--2 weeks later
"Oh, so this is the handbook they give out to new Dungeon Raiders?" I said while sitting outside under a tree holding the book. I'm still a little shaken up by what happened the other day, but I've tried not to worry about it too much. And it also just so happens, that we're going to dive into the dungeon that appeared in the forest nearby. The only thing that I'm uncomfortable with is that it will only be me and Angela diving into the dungeon. Thankfully, her uncle isn't as dense about safety as she is.
About 3 days after the Dungeon was officially considered one, I started learning swordsmanship from David. It turns out that swordsmen also have their own abilities. I learned that swordsmen use the elements and their own vitality as power. This way of gaining power was extremely inefficient and life-threatening as their lifespan would drastically decrease based on the situation. But after 50 years, some swordsmen and women noticed that after killing monsters, they could absorb 30-50% of their vitality. Naturally, some geniuses were born that could absorb up to 60-80% of a monster's vitality. This also opened new ways for swordsmen to strengthen themselves, as after accumulating enough vitality within their body, they could create a link with one of the elements in the world.
In this way, swordsmen were stronger than magicians because their affinity with an element would be high even for the average swordsmen. Even though swordsmen now had a way to use the power of the elements, they also needed the talent to sense the elemental aura. If one could not do that, they would stay as a regular swordsman until they accumulated enough vitality again, because this process consumed vitality at a monstrous rate. It was mainly because vitality wasn't meant to be used like this, so it was equivalent to an inferior version of mana which leads to the consumption rate being significantly higher.
Some swordsman already had affinities with magic but chose to become swordsman to try and strengthen their affinity with their magic. David was one of these people, but unfortunately, he wasn't able to strengthen his connection, so he was just a light element magician with a little swordsmanship. But even though he didn't have much training, he could tell that Axel had a natural talent for swordsmanship! As much as he wanted to keep training him, he didn't have the capabilities to do so.
---present (2 weeks later)
After being trained by David for 2 weeks, I could tell just by moving my body that I had got way stronger than before. Also, I couldn't beat Angela in a duel no matter how hard I tried when I didn't use magic. It was like she could see one step ahead of me... Welp, no need to dwell on the past, I have some rewards to claim!
While training, I had secretly also been running off into the forest with the dungeon dwelling it. The forest was riddled with powerful monsters after I passed the dungeon heading towards the middle layer. I could also tell that I was approaching the middle layer because the change in mana could be sensed. I also noticed a few Winged Halygns roaming the borders of the middle layer which shocked me greatly. This also meant that it was way more dangerous compared to the first on the other side of the village.
After 4 days had passed, I had subdued and slain 3 Winged Halgyns. It was still rather hard because I had only been training for 4 days but it was incomparably easier than my first battle against a Winged Halgyn. In my first battle, I couldn't deal any damage to the monster at all unless I aimed for the wounded spot or used the pressurized mana bullet. This time, I could fight the Winged Halgyn with the Workshop Blade and actually deal damage. It also meant I could acquire some time of ability after merging a bit of their material with the blade.
"Merge!" I said while holding the skin and fur of the Winged Halgyn I had slain.
[Succesfully merged with the material of a "Winged Halgyn".]
[The foreign power of wind has interrupted the balance of the once tranquil Light and Shadow elements!]
['Light & Dark Equilibrium' bonus has been diactivated!]
[New Skill "Holy Vortex" has been acquired.]
Holy Vortex: Holy Vortex forms a 7 meter long and tall vortex of holy wind that pulls any enemies within a radius of 25 meters into and deals continuous small damage. This skill deals 30% more damage to Darkness and Shadow element enemies. Damage 20/s, Duration 20 seconds, Cooldown 1 minute.
Now that I had that skill, it made it a whole lot easier to defeat monsters! After a full week had passed, I had killed another 4 Winged Halgyns. I had also saved up all the rewards I got for each mission and didn't claim any. And now, after 2 weeks, I had killed 13 Winged Halgyns at the least! And now it was time to collect my rewards.
"Claim all!" I exclaimed under the tree.
[Due to an explosive amount of level-ups, you will experience a slight headache. Do you wish to stay awake or go to sleep during this process?]
"Stay awake!" I said impatiently as if I were conversing with a human. And even if I was allowed the option to go to sleep, Angela and I were going to go dungeon diving today, so I can't sleep now! After I responded, I could start to feel the power flowing into my body. And at first, it felt good, but then I started to throw up, then I was stricken with a painful headache. It even made it hard to see and hear. Before I knew it, I was balled up in a fetal position on the ground a few inches away from my own barf.
As the headache slowly started to alleviate, I could faintly hear a message coming from the system.
[Level up process has been finished, you may check your status.]
My eyes were hurting a lot as I opened them. Instead of worrying, I opened the system interface and checking the status window, which was more convenient for me to do with my hands.
Mind of the Ocean(Passive), Beast Transformation Lvl 1, Mana Forming Lvl 14, Mana Bullet Lvl 13, Mana Replacement Lvl 6, Mana Bullet(Pressured) Lvl 6, Mana Replacement(Claw Form) Lvl 5, Mana Replacement(Arm Blade) Lvl 4, Fireball Lvl 9, Magic Tool Creation Lvl 1, Quick Flash Lvl 6
Workshop Blade, Artisan's Glove
[Stat Points: 320]
My stats...that was more than just a slight headache!
"Hey, Axel, are you ready to go?" Angela shouted towards him while jogging over. Looks like it's time to go. 'My head still hurts.' Axel thought to himself before picking up the bag on the other side of the tree and heading into the forest.
"Lieutenant Klazopcshkiz, what do you think of this gold mine?"
"Gold mine is an understatement, General! I dare say it's a pillar!"