Reality Quest: Threshold System

A bronze-key sat on my palms. It's appearance is similar to that of Dowan's key, hell, I think it is stolen out of his system textbook. 

I sat in my room, well, Si-wool room. It is quite fucked up to claim what is not yours. When I got here, in his house, I was met with a silent ambiance and an empty home. There was no one, aside from the hints that said otherwise. Pictures of family, with a child that looked like a younger me. I tried to remember if I… Si-Wool still has his parents. Kinda, he still has his family, his sister Ha-un, the current semblance of his family name.

She's not here… Gone to Si-Wool's other relatives. Remembering, this distance is not caused by a strained relationship, and more of a necessity. She, and I, go to different schools. While the main household is located here, her school is quite far – one might say is on the edge of this country. 

I'm alone… That doesn't sound bad, actually.

"How do you use this thing?" I tried stabbing into the air and nothing happened, I just looked like a moron.

With Dowan's system, the interface itself is a lock. The skills, and I think the stats, could be unlocked with his key. But, mine doesn't seem to have that. It was just an interface with automated text, and I could talk to it like an AI. I'm left basically blind in how to use my own power. Aside from the envoy's message of "Guidance"

As I gaze at the key, fazed, my eyes strayed onto my door. And, my vision focused on the doorknob.

"Hmm… what if," Going towards it, I pointed the tip of the key towards the Key-Hole.

"If this works, this is about to be the most inefficient way a system could function."

The key went in, as pushed. Lo and behold, bluish electric arcs, with an inky black outline, danced around the key-hole. There's no sensation of electricity, as I turned the mechanism open – unlocking it. Along with that display, my door itself begins to form circuitry of the same color that lined the frame.

[Normal Key Activated - Random Dimension Selection Start-up!]

Excitement made my heart beat like a drum, my eyes wide and reflecting the blue-current. Caution and fear is, of course, there. Who knows where this might lead me, and if I could trash the supposed Skill-Based matchmaking, as I see it. In games it is utter-trash, and I hope it's different here.

[Dimension Located! Setting up initial coordinates… 10%

54%

76%

100%

World "84926423" slash "Genaki" is planted with portal coordination!]

"Genkai?" What's that?

Is that from a game or movie, I never heard of that term or name before. But, if the selection really is the shit, I assume this world is safe from me.

[Latitude: 24.49094, Longitude: -139.80287. The user may now open the portal!]

Okay, it says that it's okay for me to open. Well, it didn't outright say, but It's safe to assume right? With heavy breaths, and a couple minutes to brace myself. I slowly opened the door, when I slowly, I mean slow-slow. I need to verify if there's other things around the portal, who knows if they're hostile or not. And, if they're not? Then I'm gonna get myself tied by the government of whatever place I get sent into, because I came out from a literal portal that leads to another world.

The door gradually opened wide, and I was greeted by a dark-blue surroundings. It looks to be a cave, and the ground and walls are made of stone. There's nothing here, or atleast near me. Hell to me, if I stepped foot on uncharted grounds with no foresight…

I came out of my room, and was reminded immediately that I am barefoot. The ground is sharp, course and rough – there's a fucking pebble pointing up to my foot for god's sake. 

"Fucking hell…!"

Suddenly, I heard a low, liquidy, vibration. It sounded like a diarrhea fart, great descriptor I know, however it does sound disgusting – I ain't lying. Look onto the distance, the darkness is pronounced – and the dark, from this cave-like place, seems to creep into me; or the light of my bedroom.

"Kri~ Kri~ Kri~"

I hear skittering, and a low rumbling noise coming out of the darkness. One of my feet is already back on my bedroom floor, by the accursed innate curiosity of man, preventing me from fleeing immediately. I need to know what I'm dealing with, if it's something of my league I'm gonna back and grow a plan.

The footsteps got closer… eventually the source of the noise. My eyes concentrated at the sight of a green, plump small figure carrying what looks to be a stone. When my eyes, and the creature's crimson gaze meet, my instinct flares up…

And I immediately got back into my room, and slammed the door shut – removing the key from the key-hole. My hands shivered as I held the key, watching as the circuitry dissipates from my door's frame.

"T-that was a monster…" I wipe my mouth of the sweat building up, " I thought the world was supposed to be easy?"

That monster has the same vibe a goblin has. Small, yet bulky, physique and an elongated face. Seriously, I thought it was a chimpanzee at first, but when I noticed the greenish skin and glowing eyes I knew it wasn't.

Is this broken? Why would it send me to a world that has monsters? Isn't it calibrated with my current abilities, or does it think I'm Van Hellsing or someshit.

Seriously, that was the scariest of my life. The moment I saw it, every instinct, every recorded pattern my brain has, screamed at me that the Goblin was not normal. Something that should not exist in my world.

However, should I fear what I cannot understand and not unchart it? I refuse to believe my System is broken, call it blind faith and foolishness, but I have a gut instinct that it is not the case. And, goblins are known to be weak monsters, that is the reason why they're used as a tutorial tool.

If Dowan could handle going into that bar, and fighting that Yakuza fatso, then I could handle a chimpanzee colored green.

I look at the key again, and to the Door. If it means I get stronger by doing this, then anything is worth doing to survive. You couldn't live cowering behind covers all your life, you need the faith to actually face the uncertainty head on. How else would you even overcome it , when you don't know what you're dealing with?

Of course, it doesn't hurt to be prepared.

…

..

.

I stood in front of my door holding the keys. Now I'm wearing a thick jacket, with forearms wrapped with duct-tape as protection, and I held a long kitchen-Knife as my main weapon. There could be a lot better, like a machete or even metal stick, however this is what I got — and i'm gonna work with it as best as I can.

Doing the cross, and praying for my life. I opened the door with the key, the same thing happened, and I again met the bluish cave that held the monster.

I stepped out, scared but prepared, and began to scour the area for the same Goblin. My knife is pointed in front of me as I begin to walk, can't be too sure these days. 4 steps from my bedroom, and I heard the same skittering and the low-whimpering.

And the same monster is now face-to-face with me. Both it and I stared at each other, not doing the first move, until it did. It lounges forward, holding the rock and bearing its sharp jagged teeth.

Surprised, I took a step back, and that was a mistake. The goblin made fast-work by closing the distance between us. It reaches my arm, and while still airborne, it bash its rock with force. Snarling as it does.

The pain rippled across my body, but, unfortunately for it, it's not unbearable. Getting my footing back, I slash my Kitchen-Knife towards it, and the goblin has no time to dodge because it is still falling.

My knife tore to its neck, and the goblin screamed in pain as reddish-blood squirted everywhere. Shook at the sight of blood, but still at the high of adrenaline. I noticed the knife still being its neck, and terrifyingly, the thing is still alive – looking at me with those red-eyes.

The knife is too dull.

The goblin raises its arm, ready to strike again.

"Oh no you don't!-"

Using my other arm, I took hold of its limb and pushed down. Weighing the goblin down with my superior weight. The small-monster has no chance, as it begins to crumble under my weight. It's attention from attack, to surviving my grasp, and with this margin I did the last push in order for my Knife to clean through its neck.

"ARGH!" 

The head of the goblin flew in the air, while the headless body bled an obscene amount of blood compared to its body. My perception shook, as everything seemed to be blurry. However, my body refused to lower its guard as I watched the body do something… strange.

It begins to evaporate into darkish mist. I look at the phenomena with a befuddled gaze, this is truly a different dimension. I don't think animals die like this.

And after the wake of the monster dissipation, is a sharp purplish stone, that seems to pulsate with an unidentifiable energy. 

I grabbed it, and focused my mirage vision. Yeah it's a stone, or something sort of mineral. But, seeing it came from a monster, this has to have some sort of fantastical property.

Before, I could fully analyze the curious pebble. A large amount of skittering noises made its way towards me, I readied my knife, and saw something I don't want to see. 3 goblins, while they didn't carry weapons, their large numbers make this way harder.

So…

"The hell you think I am!?"

I bolted towards the door. I don't have the capabilities to fight them! I would get killed, sure they're small and fragile, but I know, the moment I take my eyes away from one it will kill me! 

So, hell no!-

[Quest issued!]

"You have to be kidding me."

[Slay the Goblins! 

Reward: Newbie Class! 15 SC+]

I could do it now.

My foot is on the doorstep.

But…

Running away is some pussy shit! 

I take back what I said, I know I could handle these fuckers! Who the hell do they think I am?!

I turned back, and pointed the bloodied kitchen knife at the incoming goblins, " Come at me you rat bastards!"

..

..

I don't how much time has passed, the moment I killed those three fuckers; using their primitive coordination against themselves, I won – not without scratches. My forearm has been injured, I think if I remove the duct tape I'll see how swollen it actually is. There's faint traces of blood on them – my blood not the goblins.

I remove the kitchen knife out of the Goblin's head, and I hear the System ding.

[Quest Completed!]

"Yeah, yeah."

[Slay the Goblins! 

Rewards^

Newbie Class!

+15 Sc]

Counting with my fingers, I said, "I got 25 System Credits now, not sure what it's used for, but I guess that's a good thing?" I wipe my face and arms of the sticky blood.

The most important thing, however, is the Newbie Class. If that's what I think it is, then it could change the game for me. 

"Newbie Class…"

[Please Choose between the three-Classes.]

[Warrior - A melee archetype best suited for long battles. With high damage sustain, and battle presence, a party is not complete without the Warrior.

Class Skills^

Battle Tempo(Passive) - As the battle goes on, the more one's blood boils. Strength increases, and the blood circulation reaches its peak. 

Guard! - turn your body into an organic shield…]

So it is, what I think it is. A character archetype selection.

[Arcanist - Both Damage dealer and support, the Arcanist is an all rounder. Deal damage that cannot block by conceivable means, and buff each party member. The Arcanist is the heart of an Argonaut.

Bridge Between(Passive) - Call upon the whisper of the beyond to power one's magical Prowess.

Discriminate Fire - A spell that can choose who to attack, while having the healing properties of Flames…]

That's overpowered… This Arcanist seems to be the most powerful one, meaning it is the glass canon of the group, the Carry if you will.

[Rogue - Cunning and lethal, the Rogue could attack both long and short range. Utilizing his precise poisonous daggers, they are a nightmare if left unchecked.

Sly Fox(Passive) – One's instinct is honed to feel even the smallest of air fluctuation. None could ambush you, or hit you.

You can't see me – Conceal yourself that not even your breathing could be sensed.]

What do I choose?

All of the classes have their pros and cons, aside from the Arcanist. While it seems versatile, I couldn't shake off the feeling of a high-skill ceiling. And, the vibe of a glass-canon is strong. While that might not be a problem in groups, where teammates could guard the blindspot of the magician, I'm alone right now… I have no one to watch my back.

So, the warrior right? It's a class with a low-margin of error, it could tank hits and with its passive I could grow strong as the battle wore on. The problem is, it's quite fucking dangerous… its passive requires it to stay in battle for a long period of time, and the active skills promote being a meat-shield. And, what do I do when I fight something ranged? Just by the Warrior's abilities, mobility seems to be a second though, and while could tank hits – what if they utilize poison? I don't think you could tank that.

So, that leaves the Rogue…