Chapter 386 - 329: Intelligence Threshold

Chapter 386: Chapter 329: Intelligence Threshold

The fierce battle was over, and quiet returned to the forest clearing.

But the passing breeze carried a thick, bloody scent.

"Whew..."

Zelir gazed at the field of corpses and breathed a sigh of relief.

’Instructor Marvin’s warning was right on the money...’

’It really is best for a Mage to master a Trigger Skill before going out on adventures.’

’I didn’t even have time to react to that sudden attack just now.’

’If I didn’t have a Trigger Skill...’

’The consequences would have been unimaginable!’

Level 36 (682/850) -> Level 38 (1/900), a two-level jump!

Zelir’s luck was pretty good.

Killing the three Monster Strength Silver Apes, along with the scattered Demonized Forest Apes, had given him just enough experience to bridge the gap and gain two levels at once.

He now had twelve more attribute points to allocate!

Zelir allocated all of them to Intelligence.

Power: 124

Agility: 134

Constitution: 127

Spirit: 196

Intelligence: 147 -> 159

Perception: 32

Charm: 61 -> 64

Luck: 51

Talent Skills:

Technique Celestial Calculation

Magic Contract

It was different from the wild, expansive feeling he got when he’d previously raised his Spirit Attribute.

Raising his Intelligence Attribute gave him a more comfortable and harmonious sense of control.

Zelir could feel that his ability to use, command, and weave Magic Power had become much more deft.

The feeling of losing control, caused by the large gap between his Intelligence and Spirit, was gradually soothed and erased by this refreshing influx.

Zelir began to calculate quickly, thinking to himself.

’I wonder what the Intelligence threshold is for advancing to a Middle Level Mage...’

’Let’s assume it’s the same as the Spirit Attribute threshold, 196 points.’

’In that case, I’m still short 37 points.’

’To be safe, I’ll need to level up seven more times...’

’Going by the pattern of the EXP cap increasing by 25 with each level, I’ll need to get 6,824 more experience points.’

’Seventy Beastman Goblins, six Fog Demons.’

’If I could take down some higher-level Demons... like the Thorny Giant Beast, maybe three of them would be enough.’

’No matter what...’

’On this trip to the ruins, I absolutely have to break through to Middle Level Mage!’

Zelir clenched his fist in determination.

As Charm was strongly tied to Intelligence, it had also increased by three points.

When his Charm had increased one point at a time, the change might not have been that significant.

But this time, it increased by three points at once...

’The change should be pretty obvious, right?’

A flicker of intense curiosity sparked within Zelir.

He took a mirror out of his Storage Pouch and began to examine himself in it.

Zelir had always wanted to know what kind of effects raising a rather ethereal attribute like Charm would have.

’Does it directly affect your face, making your features more refined and handsome?’

In the mirror’s surface, the clear reflection of a handsome, black-haired, black-eyed young man appeared.

In terms of facial features, there was really nothing more that could be improved for Zelir.

He had nearly reached what ordinary people would consider perfection.

But looking at himself in the mirror, a strange thought flashed through Zelir’s mind.

He felt that his aura seemed to have undergone a subtle, indescribable change.

It wasn’t that he had become more approachable or more intense... but rather a combination of both.

When he wanted to show goodwill, the corners of his eyes and brows would naturally reveal a gentleness that felt like a spring breeze.

When anger rose in his heart, the eyes of the person in the mirror would immediately fill with an intimidating, oppressive presence.

This change in his aura would make it easier to get those around him to go along with his wishes.

"I’ve seen a lot of weirdos... but you’re the first one to pull out a mirror to admire yourself right after a bloody battle."

Gray walked over from the side, his face full of confusion.

"Does slaughtering Demons have some kind of beautifying, anti-aging effect?"

"None of your business." Zelir put the mirror away.

Hill’s gaze lingered on Zelir for a moment longer before they quietly looked away.

The Demonized Forest Apes didn’t have Demon Cores inside them.

But the Monster Strength Silver Apes did.

Marcus and Valles were in charge of cleaning up the battlefield. They drew their Skinning Sabers, gutted the creatures, and began to search for Demon Cores.

Zelir, Hill, and Gray, on the other hand, went to gather the Land Birds from the surrounding area.

During the surprise attack just now, the squad had been surrounded by Demonized Forest Apes from all sides.

Because of this, the Land Birds couldn’t scatter and run, and could only find a place with denser bushes to huddle in.

Soon, the three of them had led all the Land Birds back.

"Shh, shh... It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s all over now."

Zelir’s tone was gentle. He stroked a Land Bird’s neck while taking a carrot from his Storage Pouch.

Then he cast a Calm Mind Skill.

An invisible Magic Wave washed over the Land Birds.

This type of Spirit Magic was quite effective on animals with relatively simple minds.

And so, the Land Birds’ emotions were soothed once again.

They began to munch loudly on the carrots, quickly recovering from their state of fear and anxiety.

Marcus had also finished collecting the spoils. He tossed the extracted Demon Cores to Zelir.

Zelir caught them steadily.

The Monster Strength Silver Ape’s Demon Core was about the size of a pigeon’s egg and perfectly round.

Its main color was a grayish silver-white. Holding it in his hand, he could clearly feel the brutish power rampaging within.

After the squad finished packing up, they prepared to set off again.

But Zelir looked at the surroundings and suddenly spoke up.

"How about... we go look for their nest."

Zelir said.

"The last colony of Demonized Forest Apes I wiped out, I picked two Magic Fruits... We might get lucky this time, too."