Chapter 364 - My Original Stash #64 - Leveling through l_u_s_t by Dirk Grey (1/2)
-I can't believe this author went from writing l_e_w_d SI HP fics to writing his own l_e_w_d originals, can't help but feel proud of the guy!
Synopsis: ???
Rated: M
Words: 29K
Posted on: forum.questionablequesting.com/threads/leveling-through-l_u_s_t-original.12094/ (Dirk Grey)
PS: If you're not able to copy/paste the link, you have everything in here to find it, by simply searching the author and the story title. It sucks that you can't copy links on mobile (´ー｀)
-I'll be putting the chapter ones of all the fanfics/originals mentioned, to give you guys a sample if you wan't more please do go to the website and support the author! (And maybe even convince them to start uploading chapters in here as well!)
Chapter 1
Hello everyone. I'm Dirk Grey, also known as aTasteOfDarkness on certain sites. It's my first time posting here, and this is the first chapter from my original story, with already 28 chapters up on *******. I hope everyone enjoys it.
A lot of men would have questioned my manliness had they known that I was paying attention to anything other than the amazing view I had stumbled upon in the library; two very s_e_xy women, their state of undress enhancing the view of their great beauty, their bodies moving in a beautiful tango. In my defense, I was distracted by two glowing, floating sentences, invisible to everyone except myself.
[+100 Experience]
It was difficult to overstate the magnitude of what had just happened for someone of my particular background. After all, I was the unlucky sucker that was born with a level cap of one in a world where almost everyone was able to slaughter monsters to level up. Even the occasional unlucky people who were born without the system were better off than me, because at least they were able to increase their capabilities through training. However, I was destined to stay locked with no chance to progress.
At least, that had been the assumption until it was invalidated by the notification I had just received.
Naturally, I started thinking about the reason, leaving the fact that I was actually able to think without obstruction thanks to the incredible boost to my stats I had just received. It was a weird experience, everything I had learned suddenly connecting in unexpected ways, giving me an unprecedented clarity. Still, I was unable to understand why I just gained experience, when all the previous attempts had failed spectacularly.
Of course, the secrets of the System and the leveling ability was the biggest mystery of the world, its roots shrouded in mysterious folds where the history and myths merge. Some claimed it was a gift from the gods, others theorized it was linked to the endless hordes of monsters that turned the otherwise beautiful planet into a blackened sea of death, save only for the occasional town or city. Some fringe religions even claimed that the System was somehow linked to the Demon Kings, and every human with the ability to level up was cursed by the demons. Needless to say, it was not a popular theory, especially since people who were lucky enough to have a high level cap literally held every single position of importance.
Level cap was the biggest challenge with the system. Everyone had a level cap, and just to make it even more fun, there was no known way of detecting it other than reaching the said limit, realized when the unlucky Leveler killed a monster, only to receive no experience for their efforts. Just to top it off, reaching the level cap prevented people from gaining any new achievements as well, truly locking them to a stasis with no chance of further improvement.
It had been assumed that my inability to gain experience was because I had a level cap of one, the sign of ultimate unluckiness, putting me even lower than the people lacking the system. After all, at least they could increase their abilities through working hard to the point of holding a minor position if they were diligent enough.
As the firstborn of a noble family, I was tested when I was five, revealing my status as a Leveler. It hadn't been a shocking reveal, as history had shown that the Leveler ability was mostly hereditary, and very rarely did noble families have an offspring without it.
Things had taken an unexpected turn when I killed a small monster that had been captured by the hunters, only to receive no experience. It caused a huge commotion in the family, because it was unheard of for someone with the system to not gain experience when killing a monster. Repeated tries, or experiments with different monsters, changed nothing. No matter the creature, no matter the circ_u_mstances, I never gained a single experience point.
Experts of the family had subjected me to countless experiments, all of which failed to net me any experience points. There was a possibility that the experts outside of the family might know something, but my family never dared to reach out, fearing it would damage our reputation. Instead, my father quietly registered me as an invalid, and raised me in a distant family estate, only with a few servants. And when I reached the age of majority, he quietly arranged a few bribes and sent me away as a library assistant to the prestigious Silver Spires, the prime educational facility of the Empire, hoping that the fact that I was serving there would wash away some of the shame I had brought upon the family.
Everything!
Considering that my whole life had been turned sideways just a moment ago, the shocked gasp that escaped my mouth was excusable.
Unfortunately, it alerted the ladies that had been sharing an intimate moment to my presence. Their heads rose simultaneously, and I found myself looking at two beautiful faces contorted in anger. The recognition came far faster than I was accustomed to. One of them was Cornelia, of the House Antony, and the other was Marianne, of the House Louis. They were rather popular in the magic hall of the Silver Spires for their general magical prowess. Cornelia was especially famous for her impressive capabilities in fire magic, and her matching angry disposition.
The panic gripping my heart was understandable.
”Who is there,” called Cornelia, anger echoing in her tone. I couldn't help but memorize every single detail as she hurriedly wrapped her arms around her b_r_e_a_s_ts, barely able to hide them from the view. Marianne was different, her face was contorted with fear, and her arms were far from sufficient to cover the amazing expanse of her bosom. And just like that, another notification appeared in front of my eyes.
[Achievement: Perilous Peeking. Persist in being an unwelcome observer despite being noticed. +100 Experience, + 1 Perception]
At that point, dashing away while trusting the endless shelves of books for cover was the best option. I didn't do that, because the newly improved workings of my mind was still a mystery to me, making it hard to react properly. I realized I was in danger, but I was too slow to escape. Cornelia's gaze was already on me, a flickering orb of flame already hovering above her hand, ready to let loose.
I couldn't help but feel resentful as the orb of flame drifted closer, too fast for me to dodge. I couldn't help but feel resentful. After two decades passed in a meaningless blur, the clarity I received was about to be snuffed by the icy grip of death. What a pity.
[-12 HP]
Pain enveloped my mind and I collapsed, barely able to pay attention to Cornelia, who was walking toward me with determined steps. ”I'm going to kill you, you twerp,” Cornelia whispered. Her tone was threatening enough to make me shiver despite the fact that I was about to die. Another orb of flame appeared on her hand. ”When I'm done with you, even your bones will turn into cinder-” she added before a desperate shout interrupted her.
It was Marianne, I realized. ”Stop, it's the Mule!” she exclaimed, reminding me my nickname, which, for the first time in my life, caused anger to spark in my heart, because for the first time, I truly understood what it meant, loaded with impotence and disregard. ”Don't kill him. It's not like he'll tell anyone, or even recognize us.”
”Damnation!” Cornelia called as she took a step. I lay motionless, still on the floor while trying to combat the pain that invaded my body. ”Do something!” she called.
Marianne's hand glowed blue and a cool sensation filled my body, replacing pain with exhaustion and emptiness. The darkness still encroached upon my vision, but it was merely exhaustion rather than death. Then, just as I was about to collapse, three new notifications appeared in my view, promising to change everything.
[Achievement: Survive the Storm. Narrowly escape death after being caught. +500 Experience, +1 Endurance]
[Level up!]
[Achievement: Patient Progress. Wait for two decades before leveling up. +10 Wisdom]
Waking up felt different. Despite the persistent pain in my cheek, I felt like I was reborn, that I was walking unenc_u_mbered for the first time after wading through mud for my entire life. I would have thought that I was in a dream, but even in my dreams, my thoughts flowed with a clarity that I had never experienced before.
I was in uncharted territory. The closest I had been to this was when my mother had pitied me, and cast status enhancement spells on me, which raised all of my stats by five for a glorious minute before disappearing forever, leaving me with a fleeting memory of heaven that had never left me.
Still, I couldn't help but tremble with fear as I brought up my status window, afraid that the clarity will dispel like a puff of cloud the moment I bring it up. that damnable screen had always been filled with ones, a constant reminder that I was cursed.
Strength: 6 Charisma: 6