Chapter 4
While my sister is still taken by surprise, I quickly launch another fist into her kidney, trying to deal as much damage as possible. However, this time she only lets out a little groan but holds her ground. Why was it different this time, I put in just as much power in that strike. I make eye contact with my sisters, I can see the fire burning underneath. Oh shit.
I immediately retreat, jumping backwards by a few metres. I look up to see my sister no longer in front of me. Shit, how’d I lose sight of her? Turning around with just enough time to see my sisters fist aimed towards my face. I go to dodge, but my body can’t move fast enough. Her small white fist which you’d think belonged to an innocent weak girl, sent me flying several metres back. Tumbling over a few times before I finally steady myself.
Shaking off the dizziness while bent over on my knees, I try to catch a breath to no avail. I catch a glimpse of my sister’s foot coming from the side and connecting with my ribs sending my flying and tumbling again. I finally stop rolling, to no effort of my own. I’m laying on my back, pain coursing through my body. My face is aching and my ribs are burning, shit this sucks.
I wheeze for breath, hoping my sister will just end it here. Of course I’m not that lucky. My sister stands over my lying body, pulling her arm back, aiming towards my head. This is going to suck. I close my eyes, mainly out of fear.
“Enough.” My father suddenly commands. I open my eyes to see my father holding Lynn’s arm which was in mid swing to collide with my face.
Relief floods over me, but not enough to counter the pain throughout my body. I wipe the blood that leaked from my mouth with my sleeve. I slowly stand up, struggling just to do that. Fuck she really done me over this time.
“Lynn, this is a learning experience for you as well. No matter how weak the opponent is, don’t let your guard down.” Gee thanks, at least I count as an opponent though I guess. “Also you need to control your anger.” Father lectured Lynn.
Lynn pouted as she stared at the ground, looking nothing more than a child being scolded by a parent. Father finishing up with his lecture, he turns to look at me. I try to stop myself from swaying and stand up straight, lest his lectures me on how my posture isn’t up to par either.
“Good. You’ve actually surprised me with the level your strength.” Wait, what?! Is that a compliment, from father? His only ever berated me.
“However, your lacking in your speed. You can’t just train your strength. All the power in the world won’t matter if you can’t hit the opponent. Also you’re too timid in your attacks. You shouldn’t have retreated when you did, but pushed your attack. You gave your sister a chance to recover, and that cost you.” Oh thank god, if he didn’t say something negative I would have started suspecting something was up.
I guess he is right though, I couldn’t even track Lynn’s movements. If I had been able to contend with her in speed, I might not of won, but I definitely wouldn’t have been defeated the way I was.
“Yes sir. I’ll work on my speed, so that next time I’ll beat Lynn.” I couldn’t help but throw in the last part as I directed a smug smile her way.
“Don’t get big head. If I took you seriously, you wouldn’t last 10 seconds!” It’s not like I believed I’d beat her anytime soon, but I can’t pass up on the chance of annoying her.
“Ares stop provoking your sister, and Lynn, try and act like the elder sibling.” Father shuts us both down. Hah! At least Lynn got in trouble as well, things are starting to finally look up hahaha!
“Now it’s time to go home.” I follow behind father as we head home, a smug smile plastered across my face. “Ares, are you forgetting something?” Father stops, turns and asks me.
“Umm thank you for the advice today…?” Yeah this isn’t going to work.
“Carry out your punishment. Don’t think I won’t know if you skip it either.” Shit, that’s what I get for thinking things were starting to look up. It’s my sisters turn to flash me a smug look as she follows dutifully behind father. What a suck up.
I get down on my knees and start performing the push ups, complaining under my breath. Still, these are so easy now. I’d usually be dead by the time I hit 80, but I’m already at 60 and barely feel it.
Status Screen
Name:
Ares
Level:
6
Gender:
Male
Race:
[1] Tailed Fox
Stats Screen
Strength:
48
Wisdom:
14
Agility:
23
Intelligence:
21
Endurance:
21
Charisma:
12
Dexterity:
22
Luck:
15
So these stats really do matter. Let’s see, I can gain additional points on certain stats by working on it. However, it usually takes a long time to get even a single point. On the other hand, when I level up I get 5 stat points which I can use on anything I want. Obviously levelling up is the more effective method for quick progress.
Thinking about it though, when I killed that first cartalope, I had gotten two levels. However, the next kill only got me 1 level and level up after that took two of those beasts to kill. It seems the higher my level the harder it gets to improve, than is that the same for my stats? Will Strength increase slower than my wisdom because of the gap between the two?
Completing the push ups, I wipe the sweat off my face with my shirt before starting my lap of the village. I continue to think for answers to those questions as I run around the village. It looks like I’ll need to experiment to get the answers to these questions.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
I collapse onto the ground, my legs too weak to continue carrying my weight any longer. I take deep breathes and wince as the movement irritates my now bruised ribs.
Endurance has increased by +2
I close my eyes as I enjoy the quiet, I feel like I haven’t taken a moment to relax for a week. I drift off to sleep.Haah at least I got something out of it. Also taking note that the increase of my stats occurred after I finished running, and not during. I don’t really understand why that is, but it’s good to know. I’m another step closer to understanding this weird power that only I have.
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What the fuck! I awake with a start, bewildered as to why I’m soaking wet.
“Hahahaha you were starting to smell the fields up so I thought I’d give you a bath.” Roman is standing over me, laughing with a now empty bucket in his hands.
“You bastard!” I pull his feet from under him, toppling him over onto his head. Not giving him a second of breathing time, I jump on top of him and begin wrestling him. How is he so strong? Even with my 48 strength, I’m stuck in a struggle with him.
“Hahaha! Since when did your girl arms get so strong?” He distracts with the insult as he wraps his leg around mine, and uses his body weight to flip me off him. His now sitting on top of me as I struggle to get out from under him.
“Surrender?” He asks as he starts to form a ball of spit from his mouth, hanging right over my face.
“Argh! Never!” My pride will never allow me to submit to this muscle for brained idiot.
“Okayyyy, well you give me no choice.” The bastard allows the spit to drop from his mouth, and land right on my forehead.
“Yuck!” I wipe the spit off as I get up. Roman no longer pinning me down, happy with his work.
“Guess that’s what 34-0 now?” Roman asks me with a smirk.
“34-1.”
“You can’t count that win. You kneed be in me in the balls.”
“I should get bonus points for having the accuracy of hitting such a small target.” We both break into laughter after that comment. “So where’s Lilly? It’s rare to see her not by your side.” I ask out of curiosity.
“Yeah I told her I was going to fields to practise, so she decided to hang at home. She only ever follows if she thinks you’ll be there. Can you believe that? My own little sister prefers you over me, what an injustice.”
“Yeah well can you blame her, I mean look at me and look at you. Who’d choose you?” I respond with a smirk.
“The Kaylak twins.”
“Well, I don’t know what they see in you.” Yeah I’m jealous, so what. I mean his got twins on the go, that’s literally every mans dream.
“More than they see in you obviously.”
“Ha-ha, good one. What are you doing here anyway?” I change the subject, no longer bearing to talk about those twins.
“Well I told Lilly, I was going to practise. But then I saw your lazy ass sleeping in the fields, so I couldn’t not play a prank haha.”
“I’m the lazy ass? I bet you were just looking for a reason to avoid training.” I know this guy, he always slacks off on his training. Always in trouble because he’s so talented in fighting but always avoiding practise.
“Hahaha you caught me. What about you though, why are you sleeping out here?”
“Arghh never mind that.” Thinking about it, this should be the perfect time to go out and gain some levels. “Hey what do you say we go out hunting again?”
“Hah I knew you’d get hooked. How much fun is it? Well I’m keen.” Knew he’d be happy to come. This should be a good chance to get some levels, especially without having to worry about Lilly. Last time we chose to avoid large groups of cartalope in case one of them went for Lilly.
“Well did you want to go get the bows and arrows, I’ll go fill the bottles and we’ll meet at the same place as last time?”
“Sounds good to me, see you in 15.” Roman says before, running off home to collect the bows.
Better go fill up those bottles.
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The arrow tears through the cartalopes neck, killing it instantly.
Congrulations! You have leveled up!
Dexterity has increased by +1
That marks the 17th since the last level up, I knew it’d get harder the higher my level was but still. A few more level ups and it’ll take over 100 of these beasts just to get one level.
Status Screen
Name:
Ares
Level:
11
Gender:
Male
Race:
[1] Tailed Fox
Stats Screen
+Strength:
48
+Wisdom:
14
+Agility:
25
+Intelligence:
21
+Endurance:
24
+Charisma:
12
+Dexterity:
26
+Luck:
15
You currently have 25 unused stat points
At least today has been bountiful, with 25 unused stat points, that should be a large increase to in strength. There is also the fact that I got a new skill today.
Skills
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Earlier on today as I was sneaking up onto some prey, a blue box alerted to me that I unlocked the skill Sneak. So this further proves my theory that skills will only be unlocked after a basic level of mastery has been achieved. Because I was sneaking up on prey yesterday but had never unlocked the skill, but I did today. So what was different? So I concluded my theory must be correct.
I’m also starting to question how these skills actually work. I spent all day yesterday and a part of yesterday hunting just to achieve the basic standard of mastery in sneak. However, since gaining the skill I have gone up 33.4% in only what is a few hours. So does this mean that I improve faster if I have the skill for it? Or is there another answer which I haven’t thought of? Man I really need a manual for this.
On another note, my archery has reached beginner level 5, however I don’t quite understand what these skills do. I mean it’s handy to have a visual way of ascertaining my current level, but I feel as if there should be more to it. If my theory that I improve faster with the skill than without is correct, than these skills are really valuable. I can’t help but think there’s more to the skills than that though, but what? Yet another question.
I’ve also noticed my archery improves way faster while I’m out hunting, rather than when I train. I mean I’ve been training archery for a year now and only got to level 3 nearly level 4, but two days hunting and I’ve increased it by a little more than 100%. There’s especially rapid growth in the skill when things get particularly dangerous, like the situation draws out hidden potential… or so I guess. Most of everything I know about these screens are just theories.
“You still haven’t told me how you got so strong suddenly.” Roman suddenly asks the same question for the 100th time, as he kneels over the now dead cartalope and removes his arrow from its flesh.
“For the last time, it’s because I increased my stats.”
“Fine, fine… Keep your secrets than.” Why ask if you’re going to ignore me.
“Don’t ask if you’re not going to listen.” Looking up at the sky, I see the sun’s starting to go down. Honestly I kind of want to keep going, I mean seeing these level ups is really addictive. Each one symbolising an increase of strength on which I might finally be able to beat that idiot of sister of mine.
We should be fine anyway, just Roman and I alone are enough to take on a group of 10 cartas’. We’re still heading back, but unlike last time where we rushed back, we’re taking it a little easy.
“This forest isn’t even that dangerous is it? I don’t know why all the adults carry on about it.” Alright maybe I am getting a little arrogant, but I feel as if I could kill these cartas’ in my sleep.
“That’s what I said to dad, but he gave me slap to the back of the head and told me I’m an idiot. He says that these cartas’ are just pests of the forest, reckons they’re just food for the real beasts. I told dad that the real beasts would die by my hand all the same hahaha” Wow, and here I was thinking I was arrogant.
“You kno-“ I quickly cut off what I was going to say as Roman gave the sign for silence. He motions forward and I look to where he motioned to see a single cartalope. Man and here I was getting excited for a hunt. One cartalope is barely considered a hunt for us.
“I bet you can’t hit its eye.” Roman whispers to me quietly, always keen to turn everything into a competition. Well I guess I also love a competition myself.
“Watch and learn rookie.” I whisper back as I hold my bow and draw my arrow. I’ve noticed my aim has gotten better as dexterity has risen, so with only 10m distance between the target and I, it should be an easy hit.
I steady my breath, I ascertain my aim is right, I release. The arrow flies through the air, I track it with my eyes. The arrow flying straight for its head, perfect aim. That is until I watch the arrow disappear along with the cartalope. I furrow my brows in search for where it scattered to, partly curious to how it escaped and what just happened.
I feel roman tap me on the shoulder, I turn to look over at him and see his eyes aren’t fixed on me. His expression dead serious, his eyes not moving from where they’re locked to. I look in the direction to where his looking, and that’s where I see it.
A large jet black cat, what has to be 4 maybe 5 metres long and 1 metre tall. It’s over 20 metres from where the cartalope was but I see from hanging from its jaws, the dead cartalope. This beast has scars all over its body, showing its fierceness. I can see the arrow I fired sticking out of its hind leg blood oozing from the wound. It’s staring straight at us, knowing that we’re the ones who just assaulted it. The beasts yellow eyes completely ignoring Roman standing beside me, its gaze fixated soley on me.
Fuck.