Collide Gamer

Chapter 7 – Testing the Instant Dungeon

Genuinely, why would he go back to class now that he had learned magic was real? There were the expectations of his parents on the side that was pro attending his next class. Against that stood the chances of running into Frank, a future as an office worker, and the chance to become a big deal in a fantasy world. A really big deal, if this Lateblooming was all Moira made it out to be.

Much as John appreciated his parents, the answer was obvious.

John marched off school grounds. The little nervous knot he felt in his stomach at this was overpowered by his sheer excitement. Experimenting with the Skills he had just gotten would be awesome. He had always wondered what it would be like to shoot an arcane bolt for real.

His steps carried him outside of the city. It was a bit of a walk, especially in the heat of the day, but he eventually hit the shade of trees. The temperature dropped, the trees got more numerous, until he was in the forest proper. This was far from any prying eyes. To stumble into rangers or playing kids was unlikely – and wouldn’t remain an issue for long anyway.

John raised his hand and created an Instant Dungeon. He thought about a weak monster as he did. Skeletons, big rats, goblins, the general tutorial enemies. The world became silent. With the Instant Dungeon created, no gusts of wind touched these ‘fake’ trees to make their leaves whisper.

“Seems like it worked.” John mumbled. His MP was now at 45. Not a proud number, but hopefully enough to play around a bit. He scanned the perimeter. No enemies in sight. Carefully, he took a step. He whirled around. He had asked for skeletons or big rats and he didn’t know yet if this was the World of Warcraft starting zone or the Dark Souls tutorial. ‘Best not get surprised.’

Always trying to look in every direction. He moved ever so carefully around the trees. There was no discernible difference between the real forest and the copy he had made – had asked Gaia to make. That was probably the point tho-

2 EXP Gained.

‘Wait what?’ Confused, he tilted his head even more than before. There was still nothing around him. He took a large step back.

1 EXP Gained.

He looked down and found the source of his Experience. Tiny little things crawled on the forest floor. They had the form of little pinecones with arms and legs. They were crawling towards him at a snail’s pace. He used Observe on one that was doing its best to punch his shoe.

Seedling Lvl 1

HP: 2 MP: 1

Tiny forest spirits that take hold of pinecones and other seeds. They are the baby stage of treants and don’t possess power. This is the best you can handle right now.

He had accidently killed two by stepping on them. The EXP granted was measly. Measly EXP was still EXP. He started to jump from one of the pinecone Seedlings to the next, crushing them under his shoes. Each crunch rewarded 1 to 3 EXP and slowly he climbed towards his Level Up.

One problem though: his physical condition was terrible. It didn’t take long at all for him to get winded. Moving got gradually more difficult. After ten minutes he had to sit down on a mossy stone, breathless. ‘Come on Gamer’s Body, do the stamina recovery thing,’ he pleaded. His limbs felt like they were made out of lead.

Achievement Unlocked: The Muscle of the Operation 1

You slightly trained your body. Finally going to use another piece of meat than your dick?

+1 END

“Fuck you.” John gasped and wiped away the sweat from his forehead. That achievement was interesting. From the ‘1’ at the end he guessed that it was repeatable. That made the hopping around here even more worthwhile, now he could farm minor EXP and the occasional Endurance Point.

The lip it was giving him was also interesting. Was this Gaia speaking? Moira had said all powers stemmed from her, so that seemed likely, but who knew what a creator deity did personally and what she delegated.

While he waited for his stamina to recover, he had a worthwhile idea. Why not level Possession while he was resting? Not like he had anything better to do. He looked at a stone and used the Skill. Now he looked at himself resting while looking at himself being a rock. It was weird.

He stayed as the rock, even as Gamer’s Body kicked in. John took a relieved breath, like a video game character who shed a status condition. The weight of his limbs swiftly went back to regular and he could move once again. He had to cancel Possession to go back to stomping. The dual perception was too disorienting for his senses to keep it up.

Once he was petered out again, he recast the Skill. Once recovered, he went back to jumping around. Back and forth like that, for as long as he had MP. When he was out, he pulled his stored sustenance out of his inventory. ‘Cold and unchanged,’ he thought, tasting orange juice and carrots. ‘No warming up or drying out. Seems like they really are in stasis?’ He left a single piece of carrot in there to see if there was any kind of rotting that would go on.

On a full stomach, he resumed the training. He continued the back and forth patterns for a long while. Eventually, a few windows opened.

Achievement Unlocked: The Muscle of the Operation 2

You slightly trained your body. Keep going and one day somebody might find you desirable!

+2 END

(Replaces The Muscle of the Operation 1)

Possession Lvl 2:

10 MP -> 9 MP Activation Cost

You may now move slightly while possessing an inanimate object.

Achievement Unlocked: Seedling Stomper

Don’t you feel sorry for the weak little things? I guess not. 

Level Up! Congratulations you are now Level 4.

He pumped his fists. “Aw yeah, that’s what I’m talking about!” he shouted freely into his forest. Excited, he opened his Character Sheet. The level got him a whopping 5 Points to spend. Not bad at all for this bit of work. Especially when combined with the 2 Endurance he gained. Aside from the Seedling Stomper Achievement, which had no Bonus whatsoever, this had been really productive.

There was a new thing to think about now though.

What should he put his points in?