Absorbing Info - Math Arnottir

The Weakest - Math Arnottir

Pigtail Mages and Dreams - Math Arnottir

A Serpent and Being Right - Math Arnottir

Disconnection - Math Arnottir

Goblin Hunt - Math Arnottir

The Smile - Math Arnottir

A Waking Day - Math Arnottir

Training - Math Arnottir

Scatterbrain - Math Arnottir

Weird Fishes

A Wolf At The Door - Math Arnottir

Mi Capitán - Math Arnottir

Creatures of Habit

O' Gluttony, O' Gluttony

On Sight - Math Arnottir

A Long Term Plan - Math Arnottir

A Man Meant to be King

Second Stage - Math Arnottir

Hunting Hunters Hunt - Math Arnottir

More

Hadal Zone - Math Arnottir

Wrath

Share the Mind Killer - Math Arnottir

I Just Want to Go Home - Math Arnottir

A Man Feasts - Math Arnottir

Shaman Theatrics and Goblin Fanatics - Math Arnottir

&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Okay... unallocated points, the stats are all letter-graded so how does this work exactly?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/Levels are rare, so think of these points as a little boost to each of the stats.\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;For example?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/Stats will become easier to progress through.\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;So... if I put a point in strength, how much easier will the progress become?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/.5%\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;How much is the percentage now?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/Potential determines the initial percentage in regards to how fast progress can become.\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Okay... then what is the potential in my stats?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/Strength: E-Rank (Hard Progression), Intelligence: B-Rank (Moderately Difficult), Dexterity: A-Rank (Easy).\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Okay... so I&#x27;m assuming that the minor stats in each section have their own individual potentials?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/Indeed.\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Okay... so... putting points into a stat ups the potential?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/Yes.\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Okay... what would the current ranks for potential be in percentages?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/F-Rank would be 1% to 2%, E-Rank is 3% to 10%, D-Rank is 11% to 20%, C-Rank is 21% to 35%, B-Rank is 36% to 50%, A-Rank is 51% to 70%, S-Rank is from 71% to 90%, and the ranks above that exceed any normal percentage range.\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;I-I see,&#x22; I paused for a moment, &#x22;So... currently the percentage of my E-Ranking is...?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/5%, potential rises with rising of rank.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;So if I train I can raise my potential?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/That would make things significantly harder for yourself to not use the points as an extra boost but, yes.\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;I&#x27;m also guessing my potential was lower before?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/Yes.\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;I let out a sigh, looking to the sky, exhausted by the information.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Okay... so those two points will up my potential by one point?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/Yes.\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Not much of a boost...&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/The boost will become much more noticeable later in your journey.\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Okay... well... put both stats into strength.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/1% has been added to Strength - Strength&#x27;s percentile has increased to 6%.\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;I feel like I wasted those stats.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Wait... how much mana does it cost to summon the Captain?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/10 mana\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Fuck me... uh... do I have to pay that much each time?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/It isn&#x27;t permanent.\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;What, the loss of mana or the summoning?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/Loss of mana.\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;I already figured, but is the summoning permanent, do I have to use 10 mana each time?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/No, but to preserve the summon you to have to give it mana, specifically when injured.\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Can I check the rank for my mana?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/Mana: E-Rank\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Catharsis...&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;I couldn&#x27;t help but sigh again, &#x22;Okay... how much mana do I have now?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/Enough.\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Summon the Captain then.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Silence... I looked to the status screen confused, eyebrow raised, wondering why he hasn&#x27;t been summoned yet before a sigil is burned into my right hand.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;It didn&#x27;t hurt but it startled me at first.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;/Gained Skill: Consumed Soldier - F-Rank. Only capable of summoning one soldier, repeated use will allow multiple to be stored and summoned at any given time.\&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;So the more in storage the better... that&#x27;s for the future I guess.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;I put a bit of mana into the sigil on my hand, summoning the Captain, wasting the last of my remaining mana, almost passing out from the loss as my summon appeared in front of me. I vomit as all my mana is drained from me, looking up to him.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;The Captain&#x27;s look had changed, a black figure with distinguishing red markings all across its body, a signature bandana over the eyes, and no hair, essentially resembling the shape of the once alive Captain.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;The few sporadic green colors that came across his body spread out similarly to flames, it was a wonder to look at.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Then I passed out.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;*****&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;I have a game for you all!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;My eyes shoot open as I hear someone shouting in front of me, greeted by an unrecognizable forest with multiple people gathered near me, obscured by the trees. The man who shouted was in front of me, a smile spread across his face.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;I looked him up and down, my vision blurry from just waking up, still trying to focus on what was in front of me.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;It&#x27;ll have multiple rounds! You all hunt each other or the creatures you encounter, and whoever hunts the most wins the round!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;A tall man with long black hair, two small pointed ears, shining amber eyes glowing from beneath his bangs, draped in fur and riches. A slight smirk appears on his face. This was the man who shouted.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Do you all understand?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;All?&#x22; There are multiple people here, yes, but who are they?&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;I take a few steps forward to try and unobscure some of their faces, looking to both sides of me, scanning them all.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;They all had different outfits and somewhat distinctive looks from each other but looked similar to me in some ways.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Tell me when you&#x27;re all ready!&#x22; The man waved.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Who are you!?&#x22; I yelled at him, moving closer.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Hm? Oh! You&#x27;re finally with us!&#x22; He threw his arms up into the air, excited to see me, &#x22;I am the meat, the feast if you will, and this is the test!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;I&#x27;m sorry?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;First, it was Gluttony,&#x22; He began counting on his hands, &#x22;Then, there was Envy.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;I...&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;The first test...&#x22; He paused for me, &#x22;Come on! You had to have realized, right?&#x22; His eyes widened, realizing something, &#x22;Ah! I see, you&#x27;re in denial! You just haven&#x27;t noticed.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;So...&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;First was that Gluttonous Serpent of a son, and now, it&#x27;s me!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;You&#x27;re... Envy?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Yes... the sinning strings are tied tightly around your heart after all. And with each prick of a knife, with each string dissipating and eaten... the limiters placed upon you disappear. Gluttony was the first, that was what you should be, then... Envy is what you are enraptured by. Each stage is a realization.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;I can barely understand what you&#x27;re talking about...&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Someone with loose clothes approached, he looked like me, but there were noticeable differences. His demeanor was lackadaisical, his ears were pointed like the black-haired man before us. He was smaller than me and his hair wasn&#x27;t tied up like mine, plus, his clothes were all black.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Old man,&#x22; He referred to the black-haired fellow, &#x22;When are we starting?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Do the rest of them look ready, Jidu?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He looked behind him, watching the other participants before clicking his tongue and looking at me, reeling back while making horrible noises with his throat, and spitting at my feet before leaving.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;What were we talking about?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;I looked at the black-haired man with concern.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Oh! Don&#x27;t be too distressed, it&#x27;s only gonna get worse from here after all! Best to be calm whilst you still can.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Why are we doing this competition?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;For &#x3C;strong&#x3E;you&#x3C;/strong&#x3E;!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Huh?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;This is &#x3C;em&#x3E;all&#x3C;/em&#x3E; for you!&#x22; He chuckled, &#x22;Once you are done with the competition, you&#x27;ll get free reign to eat me as much as you like!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;I have to eat you?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;You did that with the serpent, yes?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Well...&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Then... you have to do it with me,&#x22; The smile on his face grew wider, &#x22;You also have to put them in their place soon before they go &#x3C;strong&#x3E;wild&#x3C;/strong&#x3E;.&#x22; He pointed to the others.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;One of them, taller than me with red hair and clear amber eyes, approached me.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Math,&#x22; He referred to me, &#x22;We&#x27;ll stick together.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Who...?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;He pointed to himself, &#x22;Stolt,&#x22; then pointed at me, &#x22;Math.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;W-wait... you&#x27;re Stolt!?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;This is what we believe ourselves to look like. Of course, you look normal, but... the rest of us,&#x22; He glanced at them, &#x22;We look different since this is how we interpret ourselves. Though they aren&#x27;t inaccurate to what is inside &#x3C;em&#x3E;you&#x3C;/em&#x3E;.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;What do you mean?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Stolt pointed to Reithi, &#x22;He might look like a Dragonkin but he isn&#x27;t -- look at Jidu,&#x22; He pointed to him, &#x22;Those ears are fake, he actually looks like a Beastkin, but he really isn&#x27;t one.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;W-wait, then how does it look like that?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Shapeshifting... he&#x27;s the only one of us who actually knows how to use it since he&#x27;s directly connected to that guy over there,&#x22; Stolt pointed at the black-haired man who waved at us. &#x22;That Angel over there sponsors Jidu, and you,&#x22; He looked over at me, &#x22;You are sponsored by the serpent.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Okay... wait... Angel?&#x22; I looked at the black-haired man and pointed at him. &#x22;He&#x27;s an Angel?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;A Trickster at that.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;So... he&#x27;s that guy.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Indeed... and if you give up here... you won&#x27;t be you anymore.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;What do you mean?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;I mean, if you give up on the test, even when more rounds are granted to you - you will lose yourself and one of us will take over.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;W-wait... so... I&#x27;ll disappear or something?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;No, you will just not be the main personality anymore and whoever is here that wins will have their own way of taking in that Trickster&#x27;s power. You take by eating, and everyone else takes by doing something else, though some might not be successful in doing so.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;I&#x27;m confused, so... if I give up...?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;If you lose all the rounds but don&#x27;t give up, you&#x27;ll still be given another chance but the difficulty of the round will raise. So, if you lose a lot, the difficulty will get higher for all of us.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;You gotta be fucking me.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Stolt shook his head, &#x22;So, if you give up, then a winner is officially decided unless one of them pulls off the impossible and does the win condition with the Trickster right off the bat.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;This is a shit show.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Indeed.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;So... why help me?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;I&#x27;ve been with you since the start, not a good time to opt-out now.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Okay... can you introduce me to the rest of &#x27;em?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Stolt nodded, pointing to them one by one as he called their names, &#x22;So - Reithi, Jidu, Lagneia,&#x22; A woman with a sly look in her eye. I already looked effeminate to some degree but she really pushes my looks off the edge and well... is a straight-up woman. &#x22;Kasal,&#x22; caramel-colored skin, tired look in their eyes, the same red hair that Stolt has, and long pointy ears, &#x22;Codicia,&#x22; He looked like a normal human and was decked out in an outfit similar to something that an Elf would wear, decked in gold embroidery and the like, various earrings hanging from his ears.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;There are so many...&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Yeah... we&#x27;ll be having a hard time. But I&#x27;m better than them, so it should be fine.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Confident?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;I can be overpowered in number and they don&#x27;t seem to be coordinated,&#x22; He looked to me, &#x22;We&#x27;ll be fine.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;I nodded, &#x22;Okay.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Stolt glanced at them then at the Trickster Angel, &#x22;It&#x27;ll start soon.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;W-wait!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;Hm?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;What are these Angels, Demons, what are their names?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Stolt pointed to the Trickster Angel, &#x22;I can&#x27;t tell you his name,&#x22; then pointed to me, &#x22;But I can tell you the serpent&#x27;s name.&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;What is it?&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;The game is starting in, 3...!&#x22; The Trickster Angel started off.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;His name is...&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x22;2...!&#x22;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;

&#x3C;p&#x3E;Math, someone who has been friends with both the Saint and the Hero since elementary school is painfully weak, completely incapable of getting stronger, can&#x27;t use magic... is nothing compared to these two. One day though he realizes that he had been blacking out at random times leading him into madness itself as his pursuit to become strong tears him apart from the inside.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;

The Golden Sins of a Giant