River had seven Status Points he could use to enhance his Base Stats.
Every time a Hunter leveled up, they earned one Status Point to distribute as they wished. Yet this simple system often left beginners baffled. Once a Status Point was assigned, it couldn't be undone—unless one possessed a rare Artifact or Treasure that allowed a reset. Hence the minus sign beside the plus on the Status Screen, a symbol of both hope and regret.
Many Hunters, dissatisfied with their early, impulsive decisions, scoured the world for such treasures or Quests to reassign their Stats. River had done it himself once—correcting the hasty distributions he'd thrown around without thought, back when he knew nothing of what lay ahead.
Status Points were critical. They were what allowed Hunters to transcend mere Skill and experience, empowering them beyond the limits of an ordinary human. But allocating them carelessly could cripple even the most gifted Hunter, turning potential into weakness. Wise investment was everything, aligning Status Points with one's Skills and the kind of "build" they sought.
Build. That was what Hunters called the unique combination of Status distribution, Skills, and fighting style—what set each apart, even among those who shared the same Class.
There were five primary Class categories, each defined by distinct Skill types:
Physical Class—Hunters who honed their bodies into living weapons. They wielded strength, speed, and endurance to devastate their foes, focusing on Strength, Agility, Vitality, and Dexterity.
Mage Class—Hunters like River and Nolan, who commanded mana itself, shaping it into elemental, spiritual, or arcane might. They lacked the raw power of Physical Hunters but could obliterate enemies with a single spell. Intelligence and Wisdom were the stats that unlocked their full potential.
Auxiliary (Support) Class—Hunters who specialized in healing, shielding, buffing, or controlling the battlefield. Though their main role was support, some Auxiliary Hunters awakened Skills so destructive they rivaled the strongest Mages. Likewise, some Mages developed supportive Skills, blurring the line between these two Classes.
Modern Class—Hunters who fused mana with modern technology, turning guns, drones, or gadgets into instruments of death. These Engineers could transform a handgun into a city-leveling weapon. Their stat priorities varied wildly depending on whether their Skills favored close-range skirmishes or long-range support.
Unique Class—the rarest of all. Classes that fell outside the known categories, born of extraordinary circumstances, anomalies, or fate itself. Hunters with Unique Classes could defy common sense, like the Chosen One who commanded Time Manipulation.
Yet for all these distinctions, Classes were merely convenient labels. True power didn't lie in a Class, but in the Skill a Hunter awakened—and how cleverly they wielded it.
A Hunter's potential wasn't bound by their Class but by their imagination, training, and resolve. Even the weakest Skill, in the hands of a genius, could surpass the strongest Class. That was why some Hunters with the same Class faded into obscurity, while others became legends.
River Faelan, at his peak, could challenge any S-rank Hunter despite the yawning gulf of at least forty levels. Though the odds of victory were slim, his exceptional Mana Control and mastery of his Skills allowed him to stand toe-to-toe with monsters in human form.
Shaking off the memories of his past life, River's finger hovered over the plus sign beside his Base Stats, eyes narrowing.
He wondered if he could still push his Mana Control further—he already felt as if he'd reached the summit of that ability. Yet just as he was about to tap the plus sign next to Intelligence, his hand stilled midair.
A thoughtful glint sparked in his eyes.
"My Mana Control is the same as when I was the Last Hunter…" River murmured, voice low. "Which means, I can postpone adding Status Points to INT and WIS."
His gaze drifted to the rest of his stats.
Intelligence and Wisdom were the keys to enhancing Mana Control—but his mastery of mana had already far outstripped what his Base Stats suggested. His Bubblecrafter Skill, untested but pulsing with dormant power, would surely be just as formidable; after all, it was basically an extension of his Mana Control. Even though he could only access a single ability from it for now, River was confident its strength would mirror the peak of his past life.
Which led him to a tantalizing thought: if his Mana Control was already at its pinnacle, what if he spent his Status Points on his other Stats instead—fortifying himself where he was weakest? He could build a foundation of raw physical prowess, and only once he'd reached the peak of his Level, then start adding to his Intelligence and Wisdom.
A mage with the stats of a Physical Class Hunter—imagine the terror he could unleash. And once he maxed out, he could layer his magical might atop his newfound strength, like building a nuclear reactor on bedrock.
Just envisioning it made River's eyes gleam with barely contained excitement.
He clenched his fists, exhaling shakily as a tremor of anticipation coursed through him. If this was possible—and he was certain it was—it would let him stand toe-to-toe with Physical Hunters, fighting them with his bare fists while wielding his deadly Bubbles.
River took a deep breath to steady his racing heart.
He hadn't yet tested his Bubblecrafter Skill, but deep down he was certain his mastery of it remained intact. The connection was there—he could feel it pulsing inside him, waiting. Still, he needed to confirm it for himself once he had strengthened his body.
River carefully considered his options, recalling the desperate moments during his battles with the Smokey Wolves—and his narrow escape from Nolan and his relentless followers. His lack of strength and speed had left him flirting with death more than once. Forced to rely on his flexibility and reflexes, he'd paid the price in agony each time.
So, with resolve, he tapped the plus sign next to Strength three times. Then he shifted to Agility, adding another three points. Finally, he allocated the last point to Dexterity.
The instant his hand fell to his side, his heart lurched. A burning heat flooded his veins as a bone-deep cracking resounded like distant thunder. Muscles twisted, bones shifted—his body undergoing a fierce reconstruction from the inside out.
It wasn't as blissful as the sensation that ended his Awakening Ceremony—but there was a rough, primal pleasure in feeling himself grow stronger. His body welcomed the change, reveling in the surge of raw power.
River let out a shaky smile, surrendering to the sensation until it finally ebbed.
When it was done, he raised his hand and clenched it into a fist. His outward appearance remained the same, but the strength radiating from his core told a different story.
He crouched and leapt lightly—soaring several feet into the air without even using his full strength. The effortless lift made him grin wide; it was higher than any professional athlete could dream of.
He stretched, savoring the crackle of newfound power humming in his joints. He felt reborn—alive with boundless energy and fierce anticipation.
Once he finished testing his body, River glanced at his updated Status Screen, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips.
But as his gaze lingered on the glowing interface, a realization struck him—a new problem.
"A new build… which means I need a new fighting style," River muttered, scratching his chin thoughtfully while resting his other arm across his chest. His eyes narrowed, glinting with determination. "I have to see my Bubbles first to decide."