Chapter 21: Chapter 20
I stood in silence as I read over the floating screen.
"Level 4, huh?" I sighed to myself.
I wasn't exactly sure how any of the stats worked, but from the pure numbers, I could assume that my level predicted my raw combat potential. At least, I hoped. It would have been quite embarrassing if the combined efforts of 21 years had only gotten me as far as level 4.
When it came to the stats, it wasn't so surprising either, if anything, I was actually a bit pleasantly surprised. The last few years of my life hadn't been so productive for me physically, considering my life's downturn. The physical training sessions over the past week must have helped considerably.
I wouldn't have been surprised if they had been in the single digits.
My dexterity and agility were a little concerning, but I wasn't unsatisfied. I had a good starting point to build from.
With time and effort, I would be leaving these stats as memories of the past.
The "Tal - 0" was expected, but it still hurt to see. Just because I knew I lacked potential in magic didn't make it any less painful to see it drawn out for me.
I kept reading.
The next category was a disposition, it seemed to signify innate abilities of some kind.
"Survivor..." I read over the description and thought back to my previous encounters. Almost dying in the desert, running headfirst into traps, contracting an incurable disease, barely scraping through a fight at the cost of both of my comrades.
It didn't really feel like surviving, it felt as though I had stumbled my way through these events, finding just enough luck each and every time.
I sighed, "well, I don't know that it's right, but if it makes me harder to kill, I'll take it."
A small message popped up in front of me, courtesy of the system.
[ Note ]
Survivor is not a passive ability that makes it harder to kill you. Survivor is a disposition that has been recognized in you, stating that you are more driven to live than the average person. The average person would have died in your position already.
Luck is not a factor in this calculation.
[ Note End ]
My eyes widened, the system could respond to me? I read over the message again, it seemed to be telling me to take pride in my achievements. I wasn't really able to agree with the system's sentiments, but I appreciated them nonetheless.
"Thanks..." Weirdly, I found myself thanking the screen.
As if it knew it had been acknowledged, the pop-up closed.
Reinvigorated, I continued reading.
The section about my Tal poisoning was about as I expected, the information generally matched up with what my party members had told me.
That was until I reached "Severity: Low Risk."
I wanted to argue that fact and complain that the machine was obviously underestimating my symptoms, considering how just hours ago I had been standing at death's door, but I couldn't. Ever since casting that magic missile, drawing as much Tal out of my blood as I could, my symptoms had been reduced.
I felt a bit anemic, sure, but it was most definitely an improvement.
I looked down at my bloodied thigh, still throbbing in pain. Even if it helped my Tal poisoning, this wasn't a solution, not a long-term one at the least.
Pure Tal Body... Where had I heard that before?
I wracked my brain, trying to remember who had said it. The exceptionally long description of "???" didn't do much to help my understanding either.
The system stated that it was 2% completed, meaning I had to be doing something-
I was doing something, every second of every hour, I was absorbing Tal directly into my body. I remembered. It was Tarkas' great uncle, the fool who tried to purify his body by injecting himself with Tal.
I smiled, despite everything, I might have had a little good news once I got out of here.
2 percent, huh. It was obvious why this was so hard to achieve, though. In the time that it took to reach this value, I had almost died of poisoning. I once again looked towards my self-inflicted wound. At this rate, I would have to go through that pain nearly 50 more times.
It was far too little to get excited about, I could worry about the other 98% later.
From here on out, there wasn't much of interest. The comprehension of Tal Blood Channeling being at 1% was a slight concern, but it wasn't too surprising considering I only figured out how to do it on the fly.
To be honest, that is how my entire understanding of Tal felt. It was as if I was learning on hard mode, unable to feel and comprehend Tal in the same way as others, just figuring things out as I learned.
It wasn't too bad, I enjoyed the process of trial and error, but I would have preferred it under less stressful conditions.
"Well, whatever." I touched the floating ring on my wrist and the menu conveniently faded away. I was beginning to worry about the others, despite having spent a sizable amount of time here since defeating the boss, I hadn't heard a thing from outside the boss's room.
I should look around in here then head out.
I stuffed Bern's ring in my pocket and started walking toward the pedestal in the center of the room.
-
The entire center platform was scorched, and the majority of the sandstone was burnt black and sooty. I walked around the area a couple of times, but couldn't find anything of note.
Only after the 3rd lap around the pedestal, did I find the motivation to hoist myself onto the edge.
Psssss.
The moment I touched the edge of the metal, I recoiled in pain. The black steel instantly burnt my finger, leaving a bright red burn on the spot where I touched it.
I instantly knew that I would not be scaling it to check what was inside. My curiosity was doused by the prospect of trying to climb over the edge without needing a trip to the emergency room.
I looked around the room once more. A door, similar looking to the one that had teleported us without warning, was sitting slightly opened. I had a strong suspicion that the door would either lead back to where we entered, or teleport me back upon touching it.
Other than that, the room was only populated with debris and bodies, with no other exit in sight.
The only other option left to investigate was the core of the giant, something I had left untouched in the wake of trying to save Bern.
Only, the massive golem that had terrorized us was gone, dissipated, as if it had never existed in the first place.
No, that was wrong, there was something left.
Surrounded by scorched earth left in the dissolving golem's wake, there was a chest.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
wamlabish
wamlabish Sorry about the delay. Im back baby!!
Also, power stones are always appreciated. <3
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone