Chapter 65: New Tier / New Skill

[Character: Kana Safro Sat]
[Level: 4]
[Experience: 50/2000]
[Status: None]
[HP: 12/20]
[Mana: 16/16]
[Physique: 10]
[Agility: 7]
[Spirit: 8]
[Attribute Points: 5]
[Evaluation: In this region, you can already be considered a powerhouse.]

This hard-earned journey could hardly be called a waste; the rewards were substantial, yielding precious experience points. After all, encountering an "invader" event like this was no easy feat, let alone while still remaining within the borders of the Safro Kingdom. After slaughtering so many goblins outside and then decisively slaying this yet-to-fully-mature Blight Priest, he had finally pushed his level to four.

To be honest, at level four, Kana felt confident in maintaining sufficient combat capability during the current timeframe, ensuring he could handle most situations.

And now came the long-awaited moment of allocating attribute points. The tangible, firsthand changes brought by distributed points were profoundly alluring.

Looking at the five surplus attribute points, Kana pondered briefly before making a decision without hesitation. He could bring his remaining two attributes right up to 10. Reaching 10 points in every attribute was extremely necessary. In this world, reaching a certain stage of growth grants passives. Translated into reality, it meant that everyone's constitution, race, talent, and past experiences were always different. Naturally, what one gained upon growth varied as well—this was the source of [Passives].

Much like the [Tough Arms] obtained previously when his physique attribute reached 10. This indicated that in Kana's past experiences, training, and battles, he frequently relied on his arms to manifest strength, greatly enhancing the power of his arms in both offense and defense. Hence, such a skill was born. Simply in terms of strength, his arms would definitely surpass the threshold of the 10-point physique attribute, becoming a distinct forte. His arms' attributes probably reached the level of 12 or even 13.

By the same token, raising other attributes to 10 would trigger similar passives. In a game, gambling on passives like this was sometimes inferior to simply allocating points into suitable attributes that matched one's class. But this was reality, and he possessed a skill system. His plan was to master two to three classes and fight in coordination with one another. Playing an extreme, specialized build in a game was fine because it was purely about numbers and entertainment. In reality, however, a well-rounded "bucket build" was exceptionally necessary.

In reality, many people desired a balanced physique, yet it was virtually impossible because one could not achieve uniform training across every single aspect. Talents differed, and strengths varied. Attributes gained naturally through exercise would never be so evenly distributed. Being able to balance attribute points was an advantage in reality and should not be wasted.

He distributed the five attribute points.

[Character: Kana Safro Sat]
[Level: 4]
[Experience: 50/2000]
[Status: None]
[HP: 20/20]
[Mana: 20/20]
[Physique: 10]
[Agility: 10]
[Spirit: 10]
[Evaluation: A balanced powerhouse, a complete individual.]

As the attribute points were applied, the sudden surge of improvement caused Kana to close his eyes once more; the sensation felt utterly blissful. This feeling even managed to sweep away, to a certain extent, the mental exhaustion accumulated from high-intensity combat. Furthermore, the enhancement brought by raising two attributes to 10 all at once was far too pronounced. He could feel his mind refreshing and clearing, with mana flowing smoothly from his head and evenly circulating throughout his entire body. His whole body also became remarkably coordinated, combining flexibility and strength in equal measure.

He turned his attention to the newly acquired passives.

[Danger Intuition: Forged in battle, you thread the needle of life and death. Your intuition is exceptionally sharp, and you trust it implicitly. No danger can ambush you, for you have already perceived it.]

This was the passive skill granted by reaching ten points in agility. Looking at this passive, if it were in a traditional game, to be honest, the skill could only be considered lower-mid tier. Its manifestation in games was typically a red exclamation mark warning of incoming danger. Compared to certain more specialized passive skills, this skill felt somewhat abstract and narrow in application. But in reality, it was practically a divine skill.

He shifted his gaze to the other passive.

[Mana Micro-Control: A balanced physique, a sharp intuition—you can clearly sense the flow of mana within your body. You are capable of minute, precise manipulation of mana, allowing you to subtly fine-tune any learned magic.]

This skill was excellent, holding immense utility in both games and reality. Its manifestation in both domains was micro-control. Especially for Kana's "Blood Magic," minute control allowed him to be far more unpredictable in combat, achieving superior results. It also granted him greater flexibility when manipulating puppets.

Kana was thoroughly satisfied with both of these passives.

Adjusting his attribute panel, he checked his skills.

[Kana Safro Sat]
[Passive Skills: Genesis Glow, Soul Resilience, Scholar, Dark Vision, Blood Discrimination, Tough Arms, Danger Intuition, Mana Micro-Control]
——————
[Active Skills]
[Blood Magic: Mastered (869/1000)]
[Archery: Proficient (264/2000)]
[Swordsmanship: Proficient (1311/2000)]
[Basic Alchemy—Metal: Novice (86/100)]
[Puppet Manipulation: Mastered (152/1000)]

Looking over the skill panel, Blood Magic had leveled up rapidly thanks to the high-intensity combat over the past few days. With some conceptual ideas for late-game skills and a bit more dedicated training, he should soon reach proficiency. Archery had barely improved. However, swordsmanship had increased slightly. Although this was likely the active skill Kana used most frequently, the margin of improvement was small; after all, having already reached the level of proficiency, it was nearly impossible to progress further through mere training. Even high-intensity combat offered little room for massive gains. Only the guidance of a powerhouse, clashing with such mighty individuals, or a stroke of genius-level enlightenment could accelerate improvement.

For ordinary people without a skill system, "mastery" was the absolute limit they could reach in their lifetimes. For the talented without a skill system, "proficiency" was their lifelong ceiling. As for true geniuses, that depended entirely on just how genius they were. With a skill system, as long as one was willing to train, proficiency was an absolute and attainable limit, beyond which advancement became exceedingly difficult.

Having sorted out his current state, Kana prepared to get some rest.

At that moment, a knock sounded at the door.

Kana lowered his gaze slightly, walked over, and opened the door. Standing outside was Rurik, holding a sword in his hand.

"Here, take it. This is your spoils of war, and a weapon you rightfully deserve. It ought to belong to a mountain warrior; you are worthy of it."

The sword Rurik held was none other than the [Sword of the Mountain Warrior] that Kana had used during his fight with Retaink. He had never actually expected to keep this sword, considering its visible preciousness and status as an asset of the Gray Mountain dwarves. He truly hadn't anticipated the dwarves would give it to him.

Kana solemnly accepted the sword from his hands. To be honest, he had been eyeing it with considerable covetousness. It unquestionably ranked among the absolute top-tier weapons within the category of [Magical] armaments.

"You have been a tremendous help to us. Is there anything we can provide to assist you? We dwarves repay our debts of gratitude, so don't be shy."

Rurik watched Kana take the sword and spoke, evidently not considering the weapon to be sufficient payment. In his view, the sword was simply Kana's rightful loot of war—spoils he had earned.

Kana was slightly stunned, not expecting such generosity. After gaining so much experience and acquiring a practically flawless weapon for his current stage, he was already completely content. Yet, he hadn't expected the dwarves to offer even greater rewards. Thinking it over, Kana didn't stand on ceremony, as he genuinely needed a bit of assistance.

After a moment's thought, he walked over to the bed, picked up the prince's ceremonial sword, and handed it to Rurik.

Rurik took the sword, gave it a look, and was momentarily at a loss for words. After pondering for quite a while, he said, "This is a very pretty sword."

Because, in his view, the sword literally had only that single merit.

Kana smiled. If it hadn't been digitized, the sword truly would have held very little practical value in actual combat.

"I've heard that the Sage of Gray Mountain is a highly skilled and powerful runesmith?"

Hearing this, Rurik smiled with a hint of pride, puffing out his chest slightly. An exceptional blacksmith was a highly respected profession in any dwarven tribe.

"That statement is entirely correct," he replied without a trace of modesty. Dwarves knew nothing of modesty.

"As you know, our country is currently facing a crisis. The enemy belongs to a new race, and they fear silvered weapons. Therefore, I hope you can plate this sword of mine with silver and reinforce it with certain runes."

Hearing this, Rurik frowned. Looking at the sword, he still remarked, "I believe a warrior like you knows full well that this sword is merely an ornamental piece."

"Trust me, in my hands, it will be a fine weapon."

"Very well. When it comes to fighting with weapons, I certainly can't match you, so leave it to me. Oh, right, there will be a banquet tomorrow. Please make sure to stay; I will have the magical runes inscribed upon it before the banquet ends."

This time, Kana did not refuse; he nodded.

He needed to rest.

...

The morning sunlight bathed the town of Riverbend.

Compared to when Kana and his party had departed, the cozy atmosphere seemed to have vanished from the town. A tense air permeated the streets.

Even at early dawn, various supplies were already being transported, and the guards stationed in the town had long since begun bustling about. Even the lively children who usually filled the town were nowhere to be seen today.

"My champion, you must return in triumph."

A woman looked at her husband standing before her, her expression filled with worry. With that, she couldn't help but tidy up his armor.

The soldier gently hugged his wife. "Don't worry, the count needs us, and I need to protect you well."

Though her expression remained anxious, his wife simply nodded and said no more.

War was not far from them.

"Little brat, you better mind your mother and behave. If I come back and hear you've been causing trouble again, I'll paddle your backside till it's split in four, you hear me!"

The soldier looked at the child beside his wife, half-smiling, half-scolding.

"Understood, Captain!" The child stood at attention and saluted his father.

"Haha." The soldier couldn't help but laugh aloud, fiercely ruffling his son's hair.

Three fully armored knights riding warhorses passed by, watching the scene and unable to keep from smiling.

Ketch sighed inexplicably. "Sigh, I wonder how many more warriors will have to sacrifice their lives here."

The remark instantly weighed the atmosphere down.

Liens didn't know how to respond either, so he simply asked, "The front lines have already begun retreating, and most of the residents in the count's territory fled long ago. Only the people of Riverbend Town remain. When will we be able to send them to a safe place?"

Liens spoke thus, though in his heart he knew well that a certain amount of logistical personnel would always be needed, as well as a sufficient number of civilians to assist in combat operations. Riverbend Town, in particular, was inherently a heavily fortified military town; every household had soldiers, or even knights. Even some of the farmers possessed a certain degree of experience and knowledge.

Aside from Lakeview City in the count's territory, this town was the place the count valued most. The townspeople here were also the most loyal to the count.

This country—Safro—had only been founded a little over a century ago; it was a bona fide minor nation. The earliest residents of the entire country had only passed down two or three generations by now. Not to mention, the majority of the populace were refugees who had migrated there later simply because the sparse mana made it safer. You could hardly expect these commoners to harbor any grand patriotism; they hadn't even formed a cohesive, beneficial unified culture.

After the Outbreak of the Blood Clan, all the residents began migrating outward without a moment's hesitation. They had come there seeking safety, and naturally, they would leave when it was no longer safe. Furthermore, the outbreak of the Blood Clan had completely stripped the entire nation of the governing capacity a country ought to possess. The upper and middle tiers of the country had collectively rebelled, undergoing inhuman transformations.

And those people in Riverbend Town within the count's domain were loyal not to the country, but to the count. They were perhaps the only human demographic with any combat capability left in this entire nation.

Black, riding on his warhorse, listened to the conversation between the two behind him.

"It should be soon. To the count, the residents here are also extremely important. In a few days, these residents will likely be evacuated ahead of time to the camp downstream. Quite a few of them should already be preparing."

He recalled his conversation with Jonier upon arriving in the town last night.

"Is that so? That's a relief," Ketch breathed a sigh of relief.

"Speaking of which, I wonder how His Highness's raft-building is coming along."

"Who knows? It's only been about ten days since His Highness and the others set out," Black said with a hint of worry.

They were currently rushing toward the downstream camp to relay some intelligence to Kana, while also hoping that Kana could offer some advice for their subsequent actions. After all, what Kana had worried about and foreseen had already become reality.

Thinking this, Black couldn't help but recall what Kana had told them previously—that prophetic ability of his.

Riding their warhorses, they finally arrived at the camp around noon.

From afar, they heard a hearty voice echoing through the horse pen.

"Haha! See that? A big tree like this—I only need to chop it three times to bring it down! Understand? We're the stronger ones; you lot are just a bit taller, that's all!"

Following the voice, the three of them reached the edge of the camp. They spotted quite a few workers felling trees near the woods, and the voice seemed to be coming from among them.

At that moment, the soldiers on the watchtower spotted Black and his companions. Soon, two soldiers and a dwarf were walking toward them.

"What's up with that short old man?" Liens muttered in astonishment as he watched the dwarf trailing behind the soldiers.

A dwarf's build was barely a fraction taller than half a human's height, and combined with their heavy beards and stocky figures, they gave the impression of a bearded old man afflicted with dwarfism.

Hearing Liens' words, the expressions of the two soldiers shifted instantly, turning apprehensive.

Sure enough, the dwarf, having already heard Liens' remarks, immediately charged over to the side of Liens' warhorse and began jumping up and down in a furious tirade.

"Damn it! Damn humans! I've had enough of you lot! If Yata hadn't told us to protect this camp, I'd jump right up and smash your kneecaps! Damn long-shanks! How can the people of this country be so ignorant?! That's it, get down from the horse! I want to have a proper sparring match with you to see just how good you knights really are. Let me see how formidable you are just because you're tall—come on! Get off your horse!"

The enraged dwarf was hurriedly dragged away and placated by the two soldiers, who had already learned how to deal with these straight-laced dwarves.

Liens, however, remained entirely clueless, a look of utter confusion in his eyes.

Black gazed at the short, stocky figure, seeming to recall something—memories of stories and depictions he had once read in books. He gasped in shock and blurted out:

"You're the legendary dwarves?"

"Legendary? Damn it, we live right on Gray Mountain, we're your neighbors!"

This particular dwarf rarely came to this side, though he frequently interacted with people from the Koen Kingdom. He had never encountered a situation like this before. The people here looked at dwarves as if they were some kind of mythological entities; he had truly had enough of this ignorance.

After the two soldiers spent a good while explaining, Black and his two companions finally grasped the current situation.

Hearing the explanation, Ketch couldn't help remarking, "As expected of His Highness."

First the mermen, then the ratmen, and now the dwarves.

"Then when will His Highness be back? We have some urgent intelligence to report to him," Black asked from the side.

The two soldiers could only shake their heads helplessly, unable to offer any guarantees.

Everyone turned their gaze toward the dwarf.

Faced with their stares, the dwarf, despite his earlier anger, simply shook his head.

"I don't know either. Your Highness and Yata are off dealing with some dwarven matters. Don't worry, we'll protect the camp during this time."