Chapter 22

And come they did, in the dead of night, a column of goblins and wolverines, seemingly working together. What was most interesting was that a goblin with a green name to lead them. Lvl 7 Goblin Warband Leader.

It wasn’t what he needed to found the Newbie Town, but it at least proved that higher level monsters among the goblins existed.

The darkness was nothing for his Eyes of the Spear Phantom , and when they had come within range, he abruptly stood, shooting 20 mana bolts off in quick succession. In the cloudy night, the bolts burned like lightning across the goblins retinas, and those not struck and killed screeched in confusion, blinded.

Randidly rapidly downed three mana potions and strode forward, as the goblins gathered more tightly together, rushing towards him.

With a grin, he raised a hand and shot an arcane orb towards the group, which exploded in a mass of gore. And apparently the sound had finally awoken the people behind Randidly, who began to come out, confused and blinded by the dark.

Strangely, the green named goblin barked something in its language and most of the goblins turned and fled. Incensed, the wolverines still rushed forward, their eyes covered in a haze of bloodlust, and Randidly moved forward, calmly ripping the remaining monsters to pieces, Haste enabled to give him a small, extra edge.

By the end of the night, Randidly was delighted to discover that he had gained points in Spear Mastery, Mana Bolt, and Haste. Using the 3 pp raised the level of Green Spear Mastery to 170, granting him another point in Vitality.

Randidly took a quick glance at his status.

Randidly Ghosthound

Class: ---

Level: N/A

Health(/R per hour): 206/255 [+6] (102.75 [+9])

Mana(/R per hour): 139/228 (50.25)

Stam(/R per min): 105/186 (37 [+3])

Vit: 30 [+3]

End: 27

Str: 16

Agi: 40 [+3]

Perception: 22

Reaction: 24

Resistance: 9

Willpower: 52

Inteligence: 50

Wisdom: 30

Control: 21

Focus: 16

Equipment: Average Leather Tunic Lvl 5: (+2 Vit), Gloves of Quickness (Vit +1. Agi +3)

PP:

Paths: Newbie 7/7, P.Def 10/10, M.Supp 10/10, Risk Taker 15/15, Basic Physical Fitness 20/20, Trainee 15/15, Wandering Survivor 20/20, Pathless I 5/5, Pathless II 5/5, Pathless III 10/10 ,Pathfinder 15/15, Disciple of Shal 37/37, Pathless IV 10/10, Pathless V 15/15, Pathless VI 15/15, Pathless VII 20/20, Pathless VIII 20/20, Pathless IX 25/25, Pathless X 50/50, Pathless 100/100, Mana Bolt Path 25/25, Phys Fitness 25/25, Evasion 35/35, Phantom Thrust Path 40/40, Spear Mastery I 48/50

Skills: Running: Lvl 16, Physical Fitness Lvl 23, Sneak Lvl 19, Farming Lvl 17, Mana Bolt Lvl 28, Heavy Blow Lvl 19, Acid Resistance Lvl 22, Poison Resistance Lvl 14, Sprinting Lvl 13, Iron Skin Lvl 24, Equip Lvl 15, Plant Breeding Lvl 9, Meditation Lvl 26, Dagger Mastery Lvl 8, Entangling Roots Lvl 26, Mana Shield Lvl 21, Dodge Lvl 25, Potion Making Lvl 19, Analyze Lvl 24, Pathfinding Lvl 6, Mapmaker Lvl 3, Spear Mastery Lvl 38, Phantom Thrust Lvl 37, Pain Resistance Lvl 11, Fighting Proficiency Lvl 27, First Aid Lvl 12, Block Lvl 24, Spear Phantom’s Footwork Lvl 21, Eyes of the Spear Phantom Lvl 14, Phantom Half-Step Lvl 4, Mental Strength Lvl 8, Curse Resistance Lvl 3, Root Manipulation Lvl 19, Green Spear Mastery Lvl 170, Arcane Orb Lvl 14, Haste Lvl 10, Phantom Onslaught Lvl 9

Even without a class, the addition of Green Spear Mastery giving him bonuses every 5 PP used had begun to add up in terms of stats. And with all his skills…

Still feeling the fire in his blood from battle, Randidly settled back, moving slowly through the spear forms taught to him by Shal. The point he reached now was good, but it wasn’t enough. He needed strength. Strength to find Sydney and Ace out here, in this huge area. And that would only come by squeezing as much benefit out of the down time as possible.

Roots began to wiggle underneath his feet, pleased to feel the flow of his mana.

Randidly made a mental note to ask about glass containers for potions later.

****

The greatest pleasure of the morning was that moment when he got a notification that his farming had increased to 18. Grinning, he looked over at his farming area to see that several sprouts had come up.

The rest of the people who were staying in the area were also up and awake, and Tera, Donny, and Chubbs were looking with open mouths at the piles of bodies. The old man just folded his arms, his reaction to be even more inscrutable.

Randidly nodded in satisfaction. “I’m going to go find the goblin boss.”

“Uh, before you go,” Donny said, his voice rather high pitched, “Can you give us some pointers on Skill Levels…? I know you said practice but…. To get that strong…”

“Simply practice. Raise Skill Levels.” Randidly answered reflexively.

But Donny kept pushing. “Well what sort of skills are there?”

After a bit of hesitation, Randidly answered. “...I believe they can be anything. I have skills for using the spear and for casting spells, but also strange things. Farming. Running. Physical Fitness.”

“Woodcutting, Cooking, Cleaning, anything.” The old man said noncommittally, spitting over to the side.

Then he nodded towards Randidly. “I’d like to speak with you when you return.”

He turned and walked away, and Randidly left the three teens with their thoughts.

****

Covered in gore, in possession of several more items than he had departed with, and very pleased about the whole trip, Randidly returned to the valley to find some very dramatic changes had happened in a short amount of time.

Someone had constructed a short wooden fence around most of the area that Randidly had planted his seeds in, which were now visibly sprouting and growing, leaving small openings to enter the tiny fields. There was also a raised platform made from cut wood in the center of the field area, which would provide a good view of the surroundings. The surrounding area was now strew with large logs and piles of firewood. Someone had dug out a fire pit and lined it with stones, and now a wolverine was spitted over it, roasting slowly.

Most interest was that a second, smaller dwelling, or at least the bones of one, had gone up next to the cabin. Tera, Chubs, and Donny were furiously dragging smaller, cut saplings over to stack, serving as the walls.

Their constant bickering could be heard from far away, but Randidly ignored it, heading to the fire pit, where the old man stood.

The old man grunted in acknowledgement as Randidly arrived. “Wood Cutting Lvl 4, Wood Working Lvl 5, Construction Level 3, Animal Skinning Level 4, Hunting Lvl 2, Axe Mastery Lvl 4. I currently have 16 PP, I haven’t spent any of them. Any recommendations?”

Randidly frowned casting his memory back. “...you have the Newbie path available?”

The old man nodded. “As well as Woodsman and something with question marks.”

Nodding, Randidly said. “Finish off the Newbie path, it should only take 7 pp. Then you will get mana bolt and heavy blow, two active skills that you can use while you raise your passive skills. From there you will just need to continue to practice.”

“And for the stats?” The old man asked.

Randidly briefly explained his understanding on what the stats affected. Then he asked. “Is this what you wanted to talk about?”

“No, but…” The old man removed the skinned wolverine and checked it. “Perhaps it won’t matter. Did you find whatever you were looking for.”

Randidly smiled and produced a glowing golden coin.

You have 1 Gold Nexus coin! Use? Y/N

Without thinking about it too much, Randidly selected yes.