Chapter 004: Comprehending Skills
In just half a day, Chen Ran had gone from level 1 to level 4 with a full experience bar. Following the hunt of another level 25 Jungle Demon Panther, he felt a jolt run through his body—something only he could perceive—and he finally reached the grand level of five.
The four levels he gained had increased his magic attribute a bit, and everyone in the party noticed a significant improvement in Chen Ran’s healing effects. Because of Chen Ran’s outstanding performance in the team, the others’ attitudes toward him became a bit more complimentary.
Just then, Chen Ran eagerly opened his skill panel. Seeing the two skills that required level 5 turn green, a sense of comfort washed over him.
Divine Power: Increases the target’s physical strength. The effect is influenced by the caster’s level and magic attribute. Minimum casting level: 5.
Inner Fire: Increases the target’s defense. The effect is influenced by the caster’s level and magic attribute. Minimum casting level: 5.
Before level fifty, he would basically gain a certain number of skills every five levels. This was especially true for his hidden class, Holy Spirit Priest, which had many more skills than a regular priest. The skills gained every ten levels were particularly effective. So, his next task was to get to level 10 as quickly as possible.
As a matter of course, he showily cast both Divine Power and Inner Fire on everyone in the party.
Ding! Ding!…
Flashes of light struck everyone. When they felt the obvious buff effects on their bodies, they all looked at Chen Ran in shock.
“Don’t be nervous. I just suddenly comprehended a few light spells my teacher taught me. How are the effects?”
The swordsman, Raul, looked incredulous. “It feels great. I can feel the power surging through my body, and my muscles feel a lot firmer.”
Coincidentally, the group was just about to face an Iron-Armored Rhino. This kind of creature was quite difficult for one person to handle, but Raul, brimming with confidence, swung his greatsword and charged the rhino alone.
What was expected to be a tough fight turned out to be a one-sided affair from the start. A powerful swing of Raul’s sword directly chopped off the rhino’s horn. Then, using his agile speed, he plunged his greatsword into the Iron-Armored Rhino’s tough hide and even managed to flip it over with sheer brute force. Before long, Raul had defeated a normally very difficult Iron-Armored Rhino without much effort.
“That’s amazing!” Raul exclaimed, looking refreshed. “Not only is my strength much greater, but it didn’t even hurt as much when I clashed with the rhino.”
“Hehe,” Chen Ran said, tossing another Heal at Raul to mend his minor injuries.
The mage, Jakedo, seemed lost in thought. He turned to Chen Ran and asked, “Aren’t ordinary priests only supposed to know Heal? How do you know other support spells? Logically, at this level, you could even hold the position of a High Priest.”
“High Priest?” Chen Ran’s heart skipped a beat. He wondered what kind of rank a High Priest was, but it should at least be higher than an ordinary priest.
To increase his standing within the team, Chen Ran immediately adjusted his tone and put on a humble expression, as if this was all to be expected. “Indeed, I already possess the ability to become a High Priest. I just haven’t had the time to apply for it.”
The spear warrior, George, looked surprised and gave him a thumbs-up. “Oh, to have the ability to become a High Priest at such a young age, Brother Chen Ran, your future is truly limitless!”
“Not at all, not at all. Just a bit of good luck,” Chen Ran said, waving his hand and reluctantly accepting the compliment. He carefully observed everyone’s expressions and noticed that after he mentioned his potential High Priest status, even the pretty Lia’s gaze toward him became a bit more serious. It seemed that being a talented person was a desirable trait everywhere.
With the buffs from Chen Ran’s new skills, the physical attackers in the party were elevated to a new level. Most importantly, with Chen Ran’s support from the backline, everyone could fight more freely. The only one who was a bit frustrated was the mage, Jakedo. Although his Fireball still dealt decent damage, he, who was originally the highest damage dealer, was now showing signs of becoming irrelevant.
A day passed just like that, and night fell, bathing the world in moonlight.
The sky in this other world seemed exceptionally tranquil, with only the occasional, clear howl of a wolf in the distance.
Looking up, the hazy and profound night sky was dotted with faintly shining stars, like diamonds scattered on velvet in a jewelry showroom, crystal clear and bright.
A bonfire was lit, and a cleaned, unlucky deer was roasted over it. The group finally began to rest.
That day, with Chen Ran’s addition, their efficiency had increased significantly. In the words of the spear warrior, George, their harvest for the day was more than what they usually got in three days. He was so happy that he chatted with Chen Ran about interesting stories from his past and even joked that after earning enough money this time, he would go back and marry a wife. He asked if Chen Ran would be his child’s godfather. Chen Ran replied that if he had a daughter, he would definitely take her in; he loved raising lolis.
The swordsman Raul and the mage Jakedo, as usual, hovered around Lia, showering her with attention, making the girl, who just wanted a moment of peace, feel very awkward.
Actually, Chen Ran also wanted to go over and say hello, but given his current expert status, he absolutely wouldn’t take the initiative and let others laugh at him.
The shield warrior, Tyris, was quieter. The massive increase in their harvest didn’t seem to affect him much.
And so, Chen Ran’s first day in another world passed without any major incidents.
With Chen Ran’s support, the team’s combat power had improved by a significant margin. The main reason was that they were no longer affected by injuries; with Chen Ran’s Heal, they recovered quickly and could fight more freely. Over the next few days, a noticeable increase in their strength could be seen.
Using his Eye of Insight, Chen Ran observed that during their days in the jungle, each team member’s strength had increased to some degree. Their combat skills became more adept, and their average combat power rose from the original level 25 to around level 27. Their improvement was based on a true understanding of strength and technique, unlike Chen Ran, who leveled up slowly by absorbing the energy of recently deceased creatures.
During this time, Chen Ran also managed to subtly inquire about this world’s ranking system. It was somewhat similar to his level system. For example, those within levels 1-10 were called Tier 1, 11-20 were Tier 2, 21-30 were Tier 3, and so on. The members of this party were all around the Tier 3 level, and the forest they were in was also mostly filled with Tier 2 and Tier 3 magical beasts.
After a few days, the spear warrior and shield warrior’s bags grew heavier with their harvest. They were now carrying full packs of magical beast cores and valuable furs. The spear warrior, George, was already very satisfied with their haul and asked if they could head back. If they went any deeper, the magical beasts would be of a higher tier, and they might encounter unexpected dangers.
The shield warrior, Tyris, was indifferent and would respect the majority’s decision. But Lia was insistent on heading deeper into the jungle. Chen Ran noticed the stubborn look in her eyes; it seemed as if there was something important she was looking for in the depths of the forest. Even if everyone else went back, he suspected she would continue on alone.
As for the mage Jakedo and the swordsman Raul, although they realized the journey was becoming more dangerous, their youthful vigor and their pursuit of Lia made them follow her decision without a second thought.
