Chương 11: Training To Become A Hopper (1)

In the secret training facility under an electric substation. Cayman lined us up while he went through the procedure.

"Today is the day," he began.

"You will be training here and defeating mana beasts until you reach stage 3. In other words, you won't be leaving this place until you reach stage 3 and become a Hopper." Theo, Ben and Maya sighed.

"That would be extremely tiring," Ben said. His arms drooped lifelessly by his sides. He received a smirk from Cayman.

"You don't have a choice. Endure this training. You'll reap insane rewards for a skill user at your level, like more mana crystals." Ben's eyes immediately lit up. His mood had completely changed. He already knew that earning mana crystals would make him rich.

"I'm sure you're all aware that there is a risk of death associated with fighting these mana beasts, but at the end of the day, you'll all be fine. Don't worry too much and concentrate on the fight." Everyone nodded in approval at Cayman's pep talk.

"Whenever you're all ready," Cayman continued, "we'll release the beasts. They'll be different from what you guys fought against last time because you get less XP for defeating them once you progress through the stages. It's to prevent skill users at the infinite level simply killing basic-level beasts to increase their stage. But don't worry, you'll be fine." Ben and Maya were shuddering slightly, but Ellie put her arms around their shoulders to reassure them that they would be fine.

After a while, I said, "I'm ready."

"I'm also ready," Theo said proudly.

"Same here." Ben followed suit.

"Ready when you all are," Maya chimed in. Cayman nodded.

"Get out your swords. Get ready. This is something I shouldn't really be saying to you all when you venture out into the world of Hoppers." The process of getting out the sword was interesting. I didn't have to store the sword anywhere in my house, since the system had that covered. The system provided me with an inventory to store any items I had with mana to ensure that they wouldn't get spotted by people who weren't skill users.

It was awkward to take items out from my inventory since they would come out from my system, and normal people would think I was taking something out from thin air. But there are always methods to counter this, and the most straightforward way to deal with this issue was to not take out any items from my inventory in public unnecessarily. Cayman and Ellie had done this several times in Night Hoppers, and never have they been seen in public acting awkward and seemingly taking objects out from thin air.

That might have been because they were surrounded by skill users, however, unlike us. I opened my inventory and took a good look at it. Inventory Available spaces: 24 Total spaces: 25 Items: Mana Sword (basic) Reach stage 3 to unlock 5 more inventory spaces! Tip: use grid mode to view items when there are a lot of items in your inventory I clicked on 'Mana Sword (basic)', and soon, I could feel myself touching a smooth metallic surface. I pulled, and out came a medium-sized sword that shone in the dim lighting.

It was my mana sword.

"Has everybody gotten their swords out?" Cayman asked.

"This is the last time I'm saying this, since you all should know to take out your swords in real combat." Again, everybody nodded. Cayman grinned.

"OK, then. Looks like you're all ready. Release the beasts!" Just like last time, the stone wall separating us from the mana beasts disappeared, as well as the barrier behind that, releasing a horde of stampeding mana beasts charging towards us. I looked at their names above their heads. This time, the beasts weren't mana lions. [Black Spotted Jaguar (basic)] Roar! Upon seeing those things, the first thing any ordinary person would think to do was run away. But we weren't ordinary people; we were skill users.

We weren't going to run away that easily. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. [Skill, 'Reading Bubble (basic)', has been activated.] Chomp! I was safe. The jaguars going after me kept biting the shield surrounding me, but they couldn't break through. They were only at the basic level, and my defensive move could shield me from basic moves like a charm. I thought about my situation.

There were at least three jaguars surrounding me and trying to break through my reading bubble. I could take all three of them down, but it would use up a ton of my energy and I didn't have much mana stored in my mana core. I looked over to see what Theo, Ben and Maya were doing. They all had their own beasts to deal with. Theo and Ben were punching the jaguars to death, whilst Maya was ferociously slicing the jaguars attacking her with her sword. So I was all alone.

I had to think about how best to use my available skills and mana so that I could defeat the jaguars surrounding me as well as not get too tired afterwards. Teleportation, Strength, Recovery, Healing. And most importantly, my main skill, Reading Bubble. I had five skills I could make use of. I just needed to think about how best to use these skills. And that was when my brain clicked. [You have disengaged basic skill 'Reading Bubble'.] [Skill, 'Teleportation (basic)', has been activated.] Slash!

Just like that, I managed to get behind one of the jaguars attacking the reading bubble and elegantly stabbed it in the back several times. Slash! Slash! Slash! Pools of thick black blood which looked like pure tar began to form on the stone floor. One down, two more to go. [Skill, 'Teleportation (basic)', has been activated.] Slash! I managed to repeat the same procedure with the second jaguar attacking me. Again, it didn't notice my attack, and it met its untimely demise at the hands of my mana sword.

[Skill, 'Reading Bubble (basic)', has been activated.] Crap. I wasn't thinking hard enough. Mana beasts also have brains. The third jaguar managed to read my attacks, and now it was attacking me with all its might. [Skill, 'Reading Bubble (basic)', is showing signs of breaking.] Damn it. It shouldn't break from the jaguar's attacks, but maybe it could break because I was running low on mana. Come on, think! Quickly, before I run out of mana! I wasn't going to go down so easily.

There had to be a solution somewhere. What would Cayman do in this situation? What would Ellie do in this situation? They would probably use whatever they have to come up with a makeshift solution. Yes, that was called improvisation. That was my solution. [You have disengaged basic skill 'Reading Bubble'.] [Skill, 'Strength (basic)', has been activated.] Punch! Punch! Punch! That was probably the last of my mana. Hopefully that did some damage to the beast. I was panting.

I thought I was going to feel sick and vomit. I had never been to the gym before, and I had never done any cardio exercises to improve my stamina. I looked at the jaguar I had just punched. It was down, but I could tell it was about to get back up on its feet again. I didn't think twice. Stab! Stab! Stab! Blood erupted from the jaguar's body like a fountain of black paint, staining the body and my jeans a horrible pitch-black colour. I didn't stop there.

I cut that thing open, tore apart its skin and its fur and ripped its vital organs in their place. Blood covered my shirt, my shoes and my face. That was when I stopped, when I was on the verge of collapsing. [You have gained 30 XP for defeating a 'Black Spotted Jaguar (basic)'.] [You have gained 30 XP for defeating a 'Black Spotted Jaguar (basic)'.] [You have gained 30 XP for defeating a 'Black Spotted Jaguar (basic)'.] [Total XP: 90/250] I slowly turned my head to look at my friends.

They were all panting, sweating and about to collapse. Maya looked like she was about to cough up blood.

"Well, well, well," Cayman said, walking over to us and the bloody mess we had caused.

"Although this will be an absolute nightmare for us to clean, you've all done well. I'm giving you an hour's rest. Then we'll continue." And that hour went by as quickly as a bullet train. Luckily, Cayman provided us with water and mana crystals. I hastily used all of my mana crystals to replenish all my lost mana, which was something Cayman and Ellie frequently did in Night Hoppers.

"Time's up," Cayman said, walking over to us. I was fully healed, but my friends were a different story. Ben was passed out on Theo's shoulder, whilst Maya had her head in her hands. Clearly they didn't know that mana crystals could help restore lost mana. Well, they were still new to the skill user world.

"Robert," Cayman continued, sighing at the sight of the worn out Maya, Theo and Ben.

"Come here for a second. I'm being nice today and I'll give them a few minutes extra." After I stood up, I followed Cayman.

"What have you got to show me?" I asked, intrigued.

"Those jaguars won't be enough for you to progress to stage 3, but there is one specific beast that will allow you to do that. That's what I'm going to show you." Huh? There's more? Cayman pressed a button on the wall, and the stone wall separating us and the mana beasts disappeared. And that was when I saw it. My jaw dropped. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

"We have to defeat that thing in order to progress?" I was bewildered. Cayman nodded. I could only brace for impact as Cayman asked me the feared question.

"Are you ready for it?"