Chapter 193: Day 407 – Back At It

“So, you are into the raunchy kind of humor?” Naran asked me as we made our way to our regular level 3 grinding spot. Fethee had stayed on as a cart puller. That was a Naran problem, not a me problem. But it was good to see he was handling managing our supplies and having someone to pull the cart.

“You heard about that?” I asked. Naran just shrugged and smiled.

“Well not much going on in Purgatory, so the rumor mill works over time. The Champion going to a comedy show, and not melting anyone is news. I checked it out,” Naran explained.

“Not really, it didn’t make me laugh, but it put a smile on my face. Not much to laugh about in this place,” I said.

“True, but the bathroom humor is quite crude,” Naran said.

“Well, the grunge is real out here. And it was kind of funny. Better than making fun of me,” I replied.

“Going to have Clarissa assassinate them?” Naran asked that question calmly.

“No. But they will be highly discouraged. I am sure the owners of the place understand to keep things in check. I don’t mind some jokes, as long as it doesn’t get out of hand,” I replied.

“Well, thanks, consider one favor repaid,” Naran said. I knew he was talking about me killing the people from Truth. It was allowing him to put his past behind him.

“Killing some people, is not equal to saving my life, so I still owe you quite a bit. Also, friends don’t hold friends in debt,” I replied. Naran just shook his head at that.

“Still, thank you. Good to put that all behind me,” Naran said. Level 2 monsters in our path were easy enough to kill while keeping up a conversation. There was no thought with our high Body stats. It was simply a matter of just killing them.

“Well, consider it evened out by going to meet with the Ritualist. Even if he didn’t show up,” I let out a sigh. That was still annoying me. But as Clarissa had said, brooding wouldn’t help anything. Still, it was a struggle to try not and brood over what the Ritualist was doing.

“At least I can grind level 3 monsters now, that should speed things up,” Naran said and I nodded at that.

“Ready to take your seat on the Immortal Council? You are over 1,000 stats,” I said.

“No rush. Clarissa is doing a fine job managing things. I mean how would being on the Immortal Council change things?” Naran asked.

“Nothing much. But I am sure people will be scrambling to be on it sooner rather than later,” I said.

“I doubt it. Well, it will be their loss or death. A level 4 monster is no joke,” Naran shook his head as he explained his opinion to me. “Your skill Acid Shot is completely overpowered, which is the only reason you can fight higher level monsters.”

“That is true. Skills are an equalizer to some extent,” I replied.

“Grinding level 4 would be the real step up. When they can easily be killed, that will be the real game changer,” Naran said.

“I agree. But fighting a single level 4 is life or death. While the golem was beatable, fighting more than one level 4 at a time is too big of a risk. With their weird movement and behavior, that isn’t a risk I want to take,” I said.

“Fair, that is a real barrier, but a good benchmark to separate people. At least people who managed to surrive and grind their way up while being capable in combat,” Naran said.

“Don’t think it will need to be adjusted?” I asked.

“No. Maybe in decades, when we get a single level 7 crystal, we can easily boost someone up. But then I could see top people favoring people below them, to boost them up, once a single crystal would be massive for giving a person stats,” Naran said.

“The power of logarithmic equations. Once you are far ahead, while it is harder to advance, it will be easy to boost someone up at the start,” I nodded in agreement.

“I can’t even imagine a level 7 monster. There is probably another boost in power. There was one from level 3 to level 4. So, it would make sense another jump at level 6 to 7 if the pattern holds,” Naran said.

“Or they just increase every level after level 4. I am not assuming anything about level 5 and above,” I said.

“Fair, just fighting level 4 in melee, is going to take a long time,” Naran said with a sigh.

“But then you would be unbeatable in melee compared to anyone else and wouldn’t have to invest heavily into Spirit or Regeneration for skills,” I said.

“That is true, but a skill allows a person to leapfrog ahead. Grinding faster, getting more stats,” Naran said.

“That is true, but a high Body stat would just wreck everyone. Being able to dodge and rapidly close the distance,” I said.

“What about air resistance, you think that will cause an issue?” Naran asked.

“No, Body is about force manipulation. The big thing would be if it could be controlled. But, that might be very dangerous. Create a sheer effect, and rip yourself in half,” I speculated.

“Well you can already do it with Perception you know,” Naran said. I frowned a bit at that and nodded.

“True, focus matters with that stat, there is a lot unknown about them. I am hoping there is something once we hit 1,000 or 10,000 in a stat,” I said.

“There could be something, or it could be a mental trigger that is easier to use the higher the stat. Perception is easy since the entire stat is about the senses and focus,” Naran said.

“Future problems. Honestly, upgrading Acid Shot will be the big equalizer. I worked out that I need about four times the regeneration and spirit, to match my current grinding speed, even then I would hesitate,” I said and then continued.

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“The big issue is that level 4 monsters have ways to defend themselves. My skill damages them over time, but Death was able to just swing its sword to counter me and the golem could launch panels. That is the biggest issue with level 4 monsters, they can defend and maneuver to avoid attacks,” I said.

“Well, at least I can kill level 3 monsters with a sword. Still a bit difficult and I have to aim for their weak points,” Naran said.

“That is just with gargoyles and aiming for their head. I did notice you stocked up on swords,” I said.

“Well Neo Brasilia isn’t upgraded enough, and the higher level swords are tougher. They don’t just look better,” Naran said.

“I haven’t been paying attention to material composition. I mean the armor doesn’t seem to do much. Better to avoid getting hit in the first place,” I said.

“Or get it enchanted,” Naran added.

“Or that. But it will take time to get enough information,” I replied.

“So how long are we staying out here this time?” Naran asked me.

“As long as we can. Grinding is the most efficient thing we can do with our time. Building up our base strength is the best thing we can do,” I said. Naran looked back behind us to see Fethee in the distance pulling the cart.

“Or we could use consumption,” Naran said. I winced at that. “I don’t like it at all, but it is a huge power boost.”

“It is a huge power boost. But it is one that is too risky in my opinion. If you want to take the risk, you are welcome to. You know what I think about consumption,” I said.

“That it is a monkey’s paw or a trap of some kind,” Naran said.

“Exactly, it just seems too easy. For how hard everything else is, it is like finding an amazing shortcut for no reason. There might be some kind of underlying mechanics, but those same mechanics can just as easily screw someone using consumption over. We have no idea what those mechanics are. I can’t think of any circumstance where it ends up good,” I said.

“I understand what you are saying. But it is still a huge power up, but very little investment. It is clear the system isn’t thinking of everything since there are ways around the rules it has implemented, like summoning. There are only limited drawbacks there, same with negative energy sensing,” Naran said.

Those were good points. “Well, I can say that I am not going to be the first one to test stuff. I can always use them if I need to, but until that point, I plan to grind,” I said.

“But your grinding is slower, that is the big concern I have with consumption,” Naran said.

“I know,” I let out a sigh. “It is a big problem. I have been thinking over the issue, but I am not taking the risk.” I had made up my mind. I could change it later on, but I wasn’t about to change it right now. Let other people be the canaries in the coal mine. But that wouldn’t be me. “You thinking about using consumption?” I asked.

“I am, but you make good points.” I could tell Naran was debating the issue as well. “I guess I am going to wait and see like you. The risk can be taken on by other people. Clarissa will have test subjects in no time.”

“Super soldiers, not test subjects,” I replied.

“Super soldiers, sure. They are going to die horribly,” Naran said.

“Well maybe. But they will buy time. If there is a battle with the Ritualist, we can deploy them as damage sponges. Human shaped missiles to intercept dangerous monsters,” I said.

“Damage sponges? Is there anything that can really tank damage?” Naran asked.

“Not really, well a high enough Body stat and Aura stat could do it. Maybe. But having several people moving around at high speeds would easily counter a large amount of high-level summons and hybrids,” I said.

“Just have to wait and see. Our testing of hand to hand, shows that melee combat with a high Body stat is different, hard to put into words,” Naran said.

“It is about leverage. You need a much more stable footing to really leverage a heavy blow. Also momentum plays a bigger role, if you can build up speed,” I said.

“Also no jumping,” Naran added.

“No jumping. Once you are in the air, you can’t change direction. Better to stay close to the ground and kicking off,” I replied.

“I got your high speed movement technique, but it is weird, mini-hops instead of actually walking,” Naran said.

“I know, but it is the most efficient way I can work out, unless you have a better idea?” I asked.

“No, you here about the ceiling?”

“The ceiling? Oh you mean sending up flying summons to see how high they can go?” I asked.

“Yes,” Naran said and I rolled my eyes.

“They were limited by the tether limit and the distance obscuring effect, nothing useful,” I said.

“Still, one could air bomb targets. Get high enough up and swoop down or drop bombs,” Naran replied.

“And they would be inaccurate. Good for terror and chaos, not good for killing high priority targets,” I replied.

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