Chapter 182: The Invitation (1)

The arrival of the dawn marked the beginning of a new day and with it, new adventures. As the first rays of the sun peeked through the windows and basked the dark room with its light, the large hump under the blanket began its first movements.

Mere moments later, the blanket was pulled back revealing Aiden's half-naked figure. Last night, after escorting Mary home he returned to the inn and went to sleep, he did not do any Meditation this time around. Although he does not need to sleep every time, he was relatively tired and spent from all the events that transpired yesterday. He also needed the time to slowly recuperate and be at his peak state for today as well.

He was so tired in fact, that he did not wake up early as he usually did before. In return, he felt refreshed and ready for the day. Just for safety, he focused his mind and opened up his status window on the screen, only to let out a satisfied smile as he glanced at his Condition and Soul Power statistics back to being their maximum states.

[Condition: 100%

Soul Power: 1100 - (Level 2 9503 / 10000 XP)]

What surprised him the most was the fact that his level has automatically increased after the completion of the two quests that he took up from the guild yesterday, raising his main stat to just a step higher and closer to his goal of reaching that famed maximum.

Due to the increase in level, just as before, he experienced an increase in his main attributes, raising them by 1 level each, but also removing the accumulated points in the process. Therefore, his new status was as follows:

[Name: Aiden

Race: Primal (Evolver)

Form: Ancient Dragon (Tier 3)

Level: 11 / 100 (50 / 1000 XP)

Condition: 100%

Soul Power: 1000 - (Level 2 - 9503 / 10000 XP)

Experience: 800 XP

Might: 33 (0 / 1000 XP)

Agility: 33 (0 / 1000 XP)

Spirit: 39 (0 / 1000 XP)

Innates:

Dragon's Wrath (Level 2) (0/1000 XP), King's Grip (Level 1) (0/1000 XP), Shapeshifter (Level 1 - 0/5000 XP), Mystic Martial Arts (Level 2 - 0/1000 XP)

Skills:

Primal Absorb (Level 2 - 0 / 1000 XP), Hunt (Level 3 - 10 / 100 XP), Martial Arts (level 3 - 0 / 100 XP), Underwater Breathing (-), Swimming (-), Language: Common (-), Language: Goblin (-), Meditation (-)

Under Analysis:

Rune Magic - Current Progress: 80%, Alchemy (Basic) - Current Progress: 52%, Sword Mastery - Current Progress: 20%, Wind Magic - Current Progress 5%, Spirit Magic - Current Progress - 1%

Effects:

Blessing of Ioris (-), Physical Resistance (level 4 - 0 / 100 XP), Fall Resistance (level 1 - 0 / 100 XP), Water Resistance (level 1 - 0 / 100 XP), Poison Resistance (level 4 - 75 / 100 XP), Psychic Resistance (level 1 - 0/100 XP)]

(AN: It was quite a while ago since I posted a full character sheet, so just as an exception, I added it here. I will also update the one found in the Auxiliary Section in 3 days.)

Looking through the details on the screen, Aiden was quite content with the development of his abilities. The fact that his Poison Resistance could level up so easily, providing him with additional protection against all forms of toxic substances was a welcome development. 

The increase in his three primary attributes was also something that he still couldn't wrap his mind around. Previously as he lived a sheltered life in the forest, he thought that might, agility, and spirit was way above the levels of what humans should be capable of. Whilst this was mostly true, he kept bumping into exception every time. The leader of the examiners in the guild, the old innkeeper, his master, probably granny, and most likely that man with the strange drums as well. They were all unique beings, much stronger and more capable than the rest. Heck, even that annoying brat, Drake and her sister were probably much more capable than the rest.

'Maybe I was wrong…' Aiden thought to himself, thinking about all these existences, exceptions to his theory.

The only thing that slightly soured his otherwise elated mood was the 'Under Analysis' section. For all this time, the days, the months, the years spent with his family, he still couldn't complete the two first and most promising skills he started observing, the Rune Magic and Alchemy. Even worse, after a certain milestone, he kept getting messages that he couldn't increase the progress on the skill by observing the same concoctions, he had to find and observe a variety of potions being made in several sessions. 

As for Rune Magic, that was a skill that he only ever saw Granny performing, and he was helpless in finding new sources. For the other two, the Wind Magic and Sword Mastery, Aiden was fairly certain that if he were to put in the effort, he could learn them with relative ease. 

Unfortunately, he didn't like the feeling of a sword in his hands, he felt that his true potential was constrained with it. He preferred using his own, free hands, and claws for dishing out damage or deflecting against blows. Her transformed, scaled skin was much stronger than the blade of a sword, or even the thin layer of steel of a shield.

He was also fairly certain that as he continued to absorb a variety of monsters and creatures and assimilate its features into his own self, over time, his own skills and traits would be much better than any magical blade found in this vast, expansive world.

He was also very interested in the meaning behind the main level. He managed to reach 11, slowly creeping higher and higher reaching that hundred mark. There was still a good distance, but with every increase, he felt as his own power increased, as the chains that kept him shackled to this mortal plain easing up just a little. What would happen when he eventually reaches it? Was it related to his life force? Would he evolve into an even higher state? Would he die? He had no idea, couldn't even make a guess.

Giving another look-over, Aiden sighed as he closed off the screen. Standing up, he went into the connecting bathroom, and quickly refreshed himself, before equipping the same clothing he wore yesterday. Just like with his choice of weapons, he didn't like most of the clothing, humans or other intelligent creatures liked to wear, it felt restricting. The loose, linen-shirt, and pants he wore was the only piece of clothing that he could endure. It was still a chore though, as every time he would do a complete transformation, he had to make sure to first quickly store them inside his System's Inventory, or they would be ruined.

Another feature he was itching to finally try out and play with was the System's Fusion feature. He never had enough life forms stored to be a worthwhile endeavor, but now, as he held a few prime choices, he could finally have a play with it. Still, as it would force him to stay in a potentially monstrous form for an extended period of time, he still couldn't risk using it in the city and with others close by. Still, he made a mental note that once he finally was left alone and away from civilization, he would spend some time with it.

As he got ready for the day, he walked to the door and left his room. The noise of the morning crowd hit his ears, albeit much quieter than the one he experienced last night. With a smirk stretching across his face, he slowly approached the stairs, looking for a familiar figure on the ground floor. Just like yesterday, he soon spotted the eager and energized figure of his friend, Cole fervently waving in his direction with a large, beaming smile on his face.

Accepting his greeting and giving a wave and a nod back at his direction, Aiden walked down the stairs and made his way towards his friend who was already waiting for him, with two plates of meals ready to be consumed for the breakfast.

"Hey Aiden, Good morning! How are you, how was your night with Mary, huh?" As he got closer, Cole immediately began his assault, trying to pry out all the juicy details his mind could think of.

"Morning Cole. Nothing much, I just escorted her home, and came back." Aiden answered calmly, as he took his seat in front of his friend. As he reached for a plate and a mug to pull closer, Cole didn't give up and attacked with another round of questions.

"What do you mean nothing? Did you guys kiss or something? Come on, don't be like that!"

"Kiss? Why would we kiss?" Aiden looked at his friend with a confused expression. "We just talked, that's all. She is a kind soul and a good friend. I think she is quite similar to my sister, in fact, we talked about that mostly." Aiden answered as he recalled the surprised expression of Mary as he spoke about her meeting Lily.

She hasn't expected that the blonde, cheerful girl that came just a short while ago was somehow related to the boy walking next to her.