Chapter 36: Reflection
With the light of the new day passing over Adam, the caravan was quick to get into motion.
Adam noticed that he had leveled up after supporting in the defense of the camp from the assailants.
Now level 27, he strutted forward beside the other adventurers.
Beginning to contemplate what he should pass for the next 10 stat threshold.
There was the option of going further in strength, but he felt that was fine for the time being.
It would make a larger difference if Adam allocated points towards his endurance or intellect.
He had a feeling that intellect was the stat for magic.
Whichever stat he focused upon, the capability to endure was fundamental, if one wanted to win a battle.
Alternatively, distributing stat points evenly was an option.
But that would deprive the fierce power of a person who specializes in a single stat.
Having no obvious weak stats did not mean a person was strong.
It took one stat that eclipsed a more general allocation, to crush them.
Should Adam get more stat points on leveling, he could spend more freely.
If, and till then, he would be better off improving two stats or three stats at most.
As the camp began to settle later in the day, the moonlight embracing the earth, Adam looked at his status.
[STATUS]
Name: Adam Wildeblood
Race: Human
Class: None (Selection Paused)
Level: 27 (3000/8000 XP)
System Inventory: x1 Skill Usurper Ticket, x1 Skill Selector Ticket
Stats: Strength: 10.1 | Agility: 1 | Intelligence: 2 | Endurance: 3.2 | Appearance: 1.3 | Luck: 3
SP: 15 (5 Per level (3 Base, +1 Hero, +1 Evergreen Bud))
Titles: Otherworlder, Hero, Knight, Hunter, <Leveling: (Beginner, Adept)>, <Amateur Eradicator: (Wolf, Goblin, Ogre)>
Skills: [Passive Experience], [Translation], [Unbreakable Will], [Dauntless Courage], [Sage's Patience], [Combat Aptitude], [Critical Piercer], [Chaser's Discipline], [Evergreen Bud], [Unfathomable Unknown], [Cold-blooded], [Heroic Yield], [Info], [Breathtaker]
In his time so far in Randail, life had been busy.
His expectations for a peaceful escorting trip were very much shattered.
Adam was not hopeful that the busiest part of the quest was behind him.
First, Yerlarain had choked during a meal, then there was the assailants. If one more incident happened, he would go insane.
Sighing, Adam brought up the system's inventory and used the cheat selector ticket.
Nothing brought his mood up like getting an ability.
The set of three boxes appeared, with the lever.
Cracking his neck, he imagined he pulled it.
Swiftly, obfuscated labeled but indecipherable boxes darted vertically.
Which stilled after a handful of seconds.
His brows rose as he looked at his options.
Choices: Pain Reflection | Title Holder | Twice Striker
Not jumping to make a decision, he scrutinized the abilities descriptions.
[Pain Reflection: Damage dealt to you by others, has the corresponding pain rebounded to the attacker.]
[Title Holder: You may choose a title to be active, you gain a bonus effect, strongly embodying the title.]
[Twice Striker: When attacking someone for the first time, your first attack happens twice, simultaneously.]
Another difficult choice. The clear contenders to be chosen were either [Pain reflection] or [Twice Striker.]
While interesting, Title Holder's bonus effect, and the embodiment were unclear.
The bonus effect could be weak.
Would the title embodiment warp him?
These doubts caused him to focus entirely on the other two options.
Sucking in air, he chose Twice Striker.
Pain Reflection had the merit of being a constant distraction during battle which produced openings that could be used.
However, Twice Striker would give Adam the advantage at the start of battles.
The fatigue skill he obtained not that long ago, paired well with it.
As he chose it, he could feel a rush of energy scramble through his body, pulsing for a moment, then fading.
He felt compelled to try it. But, upon taking a breath, he was able to reprieve himself of that thought.
A time would come sooner than later when he could try it.
Smirking at his growth, Adam lowered his head, curling up his body, and slept.
A breeze was brought forth, as a new day arrived.
The wind crashing against the tents, great news reached his ears through an announcement by Micheis.
If all went well, the caravan would be at Uilam in only two or so days.
Packing up had become easier as Adam became more experienced.
The scenery which featured tall grass had transitioned into a flat plains, as plant life became increasingly sparse.
Eventually, with the afternoon becoming the evening, tall peaks appeared, and the plains became smooth stone.
A valley was up ahead.
The carriage rattled as it landed and rolled through the pebbles and small rocks in it's path.
Adam and the rest of the escorting adventurers kept an eye out for enemies.
It was not uncommon for there to be archers atop a valley's peaks.
Grateful, Adam smiled as nothing occurred, as they traveled through to the end of the valley, rolling back into grassy plains.
In the center of the plains, the caravan established camp, clearing the proximity for the fire.
That night, they ate beans and bread.
Before sleeping, he spent half an hour looking at the stars.
There were no trees that obscured his vision.
In his face, as he looked up, was the clear sky, darkness spanning in all directions.
The refreshing breeze of the night tickling his face through his helm.
His arms behind his head, Adam smiled.
Gradually pushing off the ground, he entered his tent and slept.
The following day went by swiftly, and the day after brought with it disastrous weather.
There was rain, and hail which crashed down from the sky.
Mud sticking to both the wheels of the carriage, and the feet of the escorting adventurers.
It was uncomfortable to drag one's feet through.
Eventually though, in their view staggeringly tall walls and larger buildings, was their destination.
The caravan slowly working through the mud, appeared at the gate of the city.
Guards covering their head from the rain strolled out, and asked for identification.
Micheis stepping out for a moment, quickly provided it.
Their identification surprising the guards, they were permitted entry.
Passing underneath the arching gate, Adam examined his new surroundings.
Compared to Walcon, Uilam was far more prosperous.
However, the weather would make any evaluation of his lacking.
Everyone was inside except for them.
Due to the weather, Yerlarain was kind enough to book the entirety of the inn, while the weather settled.
Adam would have enjoyed resting in the inn, if he did not have to share a room with Yerlarain.
There were two beds, thankfully.
Apparently it was safer if he stayed with her.
Adam instinctively knew that Micheis was unaware of this arrangement.
Micheis seemed to be the overprotective type, that his saving her did not help but intensify.
Sighing Adam laid down on his bed.
But as he did, Yerlarain, in a nightgown turned to face him from hers.
Exasperated, he turned away.
Softly, whispered into his ears, Yerlarain said: "You are a good person." Before turning around herself, and sleeping.
Adam's shoulders relaxing, the room filled with the sound of crickets, as the night passed.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone