also called the tutorial). Non-growing abilities are initial stronger, that initial boost is what helped them survive the tutorial zone. 

Going back to the topic of advantages… My final advantage is the heritage I accepted. Although, I currently not obtaining much from it... But, it should become very useful later on. Hopefully, in the third zone, I can find some native who understands soul defense to teach me the actual basics…

If I’m lucky enough… I might even be able to teach it to Rin. Yet, currently soul attacks are near the bottom of my list in terms dangers. At least, when the pendant is recharged… which it should be able to recharge every 5 days. I hope whoever is targeting me can't attack faster than that...

For time being though, it is far more likely for me to die from a physical or mental attack than a spiritual one. Thus, learning soul defense would be a waste of time. I’d much rather minimize my weaknesses and learn regular combat.

It is unfortunate, even though I know of temples in this zone with various powerful items. Powerful enough to be useful against dangerous enemies… But, I have no clue how to find them. I mean, I described where they were in the novel. But… attempting to remember where they were, then converting that written description to real life is incredibly difficult. Even if I had written the exact directions in my story, I probably wouldn’t be able to find it.

Simply put, this zone only contains a forest… Inside a forest, there isn’t much in the case of landmarks to remember where things are. Plus, I had only written in about as much detail as ‘Rin discovered this temple to the north-west of the village’…

Not particularly helpful in finding the temple… Even with the general direction, I have no idea where to search. It could be several weeks away from the village… or it could be mere minutes away.

So… the current plan is to learn how to properly fight. Fortunately! I happen to have a teacher (Rin) who has just volunteered to teach me. Hopefully, I can quickly become strong enough to stand against monsters in combat. I’ll need to find and acquire a weapon as well as other various other items that will be needed for futures zones… And I need to do all this before a year passes. As that should be when the beacon of light shows the location of the teleportation sigil.

POV Swap – Rin

Rin stared as Tobias swung his dagger carelessly. He clearly hadn’t been listening to a word she had been saying over the past few minutes. He was too preoccupied with whatever thoughts he was having to be paying attention… Rin wasn’t really sure what to do.

Attempting to teach him normally clearly isn’t working… Tobias doesn’t seem to have an aptitude or interest in fighting. It's actually surprising that he has lived this long with his level of skill. Rin supposed Tobias' power was the only reason he is currently still alive.

Rin wondered if she was this abysmal at fighting when she had first arrived here… It's possible... She doesn’t really remember now.

How could she teach Tobias? Rin smirked to herself. Since Tobias doesn’t seem to be learning the normal way, she can simply teach him through experience. Through many simulated life and death experiences, Tobias would definitely learn something. It might only teach him how to survive, but that should be good enough…

Not that Tobias would actually be in any danger. If he does somehow die, Rin will simply use her power and be more careful. Of course… this is only feasible because of Tobias’ abnormal regeneration speed that means he should be able to quickly recover most injuries.

POV Swap – Tobias

… Anyways, all of that means that I’m standing here practicing swinging my dagger. Unfortunately… I don’t really think I have a talent for fighting. Also, this is really boring… I wonder if there is a better way to learn than simply swinging my dagger about.

“… Ready?” I heard Rin question.

Uhhh… Was Rin speaking earlier? I must have been so preoccupied with my internal monologue that I didn't hear her... I don’t suppose you want to repeat what I’m supposed to be ready for?

Hmmm… I’ll probably be killed if I asked that. So, I decided that I was definitely ready for whatever it was Rin had asked. Cautiously replying, “Sure...”

Rin immediately swung her blade toward me. Dodging by stepping backward it seems that we are sparring now… Cool. Should be interesting…

Dodging another stab from Rin, I attempt to counterattack only to realize that I have no opportunity to get close.

Wait… Actually isn’t this completely unfair? I only have a tiny dagger. How the hell am I supposed to fight her? I don’t have the reach or the skill to attempt to counterattack a single time on Rin.

OWWW… Rin had swiped off a chunk of flesh from my dominant arm… It was now bleeding profusely... Damn, I didn't realize Rin’s sword can go through my scales… And she is still coming toward me! Wait! I haven't healed yet... This just a spar there is no reason… Gah… Rin doesn’t seem to have any intention of stopping… Did I manage to piss her off by not listening her during her lecture?

No longer having time to think… I dodged furiously completely abandoned the idea of attacking and only focused on defense measures. After some period of time I was able to consistently dodge.

I guess that was the signal to Rin that I was ready for a higher difficulty because, suddenly, I was no longer able to dodge a single swipe. I was in sore everywhere. It took me awhile to notice (due to being slightly preoccupied)... but Rin was still clearly holding back.

She was precisely hitting me in areas that had healed and avoiding attacking my vitals and areas that hadn’t. Sadly, it doesn’t matter even if I know that. As it doesn’t exactly prevent the massive amount of pain I’m in.

I repent! I’ll listen to your lectures in the future… Please stop attacking me. Unfortunately, my nonverbal cries seemed destined to go unanswered. It was only after several hours of being tortured that I finally managed to convince Rin to allow me to take a break. Although... the only agreement that Rin would agree to was to (temporarily) stop attacking me during breaks to eat, drink, and sleep.

This torture is going to be my everyday life from now on isn't it... Curse you regenerating body! If you weren't so good at your job, I wouldn't have to go through this...