While Edge thought the matter through, he opened his profile and read his updates.
You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [3].
You have three attribute points awaiting allocation.
You have extracted the skill: Leap (common, rank 1).
You already have this skill in your collection.
Its power will be added to your existing skill.
You have extracted the skill: Combination strike (common, rank 1).
Would you like to slot combination strike now?
When Edge confirmed the prompt, he had a vision of combination strike flowing over to join his skill-garden, and the new copy of leap merging with the original. Then he snapped back into his body, ready to make his decision.
He was finally reaching his target range for generation and amplification. He still planned on investing in his energetic attributes more than anywhere else. But now he was ready to put a few points in other places again.
All his options were good, but he wanted to start out by shoring up some weak points in his build.
Given everything that had happened, Edge decided to place the first two points into reflex and control. It was where they would have the biggest effect, given the low values. Besides, he needed to improve his coordination if he wanted to learn how to fight. Having better reflexes would help him to get out of the way of attacks, reducing the drain of using regeneration so often.
Additionally, his first fight with the jobo had taught him that part of using skills effectively was being able to react fast enough to use them at the right time. To be accurate enough to land the hit. So, the investment still made sense in the context of becoming a skills specialist.
After sending his intentions to the System, Edge sat down and waited for the changes to play out. He grinned as the potentia went surging out of his core, and the transformative energy was converted into permanent enhancements to his body.
As always, he was intensely curious to find out what improving the attributes would feel like. Each upgrade came with a unique sensation, some far more pleasant than others. This time around, his body began to tingle. He felt a bit twitchy, as the potentia rewired his nerves, making them faster and more responsive while simultaneously enhancing his fine motor control.
After a long moment of consideration, Edge decided to put the final point into perception. Sharper senses would always be useful. Right now, the best way to avoid a fight that he couldn’t win was to see his enemies coming before they saw him.
It would also help him notice dangerous weather from further out, giving him more time to find cover. His close call with the living storm had stayed with him, and he was determined not to let something like that happen again. Now he just needed to adjust to the enhanced feedback that boosting his perception provided.
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It turned out that Jumo had split his points between perception and speed, so he was going through the same thing. During the process, the hunters spent a few more minutes congratulating each other. Then they rose to their feet and rolled up their sleeves.
By this point, Edge had decided that he enjoyed Jumo’s company. With any luck, they would form a true friendship over the days ahead, adding another entry to the short list of people he could trust… at least with a part of the truth.
He felt bad about hiding the existence of conceal and double strike. But he couldn’t afford to let any clues slip that might let people figure out that there was something special about his core. Not with the insanely large bounty hanging over his head like an executioner’s axe.
Eventually, a situation would arise where Edge was forced to reveal another skill. But unless he showed six or more, nothing would seem out of the ordinary for someone at his stage. Not counting shadow step, which he had claimed was his ultimate ability.
That being said, he couldn’t explain away getting another new skill so quickly. The tale he had spun about finding two skill gems along with his core was already stretching it. Adding any more bloat to that lie would arouse some serious suspicion.
Now that the changes that came from spending their points had finished taking place, the hunters moved on to retrieving their kill. They still needed to cart it back to town if they wanted to get paid. The longer they were out here, the more likely it became that they would attract the attention of something that wanted to claim the meat for itself.
This time, Edge had only caused minimal damage to the jobo’s pelt, although the shattered leg wasn’t going to be salvageable. After a quick survey of the area, Jumo turned to him and said, “Let’s gut it, bleed it, and then hurry back and cash in our haul.”
With that, the hunter pulled out a knife and slit the carcass’s stomach. While Edge watched on with interest, Jumo removed the organs from that area, leaving them behind for the scavengers. When he was done, he reached into the cart and retrieved a thick rope and a series of pullies. After dragging the body over to the closest tree, which took considerable effort and the better part of ten minutes, he showed Edge how to create a harness and secure it to the remains.
They looped the rope around several thick branches, positioned the pullies, and cut off the jobo’s head. Then they pulled the torso up and let it bleed, recovering from the fight and subsequent labor in the shade.
While they waited, Jumo imparted some basic techniques to use with a spear, both for fighting solo and as part of a formation. He showed Edge how to hold the weapon and what stance to take. Where to position the tip to keep an enemy from slipping past or dragging the spear out of his hands.
Since a long spear was similar to the polearm he had ordered, Edge watched on with interest. Maybe when it’s ready, I can start sparring with Jumo every now and again.
When the blood stopped flowing, it was time to put the carcass into the wagon. Hanging it from the tree had the added benefit of making it easy to load, which would have been tricky without being able to lower the heavy body into the bed from above.
Getting the cart back to town proved to be the day’s greatest challenge. Even with both men pushing and pulling for all they were worth, it was a slow, grueling ordeal. But they kept on shoving, and it started rolling. It got a lot easier when they made it back to the road, and an hour later they stepped through the gate.
After making sure that Jumo didn’t have another vendor in mind, they headed over to Izzio’s to make the sale. The butcher’s eyes lit up when he walked out of his workshop and looked in the cart, impressed by the improvement since the last time Edge had stopped by.
“Well now. Another jobo. The whole thing this time. And that hide is in pristine condition.” The butcher finished his inspection, named his price, and they all shook hands to seal the deal. “I can have your share of the profits ready in two or three days.”
With that, Edge turned to Jumo and said, “I’d like to stay a while and learn a few tricks from Izzio, if you don’t mind. I’ll push the cart back to Trapper’s when I’m done.”
“Sounds good. Enjoy the rest of your day and I’ll meet you back at the lodge in the morning.” After a final farewell, Jumo left to celebrate their success. He was already spending the creds in his mind, although they wouldn’t collect them for another few days.
When the hunter was gone, Edge followed the butcher into his workshop, eager to learn the art of the knife.