Chapter 09 - Kahjiit Has Skills, If You Have Credits.

It didn’t take him long before finding what he was searching for, it was a juicy group of EXP composed of 3x level 1, a level 2, 2x level 4 and a level 5. That group just left the basement and was making its way to the entrance.

I need to attack them now or the chance of them meeting up with another group will increase. Let's do this!

Getting himself fired up, Asmund charged the group in silence like an ominous shadow of death. His first target was obviously the level 5, having the small hope of being able to kill it in one strike. Hope which… Surprisingly wasn't in vain as his giant sword of blood cut through the monster’s whole body as if it was butter.

Hah? Wait those ‘mighty’ level 5 are actually this weak?! Their appearance was just for show?!

The truth in reality wasn’t that the monster was weak, but that Asmund grew this strong without actually noticing it…

[ Received 25 Credits. ]

Either way, showing none of his shock, Asmund immediately followed his first swing with a spin of his body which took the life of 3 other Death-Hounds who were unlucky enough to stand nearby, using nothing but the momentum his first swing brought.

[ Received 16 Credits. ]

[ Received 1 Credits. ]

[ Received 1 Credits. ]

In an instant, before the group could even react, they had already lost 4 of their members and most of all their strongest bodyguard. Only 3 were left, a level 4, a level 2 and a level 1, whose reaction was as expected, seeing how their comrades got murdered without even standing a chance. They tried to run away, only to get killed as soon as they turned around…

[ Received 4 Credits. ]

[ Received 16 Credits. ]

[ Received 1 Credits. ]

[ Congratulations! You gained a level! ]

[ Congratulations! You reached the level 10! From now on you will gain an additional free stat point for each level gained! ]

[ Congratulations! You gained a free Upgrade Point! ]

[ Skills with the level 10+ requirement are now buyable through the System’s Shop. ]

… I don’t even know what to say… Not only was this fight much easier than I could even dream of, but now after reaching level 10 I’m suddenly assaulted by a barrage of screens.

Alright… Let’s first absorb this group, take the 3 gachas they dropped, find a spot to hide, and then check this out.

His mind in turmoil from his confusion and excitement, Asmund absorbed the blood essence of the Death-Hounds corpses, which resulted in the gain of a point of Constitution. Done with that he quickly moved through empty hallways to hide inside an empty room, and sit on the bed to rest while checking the results of reaching level 10.

Hmmm, it look like I still gained only 3 free stat points for this level up, the additional point must only take effect from the next level on. Let’s just put those in Agility and Mind that I pretty much neglected lately.

After distributing his points into his stats by putting 1 into Agility and 2 into Mind, he moved on to the System’s Shop, first visiting the new skill page to see the skills available now.

Holy mackerel! There’s some awesome ones in there!

Among the new skills in the list most were common ones which were not that useful, and only one of them really seemed useful to Asmund. But the two new skills which appeared among the Blood Overlord’s skills were both quite amazing in their own way.

[ Blood Familiar ][ Blood Overlord Skill ][ Level 1 ][ Level 10+ Req. ]

[ Gives you the ability to create familiars with the use of your blood. ]

[ Level 1: Blood Weasels x4. ]

[ Level 2: Blood Wolves x3. ]

[ Level 3: Blood Tigers x2. ]

[ Level 4: Blood Dragon. ]

[ Upgrade: 15 000 Credits (Level 20+ req.) ]

[ Strong Blood ][ Blood Overlord Skill ][ Level 1 ][ Level 10+ Req. ]

[ Your blood is as thick as lead, and the effect of your ‘Constitution’ on its toughness is now multiplied by 1,2. You’re also immune to most sicknesses and to weak poisons of all types. ]

[ This skill can’t be upgraded ]

Great! The cost of them is still quite high, as the Blood familiar skill costs 20 000 and the Strong Blood one cost 5 000, but they sound hella’ good! Also, the description of the Strong Blood skill confirmed my suspicion, that the Constitution stat is directly linked to my blood’s toughness while my Spirit probably affects nothing but my control over it. As for the common one which took my interest, it seems like I really need to buy it as soon as I can.

[ Eyes of Truth ][ Common Skill ][ Level 1 ][ Level 10+ Req. ]

[ Gives you the ability to see the level of your fellow humans, up to 5 levels above yours. ]

[ Level 1: Can see the level. ]

[ Level 2: Can see the class. ]

[ Level 3: Can see abnormal conditions. ]

[ Upgrade: 1 000 Credits (Level 15+ req.) ]

With this skill I would immediately be able to tell if someone can be a threat to me or not, and it’s price is still reasonable as it is 1 000 Credits, just like the price of its upgrade. But really, seeing as just how much Credits I have compared to my level, it seems like I really fought too much weaklings compared to what is expected of the system… That said, it also seems that you can exchange Credits, so although most people now will have a hard time gathering funds by killing monsters, after a new society is installed even non fighters will be able to gather Credits by working for powerful hunters or by selling merchandise.

If you think about it, a good blacksmith can potentially become richer than a hunter without even having to fight. Obviously the ones in my future kingdom will have to pay heavy taxes to sell their items! I mean, merchants and good craftsmen can get rich at the price of their sweat, but a ruler can become even richer from the price of ‘their’ sweat!

Hehehe, I’m so impatient to make my kingdom and gather Credits! But let’s not sell the bear’s skin before even killing it, I first need to get much stronger than I am now. Alright, let’s go to the upgrade page and think about which skill to upgrade with my free upgrade point.

Going to the upgrade page, Asmund reread the descriptions of his skills, and realized that he didn’t exactly had a choice in the matter. As only his Blood Manipulation skill could be upgraded at the moment.

His choice evident, he upgraded Blood Manipulation and turned it into a level 2 skill. Now finished with his business on the System’s Shop, Asmund tried out the ‘flexible’ property of his Blood Manipulation skill.

Forming a snake of blood, he gave it the flexible property and started to experiment with it.

Interesting, It’s not like the ‘flexible’ property is completely separate from the ‘solid’ one, but more like I can change just how flexible the solidified blood is. Thanks to it I should be able to create the mid range weapon I was interested in.

Turning his blood boots into a liquid ball, Asmund took out of his belt his dagger, put it on the floor, and then proceeded to cover it with the blood ball to start making a ‘coating’ for it, just like he made his giant sword by coating the longsword.

The part covering the straight dagger was turned into a cylinder which was in reality only the handle of the weapon Asmund was trying to make. Soon sprouting from the handle was a long thin and really flexible blade which kept growing in size.

This four meter long flexible blade was Asmund’s weapon of choice for mid range fighting, a blade-whip. A weapon often see in fiction, but was in reality not that convenient and realistic of a weapon, for normal people that is. For Asmund and his Blood Manipulation ability, this blade-whip had an incredible potential.

His blade-whip done, Asmund immediately tried it out by whipping the wall in front of him, and soon had a huge grin on his face as a loud slapping sound was heard followed by the scene of a huge deep gash appearing on the surface of the wall.

As expected, this is a really powerful weapon, but it is certainly hard to use. Nothing that training can’t take care of, that said! I’m really satisfied with it anyway, it’s perfect to use against speed based monsters who have weak defense, unlike my giant sword which is the complete opposite.

Alright, I got the hang of the new property now. Sadly it seems like I can’t complete the long range weapon I had in mind without elasticity. Elasticity that I won’t be able to obtain before level 40 as it is the requirement to further upgrade Blood Manipulation…

Finished with his experiment, Asmund coiled his blade-whip around his waist, and changed his arm guards into complete gauntlets with flexible protection at the wrists and fingers. As for the boots, since his current mental limit is five items, he gave up on them for the moment seeing as the blade-whip was more useful to have ready at all times. He also wanted to make a breastplate for himself, but the gauntlets and blade-whip was harder to keep in form due to their different properties, so he wasn’t able to make a fifth item for himself as he was right now.

I should really put more points into the Mind stat in the future as it would surely help me multi-tasking, and so control more separated blood at the same time. I could also of course turn the gauntlets into a single piece of full body armor, but it would equally ask too much concentration from my part for such a large and complex item.

Ready to continue his hunt, Asmund moved away from the room he was hiding and searched for new preys. He was also eager to try out his blade-whip in a real combat situation too after all.

Finding a group of preys was pretty simple, he just needed to wait near the entrance and wait for the Death-Hounds to either go out or inside. Of course, hunting at such a spot had the risk of another group suddenly appearing in the middle of the fight, but at this point Asmund had been so disappointed by his last fight that he wouldn’t even mind for things to spice up a little in difficulty.

Here they come!

Slightly getting in the mood for a carnage, Asmund licked his lips in anticipation while counting the level and amount of the Death-Hounds walking inside.

[ Death-Hound Level 1 ]

[ Death-Hound Level 1 ]

[ Death-Hound Level 4 ]

[ Death-Hound Level 1 ]

[ Death-Hound Level 3 ]

[ Death-Hound Level 7 ]

[ Death-Hound Level 3 ]

[ Death-Hound Level 5 ]

Ohhh! It’s a big fish this time! 3x level 1, 2x level 3, a level 4, a level 5 and a level 7! Let’s enjoy the meal!

Stepping out of his hiding spot, Asmund jumped in the direction of the Death-Hounds while uncoiling his blade-whip, before swinging it with impressive speed. Ensued the sound of falling thunder and the gruesome sight of the low level monsters’ heads breaking open or being cut apart.

[ Received 1 Credits. ]

[ Received 9 Credits. ]

[ Received 1 Credits. ]

[ Received 1 Credits. ]

[ Received 9 Credits. ]

[ Received 16 Credits. ]

By the time Asmund’s feet were back on the floor, only the level 5 and 7 Death-Hound were still alive, but whining in pain from the deep wounds they received or even the loss of a limb. But taking no pity in that pitiful sight, showing a brutal smile, Asmund coiled back his blade-whip at his waist with his right hand while reaching for the giant sword on his back with his left.

In a desperate attempt and full of rage, the 2 Death-Hounds that were still alive tried to bite their enemy to death, but were already too late, as they barely had the time to move towards him before their bodies were cleaved into four clean halves.

[ Received 25 Credits. ]

[ Received 49 Credits. ]

…

Looking at the corpses lying flat on the ground, Asmund immediately lost his smile and good mood. Once again infuriated by just how easily he slayed them.

“FUCK! IS THIS A JOKE?! Just how come is it that you’re this damn weak?! It’s not like you had a level that’s really lower than mine!”

What Asmund had forgotten, again, was that he had an Emperor ranked class, making the difference in levels more obvious and resulting in him being much stronger than someone else of the same level, especially skillswise.

But out of himself, Asmund kicked the lifeless head of the level 7 as if it was soccer ball, making it fly tens of meters before rolling around on the floor while spraying what little blood was left in it.

Asmund's reaction was certainly contradictory since he has an overly cautious personality yet enjoys the thrill of having his life on the line. But that's just the type of person that Asmund is, In short you could say that due to his upbringing Asmund still has a childish personality which wants to battle to the death yet can't accept the idea of being on the losing side. That very same personality is also what let him grow this well and safely in this new world though. Fighting without fear whenever he could, and immediately reverting back to being cautious when things look sour to him or when he has yet to be sure of being capable of handling a situation.

“Screw this! Let’s kill every single one of them and search for the Beta! At least that bastard should prove to be a bit of a challenge!”

Stomping his feet on the floor, Asmund grabbed the 4 treasure capsules which were lying on the floor, absorbed the life essence of the corpses which gave him a point in Power and another one in Agility to his surprise, and walked away, now decided to clean this hospital of its monsters for good.