Vivian was running towards a group of tiny jumping mushrooms.
With the 2 sticks on her hands and her increased Strength and Agility, she was confident that she no longer had to do the hit-and-run tactic with them or tank their attacks which causes itching while stomping them to death.
Whaaack!
Whaaack!
With the first 2 swings, she already killed 2.
The tiny jumping mushrooms were about a foot tall so they were relatively easy to hit.
Whaaack!
Poink!
One mushroom managed to jump and tackle Vivian with its head but it only bounced off her stomach which was protected by her leather armor.
Pah!
Vivian kicked it away to create some distance.
Whaaack!
Whaaack!
Poink!
Poink!
Whaaack!
Ding!
'Unlocked [Body Art] (Sword Mastery) Level 1!'
Whaaack!
Poink!
One mushroom managed to jump and graze Vivian's exposed elbow and an itchy sensation started to build up on that section. She simply gritted her teeth and focused on the mushrooms.
Whaaack!
Ding!
'Unlocked [Dual Swords Mastery] Level 1 and [Poison Mastery] Level 3!'
Huh…?
Vivian momentarily paused when she saw the notification for the [Dual Swords Mastery] skill and the new active skill it came along with which automatically registered inside her head before focusing back on swinging her sticks.
She raised her swords into an x-mark and activated a skill.
[Dual Power Slash].
Woo-riiip! Woo-riiip!
She managed to kill 3 mushrooms in one go and the two sticks disintegrated into dust.
Vivian counted how many mushrooms were left.
Only 1, huh…
She raised her leg.
Ba-squish!
And squashed the mushroom under her boot.
Ding!
'Unlocked [Leg Mastery] Level 3!'
Vivian looked around if there were other enemies left or coming.
A minute later, she relaxed.
Looks like it's safe…
She went to the corner by the tree and sat down on top of a large rock.
Status Panel...
***
Name: Vivian
Class: Thief
Race: Human
Age: 24
Affinity:
• Poison - x1.4
• Fire - x1.2
• Dagger - x1.2
Stats:
• Str - 11 (+18)
• Vit - 9 (+10)
• Agi - 12 (+19)
• Int - 8 (+6)
Mana: 11/28
Skills:
• [Dagger Mastery] - Level 1 (x6.2) (Max/16) - Dagger Stab (10 mana points)
• [Dagger Mastery] - Level 2 (x6.2) (Max/81) - +2 Str, +1 Vit, +2 Agi, +1 Int
• [Dagger Mastery] - Level 3 (x6.2) (??/161)
• [Body Art Mastery] (Dagger Mastery) - Level 1 (x5) (Max/10) - +2 Str, +2 Agi
• [Body Art Mastery] (Dagger Mastery) - Level 2 (x5) (??/50)
• [Poison Mastery] - Level 1 (x6.4) (Max/16) - Poison Strike (20 mana points)
• [Poison Mastery] - Level 2 (x6.4) (Max/78) - +2 Agi, +2 Int
• [Poison Mastery] - Level 3 (x6.4) (Max/156) - +1 Str, +1 Vit
• [Poison Mastery] - Level 4 (x6.4) (??/781)
• [Leg Mastery] - Level 1 (x5) (Max/20) - Power Leg (10 mana points)
• [Leg Mastery] - Level 2 (x5) (Max/100) - +2 Str, +2 Vit, +2 Agi
• [Leg Mastery] - Level 3 (x5) (Max/200) - +2 Str, +2 Vit, +2 Agi, +1 Int
• [Leg Mastery] - Level 4 (x5) (??/1,000)
• [Body Art Mastery] (Leg Mastery) - Level 1 (x5) (Max/10) - +2 Str, +2 Agi
• [Body Art Mastery] (Leg Mastery) - Level 2 (x5) (Max/50) - +2 Vit
• [Body Art Mastery] (Leg Mastery) - Level 3 (x5) (Max/100) - +1 Vit, +1 Int
• [Body Art Mastery] (Leg Mastery) - Level 4 (x5) (??/500)
• [Savage Mastery] - Level 1 (x5) (Max/20) - +1 Str, +1 Vit, +1 Agi, +1 Int
• [Savage Mastery] - Level 2 (x5) (??/100)
• [Body Art Mastery] (Savage Mastery) - Level 1 (x5) (Max/10) - +2 Str, +2 Agi
• [Body Art Mastery] (Savage Mastery) - Level 2 (x5) (??/50)
• [Throw Mastery] - Level 1 (x5) (Max/20) - Power Throw (10mana points)
• [Throw Mastery] - Level 2 (x5) (??/100)
• [Body Art Mastery] (Throw Mastery) - Level 1 (x5) (Max/10) - +2 Str, +2 Agi
• [Body Art Mastery] (Throw Mastery) - Level 2 (x5) (??/50)
• [Sword Mastery] - Level 1 (x5) (Max/20) - Power Slash (10 mana points)
• [Sword Mastery] - Level 2 (x5) (??/100)
• [Body Art Mastery] (Sword Mastery) - Level 1 (x5) (Max/10) - +2 Str, +2 Agi
• [Body Art Mastery] (Sword Mastery) - Level 2 (x5) (??/50)
• [Dual Swords Mastery] - Level 1 (x5) (Max/20) - Dual Power Slash (10 mana points)
• [Dual Swords Mastery] - Level 2 (x5) (??/100)
Lore:
• Village Girl
• Adventurer
• Zhey/Zhem
• Otherworldly - Grants [Growth] - all affinity x5
• Nemesis of Beasts - Animals and beasts have a natural aversion to the bearer
***
I earned a lot of stats this time, especially on STR and AGI….
But my INT is still too low, only earning 1 point increase…
She glanced at the [Dual Swords Mastery] skill.
I didn't expect to learn this…
Looks like I need to learn the [Body Art Mastery] of this…
And speaking of [Body Art Mastery]…
Her eyes landed on the [Poison Mastery] skill.
I'm already in the process of learning Level 4 and yet the [Body Art Mastery] still hasn't come out…
She closed the Status Panel.
She let out a sigh and then hung her head down for a moment before raising it.
Does this mean fights with magic skills are rare in this world…?
She massaged her chin.
Looking at my skills, I guess I can be considered I'm powerful…?
I just arrived here yesterday and I already learned this much thanks to the x5 boost…
She rolled her eyes.
I'm not gonna act like an idiot and say: Oh, I didn't know I was this strong…!
Like hell I'm that brain-dead…!
But the skills, man -- I mean, the mana, is still so low…
And with the mana this low, I can only assume that the magicians, wizards, spell casters or whatever they call them here must have some decent melee skills…
She recalled the adventurers she had seen, especially the ones back in the Adventurer's Guild.
I remember seeing those people carrying staffs having an extra weapon, like a dagger or small club on their waist…
But why would anyone with half a brain want to carry a staff though…?
The way I see it, even if one has a magical staff or wand that can boost one's magical capabilities, I'd still want to carry something more dangerous, like a sword, spear, mace, bow and arrow, and whatnot and make that my primary way of fighting...
I'll just be treating my magical abilities as an afterthought or a substitute unless there's a way that I can cast magical attacks non-stop…
And even if I'm so lucky that I always have a group of strong, capable, loyal and supportive party members to accompany me in every quest or journey, I still wouldn't want to carry a staff…
No matter how I look at it, it's such a stupid and idiotic plan…
All of a sudden, a fox jumped out of the bushes and came rushing towards Vivian.
She immediately got up and got into a fighting stance.
Shit...!
I don't have my sticks…!
She waited for the fox to enter her attack range.
When the fox got closer, it leaped forward and opened its mouth, ready to sink its fangs into Vivian's flesh.
This time, however, Vivian didn't try to move to the side like she usually does. Instead, she turned around and swung her leg, delivering what looked like a backkick and connecting it with the fox's jaw.
Pah!
Arrrw!
Thud!
The fox yelped in pain and crashed to the side.
"Haha!"
Vivian let out a surprised laugh and as her eyes bounced between the fox and the leg she used to do the back kick.
"Whe-Where did that come from…?"
In Vivian's entire life, she never once did a backkick.
Sure, as an aspiring fitness influencer, she was fit. And also as a man in her previous world, she got into fights. However, regarding the fights that she has been in, they were mostly punches and tackling. The few times that she ever used or did a kick, it was a front and low kick and stomps.
And plus, she was also not that flexible.
"H-How did I do that…?"
She threw that question at the back of her head and focused back on the fox who just got up and was running towards her once again.
When the fox got into her attack range, this time around, she delivered what looked like a roundhouse kick.
Pah!
Arrrw!
Thud!
The fox was sent flying to the side once again. And just like the previous blow it sustained, it still got up. However, this time around, it was a bit slower.
Vivian's eyes turned to slits.
Hmm…
Despite my increased stats, I still can't one-hit kill this fox…
I seriously, really lack a finishing blow…
Her eyes glanced at the tip of her shoes.
I need something harder or sharper attached to it…
She returned her gaze at the fox and she titled her head to the side.
"Looks like you're barely hanging already."
Although the fox was standing and still had much vigor in its eyes, she could see that its legs were shaking and a bit wobbly.
"I had a massive boost with my stats so I want to try this~~"
Vivian got into a running position.
Vooom!
She burst out in a run.
The fox momentarily flinched from Vivian's explosive speed. However, it wasn't enough to make her appear blurry in its eyes and it readied itself to bite Vivian as soon as she entered its attack range.
When Vivian finally stepped within its attack range, the fox opened its mouth and lunged forward to bite.
Pah!
Craaack!
Thud!
Vivian landed a soccer kick on the fox's head, causing its neck to twist at a violent angle and make a cracking noise before flying a couple of feet away and then landing on the ground.
A dark expression suddenly appeared on her face.
"Oh, fuck…"