"The attacks are getting more frequent, we are getting less free time because of it. Even today, you went an hour to get drinks with those guys who live on the edge of the forest, yet you didn't get to enjoy yourself." Hailey said, frustrated.
'She's right, but what are we supposed to do? We had no way to hide from the angels.' I thought to myself.
"I agree with you Hailey, however we have to do what we have to do until we find somewhere we can bunker down. Keep looking for allies, and keep strengthening ourselves. That's what we need to focus on. I am still in communication with Lionel, he has made good progress, and the Hunters there are almost 70% on our side. Soon we can mount a proper resistance." I said, stroking Hailey's hair as we stood in the kitchen.
The past few months had been tough, even with the face changing masks, the angels were somehow able to find our location without fail. They would send Hunters to our location. Thankfully Hunters were all spread out around the world, and there were only a select number of Hunters who could possibly come to challenge us. We were, without a doubt, two of the strongest Hunters on Earth.
We had both reached level 10, going through our second class change. Hailey was now an Adept Weapons Possesion Practitioner. She was able to take the souls of those she kills, and implant them into weapons. Doing similar to what my first skill does, however it takes mana to activate, along with maintain. Her current pool of mana only allows her to take over the battlefield for a short duration. With later classes, she would be able to create ego weapons, which would be much more powerful as they had their own mana.
I had reached the Apprentice Mage class. With the change, I also received another school of Magic spells. Shadow Magic. I was now able to manipulate shadows, which greatly increased my mobility. My stats now looked a little overbearing.
[Stats
Strength: 5 (+1)
Constitution: 5 (+3)
Agility: 5 (+5)
Dexterity: 5
Intellect: 15 (+7)
Wisdom: 5
Charisma: 7
Charm: 6
]
[Class: Apprentice Mage (Ice)(Shadow)
[Skills:
Level 1: Sword/Shield Mastery (Passive), Shadow Magic (Passive), Shadow Meld, Shadow Step
Level 2: Fast Learner (Passive), Silent Steps, Ice Magic (Passive), Snap Freeze, Concentration, Study Session
Level 3: Mana Sense, Sword Mastery (Passive), Accumulate Luck
Level 4: Falling Sakura Blosom
]
**** **** ****
Months of effort had gone into my status, and while I was well rounded, I certainly didn't seem too great at any particular thing. I had obtained two very powerful swords, and many elixirs. At first I had sold the elixirs for gold, however after farming and selling only (Purple) gear, I had made enough gold that the amount I received from elixirs was no long relevant. My personal strength was far too important when I didn't have many allies to help me, so I consumed all the elixirs I could.
I had also reached System Level 4, however it seemed that no matter how many dungeons I cleared, I was no closer to hitting System Level 5. My talent now guaranteed me Purple gear, but not anything higher. I must have to reach some sort of benchmark for it, and my guess was that I had not received enough Divinity.
Divinity became a resource I saw a lot. I was unsure exactly how to accumulate divinity, however I knew it had something to do with how well known I am throughout the universes. If I was not currently hiding, and more actively making a mark on the Hunter world, I would Accumulate it faster. These damned angels might be suppressing me for that exact reason.
I was clearing new dungeons, however I still was unable to go to Nightmare difficulty in the Goblin Cave. Magic was a lot to deal with, I didn't know what kind of differences it would have. Some other dungeons I went to, only had monsters gain increased coordination and physical resistance. By imbuing my swords with mana, I was able to cut through most creatures.
Hailey was running through her Dungeons, however she was struggling against magic. She had no resistance to magic yet, but she was currently saving up for a magic resistance skill. If the two of us could go together, we would definitely be able to increase our efficiency.
For some reason the Dungeons didn't promote team play, if I had to speculate it would be because the angels and Demons wanted Hunters to feel like they needed their blessings, to be able to clear dungeons.
Whatever the case, Hunters were criminally disconnected, and that was something that needed to change. Hailey had already ate, and headed back into the dungeons. I stayed outside and guarded the mansion, making sure that the first group was not just a scouting group, which had happened on one occasion. I began messaging all my connections, asking them how they were doing and the progress of uniting Hunters, when I suddenly got a call from a restricted number.
I answered, hesitantly.
"Hello?"
"You're welcome for the information, now I hope you can truly see me as an ally." the voice on the other side replied. It was the same person from the bar.
"I can give you the benefit of the doubt because you helped me at the bar, but I want to know why? I know for a fact I have not been going around saving lives so there is no way anyone owes me a life debt." I replied, still trying to think of their ulterior motives.
"I am a Hunter. Same as you, except I know a lot more about the angel's and Demon's structure/plans. I have a talent that let's me control machines, meaning I have access to all the information sent anywhere in the world over a wired connection, and even phone signals. I was alone, just gathering information, with no power to stop them or change anything. Then I saw you. You, Theodore Holton, appeared like a comet. They put out bounties on you immediately, contacting every branch across the world. Then you disappeared, at least the communication said so, then someone found you. An oracle, that is how they are finding you, but they're young. They're not strong enough to constantly search for you, they can only do it every month and a half. If you wait, a month and a half, THEN disappear, you'll be off the radar for three months. They already expect you to change locations, but they'll send a grounds team to check the mansion to make sure you're both gone. I can tell you when they head there, you can hide in the dungeon until they're gone, and then I can message you when it's safe to come out."
"Okay, but what do you want?" I asked. There is no such thing as a free meal, and what he was offering me was immense.
"I want to work with you to wipe out the angels and Demons from our world. I also want you to help me grow my strength. I've read the reports on you, you're the strongest Hunter that the Angels know of right now. You and your partner have killed more than 100 assassins sent after you two. I.. I want to be able to help when I see a problem... I've always been a bystander, who watched others suffer but could only hate myself for my lack of ability to change things. When I awakened as a Hunter I was extremely hopeful this would be my chance, but I am having a hard time clearing Easy dungeons." the voice on the other end said. I could hear his frustration, and it reminded me a lot of myself. I hated that my family took my money from my accident, and abandoned me when I was being ridiculed. I disliked my inability to do anything about it, or even speak up for myself.
There was a lack of self love that was evident in his voice, and it managed to resonate with me, at least a little.
"I can give you a few items to help you progress, but how far you go will really depend on you. How would I give you these items though?"
"I'll handle that part."
We spoke for a while, the voice introduced himself as Flynn. He was traveling the world, following me actually. He was in the town where I had drinks earlier, and he would come by when the heat died down a little. There was quite a bit of surveillance in the woods, but the system provided many mystical and magical things. Evading a camera would not be hard at all. So I added Flynn as a friend through the system, and headed into the dungeons in peace. He would alert me of any problems.
I needed to get stronger... I needed to figure out what was holding me back from reaching System Level 5.