Ch 32. Incremental Power

Looking in my hand-mirror caused a smile to break out across my face. System's warning about the threats to come was concerning but I wasn't going to abandon this power. After witnessing this, it was easy to see why. 

Today had been an astounding haul for experience, one that I had decided to spend on raising up my 'fodder' professions. Having two knights doing the frontlines work, not to mention the impervious nature of my armor versus mere rocks, sticks, and waist high rodents made leveling this time quite a safe endeavor. The safety of which allowed me to focus more on raising the lowest leveled classes rather than using my combat based ones, giving me a good mix of experience in each. Even the larger muck rat colonies weren't much of a problem for us, although it may have seemed like an unnecessary risk from the knight's perspective, these large groups were especially lucrative to me. But because of how lucrative it turned out to be, I was actually running into something of a conundrum. That is, where I should be spending the twenty-nine or so skill points that were staring back at me from the mirror's reflection.

[Sword edge] and [inventory] were already becoming too difficult to use properly as it stood. 

Increasing any levels in [Inventory] only gave it more space and more rooms to store things, which wasn't really something I needed right now, not to mention the mental complexity of having to track of the exact placement of items among the small number of relatively small storage rooms was difficult enough already. If I were to increase the size and number of rooms any further, I couldn't imagine the complexity that would entail. It was pretty much certain that I needed more intellect if I wanted to invest any further in that skill. 

Then there was [Sword Edge] where the issue seemed to be a lack of charisma. My soul was simply too weak to use the skill repeatedly, lacking the mana for it. Making the skill any more powerful would only exacerbate this issue, making the skill unusable.  

Furthermore, I was only able to use two classes at once for the time being, at least until level 10 or so when I would be getting 'subclasses' according to System. Considering my current restrictions until then investing in fighting based classes seemed useless at the moment, given that I already had the strongest combination in [Swordsman] [Adventurer]. This made me turn to my support and production classes. Frowning a little as I looked at them. They wouldn't be much help in combat, but perhaps they weren't totally useless. [Identify] seemed somewhat useful, it at least would let me know if I was drinking poison or if an ingredient had a beneficial effect, which would help me not overlook something valuable or dangerous by accident. [Navigation] also seemed somewhat valuable. In the deep wilderness you can't see the sky because of the trees and getting lost is pretty easy. It seemed valuable to have this as a tool in the future, especially in the case that I lose my compass. From what I could tell the skill gave a basic sense of where I was, orienting me relative to places that I knew. While equipping the skill I could feel a vague sense of how far we were from town and what direction I needed to go to get there, the only thing was, I didn't really need it right now. 

Settling this, I spent one point in [Sword mastery] finally bringing it to max, before subsequently maxing out [Identify] with a full nine point investment. As far as what the difference this would have, that was something I'd have to test out over time. I couldn't figure out a use for the remaining 19 skill points, leaving those for later.

As far as attributes went, I was considering putting points into strength to make moving around in armor more comfortable, but so far it hadn't posed large enough an issue to warrant correcting. I was already stronger than what peak human condition would allow, and most knights without magically enhanced equipment were running into the same issue I was, yet they managed it well enough, and my enhanced constitution allowed me to deal with the strain for prolonged periods without much issue. I had put enough points into constitution at this point that now I was having fairly large returns for each additional point.

Considering my new position and likely continued status as a valued member of the kingdom, my biggest worries was probably dying to a lucky blow from some monster. I would have my own core of knights in the future, protecting myself should be the utmost priority, so long as I can survive the others will take care of it for now. I didn't need to necessarily be the most powerful person right now, but I needed to avoid dying while I put on more levels.

The beastkin were one thing, but from what the System told me, I'd eventually be dealing with others with a system like me, even if they weren't getting the same benefits from it as I was. Seemingly I had a bit of time. From our even earlier conversations, System seemed like had already banked a lot of energy from this planet, the Goddess' forces wouldn't put up too much of a fuss until the point that we started going negative. Given that this was linked to my leveling, I could more or less choose when it would occur. Giving me the edge when it came to preparations. I could build up my advantages in preparation for time we come into conflict. 

Investing the full ten points into constitution, I felt my body strengthen tremendously. I was somewhat curious about the exact effects, 45 points now had me on track to something akin to a lesser magical beast, somewhere around 12 times the vital force of an average person. Taking off my iron-scaled gauntlet inlaid with fur, I examined my hand, flexing the fingers back and forth.

Taking my skinning knife from its sheath, I tested the sharpness out on my exposed skin. The skin stretched but didn't break, even under considerable force and the edge sharpened as it was, it was almost like I was dealing with a butter knife rather than a dagger. Withdrawing the knife, the skin itself was smooth and unblemished, and even softer than it was a day earlier despite showing such durability. 

Wrapping things up I signaled to the two knights, ready to retire our outing for the day. I had probably three-hundred additional rat carcasses, not to mention the others I was still hoarding from previous week's solo adventure. Seeing how well the rumors of my space magic and my engagement had spread it should be about time to check in with the guild. Glancing at the two knights who had dutifully guarded me today, I figured it was only appropriate to share some of the spoils. Always a good idea to get along with those charged with protecting your life. Whistling the whole way back as we marched back triumphant.