Deep into the rugged terrain, Adam found himself amidst formidable beasts, their menacing presence reminding him of his mission: to level up. Each encounter pushed him to the brink, testing his skills and mettle, and inching him closer to his goal.
Each beast vanquished wasn't just a show of physical prowess, but a calculated strategic triumph. And with each victory came a wealth of experience, bolstering his progress. Yet, a question nagged at him: 'What if one of my followers reaches Tier 1?' The potential for increased power was a tantalizing prospect.
Eventually, his relentless perseverance paid off. Level 13. The sense of achievement was a rush, but he knew there was no time to bask in the moment. His body was on the verge of collapse, demanding rest.
A conveniently located cave nearby caught his eye, its darkened interior promising shelter. 'A well-deserved rest,' he mused, stepping into the cool embrace of the cave. The silence, the raw, rugged walls - everything about the place offered a sense of tranquility.
And then, it clicked. 'This would be a perfect spot for sacrificial rituals,' he thought. The prospect of setting up a Tier 1 sacrificial altar within, luring enemies, and quickening his leveling speed excited him.
Quickly, he assessed the [Cult] tab. Plenty of Tier 1 soul shards were at his disposal, but he was short on Dream Coins and lacked a Tier 1 Dream Stone.
The issue with the Dream Stone gnawed at him. He had received one from Zara before, but it was directly transferred into his inventory, leaving him with no knowledge of its physical appearance or where to find them. 'I'll ask Zara for another Dream Stone when I return to the Dreamverse,' he thought, his mind already chalking out a plan.
Adam had a few unassigned attribute points that awaited allocation. Having already utilized his level 12 attribute points to enhance his intelligence and charisma, he now reached level 13 and gained an additional four points to distribute.
Thinking about what attributes to increase he decided to spend them on increasing his strength and dexterity, they were starting to lag behind his other attributes.
Strength: 28 > 30
Dexterity: 28 > 30
Unassigned attribute/s: 4 > 0
The Ventcroft Mountains were teeming with formidable creatures, which he often found too perilous to confront safely, resulting in him wasting crucial time evading them or waiting for them to pass. He found his patience tested, having had to hide and wait too often.
What's more, these creatures were primarily solitary. An encounter with a creature of that was a more suitable level to hunt was precious, yet infrequent. Additionally, these beasts were typically physically-oriented, their stats skewed heavily towards strength and dexterity — a stark contrast to Adam's charisma-focused attributes. The discrepancy was becoming glaringly apparent, and the pressure was mounting.
‘I need to find followers who can help me in these battles,’ he thought. ‘Stella and the others will take too long to level up, and even then, they won't be ready for combat since they've lived peaceful lives on Earth for so long. I can't do this alone forever.’ As he realized the seriousness of his situation, doubt flickered within him. Could he reach level 15 before leaving the Dreamverse? Would he have to try again tomorrow?
Nonetheless, Adam was not one to be easily swayed. He was determined to press forward, resolute in his goal. 'Level 15, no matter what it takes...' he vowed.
Adam then decided to utilize his upgrade point. He had three remaining tier 0 skills that could benefit from an upgrade: [Battle Cry], [Whirlwind], and [Charge].
He had all his bases covered, boasting a movement skill, two combat skills — one capable of stunning an enemy and the other, albeit with lower damage, could weaken his foes' resolve and inflict considerable pain — along with a defensive skill. While unsure of what his remaining abilities would develop into, he chose to upgrade [Whirlwind], in hopes of acquiring a high-damage skill capable of finishing off his enemies.
Adam looked at the skill description after upgrading.
[Vortex of Devotion I](Common)(Tier 1): Your followers willingly step into the whirlwind, offering themselves as vessels of devotion and sacrifice. Their presence intensifies the swirling energies, empowering the vortex with their unwavering loyalty. The vortex becomes a beacon of spiritual force, drawing in nearby enemies and overwhelming them with its raw power.
Skill upgrade mission: (0/1) A single follower must sacrifice themselves willingly. Reward: [Vortex of Devotion II]
'Well, that's a disappointment,' Adam mused, disappointed. He had been hoping for a skill that could function independently of his followers, useful for scenarios where they were absent. However, this skill was disappointingly specific. It required a hefty mana investment, and one of his followers had to be sacrificed.
Currently, his followers consisted of his family members, whom he couldn't possibly sacrifice. A thought of his grandmother testing the skill briefly lightened the mood, but ultimately, he dismissed the idea, however intriguing. Furthermore, the skill upgrade required the willing sacrifice of a follower. He could force someone, but without their consent, the skill wouldn't advance and would result in a suboptimal outcome.
He needed to acquire followers for whom he held no personal attachment, and they had to be prepared to sacrifice themselves willingly. Adam recognized he wouldn't utilize this skill frequently, but his curiosity was piqued. He was eager to witness the vortex's manifestation and gauge the extent of its damage potential.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
And with that, he stepped back into the wilderness, resuming his hunt and hoping to stumble upon a Dream Stone on his path.
---
With renewed vigor, Adam continued his exploration, his senses alert for any signs of life. The mountainside was teeming with predators and prey alike, but none seemed to offer the challenge he sought. Until, from a distance, he spotted a group of hobgoblins, their coarse laughter resonating against the mountain walls.
As they got closer Adam could see the comfort the hobgoblins had navigating the mountain's terrain, Adam decided to duck near a boulder to not be spotted. He couldn’t help but catch a snippet of their conversation.
"Oi, Grulak!" A hobgoblin exclaimed, nudging his companion with an elbow. "Have you seen the chieftain's women? They're a sight to behold, they are!"
Grulak's eyes widened with a mix of admiration and envy. "Aye, Gorluk! The chieftain's got all the luck in this wretched mountain. Four of the prettiest hobgoblin lasses by his side, each more alluring than the last."
Gorluk let out a low whistle, his voice filled with longing. "I can't help but wonder what it's like, being the chieftain and having such women. They must bring him joy and comfort amidst these treacherous lands."
The third hobgoblin, joined in with a mischievous grin. "Ah, but imagine if the shaman had a taste for women! The chieftain wouldn't have his pick anymore. The shaman's powers would make any hobgoblin woman weak at the knees."
Laughter erupted among the hobgoblins, a mixture of mirth and jest echoing through the mountainside as they passed where he was hiding none the wiser to his presence.
'They must know where the stronger beasts roam to be this carefree,' Adam mused. He recalled his past encounter with Skab Rathide. Like goblins, their smaller cousins, hobgoblins too, were communal creatures. They hunted and lived in groups, making any assault on them a risky affair.
With that in mind, Adam decided against a confrontation. His past encounters had taught him the dangers of tangling with such creatures. It was better to focus on isolated targets, ones that wouldn't be missed.
But as Adam moved away from the hobgoblins, a thought brought him to a halt. These creatures, though perilous, possessed intelligence. If they had made the Ventcroft Mountains their home, there was a good chance of a nearby settlement. And where there were settlements, there were system recognised structures then that meant that they most likely had Dream stones. Adam knew that Dream stones held significant importance in crafting such structures, which explained Zara's need for a substantial supply, particularly for her satellite hive.
Adam paused, a sudden excitement coursing through him. This was a chance. If he could somehow infiltrate the hobgoblin settlement, he might find a Dream Stone. The stones, so far, had eluded him, seeming more mythical than real. But this was a lead, however dangerous it might be. And Adam was not one to shy away from danger when progress beckoned.
Determined, he turned back, his gaze now cold as he looked towards the group of hobgoblins. He didn't have the luxury of time to craft a detailed plan. His basic strategy was simple, brutal, yet effective: eliminate the hobgoblins, save one for interrogation.
Despite the potential risk, he could not help but appreciate the irony. Not long ago, he was avoiding communal creatures like the plague. Now, he was intentionally seeking them out. 'How quickly the tides change,' he mused, a hint of a smile touching his lips.
With a final, deep breath, he stepped forward. "Time to see if these hobgoblins can lead me to a Dream Stone," he thought, advancing toward the unsuspecting hobgoblins.
‘I need to stack the odds in my favor, I don’t know if any of these hobgoblins have any weird talents. I think I’ll watch them for a bit then ambush them when they least expect it.’ His decision now made Adam kept his distance from the hobgoblins and watched their actions.
---
Under the cover of towering trees and looming shadows, Adam lurked, his diminutive stature concealed by a cloak that perfectly blended with the rocky terrain. His striking white hair was hidden from view, his dichromatic eyes trained with predatory focus on the path ahead.
The low murmur of voices reached his ears, followed by the distinctive crunch of boots on gravel. He steeled himself as the four figures lumbered into sight - Hobgoblins. Among them, a bow-wielding archer stood out, a silent proclamation of the threat he posed.
'First to go,' Adam vowed silently, his grip tightening around the hilt of his Immortal Dream's Blade. He felt a rush of adrenaline as the hobgoblins lumbered into his ambush range.
Finding a suitable ambush spot had proved challenging. The trees were sparse, and the rocks too small to offer adequate cover. However, with his quick reflexes and the assistance of his [Aura of Alacrity I], Adam managed to secure a favorable position just in time, positioning himself before the hobgoblins arrived.
Adam was ready, poised to enact his ambush and the moment had come.
With a quick, decisive gesture, he pointed at the archer, invoking the upgraded [Soul Severance II]. The hobgoblin archer suddenly froze mid-stride, his body losing connection with his soul momentarily, leaving him an easy prey.
Adam capitalized on the situation, a blur of motion as he darted forward with an ethereal energy-fueled speed boost granted by [Aura of Alacrity I]. His sacrificial knife rose and fell, a gleaming arc of deadly intent. His [Soul-Piercing Strike II] found its mark, phasing directly through the archer's head. The hobgoblin didn't even have time to scream before slumping lifelessly to the ground.
The death of their companion was like a spark in dry grass, igniting chaos among the remaining hobgoblins. Their guttural cries of surprise and rage echoed in the chilly mountain air, their faces twisting into masks of confusion and fear.
"Ambush!" one bellowed, clutching a crude club in his thick fist. "Kill him!"
Despite their panic, they sprang into action, charging towards Adam with blind rage. But they were no match for a Soul Sovereign. Despite standing barely at their shoulders, Adam was a storm on the battlefield, his every move precise and deadly.
He danced around the attacking hobgoblins, his blade leaving spectral trails in the air. One by one, they fell, each a testament to his strength. A swift, well-placed strike here, a masterful dodge there, and another hobgoblin would join its comrade in death.
The last hobgoblin, witnessing the carnage, attempted to flee. But Adam, quick as ever, pointed at it, invoking [Soul Severance II] once again. The creature froze mid-step, its soul severed from its body, leaving it a mere sitting duck.
With a predatory smile, Adam approached the immobilized creature. Its fearful eyes tracked his every move, unable to do anything else. Adam, in contrast, was calm as he approached, his voice echoing in the chilling silence.
"You're going to answer my questions, okay?" His words, filled with cold intent, were a dark promise of the interrogation that awaited the remaining hobgoblin. The terror in its eyes only seemed to deepen at his words.