The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy of leaves, casting a dappled pattern of light on the forest floor. Kael woke to the soft sounds of nature surrounding him. He stretched, feeling the weight of yesterday's events still pressing on his mind, especially Remy's significant upgrade.
Kael glanced at his familiar, who was still curled up beside him.
"Today, we'll explore your new powers bud," he whispered, excitement bubbling within him.
As Remy stirred and blinked awake, Kael couldn't help but smile. The little sewer rat had come so far. With the newfound strength of a low ranked warrior, Remy could take on challenges that once seemed impossible.
After a quick breakfast of foraged berries, Kael and Remy ventured out into the woods, a sense of purpose guiding their steps. Kael couldn't shake the question that nagged at the back of his mind:
Just how strong is Remy now? He knew Warriors were strong against normal creatures, while Elites were powerful against Warriors, and so on. But he had no real reference to gauge Remy's strength. He was only a mere orphan.
"Alright buddy," Kael said, looking down at Remy.
"Let's see what you can do."
Remy looked up at him, twitching his whiskers in anticipation. Kael focused his thoughts and accessed the familiar contract, bringing up Remy's information.
Name: Remy
Species: Sewer Rat
Rank: Warrior [Low Rank]
Rank Limit: Warrior [Advanced Rank]
Skills: Stealth lvl 1, Poison Resistance lvl 1, Bite lvl 1, Scratch lvl 1
As Kael scanned the list, he couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and curiosity.
"Poison Resistance?" he mused, remembering the many times Remy had bravely scoured the wild for food, often nibbling on toxic plants. It pained Kael to think of the dangers his companion had faced alone.
Poison Resistance: Increases resistance against poison.
Kael felt a swell of admiration for Remy's resilience. He continued down the list, his finger tracing the words on the mental screen.
Scratch: A physical attack skill using claws to inflict damage.
"Scratch huh... seems pretty straightforward."
Finding a sturdy tree nearby, Kael turned to Remy.
"Alright, buddy. Show me what you've got!"
Remy squeaked in acknowledgment and darted toward the tree. With a determined cry, he scurried forward and clawed at the rough bark, his claws digging into it with surprising ferocity. Kael held his breath as he watched, marveling at the speed and strength of Remy's attack at the tree.
"Damn!" Kael exclaimed, his eyes widening as he saw deep grooves left in the tree's trunk.
"You're strong!"
Kael exclaimed, feeling a rush of pride swell in his chest. He never expected such power from his little friend.
Encouraged by Kael's enthusiasm, Remy continued to use his skill at the tree, focusing intently on the task.
Remy didn't stop, he clawed at the trunk repeatedly. Finally he landed one powerful scratch causing the tree to topple over with a loud crash, sending leaves and debris flying everywhere.
Kael was speechless. Remy's stamina had amazed him; it seemed he could keep up the assault for quite some time. But as Remy stumbled back, clearly exhausted from the exertion, Kael realized that stamina would be a key factor in their training.
"Great job, Remy! You did it!" Kael cheered, his voice echoing through the clearing.
Remy stood panting, his little chest heaving as he looked up at Kael with wide, proud eyes.
"You're amazing, Remy!" Kael cheered, clapping his hands together.
Just then, a notification rang in Kael's mind, interrupting his exhilaration.
"Familiar 'Remy' has upgraded his skill 'Scratch' to level 2!"
Kael's heart raced as he focused on the notification, eager to see the details.
"Scratch (Level 2/5): Increases damage dealt when clawing at opponents."
"Amazing! You can upgrade your skills just like that!" Kael exclaimed, the excitement spilling over.
He had heard about such upgrades but witnessing it firsthand was an entirely different experience.
But then he furrowed his brow, a level cap seems to came with each skill.
"So you can only reach level 5 with this skill..."
"That's fine! You'll be awesome even at that level!" Kael reassured, feeling a rush of determination.
"Let's keep experimenting, buddy. You've got skills to test. I want to see just how strong you've really become!"
As they ventured deeper into the forest, Kael felt an exhilarating mix of hope and determination. With Remy's newfound powers, Kael finally felt a flicker of confidence igniting within him.
"I seem to have an amazing family member, no one can mess with me now!"