Glorious Vanity (SI LitRPG)

I panted, completely out of breath from biking across the battlefield.

Thankfully, it seemed like people were either too busy to care, or I was moving too fast for people to notice.

Probably the first.

As the Imperial Fortress came into view, I jumped off my bike and tossed it to the side, doubling over to catch my breath.

"Damned... stats... should... compensate for this..."

[Your struggles and determination to go beyond your physical limits has been acknowledged. Vitality +1]

"Damn... trolling... system..."

The average stat for vitality was 7, wasn't it? Now I was at 6... which meant that I was still below average. Or in other words, still bad at cardio.

"Argh..."

I forced myself to stand up and then looked around. Unlike the first fortress, this one seemed relatively unguarded. At least from the outside.

But I knew better than that.

Staring at the imposing building waving all sorts of banners and flags, I frowned and said, "The goal is to arrive at the fortress, but it looks like this isn't enough-"

[Mission: Arrive at the Imperial Fortress completed!]

[Your level has increased. Please confirm your status.]

[Awakening your Hidden Attribute... Mana has been added to your status. Please confirm your status.]

[Hidden Objectives Completed: First to arrive, Arriving alone]

[10 bonus stat points have been awarded. Please confirm your status.]

"...Well, looks like I was wrong."

A bag plopped onto the ground. A plain leather satchel that was glowing a soft white light like Avalon had initially. Probably that Starter Bag mentioned in the rewards.

In the end, it looked like it *was* still a tutorial mission. Maybe the gods or system or whatever weren't too heartless-

[Beginning the second mission.]

[Objectives: By any means possible, capture the Imperial Fortress's Dungeon Core.]

[Reward: Level +1, 10 bonus stat points, Necessary Skill Awakening]

I froze, reading the updated mission objective. And then I looked back at the looming fortress.

A dungeon core... that was a bit unexpected since we seemed to be mixing a lot of genres, but fairly reasonable. Still, capturing it in *that*?

Unlike that first fortress, this one was massive. A sprawling castle, almost, that would take days just figuring out where the core was, let alone capture it.

"Yeah... pass."

I shook my head and grabbed the bag on the ground before taking a look around.

Since the mission objective said 'by any means possible', that meant that I didn't have to be the one who did it.

In fact, considering everything maybe the missions were meant to try and force us to cooperate?

"Pft."

That was a riot. Like those four would actually work together. No, considering how they rushed out to that fortress, they were probably in on the whole scheme and knew some information.

If I had to guess, there was probably a hidden piece back at the first fortress that they were planning to use to stack their advantages, playing off the oblivious, and then either sneak away from the group or use the group as cannon fodder to raid this place.

And judging from the relative personalities that I picked up from those four, it was going to get messy real fast.

So hard pass.

There wasn't much cover around. While the flames didn't reach all the way to this fortress, it was still on an open grassland. There were a few hills here and there, but...

Wait.

I stared at a nearby hill and then at the fortress.

Considering the fact that no one was coming out, it was likely that there was only light surveillance. Or maybe the others were making a mess at the first fortress and their attention was diverted.

Which meant that this was a perfect chance to set things up.

I destroyed my bike and then jogged over to the closest hill.

The sun was starting to sink, causing darkness to fall on the surroundings. Night was coming.

Perfect.

"Now let's see... if I could make a bunker out of all that complicated stuff..."

That had been pulling something from nothing. Literal magical alchemy BS. If *that* worked, then surely I could just shift some dirt around to make cover, right...?

I placed my hand on the hill and then imagined it. A hollowed out interior, reinforced with some steel beams-

Ah wait. It'd be bad if those guys saw my bunker and thought that it was a hidden objective or something...

Then, like before, a bunker hidden underground, but with some dirt to cover the top, blending in seamlessly with the surroundings.

Almost immediately, I felt myself falling down, the ground suddenly giving way.

"Gah! Dammit! I forgot!"

I quickly spun around to not fall on anything important. But thankfully, it seemed like I didn't take fall damage from my own skill since I didn't feel any impact from landing.

Which was good. And that also gave me some ideas to exploit things later... But for now, all that mattered was that I had a safe hiding hole.

[Your cowardice is condemned. Luck -1]

[Your cunning is rewarded. Intelligence +1]

I brushed off my clothes and stared at the glowing words. "Not really sending a clear message here, System."

So they didn't like me hiding, but they also thought it was smart to do so...

Maybe there was more than one person watching? Or maybe this 'Tutorial' was run by an organization that were secretly observing everything to sort through the Chosen?

"Whatever."

They could think what they wanted. I knew my limits, and I sure as hell wasn't going to be able to raid that fortress without dying. Even if I joined up with the others, this silly old normal human would get turned into a bloody pulp the moment that the first monsters popped up.

"Now let's see..."

The Starter Bag was still glowing, lighting up the otherwise dark bunker.

I grabbed it and pulled it open, taking a look inside...

[Received: 10 bonus stat points]

[Received: Full Restore x1]

[Received: First Aid Skill x1]

[Received: Iron Armor Set x1]

[Received: Emergency Exit Scroll x1]

"...Well that's underwhelming."

I sighed and opened up my status window. Might as well sort through that while I wait for the others to storm the fortress...

-V-

[Hidden Attribute - An attribute that is not ordinarily present in the User. For most, it is Mana. However, other Hidden Attributes such as Divinity may be awakened under unique circumstances.]

[Mana - A measure of one's capacity to utilize the natural energies in the world. Includes various energy types such as spiritual energy, natural energy, or internal energy. Growth depends on race. For Human (Heaven Defying), the growth rate is 0.]

[First Aid - A basic healing spell taught to all novice adventurers. It can treat minor grazes and bruises, but deeper wounds are only temporarily abated.]

-V-

[Status Screen]

-Biography-

Name: Vain Glory

Age: 20 (Adjusted)

Race: Human (Heaven Defying)

Current Condition: Healthy

-Racial Traits-

Divine Anathema - Those not only forsaken by their gods, but those who have killed their gods and constructed their own. Drastically reduces effectiveness of Divine Attacks. Minor probability of obtaining partial Divine Authority through analysis and perception. Greatly increased hostility by Divine Beings.

-Traits-

Man of a Thousand Faces (Can filter emotions and experience through personas)

Well-Read (Increased intelligence growth)

Self-Determined (Luck is treated as 100 for calculations)

-Titles-

World Creator (Minor) - Allows construction of non-magical items through one's will

Hero Creator (Minor) - Removes growth limitations on user and their allies

-Parameters-

Level: 2

Strength: 10

Agility: 8

Vitality: 7

Intelligence: 31

Mana: 0

Luck: 15 [100]

Bonus Stat Points: 30

-Skills-

No One's Story - A gambit that defies the gods through sacrificing one's identity and very memory. All attempts to scry your status are denied. Removes skill requirements. Memory and visualization abilities are enhanced.

A Different Path - Direct interference with a hero's fate, granting him a new path and divergent futures. Allows reproduction of 'conceptual weapons' provided the requisite materials. Allows reproduction of 'sword skills' provided the requisite understanding.

Flames of Muspell (Heavily Degraded) - A miniscule spark of the flames that will harken the end in Ragnarok. However, though miniscule, it is still an authentic spark of the world-consuming flames. Immune to all but extreme temperature changes. Mild resistance to Absolute Zero or Absolute Flame. Can summon a tiny ember of Ragnarok's flames.

First Aid - A basic healing spell that stops bleeding and accelerates the body's natural regeneration.

-Inventory-

Full Restore x1

Iron Armor Set x1

Emergency Exit Scroll x1

-V-