NOVEL WEB Chapter 20 — Time Wasted
Time Wasted
"Oh, you play Rising Essence?" Tongqiu asked while going back towards his room, it was already night and this was his first peaceful and joyful time in many, many years.
"Pfft, leave me your ID I'll add you when I have free time, you noob." Surprisingly, Natalia answered in a very challenging way as she went for the 'I'll carry you' card.
"Sure, sure. Tongqiu."
"Ah, what's with you and your names, need a hug?" Even though Natalia spoke and offered sincerely to him, Tongqiu couldn't help but roll his eyes towards a Natalia fond of treating him as her child. He still accepted her hug tho.
"Oh well, I'll see you later then, I may really not be able to meet you for some time." Tongqiu bid her farewell as he ended their hug and kissed her cheek.
"Um-hum. Take care, then." Seeing her gaze going low and turning downcast, Tongqiu kissed her in the same cheek again but this time he ended dragging her skin a little with his teeth.
"Mwah, and don't worry. Just wait for me, eh? Once I got things set up, how about living with me?" Feeling his teeth into her skin made her entire body tremble before adjusting, however, right after he offered her something impossible to refuse. There was not a single instant of hesitation as she looked at him with bright eyes and nodded contently. There wasn't a need to overthink. Nothing wrong with living with such caring lewd bastard. Of course, she also understood it wasn't a 'let's move to my place now' so it was all acceptable.
Afterwards, what came was a nightmare towards the gamer-crazy Tongqiu.
It was a long-term form of punishment from his 'perfect' mother. He would be done several exactly identical tests and check-ups without stop for more than half a month, as it extended to 22 days imprisonment instead of 2 weeks.
He almost went crazy. But strangely, after he had that really rare 'incident' he started to feel things in a different perspective. So he would only have to deal with the boredom and absurdity repetition.
He also had a few 'religions' to rely on. Namely Katia, Yunalesca, Tonkia, Ellie even Irllytia and Cindy. Though he wouldn't start 'going at it' since it was more than obvious he'd be watched at all hours, he could at least reminisce in their bodies and expressions. It was a kind of self-meditation itself.
Tongqiu could be seen, very slowly walking, and his destination what none other tat towards his home, his new home. A villa that belongs to him by right. As for his gauntlets, they were confiscated by the Crestfallen Industry once he was sent to the 'ordinary' hospital. And once he left the 'advanced' hospital, a large truck was waiting for him with the words "Crestfallen Industry" on it, so as he easily and ignorantly boarded it, the driver then gave him that same little box with those gauntlets inside, as if new.
Now, grown up Tongqiu was already a couple minutes before arriving at the entrance of his villa.
His mind, however, was in a cold headache. He had quite the women interested in him, and he in them. But he didn't want to forcibly be slow with them, nor to push them away, anything but that. He was trying to discern the best actions to take to accommodate them in his life and his in them, but it was difficult to think with science. So he rather decided to let it be by his and their feelings, as honest and sincere as possible.
Then, while resolving his mental fatigueness, he finally arrived before the entrance to his villa.
Though it was called a villa, it had around 10 times the size of one, including the buildings. though they were all connected. Indeed, this is a New Earth villa.
As he entered, there was an already well prepared easy-to-drive small car of 2 passages new to New Earth, it had 4 wheels capable of traversing any kind of land, in case one had to go through when is raining badly or there are some buildings on work.
After a little more than 5 minutes, he reached the main entrance from where all the luxurious lodging were accessible to.
As specially requested by him, under minimal possible services, as the less people in his territory the better he felt. Tongqiu took a deep breath as he turned off the switch in the middle of the main building.
Click!
A luxurious, extremely clean and better yet, completely empty of living beings immense hall was in full display before him.
'Sigh... okay, enough shit, time to game.'
As he went to look for the room with the biggest bed around, he quickly took out his gauntlets before putting the box away form the bed as he launched his body towards the bed while 'log in'.
The first thing he saw before opening his eyes was that of an empty room with an Irllytia cleaning the room very carefully. At that instant, noticing the materialized Tongqiu, Irllytia went wide-eyed for 2 seconds before she screamed in joy: "AH! You're back! Are you well, did you recuperate already?!"
A teary Irllytia was hugging his lower torso in endearment. Then a white light went out above his head as a Tonkia appeared next to him. She had her hands brought to her chest with her relieved expression while looking at him.
"Uhm, what happened? Oh, did the testing work? About the absence, I'm sorry. I-" As Tongqiu was going on about, somewhat erratically, he was suddenly cut off by the soft hand of Tonkia. Tonkia, who had a smile, a knowing smile as her eyes expressed a hidden meaning between them.
"Ah, I-I see. I'm glad then. I promise you, you two, I won't let it happen again. I'll start with strengthening my real body seriously to avoid it, for example, as well as for you- cough cough." Embarrassed, Tongqiu simply hugged both of them for a while as they kept on making small talk with simple questions as well as simple answers.
After a while, they finished their hugging as Tonkia started relating the happenings after he left. First of all, for about 15 days there was probably not any player in the main city. It wasn't until only about 10 to 12 days before the first month after 'Journeyers' arrived that players finally started showing up. Except, it was in small quantities, merely 100 or so new players arrived every day or so. After the first month that changed, the numbers went up crazily and the main city of Azure Dragon Sub-Division started to be filled with 'Journeyers'.
Through all that, once Tonkia woke up, she immediately tried entering the White Space, which she shockingly succeeded while scaring Irllytia in the process. She also found out that she could do so just as she could with Tongqiu in Main Kingdom.
It was at this point that Tongqiu thought to herself while looking at her in silence. In the end, he didn't say anything tho, as he kept on hearing them out.
She could enter 'training' mode all she wanted so she became stronger and stronger in his 40 day of absence. She was, however, deeply taken care of by Irllytia. She was very careful and dedicated, as she felt thankful and ever content with the two of them.
It seemed as if every single person, or even NPC had their own shit to fart about. Irllytia wasn't free of worries.
Tongqiu instantly felt that he had let Irllytia down, as well as just 'used' her. It obviously wasn't their intention in their first place, but they also didn't know Irllytia would be this attached. They both Tongqiu and Tonkia didn't see it as a bad thing, not at all, so even under Tonkia's rebuking gaze- Tongqiu stood up and took Irllytia into his arms as he consoled her: "Hm, Irllytia, what do you think of living with me, with us? I promise you there won't be any kind of mistreating and we'll also take care of you at all time, how about it?"
As her own body was slightly trembling, Irllytia responded with her muffled voice with her mouth in his chest: "Mn! I won't cause any trouble, and, and I'll behave. Thank you!"
'Okay, maybe I am too fickle, sigh.'
...
It's been some time since Tongqiu fell extremely ill. Players wouldn't stop playing just for him. The highest level was already possible to know which was exactly, as there were now boards of all types. Level leaderboard, Class leaderboard, Association leaderboard, Item leaderboard. It seemed as if he had taken a lapse through a distant future. He wasn't the very best at levelling with his LV15... which reminded him.
Character: Tongqiu
Race: Human — Innate Race Talents: Adaptability, Racial Reproductive Wonder, Warmonger — Race Ability: Union
Level: 15
Class: Evil Saint
Basic attributes: STR: 105, DEX: 105, LCK: 105, REC: 105, WIS: 105, INT: 105, DET: 105, Luck: 15, Charm: 15
Association: None, Money: 530, Fame: 32,495
HP: 3,300, MP: 4,000, Stamina: 4,100
Attack Power: 1,215, Magic Power: 1,845
Physical Defense: 380, Magical Defense: 380, HP Regeneration: 5
Hit Rate: 15%, Dodge Rate: 15%
Critical Hit Rate: 15%, Pierce Rate: 15%, Critical Hit Damage: 52%
Attack Speed: 115%, Movement Speed: 115%
Core Elemental Resistance: Fire: 0%, Water: 0%, Earth: 0%, Wind: 0%, Lightning: 0%
AP: 0, SP: 31,668
'Ever since I've been absent, a lot of time has passed, I wonder if my stats- for as much as I believe are higher compared to others are much better and refined with the unique AP selection or not.'
But there was no reason to bother about it, he at least had a couple Magical graded weapons, besides the 'essence' like bow and arrow from that day... that day, was truly magical. Tongqiu thought as he checked his current skills:
[Unparalleled Angle]: Skill: Passive, Trigger, MAX LV 20, LV: 8, SP needed for next LV: 384, cooldown: 0 seconds, cost: 10 mana and 20 stamina. Range: 0 meters. Usually, to start an attack one needs to accumulate force, raw strength. Use this skill in the opportune moment to change the direction and angle of attack of your melee weapon without losing any strength, and with accurate precision. Costs 10 mana and 20 stamina. Additional Effect: When activated Physical Damage7%.
[Tongqiu's Rain Showdown]: Type: AOE Active Skill, MAX LV: 20, LV: 4, SP needed for next LV:80 . Cooldown: 4 seconds, cost: 4 MP, 4 Stamina. Range: 0-24 meters. With Tongqiu's weapon or weapons in use, point with it towards the sky to activate this skill to create from the sky an AOE rain of attacks with the shape of the weapon or item in use (arrow, bolt, javelin) without stopping for 7 seconds. Creates around 10 of the weapon's shadows per second with damage equal to 150% of Tongqiu's Attack Power and Magic Power for each shadow.
[Combustion]: Type: Activate/Deactivate Skill, MAX LV: 10, LV: 1, SP needed for next LV: 100, cooldown: 0.5 seconds, cost: 100 MP and 100 Stamina. Once activated, all attacks (can explode at will) have an explosive effect to it from the user's essence type. It has an AOE of 3 meters melee, 11 meters ranged. This effect can be activated and deactivated in any moment and situation, and only attacking consumes MP and stamina. Damage dealt equals to 150% Magical Power as well as 150% Physical Power.
[Battle Frenzy]: Type: Passive Skill, MAX LV: 10, LV: 1, SP needed for next LV: 100, effect: every critical or pierce attack adds 1 stack while every critical and pierce attack adds 3 stacks; dodging an ability or attack adds 1 stack. Once in battle, the longer you keep on fighting and destroying your enemy, the more stacks you'll accumulate. Each 10 stacks grants the user physical and magical power+150. Cap of 100 stacks.
[Low-level Rising Essence!]: Type: Ultimate Skill, MAX LV: 3, LV: 0, SP needed for next LV: 100,000, cost: all your essence stored without affecting your stolen essence contributing towards your main stat. Use this skill to first create an impossible to dodge, block or negate burst of essence that dries completely the user's essence. Damage equal to that of 15,000% Physical and Magical Power. This is not even the complete version (LV0).
***
After a little while of Tongqiu losing himself in his own thoughts, he opened his skills as he upgraded them at the best of his capabilities.
[Unparalleled Angle]: Skill: Passive, Trigger, MAX LV 20, LV: 10, SP needed for next LV: 1,536, cooldown: 0 seconds, cost: 25 mana and 50 stamina. Usually, to start an attack one needs to accumulate force, raw strength. Use this skill in the opportune moment to change the direction and angle of attack of your melee weapon without losing any strength, and with accurate precision. Costs 10 mana and 20 stamina. Additional Effect: When activated Physical Damage+9%.
[Tongqiu's Rain Showdown]: Type: AOE Active Skill, MAX LV: 20, LV: 10, SP needed for next LV: 10,240. Cooldown: 8 seconds, cost: 10 MP, 10 Stamina. Range: 0-30 meters. With Tongqiu's weapon or weapons in use, point with it towards the sky to activate this skill to create from the sky an AOE rain of attacks with the shape of the weapon or item in use (arrow, bolt, javelin) without stopping for 15 seconds. Creates around 18 of the weapon's shadows per second with damage equal to 180% of Tongqiu's Attack Power and Magic Power for each shadow.
[Combustion]: Type: Activate/Deactivate Skill, MAX LV: 10, LV: 7, SP needed for next LV: 6,400, cooldown: 0.3 seconds, cost: 200 MP and 200 Stamina. Once activated, all attacks (can explode at will) have an explosive effect to it from the user's essence type. It has an AOE of 5 meters melee, 17 meters ranged. This effect can be activated and deactivated in any moment and situation, and only attacking consumes MP and stamina. Damage dealt equals to 220% Magical Power as well as 220% Physical Power.
[Battle Frenzy]: Type: Passive Skill, MAX LV: 10, LV: 8, SP needed for next LV: 12,800, effect: every critical or pierce attack adds 1 stack while every critical and pierce attack adds 3 stacks; dodging an ability or attack adds 1 stack. Once in battle, the longer you keep on fighting and destroying your enemy, the more stacks you'll accumulate. Each 10 stacks grants the user physical and magical power+230. Cap of 180 stacks.
[Low-level Rising Essence!]: Type: Ultimate Skill, MAX LV: 3, LV: 0, SP needed for next LV: 100,000, cost: all your essence stored without affecting your stolen essence contributing towards your main stat. Use this skill to first create an impossible to dodge, block or negate burst of essence that dries completely the user's essence. Damage equal to that of 15,000% Physical and Magical Power. This is not even the complete version (LV0).
Of course he would be able to upgrade that 'Ultimate Skill' but at least it allowed him to dream, no?
Tongqiu knew that once a skill reached MAX LV, once certain conditions were met, an evolution was possible. Which depended entirely of the skill and class synergy. A mage wouldn't be able to develop a charge like a melee combat class would, for example.
Since he was LV15, since he had a class whose grade and potential was unknown, then what the hell? Time to try it first!
***
Tongqiu headed towards the first hunting area closer to the main city, he didn't went on looking for a quest nor he hoped to find an unique and epic event on his way there, no. He only wanted to go and destroy as much as he could, as much as he wanted. Kill, farm, level up. He wanted to play, he wanted to live!
And that is how, a strangely dressed man without a complete set of clothes walked into the plains of the south of the Azure Dragon Sub-Division Main City. Which, unbeknownst to him, was the hardest from all 4 directional areas in the whole Azure Dragon Sub-Division, already abounding of countless LV26-28 mobs without any shyness coming from the system, there were really a little way too many mobs around.
At a certain location, south of the Azure Dragon Main City.
As the crude, soul stirring sound of a bow's string was heard, an immediate twang was heard as the string was left loose.
SHCK-BBPAM!
-920.
As Tongqiu used for the very first time his 'essential' bow and arrow, since they were nameless -for now-, his first hit with 'Combustion' active shocked him to the very core! Not because of his close to a thousand damage, but because it was to an enemy almost double his level!! Coupled with the fact that it was a completely ordinary attack and the physical and magical defense+300% for being higher than LV10 than Tongqiu, it was definitely shocking.
[Thorny Rose]: Type: Plant, Level: 28, HP: 12,000. Heavily aggressive mutated rose which gained strength by devouring from smaller animals to ferocious beasts or even low-level monsters.
A bow string being tensed was heard yet again, and not even 2 seconds after loosening it, there was yet another sound...
-916, -1010, -1,340, -1,015, -892, -1,001, -2,390, MISS, MISS, -1020, -931, -931.
It only took 14 normal hits, as well as consuming 2,800 MP and Stamina, leaving him with barely MP: [1,200/4,000] and Stamina: [1,300/4,100]. However, once he got rid of the Thorny Rose his two friendly weapon absorbed 10% of the enemy's bar HP as replenishment for Tongqiu's MP and Stamina, allowing to recuperate at MP: [2,400/4,000] and Stamina: [2,500/4,100]. Making the time needed to recuperate through battle much more perverted. And taking into consideration that ever since he got 'hold' of these two monster-like weapons, his mp regenerate at +2 per second being each of them +1, as well as any time he attacked with his gladius was a +3 mana. Even then, his resources weren't endless and Tongqiu decided to focus on his two 'special' sub-classes. Especially the Gardener one, if he could make elixirs that boost his MP and Stamina permanently, then he'll just abuse until he can no more.
The immense experience from almost double level than Tongqiu mobs was probably a luxury that no player could ever be able to indulge in, alone that is, for the current state of the game.
'Yup, this is definitely broken. No way other normal classes are this capable. Probably not even Legendary hidden classes, hmph.'
As Tongqiu was dumbly feeling good of himself, an elating notification appeared in front of him.
*PING*... 'Mommy Heals You' has asked if you would like to be friends. Would you like to accept?
Tongqiu: ( ⚆ _ ⚆ )
...
Author's Note: I didn't wanted to have an arc of real life now, so I pretty much shortened as I could. There was not much to do with Natalia, he and she simply just got to know each other. And well, there's chemistry, attraction so... the rest it's to let those two horny dogs slowly eat each other. There will be real life arcs, real arcs so much that you may even forget this is a more focused LitRPG novel. But for that, there's a lot of time. And a lot of soul searching from part of our still idiotic Yun Beishang. I hope you do understand my intentions.