This world was quite video game like. Following that logic, any points he put in endurance should go right to his stamina. But his END was already 21, and yet his stamina pool was still capped at 10.
’But if this was really entirely like a video game, then my INT should decide my mana pool, but there isn’t even a mana unit here. The closest thing is Energy Reserve, but that’s directly decided by my mech. Maybe there’s some complicated relationship I’m overlooking right now, but...’
Grey squatted down to his heels, running a hand through his hair. This time, he didn’t even flinch at all the slimy worms he passed through. He was too lost in thought.
’What is a Harmonic Stat?’ Grey suddenly thought.
Prometheus’ tutorial briefly touched upon it. According to it, a Harmonic Stat was something that could only be triggered through a mech. Essentially, it allowed synergy between two or more stats that would elevate their use to beyond normal parameters.
For example, a Harmony between STR and END would make both far more effective.
The weakest Harmony was a +10%. Meaning, you found the average of both stats, added 10% to both, and they would display their abilities at that new quantity.
There wasn’t much information beyond this, but it made Grey wonder. Was his stamina unit the product of more than one stat? Or...
’Do I need a Body Enhancement to increase my stamina instead? Or maybe a resistance?’
Grey was facing a dilemma. He had figured out exactly how to use his new Magnetic Hero Frame most effectively for his combat style. But he already realized that if he used it properly in battle, his stamina would hit zero in maybe half a minute if he was lucky.
’Am I overthinking it? Maybe the only way to improve stamina is the normal way.’
He had nothing to lose and time to burn. In that case, he would take the masochistic route. It wasn’t the first time he would have done something like this.
’Can’t be worse than coach making us run sprints in a bear crawl.’
Grey’s rugby-day memories made him grin as he stood to his feet.
Unfortunately, he was wrong. Very wrong.
It sucked a ton more.
...
Not even five minutes later, Grey was staring at the ceiling, drenched in sweat, and praying for a mother he had no memories of.
For as long as he could form memories, it had just been him and his granddad. His parents had died in a car accident, ironically enough given his love of them.
Maybe that was just how he did things. Another kid would have rather run everywhere than set foot in another car. But Grey had made cars his passion.
The thoughts made Grey push himself up. He trudged down to the bar again, and put a palm down.
"Another."
Barkeep Ji raised a brow. This wasn’t the first time Grey had returned, it was the third. It had only been five minutes or so.
Stella and the others were nowhere to be seen, but Grey seemed intent on making full use of his free food and drink favors.
Whatever he was doing in the training rooms was really draining him, and draining him fast.
Grey slammed another stamina drink and felt a whirlwind of energy flood him once more, like tendrils of electricity sparking through his body.
He released a groan and walked back around the corner toward the training room.
...
Grey was relentless. He just wanted to see a single change, just a small tick up on his stamina bar.
Only being able to fight at his true peak for a couple dozen seconds just wasn’t good enough.
Well, he did see a change. It just wasn’t the change he was looking for.
—
[Lv1 Magnetic Pull > Lv2 Magnetic Pull]
—
[Lv1 Magnetic Push > Lv2 Magnetic Push]
—
[Lv1 Metal Affinity > Lv2 Metal Affinity]
—
[Lv1 Magnetic Resonance > Lv2 Magnetic Resonance]
—
It took him four cycles of laying on the ground like a dead fish before he progressed to this level. All things considered, it was less than 10 minutes, and something to be proud of.
But by the time he chugged his fifth stamina drink, he noticed that his stamina only went back up to just seven of ten units.
As he lay gasping for breath for the sixth time, he could only shake his head as he realized this wasn’t going to work.
Using the stamina drinks was great, but they came with diminishing returns. Even if he somehow did gain a +1 to his stamina, this just wasn’t sustainable.
How much longer would an 11 unit stamina pool help him fight? An extra couple seconds? Was it even worth it?
’Let’s keep pushing. There’s got to be something.’
...
Grey trudged back into the bar for what was the ninth time. When he finished chugging the stamina drink, it only ticked back up to six and he could only laugh bitterly.
"Tell me, barkeep. You wouldn’t happen to want to tell me how to increase my stamina, right?"
A familiar grin looked right back at Grey. The amusement was so clear in the frog man’s eyes he might as well have not smiled in the first place.
Grey was about to leave again when he paused.
"Hey, if you buy blueprints, you probably have them to sell, right?"
"They’re more expensive than the price you could sell them for."
Grey nodded. He figured that was the case. What sort of business did things for a loss?
"How about the methods to unlock abilities?"
Barkeep Ji’s tongue flickered out like a cracking whip again. "Those are also quite expensive, though they’re more variable."
"You know, that tongue thing is creepy as hell."
The frog man laughed. "And that’s racist."
"Touché." Grey nodded. "Then do you sell information?"
"It depends."
"Let’s say I want to learn more about stats, my status screen, and how certain things work. What can I do?"
"This information is tricky, but there are usually three main ways. Gaining access to the Holy City’s library is one, the latter two are both related to Quests. Either a Quest that allows you to earn a master’s favor or a Quest that allows you to gather information."
’Library!’ Grey hinged on this idea immediately.
"Let me guess, only nobles can enter this library."
Barkeep Ji grinned.
"And I should have some access as a Knight?"
Grey received the very same response.
"Perfect." Grey was the one who grinned this time. "Now, how much is it to buy a Cyber Core?"
"Depends on the grade. The lowest value ones we have here cost around 1,000 credits."
Grey sucked in a cold breath. That was pretty steep. It looked like he was going to have to go big game hunting again.
After his stamina recovered, that is.
In that case... he might as well go see what this Legendary Quest was all about.