—— ? ——

  Whew… running in snow is a workout.

  Simon wiped the sweat beads off his forehead as he looked down at the map.

  It had been almost two hours since he left town.

  No bunnies so far.

  That was fine. It gave him time to reach the edge of known territory—at least, according to Brian and Kaelalin’s map.

  The valley that held Varnholt wasn’t a circle like he’d assumed. It was shaped more like an eye, with the town sitting near one of the “tear ducts.”

  Most of the area north of Varnholt had been explored.

  The residents had found a mine, thick woods for lumber, and the proposed tunnel route.

  With so many resources up there, the southern part of the valley had been largely ignored.

  So far, Simon could see why.

  Up to this point, it had just been trees, open areas, and more trees.

  He wasn’t sure which direction he was going to take yet.

  Flip a coin?

  He leaned up against a tree as he scanned the area.

  Nothing of interest, no hell bunnies, just the soft sound of wind.

  I guess this is as good a time as any to go over what I have.

  With a thought, he pulled up his status.

  —- STATUS —-

  > Name: Simon Starfall

  > Level: 0

  > Class: Unassigned - Reach level 10 to make your choice.

  > Stats

  Body

  

  
• Endurance: 14


  
• Vitality: 15


  
• Dexterity: 12


  
• Strength: 16


  

  Mind

  

  
• Wisdom: 8


  
• Intelligence: 7


  

  Soul

  

  
• Willpower: 18


  
• Charisma: 7


  

  Essence:

  

  
• Luck: 5


  

  > Skills

  >> Unshakeable Resilience (Unique)

  Level: 0 / ?

  Description:

  You don’t know when to quit, and your body and mind agree.

  Every step forward is a choice. Every breath, an act of will. Let them fill with your intent.

  For you refuse to be moved by anyone or anything but yourself.

  Firm Soul: Your soul resists direct control, anchoring your identity against external forces

  Attempts at possession or coercion must now contend with your internal will and resolve.

  Threshold Stabilization: Increases your chance to stay conscious during injuries by channeling intent and resolve to stabilize both mind and body

  Presence Resistance: When reduced to critical health or exposed to extreme stress, you may ignore minor debuffs (pain, dizziness, fatigue) for a short time. Duration scales with willpower.

  >> Theodia’s Instrumental Summon (Inferior) - Growth-Class - Ravenous

  Level: ? / ?

  Description:

  Theodia was a bard with exceptional improvisational mastery. Gifted with an innate ability to adapt to any melody, instrument, or performance, she refused to be constrained by the tools available to her. Dissatisfied with the limitations of the instruments she carried, Theodia created an improvised summoning technique, allowing her to manifest instruments on demand.

  This early version of hers was an imperfect skill. Though limited, it laid the foundation for her eventual ascension as one of the most celebrated bards who followed Melodian the Magnificent.

  Use: Summons a random instrument for the user. This instrument will persist for five minutes.

  Cooldown: 60 seconds.

  Note: This skill is a Growth skill; it can grow in rarity. Theodia’s desire for the skill remains, causing it to be Ravenous. Ravenous skills will consume all skill points available until they reach their potential.

  >> Weaponized Repetition (Unique)

  Level: 0 / ?

  Description:

  The first fifty times were annoying. The next thousand were torture. But over fifty thousand?

  Are you okay?

  > Fracture Frequency: Repeating a sound, note, or word with enough precision and persistence begins to resonate with the environment. Effects scale with time, focus, and stamina. The longer you sustain repetition without interruption, the more destructive the outcome.

  > Current Equipment

  Adaptive Survival Attire of the Newly Integrated Being - (Uncommon)

  Description: Issued by the System for beings who find the beginning of their story in an area less than temperate.

  Effects:

  

  
• Self Cleaning


  
• +15% Environmental Resistance


  
• Very comfortable.


  
• Cannot be upgraded, disassembled or altered.


  

  ——————————

  Nothing had changed.

  Shocker… wait.

  He squinted at the equipment line.

  Why isn’t Brian’s pack showing up?

  More questions. There are always more questions.

  But right now, Simon had more pressing concerns.

  He set his bag down and pulled out the satchel of enhancing potions.

  “Read the labels.”

  Kaelalin’s voice echoed through his head.

  “Yeah, yeah. You know, you could’ve just explained them,” he muttered.

  One by one, he examined the vials.

  Green cap:

  “Speed, cognition, reflexes. Do not consume on an empty stomach. Doing so will cause the potion to consume other energies in your body. Hint Hint: That means your life force. Don’t do it.”

  Red cap:

  “Temporary invulnerability to toxins, acids, and airborne irritants. Side effect: dry mouth and mild paranoia.”

  Blue cap:

  “Mana and Energy Shielding. Use this for brief protection from energetic sources. WARNING: This potion will keep energy from passing its barrier which forms on your skin. Magic can come from outside and inside. DO NOT CAST SPELLS WHILE UNDER ITS EFFECTS.”

  “Huh.” he said. “I can see how the blue capped potion could cause someone to have a horrible day.”

  A breeze picked up, swirling snow through the clearing. He glanced around again, checking the trees for movement.

  Still nothing.

  Alright… straight south? Lean east? Lean west? Hmmm…

  He closed the potion satchel and carefully jumbled them.

  “Green is straight, red is east, blue is west”

  Simon pushed his hand into the satchel and pulled one out.

  Blue.

  “Alright, south west it is.”

  He slid the vial back into the satchel and pulled the pack shut.

  —— ? ——

  Another thirty minutes of moving and he was ready to set off a pulse.

  Simon was about to pull a crystal from the bag when he decided it was luck-testing time.

  With an outstretched hand, he pulled on his skill.

  “Come on… Something good.”

  A surge of energy and a pop.

  He gripped the instrument tightly with a huge grin on his face.

  It was an honest to goodness electric guitar.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  “Hold on, it can make these?!” he exclaimed while adjusting his grip to hold it by the neck.

  Shaking his head in wonder at the red and silver instrument of bludgeoning, he pulled out a crystal.

  The strange blue stone shimmered in his hand.

  He gave it a gentle squeeze.

  A pulse shot out, invisible but somehow tangible. Rippling pressure running through the air.

  The snow around him danced as the wave pushed through it, powder lifting and spinning like startled birds.

  Simon watched, wide-eyed, as the pressure wave expanded in all directions, then faded into the trees.

  The stone in his hand cracked, then crumbled into dust.

  A few heartbeats passed.

  Then the pulse returned.

  He couldn’t see it, but he felt it.

  It zipped from the trees like a silent ripple, powdered snow misting the air. The world seemed to shimmer with tension, like static before a storm.

  The energy gathered at his pocket, pooling in a way that defied the physics he knew. An invisible weight settling in his coat, heavy with unseen information.

  “Well yeah, that would draw attention,” Simon muttered.

  “Put it in the green bag, Simon. Why? Oh, I don’t know... maybe because it pulses like a damned submarine when activated?”

  He dusted the last of the crystal from his hand.

  His mind was on high alert, eyes scanning as he reached for the map in his pocket.

  The wind died. The clearing held its breath.

  Snap.

  Branches.

  Behind him.

  He spun, guitar raised, heart kicking into a sprint.

  Movement.

  Low. Darting. Spaced just far enough apart to—

  Yeah. He knew that movement.

  He narrowed his eyes.

  “Alright, you fluffy assholes. Round two.”

  He slung the pack to the ground and stepped into a ready stance, planting his boots in the snow.

  More movement, breaking through the trees, fast and low.

  There were at least four of them.

  Simon grinned.

  The first one burst from the underbrush like a nightmare wearing fur.

  A blur of white and glowing eyes, teeth bared and ready to kill.

  Simon didn’t wait for it to reach him.

  Two steps.

  He swung.

  The electric guitar cut through the air, the rabbit jumped.

  CRACK!

  The guitar slammed into it mid-leap, sending it tumbling sideways into a tree trunk.

  Snow exploded from his left.

  Simon twisted, letting momentum carry him as he brought the guitar down on the second form. The creature poofed into the snow at his feet.

  He had no time to gloat as he spun off balance. He remembered their pattern.

  Stepping backwards, the third rabbit barely missed its leap. Simon could smell the wet fur as it flew past his face.

  Where was the fourth?

  He acted on instinct forged from far too many fights with these creatures.

  Dropping to his knees, he ducked. The fourth sailed over his head. With a shove, he used the guitar to shove himself back and to his feet.

  He readied himself.

  Two were incapacitated, two were hiding in the snow.

  One leapt towards him again.

  Wow. Such an original move.

  It flew straight towards a grinning Simon, posed in his best batter pose.

  CRACK!

  “Nice. Great backspin on that one,” he said smugly as the bunny teetered through the air like a fuzzy, pissed-off boomerang.

  It slammed into a snowbank and vanished with a soft thump.

  Simon exhaled, eyes never leaving the fourth bunny.

  Three down.

  The fourth one was glancing nervously in every direction.

  “Oh what? You’re scared?” Simon taunted, slowly circling it.

  “Death squad not working out for you?”

  The eyes of the bunny kept scanning. It was waiting.

  Simon squinted at it.

  Wait.

  Pain exploded in his arm as the fifth rabbit’s teeth dug into his arm.

  “SHIT!” Simon roared and started to shake his arm rapidly to dislodge his uninvited guest.

  The guitar began to slip from the hand of his good arm, its body touching the snow.

  He was distracted with the pain, his eyes left the crouching creature in front of him.

  It leapt.

  Straight into his trap.

  Simon took a step back and upper cut the mid-air creature. It was limp before it hit the ground.

  The last one on his arm wouldn’t let go. These things were like furry ticks.

  He grit his teeth and brought the shattered guitar around. He used it to pin the creature to his arm, then body slammed it to the ground.

  With a gurgled gasp, it let go and screeched.

  Simon pulled away, eyes wild.

  The creature struggled to pull itself off the guitar and towards him.

  “Geez. You guys are horrifying,” he said while trying to pull his guitar away from it. “Just die!”

  The creature snapped at him and began to play guard dog over the instrument.

  Simon frowned at the little asshole.

  It was wounded and struggling, yet still wanted to rip him apart.

  Simon continued to circle.

  Thirty-five.

  He got close to the body of the guitar.

  The rabbit snapped at him, barely missing him.

  Simon pulled away and circled to the front.

  Nineteen.

  He repeated the action, barely escaping the creature's grasp.

  It was determined to keep him away from the instrument of destruction.

  Seven.

  Simon stepped back a few steps, and the rabbit chittered at him

  “Oh?” Simon tilted his head. “That noise supposed to scare me? Buddy, I’ve been chewed out by dozens of your kind. You’re not even top ten.”

  The rabbit screeched at him.

  One.

  Simon grinned at the smug little shit.

  “Sixty seconds dumbass!” He shouted as he held out his hand.

  A crackle of energy sparked to his palm, followed by a resounding POP as the new instrument slammed into existence.

  Simon’s grin widened.

  A massive drum bounced off his hand and landed in the snow. The drum looked like the ones used for parades or performances. It was massive.

  The rabbit screeched in dismay.

  Simon grabbed both sides of the drum. He gritted through the pain and hoisted it up over his head with a yell.

  “THAT'S RIGHT! I’M SIMON STARFALL MOTHERFUCKER.”

  The rabbit bolted.

  “Oh no you don’t! Hereeee, bunny bunny bunny!”

  Simon laughed as he charged across the snow, massive drum still raised like the world’s most absurd torch bearer.

  The rabbit zigzagged frantically, flinging up powder in all directions, but its wounds slowed it just enough.

  Simon was gaining.

  “You started this!” he shouted, boots crunching with every thunderous step. “You and your furry hellish friends picked the wrong guy to mess with!”

  The rabbit made a sharp turn toward a drift.

  Too late.

  Simon leapt with a wild yell and brought the drum down like a divine hammer.

  BOOOM.

  The snow erupted.

  Pain shot through his arm, but he couldn’t feel it.

  He laughed, raising the drum again.

  BOOOOM.

  The crater expanded.

  One more.

  BOOOOOM!

  He stood at ground zero, panting, the drum still vibrating in his hands.

  This was justice.

  A notice appeared.

  —- SYSTEM NOTICE—-

  > You have slain Aurora Hopper x 5

  > Experience has been earned.

  > Level Up!

  ——————————

  Simon pumped his good fist into the sky.

  “Finally!” He huffed, still breathless.

  For the first time since this nightmare began, something had gone his way.

  —- SYSTEM NOTICE—-

  > LEVEL UP!

  > Level: 0 -> 1

  > You have gained:

  

  
• 10 Stat points.


  
• 1 Skill point.


  

  >Skill Point Allocated:

  >> Theodia’s Instrumental Summon has consumed available skill points

  Harmony is offered. Growth is earned. Limits are unknown.

  ——————————

  Simon stared at the prompt.

  “Of course,” he muttered. “Can’t just let me have a win for two seconds.”

  He crouched, stretched his back with a groan, then slowly stood upright.

  He leaned back and gave the sky both middle fingers.

  Which he immediately regretted as fresh pain surged through his arm.

  “Still worth it,” he hissed. “Fuck you, universe. I leveled. Deal with it.”

  He left the drum resting on the flattened rabbit and trudged back to his pack.

  Undoing the straps one-handed was frustrating, but he managed.

  He pulled out a red-capped healing potion and poured it directly over the bite wound.

  The liquid hissed softly, then began knitting flesh back together right in front of his eyes.

  Simon exhaled in relief.

  I need so many more of these. Marden, I swear, I will figure out how to squeeze every gorgeous red vial from you.

  With his arm intact again, he sat back with a groan.

  Time to figure out these stats.

  —- STATUS —-

  > Name: Simon Starfall

  > Level: 1

  > Class: Unassigned - Reach level 10 to make your choice.

  > Free Points: 10

  > Stats

  Body

  

  
• Endurance: 14


  
• Vitality: 15


  
• Dexterity: 12


  
• Strength: 16


  

  Mind

  

  
• Wisdom: 8


  
• Intelligence: 7


  

  Soul

  

  
• Willpower: 18


  
• Charisma: 7


  

  Essence:

  

  
• Luck: 5


  

  ——————————

  He immediately tried to put points into luck.

  —- SYSTEM NOTICE—-

  > THIS STAT IS SEALED

  > Reason: Requires class alignment to unlock level enhancements. Enhancement extent depends on class. Sealed state does not restrict other ways of acquisition.

  ——————————

  Simon squinted at the message.

  “Okay…” he muttered. “Brian, we are having a looong talk when I get back.”

  He looked back at his stats.

  “Fine. Strength up, obviously. I want to hit like a truck.”

  Simon added four to strength, bringing it to twenty.

  He eyed endurance.

  After thinking for a few moments more, he chose.

  Two to endurance, vitality, and will power.

  —- STATUS —-

  > Name: Simon Starfall

  > Level: 1

  > Class: Unassigned - Reach level 10 to make your choice.

  > Free Points: 0

  > Stats

  Body

  

  
• Endurance: 16


  
• Vitality: 17


  
• Dexterity: 12


  
• Strength: 20


  

  Mind

  

  
• Wisdom: 8


  
• Intelligence: 7


  

  Soul

  

  
• Willpower: 20


  
• Charisma: 7


  

  Essence:

  

  
• Luck: 5


  

  ——————————

  He closed the prompt.

  In his mind, it felt like something was asking him if he was satisfied.

  Simon gave a mental nod.

  A feeling of power washed over him. It felt like his muscles had been struck with a tuning fork.

  His limbs thrummed with the vibration, and a strange weight settled in, like his muscles were being packed tighter.

  “Okay,” he muttered, as he curled his fingers into fists. “Yeah. That feels great.”

  His breath came easier as he stood in the snow.

  Simon gathered the bunny corpses and dropped them into the bag Brian had given him.

  To his absolute delight, they vanished.

  “Bag of holding? For bodies? Awesome.”

  He considered putting other things in it.

  For a moment.

  But he was pretty sure the ‘dead corpses only’ rule wasn’t just a suggestion.

  More questions for Brian.

  Simon slung the pack onto his back and looked out over the snow.

  His muscles buzzed. His heart thundered. His eyes gleamed.

  He took a breath… then bolted.

  Boots pounded the snow as he cut through the clearing, leaving the crater behind.

  The trees loomed in the distance, branches draped in frost and silence.

  Simon laughed and stretched out his arms like he was welcoming an old friend.

  “Ohhh bunnies,” he called, voice low and eager.

  “Come to Simonnnnnnnn.”

  He disappeared into the snow-covered wild…

  On the hunt.

  —— ? ——

  Going to break tradition for author notes here, because...

  ~TheBusyBard