Chapter 19: "Let’s see how you will do..."
"You killed it...!"
The boy was quite shocked at the gore and blood around.
Leo stood and retrieved his bow.
"That one is all yours..."
Leo said as he retrieved some fruits and a jar of water to replenish his lost energy and stamina. He had discovered that foods replenished ones stamina and energy,as well as eased fatigued.
"Twang...!"
He had the boy release his arrow and turned around.
The arrow pierced its skull.
System Alert: Your subordinate has killed a level one uncommon ranked Forest Dire Wolf.
System Alert: You are not in a party.
System Alert: Your subordinate will receive all the experience points.
System Alert: Gemini has received two thousand five hundred experience points.
System Alert: Gemini has leveled up.
Alert: Level 3 (400/12,500)
System Alert: Gemini has received a hundred copper coins.
"Lucky dude..."
Leo gave the boy a thumps up,as he watched him fiddle the small coin poach that had magically appeared on his waist belt.
"A party...?"
Leo wondered as the system had awarded all the experience points to Gemini, pointing out that it was because they were not in a party. He pondered wether the experience points from his kills would be shared amongst them,if they joined a party as well as the coins and vice versa.
"Time to loot..."
He looked at the massive wolves and smiled slightly.
"Looks like we have a lot of meat today."
"Loot..."
He whispered to the system,and watched the boy surprised look as the level two forest dire wolf turned into mots of light.
"It worked....!"
Leo to was surprised as he had not expected it to function,since it had failed to,when he attempted looting the uncommon ranked goat.
"The heavens sure are on my side..."
What he did not understand,was that unlike his level and rank,the abilities advancement was related to the number of times one used them.
System Alert: You have activated Loot.
Loot
Target: Forest Dire Wolf
Rank: Uncommon
Level: 2
Gain:
• 60 pounds of meat
• 1 Uncommon Beast Core
• 2 Dire Wolf Fangs
• 1 Thick Wolf Hide
Leo’s eyes widened.
"A beast core..."
Leo picked up the beast core from amidst the heap of meat. It was dark red and pearl sized. This was the first time he come across such an item.
And it might change everything.
He turned it slowly between his fingers.
Leo raised the core slightly.
"System. Inspect."
He murmured.
System Alert: You have activated Inspect.
Inspect
Target: Beast Core – Dire Wolf
Rank: Uncommon
Energy Type: Spiritual Essence
Leo frowned.
"Cultivation..."
Leo was confused,he had yet to come across this term.
"What is cultivation...?"
Leo pondered as he opened his status panel.
Current Status
Name: Leo
Race: Human
Age: 12
Rank: None
Level: 4 (19,730 / 62,500)
Class: Craftsman
Profession: None
Territory: None
Faction: None
Abilities
• Loot (Uncommon Rank)
• Inspect (Uncommon Rank)
Leo scratched his chin.
Every creature he killed granted him experience points.
The experience points increased his level.
His body became stronger, faster, tougher.
And the same applied to Gemini.
To Leo,it was that simple,but the concept of cultivation left him with questions, questions that he had no answers.
Leo glanced toward the boy,who had busied himself with collecting the arrows.
Leo sighed.
"If only this system could be helpful enough and explain cultivation..."
Leo was about to walk away when a new screen popped up.
"What is this...?"
He was lost for a second as he perused the information on the new window.
"An upgrade...!"
Leo scream startled the boy, making him drop the arrows he had gathered.
System Alert: You have unlocked the system library.
System Alert: Daily use (1/1)
System Alert: You are about to use your daily system library pass on the topic, Cultivation.
System Alert: Would you like to proceed...
"Yes...!"
Leo was quick on his response.
[System Alert: Cultivation
Cultivation is the natural growth method used by the native inhabitants of this world.
Through cultivation, individuals absorb and refine spiritual energy from the environment to strengthen their bodies and souls.
Host is not compatible with cultivation.
Host growth is via the Experience Conversion, applicable to summoned individuals linked to the host.
The System replaces the natural cultivation pathway for the host and all summoned individuals.
Experience gained through combat, crafting, and achievements is automatically converted into physical and spiritual growth...]
Leo blinked.
"That’s convenient."
He had no interest in sitting cross-legged for hours absorbing invisible energy.
"What of the beast cores...?"
"If I can’t cultivate... what use are the beast cores...?"
The answer came quickly.
But it was not the one he was expecting.
System Alert: You are out of system library passes.
Leo’s eyes darkened in frustration.
"Next time I should phrase my question to cover everything..."
"As for this,am sure I will find some use for it..."
"Just not for meditation..."
Leo thought as he kept the beast core in his inventory.
"Maybe I can trade them for something useful if I ever came across a cultivator..."
"Boy...!"
"Gather everything here and take it to the hideout..."
Leo instructed the boy as he proceeded to loot the second dire wolf.
System Alert: You have activated Loot.
Loot
Target: Forest Dire Wolf
Rank: Uncommon
Level: 1
Gain:
• 20 pounds of meat
• 1 Uncommon Beast Core
• 2 Dire Wolf Fangs
• 1 Thick Wolf Hide
"With your current strength,you can out run most of the common rank beasts..."
Leo said to the boy when he noticed the poor lads scared look.
"Also,I will be nearby,Incase you are chased,run towards the clearing..."
"Ok..."
The boy said, though his tone was weak.
As for Leo,he picked up the second beast core and left for the clearing. He still had a pool to dig.
"Good..."
Leo smiled faintly as he disappeared between the trees. Leaving behind a sombre boy.
"Let’s see how you will do..."
Leo though concerned,he felt that it was high time the boy learnt to depend on himself,and not cower at his back everytime they faced a hostile beast or situation.
