As William ventured forth, the stone-built city walls grew distant behind him, and he set off on the path leading to the adjacent forest, towering ominously in the near distance. Beyond the fortress-like walls of Emberfall City sprawled wide roads acting as veins that connected the lifeblood of the city to the modest hamlets sprinkled around its periphery. Flanking these lifelines were extensive farmlands, an expansive checkerboard of green and gold under the silver moonlight, a testament to the hard work of the village farmers who cultivated various crops for the city's sustenance.
The city of Emberfall was a microcosm of a self-sufficient world. Thanks to a series of carefully crafted policies and tireless vigilance, the city's defenses kept the marauding monsters at bay, safeguarding the diligent farmers and their precious crops. Meanwhile, the city's requirement for meat was satisfied by the brave hunters who ventured beyond the protective city walls, facing off against dangerous beasts in their natural habitats.
The road that served as a conduit between Emberfall and the neighboring village extended for nearly 4000 meters, its length spanning multiple crop fields and grazing pastures. Given the late hour, the path, usually bustling with trade carts and travelers, lay eerily deserted. It was only William who, like a determined messenger, dashed along the pathway under the spectral moonlight, his destination being the forest that loomed ahead like a dormant beast.
"In the fortnight since my arrival in this surreal world, I've come to learn a multitude of things that have provided me with a profound comprehension of its intricate mechanics. My interactions and discussions with the seasoned adventurers each night have been nothing short of enlightening."
"The heart of this fantastical world beats to the rhythm of a unique magical framework known as the Ascendant Path. It's a wondrous system that enables every sentient being to embark on a path of constant progression and self-improvement. The path bestows upon individuals the ability to 'level up,' enhancing their physical prowess and magical aptitudes through an accumulation of experience points, often referred to as XP. The individuals who follow this extraordinary path are distinguished as 'Ascenders'."
"The very foundation of the Ascendant Path rests on the acquisition of experience points. These points symbolize the wisdom, skills, and personal development an individual amasses through various exploits, confrontations, and victories. And the principal way to garner these coveted Experience Points is through the act of vanquishing other beings."
"When an Ascender gathers a sufficient quantum of experience points, they arrive at a crucial juncture in their journey, presenting them with the opportunity to 'level up.' Leveling up signifies a substantial stride in an Ascender's journey, unlocking a trove of new abilities, augmenting physical capabilities, and escalating magical prowess. Each level ascended amplifies an individual's strength, making them an increasingly formidable entity in their respective domains."
"However, as enticing as it sounds, the journey of leveling up isn't a walk in the park. For an Ascender at Level 1, reaching Level 2 requires an enormous amount of effort and a substantial accumulation of XP. As the levels progress, the effort and XP required increase exponentially. So much so that even attaining Peak Level 1 is considered a grand accomplishment throughout the Night Empire."
"Following the Ascendant Path results in substantial augmentations to an Ascender's corporeal capabilities. As these individuals garner more experience and amass power, it leads to a considerable elevation in their strength, speed, agility, endurance, and overall physical prowess. They may find themselves running at unparalleled speeds, wielding weapons with unprecedented strength, manifesting rapid healing faculties, bearing physical stress with enhanced efficacy, or showcasing extraordinary reflexes. These augmentations are a direct consequence of the body's adaptive response to the ever-increasing influx of mystical energy and the concomitant growth of the individual's life essence."
"Parallel to the physical enhancements, progression along the Ascendant Path facilitates substantial advancement in the realm of magical powers. Practitioners of magic, such as mages and sorcerers, witness a deepening bond with the enigmatic forces that govern their world. With each incremental level they achieve, there is a corresponding expansion of their mana capacity, which in turn equips them to cast spells of significantly greater magnitude, manipulate elemental forces with superior precision, or engage in the intricacies of more complex magic forms. As they ascend, they might unlock new spells, diversify their magical abilities, or gain access to specialized areas of magic that align seamlessly with their selected path."
"Advancing in the Ascendant Path also enables individuals to refine and enhance their pre-existing skills, whatever they might be. This could encompass combat techniques, the art of craftsmanship, scholarly pursuits, or any other areas of expertise. Progression along this path offers them the opportunity to further hone these skills. As their experiential knowledge deepens and their understanding becomes more profound, they become more adept in their chosen fields, acquiring high-level techniques, unlocking specialized capabilities, and cultivating unique approaches that distinguish them from their peers."
"As these individuals ascend through the ranks of the Ascendant Path and reach loftier levels, they are presented with the chance to specialize in specific focus areas. They have the choice to dedicate their efforts toward particular branches of magic, styles of combat, or professional vocations. Such specialization allows them to delve deeper into their chosen field, unlocking an even greater array of potentialities and gaining access to exclusive abilities or techniques. This specialization pathway allows individuals to refine and augment their powers, ultimately enabling them to emerge as true maestros within their respective domains."
"Every Ascender, in their unique journey, awakens a Class that serves as a reflection of their individual personality, innate elemental nature, their deepest soul, and the essence of their hearts. It is also greatly influenced by the Blessings bestowed upon them by Gods or Goddesses, lending further significance to this determining factor. The Class fundamentally shapes the trajectory of the skills the Ascender will eventually awaken or acquire in the course of their journey."
"To illustrate, let's take the Class 'Farmer' as an example. In possession of this Class, the individuals are endowed with skills intrinsically tied to farming activities. An Ascender with the Farmer Class will discover skills such as Crop Cultivation, Animal Husbandry, the practice of Herbalism, the technique of Harvesting, and so forth. Conversely, an Ascender who has been bestowed the Holy Knight Class will develop skills that resonate with the sacred nature and align with the characteristic attributes of the Knight Class. Some speculate that the Classes are, in fact, a manifestation of an individual's inherent talents or strengths."
"However, I find myself in disagreement with this notion. It's feasible for an Ascender to acquire a secondary Class, perhaps through divine blessings or through a stroke of sheer luck. It's entirely possible that a Farmer can stand toe-to-toe with ferocious monsters, or even slay dragons. Nevertheless, if a Farmer yearns to acquire a combative skill or wishes to harness elemental magic, their journey to mastery would be significantly steeper, likely requiring tenfold effort compared to Ascenders who bear Classes intrinsically associated with elemental forces or fighting. Naturally, if a Farmer manages to awaken a secondary Class that bears relevance to combat, their path to acquiring these skills becomes exponentially easier, reducing the initially daunting hurdle to a manageable step."
William ruminated on his newfound understanding of the Ascendant System, acknowledging to himself, "I've gleaned a lot from my interactions with fellow adventurers, but there's still a vast ocean of knowledge I haven't explored. I might need someone to guide me deeper into understanding the System's intricacies. Perhaps Isabella could be of help, or I could spend some spare time in the city's library, immersing myself in the tomes dedicated to the Ascendant System."
At this point, William had moved beyond the cluster of villages, leaving the cozy dwellings disappearing into the background. Stretching out in front of him were expanses of farmland as far as the eye could see, with each village hosting more than ten inhabitants. The denizens of these villages worked diligently on the land throughout the day, tending to their crops under the watchful gaze of the sun.
Among these hardworking villagers, there were some affluent farmers who had ventured into starting their own enterprises. These astute individuals often purchased slaves, employing them as laborers in their fields. The slaves were considered their masters' property and hence, weren't entitled to any wages. Their maintenance was straightforward, ensuring a low cost of labor. This model allowed these wealthy farmers to substantially expand their farmlands, extending their territories towards the city and the adjacent forest, owing to the availability of inexpensive labor.
The sprawling farmlands weren't limited to the areas behind the villages; they extended to the front as well, essentially enveloping the villages in a sea of green. At the center of each field, a quaint pond served as a watering source for both the crops and the villagers. Separated by a distance of approximately 5000 meters from the villages, the dense forest loomed large, forming a natural boundary at the edge of this agricultural landscape.
It took William only a few short minutes to traverse the farmlands and reach the outskirts of the forest. A sea of spindly, towering trees greeted him, signifying the commencement of the forested area. As he ventured deeper into this woodland labyrinth, the density of the trees progressively increased, their foliage interweaving to form an impenetrable canopy overhead. This arboreal ceiling was so thick and intertwined that it effectively filtered out the sunlight, plunging the forest floor into an almost perpetual state of twilight. Come nightfall, the shadows deepened, amplifying the inherent dangers lurking within the forest's embrace.
Despite these challenges, William was undeterred. One of his unique abilities as an Ascender was his capability to see clearly even in the pitch darkness of the night. This night vision was a rare ability; thus far, he had not come across any other Ascender blessed with this particular ability.
Venturing further into the forest, William's senses heightened, attuned to every whisper of the wind and rustle of the leaves. He clutched his spear more tightly, his fingers curling around the shaft with practiced ease. Each step he took was measured and deliberate, a meticulous effort to minimize noise and avoid attracting unwanted attention. His entire being was focused, on alert, as he navigated this eerie yet fascinating realm of the forest.
William's path through the forest remained unbroken, his pace steady yet alert. The silent whispers of the forest and its unseen denizens seemed to wash over him. But even amidst this cacophony of hushed sounds, a certain irregularity managed to catch his ear. "It hasn't been more than a few minutes since I entered this territory, yet a predator has already taken notice of my presence," he muttered to himself with an insouciant grin adorning his lips. Without even turning around, his instincts picked up the feral attention locked onto his back.
"Since you've chosen to stalk me, you better be ready to switch roles and become the prey," he mused aloud, a spark of excitement igniting in his eyes. The creature had tucked itself away in the undergrowth, its presence merely a flicker in the shadowy forest. It moved in silence, following him, blending seamlessly into the darkness, making it near impossible for even a Level 2 Ascender to notice its stealthy pursuit.
But William was not just any Ascender. With a turn and a cheerful smile, he faced the creature concealed within the shadows of the undergrowth, his eyes meeting the dark camouflage it had skillfully enveloped itself in. His pulse quickened with anticipation as he confronted this hidden beast. His time in the forest was about to become a lot more interesting.
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