From here I can see several small groups of driders moving around on the plains. They don't seem to be wandering aimlessly, it looks like they are on patrol. Out in the open there is no chance of us making it to the orchards without being spotted.
Then again I was never planning to sneak around and avoid fighting the driders. After all, I want to level up and killing them is the quickest way I can think of. So, now the question is do I lure them to the cave or go fight in the open.
If I lure them to the cave Kechara can't fly and we can't all fight at once, but we can't be surrounded or trapped. If we fight in the open we can use all our abilities but we will face more at once and could end up surrounded. Fighting in the cave is obviously the safer path, but I am not in the mood to play it safe right now.
So after looking around a bit more I lead everyone out of the cave and onto the plains. We haven't gone far when the first patrol spots us and charges towards us. It consists of four driders, two melee type and two caster type, plus four skeletons.
Bones and I move in front and cut down the skeletons as they reach us. Kechara and Asuna are right behind us ready to move out and flank the driders. Everyone moves without me saying anything, almost as if we had actually practiced this tactic.
Skeleton defeated! 25 Exp gained!
Skeleton defeated! 25 Exp gained!
Skeleton defeated! 25 Exp gained!
Skeleton defeated! 25 Exp gained!
'Awesome! I even get exp for the ones Bones kills! This feels awesome!'
As the driders reach us Bones and I go for the two melee types, at the same time Kechara and Asuna move. They go around us and the melee types to attack the casters in the back. The driders die quickly, one on one they don't stand a chance against any of us.
Drider defeated! 100 Exp gained!
Congratulations! You have gained a level!
Level 2: HP +200, DP +100, Stat points +10!
Drider defeated! 100 Exp gained!
Drider defeated! 100 Exp gained!
Congratulations! You have gained a level!
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Level 3: HP +200, DP +100, Stat points +5!
Spells: Holy Word level 2, Holy Light level 2!
New Spell: Bless Weapon level 1!
Abilities: Holy Aura level 2!
Drider defeated! 100 Exp gained!
'I got exp from everyone's kills?! Already level 3!! This is awesome!!'
The others are already looking around for the next fight, while I am slightly stunned. I didn't expect the driders to be such good exp, but then again a real level one couldn't kill a drider easily. If the exp from each kill stays the same, then with the number of driders down here I can level up like mad!
Honestly, leveling so fast feels like cheating, but I like it! As I replay the short battle in my mind I notice a few things. For one, Blitz tore through the drider like it was made of tissue paper. Second, Bones had the most trouble killing his drider, it took him several attacks.
Both Kechara and Asuna killed their driders in just one attack, like me. All in all, our teamwork was almost perfect, the driders never stood a chance. The driders seem a lot weaker than I remember them being, but it is just that I have gotten stronger.
As I am standing there trying to take in all the information another patrol spots us and charges towards us. This group has an additional caster type so it is five driders and six undead. Without me having to say anything Asuna and Kechara move behind Bones and I to wait.
Bones and I slaughter the undead easily as they reach us and then we move on the driders. I cut down my melee type and then the middle caster, Bones handles the other melee type. Again Asuna and Kechara flank them and attack the two outside casters, it only takes seconds.
4 Skeletons defeated! 100 Exp gained!
2 Zombies defeated! 40 Exp gained!
5 Driders defeated! 500 Exp gained!
Congratulations! You have gained a level!
Level 4: HP +200, DP +100, Stat points +10!
It is hard for me to believe how easy this is and how fast I am leveling up. To think how much I struggled last time I was down here, it is kind of sad. Then again, I am only dealing with small groups, not surrounded by thousands, yet.
Looking around I don't see any more patrols nearby, so I take a minute to go through all the notification windows. As I do I notice that even levels only seem to give some extra stat points, not that it's a bad thing. Odd levels give spell and ability levels as well as new spells from the looks of it.
'Let's see how my stats are looking. Stats!'
HP: 7773/7773
SP: 2025/2025
DP: 500/500
Strength: 712
Agility: 644
Endurance: 612
Intelligence: 346
Wisdom: 613
Charisma: 245
Willpower: 158
Luck: 92
Toughness: 152
Regen: 77
Fortitude: 152
Leadership: 60
Unspent Points: 80
'Okay, 80 stat points to spend. It will only let me add points to my six basic stats and leadership. Since I plan to be king my leadership will probably be really important. Besides, my other stats are all much higher!'
Add 80 points to Leadership? Y/N
"Yes!"
Leadership: 140
With that done I start looking around for another patrol group, one more should get me to level 5. Not seeing any close by, I start leading the others across the plains towards the orchard. After all, we don't need to run around chasing the driders, they will come to us.