kscans

Chapter 28 - An Eager Test Run

"Let's get this third day started!!"

The day after my consecutive encounters with a blacksmith, a mysterious boss, and a Magic Crafter. I must have been pretty tired, because I slept in until just before noon, so I logged in after having lunch.

Now, where should I start today? The most pressing thing on my mind is, of course, the state of my quest weapon, but it's still too early to go see the master.

In that case, I guess I'll just continue progressing... Ah, no, I'd like to sort things out a bit first. Yesterday, I was running on pure tension and momentum, so I haven't properly checked the details of the skills I acquired or evolved.

...Wait, what about my stat allocation? I haven't touched it since the scorpion fight. Okay, I know what I need to do.

I guess I'll just head out to one of the existing fields and move my body around a bit... Plains, labyrinth, and cliffs. I've only got one real option, don't I?

◇◆◇◆◇

——————————————————
◇Status◇
Name: Haru
Lv: 33 (100)
STR (Strength): 30
AGI (Agility): 130
DEX (Dexterity): 100
VIT (Vitality): 5
MID (Mind): 5
LUC (Luck): 10

◇Skills◇
・All-Weapon Proficiency
《Quick Change》
《Weapon Dart》

・Embodied Protection (New!)
・Heavy Attack Manipulator (New!)
・Accel Tempo
・Boar's Heart
・Acrobatics
・Jumble Step (Up!)
・Carry Running
——————————————————

"???"

In the [Plains of the Horizon], a place that already felt nostalgic despite the dense adventures I'd had in between, I opened my status screen and tilted my head at some of the displayed numbers.

The number of status points I'd gained didn't match my level increase. Last time, I was level 28 and had used all my points, so having leveled up five times, I should have 50 points, but...?

"A quest completion reward...? No, that can't be it. Five levels' worth for completing one quest is too much."

No use, I don't get it. For now, I'll just assume there are other ways to get points besides leveling up. I'll look it up later.

Now for the new skills... 《Jumble Step》 is the evolved version of Jump Maneuver. It used to assist with jump-related actions and stabilize my avatar's movements, but now it also seems to improve my acceleration during jumps.

"God-tier."

Next, 《Heavy Attack Manipulator》—wait, seriously? It increases my attack power when using weapons that I don't meet the strength requirement for... What is this, a skill made just for me?

"God-tier."

Last is 《Embodied Protection》. This skill is—

"............? ..., ............???"

《Embodied Protection》—Applies a correction to difficult-to-achieve phenomena.

"Mysterious."

No, I don't get it. What kind of correction does it apply? Is it some kind of protagonist buff? I'll have to put this one on hold until I can look it up later.

Anyway, the skills are fine, but as for my stats...

"Well, I'm not hesitating anymore."

Yesterday's battle confirmed it. I don't need STR right now. What I need is mobility to reliably land my switch-and-strike heavy attacks—AGI is the only choice.

What about vitality (VIT)? Since AGI is directly linked to evasion, isn't investing in AGI basically the same as investing in durability?

"If I hit a wall, I'll cry about it then."

Having made up my mind, I started pouring in the points. I was about to go all-in on agility, as my desires dictated—but I stopped my finger just short.

I had completely forgotten. Right now, I'm compensating for the DEX needed to control my high-speed AGI-based movements with the Acrobatics skill, but I haven't figured out how effective that assistance is.

——————————————————
◇Status◇
Name: Haru
Lv: 33 (20)
STR (Strength): 30
AGI (Agility): 130 ⇒ 210
DEX (Dexterity): 100
VIT (Vitality): 5
MID (Mind): 5
LUC (Luck): 10

◇Skills◇
・All-Weapon Proficiency
《Quick Change》
《Weapon Dart》

・Embodied Protection
・Heavy Attack Manipulator
・Accel Tempo
・Boar's Heart
・Acrobatics
・Jumble Step
・Carry Running
——————————————————

Well, that's a bit over, but now it's roughly double. Before I got Acrobatics, I needed an equal amount of DEX to handle my AGI, but...

"Alright... whoa!?"

The moment I pushed off the ground to check, my body shot forward with more acceleration than I could have imagined, and I let out a cry.

It felt like I was going around 70 km/h—and I got that speed in a single step, so of course I was startled. This was seriously unexpected...!

What I intended as a run turned into a jump. I instinctively braked my body and landed, digging up a spectacular amount of dirt.

...Come to think of it, number-wise, this is a fifty percent increase from what I had before. And since my failed step turned into a jump, the acceleration bonus from Jumble Step must have kicked in. Of course this would happen.

"I'm nicely starting to leave my humanity behind..."

I like it. This is getting really fun.

I did a few more shuttle runs, kicking away the [Fool Boars] that came to pick a fight, while checking my body's control.

The conclusion is that, at my current values, I'm feeling a bit AGI-heavy, pushing past the assistance from Acrobatics.

In that case, I can assume the bonus from Acrobatics is either a multiplication of DEX x2 or a fixed value of +100... Multiplication seems too strong, so for now, a fixed value is more likely.

Now, I'll have to start allocating points to DEX again... but I have some thoughts on that, so I'll hold off for a bit.

"At the end of the day, it's just assistance for the accuracy of my movements, so...!"

Since this is a flat plain, I can't do any wall-kicks, but that's not a problem. Using my weapon-stepping technique to bounce around freely, I thought while trying to tame my rebellious agility, which was starting to enter its teenage phase.

Yep, it's not impossible to control. Sometimes I mess up my body control and almost slam into the ground, but if I force it, I can manage.

"Alright, I'll go with this for a while."

With the plan to gradually get used to it, I left a few points unspent. Once I feel I've completely mastered the current AGI-to-DEX ratio, I'll add more to AGI—just then, I felt a familiar vibration under my feet.

"Oh, did I make too much noise—whoa!"

Too slow, you stupid boar! This is me, Ver. 1.1, who has expanded his stage into the air! An attack from below is no longer a threat!

"Bring it on, you bastard! I'll use you as a punching bag for my test run!!"

This being my third encounter, the sight was now familiar. I kicked off the great axe I had deployed in mid-air and mercilessly landed a flying kick on the snout with its twisted tusk.

—Incidentally, exactly ten seconds later, I miscontrolled my body, slipped, and was promptly stomped to death.

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Next part will be around noon. There might be a slight delay, my apologies.