The world was a blur of heightened senses and relentless action. Kael, now Level 21, pushed through the mounting exhaustion, the rune's 24-hour timer a burning brand in his awareness. He had about eight hours left. The mental fatigue was a heavy cloak, his thoughts feeling like they were wading through thick syrup despite his high INT and 'Keen Mind' skill. But the lure of doubled XP was too strong to resist.
He paused his crafting of the great hide, leaving it at the "Brain Tanning Application" stage. He needed to hunt. More kills meant more XP.
"Yes," he confirmed to the System to open the character screen after reaching Level 21.
Name: Kael
Race: Human (Variant: Unknown)
Age: 11 cycles (Physical)
Status: Fatigued (Minor - due to Rune effect)
Title: The Reborn (Adaptability significantly enhanced in high-stakes/solitary situations. Minor resistance to fear effects.)
Level: 21 (0/3200 XP to Level 22)
Attributes (Base):
Strength (STR): 23 (Previously 22 + 1 from Lvl 20 allocation)Agility (AGI): 23 (Previously 22 + 1 from Lvl 20 allocation)Constitution (CON): 23 (Previously 22 + 1 from Lvl 20 allocation)Intelligence (INT): 24 (Previously 23 + 1 from Lvl 20 allocation)Wisdom (WIS): 21 (Previously 20 + 1 from Lvl 20 allocation)Charisma (CHA): 5 (No change)
(Self-correction from Chapter 45's stat allocation: At Level 20, Kael had 5 attribute points and 1 remaining from before. He allocated STR+1, AGI+1, CON+1, INT+1, WIS+1. This used 5 points. So he should have 1 attribute point remaining from Level 20, plus 5 new points from reaching Level 21, for a total of 6 unspent attribute points now.)
Unspent Attribute Points: 6
Unspent Skill Points: 1 (New from Level 21)
Kael quickly allocated his new points, focusing on rounding out his primary combat and mental stats.
"Allocate 2 points to Strength."
[2 Attribute Points allocated to STR. New STR: 25.]
"Allocate 2 points to Agility."
[2 Attribute Points allocated to AGI. New AGI: 25.]
"Allocate 2 points to Constitution."
[2 Attribute Points allocated to CON. New CON: 25.]
His physical stats were now a formidable 25 across the board. His INT was 24, WIS 21. He felt a surge of raw power, though the underlying fatigue from the rune was a persistent ache.
For his skill point, he looked at his options. His 'Bow Proficiency' and 'Axe Proficiency' were both Rank D. His 'Advanced Crafting' was Rank B. 'Stealth' was Rank B. He decided to boost his 'Advanced Crafting' further, as it was key to better gear.
"Allocate 1 skill point to improve 'Advanced Crafting'."
[1 Skill Point allocated. 'Advanced Crafting (Rank B)' has been upgraded to 'Advanced Crafting (Rank A)'.]
[Advanced Crafting (Rank A): Greatly increased chance of successfully crafting complex items. Significantly reduced chance of material wastage. Unlocks ability to attempt intricate recipes and work with rare materials if knowledge and tools are available. Increased chance of creating items with notable positive quirks or minor enchantments if catalyst materials are used.]
Rank A crafting! That was a huge leap. The potential for "minor enchantments" was particularly exciting.
With his points spent, Kael forced himself back into the hunt. Corvus, sensing his master's driven state, redoubled his scouting efforts. The next few hours were a brutal symphony of stealth, precision archery, and savage axe work. He took down another Cave Bear, its doubled XP pushing him significantly closer to Level 22. He also hunted a pack of three large Dire Wolves (Level 13-14), a chaotic fight that tested his improved combat stats and newly upgraded 'Axe Proficiency (Rank D)' – 'Improved Power Strike' proved devastating.
[...Multiple Hunt Notifications... XP Gained... Skill Proficiencies Increased...]
The forest floor in his chosen hunting grounds became littered with the remains of his kills. He didn't have time to butcher them all properly, taking only the choicest cuts and hides if they were exceptional, his focus entirely on maximizing XP gain before the rune expired.
As the final hour of the rune's duration approached, Kael was operating on sheer willpower. His body screamed for rest, his mind felt like an overstretched bowstring. He was caked in blood and grime, his breathing ragged. He had just finished off a particularly resilient Elder Stag (Level 16), its XP pushing him over the edge.
[System Notification: You have successfully hunted 1x Elder Stag (Level 16) using 'Aimed Shot' and 'Power Strike'. XP Gained: 640 (320 base x2).]
[Congratulations! You have reached Level 22!]
[You have 5 unspent Attribute Points and 1 unspent Skill Point. Open Character Screen (Y/N)?]
Level 22. Three full levels gained in a single day. It was an almost unbelievable feat. He was too exhausted to even feel triumphant, just a profound sense of weary accomplishment.
"No," he thought, declining to open the character screen immediately. He needed to rest.
Just then, the familiar silvery hum within him began to fade. The heightened clarity, the vibrant intensity of the world, the feeling of boundless potential – it all began to recede, like a tide going out.
[System Notification: 'Rune of Ephemeral Knowledge (Lesser)' effect has expired. XP gain returned to normal. Warning: User is experiencing severe mental and physical fatigue. Extended rest is highly recommended to avoid potential negative status effects (e.g., 'Mental Strain', 'Physical Exhaustion').]
The world snapped back to its normal state, and the full weight of his exertion crashed down upon Kael. He stumbled, his vision blurring for a moment. The forest, which had seemed so alive with opportunity, now just looked like… the forest. The vibrant colors dulled, the subtle energies faded from his perception.
He leaned heavily against a tree, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Corvus landed on a branch beside him, letting out a soft, concerned caw.
"It's… over," Kael managed, his voice hoarse. He had pushed himself to the absolute limit, and perhaps beyond. The rune had been a double-edged sword – incredible power, but at a steep cost to his stamina and mental reserves.
He knew he needed to get back to his hut, to safety, to rest. The thought of allocating his new points, of processing his gains, would have to wait. For now, all he wanted was the oblivion of sleep. The Whisperwood, and the challenges it represented, felt a million miles away. He had taken a giant leap forward, but the path was still long, and the price of power, he was learning, was steep.