Volume 1, Chapter 15 – The Matter of Attribute Points

The full name of this game world was called 【Subworld】.

Of course, the word “Sub” didn’t mean “dimensional world.” According to the official explanation, 【Subworld】 represents humanity’s second world, the “sub” meaning “secondary.”

Naturally, the number of virtual games in this era of advanced technology was as numerous as the stars. Even so, 【Subworld】 was officially recognized, not just by the developers but by the entire Galactic Alliance, as humanity’s true second world.

Its realistic environment simulation aside, even the sheer size of this world was said to be so vast that players could hardly imagine it.

According to the game’s settings, whether one was an NPC or a player, all attribute points were no longer displayed as simple numbers. Instead, they were represented through another, broader conceptual grading system.

Attributes were divided into four categories: Strength, Agility, Vitality, and Energy.

Strength, as the name implied, represented one’s physical power, basically raw force.

Agility encompassed reaction speed, attack speed, and movement speed.

Vitality determined endurance and HP, similar to Tianyin’s own HP value, it could be said to directly decide how much health one had.

Energy affected how often one could use skills, and certain skills even required a specific minimum Energy to activate. Thus, it was also very important.

As for grading, attributes ranged from the lowest G- to the highest SSS, divided into twelve major ranks: G, F, E, D, C, B, A, S, SR, SS, SSR, and SSS.

Each major rank also contained three minor grades, minus (-), plain, and plus (+). So overall, each rank had three sublevels of distinction.

When players leveled up, they gained attribute points, which could be used to improve these stats.

According to the official setting, one attribute point could increase a stat by one minor grade. Ten attribute points could raise an attribute that had already reached its upper limit, for instance from a+ to s.

Therefore, attribute points were something that no player could ever ignore.

Now, having perfectly reached level 10, Tianyin was struggling with how to allocate her points.

After all, with all four of her attributes sitting at the lowest possible G-, she couldn’t help but feel like she was the weakest NPC in existence…

“Xiaoyin?”

Noticing Tianyin’s troubled expression, Xingyu Muxi lowered her wooden bow. The arrow she’d just fired still hit its mark precisely, piercing through the gray-furred body of a massive wolf.

Without a doubt, what she had just killed was a level 5 Alpha Plain Wolf.

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“Sister Xiaomu, even though I’ve reached level 10, I don’t really know how to allocate my attribute points… Could you help me figure it out? Or at least give me some advice…”

“Hmm, attribute allocation?”

Xingyu Muxi’s eyes flickered with curiosity at Tianyin’s words.

“By the way, Xiaoyin, could you tell me your four basic attributes? Don’t worry, I don’t mean anything bad. If I know them, I can help analyze how you should distribute your points.”

“Um…”

Tianyin’s small face flushed with embarrassment.

“U-um, Sister Xiaomu… can I… not say them out loud?”

“Nope, if you don’t tell me, how am I supposed to give you proper advice?”

Xingyu Muxi said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Still, seeing Tianyin’s adorably shy face, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

“So cute… too cute… why is she this cute…”

That was all Xingyu Muxi could think as her heart thumped.

“Eh… do I really have to say it?”

Lowering her gaze, Tianyin’s silver-white hair slipped from behind her ear, gently falling across her beautiful face, hiding her expression like a painting come to life.

“But… I really don’t want to…”

“Well, it’s fine. If Xiaoyin really doesn’t want to, I won’t force you~”

“Um… really… then, alright…”

In the end, Tianyin made up her mind.

Even though she disliked how her attributes were all the lowest g-, her body was, after all, designed by that so-called System God, the damn Light Orb.

Taking a deep breath, Tianyin slowly spoke.

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“Strength, G…”

“Mhm, well, for a little girl like you, g sounds about right.”

“It’s G-, Sister Xiaomu. G-, okay…”

“Eh…”

Seeing the forlorn look in Tianyin’s eyes, Xingyu Muxi immediately realized she’d said the wrong thing.

“Well, Xiaoyin, even if it’s G-, it’s fine. You’re still small, so that’s totally normal~”

“R-really?”

Even though Tianyin knew full well Xingyu Muxi was just trying to comfort her, she still asked again.

“Of course! Now, what about the next one?”

“Um… Agility, G-…”

“Huh?”

Xingyu Muxi’s eyes widened slightly.

“Vitality… G-…”

Her surprise only deepened.

“Energy… also G-…”

As soon as she finished speaking…

“EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!?”

Xingyu Muxi’s eyes grew much wider than usual, her pupils shrinking in pure disbelief.

“You’ve got to be kidding me! How can a character have every single attribute at G-? Even the most basic NPCs have at least one G at minimum! G- shouldn’t even exist!”

“But I really am that NPC with all G- stats…”

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Tianyin’s expression turned pitiful.

“Ugh… my stats are this bad… I’m really sorry…”

Honestly, Tianyin had already guessed Xingyu Muxi’s reaction beforehand. Though she was mentally prepared, hearing it out loud still made her feel depressed.

“It’s not my fault… these stats… they were already set from the start…”

“Xiaoyin, are you upset because of your stats?”

Seeing her dejected look, Xingyu Muxi realized what was wrong and quickly gave an apologetic smile.

“Come on now, Xiaoyin, I didn’t mean to make fun of you. I was just really shocked, that’s all~”

“Sh-shocked?”

“Well, yeah, but even if all your stats are G-, so what?”

“But they’re all G-, Sister Xiaomu… the worst of the worst… Strength, Vitality, Agility, Energy… every single one…”

Yes, all G-. Just seeing those miserable numbers made Tianyin’s chest ache. Even her measly 10 HP had already caused her all kinds of suffering.

And with such pathetic stats, she often struggled to do things that ordinary people could do easily.

At this moment, Tianyin finally understood how terrifying her G- attributes really were.

Put simply, those stats were no different from a newborn baby’s. The only difference was that Tianyin could speak, think, and looked much more mature than an infant.

“Well, Xiaoyin, no matter what you’re thinking, even if you’re an NPC and I’m a player, Sister Xiaomu still cares deeply about you~”

Xingyu Muxi smiled softly, stepping closer. She reached out, just like when they first met, and gently stroked Tianyin’s silky silver hair.

“Xiaoyin, no matter what, even if everything is G-, you’re still you~”

“But I…”

“Shh, don’t overthink it. After hearing your stats, I’ve already figured out what direction you should go with your attribute points~”

“Um… the direction for my points? You mean a plan?”

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“Yeah, a plan. Wanna hear it?”

Because Xingyu Muxi was patting her head again, Tianyin’s earlier gloom began to lift. Somehow, she felt relaxed and warm.

Her small, delicate face showed an expression as cute as a kitten’s.

“So… what’s the plan, Sister Xiaomu?”

“It’s really simple. From now on, you should distribute your attribute points evenly!”

“Eh? Evenly?”

“Yep, all of them~ What I mean is, every attribute point you earn from now on, spread them out evenly among all stats~”

“But wouldn’t that be too random? If I do that, won’t I end up with no real strengths later on? Wouldn’t that make me kind of useless?”

Although Tianyin had never played a virtual game before, even she could tell that evenly distributing points sounded absurd.

“It’ll be fine. If you do that, I’ll protect you. That way, no one will ever hurt you~”

“Eh… p-p-protect me…”

At those words, Tianyin’s face flushed red. Even her voice grew small and stuttered.

“Protect me… protect me…”

“I’ll protect you, Xiaoyin~”

As she said that, Xingyu Muxi gently pulled the flustered Tianyin into her arms.

“Hey, Xiaoyin, even if you’re an NPC, starting today, you’re my little sister…”

“So, Xiaoyin, I swear. I will never, ever let you get hurt. Not even a little.”

“Never.”