The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

Immediately after regaining my consciousness...

"Ugh...?"

I groaned and slowly opened my eyes.

And upon doing so...

-Meep!

-Hello, young human!

I found myself staring at Pyro and Zephyrus, their faces absurdly close to mine.

Super close, in fact...

"Hello, guys."

I greeted them as I pushed myself upright, rubbing the back of my neck.

We were still inside the right room.

The mini boss wouldn’t respawn for a long while, and since no other monsters spawned in this area...

It was basically a safe zone.

Anyway, as I was enjoying the peace...

-You’re too weak!

Zephyrus blurted that out suddenly, his voice cutting through the quiet.

"...?"

I just looked at him, dumbfounded.

-Your mana pool is too low! What a disaster!

He continued, his complaints relentless.

And hearing his words, a faint frown appeared on my face.

"My bad."

I muttered.

Your journey continues with empire

But ignoring my response entirely...

-Forget it, come and follow me!

Zephyrus declared that and promptly flew off without waiting.

"..."

I watched him for a moment.

But after a while, with a short sigh...

"Haaa..."

I stood up and went after him.

-Meep!

Pyro perched himself comfortably on my shoulder...

And it wasn’t long before we came to a stop.

"Hm?"

We had reached a wall, and in front of me hung a slightly tilted painting of a woman.

"Nice painting."

I said absentmindedly, observing it.

And then...

-Destroy it.

Zephyrus’s voice broke the moment.

"Huh? Why?"

I asked, blinking at him.

-Just do it.

But he gave me no explanation. Just an order.

"Fuuuuck..."

I sighed but decided to comply.

Walking up to the painting, I placed my hands on its frame and gave it a firm pull.

"Huh?"

But it didn’t budge.

I tried again, harder this time.

"Gurgh...!"

But still...

"..."

Nothing happened!

"What the fuck?"

I muttered under my breath, glaring at the stubborn thing.

’Now I see why it didn’t fall off earlier when the room shook like crazy during my fight with the Giant Boar.’

I thought grimly.

Then, annoyed, I opened my mouth...

"[Wind Blade]"

And cast that magic!

FWISH—!

A sharp gust of wind erupted from my right hand, slicing through the painting cleanly!

And maybe because I’m contracted with a wind spirit now...

’Whoa...’

The output of my spell got stronger!

Moving on...

I returned my focus to the now-exposed wall.

And there...

"Is that a vault?"

I saw a tightly shut safe, it was hidden behind the painting.

"..."

I glanced at Zephyrus, who hovered beside me.

-...

And he just gestured at the vault wordlessly, urging me to open it.

Curious, I placed my hands on the safe and began fiddling with it.

I tried various methods to opening it.

But even after a few minutes of trying...

"...?"

I wasn’t able to open it!

It just made me curse in frustration!

And just then...

-Just destroy it.

Zephyrus’s voice came from behind me, unbothered.

-Meep!

Pyro agreed to his words, nodding enthusiastically.

And hearing their words...

"Meh."

I just shrugged and gave up on finesse and prepared to brute force it.

Just in time, there is something I want to try, after all...

’I want to try that skill I used on the Giant Boar again.’

The skill I used in my swords to kill the mini boss!

Though...

’I don’t have a sword right now.’

I could go and retrieve one from the spoils I got fighting the Kobolds...

I had left them just outside the hallway.

’Nah.’

But that’s too much effort.

So instead...

Fwip-

I pulled out one of my throwing daggers.

"This might work."

I muttered, gripping the small weapon.

-Ugh, hurry up...

Zephyrus groaned impatiently.

"Just wait."

I retorted.

"Fuuuuu..."

Then I took a deep breath.

And with such high concentration...

"[Lit On]"

I muttered those words!

Fwwp—

Fwwwwp—

Sparks started appearing from my dagger.

And after just a few seconds...

SWAAAA—

Its blade was engulfed in raging fire!

The fire surged violently, licking at the air with a hunger that made it seem alive.

"Heh."

A small chuckle escaped me as I admired my handiwork.

The technique was something I had cobbled together, inspired by the fantasy manhwa and manga I used to read back in my old world.

In those stories, they called it weapon aura—an enhancement by channeling mana into a weapon.

In my case, I added a little twist, infusing the mana with fire to amplify its cutting power.

It was the exact boost I had desperately needed during my earlier battle with the Giant Boar.

Anyway, now it just looks like I’m using an elemental sword...

But who cares?

-That’s a decent skill you have there.

Zephyrus complimented, looking at the flaming dagger in my hand

Hearing his words...

-Meep!

Pyro chirped in proudly.

"..."

I ignored the two of them.

I took a simple stance instead.

And with quickness...

Fwish—

I slashed the dagger in my hand horizontally!

And with that...

Thud-

The small vault was opened!

I cut the top part of it.

"Done."

I said, looking at Zephyrus.

Then, with a smug smile on his face...

-Quickly, collect everything from the inside!

Zephyrus exclaimed that.

"Just give me a sec."

I said, placing my left hand inside the vault.

And after a few moments...

"Hmm?"

I got my hands on three yellow pearl looking things.

"What are these?"

I asked Zephyrus.

And excitedly...

-Those are enhancement pills, it’ll help you increase your mana pool and overall stats!

Zephyrus shouted that!

*****

’I can’t believe I get to use these on myself.’

I thought, looking at the enhancement pills in my hand.

’Though, Zephyrus said that I could only use one of them at the moment.’

He said that using all of them immediately would be a waste because it wouldn’t be effective.

Anyway, moving on...

-Sit now and meditate!

Zephyrus is now giving me instructions.

"..."

I silently complied with his words.

After all, he’s telling me the proper method to consume these enhancement pills...

I sat down in a lotus position and closed my eyes.

And after that...

"..."

I started meditating.

My breathing became rhythmic and my mind became clear.

Then, after a few minutes of being like that...

-Now! Eat it!

-Meep!

I heard Pyro’s and Zephyrus’ voice.

And immediately...

Gulp—

I swallowed one of the enhancement pills!

It was hard, the pill was as big as a pingpong ball!

Anyway, after consuming it...

"Urgh...?!"

SWAAAAA—!

My mana started to run wild!

And my body started absorbing a huge amount of mana in the surroundings!

It was painful!

-Concentrate, don’t lose your control!

Zephyrus exclaimed, his words was easily said that done...

This was much harder than when I was making a contract with him!

"URRGHHH!!!"

My face cringed in pain.

I want to stop meditating and start rolling on the ground!

It feels like my whole body is on fire!

Which was a lot for me to say because I have fire resistance from contracting with Pyro!

"ARRRRRGH!!! FUCK!!!"

My whole body was covered in sweat, and my throat is dry.

I was dehydratedas fuck.

-Meep...

I heard Pyro’s worried voice, but I can’t respond to him.

I was too focused on controlling the mana entering my body!

And then finally, after a few minutes of suffering...

SWOOOOSH—!

My mana calmed down!

Boom!

A small explosion sound was heard after that...

Swoosh-

And a weak shockwave was produced after the excess mana around me dispersed in the air!

And when things calmed down...

"Haaa... haaaa... haa..."

I immediately tried catching my breath.

I was exhausted as fuck!

I already passed out twice, but with my condition...

I wouldn’t be surprised if there will be a third time.

"Haaaa... Haaa.... Urgh...!"

"Fucking hell..."

My body aches a lot more now than before.

And also, I’m hungry as fuck again!

’I need to eat.’

I’m starting to feel dizzy now.

And just then...

-You did it!

-Meep!

Pyro and Zephyrus approached me, they were happy for my success.

I couldn’t really answer them right now verbally...

"..."

So I just weakly smiled at them.

"Ugh..."

I then dragged my body that feels heavy as fuck to the nearest wall, and there...

"Fuuuuuu..."

I leaned against it and rested, looking above the ceiling of the room.

And after that...

"..."

I closed my eyes.

Though, I opened them up immediately because I was feeling sleepy.

’I need to eat first.’

I thought, but to be able to do that, I need to recover my strength first to move.

So while I was resting and doing nothing...

’I might as well check my stats.’

I decided to check my stats.

And with high curiosity...

"Status."

I opened my status window.

Swoosh—

=====

Name: Raye Alvah

Age: 18

Year Level: 1

Race: Human

-----

Stamina: 33

Intellect: 35

Mana: 27

Strength: 31

Speed: 31

Talent: 30

Luck: 31

-----

Wind Element: Level 12 (80%)

Fire Element: Level 12 (69%)

Spirit Magic: Level 10 (8%)

Bow: Level 11 (59%)

Dagger: Level 11 (41%)

Cooking: Level 10 (1%)

...

...

-----

Overall Grade: E-

Growth Rate: S-

=====

And what I saw immediately made me feel a lot better!

I ranked up, and all my stats are now within the 30s! Well... except the mana stat.

Though, its gap with the other stats are slowly closing in!

"Haha..."

I was so happy about my improvement that I became relaxed.

And because of that short moment of relaxation...

"..."

I fell asleep!

And you could say...

It’s my third time passing out now.