Chapter 45: Hard Truths

Chapter 45: Hard Truths

Chapter 45

Kai felt somewhat disoriented, his mind floating outside his body. He chose to fight that snake on a whim. As a symbolic step forward.

Oh boy, did he get more than he bargained for. He had not expected the snake to be half as strong. Just a dumb beast, a bonk on the head and it was done.

Moui gave him a piece of cloth, waking him from his reverie. Kai stared at it blankly for a moment, then his brain kicked back in.

Im covered in snake blood.

Back in his own body, the metallic smell of blood was nauseating. He did his best to rub his face and hands clean, but he would need a change of clothes.

Realizing he was still sitting on the ground staring at his bloodied hands, he tried to get a grip on himself.

People say all well that ends well. Kai wasnt sure the saying was entirely true.

What should I do?

The pain in his body gave him the answer. Checking himself, he might have a couple bruised ribs, but no broken bones. He didnt prepare much for this trip, but he had the foresight to pack his best healing potion.

Walking to where he left his bag, he took out a vial filled with a light greenish liquid and downed it in one sip.

He could immediately feel the foreign energies enter his body and start healing him. After the deal with the merfolk, he had a few ingredients left. The grade of the potion wasnt high, but it had been brewed singularly and easily reached perfect quality.

A minute later he could already feel his wounds getting better. His mind was getting clearer too. It had been only two days since his last weekly XP summary, but he was curious.

*Ding*

Life Experience: 316 XP - Skill Experience: 200 XPThis chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.

The skill XP must be from Reading and Sneak, but he focused on the other number.

Towards the end of his time at the estate, before reaching Orange, he rarely got more than 70 XP. No matter how challenging, after many months of the same, it became ordinary and his gains slowly trickled down.

After he advanced his race, his numbers significantly increased, easily staying around 150 XP each week. As he got used to his new advantages, he knew they were going to gradually decrease again.

316 XP was a new record and it had not even been a week. Fighting to the death a red-tier boa was certainly an experience both new and challenging. He didnt look forward to repeating that anytime soon before he was more prepared.

Glancing at Moui, he wondered if he should be angry.

In the end, he didnt feel any resentment. The fight had felt far too close for comfort, but he had not asked for help and his gains had been tremendous. It would have taken just a moment for Moui to take out the snake, so he never was in serious danger of death.

Moui was dealing with his prey. He had cut off the mangled head of the boa and was bleeding the remains.

He had never killed a living being before. Well, he killed a ton of insects, but creepy crawlies didnt count.

This serpent was different. It might not have been smart like a human or even a dog, but it had some intelligence and it did not want to die. He had been the one to end its life.

In the struggle for life and death, it had been the snake or him. No room for compromise, no time to think.

Should I feel guilty?

He always enjoyed eating meat. This snake probably had a better life than every chicken or pig on Earth. It had got his chance to grow and be free. Then it attacked him and met its match.

Not really a fair fight since Moui would have killed it anyway if he lost, but as close as the snake could hope for.

Sorry buddy, life aint fair. I hope you enjoyed choking your prey while you were alive.

A question still hung in Kais head. Uncle, why was it so strong? I know Im small and all, but you told me the boa was young too. It felt like his stats were higher than mine even if Im Orange.

Moui gave him one of those looks adults used with naive children. Kai had seen that many times when kids who barely knew how to swim told the veteran sailors how to improve their fishing.

Is it really such a bad question? Am I an arrogant prick?

You are still young and dont understand what its like. Moui's tone was hard. At your age, new skills grow fast, everything is fun and exciting. As you get older your skills will slow down. Sometimes getting stuck at the same level for months.

Cant you just switch skills for some easy XP if thats the case? Kai asked with a little voice.

Have you ever tried discarding a skill over level 50?

Kai shook his head.

Well, after you try you might have a different idea. You can keep a slot to cycle low-level red skills. But people need to work, spending months learning a new skill for a couple thousand XP is not something everyone can afford. You can only gain XP from a skill level once, so you have to use a different skill each time. Eventually, youll run out of easy skills to level. The ones remaining will require more and more time for fewer gains. I know many people who tried it. Most didnt last a season and they all gave up before a year had passed.

By the time most people reach Orange they need to start working, having one less skill slot than everyone else on top of the time investment is a great handicap. Adding the repeated trauma of discarding a skill for little gains, its not worth the hassle.

Kai listened to every word, Moui seemed very knowledgeable on the topic. To reach his level he had probably considered all these strategies, maybe also tried them.

What about Life Experience then? Can you not slowly accumulate that? Kai said.

Moui threw him a look and started laughing. Kai huffed annoyed.

Whats so funny about that?

The hunter had completely abandoned any attempt at stealth, laughing aloud. Above them, several birds took flight scared by the sound.

Bless the spirits. He dried a few tears from his eyes. Im sorry, I shouldnt have laughed, it was cruel. It would indeed be easy to slowly accumulate Life Experience, wouldnt it?

Kai raised an eyebrow questioningly. What was he missing? He knew Life Experience slowed down if you didnt constantly try new things, but even 50 XP a week would accumulate to thousands over many years.

Moui looked at him with a little pity. I shouldn't have said anything. People keep quiet not to discourage the young, but I suppose now its too late for that. Im sorry to tell you this, but you wont get any Life Experience after you get a profession.

Kai stared at him blankly.

What the actual fuck!?

Understanding his reaction, uncle Moui continued. Life Experience is a bonus people under fourteen get to encourage them to be curious and explore. After you get a profession, youve chosen your path. Youll only get experience from actions related to your profession.

Its not as bad as it sounds. You can gain far higher XP from your profession and the diminishing returns are not so harsh, but the scope of possibilities is much smaller. Thats another reason why few people train red skills for XP: you wont get any bonus for having done something new.

Kai was shocked by the revelations. It was lucky Mouis skill kept insects away because something could have easily gotten into his mouth.

His uncle continued to explain. For most people only general skill XP will go towards their race enhancement. You can choose to siphon your profession XP towards it too, but almost no one does that. Professions may be even harder to level than race, but they give constant benefits, not just a big reward at the finish line.

The hunter sighed and stopped walking. Kai, seeing the numbers of the Guide go up fast is a magnificent feeling and spurs you to keep pushing. But eventually, they slow down for everybody.

I know of people who havent looked at their Guide in years. Seeing all your progress recorded in simple numbers is nice when youre growing, but it can also be an undeniable reminder of your failures.

Everyone wants to think of themselves as somewhat special in their head, but as you meet more people and compare your numbers, youll sooner or later find someone better than you. Their levels grow faster with less effort. No matter how hard you try, you cant catch up.

For some, it happens quite soon, for others it takes more time, but it happens to everybody. The Guide becomes the irrefutable proof that somebody else is just better than you. It will happen to you too one day and it will be a very hard truth to swallow.

After that, they continued to walk in silence for the rest of the journey.

He was completely lost in his thoughts as they left the Veeryd jungle. The sun showed it was late afternoon. They stopped at a wooden cabin on the outskirts of the forest that was commonly shared by the hunters to skin and gut the snake and other prey.

After that, they agreed to meet again tomorrow for Kai to keep his end of the deal and help the hunter with his mana presence problem.

Kai walked alone into town passing from old town with his snake packaged in the backpack.

He had a lot to think about.