Chapter 13: Stat Growth Rates
Was Nathaniel a coward? No. He was one of the those who chooses the easy and the most practical way.
He was also a sly and shameless person. That meant he wasn't a person to fight on equal terms. He had to have the upper hand in a fight.
When he met Dante a day ago, he instantly understood, his chances were higher with Dante. His next action was based solely on this.
He prostrated himself before Dante. Though it looked a bit overboard, what would a kowtow mean to a thick-skinned amnesiac? As long as he didn't sincerely want to become someone's henchman, it was just an exercise, neither more nor less.
Before Nathaniel met Dante, he knew that Ulfred was an abnormal newcomer. Thus the old man's presence became a key factor in his calculations.
Afterward, when he had to make decisions, he always waited for Ulfred to choose first. Then he would make the same decision with Ulfred.
In a different sense, the odds would have been equivalent if he had been the first one to make a decision.
A shameless amnesiac's life was on the line. How could he leave the chances to the hands of fate?
So he kowtowed, lied and thought he had succeeded in deceiving people.
In short, he was always on the side of the highest chance.
However, even the most unexpected things have a chance in happening. With a momentary look on the clumsy blonde's face, something fundamental had changed in him.
...
"Nat, is that you? *cough* *cough*" Dante fell on his knees and started to cough.
[You lost 1 HP]
"Wait for a little more Boss! I'm almost finished with this guy!"
After the marcasite rock finished its job with the skeletons upper body, it started to crash on its lower body!
*Bam!*
*Boom!*
*Crack!*
...
Dante, "..."
"Phew! It... finally died! Hah... hah!" Nathaniel walked into the light. He was wiping his sweaty forehead, but a moment later, he suddenly stopped.
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[You are now a level 4 participant!]
Dante was astounded. However, he was not astounded because of leveling up two times. He suddenly felt much better. Even his fractured arm felt like nothing had happened to it.
'It must be because of the increase in vitality points.' He thought. There was no other explanation.
He didn't check his profile data. It wasn't the right time.
"Stop dazing Nat! It's just a level up. Ulfred seriously injured. We need to tend his wounds as quickly as possible! Hey, blonde girl! Come here..."
"Boss, keep your voice down." Nathaniel cut his words.
Naturally, Dante instantly understood what he meant. Looking at him with narrowed eyes, 'I knew it! You are smart, definitely not an idiot!' He thought.
Blonde girl timidly came near them. She was a true burden.
Just as they were about to check Ulfred, they saw the old man walking toward them!
"You don't need to bother yourselves with my wounds. I'm almost at my peak." He said.
The chest part of Ulfred's bloody clothes had two feet long cuts. His skin was open to the eyes of others. However, they couldn't see any wounds on his chest. There were only closed cut marks. The old man's wounds had already healed!
The three of them stared at Ulfred in wonder. He was undoubtedly about to die a moment ago. Now he seemed like nothing had happened to him.
Dante had an idea about this. "Old man Ul, how many points did your vitality increase after Nathaniel had killed the skeleton?"
"Let me check." As soon as he checked his stats out, a satisfied smile blossomed on Ulfred's face. "9 points!" He said.
"9 points?" Dante and Nathaniel were dumbfounded. They immediately checked their own stats.
A dissatisfied expression spread onto Dante's face, "Old man, you are at level 4 right?" He asked.
"Yes, I leveled up three times after the death of the skeleton."
Dante's face became even more ugly after he had heard the old man. He looked back his profile data again with furrowed brows.
Character Level 4 (%50)
EXP Required to Level Up: 20
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Name: Dante
Last Name: Doesn't have
Class: Doesn't have
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Health Points: 67/91
Mana Points: Doesn't have
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Strength: 7 + 2.1
Agility: 7 + 2.1
Intelligence: 8 + 2.4
Vitality: 7 + 2.1
Stamina: 8 + 2.4
Attunement: 3.6 + 1
Luck: 6.6 + 1.9
Memories: 0%
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Status Effects: Blessing of the Guardian (Level 90)
'What the hell? My biggest stat growth is just 1 point? Actually, except intelligence, attunement and luck stats, all my other stats had grown just 1 point! The exceptions are even worse! 0.2? 0.3?'
'System, the hell is wrong with this? Didn't you say the participants' total stats don't vary too much at the same level except for those who had a Hidden Class? Ulfred had 3 points vitality growth for one level up, but I received just 1 point! Why is that?'
[Every participant symbolizes a unique soul. In other words, every participant is unique to themselves. Naturally, participants' stat point growths and base stats may differ from each other even if they yet to obtain a class.]
'Unique soul? Why are you talking in riddles? Dammit, then what is the normal growth rate for the participants?'
[There is no such a thing.]
'Useless garbage!'
Ulfred gained 3 vitality points for each level up. That means Ulfred had at least 9 vitality points! On the other hand, including the stat points that Dante had gained from the achievement and the level 90 blessing, he had a total of 9.1 vitality points!
When they reach level 10, how great of a stat gap will exist between them? Wouldn't it be the difference between heaven and earth?
Dante didn't feel good about this. That meant he would be left in the dust by Ulfred in no time!
Dante threw Nathaniel a sneaky gaze.
He was currently scratching his chin with his hand and seemed like thinking about something. However, Dante couldn't see a trace of disappointment on his face.
That meant he was the only one who had low stat growth rates!
Indignation conquered Dante's thoughts. There was no way he could accept this!
'System, is there a way to increase a participant's stat growth rates?'
[There are two ways. One, the participants can use some specific treasures that exist in this Great Dungeon. Two, obtaining a Hidden Class may alter the participants' stat growth rates. Most of the Hidden Classes can do that.]
'I won't ask about the items. I know your answer! Sigh... No matter what, I must obtain a Hidden Class!'
"Dante, are you alright?" Ulfred asked.
Naturally, someone discovered the dark clouds on his face.
The System was working through the thoughts, so even if Dante asked ten more questions, it would take just a few breaths of time.
"I was just thinking about something, heh he..." He laughed in a self-mocking way. Without the permanent stat bonuses which he had gained from achievements earlier, he would have died in the fight!
A few moments later, Dante dispersed the dark thoughts hovering in his head. He looked at his party members, "We learned so much from this fight. There is so much to discuss. I suggest that we should stay here for the time being."
"Those idiots at the entrance won't be able to make a fire without using the marcasites. No need to bother about them for a while more. Our back is safe."
"We have a big pile of dry bones now. We can burn them and cook our meat, fill our empty stomachs and recover strength."
Dante took out the short-legged ox corpse from his inventory. "Help me, old man." He said.
He and Ulfred divided the short-legged ox into pieces using the sharp claws of the high-level skeleton. Its thighbones were also a better but still pathetic weapon for them.
They called the skeleton high-level skeleton, but they didn't even know what level it was. This was also another pathetic reality.
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Here is the Nathaniel's and Ulfred's profile data. I'm not giving blonde girl's profile data because it contains spoilers. lol, this is a spoiler in itself. ;-)
I will also post an auxiliary chapter in a few days that contains the profile data of characters.
Have a nice day.
.
Character Level 4 (%10)
EXP Required to Level Up: 36
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Name: Ulfred
Last Name: Orsova
Class: Doesn't have
---------------------------
Health Points: 100/120
Mana Points: Doesn't have
---------------------------
Strength: 12
Agility: 5.5
Intelligence: 3.3
Vitality: 12
Stamina: 8
Attunement: 0.6
Luck: 2.3
Memories: 0%
----------------------------
Status Effects:
.
Character Level 4 (%80)
EXP Required to Level Up: 10
---------------------------
Name: Nathaniel
Last Name: Darich
Class: Doesn't have
---------------------------
Health Points: 40/40
Mana Points: Doesn't have
---------------------------
Strength: 4
Agility: 8
Intelligence: 5.9
Vitality: 4
Stamina: 4
Attunement: 0.6
Luck: 3.3
Memories: 0%
----------------------------
Status Effects:
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone