Whilst I was sorely tempted to save the remaining Aspect Points in my possession, I knew that I feasibly couldn't.
Versatility was currently my biggest strength, and it would undoubtedly remain my biggest strength for some time to come. Fighting the Leshy had only proven that fact to me.
Between its smoke form, manipulation of wood, body transformation, and the boost it received whilst fighting within a forest, it was a pillar of strength that I was subconsciously beginning to try and imitate.
As such, the last of my Aspect Points was spent on a singular, but powerful Aspect.
[-][===][-]
|| [Aspect]: [Charge of Taurus] ||
|| [Level N/A]: [Progression: N/A] ||
|| [Omphalos Designation]: [Active] ||
|| [Description]: [Call upon the full might of the bull constellation to build your strength through the mystical energy of your soul] ||
|| [Buildup]: [STR x MP x Second] ||
|| [Cost]: [2]-[Aspect Points] ||
[-][===][-]
|| [Aspect Purchased!] ||
[-][===][-]
It was my first Active Aspect that didn't have an option to either level or gain experience for, and as such, it hinted at this ability already being at its maximum potential. Which, in hindsight, was a terrifying prospect.
Whilst my current strength wasn't much right now, in time—if everything went well for me—it would reach the hundred-point mark eventually, and then? Well, I'd be throwing punches that dealt a thousand points with the bare minimum.
Now, all I had to deal with were my Stat Points, and I'd be set to continue my journey. An hour had passed already, and with it I had regained enough Health and Energy Points to comfortably begin moving through the dirt path.
I had twenty-five points available for me to spend, and with all of my new Aspects, I knew where I wanted to spend them.
Eight of them went into my Strength stat, following that, seven more went into my Dexterity. I put four into my Wisdom stat, and two into my Intelligence, granting Wisdom an extra one for free. My Vitality got three Stat Points, and with the remaining one, I finally placed it into my Charisma.
In the end, my stats looked like this now.
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|| [Artorias Regulus] ||
|| [LVL]: [20]-[3500/10,000] ||
|| [HP]: [1365/2125] ||
|| [MP]: [2347/2550] ||
|| [EP]: [1679/5750] ||
[-][===][-]
|| [VIT]: [18] ||
|| [STR]: [20] ||
|| [DEX]: [20] ||
|| [INT]: [28] ||
|| [WIS]: [21] ||
|| [CHA]: [8] ||
|| [LUC]: [5] ||
[-][===][-]
Admittedly, I was far from being ready to leave. But I didn't have much choice in the matter. Whilst my battle against the Leshy may have spooked the creatures living in these woods and stopped them from trying to get involved.
It had been quiet for long enough that they would undoubtedly begin sniffing around. Though, the Leshy was made purely of wood, it was a corrupted being, and as my [Observe] skill had shown me, creatures who had fallen to corruption ate corruption.
So, inevitably something would come looking for sustenance to consume. Which in turn, would lead to another fight breaking out, and I really wasn't prepared for one as I currently was.
Standing up with a weary sigh, I did my best to ignore the pulse of pain that flowed through me at the action. I still had some ways to go before I was back to full health.
I contemplated summoning some fire to better be able to see, before deciding against it. Even with all of my new Aspects, my Mana was still too important to waste, and by now, my eyes had adjusted enough to be able to see through the dark.
Well, they had adjusted enough so I wouldn't trip and fall over any roots.
'Knowing me, I'll still find a way to do just that.'
[-][===][-]
|| [I await to see the spectacle excitedly] ||
[-][===][-]
'You're a comedian.' I thought, rolling my eyes at the translucent screen. I was tired, and when I became tired, I turned grouchy. Not my best character trait, but I was human, sue me.
My journey across the dirt path went smoothly, thought I was still on high alert. Even with the Leshy dead, it was still unnaturally quiet within the woods.
'Then again, the quest prompt had mentioned there being sixteen of them, though it never said anything about them being the strongest in the forest.'
Really, I just liked to spoil my own mood.
If it weren't for my own curiosity earlier, and me never exploring the Sequence of [Daybreak], I would have probably died a second time when fighting the Leshy. Really, it was pure luck that I had survived.
And that wasn't me being modest either. The Leshy could have killed me multiple times if it had used its limited intelligence on murdering me instead of mocking me.
Knowing my luck, not only would I encounter the sixteen other Leshy at one point or another, but I'd likely also come across the creature which kept these woods so quiet in the first place.
'Maybe next time I should look into levelling my Luck stat. Leaving it to remain at level five really only spells trouble for me.' I mused, climbing over a large, twisted root.
Sighing, I forcefully stopped any flames from seeping past my lips.
I had forgotten, in the chaos of the fight, that without [Daybreak] already modifying my body to better handle its Sequence, I would have likely passed out when I unlocked [Incendiary].
Another point to me only winning the fight through luck.
There was a reason, after all, why the Aspect required Energy Points, instead of Mana Points, and it was quite a simple one.
There was nothing magical about my ability to breathe fire, it was all biological.
My lungs produced a combination of hydrogen and methane, and when I wanted to breathe fire, I pulled the gasses out of my lungs and ignited them with a small spark that sat at the back of my throat.
It was ingenious of the System to make the Aspect work in such a way-
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|| [You're making me blush, user] ||
[-][===][-]
-But it also heavily impacted the control I had over the flames. Without [Pyrokinesis] the most I'd be able to accomplish with the Aspect was cones or streams of fire that ran wildly in every direction.
Of course, such an issue would probably lessen with every level I gained for it, and my own experience grew, but for now, it would be something I would have to be wary of using in crowded, or tight spaces.
I was immune to heat, and highly resistant to flames, but I still needed oxygen to breathe, after all.
The only reason I had been able to breathe fire for so long against the Leshy was mostly because of the adrenaline that had flown through me, and my own single minded will to survive.
Though, now with the reduced-
My eyes widened, and my body moved before I could even think.
[-][===][-]
|| [Omphalos Mind]-[Activated] ||
[-][===][-]
Any useless emotion, like panic and anxiety vanished from my mind, and I felt the unnatural calm flow through me. All of my cells screamed of danger, and I narrowly avoided a silver tipped arrow from piercing my right foot.
Fire exploded around my left arm, and I looked up. My eyes narrowed, as through the dark, I found a figure draped in shadows, sitting upon a thick tree branch a few feet away from me, with a bow in their hands.
"Identify yourself! Slayer of Leshen."