And I did say I would go over my Status when I had the chance, didn't I? Well, it would take all day to review everything that had taken place since I've reviewed it last, and might I add, it was quite extensive now, I recalled a function the Gamer System introduced a while back. The Stat Preview function. I decided to pull that up for now, and I was still left shocked.
These aren't the stats of a normal Level 60...
[STAT PREVIEW]
Name: Naoto von Auslese
Level: 60 (0/365,800)
Total EXP: 7,552,000
Occupation: Child of the Progenitor
Title: N/A
HP: 58,500 EP: 67,600
STR: 6,500 DEF: 6,700
ATS: 7,100 ADF: 4,400
DEX: 700 SPD: 700
Available Points: 0
Attack Damage: 6500
Arts Damage: 7100
Resistance: 6700
Arts Resistance: 4400
Weapon: Verbrannteis
Armor: Phoenix Robe
Boots: Vermillion-Clad Boots
Accessory 1: Adamantine Guard
Accessory 2: Tears of the Vermillion
Crafts:
Piercing Light (A)(Single), Moonlight Ensemble (A+)(Medium), Crimson Swallow (A)(Single), Azure Mirage (-)(Self), Soul Piercer (S)(Single), FrostFire Burst (SS)(Medium)
Orbment: Unequipped.
As Emma was still beside me, she saw this blue screen appear, which displayed myself. Since we were all in the same Party, she now had the ability to use the Gamer System. Seeing a miniature version of myself and various numbers assigned and pieces of equipment, what I can do, and so on, Emma raised her eyes.
"Is this supposed to be you?", Emma asked with a curious gaze.
"In a nutshell. You've seen how this ability of mine interacts with the surroundings around us previously, right? This is called a Status Window. As long as someone is in the Party, you gain access to see and use it. That includes your own Status. We're in a monster raid now and that typically involves multiple waves of them. If there's a break period, I'll let you try yours out. How does that sound?", I asked.
"That works for me. Still such an interesting ability. It's almost as if you're an orbal computer.", Emma replied.
"Heh. That is one way to put it.", I said and laughed. As I said that, one last blue screen appeared over each of our heads, which prompted our eyes to look at them.
[Ding! The False Reverie has begun unleashing its troops against Grancel City. You must eliminate all of the monsters. Remaining: 200. To avoid misappropriation, experience point calculation will be calculated at the end of each wave. Each wave will tally the contribution of Gamer Naoto's Party and the calculated experience points will be given out after. To those who can no longer obtain experience points, they will get an increase to their Status.]
"T-Two hundred monsters!?", General Morgan exclaimed in shock.
"Do not forget General, this little play is a siege on the entire city. We are but one of its moving pieces. The other groups will likely be busy for a little while.", I said, and smiled. "And that isn't even the best part of this act."
"...Are you referring to this "obtained experience" count? That sounds very similar to gaining experience in combat. Or maybe through military drills? I'm inclined toward the latter.", General Morgan asked.
"It does present itself that way to many who witness this ability of mine, yes. The Bracer Guild even refers to this Instance Dungeon similar to their combat drills, since it has no effect on the real world. But that doesn't mean it doesn't do anything.", I replied, and grinned at General Morgan.
"What are you implying, Your Highness?"
"Oh, I thought you would have figured it out by now, General. The signs are clear, aren't they?", I shot back, and willed my Stat Preview to vanish. General Morgan couldn't see it since he wasn't in the Party. He simply saw me approach him, only to watch me stare right into his eyes. We were now within walking distance of each other.
"It's simple, really. As long as it's with someone who has established a connection with me, I can empower them.", I declared, and smiled. "To those eleven who joined me in this Instance Dungeon, they will gain something from this. If the limit increased, I would have invited you as well, General. Unfortunately, there were limited spots.", I continued, and sighed with a shrug of my shoulders.
"You...can strengthen others? Permanently?", General Morgan replied. His gaze turned serious.
"As far as I can tell, yes. Those who have benefited from this managed to retain what they have gained back into the real world. I do not know the extent of this ability. It is still being explored.", I explained.
The Gamer System is quite adept at adapting to whoever uses it. I don't know if I'll ever explore its capabilities to its fullest extent in a single lifetime. But I didn't say that part. I saw General Morgan shift his eyes toward Queen Alicia.
"And you knew of this, Your Majesty?"
"I could only connect bits and pieces. I did not grasp the full picture until now. Naming Naoto here as Crown Prince to ascend the throne after me wasn't based on some baseless rumor, General. Given his abilities, you should understand the implications this will cause. And by becoming King of a nation, can you even fathom how many connections he will begin to form in the coming times?", Queen Alicia asked.
"...The world powers could lead to imbalance, just like the war...", General Morgan replied, and frowned.
"I do have some contingency plans in motion to address that, but that will be a topic for another day. Look, the monsters are arriving.", I said, feeling a dense pressure strike against our bodies. It wasn't thick enough where I caught my breath, but just seeing several glows appear one after another on the block beneath us was definitely a sight to behold. It wasn't just on the ground. Some bright glows of monsters arriving appeared in the air before us too.
Seeing the welcome wagon, I smiled. Flip!
I swung my new bow outward, and brandished it.
"Then we shall save the rest of this conversation for another day. I'm afraid I can only watch from the sidelines here with Her Majesty. If you do find yourself in a pickle and require a new strategy, I can lend you my assistance. May the fortune of war shine upon you.", General Morgan said, giving his own boost of encouragement.
Hearing that, I smiled. But at the same time, I saw an unexpected Gamer Notification arrive.
[Ding! General Morgan has begun to see the bigger picture with Gamer Naoto's rooted influence ever since Gamer Naoto was brought into Zemuria. Knowing that Gamer Naoto has the ability to empower others and holds the will to lead a nation in the coming future, General Morgan's Favorability has reached 100%.]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has received General Morgan's Blessing! This Blessing has granted you a new Craft!]
[Ding! You have received a new Craft - Stalwart (-).]
"Oh?", I uttered, not expecting to receive a Craft here of all places. It happened right before the start of the first battle too!
[Stalwart]
Rank: -
Attack Type: Support
Range: All
EP Cost: Zero
Can be used only once per battle. Boosts all Party Members STR, DEF, ATS, and ADF by 20%.
Would you look at that?
At the same time, I saw General Morgan raise his eyebrows. After all, not only do I have the ability to empower others, the Gamer System by design exists to strengthen me. And he just witnessed that firsthand!
"...Did you just grow stronger?"
"Heh. I'll leave it at that. Just know one thing, General.", I said, still grinning at him.
"Somehow, I don't even want to know...", General Morgan said with a sigh.
"The grind never ends~", I teased, only to look back at Emma. She rolled her eyes at that comment. She's heard it before, haha! "Anyway, like I said, the welcome wagon is here. And I was just given the perfect opener!"
"I'll follow your lead.", Emma said, and grabbed a hold of her orbal rifle, and the two quickly departed from the terrace. Or more like, jumped right onto Grancel Castle's towers that held even higher vantage points.
Seeing such swift maneuverability, General Morgan's eyes turned cold. It was as if both Naoto and Emma acted like ninjas!
As for Queen Alicia, she simply laughed, and walked up beside him, only to see Colonel Richard brandished and ready. He had his hand placed over his scabbard, ready to draw at a moment's notice.
"Haha, you best well get used to this General. Naoto will be one to cause many shenanigans in the coming future. This is just the start.", Queen Alicia said and laughed.
"Right..."
General Morgan just turned quiet, not saying another word. Queen Alicia then looked up and saw both Naoto and Emma now rested atop one of the towers. Emma had positioned herself nicely, and kept her rifle tucked in nicely between her shoulders, ready to fire. As for Naoto, Queen Alicia saw him strike out with one of his hands, and activate Stalwart, his newly acquired Craft!
A powerful red energy started to sweep across the North Block. It didn't stop there, it soon headed toward the rest of Grancel City.
Its destination? The rest of the Party!