#54
54. Moving forward again (3)
“……It’s strange. The explanation is over.”
I drank water. My throat was sore from talking a lot.
The three of them were staring at me with questioning expressions. It seems I didn’t fully understand. Jenna raised her hand and said.
“There are levels, stats, and skills, and thanks to these, we can quickly become stronger, right?”
“Yes. When you say stat window, the word that comes to mind is your spec. You can guess your strength by looking at it.”
“There were times when I felt suddenly stronger after fighting, but it was because I leveled up.”
“I can’t believe it. Any archmage would be unable to do that.”
Iolka muttered in a broken voice.
Levels, stats, skills, and status windows.
It won’t be easy to accept. You gain experience by hunting monsters, and learn skills through training to grow. Even I, who knew that the world was in a game, was unrealistic.
Still, there was a sense of relief.
It was difficult to explain what I could only see with my own eyes, so I put it off, but now I don’t have to hesitate if I can see the specs on these guys as well. I had to know at some point, and I had to accept it. If you can’t adapt to the laws of this world, you can’t survive.
“That will be your guide going forward.”
Being able to objectively assess your condition.
This helps you grow more than you think. If I hadn’t seen the status window, I would have had to go back much further. I drank all the water and said.
“You explain to others.”
“Where did you know this? We’ve never heard of it.”
“Somehow I found out.”
“How come? What’s suspicious…”
“Ahaha, sister! You’ve been here since the very beginning.”
“That’s how it happened. I’ve had a long career.”
“Suspicious…”
Iolka narrowed her eyes and said.
“Well, that’s okay if you don’t want to tell me. Everyone has a secret. It’s true that your advice is helpful.”
“Yes, yes. Very helpful. It becomes bone and flesh.”
“You are very good at flattering.”
“It’s not flattery, it’s a survival strategy.”
Jenna started talking about how she met me and how I had come through.
The topic has passed. Eventually, Aaron joined in. Iolka listened to the conversation as she turned her gaze to me.
I chuckled.
If they survive to the end, I intend to tell them everything.
Of course, that would be the time to break up.
the next morning.
Jenna gathered everyone together and started explaining the status window. The type that quickly understood was mainly a combat job. Since they feel that they have become abnormally strong due to the power of something, they have no choice but to do so.
However, it seemed that he could only see his own status window.
I couldn’t see other heroes’ status windows or system messages, and they only saw a fraction of what I saw. It is still unknown whether it is because the research level is low or if I am special. Over time, you will naturally find out.
training that evening.
“The training we’ve done so far is to improve our constitution and gain skills, right?”
“yes.”
Drops three arrows fired.
In the distance, Jenna drew a protest. One foot per movement. After she learned rapid fire, her shooting speed became unusually fast. I ran to Jenna, blocking and parrying the arrow.
Kang!
The sound of iron friction resonated sharply.
In an instant, Jenna drew her dagger and blocked the blade.
“It was like that. Something was strange.”
Blade and blade collide.
Jenna moved flexibly and swung the dagger, but there was a gap. She stabbed her sword in the second of Jenna’s movements.
“Oops!”
Jenna hurriedly retrieved the dagger and backflipped back. and shoot again.
Switching between weapons is smooth without water leaks. It was the effect of switching.
“It’s light.”
The arrow caught in the trail of the sword fell like a moth.
There was no need to use a shield. The moment you shoot, you know where it will fly. Dodges three arrows with one step. Broke two arrows with one swing.
“this…….”
Suddenly, Zena’s quiver was empty.
I threw a new quiver full of arrows.
Jenna looked at me as if she was dumbfounded.
Remnants of broken arrows were scattered on the floor of the training ground.
“Is that a skill too? Blocking everything.”
“okay.”
“It’s a scam. It doesn’t work at all.”
“If there is a blocking skill, shouldn’t there also be a piercing skill?”
Jenna tilted her head with a mysterious expression.
At that moment, I ran towards Jenna. The target was her neck, as thin as that of a deer. Right before red blood spurted out, Jenna’s head lowered. The blade cut a shallow cut through Jenna’s hair.
“Gee, you really want to kill me!”
“That would be nice too.”
“Hee!”
Several slashes cut through Zena’s body, but there were no fatal wounds that could stop the sparring.
You can cut your neck.
The stomach may be torn.
Any fatal wound is fine.
As long as you don’t die instantly in one hit, it’s fine.
In the past, Jenna shot an arrow from afar and I stood still to block it, but with that level of training, I got to the point where I couldn’t get angry. In order to level up the skill, more severe conditions were required.
Weapons for combat, no rules.
until the opponent dies.
After the strike, it is a sparring method devised for more efficient training and not to forget the sense of actual combat. The guys who didn’t go through a proper battle looked at us like this and whispered that we were crazy, but they didn’t care. The results will tell who will survive longer.
At the training ground, onlookers stood in a circle watching us.
‘Am I your spectacle?’
I was annoyed for a moment, but it wasn’t worth worrying about.
Ignored it and continued sparring.
ping! Peeping!
dodge and dodge
either an arrow or a dagger. Actions to be taken were drawn naturally. The sword moved naturally without intention. My weapon skills were already approaching the border of unconsciousness beyond the conscious level.
Jenna evaded each of the sword attacks with her nimble movements, but the wounds could not be stopped. She sees gaps so when she shoots an arrow it gets blocked. Her dagger cannot beat the reach of her longsword.
After taking a long jump back, Jenna clicked her tongue.
“No, what are you doing!”
18 wins out of 19.
These are the results of the match between me and Jenna.
Of course, the 18th win was me. The first time I lost was close to an accident caused by coincidence. The matchmaking was too unfavorable.
“Are you going to surrender? Aaron is waiting.”
“Oh, no, I’m fine…”
Aaron waved his hand.
Incidentally, that guy’s record is 32 losses out of 32 matches.
It was never longer than 10 minutes.
‘Should I put two people in at once?’
In my opinion, it was time to raise the level of the 6th level lower swordsmanship and the 2nd level of the throwing defense skill. If you have a chance, you will soon be able to break through the wall.
As I was thinking about my skills, Jenna shook her head.
“No. I’ll try a little longer.”
“Then go.”
I straightened my sword and ran.
That moment.
[Teeling!]
[‘Jenna (★)’ has learned ‘Find Weakness’!]
A red cross-shaped light flashed in Jenna’s eyes.
ping! Ping Ping!
Three arrows flew at intervals.
Due to the effect of the throw defense, the trajectory, speed, and destination are drawn in my mind.
“…”
The arrows of the three arrows are delicately connected, aiming for a gap.
The way I deal with arrows is to dodge or block them. With that, you can neutralize up to the second arrow. However, the third and last arrow was aiming precisely where it could not be dealt with.
Kang!
I ricocheted the third arrow into my shield.
It was the first shield to use in the sparring with Zena.
“kid!”
Jenna let out an exasperated exclamation.
I muttered with my sword hanging down.
“Where did you learn this?”
“I just thought. I heard that if there is a blocking skill, there is also a piercing skill, so I’m going to pierce it…”
Originally, I was going to give a hint after the sparring.
There are two ways for Jenna to overcome her current difficulties. You can either shoot so hard that you can’t block it, or you can shoot it where it’s hard to block. The first is the strong bow skill, and the second is the weak spot that Jenna just acquired.
‘It’s fun.’
I just threw it out in passing, but I guess it’s because I got a skill. Moreover, finding weakness was one of the skills with significant synergy with rapid fire.
I don’t think it’s necessary to include Aaron.
I lowered my sword.
“I’m going again.”
“It won’t be easy.”
Rules were established for the arrows that were shot at random.
After forcing an action with the first arrow, aim for the vital spot with the second or third arrow. Or vice versa, mix fakes. It has become several times more difficult to deal with.
It is now possible to contain falsehood in arrows.
[‘Jenna(★)”s ‘Lesser Archery’ has risen to Lv.6!]
Arrows fly incessantly.
In the past, I would have cut them off all at once and narrowed the distance, but the gap between Jenna and me was not easily narrowed. Shields are not used unless in an emergency. It was training to acquire skills to the last.
You have to go beyond simply looking at the trajectory.
If you can understand the meaning of the arrow.
Time slowed down.
I began to see something like a white thread attached to the tip of the arrow.
[Skill awakening!]
[Tarran!]
[‘Han (★★)”s ‘throwing defense’ has risen to Lv.3!]
[‘Han (★★)”s ‘Lesser Swordsmanship’ has risen to Lv.7!]
[‘Han (★★)’ has acquired ‘Insight’!]
Can-can-can-can!
I approached, hitting every single arrow.
Then, I pointed the blade at Jenna’s neck, who was looking at me with an absurd expression.
“With this, am I 19 approval?”
“A monster, a monster…”
A voice came from among the crowd of onlookers.
When I looked away, they scattered like ants.
insight.
It helps distinguish illusions, and slightly enhances vision. Also, it was a versatile skill that gave corrections to weapon skills. It seems that there are also some effects that I am not aware of.
‘How many skills do you have?’
A status window popped up.
[Han Israt (★★) Lv. 11 (Exp 53/110)]
[Class: Novice]
[Strength: 27/27]
[Intelligence: 10/10]
[Health: 25/25]
[Agility: 25/25]
[Possessed Skills: Lesser Swordsmanship (Lv.7), Throwing Defense (Lv.3), Insight (Lv.1), Fire Resistance (Lv.2), Pain Resistance (Lv.3), Calmness (Lv.3), Berserk (Lv.1), Riding (Lv.1)]
‘That’s a bit much.’
Lesser Swordsmanship, Throw Defense, Insight, Fire Resistance, Pain Resistance, Composure, Berserk, Equine Skills, 8 in total. It’s too many skills for a 2 star level 11 to have.
Coincidentally, Jenna and Aaron were talking about skills.
“Aaron oppa, how many skills do you have?”
“Me? Hmm. Lesser spearmanship, pain tolerance, fire resistance. There are three of them. How about Miss Jenna?”
“Low-level archery, low-level daggers, switching, rapid fire, spotting weak points, hawk eyes, quick movements… there was something else.”
“Enough.”
Aaron murmured in a melancholy voice.
I intervened.
“Having a lot of skills doesn’t mean you’re strong.”
The strength of a skill is determined by the level and synergy rather than the number of branches.
In the case of possessing the opposite skill, it could have turned into a negative. For example, my zeal and composure. This turned out to be a bit of an odd case.
‘The strong side is right.’
With quick movements, forest hunters, and fire resistance.
Zena’s skills were 9 in total.
Anyway, even in the ensuing training, Amkena was steadily operating the waiting room.
The sound of Issel calling for members to go to the dungeon resounded incessantly. The equipment factory was in operation day and night, and a message announcing a 1-star summon came to mind. One thing I would like to point out is that it does not synthesize, but if you read the document I sent you properly, you will be able to learn how to operate it.
The 15th floor is right in front, but it looks like there is room for the time being.
After the strike, I went to the dungeon a few times, but all of them were on the 10th floor or lower.
It seemed that he would not let go of the 15th floor unless he had grown to some extent.
I also don’t want to repeat the hardships of the 5th and 10th floors.
I wanted to compete when I was in my best condition. Even if you do that, you can’t guarantee 100% survival.
Aaron grabbed his spear with a nervous expression and came out to the arena.
I straightened my sword.
