7. Level up!

Her daggers dropped as well as that fucking smile. They both ran over to her as she tried to press her bleeding throat...

Serve you right, bitch. I fell over as darkness began covering my vision. Complete dark.

Am going to die again? What if I had to start again from that broken wagon? I shouted in my mind, I do not want to start from scratch, it was damn hard but I knew I had no power over the strange phenomena of the system.

The blue screen popped up.

[ Ding! the host has been respawned...]

I jumped awake, falling off the bed. I felt a Hard wooden floor with the scent of Shali flowers that rested near a small table top. The flowers that, are used for fragrance in local inns or shops widely.

I revived at the inn. This was the same one that we used last night. I heaved a sigh of relief after discovering I was at the inn. Thanks to the heavens, I do not have to repeat every single thing from escaping Troll to meeting the old man all over again.

I subconsciously touched the areas where her daggers penetrated my skin and abdomen. There was no injury nor discomfort but the recollection was nonetheless intact as if it all happened a few seconds ago, it was alive in my mind.

Till the morning I tossed around thinking about how to defeat those bandits but was that even possible? I was too weak to do anything, level one was nothing but trash just like me.

I can't even hold the sword properly, the weight of it and the strange unfamiliarity as if I and the sword are opposite of each other.

I had to find a way or anything to avoid getting killed but sadly I found no strategy that could boost the percentage of success against them. They were three and we were just two and not to mention that I was at level one.

The only possibility for us to survive was to stay where we are and wait till they leave the place voluntarily.

Previously they were not there when we took that path to come here so it's safe to assume they will leave the place sooner or later. The weather will also work in our favor in that regard after all who want to stay in that heavy snow without a comfortable place to stay?

I managed to persuade the old man to take another day off and rest here. He seemed to understand something that I did not as he kept smiling at me.

His plan of going out for a stroll with his childhood friend failed when the snowfall started. It was just like back there, cold and dangerous. The sky was bombarded till the sky darkened not giving us any chance to go out or do anything besides sit around and have fun inside the inn all day.

But it was not boring, because she was there with her family and friends, and the old man did not forget to speak of my incredible intuition several times. How I advised him that going today was not a good idea and meh and meh. I did not mind after all Jamia looked impressed.

When people began leaving one by one we got a chance to catch up, at the corner near the small window with a wooden gate.

We were there alone as nobody was paying even a bit of attention in the dark corner. My heart was racing as we stood side by side, fuck I should do something... Anything.

"Your grandfather told me you bravely fought with Indigo rabbits," she said softly.

This damn old man, why he exaggerated things, he informed them I battled with three of them independently without any help when in reality I wasn't even able to take out one.

"I like brave men" She giggled and then looked deep into my eyes. The light of flickering flames glistened on her face and lips, delicate and captivating.

I shifted taking her all in as the softness of her lips began dissolving my heart. She did not push me away instead leaned on pressing against me. My hands tugged her close as her breast pressed hard against my chest. I felt them even after all the furred clothing wrapped around her.

The next moment we broke apart. I said no words just stared at her and those lips.

"I should get going," she giggled and left. It took me a while to recover.

The next morning came as well as upcoming memories of the future. Fuck bandits.

I almost forgot about them, what if they waited there even in that shitty heavy storm? How will I face them? I didn't even practice or try to improve myself.

I ate breakfast and extended our stay for one more day. This time the old man did not say anything he just sighed.

I wasted no time and decided to do what I can first to get Stronger, the least better than currently am i.

I visited the spot where Jamia and I sat exchanging information that day. I was all alone with my sword. I need to achieve my target, I must do it.

[ Character. Skills. Inventory.

- Skills

- Normal ability

Swordsmanship: - ...

( 781/ 1000) Swings are required to reach the level of beginners. ]

I pushed everything aside and focused on doing that task. I wanted to reach at least a level of beginner or else there was no hope of survival if we happened to come across those bandits.

I was tired and gasping for air, it was almost noon and I had yet to achieve my goal.

[ 998 / 1000 ]

Just two more, but I felt powerless to raise my hand. I waited till I felt a little strength gathered in me. I got up and took a swing... One more and I will reach the stage of being a beginner.

If anyone heard it they will surely die laughing, I was not even a beginner. Fuck.

I was tired and hungry but I had made up my mind that without completing the task I would not eat anything. Thankfully my experiences in working in an office came in handy, not in a physical aspect but in a mental one. I am always known for my persistent nature and for doing the assigned task regardless of the time.

Suddenly I felt the heaviness of the sword lift and a closeness between me and the sword established after the final swing.

[ Congratulations Host for achieving the level Beginner in Swordsmanship... ]

[ 1000 Exp gained! ]

Holly Cow one thousand experience points? Does that mean I leveled up?

It seemed I got my exp points after completing tasks not by killing people or beasts. I remembered the time when I killed the rabbit and the woman. There was no notification of exp at that time.

[ Character. Skills. Inventory.

- Skills

- Normal ability

Swordsmanship: - Beginner

( 0 / 10000) Swings are required to reach the level of intermediate. ]

"..."

Fucking ten thousand swings? Why was this getting difficult and difficult? I stayed silent but inwardly I was cursing at the blue panel.

[ Character. Skills. Inventory.

- Character

Name - Noah Stone

Level - 2 ( 570 / 1000)

Age -14

Race - Human

Perk point - 1 ]

This time abundant white light flashed over me as if bathing me with holiness. All tiredness faded away as well as the small wound that I got from training excessively healed in no time. I felt a rush of energy over my body.

[ Each level-up will be rewarded with random skills for the Host.

Does the host want to choose now?

Yes. No. ]

The moment I accepted I was sucked into Wormhole and transferred to an astonishing location.

The countless stars shone in the dark sky, above me and below me. I was floating in the infinity sea of stars but I felt nothing, no smell, no sense of touch or no hearing sight.

"What the heck is this?" I wondered.