Skill, Familia and Blessing

As soon as the dungeon Interior changes, I find myself in a room filled with "Killer Ants". I have no time to take a break, I clear the room as fast as I can and start exercising?

'Daily Quest's are ruthless, they don't care whether you are in a dungeon or even in hell.'

They have to be completed no matter what unless you want to enter the Penalty Zone willingly.

'I might do that once I'm stronger though.'

Every time the walls crack and give birth to newly spawned monsters, I pause training to slay them then resume.

As I'm doing push-ups, I feel the presence of four entities moving in my direction.

'They feel stronger than the monsters around this floor and they are moving in a formation.'

Seems like a small party of adventurers. I get up and summon my sword.

'You can't be inside the dungeon with no weapon after all.'

The four adventurers enter the room.

"Oy, 't looks someone's hunting 'ere."

"Okay then, let's find another room."

His colleagues nod and leave. And after some time,

[Daily Quest: "The Preparation to Become Powerful"

Do 100 Push-ups: (complete) (100/100)

Do 100 Sit-ups: (complete) (100/100)

Do 100 Squats: (complete) (100/100)

Run 10 kilometers: (Incomplete) (0/10)

Remaining time: 00:28:36

*Warning: Failing to complete the Daily Quest will result in a Penalty Quest.]

So, I start running inside the dungeon. I pass by some monsters and don't stop.

'Less than half an hour remaining, I have no time to hunt'.

But I can't just pass by experience points like that. I run in a zigzag path, dashing from monster to monster cutting down each monster with one slash before moving to the next monster.

Killer Ants, Needle Rabbits, Goblins, Kobolds and Moths are my prey on this floor.

This hunting routine is raising my "Fatigue" really fast.

'No level-ups, huh!' And I killed a lot of these things.

'I should have done that back at the instant dungeon.'

I also should have leveled up a few times killing Goblins and Kobolds before entering the instant dungeon. Back then, they gave a decent experience.

'No big deal, I just have to complete the quest and use Status Recovery to remove my Fatigue, then I can level up by hunting .....!'

[You have learned the skill "Swift Strike (Level: 1)"]

[Swift Strike (Level: 1)

Active Skill

Mana Cost: 50

A Charge-Type skill.

You leap towards the enemy and deal a powerful strike.

Charge speed +100% up to 10 meders.

Damage +30%]

'A skill finally, a good one too.'

I use the skill a couple of times to test its effect.

'The speed boost is awesome, but I can't confirm the damage boost since all monsters here die in one hit'.

[You have completed the "Daily Quest: The Preparation to Become Powerful".

The rewards for completing the quest has arrived.

Would you like to verify them?]

After completing the Daily Quest and recovering my fatigue, I resume hunting on the 7th Floor.

'This is as far as I can reach right now.' I don't have the maps to take me any further. So, I make this floor my hunting ground.

I just need to level up one more time to reach level 20, then I'll be able to "Buy" Items from the "Store".

After a while...

[You have leveled up.]

[You have reached the required level, you can now use "Buy" function in the "Store Window".]

I check the items in the store. There is no categorization and no sorting functions, but I can do them with my mind.

I think about 'daggers that cost less than 10,000 Gold', and they are the only items present in the window.

I close the window then, "Buy one Low-Grade Healing Potion". I hear the sound of coin tossing, then I feel the Potion vial in my hand.

'Simple, but very practical'.

I start ascending the dungeon while thinking. My inventory is full of magic stones and Drop Items, yet I have 0 Vals.

'I know I have to join a Familia sooner or later'. The sooner the better. The stronger I get, the harder it would be for me to explain where I got my power. Exposing the system is not an option right now.

'It's an option if I join Loki Familia'. The system used the Daily Quest and the Strength stat to change my body into an ideal form. So, I look like a veteran warrior right now and I'm confident that I'm the strongest Falna-less human alive. That's why I'm confident to be accepted into any Familia.

Unlike Hestia, Loki is cunning. She can also keep a secret and her Familia is strong and rich and can help me become powerful quickly.

'But I have never been a party person, and I don't do well in crowds'.

Also, I like my freedom. I want to be able to enter the dungeon whenever I like. In a Familia like Loki's, I have to ask for Finn's permission.

As a leader, he will have to send some party with me, then Instant Dungeons will become a problem.

Also, I don't know how the system would react to "Falna". If the system rejects it outright and I can't have Falna, then I can't really join any Familia.

Then the process of granting Falna would fail, and 'Someone like Loki wouldn't let that pass', Being cunning and powerful is a double-edged sword.

Then the head of the Familia that I will apply to, has to be someone trustworthy.

'As I thought, the best course of action is to join a small Familia, like Takemikazuchi's'.

But being a Dungeon-Crawling Familia means I will have to take part in their raids.

And once I'm stronger, it will be my responsibility to take care of the other members. 'That would be just pain in my ass'.

A small not-Dungeon-Crawling Familia with a trustworthy Deity.

'The only one I can think of is Miach Familia'.

A Potion-making Familia with only one member, who has deep trauma from monsters and is now making potions.

If I join them, I will be the only adventuring member. At least until Apollo Familia is destroyed...

'Perfect, Miach Familia it is'.

By then, I reach the 1st floor. I focus my senses to make sure no one is around, choose a corner, and change my ragged, blood-soaked clothes into clean ones.

On the ground floor of Babel, I give a Supporter 2 Lowest-Grade Magic Stones in exchange for his extra back-bag. I stuff it with my clothes, some Magic Stone, few Drop Items, and my Old Steel Sword. The blade is mostly dull by now, so it won't cut anything.

I ask for directions and head to "Blue Pharmacy", the Miach Familia's shop and house.

***

Sitting in the shop was "Nahza Erisuis", the Chienthrope dog person resting her head on the counter was the only member of Miach Familia.

Her right arm and hand were covered by a long sleeve and a glove, while the left arm had only a short sleeve.

The bell on the door rings as it opens. Nahza raised her head to see a man with a fit body in plain cheap clothes carrying a back-bag with the handle of a worn-down sword sticking from it.

'Looks like a dirt poor adventurer looking for cheap potions, a customer, we need those anyway'.

"Welcome, how can I help you today, sir?"

She said with a business smile on her face.

"Oh hey, I'm here looking for Lord Miach, Is he available?"

"Um, no. He's running an errand, he should be here shortly."

"That's okay, I can wait. I'm Rick, nice to meet you"

He said with a friendly face while sitting on a chair in the corner.

She erased the smile on her face and said with an expressionless face,

"Sure, have a seat, Mr. Rick".

'Wow... that was a terrible first impression', is what he thought to himself while looking around examining the place and the vials of medicine on the shelves.

It didn't take long until Miach returned. He greeted Nahza who told him about the man in the corner. Miach walked over to his guest and said,

"Good afternoon, I'm Miach, welcome to my humble shop."

"Lord Miach, it's my pleasure. I'm Rick."

"Hello Rick, Nahza said you wanted to meet me?"

The god Miach was tall and handsome. He looked and acted like royalty, even with the fact that he was wearing an old worn down cloak.

"Yes, I want to become a part of your Familia."

Miach was taken by surprise and didn't answer immediately, instead he analyzed the man in front of him. 'He has a strong body and is carrying a sword. Looks like a soldier or maybe a former adventurer who left his Familia?'

The answer was late, so the young man pressed him further,

"Will you please grant me your Falna?"

"Of course, I would accept any Child who comes asking me for Blessing. But before that, I have to inform you that we are a poor Familia and we owe a huge debt to the Dian Cecht Familia...

Not only we can't support you with equipment and you won't have comrades to help you in the dungeon, but also you will be burdened by debt and you will be forced to help us with the pay...

Do you still want to join us after hearing that?"

Nodding....

"Why?"

"Because I heard a story about why Lord Miach became indebted to the Dian Cecht Familia. A god that will do everything in his power to help his Child is the type of god I'm willing to follow."

Flinch.

Overhearing the conversation, Nahza couldn't help but feel a quiver running through her body...

With that, there was no reason for further arguments. So they started the Blessing ceremony. Rick didn't say anything about himself, he wanted to see how the ceremony would go and then react accordingly.

***

I follow Miach's instructions; I take off my shirt and sit on a stool in front of him.

He pricks his finger with a sharp tool and lets the blood fall on my back and starts drawing symbols.

Ring~

[The Deity "Miach" wants to equip you with his Blessing.

Would you like to accept?

*To equip this Blessing, any other Blessing equipped will be removed.]

'So I can have a Falna!' But what is a Blessing?

I remember from Solo Leveling that Jinwoo had something called "Great Sage Kendiaru's Blessing" The one that gave him immunity to all poisons, diseases, and DEBUFFs. But I don't have that. Looks like it has been replaced by Blessings from the deities here.

'Yes'.

[The Deity "Miach" wants to read your Status.

Would you like to accept?]

'Status? Does that refer to my Stats? Well, accept anyway.'

Then he said, "Wow, young man you are really strong, even Dwarves aren't this strong before they get their Falna".

[The Deity "Miach" wants to read your Skills.

Would you like to accept?]

'Let's see what would happen if I refuse... No'.

[The Deity "Miach" wants to count your Excelia.

Would you like to accept?]

'Excelia? Is it Experience points?

Excelia and Status are separate things in this world, and the Status Update is the process in which the Deity makes Status absorb the Excelia to increase the Child's limits.

But with the system, my Experience Points are integrated into my Stats with level-ups ... Five Stat points are added with each level-up.

What would happen when he tries to add Experience points (again) to my Stats then?'

"I don't know why it's taking longer than it should". Miach said that in a confused tone.

'Oh, I forgot… Accept'.

"What's with this Status? If I hadn't known better, I would've thought that you are a veteran adventurer. Rick, what have you been doing before you came here?"

I know it's not what he meant but... "I just came from hunting in the dungeon".

"Without Falna? Are you crazy?"

"I wasn't being reckless. I wanted to test my limits before and after I receive the Blessing."

Nahza enters the room says, "How far did you reach?"

I noticed that she has been eavesdropping for some time because I could sense her outside (I could also sense that she is stronger than me).

"7th floor."

"That is impressive, it usually takes months to get that far. And you didn't even have Falna." I don't know why, but I her tone felt like she's suspicious.

'Is it too much? I shouldn't lie anyway, I'm going to get strong faster and faster anyway.'

But at least I should tune it down a little.

"I think you're overestimating it. Up till the 6th Floor, the monsters are weak and any good soldier can beat them one-on-one. The problem is their numbers, but numbers can be overcome with the right strategy and battle experience.

And I didn't do it in one go. First, I reached the 5th floor, then I stopped at the 7th".

A little wordplay wouldn't hurt, I'll use it a lot if I want to hide the system.

She doesn't answer, but the look in her eyes says that she still doesn't believe me.

Miach hands me the paper he wrote my Status on while saying to Nahza,

"It's possible with that weird Status of his".

He shifts his head to me and says,

"Rick, you do not have 'Dexterity' which is considered a Basic Ability that everyone has. I've never heard of someone missing a Basic Ability before.

And I certainly have never dreamed that someday, I would meet a Level One adventurer who has two Advanced Abilities...

Do you know that adventurers may obtain one Advanced Ability every time they level up? That is why only upper-class adventurers can have Advanced Abilities. And you have two from the start, you should never tell anyone about that.

You have this Advanced Ability that I do know nothing about, it is called 'Sense'. It is supposed to make your senses sharper and make you more aware of the surroundings. Maybe, it is the reason you could avoid danger in the dungeon.

The other one is 'Tamer', which enables you to tame and command weaker monsters. Every adventurer in Ganesha Familia has it. But be cautious, monsters are dangerous even if they are tamed. Your Ability level is very low, so do not be overconfident."

I take a look at my status in the paper,

Rick Stark - Level One

Strength: E 499 → B 780 Endurance: H 199 → E 480 Agility: F 320 → C 600 Magic: H 180 → E 480

Sense: I Tamer: I

Magic: -

Skills: -

...

Then I take a look at my character window from the system,

[*Name: Rick Stark *Miach's Blessing (Level: 1)

*Level: 20

*Class: None *Title: Beast Lord

*HP: 5800 *MP: 580 *Fatigue: 0

*Stats:

Strength: 44 Endurance: 29 Agility: 35 Intelligence: 29 Sense: 29

(Available stat points: 6)

*Damage Reduction: 10%

*Skills:

- Passive Skills: Unknown (Level: MAX)

- Active Skills: Swift Strike (Level: 1)

*Equipment: - Koffac's Cloak 'A' (10%)

*Gold: 10,740]

I take some time comparing the two. I can see that the ratio between my Stats and Status Abilities is the same, but I can't figure out the exact Formula.

'And why is there before/after adding Excelia in my Status?' Clearly my Stats haven't changed and I don't feel getting any stronger.

'I'm sure that I'll figure it out after a few more Status Updates'.

Also, it doesn't seem that Miach has noticed that I prevented him from seeing my skills.

'Wait... what is that?'

[Miach's Blessing (Level: 1)

The divine energy of the Deity Miach is flowing in your body through a Blessing.

If your health reaches below 5%, all critical wounds are healed and your health is raised to 50%.

Restriction: Can be used once per day.]

Healing critical wounds? Does it come from "Miach's Myth", which said that Miach had survived after having his head chopped three times?

Does it mean I could've gotten a better blessing if I had joined a Familia with a Deity associated with fighting?

What would the effect be if I got a Blessing from Takemikazuchi, the god of martial arts?

'No, Miach's Blessing is excellent. I can fight more fiercely while depending on it as a last resort.' Being safer is better than being stronger.

I give the paper to Nahza, who has been looking at it for some time now then I put on my shirt and grab my back-bag.

"Excuse me Lord Miach, I'll have to go to the guild to get my adventurer's license and sell the stones and drop items in here."

***

After a while, in the guild,

As I'm filling in some papers, the clerk says, "It's really hard to believe that you're new, you give the same vibe as veteran adventurers".

"Well, maybe because I've slain a lot of beasts before."

"Like what?"

"Hundreds of wolves and bears. There was also that Gorilla, it was 4 meders tall and had a lot of muscles. It was even called Ruler of the Forest."

"And you killed it alone?"

"Yeah, I almost died that day. It was a scary experience".

"Wow, I never thought that things like that can happen outside the dungeon... Oh looks like you're done. Here is your license Mr. Stark"

I take the license and head to the nearest exchange window.

"I'd like to exchange these, please."

"Didn't you just sign up?"

I put the bag on the floor and start taking out Magic Stones from the bag and inventory and put them in front of the employee while saying,

"Sorry about that, I didn't know that raiding the dungeon is illegal for non-licensed adventurers, I had just come to Orario, you see?"

"Uh um, well since no one ever was stupid enough to do that, there is no specific punishment for hunting without permission. Let's just forget about it, shall we? Judging by the amount, It looks like you've been already part of a Familia then, but you were Just registered to Miach Familia today... oh, were you a part of one of those Familias outside of Orario?"

I didn't answer, I wanted this misunderstanding to happen anyway. So that when I level up in a few days from now, the rumor that I've had Falna for a long time would circulate and prevent any unnecessary attention.

After selling the Stones I grab some Drop Items and as I'm putting them on the counter, I notice a Blue Papilio Wing which is one of the drops on the 7th Floor.

'Aren't these used in making potions? I should take them to Nahza. Also, I don't know what the other Drop Items are used for, so I'll take everything to her before selling them'.

So I put them back and count what I earned,

'Wow, it is 34,000 Vals! That's a lot, considering that they are from one day on the upper floors and I didn't sell any Drop Items'.