Chapter 14 (2/2)

Congratulations! You have earned 1 stat point(s).

Congratulations! You have earned 1 stat point(s).

Congratulations! You have earned 1 stat point(s).

Congratulations! You have earned 5 stat point(s).

Congratulations! You have earned 1 stat point(s).

Congratulations! You have earned 1 stat point(s).

Congratulations! You have completed the Disciple of Shal Path! You have learned “Phantom Half-Step Lvl 1”.

It was 24 distributable points in total, and upon Shal’s urging, Randidly chose to put it all into Willpower. Immediately, he felt his mind sharp and clear. There was a focus that he hadn’t possessed before. Although focus isn’t such a good word for it, due to the stat labeled focus....

With firm eyes, he met Shal’s gaze.

Shal grinned. “Good. Finally some spunk. What skills did you learn?”

At the end, Shal grunted. “Your luck is pretty good. Those are all core skills. Now… show me this half step. It appears to be an inferior version of the ‘Step of the Spear Phantom’.”

Randidly did so. It was a skill that needed a target, so Randidly targeted Shal. Immediately, Randidly felt something strange. He could use it in two ways, away, or towards. Deciding to do towards, Randidly stepped.

He immediately appeared halfway between his original position and Shal. He tried again, stepping backwards. But unfortunately, the skill took 80 stamina, and he barely had enough to use it once.

But Shal didn’t require anymore demonstrations, and grim faced, began the training.

‘The great weakness of the Step of the Spear Phantom is the lack of utility. It can cross vast gulfs to appear before an opponent, but the distance is such that you must immediately attack, or risk the opponent getting within you guard. But this Half Step of his…. Although it is clearly a strange mutation…. Its potential is limitless…!’

****

Although Randidly’s Willpower had reached the level Shal desired, the training continued, focusing on the new skills that Randidly had learned. If anything, it intensified.

It was brutal, and every day the training ended not because of weariness, but that Randidly’s injuries had reached the point where he couldn’t continue.

There was a small part of Randidly’s heart that was unsatisfied at the continued trainings, but one day, as if sensing this, Shal allowed Randidly to fight against a howler monkey.

The experience quickly dispelled any lingering doubts in Randidly’s heart; he remained weak. Although he had mana skills, the howler monkey’s vastly superior health let it force health trades that Randidly could not keep up with. Very soon, Randidly was out of mana, and only Mana Shield and Entangling Roots allowed Randidly to escape, fleeing back to Shal, who watched on with cool eyes.

“Why did you lose?” Shal spared the monkey a glance, and it was enough to send it stumbling backwards, unwilling, but intimidated by the obvious power of Shal.

“....The difference in stats…..” Randidly finally said unwillingly.

Nodding slowly, Shal finally said. “...and it will continue as such until you leave this place and find a Guide to give you a class. So what will you do?”

Clenching his fist, Randidly said. “Raise my skill level to the point that stats become meaningless.”

Shall simply laughed.