“After a moment of deliberation, our hero looks down to the large head of the slain beast.”

“It’s dematerializing? Took a bit longer than before, right?”

Your level has increased to two-hundred-forty-seven!

You have met the experience cap. You gain no further experience for this enemy.

You have started a hidden mission: Skin three Reedraebs.

You can distribute ninety attribute points as you like.

*

|Ji Aleksy. Elementalist. Mana fiend: Level Two-hundred-forty-seven|

“Nine levels for one of these. And I got one of these kill quests. There is even an item.”

Reclusive Reedraeb teeth.

Used in various crafting professions.

“The teeth could be crafted into arrowheads, daggers or miscellaneous jewelry.

It could be embedded into forged artifacts or altered by alchemy. The possibilities are often limited only by the crafter.”

“It is useful for all the professions? What about formations? Ah. I guess you could?

Never mind, let’s continue. I got to find a decent place to set up a camp before I go hunting.

Any place is probably fine, but having something naturally defensive would be nice.”

“After the previous battle, most creatures have taken to cautiously hide themselves. Yet none flee, protective of their territory.”

“Noted. I’ll stay on guard. Should I head further into the field or walk around the forest region?

I’m going to travel alongside the forest’s outskirts, I feel it may be dangerous to travel further out.”

“The thing about our hero’s use of mana. Although he leaves one wanting, on average he might be considered, just okay.

The problem lies in his age and level. His current destructive potential is too low.”

“I feel it is just fine. What?”

“Even with his somewhat useful spell, he falls short. Bolstering the kinetic force of the spell, using it more like a physical weapon than tyrannical power.

Clever tricks are just that, tricks. What our hero did was not efficiently make use of what power he had but to alter it.”

“I’m not following. How was it not efficient? I used centrifugal force to make it spin and continue spinning.

Didn’t that increase the power? Felt powerful.”

“A venerable sage, a person well versed in mana and all its intricacies could unleash the true potential of a spell. No matter how simple it was.

A simple concentrated ball of mana could be devastating. But in the hands of a novice, it is but a child’s trickery.”

“I killed that monstrous beast with your so-called trickery. That should be pretty good already, no?”

“While the constructs of spells can become impossibly complex, not all are for the better of the spell.

Many a soul has torn itself a sunder, contemplating complex spell structures. Only to find them wanting. Unable to wield a mountain, while the stone strikes you down.”

“Unable to wield a mountain. Hmm. The stone strikes you down?

I’m not a philosophizer but I’m certain there is a deeper meaning to your words.

Hmm. Or what? I´m getting pretty strong, how heavy are mountains?”

“The lower plan Erudth breeds only vapid minds.”

“Can you imagine though? How would I even grab a mountain? It makes no sense.

Haha. I can see it now, just grabbing the ground and trying to lift the planet. I don’t think so friend.

Maybe a large-ish rock? We could name it mountain. Hoh! Did I solve the riddle? We just name something mountain and use it as a weapon. Easy! Give me another one!”

“…”

“No? nothing? No need to feel bitter just because I solved your little quiz.

Did it get brighter? The air feels fresher. Good day for an exploration!

Hard to tell, but is this forest just a giant circle? Oh wow. I’m so stupid, I can just check the map.

Can’t see if it’s a complete circle but currently I can see a slight curve. Only about one hundredth something of the area discovered so far.”

“Almost as if by design. From a bird’s eye view one can see indents and a slight change in the terrain.

And once one crosses one of these indents, the levels of creatures gradually increase. Not only do their levels increase, their instincts and strength quickly follow.”

“The forest I traveled through is considered the same difficulty then? If I squint, I can see fine lines on the map. How to do I describe this? Curved lines but not perfectly spherical.

I’ll have to explore the entire circle to confirm that though. Forget it.

Better get higher, see if I can spot something interesting. The trees out in the field are a different species, almost like umbrellas.

Doesn’t feel windy but the tall grass looks like a moving river. Almost off putting.

I could go climb one of the trees in the forest. But this seems high enough.”

“The mindless and often questionable actions of our hero have stopped being surprising and have become expected.

Perhaps instead of watching him wander around these dangerous areas with no aim, we shall indulge ourselves. What do you say?”

“No! Pay attention, what if something ambushes me!”

“The laws, the nature of mana. Now this may seem shallow to many of you but due to the delicate situation I am in. Well, I'm sure you all understand.

As I was saying, laws.

Most laws are but the branches of the tree we call the universe. Some branches are thicker and longer. But in the end, all are not essential to our existence. I’m sure you can all agree.”

“I’m not sure if I can agree.”

“To put this into perspective, laws are like technological advances. Although useful, they are not needed even if life changing.

And like any technology, there are those who understand how they work, but most merely interact or use them.

Take our hero for example.

He gleaned into some truth to certain laws, enabling him some use of them. This is a person learning the controls of some new foreign device.”

“Controls, hmm.”

“Let’s say he starts to go further down this path. Let’s say he learns the ins and out as they say.

Then he may have the chance of bending the laws. But like any device, there are limits of what you can make them do. You might be able to enhance a feature or diminish one.”

“I feel I should be writing this down. Should I?”

“Sitting on a branch of this gorgeous Umbellar tree, our hero begins jotting down notes. Occasionally stopping, mindlessly staring at the paper in his hand.”

“It almost makes sense. But I think it could use some polishing.”

“Mumbling to himself, Ji continues to write with a surprisingly steady hand. Going so far as to draw small images.

Before we dwell on the delicate psyche of our hero, let’s regain our thoughts. Given our status, it is easy to see the manifestation of laws entwining all around us.

And even some of us may be able to completely unbind them. Some of you may have done so. Who knows what rule you broke to land yourself here with me.”

“There are rules?”

“Learning the controls, so to speak is merely the beginning. Later on, one may able to fully utilize one’s options. To further increase one’s mastery of a specific law.

Many laws work in a familiar fashion. These laws are often called symbiotic laws and to master one, makes related laws infinitely easier to manipulate.”

“You can keep going but I need to rest for a bit. I’m not sure when but my vision turned a bit foggy and my eyes feel a bit strained.

I’m planning on going that way. Looks like a large rock formation and a river nearby. Should be a decent place to create a base.”

“Finally closing his eyes, his back against the bark of the Umbellar tree.

Once he finds a place to construct his campsite, he will find that he has once again forgotten that the world will provide him with a safe haven.”

“Finally resting. The glimmering flora ensures that night hampers only the near-sighted. The young master’s actions verge on recklessness and bravery.

Even the most scheming of humans cannot possibly keep up such an act. Or so we have to assume.

You all, my most venerable and esteemed friends. You all have spoken your truth and held back none. This is appreciated.

But remember this; Freedom is taken, not given. You whisper your predictions and wager amongst yourselves, while I toil here. Remember the rules my brothers in misery.”

“Mraa.”

“With a lazy yawn and teary eyes our hero lifts his weary head.”

“What an incredible resting place. Never slept better.”

“The umbellar tree known by all beasts as the tree of death. Yet our hero choses this as his place of rest.”

“Ye, good tree.”

“In a daze our hero squints his eyes and proceeds to press his hands against his face gently.”

“I´m not sure what is up with that sleep. But wow, I feel incredible. I wouldn’t mind staying here a bit longer.”

“Even after being lulled into a false sense of security by the Umbellar tree’s spell, our hero has shaken the effects.

As if my fate, our hero has a strong defensive mechanism within his body. A mechanism in constant war.

This has allowed our hero to persevere through a treatment that would fell ten men of similar stature.”

“Hm? What? Its wayyy- too early for you going full narration mode. I´m going to head towards that rock formation, maybe get something eat.

I really want a base of operations. According to the quest items, I should be able to create an active portal back and forth.”

“Moving at a leisurely pace, the young adventurer, Ji Aleksy has begun his trek towards what is a place of unprecedented danger.”

“Sorry, what?”

“Without precaution and a will to challenge the world, our hero will surely fall.”

“What’s over there? More of those weird fur-scaley reabreeds?

Or what? Something new? If it’s a swarm of things you have to tell now. You know I can’t deal with swarm of things.

Is it golems? Stone creatures? Wait don´t tell me. A mountain? Is this why you were talking about mountains earlier?

No, no-way. How would mountains even move? Don’t be stupid, Ji. You’re better than this.”

“With an expression that would shame even the most deluded of minds, our hero ponders the infinite possibilities he may encounter.

Stopping only occasionally to make sure nothing is praying on him.”

“Alright! I give up, what’s over there? On the scale of zombie to uncle Oh. Actually, Tio is scarier. No wait, her mom is way up there.

No, nevermind that. There is no-way something the level of Tio-oh’s mom would appear out here.

Right?”

“Harmless insects flutter about, in the distance we can hear the sound of critters crying out to their kin.

The more adept will be able to hear the beasts challenge their neighbor. Far in the sky one can see the shapes of flying creatures in search of their prey.”

“I can’t see anything. Where are flying creatures? Sometimes I wonder if you are making all this stuff up.

Oh, over there? Wow, pretty far away. Tiny dots. You can see that far? Pretty impressive.”

“Only a few minutes until little Ji reaches his destination. The rocks shoot up from the ground like blades, the foolish might even consider these a mountain.”

“This place looks a lot less hospitable this close. Not evil, but. Intimidating? Ye like its telling me to go away.”

“Scurrying around the perimeter of the valley of Razorstone, our hero tries to survey the area.”

“It has a name? Since when? Hey! Are you naming things? I discovered this place, it’s up to me to name it!

Unbelievable. The nerve of some people.

I can’t really see anything living from here. Got to get closer.”

“As our hero slowly makes his way into the valley, the towering stones give of an aura of power. We, the more adept can of course see the laws in place.

Their will almost sentient, given a few centuries and creatures of average intelligence may spawn here.”

“Really? Cool.”

“Every step our hero takes is taken with great caution. His stance indicates he is ready to retreat at a moment’s notice.”

“What is that? You see something move? Felt like I saw something move in my peripheral vision.”

“The sound of scraping rock can be heard briefly and our hero snaps his eyes towards the innocent razor stones.

With a curious gaze, he squints his eyes. In his hands a small stone starts taking form.”

“I swear I saw something move. Maybe it’s shy, going to try and lure it out.”

“With all the grace of a three legged beast, our hero nimbly throws a finger sized stone in the direction of a unsuspecting razor stone.

The stone reaches its destination, a dull thud can be heard, almost like a rock hitting soft grass.

“That’s weird.”

“Our hero stares at the location he just threw his small rock.”

“Is it moving? It looks like its moving.”

“The inconspicuous rock starts to shake lightly. The movement gives away the shape of a rather round stone, blending into the background.

A moment passes before we hear the sound of stone breaking. A hand reaches out and delicately scratches the area that had been previously hit.”

“Did I make it itch?”

‘Garehh.´

“In a very lazy manner, the creature calls out. Even if this primitive sound is used as a form of communication, it is mostly likely just instinctive response to an attack.”

“Garh? Garhhhh.”

‘Garehhhh!’

“The creature bellows out again, the sound to echo back and forth into the depths of Razorstone valley.”

“The hell is going on. Should I attack it?”

“The creature is most certainly a type of passive beast. Often used to mine or for their incredible strength. Sadly, they pose no threat to our hero.”

“What’s sad about that? That’s good, right? Their like cattle.”

“Like a jovial teenager our hero begins his preparation. From the void of his inventory, pieces of building materials appear. Quickly the base of a rather large building takes form.”

“Feels good. Something satisfying about building. Still have to make a decent wall. Then I should be able to claim this area as base.

I hope. It did say something about not being close to any hostile creatures.

Hope the stone guys aren’t considered hostile.”

“After being filled with knowledge about building houses and basic defenses, our hero has quickly and without rest, built a small encampment.

Even if the materials seem lackluster, they are specialized to keep curious creatures at bay.”

“Pretty cool. Let’s see.”

|Deowood|

The Deowood contains certain elements that give creatures that act on instinct a sense of danger. This is a residual effect of the natural illusion the tree creates.

Use: Materials in various crafting professions.

Restricted to building a safe-zone in the Mer-erk mer-erk wildlands.

“Deowood, Umbellar wood. In the end most trees rely on influencing the senses to survive.

This is also why the most illustrious mesmerizers and illusionists are descendants of the bark.

Even some of the most successful alchemists are believed to be sentient tree beings.”

“That feels like cheating. What do you humans have? Do humans excel at anything?”

“It is said that the first sentient race of trees lived in their own separate fantasy that their treearch created. They live there in their prison of wonder, unable to break the illusion.”

“Eh?”

“Living in a true utopia. With their affinity for illusions they adept must know they are trapped.

Their prison is also their protection. Few could be considered stable enough to enter the Treediom and return.”

“What is going on? Why are you talking about a tree kingdom?

What the hell is going on?

Okay. I’m going to try and set up the camp”

Are you sure you want to use |Ankerstone|?

“Yes!”

Analyzing area.

Area clear.

Creating portal formation.

Creating portal shield.

Enhancing safe zone perimeter.

Rebuilding perimeter.

Creating source of water.

Creating buildings.

Safe-zone complete

Would you like to name the safe-zone?

“Yes!”

Ready to receive input.

“Sharpstone camp!”

Safe-zone Sharpstone camp added to the portal compendium.

“Awesome!”

“Sharpstone…”

“What?!

Pft. Razorstone. Wasn’t about let that slide.”

“After the system took over, enormous changes can be seen. Multiple buildings have risen. A small creak and numerous wells have sprouted from the ground.

Massive caves have formed to expand the living area.”

“You see the walls? It even moved the walls.”

“Majestic fields have been encircled by the practical Deowood, ensuring this safe-zone to be completely self-sustaining.

It has been far too long since I last saw the world use its power in such a grandiose way.”

“It’s looking really good. The portal is even active. Should we try it? Maybe Tio isn't as busy anymore.

I also want a create a party. There are bound to be people around my level wanting to level up in here.”