Chapter 29 - System: Upgrade!

(The Heart Palace, During Ben's meeting with Arthur)

Lucas was back at the palace, soaking in a tub filled with water. "This smell, I hope it doesn't happen every time I upgrade my class", he thought. He then summoned up his system window, and there was a message right in front of him.

[Quest Completed]

[Defeat all the Wolves and the Alpha in front of you]

[Defeated Grizzly Wolves 25/25]

[Defeated Snow White Alpha 1/1]

[Defeated Fiery Flame Alpha 1/1]

[Rewards - EXP +2000, Blueprint of [Icy Flame Dual Blades]]

[Failure: Death]

[Claim Rewards? Yes/No]

Lucas smiled wide. "Although I didn't kill the Alphas, it seems like the system considers them running away as a defeat. But I wonder, how do they look when they're human", he thought. The slight fragrance of the bath entered his nose, making him feel more relaxed. He then claimed the rewards that were to be claimed.

[Quest Completed]

[Defeat all the Wolves and the Alpha in front of you]

[Rewards - EXP +2000]

[You Have Leveled Up!]

[Obtained Blueprint of [Icy Flame Dual Blades] x1]

[Do you want to use Accumulated EXP?]

[Yes/No?]

Lucas was thinking just how much EXP he had accumulated through the quest. One thing he was for sure, it was a lot. "Last time I checked, it was around five thousand or something?', he thought. "Anyways it will be a good thing to add them", he thought.

[You Have Leveled Up!]

[You Have Leveled Up!]

[Level: 10]

[EXP: 950/5000]

[Stat points to be used: 15]

After looking at the stat points that he had accumulated, he smiled. "Now, let me distribute it among my stats. I want to make this even", he thought. He then began to think hard. "For now, Strength and Magic seem to be the highest. And my Stamina and Perception seems to be low. Let me see how to even it up", he thought.

After some thinking, he decided to bring up the stamina to the same level. He will even the stats out as he earned more points in the future. He then called out his status window and looked at his stats.

[Status]

[Name: Lucas Heart]

[HP: 100/100]

[MP: 100/100]

[Level: 10]

[Job: None]

[Title: Defying The Odds, Master Of Stealth]

[EXP: 950/5000]

[System Level: 1/10]

[Strength: 43]

[Stamina: 43]

[Agility: 43+19]

[Perception: 41]

[Magic: 43]

[Stat points to be used: 0]

[System Upgrade Available]

[Do you want to Upgrade? Yes/No]

Lucas was stunned. He was wondering what this System-level was when he saw it the first time, but now he was sure of it. It's not only him that needs to level up, it's the system too. "An Evolving system?', he thought. He didn't think too much, as he knew this system was something that gave him his powers, or more importantly, made him seem normal in the world.

He clicked Yes, but then he saw a warning floating in front of him.

[You will not be able to access the System for 3 hours]

[Proceed? Yes/No]

Lucas was then shocked. This was something new to him. He didn't expect this to happen. He thought t would be something instantaneous. "Will the system functions be available?", he thought. Like it read his mind, a prompt appeared in front of him.

[Inventory and stats are accessible. All spells and others are under lock]

"That's quite troubling", he thought. He was slowly adapting to this system, and the way he can cast spells instantaneously was breathtaking to him. He then thought about the hunt he had to continue. "Or should I polish up on my blacksmithing skills? It has been a long time since I went there again", he thought.

He then decided that he would do some smithing for the day until his system came back up. He also wanted to make his own weapon before he ventured outside. He was excited about making his weapon. He then took a deep breath and clicked on the 'Yes' as the system window froze.

[Upgrading... Time left 03:00:00]

Only the inventory tab was accessible to him. And his stat bar was accessible but that was something he didn't need. He then took out the blueprint and began to study the weapon design. "This is perfect for me", he smiled as he jumped out from the bath, and quickly ran to his room, naked.

He dressed up very quickly and he quickly opened the door. Both Sam and Kate were standing outside, waiting for him to come out. "Shall we go now?", asked Kate in her sweet voice. But Lucas didn't mind them as he dashed past them, running down the corridor. "Just where are you running off to?', said both of them as they followed behind him.

Lucas weaved through the corridors, running extremely fast. "He has gotten faster, hasn't he?", said Sam while smiling. "let's kick it up a notch", smiled Kate back to him. As soon as they said that, they ran faster than before. 'Where you off to, Lucas?", asked Kate as she ran next to Lucas.

"I got a weapon design, and it's quite interesting. I want to go smithing", he smiled. "To the smithy?", she asked. Kate knew of his hobby. Other than sparring and practicing with Master, there was one other thing he was good at. And that was blacksmithing.

"You sure you want to meet that old dwarf?", she asked. Lucas's face twitched for a second, but he then smiled wide. "I'm sure he would help me once he sees the design", he smiled at them. They were quite surprised at his comment. "That Old man?", said Kate and Sam simultaneously.

Lucas then arrived at a door that was on the lowest floor. The door in front of him was tall, and beyond that door, lies the Palace's Smithy. Or as the people in the Palace called it, 'Iron Forge'.

He was on edge as he opened the door, looking around frantically. "If it isn't Third Prince? What brings you here little boy?', came a haughty voice from behind him. The voice was haughty and raspy, but Lucas's eyes were filled with respect.

He turned around in an instant, and he quickly kneeled down. "Forge Master", he muttered under his breath. The Forge Master was extremely short than Lucas. He was a dwarf. Dwarves were one of the races that were extremely popular for their weaponsmithing and technology development. "I guess their brains are only filled with these things anyways", Lucas thought when he met the Forge Master for the first time.

Everything he learned on the path to becoming a blacksmith was taught to him by Forge Master. "Forge Master Henry, I have a new design", he said. Henry, though short, had a muscular body due to all the forging he had done. His white hair and beard made him look quite like an old man. He then looked around before he signaled for Lucas to follow behind.

Both Sam and Kate didn't expect this to happen. They thought that Henry would just scoff at him like he usually did. But there was something that was telling them, that this time it could be something amazing. After entering, Henry closed the door.

"Lad, the last design you brought sold very well in the market. This time, what is it?", he asked as he licked his lips in anticipation. It was like he was waiting for Santa to hand him his gift, but the words that left Lucas's mouth shocked him. "This is a personal weapon. This is for me. As I will be leaving after a few days", he smiled at Henry.

Henry forgot that Lucas was going to be sent away. He smiled wide. "Then let me see the designs. And if there are any flaws, we can make amends like last time", he said. Lucas nodded his head as he took out the Blueprint that he had received.

Henry looked at it and instantly his eyes went wide. "Is this your own design? Or did you steal them, kid?", he asked. He couldn't help but say those words. "This design is perfect. How long did it take for you to complete it? Wait, how did you even complete such a complicated design in the first place?", he asked as he eyed Lucas suspiciously.

Lucas chuckled nervously. Among the people who knew about the system, Henry wasn't one. And Lucas couldn't tell him about it. He was about to tell something when he saw Henry jump onto the table in front of him. "Have you finally started using that big brain of yours?", he asked.

"Maybe I have", Lucas replied. He then looked Henry in the eye. "So, will you help me?", he asked. Henry began to laugh out loud. His laugh began to reverberate through the room. The room was a small room, which only had a table in the middle and a drawing board on the right. A window to allow some sunlight in, and a lamp to look at the blueprints more clearly.

"Let's go, kid. Let's make you this fine piece of art", he said. Lucas smiled but then stopped Henry. "I need guidance. I want to make this one myself", said Lucas.. Henry turned his head slowly, and the tension in the air rose between them.