Soul

(Noah's Pov)

Despite the pain that coursed through my body I managed to stay standing.

My body was drenched in sweat, indicating how badly I needed a shower right now.

My breathing was ragged, my body felt like it was burning.

Why am I in this state? Because I just leveled up!

It's a good news! Well, was supposed to be!

The last time I leveled up I felt pain but soon after I felt myself reinvigorated. Filled with newfound strength with the help of an upgrade!

It surely felt amazing.

But what I am feeling now doesn't feel amazing at all!

My whole body feels like it's in pain, my legs are wobbly, and my head rings like a bell when hit.

Damn it.

"System Status"

=====================================================

Name: Noah

Rank: E+

Strength: E+

Stamina: E+

Agility: E+

Perception: E+

Mana proficiency: D-

Aura proficiency: E

Demonic energy proficiency: E

Luck: B

Intelligence: B+

Charm: A-

=======================================================

Holy shit!

So, the experience accumulates! It's not like I have to first level up to gain any new exp.

That's cool.

But I am still feeling like shit.

Like a drum being drummed! That's how my body feels.

But that's not important.

What's important is ...why?

Why?

Why!?

Why the hell did I rank up to only this level!?

I killed SS ranker! SS! I should have gained at least 2 ranks!

1 Rank, of course, means absolute alphabet change, sub-rank means there can be changed alphabet or not.

For instance, going from G to G+ is a sub-rank change, also going from G+ to F- is a rank and sub-rank change. Going F- to E+ is a rank change.

When changing letters gets into the equation things change drastically. The difference between the same alphabet individuals is high but the change when the alphabet changes is far more different.

That's why, if someone is a sub-ranked higher than you, he is stronger but manageable, if someone is 2 sub-ranks above you then the chances of you winning thins drastically.

And if someone has a different alphabet than you, then you are screwed. Even in this 5-minute fight with Elisa, I had increased my rank like I did when I fought Minotaur except now I know it doesn't increase my rank actually...

Okay, that's not important!

What's important, is that I expected to at least hit D rank.

But I didn't.

It feels like I am some underpaid employee of some black company overworking myself to my bone only to get next to no profits.

Just why? Why the hell did my rank didn't rise exponentially?

It doesn't make sense.

If I take this growth rate and then compare it with the protagonist's and his fellow party members leveling doesn't make sense once again.

I thought that plot hole was covered because the protagonist always faces people stronger than him and he wins against them, resulting in a larger amount of experience than anyone else gets.

But now, it's again a question.

Damn it.

Exhaling, I then took a deep breath.

Okay, let's focus on other things.

At least, I have leveled up. That's great.

I also got the answers that I needed.

First, I didn't get any exp from the other SS rankers who died, even though all of it was planned by me.

Sure, I didn't kill them directly but I should have gotten a 30 percent share from all the rest of them.

But I didn't.

So, even if I caused a planned genocide I ain't getting a single thing back. Alright, I ain't gaining with causing any wars. That means I can't farm my free exp while sitting on the couch.

That's sad.

Also, I have been wondering if the reason demons are stronger than other species is because they have control over beasts, so if the controlled beasts kill others who will get the exp, beast? or the owner?

For the record, I know those with beast tamer or summoner class get their share contributed in the same 7:3 ratio, 7 for the boss and 3 for the beast, no matter who deals the final blow. How do I know it? I just put two and two together.

Anyway, I wanted to know if it was the same for demons. Demons don't have beast tamer class or summoner but they still have control over beasts.

I took the beast from Liza and took their control, and the way Oliver died without giving me any exp, it seems like the beast takes all the exp.

With the way, Edison and Ella died despite being clearly poisoned by me, and weakened by my hands, I still didn't get any exp for contribution. From this, it's easy to conclude, that using traps to kill off someone without confronting them at all results in not getting any exp.

I have to be active in the fight in some way.

As for Orson... I wanted him dead. Don't want an SS+ ranked as an enemy, duh.

For the record, I got a complete 100 percent of her exp. Why? Why did I get complete exp even though there were beasts who worked to kill her as well?

Well, I have the beasts all dead after being done with them. So yeah...

Anyway, now I know a bit more about trap usage.

But now the new question is about my rank. Is it really all I level up? Why do I feel pained even though I leveled up? So exhausted?

I needed to know the answer but before that...

"Are you really going to just keep watching, vampy?"

"Was just waiting to be called out" Vampy said giving a hearty laugh.

Oh nah, hell nah, your comrade's dead body is here and you are smiling at the culprit. Then again, a mere 20 years or so is nowhere near enough for a vampire to start thinking of someone as an acquaintance let alone a comrade.

Vampires are built different.

"So, how does ranking up feel like?" She asked with a sweet smile on her face.

"I feel like shit" I answered.

Honestly, it was wanted to sleep, right now.

"That means, you just jumped too many levels" She laughed, as she gave me her answer.

Hm? I think, I just heard something really concerning there.

"...jumped too many levels?" I asked tilting my head.

Is there some shit like you can't level up too much at once or something?

'coz if there is then ..this shit is hardcore!

Once again, I didn't sign up for any of this!

Agh, I need more explanation.

"Hm? It seems like you need information." her sweet smile turned into sly.

The world is filled with selfish people, if you can't provide something for them, they won't care about you only if you have something to offer would anyone ever listen to you.

"So? What do you want vampy?"

"You see, Marcus has put this little choker on us all, if we don't report back to him for more than 2 days straight, it will shrink itself which would cause me my precious neck."

"How cruel of him"

I am not joking.

"Right? I can't believe how cold-hearted he is! So, can you take me to the place where I can have this choker out? There's more than a day left before the deadline for reporting back to him. Help me find someone who can take this choker off of me, I know you can!" She asked clasping her hands and looking at me with puppy dog eyes with her adult looks.

She's like a boomer trying too hard to mingle with Gen Z.

"Gotcha, so where's the info?"

"Haha, let's form a mana covenant of not betraying each other first" Chuckling she stretched her hand in front of me.

...I too stretched my hand before me as a blue circle appeared between the distance of our palms.

I read the contract, demon lord taught me how to not get scammed.

Verifying the covenant, I willed my mana into it, kind of like signing it.

With a satisfied smile on her face, she too signed it.

The mana covenant was now established between us, the magic circle disappeared and I felt mana drained from my body.

"So?" I asked

"Well, leveling up is an art," She said, her voice caring some kind of elegance in it.

Ah, I see.

I have never been good at art.

So, that's why things are getting messed up.

"Let me ask you, do you think that the status rankings are truly correct?" She asked making a thin system-like screen in front of me using the water.

...That's been bugging me too.

Let's forget about my case of inconsistencies where my rank remains the same but my strength rivals a D ranker, well now that I am an E ranker, I probably can be strong enough to match C- or C ranker for a temporary period.

The world itself is inconsistent. As I once said, Beastfolks are physically better than other species even if they are the same rank, Elves have better who can do mana or aura and have better control over these elements than any other species even if they have the same proficiency. Dwarves have far better cognitive skills required to forge weapons even if their intelligence is the same as another species person. Vampires are far better at using the skills and classes they have, and their natural vitality is better than any other species of the same rank. Demons are simply stronger than others in almost all aspects, they even have transformation mode waiting to be unleashed, so even if you are the same rank they are not similar to you in strength. Humans are adaptable, far too better than anyone thus having a bit faster growth rate in ranking up than other species.

Tldr, the same stats mean shit!

But that's precisely why I called this novel a dog-shit novel!

"Nah, they do help with estimating someone but can't be called accurate"

It's not all useless. Good and bad goes hand in hand.

"That's correct! The status isn't accurate. Sure, if you are fighting someone who is weak G or F ranked while you are SS ranked, you will win no doubt"

True, I can't deny that.

Fighting is different from killing.

Killing can be done unless the difference between you and the other person isn't far too overwhelming.

Truth be told except Demon lord, Liza, and Rubina I think I can kill any SS or SS+ ranker as long as I am given enough prep time.

But if it's a pure fight or duel type thing? I ain't winning against those monsters.

"But if the gap is just a rank? You can win even if you are a lower-ranked ranked showing stats rivaling the higher-ranked person than you. The stats aren't wrong but not accurate either. Now then, let me ask you have you ever tried solving a maths problem with a method that helps you reach the result but not an accurate one?" Her sweet voice entered my ears as she whispered.

In an instant, she closed the gap between us, but I wasn't worried, the mana covenant would take care of everything. Even if by chance, the vampy got attached to others and used all this as a distraction to get close to me to kill me at the cost of her life, it wouldn't work. After all, killing me or harming me in any way is prohibited.

Besides, I have a protection necklace and my potions with me.

No need for me to worry.

"Weird, an SS charm-ranked person who is currently dressed in a see-through because of the rain is whispering this close into your ears and the first thing you do is prepare yourself to kill me? It's good to be prepared for things on the off chance but this is a little extreme ... it makes me more interested in you!" Saying so, she spun around with her arms spread out, as if she was trying to embrace the rain... no wait, that sounded so cringe. The fuck is wrong with me.

"Back on point! Have you?" she cocked her head a little sideways.

"Yeah, I have. Your point?"

I do remember using a different formula than the intended one for the solution and the answer was just wrong by the last decimal.

I thought I had made some error so I checked my calculations again and again... until I realized it's not the formula I should be using to begin with.

"Don't you think it's similar to status? The status window never explicitly said anything of 'what' is it showing the ranks of?"

...

"You mean to say that the rank might be related to something else?"

That's a new take I haven't heard of-

Wait, wait.

The hell?

As if understanding the realization I have reached vampy opened her mouth once more

"You have poured the water in your glass with a bit too fast of a speed and now it has cracks," She said throwing a coin-sized water ball towards an overgrown tree, the water ball pierced the tree, leaving a hole in it.

"You have damaged your soul" A sinister whisper reached my ears as I remembered something important or ...more accurately, understood the importance of the words I had taken so casually.

I wasn't absorbing exp but ...souls.