Book 1: Chapter 88: Slow Progress and Applying Stats

Book 1: Chapter 88: Slow Progress and Applying Stats

"Hah!" Lone yelled as he slammed his wooden swordspear against the practice dummy.

Sweat flew from his exposed arms and his face as he jumped back and then closed in again to strike once again.

This time Lone spun on his heel to deliver a surprise attack to the dummy's flank.

Both the dummy and the wooden swordspear were heavily dented during the impact and splinters flew everywhere. The dummy, however, bounced right back as if it were some sort of roly-poly doll.

Congratulations! the host's passive skill [Polearm Mastery] has levelled up! It is now Intermediate Level 1.

Congratulations! the host's passive skill [Swordspear Mastery] has levelled up! It is now Advanced Level 5.

2 full weeks of almost nonstop training only for Polearm Mastery to increase by 5 levels and Swordspear Mastery to increase by a measly 4.

Lone threw down his training weapon in frustration and walked over to the nearby bench to sit down and catch his breath.

He took his tank-top off since it was drenched in sweat, revealing his toned body.

Reaching into his Dimensional Storage, Lone pulled out a bucket of water. He brought his lips to its rim and chugged a good third of the entire bucket before he tipped the rest of the water over his head.

'It's not enough,' he thought. 'I was beyond stupid to fix Soph's eyes so impulsively. Unless I use my Tail Spear skill or Mental Destruction and literally kill Daisuke then I probably can't win. He's a C-ranker. That's a gap I can't fill unless I kill the little rat, which, in turn, will only get me killed.'

He sighed deeply and decided to pull up Polearm Mastery's information to distract himself since it had ranked up.

Passive Skill: Polearm Mastery

A skill that allows the host to wield polearms with a decent [up from basic] level of competence.

All polearms used by the host will pierce and cut their targets 15% [+10%] more easily.

Cost:N/A Mastery:Intermediate Level 1

Lone stroked his chin in thought. 'That 'up from basic' is new. I was honestly expecting another resistance case where the only improvement is the percentile one. This is refreshing even if it's vague.'

"Ye've gotten better, Laddie," Grimsley said as he walked around the bench Lone was on and seated himself next to him.

"Grimsley?" Lone asked. "What brings you to the training ground?"

"Ach, ye know the story, Laddie," Grimsley said with a shrug. "Barely ah penny tae ma name. Ah just finished ma shift in the guild's forge. Fookin' 'uman craftmanship is shite as can be but there's still some stuff ah can learn fae it. Ah came here tae watch ya be a daft wee laddie. Nothin' new."

"Daft? What's daft about what I'm doing?" Lone asked as one of his eyebrows wiggled in challenge.

"Haha, Laddie, did naeone teach ya 'ow tae apply yer stats?" Grimsley asked.

The confused look on Lone's face answered his question for him. "Fae Primals's sake... Ah thought yer stats were just so low 'at it had nae impact. At least, 'at's what ah thought when ye were trainin' under me."

"What do you mean? Applying stats? Do you mean they don't passively make me stronger, faster, smarter, and all of that?" Lone asked. Naturally, his curiosity was going through the roof.

Grimsley gave him a mean portion of side-eye. "Laddie, were ya born under ah rock? Who da fook doesnae ken aboot applyin' stats?"

Silence consumed the training area. Gilbert coughed softly and said, "Sorry, Son. I misheard you. 846, yes? Well, in that c-"

"No. 3,846," Lone corrected blankly.

Grimsley laughed loudly. "Laddie, ya really need tae stop teasin' the old goat. One day 'e'll 'ave an 'eart attack."

'... They already know about my ability to create things, Gilbert since I told him and Grimsley since I used it to heal him and his niece as well as break his niece's collar... What's one more secret? I trust them and they can help me get stronger,' Lone thought as he nodded.

"I have a skill that makes it impossible for me to gain stats when I level up based on the life I have lived, instead, I consume a portion of the stats of whatever I kill, be it monster or person," Lone admitted.

Grimsley immediately laughed again. "Ye an' yer jokes, Laddie! As if a skill like 'at exist- Oi, Gilbert, why ain't ya sayin' anythin'?"

"I have heard of such a world skill before," Gilbert admitted. "It and what Lone is describing are not one and the same, but it is definitely possible. We could always simple subdue a monster and have him kill it to test. There are other ways to test stats too as some mercenary guilds require concrete numbers before accepting new members. We could use one such method if you don't believe him."

'Of course, I can tell that the boy isn't lying and it's likely yet another unique skill, but it's best that no one else knows he has more than one of those. A little white lie won't hurt the rude dwarf, now will it?' he thought with a smirk.

Grimsley stroked his long beard thoughtfully before he shook his head. "It disnae really matt'r. World skill, aye? Let's go with 'at then."

"Uh... What exactly is a world skill?" Lone asked. "Let's assume I know and I'm asking for a friend."

"What friend?" Grimsley laughed. "Like ye 'ave any pals, Laddie."

"Hmm. Well, Son, to put it simply, world skills, unlike normal skill, only level up when further understanding of the skill comes to the host. Practice will not equate to additional proficiency," Gilbert explained.

"I see," Lone answered. "So how do I apply stats?"

"That isn't something that can be taught. Everyone has the ability to do it, some just learn faster than others," Gilbert answered in reference to their dwarven companion. "It took me over 200-years to learn how to apply my Magic Power. Just give it time. If you keep being serious with your training then it will come to you sooner or later."

"If yer stats really are 'at 'igh, Laddie, then it should come tae ya pretty quickly. Stat quantity is a pretty important factor fae applyin'," Grimsley added.

Lone nodded, though those answers frustrated him somewhat. 'I could have used an immediate power boost like that. Who'd have thought that my stats weren't being properly applied to my body? It makes sense in retrospect.'

Lone was certainly stronger now than he was back on Goblin Island but he couldn't lift boulders or punch through walls. He couldn't jump 10-metres in the air or flawlessly channel his MP without the help of the associated chants and mental images.

'Well, whatever. I've had enough of a break. I at least want to reach advanced rank in a few more of my melee-based skills. It's doubtlessly better to get stronger in what I can train as opposed to what I cannot train,' Lone thought. "Thanks, Gilbert, Grimsley. I'll be getting back to my training now if you don't need me for anything?"

Gilbert smiled. "I just came to check up on you. I'll be going back to work."

Grimsley shrugged. "Ah ain't busy. Ah think ah'll just bask in the sun over 'ere on this bench while I watch ye fight a losin' battle against 'at there dummy."

"Asshole," Lone said with a grin.

"Aye, what of it?" Grimsley responded in kind as he got comfy. "Well? Get tae work. The dummy willnae wait all day fae ya."

"What, does it have a packed schedule or something?" Lone responded as he picked up his dented wooden dual-ended swordspear.

"Aye. The bugg'r's gotta put up with yer shite all day, hahaha!" Grimsley laughed.