For the record, I wasn't ignoring Lance's advice to practice falling and getting back up quickly. My Judo classes were a long time ago, but my head still remembered the principles of rolling to a stand, even if my body has long forgotten. I didn't fall even once in my last dungeon trip but that kind of practice can't wait until you really need it so I spent some time practicing a forward roll before turning in that night. The upstairs hallway was a perfect place for it, and my Status rewarded me with:
Storage (0): 251/1000
Judo (0): 57/1000
I'd been practicing Storage all day, but on a hunch I checked Status and it uses one MP for each attempt. Can't wait for it to finally work.
Also:
Strength: B 27 (30) + 6 33
That much of a Strength boost was dramatic. I need to raise Stamina soon so I can go longer without resting.
When I summoned Lance in the morning, he stared at my bedding in the safe zone, then stared at me for a long moment, but said nothing. Today was only my third day, but I wanted to take the lead this time. Lance would follow behind me to make sure I didn't get overwhelmed, and guard me when I needed to rest.
Goblins went down a lot faster with my increased strength. As I was scooping up the gems they dropped, Lance stated that I'd raised my Strength and that I shouldn't lose track of my form. "Guard and punch as if you still needed to, even with Goblins, and especially during practice. Skill will follow your intentions, if you don't take a punch seriously then you won't improve." I don't think he was impressed at all, but I walked the labyrinth halls felling monsters left and right, meeting two and three at a time with kicks and punches, blocking a few times with my forearm guards. I took a break to eat an energy bar and drink some water, then dove back into the fray. To pace myself, every time I picked up treasure I tried to put it in Storage. It always failed, but that way I spaced out my MP use and it regenerated over time as I hunted my next enemy.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
When we came to the stairs leading down, I said "Not a chance" and walked a different way. Lance said nothing. Eventually we headed back to the safe zone where Lance returned to card form and I laid down and napped for an hour before checking my new Status.
Year 2 Month 6 Day 25
Name: Eric
Class: Farmer
Level: 1 255/1000
Age: 9 (57)
HP: 36 / 36 (39)
MP: 24 / 34 (37)
SP: 15
Strength: B 27 (30) + 7 34
Agility: C 13 (15) + 2 15
Smarts: C 13 (15) + 7 20
Stamina: C 13 (15) + 9 22
Skills
Status, Storage (0), Karate (0), Judo (0), TaiChi (0), Swords (0), Farming Plants (2), Artifice (0)
Storage (0): 329/1000
Judo (0): 57/1000
Karate (0): 495/1000
Farming Plants (2): 184/3000
Artifice (0): 12/1000
Artifice Path Allows creation of new items.
+ Make and Mend (0) 10/1000
I might have napped for more than an hour, but with dungeon time dilation I had time for it. Make and Mend in the Artifice Path lets me move material around exactly how I want it. Cost 10 MP for a simple test, and it looks like that translates 1:1 to Path Skill progress. I have a few equipment adjustments in mind, and the sooner the better.
Stamina is next on my list, and Storage practice is limited by MP so I have to raise Smarts as soon as possible. If I can remember to practice every few minutes, I should have Storage to level one in 30 hours. When I checked outside, it was light out so I made a few trips to gather armor supplies then headed inside for some reading to refresh my martial arts memories, skill practice, and finally rest.