Chapter 5: The First Steps (3)

POV Blaze

Location: Marcoon City, 8:00 AM

I stood in front of a slightly worn-down smithery, as a very rough-looking elf glared at me to no end, as I tried my best not to look the old man in the face. This was Gorath, a pretty skilled Blacksmith of the city, a tall, muscle-bound elf. Which was far different from how one would envision one; he was covered in cuts and grime, not the flawless beauty most elfs would be, and he had striking long red hair unlike the standard blond. He was well over 400 years old; he was far from lithe and fair. He looked like a 6-foot-5 dwarf, basically still having a good-looking face when not scowling. A body fit for smithing and crafting...I wanted him to take me under his wing and teach me before, but he'd always have some excuses to not take a student. This man was basically a father figure to me, if not like an uncle.

If it weren't for his resting, I don't take shit face. The elf would look like many of his more flawless, young-looking brethren, but it was odd as is to see an elf be a master blacksmith with no fancy or ornate stuff. No artisan weapons and armor, just well made albit basic looking wares. Guess Goratath was always use over looks kinda man.

"You'd rather sell me back my sword I custom made for your sorry ass with the damn fire stone missing than have me just repair it"! Gorith said, yelling and shouting at me, as I looked at him, sighing.

He may come off as a hardass, but he is actually very friendly and loves to help low-level adventurers as much as he can. He saw way too many die due to poor gear or direction from those who knew nothing.

"Listen, old man, I told ya I can't use it anymore!" I yelled at him. I tried not to give everything away, but he has very sharp appraisal skills and can see through lies and deceit. so Id be stupid not to at least tell him anything.

" Then please enlighten this old man, cus last I saw, you had the stats to do so easily, and one doesn't just lose stats outta the blue-"...The old blacksmith stopped talking as he looked me dead in my silver eyes with his dark red eyes. He was silent as I felt him peering at my stats.

"You finally got an elite system after all ya hard work, haha!" He laughed heartily. He was happy and cheerful as he knew I was one to put in a lot of effort with my limited abilities. He was wrong, though.

"A-actually I..." I spoke low as if many knew I had a named system. I would have many guilds trying to scout me, or worse. Slavers would want to sell me off to some rich bastard to raise his status and image ."I have a named system, and I'm back at level 1." I said lowly in the shop as it was just us, as he wasn't too busy this early in the morning.

The old elf stopped laughing as he took me into the forge with much seriousness and concern. He knew if too many knew when I had no protection or backing, it would be the same as asking to be shot on the spot. "well, it seems you are even luckier or worse, and now I see why ya came to sell your old gear it's all useless to you with your stats go on pick ya out something that won't get ya killed, I won't hassle ya about money." He said with seriousness, but also a low, gentle pride in it as he was smirking before it vanished from his face.

Well, I won't say no. I'm not against all free handouts, so I didn't hold back as I browsed his beginner-level items and ones I could use with my stats. Looking through the stuff, I grabbed a light iron armor set consisting of a chest plate, gauntlets that went up to my forearms, and Iron-toe leather boots. I wanted to be unrestricted and speedy over complete protection. I went with agility over pure tankiness.

[-Iron light chestplate (common grade) Agi+1 def+5 durability 100/100-]

[-Iron light gauntlets (common grade) def 2 durability 50/50-]

[-Leather Iron-toed boots (common grade) Agi+3 def 2 durability 50/50-]

After getting said items, I went to the weapons section of his shop as I looked over everything, looking past daggers, maces, bows, Multiple kinds of swords, fist weapons, even polearms. I took a 4-foot-long, 2-inch-thick straight sword that was light and long, as it had the bare minimum Str needed to hold it properly that wasnt to heavy to swing with ease. I also took a 6-inch-long, 4-inch curved combat knife. Knives and daggers were just more natural in my hands than any other weapons, as I just had an innate feel for the weapon, unlike a sword, which is something I just wanted to use. Many in my family thought I'd follow in my father's footsteps and be a dagger user, as I was a natural-born talent when I was being trained when I was younger. However, I wanted to walk my own path.

To top it all off, I wore a purple silken mage coat under it all. It had int-boosting stats to it. No level 1 would do a combination like this, let alone have the money to mix and match as the most prioritized protection to survive better. This was well over 500 gold alone by itself, as most Int gear tends to be more expensive than other boosting gear, not counting weapons.

I brought up my status to see what my overall stat value is now after I allotted my 10 free points before coming here.

[-Iron Broadsword (common grade) durability 1000/1000-]

[-Iron combat knife (common grade) durability 500/500-]

[-Silk hooded mage robe (uncommon grade) +2 Int, +1 Def durability 150/150-]

I soon learned I could see my skills and stats separately. There were other tabs grayed out that will most likely open up as I level up—seeing how the equipment gave me minor stats. In a few places.

_Status_

Blaze Nights Lv:1

Race: lower werewolf

Bloodline:-----

Exp:0/500

Gold:20,000

_Stats_

HP:300/300>800/800

MP:60/60>90/90

Str:4>6 Int:9(+2)

Agi:8>11(+4) Con:3>8

Luck:19

Stat points:10<0

Skill points:3

Quite impressed with my stats and gear, I swung my sword in my right hand and my knife in my left; after a couple of times to get used to it, a system alert went off. I smiled as I was hoping this would happen. The system notified me, as I left my skill points unused for now.

[~~The user has generated the skills [sword mastery lv:1 {E-}] this is a standard Sword mastery skill. This skill dictates the user's skill proficiency and overall damage using the sword and sword skills. Nothing more, nothing less....a pitiful ability for a pitiful skill..~~]

[~~The user has generated the skill [Night's Knife Blade lv:1 {B+}] this is a unique Knife mastery skill as its self made by a knife user who poured decades into transending the basic systems abilitys with the use of the knife...this skill was passed down to the user from the creator this knife skills exelles at using Agility and strenght to its full advatabges as well as using exagurated movements that uses momentum to generate extra power this was a skill breed into the user and it shows.~~]

Some skills are tied to one's mastery level and lower the cost of energy or stamina to perform said tasks. For instance, a maximum level of sword mastery could swing tirelessly for days without the need for rest. They could develop their unique sword styles, like the Emotion Severing Sword, Heavens Cleaving Saber, the Singing Sword, or Space Cutting Blade. To name a few famous ones...I was surprised to see I wasn't given a normal Knife mastery skill...It seems even now I walk in my father's shadows that I really just was that good to be bestowed with his skill; no one else has ever been taught it, not even me. I just picked it up watching him, as just watching for even a master wouldn't show them all the ins and outs of a mastery skill. Yet sadly, there was my E- ranked sword skill...I knew I wasn't the best, but that was just disheartening to see. However, I wasn't one to not train and get better.

"Thank you, Mr. Gorith. With this, I'll make sure I won't die out there," I said, giving him a slight bow to show my appreciation. I still respected the old man, regardless of whether I could get one over on him or not. He's helped me like crazy since I've lived here.

"Ahh, shut ya crap, the sword you're selling me back is worth at least 5000 gold, so this is nothing. I'll keep the gear. It's barely 1500. I'll just keep the rest of the gold as a fee to shut my mouth... about the info on ya. Now scram, ya remind me of those pretty boy elves back at home! He yelled as I quickly hurried out of the shop, as I had one more stop to make before I went to the hunting grounds. And that was the skill bookshop, the Dusty Crow. I was still missing some valuable skills before I tried to fight random mods and had no info on them or other skills to use.

Walking into the store, it wasn't as crowded as I'd usually be due to how early it still was in the morning. Going to the beginner section, most skills cost up to 200-500 gold a piece in this section. It was heart-wrenching, yes, but one needs to spend money to earn it, and this was an investment in me becoming one of the best fighters out there. I'm more than certain I was very far behind my age. When picking up an inspection book, I was given quite a notification.

[~~ This skill is not suited for the user and cannot be learned; however, the user can turn the book into EXP for the skill [Devour]. Would you like to?~~]

Quickly putting the book away, as it was taboo to learn a skill before buying it, let alone consuming it where I'd easily be seen, I was very stumped, as inspect was a basic skill, and I needed some form of enemy scanning skill. Thinking I went to the gold skill area and I picked up an [Appraisal] book for 10,000 gold, only to curse my system.

[~~The skill [appraisal] is compatible with the user~~].

This went on for quite some time as I brought 4 books to the cashier. She was your typical witch in training, large pointy hats and all, as she had a look of lifelessness in her eyes. Most likely due to her teacher using her as free labor as part of her teachings. I would pity her if I wasn't laughing at her in my head. She was stuck here, but sadly, I wasn't all that happy, as most of my savings went to these four books and a set of potions. I gave her the gold before walking out.

My gold went from 20,000 down to 300. This was truly sad for me, but these skills were going to make up for everything as I instantly learned all four, hurrying to the hunting grounds and pulling up the hood on my shirt to not be recognized, at least not till I re-registered with the Adventures Inn or a guild. So that I would have some protection and could plan my next steps, as before, I was a freelance adventurer, not needing to register due to having a basic system.

[~~learned the skills [Appraisal] [Storage] [Quick Steps] [Bind]~~]

[Appraisal:lv1(D+)]cost no MP. It allows one to see anybody's or anything's; however, at lower levels, info can be hidden from the user.]

[Storage: lv max(E)] cost no MP. Allows the user to bind a storage space of 400 cubic sq feet (or about the size of a one-bedroom apartment) to one's soul, allowing them to store and remove items they wish at will; can only increase size with Storage items or higher grade skills learned.

[Quick Steps: lv 1(E+)] cost 10 MP per step

Allows the user to quickly move from their current spot up to 3 meters to another desired spot that they can perceive almost instantaneously]

[Bind: lv1(E)] cost 30 MP > [Aura chains lv: 1(C-)] cost 25 MP per 5 seconds if reinforced.

Allows the user to create chains of aura to bind the enemy, which can be reinforced with additional mana to make it stronger and/or aura to increase duration.]

"Man, this system is something. It took a basic skill and changed it into a completely different one due to my aura ability. I wonder if other skills will be affected the same way...." I said to myself as I got to the entrance of the Dark Forest hunting grounds. I took a good look around before deciding to go to the lake area, as that is where Fishman and Goblins would be populated, as that would be 2 of the 3 hearts needed to eat for my quest, unless it was just three, period. For that, I'd find out myself. I'd open up my system to check all my stats, skills, and gear one last time before I quickly stepped deep into the dark-shaded forest with a grin for the feast I'd soon have.

_Status_

Blaze Nights

Lv:1

Race: lower werewolf

Bloodline:-----

Exp:0/500

Gold:20,000<300

_Stats_

HP:800/800

MP:90/90

Str:6 | Int:9(+2)

Agi:11(+4) | Con:8

Luck:19

Stat points:0

Skill points:3

—-Skills—-

Unique abilities: [Aura manipulation lv:1(S)]

Active skills:

[Claw slash lv:1(D)] [Lycans rage lv:1(C)] [Appraisal:lv1(D+)] [Quick Steps: lv 1(E+)] [Aura chains lv: 1(C-)]

Passive skills:

[predators body lv:1(B+)] [Unyielding soul lv: max(SSS)] [Devour lv:1(F-)] [Storage: lv max(E)] [sword mastery lv:1 {E-}][Night's Knife Blade lv:1 {B+}]

Equipment