Ascension from Dual Professions

Chapter 14: Chapter 14: What Is Meant by ’Carry a Deer, Meet a Wolf’?

The system notification slowly faded away.

But Jon was still immersed in the changes happening to his body.

Although he’d received feedback from Attribute enhancements when he became a Mage Apprentice, those changes had been more on a spiritual level—relatively abstract. The fleeting sensation had passed in an instant.

But the changes from leveling up as a Warrior Apprentice were much more direct!

Even though it was only a one-point increase in Power and Constitution, the feedback to his body meant greater strength and more vigorous Qi and Blood!

Specifically, his equipment felt lighter, and the biting cold from the outside world felt less intense.

All these changes filled Jon with a deep, heartfelt joy.

He clenched his fist, feeling the gradually increasing sense of power as the muscles in his forearm tensed.

He felt that if he threw a punch now, he could probably knock out a few teeth from those vile villagers’ faces!

And this was just the beginning.

Reaching level 2 as a Warrior Apprentice, in addition to the fixed one point in Power and one in Constitution, also granted one Free Attribute Point and one Skill Point.

He already had a plan for these two precious resources.

’Save the Skill Point, and put the Attribute Point into Constitution!’

Besides leveling up a profession, Skill Points could also be obtained through difficult quests and fortuitous encounters, but they were by no means a common commodity that could be easily acquired.

After all, it could unconditionally raise an upgradable skill by one level!

Let alone Ordinary Skills like [Weapon Mastery] and [Furious Strike], even the Rare Level [Adversity Strike] he possessed wasn’t worthy of such a precious investment!

The only Skills truly worthy of Jon using a Skill Point on were, at the very least, the powerful ones sitting dormant in his skill list, waiting to be unlocked—the ones shimmering with the purple of Epic and the gold of Legend!

As for the other Skills, he could just level them up through practice or by spending Experience Points.

His reasoning for putting the Attribute Point into Constitution was also easy to understand.

Under the effects of his racial talent [Tenacity] and initial talent [Rugged Physique], Jon naturally had a 25% growth coefficient for Constitution.

Simply put, for every 1 point of Constitution he gained, he would actually receive 1.25 points!

This was also reflected in the level-up notification he just received.

For every four points added, he would get one extra point for free!

Moreover...

’I have Dual Professions now. Leveling up as a Mage Apprentice will also grant fixed increases in Intelligence and Spirit, plus Attribute Points and Skill Points... If I max out both apprentice professions to level 20, that’s 40 Attribute Points and 40 Skill Points!’

At this thought, the corners of Jon’s mouth curled up into a smile he couldn’t suppress.

’If I put all those Attribute Points into Constitution... hehe...!’

It was a beautiful thought!

”System, add the point to Constitution!”

[Attribute Point Allocation: Constitution 8.25 → 9.5]

As the panel updated again, Jon felt his very muscles and bones stretching out!

Looking at his status bar now, his maximum health had leaped from 210 to 285, and his maximum Qi Value had reached 82, making him much more durable in a fight!

And as the Chu Blood Grass Essence was digested and his Constitution-boosted recovery kicked in, his status was now almost completely full!

’What’s that saying again... The me of today is not the me of yesterday...’

Jon let out a satisfied sigh. After taking stock of his day’s harvest, he hoisted the lifeless fawn onto his shoulder and turned to leave.

On today’s trip into the mountains, not only had he gathered the herbs he wanted and hunted a fawn, but he had also successfully reached level 2!

All his goals had been met. It was time to head back.

—

The lazy afternoon sun of early winter trickled down, piercing through the sparse birch branches to cast dappled, swaying golden patches on the soft snow.

As the temperature rose slightly, the snow on the branches began to melt quietly. Crystal-clear droplets dripped down, tapping against the snow-covered bushes and needles, playing a light, natural echo. DRIP. DRIP. DRIP.

Jon knew this was just a precursor to an even colder front.

After early winter came the long, harsh ”deep winter.”

But so what?

At least for now, this mountain forest was still beautiful.

The air was crisp and cold, carrying the fragrance of melting snow nourishing the earth, mixed with the sharp, cool scent of the trees. It was like menthol, incredibly refreshing.

Jon carried the heavy fawn carcass on his back, feeling the newfound power flowing through his muscles. His blade swayed lightly at his waist, and the Arm Shield was securely fastened to his arm. He felt his steps were much lighter than when he had arrived.

He enjoyed this rare moment of tranquility, silently calculating in his mind.

’Once I get back, I’ll butcher this deer. The meat can be roasted, and the bones can be made into soup...’

’I’ve heard that fawns this size don’t have a strong gamey taste and are the most delicious...’

At that thought, Jon’s mouth began to water uncontrollably.

He hadn’t even had a proper taste of this world’s meat yet. The flavor of the little bit of chicken jerky he’d eaten last night had been almost completely overwhelmed by the sourness of the Chu Blood Grass!

However, just as Jon was halfway there, not far from the village at the edge of the forest, a few faint ”CRUNCH, CRUNCH” sounds, almost blending in with the dripping of melting snow, suddenly pierced through his pleasant mood like an Ice Cone.

The young man’s steps silently slowed, and his breathing became long and steady.

His ears twitched almost imperceptibly. His Spirit-enhanced senses instantly located the source of the sound—a thicket of trees to his rear.

The sound was dull and regular, the unique compressing noise of something heavy stepping on half-melted snow. It was definitely not the cautious, light steps of an herbivore.

Experience told him: it was a wolf!

And it wasn’t far, hidden behind the trees no more than ten meters away.

”Tsk...”

Jon couldn’t help but click his tongue, his brow furrowing.

’Did I get hit with some kind of ”carry a deer, meet a wolf” curse?’

But complaints were just complaints; a sense of vigilance welled up in his heart all the same.

This was already quite close to the forest’s edge. In less than an hour, he would be able to see Nomu Village!

His predecessor had died taking a wolf down with him just to protect his kill. Now, he’d just killed a fawn and was bringing it back, only to run into the same problem?

Normally, wolf packs were active deeper in the mountains. Why would one appear here at this time?

Once could be a coincidence, but twice was difficult to explain away as mere chance.

’Could it be... something has changed with the wolf packs in the Shery Mountain?’

The young man’s mind raced, trying hard to recall the various events that had occurred in Birchwood Territory in the game.

But unfortunately, while he had some knowledge of Major Events or gossip about famous players, he had absolutely no memory of a regional random event on the level of ”rampaging wolf packs.”

’Tsk... Whatever...’

Regardless, the wolf had already targeted him. Rather than passively waiting for a sneak attack, it was better to seize the initiative!

Jon stopped, untied the heavy fawn carcass from his back, and placed it behind him on a patch of ground where the sun had melted most of the snow, revealing pale gray rock.

He emotionlessly sliced the fawn’s neck.

Fresh deer blood flowed out, trickling down the crevices of the rock.

For a starving wolf, this was undoubtedly the most fatal temptation.

Then, the young Hunter slowly turned to face the thicket. With a CLICK, he brought his left Arm Shield up firmly across his chest, gripped his blade tightly in his right hand, and began striking the Shield Surface with the flat of the blade.

BANG—BANG—BANG—!

At the same time, he let out a series of strange cries, ”Woof~ Woof~!”