Moving through the forest, Draco, who had nothing to do, asked the System several questions he had in mind.
"System, what are the ways to gain stats without leveling up?"
[Well, host, you can acquire and use techniques to increase your stats and potentially even gain affinities. Techniques come in all types, such as meditation, body training, and weapon techniques, or even techniques that can help you with professions like alchemy.] The system stated.
[There are also rare items and materials that can serve a similar purpose. All in all it's quite common to meet beings at the same stage or lower with stats that far eclipse yours. There are also dungeons, rifts, inheritances, ruins you can explore and gain useful things from.] The system stopped.
"Oh..." Draco didn't know what to say.
Knowing that there were beings who hadn't even evolved yet with more stats than him was definitely humbling, as he didn't know much about the world before.
"So... How can I get these... Techniques?" He asked.
[You can find them in dungeons, make them yourself with the help of the system, or just buy them from the system shop.]
"I see. I guess those rare materials and ingredients can be found in similar places or somewhere like this forest and caves." He said.
[Affirmative Host.]
He contemplated deeply and then said: "Show me the system shop."
[Roger, Host.]
[<----------Shop-Menu---------->]
[2690 Gold, 600 Skill Points]-Available
[Weapons]
[Armors]
[Skills]
[Techniques] (Too Expensive For The Host Currently)
[Materials/Ingredients]
[Miscellaneous]
[Locked]
[Locked]
[Locked]
[Locked]
[Locked]
[Locked]
[Locked]
[Locked]
[Note: Please Upgrade System To Unlock New Categories]
[<-------------------->]
"How many categories are there? One, Two, Five... Fourteen. I'd love to see what they're hiding in the future." He commented.
Open the Weapons' Category." He quickly dismissed it and commanded.
[Very Well, Host!]
[<----------Weapons-Shop---------->]
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
[2690 Gold, 600 Skill Points]-Available
[Wolf-Tooth Dagger(E-Rank): A Dagger Made From The Tooth Of An Alpha Wolf, It Can Pierce The Skin Of Any 1st Evolution Stage Being Below Lvl50, +15% Agi, Skill [Bleed - Slashing Your Enemies With This Weapon Will Make Them Bleed Until They're Drained If Not Healed, -0.5% HP/s.] - Price: 1000 Gold.]
[One-Handed Steel Sword(E-Rank): A Sword Made From Steel By A Highly Skilled Apprentice Dwarf Blacksmith, +25% Str, Skill [Mana Slash - Launch A Slash Made By Mana Directly At Your Enemies, 25 MP.] - Price: 1250 Gold.]
[Black Wood Elven Bow(E-Rank): A Bow Made By The Elves Using A Branch Of A Black Wood Tree, Comes With A Quiver And 50 Arrows, +15% Vit, +15% Str, Skill [Sure Shot - Shoot One Arrow That Will Definitely Not Miss Its Target, 25 MP.] - Price: 1300 Gold - 100 Gold per 50 Arrow.]
[Two-Handed Great Sword(E-Rank): A Great Sword Made From Steel By A Highly Skilled Apprentice Dwarf Blacksmith, +30% Str, Skill [Great Slash - Jump And Come Down At Your Enemies With A Catastrophic Great Slash Dealing AOE Damage In A Range of 10 Meters, 50 MP.] - Price: 1400 Gold.]
....
[One-Handed Black Stone Sword(D-Rank): A Sword Made From Black Stone Extracted From A Dark Golem Forged By A Highly Skilled Dwarf Blacksmith, +50% Str, +25% End, Skill [Mana Slash - Launch A Slash Made By Mana Directly At Your Enemies, 25 MP.], Skill [Dark Armor - Make Use Of The Black Stone In Your Sword To Make An Armor To Help You Fend Off Attacks From Your Enemies, +25% End, 100 MP.] - Price: 12,500 Gold.]
[<-------------------->]
"Oh? There are so many weapons." Draco opened his eyes in surprise once more when he saw the various options he could choose from.
"I'll buy the One-Handed Steel Sword!" After contemplating for a bit Draco decided
[Roger, Host!]
[One-Handed Sword Added To Inventory! 1250 Gold Deducted.]
"Inventory." Draco called.
An instant later, a panel appeared in his field of vision with a single box that was occupied by a sword; everything else was empty.
"Where is the newbie pack?" He asked almost sarcastically.
[No newbie pack for the Host.]
"Haha. Let's try using this sword." A second later, he summoned the sword in his hand.
Holding it a bit, he immediately felt familiar with it; Draco guessed it must be the skill [Lesser Sword Proficiency] at work.
He swung it a little and was immediately drowned by the sound of system notifications.
[The Skill [Lesser Sword Proficiency] Gained +1 Level.]
[The Skill [Lesser Sword Proficiency] Gained +1 Level.]
"Wow, what's with the notifications?" Draco asked, he wasn't expecting this
[It's due to your high stats compared to your skill level.]
"Oh... well, this is surprising." He said with a slight smirk.
"This makes things easier." Draco started playing with his sword.
*Swish* *Swosh*
[The Skill [Lesser Sword Proficiency] Gained +1 Level.]
*Swosh* *Swish*
[The Skill [Lesser Sword Proficiency] Gained +1 Level.]
*Swish* *Swosh*
[The Skill [Lesser Sword Proficiency] Gained +1 Level.]
*Swosh* *Swish*
[The Skill [Lesser Sword Proficiency] Gained +1 Level.]
*Swish* *Swosh*
[The Skill [Lesser Sword Proficiency] Gained +1 Level.]
[The Skill [Lesser Sword Proficiency] Is Evolving Into [Greater Sword Proficiency(Lvl1) - You're A Little Genius When It Comes To Swords, +25% Strength And Agility, You Have A 1% Chance Of Dealing Critical Damage.]
"This is damn cool."
-----End-----
Thank you Ghostremidy & Dendisrull for being the first to vote!
Welcome aboard and await a grand adventure of Shrewdness, Cunning, and Scheming