I weighed the options carefully, considering how each perk might enhance my woodcutting capabilities and aid me in future encounters with tree ents. It was time to make a decision and unlock my woodcutting potential.
As I continued to peruse the blue screen, an unexpected alert flashed before me: Void Touched activated.
An inky black substance, reminiscent of my harrowing experience in the void, began to seep onto the screen. It ominously spread over the words "of trees and wooden creatures" obscuring them from view.
The system seemed to stutter for a moment, as if struggling to process this unusual occurrence. Then, it seemed to accept the new perk, now labeled as,
Voidwood Hunter: You gain the ability to sense the weak points, allowing you to target these areas for 20% increased damage. Your woodcutting accuracy also improves by 15%.
I stared at the altered skill, both intrigued and apprehensive about the void's unexpected influence. But there was no denying that the new Voidwood Hunter perk held potential.
Even with the appearance of the Voidwood Hunter perk, I noticed that the other two options—Timber Titan and Lumberjack's Resilience—still remained available for selection. However, they were unaltered by the void's influence and, as a result, appeared less powerful in comparison.
I hesitated, weighing the risks and benefits of choosing the void-enhanced perk. A part of me was reluctant to embrace the power granted by the void, unsure of the potential consequences. But the allure of the enhanced perk was difficult to resist, especially considering the advantage it would offer in my encounters with the tree ents.
After a moment of inner conflict, I took a deep breath and made my decision. I reached out, mentally selecting the Voidwood Hunter perk.
As soon as I selected Voidwood Hunter, I experienced a brief but intense rush that coursed through my body. The sensation was unlike anything I'd felt before, a combination of raw power and an eerie, otherworldly presence. The void's influence was undeniable, and though it bolstered my abilities, it also instilled a sense of unease and concern.
I turned to Stonegorge, who had been waiting patiently during my deliberations. "I'm almost finished," I assured him, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Just a couple more notifications to check."
As I returned my attention to the remaining alerts, I noticed one in particular that piqued my interest, character sheet.
Character Name: Dylan
Race: Demi God
Class: Unbound
Level: 1
Attributes:
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 10
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 10
Charisma: 10
Hit Points: 100
Mana: 100
Skills:
Woodcutting: 5
Perks:
* Void Touched: The character's abilities are influenced by the mysterious void, altering skills and perks in unpredictable ways. The effects and triggers for these changes are unknown and may manifest at any time.
* Divine Regeneration (Passive): The character possesses a divine gift that grants a slow, continuous health regeneration. Restores 2% of maximum hit points every minute, even during combat.
* Voidwood Hunter: You gain the ability to sense the weak points, allowing you to target these areas for 20% increased damage. Your woodcutting accuracy also improves by 15%. This skill is enhanced by the Void Touched perk.
I looked at Stonegorge, a sense of accomplishment in my voice as I said, "I finally figured out how to pull open my character sheet, Stonegorge!" Excited to share my newfound knowledge, I began to list off my attributes, skills, and perks.
However, the dwarf abruptly stopped me, his face a mixture of panic and disbelief. "Hold on there, Dylan!" he exclaimed. "Are you daft? No one shares the details of their character sheet with anyone, except maybe their closest loved ones or oath-bound companions!"
He shook his head, a stern expression settling on his face. "Listen, lad. We may be friendly now, but adventurers live long lives, and you never know what the future holds. I don't want my knowing your secrets to be considered a liability to you down the line."
I paused, feeling chastened by Stonegorge's warning. It was true that I had much to learn about this world and the unspoken rules that governed it. I made a mental note to be more cautious with the information I shared.
With Stonegorge's advice in mind, I returned to chopping trees, feeling more confident and focused. As the day progressed, my axe seemed to fit more comfortably in my hands, as if it was becoming an extension of my body. The rhythm of my swings and the flow of combat started to come to me more naturally than ever before.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
As we continued our work, I diligently cut down trees while Stonegorge kept a watchful eye for any tree ents that might emerge. When I managed to defeat my first tree ent, a system notification appeared:
Tree Ent defeated. Combat experience granted.
Throughout the day, we encountered several more tree ents, and I fought them with increased confidence. My new Voidwood Hunter skill was truly a game-changer, making it almost feel like the tree ents had "kick me" signs on their weak points. The system continued to award me combat experience for each victory.
As evening approached, our work came to an early end when I received a system prompt:
Congratulations! You have gained enough experience to level up.
I couldn't help but grin. Despite my somewhat muted outlook since arriving in this strange world, the more I engaged with the tree ents, the more alive I felt. It was as if the thrill of combat and the challenges I faced awakened something within me, a sense of purpose and excitement that I hadn't experienced before.
"Hey, Stonegorge," I asked, my curiosity piqued. "Should I level up now?"
The dwarf shook his head, chuckling to himself. "I never thought I'd see the day when someone would ask me if they should level up," he said, amused. "To be honest, it would take a regular fella at least a hundred tree ents to level up. I didn't expect this to happen so soon for you."
He continued, his tone turning more serious. "Leveling up usually takes a toll on the body, so it's best to wait, especially since you're an adventurer. Your experience might be different from others."
Stonegorge scratched his beard thoughtfully before adding, "Of course, this is all hearsay to me. I'm used to being around adventurers, but most of them wouldn't tolerate someone asking personal questions about their experiences."
The dwarf gave me a cautious and curious look, clearly intrigued by my progress but also wary of overstepping any boundaries. Then, he shook off his concerns and shot me a playful, mocking grin.
"But then again, maybe it's just because you're a bit slow on the uptake, lad!" he teased, jabbing at my intelligence. "Who knows what other quirks you'll reveal?"
With our conversation concluded, we continued our walk, eventually arriving back at the forestry hut. It was time to level up!
Sitting on the bed in my room, I took a deep breath and mentally selected the prompt to level up. As the system notification appeared, it informed me that I had been granted 5 attribute points, with the instruction that they must be assigned now.
I mentally groaned, thinking about my current stats, which were all a flat 10 across the board. However, as I reflected on my time in this world, I realized that I felt stronger and healthier than I ever had before. It seemed that a score of 10 must represent the peak of a regular human in this world.
In the past, when playing games, I always focused on maxing out one specific stat. As I pondered over where to allocate my new attribute points, I decided that the only thing that seemed to synergize well with my Divine Regeneration perk was my Constitution.
As I mentally confirmed my decision to allocate all 5 points into Constitution, I braced myself for the changes that were about to occur. However, nothing could have prepared me for the sudden, intense pain that surged through my body.
It felt as if my insides were being twisted and restructured, my body rapidly adjusting to the 50% increase in my Constitution. Despite the agony, I could sense my body becoming more solid and resilient as it adapted to the changes. The pain was almost overwhelming, and I gritted my teeth, struggling to endure it.
I had never anticipated that such a focused investment in one attribute would have such a dramatic and painful effect. As the pain began to subside, I gasped for air, swearing to myself that I'd be more cautious and mindful of the consequences when allocating attribute points in the future
As I finished leveling up and allocating my attribute points, a new system prompt appeared, capturing my attention:
"Walking the Path of Divinity: The changes that occur from level 1 to 5 will reflect and direct your growth as a demigod. There is no way to ascertain how these changes will manifest."
For a moment, I considered telling Stonegorge about the excruciating pain I'd experienced while leveling up. But then I remembered his earlier warning about keeping details of my character sheet to myself. It was important to respect the boundaries and customs of this world, and I made a mental note to be more cautious in the future.
As I continued adjusting to this new world, I realized that learning to navigate its intricacies and unwritten rules would be just as important as growing stronger and more capable in combat.
During our final dinner together at the forestry hut, Stonegorge mentioned that we would be heading back to town for the weekend. He casually asked, "So, lad, do you have any plans for lodging in the city?"
I paused, realizing that I hadn't thought about it. "Uh, actually, I don't have any plans yet," I admitted. "How does my pay work for this job?"
Stonegorge chuckled and said, "I'll mark the job as complete a few hours early, so you'll have your pay in no time." As he spoke, a system prompt appeared in my vision:
"Lumberjack work complete: 3 silver earned."
As soon as the notification appeared, I could sense the currency materializing in my interdimensional storage. It was strange how comfortable I felt with these new senses, as if they were a natural extension of my being. I wondered if this was a typical experience for a so-called adventurer, or if it had something to do with my encounter with the void.
Before I headed to bed, Stonegorge shared some useful information with me. "When you get to town, there's a cheap inn you can stay at. It's called 'The Sturdy Boulder.' Just give the innkeeper my name, and they should give you a deal."
For a rare moment, my usual muted demeanor broke and I joked, "I doubt I could afford the surcharge that may come with using your name?"
Stonegorge laughed heartily at my quip, clearly enjoying the unexpected humor. "Now that would be a twist, wouldn't it? But trust me, lad, they know me well enough to treat you fairly."
Exhausted from the day's events, I lay down on my bed, ready for sleep to claim me. As usual, the terrible nightmares about the void invaded my dreams, filling my mind with darkness and despair. It felt as though I was trapped in an endless, inescapable nightmare.
Yet, when I finally awoke, gasping for air and drenched in cold sweat, I noticed a familiar system prompt:
Increased Mental Resistance: 2nd Time
Despite the torment of the void, it seemed that my mind was slowly growing stronger, adapting to the relentless, nightmarish experiences. It was a small comfort, but it gave me hope that, in time, I might be able to conquer the darkness that haunted me. For now, I would have to endure and press on, knowing that each day brought me closer to understanding the mysteries of this world and my place within it.
Stonegorge and I traveled back to the city, chatting amiably as the familiar sights came into view. We made our way past the city gates and entered the bustling streets.