**Loki POV**
If someone were to take the view of a part of the Caestinn woods from above it would make for a rather surreal sight. A young silver haired and pointed eared child was squaring off against a similarly sized goblin dressed in rags. Numerous figures in shining armor were surrounding the pair in a circle ready to intervene should it be needed. The goblin was leering at Prince Loki and letting out what sounded like disdainful laughter. Several of the guards had their hands on their weapons and sweat trailing down their neck worried that their head and the heads if their families might die should their charge be harmed.
The stats of a goblin on average were as follows:
[Stats]
● HP: 10
● Str: 6
● Mag: 0
● Skl: 3
● Spd: 4
● Lck: 0
● Def: 2
● Res: 1
● Charm: 0
The first to take action was Loki who jumped back and cast the D Rank spell, Light Arrow thrice. The goblin had to squint its eyes to keep a track of Loki's movements, but thanks to a lack of combat experience compared to the innate instincts of a monster, the goblin managed to step to the side dodging the first light arrow that would have nailed its foot, it leaned back to dodge the second that had been aimed for its chest and the final hadn't been launched. Before the goblin could laugh there was a ball of light in front of its eyes that erupted blinding it. "Gggyyaahhh!!!" A blood curling scream was heard though it was silenced when the third arrow went through its stomach leaving a gaping hole. The powered up light that was feeding off of the magic stat had seared the blood as the now corpse fell to the ground.
A number of the guards were blinking in surprise having assumed that all mages would always be weak in their first battles. It was a popular opinion in the Zoval Empire that only those on the level of a court mage or those who could heal were worth the time it took to learn magic. This stood the same or even more so for light magic which was seen as signaling magic or dark magic which was often called the magic of pranksters. The main reason being that dark magic specializes in debuffs.
"Enough gawking men! Locate the next monster! If a single one of you get caught slacking off, none of you will get the reward for this mission!" Loki wasn't sure if it was the volume he heard from the Vice-Captain or the mention of a reward, that managed to stir them back into action. It was not long after when monsters were spotted, three goblins and three kobolds squaring off. The Kobolds were the splitting image of dogs walking on two legs being smaller than humans on average, yet slightly taller than goblins.
In the eyes of the Imperial Guard members present it was a rather pathetic showing, but it served their goals rather well. They could allow Loki to take potshots simply needing to prevent any of them from approaching him, since even if he could only take damage on his vital points, Loki was inexperienced with battles. Not wanting to waste time once the signal was clear Loki was given a signal that it was fine for him to take action.
(Urk why do the kobolds look so much like dogs? Even if I did take one as a familiar it standing on two legs should kill the image of being a dog.)
Such thoughts were occupying the brain of the young Prince as he thought about a dog that was present in the memories of his previous life from his younger years then. He shook his head and took a deep breath after conjuring six light arrows. He waited a few more seconds until the goblins and kobold were about to start a messy meele when he launched his light arrows. A series of puchi sounds could be heard as five of the six arrows hit, yet all of the six monsters died. The reason for that was a goblin and kobold who had been skewered by the same light arrow, the final light arrow had burrowed through a tree and cleanly sliced through the point of impact causing it to fall.
(I cast light arrow right? I can't cast Sword of Light just yet and I don't know how to use a sword well either for that matter. Just how did it cut through it cleanly?)
Before Loki could think about the matter any more he felt his head ringing in pain, falling to his knees he clutched hard at the ground underneath him. It wasn't to the point of letting out a scream, but he was panting and sweating. The cause for it was leveling up once more.
[You have leveled up!]
[● HP + 12
● Str + 12
● Mag + 28
● Skl + 16
● Spd + 11
● Lck + 10
● Def + 8
● Res + 20
● Charm + 13]
The sole reason the effects weren't as severe were due to this level up being cushioned by his stats merely doubling this time and around the time it would hit increasing by 1/5th or less next to no symptoms would show. A healing spell wasn't needed this time and likely even the strongest monsters in these woods would have a struggle simply trying to injure Loki. It proved to be a problem that Jirai, Mekkla, and Simon were trying to think of an answer for.
At this rate not only would his level stay rather low there would also be a lack of combat experience gained from this trip. Any sudden changes such as adding a different area to hunt in would send an alert of sorts to those who would be keeping an eye on the event. Nonetheless, they didn't call off the hunt instead deciding to delve deeper into the woods to try and see how Loki might handle himself against Orcs or maybe even a hobgoblin. The lack of combat experience was a double edged sword both for the reason of being inexperienced and holding Loki back from surmounting his first potential wall.
If a person could develop their potential to the max before leveling up, every single person who could afford to do so would take such a thing without a doubt. Potential Walls is something that every person who possesses a level will eventually face and there are two standard ways to cross the first one. A person can gain enough combat experience to the point where after they defeat a foe with a superior BST the wall is no longer an issue. Granted, this method has to be done without coddling and most see it as a case where it is preferable to handle in a solo battle. The other method is to inflate one's stats to a point where the body naturally has room to grow. It is thought that with this method one must aim for having fifteen times to twenty times the stats when the wall was first encountered.
Loki had such a potential that those three in the role of advisors for such a matter were torn. In the short term he could surely use such strength to help attract supporters and defend himself, yet who could say how monstrous he may become if he takes it at his own pace. Eventually Loki himself broke the deadlock between the the group exchanging whispers.
"Could I try fighting something a bit stronger? No, I want to fight something stronger. Vice-Captain escort me deeper into the woods and bring me stronger prey!" Mekkla stood up straight staring hard into Loki's eyes as if trying to gauge his determination. Loki's voice which had been softer at first had picked up later even if the order at the end sounded slightly forced.
"Your Highness, Are you certain you wouldn't rather simply kill every single goblin or kobold you come across? We would be able to ensure not a single one can get close to harm you in that case. We would sooner give our lives than see you harmed, but it is a possibility that you could meet your end if we take you further with your current experience." The odds were just about as small as being struck by lightning with nothing to attract it in the slightest, maybe even multiple times in a row. Mekkla ensured those words were heard nonetheless.
(I could die here? Hell, I could die any day in the Palace should my Eldest brother succeed in any of his attempts. I haven't even competed in my first Imperial ranking match. I might even be at risk during the first match I have with brother Guinn despite all the safety measures that would be in place. Isn't it just a matter of when I take that risk? Even if I flee the Palace wouldn't I possibly get abducted by the Verdant Council with the chance of being turned into a breeding stud?)
Taking another breath Loki met Mekkla's eyes, giving a firm and powerful nod. "I'm afraid of getting hurt much less dying, but if I don't risk this now when will I be able to?" The reasoning was almost similar to what one with no other options might take though it convinced the Vice-Captain. "Very well, Your Highness." Mekkla turned around to address the guards who came along for this trip. "Did you hear that men! Prince Loki is willing to put himself at risk to better himself! He isn't like the pampered sons of nobility who brag about killing prepared prey! We can't let His Highness down by failing to fulfill our part, isn't that right!?" The air had felt like it changed in that moment as all the guards were practically raring for battle. This had the unintended side effect of rustling bushes as the low level goblins and kobolds fell from trees foaming at the mouth or were making a mad dash to run away as fast as their legs would carry them. Loki let out a sigh as he ended those with light arrows that were in his range.
He could have almost sworn some of the monsters looked grateful for a second at being spared from being in the air full of bloodlust for any longer. Luckily for those now dead monsters the bloodlust faded a few seconds later as they all bottled it up, setting out foe the next layer of the forest where Orcs and Hobgoblins lived.