NOVEL NEXT Chapter 13: Faster Leveling
So… the men that kidnapped and sold Kiyomi off to slavery are right here… in this inn.
From what I heard, they are staying at this inn to safeguard this town when the demon wave hits. Along with that, they are still doing their slave selling business.
I looked outside to see a wagon parked in front of the inn. That wagon… it either contains supplies or slaves to sell to the slave dealer in this town.
Hmm…
I spoke with the owner of the inn and told him that Kiyomi was sick today so she couldn't work. But that was just a cover-up.
When we returned to our room, Kiyomi did nothing but sit at the table with empty eyes, probably remembering what happened at the time she was kidnapped.
"Kiyomi… when did you get sold to slavery?"
"…three years ago…"
That's a surprise. Three years and she's still a virgin. Her virginity shield must be strong.
Ahem, I mean… it's a surprise she even lasted that long with the state I saw her in when I first saw her. Famished.
Hmm, I would help her right now but with the current state she is in, it would be difficult to restore her to her original mentality.
…
How boring…
I placed my arms around Kiyomi and she looked up at me.
"M-master?"
"Kiyomi… didn't you want revenge?"
"What?"
"Remember what you told me when we first talked to each other? You said you wanted revenge on those that enslaved you. Isn't that what you told me?"
"Y-yes bu-"
"But what? Are you really going to allow them to live after what they've done? Your family, they were all slain by them but only you lived. Do you want to know why you were the only one that lived?"
She opened her mouth to talk but nothing came out.
"That's because you were weak, they couldn't even see you as a threat. They could've toyed around with you and probably could have done worst than just toy. You were let off easy because they belittled you. There are two reasons why you are still living in this world today. One, because you were weak. You didn't have the strength to protect your family and to fight them off."
She clenched her hands and gritted her teeth. She knew what I was saying was the truth.
"I… I have the strength I need."
"Don't get so cocky. I inspected their stats and they are much higher level than you," I lied, I haven't inspected their levels just yet but they had to be strong if they were able to subdue her.
"If you want to kill them, you'll have to reach your limit," I continued. "And by doing that, you'll have to release the beast inside. The one you've shown to me when we first met. That beast, where is she now?"
"I… I buried it… I didn't want to lose control."
"Why?"
"Because of you master! I didn't want to harm you if I did lose control. The best I could do was forget that beast."
So that's why she wasn't so hostile to me. Probably when I broke her collar, that beast slowly died away and couldn't bear to lash out because of my presence.
But…
"If you don't bring that beast out, then how will you avenge your family?"
"Huh?"
"After all, they did kill your family, am I correct?"
"…yes."
"And I bet you not only want to get revenge because they kidnapped you and sold you to slavery, but you also want to avenge your parents, right?"
"…yes."
Her body began to heat up and I knew it was coming.
"Good… however, don't let that beast come out just yet. It is a bit too early to do that."
I stroked her cheek and she purred, which then helped her relax.
"I still haven't said the second reason as I assume you already know. However, do you want to know?"
She nodded. I leaned forward and whispered into her ear.
"So you can get vengeance."
***
Kiyomi was now resting on the bed while I was patting her head.
It was just as planned. I tamed the beast. Now all I have to do next is help her get her revenge.
But first, I need to scout our enemies.
I went down to the first floor and looked at the group of individuals, or should I call them enslavers.
From the second floor, I positioned myself above them and used Analysis.
[Level 82; Class: Mage; Level Cap: 84]
{Abilities}
Passive Skills: Fire Manipulation, Water Manipulation, Earth Manipulation
Active Skills: None
Skills: Dual Elemental Blast(Lvl.3)
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[Level 79; Class: Assassin; Level Cap: 80]
{Abilities}
Passive Skills: Sprint, Dagger Arts, Dart Arts
Active Skills: None
Skills: Stealth(Lvl.1), Shadow Fist(Lvl.2), Flash Step(Lvl.1)
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[Level 85; Class: Berserker; Level Cap: 85]
{Abilities}
Passive Skills: Extreme Might, Hammerhead
Active Skills: Rage
Skills: Headbutt(Lvl.2), Heavy Tackle(Lvl.1), Fallen Descent(Lvl.1)
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A Mage, Assassin, and a Berserker. Judging from their skills, the leader must be the mage. I can tell that the berserker isn't smart enough to lead a group, though I could be wrong so I can't risk dropping my guard.
From our stats, the best we could do is team up against the Berserker as he's probably the dumbest one. However, for the others, it will be hard, especially the assassin. His skills are dangerous, especially Stealth and Flash Step. With those combined, there is no telling where he could be.
I opened up my stats and inspected them.
{Status}
Name: Nero Akuma|(Former: Naoko Akujin)
Title: Inept Hero
Class: Jack of All Trades
Status: Normal
Level: 55
Mana: [100,000,000/100,000,000]
Strength: 100
Agility: 71
Technique: 62
Perception: 59
Charisma: 666
Stat Points: 102
{Abilities}
Passive Skills: Sprint, Bloodlust, Allocation(Locked), Exceed(Locked), Dagger Arts, Deadshot
Active Skills: None
Skills: Analysis, Wolf's Blood, Mark of Fidelity, Flash Step, Charged Arrow, Energy Shield, Aura Barrier, Quick Regeneration
------------------
I've been saving up my stat points since I didn't know where to deposit them into. But since we are going to be facing against a stealth assassin, a massive knucklehead, and a magician that can use 3 elements, I'm gonna need perception and agility even more, or else I won't be able to evade their attacks.
So I deposited 26 into perception and agility and equally divided the remaining points to the rest.
[Perception 59 --> Perception 85]
[Strength 100 --> Strength 125]
[Agility 71--> Agility 97]
[Technique 62--> Technique 87]
Ding!
Hmm?
[Skills Obtained: Stealth]
[Stealth: Conceal your presence and aura to move around without being detected| Effects: Your presence and aura will be hidden from all enemies. However, if you are in their line of sight, they will be able to spot you| Conditions: Consumes 100 mana per second]
[Passive Skills Obtained: Excess, Grave Robber(Locked)]
[Excess: For every creature slain, you gain double the XP. However, this won't apply to skill levels| Effects: Gain x2 XP for every kill]
Must've been because I just upgraded my stats. Well, at least I can match up against the Assassin. However, I'll have to think about the other two.
...
Well, there is no other way but to keep on leveling up. Since Grave Robber is locked, I'll have to figure out how to unlock it.
Now that I think about it, would I gain XP from killing others?
...
Well...
There's only one way to find out.
***
I left the inn and wandered into the forest. After we took that bear down, the wolves seemed to be appearing again, this time in bigger numbers.
Anyway, I came out just to test how good stealth was.
When I used it and stood in the wolves' line of sight, they didn't seem to be showing hostility. Does it really work that well?
Eventually, I took a step forward and when I was about 7 meters near them, they spotted me.
Guessing if I keep upgrading the skill, that range shrinks, allowing me to get closer. But since I was in their line of sight, I was spotted pretty fast.
If I hid, I could've probably gotten closer. But oh well.
Time to start grinding.
After an hour, I slew about 4 packs of wolves, gaining a ton load of levels.
[Leveled up!]
[Leveled up!]
.
.
.
Ding!
[Do you want your levels to be summed up next time?]
Yes, I don't wanna keep seeing "Leveled up!" appearing in my sight. Just keep it simple, like how Kiyomi levels up.
Speaking of Kiyomi, she also leveled up quite a lot even though she's not here. Looks like the passive skill excess is doing its job.
[Party Member Kiyomi has leveled up!(13)]
Let's see just how many levels we've gotten.
Status!
{Status}
Name: Nero Akuma|(Former: Naoko Akujin)
Title: Inept Hero
Class: Jack of All Trades
Status: Normal
Level: 69
Mana: [100,000,000/100,000,000]
Strength: 139
Agility: 111
Technique: 101
Perception: 99
Charisma: 666
Stat Points: 42
{Abilities}
Passive Skills: Sprint, Bloodlust, Allocation(Locked), Exceed(Locked), Dagger Arts, Deadshot, Excess, Grave Robber(Locked)
Active Skills: None
Skills: Analysis, Mark of Fidelity, Wolf's Blood(Lvl.1), Flash Step(Lvl.1), Charged Arrow(Lvl.1), Energy Shield(Lvl.1), Aura Barrier(Lvl.1), Quick Regeneration(Lvl.1), Stealth(Lvl.1)
------------------
Kiyomi
[Level 81; Class: Mage; Level Cap: 101]
{Abilities}
Passive Skills: Sage Arts, Ninjutsu Proficiency, Fox Fire Manipulation
Active Skills: Transformation
Skills: Swift Slash(Lvl.2), Soaring Dragon Fist(Lvl.1), Flame Pillars(Lvl.1)
------------------
I can now level up my skills. But excess won't count towards those, even though it should.
But, at least excess is doing its job. It's basically faster leveling.
Oh well, I can't protest what the system provides to me.
I looked up at the sky and it was dark. Good... this is perfect. We can strike them while they are sleeping. But if I want to be prudent, we can wait before the demon wave hits. After that happens, we can escape while the fight happens. But we can still strike them today. Even though Kiyomi is still lower leveled than them, a few level difference isn't going to be a problem. The only thing levels do is show a difference in potential.
Though it's a 3v2, I doubt they would be able to handle what is coming next.
Only five days before the demon wave hits, that is plenty of time to plan.
.
.
.