Chapter 5: First Real Hunt

A magic caster's Aptitude wasn't something that could typically be changed... that was for any creature other than humans.

Apparently, the green panel wasn't something that the Goblins or other creatures had at least to Rial's knowledge. And after a simple test, Rial realized that this meant that Max's aptitude for magic was set to an almost bare minimum from the start, though with the help of the panel he should be able to increase it in time.

"If I had to guess... Insight and Preception are probably the better 'stats' for learning magic while Intelligence and Willpower are more for raw power,"

"I think you should have an easy time learning the basics but anything past that will take some time..." Rial said seriously.

Max felt an invisible pressure hanging above him at Rials's words.

'So in other words... It's all based on hard work,'

'This is gonna be a change in pace from my old life,' Max sighed inwardly as his inner slacker groaned.

---

It took Max 3 weeks to learn his first magical spell. 3 weeks of intense focus to learn a single minor ability.

Max sat in front of the crackling campfire surrounded by goblins chatting with an intense look locked onto his face.

His eyes were closed and his mind was focused, just as Rial had told him it had to be.

He felt his sixth sense reach out and feel the threads of magic that thrummed through the air and with a little bit of effort he managed to pluck the thread of magic that was entwined with his throat.

The thread vibrated for a moment and Max focused the invisible mental energy that he knew he had into those vibrations and after what felt like an eternity, the thread changed from the strange blue that it always seemed to be into a vibrant green that hummed with power

Max felt an enormous toll overtake his mind as the chatter of the Goblins that he normally filtered out began to make sense.

"Mar has seen tracks of a large beast at the eastern edge of the forest," One of the nearby goblin hunters murmured to another.

"Do you think it entered from the outside?" The younger hunter asked with a hint of fear.

"It isn't impossible... Just make sure you are on your guard the next time you go out on a hunt," The older one said sternly.

More chatter filled his ears as he could finally understand what the children were saying as they played silly rhyming games and what the chefs were saying as they shouted at each other over minor mistakes that the others were making.

It was filled with a touch of life he had not previously felt.

The exhaustion was nothing in comparison to the excitement that filled Max as his ears were opened to a whole new world of information and connection to the people around him.

{The Spell {Basic Communication} has been successfully created. You may view it in your character panel when you wish to do so}

The panel's announcement was a welcome surprise as he stood up suddenly and raised his hands into the air before giving a celebratory hoot and double air bump.

The surrounding goblin's eyes immediately darted toward him and the glint in their eyes made it seem like they were looking like a madman.

"I can understand you!" Max said in between laughter.

A look of surprise and genuine joy filled the surrounding goblin's eyes as they heard words that made sense coming out of Max's mouth for the first time since welcoming him into their tribe.

The hunters he had spent his spare time within the last few weeks immediately congratulated him with a pat on the back and the children celebrated for him despite not even really understanding what had happened.

"I finally understand you, hunt brother!" Drynn, the shorter of the two goblins that led him to their tribe said with a bright smile.

"First you catch your first hare and now you can speak in our tongue! You my friend have a bright mind," Drynn applauded with a laugh.

Max hadn't solely focused his time on learning the magical spell Rial had been teaching him and instead focused on hunting when he got stuck while studying magic. He hadn't progressed as well in hunting as he had in magic but he did manage to create a few skills that had helped him get a handle on the basics fairly quickly.

Max smiled at the goblins he had seen and who had been silently teaching him their trades with gratitude.

'They really have prepared me... to a degree,'

Max silently opened up his green panel to gauge his progress. He had progressed but he wasn't sure if it was enough for him to leave the tribe just yet.

-

~{Project: Overhaul}:~

-

~{Player}:~

{Name}: Maxwell Adams

{Donor}: Big Iron

-

~{Specialization}:~

{Class}: Observer

{Level}: 3

{Experience}: 270/300

-

~{Stats}:~

{Strength}: 6

{Speed}: 9

{Control}: 12

{Endurance}: 10

{Intelligence}: 10

{Perception}: 12 + 2

{Insight}: 7

{Willpower}: 5

{Current Stat Points}: 0

-

~{Skills}:~

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{Donor Skill}:

{Universal Crafter}: LV: MAX

-

{Class Skills}:

{Mana Sense}: LV: 1

{Keen Eye}: LV: 1

{Observation}: LV: 2

-

{Personal Skills}:

{Basic Tinkering}: LV: 1

{Language of Intent}: LV: 1

{Basic Tracking}: LV: 1

{Beginner Hunter}: LV: 1

{Current Skill Points:}: 0

-

{Personal Spells}:

{Basic Communication}: LV: 1

-

'I haven't leveled up... but I did create two skills and a spell,' Max thought to himself as he silently viewed his new skills and spells.

-

{Language of Intent}: LV: 1

Intent is a language spoken in a different frequency than others. It is spoken through your tone and your actions. With mean words and a kind voice, you may lessen the harshness of your words and with the right combination, you may be able to speak to those who otherwise could not be spoken to. The effectiveness of this skill is based on this skills level and your insight stat.

-

{Basic Tracking}: LV: 1

Basic Tracking is a passive/active skill that allows you to find and follow the trail of a creature. This allows you to better discern what changes in the environment aren't natural and follow these changes to track your target. You passively notice tracks at a faster rate than others and when you activate this skill you can efficiently track a creature through its trail at the cost of not being able to use other skills during the process. This skills level affects the strength of this skill and your perception stat influences your speed of tracking.

-

{Beginner Hunter}: LV: 1

Beginner Hunter is a passive skill created through your current information on the art of hunting. You can identify some minor information on beasts and similar creatures. You also have an easier time skinning and butchering the creatures you hunt.

-

{Basic Communication}: LV: 1

You have understood the nature of communicating with others when it comes to using magic. You may spend a moderate amount of mana to enhance yourself to understand the most common languages and speak them as well. This effect lasts for a number of hours equal to this spell's level. You may speak with more clarity the higher level this spell is.

-

He had effectively learned how to discern what general type of beast he was tracking and hunting and had learned how to effectively harvest the creature to not waste any parts.

He had learned how to read a creature's next move and he learned how to kill it through its mistakes.

He was by no means better than any of the goblins in the tribe, but he was better than most beginners.

Though he hadn't hunted anything bigger than a rabbit he had still made a decent amount of progress.

After a bit of celebrating with Drynn, Max was promptly served a portion of meat and a few seasoned potatoes that had a light spice to them that was unusual to what he was used to.

It was a simple meal but one that filled Max with renewed energy.

"Hunt Brother, you have made quite a bit of progress in the past few weeks... Would you be interested in venturing into the deeper portions of the woods later tonight?" Drynn asked hesitantly.

"So far you haven't seen the beasts that lurk in the dark places of our woods. It might do you good to understand what type of creatures lurk in the shadows,"

"But if you don't feel ready, feel free to stay in the tribe and practice some more, It's up to you after all,"

Max found himself subconsciously nodding to Drynn's request as he heard it.

"I haven't seen much danger so far. It would do me good to see what I might face when I leave this place," Max responded with a more serious expression.

"Then we will head out in a few hours. Head to Ivan, the lead hunter, and he will get you sorted with some of the basic gear and supplies we use when heading into more dangerous territories," Drynn said with a small smile.

"I have to prepare my gear as well, so I suppose I will see you at light fall,"

Max nodded in response before finishing the delicious meal the chefs had made for him.

'Danger? It seems like it's time to put my newfound skills to the test,'

'Can't be too hard? Right?'

---

"The gear you have been using so far is the gear we give to all hunters when they are looking for easy game," A grizzled goblin said to Max in a dry and rough voice.

The goblin wore leather armor that was in better condition than anything else Max had seen during his stay in the Dew Tribe.

In addition to the nice leather armor, he also had a blade made of black metal. It was the first bit of metal Max had seen other than the cauldron Rial used to make alchemical tinctures.

"We give the deep hunters better gear because without it they would die," Ivan said emotionlessly.

Ivan led Max into a large storage shed that was seldom used and inside of this shed, there were massive racks filled with various armors and refined flint knives/tools.

Many quality spears were also placed on the racks. They were a completely different breed of weapon compared to the toothpicks Max was used to.

"Take what you need from our armory,"

"Most hunters take a small blade and a spear as their weapons while also taking a survival pack to store any herbs they find along the way,"

"Though some hunters prefer our bows instead of the spears even though the quivers tend to restrict your movement," Ivan said with a little wave before turning and leaving through the door.

'Man... He really seems like a no-nonsense kinda guy,' Max thought with a shake of his head before quickly diving into the treasure trove of weapons and tools laid out before him.

He tested out various different sizes of spears and different variations of blades before settling on a spear that was longer than the others in the shed and a dagger that was light and easy to use.

"Everything is a size too small... Though I doubt they were expecting a human to use their supplies anytime soon," Max muttered as he strapped the spear to his back and the dagger to a sheath on his waist.

He found a small leather bag that resembled a backpack from Earth and quickly slung it over his back without much care.

"I guess it's time to go fuck up some monsters," Max said with a spark of excitement filling his eyes.

He started walking out into the dimly lit town with a smile on his face as he headed towards the group of hunters that were waiting at the edge of the tribe.

It was time for some action.