Chapter 29: Refinement II

  The team didn't push further toward the den after they killed the badger warrior. The possibility of running into more of the bear-sized rodent-tanks was too high for any of them to feel comfortable with. They decided to backtrack and clean up more of the smaller badgers until everyone on the team was ready to push for their first refinement.

  Alex also convinced everyone to wait to have the whole team do it together. He didn't want to deal with the foul-smelling black liquid multiple different times in one day. Further, he wasn't sure if the stench would attract the badgers or not. Once they started, then they could have a smelly beacon set-up telling every beast by the den exactly where they are.

  Thankfully, it didn’t take long to find more of the smaller badgers and earn enough experience for everyone. Alex stayed out of the fighting during this time so as not to gain some of the experience and slow things down even further.

  It was only an hour before everyone was ready for their first refinement. Alex looked at Eric, Devon, Henry, and Lance as they were all lined up in front of him. Allie and Holly were getting ready to go a little further into the forest by themselves. They were going to take turns for the process given Alex was pretty adamant about everyone taking off their clothes beforehand.

  Everyone's choice of stat was pretty standard. Henry was the only one going for vitality. He said that he wanted to be able to help Garret tank the badger warriors and figured vitality would be the number one stat for a tank build.

  Lance was going for strength like Garret did, leaving Devon and Eric both following Alex in an agility build, along with Holly. It was Allie's choice which was the odd one out.

  "I think going for a magic stat is the best choice for me," she said.

  "Agility will let you move in and out of danger to help anyone who is wounded," Alex said. "Maybe vitality even, since it'll will give you better durability. You sure you want to go intelligence?" Alex was still trying to persuade her out of this. He agreed that the magic stats were important, but as things stood now survivability in the short term would allow them the breathing room to go for the late-game character builds.

  "I'm sure," Allie shook her head and crossed her arm in front of her. "Figuring out magic as soon as possible will help all of us. Especially if I can get a hang of a healing spell. It's a risk, I get that. It's a risk I'm willing to take to help the team."

  Alex looked at her worriedly. He knew he wasn't going to change her mind, Allie was as stubborn as they come. Under her sarcasm and sass, Alex knew there was a determination in Allie that would crumble concrete walls by waiting them out. If she felt this would help the team, she was going to go for it. The risks be damned.

  The more he pushed against her, the further in she would dig her heels. Alex was pretty sure this is what happened when Allie told her parents she was going to join the military. They pushed, and she didn't bend.

  "Okay," he finally said. "It's up to you after all."

  "Glad you were able to see reason," she smiled and patted Alex on the cheeck before she turned away. Alex rolled his eyes but he reached out and grabbed her shoulder, making her look back.

  "Thanks," he said. "For doing this."

  "I don't know what you mean," She flicked her hair and walked off. Holly caught his eye, she nodded curtly and then quickly followed Allie.

  Alex only chuckled and turned to the guys. He could see they were all eager to get started. Alex sat down on the grass and pulled out a bandage from his backpack. He wrapped it around the lower half of his face making sure to cover his nose. He knew it wouldn't help, but it was the mental preparation that he was going for.

  "Alright then maggots," Garret called out. "Strip!"

  ***

  They created a putrid bog over the course of the next ten minutes. The smell was like a wet dog, wrapped in old socks, walking through a filled meatlocker that had sat unplugged for at least two weeks. Alex watched the whole process though. He wanted to see if there were any differences in the refinement based on the stat someone was increasing.

  From what he could tell, the refinement was the same either way. All of the men started off with leaking sludge from the nose, ears and mouth. Followed by a puking competition that Devon somehow managed to win. All while they suffered through wriggling muscles and writhing skin.

  It was as horrifying to watch as it was to smell. Alex didn't learn anything by seeing each of them go through the refinement. Maybe he needed some way to actually watch what was going inside their bodies. He didn't know.

  As everyone started cleaning up, Alex addressed his own status screen and began thinking of how he would be spending his own points. He didn't have enough experience points to get another stat to five, no matter which one he went for, so instead he thought about what was best for the upcoming fights.

  It's gotta be vitality. This damn arm is going to kill me if I can't get it to heal faster. Getting that stat higher will let me take more of a beating before I break in the future too. He thought it over quickly and came to a decision.

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  I'll have some remainder points that I can't spend if I go with this plan, but that's just how it is.

  He placed his points.

  He closed the screen just as Allie and Holly were making their way back. Alex could see Holly's steps were lighter, and more confident, just as he felt when he increased his own agility. He couldn't see any noticeable differences in Allie.

  "Everything go well?" Eric asked. The captain had just finished putting on the leather armor he had taken off for the refinement. Allie already had her armor equipped. It actually fit rather well on her once it was tied on. Alex half worried it would fit awkwardly since it wasn't made for a woman. He was very wrong. Damn video games and their lies.

  Holly had declined to wear one of the armor sets, saying she wanted full mobility.

  "Wonderful actually," Allie said with a bright smile.

  "Alright, let's talk strategy for taking out these warriors then," Eric waved everyone in. "So Alex's technique with eye socket is damn risky, but possibly our best bet. We should try to modify it though, to make sure we don't put anyone at more risk than needed. Henry and Garret, you'll be the tanks which leaves-

  "Actually," Allie interrupted. "I have something that might help here."

  "What do you mean?" Eric asked.

  "So, I actually was able to get two stats up to five just now," Allie said.

  Alex cocked his head at her like a dog. Everyone else showed various looks of shock. Garret gave a subdued clap of applause, which no one joined in on. Allie continued before anyone else could cut her off.

  "My intelligence was already pretty close to a four when we came here. I didn't say it when we talked about our stats because I was kinda embarrassed at possibly sounding like a show-off or whatever. So anyway, I got it and my wisdom up to five. The second refinement is just as shitty if anyone is wondering."

  "Well congrats girl," Devon was the first to find his words. He smiled at her and Allie only waved away the compliment.

  "That's not what's important," She said. "The system gave me a reward afterward. Something about walking the path of a mage and taking the first step. I don't know what it was blabbering about honestly, the thing seems to be very pompous and a bit full of itself.

  This surprised Alex further. He had gotten a few system messages now and while they did appear to have a personality to them, Alex wouldn't describe it as pompous. A dick, yes. A fucking asshole, on occasion, but not pompous. Is it different for each person? Alex filed away the thought on his every growing to-do list.

  "What was the reward?" Eric said.

  "It's a spell," Allie shrugged. "Not like an attack or anything, but it might be useful."

  Everyone erupted into questions.

  "Stop, stop" she had to almost shout to get everyone settled down. "The spell is called 'Flash'. The description says it will create a bright light in front of the eyes of my target. It doesn't hurt them or anything, but it sure as hell will distract them. I think we can use this to get a lethal blow on the badger warriors."

  "What's the range?" Eric looked hopeful as he spoke, but tried to hide it.

  "About five feet."

  "That's much too risky. I don't like it." The captain shook his head. "We'll stick to the first plan."

  "It's not too risky. Not anymore than taking a charge from the things like Garret and Henry are planning to do. I won't even have to get hit." Allie snapped back.

  "It's riskier because blinding it won’t stop it's charge, and it can still hit you. You won't have the physical stats to take the blow like they do. You're also our medic, we can't risk it." His voice held the tone of an order.

  "Too bad," Allie crossed her arms. "I'm going to do it anyway."

  "No, private, you won't," Eric said.

  "Alex, tell him," She looked to Alex now, her arms still crossed, her eyes like lasers.

  "I'm not the leader here okay," Alex raised his hands in surrender. They kept going to him, and Alex was worried everyone was beginning to think he was in charge or something. I'm not am I?

  "Captain, it's her call," Devon came to Allie's defense. He stepped up beside her across from the captain. Holly was already standing next to her and Lance stepped in beside them. It looked like there was going to be another brawl if things kept progressing like this.

  "Just accept it," Alex whispered close to Eric.

  He knew the guy was still trying to maintain some kind of sense of normalcy. A chain of command and all that. He was too blue-blooded for his own good, even back in their world. Here, it was just going to make things difficult.

  "I know you want to keep everyone safe. I do too. But look man," Alex raised his injured arm gingerly. "We are already taking hits, at least I am. Allie won't budge on this, and it's actually a good idea."

  Alex could see Eric's jaw clench and unclench as he seemingly tried to grind his teeth into stubs. Eventually, he sighed and dropped his eyes to the ground. "Fine. It's your call. But please, don't take any more risk than needed. Get its attention, do the spell and jump out, okay."

  "Deal."

  "Alright then, let's finish getting ready and start hunting these things down." Lance said.

  "Henry, think you can take as many hits as me with your new stats?" Garret wiggled his eyebrows at Henry as he said this. The way he moved them, they danced like fuzzy worms on his face.

  "Do your eyebrows allow you to cushion the blow?" Henry asked. His voice came out in his usual slow and deliberate tone, like he was asking a serious question.

  "Uh... no."

  "Then your face will fold upon itself like paper before I falter even a single step." Henry said. His face remained stoic looking down at Garret.

  "Damn dude, I didn't know you were so hardcore," Devon said. Garret nodded in agreement.

  Henry grinned.

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