SB: Chapter 243 – Slowing Down Or Mindset (Patreon)

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Level: 20 Experience: BLOCKED

Healing: 550/550 Stamina: 710/710 Mana: 810/810

Class: Tier 1, Adult Human(Blue)Effect: Increased Skill Acquisition(+10%), Increased Learning Speed(+10%), Increased Stat Gain(+10%), Increased Physical Gain(+10%), Increased Mental Gain(+10%)

Vitality: 55 (+1)Endurance: 71 (+2)Strength: 48 (+3)Agility: 57 (+3)Perception: 48 (+2)Mind: 184 (+6)Magic: 81 (+5)Focus: 69 (+3)Free Points: 200

Tier 1(11)(42+): Dwarven Etiquette(100), Eldarin Etiquette(100), Elven Etiquette(100), Dancing Skills(100), Seraphim Etiquette(79+44), Stillness(71+11), Driving(52), Veil(42+17), Mask(25+14), Obscure(20+12), Deception(15+6)

Tier 2(84)(15+): Mana Sense(100), Danger Sense(100), System Sense(100), Soul Sense(100), Speed Reading(100), Mana Vision(100), Demonic Lore(100+5), Critical Thinking(96+6), Focused Deflection(95+9), Focused Monster Processing Skills(94), Darkness Vision(90), Shadow Vision(80), Focused Dodge(80+6), Focused Combat Tactics(73+5), Monster Analysis(68), Temporal Sense(67+2), Depth Sense(64), Spatial Sense(63+2), Focused Cooking Skills(63+10), Eldarin Lore(59+20), Trap Detection(55), Focused Throw(54), Sweet Teeth(54+12), Dwarven Lore(54+15), Focused Shield Skills(53+7), Focused Rage(50), High Vostner Lore(50+12), Poison Sense(50+8), Elven Lore(44+8), Low Vostner Lore(40+8), Focused Spear Skills(40), Focused Armor(40+10), Focused Axe Skills(31+7), Soul Vision(20), Focused Speech(20+5), Focused Pugilist Skills(18+18), Focused Bow Skills(13+13), Focused Dagger Skills(12+10), Focused Wrestling Skills(10+5), Focused Whip Skills(10+10), Focused Drawing Skills(8+6), Focused Pulse Strike(6)

Tier 3(129)(5+): Empowered Will(100), Mana Manipulation(100), Empowered Gestures(96+4), Fear Resistance(95), Hidden Status(94+14), Eldarin Runes(92+8), Empowered Meditation(90+11), Cold Resistance(87+5), Light Orb(85+5), Skill Control(80+2), Silent Casting(80+5), Ward(80+17), Clean(74+4), Empowered Breathing(69+8), Empowered Running(65+5), Lightning Resistance(63), Fireball(63), Flame Blade(60), Empowered Writing(58+6), Lightning Beam(52), System Control(52+4), Empowered Sword Skills(48), Dwarven Runes(47+17), Elven Runes(46+16), Sleep(46), Physical Resistance(45+2), Status Analysis(44+2), Soul Strike(39), Arcane Resistance(34), High Vostner Runes(32+9), Calculus(32+8), Advanced Geometry(31+7), Cure(31), Empowered Stealth(29), Social Resistance(29+3), Demonic Runes(29+4), Low Vostner Runes(29+8), Empowered Toughness(23+5), Sonic Resistance(20+8), Alchemy(17), Compass Of Desire(15+2), Soul Shield(11), Demonic Hunter(10), Slice(10+10)

Tier 4(36): Experience Siphon(C), Gnomish Silence(C), Soul Link(99+5), Poison Immunity(50+14), Multi-Casting(43+11), Soul Immunity(34+4), Vibration Blade(27), Pain Immunity(21+2), Healing Immunity(19+4), Fire Immunity(18+10), Ritualism(7)

Tier 7: Seraphim Quest(C)

EquipmentGloves: Gloves Of Durability(T3) (Durability-T3)Boots: Boots of Durability(T3) (Durability-T3)Head: Helmet of Durability(T3) (Durability-T3)Body: Heavy Armor Of Durability(T3) (Durability-T3)Ring1: Ring of Warding(T3) (Can use a charged ward skill once)Ring2: Ring of Force Deflection(T3) (Reduces impact force by a quarter)Amulet/Bracelet: Sun Amulet of Experience Blocking(T3) (Prevents all experience gain for primary level, channels excess experience into imbuing weapons with fire damage)Weapon1: Reforged Beginner’s Blade(T3) (Sharpness-T4, Durability-T3, Self-Repair-T2)Equipment1: Runic Writing Set(T3) (Write Runes T3 and Below)Equipment2: Monster Processing Set(T3) (Processes Level 150 and Below)Equipment3: Ring of Remote Awareness(T3) (Allows for remote viewing from companion ring)Equipment4: Wand of Explosion(T3) (Rechargeable, single use wand with T4 Explosion spell skill)Equipment5: Sword Case of Containment(T5) (Blocks all Mana leakage and divination from inside)

Winged SerpentLevel: 68/462 Experience: 25,821/148,338

Healing: 1,490/1,490 Stamina: 790/790 Mana: 2,070/2,070

Class: Tier 2, Winged Serpent (Orange)Effect: Alchemy Skill Growth (+25%), Alchemic Skill Power (+200%)

Vitality: 149 (+1)Endurance: 79 (+1)Strength: 96 (+1)Agility: 128 (+1)Perception: 82 (+1)Mind: 140 (+1)Magic: 207 (+3)Focus: 89 (+1)Free Points: 0

T1: Spark(10+2), Veil(10+5)

T2: Alchemic Vision(100), Danger Sense(100), Health Sense(46), Stamina Sense(44), Focused Dodge(49+15), Heat Vision(22), Shadow Vision(17), Blood Sense(12), Focused Smell(10), Focused Regeneration(8)

T3: Cure(100), Purify(100), Refresh(100), Alchemy(100+2), Poison Insight(82), Fire Insight (55), Cold Insight(53), Arcane Insight(50), Spatial Insight(41), Soul Insight(33), Healing Insight(22), Empowered Bite(28), Empowered Toxic Breath(28), Ward(20+4), Anatomy Insight(18), Harden Scales(17+7), Atmospheric Insight(15), Bladed Limb Insight(5), Cold Resistance(7), Quake(6), Weapon Insight(2)

T4: Soul Link(99+5), Flight(88+8), Alchemic Bounded Field(75+3), Greater Refresh(41+7), Greater Cure(39), Petrifying Gaze(34), Greater Purify(32), Fear Aura(9), Greater Quake(2)

One skill level short over the last year. I had earned an average of 299.75 skill levels every three months for the last twelve months. The first time my skill level gain had gone below 300 since I was a young child.

I could honestly say I worked hard for the last year. I wouldn’t have gained so many levels otherwise. But during my seven years studying at the College, my level gain had been averaging over 370 skill levels every 3 months at a minimum. A drop of 70 skill levels, every 3 months was a big deal.

In a decade that would translate to 2,800 skill levels or 6 maximized Tier 4 skills. That was a tremendous amount of skill levels I was losing out on. Part of the problem was my focus on combat skills, which leveled slowly from direct training, and runic skills which also leveled incredibly slowly as Tier 3 skills.

While it was easy to say I was passing up on gaining easy skill levels, I didn’t fully agree with that excuse. I knew that anyone I would ask, would tell me to be happy and that they struggled to gain far less skill levels each year.

That was other people, but with my advantages, I had expected more, a lot more. I could only take it as a lack of pressure. During my previous time at the College, I had to push myself to be number one. I literally pushed myself to the edge of what my stats could handle. This time I hadn’t gone as far.

Finding another soul fruit had increased in priority as well as remaining in the dungeon. I had packed all the study materials I would need for my current skills. I had purchased Slice as an Alchemical skill, since I hadn’t been able to get my head around how to use Mana with my blade to project a slash.

I had some ideas, but after struggling for a week with no result I had given in and borrowed the money from the College to purchase the skill. My debt went back up by a sizable amount, but I wasn’t overly concerned. If the College lent me the money I would happily use it to become stronger.

Bringing up my hands, I slapped my cheeks a couple of times. “Get a grip Justin. Time to get a lot more levels by placing your life on the line,” I told myself to get into the right mindset. The College was too peaceful, for someone who had graduated at the top.

I could understand why legends would like to spend their time here and eventually retire in comfort. The Mathemancer deserved a lot of credit for coming up with such a system. If I had to retire, this would be where I would want to retire.

A shame that those who didn’t graduate each year in the top 10 or became a legend, weren’t welcomed back like I was. But the College couldn’t take in everyone and I could respect that they drew clear lines on who they were willing to invest in and associate with.

It created a feeling of being an elite, a sense of nobility, but focused on actual accomplishments. Anyone who graduated from seven years of this place or who became a legend was at the top of the social hierarchy.

As for Ozy, he had relaxed much more than me, only joining me for some combat practice and flight sessions. He was still burning too much Mana with Flight in my opinion. Improving that skill would lower the Mana cost. As for leveling up the rest, his time in the dungeon and consuming monster cores would naturally lead to improvement all around.

As for growing too big, I wasn’t worried about that. The real problem was gaining levels. However the dungeon gave monsters levels allowed them to skip the long portion of grinding up their levels. Ozy was in a similar position to myself and other thinking beings as a monster born from an egg.

He had to grind up his levels as well, and that meant a lot of experience. If there was some skill that could convert all the experience of a monster into leveling experience that would be perfect. But however people got experience, there was a safety mechanism, preventing hostile Mana from contaminating a person’s soul.

I was not looking forward to the long main level grind. I definitely would be doing that without curse skills.

Leaving my apartment suite, I went to the hiring building I was at yesterday. I went inside and the clerk directed me to a side room to meet the porter Boris. I still needed his agreement if this was going to work.

The man was huge. The top of my head came up to his chin and I already was quite tall. His muscles were huge as well, which showed he pushed his body beyond what his Strength stat could handle. While I had muscle, it was much leaner. This looked like he lifted weights constantly. He had a pack that was mostly empty off to one side.

“Hello, I am adventurer Justin Burnstock,” I greeted the man.

“Boris,” he grunted out.

“I am looking to hire a porter for two years. Carrying a case for me inside and outside the dungeon, without asking too many questions. I will provide food and carry anything you might need in my spatial pouch,” I said. He gave me an intense look.

“You don’t want me to carry food? Supplies?” he asked and I shook my head.

“I have a spatial pouch. There is no need for that. The metal sword case I need you to carry is much heavier. We will also be traveling where it is quite cold. Is that acceptable?” I asked.

“I am not afraid of some cold. I will carry your case. No questions. One gold per day,” he said and I nodded.

“Yes. That is the standard rate for a porter, with your strength,” I said.

“Agreed,” he replied and nodded.

“Alright. But we should get you some warm clothes just in case and snow boots. I can put your pack in my spatial pouch,” I offered and he took it off and handed it over. Before we left I confirmed with the clerk and Boris signed a final document agreeing to work for me.

There weren’t very many porters, but larger teams used them occasionally. It was a niche skillset and one would struggle to transition out of it once they had fallen into such a role. We stopped by a clothing store and I purchased Boris a full set of heavy winter clothing and sleeping gear which I stored away.

While he might look tough and have a lot of Strength, he wouldn’t be doing any fighting. If a porter had to fight, that meant things were going very badly. Many had life saving skills and were very aware of their surroundings.

After picking up the clothing we made our way to the project warehouse where the sword case had been stored.

“Welcome back,” the professor who had made the case said with a smile. “The carrying harness is already prepared.”

“He is carrying it,” I said and pointed at Boris who just nodded. I was liking the man already. He listened and didn’t ask that many questions. The Professor helped to adjust all the straps and then place the sword case into the carrying harness. Boris let out a small grunt as the weight settled.

“Heavy,” he said.

“Yes. That is why I hired you. I will handle any threats, you just need to carry that sword case,” I said.

“I know I shouldn’t ask, but I am curious what this case is for,” the Professor who had made it, asked.

“Then don’t ask. It is a commission without questions. As long as it works, I won’t have any complaints,” I replied.

“Very well. A shame I won’t see it in action. If you come back, you will have to fill out a report letting me know if it performed well. I would be willing to give you a discount on your next project if you did that,” he said with a smile.

“I will try to remember,” I replied and we left the warehouse. There was a magical carriage already waiting. We both got in and the carriage noticeably sank on its springs and tilted when Boris got on with the sword case.

We took off to the nearby city that had a dungeon entrance. Boris had set the case next to him as we traveled. “Any issues carrying it?” I asked.

“Heavy and tiring, but it is fine. I can go a full day with no problems. But I will eat a lot, since it is hard work,” he said.

“Don’t worry, I have lots of food.” I had enough food for two decades. Or perhaps five years if he really ate enough for three people. That was fine. With my skill Compass of Desire, if this trip took more than two years, I was in big trouble. Personally I thought it would take only a single year.

But the one thing the dungeon had taught me was to expect the unexpected. While it was tempting to ask about Boris’ background. There was no need. He was around level 40 from what I could tell, but with a heavy focus into the Strength stat.

By focusing solely on Strength he could probably handle the first couple of layers and went down himself. Or his family had taken him down when he was young. With how he focused on Strength, a single swing from a heavy metal weapon would kill most monsters under level 40, or the 8th layer not counting Champions.

Most monsters weren’t hyper specialized like Boris was. There were always exceptions, but their stat spread tended to be within 100% of each other. At level 40, that meant 400 stats per monster or around 50 per stat. With standard variance the spread could be up to 100.

Variance became a bigger issue deeper in the dungeon as monsters became more specialized. But that wasn’t a huge concern unless I went down to the 16th layer when monsters started using tactics. While monsters on the higher layers might hold back or attack at an angle, there was very little complexity.

At the 16th layer monsters would begin to work together to a much greater degree and use specializations. A good example of monsters with shields. They would actually hold a shield wall instead of rushing in crazily. While they weren’t thinking monsters, their tactics went beyond simple actions.

Monsters might even wait or fall back to recover. That was why the layers from the 16th to the 20th were what separated the top adventurers from the rest. Staying at the 15th layer would see adventurers facing monsters that weren’t Champions that were at level 75. To become a legend, one had to go deeper and fight harder battles.

Unfortunately, the difficulty curve massively spiked at the 16th layer once monsters used actual tactics in each battle. That didn’t stop their general aggression and they wouldn’t run away or retreat, but my tactics to use runes to wipe out large groups wouldn’t work as easily. Even worse the monsters would observe a fight and adjust.

That was also why reaching the Last Bastion on the 20th layer was such a big accomplishment. To get that far one had to be incredibly capable.

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