NOVEL NEXT Ep. 5 The Pit Part 2
Since I'm out here I should check out the central room, I was kind of in a rush last time.
'Activate Stealth!'
MP: 30/50
Once I am concealed by the skill I walk carefully back to the well room. I look around and see that there are no goblins, however there are several more rats nibbling at the goblins corpse. Still in stealth I slowly move closer until I am right behind one of the rats then I extend my claws and stab down at the rat's neck killing it instantly.
*DING*
Congratulations! You have acquired the active skill Sneak Attack!
Sneak Attack
Level 1
MP Cost 5
Attacking from Stealth deals 5% more damage.
Of course all the other rats bolt and are gone in seconds, but I don't mind because now I have more food. I am about to return to my room with the rat when I notice the goblin corpse has a rope belt over its loincloth. I don't want to touch the loincloth even though I am tired of being naked, but rope is always useful so I untie it and remove it from the corpse.
I get a pleasant surprise when I remove the belt, I find a sheathed dagger on it when I pick it up. Taking my spoils I quickly return to my room. Once safe behind the illusionary wall I set the rat down and pull the dagger to take a look at it.
I am immediately disappointed as it is rusty and looks fairly dull, but it is still a weapon so I decide to see what I can do to make it useful. I stare at the dagger while I try to think how to remove the rust and sharpen the blade with what I have available.
*ITEM*
Rusty Dagger
Damage -5
Durability 5/30
*DING*
Congratulations! You have acquired the passive skill Observe!
Observe
Level 1
Int +1
You can identify common level items.
Not that I need a skill to identify that this is a rusty dagger but the Int point is nice. I try using some coarse dirt to buff the rust off the dagger, it works somewhat but takes a lot of elbow grease. Then I use a claw to notch one of the leftover bricks and repeatedly draw the dagger back through the notch to sharpen it.
*DING*
Congratulations! You have acquired the craft skill Repair!
Repair
Level 1
Str +1 Int +1
You can repair common items somewhat.
Once the dagger is kind of sharp again I use it to skin the rat. Then I use it to scrape the rat pelts clean. Once the pelts are as clean as I can get them I use the rat's organs as a tanning agent and stretch them out and pin them down with bricks.
*DING*
Congratulations! Skill Skinning has progressed to level 2!
Skinning
Level 2
Agi +2
You can skin small to medium animals.
It won't work as well as a frame but I don't have enough wood to make one. Hopefully I've remembered how to do this right. After all I only saw it once on a random survival video.
Then I take the rat's guts and stretch them out and twist them tight and leave them to dry. Next I cook the rat meat, not as hungry this time I fully cook it. It doesn't taste any better but it is easier on my stomach.
Then I go to check the basin and while it is only half full the water is crystal clear. I drink my fill and then curl up on the floor to try to get some sleep.
When I wake up I am stiff and sore from sleeping on the cold stone. I stand up and stretch out the kinks then drink some water. Next I go through another workout routine to warm up my muscles.
*DING*
Congratulations! Skill Fitness has progressed to level 2!
Fitness
Level 2
Str +2 End +2
Okay that is going to be my morning routine from now on. At least I think it's morning? I guess I can't really keep track of time down here. Let's see how I am doing so far. STATS!
Name: Ash
Race: Black Lion
Title: None
Class: None
Level: 0
HP: 65/145
MP: 50/50
Str: 27
Agi: 22
End: 27
Int: 21
Wis: 18
Cha: 18
Unspent Points: 0
Hmm my stats have gone up nicely just from getting skills, but I'm still not healing very fast. I wasn't hungry or thirsty last night when I went to sleep so that wasn't the reason. Maybe healing is just this slow without any kind of items? I need a skill to help me heal faster....
Now that I think about it, in a lot of martial arts manga the characters can use meditation to heal so maybe I can create a similar skill here? Worth a shot I guess. First I try to sit down cross legged but with my legs bending the wrong way I have a hard time. It takes me a few minutes to find a way to sit that works with my new legs, then I slow my breathing and work to clear my mind.
*DING*
Congratulations! You have acquired the passive skill Meditation!
Meditation
Level 1
Wis +1
A skill for recovery. HP 5/hour MP 5/hour
'Yes!! It worked!'
It's still kind of slow but it's better than sleeping. At this rate I can be fully healed with sixteen more hours of meditation, and maybe it will improve if I level the skill up. Then I meditate for the next two hours.
HP: 75/145
*DING*
Congratulations! Skill Meditation has progressed to level 2!
Meditation
Level 2
Wis +2
A skill for recovery. HP 5/hour MP 10/hour
Okay leveling the skill was fairly easy. My MP recovery went up but not my HP recovery? Oh well, maybe next level up. I get up and get a drink before returning to my meditation. I meditate for four more hours before the ding breaks my meditation.
HP: 95/145
*DING*
Congratulations! Skill Meditation has progressed to level 3!
Meditation
Level 3
Wis +3
A skill for recovery. HP 10/hour MP 10/hour
Alright that is much better. Five more hours of meditation and I'll be fully healed.