Since I'm here, I should take a look at the central room; I was in a bit of a hurry last time.
"Activate stealth!"
HP: 30/50
Once I'm hidden thanks to the skill, I carefully walk back to the well room. I look around and see that there are no goblins; however, several rats nibble at the goblin's corpse. Stealthily, I slowly approach until I am right behind one of the rats, extend my claws and stab the rat's neck, killing it instantly.
⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩⟩
- Congratulations, you have acquired the active skill Sneak Attack!
√ Sneak Attack
√ Level 1
- MP cost: 5
- Attacking from stealth inflicts 5% more damage.
Of course, all the other rats run off and disappear in a matter of seconds, but I don't care because now I have more food. I'm about to return to my room with the rat when I notice that the goblin corpse has a rope belt over its loincloth. I don't want to touch the loincloth, even though I'm tired of being naked, but rope is always useful, so I untie it and remove it from the corpse.
I'm pleasantly surprised to find a dagger sheathed in the belt when I pick it up. Grabbing my loot, I quickly return to my room. Once safely behind the illusory wall, I set the rat on the floor and pull out the dagger to examine it.
I'm immediately disappointed, as it's rusty and looks rather dull, but it's still a weapon, so I decide to see how I can make it useful. I look at the dagger while trying to think of how to remove the rust and sharpen the blade with what I have available.
√ ITEMS.
- Rusty dagger
- Damage: -5
- Durability: 5/30
⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩⟩
- Congratulations, you have acquired the passive skill Observe!
√ Observe
√ Level 1
- Intelligence +1.
Can identify common level items.
Not that you need a skill to identify that this is a rusty dagger, but the increase in Intelligence is beneficial. I try using some coarse dirt to polish the rust off the dagger; it works a bit, but takes a lot of effort. Next, I use a claw to make a notch.
⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩.
- Congratulations, you've acquired the Repair crafting skill!
√ Repair
√ Level 1.
- Strength +1, Intelligence +1
- Intelligence: 21
- Physical: 18
- Charm: 18
- Unspent points: 0
Hmm, my stats have gone up quite a bit just by acquiring skills, but I'm still not healing very fast. I wasn't hungry or thirsty last night when I went to sleep, so that wasn't the reason. maybe healing is that slow without any items? I need a skill to help me heal faster?
Come to think of it, in many martial arts manga characters can use meditation to heal, so maybe I can create a similar skill here. I guess it's worth a try. First, I try to sit cross-legged, but since my legs are bent the wrong way, I find it difficult. It takes me a few minutes to find a way to sit that works with my new legs; then, I slow my breathing and work to clear my mind.
⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩⟩
- Congratulations, you've acquired the passive skill Meditation!
√ Meditation
√ Level 1
- Wisdom +1
- A skill for recovery. HP 5/hour, MP 5/hour
'Yes! It worked!'
Still a bit slow, but it's better than sleeping. At this rate, I can fully heal myself with sixteen more hours of meditation, and maybe I'll get better if I level up the skill. I then meditate for the next two hours.
- MP: 75/145
⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩.
- Congratulations, the Meditation skill has advanced to level 2!
√ Meditation
√ Level 2
- Wisdom +2
- A skill for recovery. HP 5/hour, MP 10/hour
Well, leveling up the skill was pretty easy. My MP recovered, but not so my HP? Maybe the next level will be better. I get up and get something to drink before returning to my meditation. I meditate for four more hours before a sound interrupts my concentration.
MP: 95/145
⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩.
- Congratulations, the Meditation skill has advanced to level 3!
√ Meditation
√ Level 3
- Wisdom +3
- A skill for recovery. HP 10/hour, MP 10/hour
Okay, that's much better. Five more hours of meditation and I'll be completely healed.