Chapter 11 Training 2
POV Blaze
Location: Marcoon City
-Three days later-
I wasn't leveling up as I was learning how to be a blacksmith with Gorath, as thankfully making weapons and gear gave me exp, and each rank gave incremental values, so trash rank would be 10, common 25, and it increased by a 2.5 value going up, so I got to lv 4 with ease for blacksmithing in 2 months.
I was furiously training almost non-stop every day in the guild's training facilities, pushing my body and skills to their limits- my blade skills, as well as my active skills, seeing how each one worked and what I could do to improve. As there was much to learn about myself, I could see why my father loved to train so much.
Guild master Leo told me about the upcoming Guild Tournament in two years' time and how the level requirement was 70 at minimum and 100 at max, saying how he saw great promise in me and could send high-level guild members to accompany me, to help raise my level, but I declined, saying that, to level up, I would need at least five times more exp than normal and partying up would give me far less exp from the split, so I was best off hunting alone. That, and I liked being a solo wolf unless I made a pack myself.
After hearing about this and seeing that I had my own resolve to get stronger in a proper way and not by just using my system's cheats, he gave me a map to some hidden dungeon that would open up. I was more than happy to take it, but he'd only let me go if I could get to level 10 by the next week's end. It took me a while to see if I'd agree or not, as that wasn't an easy task to do in 10-14 days. However, after agreeing, my system generated a link quest.
~~[Quest] [Link Quest ]~~
{ [Prove Your Might and Smarts] The guild master Leo wishes to see if you're strong enough to grow the way you want; reach level 10 within the next 7 days to obtain the map to the Artho Ruins. }
-Rewards
-Artho Ruins map x1
-?????
The second reward will not be given unless the user uses the luck stat to increase the difficulty of the quest.
~[Yes/No?]~
~[Yes] has been accepted.~
All mobs and hostile beings that come across the user will be empowered by having their levels and stats doubled for the remainder of the 14 days, even if the user has completed the quest before the time limit; every kill on someone of a higher level will yield bonus rewards from loot to gold.
That was three days ago. I knew well enough by now I would have to fight and kill mortals, and with the new quest details, it was almost certain I'd come across some looking to kill me, most likely getting a reward from THE WILL to facilitate the hardness of my quest.
This was why I was training, so much harder before going back to the Dark Forest. I was making sure at least all my skills were higher than lv 1. I also managed to get some, much-needed new ones just by training my ass off to the brink of death, with no rest besides when I passed out from overwork.
Others would call me a madman or crazy for doing such destructive training, but that was the key to getting rare skills through blood, sweat, and effort and pushing yourself past what you are able to. It's what my father and family would do; it was also believed that pushing one close to death brought out one's natural energies like Ki, something that eluded me.
Just another thing that led to me feeling lesser as a person, as werewolves would be natural users of ki, and im 23 and not even close...Maybe I was never suited to have a strong body?
The skills I got were pretty good, too, as the training room I was in was isolated, as it was filled with many slash marks, small craters, and many burn marks and blood splatter from myself. I've been fighting the training dummies; I gotta say they pack a fucking punch. That aside, here were the skills that were learned, upgraded, and one that evolved.
[Claws slash lv:3(D)] has evolved into [Wolf Fang lv:3(D-)]. From the user being able to implement claw slash into one's blades, now having the added benefit to unleash mana- and aura-infused slashes from one's claws or medium that can slash at something. Costs 20 MP.
[Blossom dance lv:2(D+)] A blade dance formed from a good understanding of the unique wielding of a sword and knife, as well as a dual-wielding mastery. Damages the foe or foes hit by a 9-hit move and does double damage for each consecutive hit. Costs 80 MP; however, the move can also be used with the cost of doing no additional damage, as it is a move that can be done with just a blade alone with no mana, aura or external energy.
[Dual Wielding Mastery lv:3(E)] This user has honed their skill in expertly fighting with two weapons simultaneously using both hands. This has resulted in a greater understanding of two-handed combat and a permanent boost of 10% to the attack speed of dual weapons. As the user's skill continues to improve, the advantages of utilizing dual weapons will only increase.
[Knife throwing mastery lv:2(E-)] Repeated action of throwing one's knives or daggers with skill and precision has allowed the user to further their mastery of the art of throwing one's weapon, allowing thrown knives to do double damage to a target and five times more if one hits a vital or weakened spot.
[Mana strengthening lv:2(F+)] Uses one's mana to buff one's Str, Agi, and Int by two stat points; will cost no mana to use as mana is being willed to one's body parts; however, will mentally and physically drain the user faster by how long the mana is pushed. A basic self-created way of circulating mana in one's body as it manipulates and controls the mana purity in one's body. It is crude and leaves room for improvement and creativity; basically, an original skill with much to add or remove to refine.
[Stamina recovery lv:2(E)] By pushing one's body past its breaking point multiple times, it has allowed the user to regain stamina faster at a more visible rate, as well as slightly increased overall stamina capacity.
Sadly, there were a few skills I could not level up, as they required me to use the skill and the bonus actions to increase their level. After all this, I used some of the 15,000 gold I got for selling both the rare scaled fish man as well as its pristine sea stone trident to buy 50 standard potions at 50 gold and 15 standard mana potions for 250, taking out 6,250 of my 15,300, leaving me with about 9,050.
Overall, leaving me with 26,750 gold left, as 20,000 of it was used to buy better camping gear, food, water, as well as a full forging setup housed in my storage space, as well as material used to create new equipment, as everything was at the higher common rank if not uncommon.
With that, I headed back to the forest this time, more than prepared for what could come my way. I was no longer a weak litter runt of the litter, and I would show all who crossed me the power that I have and will gain. Once I step in, the quest timer would start.
_Status_
Blaze Nights
Lv:4
Race: Hardened Werewolf
Bloodline:-----
Exp:0/500
Gold:26,750
_Stats_
HP:1700/1700
MP:130/130>180/180
Str:20(3)|Int:19>24(3)
Agi:25(10)|Con:17
Def:7(17)|Luck:19
Stat points:5>0
Skill points:2>4
—-Skills—-
Unique abilities: [Aura manipulation lv:1(S)] [Aura senses lv:2 (B)]
Active skills:
[Wolf Fang lv:3(D-)] [Lycans rage lv:1(C)] [Appraisal lv:1(D+)] [Quick Steps lv:2(E+)] [Aura chains lv: 2(C-)] [Fireball lv:1(C+)][Blossom dance lv:2(D+)] [Mana strengthening lv:2(F+)]
Passive skills:
[predators body lv:6 (B+)] [Unyielding soul lv: max(SSS)] [Digestion LV:1(F-)] [Devour lv:1(F-)] [Storage lv: max(E)][Sword mastery lv:2(E-)] [Night's Knife Blade lv:1(B+)][Natural Hardness lv:1(C)] [Meditation lv:2(E+)] Knife throwing mastery lv:2(E-)] [Dual Wielding Mastery lv:3(E)]
Job Skills:
[Blacksmithing lv:5 (D+)] [Craftsmithing lv:6 (D)]
_Equipment_
[-Cold Iron Longsword (common grade) +3 Str, +2 Agi -1500/1500-]
[-Cold Iron ringed guard combat knife (common grade) -750/750-]
[-Silk purple dress shirt (uncommon grade) +3 Int, +2 Def -150/150-]
[-Cold Iron light chestplate (uncommon grade) Agi+3 Def+10 -1800/1800-]
[-Cold Iron light gauntlets (common grade) Def +4 -120/120-]
[- Steel-toed leather boots (uncommon grade) Agi +5 Def +5 -500/500-]