The tiyanaks kept lunging at me. I was screaming with the highest octave I thought I'll never do.
I think I also surpass my record for that.
One attacked from behind me, I smacked it with my hand, as it screeched down to the floor. I kicked one from my right, threw one to the walls, all the while screaming my lungs out.
[HOST....]
I felt like the system was judging me. And was just holding back.
[YOU HAVE A DAGGER.....]
I looked at my hand, and laughed dryly.
"R-Right, I know that. I was just....warming up." A lie.
The system knew it too but it must be embarrassed to have such a host like me.
I gripped my dagger tightly and just swung it aimlessly. I managed to hit one and it shattered into fragments and disappeared.
[GAINED +5 POINTS]
"Five? Not one? How generous. Does that mean I'll be able to get 500 points from here? Eliminating all 100."
[CONGRATULATIONS HOST YOU DID THE MATH.]
This system's getting more sarcastic by the day.
"You're giving me an attitude."
[YOU'RE JUST SWINGING IT.]
It retorted that made me quite embarrassed too. The system's not wrong. I was just swinging the dagger aimlessly.
[DAGGER EXPERT: 100 POINTS]
I looked at it and frowned.
"Seriously? I barely make points. What's left was not even much."
But deep inside, if I needed to fight more stronger creatures, I need to know how to wield my weapon.
I closed my eyes and tapped purchase.
[DAGGER EXPERT PURCHASED]
I don't feel any change at first. But when the tiyanaks attacked in group.
My body moved on its own. I was slashing through the group smoothly. One after another, they fell.
[GAINED +5]
[+5]
It was my favorite music playing. The system chime.
I was smirking now. Going through groups with bravery I never thought I had.
Nah. It's just because I'm reliant on the system. Without the dagger skill, I would be still running away from them.
One tiyanak was left. And it was looking around, maybe trying to figure out what was happening.
When it was sure it was the only one remaining standing....
It turned back to its baby form. Crying.
"Tsk. How am I supposed to fight that one?"
It was adorable, cute and it's cheek was rosy pink. Tears falling down as it was crying loudly.
A newborn. It was using its human baby form to stop me from eliminating it.
"I can't kill it." I said lowering my dagger.
[SALT OF TRUTH (UNLIMITED): 100 POINTS]
"Really now? I am grateful you have solutions to everything system. But the points. I should always have spare if you kept making me buy your overpriced good."
I tapped purchase quite harshly, and a pouch of salt was materializing on my palm.
I took a handful and tossed it towards the crying baby.
As soon as the salt hit its skin, it revealed its true form.
The tiyanak was now hissing angrily, as it lunged on me. But it met my dagger instead. And it disappeared.
[MONTHLY COMBAT CHECKING COMPLETED.]
[GAINED A TOTAL OF 500 POINTS.]
[COMPLETION BONUS: 500 POINTS]
[TOTAL POINTS: 1365]
"Oh yeah! I managed to finish it!"
I was jumping in celebration and...
[SYSTEM UPGRADE IS POSSIBLE. USE 1000 POINTS TO UPGRADE FOR LEVEL 3? Y/N]
Wow. Just wow.
My happy dance ended after five seconds of celebration.
"You're really not waiting for me to savor the points I gained."
But I still tapped [YES].
This time....
My body felt lighter. And the system surface wasn't that bland anymore. New features were added, items in the shop were upgraded, and I can view my status now.
[ANTHONY F. MAGSAYSAY]
[MALE]
[SYSTEM LEVEL 3]
My own strength was measured by my own system's level. So this was what it meant. Its level was my own.
Moving forward, I decided to stop complaining and would just try and accumulate as much points as I could.
The world dissolved, and moments later, I was back in my own bed when I opened my eyes.
First question was, am I back in the real world or....
"Still the parallel world."
I mumbled, as I saw my sister's ghost right next to me, curling as if sleeping.
Or she truly was sleeping.
"Anthony, where were you?" Millien asked looking at me tilting his head.
"I was transported into some hospital. Combat checking, more like tossing me into the pits of darkness." I responded clutching my head.
It feels like my head was breaking. Not just that, even my whole body was sore. It was aching everywhere.
"Transported?" Millien asked confused.
Right...Millien doesn't know about the system. Or does he?
Because he always looks at me with that knowing gaze. Like he's looking not at me but something I'm not.
"Yeah. Sort of." I said vaguely.
He didn't push for more and just nodded.
The sun was already up, when I looked at the window. I didn't even feel like I was asleep. I was working my butts off even when I closed my eyes.
Then, a few knocks on my door woke me up fully.
"Anthony...you up? It's the first day of school. You don't want to be late." My mother's voice called out.
"First day of school?" I looked at the calendar and caught myself swearing.
I stood up and grabbed my towel, rushing to the bathroom. I did number 1 and 2, before bathing. That's been my routine.
I was in a haste.
"Mama, what time is it?" I yelled, as I entered my room again to get changed.
"8:34 sweetie, have you checked your schedule?" She responded while preparing breakfast.
Yeah, right. The student slip. Did I? I didn't right?
I checked my drawer for the slip, and good thing it's there.
First class starts at 8.
I tucked it inside my bagpack and ran towards the kitchen.
"I'm late mama. My class starts at 8." I only grabbed an apple and rushed out of the house.
First day of school, and I was late.