I’ve come a long way from when I first got here. Adam felt good after he saw just how much he had grown in such a short time. My stats are a far cry from when I first woke up in this cave. But it’s hard to get an estimate of just how good they are for my level without anyone for reference, but from how I’ve been able to drop monsters higher level than me I’d take a guess and say that I’m pretty strong for my level. The thought reaffirmed Adam.

All these attributes are synergistic in one form or another, I can feel that in my guts, its not just a matter of choosing to invest in BODY or MIND, if I overly favor one than I’m crippling myself in the other aspect. At least with my class I don’t have to worry about SOUL, thanks to that I only need to choose between MIND or BODY as the recipient for the stat points. Which still doesn’t make it easier to decide.

Adam’s attributes and stats were higher than what his level suggested mostly due to his titles and aptitude. Even though he had been through several life and death situations from which he barely managed to survive and even then, he had died once, his gains with the last 2 levels had more than made up for it. At least that was what he hoped. He had realized that with danger came opportunities and chances for growth and with the danger he was in, it felt like his growth would not stop anytime soon. Which ultimately led Adam to questioning the decision to not use his free points from the levels.

He had 30 attribute points and 3 trinity stats, with which if he decided to, he could boost his physical stats to more than double what they were now or he could distribute the points evenly through out the trinity and reach some semblance of balance and gain an increase of more than 30% in all his stats. Adam was leaning more towards the latter.

The 30 free attributes were like a beacon that drew his eyes and awakened the need to spend them in exchange for power. The points spoke to him of strength and power that was within his grasp and all he had to do was just assign them to his attributes. The compulsion to do so was strong but Adam felt something even greater than the compulsion to spend, he felt greed.

That was moment when Adam realized just how strong his greed was. He had the means and the opportunities to use his ability to gain attributes and he was hell bent on exploiting the ability for all its worth. There were a lot of restrictions involved but those small gains were going to snowball into an avalanche. Maybe not in the next couple of days or maybe not even when he finished the gauntlet, but the gains were going to snowball and somewhere down the line there were going to add up and form an avalanche.

But if he went ahead and used his free points then the gains were going to be fewer and far between. He would have wasted the opportunity that was in front of him.

Adam was greedy for power and that same greed couldn’t bear the thought of wasting opportunities by just rushing in blindly. He wanted to get stronger faster but he didn’t want to ignore any opportunities for growth no matter how small. Ultimately as walked down his path, it was going to keep adding up until he became a juggernaut.

I could invest all my points right now and not have to worry about any creature near my level and it’d make hunting a whole lot easier but then I’d just be making it that much harder for myself when it comes to earning points. Adam felt an urgency and a need to get stronger as fast he could but the thought of lost opportunities gnawed at him and ultimately ended up deciding his course of action for him.

Adam decided to go with his previous plan and ignore his free points till he really needed them and to continue hunting till he had killed everything he could without using his points. Only then would he think about his points again. This is the best method. SO now that’s decided.

He was finally done with dealing with his notifications and he wanted nothing more than to get some sleep. He wasn’t physically tired nor did he feel fatigued but he was still injured from his hunt and his mana was low as well. His health was still below 30% and he needed to rest in order to recover. Or I could just go out and kill stuff and devour them. mused. I need to get a skill that boosts regeneration, I’m 100% sure there’s a skill for that.

It was pitch black outside the cavern and even though the ominous feeling he had felt during the onset of night had faded away, his sense of danger was still blaring alarms every time he thought about stepping outside. Guess I need to pick up a night vision skill one of these days. That and get strong enough to at least escape whatever is out there if I ever run into it at night. But for tonight, I think I’ll just get some sleep. And with that thought Adam closed his eyes. Honestly this world isn’t half bad. I miss my family but this fighting and hunting monsters, leveling up and getting stronger, I can’t remember the last time I was this excited for something. I want to go back home but it’s starting to seem like it’s going to take a long time, so might as well enjoy the journey. That was the last coherent thought Adam had before he fell into a deep slumber. And in the dim light you could make a trace of a smile on his face as he drifted off.

Adam woke up to the light of dawn and the sounds of the forest. He had slept well and he felt ready to go. He got up and walked to the pool and washed his face and mouth, more out of habit than any real need, and then set about planning for the day.

First thing’s first, I feel starved, like I haven’t eaten in days starved. Devouring monsters still does nothing for my hunger except providing a temporary respite. So first order of business is catch something edible to eat without getting hurt. I still haven’t recovered from yesterday so I need to be more careful. He walked out from the cave and this time he didn’t use mud to block his scent and instead used the opportunity to test out his new passive active skill Psychic Obfuscation. He didn’t activate it and instead relied on its passive effects while moving through the forest.

His improved stats provided him with incredible delight as he moved through the forest with almost a supernatural grace and speed and all the while he was barely making any noise which only slightly registered with his enhanced hearing.

I can never get used to this feeling, and how fluid it all feels, it only takes a while to get acquainted with the improved stats and after a while it’s like I’ve always been this strong and fast. Fucking unbelievable. Must be an interface trick or something or maybe my enhanced mind stats are helping me adjust better to my physical stats. Arghh, all I know is that this is awesome! Adam was marveling at his physical abilities as he swiftly made his way deeper into the forest towards the pond.

On the way to his destination, he had found several insect creatures that were of higher level than him but he felt no sense of danger from them. He even got close to one Armored Black Beetle (10), close enough to reach out and touch its back and it hadn’t even sensed him or gave away any indication that it knew he was there. It had continued to suck up tree sap using its mandibles and proboscis before Adam had cut off its head using his hand.

Adam refrained from using his boosting skill and only used Penetrate. He jabbed forward with his right hand, his palm facing the ground, fingers close but stretched open and forming a knife hand. It took barely and instant and the creature was dead just like that. It hadn’t even realized that Adam was behind it and nor did it sense the motion of his hand as it struck forward and separated the creature’s head from its body. It realized the danger it was in too late, by then Adam’s attack had already reached it. Damn! the Obfuscation skill was only on passive and still that beetle hadn’t realized I was there up until the moment my hand went through its head. This skill is terrifying. I’m terrifying.

Adam Devoured the beetle’s corpse before heading out towards the pond once more. The creature hadn’t given him enough essence to level up although devouring the creature had provided nothing other than some more essence, a point in his endurance and brought his health and mana above 70%. He continued his journey to the pond and soon reached it.

This time instead of going to the far bank and staying camouflaged inside the reeds, he decided to stay hidden in the bushes on the near bank and wait for prey to come by before pouncing on them. He changed his plan mostly because of his new skill and how useful it was at keeping him hidden, otherwise he wouldn’t have dared to try what he was planning on doing.

Adam found a bush near the bank that was large enough to hide him from sight if he crouched down and then he relied entirely on the passive effect of his psychic stealth skill to prevent other creatures from noticing him. He was nervous about it but he was sure it would work unless something like a Mindflayer Simian came by, in which case he was depending on his title to serve as both protection and warning for him. And so, he stayed still and continued to try his best to blend into the environment.

Adam did not have to wait long before the first creature showed up, it was a Lv19 Forest Boar, and it wasn't alone.

The boar was leading its drove towards the water. Adam counted 16 pigs in all and all of them were above level 10 except for the 3 piglets which were around level 5. The boar was a huge specimen, from snout to tail, Adam estimated that the creature was about 3 and a half meters long and about 1 and half meter in width. The creature was pure bulky muscle and was covered in coarse brown shaggy hair. It sported 2 long tusks jutting forward from its jaws, curving like a scimitar and just as dangerous. The pigs behind it were smaller averaging at around 2 meters in length and were all female. The piglets were barely a meter long and were still playful unlike the adults.

The creatures were wary as they approached the pond, the Boar more so, it was constantly scanning its surroundings and looking for threats and would no doubt scream and charge at the first one it saw. The sows were nervous and herding the piglets so that they were surrounded by the adults at all time. The forest was a dangerous place for children. Yeah no shit! Im nearly peeing myself here and im an adult. Adam thought to himself as he observed the drove.

He had planned to take it easy and wasn’t looking for levels right that moment, he was hungry and he wanted to something to eat. Although the idea of roasted and grilled boar was tempting enough to set his mouth watering, Adam wasn’t suicidal enough to attack a drove of high level pigs. Going to need a few more levels and skills before I try that.

So Adam stayed put and continued to observe the drove of pigs as they reached the pond and set about sating their thirst. The piglets dashed right into the pond and started playing with each other as the adults continued to take turns at the pond as some of them stayed back to observe and guard the others. Adam noted that the boar was the first one to drink and it took a long time before it was done and let another take its place as he went to stand guard.

Except for the piglets the drove were subdued and not making much noise. Suddenly the boar perked up, it turned towards the far bank and stared at the bank for a long second before it made a loud noise. The sows stopped what they were doing and quickly proceeded to herd the piglets out of the water and then they all bunched up together. Adam stared in amazement at the change and saw that as soon as the boar had called out a warning, the sows rushed to get the piglets out of the water and then they all ran, bunched up close together and skirting the bank as they disappeared into the foliage. As soon as they ran, the boar rushed to follow behind them.

From the moment the warning was called it had only taken seconds for them to form up and run away. They ran away! Why? Fuck.

Adam instinctively activated Psychic obfuscation and stayed very still, doing his best not to make any movements at all. He had realized that the boar had spotted or sensed a predator and it had frightened the boar enough to force it to run away with its drove instead of charging it down. What could make a Lvl 19 Forest boar run? Stupid question Adam! Better question would be will it be able to find you? You saw the boar run, and you’re way slower and weaker. So, running is out. Which leaves you in the current predicament that you’re in. Adam could feel the situation getting more dangerous by the second as he weighed his options, and he was hoping and praying that whatever had spooked the boars wouldn’t be able to smell him. When he had left the cavern Adam hadn’t done anything to remove his scent, he had felt confident in his stealth skill and saw no real no to muddy himself since he was only going to catch breakfast and now, he was wishing he hadn’t had such hubris.

Fuck! Do better next time Adam! If I do make it out of this alive, I swear I’m never going to do dumb shit like this again. Adam admonished himself as he sat and continued to observe the far bank, waiting for the creature that had spooked the pigs to come out and all the while his Psychic Obfuscation was going at full blast and the he was losing mana every minute. He still had enough for half an hour of continuous use but after that, well Adam didn’t want to think about it.

Fuck.