[You've leveled up | +5 Attribute Points!] — x6
[Hobo Goblin has leveled up!] — x2
[Iceclaw Hunter has leveled up!]
"Woo! That's too many levels!!!" Arthur exclaimed upon leveling up.
Alice answered, "But the upper limit became too much..."
Nate smiled. It was a great chance to show them the ugly truth.
"Arthur, finish off the monster," he ordered.
Arthur obliged, and Alice handed him the axe. He raised it, then severed the gadorma's head.
[You've killed a gadorma (Lv.15) - +110 Exp!]
Oliver grumbled in annoyance. "Man, why the hell is the experience so low when the monster's level far surpasses us?!"
His question directed all of their faces to Nate. They glared at him, waiting for the answer.
"You see," Nate said. "Unless your victim counts as an enemy, you won't gain any decent experience."
"That's stupid! What differentiates an enemy from an ally?!" Ivy asked.
Alice nodded. "It attacked us, shouldn't it be an enemy?"
Nate stared back at them, his face grim and dark.
"Gadorma was just a monster, an enslaved soul deprived of its intelligence to serve as an experience and a mechanic for these so-called supremacy games," Nate answered.
He made sure it sounded horrible, although he didn't know the full truth.
While it may serve as a severe regret, it could also serve as a motivation.
"Does that mean we've abused and killed an innocent soul?" Ivy asked.
Nate blinked, then shook his head disapprovingly. "No, if anything, we've liberated it."
"Damn, I get it..." Alice said. "But what qualifies as an enemy?"
"Infernum's dominant race, demons, and anything that kills humans," Nate answered.
Alice frowned. "Does that include other humans?" She asked.
"Of course. It counts as an interference in war."
Arthur commented, "Damn, criminals will become a nightmare at this rate!"
His words brought painful memories to Nate.
The images of television reports concerning prison breaks were something to behold.
Prisoners would enter a tunnel, then return to Earth from another. Then, havoc would spread regardless of where they appeared.
Jails would become useless because humans had no control over the tunnels.
It was kill or be killed, nothing good to speak of.
"It will happen," Nate paused. "But it will be an opportunity," he continued.
"I knew it, you plan to kill them," Alice commented.
Nate grumbled, "What choices do we have? Let them be free to massacre innocents, or kill them and benefit?" He asked.
"Kill them, but would even police allow us?" Oliver chimed in with his sense of justice.
Nate burst out laughing, holding his stomach. "Oh boy, wait until we leave."
Ivy and Alice sat in silence, and Oliver gritted his teeth. Nate's words felt like another warning.
So why did he laugh like a maniac? There was nothing to laugh about.
'Oxford will become a mess, not as much as London but probably bad enough...' Arthur thought.
He guessed London would become a feast and imagined Oxford suffering a similar fate.
"I get it, but why are you laughing? It doesn't sound like a good thing." Oliver asked.
Nate smirked, "Because the government is greedy. They will disallow acting without authority."
Oliver exclaimed. "Shit! Shit!"
The thought of being handicapped against criminals wasn't very nice.
"We'll see... Can we rest before continuing?" It was Ivy this time, throwing a decent suggestion for the first time.
"Sure. Let's take four hours to manage our stats and sleep, then we'll go farm soul-stones, armor, or weapons."
Nate answered, then focused on his status panel. He had 40 points stored from leveling up, so he spent them.
[Status]
—Personal Information—
Name: Nate Jackard
Title: Prince of Darkness
Title Effect: +150% All Attributes
Class: Vicious Summoner
Level: 9
Exp: 990/1900
—Stats—
Health: 500/500 (Vitality * 20)
Mana: 420/420 (Spirit * 10)
Mana Recovery: 1.8/s (Level / 5)
Physical Attack: 63 (Strength * 3)
Magical Attack: 126 (Spirit * 3)
Movement Speed: 55 (Dexterity * 5)
Physical Defense: 142 ([Strength * Vitality]/5)
Magical Defense: 286 ([Spirit * Vitality]/5)
—Attributes—
Vitality: 25 (+9)
Spirit: 42
Strength: 12 (+9)
Dexterity: 11
Free Points: 0
'Great, all skills are usable now except for Crimson Rave.' Nate thought, liking his progress.
His title's effect applied, giving him a boost.
Arthur said. "Good job, guys. Regrettably, the party isn't full."
Nate agreed.
With a war on the door, he assumed everyone would think the same.
Oliver nodded, "We should pick a Blacksmith, Enchanter, and a Summoner. They must be important."
"All classes are, we pick whatever we find." Nate retorted.
Alice shrugged her shoulders, "Whatever, I need to get some sleep."
"Sure thing, go ahead," Nate answered, knowing very well how hard it was.
They could lie and pretend to sleep, but Infernum's atmosphere wouldn't allow them any chances.
Nate stood up, stretching his body. It was a good chance to summon more creatures.
He left Hobo and Hunter to protect the party before making some distance.
Spamming Spirit Summon, Nate's facial expressions changed every time a dud showed up.
The duds were a Wyrm—level 5 Healer, a dwarf—level 6 Blacksmith, and another Wyrm—level 6 Assassin.
The rest were a Dark Elf—level 9 Assassin, a Stygia Goldem—level 10 Blacksmith, and an elf—level 8 Enchanter.
"Oh my god," Nate grumbled. One mistake and this would go south.
'Wyrm on Wyrm will make one of them beyond control," he thought, staring at the two dragon-like creatures.
He assumed neither would allow themselves to be devoured, and that both would start a fight.
"The healer would be easier to take down; better let the Dark Elf handle it," Nate nodded, agreeing with himself.
He announced, "Dark Elf, go devour the Wyrm," assuming the system would handle his intentions correctly.
"Pardon me, my lord. Which Wyrm?" The dark elf asked.
"Ah?!" Nate exclaimed. He didn't imagine having a talkative summon.
He shook his head, leaving this matter for later.
"The Assassin, if possible, or the Healer if you can't," Nate answered.
The wyrm was a monster after all, it had natural defenses compared to the races that lacked such features.
But surprisingly, it didn't deter the dark elf in the slightest. "I will remove the assassin," he announced, then disappeared.
Nate smiled, feeling pleased. He diverted his eyes, falling on the elf.
"Will you take down the other Wyrm?" He asked.
The elf shook, waving her hands. "No can do."
Nate's face turned grim. The elf was three levels higher, and he didn't like liabilities.
He thought for a few seconds, making up his mind.
He understood that the elf was a non-combat class, but he disliked cowards.
Besides, if the elf wasn't up to the task, it was still completely fine for him.
Suddenly, he smiled ominously. "That's unfortunate."
"Wyrm. Spirit Craft. Elf," he said, forcibly activating the skill.
Both targets trembled, their eyes turning bloody red. Without a word, they charged at each other.
Mindlessly.
Nate stood stoned, feeling conflicted because of the unexpected situation.
He wanted the elf, she was useful.
But he could also summon more, as many as he wanted.
'No, I can't stop now. There must be more elves to summon.' Nate settled.
"Let them fight," he said quietly.