The Mount & Blade System, Part Two

After finishing all that, Renard lay back on the bed and let out a wistful sigh, mourning the end of his life as a shut-in.

Then he followed the system's instructions and opened the game interface. The Attribute Panel and Skill Introduction appeared before his eyes.

Renard explored each option in turn. As a veteran gaming shut-in, figuring it all out wasn't especially difficult, and the system had provided detailed explanations besides.

Strength: Increases physical fitness and combat ability. Affects the skills Iron Bones, Strong Attack, and Precision.

For every point of Strength the host gains, he will receive one skill point in this category. Note: these skill points can only be used to upgrade Iron Bones, Strong Attack, and Precision.

Iron Bones: Enhances the body's ability to withstand blows.

Strong Attack: Grants a damage bonus when attacking.

Precision: Increases attack accuracy.

Agility: Increases bodily coordination and speed. Affects the skills Riding Skill, Martial Arts, and Control.

For every point of Agility the host gains, he will receive one skill point in this category. Note: these skill points can only be used to upgrade Riding Skill, Martial Arts, and Control.

Riding Skill: Allows the host to expertly ride all kinds of mounts.

Martial Arts: Allows the host to master various advanced fighting techniques.

Control: Allows the host to expertly wield all kinds of weapons.

Intelligence: Increases mental strength and cognitive ability. Affects the skills Battle Qi Usage, Eidetic Memory, and Tactical Command.

For every point of Intelligence the host gains, he will receive one skill point in this category. Note: these skill points can only be used to upgrade Battle Qi Usage, Eidetic Memory, and Tactical Command.

Battle Qi Usage: Allows the host to quickly learn all kinds of battle techniques while also increasing their damage.

Eidetic Memory: Enhances the host's memory and logical reasoning ability.

Tactical Command: Allows the host to master more advanced battlefield command techniques.

Charisma: Increases the host's personal appeal and the maximum size of his troops. Affects the skills Leadership, Bravery, and Near Death.

For every point of Charisma the host gains, he will receive one skill point in this category. Note: these skill points can only be used to upgrade Leadership, Bravery, and Near Death.

Leadership: Makes the host's troops more loyal.

Bravery: Increases the army's morale, allowing it to fight more effectively.

Near Death: Soldiers who suffer fatal injuries will not die outright.

After carefully reading through the descriptions, one word sprang to mind: Awesome!

Then he checked his own attributes, and the corner of his eye twitched immediately. "Strength: seven. Agility: six. Intelligence: five. Charisma: five. Potential: zero. Unallocated skill points: twenty-three. Damn, I'm a total weakling."

Fortunately, things had gone about as he expected. If anything, it stirred up his long-dormant fighting spirit.

Renard knew full well that in this dangerous world, improving his own combat ability was essential. So he immediately allocated his skill points sensibly.

He had seven skill points in the Strength category: three went to Iron Bones, two to Strong Attack, and two to Precision.

He had six skill points in the Agility category, which he split evenly between Martial Arts and Control. Riding Skill and the like could wait.

He had five skill points in the Intelligence category, and he put them all into Eidetic Memory.

This body was still a long way from comprehending Battle Qi, let alone learning battle techniques. Likewise, he had no need to lead troops into battle, making Tactical Command utterly useless—at least for now.

There was no need to choose anything for Charisma; he simply allocated the points in order.

Once he finished distributing his attributes, the system automatically chimed with a notification.

"Host attributes: Strength: seven, Agility: six, Intelligence: five, Charisma: five, Potential: zero, Unallocated Skill Points: zero."

"Host's Strength-category skill levels: Iron Bones: three, Strong Attack: two, Precision: two."

"Host's Agility-category skill levels: Riding Skill: zero, Martial Arts: three, Control: three."

"Host's Intelligence-category skill levels: Battle Qi Usage: zero, Eidetic Memory: five, Tactical Command: zero."

"Host's Charisma-category skill levels: Leadership: two, Bravery: two, Near Death: one."

To Renard, the system's utterly emotionless voice sounded like... His face took on a blissful expression. Clearly, he was imagining himself using the system to conquer the entire continent.

But that blissful smile soon froze on his face. When he clicked to proceed, a prompt box suddenly popped up in the system panel.

"Host's physical capabilities are insufficient to fully support the system's requirements. Please meet the required standards before proceeding."

"Strength: seven (below standard), Agility: six (below standard), Intelligence: five (below standard), Charisma: five (below standard)."

Renard stared blankly, then blurted out a curse: "I bought a damn watch last year!"

He suddenly remembered the saying: Heaven, when about to confer a great responsibility on someone, first makes them suffer in mind and toil in body, starves them and exhausts them, and frustrates everything they try to do.

Other people transmigrated with cheat abilities and could instantly dominate everything. But when it came to him, he was stuck on the character creation screen.

But he soon came to his senses. He had already transmigrated to this world, so how could he say character creation wasn't finished?

Unable to make sense of it, he sighed dejectedly. "I'll just take things as they come!"

Renard got up and did a dozen or so push-ups to see if he could raise his Strength. Things weren't that simple, as it turned out. His attributes didn't change at all, but his stomach began to growl in protest.

His newly kindled fighting spirit was easily defeated by hunger. He called toward the door, "Selina, come in."

Selina was the original owner of this body's personal maid. For now, he would refer to the original owner as Scum Renard.

Selina was fifteen, with delicate features and a slender, youthful figure. She was renowned as a beauty throughout Saint Brieuc Fortress. Unfortunately, she came from a poor family. Her mother was seriously ill and urgently needed money for medicine, so her father had reluctantly sold her into the Baron's household as a servant.

Scum Renard was a lecher. How could he possibly pass up such a charming, lovely girl? The very next day, he climbed into her bed.

Though Scum Renard beat and cursed outsiders, he treated his own people extremely well. The girl had suffered no mistreatment since entering the household, so she served him wholeheartedly.

Hearing Renard call, Selina immediately pushed the door open and came in, her still-childish face beaming with delight. "Young master, you're awake!"

Renard felt deeply touched. He suspected that in all of Saint Brieuc Fortress, this girl was the only one who truly hoped he would wake up soon.

Selina's clothes were extremely plain, but they couldn't hide her lovely figure. Perhaps from worrying too much, she looked much thinner than he remembered, with a delicate, pitiable air about her.

Back on Earth, Renard would have drooled at the sight of such a pure and adorable beauty. Now, though, he wasn't in the mood. Rubbing his stomach, he ordered, "Hurry and get me something to eat. I'm starving to death!"

"All right, young master." Selina obediently answered and turned to leave the room.

Watching her petite figure from behind, Renard couldn't help cursing this dark age and its filthy nobility—whether he meant it or not was hard to say.