The classroom buzzed with the ongoing lesson as the teacher delved into the intricacies of mathematical equations. A girl named Sumako, seated in the front row, seemed puzzled by a particular aspect of the problem, raising her hand to seek clarification.
Her teacher, with a patient smile, acknowledged her question, "Alright, Sumako, pay attention over here. So what we're trying to find with this problem is…"
As the teacher re-explained the concept, another student silently observed the scene. Capturing the teacher's explanations in his notes, he couldn't help but feel confident about his grasp on the subject. That student is me, Hiroomi Kanbara.
'Man, that's easy. How did she not get that?' I thought to myself, content with my own understanding of the material.
In my peaceful and contented life, I cherish the simple harmony of the mundane. Untroubled by any form of bullying or isolation, I thrived in a world where I both received and reciprocated love and respect with others. My life, as I perceived it, was a state of comfort and ease I wouldn't trade for anything.
But life's tranquility seldom remains undisturbed. As I finished jotting down the notes from the whiteboard, a sudden disruption caught everyone's attention—a bright white ball materialized right in the middle of the classroom.
"What the?" Gasps and murmurs echoed through the room, momentarily sidelining the math subject.
"Hey, Kashimo, poke it," suggested a boy from the back, urging his neighbor to investigate the mysterious object.
Kashimo hesitated, "Hell nah, you do it. I don't want to get burned after I touch it, Hikaru."
"Alright then." Hikaru grabbed a broom and recklessly attempted to swat the ball.
The teacher intervened, warning Hikaru, "Hikaru, leave it alone." But curiosity overpowered caution, and he ignored her advice. Hikaru improvised, standing on a chair to get a better angle to swat the enigmatic ball.
However, as soon as the broom made contact with the glowing sphere, an unexpected turn of events unfolded before their eyes. The ball exploded with a sudden burst of radiant light and energy.
The force was enough to shatter the entire classroom and the two classes next to it. In total, 44 students were killed, and 108 were injured.
Strangely enough though, the bodies of the students from my class weren't found. The police concluded that the explosion was so great that our bodies were just turned to ash.
But no, we were actually transported to another world.
As the light dissipated, I found myself on the cold ground, disoriented and surrounded by my classmates. Sumako shook my shoulder, snapping me back to reality. "Hiroomi! There you are, finally awake," she said with relief evident in her voice.
Ageta, Eiji, and Kashimo were also present, the latter being the reason for our unexpected situation. Confusion still clouded our minds as we tried to make sense of our surroundings.
"Where are we?" I asked Sumako, hoping she had more information.
"We don't really know. Seems like a dense rainforest," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
As I glanced around at the unfamiliar landscape, it became clear to me what kind of situation we might be in. An idea struck me, and I decided to confirm it by invoking a familiar command.
"Status," I uttered the word, and in front of my eyes, a glowing yellow panel materialized, displaying information that seemed surreal.
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
・Hiroomi Kanbara
・Race / Human
・Class / Dominator Lv.1
・>STR 1
・>AGI 1
・END 1
・MP 10/10
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
Skills
・Empty Slot
・Empty Slot
・Empty Slot
・Empty Slot
・Empty Slot
・Empty Slot
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
Special Skills
・Domination Lv.1
・Conspecific Translation
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
Sumako, standing right in front of me, saw the panel as well. "What is that?" she exclaimed, clearly surprised by the appearance of the mysterious display.
"You can see this?" I was surprised. Typically, only the user could perceive the status panel, but it seems everyone in this strange place could see it too. "It's called a system, you all should have one too. Try saying 'status.'"
"Status. Oh my god, what is this? Are we in a novel?" Ageta exclaimed, expressing both amazement and disbelief.
"Status. So it's just like an Isekai, got it," Eiji remarked, seemingly recognizing the familiar genre reference.
"What is this, a WhatsApp Status?" Kashimo quipped, perhaps trying to lighten the mood amid the bewilderment.
"Status. So, what do these mean exactly?" Sumako questioned, seeking further clarification.
I took a moment to explain, "In these types of situations, we usually find ourselves in another world. This system we see here is like a game interface that shows our skills and special abilities."
However, Kashimo didn't seem inclined to believe my explanation, dismissing it with an insult. "Sheesh, can you not be a weeb in this situation and act your age?"
Eiji, on the other hand, came to my defense, countering Kashimo's skepticism. "Seriously, Kashimo? A white ball appeared in our classroom, and it's after you messed with it that we ended up here. And how else do you explain these status panels we all have?"
Kashimo seemed momentarily taken aback by Eiji's response, but he quickly regained his composure, though not without a lingering sense of doubt. The tension in the group was palpable as we grappled with the inexplicable circumstances surrounding us.
Sumako, always trying to foster harmony, interjected gently, "Let's not argue. Hiroomi might be onto something. Maybe we should try to figure out how to use these skills and special abilities to survive in this new world."
Ageta, who had been observing the exchange quietly, nodded in agreement. "She's right. Regardless of how we got here, we need to adapt and find a way back home."
Despite his initial reluctance, Kashimo eventually conceded, "Fine, fine. Let's just get our bearings and see what we can do. But if anything goes wrong, I'm blaming you, Hiroomi."
The words slipped out before I could think twice, a touch of frustration lacing my tone. "Oh please, Kashimo, you lost your right to express your opinion here after you got us into this situation."
Silence settled upon the group as my words hung in the air, the weight of the truth sinking in. Kashimo's initial skepticism wavered, replaced by a flicker of guilt. The gravity of his actions seemed to dawn on him, and a sheepish expression washed over his face.
"That's enough, all of you," Sumako interjected. "There's no point in arguing who's more wrong. It'd be better to share our statuses. Here's mine."
Sumako Nakamura was the first to show her status. Her [Class] displayed as "Healer", she had arrows pointed to "END" and "MP", and her Special Skill was "Restoration."
Eiji Takahashi followed suit, revealing his own status panel. His panel showed that his [Class] was "Parser", he had arrows pointed to "AGI" AND "MP", and his Special Skill was "Identification."
Ageta Okamoto was next to share her status. Her [Class] was "Visionary", she had arrows pointed to "STR" AND "MP", and her Special Skill was "Creation."
Lastly was Kashimo's status. His panel showed that his [Class] was "Reflector", he had arrows pointed to "STR" AND "END", and his Special Skill was "Duplication."
Those were the differences, but the common thing between us was that we're all "Human", all of our Skill slots were empty, and we all have the Special Skill "Conspecific Translation."
"What does Conspecific even mean?" Kashimo asked.
"It means the same species as you are." Eiji answered.
"Does that mean that we'll understand language spoken by Humans, regardless if we understand it or not?" Ageta suggested.
"If that's the case then we've already passed the language barrier, should we meet another Human inhabitant of this world." Sumako concluded.
Kashimo nodded, processing the information. "So, it means that even if we encounter someone who speaks a different language, we'll still be able to understand them as long as they're a fellow Human."
Eiji chimed in his hand on his chin, "Could be. If 'Conspecific Translation' acts like a universal language converter for us, it's quite a useful ability."
Sumako raised an intriguing point, "If that's true, then we might have a significant advantage when interacting with the inhabitants of this world. While they might not understand each other, we can act as intermediaries."
"We should make the most of this advantage," I suggested. "Let's not just sit here and explore, gather information, and seek out other Human inhabitants, if there are any."
I get up and motion for the others to get up as well.
"Where should we even go?" Ageta asked.
"For today, we should just find a place to sleep tonight, and get familiar with our Skills. Maybe one of us could develop a navigation ability," Eiji suggested.
Sumako and I nodded in agreement, while Kashimo and Ageta just followed our direction.
After settling which way is north using the direction the sun is setting, we start to walk in as straight of a line as we can.
As we were walking, Eiji was already trying to use his Special Skill as a Parser, 'Identification', on the exotic flora around us. Seeing how strange the plants here looked and felt, we were pretty much convinced that this isn't Earth.
However, since both the skill and Eiji himself is still level 1, he couldn't get much information out of it, only going as far as seeing minor details that plants from Earth don't have.
Regardless, he still analyzed everything he could see, in hopes of leveling up his 'Identification' skill and being able to provide more information.
After what felt like hours of walking, we managed to find a clearing. Instead of trees, there was just tall grass.
After a few more minutes of walking, we found a cave entrance, and after exploring inside for a bit, it was found suitable as shelter. We sat down and rested after walking for hours.
Ageta complained about how long that walk was, and how uncomfortable this cave is for sleeping. Kashimo told her to stop being spoiled and shut up because they're all stressed. Then they start arguing.
"God, why did I have to be isekaied with these people?" I whisper as I pinch the bridge of my nose.
"I would stop them, but I'm also tired from walking," Sumako expressed, dropping down to take a seat.
Eiji then sat in between me and Sumako, "I found something about the system from my 'Identification'. I was going to share with those two as well, but I can't care less about seperating them so I'll just tell you two."
"Oh, really? I actually found some of my own too," Sumako raised. "You go first, Eiji."
"Right, so from my 'Identification' skill, it seems that this system functions similarly to a skill tree," Eiji began, trying to redirect the group's focus from the escalating argument. "Each of us starts with our unique Class and Special Skill, but as we raise our levels, we can unlock new skills."
"So that's what the Skill slots are for?" I asked.
Eiji shakes his head, "The empty Skill slots in our status panels are there to be filled with more universal skills. They're unrelated to the Special Skills which are gained through our Class," he pauses to see if me and Sumako understood before continuing.
"What I meant were skills derived from the original Special Skill. For example, I've been using 'Identification' on the trees and plants, and I've found that it could only analyze the contour on the objects and minor details that are invisible to the eye But then, when I attempted to analyze the 'Identification' skill itself, I found that there were branching paths that I couldn't quite see the end of."
"Woah," Sumako responded, her voice measured and thoughtful. "So this system offers us a path of growth and development. Has your skill leveled up yet, Eiji?"
"No, it's still at level one, but my MP did increase. My capacity went from 10 to 14."
"How did you know how to use your skill?" I asked, wanting to use my own 'Domination' skill.
"Just open your status, and press on the skill."
I opened my status, tapping on the 'Domination' skill, another panel appeared.
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
[Domination]
Proficiency: Lv.1
Cooldown: 0
Effect: Impose control on a target.
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
"That's it?"
"Yeah, the effect description doesn't even tell us how to use it," Sumako says.
"Mine just says Impose control on a target."
"Mine says Restore the state of a target. Don't tell me you're the same, Eiji."
Eiji shrugs his shoulders, "It is," he opens his status for us to see. There, it was displayed Analyze a target from gathered information.
"Then, how did you know how to use your skill?"
"I just wanted to use my skill, and then it activated. Why don't you try to use yours, Sumako?"
"There's nothing here to "restore". How about we have Hiroomi use his skill on you, and if something happens I'll try to use mine."
"That sounds stupid. What happens if I get injured and you don't know how to use your skill? But sure, I'm not scared anyways."
"Ready?" I asked. Putting my hand on his head. "Um, what do I do?"
"Just tell me to do something, I don't know?"
"Alright, um… stand up?" At those words, Eiji's eye became black, his irises purple, and immediately he jolts up.
"Holy shit, um… restore!" Sumako used her skill on him, her hands radiated some kind of golden light, and then Eiji was back.
"Hiroomi, do that again!" I jumped at his sudden request.
"What? Please don't tell me you liked that."
"No, ew. I meant I found something. I was using 'identification' as you used your skill, and I saw something. But it wasn't clear, I need you to do it again on me."
"Alright." So I used it repeatedly on him. I told a bunch of random orders like jump, jab, and duck. The change in his eyes was unmistakable, indicating that my 'Domination' skill had taken hold.
I also found that the effects release immediately after Eiji completes the order I gave him. Meaning, Sumako's 'Restoration' did nothing on my 'Domination'.
"Did you find anything?" Sumako asked.
"Yup, did you count how long the effect lasted?" Eiji.
"Yeah, 5.8 seconds according to our stopwatches." Hiroomi.
"How was it?" Sumako.
"It was really weird, it's like I was looking at the files on an application. When you first used your skill on me, I saw [ObjectClass_DOM-0613.ss], and when you used it more, I could click on the file and get deeper."
From "ObjectClass_DOM-0613.ss" to "SubjectSpecial_DOM/DOM-0613.ss", then "SubjectDeriv_DOM/DOM-0613.ss" to finally "Command_DOM/DOM-0613.ss" and "Authority_DOM/DOM-0613.ss".
"From the last two, Command and Authority, I clicked on Command first. I found a long string of codes. Since I could only look at glimpses of it, I couldn't read the entire thing, but what I did find were the numbers "5.7829 seconds", so yeah your skill's effect lasts for about 6 seconds."
"What about the Authority one?" I inquired further.
"I don't know