Congratulations. For being in the Top 10 to successfully develop a Core, you have been given +5 Intelligence and +5 Wisdom.
His core was a finicky little thing. Nothing more than a whisper of wind and the occasional spark of lightning, barely noticeable when paying careful attention, let alone the raging storm he knew possible. He couldn't use any magic at all, try as he might, although that may also be due to a lack of technique. After all, the system had hinted at how to build a core, he got no such suggestion for magic.
All he could do was keep funnelling the motes of light deep below, slowly adding them to his Core, watching as it grew minutely by the minute, each barely noticeable difference eventually combining to make a significant increase in its size.
Some strands fizzled out. His clumsy, rough control forced him to watch as the light dimmed and eventually perished. Each time a Mana lost on his Status. Eventually, as the morning faded away in a blur of strobe lights and his Mana count ran to zero, he was forced to admit that he would achieve a raging storm no time soon. He had to wait - seconds each time - for a new light to appear, randomly dotted in his body. It took too long to make significant progress, and without challenge - only monotony - he quickly grew bored. He would return to such practice when his Mana had refreshed in full, and he could get far more work done in far less time.
For now, though, he knew where a Dungeon was. Not quite the correct one, but now he knew that the Dungeons had a difficulty - likely adjusted by level - he knew the actual Dungeon he needed to beat, The Tribe of Lost Orcs, would be far beyond him. The system had given him eight weeks, after all, and he hadn't yet used even one.
In the end, he needed levels, and this wolfen dungeon seemed fit to give him some.
The trip back was quick. A straight line, rather than the vague wonderings that allowed him to discover the Dungeon in the first place. He arrived at the presence of two corpses, messily hidden in a nearby bush, which was all he had the time to do after their deaths.
He began to creep through the vegetation. Crouched to the ground, head kept low in the best amalgamation of stealth he could manage.
He appeared at the edge of a clearing, the presence of intelligent life announced by the dramatic sniffing of what he assumed were more wolves. He poked his head from the bush he was currently occupying, taking a slight glance towards the origin of the noise.
Three wolves this time, quickly Identified.
Hunting Wolf - Level 12.
Bringing back the majority of food needed for the sustenance of the larger pack, the Hunting Wolf plays a necessary part in the larger ecosystem.
Hunting Wolf - Level 12.
Bringing back the majority of food needed for the sustenance of the larger pack, the Hunting Wolf plays a necessary part in the larger ecosystem.
Hunting Wolf - Level 13.
Bringing back the majority of food needed for the sustenance of the larger pack, the Hunting Wolf plays a necessary part in the larger ecosystem.
Theoretically, a far more dangerous encounter than the one he had barely escaped with his life. The reality, however, disagreed. Before he'd been ambushed, and the most danger came in those first moments, where punchers' chance dictated that surprise could take him for dead.
This time, he was the ambusher.
His spear came striking the second the wolf wondered only inches closer. Piercing through its left eye before it had the slightest chance to react.
The second did no better. The first hadn't the time to warble, and it noticed nothing, not paying attention to its now dead pack-mate. The spear dug into the wolf's thick neck, a yelp of shock and pain ripping from its throat before another strike came, and Alex's stronger thrust went straight through its neck, emerging the other side.
Only one left, now thoroughly alerted, but to Alex it mattered not. One he could do; easily kept at range, or quickly taken out with a single debilitating blow. Alex did not need to keep his balance to defend against a second beast's revenge strike, after all.
The wolf launched itself towards him, and Alex merely leant forwards, gently thrusting his spear underneath its chin, piercing through into the brains. The notification rang. Instant death.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 12 Hunting Wolf. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 12 Hunting Wolf. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 13 Hunting Wolf. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
You have levelled up.
You are now Level 11.
He put his free attributes straight into Wisdom. From what he could tell, Intelligence affected his Mana capacity, which meant it was likely Wisdom that affected his regeneration rate, and for the process of building up his core, he deemed the latter more important, for now.
Status Name: Alexander Aeotos Level: 11 (+1) Health: 310/310 Stamina: 328/535 Mana: 390/390 Strength: 49 Agility: 58 Vitality: 31 Intelligence: 39 (+5) Wisdom: 31 (+8) Charisma: 24 General Skills: Danger Sense I: Level 4 - Creates a small possibility to detect imminent or possible danger, even when otherwise unknowable. Possibility will both increase and grow more accurate with levels. Mana Manipulation: Level 5 (+1) - Improves your ability to control internally control Mana. Speed and precision will improve with Levels. Primary Class: None Primary Class Skills: Secondary Class: None Secondary Class Skills: Tertiary Class: None Tertiary Class Skills: Traits: Fates Favour - Chance-based events are slightly more likely to go in your favour. Whether that be increased Rewards, or a lesser chance to pull the wrong card at a Blackjack table, it matters not. Titles: Forerunner II: Gained only by those at the epoch of their race, they strive forwards, as masters of their destiny. +5 All Attributes. Free Points: 0 Core Identity: Storm Core Stage: Formation I
It had now been some two hours since he last attempted his self-prescribed exercise, and he quickly climbed up the nearest tree - sat down - and began twisting his free Mana into his Core.
The process of imbuing his core with more and more mana grew quicker the longer he went, as his skill with Mana Manipulation increased. The only limit was the amount of Mana he had available at any time, as when scarce it took a moment to isolate the strings of light. Making the process far easier with full Mana reserves.
He'd emptied his tank within two hours, rising as he decided to not bother waiting for the motes to regenerate, and instead carry on within the Dungeon until his reserves were once again full.
Knees still half-bent, a notification rose to his awareness, and he gave a slight smile.
Congratulations, for condensing over 50% of your available mana reserves, your core has advanced to Stage: Formulation II. Now stable, your Core allows for the slight draw of Mana without adverse, regressive effects on your progress.
Thank the Gods I couldn't manage it before, if it brought my progress only backwards.
He didn't dwell on the idea. Magic would likely take time for Alex to be able to quickly, subconsciously use in battle, and in fights against the higher levelled foes he would inevitably encounter, he could not afford the distraction of half-formed ideas.
It was time to move on. Alex decided to traverse the treetops, wolves could not climb, and they had no natural predators that would cause them to incessantly look skywards in fear of death. He thought it his best chance to remain undetected.
XOX
He encountered four more brief patrols of strength similar to the first, each encounter separated by a period of Alex throwing as much Mana into his core as possible within an hour stint. Three wolves a piece, each with about a dozen levels. Quickly falling prey to his erratic ambushes as he began to refine his tactics.
You have levelled up.
You have levelled up.
You are now Level 13.
Status Name: Alexander Aeotos Level: 13 (+2) Health: 310/310 Stamina: 322/550 Mana: 420/420 Strength: 49 Agility: 61 (+3) Vitality: 31 Intelligence: 42 (+3) Wisdom: 31 Charisma: 24 General Skills: Danger Sense I: Level 4 - Creates a small possibility to detect imminent or possible danger, even when otherwise unknowable. Possibility will both increase and grow more accurate with levels. Mana Manipulation: Level 7 (+2) - Improves your ability to control internally control Mana. Speed and precision will improve with Levels. Primary Class: None Primary Class Skills: Secondary Class: None Secondary Class Skills: Tertiary Class: None Tertiary Class Skills: Traits: Fates Favour - Chance-based events are slightly more likely to go in your favour. Whether that be increased Rewards, or a lesser chance to pull the wrong card at a Blackjack table, it matters not. Titles: Forerunner II: Gained only by those at the epoch of their race, they strive forwards, as masters of their destiny. +5 All Attributes. Free Points: 0 Core Identity: Storm Core Stage: Formation II
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The gained points were evenly split between Agility and Intelligence. Whilst he had noticed an increase in his Mana regeneration, slight though it may have been, from his increased Wisdom. His sporadic meditation meant it was more efficient for him to grow his core through an increased reserve, rather than increased recovery.
The Agility of course, for if he encountered something far too big for him to take head-on. Which - knowing his luck - was a very likely possibility.
Alex took a moment to marvel at his speed. He was fast. Far faster than any mere mortal had the right to be. It took only a matter of days for him to far outstrip any Olympian Athlete, and with time the disparity would grow exponentially. This was not how man was designed to be; in only a short time they had seemingly outstripped their former selves by a scale unimaginable. Not the slow, slogging progress that had served humanity so well, but a breathless race to the future. Where frontrunners were awarded above all else.
He was more than what he was ever meant to be.
So were his enemies.
XOX
His fifth encounter began as all the others had. An ambush followed his sighting of the furry beasts, a lethal strike into the eye of the first creature. Slicing through the brain. The second put up a greater resistance than any he had encountered so far. Ignoring grievous wounds as it launched its claws towards his throat. Only stopped once a series of savage blows ruptured its stomach.
The third was different. Not taken by any sort of surprise, with a calculated aggression that suggested an intelligence that it simply couldn't have. It avoided obvious baits, pulling out of attacks on pretend, and obvious vulnerabilities. Oh, it was no genius. Possessed no tactics beyond the standard charge and bite, but the creature took its chances carefully. Caught him twice, targeting not the available neck, a trap Alex set, preparing for a spear beneath the jaw on the chance it grew aggressive; rather, it went for his legs. Targeting the joint on his knee, hampering his mobility.
Still, it died eventually. A hard-fought battle, leaving a bloody and bruised, but nevertheless victorious Alex standing next to three wolfen carcasses'.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 15 Hunting Wolf. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 17 Hunting Wolf. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 18 Pack Mother. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
You have levelled up.
You are now Level 14.
Pack Mother? He knew the beast had been stronger, but he had not expected an entirely different creature. Level 18 had also been significantly stronger than any of the other parties he had faced thus far; in fact, all three had levels beyond the others he had so far encountered.
He knew it was likely he was approaching the centre, the difficulty increases a sign he was getting closer to the true goal, but if their strength spiked much further, he did not know if he would be able to keep on winning.
It was a question of managing risk. Did he move further, hoping he could continue defeating such beasts, and earning the increased experience they granted him? Or rather, did he retreat, gaining strength against lower levelled enemies, and returning to an easier fight?
Alex decided to continue. Even if he couldn't defeat the next set of wolves, he believed he would still manage an escape. It was worth risking some danger for the high experience he was receiving.
First, however. He needed to recover from his wounds if only a little. Increased Vitality meant wounds that would have once left him tied to a hospital bed for a week, now only took hours to heal. This was no such wound, and would not take long before he recovered most of its mobility; he could always take the time to once again grow his Core.
XOX
With a slightly bigger Core and a still-bloodied left leg, Alex once again raced off through the trees, in pursuit of a new catch. He caught sight of two parties fairly quickly. Waiting for them to be separated such that any noises made amid their confrontation would not be heard by the other group, possibly forcing Alex to face unbeatable odds.
Once Alex deemed they would likely be separated by a sufficient distance, he dived into the midst with his usual erratic spear work. Lightning-fast jabs as he danced around the edge of the wolves' gathering, before taking advantage of momentary vulnerabilities to strike a series of significant blows, leading to an inevitable death. Such commitment mean inevitably leaving openings, but careful timing allowed him to reduce much of the risk, only striking when all beasts were otherwise occupied.
He won with only minor wounds; they wouldn't even leave minor scarring.
Alex quickly tracked down the other pack he had seen. Following broken foliage till he sighted the dirt-crusted fur of his prey.
He once again launched himself from the bushes, cutting down one creature before they noticed him, and following up with his strange, jagged dance. Keeping his range before enclosing upon weaknesses.
This fight ended very much like the last.
The pack mothers had been an even greater challenge than before. Strong and clever, ignoring his prodding, aggravating strikes and searching for their tactical victories. In the end, though, Alex had managed to figure out their timing and arrange his manoeuvring such that he needed only to place his spear in an easily accessible target.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 15 Hunting Wolf. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 17 Hunting Wolf. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 18 Pack Mother. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 18 Hunting Wolf. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 17 Hunting Wolf. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 19 Pack Mother. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
You have levelled up.
You have levelled up.
You are now Level 16.
If nothing else, he had been quite correct in that they provided very good experience.
He spent an hour in recovery. No major injuries this time, but he needed to regain some of the much-used Stamina from his fast-paced engagements.
With another Level in Mana Manipulation and very little else. He continued on his journey.
Some two hundred feet away, he found a pack with a rather odd arrangement. Five wolves strong, with two that were clearly pack mothers. Nearly the equivalent of two of the former patrols combined.
Previously, he had focused his ambush on one of the lesser wolves, before isolating the pack-mother at the end and engaging in single combat. Wearing her away before the lethal blow came.
That would no longer work. If he left two pack mothers to face in a straight-on confrontation, they would quickly overwhelm him.
One would have to go first.
Risky even. For their sheer size meant it would be extremely difficult to take them down in the one blow necessary to reduce the overall size of the pack to a manageable size, before he became overwhelmed by the sheer mass of the bodies thrown at him.
Nevertheless, it was his only chance.
He shot from the bushes. He would not go for their eyes, their speed made such nearly impossible as he currently was, but if he could slide his spearpoint into the soft flesh underneath the chin, it would stake right into the wolf's brain. Nothing could survive that.
He got lucky, incredibly, impossibly lucky.
The beast looked upwards just as Alex slid into the fray, slipping his bear between the bones connecting the jaw.
Perfect timing. Perfect placement. An instant death.
Alex did not go unnoticed for long. Sharp eyes bearing into him, glancing at the carcass beside him before they let loose a deep growl. Saliva dripping from an open mouth, entwining sharp, yellow fangs, bared at him in a grimace.
One lunged straight at him. Alex's spear smashed down between its ribcage, gouging out intestines that sloppily slid out into a heap beneath it. Two eyes dulled, and a notification told Alex he had only three foes left.
The difficult part was done. He'd been fighting replicas of this three-wolf band for hours now, and he was more than perfunctory at it.
Ten minutes later more carcasses littered the floor. Alex knew he had done it.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 19 Pack Mother. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 18 Hunting Wolf. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 18 Hunting Wolf. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 17 Hunting Wolf. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
Congratulations, you have killed a Level 19 Pack Mother. For killing a Beast above your level, you have gained bonus experience.
You have levelled up.
You are now Level 17.
He also knew he was far over his head.
That had been risky, far more risky than he should have chanced. Alex had been caught up in the adrenaline of the chase. The hunt. Such that all sense had seemingly left him. It was time to disengage, not to chase experience.
Alex's thoughts disappeared, as a deep, rumbling growl sounded behind him.
In front of him.
All around him.
He'd been surrounded, and too stupid to figure it out before.
Alex had flown too close to the sun, and his wings had melted. He couldn't win here, not an outright fight. Without the element of surprise he had previously possessed, his chances approached zero. Escape was his only option, and even that was seemingly closed off to him.
He sprinted towards the first wolf in sight. Thankfully not a Pack-Mother; if he could kill it with sufficient haste, then perhaps he could exploit a hole in their encirclement, and run. Here, he thought to survive. Not for a victory.
His spear shot into the wolf's neck, piercing thick muscle as he tried to reduce the beast's capabilities. Its jaws were its greatest weapon, and without the sturdy neck to support them, the creature could do little but flail uselessly, even if were not yet dead.
A second wolf shot towards him, Alex hadn't time to withdraw his spear from the first creature's neck, and desperately turned the end of the spear's wooden shaft into the airborne wolf's head. Smashing into its cranium. It would not kill it, nor even particularly injure it, but it granted Alex the space he desperately needed for retreat.
Alex took off in a run. Only taking half a dozen steps before a larger wolf appeared in front of him. turning his won force against him, flipping Alex to his back as his legs slid out from beneath him.
A Pack-Mother.
Alex's spear fell to his side. The force of his collision ripped away his grip, sending the wooden shaft to his side, laying in the dirt, some three feet away.
The Pack-Mother jumped on top of him. Her full mass forced the air out of his lungs as he desperately gasped for much-needed oxygen. Her claws ripped lines into his stomach, a burning pain only conquered by the presence of her strong jaws, aiming directly at his throat.
His left hand rose, desperately pushing at her neck. Alex's right hand reached blindly at his side, seeking the spear he would hope to rip through the wolf straddling him.
He couldn't find it.
Surrounding growls told him he had only seconds until more wolves joined in, on their quest for his demise. He would not be able to withstand them, not on his back, not able to keep them at range when incapable of even mobility.
He would die.
'Congratulations, for condensing over 50% of your available mana reserves, your core has advanced to Stage: Formulation II. Now stable, your Core allows for the slight draw of Mana without adverse, regressive effects on your progress.'
The only chance he had left. Alex reached down within him, finding the carefully cultivated, intertwined motes of glowing Mana. Finding all the vicious sparks he could, before throwing them down his left arm. Straight into the beast.
The Pack-Mother yelped. Not dead - his clumsy magic was yet too pitiful, and most was dissipated on her fur - but a shock of running electricity left her burnt nevertheless, and it was no pleasant feeling. She jumped momentarily, before Alex quickly rolled from beneath her, lunging for his spear.
He desperately grasped it from the dirt; ran, for his life depended on it.
Congratulations, for your unguided use of external Lightning Mana, you have been awarded the Skill: Lightning Manipulation.
Lightning Manipulation - Quantifying your proficiency in the manipulation of Lightning, this skill allows for greater skill, and less wasted Mana when using such without the structure of an individually guided skill.
Status Name: Alexander Aeotos Level: 17 (+4) Health: 207/310 Stamina: 134/550 Mana: 420/420 Strength: 49 Agility: 61 Vitality: 31 Intelligence: 42 Wisdom: 31 Charisma: 24 General Skills: Danger Sense I: Level 4 - Creates a small possibility to detect imminent or possible danger, even when otherwise unknowable. Possibility will both increase and grow more accurate with levels. Mana Manipulation: Level 9 (+2) - Improves your ability to control internally control Mana. Speed and precision will improve with Levels. Lightning Manipulation: Level 1 - Quantifying your proficiency in the manipulation of Lightning, this skill allows for greater skill, and less wasted Mana when using such without the structure of any individually guided skill. Primary Class: None Primary Class Skills: Secondary Class: None Secondary Class Skills: Tertiary Class: None Tertiary Class Skills: Traits: Fates Favour - Chance-based events are slightly more likely to go in your favour. Whether that be increased Rewards, or a lesser chance to pull the wrong card at a Blackjack table, it matters not. Titles: Forerunner II: Gained only by those at the epoch of their race, they strive forwards, as masters of their destiny. +5 All Attributes. Free Points: 12 Core Identity: Storm Core Stage: Formation II