Reading settings
overlord_ Welcome the Birth of the King_chapter_0269
Chapter 313
Chapter 268: The Stinging Penalty of Experience Cost, Blue Maggots vs. Ogres
This was possible?
Tang Zheng looked at the job acquisition prompt that had reappeared on his stat panel, unsure if this counted as a pleasant surprise.
The mechanics of losing a job weren't complicated. Aside from the normal level drop and the job's disappearance, the stat increases and passive abilities it provided would vanish along with it.
"The skills are retained. Is this due to some unique property of this world itself?" Tang Zheng mused.
Natives of this world sometimes acquired a skill first and then obtained the corresponding job, which was why the skill remained even after the job disappeared.
"Ninjutsu: Detect!"
Tang Zheng's eyes flickered. He activated the ninja skill and observed for a moment, a smile appearing on his face. "The skill's effect hasn't diminished."
The fact that the "Passive Ability" disappeared along with the job disappointed Tang Zheng somewhat, as it meant he couldn't farm jobs to gain a large number of passives.
"The passive ability is the core of a job. A high-tier job cannot be lost so easily."
Another matter that concerned Tang Zheng was the issue of skills. Now that he had confirmed his skills would not be affected, skill points were the next focus.
"Next is to determine the issue of gaining 'Skill Points' when I level up again." Tang Zheng looked at the prompt to take up the【Ninja】job on his stat panel.
He had originally thought that after the Ninja job disappeared, he would need to find Tina and Tia to reacquire it. He hadn't expected the skill to be retained, allowing him to regain the job through the skill itself.
"Acquire job."
Tang Zheng recited inwardly.
【Comprehensive Level: 46→47 Lv】
【Skill Points: 66→60→63】
Tang Zheng's eyes lit up, a smile spreading across his face. "I can get skill points again. However, retaking a high-tier job costs 6 skill points, so right now, I'm actually at a loss of three."
Although it was a loss, the current situation undoubtedly proved that he could reacquire skill points by lowering his level. This completely solved his worries about having insufficient skill points.
"Since skills can be retained, I can get rid of the【Shaman Master】and【Sword Saint】jobs."
"This process will cost a fair bit of experience to make up for the level drop penalty."
Tang Zheng sighed inwardly as he stared at the two intermediate-tier jobs on his panel.
The passives from these two jobs were "increase slashing damage by 10%" and "ability to see souls." Both of these passive abilities were disposable to Tang Zheng.
Being unable to see souls wouldn't affect the use or acquisition of「Totem Imbuement」. Even if he needed it in the future, he could just reacquire the job through the skill.
"The key is the level drop."
"Losing hundreds of thousands of experience points is just too much. The ways to gain experience are already pitifully few. Wasting it like this is a real shame."
Tang Zheng couldn't help but feel troubled. Just dropping two levels in the Ninja job had cost him hundreds of thousands of experience, which was already a stinging loss.
This was especially true when using the「Experience Conversion Technique」during the level-down process. The experience in the previous level's experience bar would also be completely wiped out, leaving only a single point.
This meant that to level back up, Tang Zheng would have to reacquire a massive amount of experience to fill the gap. It would be strange if he didn't feel the sting.
Fortunately, Tang Zheng's current overall level wasn't too high, so he could still bear the experience penalty for leveling up.
If he were to wait until his level was higher to do a class respec, the experience cost would be terrifying. The mere thought of it made his scalp tingle.
"It can be considered a good thing. Now, it's time for the real business." Tang Zheng's gaze returned to a state of calm as he flicked his red robe.
His figure flashed and disappeared.
With the experience Tang Zheng currently possessed, using the XP Casting of the「Transcendental Technique」was simply not suitable as a primary means of attack.
The area inhabited by the Blue Maggot Tribe was known as the "Natural Pit Cave."
On the surface, it appeared to be a somewhat desolate region of hills, but underground, there were numerous karst caves and other caverns. It was a complex network, like a natural Labyrinth.
The Blue Maggot Tribe possessed an extremely strong reproductive ability. As long as a single member of the royal family and a female existed, their race would not face extinction. Furthermore, they fed on the body fluids of any creature, living or dead.
From Tang Zheng's perspective, based on their habits alone, they were indeed very similar to certain maggots from his previous life.
At this moment, on the edge of the Blue Maggot Tribe's territory.
Led by the White Mist Witch, three figures possessing heroic-rank domain power—Gagaran and two Elemental Ogres—along with 100 ordinary ogres, entered the territory.
Such a large commotion was immediately noticed by the Blue Maggot Tribe.
"General, the number of ogres invading our territory is around one hundred. Should we drive them out?"
"How did those stupid brutes end up in our territory? Why don't we just slaughter them all for food?"
Several Blue Maggots produced sound with almost no sign of their eel-like mouths opening. This was a unique racial technique.
The human ability to analyze a person's thoughts through their facial expressions would likely be useless against the Blue Maggot Tribe.
These few Blue Maggots were surrounding a slightly more robust-looking Blue Maggot, and all the voices were female. This was because the entire Blue Maggot Tribe currently had only two males: the current king and the prince.
The Blue Maggot at the center, whose appearance was nearly indistinguishable from the others, was the current general of the Blue Maggot Tribe, named—Beibeibei!
"Idiots!"
"How could the appearance of over 100 ogres at this time be a coincidence?" Beibeibei spoke in a human female's voice, her tone filled with anger.
These compatriots of hers were not taking this enemy seriously at all.
Three days ago, their territory was attacked by a powerful, unfamiliar human, resulting in the deaths of several compatriots. This matter naturally alarmed the king. In particular, that human's demand for the Blue Maggot Tribe to submit had infuriated the king, who issued an order to capture the arrogant human.
A human dared to appear in the Abelion Hills?
To be so arrogant, did they have some kind of trump card?
Although they were not the strongest race in the hills, they were one of the twelve most powerful. For someone to demand their submission, and even announce it beforehand, meant the other party was either a lunatic or possessed a certain degree of confidence.
This complete lack of information made Beibeibei feel a little uneasy. Therefore, even though the intelligence report said the opponent was alone, she had made thorough preparations.
Faced with the suddenly enraged Beibeibei, the surrounding Blue Maggots didn't dare to make a sound, each one shrinking back.
*Gluglulu~*
From a nearby Underground Cave, a Blue Maggot soldier frantically emerged and whispered to one of the Blue Maggots on the perimeter.
Upon hearing the information relayed by the soldier, the Blue Maggot, who had been somewhat composed just moments ago, let out a cry of astonishment. "Ah?"
"What is it?" Beibeibei turned her head, her voice low.
That Blue Maggot hurriedly came forward, its voice trembling with shock. "According to the report from the frontline soldiers, among the group of ogres invading the territory, the ones leading them are… the famous Water Elemental Ogre and Earth Elemental Ogre."
"There's also another who is presumed to be the expert who challenged various tribes some time ago, known as the 'Great Ogre'."
"What!"
"How is this possible!"
"The Water Elemental Ogre and the Earth Elemental Ogre, those two experts, have never gotten along."
"What are those three planning to do!"
A series of equally stunned and shocked voices rang out.
If it were just an invasion by ordinary ogres, it wouldn't be a big deal for the Blue Maggot Tribe. But the appearance of three powerful ogres leading a hundred of their kind... this matter was not simple.
"Prepare for battle!" Beibeibei's stern voice issued the command before the others could recover from their shock.
In an open area covered with weeds and shrubs, the two great races met.
The White Mist Witch, Gagaran, and the others halted their steps, gazing forward at the large force of Blue Maggots blocking their path.
At a single glance, their numbers were around five hundred, a force five times that of the ogres.
Figures with the lower bodies of blue worms and the upper bodies of eels gathered together. From their long, blue necks, thick strands of blue hair hung down.
Gagaran, seeing the Blue Maggot race for the first time, couldn't help but frown and subconsciously look away. Although he had been in the Abelion Hills for some time, this was his first time seeing the Blue Maggot Tribe.
"Is this really a demi-human?" Gagaran muttered to himself.
He had once heard that the Blue Maggot Tribe was a demi-human race, but what part of their current appearance had any relation to the word "human"?
The White Mist Witch's bright yellow eyes widened as she let out an appreciative laugh. "Hee hee, so these are Blue Maggots? They really are blue. They look so slippery and a little cute."
Gagaran subconsciously glanced at the White Mist Witch, then looked away again, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"Meat that doesn't taste good," the Water Elemental Ogre let out a disdainful hum.
The other, the Earth Elemental Ogre, whose tongue had been cut out, could only open its mouth and make an "Awu" sound.
As a superior species of ogre, the Elemental Ogres' regenerative abilities were naturally inferior to those of a troll, but they were still quite good. The damage from a severed tongue wasn't too severe and would slowly heal over time. However, the Earth Elemental Ogre would be unable to speak for a short while.
The two armies faced off in a brief silence.
From the ranks of the Blue Maggot troops, one Blue Maggot slithered forward, raised its long neck, and stared at the group of ogres with its eel-like eyes.
"This is the territory of our Blue Maggot Tribe."
"Leave this place, ogres!" a somewhat stiff and cold voice rang out.
It seemed to have been enhanced by magic, as the sound clearly reached the ears of every ogre, despite the distance between them.
An unceremonious expulsion. They might look soft and squishy on the outside, but they were by no means a weak race.
The Abelion Hills never lacked death and conflict. For any race to survive here, they had to have experienced countless wars. It was impossible to survive in the hills by relying on compromise.
"Hee hee hee, I'm afraid we can't do that," the White Mist Witch's feet moved, and she floated lightly to the front of Gagaran and the others.
The Blue Maggot was taken aback, not by the White Mist Witch's reply, but by the fact that she was the first to speak.
Gagaran and the two Elemental Ogres had massive, three-meter-tall bodies, and all three had considerable reputations in the Abelion Hills. This made the Blue Maggot subconsciously assume that one of them was the leader. It had never expected that it would be this inconspicuous demi-human, the White Mist Witch.
Surprised as it was, the Blue Maggot quickly calmed down. "If you will not leave, then let us go to war, ogres!"
"Even if a member of the Ten Elites were to come, anyone who dares to invade our territory will pay the price of death!"
The icy voice echoed through the air.
(end of chapter)
This was possible?
Tang Zheng looked at the job acquisition prompt that had reappeared on his stat panel, unsure if this counted as a pleasant surprise.
The mechanics of losing a job weren't complicated. Aside from the normal level drop and the job's disappearance, the stat increases and passive abilities it provided would vanish along with it.
"The skills are retained. Is this due to some unique property of this world itself?" Tang Zheng mused.
Natives of this world sometimes acquired a skill first and then obtained the corresponding job, which was why the skill remained even after the job disappeared.
"Ninjutsu: Detect!"
Tang Zheng's eyes flickered. He activated the ninja skill and observed for a moment, a smile appearing on his face. "The skill's effect hasn't diminished."
The fact that the "Passive Ability" disappeared along with the job disappointed Tang Zheng somewhat, as it meant he couldn't farm jobs to gain a large number of passives.
"The passive ability is the core of a job. A high-tier job cannot be lost so easily."
Another matter that concerned Tang Zheng was the issue of skills. Now that he had confirmed his skills would not be affected, skill points were the next focus.
"Next is to determine the issue of gaining 'Skill Points' when I level up again." Tang Zheng looked at the prompt to take up the【Ninja】job on his stat panel.
He had originally thought that after the Ninja job disappeared, he would need to find Tina and Tia to reacquire it. He hadn't expected the skill to be retained, allowing him to regain the job through the skill itself.
"Acquire job."
Tang Zheng recited inwardly.
【Comprehensive Level: 46→47 Lv】
【Skill Points: 66→60→63】
Tang Zheng's eyes lit up, a smile spreading across his face. "I can get skill points again. However, retaking a high-tier job costs 6 skill points, so right now, I'm actually at a loss of three."
Although it was a loss, the current situation undoubtedly proved that he could reacquire skill points by lowering his level. This completely solved his worries about having insufficient skill points.
"Since skills can be retained, I can get rid of the【Shaman Master】and【Sword Saint】jobs."
"This process will cost a fair bit of experience to make up for the level drop penalty."
Tang Zheng sighed inwardly as he stared at the two intermediate-tier jobs on his panel.
The passives from these two jobs were "increase slashing damage by 10%" and "ability to see souls." Both of these passive abilities were disposable to Tang Zheng.
Being unable to see souls wouldn't affect the use or acquisition of「Totem Imbuement」. Even if he needed it in the future, he could just reacquire the job through the skill.
"The key is the level drop."
"Losing hundreds of thousands of experience points is just too much. The ways to gain experience are already pitifully few. Wasting it like this is a real shame."
Tang Zheng couldn't help but feel troubled. Just dropping two levels in the Ninja job had cost him hundreds of thousands of experience, which was already a stinging loss.
This was especially true when using the「Experience Conversion Technique」during the level-down process. The experience in the previous level's experience bar would also be completely wiped out, leaving only a single point.
This meant that to level back up, Tang Zheng would have to reacquire a massive amount of experience to fill the gap. It would be strange if he didn't feel the sting.
Fortunately, Tang Zheng's current overall level wasn't too high, so he could still bear the experience penalty for leveling up.
If he were to wait until his level was higher to do a class respec, the experience cost would be terrifying. The mere thought of it made his scalp tingle.
"It can be considered a good thing. Now, it's time for the real business." Tang Zheng's gaze returned to a state of calm as he flicked his red robe.
His figure flashed and disappeared.
With the experience Tang Zheng currently possessed, using the XP Casting of the「Transcendental Technique」was simply not suitable as a primary means of attack.
The area inhabited by the Blue Maggot Tribe was known as the "Natural Pit Cave."
On the surface, it appeared to be a somewhat desolate region of hills, but underground, there were numerous karst caves and other caverns. It was a complex network, like a natural Labyrinth.
The Blue Maggot Tribe possessed an extremely strong reproductive ability. As long as a single member of the royal family and a female existed, their race would not face extinction. Furthermore, they fed on the body fluids of any creature, living or dead.
From Tang Zheng's perspective, based on their habits alone, they were indeed very similar to certain maggots from his previous life.
At this moment, on the edge of the Blue Maggot Tribe's territory.
Led by the White Mist Witch, three figures possessing heroic-rank domain power—Gagaran and two Elemental Ogres—along with 100 ordinary ogres, entered the territory.
Such a large commotion was immediately noticed by the Blue Maggot Tribe.
"General, the number of ogres invading our territory is around one hundred. Should we drive them out?"
"How did those stupid brutes end up in our territory? Why don't we just slaughter them all for food?"
Several Blue Maggots produced sound with almost no sign of their eel-like mouths opening. This was a unique racial technique.
The human ability to analyze a person's thoughts through their facial expressions would likely be useless against the Blue Maggot Tribe.
These few Blue Maggots were surrounding a slightly more robust-looking Blue Maggot, and all the voices were female. This was because the entire Blue Maggot Tribe currently had only two males: the current king and the prince.
The Blue Maggot at the center, whose appearance was nearly indistinguishable from the others, was the current general of the Blue Maggot Tribe, named—Beibeibei!
"Idiots!"
"How could the appearance of over 100 ogres at this time be a coincidence?" Beibeibei spoke in a human female's voice, her tone filled with anger.
These compatriots of hers were not taking this enemy seriously at all.
Three days ago, their territory was attacked by a powerful, unfamiliar human, resulting in the deaths of several compatriots. This matter naturally alarmed the king. In particular, that human's demand for the Blue Maggot Tribe to submit had infuriated the king, who issued an order to capture the arrogant human.
A human dared to appear in the Abelion Hills?
To be so arrogant, did they have some kind of trump card?
Although they were not the strongest race in the hills, they were one of the twelve most powerful. For someone to demand their submission, and even announce it beforehand, meant the other party was either a lunatic or possessed a certain degree of confidence.
This complete lack of information made Beibeibei feel a little uneasy. Therefore, even though the intelligence report said the opponent was alone, she had made thorough preparations.
Faced with the suddenly enraged Beibeibei, the surrounding Blue Maggots didn't dare to make a sound, each one shrinking back.
*Gluglulu~*
From a nearby Underground Cave, a Blue Maggot soldier frantically emerged and whispered to one of the Blue Maggots on the perimeter.
Upon hearing the information relayed by the soldier, the Blue Maggot, who had been somewhat composed just moments ago, let out a cry of astonishment. "Ah?"
"What is it?" Beibeibei turned her head, her voice low.
That Blue Maggot hurriedly came forward, its voice trembling with shock. "According to the report from the frontline soldiers, among the group of ogres invading the territory, the ones leading them are… the famous Water Elemental Ogre and Earth Elemental Ogre."
"There's also another who is presumed to be the expert who challenged various tribes some time ago, known as the 'Great Ogre'."
"What!"
"How is this possible!"
"The Water Elemental Ogre and the Earth Elemental Ogre, those two experts, have never gotten along."
"What are those three planning to do!"
A series of equally stunned and shocked voices rang out.
If it were just an invasion by ordinary ogres, it wouldn't be a big deal for the Blue Maggot Tribe. But the appearance of three powerful ogres leading a hundred of their kind... this matter was not simple.
"Prepare for battle!" Beibeibei's stern voice issued the command before the others could recover from their shock.
In an open area covered with weeds and shrubs, the two great races met.
The White Mist Witch, Gagaran, and the others halted their steps, gazing forward at the large force of Blue Maggots blocking their path.
At a single glance, their numbers were around five hundred, a force five times that of the ogres.
Figures with the lower bodies of blue worms and the upper bodies of eels gathered together. From their long, blue necks, thick strands of blue hair hung down.
Gagaran, seeing the Blue Maggot race for the first time, couldn't help but frown and subconsciously look away. Although he had been in the Abelion Hills for some time, this was his first time seeing the Blue Maggot Tribe.
"Is this really a demi-human?" Gagaran muttered to himself.
He had once heard that the Blue Maggot Tribe was a demi-human race, but what part of their current appearance had any relation to the word "human"?
The White Mist Witch's bright yellow eyes widened as she let out an appreciative laugh. "Hee hee, so these are Blue Maggots? They really are blue. They look so slippery and a little cute."
Gagaran subconsciously glanced at the White Mist Witch, then looked away again, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"Meat that doesn't taste good," the Water Elemental Ogre let out a disdainful hum.
The other, the Earth Elemental Ogre, whose tongue had been cut out, could only open its mouth and make an "Awu" sound.
As a superior species of ogre, the Elemental Ogres' regenerative abilities were naturally inferior to those of a troll, but they were still quite good. The damage from a severed tongue wasn't too severe and would slowly heal over time. However, the Earth Elemental Ogre would be unable to speak for a short while.
The two armies faced off in a brief silence.
From the ranks of the Blue Maggot troops, one Blue Maggot slithered forward, raised its long neck, and stared at the group of ogres with its eel-like eyes.
"This is the territory of our Blue Maggot Tribe."
"Leave this place, ogres!" a somewhat stiff and cold voice rang out.
It seemed to have been enhanced by magic, as the sound clearly reached the ears of every ogre, despite the distance between them.
An unceremonious expulsion. They might look soft and squishy on the outside, but they were by no means a weak race.
The Abelion Hills never lacked death and conflict. For any race to survive here, they had to have experienced countless wars. It was impossible to survive in the hills by relying on compromise.
"Hee hee hee, I'm afraid we can't do that," the White Mist Witch's feet moved, and she floated lightly to the front of Gagaran and the others.
The Blue Maggot was taken aback, not by the White Mist Witch's reply, but by the fact that she was the first to speak.
Gagaran and the two Elemental Ogres had massive, three-meter-tall bodies, and all three had considerable reputations in the Abelion Hills. This made the Blue Maggot subconsciously assume that one of them was the leader. It had never expected that it would be this inconspicuous demi-human, the White Mist Witch.
Surprised as it was, the Blue Maggot quickly calmed down. "If you will not leave, then let us go to war, ogres!"
"Even if a member of the Ten Elites were to come, anyone who dares to invade our territory will pay the price of death!"
The icy voice echoed through the air.
(end of chapter)
