Chapter: Defined roles

Erik hadn’t seen anything like it before, Erik waited until the next day before he gave it over to Rugrat.

“A Blueprint?” Rugrat said breathlessly.

“There something wrong with it?” Erik asked, it looked simple enough, a rough drawing with notations detailing the different size and makeup of the combined parts.

“Blueprints are really damn rare, they’re also a big help in letting people understand how to build the item. Usually when you’re crafting something then you need to figure out what you want, the shape the form, all the different parts required. Unless someone has told you what is needed or you have a blueprint.

Using this the materials are broken down, the way to put them together is also revealed, with this it’s more like lego than crafting, though you get a much better idea of how to craft the item,” Rugrat said.

“So, basically a building guide for dummies,” Erik grinned.

“Yes, in a way,” Rugrat said.

“Well, this any use to you?” Erik asked.

“No, but if we took it to the Blue Lotus or maybe a crafter that builds arrows we can get a lot for it, we might even be able to trade for a blueprint that is actually useful for us,” Rugrat said.

“Take it, you know what to do with it more than me and I’m horrible with a bow,” Erik said.

“Yeah, you ain’t the best,” Rugrat agreed.

“I think that I’m going to try and work to become a melee fighter,” Erik said.

“You sure?” Rugrat asked, looking at Erik with concern.

“Well, I’ve already been torn apart once, what is it to do it a few more times,” Erik laughed.

“Casual dismemberment, another sign that your friend has officially left the building,” Rugrat said.

“Look, you’re good at long range and if I give you big momma then there’s little that could stand up to you. I run crowd control, I hold them back you pick them off. Otherwise we have what we had last night, the two of us trying to do the same thing and the enemy getting among us and tearing us apart,” Erik said.

Rugrat sunk into thought, clearly he didn’t want his friend jumping into the enemies jaws so that he could get more time to set up his shots, but Erik made a valid point.

“If you go melee class then we need to try and increase your body cultivation, get you some training manuals to increase the power you can pull from your body and display. Then you’re taking all of the healing concoctions and increase your healing abilities,” Rugrat said.

Erik was touched by how much his friend was looking out for him.

Finally for the first time they had nailed down their roles, Erik would be the healer and close range, Rugrat would be the long range rogue type, they would both be able to heal as support, with Rugrat specializing in smithing while Erik would seek out more information on alchemy, Erik was interested by it, but the information and resources here were too limited so Erik could only wait until he gained more knowledge.

"Well, then, our two biggest goals should be to get as much gold as possible and level up as fast as possible," Erik tossed Rugrat a petty Mortal Grade Monster Core.

Rugrat looked up before sitting down, swallowing any words he might have said as the mana core shattered and that rampant energy entered his body, strengthening it from the inside.

Erik stood guard looking around the forest, right now potions and concoctions to increase the toughness of his body and go through the five temperings were incredibly hard to find.

If it's impossible to find easy ways to do it, then the other way is to use poison.

Stolen story; please report.

Erik checked through the broach once again, looking over the healing potions and other potions contained within.

The healing potions were incredibly powerful, so much that Erik wondered how people could die in the higher realms.

With the potions he was more confident about walking down the path of poisons to temper his body bit by bit.

A powerful fluctuation emerged from deep within Rugrat's body. He opened his eyes, the glow within making Erik shiver, it was as if he was looking at a slumbering beast, ready to attack at the slightest movement or confrontations.

Rugrat let out a slow breath.

"Congratulations on reaching level ten," Erik said.

"Thanks," Rugrat smiled.

"Want to take a nap and consolidate your gains? We've got the time," Erik said.

"Alright," Rugrat said, he laid down against a log and closed his eyes.

Nothing happened for a few hours, then the breeze started to change as threads of energy from the first realm were gathered into Rugrat's body, his entire body went through a transformation, becoming more powerful.

The energy continued to gather in Rugrat's body until there was a dull noise that sounded like an explosion.

Rugrat's aura surged as he broke through the tenth level becoming an existence that could enter the second realm.

The forest calmed down as Rugrat slowly woke up.

He opened and closed his hands, feeling the power contained within, a look of glee appeared on his face.

"Damn that's a fricking rush, better than playing tag on the fourth of July with Roman candles!"

"You have a very different idea of fun compared to normal people.

"You've never played Roman candle fights?"

"I did, remember fricking egypt's barracks? You fuckers came in all Roman candles blazing while I was asleep in my tent!"

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that," Rugrat said. "Good memories!"

"Maybe for some you overgrown two year old!"

***

Erik and Rugrat joked around a bit before they started to make a plan for what they would do next.

First they'd go and scout out the next plots, they had been charging in every time and if they'd been taught anything that sometimes having a plan was a good idea, or else they'd get their beauty sleep interrupted.

If there was an opportunity they would take it to gather the different ingredients that Tommins desired. If they couldn't gather them as they moved into the beast mountain they'd gather them on their way out.

So they set out again.

Rugrat and Erik searched for any signs of other predators in the area, the further they went into the beast mountain range the more powerful the animals became. Thankfully with Rugrat having upgraded his stats according to a level ten existence and with their weapons they didn't have much to fear.

Still they didn't purposely search out confrontations, choosing instead to use their stealth to close in on the different searching areas that were marked on their maps.

Rugrat threw glances over to Erik as they traveled, he was honestly alarmed at what Erik had said.

Taking on the role of tank meant he would be right in the fight, the most likely to be damaged, though Erik didn't seem worried in the slightest.

They'd both changed as they'd entered the Ten Realms. There were few opportunities to relax as they had found themselves in one situation or another.

Rugrat heard the sounds of rushing wind then crackling thunder and an explosion in the distance, he called a halt as he used his rifle's scope to look at the area where the noise was coming from.

He couldn't see anything clearly through the trees, but he could see the grand lights coming from the battle being fought.

"Looks like there's some kind of fight going on over there with people fighting it out," Rugrat said into Erik's ear.

Erik checked the map against the direction of the fighting.

"It looks to be the location of the White Vein Spirit Grass. Maybe there are some people fighting over it."

"The power from the fight, I don't think that they're people from the first realm, or if they are they could have ascended some time ago," Rugrat said. His senses had increased, while it was easy for him to tell how powerful people were that were below his level, he had a better feeling for judging the power level of those stronger than him.

A new heat rose in Erik's eyes.

"Well, be a good a time as any to see how people in the higher realms and levels fight," Erik grinned.

Rugrat couldn't hide his own excitement, as long as they were just observing they might increase their own fighting ability.

They moved through the forest slowly and quietly, using the trees as cover they raised their rifles, looking thorugh their scopes at the fight.

There was a groups of five people fighting against a Three headed snake, one head spat poison, another a flammable cloud, the third a lightning attack.

The snake's tail whipped around, leaving deep craters where it landed.

There were two more people standing on the tops of trees also watching the battle, there was a middle aged woman that had a refined air about her as a man knelt on the tree, watching the battle with disinterest.