Chapter 174: Gauging and Past Greivences

"Hmm…Hmmmmmmmmm….."

"What are you humming at! It is giving me a headache!" Natto shouted.

"I'm humming at if there is a real damage increase with my new Main Class Tree and defense increase," Drake explained with his hand on his chin as he sat looking at his status screen.

[School of Fire] [F Rank] Proficiency 3(0%)

The active ability set to control the magic school of fire. Your proficiency over fire is still early at this juncture, giving you only the basics of spells.

Spell: Fireball - "The fire of my heart, take form and sear my enemies. Fireball."

Basic single target spell. Deals fire damage in a 3 to 1 of Intelligence. Small Mana Cost.

Spell: Fire Cloud - "The fire of my heart, disperse and set flame to the world. Fire Cloud."

Basic Area of Effect spell. Deals fire damage in a 5 to 1 of Intelligence. Moderate Mana Cost.

Drake leaned into the screen hoping looking more closely at the screen might give him a glimmer of understanding.

"It says that the damage has at least doubled but there's no way for me to really tell since there aren't any monsters around. And I kill everything in one shot already so I can't really gauge the difference."

"You could use one of the many imbeciles that walk the outpost, no?" Natto proposed.

Drake scoffed, "I'm not going to try a spell against a person. I want to test this, not kill people…"

"Then it will remain a mystery until we find our next E-Rank."

Sighing, Drake fell backward onto the grass with his hands behind his head staring up at the sun. It was the following day after they had returned from the Hive and they still had a few weeks to go.

He was taking it slow and wanted to go over his skills little by little during the remaining time. He still had to talk to the Dwarf, but he didn't think it was urgent. It was always better to let investments sit after all.

Drake's aura sense had rocketed past anything he thought was possible with his race change.

Asuran's Prideful Aura P3(0%) [F Rank]

The monster inside you refuses to be below others and has been honed into a prideful Warrior. The world is meant for you to take your place above it. You are the epitome, the apex, the ever-oppressive and prideful Tyrant. Your word is law inside your domain. 

This skill gives access to Aura.

The passive ability to inflict your will upon the world within a certain distance.

Allows the user to perceive their surroundings within a 65-meter sphere around themselves (Increased based on Proficiency)

Aura suppresses anyone inside your sphere that is of your rank or lower, giving a perpetual 10% debuff to all combat stats and momentary fear. (Increased based on Proficiency)

Aura momentarily disrupts any and all spells or skills being cast when will is flexed. Must be of equal or lower Rank.

Additional Effect: Devourer - Any target inside your sphere of influence has a beneficial buff removed once per hour.

Additional Effect: Level Killer - If Target is under the effect of Asuran's Prideful Aura for a extended period of time, the aura will slowly deplete health based on the difference in level and proficiency. (Increased based on Proficiency)

The range of influence had expanded considerably, and with all of his buffs specific to the aura it alone was a tool he could use to do devastating damage.

"Might as well be conqueror's haki… Now my looks can kill. Literally," Drake chuckled nervously.

He could feel nearly everyone moving within Shigure's camp, coming and going from tents, stalls, the gates, and more. He was essentially the FBI agent everyone thought was watching them constantly but he would rather not have been.

Thankfully the skill didn't overwhelm him with information as much as you would think. It was jarring at first that was sure, but some fine tuning before bed, reducing the range slightly, and he was set.

"I could have gone without being aware of so many people doing the dirty, but not like I can bleach my eyes right now. Would my eyes survive that?"

"Oh please try. It would be very funny," Natto chimed in.

"Ok, so probably shouldn't do that, if you seem that eager…"

"Please, it would not kill you. It would… simply sting a lot for a long period of time. You would be fine, your improved regeneration skill would make it fine."

Asuran's Honed Physic P3(0%) [F Rank]

May your reign be long and as strong as thee.

This skill increases one's body, bringing it to the brink of what is possible. Allowing its user to live and prosper while their Kingdom grows under their watchful eye.

Passive Effect: Your health pool is now doubled. 5% Passive Health Regeneration. (Increases based on Proficiency)

Extra Effect: You now gain an additional 10 Vitality per level.

"Can't argue there…."

Drake let the conversation die, taking in the sun as he bathed in the warm light. Soon he could sense footsteps approaching, but he could only imagine who it was.

Lately, Drake had been stuck in a pickle. Or a rock and a hard place. He wasn't sure if it was his constant risking of his life for others or maybe his dashing charms? Regardless a new storm had rolled in on his life.

"This is where you are?"

Drake craned his head backward to see the voice.

"Megan… Hi…"

"Are you avoiding me?" she asked.

"I am. I thought you would take a hint after I let down Chelsea that I'm not interested in the whole harem trope."

"E-excuse me?! I just wanted to thank you! If it wasn't for you coming back and beating that monster, we would all be dead. Gratitude doesn't insinuate romantic interest you idiot!" she yelled.

"Then why didn't you just say thank you like Julia did, and move on? Why are you hounding me whenever Claire isn't around? I'm not that oblivious."

"I-i…I just wanted to make it heartfelt! A simple thank you wouldn't convey what I was thinking…"

"Megan, I'm not Chris. I'm not your hero. And I don't want to take advantage of you. I'm also involved with another woman already. I'd appreciate you understanding that and finding someone else."

Megan's face blushed in a flash of scarlet before she stammered something incoherent and stormed off.

"Is the drama worth not having infidelity…? And what's with women throwing themselves at me lately? All I'm doing is killing monsters, anyone can do that."

Drake shook his head and resumed his sunbath, hoping it would be the last of people he didn't want to see for the day.

A few minutes later and more footsteps crushed grass underneath.

"Who is it this time? If you're going to confess your love to me, at least wait an hour please!" Drake shouted.

"Who is going to confess anything to you…?"

Drake turned his head seeing an angsty black-haired teen.

"Oh, Shigure? You sure? With how much you seem to hate me I kinda thought you were playing the tsundere angle. But I'll have you know I don't swing that way. Tom might though."

"Your jokes are noted. But fortunately, I have business matters to discuss."

Drake looked the teen up and down, noticing how unperturbed he was with the jab. Then a lightbulb lit up in Drake's head.

"Oh… you sly dog you! You confessed to someone, just not me huh!" Drake shouted wiggling his eyebrows and standing.

That seemed to have hit the right spot as Shigure's face turned rosy.

"I-i don't know what you mean! I have no idea what you are speaking of! Drop the matter I have something important to discuss!"

"Oh come on, I already know who it was. So does everyone else, it's hardly a secret if I'm right," Drake smiled, "But I'll let you off the hook for now. So, what is it?"

Shigure coughed trying to regain his composure.

"The Hive you mentioned. We are having difficulty gaining access to the tunnels you detailed. It seems whatever monstrous display you and that Ant had put on, has destroyed the entrance and made it nearly impossible to get into without a talented Earth Mage."

"So you could only ask me huh? Ok, let's get going then."

Shigure looked surprised.

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

—------

"So, Shigure tell me more of what is going on with the outpost since we're doing this," Drake asked as they walked with a contingency of people behind them.

"There is nothing of significance that you don't already know from talking to the guards," Shigure answered.

"No I don't mean the stuff they know. I mean the things that you did that changed you."

Shigure's brow lifted at the question.

Drake scoffed, "I know something big happened, you changed from a hot-headed kid to a budding leader. You haven't taken any of my bait, and you are concise with what needs to be done now. I'd say that's a major step up. And that doesn't happen for no reason."

Shigure looked like he was struggling with addressing the topic, so both they and the group behind them walked in silence to the Hive for some time.

Eventually, Shigure spoke up.

"I had sentenced the criminals you brought."

Drake looked over but didn't speak, allowing Shigure to unload.

"I hadn't known the extent of how far some people had fallen. I thought what happened… What happened to my friend was a tragedy done by an insane individual. I thought people would be more…"

"More like you? Bright-eyed and idealistic. Out for the good of others just because?" Drake interrupted, not able to help himself.

"Y-yes.. I thought people would understand that we could not make it alone, that we needed to band together to help and survive. But I underestimated how greed and thirst for power would affect the minds of those who had a taste for it. I was blind."

Drake hummed, thinking back on his own realization a day ago, "Seems like we both were blind to some things, but there's always room to grow from them. This psycho that did this to your friend. This is the first I'm hearing of it. Do you know who it was?" Drake asked leadingly.

"I do… His name was Kohoo, he seemed like a normal man when we met, but I was soon proven wrong…"

Drake turned to Shigure, stopping them both.

"Then, there's no worries there. I killed that sorry piece of scum months ago."

"You what?!" Shigure shouted.

"Ow.. Dude, my ears. I'm standing right next to you."

"What proof do you have?"

"Do you really need proof? The guy disappeared from the ladder board a while ago. Shouldn't that be enough?"

"I suppose that's true… What did you do to him?" Shigure asked.

Drake turned and began to walk again.

"Well, he and a couple of his goons tried to kill me for my TP when it happened. It was almost right out of a cliche villain scene. They took Theo hostage after I had just fought Bear."

Shigure put his hand to his chin in thought then spoke of his realization.

"This was when Sir Bear had just returned? That means you had to have fought with the debuff his skill produces?"

"Right you are. Thankfully it was ending just as they got to me. I knew Kohoo from before the tutorial. I won't get into the details but, I learned some very depressing stuff. So the fight ensued and I took my first human life that night. And many more. Stewart, Kohoo's real name got the drop on me as I was escaping with Theo who was badly injured."

Drake pulled his ruined robe's sleeve back showing the scar from his previously missing arm.

"That's when he took my arm from me. And then I used that same arm he took to beat his face into the ground. Rest is history," Drake explained.

"Just like from hunter hunter…." someone behind them mumbled.

Shigure turned to the voice.

"Sato? Why are you here?" Shigure asked, completely surprised.

"Oh, I wanted to tag along. Not every day the strongest person in the apocalyptic tutorial you're in is an otaku who can literally turn anime into real life," Sato smiled.

"I like him! He's spot on that guy," Drake laughed, "Come, brother! Let me wile you with my tales of wondrous anime battles!"

"Hai, Shishou!" Sato replied with extensive gusto.

Shigure sighed and trailed behind them, but said nothing. He looked at the back of Drake with new eyes. He had never would have thought that the man would have been the one to avenge his friend. Strange how the world worked.