Chapter 411 (1/2)

Congratulations! You have reached Level 2! +5 Stats distributed between Vitality, Perception, Resist, Intelligence, and Control, +3 Free Stats! +1 Stat to a Mental Stat. +1 to a Physical Defense Stat. +1 to a Mental Support Stat. +1 Control. +20 Health, +24 Mana, +23 Stamina, +.5 to all Regenerations! +1 to Health and Stamina Regeneration! +20 Progenitor’s Influence.

Congratulations! You have reached Level 3! +5 Stats distributed between Vitality, Perception, Resist, Intelligence, and Control, +3 Free Stats! +1 Stat to a Mental Stat. +1 to a Physical Defense Stat. +1 to a Mental Support Stat. +1 Control. +20 Health, +24 Mana, +23 Stamina, +.5 to all Regenerations! +1 to Health and Stamina Regeneration! +20 Progenitor’s Influence.

Luckily for Randidly, the way the System worked meant that he received double as much experience for the deaths of the cats once he reached Level 2, and that was then enough to push him to Level 3 before the end of the battle, earning him an… almost intimidating amount of stats.

No wonder so many people went for this Class thing. It was incredibly useful.

That wasn’t all the notifications he had received from the fight, either.

After being summoned, the stats of the Strength Grove Defenders has slightly increased! Punching power increased! Health slightly increased! They have learned the Skill Grappling Mastery! It has increased to Level 20!

The gorilla things might have looked rather silly, but they were basically walking wrecking balls, absolutely demolishing any enemies they came in contact with. They might be relatively smaller than people, but it wasn’t that much smaller, and they were at least as tall on their legs as a cat was on all fours, putting them in perfect position to pummel the resistance out of the cats.

And they were a very necessary part of the reason that the group held out. All told, they probably were forced to kill a little over 200 of the fuckers before they became wary and retreated. Which probably meant they would need to face a boss soon, but… Randidly was much more pleased that he had finally leveled up, so he didn’t really get annoyed by the coming fight all that much.

Perhaps this fight would even give them a clue with which they could look for the Key of Death, which was unlikely, but it would be nice.

Under Rose’s direction, the group moved forward in a much more discernable formation, prepared for a second surprise attack. None came, and the group just explored the huge cathedral, taking more than an hour to cross the distance to the front doors, which had broken and fallen, letting them out into the air.

Randidly looked around. The cathedral was located on a low hill, surrounded by similar rolling hills if a bit smaller than the one they were currently on. Below them, a few miles away, there was a river and flowed off towards the horizon. It was night, but in the sky, Randidly could see several small tears, probably made when he had lashed out at the Raid Dungeon using Aether Manipulation.

Grimacing, he turned away from those and looked at the other landmarks that dotted the horizon. Randidly spun on his heel, then leaped up and climbed the cathedral, so he could get a better look.

This turned out to be a lot harder than it had seemed, simply because of how long it took to climb the enormous building, but eventually, Randidly sat on top of it, scanning the horizon. There were three of these strange things, and honestly… it was good enough of a clue for Randidly, as to where to go next.

They were strange towards, but extremely… almost lumpy at the top, and haphazard. It honestly looked like someone had speared a giant beehive and then driven the weapon into the ground, holding the beehive aloft. There was a strange monstrousness to the shape of it, something that made Randidly sure that this was not created by people.

One even appeared to be rather near them, and Randidly made a mental note to head in that direction. Clicking his tongue, Randidly started the long climb back towards the ground.

****

Drake slowly sipped at the bowl of soup that was given to him, his eyes on the ring of stones just outside the fire ring. To give the illusion that he was lost in thought, but also not blinding himself for a few precious seconds by staring directly into it, in case some other monster attacked.

Due to him being close to a Level already, Drake had gained two levels in the previous clash the cats, which was pleasing. He even gained about a dozen Skill Levels, fighting for that time, defending against the cats flanking tactics. But his mind couldn’t dwell on these happy thoughts, because it was focused on other matters; his fellow team members.

The Ghosthound was obviously the focus of most of Drake’s scrutiny because he looked with the purpose of knowing these fighters, should they ever end up on opposite sides. But contrary to what Drake expected, the Ghosthound had stayed rather passive, allowing other people to fight at the front, while he had supported with his roots… and also with those strange apes.

Shivering, Drake scooped another bite of soup into his mouth. Those three pets that the Ghosthound had summoned had torn the cats apart limb from limb. Although they weren’t particularly proficient at catching them, or controlling their bodies, once they had their hands on an enemy…