As Aurelius slowly opened his eyes, the sun loomed above him, piercing through the folds of the canopy. Pain coursed through his body, causing Aurelius to elicit a low, mournful groan. Although he desperately wanted to remain still and rest, he understood that he needed to patch up his wounds and get out of here before another predator came, smelling all the blood.
Aurelius reached out for his sword, using it to help himself up into a standing position. Now up, Aurelius surveyed his surroundings, partly disgusted by the carnage that surrounded him. The remnants of the fierce battle lay strewn across the forest floor, a stark reminder of the price paid for survival. The once-vibrant foliage now bore the stains of crimson, the ground marked by the fallen bodies of the wolves.
Slowly, Aurelius began to assess his own injuries. Blood trickled down his battered body, seeping from slashes and fang punctures alike. Surveying the pool of crimson blood beneath him, he realized the alarming amount of blood he had already lost. To stem the leakage, Aurelius tore ragged strips of cloth from his already tattered garments, hastily fashioning them into makeshift bandages. Wincing with each touch, he applied pressure to the wounds, binding them tightly with the fabric.
Despite the gnawing pain, Aurelius knew dwelling on his injuries was a luxury he couldn't afford. The forest held many more dangers and time was of the essence. Leaning on his sword as a makeshift cane, Aurelius hobbled away from the battle scene, retracing his steps.
It took Aurelius nearly three painful hours of hobbling, alternating between walking and resting, but at last, he arrived back at the familiar stream he had discovered upon entering the mountain range. Thirst consumed him, and he eagerly quenched his parched throat with a deep gulp of water. Untying and unwrapping the blood-soaked cloth strips, he allowed the cool stream to cleanse his wounds. Afterwards, Aurelius tore off new strips of cloth and replaced the bandages. By the time he was finished Aurelius stood nearly in the nude.
Sitting by the stream's edge, Aurelius recalled the path to his hidden enclave, the place he had spent his previous night. Aurelius wanted to return to an area protected from potential dangers, and so, with a aching protest from his body, Aurelius slowly got up and made his way back to the clearing
Every step was a struggle, and pain radiated through his body with each movement. Yet, Aurelius pressed on, driven by the knowledge that a safe respite soon awaited him. The forest seemed to stretch on endlessly, with no clear path to guide him, but Aurelius relied on his instincts, trusting the faint echoes of familiarity that guided his way.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Aurelius caught sight of a familiar doubletree formation, nesting a clearing. It was the secluded area he had discovered during his initial exploration. The hidden enclave offered a sense of security, shielded from prying eyes. Relief flooded through Aurelius as he approached the familiar sanctuary.
Cautiously, he maneuvered his weary body through the narrow opening between the trees, stepping into the small haven that would serve as his refuge once again. Inside, the air was cool and damp, providing a respite from the stifling heat of the forest. Aurelius found a soft patch of moss-covered ground and gingerly lowered himself onto it, wincing at the soreness that radiated through his body.
Exhaustion took hold of him, and he closed his eyes, allowing himself to finally surrender to the overwhelming weariness that had plagued him.
When Aurelius’ eyes fluttered open once more, he was surprised to see that it was still in the afternoon. Checking on his wounds, Aurelius could already see the beginnings of scabs across them. Aurelius didn’t want to get up again and leave the confines of his safe haven, but he also couldn’t fall back asleep. Deciding that he had nothing better to do, Aurelius checked on the blinking red notification that had been bothering him ever since the fight with the wolves.
You have killed
You have killed
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Level Up! You have reached level 1. You have been granted 2 Attribute points for allocation.
Level Up! You have reached level 2. You have been granted 2 Attribute points for allocation.
Receiving the notification, Aurelius looked over the changes to his status screen. Under the ‘overall essence’ tab, Aurelius had a combined total of 600 essence, which had been enough to level him up to level 2. In fact, he was already 160 of the total 330 essence needed to reach level 3. As for the attribute points awarded as a result of his advancement, their purpose was easy to understand. He could assign an attribute point to one of his Attributes, instantly increasing it. Looking at the attribute points, he couldn’t help but feel that they were a little overpowered. For example, they had the potential to exponentially amplify his Strength, surpassing the capacities of an ordinary individual by a wide margin. But then again, every part of this chosen system was overpowered.
Eager to allocate the four attribute points gained through his level ups, Aurelius contemplated the recent encounter with the wolves. Considering its impact, he resolved to invest the points into addressing the weaknesses in his skill set: strength and constitution. The consequences of having those attributes lower than the rest of his character build had already proven to be devastating.
Resolute in his decision, Aurelius decided to assign 2 attribute points to both strength and constitution.
Are you absolutely certain?
(Warning: This decision is final).
Yes/No
Aurelius selected yes, waiting to notice any changes.
Looking down at his body, Aurelius saw his muscles rapidly expanding and growing. It honestly looked super freaky to Aurelius. It looked like there were worms crawling under his skin. The transformation lasted for about 5 seconds, and Aurelius was glad that he didn’t have to feel the excruciating pain he had felt when he had first transformed when being selected as a chosen.
As he wiggled and stretched his limbs, Aurelius couldn't help but acknowledge the newfound strength pulsating within him. He also felt much healthier, if that was even possible. Though the pain from his open wounds lingered, it seemed comparatively less intense.
At that moment, Aurelius realized that he had forgotten to allocate his unassigned essence. Opening his status screen, Aurelius carefully considered his options. Right now, chronomage and blade dancer were the two most appealing classes to level up. These two classes had proven crucial in his recent battle against the wolves, ensuring his survival. Yet, he also didn't want to neglect his Arcane Artificer class without exploring its potential.
After weighing his choices, Aurelius ultimately decided that prioritizing the advancement of Chronomage and Blade Dancer remained the best course of action. Ensuring his future survival was paramount, and these classes seemed to offer the best way to do so. The teleport skill from his Chronomage class was invaluable. In regards to the Blade Dancer class, Aurelius wasn’t sure if he had delivered a critical strike during his fight with the wolves, but, in any case, the Blade Dancer’s Intuition aspect of the class had certainly put in work.
Aurelius proceeded to level up both classes to level 1, utilizing 180 of his 580 unassigned essence. Upon completing the upgrades, he discovered that it only required 130 essence to reach level 2 for both classes. Eagerly spending an additional 260 essence, he successfully elevated both Chronomage and Blade Dancer to level 2, reserving the remaining 140 unassigned essence for future use. Excitement filled Aurelius as he reviewed the resulting changes.
Chronomage
Level:2Progress:0/190Description: Harness the power of time and space Ability: At level 2, you can teleport yourself 9 feet away for 20 mana Attributes:Each level grants +1 Intelligence and +1 Wisdom.
Blade Dancer
Level:2Progress:0/190Description:Develop an innate aptitude for wielding bladed weapons and gain the Blade Dancer’s Intuition, allowing for precise strikes and heightened combat proficiency.Ability:At level 2, bladed weapon strikes possess a 2% chance of landing critical hits, inflicting double damage.Attributes:Each level grants +1 Strength and +1 Agility.
Intrigued by the changes, Aurelius contemplated the results of leveling his classes. If he, for example, continued to level Chronomage, would he simply enhance his teleportation ability and increase its range, or could leveling unlock additional Chronomage skills? With these questions swirling in his mind, Aurelius felt a renewed sense of excitement and curiosity.
Satisfied with his decision, Aurelius settled back down, patiently awaiting the arrival of nightfall.