Levelling Up
I wake the next day full of energy. The bright sunlight streaming in through the windows certainly helps matters, it has a way of making me feel more positive in general.
I didn't think it was possible to sleep for that long though, so that's a surprise. I've been sleeping since the afternoon of yesterday to this morning. I don't think that one tiny gap when Claire Weiss woke me up counts.
I look around, and it's only now that I get a good look at the infirmary. It's just a bunch of clean beds evenly spaced out in rows in a massive hall of stone, but there's no one else aside from me here right now. Even the medical staff are all gone for the moment.
I figure, now is a good time as any to get to work.
"Stats," I say.
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Thomas Filmore (Warrior)
LVL 13 (652 EXP to next level)
Con – 10 (+3)
Str – 12 (+3)
Dex – 9 (+3)
Sta – 12 (+3)
Mag – 11 (+3)
Fai – 6 (-3)
3 Unassigned Stat Points
Skills:
Analyse LVL 1 (2/3)
Abyssflame LVL 1 (0/3)
Abyssflame Slash LVL 1 (0/3)
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I grin. Would you look at that? I did level up. The only question now is: what do I put my unassigned stat points in?
For now, my reason for trying to get stronger is to defeat Rex Cranz, which means I should upgrade the stats that will best allow me to accomplish that. If I didn't know any better, I would put all my stats into magic; it's not only the stat most likely to govern the effectiveness of the Abyssflame, but it's also the only stat I surpass Rex in.
However, there is another element to consider: I remember the boss fight against Thomas Filmore very well. It was one of the most fun boss fights in the game.
That means, I can remember what made the boss fight difficult and what made it easy. Thomas' Abyssflame was first unveiled in that battle, and I remember the Abyssflame Slash being a dangerous attack to be hit with, but an easy attack to dodge.
It was in fact the standard Abyssflame mode that gave me more trouble. Thomas activates it when his health hits a certain percentage, and any damage you do as Rex goes down. And not only that, but his Abyssflame Slash gets quicker, and even basic attacks do more damage—though he is slower in general.
I'm sure all these things won't translate perfectly from the game to real life, but I think the general principles do. In other words, I don't think any of my attacks will be quick enough to hit Rex—speed is my main problem, not power. And this may seem a little strange, but everything speed-related, including magic casting speed comes from the dexterity stat.
The magic stat determines the strength of any magical abilities and your resistance to magical attacks. If I level that up, certainly the strength of my Abyssflame will go up. But what's the point if my attacks don't hit?
I glance at the magic pill on my bedside table. That's not to say power isn't something to be turned down either.
I take a few moments to try and think of any counter-arguments, I only get one shot at this after all. I don't think there's a respec potion lying around somewhere. When I can't think of anything that makes me decide otherwise, I take the magic pill and swallow it like medicine. It tastes mildly bitter, but nothing about it puts me off.
Maybe I should have confirmed that it really was a magic pill before just swallowing it all willy nilly… I have been unconscious for a while, after all.
I shake my head and look at my stats page again next. I say clearly three times, "Dexterity." The numbers go up, and once all my unassigned points have been assigned, a separate blue window pops up.
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Confirm Allocation of Stats
Yes/No
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I take a nervous breath and press yes.
The window disappears, and my choices are set in stone. I take a moment to admire my new stat page.
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Thomas Filmore (Warrior)
LVL 13 (652 EXP to next level)
Con – 10 (+3)
Str – 12 (+3)
Dex – 12 (+3)
Sta – 12 (+3)
Mag – 12 (+3)
Fai – 6 (-3)
Skills:
Analyse LVL 1 (2/3)
Abyssflame LVL 1 (0/3)
Abyssflame Slash LVL 1 (0/3)
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With the Abyssflame skill's stat additions, I think my dexterity is now higher than Rex's. Rex is still two levels higher than me, but I feel I might have a better chance now.
Despite the memory of the pain from yesterday still being fresh in my mind, I feel the urge to go and test out my new stats. I want to see how it feels, I want to try out my improvement, not just see it in numbers.
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Quest: Attend Class in Two Hours
Reward: 100 EXP
Accept/Deny
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Oh, right… I still have class. Man, I'm tempted to skip the class just this once. But those hundred experience points…
I groan and say, "Accept," and the window disappears. I can just try my new and improved abilities out afterwards.
That reminds me, I had that slaying the lycan matron quest. What happened to that? I didn't get a quest complete notification after I killed the lycan matron. I assume it's because I needed to report it to Ms. Clara to properly complete it.
"Quests," I say.
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ONGOING QUESTS:
Opposing the Hero:
Challenge the Hero to a Duel (Completed)
Reward: Skill—Abyssflame
Win the Duel against the Hero (Ongoing)
Reward: Level Up Skill—Abyssflame
Attend Class in Two Hours
Reward: 100 EXP
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The lycan matron bounty quest is gone, and I had the magic pill, so I suppose Wyll reporting our success to Ms. Clara counts as a completion as well. I'm grateful he remembered to turn the bounty in, I would have hated to miss out on an extra stat point. I know I might have forgotten in the panic if I was him.
As though my thoughts of him summon him, Wyll enters the infirmary. When he sees me, his face breaks out into a relieved smile.