Climbing the Ranks - Chapter 13 preview (Patreon)

Eighteen days later and dozens of monsters ranging from a solo snake that had crawled into his tent and nearly eaten Arthur to a pack of tiny cat-like creatures who’d found him while he was gathering a group of mushrooms for his gathering quest near his new camp and Arthur was feeling better.

No signs of pursuit, leaving the cultivator to heal in peace – or as much as one did in the wilderness. Thankfully, the first level of the tower was set-up more as a training ground than a full tower level. More than Unlike other levels which were full battlefields, the first few levels of a beginner dungeon were a gradual introduction to the world of kill and be killed.

All of which meant that monsters, while persistent and common, were not endless. Unless Arthur was looking for them, he could only expect a couple of battles a day at most. Most of the monsters present acted like real animals – even if they were larger and more dangerous – which meant they would choose not to attack someone like Arthur if he left them alone.

All in all, it meant he could spend the time cultivating and reinforcing his own strength. It was what many cultivators would do, in the beginning; spending time in a Beginner Tower to maximise their strength

“But the Drain is the problem, isn’t it?” Arthur said, turning over a monster core in hand. “I can already feel it…”

Every day, on a constant basis, his energy fled from him. Used up, twisted and swallowed by his body, consumed just like food. Every time he increased in strength, increased his attributes, the drain would increase. Sooner or later, the drain level would outpace any potential gains from staying on a floor; such that you had to go up to make use of the denser energy.

Artificial limits, artificial boosts, artificial monsters.

“Might as well be in an episode of Westworld,” Arthur sighed. Still, he should not complain. After all, with a flicker of his hand, he eyed his own Status.

Cultivation Speed: 1

Energy Pool: 5/12

Refinement Speed: 0.01

Refined Energy: 1.03 (0)

Attributes and Traits

Mind:  3

Body: 3

Spirit: 3

Techniques

Focused Strike

Eighteen days to get a single point. Now, he did have another four cores with him, but each only gave a single point. Going higher in the Tower meant more powerful cores, which meant a larger amount of refined energy for the same amount of time.

For many who had friends and family outside, who could not afford to just sit on the lowest Level, it was better to climb faster, even if one lost out a little. Or work with teams – paying for cores that others gathered for you – so that you could journey upwards.

After all, “Can’t let the women or parents or kids wait…” Arthur muttered, remembering the faces of the hopeful, the grief-stricken, the loss in front of the tower. That was his advantage, the advantage of all those who were alone in this world or just desperate enough to walk away from a potential life outside for a few decades.

He could wait, build his strength. Take his time, because what did he have outside?

Nothing.

Shaking his head, Arthur focused on his point of refined energy. It was time, time to pour energy into an attribute and make himself stronger. Better. That was the entire point of refining the energy after all, taking the next step. The question was, where.

Mind was useful since it would make his ability to comprehend energy techniques, fighting styles, cultivation exercises and more better. On the other hand, he had none of those with him at the moment. The only other thing that increasing his Mind stat would be his ability to manipulate the energy within him – increasing the amount of energy when he refined

On the other hand, increasing Body would increase his base Energy Pool. That meant he could hold even more energy, useful for fights where he used his Focused Strike ability or, whatever next technique he learnt. It also meant he could build up more Energy within himself so that he would not need to take too long a break when he was refining energy. Of course, there were the physical benefits of increasing Body too – like being stronger, faster and more flexible than a normal human. Powerful cultivators could be six to seven times stronger than even peak humans.

And finally, Spirit – the speed he could draw energy within his body, refining it in his core or just dictated his ability to handle the various energy types. It was, perhaps, the least important attribute at this time since it only directly affected his cultivation speed right now; but in the future it was an attribute that dictated many important things like poison resistances or aura control.

Biting his lip, Arthur reviewed his options before he nodded to himself; understanding exactly what he needed to do.

Body it was, for now. Until he got to the breakpoint, he would dedicate points to it. Pushing the refined energy in his core, the coursing power that felt like live electricity and that could only be manipulated by spirit and mind together. He ran it through nerves, muscles and bones all through his body, flooding energy all into it and feeling it ripple through him, rebuilding him.

Pain, pushing through him, tearing him apart. He bit his lips, as he was remade. Thankfully, it was only a point of energy so the change, the pain, was not that significant. It hurt him, rebuilt him, and finally, finally; he was done.

Standing up, Arthur looked around, grinning a little. Time to test out his new body.