In the faltering light of the sun, we make one final push toward the occupied mountain, fighting off and on as we inch closer and closer.
As it begins to become too dark to safely move about, a judicious casting of my Apprentice bonus from Wilderness Survival leads us to a small rocky outcropping formed of roots over long centuries, perfect for our needs for the evening.
We all munch on some jerky tastelessly, nervously conversing as the Contest draws ever near, only one more day remaining…
As we bed down for the evening, Artemis customarily curling her bulk around me as I lean back on her softly rising and falling chest, I pull up the accumulated notifications from our last days of grinding, eager to see how far I have gotten but nervous despite myself of falling short of our Lv. 20 goal.
My ability advancements come first:
Wilderness Survival(J):26--28
Huntsman’s Athleticism(App): 22--25
Wild Rampage(App--J): 18--20!
Natural Reinforcement(J): 26--27
Blood-Fueled(App): 20--22
Eco-Missile(App): 16--17
Environmental Clean(B): 8
Viking Defender(U): 4--7
Forest Fade(B): 3--6
Wild Rampage(J): Burn 5 points of HP to increase next attack’s damage by 50%. Tier will increase every 10 levels and unlock additional effects. Apprentice Bonus: May now combine Mana and the basic sacrifice of HP to double up power of strike. May only be used once per engagement. Journeyman Bonus: Damage is now increased by a base of 100% for the same HP cost.
Oooo, nice! Double the damage for the same cost?
Yes, sir I’ll take it!
And now, after 2 days of nearly non-stop combat, the big reveal…
Congratulations! You have killed a large assortment of Beasts for a total of 3,500,000 XP!
You have leveled up!
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
You have leveled up!!
You have leveled up!!!
You have 6 free Attribute points available!
+3 to Constitution
Wow! I certainly hoped to level a few times but this is pretty damn good, if not quite as close to tiering up as I may have wished.
Ideally, the massive tree, even now shining in the soft light of the moon, will attract some stronger Beasts for us to use as the final push into Journeyman.
I mull over my points for a moment, debating placing all of them into Strength or Dexterity as my more crucial stats but the lack of balance would, honestly, bother my organized sensibilities. So, instead, I even things out by placing 2 points into each of my mental stats and 1 to each of the physical stats, disregarding my already inflated Constitution as usual. I’ll get a solid bump in Mana with what this will grant me, all the better to share amongst my bonded Companions too.
Pulling up my full PAID, I confirm the changes as they populate with some small sense of satisfaction at my continued growth.
PAID
Player: Nova
Age: 27
Race: Human
Class: Wild Huntsman(R)
Class Ability: Huntsman’s Duty, Advanced Companion(Path)
Level: 16
228,400/3,276,800 XP to Lv.17
Martial Style: Natural Disaster(A) Lv.33
Attributes (Human range between 1 and 5):
Strength 12--13
Dexterity 12--13
Constitution 20--23
Intelligence 13
Soul 13
Mana: 169
HP: 115
Skills: Wilderness Survival(App) Lv. 28, Huntsman’s Athleticism(J): Lv.25, Wild Rampage(J) Lv. 20, Viking Defender(U) Lv.7
Unlock next free Skill point at Lv.21
Spells: Natural Reinforcement(J) Lv.27, Blood-Fueled(J) Lv. 22, Eco-Missile(App) Lv.17, Environmental Clean(B) Lv.8, Forest Fade(B) Lv. 6
Unlock next free Spell point at Lv.22
Items: Icy Soul Hatchet(U), Basic Storage Ring, Huntsman’s Bark-Steel Jerkin & Greaves
Titles: Natural Born Killer, Soul Searcher, Top Tier III, Human+, Dungeon Trainee I
‘Oof!’ I think in a knee-jerk reaction at the huge XP value needed to just get to level 17.
It’s amazing how quick doubling a number gets you into the 6 figures and now, even further beyond!
All things considered though, we have made some pretty exceptional strides, especially considering our unavoidable, yet still rewarding, 2 week lapse in earning any XP.
Artemis is matching my level with Horus having reached Lv.14 already in a truly remarkable speed of development. Guess it helps to have a loving mother’s guidance.
Turning to Belina, I ask her simply, “How close?”
After a quick glance into space to check, she replies somewhat glumly, “200,000 short of Lv. 16.”
“Hmmm….” I think aloud, hand on my chin as I gaze upon the great tree ponderingly, “I wonder how strong the Beasts around that behemoth are…maybe we should find out?” I ask her with a smile full of challenge.
Tilting her own head in thought for a few moments, she soon sets her shoulder and answers declaratively, “Let’s do it. I want to be in Journeyman and I can’t think of any better options to get there in time. We should take it slow though, no telling how things will change from forest to mountain terrain, even if there is a tree on top.”
“Sensible! Of course.” I answer, anticipation growing for the morrow, for the Contest, for the unknown, for the hunt.
All that’s left now, is to sleep; for when we wake: the true and final drive begins in earnest.