Chapter 63: Exaggerated

My eyes fluttered open and I couldn't help but feel refreshed. I smiled as I took a deep breath and sat up. The first thing I noticed was the room that I was in. It looked almost similar to the apartment mom and I lived in before the apocalypse.

The thought alone was highly nostalgic as well as greatly saddening.

However after looking more carefully I realized that it was smaller, much smaller and almost had its facilities cramped. I must have been passed out after the fight and passed out while under Candice's support.

Since I was alive and well it must have meant that the area was relatively safe right?

I flopped back down into what felt like the softest mattress I had ever slept on. Of course, I knew that this wasn't true in the slightest but because of spending the last week sleeping on the floor, both at the York Town High camp as well as the broken store where I spent the night with the group, the mattress and bed were heaven sent gifts.

After twisting and turning until I found a favorable position I decided to take the time to do what I hadn't done in what felt like forever. With a thought I brought up my Spirit Record. It was about time I saw how far I had come.

…

[Name: Huey Coleman

Race: Human

Level: 15 (First Star Order)

Special trait: Anti-magic

Job class: None (required to reach level 20)

Unallocated stats: 2

Stats:

Strength: 117(+20)>>>143(+20)

Stamina: 79

Agility: 94

Mana: 149>>>151

Magic: 150>>>154

Health: 164>>>167

Shadow Art{UNIQUE}: 25

[Skills:

 Active Skills List:

;;;;;

Passive Skills List:

;;

Shadow skills List:

;;

Titles:

;

]

… 

Honestly, I was surprised by how much my Records had grown in just over a week. I had more skills and higher stats than I had previously. Still compared to my other stats I couldn't help but feel that my stamina was way too low compared to my other stats. I didn't like it.

I knew that trying to completely balance out my stats was an impossible task but seeing the large gap that was between Stamina and the rest of the other stats I couldn't help but feel that it was too little.

I don't know maybe I was overthinking it.

Shaking my head I came to a decision.

"Lets increase my stamina as much as possible"

[2 stats have been allocated to Stamina]

[Stamina: 81]

Seeing the new stat I nodded my head in slight satisfaction before moving on the next critical issue.

My skills

…

[-An application of mana and magic that creates a thick translucent layer of energy right above the skin for defense. Capable of blocking sharp ordinary weapons from piercing the skin as long as they are made of material below rank 2. Can also withstand the impact of low caliber bullets. Consumes 20 mana to activate. Effect lasts 15 seconds. Has a 45 second cooldown time]

[-Metal as long as it is below rank 2 and within a range of 10 meters bows at your every whim. Consumes 10 mana points on activation and depending on the use of the element will deplete mana points accordingly]

…

Looking at the skill descriptions I felt greatly satisfied. The skills were extremely useful especially since it could withstand low caliber bullets. I always wondered if there would ever be a day where I can take on bullets head on without suffering injury and it seems that path has opened up today, although just barely.

Understanding the current standing of my new skills I nodded to myself

'Not bad…Not bad at all' I thought to myself.

'Mmh I wonder what it would take to evolve these skills'

The moment the thought came so too did the green letters.

[-To evolve skill to the next Star Order the following requirements must be met.

Kill First Star Order existences using Metal Control: 0/50 Kill Second Star Order existence using Metal Control in a single attack: 0/1 Reach 100% proficiency in usage of the skill: 0/100 (%) First Star Order Soul Stone: 0/2

]

…

I sucked in a cold breath.

What the hell was this? As if killing 50 First Star Order existences wasn't bad enough now I also had to one shot kill a Second Star Order? That felt outright insane! The Second Star Order Eagle that had taken so much out of Lydia, Rina and I back at the school to defeat had only just been at level 21. In fact we had actually almost died many times when fighting it. And that had just been a Second Star Order in its early stages. So what about a Second Star Order creature that managed to progress even higher than that? Could I even guarantee a kill in one hit with my current strength?

The answer was a solid no.

I swear to god this Spirit Record must have had a vendetta against me I tell you. Like what the fuck!

And just like that I spent the next ten minutes spewing curses and profanities against the entity that seemed to take pleasure in making me suffer.

Sigh

'Let's not think about this anymore'

I turned my attention towards the current state of my body. Most of the internal damage that Jace had inflicted during the fight were gone. On my chest what seemed to be the remains of bruising had almost faded away. That alone should have been enough to surprise me but when I next checked my arm my shock was through the roof.

The broken bones in my forearm almost healed completely!

Right now I was certain that overall I was about 96% healed. Before I fell asleep…no lost consciousness I had approximated my recovery time to be between 3 to 5 days at least and at most respectively but now I couldn't help but wonder how long I had been out for.

At that moment the door that led into my room opened and a familiar beauty walked in before her eyes landed on me.

I couldn't help but smile.

"Didn't think the first thing I'd see when I woke up would be a beauty capable of starting wars" I teased

Lydia rolled her eyes before shaking her head

"I miss the sleeping you" she says but the smile on her delicate pink lips says otherwise.

Chuckling I swung my legs over the side of the bed and made a move to stand. The moment I did however I felt a breeze somewhere I shouldn't have.

"Put some clothes on you pervert!" Lydia screamed as she waved her hand.

Before I could react I a powerful gust of wind hit me from the back causing me to roll all the way to the bathroom.

"Oof!" I grunted as I came to a stop and tried to turn around. "Couldn't you have been a little gentle?"

I grumbled to which all I received was a slap to the face by a bundle of clothing.

…

Twenty minutes later I was walking down the corridor in tandem with Lydia.

I was now wearing a loose fitting white shirt, a pair black of cargo pants and some dark shoes.

"You look different. Much stronger than before and I'm not just talking about just stats" Lydia commented as we approached the end of the corridor where the elevator doors were. "…and you seem to have gotten taller as well"

"Really? I didn't notice at all" I said. It was true I hadn't taken the time to look at myself through the mirror as of late so I won't know even if I grew a third eye.

"By the way how long have I been out?" I asked.

"Well it's in the afternoon now so I would say a day?"

"A day!" I almost shouted. That meant I had almost fully healed from my injuries in a single day! That was ground breaking.

Thinking about it for a moment though I finally figured it out

[Health: 167]

It really did seem like the Health stat was directly proportional to recovery and regeneration. The higher the Health, the faster the recovery. But still even though my health had indeed risen I didn't think it was to the point of having this big of an effect. Unless…

"Did Rina by any chance have anything to do with this?" I asked in a curious tone to which Lydia smiled before replying

"Yes. She actually managed to level up her skill to the First Star Order"

"Ah" I nodded in understanding. When Rina had awakened with an innate skill which must have been related to her special trait and even though it has been an unclassified skill this entire time. It has actually helped out in more ways than none.

It was part of the reason why I had recovered from the grave injuries I had gotten from the fight with the Second Star Order eagle and now that it had evolved I had a feeling that its effects might have gotten more exaggerated.