The First Skill
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The barricade trembled under the relentless assault, the force of the soldiers on the other side threatening to topple it at any moment.
My muscles strained as I pushed back, trying to keep it upright. Panic was setting in among my combat group, and I had to think quickly.
As I fought to keep the barricade standing, my mind raced through the options.
After the battle with Jack, I realized some harsh truths. I couldn't sustain my speed for long periods. I had invested 1,000 karma worth of stat points into agility, making me as fast as the speed of sound.
But I neglected my vitality, which managed fatigue and endurance. Using my speed drained me quickly, and even now, I was still feeling the effects of fatigue from the previous fight.
I couldn't rely on speed alone—not now, not with exhaustion sapping my strength. The barricade wouldn't hold much longer against the tide of bodies pressing against it, and the combat group was already showing signs of weariness.
Desperation gnawed at the edges of my mind. I needed a plan, a way to turn the tide, or we would all be overrun.
There was only one way to overcome this. A skill.
Skills, in the world of the novel I had read, were game-changers—literal lifesavers. They were akin to the spells and abilities found in video games, allowing users to unleash powerful attacks, summon protective barriers, or perform miraculous feats.
In my current situation, a skill could mean the difference between victory and annihilation.
"Store!" I screamed, the urgency in my voice cutting through the din.
Instantly, the store window materialized before me, glowing with ethereal light. I barely noticed the chaos around me as I focused on the interface, my heart pounding in my chest. There was no time to lose.
My fingers flew over the selection of skills, scrolling past elemental attacks and offensive maneuvers. What I needed wasn't something flashy or destructive—it was something that could hold the line, give us breathing room to regroup and retaliate.
Then I saw it: a barrier skill. It was precisely what we needed—a defensive shield that could block anything from entering while allowing us to attack from within.
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Skill Name: Barrier
Price: 600 Karma
Description: Creates an impenetrable barrier that prevents anything from entering but allows for exits. Ideal for holding off large groups or defending a position. Uses lots of mana while being used.
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The price was steep, but it was my only hope. I hit the "Purchase" button with urgency. The skill was mine, but then I realized the drawback—I needed mana to use it. My magic stat was still underdeveloped because I had prioritized agility for the battle against Jack.
"Fuck..," I muttered to myself. My frustration was palpable. Using the barrier while regenerating bullets for my pistol would drain a lot of mana, but I had invested heavily in agility. I needed to rectify this immediately.
I opened the store again, the interface showing the current cost of stat points. They were now worth 32 karma each due to it doubling every 10 from previous purchases.
With no time to waste, I spent the rest of my karma buying as many stat points as I could afford, and putting them all into magic.
Each point purchased filled me with a growing surge of energy. I could feel the mana flowing through me, a powerful and almost overwhelming sensation.
"Step the fuck back!" I yelled at my soldiers holding the barricade.
Jake, who was nearby, looked at me with confusion and fear. "What? You want us to fall back now?" he shouted over the chaos.
"Fall back, NOW!" I commanded, my voice cutting through the noise with a harsh, authoritative edge.
Jake hesitated, his eyes wide as he tried to process my command. "But... but—"
My gaze locked onto his, and I could see him flinch under the weight of my stare. "Fall the fuck back or I swear I'll kill you myself," I said, my voice cold and resolute.
Jake gulped audibly, then barked out, "Fall back!"
The soldiers complied, stumbling back as they cleared the way for me to set up the barrier. The retreat was chaotic, filled with the sounds of hurried footsteps and clattering gear.
Without our soldiers pushing back, the barricade trembled violently, groaning under the relentless assault.
The sound of the barricade cracking under pressure was deafening. A few of the makeshift barriers—tables and chairs hastily stacked—gave way, toppling over with a loud crash.
The barricade had been penetrated.
The attackers from the first floor roared with excitement as their path opened up.
"Yeah! We're breaking through! Kill them all!" the first-floor soldiers shouted, their voices filled with bloodlust and triumph. Their cheers and taunts were a chilling reminder of the imminent threat we faced.
Panic erupted among my combat group as they struggled to maintain their positions. The collapse of the barricade created a chaotic scene of toppled furniture and desperate soldiers fighting to hold their ground.
They stumbled backward, clearing a path as the collapsing barricade exposed our vulnerable position. The sudden retreat was chaotic, with soldiers scrambling to get out of the way as the first-floor attackers surged forward.
In the midst of the pandemonium, I focused on the barrier skill. My heart pounded as I activated the skill, hoping it would provide the crucial defense we needed.
A surge of mana flowed through me, filling me with energy as I prepared to create the barrier. I raised my hands, focusing the mana into a physical form.
The red barrier began to manifest, glowing with a bright, intense light. It expanded outward, forming a solid, translucent shield. The barrier was a deep, vivid red, and it crackled with energy as it took shape. It covered the corridor from floor to ceiling, completely sealing off the space behind the barricade.
The soldiers attacking from the other side were momentarily stunned. They stared wide-eyed as the red barrier materialized, its surface glowing and pulsating with a steady light.
Inside the barrier, the atmosphere was quieter. The red glow provided a stark, almost eerie illumination. My combat team, initially caught off guard, watched in astonishment as the barrier held strong.
Jake, standing close by, stared at the barrier with his mouth open. "What is that?" he asked, disbelief clear in his voice.
"It's a barrier," I said, keeping my focus on maintaining it. "It'll hold them back for a while. Use this time to regroup and get ready."
The red barrier pulsed gently as it absorbed the attacks from outside, its color vivid against the darkness of the corridor.
I gritted my teeth, feeling the strain of the barrier as it absorbed the brunt of the assault. My mana was draining fast, the barrier consuming more energy than I had anticipated. Despite the draining feeling, I still had enough left to make a stand.
A fierce determination surged through me. I wouldn't let them break us. Not now. Not ever. I muttered to myself, my voice cold and resolute, "I'll fucking kill you all."
My gun materialized in my hand, its weight a comforting presence. I drew a deep breath and aimed carefully through the barrier.
The red glow of the shield cast eerie, shifting shadows across the corridor, but it provided a clear view of the enemy soldiers outside, their frenzied movements illuminated in stark contrast.
I squeezed the trigger, and the sharp crack of the gunfire erupted in the confined space. The first soldier's head snapped back as the bullet struck him squarely in the forehead. He crumpled to the ground, and a notification flashed before my eyes:
System Notification: You have killed a enemy soldier. 10 Karma awarded.
Ignoring the grim message, I continued firing. The recoil of the gun sent jolts through my arms, but I kept a steady aim. Each shot rang out with a distinct, deadly precision, sending the soldiers outside sprawling and collapsing in pools of their own blood.
System Notification: You have killed a enemy soldier. 10 Karma awarded.
System Notification: You have killed a enemy soldier. 10 Karma awarded.
System Notification: You have killed a enemy soldier. 10 Karma awarded.
System Notification: You have killed a enemy soldier. 10 Karma awarded.
Through the barrier, the soldiers' initial confidence turned to panic. Their coordinated assault faltered as they were struck by the unexpected gunfire. Screams of pain and confusion filled the air, mixing with the frustrated shouts of their leaders.
One soldier, his face twisted in a mixture of fear and anger, shouted, "Fall back! Get away from the barrier! It's a trap!"
But it was too late. The soldiers who remained pressed on, their attacks growing increasingly erratic as they struggled to comprehend the sudden shift in their advantage. The once disciplined ranks now devolved into chaotic, frenzied movements as they scrambled to escape the onslaught.
System Notification: You have killed a enemy soldier. 10 Karma awarded.
System Notification: You have killed a enemy soldier. 10 Karma awarded.
System Notification: You have killed a enemy soldier. 10 Karma awarded.
The barrier shielded us from their counterattacks, and from within its protective embrace, I continued to pick off targets with calculated efficiency. Each shot was a blow against their morale, each fall of an enemy soldier a victory for our side.
As the soldiers outside scattered, some retreating while others continued to fight in disarray, the once confident assault turned into a disorganized retreat. Their shouts of victory were replaced with cries of fear and confusion.
The once thunderous sounds of battle were now punctuated by sporadic gunfire and the clamor of soldiers scrambling to escape the deadly force inside the barrier. The chaos outside was palpable, and I knew we had gained a critical upper hand in this brutal confrontation.