LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 17: What I Want
I woke up with a start. My eyes started scanning the room before I remembered I was safe. "I am getting tired of being knocked unconscious," I said with a sigh. I pulled the sheets off of me and got to my feet. I bounced on the balls of my feet for a moment before I laughed. It was starting to feel more and more like a video game, only with one hundred percent more pain. I settled down and searched for my quest reward. I found a black box on the table and a set of ten crystals. The crystals were freaky for lack of a better word. They were evenly cut and about the size of a smartphone. They were translucent and slightly foggy on the inside. I picked one up and found it was chilled as if someone had kept it in a refrigerator. "So what do I do with it?" I briefly considered chewing it but I wasn't sure my teeth had been strengthened with the rest of my body. Nor did I want to test how strong a spirit stone was.
I placed it back into the box and closed it. I figured they would explain them and if they didn't I would figure it out. Next, I turned my attention to my status screen. I was now level 16 which was a major plus and my title was upgraded. I spent the free points, this time they went into Wisdom. It was time for me to start focusing again. I wasn't able to compete with the stronger monsters in their attributes. I pulled up the new title and cocked my head.
Tutorial- Quest 7: Survive The Tutorial Reward: All Attributes +10 All Attributes +10%, Potency of Attributes +5%
As soon as I finished reading the improved title my status screen changed. There was now a second number next to each attribute.
Name Amari Jackson
Level 16
Species [2] Human
Affiliation Earth
Manual [1]Ethereal Codex(22%)
Titles Big Game, Chosen, First to Ten, Leader of the Pack, Monstersbane, Overlord Slayer, Overpowered, Prime Hunter, Voyager,
Limited TItles Tutorial-Seventh Assignment
Agility 66 (Increase:50%. Potency:105%)
Constitution 71 (Increase:50%. Potency:105%)
Intelligence 62 (Increase:50%. Potency:105%)
Luck 68 (Increase:50%. Potency:105%)
Perception 57 (Increase:50%. Potency:105%)
Strength 57 (Increase:50%. Potency:105%)
Wisdom 99 (Increase:50%. Potency:105%)
Free Points 0
System Credits 00
It wasn't hard to figure that potency was another modifier but a quick bit of mental math told me the numbers in front of me weren't changed. They only accounted for the 50% increase. I grinned as it dawned on me. The System had hidden values! Since it was both rarer and harder for me to get the "Potency" improvement I had to assume that it was better than a percentage increase. The only question was how much better. I looked around hoping to find a sheet of paper or anything that would let me write. "Ugh alright fine. Potency is above 100%. My title only gave me 5% which means that the base is—" I started laughing when it hit me. Potency referred to how much my points were worth. So I didn't get a 5% boot to my Wisdom. My points in Wisdom were now 5% higher than the number indicated. It made my status screen a liar. I knew it of course but if some spells and skills showed people my screen they would only get a half-truth.
Before I could finish processing the morning hum spread through the room. I shook my head and waved the screen away. I made my way down while debating whether or not I should ask about it. If I did more people would know. More people knowing meant I would lose an advantage. Of course, my real advantage was that I had the boost and they didn't. I decided to spill the beans just as Aina began to speak.
"There are only two more quests. On the thirtieth day, you will be returned to your home world to seek glory and opportunity. It is because of this that the information I have to share with you is more limited. Today we will discuss a reward that many of you have recently received. Spirit Stones. I am pleased to see that none of you brought them with you. They are a key cultivation resource and thus are very valuable. They can be broadly divided into the cultivation realms. Naturally in this corner of space 1st-realm stones are the most common followed by 2nd-realm. As you all are 1st-realm cultivators those are the stones you should be using. They have crystallized energy that naturally forms near areas of spiritual energy concentration."
Aina paused for a moment and let their gaze pass over us. "They are used to quickly restore energy as well as to speed up cultivation. On the off chance that you all find 2nd-realm stones on your planet, I would strongly suggest not using them. Their concentration will be much higher and could blight your channels." They shook their head. "To blight is to burn them with energy. It will make it harder to drain energy and if you blight them bad enough you may never be able to cultivate again. Now if you choose to do so anyway consume the energy slowly. If your body tells you to stop then you stop." For just a moment they locked eyes with me. I gave a subtle nod before they turned away.
"Now the process itself is simple. You use your cultivation method to draw the energy inside you. After that, you cultivate like normal. When the crystal is used up it will fade into nothing and you will be done. Each of you will have a different speed based on your affinities but the process is the same." I blinked in confusion as I processed what they had just said. Someone else beat me to the question.
"Uh, what the hell are affinities?" A young boy called out from right in front of Aina. The question was timed so well that you would have thought he was placed in the crowd.
"Affinity with the Tao. It is unimportant right now but you all will have your affinities tested before you return to your planet. You may consider it a graduation gift. For now, it is more important that you all prepare yourselves for the last two assignments. It will be your last chance to gain benefits before you return to your home."
"Can you discuss what attribute potency is?" I called out. Aina turned and for the first time looked genuinely surprised by the question. "Now where did you hear that?" They shook their head. "It isn't important. Potency is an additional modifier on top of your attributes. It's the rarest of the modifiers and effectively makes your points worth more than the number would indicate. Potency can be obtained from titles and the Tao at a high enough tier." I ignored the murmurs from the crowd and asked my next question. "If we were to fight someone with a 'Tao' how would we know?"
Aina stared at me blankly for a moment before speaking. "It would be as if you were being attacked by the truth of something. If hypothetically you were attacked by the Tao of waves it would feel like the very might of ocean waves was assaulting you. The same would be true for any number of tao. Have you fought such a creature?"
The crowd had gone silent as a small pressure fell on our shoulders. It wasn't the same as when the System was here. This felt somewhat similar to killing intent only it wasn't bloody. It was just a pressure. "Yes, I fought something whose punches felt like they held the weight of a mountain."
"I see, I take it you have not entered closed-door cultivation. No matter it is impressive for anyone to encounter the tao so early. Ordinarily, your sect, tribe, government, or clan would have ordered you to meditate on the experience. I hope you will gain some insight into that tao. Once we are done here I would suggest you do so but it will have limited effect. It does explain your state when you returned."
"What in the blazes are you two talking about?" I blinked as the man's voice dispelled the heaviness in the air. Of course, it was Aina who had ended whatever they were doing. I turned toward the man who looked to be in his early twenties with dirty blonde hair. He was in a black two-piece suit that had seen better days. I considered answering him but there wasn't much to say.
"The enemies become much more deadly as the difficulty increases," Aina said with a dismissive wave of their hand. "You all will have access to several rare natural treasures once you return home. I would suggest you all do your best to gain as many as possible. It is not unheard for one or two powerhouses to emerge and hoard the resources to themselves." I raised an eyebrow at the instructor and then chuckled. I wasn't exactly mister popular before that but this conversation was painting a red "X" on me. Not that I minded.
"If there are no more questions our session has come to an end. I shall see you all after your next round of quests." With that, Aina disappeared and I decided to leave. There was no way I wasn't going to use my spirit stones. Thankfully confused looks were the only thing people gave me as I left. I wasn't sure how threatening to hurt people would work here.
Once I was back in my apartment I grabbed my box of stones and dumped them into the bag. I then made my way into my chamber. Once the door was shut and I took a steadying breath I pulled out one of the stones. A part of me wanted to try and absorb two at the same time but I wasn't that big a gambler. I gripped one in my right hand and began to draw the energy into me. I braced myself for a torrent of blazing energy. A fresh hell of pain but it didn't come. The energy that entered me was certainly a torrent. It was closer to a fire hose than the water hose that I had before but it didn't hurt. I sped up the energy draw but there was still no pain. I couldn't even claim discomfort. I opened my eyes and looked at the stone again. It seemed fine and I knew the quest said 2nd-realm stones. The System had never lied to me before so I didn't think that they were defective. I also couldn't come up with a reason that Aina would lie. So I didn't think that was the situation either.
There were only two other options. Either my channels were strong enough since my species was now 2nd-stage or it had something to do with the Elixir itself. My gut told me it was the latter and not the former. I felt my channels get stronger, especially after the elixir. I grinned and pulled out a second stone. If my body was 2nd-realm enough then let's see just what I could do. A groan escaped my lips as soon as the second stream of energy flooded into me. The water hose had just turned up to an eleven and it felt like I was constantly at risk of losing control. Sweat formed on my forehead as my channels strained to handle the energy. It was hard to say for sure but it seemed like a fourth of the energy escaped into the air. The more I tried to prevent it the more escaped. I bit back cursed and made a decision.
I slowed down the flow to the maximum I could handle while minimizing the loss. My dantian was flooded with energy to the point that It was being drowned. The vortex in the middle grew in response as if it were a spiritual storm drain. I wasn't sure how long the process had been going for when I was forced to stop. The ache in my channels had slowly shifted into a burning sensation. I wasn't willing to take the risk of serious damage not right now anyway. I opened my eyes and slowly got to my feet. The two stones were about half depleted and I put them both into my bag. I should be able to use them tomorrow. It felt like every muscle in my body had been wrung out. Despite that, I couldn't be happier. I made it back to my bed and flopped down on it. Once I was somewhat comfortable I pulled up my status screen.
When I saw my full gains I chuckled. I was now level 18. I only had two levels to go before I could get my class. All six points went into Wisdom as I reviewed my new total. It wasn't a stretch to see that the stones might be the best reward I got so far. Not counting Psychic Aegis. It looked like an individual stone would earn around two levels. Of course that assumed that I was able to contain all the energy. All in all, it was better than I expected. With everything taken care of, I closed my eyes and faded into a dreamless slumber.
The next day I awoke feeling a million bucks. I practically bounced out of bed and looked around. It wasn't the same as when my species evolved. It was more like I had the best sleep of my life. "Damn, it's a shame that I don't have a quest today. I feel like I could fight a mountain right now." I laughed and headed into my cultivation chamber. I pulled out both stones and started to draw the energy in. The process was a bit easier this time though the improvements were much slower. If I had to guess my dantian required between 5 and 10% more energy than it did last time. Of course, for the stones, it made little difference. By the time they were both used up, I was covered in a sheen of sweat and my channels ached. I pulled up my status screen to confirm the changes and grinned. I had just barely reached level 20.
The points went into Wisdom and I decided to stop cultivating. I made my way into the bathroom to wash and clean the sweat away. Once I was finished I realized I had no idea what to do now."Hey, I am level 20 now!" I called out not sure if the System was listening or not. I waited a beat for something to happen but there was only silence. I then decided to let my aura free hoping that the increased attributes would signal something. That also didn't work. I was just about to give up and return to regular cultivation when a hum spread throughout the room. I raised an eyebrow as the door opened.
All three instructors entered with different expressions on their faces. The volcanic elemental looked only slightly interested in what was happening. Aina stared at me as if they had just found a fascinating new research project. Lastly, the air sylph one looked at me like I was her favorite toy. I retracted my aura not wanting to risk anything that might be considered an attack.
"You made it!" The woman turned into a blur of air and was suddenly upside down in front of me. I managed to stop from falling backward at her sudden appearance. It was startling how much faster than me she was. "We were taking bets on if anyone in this round of participants would be worth anything and you did it. You earned me quite a few credits."
"You are welcome? Wait you all can bet on us? What's to stop you from interfering?" I figured out the answer to my question as soon as I finished it. They were more afraid of the System than what they would get from the bet.
"Anyway, it is impressive that you have continued pushing yourself. The battles with the Terran Behemoth and Behemoth Queen were especially entertaining. Rarely, does someone following a spell caster's path survive here. You are impressive." My eyes widened in surprise at that. Not at the statement itself but at the speaker. The volcanic instructor almost seemed happy. The surprise prevented me from asking the first question that came to me and allowed Aina to continue from there.
"We have come to allow you access to the system hub. You do not have to come with us. You can choose to delay the acquisition until you have gained suitable achievements. Like with all things it is your choice."
I stared at each of them while processing what they said. I didn't think there were any hidden truths in the words. If anything Aina had gone out of their way to sound neutral. Which left the question of what I wanted. I had been treating level 20 like a goal. Like the end of the race when in reality it wasn't. It was just a pit stop. Of course, it didn't matter there were only two options. I could do it now or wait until the tutorial ended. If I waited I would get the benefits of whatever finishing the tutorial provided on top of what I already had. Of course, I had to be alive for that to happen. If I was going to deal with the next set of quests, the highest difficulties then I would need whatever advantages I could get. I already had the elixir plus all the titles I had already earned. On top of that I should get a new reward. Both options had really good reasons for and against them which left the choice up to me. What did I want to do?