'Summon the Creation Panel and create that skill!'
[Analyzing concept… Calibrating potency… Weighing cost…]
[Ding!]
[Skill frame established]
[Name: 10x SP Multiplier]
[Description: A passive-type skill that multiplies all future-acquired Skill Points by 10]
[Cost: 300 SP]
With no second thought, Darien approved the skill frame, and sent the affirmative order to create the skill immediately.
[Are you sure you want to spend 300 Skill Points to make the skill: <10x SP Multiplier> ???]
'Yes, I do!'
[Successfully created new skill]
[Ding!]
[You have acquired new skill: <10x SP Multiplier>]
Darien hugged himself tight with enthusiasm and excitement after the system chime of confirmation and the subsequent notifications that followed. He felt peculiarly proud of himself for creating his first-ever skill, but there was no symbol in particular that made the moment feel remarkable—the night was only his voyeur.
'So, it's done, right? All ensuing Skill Points from now would be multiplied by 10?'
[Yes, host. But please be fully aware: the skill has to be activated]
[System suggests that you everlastingly activate <10x SP Multiplier>, if not, any Skill Point obtained would not be aggrandized]
'Yes. Yes. You are absolutely right.'
Darien understood the system's caution and explanation very well. Even though <10x SP Multiplier> was wholly a passive skill, that didn't mean activation by the user wasn't required in order to influence attained Skill Points.
If, by chance, he decided to goose up, act loony, and deactivate <10x SP Multiplier>, then all Skill Points acquired thereupon would not be multiplied. So, the skill had to be activated eternally.
Darien navigated to the Skill Panel in order to assess the entire information of <10x SP Multiplier>. After scanning, he was relieved to see there was no limitation to it at all, mostly because it was passive and required no true exertion of any kind.
[Skill: 10x SP Multiplier]
[Type: Passive/ Special]
[Level: (3-star)]
[Description: A passive-type skill that multiplies all future-acquired Skill Points by 10]
[Upgrade Potential: High]
[Note: Skills are classified from 0-star to 9-star]
'How do I activate skills? By simply thoughts?'
[Correct, host]
After the information, Darien promptly thought about using <10x SP Multiplier> forever. After doing that, he looked around him—the ruins, corpses, and destruction. He decided it was time to leave this detestable ruination and flee far away toward the east before another monster came wandering by.
He remembered he still had 10 Attribute Points, so he decided to make use of them right away in order not to forget.
After the inaugural application, Darien's Attributes and HP had increased in this manner:
[DEF: 5 >>> 7]
[VIT: 4 >>> 7]
[STA: 5 >>> 10]
[HP: 28 >>> 48]
'I would have definitely died to this man's strangle if I still had those previous values. Heck! It's even now I realize the difference! It's subtle, but I can now stand firmly on my feet for minutes without trembling!'
Darien probed the rest of the attributes closely.
"I need more of this power…"
With that whisper, he went ahead to improve Vitality further by investing an additional 5 AP, applied 3 AP to Defense in what was turning out to be a similar pattern. But, at the end, Darien threw the last of the Attribute Points into Intelligence.
Apart from Skill Points, Intelligence was a core pillar for skill making in Darien's case. So, from his understanding, it should be very high and tower over other attributes since skill making was practically his talent.
[DEF: 7 >>> 10]
[VIT: 7 >>> 12]
[INT: 12 >>> 14]
[HP: 48 >>> 64]
"Show complete Status."
[Name: Darien Seaborn]
[Mage Rank: Beginner 0/250]
[Knight Rank: Beginner 0/250]
[HP: 64]
[STR: 6]
[AGI: 8]
[DEF: 5 (+5)]
[VIT: 4 (+8)]
[STA: 5 (+5)]
[INT: 12 (+2)]
Darien got ready to leave. He had no belongings, so he didn't look around much to search for anything. The only things he was looking around for were valuable items he might take with him in order to possibly sell along the way or keep.
One thing that wasn't up for argument was the fruits. Darien was going to pack as much as he could inside a pouch bag he just found that could contain about six awakening orbs, give or take.
'I feel bad to leave most of these fruits, but I have no choice.'
Darien's thoughts whisked as he filled the pouch in no time. Even with the bag filled, there were still many fruits littered around, and his body reacted with discomfort at the food waste and to just let them go.
After packing as much fruit as he could, Darien proceeded to search the crashed wagon and also the dead merchants in the hope of finding any valuable item or even currency itself. But his search proved futile, further putting him in danger of being approached by another Stray, or maybe something worse.
This was the half-moon, after all.
"I have about 40 apples and oranges."
"I have my dagger."
"I have this spiked club."
"This should be all. That horse over there would be my ride."
Darien moved his body to leave, but a faint, effete voice from somewhere in the scene called out to him.
"...Boy..."
Darien turned, his blue pupils trailing with his movement to see another figure crumpled beside the felled beast.
The mage. The Samaritan.
The Rank 2 mage was still alive—barely, though. His uniform was soaked with his blood, and his face was turned toward the moon even as he weakly called out to Darien.
"...Don't leave me..."
Darien was not unaware that the mage was alive; he had known since, and because of this, it had been an elephant in the room for him while he killed the merchants.
A thought had disturbed his mind, turning into a very harsh dilemma, but he managed to shove it aside and hoped the mage would die naturally. Now, the mage had called out to him again, reminding him of something irrefutable: Skill Points reward kills.
This was a Rank 2 mage, for that matter.
'But I'm not a savage am I? I can't just waltz the entire planes, killing anyone that comes in sight.'
'If i do this, I become a barbarian, a primitive and no better than these Chattel Merchants.'
'If i kill this helpless mage that actually saved my life just for the pursuit of my own ascendance, it's murder…'
Darien gulped and took a deep breath to speak loudly. He realized this was going to be his first ever conversation with someone.
His voice came out extremely feminine, as if he were some girl proclaiming something across the destruction, toward the fallen warrior.
"I'm sorry, ser."
Darien turned fully to face him, though no gaps were closed by his shuffled steps.
"You'd be a heavy burden in this state, ser. I don't even have the strength to carry myself, not to talk of us. I wish I could help, but I'd only end up dying beside you."
Darien turned to leave. He could see the man's sword, a weapon definitely worth a great deal of gold, but he resolved to give the mage peace.
"Thank you for saving my life. I hope you understand."
The mage's breathless rasp slipped through the night again, reaching out and metaphorically holding on to the boy's wrist. Darien turned again.
Surprisingly, the rasp turned into a weak laugh from the mage, who attempted to rest his head on a big rock nearby.
His laugh was short but bitter, and he spat out a word.
"Rubbish..."
"Who said anything about helping, boy?"
"I didn't carry potions on today's mission survey. Foolish of me, I know. I was in a haste."
Darien had to strain his ears to grasp the dying man's words from in between groans, grunts, winces, and coughs.
"I'm dying faster than the magic could ever mend me, and it's only keeping the pain alive. Do me this favor..."
There was a brief silence, and Darien immediately discovered what this mage truly had in mind.
"I see you have a dagger. Be quick and clean. It wouldn't take long... and the Old Gods will know you were kinder than the world."
Darien was stunned beyond recovery, and he stood there like a deer under headlights as the mage's request resonated in his head.
Is he... mad?
Darien understood the man's pain and reason for uttering such a bombshell. On many occasions in life, some people in suffering would always prefer sudden death if it were an option. This helps them escape the anguish entirely into wherever the afterlife was and its theme.
But for the mage to ask this from a boy...
"I... I can't do such a thing. That'd be murder."
Benin replied, "I just watched you 'murder' those two men mercilessly."
"They were dragging me to chains while you saved me. Killing them felt like surviving. Ending you would feel like betrayal."
Benin sighed in dying frustration and shook his head, while Darien stood there. Darien himself wondered why he didn't even carry on and leave, as if he was waiting for the mage to suggest another alternative.
As fate would have it, Benin uttered something.
"If the blade is too heavy for your conscience, then I have another way."
"See that shrub with a variety of green shades for leaves and three-forked stems? Please, neatly pluck a flower. It's called Greatbloom flower."
Darien didn't move at his request yet. He wanted to hear everything first before he would consider. The dying mage continued.
"Then.. eat an apple to the core. Bring me the seed and crush it. Crush both the Greatbloom and the seed together in your palm. No tool needed but just enough pressure to break their skin."
Darien's eyes darted to the shrub and to an apple on the forest ground he had greedily eaten halfway in order to full his belly while he stuffed his bag.
"Is that some poison?"
His question was for certainty.
"Yes, it is. If you won't cut me, then at least help me sleep."
Darien sighed deeply at the dilemma presented before him. He was also fully aware he was open under a half-moon and was still easily susceptible to death by ambush.
This thought alone forced him to speed up his decision, and his decision culminated in a conclusion: help the mage and be on his way eastward.
I will also gain Skill Points from this, so this is a win-win for everyone. I guess I'll help.
The moment Darien moved toward the shrub, Benin sighed in relief and thanked him exasperatedly.
The boy meticulously plucked one Greatbloom, fascinated by its enchanting beauty but also its miscreant purpose. He picked up the apple and finished the rest of it except the core, before taking heavy steps to the mage.
On one knee, Darien did as he was told and squashed the apple seeds and the Greatbloom flower together. When he was done, he presented it to the mage, who boldly parted his lips to ingest the toxin.
'Greatbloom flower and apple seeds. Hmmm.. i'll take good note of this. Who knew such deadly poison was easily accessible?'
"Thank you."
Benin expressed his gratitude and rested his head once more on the stone. Darien couldn't believe that something lethal was actually galvanizing within the man and would drain his life away within minutes. It was a sad and haunting thought.
Before Benin could die from the poison, he reached into a pocket and pulled out an ID card and a note. He handed them to Darien, who was illiterate and couldn't read what the details were. However, Benin, the mage, explained to his understanding.
"You plan for the Finelands, right?"
'The Finelands must be east i guess.'
Darien nodded to the mage's question.
"Meet the Honored Spire Guild and give them these. Tell them how I died—fighting a beast; a true honorable death for a warrior."
Darien nodded, though he saw no reason to put the man's request at the top of his list of preeminence.
It was as if Benin read his mind, because he gave Darien his sword afterwards in order to give the boy a reason to accomplish his request.
Darien stared in disbelief as the mage held out the sword for him to receive and claim as his. And with a fidgeting hand, Darien gripped the hilt.
(Item Name: Heatbringer)
(Type: Weapon/ Sword)
(Rank: Rare)
(Affinity: Fire)
[Items are ranked according to rarity, and rarity also means power: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Primordial]
[The nameless dagger and club you possess are both Common items]
'A rare weapon!'
Darien couldn't believe his unfathomable luck of stumbling upon a Rare item. And not only that, he also claimed ownership of it?!
Rare weapons were almost impossible to find, and many people in the entire course of their lives would only get to see an Uncommon weapon at best. What were the odds a Rare weapon would even be one of the first Darien would get to see?!
Darien looked down at the mage with a sparkle of appreciation in his eyes.
"Thank you very much, ser."
"Don't stress about it. It's inevitable. When i die, you'll take the sword. If I tell you to return it to my guild, you could choose to keep it. I might as well just respectfully gift it to you."
The mage's eyes began to fade and blink slowly more often, the poison brewing to its finality.
Darien stood up with Heatbringer in one hand and the cards in the other. He gave one last look at the pale mage before walking away to the horse in the quiet darkness of the forest.
Using alternative methods, Darien provided himself with a saddle and ropes to tie everything to the horse. He caught sight of the other horse somewhere deeper in the forest, but decided to let that one be. It was quite impossible to take both horses.
It took Darien a whole twelve minutes before he was able to mount the back of the horse. The horse itself didn't make his feat easier. With poor strength, climbing a horse's back was a venturesome task, truthfully, and Darien was panting when finally atop.
'Look how long it took just to mount a horse. If a beast was truly coming, it should have come long ago.'
Darien glanced back at the catastrophe and the mage who was yet to die. He swallowed back a lump of melancholy that formed in his throat before taking his gaze to the moonlit road that lay ahead.
"Full speed, horsey! Giddy-up!"
The horse took four easy steps before they evolved into gallops of freedom and haste to leave this dangerous portion of land. The hooves ploughed into the soil repeatedly, creating a drum-like pattern through the night, as the horse and her rider fled from the vile scene.
About forty seconds into their journey, Darien received notifications.
[Congratulations! You slayed a Rank 2 Being]
[You get 2000 Skill Points and 10 Attribute Points]