Chapter 189: Sadistic training.

Chapter 189: Sadistic training.

After Ashs initial shock died down, he still refused to talk to me. Instead, he had decided to start a staring match, leaning his head on his hands while he concentrated on trying to give me a withering glare. It would have worked, if it werent for the dry mans calming presence. He seemed amused by Ashs exaggerated jealousy, but eventually managed to calm him down.

If youve both recovered from your dramatics, Id like to get back on topic. Unlike you two, I dont have all day. You were saying something about rushing your advancement, Arthur?

Right. The thing is, Ive been told that it pays dividends to delay a class evolution for a while if you can squeeze some skill evolutions in beforehand. Supposedly, that would improve the next class you get.

Youve been told correctly, in that case. The value of evolving skills cant be underestimated. The dry man affirmed.

Normally, I would continue to heed that advice. Unfortunately, Ive found myself at a bit of an impasse. My friend and I have been stirring up trouble in a neighbouring country, and were not quite done yet. Weve been a bit out of our depth for a while now and I fear it may get worse before it gets better, which leads me to think that tiering up might alleviate some of the risk involved. At this point, were too far in to give up, so running away isnt a compromise either of us is willing to make, either.

Both men took a moment to consider my situation, until, eventually, Ash was the first to speak.

Since you came all the way here, Im assuming you have some wiggle room when it comes to timing. How long do you have before your self-imposed deadline? Maybe you can place your focus on a few specific skills and get them to the cap in time?

Im expected back at our temporary base in a week, which wouldnt give me enough time to tier up the one skill I have my eyes on, unfortunately.

At this point, the dry man intervened.

Lets talk specifics. I am not going to ask to see your status, but walk me through the skills that youre keeping in contention.

I nodded, pulling up my status screen just for me to see.

Name: Arthur Titles [Dark prodigy] Class: [Hollow essence knight] LVL 100 Strength 1317 Constitution 1376 Dexterity 1317 Intelligence 484 Wisdom 868 Affinity 876 Free stat points 20

Skills:

Passive:

A few hours later, the three of us arrived in a wide open clearing. Quite a distance away from Necropolis, the place was deserted apart from some dead shrubbery, the type that you could find everywhere in the between lands.

Strangely, the density of dark-affinity mana was even higher in this area than it was elsewhere in these lands, something that I had only come across a few times. Even then, the scale of the shift was far more dramatic.

Remember this place, Arthur? This is where the war took place a while ago. Its since been scavenged clean and the bodies have been repurposed, but the mana created by the dead still lingers.

My eyes widened, realisation setting in. Now that I though about it, there was something familiar about the geography of this place. Not familiar enough to make the connection myself, mind you. No, the battle had been far too chaotic for that.

The increased mana density would be useful to fuel my [Dark form] skill as the dry mans plan took place, whatever it turned out to be. An inch away from death, huh? I could handle an inch

After a bit more walking, we stopped in the centre of the clearing, where the older man turned to me.

So, the plan is simple. I will attack you and you will stand there and take it.

If something about the dead-pan stare I answered his monologue with amused the dry man, he didnt show it.

Right so I just need to recover from the wounds you give me. Seems simple enough. You think this strategy will work? I asked.

Suddenly, my legs gave out and I fell to the floor. Surprised by the sudden shift, I tried to right myself up by pushing my hands against the ground, but quickly realised that they werent responding to me either.

Laying down on the dry crust of the earth, I strained my neck to look up, finding four grey whip-like appendages staring down at me, their pointed ends stained in the bright red colour of fresh blood. My blood, I realised, seeing my four appendages laying on the ground a few feet away from me in every direction.

I was distracted from my reverie by the dry mans dull voice.

Itll work, all right. So long as I can find your limits within a reasonable amount of time You can thank me later for taking four days out of my exceptionally busy schedule, young man. I wont even ask for a favour in return...

Something told me that I had underestimated this mans sadism. When the developing stumps that were supposed to grow into new arms and legs were cut off mercilessly before even getting halfway there, my suspicions were affirmed.