Chapter 64: "Skilled in Battle"

Loki's divine chamber was as chaotic as ever, with furniture and various collected odds and ends haphazardly placed and piled up, completely lacking any order.

Loki sat in a chair, with another chair in front of him, grinning at Rik as he walked in.

"You're a bit late, aren't you?"

Loki's words made Rik pause for a moment before he reacted.

"Has Ais already been here?"

Rik sat down in front of Loki.

"She just left a little while ago." Loki shrugged and said, "If you had come a minute earlier, you might have seen Ais looking down."

Rik furrowed his brow, muttering to himself, "It seems she's very dissatisfied with her own growth."

"Well, it's common." Loki tapped the back of the chair with his finger and said, "That girl pushes herself too hard. Who knows when she'll settle down and stop doing things that worry people."

Loki's tone sounded indifferent, but Rik could detect a hint of care in it.

"You really dote on Ais."

Rik sighed.

"Isn't that obvious?" Loki huffed, "Ais is my treasure. If she died, I might not even want to stay in the lower world anymore. I'd chase her soul to the upper world to bring her back."

Rik didn't believe Loki.

"Would you really be willing to?"

This deity, though lacking in decorum, doted on her family equally. Rik truly didn't believe she would abandon so many children for Ais.

"You brat, when did you learn to contradict me?" Loki said irritably, "Forget it, let's talk about your business."

Loki straightened up, looking at Rik, his narrowed eyes opening slightly.

"Fen told me everything. Tsk, tsk, a new type of monster with enhanced traits, to think you'd encounter something like that. This time, the losses were really heavy." Loki pursed his lips, "But you seem to have done well. Fen and the others praised you highly, even suggesting a new title for you next time."

In other words, Fen and the others believed Rik might be eligible for an upgrade this time.

After all, the Council of Gods met every three months, and each meeting discussed adventurers who had upgraded during those three months.

As long as an adventurer upgraded, their name would appear at the next Council of Gods, qualifying them for a title bestowed by the gods.

Even those who already had a title could be re-discussed at the Council of Gods after an upgrade, with the right to choose a new title.

For example, Bert, who once had the title "Gray Wolf," later upgraded to "Fierce Wolf."

If Rik successfully upgraded this time, he might also change his title at the next Council of Gods.

Of course, he could choose not to.

However, from the intentions of Loki, Fen, and others, it seemed they all planned to give Rik a new title.

Loki was somewhat dissatisfied with this.

"Is 'Trickster Swordsman' not good enough? I think this title is great!"

Rik didn't comment on this.

He couldn't see what was good about it, only that Loki wanted to brand him with a label, declaring to the world that he was her possession.

"Let's update your stats."

Rik changed the subject, turning his back to Loki and taking off his shirt.

"Fine." Loki said, pouting, "I want to see if you've really grown so much from your first expedition."

Loki picked up a needle, pricked her fingertip, and began working on Rik's back.

Soon, Rik's new stats were ready.

Rik Brihaut

4

Strength: A847 → SSS1277

Endurance: A825 → SSS1258

Agility: S969 → SSS1363

Dexterity: S971 → SSS1385

Magic: S933 → SSS1392

Light Armor: H → G

Swordsman: H → G

Magic: I → H

"Unsurprisingly, you've reached the end of the 4th stage." Loki sighed, looking at Rik, who was staring at the translated stats on her hand.

"Another full SSS stage, and all your development abilities have improved. Your growth rate is truly unbelievable. I don't know when it will slow down."

If Loki hadn't already gotten used to it, she would have jumped up in surprise.

Mainly because Rik's growth was truly inhuman.

It was one thing for his basic abilities to grow, as Rik had always been like this, with no single comprehensive improvement ever below 500, and if accumulated over time, it would never be below 1000.

But the growth of his development abilities was truly mind-boggling.

Take Ais, for example. From her first upgrade at age eight to now, she had been practicing her first development ability, "Hunter," for eight years, and it was only at G, having improved by two stages.

Rik, on the other hand?

His first development ability, "Light Armor," had only been practiced for about three months and had already caught up to Ais's eight years of effort.

"Thankfully, Ais isn't here, or she might be devastated."

Loki sighed.

Rik ignored the nodding Loki, confirming his current stats before speaking.

"How's the accumulation of advanced experience points?"

This was the most important part.

And the final result did not disappoint Rik.

"As you wish, it's already full."

Loki grinned.

"Congratulations, you can upgrade."

These words made Rik's lips curl up.

Indeed, he could upgrade.

Rik was about to become a 5th-level adventurer.

"Upgrading to 2 took 7 days."

"Upgrading to 3 took 15 days."

"Upgrading to 4 took 30 days."

"Now, it's been 45 days since you became 4."

Loki's face was twisted, unsure if she was laughing or crying.

"Just a month and a half, and you're upgrading again. You're a beast."

Loki couldn't find any other words to describe Rik's growth rate.

Worse still, Rik's growth wasn't just fast; before each upgrade, all his abilities were at SSS, and his accumulated potential was astonishing. Combined with several combat-related development abilities and skills and magic, his true strength far exceeded that of his peers.

Fen's report to Loki mentioned that this kid could already match a 5th-level adventurer at 4.

What about when he actually becomes 5?

Would he be able to match a 6?

Loki didn't dare to think about it.

"Come, let's upgrade you."

With his basic ability accumulation at its limit, Rik had no reason to stay at his current stage.

So, Loki quickly upgraded Rik, resetting his stats.

Rik Brihaut

5

Strength: I0

Endurance: I0

Agility: I0

Dexterity: I0

Magic: I0

Light Armor: G

Swordsman: G

Magic: H

Skilled in Battle: I

From this moment on, Rik officially became a 5th-level adventurer.

In just over three months, he had risen from a mere ordinary human to a 5th-level adventurer, growing at a speed that stunned the gods.

"Olympia will be lively again tomorrow."

Loki gloated.

Rik's mood was also good.

5, while not the pinnacle in this world, was still a significant and influential power.

It's worth noting that in the current Olympia, the highest-level adventurer was only 7, and there was only one, with fewer than ten 6s.

Excluding these top-tier powers, the strongest among the rest were the 5s.

So, becoming a 5th-level adventurer, Rik had truly entered the ranks of the powerful, no longer seen as just a rapidly growing newcomer.

"With my current strength, I should be able to protect myself even if I return to the original world, right?"

Rik thought.

However, he was soon distracted by something else.

"Skilled in Battle?"

This new development ability made Rik mutter.

Loki's voice chimed in perfectly.

"This time, you triggered several development abilities, but they were all types you don't need, just like before."

Abilities like "Healing," "Regeneration," and "Resistance to Abnormalities" were already at the highest level in Rik's skills, so there was no reason to choose them now.

"Excluding these, the only one worth learning is this one." Loki said, "So, I chose it for you this time."

"What's the effect?" Rik nodded, "I don't think I've heard of this development ability before."

"Let alone you, I haven't heard of it either. It's probably one of the rarest abilities, like your 'Light Armor,' which only you can trigger."

Loki struggled to keep her gaze from turning to that of looking at a monster.

"As for the effect, if my feeling is correct, this ability might be an advanced version of 'Hunter.'"

"Hunter" is a development ability that boosts your stats when you encounter a monster you've defeated before.

Since "Skilled in Battle" is an advanced version of "Hunter," its effect is similar.

"Without a doubt, with this development ability, when you encounter an enemy you've defeated before, your stats will be boosted."

Loki raised a finger, saying, "This boost is not only higher than 'Hunter' but may not be limited to just monsters."

In short, from now on, no matter what enemy Rik encounters, as long as he has defeated them before, the effect of "Skilled in Battle" will be triggered, boosting his stats.

Rik almost immediately understood the value of this development ability.

After all, the condition to trigger "Skilled in Battle" is not based on individual enemies.

For the "Hunter" ability, the condition is based on the type of monster.

If you defeat one goblin, the next time you encounter another goblin, the "Hunter" effect will be triggered.

If you defeat one killer ant, the next time you encounter another killer ant, the development ability will be triggered.

Following this logic, if "Skilled in Battle" is an advanced version of "Hunter," it means that if Rik defeats a human, the next time he encounters another human, this development ability will be triggered.

This is essentially an all-purpose enhancement ability.

New book, seeking support! Recommendations! Collections! (*^▽^*)

(End of Chapter)