The Stubborn Skill-Grinder In A Time Loop

Orodan wouldnt be caught unaware this time. Yes, he was up against an archer a whole tier above him, but he wasnt the type to care one bit about that.

He exited the Temple with his sword and shield drawn and just barely saw the great arrow coming in time to put his shield in the way and brace for impact with all the strength he had.

The difference between Apprentice and Adept was not only a numerical one, but a qualitative one as well. As one progressed further along the road of mastery each skill level at higher levels became dramatically more impactful.

The difference between Sword Mastery 9 and 10 for example wasnt anywhere near the difference between Sword Mastery 35 and 36. Each level of the skill was qualitatively more powerful as the numbers got higher. To that end, the payout in raising a group of a hundred conscripts to level 10 Spear Mastery was considered pathetic versus raising a talented warrior from level 35 to level 36 of Spear Mastery.

And the qualitative difference between Orodans 24 Shield Mastery and his assassins 50 Archery Mastery made itself known painfully as the great arrow pierced right through his shield and it was only a last minute angling to the side that allowed him to merely lose the use of his left arm as the great arrow cleanly dismembered it.

[Shield Mastery 24 Shield Mastery 25]<

/strong>

Gains could be made even in failure.

Orodans new Pain Resistance skill was paying off, as even level 1 of it allowed him to mostly take the edge off a frankly debilitating amount of pain. He cursed and dashed into the same alleyway in-between two houses and had his sword at the ready in his right hand.

As expected, the assassin dropped down into the alleyway from above and this time drew double daggers which they were dual wielding.

He could maybe deliver and react to four, maybe five or six blows blows a second if he truly tried. A dozen a second was almost double his speed and he stood no chance in a trade of blows, yet.

As he fell to a knee while holding his throat and gurgling on his own blood from the stab wound in his throat, Orodan once again mustered as much rage and bitter, spiteful willpower as he could and attempted to lash out and fight as hard as he could.

[Sword Mastery 35 Sword Mastery 36]<

/strong>

[Dying Struggle 1 Dying Struggle 2]<

/strong>

[Bleeding Control 1 Bleeding Control 2]<

/strong>

[Pain Resistance 1 Pain Resistance 2]<

/strong>

Two dozen more stab wounds later as he was about to have his vision darken and the loop reset he got an interesting message.

[New Skill (Rare) Unyielding Vitality 1]<

/strong>

With the acquisition of the skill he felt as though whatever vitality his body held, whatever blood flowed through his veins, he felt as though it extended further. He could now push his existing vitality further based purely off of what he had.

The coup de grace stab to his head sent him to the darkness where he saw the Quest failure message.

A keening wail ringing in the night sky awoke him and Orodan clenched his fist and decided he would die as many times as necessary in order to defeat this opponent.

That damned archer would be the whetstone that Orodan would sharpen himself against.

For the sake of saving time and getting to the fight as soon as possible, Orodans loops now consisted of blitzing through his routine as quickly as possible, Sprinting to the Temple and proclaiming loudly that he was a prophet who had a vision of the battle of Ogdenborough and promptly leaving.