-Notice -
- The Host has slain the F- rank monster -
- Rewards have been distributed based on the Hosts performance -
- 1 Level Up -
- 1 Title Granted -
- 5% progress towards **** ** -
'System what does this all mean?'
- Response -
- Since the Host completed the quest they have been granted a level up -
- The Host has also been granted the title [Rookie] which gives a 5% boost to experience gain under level 10. This title can be equipped in the general stats tab -
- The final reward is progress towards **** ** -
What does that even mean. Urgh, I hate how the system hides things from me. Why do you do this to me?
- Response -
- In order for the Host to properly progress in his new life the System has deemed it necessary to hide things -
I guess there's no use dwelling on it. With that thought I decided to check what exactly the level up did for me.
- 5 free stat points have been awarded -
'That's really good, I can distribute this however I want to.'
Since I had trouble against the Bone cruncher I'll think back to that fight to decide how I'll distribute my stat points. I had initially wanted to take it out in one strike so I'll need a lot of speed for that. I think I'll put all the stat points into speed.
[Speed] - 45
With that done I equipped the Rookie title for the extra experience gain.
"What do I do with this Center Stone though?"
- Notice -
- The Host has the ability to place Center Stones in the System Inventory -
'What? I really have a skill like that?'
I will the Center Stone to be placed into my inventory and suddenly it disappears from my hand then a new tab labeled inventory. When I open the tab up I notice there seems to be infinite space to store Center Stones in.
"This'll be useful."
Suddenly I spot something out of the corner of my eye. In a bush off to my left a slimy looking snake slowly slithers.
- Notice -
- E- rank monster [Snail Snake] has been identified. -
'No quest this time?'
I leap toward the snake with my rapier in hand. So far there has been no reaction. I make a thrusting motion, making sure to use my whole body's strength, and skewer the snake.
*Ping*
- E- Rank monster slain. 5xp awarded -
'Hmm, this monster was a lot weaker than the other one. Makes sense why I only got five experience points from it' I think this as I carve out the snake's center stone and store it in my inventory.
When I complete this task I begin walking towards the west, in the direction I saw the tower. On my way up the sloping mountainous forest I notice the terrain slightly altering as I make my approach. After five hours of nonstop walking I come upon a rocky clearing.
"Guess this is a good place as any to set up camp."
I take my bag off of my back and begin to gather dry wood from the surrounding area. This task is quite easy because it hasn't rained in the past few days.
I then build my fire which surprisingly grants me the basic skill [Fire Starter].
'Wait, if doing simple tasks like this grants skills then what else can I do to learn a skill?'
An hour later I come upon an amazing discovery. After experimenting with my new theory about skills I discovered a few things.
Skills can combine with multiple other skills and evolve into new more powerful skills. I managed to to this with the [Fire Starter] skill.
To explain, I obtained the basic skills, [Hunting], [Fishing], [Skinning], and other survival related skills. The results yielded a system prompt.
- Query -
- Does the Host wish to facilitate a Basic Skill upgrade by sacrificing the following skills -
It listed out the skills then:
- Upon the sacrifice of these skills the Host will obtain the Intermediate Skill [Survivor] -
- Upon acquisition of this skill the Host will retain all previous lose all passive bonuses given by previous skills and obtain the bonus given by the [Survivor] Skill -
The passive skill bonuses from the basic skills were honestly not that useful. For example, [Fire Starter] just made making fires easier. So I had nothing to really lose in this experiment. So I decided to accept the system prompt.
- Notice -
- Intermediate Skill [Survivor] has been obtained -
When I checked what the passive for this skill was, I was taken aback. The passive made it so if the user is about to die then they can sacrifice a certain amount of their stats points, levels, or even skills to survive.
This skill basically made it so I can survive anything as long as I have a sufficient amount of things to sacrifice. However this skill is a one use skill, after its used then it can never be used or obtained again.
'System, can anyone else combine skills like this?'
- Answer -
- Skill evolution by combination is unique only to those who have the ****** System -
'Ok, so does that mean other people have this system'
- Error -
- The System does not have access to that information -
So even the system isn't omnipotent. It always acts like it know everything, it's nice to know it doesn't. Makes me feel better about myself a little.
Though it does scare me to think about others who have the system. How powerful would they be? If they exist are they possible enemies? If that's the case then I need to get stronger quickly just in case so I can protect myself and my family.
My father may be strong but a system user has potential to become even stronger than he is. However that fact still remains for me.
With a new reason to improve my skills and grow stronger I slowly fell asleep. Unbeknownst to me a creature was observing me from afar.
"Hmm… a human has finally stepped foot on the mountain of the tower. This shouldn't be possible, they should be deterred from this place."
'What's so special about this human?'
End of chapter sixteen.