Level up!
Level 63 Red Wyrm Drake defeated!
After Tiff left to go watch the video with the rest of the crew, I decided it was as good a time as any to check all the notifications from my battle. I was curious to see the difference in stat allocations since my promotion to G-grade. Randi made it clear that I would be responsible for my own allocation now, and I was more than a little nervous about that.
Apparently, what I just assumed were simple and easy upgrade mechanics were actually Randi holding my hand through P-grade. As much as I hated that asshole, I knew things were about to get much more complicated. I took a deep breath and opened my stat window to see exactly the complications I was worried about.
Name – Andrew Timothy Dawes
Race – Aetheric Scandare*
Level – G-00* (Awaiting initiate input)
Class – Havok Bringer
Stats –
Strength – G–00
Intelligence – G-00
Dexterity – G-00
Defense – G-00
Current skills:
Health stim activation
Stamina Stim recovery
Current abilities :
Pulsar Blast – Planetary class ability. Upgrade status – 82%
Big Bang - Galaxy class ability. Upgrade progress – 00%
Do Over – Galaxy class ability – Upgrade progress – 0%
Shield of Solaris - Galaxy Class Ability -Upgrade Progress %
Aetheric infusion – Galaxy class ability – Upgrade Progress – 0%
Stat points available – 1430
*Progress to new ability – 0/5 skill points
*Skill Points Available 0.
Stat allocation must be completed before Skill points are awarded.
Invest stat points now? Y/N
Everything looked pretty standard except for the note at the bottom of my stats that said I apparently had skill points now. I could also unlock new abilities by spending skill points but the most glaring was the note beside my level that said, Awaiting Initiate input.
“Ugh, Tiff? Can you and Kaj come in here real quick?” I asked nervously. Tiff and Kaj came into the room, chuckling as Kaj was regaling her with the details of what happened with the drake from his perspective.
“And then I encouraged him to thrust with all his might. I must say, the Captain has quite powerful hips. It was a sight to behold.” Kaj said.
“Okay, okay. Enough talk about powerful thrusts already. I just pulled up my stat screen. I got a level for killing that drake and wanted to see what changed.” I said as I sat on the edge of the cot.
“Well, that’s great news. A whole level from one drake. Maybe we should think about finding more of them?” Tiff asked.
“Not on your life. Maybe, just maybe, we can try to take one down as a group, but that is not a fight I am looking forward to getting into again. Look, I need your help here. My stat screen looks different from how it used to, and I am not sure how to move forward.” I took a few seconds and detailed the changes for both of them as they listened intently.
“Hmmm.” Kaj crossed his arms and rubbed his chin. “This is curious. This must be a symptom of becoming Scandare, Captain. My own stats are auto-allocated much like yours were; I am not aware of anyone having access to skill points or being able to unlock abilities with the use of those skill points.”
“I am more concerned with the fact that your individual stats didn’t change. I don’t understand how your overall level didn’t change either. That drake was at least 13 levels higher than you, but your individual stats stayed the same.” Tiff said.
“I was wondering that as well,” I replied as I mentally highlighted my strength stat, which, to my surprise, expanded.
Strength – G – 00
Vigor – 0/100 stat points
Endurance – 0/100 stat points
Vitality – 0/100 stat points.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
“Okay, let me try something then,” I mumbled to myself as I mentally expanded all of the stats on my stat page to show the sub-categories. I moaned frustratedly and ran my fingers through my hair as my new and improved stat screen popped up.
Name – Andrew Timothy Dawes
Race – Aetheric Scandare
Level – G-00
Class – Havok Bringer
Stats –
Strength – G–00
Vigor – 0/100 stat points
Endurance – 0/100 stat points
Vitality – 0/100 stat points
Intelligence – G-00
Anticipation – 0/100 stat points
Intellect – 0/100 stat points
Aether pool – 0/100 stat points.
Dexterity – G-00
Agility – 0/100 stat points
Precision – 0/100 stat points
Dodge -0/100 stat points
Defense – G-00
Block – 0/100 stat points
Damage absorption – 0/100 stat points
Resistance – 0/100 stat points
Current skills:
Health stim activation
Stamina Stim recovery
Current abilities :
Pulsar Blast – Planetary class ability. Upgrade status – 82%
Big Bang - Galaxy class ability. Upgrade progress – 00%
Do Over – Galaxy class ability – Upgrade progress – 0%
Shield of Solaris - Galaxy Class Ability -Upgrade Progress %
Aetheric infusion – Galaxy class ability – Upgrade Progress – 0%
Stat points available – 1430
(1,300 points for eliminating an enemy 13 levels higher than your current level. Additionally, a 10% bonus in stat points for eliminating an enemy at least 10 levels higher than your current level.)
*Progress to new ability – 0/5 skill points
*Skill Points Available 0.
Stat allocation must be completed before Skill points are awarded.
Invest stat points now? Y/N
I read the expanded description to Tiff and Kaj, who simply sat and listened. I paused after reading the expanded explanation for stat point allocation.
“Very interesting, Captain. It seems you are incentivized to battle higher-level enemies. I will be curious to see what the stat point allocation is for an enemy closer to your level.” Kaj said.
“It’s also interesting that the system still sees you as a level 50,” Tiff chimed in. “We have to assume that will be how your stat points are calculated moving forward. I would assume that is due to there being so few Scandare and Randi not wanting to create an entirely new system to dole out XP.”
I rubbed the back of my neck as I continued scouring the expanded menu. “So I guess I can just equally distribute the stat points, or I can go all in on a couple of stats. I really gotta think about how this will affect my abilities long term. Damn it,” I grumbled, “All this time, Randi was doing the hard part. He is still an asshole, but he was good at his job.”
“I agree that this will be more challenging, and the opportunity to make mistakes that could alter the trajectory of your advancement is definitely something you will need to watch out for. With that being said, having complete control of what stats you want to grow the fastest, and knowing exactly how investing those points will affect you is…tremendously advantageous,” Tiff shook her head in disbelief. “Understanding this is well outside my area of expertise.”
“Do not fear, Tiffantrimore,” Kaj smiled excitedly. “A teacher reaches a point where they fail to continue learning themselves. We have an opportunity to understand the Captain’s advancement, and understand exactly what goes into the subcategories of our own advancements as well. This is an opportunity few ever get to experience, and we will traverse this new, challenging road together. Now, Captain, I will need you to allow a few hours to go through your new expandable interface in detail. Knowledge is an advantageous tool, and one we cannot afford to leave rusting on the shelf.”
I moaned insufferably and face-palmed. “This is literally the thing I hate most. I was able to get by to this point without much mental investment.”
Tiff narrowed her eyes angrily, “Oh, we are all well aware, Andrew. You were either fighting, training, or playing games in the V.C.R. with Elvis and C.J.; I kept telling you that it was important to fully understand your stats and interface, and you kept finding an excuse to do it later,” She crossed her arms sternly. “I am quite frankly blown away that you are not only still alive, but managed to succeed over and over again in the face of overwhelming odds.”
I cocked my head curiously. “Well, tell me how you really feel. Why don’t you?”
Tiff stood up as Kaj looked on uncomfortably. C.J. walked into the room, chuckling about something, saw the look on Tiff’s face, and immediately turned and left.
“Coward!” I shouted.
“Strategic retreat, Captain. Strategic retreat!” C.J. yelled back.
Tiff walked over to where I was sitting and pointed a finger at my chest demandingly. “You will learn everything there is to learn about your expanded interface. You will understand the value of each stat subcategory. We will, as a group,” She motioned to include Kaj, me, and herself, “decide the best path forward in terms of stat point allocation, and you will become as powerful as you possibly can.” She returned to her seat and crossed her arms and legs once again. “Just to ensure you have the full processing power of your advanced intelligence and all the subcategories contained therein, I will not be spending any more nights in your quarters until I am satisfied that you have done your due diligence.”
I choked and sputtered a bit. “Wh-what? How is that helpful? I am being punished now?”
“It is not a punishment, Andrew. This is important, and I need you to be focused on this until you can expertly navigate and understand the inner workings of your own interface. Nothing is more important than ensuring you can advance and evolve into the weapon you will have to become.”
“Yes! you must set the desire for Tiffantrimore’s loins aside and staunch the flow of passion! Use that energy to become more powerful, Captain. When you are allowed to pluck the flower and release the flow of passion once again, you will be a force to be reckoned with. The thrusts of your hips will do more than slay drakes!”
C.J. walked back in as Kaj was finishing talking and began laughing uncontrollably. “What the fuck is happening in here? Did Kaj just say something about Tiff’s loins and then mention your powerful thrusts?”
Tiff spun on C.J. menacingly. “C.J., I will literally kill you. Slowly,” she stood and stepped face to face with C.J., backing him out of the room slowly. “I. Will. Kill. You.”
C.J. held up his hands defensively, nervously chuckling. “Okay,” he said slowly, like he was trying to calm a wild animal that he accidentally startled. “Tiff, just calm down. I’m leaving.”
Tiff reached a single finger toward him, making contact with his side as a flash of electricity arced out.
“Ahh, what the fuck, Tiff! Right in my side fat! Damn it, psycho! Andy, call your girl off already!” he turned and ran back toward the common room, shouting profanities the whole way.
Tiff turned and sat back down calmly, sighing. “Okay, let’s get started.”
“Now?” I asked.
Kaj looked back and forth between Tiff and me. “Captain, I believe it is in your best interest to plan on spending the next several hours allowing Tiff and me to ask any questions we might have. Once we are all aligned, we can decide on your stat allocations.”
“Hours?!” I moaned.
“Did you not hear the part about me not visiting your quarters?” Tiff sat straight and slowly lowered the zipper on her uniform blouse ever so slightly, as she untied her beautiful blonde hair and shook it out around her shoulders.
“I would venture to say he is properly motivated, Tiffantrimore,” Kaj cleared his throat uncomfortably.
“Fuuuuuck!” I groaned and leaned back in my chair. “Let’s get to learning about stats then.”
