The Soul Keeper

We arrived at the inn not too long after. It was still light out, so when we went inside and sat around one of the tables at the back of the room, the numbered customers stared at us for a short time.

"So," Erik finally spoke after a few minutes of silence. "Good job today. Especially you, Kai. You made those battles seem easy."

I didn't say anything. I was still angry, despite knowing that I was being unreasonable. I pushed my chair back and stood up. "I'll head out for a bit. Make sure you get plenty of rest for tomorrow." I said before leaving the confused group behind.

I stepped onto the golden streets and headed to the city gates. I passed through the gates and as soon as I was out of view of the Ereth military, leapt into the air and flew towards the highest concentration of magic I could sense.

It was time to level up some more. I needed more strength, more power if I were to protect Erik and the others. With clenched fists and an almost hateful expression, I landed in the middle of a monster's nest. As tens of hungry eyes turned on me, a wicked mile formed on my lips.

It was time to fight.

A while later, Asher's voice echoed in my mind as I watched the setting sun. "So, you wreaked havoc right outside Baile Chailce and no one noticed?"

I chuckled. "Well, I wasn't close enough to the city to get noticed. Anyways, what did you want from me?" I asked. He had contacted me in the middle of combat. Since I was trying to focus at the time, I had asked him to wait a little.

"I heard about a pale man with white hair and purple eyes, utterly destroying his opponents in a particular tournament." I could almost hear his disapproval. "What the hell were you thinking, Kai?"

I shrugged. "I was thinking that partaking in this tournament is a horrible idea. Erik and the others didn't share my opinion."

Silence followed my response. He only spoke after a few minutes had passed. "This is dangerous," He said as the setting sun dyed the sky crimson and purple. "It's a risk, but we might be able to use this to our advantage." He continued. "The reward for the victors of this tournament is the support of the Ereth leaders. Do you know what that means?"

I hesitated. I could hazard a guess. "Help, probably material and financial." I said after a moment.

"Exactly. This is to show each party's potential." He said with a grim tone. "They are deciding on who to support for their goal of killing the Demon Lord."

I looked down from the branch I was sitting on. "You want me to win this."

"Yes." Asher said. "I said I'd get out of here. Even if that means using you, and anyone else I meet. This is the best chance we'll get – the Ereth's support will be game changing."

He wasn't wrong. While I didn't approve of his methods – such as kidnapping me – we did share the same goal. And I'd have to be an idiot to think the Ereth's support would be worthless.

"I can't." I said after a sigh. "Not as I am now."

I could almost feel Asher's confusion and surprise. "What do you mean?" He asked with some anger in his mental voice.

"I need your help." I said as I opened my status panel.

'Kai Friseal – Level 82 Soul Keeper | Exp: 5600/72000- - Souls 100/100 + 981- - Mana: 900

Fallen Grace Lv. 5 | Death's Scythe Lv. 5 | Dark Bolt Lv. 5 | Soul's Respite Lv. 5 | Explorer | Crystal Sage

STR: 10 – CON: 10 – DEX: 15 – INT: 18 – WIS: 17'

As the pale blue text hovered in front of my eyes, I glanced down. In fine text, it read 'Stat points available: 241'

"Tell me about stats." I said after taking a deep breath.

Asher hesitated. "What do you want to know?" He asked.

I drew a sharp breath. "If you were me, how would you allocate 241 stat points?"

"What?" I could hear the confusion in his voice. "Well," He mumbled after a short while. "Let's see…"

His voice faded. I slowly breathed out. I hated the idea of artificially enhancing my body – no, my avatar's body. I shook my head. It was getting harder and harder to think of this body as an artificially created avatar. I knew, in my mind, that it was nothing more than a whole lot of code, but subconsciously, I had already gotten used to it.

"I'd suggest Dexterity, Intelligence and Wisdom." Asher's voice echoed in my mind. "Tell me your stats."

"15 Dexterity, 18 Intelligence, and 17 Wisdom." I replied as I glanced at the pale blue text.

"You don't need strength." He said after a short while. "You're too used to your avatar. Increasing your strength will only mess up your ability to fight. Same goes for constitution – there's no point in increasing it since you've got a healing skill already."

I pondered for a moment before nodding. "Why dexterity?" I asked after a short moment had passed. "Will that not mess up my ability to fight as well?"

"I doubt it." Asher replied. "Sure, you'll be a bit faster, but nothing you're not used to, thanks to that skill of yours. What was it… Fallen Grace?" he asked. I nodded, forgetting that he couldn't see me.

"So, what do I do?" I asked after a short while.

"Before you decide on anything." Asher said with a more serious tone. "What made you decide to allocate your stat points? You were adamant about not using them."

I flinched. He was right, I didn't want to allocate them. It just felt… wrong. "Because if this tournament is the best chance we'll get, then I can't leave things to chance. So, can you help me with this?"

I could almost imagine the smug grin on his face as he spoke. "Of course."