Yo yo! It's so nice to see you all again! Before we continue our story from where we left off, I forgot one thing to explain that was brought up near the end of last chapter, "Classes"!
Classes determine the skill set of Rifters. So far, you've only seen two, Spellcoder and Fighter, but let me tell you the basic ones you'll see more commonly! You got:
Fighter- An up-close, brutal, and relentless class. This class excels in Close Combat and can inforce their attacks with just pure mana.
Stalker- Assassins who have high potential in speed, stealth, and swift killing. They are able to coat themselves in their shadowy-like mana to hide in the shadows and shades.
Mechanic- Mechanics can infuse their mana in inventions they make, mainly being highly intelligent.
Spellcoder- Like a mage of some sorts? They are able to channel different types of magic using their mana. They can also create runes.
Breaker- Similar to fighter, but they can deconstruct walls and objects using their mana, hence the name "Breaker".
Curse Slinger- This class can create buffs and debuffs for other Rifters or themselves. They can also affect the battlefield by slinging their curses onto the battlefield.
Constructor- They can use their mana to stop the disappearance of Mobs and recreate them with minerals, metals, mana, and more.
Well, that's enough of my yappin', I'll allow y'all to continue the story! Ta-Ta for now!
The mana from Ahmad's finger began to form into what appeared to be.. A miniature sun..? He inhaled sharply then let out a prolonged breath.
"Burn in hell, you Green-Skinned Gandolf.."
A high-pitched crackle could be heard as he began to sweat and condense the sun to fire it towards the Goblin Mage. The Mage tried to hold the sun back, but eventually fell victim to the burning radiance of the sun. Ahmad later wiped his sweat off.
"Phew.. Too easy.."
Ahmad's screen popped up in front of him.
"QUEST COMPLETED!
REWARDS: 1 Goblin Core, Vial of Goblin Blood[x5], and Potion of Regeneration[x3]."
Kaden has been staring at Ahmad the entire time as his dropped jaw readjusted itself.
"AYE! AHMAD! NOW THAT THIS RIFT IS OVER, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH THIS SCREEN THINGY, RENFUCKU!"
Ahmad walks to Kaden and gut checks him.
"WATCH WHO YA TALKIN' TOO!"
Kaden coughs a bit then grips onto Ahmad's shoulders.
"What the..?"
Kaden then violently launched his head towards Ahmad's. As their head collided, the sounds of their skulls smashing together echoed in the room. Ahmad moved back and groaned in pain. He roughly rubbed his head in wallowing pain.
"YOU BIG HEADED BITCH! FUCK!!"
Ahmad looked Kaden in the eyes as he launched his head back at Kaden's.
"BUT THAT BIG HEAD AIN'T ENOUGH TO BEAT MINE, WEAK ASS PUSSY!!"
Kaden stared down with Ahmad as their jaws both tightened. Both of their teeth gritted as their heads were colliding. Kaden finally relaxed his jaw and opened his mouth.
"Who you callin' weak, Fire Flower..!?"
Ahmad relaxes his jaw and doesn't speak as both of their screens pop up besides them.
"DAILY QUEST[Ahmad]
LAPS[0/100]
PUSHUPS[0/100]
HANDSTANDS[0/100]"
"DAILY QUEST[Kaden]
LAPS[0/20]
PUSHUPS[0/20]
BAT SWINGS[0/20]"
They both looks at their screens, Kaden having a more confused look while Ahmad's more shocked.
"HEY HOW DO YOU ONLY GET TO DO Twenty!?"
Kaden turns his head to Ahmad and looks at him in a more mocking manner.
"Maybe this thing likes me more! Speaking of this.. thing! What is it?"
Ahmad pats Kaden's shoulders and grits his own teeth.
"You ever read those Manhwas on Webtoon? Ya know where the dude gets crazy powers from a system!"
Kaden stares at Ahmad.
"Oh please dont tell me we're like Solo Leveling- I love those Manhwas but there's like so many of em.."
Ahmad chuckles slightly.
"Yea! That's what I said! But this works kinda differently than Solo Leveling, especially since two of us have it. It's called 'The Codex', it's like an AI system that helps us out and shit. If anything it's more like SAO!"
Kaden presses his finger on Ahmad's lips and mashes it closer.
"SHHHHHHHHHHHH. Ok, if that's the case, does that mean this 'Codex' has a penalty system if we don't do the daily quest?"
Ahmad freezes at the words penalty. His arm shaking slowly, but surely. He takes 5 big breaths as he revisits the pain he experienced during his penalty.
"AHH!- I mean- yea.. Uh.. There is a penalty system.. For sure.. Just do the missions bro.. Trust me"
Kaden looks at the screen as Ahmad got on the ground and began doing pushups. While the sounds of the soft grunting filled the room as he lowered then elevated himself, Chrissy watched him.
"What were you two talking about? It sounded- more like arguing but not really at the same time?"
Ahmad kept that same rhythm, his vein bulging from his neck with each push up after he reached fifty.
"It.. wasnt.. huff.. thats important.. We werent just bantering.."
Kaden looked towards the pair and smiled slightly. He grabbed his bat and got up.
"Ok guys, im gonna be headed home for the day! Thanks for the bed to sleep on!"
Ahmad finished his pushups and turns onto his back, letting out a deep and tired breath every 2 seconds. Chrissy shifted her gaze towards Kaden.
"Are you sure, Kaden?.. You just got done fighting and you're still pretty injured.."
Kaden shrugged, stuffing one of his hands in his pocket while the other rested with is bat on his shoulder as he grinned.
"Relax, Chrissy Missy! I've dealt with punks stronger than those 4 dudes and that goblin combined! The fact that im still living says something! HAHAHAHAAA!!"
He walks to the door, grabbing onto the handle. Ahmad yells out at Kaden.
"AYE KADEN!"
Kaden turns his attention to him just as Ahmad threw a glass bottle at him. Kaden grabbed it and looks at it at the same time The Codex's screen pops up.
"Skill Execution: Code Observe[Lv. 1]"
The screen presents the bottle as a Potion of Regeneration. When Kaden saw this he looked up at Ahmad with a smirk on his face.
"Took you long enough!"
Ahmad chuckles, giving a light airy wave to Kaden.
"Whatever dude! Stay safe, and I mean it!"
Kaden walks out the door while letting out a light chuckling. He began running home.
"OH SHIT! I WAS SUPPOSED TO MAKE MY MOM FOOD! What time is it!?"
He stops near instantly after talking and then frantically takes out his phone. He turns his phone on, seeing that a day has passed since his fight with those 4 teens.
"Ohhhhhh fuuuuckk... My mom is gonna- What am I kidding- she's probably out partying with her friends like normal-"
Kaden shrugged it off and started to run home again. As he ran, he started to think to himself about The Codex.
"Hmmm.. This Codex.. Thing is confusing.."
He poked the screen. The screen felt like the page of an old book with a slight feeling of the static from an old box TV.
"Ok.. This.. Is.. Even more.. Confusing!.."
As he continued to think about The Codex and look at it's screen, he ran into the door of his house on accident.
"FUCK! MY FUCKING FACE!"
He rubbed on his face as his nose bled a bit. He takes out a key from his pocket, unlocking the door with it. As he walks in, he sees his mom watching TV in the living room.
"Of course.. Mother of The Year..AYE MOMMA! I'M HOME!"
She tilts her head towards his direction to get a good look at him. She sways her hand at him.
"Could ya be a good son and make me a cup of coffee?"
He scoffed and walks to the kitchen.
"Of course she wasn't worried about me.. She never is.."
He grabs a cup and walks to the sink to turn it on, pouring water in the cup. He sighs and puts the cup in the microwave for One Minute and Thirty Seconds.
"Your cup will be done in a second, Ma!"
She turned her head towards the kitchens direction.
"Thanks, Sugar! Momma loves you!"
She goes back to watching TV, laughing while watching "Cops". Kaden rolls his eyes as the Microwave finishes warming the cup. He takes it out and pours a packet of instant coffee in. He stirs it up while pouring creamer in. Afterwards, he puts sugar in, stirring it quickly. He walks towards his mom and hands her the cup.
"Here.."
While propped ontop of a futon, she grabbed the cup. She began sipping the steaming brew slowly, allowing the warmth to fill her mouth.
"It needs more sugar, but it'll do.."
Kaden scoffs and rolled his eyes, turning away from her in a disgusted manner.
"Whatever, Ma.."
She sips more as she shifted her attention from the TV, barely rotating her head to look at him, the cup pressed against her lower lip. Her eyes seemed dull, as if she was looking through Kaden rather than looking at him.
"Why aren't you at school.."
Her voice, seemingly flat, She watched over him in annoyance. Kaden scoffed once again and turned back to her.
"It's Saturday, Ma.. Just go back to drinkin' ya coffee and watching tv.."
She turned away from Kaden and tightens her jaw, letting out a seething sigh like sound from her mouth.
"Whatever, just get me something to eat from Wendy's.."
Kaden sucks his teeth in and walks out of house, slamming the door after exiting.
"Drunk bastard.."
He began to walk away as screams and explosions could be heard from far away.
"WHAT THE HELL!?"
TO BE CONTINUED, BY NEXT SATURDAY!!