7 Fighting Skills, Combined Skills, and Stamina Problems

As I continued playing with various herbal mixtures, I ended up filling three vials with different results. I also gained the [Poison Creation] skill in the process. Apparently poisons were indeed easier to make with the herbs in this region.

With my potion experiments over, I decided to make a few concentrated potions to sell. With my skills now running at maximum, it only took a few minutes to fill several flasks with potions derived from Verde Straws. Unlike the first time, I didn't add my blood, sacrificing some of the efficacy to make the potion usable by everyone. Unlike the initial potion, which smelled bitter and off-putting, the new products gave off no smell and the resulting liquid was a pleasing red in color.

{Minor Exquisite Healing Potion}

Instantly Heals for 9% of HP, and heals an additional 1% per minute for 10 minutes.

Creator: {Barroco Gaia}

Oh, it had an additional effect now? Was it a result from maxing the requisite skills?

As I put the last potion into one of the flasks that had been bundled with the alchemy purchase, I felt my hand slip and several drops of the potion trickled onto the floor. I yawned and checked my stats as a sudden wave of tiredness washed over me.

Stamina 0/10 (Exhausted)

I realized I hadn't been paying attention to my Stamina. What a very videogame-like effect: My whole body felt heavier, and my hands shook like I had been doing extreme exercise. Up until the very moment my Stamina hit 0, I had felt fine - the contrast was quite jarring. I stood up with some difficulty and tried to ignore the tired feeling wrapped around me.

[Exhaustion Resistance Skill Unlocked!]

[Exhaustion Resistance Skill Mastered!]

The tired feeling faded somewhat, but the overall effect still remained. Resistance wasn't full nullification, I suppose. I wasn't immune from getting tired or the resulting effects, I could just endure them more easily. I waved my hand in a nonchalant manner, as if to dispel the remaining exhaustion, but to no avail.

"Might as well get some food before I go to bed," I mumbled, if only to myself. Even turning the knob to my room and going down the stairs to the dining area had me feeling tired, but I could manage it with some concentration. Dahlia was there to greet me with her usual smile, which made me all the more eager to eat the delicious dinner they had available.

Tonight's default meal was a strange mix of fish and fried potatoes. The fish had a crisp coating of bread crumbs and the potatoes, while a little overly salted, made me eager to finish the plate. I tried to savor the flavor of the meal, as I had heard about a similar dish that had been served in my own world. As I tried to guess the name of the dish, I was greeted with another skill message.

[Food Appraisal Skill Unlocked!]

[Food Appraisal Skill Mastered!]

[Your Appraisal skills can now be combined into the Master Appraisal Skill. Would you like to combine these skills now?]

A combined skill? I had read about those in the introduction, but I hadn't acquired one just yet. I silently mouthed "yes" as I took a sip of water.

[Master Appraisal Skill has been Unlocked!]

[Master Appraisal Skill Mastered! You can now identify all First Level Class objects, people, etc. Second and Third Level are still beyond the scope of this Skill...]

More words I couldn't understand. Ah well, it had almost become the norm of this world. However, if it followed the videogame logic of my world, there were likely different classes for things, like World Class, God Class, and so forth. I guess us mere humans, even when reaching the top of our class, couldn't measure up to the higher class levels. Oh well, nothing of my concern anyway. The skill system was clearly more complicated and in-depth than the regular levelling system. Perhaps that meant Libra was more complex than the current god of this world? It was hard to tell.

After dinner, I checked my Stamina and found that it was back at 2/10. Meals seemed to help, but if I wanted a full refill I'd have to rest. Shrugging, I gathered the pack of needles from my room, as well as the two vials of poison I had brewed. With a few hours of daylight left before sundown, I figured now was as good as ever to test a few battle strategies.

Outside of the Inn, it was a short walk to the forest. My [Master Appraisal] quickly honed in on a squirrel rummaging around an uncut tree.

"What are you doing?" I heard a familiar voice asking. I turned my head to the side and found Libra standing in the grass nearby. I guess the demi-goddess had gotten over her... status from earlier. Her cheeks still looked slightly red, but she had regained her composure.

"I need to check how well I can fight things in this world," I told her, slowly pulling one of the sewing needles from the pack of twelve.

"That won't work." Libra informed me, her arms crossed. "Even with the proper skills..."

I made a shushing sound and aimed the sewing needle. I knew it was a futile attempt, but I aimed for the squirrel in front of me and threw. For a moment, the needle seemed to go towards its quarry, but the wind quickly hit it and the needle drifted off. The squirrel didn't even seem to notice my presence as it continued sifting through the leaves nearby.

[Throwing Weapons Skill Unlocked!]

[Pinpoint Accuracy Skill Unlocked!]

[Throwing Weapons Skill Mastered!]

[Pinpoint Accuracy Skill Mastered!]

Libra seemed to redden in the cheeks, but she didn't make any lewd noises. Perhaps she was holding back because she was in a public place. Either way I smiled as the skills I was hoping for appeared in my list. The next needle I dipped in one of my poison vials.

[Poison Application Skill Unlocked!]

[Poison Application Skill Mastered!]

This time, when throwing the needle at the squirrel, I could feel the vestiges of a target on the squirrel. When I threw, I knew exactly what angle to throw at, as well as how much power to use. The skills guided my needle to my target. With some regret, I watched as the needle flew to the squirrel and pierced it without much trouble. It squeaked in surprise, but just as quickly it froze up from the paralytic poison that I had coated the needle with.

"This isn't what a hero in service of the Bored God would do..." Libra stated as she watched the squirrel's prone form. She seemed pale in the face. Was I doing something wrong?

"Libra, I am a videogame player, not a hero," I stated bluntly. "Your boss gave me a specific demand, with specific requirements. I cannot level or become physically stronger. The only way I can express my powers is through the skills system you govern. So tell me, is someone with the physical strength of an infant going to be able to beat the strongest of this world using only his mind?"

"No, but..." Libra trailed off, and I could feel her eyes burning holes into my back.

"Libra, I am human. I am weak. My only strength is my game knowledge. If you know a way I can overcome my opponents with straightforward methods, let me know now. Otherwise, let me find my own way to adapt. Right now, that's poison and thrown weapons."

I dipped another needle, the third of twelve, into the second vial of poison. The black substance coated the needle uniformly, as if it were part of the needle itself.

{Anti-Straw Poison}

A relatively weak poison caused when burning a Verde Straw. Does 10 points of HP damage per dose.

Creator: {Barroco Gaia}

I threw the needle and watched it fly straight into the squirrel. It made a significantly more muffled squeak as I watched its life force go to 0. A small notification informed me that I had obtained 13 Exp Points.

Libra stayed quiet as I moved toward the squirrel. I picked up the dead creature and pulled out the needle, returning it to my pouch. A small notification appeared above the squirrel, prompting me to pause my actions.

[Opponent has been defeated. Would you like to reduce to Exp?]

Confused, I gave the confirmation, only for the corpse to disappear and be credited with an additional 13 Exp. My Exp total now, after defeating the squirrel and brewing the potions in my room, was 242.

The rustling of a nearby bush caught my attention, and I quickly returned from my pondering to see a strange woman emerging from the underbrush. She held a staff in her hand, and her eyes were a cold blue. The freckles on her face felt familiar, but I couldn't quite place her.

We stared at each other for a moment before I tried to appraise her.

{Brather Tawn}

Level: …

[Appraisal Blocked by Unknown Device]

I watched as my appraisal failed, confused. The woman looked down at a ring on her hand, which now glowed red. She seemed confused for a moment as well, before scowling at me and shaking her head. "Rude. Shouldn't do."

It took me a moment to realize she was talking about [Personnel Appraisal]. I looked her over and realized she was the woman I had felt chills from the day before in the Inn. Her very air gave an icy aura, and I felt like I was facing down a glacier. The air itself was cold and uninviting. She turned from me and looked at the surrounding area.

[Cold Resistance Unlocked!]

[Cold Resistance Mastered!]

Libra was no longer standing behind me, and I watched as the woman studied the clearing around me. I felt like a kid who had been caught doing something against the rules, and stood still accordingly.

"Rabbit... what are you doing out here? It is unsafe..."

It took me a moment to realize the woman was still addressing me. Her cold, unyielding gaze had locked back on to me, and I felt the familiar cold sensation wash over me. "I'm training my skills," I responded, motioning to where the squirrel had been. "Why... why are you calling me rabbit?" I asked her, genuinely curious.

She chuckled as she surveyed me, and I felt like she was treating me like a child. "You," she stated, holding out one finger. "Rabbit," she added, one finger still up. A feeling of apprehension dawned on me.

"Are you calling me rabbit... because I am the same level as a rabbit?" I asked, my eyes drifting to her staff. Anger washed through my face as I realized her implication - she was measuring my level. As far as she was concerned, I was as weak as a rabbit.

"Yes. Why rabbit risking its life? Rabbit should work hard, become like wolf. Then, maybe rabbit live." she stated, her blue eyes piercing through me.

I shrugged, and I felt an unusual anger welling up inside me. "I can't level up, if that's what you mean. I can only stay as weak as a rabbit. Instead, I'll use skills to overcome my enemies."

The woman laughed and shook her head, disbelievingly. "Rabbit thinks it's dragon? Rabbit destined to die. Poor rabbit. I will mourn its passing." With that, she turned around and left the clearing, leaving me to wonder at her words.