When Justin stirred awake to the smell of pine and the sound of birdsong, a System notification promptly appeared before his eyes.
You have reached Level 7. You are becoming more competent, but only beginning to realize just how much you don’t know.
Justin thought the description apt, given the revelations of the previous night. But a part of him wondered whether the System was trying to tell him something else. Or was he reading too much into it?
You have one Attribute Point to distribute.
Justin immediately willed it into Charisma.
Your Charisma Attribute is now: 18.
Justin smiled. He knew exactly what came next, and it was long overdue.
As a Level 7 Socialite, you have unlocked your fourth class skill. Choose wisely! There is no going back.
He hadn’t gotten to choose a new skill in four entire levels. But once he saw the skills presented to him, his eyes widened. There weren’t two skills, as expected.
There were three.
Justin perused all three new skills presented to him.
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Graceful Dodge (Passive): Once per encounter, you can elegantly evade an attack or social slight that would have otherwise harmed you, avoiding damage or negative social effects. The chance of success is directly influenced by your Charisma and Coordination Attributes. Cannot trigger against unavoidable attacks.
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Debonair Demeanor (Active): Once per day, you can exude an air of sophistication, significantly boosting your Charisma by +10 for one minute per level in your base Charisma Attribute.
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Add Injury to Insult (Rare, Passive): Deal double damage to any enemy stunned or staggered by your Poison Barb.
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Justin’s mind raced as he considered his options. Though it was tempting to lock in the rare skill, which on its face seemed far more powerful than the others, he forced himself to give each skill a fair comparison.
Graceful Dodge seemed like a versatile defensive skill. On paper, it was even better than Gentleman’s Rebuff. It had the chance of proccing once per encounter instead of once per day. The higher his Charisma and Coordination Attributes, the greater the likelihood of it triggering. It also applied to social attacks, while Gentleman’s Rebuff did not. That its success was influenced by his Charisma made it even more appealing since his Charisma was going to be higher than almost anyone. And unlike Gentleman’s Rebuff, the success of Graceful Dodge wasn’t tied to the other character’s level.
But for all this, there were drawbacks. Just how much did the Coordination Attribute come into play when proccing the skill? His Coordination was laughably low. Did it use Coordination when dodging physical attacks and Charisma when dodging social attacks? Or an average of both Attributes which was then applied to both physical and “social” dodges? It wasn’t exactly clear from the skill description.
There was also the limitation that it wouldn’t work against unavoidable attacks. In a truly dire situation, that might not be enough, but the skill would still be nice to have for everyday situations. However, Gentleman’s Rebuff was stronger in one key way: it absolutely guaranteed Justin would block the first physical attack of the day, as long as the one doing the attacking was Level 12 or lower. He wasn’t sure if this world had so-called “Attribute checks” or “saving throws” to determine these sorts of things, but if it did, they seemed to run in the background with no way to access the information. This made the skill a little less attractive compared to the others. However, the skill’s saving grace was that it procced once per encounter, and each day had a lot of encounters, whether that was clearing out a Vault or navigating social situations.
As for Debonair Demeanor, it was incredibly attractive and far simpler to understand. Increasing his Charisma by 10 for several minutes could turn even the most stubborn adversary into a compliant ally. Negotiations, social gatherings, and even persuading enemies to back down would be child’s play. With a base Charisma of 18, the boost would last for eighteen minutes, and the duration would increase as he raised his Charisma Attribute even more.
But then, it was temporary and could only be used once per day, perhaps highlighting its power. Of course, Justin saw the potential of it being a warming-up move for his other skills that used Charisma. Poison Barb, Dandy’s Swagger, and Dazzling Display especially benefit from a +10 to Charisma. There would be very few people, and even monsters, on Eyrth that could resist that. If his calculations were correct, when considering all his buffs and equipment, he could get his Charisma boosted to 32 during the duration of the skill.
Then he considered the third option, Add Injury to Insult. That the skill was classified as rare immediately caught his attention. In a world where most of his abilities focused on social prowess rather than direct combat, a skill that could bolster his offensive capabilities was a game-changer.
Add Injury to Insult was straightforward but powerful. As his Charisma continued to outpace that of other characters and even monsters, his Poison Barb skill would only grow more potent. This synergy was crucial—while he lacked investment in his Power Attribute, which was traditionally tied to physical strength, this skill could bridge that gap by allowing him to leverage his social skills in combat situations. It was a rare opportunity to enhance his combat effectiveness without compromising his character’s social strengths.
The versatility of the skill was another significant advantage. It wasn’t limited to just stunned enemies; it also affected those who were staggered. While the System’s exact definition of “staggered” was unclear, Justin had noticed that his Poison Barb often caused enemies to falter or hesitate, even if it didn’t fully stun them. If that counted as “staggering,” it meant he’d have multiple chances to deal double damage in quick succession, turning a narrow window of opportunity into a decisive strike.
The potential for this skill to chain with itself was enticing. If he could consistently land Poison Barb stuns for three or more seconds, he’d be able to refresh the cooldown and repeat the process. This would create a devastating cycle where his enemies were repeatedly debilitated and struck down, all while he maintained his focus on what he did best—wielding words as weapons.
Add Injury to Insult wasn’t just a combat skill; it synergized seamlessly with his existing abilities, making it an ideal fit for his build. It offered a unique way to convert his social dominance into tangible physical power, ensuring he could hold his own even when words alone weren’t enough. That it was passive was the icing on the cake—no cooldowns, no complicated activation. All he had to do was create the conditions for the skill to work, and given his knack for using Poison Barb, creating those conditions wouldn’t be difficult. The skill’s utility was likely to remain steadfast, even as his character continued to level up, ensuring it would be a valuable asset for the long haul.
The only drawback he could identify was that it wouldn’t be useful against enemies with high resistance to Charisma or immunities to stuns and staggers. But then again, how often would he encounter that kind of enemy at such a low level? By the time he faced those challenges, his character would have likely bridged the gap with new skills or gear to offset those weaknesses. For now, Add Injury to Insult seemed like the perfect way to leverage his strengths and capitalize on his growing Charisma.
Though Justin already knew his choice, he forced himself to weigh the pros and cons and not let the “rare” modifier influence him. Graceful Dodge offered versatility but had limitations. Debonair Demeanor provided a temporary, albeit significant, boost, and had great synergy with his other skills.
But Add Injury to Insult …it promised constant utility in almost every combat situation he’d be in.
The choice was simple, though Justin mourned losing out on Debonair Demeanor. Seeing a Dazzling Display under its effect would likely be extremely powerful, but Add Injury to Insult was everything he needed right now to balance out his build.
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With a mental click, he confirmed his selection.
You have chosen: Add Injury to Insult
A warm sensation washed over him as the skill was integrated into his being. With the knowledge, he felt a newfound sense of confidence and resolve. He smiled as he realized he wouldn’t be completely useless in battles anymore.
As with every level up, Justin summoned his character sheet to check how much experience he needed to reach the next level:
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Justin Talemaker
Class: Socialite
Level: 7
Experience to Level 8: 269/940
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Attributes:
Power: 10
Coordination: 11 (10 +1)
Endurance: 12 (10 +2)
Intellect: 10
Perception: 11 (10 +1)
Charisma: 20 (18 +2)
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Justin came out of his concentration to find that someone had already served him some pork, while most of the camp was packed up.
“There you are,” Lila said. “You were just staring off into space for a good thirty minutes.”
Justin frowned, already digging into his meal. “Was it really that long?”
“Oh, yeah. My Level 7 skill was an easy one to decide.”
“What’d you pick?” Justin asked curiously.
“The Song of Elyndra: Sing a secret song to Elyndra, Goddess of Coordination, increasing your Party’s movement and attack speed by 20% for two minutes. The song also benefits allies within twenty feet.”
“Hey, that sounds like it would come in handy. Does it have a cooldown?”
“Twenty minutes,” Lila said. “So, it’ll still be useful for Vaults that last longer than that. Plus, when I use the song, I basically get a 40% increase in attack speed because of my ring.”
“I wouldn’t want to be on the other side of that,” Justin said. “That’s another question I’ve been meaning to ask. I know about Arion, God of Power, and I guess Elyndra, Goddess of Coordination. What are the gods of the other Attributes?”
Kargan looked at him strangely. The orc still didn’t know Justin’s history, or lack thereof, in this world. Justin really needed to be more careful with what he said.
Lila answered. “There’s Thalora, Goddess of Endurance. Vesperis, God of Intellect. Lioran, God of Perception. And finally, Zephyra, Goddess of Charisma.”
“I see. It seems like Arion is the most worshipped, though.”
“In this part of the world, yes. But go south and you’ll find that Vesperis and Zephyra are more popular. In my country, Lioran is highly favored, while in the southwest of Aranthia, Thalora is the most popular. However, all are part of the Pantheon of the Church of Light, equally esteemed for what they provide.”
“What about the Creator?” Justin asked. “Is he above all of them?”
Lila seemed hesitant to discuss this, lowering her voice when doing so. “Yes. I guess you could say he is the highest deity of all, on a higher plane than the Six. The Six are who you talk to when you want something. The Creator is just not someone you talk to, you know? He’s too important for average people like you and me.”
“I see,” Justin said. He supposed it was like Catholics praying to Mary as an intermediary, or perhaps a saint. The concept wasn’t wholly unfamiliar to him.
“What about your new skill?” Lila asked. “I forgot to ask.”
“Well,” Justin said, with a smile, “it’s rare.”
Lila’s eyes widened, and even Eldrin and Kargan’s ears seemed to perk at that.
“Rare?” Lila asked. “Tell me!”
“It’s called Add Injury to Insult. I deal double damage when I stun or stagger an enemy with Poison Barb.”
“Whoa,” Lila said. “Is it a once-a-day thing?”
“No. Passive.”
“No way!” Her eyes seemed to consider the possibilities. “Imagine, you’re going to hit twice as a hard now. I didn’t think Socialite was a damage dealing class, but with that skill alone, you can be.”
Kargan grunted approvingly. “That’s a game-changer, Justin. With that kind of skill, you’ll be mowing down your enemies, provided you can reach them with your words and cane.”
Eldrin nodded. “You made a wise choice; it’s hard to imagine a better skill being presented than that one.”
Justin felt a swell of pride at their reactions. “Thanks, everyone. I’m not sure why I got it, but I feel a lot better about our chances now.”
But as Justin thought of his and Eldrin’s conversation from the previous night, maybe there was a reason he’d gotten the skill. The Ranger had mentioned Prismatic Cores also increased the chances of being presented with Rare Skills. He could only hope he got other such advantages in the future.
Justin joined the party in the morning preparations, which were almost done.
“We’d better leave,” Eldrin said. “We’ve a long way to travel yet.”
As they set out north, leaving no trace behind, the forest welcomed them with its natural beauty. The trees stood tall and proud, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. Sunlight danced through the branches, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. Birds flitted from tree to tree, their songs creating a soothing symphony.
“This forest is so beautiful,” Lila remarked, her voice filled with wonder. “It’s hard to believe we were fighting for our lives yesterday.”
“That’s the nature of our journey,” Eldrin replied, his eyes scanning the surroundings. “One moment, we’re in danger; the next, we’re in a natural paradise. It’s the balance of our world.”
Justin took a deep breath, savoring the crisp, clean air. “I could get used to this.”
They walked in companionable silence for a while, each lost in their thoughts and the tranquility of the forest. They were heading north, toward Windfall, and for now, the journey was as important as the destination.
Here, it seemed danger was far away, so Lila sang her new Song of Elyndra as they navigated a steep incline. Almost immediately, Justin felt his speed increase as if the Goddess Elyndra herself infused into his limbs. For two whole minutes, he pushed forward until they were at the top of the hill, with majestic views of the surrounding forest and the Umbers to the west.
And to the north, for the first time, Justin could spy vast northern mountains in the distance. The peaks were jagged and towering, capped with snow that glistened in the sunlight. Wisps of clouds clung to the upper reaches, while lower down, dark green forests blanketed the slopes. Waterfalls cascaded down the mountainsides, their mist catching the light and creating rainbows.
“The Seraphim Range,” Eldrin said. “Aranthia’s northern border, and the tallest mountains on this part of the continent. Windfall will be somewhere over there.”
He pointed to the western arm of the mountain range, where they met the Umbers.
“Looks like a lot of elevation to gain,” Justin said.
“Yes. We’ll be out of the Northwood soon. I’m certain there is a village or two on the way in the foothills. Come. We need to keep moving.”
The forest thinned out slightly, revealing the faint outline of an old, overgrown trail winding through the trees. Eldrin, unsurprisingly, was the first to spot it. He kneeled down, brushing aside some undergrowth to reveal a path that looked like it hadn’t seen regular use in years.
“Look here,” Eldrin said, his voice thoughtful. “Looks like an old trail.”
Justin peered over his shoulder. “Do you think it’s safe to follow?”
Lila glanced around, her eyes scanning the surrounding hills. “It’s this or continue bushwhacking. This trail could save us a lot of time and energy.”
Kargan nodded, but his brow was furrowed. “But what if it leads us into trouble? We don’t know where it goes.”
Eldrin inspected the trail, noting faint but recent footprints. “Someone’s used this path recently. It’s overgrown but not completely abandoned. I think it’s safe enough.”
Justin looked at the others, seeing the mixture of curiosity and caution on their faces. “All right, let’s follow it. We should be careful, though.”
As they walked along the trail, the signs of wildlife became more apparent. Deer tracks crisscrossed their path, and bird nests perched high in the trees. A fox den nestled among the roots of an old oak tree, its occupants peering out curiously before retreating into the shadows.
“Seems like this trail’s a lifeline for the local wildlife,” Eldrin observed. “We should be in good company.”
The trail gradually led them to higher elevations, and soon they found themselves at a vantage point overlooking a vast valley. The scene before them was breathtaking: a river wound through the valley below, its waters sparkling in the midday sun. Along the banks of the river was a small village nestled among a stand of trees, filled with sturdy houses and thatched roofs, a water mill, and small surrounding fields growing winter wheat.
“Is this the Marin?” Justin asked.
“It is,” Eldrin confirmed. “Much smaller this far north, even though we’re only a hundred miles from Highcliff.”
“Can we go to that town?” Lila asked. “I’d kill for a warm bed to sleep in.”
“It should be safe enough,” Eldrin confirmed. “I imagine it would be impossible for them to have sent anyone up into this isolated valley.”
In the distance, the Seraphim Mountains rose majestically, their snow-capped peaks and blue glaciers glistening against the clear blue sky. Cascading waterfalls tumbled down the mountainsides, adding a dynamic beauty to the serene landscape.
“Wow,” Justin breathed, taking in the panoramic view. “This is incredible.”
If he had a button that would take him back to his old life, he might hesitate to press it, at least at the moment, just because of this vista. If every day could be like this rather than running for his life, he’d see the appeal of staying here.
“It’s been years since I’ve been up this way,” Eldrin said. “The Seraphims are one of the most beautiful sights in all Serenthel.”
“What’s on the other side?” Justin asked.
Eldrin shrugged. “The Everwood Forest, and beyond that, the Frostplain, which is tundra. Very dangerous lands. Too much for even a Ranger like me, at least in most parts. Dire wolves, frost trolls, ice drakes, frost elementals, wraiths, frost giants. Far safer on this side. There is one large city, called Kaldrath, near the Ghostly Sea, but it’s a long journey and not worth the effort.”
They took in the scenery, the grandeur of the mountains filling Justin with a sense of awe and tranquility. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and the distant sound of rushing water.
Kargan observed the mountains, but it seemed nothing new to him. It was certainly a common sight for him.
“We should get moving soon,” Eldrin said eventually. “But let’s take a few more minutes to enjoy this. Moments like these are rare.”
The group nodded in agreement, savoring the serenity of the mountains for a little while longer before they would have to continue their journey down into the valley.