6 Hunted
[The Host has obtained the Clockwork Attribute.]
???
"What?"
Alex was expecting an unusual Attribute to be given, but this was beyond what he imagined.
"System, what exactly does the Clockwork Attribute do?"
*DING!*
[The Clockwork Attribute is a Special Attribute that gives the Host proficiency in nearly all matters of technology, especially devices that have Mana.]
[The Clockwork Attribute has a set of spells the Host can use that can be slowly obtained through higher levels.]
[The Clockwork Attribute also boosts the Host's proficiency in basic firearms and weapons. A higher mastery can be achieved through levelling up or constant use. The Host will unlock more proficiencies in more advanced weaponry by levelling up.]
"Proficiency in firearms and technology!?!"
It was not uncommon for a person with an Attribute to obtain Proficiencies regarding their Attribute. Proficiency would allow a person to have some mastery over a specific skill or action.
For example, if someone has the Earth Attribute, the Attribute may come with proficiency in gardening or be unlocked later through constant use of the Earth Attribute and gardening. Proficiencies can come in different forms, from everyday actions such as starting a fire or gardening to skills like blacksmithing or animal handling.
There were also the highly desired Weapon Proficiencies.
Just as it sounds, a Weapon Proficiency would allow someone to have some mastery over a weapon.
To obtain Weapon Proficiency, you need to have at least one Attribute. After that, it's all up to chance.
Some people might get lucky and automatically obtain a weapon Proficiency upon receiving an Attribute. This was most often the case for Special Attribute users. Others aren't as lucky and might spend years practicing and honing their mastery over their favoured weapon and never obtain one.
Those with Weapon Proficiencies will find themselves at a higher advantage than non-Proficient weapon users. Putting this into perspective, a fencer with only five years of experience using a sword and has Sword Proficiency can beat a master fencer with ten years of experience with the sword. This advantage can only go so far but can be the ultimate trump card that allows anyone to defeat an opponent a whole league or tier above them!
Although Proficiencies aren't hard to acquire, it is hard to know what type of Proficiency you have until you figure it out by chance. A person might train themselves in the sword for many years and never be able to get past the level of a regular swordsman, only to discover years later that he had a hidden Proficiency in the spear.
Having the System reveal his hidden Proficiency early on in his life was very advantageous to Alex, as this saved time from constantly trying out different weapons to figure out what weapon suited him best so that he can invest his time in trailing his specialties first.
There was just one troubling fact about his Proficiencies...
"Why the hell are guns part of weapon Proficiencies!?"
Putting aside his Tech Proficiency, a gun Proficiency was unheard of since most proficiencies were all simple weapons like daggers, swords, bows, axes and spears.
A Proficiency that boosts one's skill with an advanced weapon like a gun has never appeared before.
But he wasn't going to look the gift horse in the mouth.
Despite his shock, he was actually quite pleased with the proficiencies he obtained from his Attribute. Especially the Tech Proficiency that boosted his operating skills in the use of most technology and machines.
"Hmmm, having these two Proficiencies is great but what else can I do with the Clockwork Attribute?"
*DING!*
[The Host can use Spells from the Clockwork Attribute, more advanced Spells will be unlocked after either the Clockwork Attribute ranks up or the Host meets the level conditions.]
"Now we're talking!"
"Are there any Spells I can use right now?"
*DING!*
[The Host can use the following Spells:
Tier 1 Spell: Transmute
Allows the Host to alter all basic metals and elements to a certain degree. The Host can create items, alter metals and elements with more efficiency, or more advanced materials and elements when the Host levels up or if either the Clockwork Attribute or Spell ranks up.
MP Cost: Depends on the materials and elements being transmuted.
Tier 1 Spell: Clockwork Creation
The Host can create Clockwork weapons if provided with the necessary materials. Currently, the Host can only create a dagger and normal bullets. Weapons the Host creates will be embedded with a portion of the Host's mana to be used for durability.
MP Cost for dagger: 300
MP Cost for a bullet: 10
Tier 1 Spell: NanoClockworks
Summon a small swarm of microscopic artificial beings to control. NanoClockworks can be used to temporarily control a basic device for up to five minutes. More functions can be unlocked after levelling up.
MP Cost: 750
NanoClockwork details:
Tiny artificial organisms that follow the will of the summoner/caster. Very weak individually with no offensive power but tough to destroy. At higher levels, NanoClockworks can be used to create items like weapons, armour, vehicles and buildings.
Tier 1 Spell: Clockwork Bullet
Enhance a bullet with MP to be converted into a Clockwork Bullet, a Clockwork Bullet will increase the damage of the original bullet it enhances and boost its penetration. More functions can be unlocked after levelling up.
MP Cost for 1 bullet: 100
Clockwork Bullet Details:
150%+ more damage
30%+ penetration]
"That's quite the arsenal I have, and I'm only at level 10. Once I level up further I wonder what other skills I will unlock."
"From these skills, it's very possible that I could be an all-rounder or I can become a combat technician, sapper or specialist."
"Anyways, now that I have completed my Quests, I should go back to the real world."
Alex called for Maple, who bounced out of the tree he was keeping overwatch in and the pair began walking back towards the Dungeon entrance.
"Yo, Aniki! Check this out."
A guy in his late teens with a toad-like face dressed in torn jeans and a leather jacket with a colourful toxic green mohawk called out in a squeaky voice to someone dressed in brown robes with a hood that covered his face.
The brown-robed person replied in a monotone voice that made it hard to distinguish their gender.
"What is it, Josh?"
The guy named Josh pointed to a clearing covered with small puddles of blood. Evidence that either a fight recently occurred or someone injured passed by here.
"Ye think that this was left by the guy we're hunting?"
The brown-robed man glanced at the scene for a moment before turning to Josh.
"Unlikely, the guy we are hunting is an F-rank, the lowest among F-ranks in fact. It would be a miracle for him to kill even two regular monsters from this Dungeon."
"The amount of blood that's on the ground seems like it came from a pack of monsters rather than an individual person looking at how it's splattered everywhere but I'm not entirely sure due to the lack of corpses."
"Besides that, I am 67.34% sure that our target is still alive."
"Awww man! I was hoping he was dead already so we can get the reward!"
"The bounty on that guy's head is enough to purchase several Blue and even low Purple-tier equipment that will bump us up to the next rank!"
"I wouldn't be too greedy if I were you. Usually, when a job has a big payout, it either means the client desperately wants this job done or it's very dangerous."
"Man! You need to be more positive!"
"There's nothing positive about killing people for a living. Let's quickly check and regroup with the other two."
After checking the surroundings for any more clues, the pair continued their hunt in the forest.
"Damn, I can't wait to get back to the real world. After getting my commissioned weapon from Minnie, I think I'll join a raid to kill more monsters for some sweet EXP points."
Saying this, Alex looked at the status.
STATUS
Level: 10
HP: 1000/1000
Mp: 1000/1000
Constitution: 20
Agility: 20
Strength: 20
Intelligence: 20
Perception: 20
Endurance: 20
Status Points: 20
Condition: Normal
"Hmmm. Investing points in my Status pretty much boosted me into a high-tier F-rank if not E-rank."
"But what should I do with my remaining points?"
The skillset he obtained was quite diverse and it was hard for him to decide which categories Alex should invest his remaining points in.
(From my current skills, I am probably akin to something like a ranged damage dealer who can also act as support by providing useful gadgets and equipment with my Transmute and Clockwork Creation abilities. My NanoClockworks skill is also useful in infiltrating and collecting data from enemy bases but I think I will focus on that skill a little later. The real kicker is my Clockwork Bullet skill, a 150% increase in damage and a 30% increase in piercing!?! That'll one-shot kill just about any monster in this Dungeon, excluding the Boss. This skill will go nicely with my Mana-charge, which could potentially allow me to kill even D-class monsters like that Demon Boar.)
Thinking about that blasted pig made his veins bulge in anger.
After a few minutes of careful consideration, he poured half his points into Agility, five into Strength and five into Intelligence.
STATUS
Level: 10
HP: 1000/1000
Mp: 1250/1250
Constitution: 20
Agility: 30
Strength: 25
Intelligence: 25
Perception: 20
Endurance: 20
Status Points: 0
Condition: Normal
"Ten points into Agility so I can run away from danger or outmaneuver my enemy. Five points into Strength so that I can handle the recoil from guns, allowing me to dual-wield with akimbo pistols and use weapons like a greatsword if need be. Finally, five points into Intelligence for my Clockwork Bullet and Clockwork Creation skills."
"And... that's about it, I really want to sort out my Inventory but I'll do that once I drop off the materials Minnie needs."
*BOING!*
*BOING!*
*BOING!*
"Hunh?"
Maple, who was behind Alex moments ago, suddenly rushed toward the front of Alex and bounced up and down repeatedly in distress.
"What's the matter, Maple-san?"
*BOING!*
*BOING!*
*BOING!*
"Are you excited to get out of this Dungeon and explore the Academy?"
Maple swivelled several times as a human might shake its head to say no.
"Then what is it?"
Seeing that Alex didn't understand him. Maple cast a magic circle that gave off a bright flash.
Stunned by the sudden appearance of the Magic Circle and the light it emitted like a flash grenade. Alex slowly regained his sight and heard some people chatter about something that sent waves of nervousness and shock down his spine.
"Yo, where the heck is that Alex guy? I swear he's probably dead by now. Probably clubbed to death by a few measly goblins or something. Hey! Don't you think it would look hilarious? The guy being clubbed by those ugly green bastards while the dude is curled up like a snail in its shell bawling like a baby? HAHAHA!"
"I wouldn't be too sure if I were you. The target is said to have survived an encounter with a Lieutenant-level Demon. There could be more than meets the eye."
"Aww, shut up Gasses. The guy is just an F-rank. I bet he survived by hiding in a half-rotted log like a coward while his teammates got smashed into a paste."
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING GLASSES YOU GREEN-HAIRED DELINQUENT WITH A MUTANT TOAD FOR A MOTHER!?!"
"YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME YOU SNOB!?!"
(Damn, the Glasses and Delinquent guy have some serious anger issues.)
"You two cut it out. What if the target hears us?"
"Keep out of this!" x2
"Hais."
Just as it seemed like the bickering would never end a voice voiced out one command that everyone present seemed to follow.
"Stop."
With that one word, everyone in the clearing froze.
"Quit your bickering, we should approach the target soon. I do not want any of you to mess it up."
"Che, count yourself lucky. If Aniki wasn't here, I would have beaten you to a pulp."
"Hmph! Likewise."
"Now be quiet and ready your weapons. I sense that he is within a few metres ahead of us."
(Crap!)
From what Alex could tell, there are at least four people that are at the very least E-rank attempting to kill him.
Why anyone would want to put a bounty on his end was anyone's guess but the only thing he knows is that he needs to escape fast and contact the Academy security.
He looked around, trying to find a place to hide.
*BOING!*
(!!!)
Looking down, Alex saw Maple standing still.
"Maple-san!"
Alex loudly whispered.
"What are you doing!?! We must hide!"
Maple continued standing still. Completely unfazed by Alex's loud whispering.
"Damnit! We're going to die if you just stand there!"
(Holdup)
Alex recalled that magic circle Maple cast a minute ago.
(Could it be?)
Instead of trying to find a hiding spot, he decided to stand still alongside Maple.
*RUSTLE!*
(This better work!)
