Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Power Without Control
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In the game world, all that matters is getting stronger. Even if your Strength stat skyrockets, it just boosts your melee damage—your body never buckles under the strain or anything like that.
But in the physical world, things are different.
It's like a car with an overpowered engine but no matching frame—a lone burst of immense power can shatter your body just as easily.
"Then... I should pump Vitality. Oh, and Recovery too."
I wrapped a bandage around my fingertips where the nails had torn off, then used my left hand to operate the PC and buy a Heal skill book from Killians Throw.
[You have purchased the Heal Skill Book (Common)!]
Then I changed classes.
★☆Job Change Complete☆★
Duelist => Chaplin
My job changed to the hero-grade priest class, Chaplin. It's a type of battle priest, with most skills being buffs, but as part of the priest tree, it shares healing skills.
"Let's see... Heal!"
Using the skill consumed mana, and a white light enveloped my entire body.
"Ah, hold on—I only needed to heal my right arm and nails...."
I tried to control the mana with that in mind, but fat chance. With my [Trash Mana Aptitude], you think I'd boss mana around? I should be grateful the skill even auto-uses mana for me.
In the end, Heal activated as scripted.
Shalala!
With a holy effect, my exploded fingertips slowly regenerated. Not like a game character where HP snaps back full in an instant, but the torn skin knitted together, and the bruised flesh returned to its normal color.
"Who would've thought I'd be casting healing magic one day."
Like the other skills, Heal's effect was a bit different from the game's version.
The detailed description was [Heal (Common) (Active): Converts mana into life force. Restores HP by 50% of MP consumed], but in reality, this HP system doesn't work properly anyway.
When I killed those orcs, I didn't whittle their HP bars to zero—I just decapitated them.
Same with right now.
My current HP had barely dropped below 2%. Meaning the system registered three exploded nails and torn right-arm muscles as just that much damage.
'At this level, a normal person couldn't fight anymore, and it's only 2%?'
That's no exaggeration—how many people could keep swinging with three nails "exploded" off?
Plus, with my right arm muscles ruptured, I couldn't wield a sword or hold a shield with it.
And that wasn't the only issue.
"HP's full, but I'm not actually healed."
My three nails were still gone, and while the bruising on my right arm had eased from the worst, I could barely clench a fist.
It was basically just first aid, yet HP was at 100%. Looks like this HP concept is strictly based on [total life force].
No joke—even at 90%+ HP, you can still die. A body might feel fine, but a blown-open skull kills you just the same.
"No all-in on Strength, huh... I wanted to toss an armored car one-handed or something."
Regret washed over me, but what could I do? Raw strength is great, but I couldn't swing a sword full-force and watch both arms rip off.
From my remaining 75 free stat points, I invested 26 into Vitality and dumped the other 49 into Recovery.
I weighted Recovery heavier for a simple reason: my base Recovery stat was already 51 points.
Now my pure Vitality stat was 62 points, and Recovery hit 100.
Thump.
Just as expected, I felt something change. My heart pounded, blood flow accelerated. My arm, which had briefly stabilized but was worsening again, now felt decent. Buffed stats apparently just apply effects without altering the body itself.
"For now, this build works... but long-term, I'll go 2:1:1 on Strength, Vitality, Recovery."
I chugged water from the spring, set Killians Throw to auto-hunt, and crashed into bed.
Auto-hunt didn't run smoothly uninterrupted, so I'd wake up now and then....
"...Whew!"
When I opened my eyes, eight hours had passed. A deep, refreshing sleep that cleared my head.
"Ah, died again."
I revived the auto-hunted corpse with one of the three daily free resurrections, sold junk loot, and restocked potions.
Then back to auto-hunt.
Killians Throw had already surpassed level 30. Plateau boars barely gave any EXP, but two weeks of grinding added up.
'Getting to the limit now. Windbreak Plateau isn't a level-30 hunting ground anyway.'
Unlike my Ardenia character—with collection bonuses, a hero-grade class, and a high-grade starter set—my Revenge characters had basic gear, basic classes, and only starter collections filled with common items. They were way weaker than their levels suggested.
Revenge wasn't a game where you just play longer to get stronger.
'Even a few more months of auto, hitting level 40, and I'd still be stuck in Windbreak Plateau.'
Thinking that, I unwrapped the bandages. Nails still missing, but my fingers looked much improved. Arm fully recovered—no issues moving it.
I couldn't spam HP like in-game, but healing and Recovery definitely worked.
One problem not in games, though.
"I'm starving...."
A ravenous hunger hit like my stomach had a hole. Probably from reinforcing my body with free stats.
'But I can't eat here.'
No special reason. Obviously better to eat a proper meal IRL.
Just flat broke.
"Ah, gonna die without money. For real."
Instead of heading to a restaurant, I clicked the mouse to warp Killians Throw to the shop.
Clicked the [Cooking] tab and bought food.
Prices made my teeth chatter.
"What food costs 1,000 gold?"
In Ardenia, 1 gold bought a decent meal—about 10,000 won equivalent. 1,000 gold? Insane.
Proof food in Revenge wasn't survival-essential but a buff item—a luxury.
"Sigh. Pig roast would fix this."
But to use cooking content, my Revenge self lacked basics.
Cooking didn't end with one main ingredient.
I had stacks of boar hindquarters, but cooking them needed dark salt chunks from elite golems in Dark Shadow Mine, plus 300 gold crafting fee. Nothing's free.
Can't just chew raw meat, so buying was best for now.
"Log in."
"Huff... huff... Are you alright, my lord?"
Logging into Ardenia, I saw dozens of wolf beast corpses. Unlike orcs that vanished leaving items, these steamed hot on the cold plain.
"As you can see, fine. Worry about yourself."
"Huff... I... I'm okay. The mystical power... you bestowed, it saves my life... every danger. Huff huff."
Steelstone panted like he might drop dead any second, so I pulled a sandwich from inventory and ate it.
[You consumed Sandwich (Common)! Vitality and Recovery +5 for 1 hour!]
Same alert rang three times—I'd shoved in three sandwiches. Buffs don't stack, just refresh, but oh well.
I ate them to fill my gut, not for buffs.
"Log out."
Back on Earth, I slowly chewed the shoved-in sandwiches.
Drank water, digested leisurely, logged back in. Ate nine total this way—Killians Throw ran out of gold, so I mobilized main Killians too.
Hunger sated, I stretched lightly, loosened up, and entered Ardenia.
"Log in."
My tidy studio vanished, replaced by a battlefield strewn with wolf corpses. The near-100 orc riders were down to a dozen.
"In battle... huff... eating like that... whew."
"You just focus on breathing."
Steelstone had leveled up plenty now; I'd love to let him put free stats into Stamina if we had breathing room, but not with the situation.
"Grrr... human scum."
"Ah, finally stepping up? Remember me?"
The orc warrior who'd just watched from his two-horned wolf mount till now advanced.
"Remember? Yeah. Heard you killed hundreds of our brothers."
"Ah, really?"
Seems he didn't know me personally. I checked above his head.
Vulcan Orc Warrior (Rare)
Hamrom
'It's that same guy.'
Not surprising he didn't remember me. I figured respawns might wipe memories.
But his vibe felt different—not charging blindly like before.
'Respawn changes the insides too?'
Nah, didn't feel that way.
Something... suppressing his [ferocity].
"Steelstone."
"Yes, my lord."
"Drink this."
I tossed him a stack of 10 HP Potions (Common). Then immediately:
"Heal."
A soft light wrapped Steelstone, mending his wound-riddled body.
"Human! Dirty tricks!"
The watching orcs roared at our healing and charged.
I held Starting Sword at mid-guard, called over my shoulder:
"Same as before, Steelstone. Conserve stamina max—focus enduring over killing."
"Hah. Thought this was my grave... Yes, my lord. I'll fight to survive with everything."
With that, I clashed with the charging orc warrior, Hamrom.
Kclang!
[Parry successful!]
Superiority showed instantly.
"Urk! What the—?!"
Hamrom desperately regained stance and staggered back two steps. His two-horned wolf nearly toppled.
I retreated too... but considering our size difference and his mount, an unbelievable outcome.
"What."
I let Starting Sword droop low, grinning. The me who couldn't even clash weapons without teary pants-shitting was gone.
"No big deal."