(Dylan POV)
Dylan: "There is something different about the system."
Ethan: "What do you mean?"
Dylan: "I seem to have... a new, Stat?"
Ethan: "Wut??? Please elaborate."
Dylan turned towards the screen.
[ Name: Dylan (T#€ ***@#%i¥0r O$ #*§∆)
Class: Warrior
Race: Human
Level: 10
Exp: 801/900
Hp : 90/100
Strength : 13
Defence : 13
Intelligence : 7
Mana : 6/6
Speed : 20
Bonus points: 1
Skill points: 1
Skills: Strike
Race Skills: Stat distribution ]
He pointed at the unfamiliar line, his finger hovering just shy of the translucent text.
Dylan: "The new stat is called 'Skill points'. It's right under the bonus points."
Ethan: "Pff– Skill point."
Ethan: (Couldn't the creator come up with a better name.)
Ethan: "Jeezzz, I wonder what that does."
Ethan: (This must be how we unlock more skills.)
Elin: "The skill point could also affect Dylan negatively"
Ethan: "What? I seriously doubt that. When we first unlocked our skills nothing really changed. Despite Dylan becoming practically a superhuman."
Dylan: "Elin's words hold some weight to it."
Ethan: "Huh, they do?"
Dylan: "When we unlocked our stats nothing felt different, but when we increased them, their effect could be felt almost immediately. Especially the first time."
Ethan: "Still..."
He eyed Elin, a flicker of doubt crossing his face
Ethan: "The system has been helping us all this time. I seriously doubt it's suddenly trying to murder us all of a sudden."
Dylan: "I am not saying its evil, but some of its features do have unintended consequences."
The words reminded him of the previous system mishap.
Ethan: "I guess..."
Dylan: "Doesn't hurt to be careful. Just be ready if things go south."
Ethan: "Don't jinx it!"
Dylan: "...."
Ethan: "What?"
Dylan: "What do I do with the skill point, exactly?"
Ethan: "It is technically a 'stat' so my best guess is to use stat distribution."
Dylan: "Ok. Stat distribution."
Without wasting a second, Dylan activated the skill expanding the familiar menu before him.
[ Name: Dylan
Class: Warrior
Race: Human
Level: 10
Exp: 801/900
Hp : 90/100
Strength : 13 [ + ]
Defence : 13 [ + ]
Intelligence : 7 [ + ]
Mana : 6/6 [ + ]
Speed : 20 [ + ]
Bonus points : 1
Skill points: 1
Skills: Strike [ + ] [ + ]
Race Skills: Stat distribution ]
Dylan analysed the screen from top to bottom, carefully.
Ethan: "Weellll?"
Dylan: "There are two plus signs beside strike."
Ethan: "Two?"
Ethan: (Are there two options?)
Dylan: "What should I do?"
Ethan: "Just click the plus icon."
Dylan: "Ya, but which one?"
Ethan shrugged.
Ethan: "Either is fine. We don't know what they do in the first place."
Elin: "Maybe the skill point upgrades the skill rather than giving new skills."
Ethan: "Maybe?"
He pointed at Dylan.
Ethan: "That's what he's here to figure out."
Dylan's gaze slowly met his.
Dylan: "So, I am suddenly a test subject now?"
Ethan: "Always have been."
Not even the slightest bit of hesitation radiated from him.
Dylan rolled his eyes, ignoring Ethan's smug grin and clicked the second plus icon.
[ Name: Dylan
Class: Warrior
Race: Human
Level: 10
Exp: 801/900
Hp : 90/100
Strength : 13 [ + ]
Defence : 13 [ + ]
Intelligence : 7 [ + ]
Mana : 6/6 [ + ]
Speed : 20 [ + ]
Bonus points : 1
Skill points: 0
Skills: Strike, Parry
Race Skills: Stat distribution ]
The plus icon vanished instantly.
New text materialized in its place.
Dylan: "I got... a new skill."
Ethan: "How're you feeling?"
Dylan: "..."
Dylan stared at his hand for a few seconds.
He rolled his shoulders. Stretched his arms. Bent his knees. Jumped twice. Each motion executed with almost mechanical precision.
Dylan: "I feel, normal."
Ethan: "Noice."
He raised a small thumbs up.
Amidst the testing, a query surfaced in Elin's head.
Elin: "Wait how did you get this 'Skill point' anyways?"
It was probably the most obvious question, and somehow none of them addressed it until now, especially Ethan. More skill points means more options for whatever they faced next.
Ethan fell silent, pondering for a few moments.
Ethan: "What's your level?"
Dylan: "Ten. Why?"
Ethan: (Figured.)
Ethan: "My guess is that we get a skill point every ten levels."
Elin: "You're pretty confident. Are you sure there isn't any other reason?"
Ethan: "I am ninety percent sure it's level. I have played enough video games to realise there is always something major every fifth or tenth level. You know, milestone rewards."
Elin still had doubts about Ethan's logic, after all this wasn't exactly a game.
Elin: "I guess... What's the other ten percent?"
Ethan: "Kill count, maybe? Dylan killed five goblins, meanwhile I killed four."
Elin: "Isn't that exactly what exp is for?"
Ethan: "I don't know, I was just making stuff up. The other ten percent is the million other bullshit I didn't account."
Ethan sighed.
Ethan: "Like, maybe there is a small chance of getting a skill point every level up or you need to impress some God for skill points."
Elin: "Or maybe there is a hidden quest that gives skill points."
Ethan chuckled.
Ethan: "Ya, maybe. I wouldn't be surprised if there was."
Dylan: (They are really getting along.)
Ethan: "Well I am level nine. After another fight we will have confirmation for my theory. For now–"
He turned towards Dylan.
Ethan: "What does your skill do, anyways?"
Dylan: "Oh, ugh.. it's called Parry and–"
Ethan: (Sounds like a defensive skill.)
Dylan hastily clicked the 'Parry' skill.
A pop up window unfolded before him.
[ Parry:
The user is shown a cue for an incoming attack. ]
Dylan read it thrice, confirming its description.
Dylan: "It says I will be shown a cue? For an incoming attack."
Ethan: "A Queue??"
Dylan: "No, c u e."
Ethan scratched his head with second-hand embarrassment.
Ethan: "Oh..."
Ethan: (Is this a downgraded version of clairvoyance or is it more like a spidey sense. Either way it sounds good for our current strategy.)
Ethan: "Let's just try it out. Hopefully it's not like offering."