JESSIE : LEVEL 4
DAY 8 : H-DAY, FIRSTWEEK, AGNI, YEAR 1
TOWN OF ALL BEGINNINGS 5 : BENCH 3 : IT’S OVER
One katana later, I’m practically skipping away from the dungeon, fully intending never to see it again. Not that I’d vote to destroy it or anything. I just got what I came for. And don’t get me wrong, it was fun at first. But all the novelty of the place wore out around the tenth runthrough or so. Although, I wish it well. If such an expression can be applied to something as impersonal as a dungeon. Unless… Can dungeons think? Are dungeon cores a thing? If they are, what happens when they’re destroyed? Or the monsters for that matter? And what does that say about me?
Somehow, even the thought of maybe being an actual genocidal murderer can’t weigh me down. All thanks to the kind of euphoric lightness that only comes from a long, repetitive dungeon grind finally dropping its super special thing. After all that work, I almost wanna kill myself to save the hours of running back to town before finally indulging in a good, long rest. But XP debt aside, all that’d really do is flush six hours down the toilet I don’t have to use anymore, when I can easily make it back in two. Not that I’m willing to wait even that long to cash in.
So first, I make a stopover in the nearest rest area. This one, unlike the other, features a refreshing amenity in that it hasn’t been co-opted by bandits. It’s just a pristine little oasis in the middle of the wilderness with another floating tablet of a vending machine and a disappointingly uncushioned bench. The moment I step in range, I’m inundated with over a days-worth of grinding notifications. Cushion or no, I plop down on the bench to read through them all.
[ ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED - MONSTER HUNTER: YOU KILLED 8 MONSTERS ALONE, IN A ROW, WITHOUT DYING — REWARD: UPON KILLING YOUR TARGETED MONSTER, AUTOMATICALLY TARGET THE NEAREST MONSTER AWARE OF YOUR PRESENCE — XP: 32 ]
[ ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED - DUNGEON BOSS HUNTER: YOU KILLED A DUNGEON BOSS ALONE — REWARD: TARGETING A DUNGEON BOSS NOW DISPLAYS ITS HEALTH BAR — XP: 32 ]
[ ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED - DUNGEON SWEEPER: YOU PERSONALLY KILLED EVERY MONSTER IN A DUNGEON INSTANCE — REWARD: YOUR DUNGEON MINIMAP FILLS IN AT 2 TIMES THE STANDARD RADIUS — XP: 32 ]
[ ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED - DUNGEON VOTER: YOU VOTED TO PRESERVE OR DESTROY A DUNGEON — REWARD: YOU MAY NOW SEE THE CURRENT VOTE TOTALS FOR ANY DUNGEON YOU HAVE CLEARED — XP: 32 ]
[ ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED - DUNGEON FLIP-FLOPPER: YOU VOTED TO BOTH PRESERVE AND DESTROY THE SAME DUNGEON — REWARD: YOU MAY NOW RE-VOTE FOR 1 MINUTE AFTER VOTING, OR UNTIL YOU RE-ENTER THE SAME DUNGEON — XP: 32 ]
[ LEVEL UP! — LEVEL: +1=3 — SKILL POINTS: 2 — S.T.A.T. POINTS: STRENGTH=1 - TENACITY=1 - APTITUDE=1 - TILT=1 — NEXT LEVEL: 512 XP ]
[ ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED - DUNGEON GRINDER: YOU PERSONALLY KILLED EVERY MONSTER IN 2 DUNGEON INSTANCES — REWARD: YOUR DUNGEON MINIMAP FILLS IN AT 4 TIMES THE STANDARD RADIUS — XP: 32 ]
[ ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED - DUNGEON FARMER: YOU PERSONALLY KILLED EVERY MONSTER IN 4 DUNGEON INSTANCES — REWARD: YOUR DUNGEON MINIMAP FILLS IN AT 8 TIMES THE STANDARD RADIUS — XP: 32 ]
[ LEVEL UP! — LEVEL: +1=4 — MILESTONE MULTIPLIER: +1=3 — SKILL POINTS: +1=3 — EQUIPMENT POINTS: +4=12 — S.T.A.T. POINTS: STRENGTH+1=3 - TENACITY+1=3 - APTITUDE+1=3 - TILT+1=3 — NEXT LEVEL: 1,024 XP ]
[ HP: 256/384 ]
[ MP: 255/384 ]
[ SP: 320/480 ]
[ ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED - DUNGEON CLEANER: YOU PERSONALLY KILLED EVERY MONSTER IN 8 DUNGEON INSTANCES — REWARD: YOUR DUNGEON MINIMAP NOW FILLS OUT EACH AREA AS SOON AS YOU ENTER IT — XP: 32 ]
[ ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED - DUNGEON PRESERVER: YOU HAVE VOTED TO PRESERVE THE SAME DUNGEON 16 TIMES — REWARD: A DUNGEON WILL NO LONGER DISAPPEAR WHILE YOU ARE INSIDE, REGARDLESS OF TOTAL VOTES — XP: 32 ]
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
My eyes widen at the sheer number of windows clogging my vision. And then again at their contents. Wow… Two whole Levels, just like that. And Three whole Skill Points. I got the same number of points for each STAT, too. But that XP requirement… Looking at them back-to-back, it’s clear that they do, in fact, double with every level. Each one effectively takes as much XP as all the previous levels combined, plus another 128. For good measure, I guess?
Or maybe it’s just easier if everything is in powers of two. All my resource increases definitely line up with that idea. But regardless, two levels at once clearly isn’t something I’m going to get a whole lot of going forward. Which is fine. Expected, even. I just gotta make sure I’m not getting too spoiled by easy levels. And speaking of easy, let’s just get the obvious part out of the way.
[ S.T.A.T.S — STRENGTH: MAGICAL=16 - PHYSICAL=23 — TENACITY: DEFENSE=16 - SPEED=23 — APTITUDE: MANA=16 - STAMINA=23 — TILT: CONTROL=23 - LUCK=16 ]
[ SP: 370/552 ]
Alright, that’s that taken care of. Now, it’s Skill time.
Examining them all, I belatedly realize that I probably shouldn’t be going all-in on Stamina. Minmaxing is all well and good. In fact, it’s kind of my whole thing. But, scrolling through all my Uncommon skill options, it’s clear that a lot of the crazier effects take MP instead of SP. And there’s no indication of that changing for Rare and beyond. I’m fine as long as I only have the one Skill with a low MP drain like Radial Awareness. But I can see myself running dry real quick tapping into that pool without expanding it at all. But I’m only Level Four now. And for now…
From all my Uncommon Skill options, I quickly realize that my first choice isn’t really a choice at all. I couldn’t look myself in the mirror after not jumping on the opportunity to do the thing I’ve been routinely imitating in that same mirror since I first saw it done. On seeing the Skill, I can only think of one thing. I want it. I really want it. I really, really want it. I really, really, really-
So, I take it. That’s the reason. The only one that matters in the end. But if I really need an excuse to rationalize my choice, it also seems to be my best bet to beat the spawnkiller. There’s no telling what kind of damage he can take. But the neat thing about insta-kills is that they take that concern off the table. And what better way to counter an insta-killer, than by literally countering their insta-kill? And then, under that umbrella, are the counters that synergize with Iai Quickdraw. Of which I have access to precisely one.
[ UNCOMMON C.L.A.S.S. ACTION GAINED: ANIME / COUNTER SHEATHE — EFFECT 1: ON INTERCEPTING A MELEE ATTACK WHILE UNSHEATHING YOUR EQUIPPED SWORD, YOU WILL INSTANTLY TELEPORT BEHIND THE ATTACKER. FULLY SHEATHE YOUR SWORD TO DEAL THE COUNTERED ATTACK’S OPTIMAL DAMAGE BACK TO THE ATTACKER WITH CURRENT BUFFS APPLIED — EFFECT 2: ON SUCCESS, SP IS RESTORED BY HALF — EFFECT 3: DEACTIVATES WHEN WEAPON EITHER STOPS ACTIVELY UNSHEATHING OR IS FULLY UNSHEATHED — COST: SMALL MP COST TO ACTIVATE - MASSIVE SP DRAIN WHILE UNSHEATHING EQUIPPED SWORD — WARNING 1: ANY DAMAGE TAKEN OR DEALT WILL DEACTIVATE THIS SKILL — WARNING 2: DAMAGE TAKEN IS DOUBLED WHILE ACTIVE — WARNING 3: DEACTIVATION THROUGH DAMAGE DEALT OR RECEIVED INSTANTLY DEPLETES SP BY A QUARTER OF MAX ]
[ SKILL POINTS: 2 ]
My heart lifts at the confirmation, and then promptly drops as all my Uncommon skill choices disappear. What? But why? I still have Skill Points… I can see them right there. I should still be able to get two more Skills… But apparently, the next has to be Common? And after I had my heart set on the one where I can teleport to my sword… But that isn’t to say there aren’t any tempting Common options that stick out as I scan them all again. No changes from the first time I read through the list. But after running around and picking up Spiderwolf leftovers nonstop for a whole day, I can’t not get this now.
[ COMMON CORE PASSIVE GAINED: AUTO LOOT — EFFECT: ITEMS AND EQUIPMENT WHICH YOU OWN BUT HAVE NOT CLAIMED WITHIN A 1.01-METER RADIUS ARE AUTOMATICALLY ADDED TO YOUR INVENTORY — TILT SCALING: CONTROL ]
My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined when all the Uncommon Skills stay grayed out. I have to think about this. For once, nothing really stands out as the clear choice. There are all sorts of little buffs, minor damage things and an absolute myriad of quality-of-life improvements. A lot of them are good. But none seem quite as important as not having to pick up any of those light-bags anymore. It was kinda cool at first, but a room full of shiny bags to pick up one at a time got old around when the dungeon itself did.
Resolving to think about it on the way, I take off back to town. And with thoughts full of potential skills to purchase, I eventually spot the same bandit camp from before. Hard not to with the waypoint I set. Once the barricade comes into view, I speed up. Running past them at a full sprint, I make sure to maintain eye contact with the same guard who called me a ‘Ginger Bitch’. I flip him off with both hands the entire time I absentmindedly vault over and past trees and ditches and whatever else is in my way that I can’t be bothered to look at just now.
I can make out some general mustering of the bandit’s forces, but they don’t even have time to fully register the guard’s cries and get up from whatever they’re doing before I’m already gone. I was planning to see if I can actually outrun that one guy from last time with those extra three STAT Points I just threw into Speed. But if he can’t even be bothered to start chasing me before I get away entirely…
With that, I spend the latter half of the run in an even better mood. It lasts all the way until I take one final jump to land with a flourish just inside the border of The Town of All Beginnings. No notifications pop into my sights. Instead, I see Mich. Bench Guy himself. Sitting on the bench, no less. With what looks like half the town flanking it on either side.
All of them are just staring at the door to the Mayor’s office. At the man facing away from it. Why would..? Wait… Images flash through my mind upon registering who they’re all staring at. A body on a hill. Another on a boat. My pupils shrink to pinpricks.
All hell breaks loose.
[ UNCOMMON WEAPON EQUIPPED: KATANA OF THE DADDY-LONGLYCANTHROPE - 37 PHY ]
I start running. “YOU!!!”
[ HERO TARGETED: ONESHOT - BFS ]
[ UNCOMMON ACTION: COUNTER SHEATHE ]