Ring.

“That ringing sound. I did it! Finally! Yes! ”

Matthew excitedly looked up at the blue window that opened before his eyes, a large smile formed on his fatigued face after spending hours trying to receive a new skill.

[You have unlocked a new skill: Mana pulse.]

[Skill: Mana pulse (Lv.1)]
Does not do anything. Consumes a small amount of mana and releases it into the air.

“...”

“???”

“What the hell is this?! Is this a joke? I got a skill that does NOTHING? It even says so in the description! Damnit!” Beyond angry, Matthew was boiling in rage.

“I’m gonna make some chicken tartare! Stupid system!” he said, as he pulled his hunting knife from his inventory and bolted in the direction of the village.

He passed the area he set up traps in and continued until he reached the midpoint between the limit of the forest and the village.

“Come at me, bird brains! I’ll fry your asses and roast you good!” he yelled towards the village.

Seconds later, a flock of 10 bird headed humanoids were rushing at him through the clearing.

“Shit, I lost my temper, there are a bit too many!” he realized.

He turned back and traced back his way into the forest, followed by the monsters. He heard them falling down and struggling in the traps right after he passed them and ran in a semi circle to get back to the clearing.

Before reaching the clearing, he heard a ringing sound.

[You have gained a level.]

‘Huh? I gained experience with the traps? Did some die to them?’

Once he reached the clearing again, he turned back and prepared for a battle. One of the monsters was just a few meters behind him. It had been smart enough to evade the traps by following his steps.

“Alright, come at me, you raw nugget!” he said, as he got into a battle stance.

The monster did not stop running towards him. As it got closer, Matthew dashed to the side and slashed at its arm as it passed him. A look of confusion appeared on the monster.

“Is that all? You really were only good at running. Only rushing at me like that, did you not have a plan?” Matthew wondered, just as confused as the bird after observing it.

Matthew dashed forward and slashed at the monster’s neck. Blood poured out and it collapsed silently on the ground.

“Hmm… There really wasn’t a reason to be scared it seems, they really are as weak as I read. Or am I stronger than I thought? I haven’t really tried to train since I got the system, maybe I did get stronger.”

Ring. Ring.

[You have gained a level.]

“Hoh? It was delayed, is it from the traps again?” he wondered, but dismissed the windows opening.

Turning back towards the forest, Matthew saw 3 monsters limping towards him, with multiple wounds visible on their bodies.

“I guess I could take on 3 of them. They aren’t even in good shape.”

Matthew pulled a hatchet he got from the hardware store out of his inventory and threw it at the monster closest in front of him before rushing towards them. The hatchet hit the monster on the torso, handle first.

“I should have at least trained throwing weapons…” he said after clicking his tongue.

Now in melee range, Matthew stabbed his knife in the throat of the first monster. He then dashed back and evaded the hands of the other two as they came running on both sides, and saw them collide into each other.

‘They really are stupid…’ he thought, watching them both fall backwards.

He pulled out another hatchet from his inventory and threw it at the one on the right before it could get back up. This time, the hatchet hit it blade first in the chest and it collapsed back.

Ring.

[You have gained a level.]

“Nice! A clean hit and a level up!”

He then dashed towards the last monster that just got back up and stabbed his knife into its chest. The monster’s eyes opened wide in shock, before relaxing as it fell down, lifeless.

Ring.

[You have earned a new achievement: Just as planned.]

[Achievement: Just as planned]
You have ventured alone and achieved what you wanted after careful preparation.

Bonus stat points: 5

“Oh, I guess this was the last one, since I got what seems to be a clear achievement. What else is new?” he wondered and checked his status.

[Status window]
Name: Matthew Carter
Level: 4
Achievements: 2

- Stats -
STR: 16
AGI: 17
END: 16
INT: 19
ATK: 65
DEF: 48
MGK: 57
RES: 54
(Available stat points: 14)

- Skills -
Mana pulse (Lv.1)
Set traps (Lv.2)

“I gained 3 levels while here, and an achievement. Wow, all my stats also increased, and I have more than the 5 bonus stat points from the achievement! Let’s check!” he said, excited, as he pulled a notepad from his inventory.

“Good thing I noted everything before for comparison.”

After scribbling for a bit, he came to a conclusion. The 4 stats he can increase with points increased by 3, just like his levels, and the other stats increase to match the rules he figured out in chapter 3. As for the available stat points, he gained 6 extra points.

‘If I was level 0 before getting the system, and I gained 2 stat points for every level, it would match with the 2 extra I had before and the 6 new I got now. I’ll have to check next time I level up.’

"Nice, I’ve got skills now as well in my status window. Wait… there is a level next to my skills? There was no mention of that from other players. And Set traps is level 2, let’s look." 

[Skill: Set traps (Lv.2)]
The traps set are now imbued with mana.
Increases the damage dealt by traps.
Setting up traps is now faster.

“Hmm, the description changed slightly, it seems it got better? So that means I can upgrade my skills! So I still might actually use the useless stupid skill I got earlier! Hehehehe, my system is the best!”