***
+468 Gold
Congratulations, you have advanced to Level Twenty-Six
Attribute Points Granted. Allocate Free (3) Point(s)
Congratulations, you have advanced to Level Twenty-Seven
Attribute Points Granted. Allocate Free (3) Point(s)
Congratulations, you have advanced to Level Twenty-Eight
Attribute Points Granted. Allocate Free (3) Point(s)
For gaining a fundamental understanding of the hammer through bloodshed, you have received the following skill: Hammer Mastery (Common).
Your skill [Bladed Weapons Mastery] has advanced to Level Seventeen.
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Your skill [Bladed Weapons Mastery] has advanced to Level Twenty.
Your skill [Aura Control] has advanced to Level Thirteen.
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Your skill [Aura Control] has advanced to Level Fifteen.
Your skill [Battle Trance] has advanced to Level Ten.
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Your skill [Battle Trance] has advanced to Level Fifteen.
Your skill [Hammer Mastery] has advanced to Level Two.
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Your skill [Hammer Mastery] has advanced to Level Six.
Your skill [Thorn’s Touch] has advanced to Level Nineteen.
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Your skill [Thorn’s Touch] has advanced to Level Twenty-one.
Your skill [Mana Manipulation] has advanced to Level Ten.
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Your skill [Mana Manipulation] has advanced to Level Twelve.
Your skill [Dodge] has advanced to Level Eighteen.
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Your skill [Dodge] has advanced to Level Twenty-one.
Your skill [Tracker] has advanced to Level Six.
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Your skill [Tracker] has advanced to Level Nine.
Your skill [Echo Relocation] has advanced to Level Four.
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Your skill [Echo Relocation] has advanced to Level Nine.
Your skill [Cooking] has advanced to Level Four.
Your skill [Stealth] has advanced to Level Fourteen.
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Your skill [Stealth] has advanced to Level Sixteen.
Your skill [Soul Sight] has advanced to Level Seventeen.
Your skill [Silent Strike] has advanced to Level Ten.
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Your skill [Silent Strike] has advanced to Level Fourteen.
Your skill [Advanced Analyze] has advanced to Level Seventeen.
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Your skill [Advanced Analyze] has advanced to Level Twenty.
Your skill [Meditation] has advanced to Level Twenty-Four.
Your skill [Meditation] has advanced to Level Twenty-Five.
Your skill [Sixth Sense] has advanced to Level Twenty-Five.
***
Stopping there for the moment, Alex had to admit he’d done well. He was nearing five hundred gold for just a couple days of work, which made the bank’s decision on a loan a bit more understandable. Even with the predatory interest on the deal, which realistically wasn’t much worse than the average student loan, a reasonably powerful hunter could definitely get the money back to the bank within the year. Especially if they mainly targeted beasts close to or below their level. Unfortunately, Alex’s focus wasn’t to become a money-making machine, but to gain levels. He’d mostly been killing beasts in the thirties, and while the gold ratio was good, the leveling quotient was not.
When he’d started advancing in power it was easy to find higher level beasts because everything was a high level compared to himself. A bunch of stat bonuses, a heaping of luck, and, by his measure at least, a bit of skill; had made killing the creature’s possible, but not easy. Now he was closer in level to the beasts that had terrified him before, and could consistently defeat them, but it did him little good since the experience they offered was barely a trickle of what he currently needed.
From what Alex could tell, his only option was to go back to killing beast twenty levels above himself. It was the reason getting the stuff the beast hoarded was so imperative; if he was going to start fighting real threats, he’d need some real gear. A couple days ago he’d been considering poaching someone during the beast wave to help him hunt for the next few weeks. They didn’t need to be some breakout talent, just an unaffiliated warrior or healer around his level that he could pay. Now that plan was starting to look unfeasible; he couldn’t spare the experience and meet his deadline. It was pretty clear by now the only way to succeed with his quest was to form alliances. However, even if he somehow managed to convince every powerhouse in the area but his targets to join ranks, it would all be for nothing if he died from an errant strike of someone fifty levels above his own.
The skill levels, on the other hand, were a bit more encouraging. He’d managed to earn over fifty cumulative levels across seventeen skills, showing his time grinding the weaker creature wasn’t entirely pointless from the perspective of power. The most interesting thing he’d learned, however, had been about his mastery skills. While Alex was able to train and follow the skills proffered guidance at all times, only once he applied what he’d learned in combat would the skill actually level. He supposed it was a bit like the difference between studying and taking a test; he needed to prove he could make use of the theory, not that he’d simply learned it. Breaking away from his interface, Alex glanced at the lair to double-check nothing had changed before diving back in.
***
Your skill [Meditation (Common)] has advanced to E-Grade. Pick one of the following upgrades:
Meditation (Uncommon) – Grants an active 10% boost to the recovery of all energy pools when in use. May the understanding of your mind be your pathway to greatness. Skill ability correlates to Wisdom and Willpower.
Mind’s Eye Meditation (Rare) - Gain a mental habitat of up to 5x5x5 meters to retreat into while meditating. You may choose what this space will look like upon first entry, after which it can be edited yearly. You will also gain the ability to add up to three removable copies of real-world items, by being in constant contact with said item for one minute straight. Copied items will only be visible whilst in the mental space. If an item is removed, it will be lost forever unless manually re-added. Grants an active 20% boost to the recovery of all energy pools when in use. May the understanding of your mind be your pathway to greatness. Skill ability correlates to Wisdom, Willpower, and Intelligence.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Ethereal Meditation (Rare) - Your mind may slip into the Ether when meditating, allowing you to temporarily immerse yourself in the foundational energies of creation. May the understanding of the Ether be your pathway to greatness. Grants an active 20% boost to the recovery of all energy pools when in use. Skill ability correlates to Wisdom and Intelligence.
***
Based on the two skills he’d manage to get to E-Grade, the first skill was likely to be a direct continuation of the prior skill but upgraded. That was fine when the skill was uncommon or rare, but for the few common skills he held, it seemed unlikely he’d pick them, unless he wasn’t offered any others. He didn’t know if there was a minimum number of choices, but the variation between Pain Resistance’s upgrade and this one made Alex guess it was possible.
Moving on to Mind’s Eye Meditation, he was certain which upgrade he wanted. His imagination had always been powerful, but the ability to literally sit in a place in his head, while his physical form remained unmoving was super cool stuff. He wondered if he would have a body, or just need to interact with things mentally. Could he train while meditating, or could the skill at least upgrade to allow him to do it in the future. Beyond the potential the skill held, the copying feature seemed useful as well. Alex didn’t know how he’d make use of it exactly, but he wasn’t complaining.
Reading over the last choice to make sure he covered his bases, he found himself surprisingly intrigued by the comparably lackluster definition of Ethereal Meditation. Alex still felt he was unlikely to pick the upgrade, but after rereading Mind’s Eye Meditation from a different viewpoint, the thing that had piqued his interest clicked. Both these skills seemed to be offered in relation to his classes. The item copying part of the first could link to the thieving side of his Assassin class, while the ether that was mentioned likely had something to do with Planestrider. It was a bit different from the ‘Astral’ the class spoke of, but he felt the idea held; apparently all those points in wisdom were having some impact after all.
The only fault in his theory was the lack of class related upgrades for Pain Resistance, unless Sense Transference counted. Wanting to see if he could get a clue from the options Sixth Sense offered, he put off upgrading Meditation for the moment.
***
Your skill [Sixth Sense (Epic)] has advanced to E-Grade. Pick one of the following upgrades:
Sixth Sense (Epic) - Gain the ability to passively understand the energies of mana and aura in everyday life. When supplying mana to the skill, each individual sense will gain +100% in acuity. If the skill is active and a minimum of four senses are functional, you may create a sphere of influence, no greater than sixty meters, of which its entirety is visible to the user at all times. Parts of the sphere obstructed by objects will still provide information, though the quality and information may be of a lower tier. Anticipate danger, uncover secrets, sense better with Sixth Sense. Skill ability correlates to Perception, Willpower, and Intelligence.
True Sense (Epic) - Gain the ability to passively understand the energies of mana and aura in everyday life. Permanent +50% in individual sense acuity. A permanent sphere of influence will be generated around you allowing for a three-dimensional three-hundred-sixty-degree view, no greater than twenty-five meters, at all times. Parts of the sphere will not be obstructed by objects between the user and the end of their sphere of influence. Anticipate danger, uncover secrets, sense better with Sixth Sense. Skill ability correlates to Perception and Intelligence. Skill will no longer be upgradable.
Ether Sense (Epic) - Gain the ability to passively understand and interact with the ether. When supplying mana to the skill, each individual sense will gain +25% to comprehension. If the skill is active and all senses are functional, you may create a sphere of influence, no greater than twenty meters, of which its entirety is visible to the user at all times. Parts of the sphere obstructed by objects will still provide information, though the quality and information will be of a significantly lower tier. Anticipate danger, uncover secrets, sense better with Sixth Sense. Skill ability correlates to Perception, Wisdom, and Intelligence.
***
Alex was both pleasantly surprised, and a bit disappointed as he read over the options for Sixth Sense. All three were viable, but with the pattern of the first choice offering a rarity upgrade, he’d been quietly hoping to unlock his first legendary skill. Of course, what he’d gotten was still more than solid. The third one seemed to prove his earlier theory, even going as far as to allow interactions with the mysterious energy. He wasn’t necessarily opposed; it was more so that Alex had no clue what Ether was. He also didn’t have anyone to ask, nor did he want to wait in upgrade purgatory while seeing if he could find someone who knew and wouldn’t use the information against him.
If he did decide to pick one of the ether skills, it would make the most sense to pick both, but when all three of the Sixth Sense upgrades were viable, it made the decision a bit difficult. The base skill upgrade doubled every current function of the ability, only required four senses to use, and lowered the distortion of obscured items in his sphere. That seemed like a skill worth a legendary grading to Alex, though he was admittedly lacking experience in that department. But even with all that, True Sense, which was only improved in two categories, while offering a smaller maximum view than his F-Grade skill, was still in contention by the pure fact it would be permanent.
He wouldn’t need to supply it with mana, nor could he lose the bubble for any reason, he’d permanently gain a literal sixth sense. It would work without any of his base five senses and remove the obfuscation factor, but it would no longer be upgradable. That last fact was really the only drawback. A size reduction could be dealt with, but having an E-Grade skill forever could end up as a mountain of lost potential. If he was being offered a permanent version of the skill now, what was to say he wouldn’t be offered another later.
Having made up his mind, he confirmed options for both skills.
***
Skill Meditation (Common) successfully upgraded to: Mind’s Eye Meditation (Rare)
Grade: E
Level: 25
Skill Sixth Sense (Epic) successfully upgraded to: Sixth Sense (Epic)
Grade: E
Level: 25
***
As much as some random potentially primordial energy interested him, Alex couldn’t risk upending his main skill, and another he used quite often in the hopes the rewards were worth it.
After another Soul Sight aided search showed nothing in terms of movement from the beast, Alex was about to read over his general information when he remembered his still unused skill reward. He now had three skills he could use it on to reach E-Grade with thanks to his leveling spree, though he was certain Fear Resistance was the best option. The skill hadn’t gained a single level in the last few days, and he still believed its upgrade would synergize with Physical Resistance, so, only slightly caught up in the level euphoria, he went through with it.
***
You have granted five skill levels to: Fear Resistance
Your skill [Fear Resistance] has advanced to Level Twenty-Two.
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Your skill [Fear Resistance] has advanced to Level Twenty-Six.
Your skill [Fear Resistance (Uncommon)] has advanced to E-Grade. Pick one of the following upgrades:
Harbinger of Dread (Rare) - Create an aura around yourself no greater than three meters, in which you are the subject of your opponent’s greatest fear. Gain additional damage to every attack landed against a person effected by your aura. No need to fear the things that go bump in the night when you can become them. Skill ability correlates to Willpower.
Emotional Control (Rare) - Gain greater control over your every emotion. No longer shall feelings guide your movement, only you are the master of your own actions. Skill ability correlates to Willpower.
Mental Fortress (Uncommon) - Gain increased resistance to mental attacks, both from within and out. Your mind is a fortress. Skill ability correlates to Willpower and Wisdom.
***
The moment he finished reading, Alex had to admit, while not what he was hoping for exactly, they were all viable skills. Harbinger of Dread was the first he ruled out. The skill was cool as all hell, if not a bit on the edgy side, but its call for a higher Willpower and consistent close-range proximity wasn’t a practical option for him. Mental Fortress was by far the closest to the type of skill he’d been aiming for, but Emotional Control could be beyond useful, especially since it was said to work on every emotion.
Another few minutes of thought had Alex deciding to stick with his original plan. It was a bit unfortunate he’d be stuck taking a lower rarity skill, but he thought the benefits outweighed the risks. Even if it didn’t combine upwards, some mental resistance would be necessary in a fight against the king, or potentially just in negotiations with Theodora.
***
Skill Fear Resistance (Uncommon) successfully upgraded to: Mental Fortress (Uncommon)
Grade: E
Level: 26
***
He waited a breath after the confirmation, but when no synergistic notification appeared, he let out a sigh and moved on to his attribute changes.
***
General
Name: Alexander Hunter
Race: Human, E
Age: 21
Level: 28
Grade: E
Classes: Assassin, Planestrider, (Tertiary), (Quaternary),
Titles: Generalist
Achievements: Adaptable, Deathwish, Bloodthirsty, Warden, Murder II, Glutton. 4 of a Kind, Purchasing Power, First-time Homeowner, A cut above the rest, Untainted, Beast Hunter I
Health: 5553/5553
Mana: 5394/5394
Stamina: 5649/5649
Attributes
Strength: 49
Dexterity: 78
Endurance: 41
Wisdom: 56
Intelligence: 72
Willpower: 28
Luck: 23
Charisma: 22
Fortitude: 17
Perception: 64
Free Points: 15
***
The numbers looked good, including the free points. He’d been accumulating them for a few levels now, mainly because he was still undecided as to how he wanted to place them. He could try to do a master of none build, giving a point to Willpower and Endurance each level, but they were bound to get left behind eventually due to his class attribute distribution. There were other options such as min-maxing Dexterity or messing around with ancillary skills, but for the moment he felt holding on to them was his best bet.
There had never been an encounter where he felt like an extra point in any skill would have really changed the landscape of the battle. If he could refrain until he at least unlocked his next class, it would likely be for the best. Doing a slight stretch, to the relieved cracks of a few of his joints, Alex refocused on the cave. The beast had taken lunch an hour ago the day prior, but at the moment it was still curled up in a ball sleep. He didn’t really want to, but if the beast didn’t move in the next couple of hours, he’d need to make his way back for the day. Just as he readied to slip into his new meditation skill to explore its contents, he heard a feminine whisper from below.
“Do you think he knows we're here?”