Mechanical Cerberus Killed!
2500/2 = 1250 Exp
22 Dark Entities Killed!
2200/2 = 1100 EXP
Congratulations! You've just leveled up! You have +3 Assignable Points!
Congratulations! You've just leveled up! You have +3 Assignable Points!
Congratulations! You've just leveled up! You have +3 Assignable Points!
Congratulations! You've just leveled up! You have +3 Assignable Points!
Congratulations! You've just beaten the “The Heart of the Forge” quest. You have +20/2 = 10 Assignable Points!
Congratulations! You've just beaten your first Very Hard quest! You have a +1 bonus at all Stats!
In the thick air of Gear Savannah, Marshmallow stared in disbelief at his semi-charred arm. Bits of skin were torn from his limb, and burns were scattered all over. It hurt like hell, and if he hadn't been a soldier, he'd still be screaming in pain.
Then he shot a worried glance at Goat Horse, who was in even worse shape if that was possible. At least Marshmallow could still move nimbly, but his loyal companion was doing its best not to put too much weight on its injured leg. Dam lay on the ground, exhausted, while Eldrin had barely escaped unscathed.
We racked up some serious XP, but man, it was a real grind this time. If it hadn't been for Dam, we'd have been toast.
At that point, Marshmallow took the opportunity to pull up his Status from the settings. He hadn't checked it in a while, and with all the XP he'd racked up, things were about to get interesting.
STATUS
Player name
Marshmallow
Rank
Jolly
Age
20
Faction
Wyolands
EXP
3651,2/4500
Level
9
Strength
16 + 1 bonus
Dexterity
11 + 1 bonus
Constitution
18 + 1 bonus
Stamina
14 + 1 bonus
Perception
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
47 + 1 bonus
Luck
6 + 2 bonus
Assignable Points
22
The system split the EXP in half, which seems fair. Actually, I might have lucked out; Dam did almost all the heavy lifting. Then there's this sweet bonus from the very hard quest. Obviously, as NPCs, Goat Horse, and Eldrin can't get EXP, which sucks for them, they're left high and dry. But hell yeah, I got stronger!
Marshmallow was silently cheering, pumping his fists, while Dam, trying to muster some energy, picked himself up off the ground and leaned against a nearby tree. "Oh man, that was close," he said to Marshmallow. Then he noticed him checking his status. "How many levels did you jump?"
"Four, four levels. I'm at level 9 now," Marshmallow declared proudly, his gaze fixed on the Assignable Points number: 22. He could really make a leap in quality with those points.
"Hmm, level nine. You've got a long way to go," Dam sighed. "But for not getting any help from the system, that's impressive. Marsh, you're at a C Rank level now."
"And you? What level are you?" Marshmallow grumbled. He wasn't a fan of Dam's boasting.
"Me? We split the EXP points, and with these extra 2350 points, I just hit level 24. Unlike you, I leveled up just once," Dam said nonchalantly, checking his own status just like Marshmallow.
"What?" Marshmallow couldn't hide his surprise, and Dam laughed, shrugging. "What's so surprising? Being a B Rank doesn't change the EXP points I need to level up. It's natural for me to be able to level up faster."
Marshmallow couldn't help but feel a bit down. But it wasn't long before Goat Horse limped over and gently hit him on the shoulder with a pained smile. "Hey, it's not the end of the world. You're growing, right? When I met you, you were level 1. Now, you're way stronger than back then."
With a sly grin, Eldrin came over and did the same as Goat Horse, landing a light punch on Marshmallow's other shoulder. "Come on, kid, don't get bummed about levels. Real strength? It's about pulling out a great move at the right moment. And you, my friend, have a solid right hook."
Real strength? A solid right hook? What the heck is this old man talking about…
Marshmallow sighed. Despite everything, he felt reassured by his companions' words and straightened up with renewed enthusiasm.
"You're right," he said, "let's keep moving, we've still got a long road ahead."
***
The quartet returned to Eldrin's hut, looking like a band of warriors fresh off the battlefield. Marshmallow, cradling his semi-burnt arm, tried not to show how much it actually hurt. The Goat Horse limped badly, while Dam, exhausted, leaned on Eldrin trying to keep pace. Eldrin, on the other hand, was the least affected of the group, despite the worried look weighing on his face.
Once back, Eldrin got to work, pulling out all sorts of raw materials he had stored in various drawers and chests. In no time, the hut was transformed into a small alchemical lab. Bottles, vials, and ingredients of every kind were scattered across his worktable, as Eldrin moved among them with a familiarity that only years of experience could bring.
"Alright, guys, get ready for some magic," Eldrin announced, pouring a bright green substance into a small pot on a makeshift burner. The mixture started to sizzle, filling the air with a scent that could turn even the stoutest stomachs.
Dam had slumped into a chair a while ago, too exhausted to throw out his usual sarcastic remarks about the aroma of Eldrin's potions. "Hey, potion whiz, this stuff isn't gonna turn us into frogs, is it?" he asked with a faint smile.
Eldrin shot him a glare. "My potions work wonders, not disasters. And even if it did, it'd probably be an improvement for you," he retorted with a grin. Dam grimaced and turned his head away, a bit miffed.
The Goat Horse chimed in, trying to lighten the mood with a joke. "Well, if we're gonna explode, might as well do it together, right?" He was sitting on Eldrin's small couch, leg stretched out to relax.
Marshmallow was leaning against the wall, trying to distract himself from the pain, watching Eldrin mix the potion. "So, this green stuff's gonna heal us?" he asked, hopeful but also a bit wary.
With a nod, Eldrin added another ingredient with an amber hue to the mix, which now emitted a soft glow. "This is the real deal, guys. It'll speed up healing, but you'll still need to rest. We're staying here to rest up today, you need to recover. Got it?"
Everyone nodded. No one liked the idea of losing an entire day, but they were literally in pieces. A bit of rest would only do them good.
When the potion was ready, Eldrin carefully distributed it into two mugs. "Take a sip and use the rest on your wounds. And I warn you, it's not exactly a strawberry frappé."
Despite the caution, Marshmallow and the Goat Horse couldn't hold back a groan of pain when the potion touched their wounds. It was as if burning needles were dancing inside their skin, but soon after, a sense of relief began to spread, easing the pain.
"See? Told you it works," Eldrin said, watching the group with a mix of satisfaction and concern.
Eldrin's hut, usually a place of quiet and reflection, quickly turned into a makeshift hospital. Dam, exhausted to the core, slumped in his chair in the least ergonomic position possible, trying to muster some strength. "Eldrin, got anything for me?" he asked weakly, hoping for some alchemical miracle.
"For you? Rest, my friend," Eldrin declared. "The stamina potion I gave you already pushed you beyond your limits. If I gave you another potion now, your body would reject it. It could be... lethal. Even for a tough guy like you."
Dam let out a slight huff of disappointment but knew the old alchemist was right. "Got it. I'm crashing on the first bed I find," he replied, trying to hide his dismay with a tired smile.
Eldrin returned to Marshmallow and the Goat Horse, noticing that the two had carefully applied the bright green potion to their wounds. He leaned in to check on their progress.
"So guys, how does it feel? Is this stuff working?" he asked, closely examining Marshmallow's arm and Goat Horse's leg to ensure the potion was taking effect.
Marshmallow, trying to distract himself from the pain, answered with a weary smile. "Still hurts like hell, but at least I'm not on fire anymore."
The Goat Horse, nodding, made a sound that seemed like a cross between a neigh and a thank you, showing that despite the discomfort, the potion was starting to soothe the pain.
Pleased, Eldrin placed his hands on his hips, looking on with a nod of approval. "Good, good. Just a bit of patience now. Like I said, the potion works wonders, but not instantly. Give it some time."
Dam, meanwhile, had already settled into the nearest bed, closing his eyes and giving in to his exhaustion. "If you're done getting pampered by Mama Eldrin, keep it down, please," he muttered under his breath before slipping into a deep sleep.
Eldrin, with a smile, moved to the fireplace, lighting a fire and adjusting the embers to keep the hut warm and cozy. "Guys, we went through hell today," he murmured, more to himself than to the others. "But look at us now. Tired, wounded, but alive. And stronger than before."
The bed Dam was in could fit two, so Marshmallow lay down too, still aching. The Goat Horse had already collapsed on the couch, and Eldrin still fussed with the fireplace.
Perfect. We made it through another quest. Now I need to figure out how to allocate my Assignable Points. I think I'll ask Dam for advice. I wonder if Samantheye is waiting for us at the tower? Maybe, who knows, they've taken it. I have a ton of things to ask her. Like...
Marshmallow was just too tired. He couldn't even finish his thought before he drifted off into sleep. It was the first time he could rest his head on a warm bed in almost a week. He had definitely earned his well-deserved rest.