The Strange Dream, Evening Party

Life Energy Points: 78

Mental Energy Points: 146

At that moment, four sections on the Status Panel were lit up: Stamina, Mental Power, Talent, and Skill. Ignoring the Stamina and Mental Power that needed replenishing, Parr tapped through the remaining two sections one by one.

Ding. Consume 10 Life Energy Points and 10 Mental Energy Points to upgrade Talent Prompt Wake-Up LV1 to LV2?

Ding. Consume 10 Mental Energy Points to upgrade Talent Bright Eyes LV1 to LV2?

Ding. Consume 50 Life Energy Points to upgrade Skill Wind Wolf Basic Breathing Technique LV5 to MAX.

Ding. Consume 50 Life Energy Points to upgrade Skill Basic Wind Wolf Swordsmanship LV5 to MAX.

"Eh?"

This time, Parr noticed something different.

"Shouldn't LV5 become LV6 after an upgrade? Why is it MAX? Does that mean these two skills will reach their highest level if I upgrade them again? And I won't be able to upgrade them anymore?"

"No, I have to test it."

Looking at his 78 Life Energy Points, Parr gritted his teeth and decided to upgrade one skill to see. It would help him understand the Status Panel's upgrade system, answer the doubts in his heart, and prepare him for the future.

As the saying went, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Parr first needed to know himself.

"Upgrade Basic Wind Wolf Swordsmanship!"

Ding. 50 Life Energy Points consumed. Skill upgraded.

Basic Wind Wolf Swordsmanship MAX (The most basic Sword Drawing Technique in the Wind Wolf Kingdom. It consists of three forms: Upward Flick, Slanting Slash, and Horizontal Slash. Cost: 10 Stamina. Max-level effect: Triple Strike!)

"Holy cow, its power doubled all at once, and there's even a special effect at max level!" Parr closed the Status Panel and stood up. He wanted to try it out.

Whoosh~ With the scabbard in his left hand and the hilt in his right, Parr closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he suddenly opened them, exerted force with his right arm, and drew his first strike.

"Upward Flick!"

Whoosh! A flash of cold light streaked through the small courtyard beneath the moonlit night. In the blink of an eye, the Black Short Sword in Parr's hand had left its sheath and swept to its highest point.

This time, Parr did not feel the exhaustion that usually came after using a skill. His wrist turned slightly, tilting the blade as his second strike slashed down diagonally.

"Slanting Slash!"

Whoosh! Cold light flashed again. The downward-slanting blade stopped midway, swung sideways, and delivered the third strike forward in a horizontal cut.

"Horizontal Slash!"

Whoosh! The cold light flashed for a third time. Parr raised his arm, then slowly sheathed his sword.

Whoosh~ Parr let out a breath, feeling utterly invigorated.

"So this is the true Basic Wind Wolf Swordsmanship! The three forms flow together without pause, all in one breath, hahaha..."

"Except..."

Parr glanced at the Stamina on the Status Panel, and his little face immediately fell.

"Why did an attack that should count as one consume 30 Stamina?!"

"Ugh~ I still don't have enough Life Energy Points! If only I had more. I really want to see what special effect the Wind Wolf Basic Breathing Technique gets at max level!"

Parr sat down again gloomily, his curiosity scratching at him like a cat's claws.

"Forget it, I'll have a chance later. I should see what happens after upgrading Talents. I've never upgraded one before!"

Parr reopened the Status Panel. Looking at the two Talents that could both be upgraded, he hesitated for a moment before checking his Energy Points again.

"Prompt Wake-Up needs 10 Life Energy Points and 10 Mental Energy Points. I have both right now, so I can upgrade it and see. If the effect is no good, I just won't upgrade it again in the future. Mm, that's settled!"

Parr rubbed his hands together and silently muttered, Upgrade Talent Prompt Wake-Up!

Ding. 10 Life Energy Points and 10 Mental Energy Points consumed. Talent upgraded.

Prompt Wake-Up LV2 (Wake up on time at dawn. Stamina and Mental Power fully restored.)

"Did it gain Mental Power restoration after the upgrade?"

Parr stared at the Talent description and pondered. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he looked at his HP.

Smack! Slapping his palm, Parr rapidly muttered to himself.

"If it keeps upgrading in this order, will Prompt Wake-Up LV3 add full HP restoration? HP represents my current physical condition. It drops when I'm injured. Right now, the only three ways to replenish it are recovering slowly, using Life Energy Points, and advancing my realm. If Prompt Wake-Up LV3 adds full HP restoration, wouldn't that mean I get an extra life every day? As long as I survive until dawn, I can come back at full health! How many Life Energy Points would that save?"

"Yes! That's exactly it! In the long run, this is a guaranteed profitable deal!"

Smack! Parr slapped his palm again. His large black eyes shone with energy, as though faintly glowing. The corners of his mouth curled upward. With his thoughts sorted out, he eagerly began to act, but... Prompt Wake-Up LV2 had already dimmed, proving that Parr did not have enough Energy Points to upgrade it again.

"How is that possible?"

Unwilling to give up, Parr stared at Prompt Wake-Up LV2 and muttered.

"Upgrade for me! Upgrade already!"

Ding. Upgrading Talent Prompt Wake-Up LV2 to LV3 requires 100 Life Energy Points and 100 Mental Energy Points.

Whew...

After a long silence, Parr accepted the fact. Then he thought for a while, checked the Energy Points on the Status Panel, and silently muttered, Upgrade Talent Bright Eyes!

Ding. 10 Mental Energy Points consumed. Talent upgraded.

Clear Eyesight LV2 (Dark Vision, Low-level Elemental Vision.)
Life Energy Points: 18
Mental Energy Points: 126

"Bright Eyes gained Low-level Elemental Vision after upgrading. What is that?"

As Parr wondered, he activated Bright Eyes. In an instant, the dim nighttime scenery before him became as clear as daytime. Countless tiny multicolored specks of light also appeared in the air. They were very blurry. No matter how hard Parr concentrated or widened his black eyes, which had begun to emit a faint glow, it was useless. He could only distinguish their colors; he could not see any details at all.

"So this is Elemental Vision! How amazing!"

Although he could not see clearly, as though looking at flowers through fog, Parr still happily widened his eyes and reached out to grab the multicolored specks floating in the air. However, it was as if a repulsive force existed between him and the lights. Whenever he approached, they drifted away, and he could not catch them at all.

"So annoying!"

In the end, Parr gave up trying. He closed his eyes and deactivated Bright Eyes. When he opened them again, the scene before him had returned to nighttime.

Then a wave of dizziness struck him. Parr swayed, opened the Status Panel, and saw that his Mental Power had dropped to 3.

"Does activating Bright Eyes consume that much Mental Power?"

Shaking his head to clear the dizziness from his mind, Parr continued looking at the Status Panel.

"With my current Mental Energy Points, I can still upgrade Bright Eyes."

Ding. Consume 100 Mental Energy Points to upgrade Clear Eyesight LV2 to LV3?

"No!"

"Just as expected, it's another 100 points. Upgrading Talents is harder than upgrading Skills!"

Parr did not upgrade it again. He wanted to save his Mental Energy Points to upgrade Prompt Wake-Up. After all, it concerned his life, and he knew what mattered most.

"Alright, everything's done. Time to rest!" Closing the Status Panel, Parr stood up and stretched. He picked up the Black Short Sword and headed toward his room.

Rush, rush, rush...

Darkness. In pitch-black darkness where he could not see his hand before his face, the sound of flowing water by his ears awakened Parr. He opened his eyes, yet found nothing strange about the darkness around him. Then he began walking forward. At that moment, he had no thoughts at all, merely moving ahead unconsciously like a Walking Corpse.

Who knew how long passed before light appeared ahead. The moment Parr saw it, his pace quickened considerably, and then...

"Ah!"

Parr suddenly sat up on the wooden bed, panting heavily and drenched in sweat. Everything just now had only been a dream.

Whew~ Whew~ After a long while, Parr calmed down. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, closed his eyes, and thought deeply.

"What did I see at the end of that dream? Why did it feel so terrifying?"

Parr could not remember what he had seen at the end. He thought about it for a long time before finally giving up.

"Forget it. If I can't remember, I can't remember. It was only a dream." Shaking his head, Parr rolled out of bed, stretched his body a few times, and looked outside the window. It was dawn.

"Good. My Mental Power and Stamina are both fully restored." After checking the Status Panel once more, Parr pushed open the door and stepped outside, beginning a new day.

That evening, the open ground where Haystack Village had held its Harvest Festival bonfire party became lively again. This time, it was not to celebrate the Harvest Festival, but to hold a bonfire party specifically to thank John for saving Haystack Village. It should have been held yesterday, but no one had been in the mood then, so it had been delayed until tonight.

Haystack Village was hospitable. Even though the grief in everyone's hearts had not completely faded, they could not neglect their manners toward a guest—especially when John had saved Haystack Village. The ceremony had to be conducted to the highest standard.

"Let us thank Sir John Knight! Thank him for saving Haystack Village!"

Old Man Jack stood up, raised a large cup of Wheat Beer, and shouted. Then he tipped back his head and gulped it all down.

Ha~ After finishing, Old Man Jack turned his cup upside down to prove that he had drunk every drop.

"Thank you, Sir John Knight!"

"Thank you, Sir John Knight, for saving us!"

"..."

With the village chief taking the lead, the remaining young men of Haystack Village refused to be outdone. They stood and raised their Wheat Beer.

Gulp, gulp, gulp... Gulp, gulp, gulp...

"Hahaha, then I won't stand on ceremony!"

John stood up laughing heartily, without the slightest air of superiority. He held a large cup of Wheat Beer in each hand and raised them forward.

Gulp, gulp, gulp... x2 Ha~

"Good!"

"Now that's satisfying!"

"Sir John Knight is impressive!"

John's bold performance won cheers from everyone. The young women of Haystack Village cheered the loudest. Handsome and dashing, John had already captured their hearts.

And so, the bonfire party reached its peak from the very beginning. After drinking, the people began shouting themselves hoarse, as though venting the negative emotions in their hearts.

Thunder and fire fell from the heavens, the earth split apart, rivers dried up, and grass and trees withered.

The Empire had lost its way; heaven and people alike were enraged. The elements fell into imbalance, and holy knights saved the world.

Hold the sword in hand, raise the banner of justice.

The Heavy Earth Giant Bear rebuilt the foundation of the earth.

The Blazing Fire Ash Lion burned away the force of corruption.

The Lightning Chasing Swift Hawk spread wings that covered the sky.

The Swift Shadow Wind Wolf brought the winds of freedom.

The Radiant Holy Dragon dispelled the darkness that veiled the world.

Thus, the continent was reborn, and all disasters were eradicated.