Janus and The Prince: A LitRPG Saga (The Nightmares of Alamir Book 2)
Page 4
Looking at myself in a quickly conjured mirror, my mismatched color scheme stood out. A red and black dual-faced helmet, a thick long green robe like a forest wizard, a pair of iron gauntlets like a knight, and a pair of brogues made of iron.
My “outfit” was complete. Now, the only thing left to do – was farm 100,000 EXP.
Farm 100,000 EXP, and think about how I was going to infiltrate Alhamis.
Chapter 3: Exploits
Father once told me that it could often be wise to give difficult tasks to lazy individuals. A particularly niche category of lazy people were surprisingly hardworking at finding ways to ensure they could be lazy. This included finding every single loophole to complete a task, be it being irritatingly literal, or extremely vague.
Loopholes were my focus. An ambiguity or inadequacy in a system, which could be used to circumvent or otherwise avoid the purpose, implied or explicitly stated, of the system. Similar to loopholes, were exploits. Stereotypically, a piece of software, a chunk of data, or a sequence of commands that takes advantage of a bug or vulnerability to cause unintended effects.
A significant amount of mechanics in Alamir functioned, for as of yet unknown reasons, like a videogame. Hence, to accomplish my task, I needed to stop perceiving the world around me as if it were real and the challenges insurmountable, and instead begin thinking as if all of this were some extremely complex game where my goal was to defeat the main boss. If only to simplify things or if only to lighten the burden on my shoulders, I would approach my goal like a particularly dedicated gamer approached the task of clearing a game.
A particular niche category of dedicated gamers were known for utilizing loopholes and exploits as the tools of the trade-in clearing a game with the fastest time possible. These individuals were termed in the videogame community as speedrunners.
Typically, they had mastered every aspect of the game and meticulously gone over it with a fine comb to discover glitches, bugs and features that could be used to shorten their time to complete their objective.
I certainly had not gone over Alamir with a fine comb. I did not have that luxury. What I intended to do, was to think like a speedrunner. Find the fastest and the most effective ways to abuse various systems provided before me to my benefit, all so I could attain as much experience points as possible, as quickly as possible.
“[Duality.]”
A chameleon panther lay before me, trapped in the embrace of an earthen golem. With my right hand, I aimed, gesturing my index finger into the infamous finger-gun sign.
[You have split Paths]
[You are now in Path A]
“[Diamond Bullet].”
[Chameleon Panther x1 Killed]
[1400 Experience Points Gained]
[75 Genocide Points Earned]
I closed my [Duality], ending the timeline where I had killed the panther.
[You are now in the True Path]
I split reality once more.
[You have split Paths]
[You are now in Path A]
“[Diamond Bullet.”
[Chameleon Panther x1 Killed]
[1400 Experience Points Gained]
[100 Genocide Points Earned]
Again, I closed my [Duality] and ended the timeline where I killed the panther.
[You are now in the True Path]
Again, I split reality.
[You have split Paths]
[You are now in Path A]
“[Diamond Bullet].”
[Chameleon Panther x1 Killed]
[1400 Experience Points Gained]
[125 Genocide Points Earned]
Again, I killed the panther.
This was a method of experience farming, that, as far as I know, only I could use because only I had access to my Epithet Skill.
Epithet Skill: [Duality] Lv. Max
Details: A skill unique to the bearer of the name [Janus]. This skill enables the user to experience the road not taken. Whenever making a decision, the user may split their perception of reality into two – [Path A] and [Path B], enabling them to know the possibilities a decision taken or not taken may have.
The user experiences both realities and may choose which reality they prefer to follow by committing to it and turning it into the [True Path]. The user retains any knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience points gotten from both realities, but none of the negative effects persist.
Note: The user may not activate Duality while it is already in effect. You cannot split [Path A] into A1 and A2 or [Path B] into B1 and B2. You must first commit to a path, the [True Path] before activating Duality again.
Note: Dying while Duality is active in one [Path] will automatically make the other [Path] the [True Path]. Dying while in the [True Path] means irreversible death.
I would kill a panther in one reality, get the experience, close the reality and return to a reality where the panther was still alive. I would then split that reality, and kill the panther again, and then close that reality, and then do it again – and again – and again –
In Alamir, the experience gains of a monster did not decrease with each consecutive kill. Rather, the experience gain was relative to your level. So as long as I did not level up from what I now termed Re-farming, I would continue to gain a steady 1400 experience points for each consecutive kill I made of the same animal.
As it took roughly about 20k to 30k experience points to move up a level, I knew that my technique would lose steam once I did, and the returns would be reduced. Doing this approximately seventy-one times at 1400EXP per kill for a single panther would grant me the rough 100,000EXP I needed to accomplish my daily task.
Slower than I would have liked.
The experience returns on animals were low. Too low. For a massive boost in experience, I needed to use this technique on actually worthwhile enemies.
[You have gained a level!]
[You have gained a level!]
[You have gained a level!]
Daily Task: Gain a minimum of 100,000 EXP [Complete!]
The task was complete. “Release the panther.”
My golem of earth obeyed, its tight-fisted hands letting go of the green-skinned panther. The feline creature growled in my direction but did not otherwise move to attack. Taking a glimpse at the golem of earth that held it in place for hours, it scurried off back into the forest, its footsteps vanishing away as it gained distance.
“Let’s see what we have… Status.”
Status
Name: Janus
Race: [Undead]
Specie(s): [Stalker Skeleton]
Monster Rank: Tier 3
Level: 21
HP: 5100/5100
MP: 9600/9600
HP Regen: 355/Hour
MP Regen: 600/Hour
Negative Effects: [N/A]
Positive Effects: [N/A]
Epithet Skill(s): Duality
Genocide Points Available: 15525
Title(s): [Reincarnated] [User] [Gorger] [Larvae Slayer] [Jonah] [Parasite] [David] [Agkistrodon Slayer] [Genocidal] [Retaliator] [Phoenix] [Merciless] [Demiurge] [Sage Slayer]
Not enough… nowhere near enough.
The final three of my daily task necessitated the leveling of any two of my skills five times each. For that, I needed to bring up my skills menu. “Skills.”
Skills
Active
Passive
Resistances
Basic Molting Lv. 3
Cheetah Sprint Lv. MAX
Lesser Poison Resistance Lv. 2
Insectoid Metamorphosis Lv.1
Sixth Sense Lv. 6
Pain Resistance Lv. 9
Diapause Lv. 1
Fast Swimming Lv. 2
Acid Immunity Lv. MAX
Weak Acid Secretion Lv. 1
Serpent Skin Lv. 2
Thermal Sensing Lv. 3
Lesser Blood Sucking Lv. 1
Serpent Olfactory Sensing Lv. 1
Fall Damage Resistance Lv. 1
Water Striding Lv.1
Body Temperature Regulation Lv. 5
Fire Immunity Lv. MAX
Strong Venom Secretion Lv. 1
Steel Exoskeleton Lv. 9
Fear Resistance Lv. 1
Earth Control Lv. 9 [Diamond Bullet Lv. MAX] [Golem Creation Lv. MAX]
Herculean Strength Lv. 9
Insanity Resistance Lv. 1
Excruciating Toxic Bite Lv. 9
Greater Rabbit Ear Lv. 6
Spirit Damage Resistance Lv. 1
Intimidation Howl Lv. 5
Greater Rabbit Leap Lv. 6
Lesser Paralysis Resistance Lv. 1
Wolf’s Tracking Lv. 5
Mental Resistance Lv. 1
Kataramenos’ Gift Lv. MAX
Holy Damage Resistance Lv. 3
Lesser Gravity Resistance Lv. 1
Disintegration Immunity Lv. MAX
“Lucky for me, there aren’t any skill restrictions…”
Alamir did not prevent me from using two skills simultaneously. Typically, in many games, skills and actions were restricted to performing one at a time. You could not shoot a bow and arrow while simultaneously wielding a sword. You could not cast a fireball while simultaneously eating a burger, and kicking away a goblin.
“[Weak Acid Secretion] [Strong Venom Secretion] [Duality].”
[You have split Paths]
[You are now in Path A]
Poison and acid pooled from my gloved hands, a thick, choking odor permeating the air as the volatile substances mixed. The acid was weak, barely able to dissolve the grass, but the poison was strong, purple and viscous, anything it touched shriveled and began to die without hesitation.
With [Duality] activated, I was doing the same thing in two different timelines. Skills leveled up from constant use, and the more a skill was utilized, the faster the skill gained levels. With [Duality] aiding me, I was using my skills twice over, because using the skill in a different timeline was still considered using it, and thus, I was doubling the amount of time I was using it.
Using the skill for five minutes in both timelines meant I had used the skill for a total of ten minutes. Using it for thirty minutes meant I had used it for one hour. Using it for twelve hours meant I had used it for one day.
The ability to live twice is certainly coming in useful…
I owed Zlosta for this ability more than I would care to admit. Had she never named me Janus, I could only wonder what sort of life I would have lived.
[Skill {Weak Acid Secretion} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Weak Acid Secretion} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Weak Acid Secretion} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Weak Acid Secretion} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Weak Acid Secretion} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Strong Venom Secretion} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Strong Venom Secretion} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Strong Venom Secretion} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Strong Venom Secretion} has gained a Level.]
[Skill {Strong Venom Secretion} has gained a Level.]
Daily Task: Gain at least 5 levels in two different skills [Complete!]
“Finally.”
Daily Task:
Gain a minimum of 100,000 EXP [Completed!]Gain at least one new Weapon/Armor/Skill/Minion [Completed!]
Gain at least 5 Levels in two different skills. [Completed!]
You have completed all your tasks for today!
Enjoy your rewards!
Rewards:
EXP Gain is doubled for the next 48 hours. [Current Stack: 1]
You can now summon a Random Item Chest by saying “Summon Reward Chest” [Can only be used once a day.]
You may use all of your Skills once today with zero mana cost. [Expires at Midnight]
Expires at midnight? My gaze turned skyward. The forest was growing darker. I had lost track of the time completing the daily task. If I were not a skeleton, I knew I would be physically exhausted. As it was, all I felt was mental fatigue.
I’m far from finished however…
Mental fatigue was something I could push aside and delay, and perhaps I would gain a skill from it. For now, a spark of excitement rushed through my veins as another possible exploit occurred to me.
I could gain a random item chest, but I could only use it once a day. Likewise, I could use all my skills once a day without mana cost. However, I was Janus, and as Janus – I lived twice. The power to experience the road not taken was the description of my skill [Duality] and thus –
“Summon Reward Chest.”
There was no flash of light. No sound effects. No nothing. Checking my surroundings in the forest, I questioned if it had spawned around me without my knowledge.
[Sixth Sense – Danger Detected!]
I side-stepped just a large wooden trunk slammed into the earth on the spot where I was seconds ago. I stared at it. “What in the –” I turned my gaze up, to the thick, heavy foliage of trees that almost obscured the sky. My vision took note of several freshly broken branches, some still dangling by a thin line.
“The chest drops from the sky…?”
I was not going to question it. I was going to question how I could abuse it.
Reward Chest
Class: [Common]
Description: This is a Treasure Chest spawned into Alamir’s existence by the Daily Task system, under the authorization of an Administrator Code. This chest contains a random item of [Common] quality that originated from somewhere in Alamir.
Common quality. The Daily Task system said that the quality of the items I would get would increase with each consecutive use. Kicking the chest upright, I noticed it was less of a chest and more of a miniature safe, but designed in the manner of a traditional chest. It even possessed a combination lock, the rotating type that spy movie protagonists would press a stethoscope beside in an attempt to crack it.
“I’ll just assume that the password is…” turning the knob three times, “Zero-Zero-Zero.”
The chest opened with a click. The contents within it were… “…papyrus?”
Loot Obtained!
Miscellaneous Item: [Scribblings of a Nightshaman]
“Scribblings?”
[Scribblings of a Nightshaman]
Class: Common Item(?)
Quality: Poor
Details: The illegible scribblings of a Nightshaman in the cursed language, often found in ancient crypts and abandoned lairs, rumored to bring madness and misfortune to those who see it. Some have claimed that the scribblings have an effect when it the presence of a powerful nightmare, but no one has confirmed the rumors.
Effects: [Unknown]
The words on the paper were smeared and written in cursive script. The handwriting was beautiful, despite the ink blurring together. It read:
Nightmares… script do have… godscript like. Nightscript… command all -options – help, darkness carry… command tongue old… power have not work.
“This is gibberish.”
Except perhaps for tinder to start a fire, I could not understand for the life of me what the absurd words were supposed to mean. I crumbled the paper into a ball and stuffed it into my cloak.
“Second time’s the charm. [Duality].”
[You are now in the True Path]
Closing the timeline where I used the chest, I was left with one where I had not. “[Duality].”
[You have split Paths]
[You are now in Path A]
Splitting timelines again, I called for the chest, again. “Summon Reward Chest.”
I waited. The sound of branches snapping and breaking was my cue to sidestep, as a chest slammed into the earth beside me. The sight of the chest, of a different chest with a different color and scheme brought excitement bubbling within me.
Reward Chest
Class: [Uncommon]
Description: This is a Treasure Chest spawned into Alamir’s existence by the Daily Task system,
under the authorization of an Admin Code. This chest contains a random item of [Uncommon] quality that originated from somewhere in Alamir.
“Excellent.” I went to work on the lock immediately. “Zero-Zero-Zero –”
The chest opened with a click.
Loot Obtained!
Weapon: [Elvani Dagger]
The weapon was sheathed in smooth-looking, soft leather, with several thorn-like patterns. Grabbing it from the chest and unsheathing it brought forth an unusual weapon. The blade of the dagger was thin and straight. The pommel was ornate, and the guard was curved like an open parasol. It resembled a miniaturized rapier more than it did a dagger.
Weapon: [Elvani Dagger]
Class: Uncommon Item
Durability: 200/200
Description: A dagger forged and commonly used as a hidden, secondary weapon by those of Elvani origin. The elegant craftsmanship of the esteemed Elvani displays itself in this dagger, as such it is considered a rare find anywhere outside of Oreilles.
Effects: Deals Double Damage when used for Stealth Attacks.
Spinning the dagger within my gauntleted hand, I attached it to my hip with some difficulty. Elvani... are those elves? Does Alamir have elves? There were druids and humans, so it should not have come as a surprise to me.
Patting my cloak, I checked and confirmed that a crumbled piece of paper was still there. The Scribblings of a Nightshaman were still in my possession along with my new Elvani Dagger, and it was all because I realized that my [Duality] allowed me to retain any knowledge, skills, and experience from both realities.
It never mentioned that I could retain items. However, it never said I could not retain items. This meant, if I split realities, and in one reality, ran into a cave and fought a dragon to steal its golden egg, as long as I had the golden egg on my person once I closed that reality, the golden egg would immediately appear on me in the reality where I had not entered the cave.
What I was not sure, however, was if this meant I was cloning items across realities, or if the item would suddenly vanish from its original location in the current reality, and re-appear in my possession.