New System, Who Dis?

Tutorial Day 18

"With Mr. Superstar gracing us with his presence, we could try a different farming ground!" Jacky said, her voice whiny and infinitely annoying this early in the morning.

Still, I wasn't against trying another place. Thinking of my best Gathering Skill, I asked, "Is there a place with Mana Crystals, and Ores?"

"Uhh," London said, eloquently.

"Are you husking nuts?" Gavin asked, sounding more serious than he usually was.

My brow furrowed and Sarah stepped in front of me. "Gavin, don't pull a Jacky—"

"Hey!" Jacky complained.

"—he clearly has no idea that he's asking us to go into a , an Instance, Dungeon, or Challenge," Sarah continued.

"Oh," I said, looking at Gavin, then London and even Sarah's small back, which was directly in front of me. "Yeah, I had no clue. So, you can only Mine in those places?"

"Well, no," London said—but if you want to find an abundance of Crystals, and Ore—that's the only place it exists. You can find individual deposits of Crystals and Ores outside of them, but they're really rare—and always deeper into the Wilds."

"Okay," I answered slowly, before concluding, "So, why would we go to another area? What's the difference between the Boar forest and another direction?"

"Not too much," Sarah said while slowly moving out from in front of me and turning to look at me. "Each area has different animals, herbs and materials. The Boars have the largest hides and most meat. Have you been to any other spots?"

The motion I made with my hand was universal, conveying that I wasn't sure it counted, but I did answer, "I was on a Steppe when I first ported in. Fong fought off some Slimes…"

"Uggh, we aren't going to fight Slimes!" Jacky interjected. Everyone stared at her with varying levels of annoyance. "What?! If that shit gets on your gear or weapons it's guaranteed to need a cleaning!"

The group nodded, which meant they agreed with her sentiment, if not her choice of how to convey it.

London scratched his neck. "Yeah the Steppe is likely the least-farmed area, at least by Melee classes like us. Jacky actually is the best equipped to deal with them—but she's right. It isn't worth it."

"I was just saying where I've been," I explained, and London nodded.

"Picture it like this," London began. "The Boar's are northeast, and the Slimes are east, each of the other directions also have a Monster that dominates it, and different Herbs, Fruits and Woods that are collectible. The best chance of getting Crystals and Ores is the southwest for example—which isn't a forest at all but more of a natural quarry of some type of Portal Stone."

"What monsters are over there?" I asked.

"Golems," Gavin said, and raised his Sword. "Which we again, aren't equipped to handle. It would be better to have some Maces if we were planning to take them on."

"So…" I let the word hang in the air.

"Boar's are probably best, but lately there have been a lot of people farming them," Sarah explained.

"Did something change?" I asked, even as I began following London down the walkway toward the Northern Gate.

"A couple of the groups that go deeper, and look for Dungeons, Instances or Challenges came back, and their members are Farming as they wait for the next run. That pushed Hunting groups out of some of the nearer grounds. It's pretty common."

"Why don't stronger groups go deeper?" I asked.

Gavin quickened his step to walk beside me. Then he answered. "If you go past the first layer of Hunting Grounds, the Monsters increase in strength. Plus, you take about an hour or longer more to get there. Then, it takes that same amount of time on the way back, so you lose time for Hunting."

"But wouldn't the more expensive Monsters sell for more Tutorial Points?" I asked.

"Absolutely!" Jacky crowed. "But going deeper also carries with it a huge risk. If you're injured, you have to escape not only a more powerful Monster, but then cross through another area teeming with the husking things. Only powerful groups go out that far."

"Fong was out alone when he found me, though…" I retorted, not liking Jacky's tone.

"I just said, powerful, didn't I?" Jacky asked, condescendingly, even going as far to look to the others for some sort of approval in her words that basically called me a moron. The others avoided meeting her eyes. "Fong is like, one of the oldest residents of this place. He's a beast!" She explained.

That didn't seem right… I thought. He'd struggled against those Slimes…

"Really?" I asked, looking to London. At his nod, I explained. "But I saw him struggle against the Slimes on the Steppe."

The group stopped and their brows drew down. Of course it was Jacky who spoke up. "No, you didn't, you liar."

Sarah punched Jacky in the arm, hard enough to cause the latter to squeal. "He could have been husking injured you moron," Sarah scolded. "Strong doesn't mean invincible. Considering how deep that man delves into the world, I wouldn't even be surprised. It kind of goes to our point, Brodie, if he was injured, and even struggled against Slimes—I can't imagine what sort of trouble he got into deeper out."

The group continued to speculate on just what kind of Monsters that Fong had run into. They seemed well-informed about the first three layers out from the Town.

I listened and made note of some of the creatures—taking particular interest when Knolls, Hobgoblins and Lizardmen were mentioned.

Those three were all in the third-tier but mixed in amongst the high E-Rank Monsters. Considering that there were F to low E-Ranks out that far, it should make them the easiest sections, in theory. However, recalling the Mirage Hunters that ended up in a stew pot down in Nagina's cave, made me shiver.

Gavin saw my shiver and called out. "Enough about stronger monsters. Brodie's only a Gatherer and Alchemist-hopeful after all."

Even though I didn't think that was fair, I didn't bother correcting him. Still, the sympathetic looks from London and Sarah almost made me change my mind. Thankfully, Jacky's scoff dispelled that desire, replacing it with frustration at the girl.

She honestly was infuriating, and likely the entire reason I had distrusted this group at first. Thankfully, we were at the Border's Hunting grounds, and so I was saved from an outburst directed at Jacky.

However, my face fell when I discovered either one large spread-out group hunting the Borkers, or a series of multiple small groups. My frown stopped as I saw at least twelve red plaques spread out amongst the forest floor. I pointed to the nearest one, and asked, "Do you think they plan to collect those later?"

London followed my finger and shrugged. "No telling. If these are Dungeon groups, they're likely out here without their Gatherers—since the break is usually taken so they can work on Crafting. However, if they're just clearing the area first, and then planning to return—it's best to leave them alone."

My lips pursed but I nodded my understanding. If we moved deeper into the Hunting Ground, and then returned this way—either the plants would still be there or they wouldn't, right?

"So, I assume we go deeper?" I asked.

London motioned with his arm in the direction he deemed best. It was skirting the forest's edge, so I guessed I was wrong with my 'deeper' assertion. Another hundred yards down the forest edge we arrived at an area without other Hunters. I could see Borkers foraging in the undergrowth, and smiled—at least we'd still find some targets.

London stepped forward with his shield raised, and the group got into formation. Jacky, once again took her spot in front of me and I side stepped so I could see past her to the fight.

Maybe it was a young or sickly Borker, or just because I'd seen this song and dance so many times, but today, the Borker seemed particularly slow. Definitely, not as fast as Claude for example. My eyes widened as I realized I was considering how I might fare against the beast. Then my mouth fell open as Mental Fortitude concluded that I could definitely hit the Borker.

Sure, I'd need a weapon—armor, and some actual training in the use of all that—but with Reptilian Body, I believed I could at least keep up and strike the creature.

Mental Fortitude, the bringer of the surprise assessment in the first place, dashed my hopes a moment later. I would only be able to keep up for about thirty-husking-seconds—if that. What I needed was additional training.

Then, I looked at the group fighting the Borker, and realized that I wasn't the only one who could likely use more training. In no way was I disparaging London, Gavin and Sarah. They were killing an F to E-Rank Borker with only four combatants. However, if they were to be considered the Minor League for Hunter MMA War, then I was the Private School League just behind them.

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That analysis shocked me even more than the fact that I could potentially fight a Borker. Like usual, the fight was finished when Jacky sent Ice Spears to impale the Borker. This time I'd been keeping an eye on her throughout the fight as well, though. While I hadn't noticed it the last time I was with them—this time I did. Even before London engaged the Borker she had begun casting.

She hadn't been waiting for an opportune strike. That was just how long it took to cast her Skill. A great deal of my suspicion towards her dried up, when I made that realization.

Wait—how was I analyzing the fight so much more closely than before?

Claude hadn't actually trained me—well he had, but not to get a sense of Mana, and Qi-flow. So, what could have changed?

The answer came to me, and I wanted to curse. My Wisdom and—far more importantly for this answer, Perception had increased. Well, I guess I only assumed Perception was at play right now.

With the mob down, I decided to ask a question "Is there a guide for exactly how the Stats work?"

"Yeah, any Martial Pavilion will have the basics in their library. Why, what do you want to know?"

"Is it like the Alchemy Library in which the basics are cheap and then get more expensive? I was just wondering what each Stat does."

"They're kind of obvious, newb," Jacky stated, and then in her haughtiest voice continued. "Strength—umm duh! Agility—double duh! Stamina—totally in the description—"

"Thanks, Jacky," I growled, even as I pulled out my Skinning Knife and bent down to get to work. "Those three are somewhat obvious. As is Dexterity—but like what does Intelligence, Wisdom and Perception do?"

"Is he serious?" Jacky asked the others, again seeming to look for support in her bullying.

Sarah punched her in the arm for her troubles. Gavin chuckled and responded in her place. "They do… kind of what you'd expect. Well at least Intelligence does. It increases the speed and retention of knowledge. So in Martial Pavilions, it's explained as a good Stat to help learn techniques and katas. Perception heightens your senses—all five of them, as far as the books claim. Wisdom is a bit tougher to understand, though—so I get your confusion on that one. The basic book essentially claims it's what lets you come to conclusions faster. For example, this Boar is charging you—what do you do?"

"Run?" I offered, and got a laugh from everyone but Jacky.

"Probably a good decision," London said. "But it's how fast you'd reach that decision or pick a response that Gavin is pointing to."

"Oh, so like cognitive speed?"

Gavin smiled and nodded, even as Jacky spoke under her breath. "Clearly, all Stats someone is lacking in?"

"Honestly, what's your problem Jacky?" I asked, not even bothering to look over my shoulder at her. "You sound like a catty high-school girl."

The silence that followed my announcement startled me. I felt like that was a pretty mild taunt, considering how mean Jacky was and had been to me.

Gavin leaned in closer, and whispered. "...She was in high school when she unlocked all of her Stats."

Oh—oh! That explained quite a bit.

My instant reaction was to feel bad, but I got over it. That didn't excuse her actions, only explain them. Plus Mental Fortitude wasn't going to let something like sympathy reign when it wouldn't even allow anger a toe-hold.

Following the path of the cuts, I was soon finished with the Skinning and staring at the Mane's blue outline. Ever since I had activated Reptilian Body, I'd wondered if it would help me with this. I'd tried Overcharge in the past, and that definitely helped keep the knife gliding along, but I still had moments where it snagged and didn't cut the way I wanted.

Like in the past, I'd collect all of them before trying for the Mane's. With Overcharge's cooldown, it didn't make sense to use it until I was ready. I then left the group to their Butchery, and moved to the nearest red plaque.

Wait! I took a double-take and read the information in full. Was this a high-grade Flower that needed more time to grow? It sure seemed that way.

However, leaving it here to grow was a waste, since someone else would just take it, or a Borker would simply consume it. I scanned the nearby forest and quickly spotted a sapling. Fusing a flower didn't always work—and if this was truly an E grade flower, the chances of success were probably even lower. But—what other option did I have?

I pulled out my Gardener's Trowel and considered trying to dig it up. As soon as the tool hit my hands I found guiding marks on the ground—and to my further surprise I got a small sense of where the roots of the flower were.

Tilting my head, I tried turning on Heat Sense and smiled when it fully outlined the entirety of the root system. Next, I looked around for something I could use to pot it, and quickly discovered… I didn't have anything. However, that didn't mean I couldn't make something.

There was a medium sized stone nearby, and I hurriedly pulled out my Pickaxe and got to work. Three ozone inducing swings later I heard a polite cough.

Sarah stood behind me giving me a worried look. "What are you doing?"

"I need to create a pot for that plant there," I said while gesturing at the Red Middlemist.

"And… you figure creating a pot out of a stone is the best option?" Sarah asked, amusement clear in her voice.

The amusement drew me up short and I turned to look at her. "What, do you have a better idea?"

"How about the Borker skin, or some woven leaves like the bucket I gave you for that Sapling the other day?" She suggested while snickering.

"Idiot!" Jacky called from where she was helping Butcher.

This time I flushed red in embarrassment. Both those ideas were way better than my carving stone with a Pickaxe. Sarah smiled and motioned to my Pick. "The fact that you pulled that out of nowhere still hasn't dawned on you, has it?"

My eyebrows rose as I realized that I'd just basically broadcast that I had a storage device on me. Well, at least I think I trusted the group with that information now. I made the Pick vanish back into my Necklace.

"What Pick?" I asked with a raised eyebrow and a small smirk.

That got some laughter from the whole group at least. I moved to the group's Bag of Holding amidst the laughter, but was surprised when Sarah's hand on my arm stopped me. She shook her head and pointed up into the canopy.

I looked up and scanned the leaves. I wasn't exactly Adam, but they looked pretty unwearable to me…

Sarah cut off that thought. "I'll climb up and get some of the vines around the branches, and the leaves."

Then, like the tree wasn't huge, with no low-hanging branches, she scrambled up it. I watched her climb and still didn't understand how she'd managed to defy gravity, until I took a closer look. There were large stems for the vines wrapped around the tree—blending in with the trunk's color.

Using her Rapier, she cut off a good portion of the smaller vines near the distal part of the lowest branch and then leaned out and trimmed off some leaves as well. Even before the last leaf fell, she was back on the ground beside me.

I'd woven straw hats from grass before and pulled out my Skinning Knife to get to work. However, Sarah slapped my hand away just as the edge was touching the leaf.

"Not so wide," she explained. "A tighter weave will hold the earth better."

Then, with almost no help from me, she used the vines and the strips of leaves that she made using her Rapier to create a bucket, even adding a handle. When she was finished, she held it out to me.

"Do you need more than one?"

I shrugged. "Only if we find more plants like that one."

In short order, I'd dug it carefully out and placed it into the bucket. Since the bucket had more room, I broke up soil and sprinkled it around the outside until it was full.

I crossed my fingers. I hope this thing is worth it.

Due to my suspicions, I didn't put it into my Necklace or the Bag of Holding, worried as I was that it might be fragile. Instead, for the remainder of the day, I carried it. We found two other plants that could be potted, but I chose to fuse one of them, since it looked more like a bush to me.

The group was butchering the last of the six Borkers we killed—and I was flipping the Overdraft skill to Overcharge. It was time to try out my Qi and Reptilian Body when it came to Skinning. I figured the group might have to wait on me, but they'd understand. They waited on me each time they got to the Heart Core if I was Gardening.

I took a deep breath, and then began to feed my Mana into Reptilian Body—well I tried to. However, when it reached the point in my Mental Universe where the Skill had resided, it rebounded. Was that because I was trying to be careful and not send too much, or because I wasn't angry?

I slowly increased the Mana flow and felt the moment that some made it through instead of rebounding into my Pool. A very minute flush of heat swept over me, making me shiver in its wake. Whether that was due to the cold or excitement, I wasn't sure.

So, I was able to use the Skill without being upset or having an emotional high. That was good news, considering Mental Fortitude's penchant to block those emotions. I wondered if I could see what the Skill did by triggering with my Stat Sheet open. So, trickling Mana into it, I opened my Stat Sheet and smiled. Sure enough—Strength, Agility, Stamina and Dexterity were increased by five points.

Curious, I pushed my Mana harder, increasing the feed to the maximum—and felt my eyes widen as the numbers on the Stat sheet continued to climb.

As I watched my Mana dropped three points, and I quickly cut the Skill off. My Stats returned to normal, but the feeling of power didn't fade quite as quickly—which kept my smile wide and broad until I closed my Status Screen.

All four members of my group were staring at me. Well, only two of them were focused on my face. Two of them were looking lower. I looked down and caught a glimpse of my skin.

Black scales were slowly fading away to be replaced by healthy human skin. My palms were covered in gray scales and even my nails were shortening from what I presumed had been talons.

I touched my face and discovered what I expected. Scales.

How had Claude failed to mention this?!

Oh, right he was a husking Artificial NPC!