Chapter 973 (1/2)

After finishing off all of the nearby monsters and gathering the almost five hundred bodies of the golems, Randidly had gained two more Levels and reached Level 47. Truly, spending a small amount of time grinding experience was an extremely relaxing and rewarding experience.

But that was ultimately just a distraction. Scratching his head, Randidly ultimately decided to gamble on the Experimenter Path. The further he pushed his ability to create and Engrave now, the more it would benefit him in the future.

Yet it feels sorta dangerous to invest so completely in one area of myself with all this PP… Randidly thought idly. But still, he trusted his instincts. He could always earn more PP in the future. But it would be difficult to find an opportunity to boost a passive Skill like this again without the assistant of a Path or a powerful image.

When he poured PP into the Experimenter IV Path, he obtained 2 Perception, 2 Control, and 2 Focus for every 50 PP spent. With the additional boosts from the Levels he had gained recently, these bonuses pushed Randidly’s Control beyond 1000.

At first, Randidly thought nothing of it. But almost immediately, he felt a very distinct sensation of empowerment. Before he actually finished the Path, Randidly paused and lifted up his hand to look at it.

Information flowed into him about every small muscle group in his hands. As he traced the sensation, Randidly realized that he could distinctly feel each tendon and nerve ending in his entire body. As his focus shifted up into his brain, Randidly felt the flow of blood and the slow secretion of neurotransmitters. If he desired, he could spike the amount of adrenaline within his body in a heartbeat.

It’s not so much anything really changed… Randidly thought slowly. The value of each point in Control didn’t grow. In fact, the diminishing returns are still there. But it feels like… reaching 1000 Control opened a door of knowledge within myself. It isn’t just that I can exercise Control, but that I was given the knowledge of how to do so…

Randidly rubbed his front teeth against his lip. It was a valuable bonus. Already, this strange implicit knowledge made itself extremely valuable by providing several key insights on how Randidly could improve his root avatar training methods for the spear. Likely, Randidly would focus his efforts toward getting another Stat to 1000 in the near future, to see if it happened again. But it still disturbed him quite a bit that it had happened.

...the more I learn, the more I realize why the Creature so desperately feared the System, Randidly thought with a grimace. But I still don’t believe running away is the correct answer. This Path… my Path… is the right one for me.

After experimenting with his new awareness, Randidly finished off the Experimenter IV Path.

Congratulations! You have completed the Experimenter IV Path! What waits in the summit? That question drives you forward like a taskmaster. Many things are sacrificed in the ascent, but the certainty that this will be worth it never weakens. Nay, perhaps because of the lack of assurance, your Faith grows stronger. Willpower +100. The Skill Creator’s Aptitude (A) has evolved into Experienced Creator’s Ingenuity (A). The chance of all prior positive outcomes occurring has increased.

Randidly was not amused by the text of the Path reward, even if the 100 Willpower boost was nice. It pushed his Willpower to 920, which meant that would likely be the Stat he attempted to get to 1000 next.

Randidly was also not amused that the bonus to the Skill was slight, and it hadn’t even been enough to lift the Rarity of the Skill to Legendary. Instead, it continued to sit at ancient. And now, waiting in his Path Menu, was the Experimenter V Path, requiring 3000 PP.

Sighing, Randidly began distributing some of the free Stats he had earned in the past couple days. When he pushed his Willpower to 1000, he did once again feel the immediate shift in perspective. Rather than having increased understanding of how Willpower worked, what Randidly received was a sense of familiarity over the varieties of Willpower.

A firm Willpower that endured over a long period of time. That was a portion of Randidly’s Willpower, but he often switched it out for other varieties during tough moments...

A sharp, knife edge Willpower that cut through even the worst mental agony and spat in the face of its opponents. This was generally what Randidly relied upon. Ever since he had acquired Cruel Indignation of Yggdrasil, it was this will that carried him forward. Yet Randidly let his consciousness wander, finding other methods of using his will..

A vast, almost liquid Willpower that accepted all comers, becoming increasingly influential as it grew.

A fiery Willpower that devoured those weaker than it and grew even brighter and more scalding.

This strange knowledge was much less straightforward. But Randidly immediately saw the different varieties of Willpower could be used in conjunction with different images. Although he had always prided himself on his own determination, Randidly couldn’t deny that his own standoffish personality had pushed his World Tree image toward his Crown and Cruel Indignation. His own pride was a part of his typical Willpower.

Randidly remained thoughtful as he continued to distribute his Stats, next intending to raise Agility to 1000 to see those results. After he finished, Randidly considered his Status screen.

Randidly Ghosthound

Class: Lord of the Baleful Wood (+x5)

Level: 47 (21%)

Health(/R per hour): 5046/5954 (3529)

Mana(/R per hour): 3986/7344 (2174)

Stam(/R per min): 4713/5369 (1183)

Vit: 672

End: 348

Str: 592

Agi: 982