'Crunch... Crunch... Crunch.'
The rustling sound of dry leaves in the distance echoed throughout my surroundings.
The noise sounded like footsteps, it seemed to be the approach of at least a hundred individuals.
Quickly, I grabbed the brown leather bag and placed my food ration and sword inside. I then inserted the bag into the metal tube and secured it by firmly closing the hatch.
I promptly tied a secure knot around my wooden water bottle with a rope. Without wasting much time, I swung the weighted end of the rope, aiming for a sturdy-looking branch maybe twenty feet up.
The rope snaked through the air, and the weight of the water bottle thumped over the branch, wrapping around it like the spinning blades of a windmill.
I pulled on the rope to verify that the loop around the branch was secure. Once assured of its stability, I braced my feet against the smooth surface of the bark and began pulling myself upward, hand over hand.
The rough hemp bit into my palms, but I ignored the sting. My muscles screamed in protest, unused to the strain, but I ignored them. The adrenaline coursing through my veins acted like an anesthesia, numbing the pain with the power of fear.
The branch I'd looped the rope around swayed slightly with my weight, making me nervous.
Finally, I reached the branch where the rope was secured. It was thick and sturdy. With a grunt, I swung one leg over it, then the other. For a moment—just a moment—I allowed myself to rest, leaning against the rough bark while my chest heaved.
At that time, the rustling of leaves drew nearer and nearer, and with every passing second, it felt as though the footsteps were stepping on my heart instead of the brittle leaves.
In the distance, a white fog spread, enveloping the surrounding cypress trees. Through it, I saw women approaching in my direction.
The women possessed heads resembling light purple mushrooms, adorned with dark circular patterns reminiscent of a ladybug's back. Their faces feature a single central eye, softly blinking with a golden hue akin to the glow of fireflies.
My gaze flickered down to the creatures, and my muscles felt rigid as if I had swallowed concrete.
'Thud, Thud, Thud!'
I forced myself to breathe shallowly, and my jaw clenched, pressing myself further into the trunk.
The creature's heavy footfalls were no longer far; they vibrated through the air close to me, creating a low thud that resonated in my bones.
The women possessed striking beauty and curvy figures, approaching steadily while adorned in seductive lingerie.
I squeezed my eyes shut and refused to open them. My ears focused on my heartbeat, ignoring the rustling of the dry leaves.
'Dryads.'
They are monsters from Greek mythology often associated with trees, groves, and forests.
They were known for their beauty and could lure mortals into their trap with dangerous consequences.
Though fear gripped me, I did not lose my reason. If there was one crucial lesson to remember, it was that gazing directly at the woman could enchant me and lead to my death.
Throughout the night, I slept with one eye open like a bunny. The persistent sound of rustling leaves echoed continuously, ceasing only at the break of dawn.
***
I descended from the tall branch of the cypress tree and opened the hatch to retrieve my leather bag.
Leaning against the trunk of the cypress tree, I began to chew on the dry meatball. The meatball had a sour taste similar to the skin of a dried lemon; it tasted awful and revolting.
'Status,' I called out to the system.
[Status....֍֍֍֍]
∎[Name: Liam Becker]
∎[Core: Lota]
∎[Heartbeat: 100s]
∎[Unique Skill: Aura]
∎[Race: Human]
∎[Class: Succubus]
∎[Sub-class: Disciple of the Nameless god]
✷✷✷ATTRIBUTES✷✷✷
✠『 Mana ⟹ 100%』
✠『HP ⟹ 100%』
✠『Stamina ⟹ 100%』
✠『Intelligence ⟹ 22』⤉ 9.78%
✠ 『Dexterity ⟹ 17.00 』⤉ 5.79%
✠ 『EXP ⟹ 30.00』⤉ 3,000%
✠ 『Rizzpoint (RP) ⟹ 19.8』⤉ 102.04%
✾❉❉❉REVELATIONS (Skills)❉❉❉✾
⫸ Negative Touch: Level 1 (Ability to repel)
⫸ Positive Touch: Level 1 (Ability to attract)
❦❦❦❦❦INVENTORY❦❦❦❦❦
✜....
✜....
✜....
I noticed an increase in my Intelligence, Dexterity, Experience (EXP), and Rizzpoints. After reading the full report, I realized that my EXP increases when I defeat opponents, such as when I kill a wolf, and also when I farm aura.
The concept of aura farming was somewhat unclear to me; however, as I understand it, it essentially involves influencing others to perceive me as admirable or impressive, or instilling fear in them so that they regard me as a credible threat.
What fascinated me was that I received 0.98 EXP for defeating the wolf and 28.02 EXP for intimidating Lord Henry.
It seems like the system values my public image even more than my physical achievements.
[Ding... You can convert the Rizzpoints you obtain from intimacy into money. 1 rizzpoint = 1000฿(Berries)]
[Note: The Rizz points you receive depend on how satisfied your partner is during intimacy.]
[Alert: Do you wish to convert 19.8 available Rizzpoints into ฿(Berries)?]
YES ▣☚
NO ☐
[Congratulations, you have been awarded 19,800฿(Berries)]
[Ding! The system has detected that you have thirty unassigned experience points. You can use the EXP you gain to upgrade your attributes or level up your skills. What would you like to do with your available options?]
I ignored the system and ran my hands over the green prison uniform I was wearing. The attire was identical to the standard uniforms issued to prisoners in the United States, with the sole distinction that it was green rather than orange.
As a gamer, I understand that comprehending the power system in Blades of Destiny is crucial. Additionally, the more thoroughly I grasp how the attributes influence my fighting style, the more effectively I can allocate my experience points.
Based on the reasons mentioned, I decided to conduct a test to measure my capabilities and limitations.
If there is one lesson I have taken from my confrontation with the wolves, it is that merely activating my skills is insufficient.
When I activated my ability to repel objects ( Negative Touch), the intensity of gravity waves emanating from my hand caused it to become dislocated. At present, I cannot afford to have a dislocated arm during battle.
***
Positioned directly across the swamp amidst the towering cypress trees, I inhaled and exhaled steadily, attempting to sense the mana coursing through my veins.
Like a drug addict, I had bought three bottles of Stardust healing poison and hid them in the left pocket of my trousers.
I positioned myself before the massive trunk of a towering cypress tree, extending my legs outward and holding my right forearm with my left hand.
I blinked in sync with my heartbeat, bracing for the recoil of the skill I was about to use.
Closing one eye, I focused my vision on the trunk.
"Blood Art Technique: Negative touch," I whispered.
Instantly, a surge of gravitational energy flowed through my veins, akin to the reaction of Mentos dropping into a can of soda.
The wave of gravity surged from my palm and struck the tree trunk, creating a crater.
The crater resembled the aftermath of a cannonball explosion on the tree, while the recoil propelled me backward, slamming me against another tree trunk.
As I endured the excruciating pain of my back feeling as though it were on the verge of splitting in two, I glanced at my hand and saw my fingers splayed out like a peeled banana. All five were bent backward, utterly mangled by the force of the recoil.
'I suppose it was a bad idea to activate the skill with my hand open.'
I restrained my urge to shout and cry; instead, I reached into my pocket with my left hand and retrieved a potion.
With urgency, I consumed half of the potion and gasped for air. The poison gradually healed my back and fingers, as though time itself was reversing to the moment before I activated my skill.
The poison healed my injuries but left me in the pain.
'It's frustrating that I have to keep trying before I master the skill.'