Five days after the Elliot incident.
It was now the 30.1.313 (CR).
Osric finally woke up with his wounds being healed.
They left scars, but he didn't mind. Those weren't his first ones.
He stood up to test the pressure on his leg.
The wooden floor creaked.
'Not bad.'
'My wounds seem to heal faster than before.'
As if to confirm his thoughts, a system notice appeared.
"Ding!"
+1 Vitality
There was no explanation, which was typical at this point.
Osric could guess the reason.
'Nice. My body seems to be adapting to the increasing dangers I am facing.'
Something unexpected happened now.
"Ding!"
{ New Achievement Accomplished }
Host's Physical Stats have all reached 12.
Potential has reached D-Rank.
Reward for Potential Upgrade:
+3 Free Stat Points.
'What the fuck?'
Osric was surprised and confused.
Then he smiled.
'Finally my potential increased.'
'And not only did I get a reward, but to think it would be three stat points.'
Osric sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at the faint blue window hovering in front of him.
Three free stat points.
For a moment he simply studied the numbers.
Strength: 12
Agility: 13
Stamina: 13
Endurance: 12
Vitality: 12
His eyes moved slowly across the list.
Agility was already high enough. Vitality had just increased. Those weren't priorities right now.
What mattered most in a real fight was simple.
Power.
Staying power.
And the ability to keep going when the other man couldn't.
Strength.
Stamina.
Endurance.
Osric nodded to himself.
'That's obvious.'
He focused on the first stat.
'Strength.'
"Put one point into strength."
The system responded instantly.
Strength: 13
A warm pressure spread through his arms and shoulders. It wasn't painful, but it was unmistakable. His muscles tightened slightly beneath his skin, as if they had just finished a long and exhausting workout and were now settling into something stronger.
Osric clenched his fist.
The motion felt… firmer.
He could feel the difference in the tension of his forearm muscles.
'Good.'
He moved on.
'One into stamina.'
Stamina: 14
He realized that he didn't need to say it out loud for the system to act.
This time the sensation spread through his chest and lungs.
His breathing deepened for a moment as if his body instinctively drew in a fuller breath. The feeling passed quickly, but it left behind a strange lightness in his body.
Osric inhaled again.
His chest expanded smoothly.
'That'll help.'
Finally, the last point.
'Endurance.'
Endurance: 13
The sensation this time was deeper.
His bones and joints felt heavier for a moment before settling into something steadier. The dull ache that had lingered from his healing wounds seemed to dull even further, as if his body had grown slightly better at bearing strain.
Osric rolled his shoulders and stood up.
The changes were subtle.
Nothing dramatic.
But they were definitely there.
His movements felt just a little more controlled. His breathing steadier. His limbs slightly more responsive.
He stretched his arms once and flexed his fingers.
'Not bad.'
Osric glanced back at the status window.
Strength: 13
Agility: 13
Stamina: 14
Endurance: 13
Vitality: 12
The numbers looked better now.
More balanced.
He dismissed the window with a thought.
The real difference wouldn't show itself here in his room.
It would appear later.
In training.
In battle.
And when the next fight came.
Osric looked toward the sword leaning against the chair.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
'Good timing.'
—
A few hours later.
Osric met William at the guild's training grounds.
"Are your wounds already healed?" William asked.
"Yeah."
"That's amazing. Are you sure you can train already though?"
"Stop talking and come at me."
William chuckled and started moving.
It only took a couple exchanges to feel it.
"What the hell?"
"How are you stronger than before?"
Osric smiled.
He could also feel the difference.
His movements felt more natural and controlled.
The more they exchanged strikes, the more free Osric felt.
'What is this?'
'This is more than just my stats improving.'
'I feel like I am improving while fighting.'
Meanwhile, Franklin had walked out of the building and onto the training grounds.
He decided to just observe their spar.
'Wasn't Osric seriously injured until recently?'
'It's not just that he has healed—
But is he stronger than before?'
Franklin was a 2-Star knight.
He could easily tell someone's general potential and physical abilities.
'This isn't natural.'
'It's like his talent just increased out of nowhere?'
He found it weird, but he couldn't sense mana or anything strange from Osric.
'This guy keeps surprising me.'
Franklin decided to test it out more closely.
He stepped forward and interrupted their spar.
"William, step aside."