Chapter 2: Enter Achievements

[Core Skill: Over Achiever – Gained]

 Hunh, that's a weird skill name. Lets see what it does. I thought while pulling up my Status screen.

[Over Achiever (Meta)(Mythic)(Ascension Tier 1): Allows the user to gain Achievements. Attributes/Level: +1 to all Attributes, +5 Free Attributes.]

 Well, this is a mixed bag. The Attribute gain is insane, that comes from the rarity since I've heard common Core Skills only give 3 total Attributes per level and Albert has a Rare that gives 7. I guess it makes sense this rarity level I haven't even heard of would give 15. That part is fantastic, It being a Meta Skill is the issue. Meta Skills are weird, like really weird. They don't really do anything they just sort of do things. The [Analyze] skill that Albert got for me is a Meta Skill, and definitely a useful one. A less useful one I've heard of only let you change the colour of System notifications. They also have notoriously hard to understand descriptions that make you have to fumble around in the dark. The description for this one tells me that I can get Achievements now, but I don't know what they are or what they could do. Sigh, nothing for it then. Better use the skill shard before some monster jumps me. As soon as I thought about using the skill shard in my hand it dissolved into light which was closely followed by the ding of a notification.

[Skill Shard Used]

[Skill: Analyze – Gained]

[Analyze (Meta)(Common)(Upgradable) Level 1: Allows User to obtain limited information on a System based Entity they focus on.]

[Achievement Obtained! Nepotism- Use a skill shard before killing any Monsters, +1 Luck]

 Well then. That explains what an Achievement is. But what the hell is with that name! If anything, I have negative Nepotism! Continuing to grumpily mumble I opened my Status screen to see my new skills and my new Luck point.

Status Screen

Name: Ariel Romilas

Level: 1

Ascension Tier: 1

Strength: 12

Agility: 16

Perception: 12

Constitution: 10 

Luck: 7

Intelligence: 12

Acuity: 13

Sense: 5

Willpower: 8

Spirit: 10

Core Skill: Over Achiever

Achievements: Nepotism

Skills: Analyze Level 1

Traits: (None)

 Level 1. Finally. Also, a new tab for Achievements, that's pretty cool. Just after I closed my status the weird vision bending began to happen again, except this time the darkness peeled away. When I could finally see again I found myself on the edge of a small clearing surrounded by trees. I had no time to get my bearings as I heard a twig snap to my left. Thinking quickly, I moved out of the clearing and tried to hide in the bushes. Just after I managed to finish hiding a creature around four feet tall with deep red scales that was carrying a poorly made stone knife, clumsily walked into the clearing from where I heard the twig snap. As soon as I could see it clearly I focused on it to try and use my new Skill on it.

[Kobold Level 4 (Uncommon)(Reptilian)]

 Well, that's not good. Level 4 is way above average for the start of the first floor, that'll push the fifth floor boss I need to kill to get out above level 20. Guess I should take this one out, stealth will probably best. Crouching low and being overly vigilant at where I was stepping I began making my way to the lone Kobold while drawing my daggers. I managed to get directly behind the Kobold un-noticed and plunged my daggers into its back. To my complete shock it went down easily from that one attack, further shocking me I heard the ding of another System notification. Before its body even hit the ground it turned into light and left a few small slivers of crystal behind. Before checking my notification, I crouched down to pick up the shards and use [Analyze] on them.

[Tiny Shard (Common)]

 That's what I thought it was, a tiny shard. Collect enough of them and plop em near each other and they'll combine into a random skill shard. You don't know how many shards you'll need to combine them into a skill shard until it just happens, this makes the tiny shards incredibly valuable to any and all ascenders.

 Hearing a grunt come from directly behind me I dove forward into a roll. Springing up and looking behind me I saw the head of a large hammer come down where I had just been standing. Focusing on the large Kobold holding the hammer I used [Analyze].

[Kobold Warrior Level 7 (Rare)(Reptilian)]

 Oh, an even stronger one. Not exactly ideal. Too close to get away safely, I'm gonna have to fight it. I barely managed to finish my thought as the Kobold Warrior swung its hammer at me straight down. Moving rapidly, I stepped to the side and used my right handed dagger to push the hammer out of line while simultaneously using my left hand dagger to slash at the monsters arm leaving a light scratch. Whenever I had sparing sessions Albert often put me up against opponents who were much larger than me. This so called warriors technique has nothing on even Eugene.

 Following up its downward smash the Kobold swung its hammer diagonally up at me. I quickly jumped back to avoid the clumsy swing, before lunging back in to slash with both of my daggers. Once again they only left a set of scratches. Can't keep doing such little damage, I'll make a mistake sooner or later and end up as an Ariel shaped pancake. A plan in mind I waited for the Kobold to swing at me again. It didn't make me wait long as it wildly swung at me from the left. Quickly ducking under the attack, I slapped the Kobold with the side of the blade

 "Won't hit the broad side of a barn with an attack like that" I called out in a mocking tone.

 Enraged, the Kobold brought its hammer above its head and slammed it down even more recklessly than before. Stepping to the right I used both my daggers to assist the Kobold in slamming its hammer into the ground. Not expecting the boost, the Kobold fell forward off balance. Using the self made opportunity, I lunged into a left handed thrust up at the monsters head. Aiming far better than I expected my dagger slid smoothly into the Kobold's eye. However, unlike the first Kobold this one didn't drop. Dropping its hammer the Kobold screeched in pain and staggered back. Unfortunately, my dagger got wedged in the Kobolds head and was pulled from my hand.

 Not wanting to waste the opportunity I followed by lunging at the Kobold yet again and thrust my remaining dagger into its chest. After taking the second blow the Kobold slowed before falling forward. Just after it hit the ground I heard several dings as I received multiple notifications and the Kobold turned to light. Feeling the adrenaline leave my body I collapsed next to the small pile of shards and my two daggers. Might as well check my notifications while I rest for a moment, ended up with a bunch at the end of that fight.

[Level Up! User Is Now Level 2]

 That's the one I got after killing the first Kobold.

[Level Up! Analyze Is Now Level 2]

[Level Up! User Is Now Level 3]

[Level Up! User Is Now Level 4]

[Level Up! User Is Now Level 5]

[Achievement Obtained! Foe Feller – Kill an enemy at least 5 levels higher than you, Trait: Foe Feller – Gained]

[Foe Feller: +5% Attributes when fighting an opponent above your level]

[Achievement Obtained! That's Pretty Rare – Obtain a piece of Rare Equipment from a Monster, Skill: Inventory - Gained]

[Inventory (Meta)(Rare) Level 1: Allows User to store objects in a System generated personal dimension. *Can consume equipment with extradimensional properties to increase storage space.]

 By the System that's a lot! The rewards were so much that almost dying might've been worth it. Also, I've learned that Achievements can grant skills. Pretty damn good skill for it to give me first though, personal storage skills are always hard to come by. Wait. Hold on. Did that say rare equipment? Couldn't have been that hammer its already disappeared. Rapidly turning to the pile of shards I sifted through the dozen or so tiny shards, until I found a ring lying at the bottom of the pile. I quickly focused on it and used [Analyze].

[Panic Ring (Rare)- Triggers a moderate regeneration effect when lethal damage is taken.]

 Pretty good effect, especially with no healing skills. I quickly slip the ring on and move to my status screen where I immediately notice another item below my attributes.

Status Screen

Name: Ariel Romilas

Level: 5

Ascension Tier: 1

Strength: 16

Agility: 20

Perception: 16

Constitution: 14 

Luck: 11

Intelligence: 16

Acuity: 19

Sense: 9

Willpower: 12

Spirit: 14

Free Points: 20

Core Skill: Over Achiever

Achievements: Nepotism, Foe Feller, That's Pretty Rare

Skills: Analyze Level 2, Inventory Level 1

Traits: Foe Feller

 That's some incredible gains compared to when I was just working out. Wonder how to use the bonus points though. Following this I tried to mentally increase my agility by 20. A rash decision if it worked maybe, but since Agility is the best stat it's where I would've put the points regardless.

[Apply 20 Free Points To Agility? (Y)(N)]

 Obviously I agreed. What?! Sure, I could've put them into constitution so I could be tougher, but what does it matter if noting can hit me in the first place. The Kobold Warrior has been a clear example on how getting hit is bad for your health.

[Agility 20 --> Agility 40]

 Smiling at my 20 extra points in the best Attribute, I stood up and turned to go walk towards what I now notice is a small path the two Kobolds came from.