I would like to reiterate this fanfic is more loosely based on the manhwa, The Gamer, and not manhwas like Solo Leveling. In The Gamer, the MC does have a Party System which allows others to see not only their own stats, but MC stats too.
The Trailsverse does have memory-wiping spells should the situation ever turn too far, so no need to be worried about this aspect.
As always, Giliath demands your power stones!
*****
Crossbell City.
Mainz Mountain Path.
Entrance. 1PM.
Three figures soon emerged out of the northwest exit, promptly leaving Crossbell City after the group decided on their next route to take. They arrived at the entrance of the Mainz Mountain Path.
It was still peaceful, and not a single monster could be seen. That was because of the large orbal light placed at the intersection to the north. Engineering has developed so much with orbal tech that it allowed lights to ward off monsters. You would see one of these large orbal devices, which released a constant green light and a low-pitched hum, scattered throughout routes that were close to cities or towns.
The one exception to this was likely Legram, where fog often covered the city throughout large portions of each season. Due to the low visibility, these orbal lights were much more frequently placed around the main road, up to twenty or thirty altogether. Whereas just the one seen here was enough.
It was placed here at the intersection for a good reason too. A violet-haired boy, a scarlet-haired man, and a blue-haired girl walked up to the intersection, and observed the three signs attached to it. These three figures were of course me, Tio, and Lechter. The rest of the party that I had first arrived at Crossbell City had finally left my side, going about their own plans. I will likely not see Sherryl again until I leave for my training excursion with the Thunder God. I did warn Sherryl not to get swayed by Heiyue, and she took it seriously.
I don't plan to take Sherryl with me for the meeting I set with Cao. Sure, he did say he'll pass along a tea-making technique or two, but I can pass that along to Sherryl afterward. She doesn't need to be present. The less exposure she has to them, the better. Plus she'll be hanging around the CPD a lot, so Sherryl will be in good hands. Considering Guy is here.
The range of my Vermillion Eyes does have a limit, and once I leave Crossbell City, I won't be able to observe my surroundings here. Leaving it to individuals like Guy will be enough.
It's enough where I can shift my focus on doing things like this instead. Coming out to Mainz Mountain Path for a bit of training, and to check how Tio fares in combat. I also want to see how Lechter fares as well. I haven't seen any of his battling since we raided Paradise a couple years back. Has he slacked at all since he started school?
"So our destination is to the left right? That's where Mainz Mountain Path begins.", Lechter said, looking off to the left.
"That it is. But what is this about forming a party? Aren't we considered one right now?", Tio doubted me, tilting her head a bit. Even with her dead look, she still looked cute like this.
"Well, from a normal person's eye, we would be considered a party. But I have a special ability you see. I didn't show it off back at Nemeth Island, but this will be considered a preface of the Trials to come. I want to see how this ability works in a smaller group first, before I invite more people to it.", I began to say.
"A special ability?", Tio asked.
"Why am I getting the feeling you're telling the truth, Young Master? Surely a special ability of yours can't be this mysterious.", Lechter frowned. He could feel his gut right now, and the words being spoken from the violet-haired boy standing before him was right on the mark.
Lechter knew about my Vermillion Eyes, but he hadn't seen much else of the Gamer System.
"Well, showing and believing is easier than explaining it. I have this nifty ability that allows me to quantify a person's parameters. It isn't always a hundred-percent accurate, but it lets me gauge a person's combat abilities much easier than other folks.", I continued.
"An ability that lets you quantify a person's combat parameters...?", Tio doubted.
"Now that's just fantasy talk, Young Master. I'd have a much easier time believing in the Goddess Adios in the skies above.", Lechter frowned.
"Like I said, there's no use in explaining it further. Just witnessing is easier as they say. How did it go again?", I uttered, trying to play an air of mystery to them. Lechter just revealed a look of doubt, very similar to Tio's current gaze at me. I recalled a certain scene from Overlord as I thought this though.
"Haha, I'm just kidding.", I chuckled. "Create Party.", I declared, using the command to initiate the Party function of the Gamer System
"Are you sure this is right, Young Master? Just saying those words won't---!?", Lechter tried to say.
Yet before he could do anything else, he saw space begin to distort before his eyes, only to see a blue screen appear before him.
Tio just stared in front of her, as the same thing happened. She too saw a blue screen.
"...What is this?", Tio couldn't help but ask. On it read, [Would you like to join Gamer Naoto's party?]
"It's my ability, of course. Just imagine it as a magic spell alright? I'd rather not explain how this thing works. It'll help me gauge where you two currently stand too.", I said, scratching my head.
"...Gamer Naoto? Is that referring to you, Young Master?", Lechter asked. A look of disbelief appeared in his eyes seeing the blue screen hovering before him as well.
"It is. What you see before you materialized into the space around us. Just tap it, and it'll work.", I explained.
"Like this?", Tio wondered. Reaching her small hand out, she pressed [Yes.]. The moment she did, a couple of notifications reached my mind.
[Ding! A party has been formed. Tio Plato has joined the party.]
[Ding! Current party leader is set to: Gamer Naoto - Lv111.]
[Ding! Tio Plato's Current Level: 1.]
[Ding! Due to having a girl join Gamer Naoto's Party, Equipped Title: [Harem Seeker] has triggered. Title defaults to increasing Host's parameters by 20%. With one girl in Gamer Naoto's Party, this boost has been further increased to 40%. Each subsequent girl that gets added to Gamer Naoto's Party is additionally increased by 20%.]
[Ding! Party Limit: 2/6. Next space unlocked by reaching Level 150.]
I did decide to equip my Harem Seeker title before initiating this Party creation. Sure enough, I was right to do so. This title by far is the best when I use the party function the Gamer System has. I was finally able to learn how many party members I had. Looks like my limit is presently six party members, but it would increase that limit to seven once I reach Level 150. Neat.
That would mean my final party size would be nine by the time I reach Level 250. Now considering these are the games, where it does a full level reset per arc, I am not sure what will happen once I reach that point. Will it be possible to level beyond 250?
For now, my party size can be six. I think I'll have around ten party members by the time the Vermillion Trials begin. I don't have to worry about everyone being in the party at the same time. In the Trailsverse, because of its massive character roster, you'll see some party members remain behind to secure base camps at the beginning of dungeons. I'm sure that will happen here too.
Right now though, my party is only these two, making it a total of three. Presently, only Tio joined the party. Lechter still had a dazed look in his eyes, with eyes of disbelief seeing the blue screen before him.
"...Is this supposed to be me?", Tio tilted her head in confusion. Once she accepted to join the party, her blue screen changed, and it displayed herself on that blue screen. It was the so-called status screen, which allowed me to see Tio's stats for the first time. It even had a picture of Tio as her avatar. It was what she was presently wearing, and an Orbal Staff could be seen equipped behind her back.
"Yeah. This might just mean a bunch of baloney to you right now, but you can see that your level is presently 1, Tio. Once we start fighting and you gain some combat experience, your "level" will rise, and you'll see an increase in your parameters.", I explained. I decided to explain at least a little to Tio, considering she knew how most things worked.
"I see.", Tio nodded her head at my words. Her eyes then glanced over to me. Or to be specific, the visible name tab above my head. She tilted her head again.
"Your "Level" is 111?", Tio questioned.
"That's right.", I smiled. Seeing Tio quickly grasp what's happening, I reached out my hand and ruffled her hair. She smiled, allowing me to do this.
"I still don't see anything. What's this level bogus you two are chatting on about?", Lechter retorted. For him, he still saw the single blue screen.
"Just press Yes you dumbass.", I retorted back, musing to Lechter's confusion.