19 Two years
Waking up in the time room, Frederick was immediately welcomed by the usual silence of this place. As he stood up, he felt a very irritating sensation. His mind was being clouded once again. He checked his status and saw that his level was back at 1. However, he knew that this would often happen in the future.
'...Well, at least I now have a better understanding of the path, traps, and guardian for the first floor,' thought Frederick.
'Moreover, I've learned that the guardian of the second trial is exceptionally intelligent, unlike the first. It can likely think, reason, and is smart enough to patiently wait for the opportune moment to turn me into a meat pulp without even the need to risk revealing its presence.'
Frederick contemplated the idea of acquiring more authority, specifically considering the advantages, but swiftly dismissed it. While it might seem advantageous, he realized it would ultimately backfire.
Maintaining a balance between authority and level was crucial. Even if he amassed a significant amount of authority, he couldn't utilize them all to their full potential. Additionally, the difficulty of side stories would escalate, making it impossible for him to complete any, as the difficulty scales with levels and, more importantly, authorities.
Focusing on farming other candidates might be an option, but as the level difference grew more apparent, he would find himself unable to kill candidates due to his low level and incapable of completing even a single side story.
To make matters worse, his curse made things even more challenging by decreasing his experience gain by ten times. Frederick decided to avoid thinking too deeply about it as it wouldn't get him anywhere. Instead, he focused on his plan.
<Upon your demise, authority "Forgotten times" (Unique) has been invoked. You will be transported back to the initial day within Chronicles.>
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<Welcome to the Main Hub World!>
Frederick woke up at the Main Hub World, finding himself in the usual place. He looked around the forest that he had visited numerous times. There was nothing new or noteworthy in sight. It was as if he had never even left.
Checking his status window, Frederick sighed upon noticing his age increasing.
'...Happy Birthday to myself.'
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<Welcome back, candidate>
Name: Frederick Field
Race: Human
Age: 26 years old
Level: 1
<Authority >: Forgotten Times (Unique), Blood Dominion (Remembrance)
<Authority of Blood Dominion (Remembrance)>
-Description: The possessor of this high rarity authority gains dominion over the essence of blood itself. This authority is a copy created by a higher authority. The assimilation rate is forcefully set at 100%.
Abilities:
-Blood Overlord: The user commands the blood within others, shaping it with precision for various purposes. The targets' constitution stat can limit or even nullify this ability.
-Sanguine Infusion: The user can manipulate the blood within their own body to temporarily enhance their physical capabilities.
-Bloody Sense: The user develops an acute sensory connection to the presence of blood.
-Blood Constructs: The user can solidify and mold their blood to create tools.
Rarity: Remembrance
<Curse >: One Against the World (Unique), Thirst of the Scarlet Pact (High)
-One Against the World (Unique):
Effect: The world will try to kill you by every means possible, and the experience points you earn will be divided by ten times.
Remark: How did you even survive until now?
-Thirst of the Scarlet Pact (High):
Effect: The mastery of blood manipulation comes with a price in the form of an unending thirst for the essence of life. Failing to regularly indulge this thirst results in diminishing control over their authority, leading to physical weakness and eventual collapse. The curse's intensity amplifies as the user grows stronger.
Remark: Are you a vampire fan?
<Statistics >
-Constitution: 10
-Mind: 10
-Perception: 12
-Dexterity: 12
Experience points: 0/1000
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"Two years already... I am starting to lose track of time," murmured Frederick as he started to head toward Alexei and Hiro.
Two years have passed, and the Chronicles seemed trapped in a perpetual cycle. Frederick's routine was pretty much the same: Time room, a visit to the main hub world, getting a bag, Blood Grandma giving exactly 427 experience points, Talia and Gavin becoming victims to his schemes, some candidates hunting, going to the city, trying to finish Dyrroth... before dying.
Truth be told, he could've ignored some steps until he succeeded in Dyrroth. However, he decided not to. How can one achieve godhood by being lazy?
This cycle became a kind of regular endeavor. However, amidst this monotony, some evolution appeared.
Firstly, the first guardian's fight had transformed into a routine. Although the maze was still a bit bothersome, Frederick was confident in eliminating the first guardian with ease in a matter of minutes and, of course, without any injury. The real trials lay with the second and third guardians.
Additionally, Frederick's skills in combat also greatly improved, not only against monsters but also against humans. By repeating life-and-death battles, he developed mastery to efficiently deal with enemies. Although not perfect, he recognized the necessity of more time for perfection.
Yet the primary change lay in the discovery of his stats! Through repeated battles and mastery over Blood Dominion, Frederick observed an increase in his base dexterity and perception stats. Furthermore, he realized that he could train these stats without the assistance of the system. Most importantly, these naturally earned stats proved to be permanent!
"Unlike level-earned stats, base stats are likely considered a part of my own experience as it is more my personal experience."
"Mmh... The repetitive training at utilizing Blood Dominion probably increased my dexterity stats while my perception stats raised because of my accumulation of fighting experience."
"Overall, it means that these could be refined without the help of the Chronicles... Well, perhaps to a certain point?" thought Frederick as he collected a blue authority orb from a mummified corpse.
He was still not sure about how it exactly worked, but he was certain of one thing. It would be best not to use any level-earned stat points in a stat that he could increase on his own.
By increasing his stats by himself, he could keep them for his next life. Moreover, his potential could be expanded too! For instance, if someone with a starter stat of 1 in mind and invested 10 points in it, their final mind stat would reach 11 points.
Meanwhile, someone with a base stat of 10 points in mind and invested 10 points in it. Their final mind stat would reach 20.
While both could have the same level, their stats would be like day and night.
"Although it is a shame that I cannot increase my base constitution stats... Well, it is logical since my body is restored to the first day. And about the mind stat... How do I even increase it?"
That was something that puzzled Frederick. He could train perception, dexterity, and constitution, but the same can't be said for the mind stat. No matter what he did, he just couldn't seem to find a way to increase this stat.
'Perhaps I could try to...' However, his thoughts were brutally interrupted by someone.
"Sir, do you still want to pay 2 orbs for entry?" The man who usually collected Frederick's entry fee for side stories inquired.
"Yes," responded simply Frederick as he handed two authority orbs.
Checking the authorities, the man quickly nodded and replied, "Thank you for your patronage, sir, please follow me."
They soon arrived at the extravagant main hall where the gate was. Once there, Frederick walked directly toward the green cube. This surprised the man as he wanted to try to engage in some conversation in an attempt to collect intel on Frederick. Someone with three authority orbs must be at least monitored a bit.
Moreover, Frederick didn't appear to be the least interested in the usual bait they used to tempt candidates into signing a contract with them—a green loot box. The city often showcased individuals who achieved significant success in a side story, emphasizing how it changed their lives to attract more potential contractors.
In essence, they employed a system similar to gambling on Earth. After all, if someone signed a contract and successfully completed a side story, 60% of the resources earned would go to them. On the other hand, if the candidate met an unfortunate end, they could only blame themselves for being considered "reckless."
Seeing Frederick approach, the guards initially attempted to stop him, but after the man beside him nodded, they simply ignored Frederick. Without wasting any time, Frederick directly touched the cube, and the familiar sensation of his surroundings blurring overcame him.
<Randomly selecting a difficulty… Randomly realm…>
<Detection of the Curse "One Against World." As you exit Chronicles' zone influence, curse begins to take hold once more>
<Difficulty adjusted to its utmost level possible for the candidate due world's influence...>
<Mission adjusted to the utmost difficulty level due world's influence...>
<Invading the realm of Dyrroth…>
