Chapter 195: Alar Seeks Guidance—Talent? Number of Classes
The next morning.
Middle Earth Month, the sixth of November.
It was Tang Zheng's ninth day in Despair Valley, and his second at the human oasis.
*Kacha!*
Tang Zheng pushed open the wooden door, and a wave of scorching air surged in from outside.
*Gurgle gurgle~*
The first thing he saw was a five-meter-wide pool, its surface gurgling and bubbling. All around, vegetation blocked the sun's rays.
Somewhat similar to certain desert trees from his previous life, some of these plants still had dewdrops clinging to their long, slender foliage.
It added a hint of coolness to the hot air.
Such a sight felt almost miraculous in Despair Valley, a place otherwise defined by dry, yellow sand.
Tang Zheng took a deep breath, feeling the rare humidity in the air, and a relaxed expression appeared on his face.
*Yesterday's act of slaughtering the Grey Dwarves was a bit impulsive, but in this region, there's no need to worry about attracting attention.*
*If a situation like yesterday's had happened on the Northwest Continent where humans live, it most likely would have attracted the attention of some factions.*
Tang Zheng walked over and crouched down, cupping some water from the source in his hands. He took a drink, then wiped the water from his mouth.
The water was cool, but it didn't taste sweet.
Instead, it had a faint bitterness. However, in this kind of desert region, simply having a source of water was an unattainable luxury.
"Lord Hero!"
A familiar voice called out from nearby, accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps. Alar rushed over, carrying a plate of food.
"Good morning, Alar," Tang Zheng said, standing up and greeting her with a smile.
Alar was still wearing the same revealing attire that covered only the crucial parts, and a fine layer of sweat beaded on her forehead and slender neck.
"Lord Hero, this is your breakfast. I'm so sorry for being a little late." Alar came before Tang Zheng, her face full of apology. She lowered her head in shame and gave a deep bow.
"It's a small matter, no need for that. Besides, I just came out myself." Tang Zheng took the food, picked up a unique-looking roasted scorpion tail, found a clean spot to sit, and began to eat casually.
Seeing that Tang Zheng truly wasn't angry, Alar relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief. She then gazed at him, her face filled with curiosity and admiration.
*He doesn't look very muscular.*
*Yet he could easily slaughter the Grey Dwarves' army. It's truly incredible.*
Under such a direct stare, Tang Zheng's eyelid twitched.
After this brief contact, he could already sense the directness, and a certain stubbornness, in the way these humans spoke and acted.
For example, regarding the form of address, Tang Zheng had prompted her several times last night but couldn't get Alar to change how she addressed him, so he eventually just went along with it.
"How are your tribesmen's injuries recovering?" Tang Zheng asked.
"Thanks to the healing potions Lord Hero gave us, after just one night, everyone can already get out of bed and walk."
Hearing his question, Alar quickly replied, the admiration in her eyes growing even more intense. She clasped her hands before her chest and bowed again.
"Some of our maimed tribesmen have also recovered from their injuries thanks to Lord Hero's potions."
"Thank you so much, Lord Hero!"
Faced with this gratitude, Tang Zheng didn't refuse it this time but simply nodded. "That's good."
The alchemy potions refined from troll blood only had an average recovery effect, far inferior to the "Restores 50 HP" low-grade red potions from the game.
...
Item: Magic Alchemical Solution (Potion of Regeneration)
Level: Low Rank
Description: Restores 20 HP. Has an excellent effect on wound recovery. Can remove certain "Limb Loss" type debuffs.
...
This was an alchemy potion refined from the blood of Troll Gu, and its effect was slightly better than potions made from the blood of ordinary trolls.
Especially for ordinary people with relatively low strength.
"Father has already started training everyone on how to use the Grey Dwarf armor and weapons. Everyone is working very hard; we should be proficient in two days at most," Alar spoke again, her tone filled with excitement.
Attacking the oasis of the Gray Dwarf Race was something they had never even considered. Now that the opportunity was right in front of them, no tribesman was willing to give it up.
In their decades of conflict, countless tribesmen had died at the hands of the Grey Dwarves. The hatred between the two sides had long since become irreconcilable.
Tang Zheng nodded slightly. Tribe Leader Diyelong was quite competent.
"You were just training?"
Tang Zheng swallowed the food in his mouth and looked up, glancing at Alar. There was still a layer of sweat on her forehead.
*Simply delivering food wouldn't have made her sweat.*
"Yes, Lord Hero!" Alar quickly replied. "Grandfather and Father have said that only by becoming strong can we protect our tribesmen and allow them to live better lives."
"Um..."
A nervous expression appeared on Alar's face. She glanced cautiously at Tang Zheng, bit her lip, and spoke hesitantly, "Lord Hero, I want to become stronger. Can you teach me?"
After speaking, Alar fidgeted with her long, slender fingers and looked at Tang Zheng expectantly.
Her strength was already the greatest in the entire tribe; her Father could no longer teach her anything. But with her current power, she was still unable to truly protect her tribesmen in Despair Valley.
Let alone step into the legendary "Hero" domain.
Hearing this, a flash of understanding crossed Tang Zheng's eyes. He had long since noticed that something was on Alar's mind, and it turned out to be this.
However!
Tang Zheng knew very well that his power came from the overwhelming superiority of his attributes, and his overall strength stemmed from his job skills.
A brief silence.
"Show me the strongest move you've currently mastered," Tang Zheng said to Alar.
"Yes, Lord Hero."
Alar replied excitedly at once, then suddenly realized she wasn't holding a weapon and hurriedly said, "Please wait a moment, Lord Hero."
As soon as she finished speaking, Alar dashed off in a great hurry.
Tang Zheng shook his head helplessly.
It wasn't long before...
Alar came running back, a spear in hand, her face flushed with excitement.
"Lord Hero, I'm starting now!" As soon as Alar steadied herself, she raised the silver spear with both hands without hesitation.
Her entire aura changed!
"Earth Charge!"
Alar let out a low shout. An earthy-yellow light flashed across her body, and her figure abruptly charged forward, disappearing from the spot like a loosed arrow.
In an instant, Alar appeared in a patch of open ground seven meters away, the spear in her hand blasting forward, creating a piercing sonic boom in the air.
Seeing this, Tang Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly, glancing at the information displayed on his stat panel before continuing to observe.
After executing the attack, Alar lowered the silver spear with a flick of her wrist, pressed one hand against the butt of the shaft, and let out another sharp cry, "Precise Control!"
In a single breath!
Alar's aura intensified. The spear in her hand became a series of afterimages as she rapidly stabbed forward.
*A combo?*
Tang Zheng's face flashed with surprise as he watched, but then he shook his head. *Not a combo. It's a type of attack that rapidly increases her own speed.*
*It's somewhat similar to the Martial Skill "Flowing Water Acceleration."*
As she completed these two attacks, Alar's breathing had become somewhat ragged, but she continued to demonstrate a few more attack techniques before finally stopping, looking expectantly at Tang Zheng.
*Basic Job: Warrior, Knight, and one Intermediate Class: Earth Knight.*
Tang Zheng's gaze swept over the information that appeared successively on his stat panel, giving him a complete understanding of the jobs Alar possessed.
What surprised him somewhat was that Alar had actually mastered three jobs, one of which was even an Intermediate Class.
"Very good," Tang Zheng said, looking at Alar seriously and offering a word of praise.
Based on the strength Alar just displayed, although she hadn't reached level 20, she was around level 17 or 18.
*To possess such power at her age shows that her talent is quite good. No, it should be described as exceptionally good.*
*Even among the human nations of the Northwest Continent, she would be at the level of a 'Platinum Rank' Adventurer.*
Alar's cheeks flushed slightly as she lowered the silver spear. "This strength is still far from enough to protect my tribesmen. I want to possess great strength like my Grandfather and Lord Hero."
"But I don't think I have that kind of talent."
As she said this, Alar lowered her head.
"No."
Tang Zheng spoke softly, then said in a serious tone, "You do have that talent."
"Huh?" Alar looked up, her silver pupils filled with disbelief as she gazed at Tang Zheng.
If anyone else had said it, she naturally wouldn't have believed them. But for the powerful Lord Hero to say it himself, the meaning was extraordinary.
Tang Zheng nodded. This wasn't just perfunctory praise.
While he couldn't see the specific level of a person's talent, he could use the stat panel to observe the number of jobs they possessed.
Although this couldn't be said to be talent in its entirety, the number of jobs one had could represent a portion of their potential.
At the very least, a person with only a single basic job, no matter how much they improved, could only reach level 15 at most.
Alar possesses two basic jobs and one Intermediate Class, so her upper limit is naturally higher. As for whether she can truly ascend to the 'Hero' level...
That would depend on opportunity and hard work.
The Warrior Captain, Gazef, had several jobs and possessed this potential, but he never truly stepped into the 'Hero' domain before his death.
(end of chapter)