All basic attributes increased.
Level up proficiency acquired
Skill [Stab Lv4] has become [Stab Lv5]
Skill [Reparation Lv1] has become [Reparation Lv2]
Skill points acquired
Combat Points acquired
50% of max health recovered>
All basic attributes increased.
Level up proficiency acquired
Skill [Reparation Lv2] has become [Reparation Lv3]
Skill points acquired
Combat Points acquired
50% of max health recovered>
The voice of the system mindlessly chants in my head. Not long after, many tears begin to close up. Coagulated blood softens before getting washed away, and the contaminated blood in my system pools out before another scab forms almost instantly, peeling off to reveal a clean layer of skin underneath.
Holy crap! What just happened?!
Not just the healing process, but also the battle I just fought. Sure, the Soldier Roach was totally already beat up, but it still fought… almost scarily well.
I’m even surprised I won that. The Soldier Roach was significantly more powerful than the level 23, even in its weakened state.
Since it was so strong, the whole battle was quite a blur. I was so focused and there was so much adrenaline pumping through my veins that I wasn’t even thinking at all. In fact, there wasn’t any time to fight at all! I fought purely on instinct.
I mean, the Soldier Roach had its own species and even a class. Not to mention, the battle techniques it used were even more complicated than the moves the level 23 pulled off!
The level 23 had feints.
The Soldier Roach?
Yeesh, don’t even get me started! It had its own personal agenda of fighting moves and stuff like that. Most notably, the roach was using its prickly legs to fight as well. It was swinging the two front legs around like a maniac, and I couldn’t even get close enough half the time!
I would’ve certainly died if the Soldier Roach wasn’t already injured. In fact, why did it look beat up? Was there a brawl or something?
Well, either way, I managed to make it out alive with a huge haul.
No point overlooking the past!
Instead, let’s focus on the immediate future. Why?
Because I just levelled up and got a truck load of Combat Points, that’s why!
Oh yeah, allocation time!
<10 Combat Points
Health: 17
Mana: 10
Damage: 23
Defence: 16
Speed: 27
Which attributes do you wish to increase?>
Hmm...
My mana and defence are comparatively low, but if I wanna survive this, I feel like I have to focus on improving my strengths rather than trying to fix my weaknesses.
Being some half-assed all rounder won’t let me make the cut.
So... speed...?
And maybe some damage?
But my health is actually quite low as well.
For some reason, my speed and damage increase more per level-up than health, so maybe I should start pouring more Combat Points into that for a bit more balancing.
Damage: 23 (+3)
Speed: 27 (+2)
Confirm?>
Yeah, that seems about right. Wait... should I put even more into health?
I mean, I take a lot of damage during my battles. In all of the fights where I come out on top as an underdog, I always sustain massive injuries everywhere. What is with these roaches and ripping my arms?!
I'm sure that isn't good for my health.
In fact, the only way I reliably heal up right now is through level-ups. But levelling up seems to be getting a bit slower. Maybe it’s cumulative? If so, levelling heals won’t be as reliable further one.
I haven't put [Reparation] to use yet, and since it’s pretty low levelled, I don’t exactly wanna go around taking damage and healing at an impervious slow pace with [Reparation].
Which means...
Confirm?>
Yeah. I'm not entirely confident this is the best choice, but I’ll still do it
Health: 17 → 27
Current Combat Points: 0>
Well, I’ll be damned!
Although it was only a few days ago, it feels like ages since I had stats averaging at 3! Seriously, the dopamine I get after allocating my Combat Points always hits HARD!
Although, I still get this feverish feeling that although I’ve gotten relatively stronger, I’m still weak in the big picture. I mean, the Soldier Roach was rank D, yet it was still tons stronger than the level 23 roach.
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Maybe you have to get to level 50 or something before ‘upgrading’ a rank?
…
..
.
Uughh, increasing my rank is gonna be so painful if that's the case!
My gear is all ranked F, just like me!
And before my very recent power-levelling session, most of my loot outranked me stat-wise. Yeesh, talk about getting handed the short hand of the stick. Forget about big fish and small ponds, I’m probably none lesser than the sorriest sea slug in the ocean…
The only area where I outrank these roaches is probably in smarts. Like, they’re all brawn, no brain? But even then, I don’t think I would have beaten so many enemies out of my league. So something must have played a considerable role in helping me beat foes substantially stronger than me.
Now, the question is, what helped me win all those battles?
The only thing that really comes to mind are skills.
Like, how much extra damage does [Stab] give to me?
Arrggg!!
If only I had some way to [Appraise] it…
Yeah, I know [Stab] gives me bonus damage. But HOW much bonus damage? Information like this would come in handy. An [Appraisal] shows this:
<[Stab] (passive): A skill that increases damage from attacks with a piercing attribute. Bonus damage increases as skill levels up>
But it doesn’t mention how much increased damage I get, or at what rate the bonus damage increases as the skill levels up. In fact, none of these [Appraisal] results give me hard, concrete numbers!
What is up with that?
Who knows…
The only time I get solid numbers are when I [Appraise]... well, physical things. Like myself, or my sword.
Name: Rena Shinohara
Level: 8 Rank: F Class: None>
Take this for example. I get a number—my level.
But I want to know more! Like, what does ‘Unique Demon’ and ‘Base: Human’ mean? Someone tell me! I really, really wanna knowwww….
Er… I feel like I’m accidentally unravelling something very deep right now. I mean, there’s an uncanny amount of lore in this. Way, waay too much lore!
In fact, this [Appraisal] result seriously answers less questions than the amount created! And, [Appraisal] does not do that!
In fact, I’ve even scouted two key terms: [Demon Lord] and [Hero]. What does it mean by a ‘failed byproduct’ though?
…I’ll be sure to do some more research on that later.
Moving on, I discovered something else wicked just then!
Back-to-back [Appraisal]!
If I [Appraise] something, I can also [Appraise] the information given to me from that [Appraisal]!
Wahahaha!
Finally, at last!
I have attained godhood!
Wahahahahaha!!!!
Sorry, I got caught up in the moment.
Well, since I can do double [Appraisals], I might as well get to the roots of this right now.
<[Hero]: True and virtuous souls rumoured to be summoned from another world in times where darkness is said to overtake.
[Hero] (title): Upon receiving this title, the user is gifted a skill based on the closest corresponding virtue (Mercy, Charity, Perseverance, Humility, Temperance, Diligence, Chastity), as well as a skill unique to the individual. All passive progression will also be doubled as an aftereffect.>
Huh.
So this '[Hero]' is essentially another reincarnation, just like me?
But unlike me, I guess they're going around playing Hero or whatev - wait… playing [HERO]?
Didn't I get some [Hero] thing revoked from me not too long ago?
So… because of my bad, (slightly) sociopathic personality and not having the power of friendship, I get thrown away and turn from a ‘[Hero]' to a freaking 'Demon'?
WHAT THE HECK?
Sure, I don't care at all about saving people, but those bonuses would be all worthwhile!
I'd go around playing [Hero] if I could get such awesome benefits! Yeah! And then I would force the townspeople to pay for my services and get rich! And with a good reputation, I could also easily start a pyramid scheme for that cash!
…You got a problem?
Geez, this really pisses me off.
I guess I'll pry deeper into this and hopefully distract myself.
Next up, I can back-to-back [Appraise] [Demon Lords], right? Yeesh, having two bracketed terms next to each other sure makes it look yucky and unappealing.
<[Demon Lord] (title): For the truly villainous. Upon getting the [Demon Lord] title, a skill that corresponds with the user's closest sin (Greed, Lust, Sloth, Gluttony, Wrath, Envy or Pride) will be allocated. Those with this skill are said to have fated to become [Demon Lords].
[Demon Lord]: One of seven supreme rulers of Demonic territory.>
Huh?
Am I going to become a queen of something?
Nooooo, I hate, hate, hate politics!
I don’t wanna rule over people!!!
Well, a Unique Demon is essentially a reincarnate with the [Demon Lord] title, right? Which means I DO have some super-secret, stupidly overpowered seven-deadly sin skill right?
Oh yah! I'm all pumped up now! I'm gonna become absolutely broken!
Hahah! Roaches, do your worst! Nothing can get past me now!
...
Which sin am I allocated in though?
Personally, I think I would either be Sloth, Pride or Greed.
But I feel like I might be tied up with Wrath. I mean, I kind of always lost it when fighting these pesky roaches. Like, I attack them like madmen now.
It’s their fault, though! Those clowns should have let me be and leave me alone instead of attacking me!
I don't really seem like the type to hold a grudge anyway. I'm not the hateful type…
...Well, at least I hope I'm not.
What is my hidden sin skill, then? Maybe I can't explain the way my stats grow because of my hidden skill?
I mean, usually there must be some sort of algorithm for how stats grow per level-up, right?
But my stats increase at random intervals, and I don’t see any pattern present.
Nothing Sloth based can explain this. A Sloth related skill would probably exponentially increase my passive regeneration or something.
Pride-based skills? I don't see how pride will let my stats grow faster.
Something Pride-based would make me immune to debuffs, I think? You know, since I’ll be so much of an egomaniac that I can’t tell when someone’s trying to shoot a debuff spell my way or whatever.
Which nails it down to Greed. I can totally see me stealing my enemies stats once killing them with a Greed based skill.
Greed is all about taking things from others and wanting more!
Hmmm…
But couldn't Gluttony also have the ability to steal stats? Like, you 'eat' them, not just metaphorically, but literally… you consume and steal their stats.
Ew. Now I’m imagining eating a raw roach corpse… Why do I feel something rising up my throat?!
Urp.
No no no no, go back down, go back down!!
…
Phew, almost had me there. I HATE you, stupid imagination!
Well, back to the topic, I'm not a glutton—food was never a priority—so my [Demon Lord] title probably gave me a Greed related skill.
Does that mean that every time I fight and kill, I get stronger?
That probably explains my rapid growth. In just a few days, my stats have taken massive leaps beyond cognitive recognition!
So, for now, I’m assuming that my skill is Greed or something, and that it lets me steal stats after getting kills. If so, I guess I should go around attacking roaches as much as possible to rack up a bunch of power?
I mean, either way, I’m going to be fighting a lot of roaches from now on. Even if my skill isn’t what I think it is, fighting and levelling up is a necessity either way. So far, Combat Points have been a huge help to me! Before, I just kind of waddled around hoping to find lone roaches, but maybe I should go back to that massive roach nest and pick off a few weaker roaches one by one?
Ah—crap. I got too distracted by my thoughts again. I do spend way too much time contemplating, huh?
Well, [Demon Lords] and [Heroes] are basically fated to go and fight each other at some point, right? Sure, it’s pretty cliché, but the only reason it's such a common stereotype is because the matchup, well…, works pretty effectively.
Besides, the over-excessive lore is seriously hinting at some sort of eventual battle between these two sides! And since my species is Unique Demon, I’m also bound by fate to fight some [Hero].
I didn’t even get to choose a side…
Oh well, even if I could choose, I’d probably go with the [Demon Lords]. No take-backs. I mean, villains have way better backstories. So some guy’s donut gets stolen, and he goes on a mission to kill every person and wipe humanity off the face of Earth. Tons cooler than some guy who finds a donut on the floor and goes on a mission to give everyone a donut.
Well even so, personal preferences aside, I still couldn’t give one or two damns about what other people think of me. I mean, my outward appearance gives cool, serious vibes. And I try to publicly act that way. It helps that my face is naturally… pensive.
If going with [Demon Lords] will make me stronger, than sure, I’ll choose that path. Just hopefully no politics and kingdom-ruling stuff. I hate politics. Did I mention that?
That aside, I’ve confirmed that I’m actually just a subspecies of demons, yet I look exactly like I did before I died; a human form. So demons and humans actually look identical. Maybe demons also act like humans?
For all I know, demons might not even be that bad!