A few weeks passed since I formed my mana core, and not much has changed, my father has been preparing to leave and has been using a magic device that can record videos.
The higher the quality of the magic device, the better and longer it usually lasts, but since we are in a smaller kingdom, we don't have it available.
The videos my father has been recording are for training my body, and how to use certain weapons. Although I am happy he is doing it, it still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth because I know he's doing it in case he dies.
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A week passed
My father has left for the beast hoard, but I am trying to focus on my training. Since I have been reinforcing my body with mana and my core, I am currently unparalleled in stamina when it comes to people forming their mana core.
Although reinforcing my body makes me stronger, it is still important to train my body through exercise and physical activities.
The property on which our house was built was pretty large so I could go out and get exercise while alone.
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2 months pass
kingdom walls
James Pov
The beast hoard has been going on for a while, and I've been sent out to defend a few times. So far, the worst of my injuries has been a deep cut on my calf. However, one of the mages who specialized in magic and could heal healed me, and there was only a scar when he was done.
I took a day to rest after I got the injury and by the time I was ready to go back to the battlefield, the scar was already so faded it was hard to see.
Although my time here has been hard, I've grown and gotten stronger from the experience. I've never been in a situation like this, and it's helping me grow. I had some free time left before I had to go out and watch for beasts, so I decided I would look out my window.
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James Revree
Age- 32
race - human
gender - male
Titles - adventurer, sword expert, flame expert.specialization - flaming sword
skills -
swordsmanship (expert)[unevolveable]description - mastery in using a sword, or anything swordlike in nature. Higher mastery may result in sharper swings and precise cuts.
swift step (intermediate->expert)[evolveable]
description - a technique commonly used by adventurers to maneuver around the enemy, high mastery can result in better dodges, faster running speed, and better prediction.
Stealth (novice)[evolveable]
description - how well you can avoid attention, higher mastery can result in opponents unable to predict where you strike, and to remain unnoticed in a crowd.
flame enchantment(expert)[evolveable]
description - allows the user to apply an enchantment that can superheat the item the user is using without damaging the item or the user. The user can freely control the intensity and size of the flames. The intensity of the flames increases with mastery.
Abilities -
speed burst - (lasts - 30 seconds) (cooldown - 4 hours)
increases speed by double
sword projections (cooldown 30 seconds)
summon a phantom sword projectile. Can be used with other abilities, but costs more mana the stronger the attack.
mana recovery (once per day)
recover a quarter of your mana at the cost of your stamina.
Stats -
strength - superior human
vitality - superhuman
agility - superhuman
intelligence -human
Perception - superhuman
Mana - orange
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As I looked at my status window I realized my swift step went up a mastery level.
Although it may not seem like a big deal, mastery levels are very hard to level up. I have been training the sword since I was 10 and have only recently raised it to expert.
Each mastery level usually increases the effect from anywhere from 20% to 80%
The only drawback is that sometimes the skill can be more difficult to control and more exhausting to keep active at full effect.
While I was thinking about this a voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Hey James"
It was one of the watchmen who was keeping watch of the wall
"Yes?" I replied
"it's your turn to take over watch on the walls, I'd be on the lookout, there has been a little more activity than normal, and the beasts seem to be getting smarter with their attacks." he was talking an explosion echoed in the distance.
"I'm worn out so I'm going to go lay down and rest," he said while walking to a nearby empty tent and closing the flap.
I started walking to the wall like I had many times before and got to my post.
A few hours passed and I was getting ready to leave and switch shifts with someone else, but a loud crash from around a 1/2 a mile away stopped me.
As I looked back I saw a few trees swaying in the distance and was concerned because there was nothing that big or strong that was supposed to be in the woods.
I decided I would go check it out, because if one of the weaker lookouts went they might not be able to handle the beast that was able to do that.
As I started to get off the wall to check it out I let the other lookouts know I was going to check something out, and started going toward where I saw the trees swaying.
I took my sword out of my bracelet which was a storage artifact that my wife bought me when we first got together. Although it looked like a ordinary black metal bracelet, it cost a fortune to buy.
As I went further into the forest, I started to notice that I was getting quieter, and quieter.
Finally, I reached what looked to be a huge knocked-down redwood tree and noticed that it had not been uprooted but snapped into two.
This was very unusual because these trees have been growing for thousands of years, and have been absorbing the ambient mana during that period.
I could cut down one of the trees if used one of my flaming swordsman skills, but it would take a lot of effort.
As I was pondering what happened, suddenly I swung around and I heard a low growl.
What I saw was a razor-tooth leopard, but as I studied it more, I realized that it had evolved(1).
Although I have killed hundreds if not thousands of beasts on my own, I've only met a few evolved beasts during my adventures.
With a speed I could barely react to it pounced down on me, trying to claw my throat out with its sharp claws.
Almost not reacting in time I stepped back and swung my sword at its side cutting the leopard on the side of its chest, the leopard jumped back and began snarling at me with its teeth bared. Although I cut it I didn't have enough force to injure it severely.
The leopard lost its stealth advantage but knew it was faster than me in terms of base agility, so it didn't back off.
I saw that the leopard was getting ready for another attack, so I backstopped a few feet, and as I readied my sword the leopard pounced, and as I blocked its attack with my sword, it brought its head down and bit me through the armor on my shoulder.
Before it could completely break the bones in my shoulder, I enchanted my fist with flames and slammed it into the shallow cut I made earlier.
Almost immediately the leopard jumped back because of the pain of its flesh being charred. This time I charged towards the leopard activating my flame enchantment superheating my sword which I was preparing to slash, and using my speed burst ability to catch the leopard off guard and not prepared for my attack.
I closed the distance of 30 feet in a second and brought my glowing red blade to the leopard's neck.
As my blade arrived at the neck of the leopard it slashed its claws against my chest with a speed I couldn't react to, but it was too late. The leopard dropped to the ground with my sword halfway through its neck.
I landed a few feet away winded and disoriented from the student attack of the leopard.
"cough"
I coughed a few times while trying to catch my breath, and brought myself to my feet while I checked my wounds. Although my shoulder was fine, just a few punctures. My chest was cut deeply and was throbbing with pain.
I ignored my well-being and cautiously took out a small dagger and enchanted it enough to make it slightly orange.
As I got closer I realized that the leopard was on its last breaths. I crouched down and brought the dagger down into its brain killing it instantly.
As the leopard died, I stored it in my bracelet and headed back to the walls to get healed.
As I arrived at the walls I went into one of the medical tents laid out and laid down on one of the beds and passed out.
-----------author notes-----------
(1)A/N beasts get stronger by undergoing the process of evolution. Most if not all the time, the race of the beast would stay the same, but their strength would go up a tier or two.
There is also a chance they develop intelligence, but it is uncommon.