It suddenly occurred to me that I didn’t know what were all the ways that I could gain points. “Rep. I have a question and I feel it’s pressing.” I said, prompting his presence to arrive.
*Did you finally figure out you don’t know about all the ways you can get points?*
“Yes, I did, precisely. Please tell me.”
*Gladly. There are 3 main methods to gain points: learn things, kill things and do things. Learning things, you have already experienced: acquire skills and techniques and points come with them. Killing things, as I see you just experienced, will give points relative to the challenge of the kill. Finally, doing things is like quests or unique deeds. Besides those, there are numerous weird ways to get points.*
“Right, I get it now. Do I need a system for quests and deeds?”
*Actually, no, you don’t. You can just perform them and get points, but perhaps there’s a system that makes it more… organized.*
“Okay. Thank you.”
*You’re welcome, Sebastian. Goodbye for now.*
With that, Rep’s presence disappeared, and I went to process the carcass. The parts of the wolf besides the horn were truly mundane but I kept them to sell off at the market. The horn went straight into the sack I got. It was by the time I was done that I’d noticed that both Basic Hunting and Basic Stealth had both gone up a level, getting me 16 more points.
I had a good several hours of daylight left to go, and a reason to be a bit more reckless. I had no idea what other threats were around here, but I wanted to explore, rather than hunt, right now. I felt confident I could escape most threats, but if I found a really good one…
I oriented myself with the compass and faced away from town, assuming that the further I am, the more danger there is. Then I walked, letting myself move only somewhat carefully so that I might attract something stronger to fight. It didn’t take long.
After roughly 30 minutes, during which I ran into no animal and made no effort to collect herbs, I came out of a thicker part of the forest and into a clearing. In its middle was relatively large form lying down. A mound of brown fur seeming to be enjoying the sun. Multiple horns grew from its head and its paws had vicious claws. Time to Analyze.
Name: Thrash Bear
Best Skill: Intermediate Maul 3
Description: a vicious woodland predator, capable of taking down even the larger prey animals in a head-on confrontation.
I may have bitten off more than I could chew now that I was looking. I could still back away if I used Stealth, I think. I was about to when I noticed a familiar glint beyond the bear. There was an Unaligned Object Entity there and I would have to get really close to Align it. Crud. It was now or never and time to spend points. I poured points into my skills and techniques for maces. My skills all went up 1 level, at 10 points each. My mace techniques had gone up 2 levels each, taking 3 points to raise them each.
I could practically feel some dice being rolled, somewhere, as I tried to approach as stealthily as I could. I could also feel the skill actively get better, too. As I got close enough, I mentally prepared some more advantage — an independent public directional light to shine at the bear’s face. The flashlight-shaped object floated next to me, ready to turn on.
I made the final few steps closer to the bear, floated the light towards its face, and really hoped that my first attack would do some real damage. I pulled back my arm and mentally activated Power Strike as I brought the mace down on its head, simultaneously turning on the light. I was in awe I managed to sneak up on it.
The mace hit the side of the bear’s head, creating much less of a sickening crunch than I expected, as it felt like striking really high-quality wood. I could see blood fly off, but it was hard to see the extent of the damage to the bear’s head. Especially as it began to move, roaring it pain. As soon as it opened its eyes, though, it was immediately blinded by light. I took the opportunity to take another swing at its rising head but missed by a hair as it flung itself up.
Another powerful roar resounded as it made wild swipes. I brought up my shield to block it and caught the attack as it flung me multiple meters back and onto the ground. It hit like a truck, and I was definitely in over my head.
After a few moments of struggling to open its eyes, the bear roared again and seemed to keep its eyes closed, suddenly actively sniffing. It quickly zeroed in on my location and began charging, the clearing proving to give it an advantage.
I had managed to get up by then and tried to duck and roll into the charge, barely making it. Thank Rep I had the Melee Combat mastery. Having gotten to the bear’s other side, I made another Power Strike. The mace connected with its hind leg, and I heard that sickening crunch I hoped for. Looks like a Thrash Bear’s head was considerably thick.
It roared in pain again and swung around, trying to ram me with its shoulder. I raised up my shield with Swift Block and managed to fall back prone rather than get flung away. That hit also made my shield creak worryingly. It might not have been able to take another hit, and I was on the ground.
The bear finished turning around back to me, the light out of its eyes now that I couldn’t spare the concentration to get it to move along with us. I dispelled it and quickly brought up Character wanting to check my reserves. Instead of that happening, small, numbered bars appeared in periphery of my vision, showing me 60/140 Health, 140/170 Focus and 160/170 Mana.
The moment’s distraction let the bear get above me, ready to bring its claws down and crush me. As it did, reality slowed to a practical stop and a panel popped up.
Fatal situation detected. Would you like to use 3 Providence to avoid death?
Think: yes/no
I at once thought ‘yes’. As I did, reality sped back up and some force yanked me in a way to roll backwards and away from the mauling coming my way. As I did, I could hear a shout suddenly coming from my right, which I couldn’t make out what it said. Suddenly, bright yellow shards appeared to sprout from the bear’s head’s left side, some making it into its eyes and mouth. It took only a few moments before life drained from its eyes and it toppled over.
Thrash Bear defeated!
For your part in its defeat, 20 points acquired!
Unknown party is Unaligned, remaining points lost!
I was shocked at the sudden development, when I heard coming from the direction, I assumed the attack came, “Hey! Hey! You okay? You alive?” Looking over in the direction of the voice, I saw a young woman in form-fitting leather and a breastplate over her chest. She had auburn hair down to her jaw and a circlet keeping that hair out of her face. Her entire ensemble was brown and dirty gold, with a single purple gem in her circlet.
She approached with haste and knelt next to me and said, “Are you okay?” She seemed worried as she looked between me and the bear.
“Ah, um, yeah, mostly fine. Let me heal m-myself and I should be fine.” I got out, slightly stammering, and cast Cure Wounds on myself several times, bringing my Health back to max at the cost of 40 Mana. “Thanks for the save.”
She looked down with a slight blush, “I… might have followed you. You’re the best equipped newbie I’ve ever seen, and I overheard you talking about horned wolves. I felt as though you were taking a risk and decided to make sure you’re safe.” She gave me a small smile.
“That’s… uh… that was probably for the best,” I lightly gestured to the dead bear, “considering. Thank you, really.”
She looked up and met my eyes, causing me to look away in slight embarrassment. “You’re quite welcome. I’m Alana, what’s your name?”
It took me a moment to reply, to gather the courage. Women were always more difficult for me to start talking with. “I’m Sebastian.” I made the effort to at least look her way, “How did you take out that Thrash Bear?”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“I used one of my spells, Golden Needles, which might have been overkill but I wanted to be certain you make it. Can’t have an impressive newbie die on their first time out.” She chuckled and pulled some hair back behind her ear. “Think you can process this thing? If not, I’m happy to help.”
I looked the bear over and thought of my meager Basic Hunting 2. “Yes, I’d like your help, thank you.”
It took us a few hours to get through the entire bear on our own. Bleeding it, burying what should be, and taking apart the important bits. She let me keep what horns that were intact, saying they’re worth a good sum. Alana also went back where she came and returned with her sizable back. She set up a small fire and got some cooking utensils and spices to turn some of the bear meat into a meal on the spot. It was honestly some great food.
———————————————————
It started getting dark by the time we were sufficiently done and offered we just camp. Nothing was going to come to a Thrash Bear corpse during the night, because whatever killed it might still be around. I considered offering some light using magic but decided that she’d be right.
She set up a tent that could definitely fit us both, making me blush as I asked, “Would you mind letting me sleep in the tent? I have no alternative right now, except for my blanket.”
After a moment that felt like she was fake thinking, she gave a singsong laugh and replied, “Sure, just let me change first. No point saving your life and then letting you sleep completely rough.” She then went into the tent for a little while, during which I could hear her struggling with removing her armor. After a few moments more she appeared from the tent, wearing simple, high-quality clothing. Without the armor and the adrenaline of the fight I could now appreciate that she was extremely attractive, making me blush again.
She moved closer with a smirk, “Liking what you see?” and caused me to blush harder. “I appreciate the compliment, but maybe ask me out back in town.”
I blushed even harder, able to feel my face burning up. “Uhm, uh, sure?” Then I went into the tent myself and changed out of the armor and into a set of clothes I brought with me.
She sat down, giving that laugh she gave before, and patted the ground next to her. “Sit down and let’s get some food going.” I did.
We prepared something to simmer for a while in a pot she had on her backpack, bear meat and some dried vegetables. She also said to watch the fire while she went to gather some things. Just then I understood that she didn’t forage for any firewood, and it was actually some magical device emitting the flame. She returned cradling all kinds of forage including, to my chagrin, mushrooms.
Just as she was about to drop everything into the pot, I raised my hand, “Um, could you… not put in the mushrooms? Can’t stand eating mushrooms…”
She seemed to consider for a moment before setting the forage down next to me, “Don’t want them, you pick them out. I’ll find a use for them, but I already went foraging.”
“Yea… yeah. That seems fair. I’m on it.”
I spent a few minutes picking out the mushrooms from the forage and after brushing the dirt off everything I tossed it into the pot. Another hour later, during which we didn’t talk much, the food was done. We ate and cleaned up and then it was time to figure out sleeping.
“My tent’s big enough for 4, so I don’t mind sharing, but I think I’d rather we slept on opposite sides and feet to face. You seem harmless, but a woman must keep herself safe.”
I blushed and nodded, “Yeah, that sounds fine. Thanks for letting me use the tent.”
“Again, it’s fine. Now let’s hit the hay, so we can get an early start tomorrow.” So, we did.
———————————————————
I managed to wake up during the night, while Alana was sleeping, to go get that Unaligned Object Entity. I sneaked out of the tent and could easily see the glint. I did my best to ignore it while Alana was awake but now could take a proper look.
I did not expect it to be about as big as me, nor to be roughly my shape. Looking back at the tent to make sure Alana still seemed asleep, I closed the distance to the UOE.
Substantial Unaligned Object Entity discovered.
Alignment Shift requires 5 Providence to work. Please confirm.
Yes/no
I took a deep breath and faced the situation. 5 Providence was a lot, considering I didn’t know how to restore it and it had just saved my life, but I felt like this is a good investment. The UOE materialized into something akin to a glass statue of me and broke down into a multitude of motes of light. They entered me, like the earlier UOE did, and a panel popped up.
Multiple new systems unlocked and acquired. Listing.
New system - Classes 1 - acquired!
New system - Quests 1 - acquired!
New system - Inventory 1 - acquired!
In addition, 60 points have been acquired!
I definitely did not have time to investigate all those right then and there.
Sebastian Harris
Reserves
Health: 140/140
Focus: 140/170
Mana: 120/170
Providence: 9/18
Attributes
Body 10 [+40%=14]
Mind 12 [+40%=16.8=17]
Magic 12 [+40%=16.8=17]
Luck 14 [+30%=18.2=18]
Masteries
Central Continent Common 2
Melee Combat 1
Self-Awareness 1
Spell-casting 1
Skills
Basic Camping 1
Basic Cooking 7
Basic Healing 1
Basic Healing Magic 2
Basic Hiking 2
Basic Honesty 4
Basic Hunting 2
Basic Light Magic 2
Basic Mace Fighting 7
Basic Mechanic 7
Basic Money Management 3
Basic Pain Tolerance 7
Basic Shield Training 7
Basic Stealth 6
Intermediate Quarterstaff Fighting 1
Techniques
Beam of Light 2
Cleanse Wounds 2
Cure Wounds 2
Healing Radiance 2
Knockout Blow 3
Leg Sweep 3
Light Orb 2
Power Strike 3
Powerful Jab 6
Shield Bash 1
Swift Block 1
Systems
Analyze 1
Character 1
Classes 1
Compass 1
Conversation History 0
Guide Book 1
Inventory 1
Notifications 1
Personal Light 1
Quests 1
Shop 1
Points: 80
Currency: 2s 3d 1b