Chapter 6

After defeating five wolves, the sound of leveling up echoed again.

With six remaining points, I allocated three to agility and three to dexterity.

The idea is that if I can hit vital points, I don't need much strength to incapacitate the enemy. I want to be able to attack more accurately and quickly.

I could brute-force my way through with high physical stats, but considering the future, I don't think I can have too much agility.

It's fine against wolves of this speed, but what about lightning magic? Just the name suggests it's fast, right?

To compensate for my lack of magical defense, I need to boost my agility, which affects evasion.

More than that, I need to think about how to deal with magic, so I finished allocating my stats.

"You're safe, that's good."

"Yeah, well, it turned into experience points, so it's all good, I guess."

Those wolves. I feel like they're a good match for me.

Sure, they're pretty fast, but their defense is so weak. With my increased strength, I can incapacitate them with a single hit to a vital point.

"The comments on the stream are getting pretty lively, you know?"

"Oh, that's great."

"The reactions are generally positive, I think."

I don't remember doing anything particularly impressive, but if Rin says so, it must be true.

Since only the viewers and the streamer can see the comments, I can only think that.

"What do you want to do next?"

"Let's just keep hunting, I guess. I want to get to the grasslands before the second wave of players floods the city."

"Resource competition, right?"

"Exactly. If there are only 100 monsters and 10,000 people are after them, it turns into a competition, right?"

Think of it like a supermarket sale. It's easier to imagine.

Even in a vast field, there's a limit to the number of monsters that can appear.

By the way, the appearance of monsters is called a "pop," and their reappearance is called a "repop."

"As we go further, wolves will start to gather in packs. Normally, it would be dangerous, but from what I saw earlier, it seems more efficient."

"Yeah, I think I can handle up to about ten at a time."

"You're reliable. Let's go, then."

After discussing, we decided to push further into the southern plains.

By the way, I've been doing all the fighting, but I wonder how Rin fights.

I had a brief moment of curiosity, but if Rin, who is two weeks ahead, joins the fight, I won't have anything to do.

For now, I need to level up and catch up to Rin.

I tightened my resolve and focused on the task at hand.

---

I dodged the wolves that attacked from both sides with a backstep, then struck the back of the one that moved to the left with all my might.

Ignoring the one that was bent like a broken stick, I threw a rock at the right wolf.

The wolf, caught off guard by the unexpected projectile, flinched. I closed the distance and smashed its skull with my club.

"Huh?"

I was surprised that the wolf exploded with a single hit, but there was no time to dwell on it.

Another wolf leaped at me from behind, taking advantage of the momentary stiffness from using a skill, but I immediately swung my club backward with all my might.

Unfortunately, the club didn't hit directly, but it seemed to hit the wolf's arm, and I stomped on the fallen wolf to immobilize it before finishing it off.

Finally, I used the "Smash" skill to defeat the wolf whose spine I had broken earlier.

"Phew."

Modern games are amazing.

The monsters are built in detail, even internally.

So, if you attack the jaw, the brain shakes, and if you break the legs, they can't move.

They won't die as long as they have HP, but I bet if you use a sword, you can decapitate them for an instant critical hit.

Since the battle ended, I received experience points and a level-up notification.

This is my sixth level-up, so I'm now level 7.

I allocated my stats and checked my status again.

---

PN: Sukuna

Lv: 7

Race: Oni

Job: None

Money: 4880 Iris

Status

HP: 117

MP: 7

SP: 65

Strength: 27

Toughness: 20

Dexterity: 40

Agility: 33

Intelligence: 1

Magic Defense: 1

Luck: 22

Remaining SP: 0

Equipment

Weapon: Club

Head: None

Body: Linen Shirt

Arms: None

Legs: Linen Pants

Feet: Leather Boots

Skills

Blunt Weapon: Proficiency: 10

Throwing: Proficiency: 7

---

Dexterity has been growing nicely thanks to the consistent allocation of half the points from each level-up.

Compared to the beginning, I can say that my movements are much closer to what I intended.

Agility has also grown significantly thanks to the consistent allocation since level 3.

Strength is also decent. I don't feel the need to increase it in this area, where it's mostly wolves, so I can gradually work on it later.

I also feel like I've been quietly saving up some money.

The problem is the skill proficiency.

I have no idea what the limits are.

"How high can skill proficiency go?"

"The official announcement says it's generally 1000, but it varies depending on the skill. The real fun with the Blunt Weapon skill starts after it branches out, apparently."

"Branches out?"

"For example, skills like One-Handed Mace, Two-Handed Mace, and even something like Two-Handed Staff are branches of the Blunt Weapon skill. For swords, you have skills like Katana and Two-Handed Sword. The initial weapon skills you choose are powerful when mastered, but there's also the fun of branching out."

It seems the weapon types are quite detailed.

In some games, they might be grouped under Mace or Hammer.

By the way, a two-handed staff is probably a weapon used in a martial art called "staff technique."

It looks like a spear without a tip, and at a glance, it might just look like a stick.

Think of it as a non-extending nunchaku. You can't slash with it, but it excels in basic actions like striking, thrusting, sweeping, and deflecting.

In terms of raw power, a mace might be better, but a staff is superior in overall handling and length.

"I see. So, it's worth developing the Blunt Weapon skill, then?"

"To be honest, the Blunt Weapon skill is a bit special. Whether you have a mace or a club, you can use the arts... I mean, the skills you learn. However, the proficiency cap is only 500, and you can't learn high-damage arts like with other skills, so most people switch."

"Hmm... I guess sword users start with one-handed swords, so it makes sense."

Even though I found out that the Blunt Weapon skill is a bridging skill, it's not as if blunt weapons are underappreciated.

People who want to use two-handed swords also need to start with the One-Handed Sword skill.

In fact, the skills I've learned with the Blunt Weapon skill can be used with any blunt weapon, so it's not a waste to develop it.

Even if I need a special move against a strong enemy, simple techniques are often more convenient against weaker foes.

The "Smash" skill, which is just swinging the club with both hands, is incredibly useful.

"For example, the One-Handed Mace skill starts to unlock around level 30."

"Ah, so it's a numerical unlock."

"Sometimes there are special conditions, like with the Katana skill."

"That's pretty cool."

Katana. Can you do iaijutsu with it?

I imagine it would be exhilarating to slice through enemies, but I feel like I might break it if I mishandle it.

In that sense, blunt weapons are great. You just hit them with all your might.

"Blunt weapons are the simplest form of violence, after all."

"What are you saying all of a sudden..."

Rin looked at me like I was a dangerous person after hearing my unintentional comment.

After that, we pushed further into the plains, enjoyed a resource-filled wolf festival, and returned to the starting city.

I reached level 10, but apparently, the viewers of Rin's stream gave me the nickname "Bludgeoning Demon Girl."

M-maybe I should try to be a bit more graceful...