Master Hu (as Kael mentally decided to call the monk, needing some designation) remained impassive on his meditation rock, offering no further instruction or encouragement. Kael was left facing the dilapidated woodshed and the daunting list of chores. Part of him bristled – he was Level 14, arguably one of the most statistically powerful individuals in Genesis, reduced to manual labor. Yet, the brief, humbling spar was fresh in his mind. Power without control was useless against true skill. If this was the price of learning, he'd pay it.
He first examined the woodshed. It was worse up close. Rotting planks, a roof patched with what looked like dried mud and hope, and a door barely hanging on its hinges. With no tools, repairs would be crude. He gathered sturdy fallen branches from the surrounding sparse vegetation. Lacking a saw, he used his immense Strength to snap them to roughly needed lengths. Finding flat stones, he used them as makeshift hammers to wedge the branches into place, reinforcing the weakest parts of the walls. It was clumsy work, leaving splinters in his virtual hands (a minor annoyance mitigated by his high VIT's passive regeneration), but slowly, the shed began to look marginally less decrepit.
Gathering firewood was simpler, though equally tool-less. He broke deadfall into manageable pieces with his bare hands, stacking it neatly near the monk's hut. The sheer physical force he possessed made the labor quick, but it felt profoundly mundane. As he worked, he checked his status, a reminder of the power currently being used to snap twigs.
Name: Kael Level: 14 (Displaying: 3) Class: Novice HP: 1180/1180 MP: 80/80 Title:
With the basic chores addressed for now, he turned his attention to the final, most challenging task: acquiring three unblemished sinews from the Ironhide Lynx of the northern cliffs. This felt more familiar – hunting.
He headed north from the monk's plateau, climbing higher onto Whisper Peak. The terrain became even more treacherous, sharp rocks and loose scree making footing difficult even with his stats. The wind howled, carrying icy flakes of snow. This region felt exceptionally hostile, likely populated by mobs Level 16 and above.
He soon spotted his quarry. Sleek, muscular cats larger than snow leopards, their fur possessing a distinct metallic sheen that seemed to ripple as they moved. Ironhide Lynx. They moved with terrifying speed and grace across the broken cliffs, blending into the grey rock. Kael approached cautiously, targeting a lone lynx sunning itself on a high ledge.
As he drew near, it sensed him. Its head snapped up, yellow eyes locking onto him with predatory intensity. With an explosive burst of speed, it launched itself down the rocks towards him. Kael stood his ground, bracing for impact. The lynx leaped, claws extended, aiming for his throat.
Kael met the charge head-on. He sidestepped the initial claws, his DEX allowing a narrow escape, and drove his fist into the lynx's flank. It felt like punching solid metal – the 'ironhide' name was apt. The lynx snarled, twisting in mid-air and raking its claws down Kael's arm. [-40 HP]. Sharp pain, but manageable thanks to his VIT.
The fight was a blur of dodging, blocking ( Kael used his forearms, relying on VIT to mitigate damage), and powerful, bone-jarring punches. The lynx was incredibly fast and its hide absorbed much of the impact, forcing Kael to land multiple direct hits to take it down. Finally, after a sustained, brutal exchange, he landed a solid blow to its head, stunning it long enough for a final, crushing punch to its spine.
[System]: Ironhide Lynx defeated! +600 EXP! [System]: Loot Drop: Ironhide Pelt x1 [System]: Ironhide Pelt detected. Transmuting via Absolute Assimilation... +150 EXP! [System]: Loot Drop: Lynx Claw x2 [System]: Lynx Claw detected. Transmuting via Absolute Assimilation... +100 EXP! (50 per claw) [System]: Total EXP Gain: 850 EXP. Applying 3x Multiplier... +2550 EXP!
Level 14: 10650 / 10500 EXP -> Level 15: 150 / 12500 EXP
[System]: Congratulations! You have reached Level 15! +15 Stat Points available. Health and Mana fully restored.
A level up! The timing couldn't be better, restoring the health he'd lost in the tough fight. He mentally allocated the points – 8 STR, 4 VIT, 3 DEX – further boosting his capabilities.
Now for the crucial part. As the lynx's body shimmered, beginning the usual despawn/dissolving process, a new prompt appeared briefly above it: [Gather Sinew]. This must be it! Not a 'loot' drop, but a 'gatherable' component from the corpse itself. Maybe his skill distinguished between items generated by a kill (loot) versus components inherent to the creature model?
He quickly activated the prompt. A short progress bar appeared, depicting careful work with bare hands.
[System]: Gathering Ironhide Sinew... Precision insufficient! Item Acquired: [Ironhide Sinew (Damaged)] x1.
He held the resulting item in his inventory. A tough, fibrous cord, but clearly frayed and nicked. Damaged. Not what the Master demanded. He frowned. It hadn't transmuted, confirming his theory about 'gathered' components potentially bypassing the skill under specific circumstances, but it was useless for the task. He needed to be more careful.
He hunted another lynx. This fight went slightly smoother with his Level 15 stats. As the creature fell, the [Gather Sinew] prompt appeared again. This time, Kael focused, imagining the delicate precision needed, trying to translate the abstract concept into the game's interaction system. He carefully guided the progress bar.
[System]: Gathering Ironhide Sinew... Success! Item Acquired: [Ironhide Sinew (Unblemished)] x1.
Yes! A perfect, gleaming white cord of sinew sat in his inventory slot, radiating toughness. It hadn't transmuted. One down, two to go.
He spent another hour stalking the high cliffs, engaging in two more brutal fights against the iron-hided predators. With practice, he managed to gather the remaining two unblemished sinews, his EXP bar creeping steadily upwards towards Level 16.
Level 15: 6850 / 12500 EXP (After 2 more Lynx kills + gathering attempts)
With the three precious sinews secured, Kael looked back down the treacherous slope towards the monk's distant hut. The wind bit at his exposed skin, but he felt a sense of accomplishment that went beyond just gaining levels. He had faced a challenge that required more than just punching power; it required patience and precision. He started the long climb back down, wondering if this offering would finally satisfy the eccentric master.