Dante stood in the main lobby of the adventurer's guild asking the receptionist on duty some questions.

"...So, if I were to break a punching bag while testing my strength would I be charged for that?...Uh huh. Do you have stronger punching bags by chance?"

Several minutes of conversation later he stood in a sparring ring with an older gentleman. It would seem that the equipment in the gym was only meant to aid adventurer's in increasing their strength and stamina beneath a certain level. One he seemed to have passed.

The man before him was a trainer employed by the guild for precisely this purpose. Helping players to test their new found strengths.

"So you said you had four tests you wanted to run? Let's hear them." The trainer said with a wry smile.

He was a human man, seeming to be in his mid 50's. His black hair streaked with gray. His eyes were a dull brown and yet something in them almost seemed to shine.

Dante smiled to himself.

"First I will be hitting you with my full strength without any skills. Then I will test how my heavy blow skill increases the force. Then I'll try to use [Strike] on you...Now that I think about it there is my unarmed fighting skill. Meh, I'll leave it on. Finally I will use all three on you at once. I hope that you don't get hurt from this." he said with a note of concern in his voice.

"Boy, I am Rank 5! I am employed by the guild and by the system precisely because you can't hurt me. In fact I am willing to bet you won't even be able to move me from where I stand." The trainer said confidently as he crossed his arms.

"How about I just try and see what happens?" Dante said with a note of challenge in his voice. Deciding it would be best to put his gauntlets away for the moment he placed the into his inventory.

He cocked his fist back pulling back his fist to be even with his shoulder and in an instant threw his punch directly at the trainer's chest.

"Err..."

The sparring ring they had been testing this in gave a small groan at the sudden force reverberating down through it and into the ground.

Pulling back his fist Dante watched the trainer simply brush off the area he had punched him. The man seemingly more worried about getting dirty than the actual blow.

"Hmmm..." was the sound he made upon seeing that. Nodding at the man who for the moment seemed to live up to his claims.

"Round two, Heavy Blow!" He proclaimed with a smile as he cocked back his fist again and then launched it forward. The world was a blur of motion for a brief and glorious second...

Heavy Blow has leveled up! Lvl. 2...

...The next thing he knew he was face down on the floor of the sparring arena. The sound of splintering wood filling his ears.

"The fuck?" he questioned as he brought his head up before feeling resistance. Looking to his right arm he saw it had punctured the floor of the arena.

Then the trainer began to laugh. He laughed for a solid 20 seconds while Dante worked to get his arm free of the floor. It didn't take him long to notice that the floor he had punctured had been about 3 inches of wood.

As he stood and examined his fist he saw small bruises on his knuckles that were quickly fading.

"So tell me what went wrong?" The trainer asked with a shit eating grin.

Dante looked at him with annoyance but replied.

"My Dex isn't high enough to use that skill properly. I knew that using it would throw me off balance. I was expecting to simply miss you and stumble, not wind up face down on the floor with my fist through it." He gave his honest reply eliciting further laughter from the trainer.

"So I'm assuming you only acquired the skill recently and hadn't tested it? Well I will say it was a fine first test. You may not have struck me but you at least managed to put your fist through the floor. Which is a small feat in and of itself." He said casually as he unfolded his arms to raise them and shrug.

Dante took a deep breath and refocused, he paused as he thought of the hole he had just made in the arena. Reaching down he touched the floor next to the hole he had made and cast.

"[Mend]" He spoke and a small portion of the flooring reappeared in its proper place.

"Just a moment sir while I fix this up, I would rather not be charged for the repairs. [Mend]" Again he cast and again a little more of the floor reappeared.

Several castings of mending later and the floor was restored.

[Mend] has reached level 2...

It seemed that the exp required for mend had been multiplied by ten in addition to its mana cost. But he didn't complain it was a small cost to his mana pool even if he cast it a dozen times.

"While we're waiting Dante I would suggest you spend some points on Dex if you have any. I suspect you have gained at least a few Rp since we started?" The trainer asked with an expectant tone.

Dante simply nodded as he spoke. "Status, Roads."

Dante A. Stone

Race: Human

Classes: Wizard (4), Farmer (1)

[Rank 2] Lvl. 22

EXP: 3,971/9,000

Gold: 129 small (gp)

Strength

107

Resources

Total

Regen.

Constitution/Vitality

102

Health

3,048

(145.3/min)

Endurance

132

Mana

5,697

(128.8/min)

Dexterity

98

Stamina

3,902

(185.95/min)

Willpower

70

Road Points

70

Intellect

93

Stat Points

0

Wisdom

123

Charisma

70

Luck

105

Perception

74

Spirit

102

Soul capacity 63.7/102

Roads Road of Ice, (0/20) Fear I, (5/20) Wizards Road III, (0/50) Philosopher's Road II, (0/50) Planar Traveler's I, (10/50) Trainee Road (0/100) Athlete I Road, (0/25) Physical Improvement II, (0/50) Road of Water II, (0/20) Tireless I, (0/50) Fighting Proficiency I, (0/20) Farmer I, (0/10) Regen I, (0/50) Mana I, (0/25) Road of Light I, (0/25) Sage I, (0/25)

It hadn't been until he actually looked at his status that he realized how close he was to getting everything left up to 100! Unfortunately he still had a ways to go.

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

That was if he only had stat points. But he might more than exceed what he needed by running roads. But which roads to run?

If he wanted to run as many roads as he could he saw the way and so he smiled.

He reached out a finger to input the first point into the Fighting proficiency I road but as his hand hovered there something jest felt off. Swallowing some spit he decided he would put in a few points and see what happened.

"It should only take 4 points to get a notice but...I'll put 5 in and see what happens." 5 points went into Fighting Proficiency I.

Once, twice, your fists lash out, testing your new found strength and finding your control of that strength lacking. +3 Dex...

Congratulations! Your Dex has surpassed 100!...

Error!

Unknown entity detected...

He heard a voice then, soft and gentle as a whisper yet as powerful as a hurricane.

"The wind lingers upon you, and we take notice..."

"Dante! They have found us!..."

Recalculating!...

'Oh no...I don't think I like that notice...' the thought of a bit of worry passing through him.

The first voice he didn't recognize but the second, the second reminded him of Prism.

Had he accidentally lead the people hunting Prism to them?

You have received the Uncommon semi-active skill, Blessing of Zephyr Lvl. 1...

Dante took a breath as the notice interrupted his road. Suddenly he felt a little lighter, felt a cool breeze glide across his skin where none had been before.

"Ok...nothing happening at the moment." he paused, noticing something was in his shoes. He reached down quickly to pull them off only to find his bare feet and bits of thread?

"The fuck happened to my socks!" he exclaimed furious to the destruction of his colorful and magical socks.

What had they been enchanted with again? Oh right...

"A bit of wind control..." he muttered to himself as he the pieces slowly fell into place. Relief flooded into him as though he was still none too pleased about losing his socks.

Then came the final nail.

Items, Mana thread socks have been consumed...

The Blessing of Zephyr will gain their effects...

Blessing of Zephyr- Though you have carried the wind for but a short time you race forth and the wind chases in your wake. Small increase to fluidness of movement per level of the skill. Small increase to control of local air currents per level of the skill. By spending mana you may create wind where none had been previously. Small increase to fall damage mitigation per level of the skill, increases with level of Air affinity. Mitigates a small portion of physical damage dealt to the user by passive manipulation of air currents, effects increase with skill level. Small increase to physical damage dealt by the user, per level of the skill. Small increase to wind based effects per level of the skill...

Skill rarity has risen to Rare...

You have gained the Air affinity...

The Road of Air has opened to you...

"Ok that's enough of that road for one day...It's a good skill but I don't think I'm prepared for what's going on with that road right now." He said as he took a few deep breaths. He thought about talking to Prism about what had just happened but decided that was be best kept for the end of the day.

"Ok now which road...." He spoke before going silent for a moment in thought. Then he came to his decision.

He resolved himself not to be afraid of what could be.

15 points went into Fear I Road.

You have resolved yourself to fight, not for yourself but for others. +3 Will...

Despite your fear, with caution you tread down roads and find unexpected boons. +2 Will, Luck...

You find yourself in the dark and yet you seek to be the candle, a Beacon of Hope... +3 Spr...

You fight for something more than mere survival for it is insufficient. You fight for your friends, your family. +3 Wis...

Congratulations! You have completed the road of fear!...

Recalculating...

Suddenly he was somewhere else.

He stood beside a river and in a second he recognized it.

He trembled as once more he gazed upon the river of time. But why was he here? Could it be because...

He could not finish the thought though as he turned his head right to gaze towards the future.

Nothing had changed, he saw every river eventually lead to crimson waters.

Despair overcame him and to his knees he fell. He cast his gaze downward in defeat only then did he see it.

He saw a pale blue light through his clothes. Slowly he pulled back his collar to look down his shirt and there he saw the light wasn't something on him.

It came from something within his chest. For a moment he stared in disbelief only to notice the light dim and brighten with the beating of his heart.

His expression changed to one of resolve as he placed one hand upon his heart and the other he dunked into the river.

The waters did not change and yet as he stared down the river, looking upon its many branches, he saw some change.

No longer crimson, but a wash of colors.

He blinked and found himself once more in the sparring arena.

Congratulations! You have obtained the Uncommon semi-active skill, Beacon of Hope Lvl. 1...

Beacon of Hope- You stand even when fear grips your very heart, inspiring others to do the same. Emits an aura of hope affecting allies within range. Small increase to resistance of fear effects per level of the skill. Small increase to range per level of the skill. Effects increase with your Spirit and Light affinity. Generates a light effect around the user and allies under their aura...

"Ok now that's a good skill." He said with a smile. 20 points down and many more to go. Reviewing his stats he debated which stat he wanted to try and focus on next. Intellect was the obvious choice only needing 6 points to reach 100 but he suspected he could get that through running roads. No, what he decided upon was Charisma. Since he didn't have any roads that he thought might give good bonuses to it.

20 points went into Charisma raising it to 91. As he looked at his other roads he hesitated.

Any road he ran was a gamble because he only had vague ideas of the stats each would give him based on the title. Even then he was sometimes surprised by what he got.

He had gotten his Dex above 100 like he wanted he even had that new skill. He thought for a moment and looked to his trainer who looked at him expectantly.

With a wave of his hand the blue boxes broke apart fading back into the manasphere.

"Ok let's try that again, Heavy Blow!" He exclaimed as he cocked back his fist and threw his punch. Still the world blurred but he was more prepared this time than his first attempt.

The force of the blow threw his aim off a bit but not enough to make him stumble. While he did manage to hit the trainer he merely clipped him with his pinky knuckle.

Skill, Heavy Blow has leveled up! Lvl. 2->5...

Skill, Regeneration (Minor) has leveled up! Lvl. 2...

+1 Con...

Dante felt a twinge of pain from his pinky knuckle on his right hand. Looking down he saw it was already turning purple before quickly fading back to his normal skin tone.

'Hmmm If I ran Iron skin while I did this I might not gain the experience from the stamina expended but I would still gain the level ups and their bonus'.' He pondered for a moment before a voice interrupted his thoughts.

"What's the matter? Is that all you have? From all that talk I honestly expected more!" The trainer said arrogantly with a smile. Dante turned his head to regard him and then made a decision.

He raised up his fists and turned on Iron skin. The wood beneath him began to creak and groan as his weight magically increased. His skin taking on a grayish tone.

His strike was slower now but its power had increased greatly.

He struck out with his passives active and both Heavy blow and [Strike].

After the first hit he did not relent. He lashed out again and again. He was not angry at what the man had said, no, he realized he likely just wanted him to lash out with all his strength.

He did so, not for anger but because he wanted to see how much he could really do. To push himself to improve. And with every strike he did.

With every punch he grew more accustomed to the strength he wielded. His blows still were mostly clipping the trainer but slowly they improved as well. He poured out his health, his stamina. He pushed the skills as hard as he could.

He wanted to see this man move. Make him take a step back.

Seconds ticked by but his power did not wane. No, it only grew. The harder he pushed himself the more notices scrolled across his vision.

Not even 30 seconds later his stamina bottomed out, his health dangerously...

Your health resource has hit zero, skills with a health cost have been disabled until your health recovers to 5%...

Risk taker I Road has opened to you...

Dante fell to the floor panting, sweat running down his body and soaking his clothes. His arms felt like they were burning. It seemed he had really over done it.

In his fervor to test himself he had also forgotten that [Strike] consumes health as part of its use.

He laughed. 'That could have been the death of me...' he thought looking up to the trainer. Wondering if he had known that one of the skills he was using burned his health.

Surely he would have said something if he had known.

"At least...*laughs*...it looks like...you don't just die...when your health hits...zero." He said haltingly with a smile eliciting a murmur of surprise from the crowd that had begun to gather.

The crowd began to raise their voices trying to ask him questions before a single notice caught his eye.

Beacon of Hope has leveled up! Lvl. 2...

Then the trainer spoke up.

"Everyone, your attention please! As many of you have just heard, his health reached zero and he did not perish." The man spoke with the authority of a teacher wrangling the attention of routy students whilst motioning towards Dante.

"Your health is a resource, a shield from damage. While his skill usage bringing his health to zero may not have killed him the same cannot be said for health lost by actual damage. While he spent all his health on that skill, utilizing another to help mitigate the damage from actually striking me. He was not sustaining any life threatening injuries. Again I will say it, your health is your shield. If its gone, you are at your most vulnerable. If you think something hurts when you have full health, I promise you it will hurt far worse when you have none. Many effects that you could shrug off with full health might kill you outright with no health!" The trainer spoke in a grave tone. His eyes suddenly cold as the grave, and held the weight of untold years.

His words a splash of cold water on the fire in the eyes of the collected crowd.

--------------

"Purify." He spoke as he watched his sweat soaked clothes begin to emit a faint blue light. Slowly the sweat and grim he had accumulated over his short bit of training was broken down by the skill becoming so much light.

Skill, Purify has leveled up! Lvl. 2...

Dante used Sending to tell his Dad that he had finished his business and was heading back to the Inn for the night.

"Hey dad, just wanted to let you know I'm heading back to the Inn. I'll be ready for our adventure beyond the walls tomorrow." He spoke pausing as he awaited a reply.

"I'm glad to hear it, Dante. We probably won't be in for another...couple hours so don't wait up." Frank said, and he swore he could hear the smile on his dads face.

"Have fun dad. Good night."

"Night son."

He smiled at his fathers reply as he cut the connection.

Dante walked back to the Inn using his pathfinder skill and minimap to plot a course back to the Inn gaining 3 skill levels in the process.

But what really made him smile was the slew of notices that had piled up on him during and after his...He left that thought where it was. Instead he looked upon the summarized notices.

Skill, Heavy Blow has leveled up! Lvl. 5->12!...

Skill, [Strike] has leveled up! Lvl. 8->16!...

Skill, Iron skin has leveled up! Lvl. 1->6!...

Experience for skill usage of Iron Skin, has been lost...

Skill, Unarmed Fighting has leveled up! Lvl. 4->10!...

Skill, Physical Fitness has leveled up! Lvl. 15->23!...

Skill, Blessing of Zephyr has leveled up! Lvl. 1->4...

For your great expenditure of Health. +200 Health...

For your great expenditure of Stamina. +250 Stamina...

Congratulations! Your stamina has surpassed 5000!...

Your skill, Heavy Blow has been upgraded from Common, to Uncommon...

Skill cost has been set to 100 stamina...

Skill level has been reset to 1...

You have lost 11 Rp...

Synergy detected...

Skill levels are below minimum requirement...

Fusion will not occur...

You have leveled up!

You have leveled up!

You have gained the Uncommon class, Iron Warrior...

+4 Str, End, Con, Will per level

+250 health, +200 stamina, +4 health regen, +3 stamina regen per level...

He felt how his physical stats had swelled in those few moments he was attacking the trainer. He made note that having several skills that could all be affected by a single action really helped to level them efficiently. That and having good stats helped too.

It was a very odd feeling when Heavy blow went up in rank. He had felt stronger before the change, though that probably was just because of the higher skill level. As it was now it certainly would give him greater stats with each level than the common version.

A half hour later he arrived back at his room.

With a great sigh, he flopped onto his bed and slept...

Soulful Rest has activated...

-----------

Once more Dante stood beneath that familiar tree. Looking out upon the vast area of his soul space. He smiled.

He knew there were many things he could do with this time, should do. But he decided to sit down beneath the tree and activate one of his new skill.

"Meditation..." he spoke softly to the dancing breeze.

A calmness settled over him. And there he sat for several hours just watching this beautiful place. He watched as the "fairies" he had made danced and flew threw the air. Each chased by nearly two dozen of those small light motes. Why were there so many?

Skill, Meditation has leveled up! Lvl. 1->4...