Chapter 9 - Adaptation_Altered Realms: Absolution (Book 2)

Wham! Through the quiet rumblings of the night, three simultaneous explosions rocked the island of Blights End. Eli stood motionless, staring at the blade of his axe. The head of a newly crafted axe of bone and wood, now stuck two inches into the seemingly indestructible Ironbark Oak.

After nearly an hour repeated attempts at channeling an offensive spell into his blade, he finally found success. Where each of his previous attempts had left him with nothing more than sore hands and a slightly depleted mana-bar, his last woke half of the island.

Looking down to inspect his handiwork, Eli saw minimal damage to the tree itself. It would heal itself within a few days or week, if left alone. What left him in shock, was that he had, in fact, been able to damage it at all.

Cutting through the silence, Eli heard an angry voice, “Will you please stop that insuperable racket! I’m trying to sleep here!”

As Eli’s shock and excrement turned to embarrassment Eli pulled his axe from the tree, before sneaking back to his room. With each step, his pace increased and his smile grew. Then he saw the notification appear and the edges of his mouth nearly touched his eyes.

*Congratulations! You have learned a new ability: Imbue Weapon*

Imbue Weapon: Imbue an equipped weapon with an available* spell. Your next attack(s) take on the properties of that spell. *Spell must be known, available to cast, and able to be cast.

Cast Time: Instant | Cooldown: 10 seconds | Cost: Variable - Mana Cost of Spell. No additional cost |Duration: Variable - Duration of cast spell. - If spell is not triggered it will automatically fail after 20 seconds, 10 seconds if item is thrown or no longer equipped. - Can be dispelled. - If caster loses consciousness, spell fails. | Range: Touch - Maybe be cast on thrown weapons. | Requirements: Must be used on a weapon. Weapon must be equipped.

Effect(s): Variable - Based on cast spell. Removes any somatic component from any spell used with this ability. If the cast spell includes an attack, your next physical attack with the target of this ability counts as a magical attack and takes on the effects of the cast spell.

While attempting to gain this specific ability, Eli tested some of his skills. Using his Create Object spell he fashioned himself a sturdy double-bit axe, one designed for battle rather than chopping trees. While searching out for materials to use, he found a behemoth of a monster.

Nearly a hundred feet below him, he found the skeleton of what looked to be a massive humanoid insect with large mandible, and bladed arms that ended in what looked to be claws used for tunneling. While it appeared to have died ages ago, while tunneling from one edge of the forest to the other its exoskeleton and skull remained. Where it was headed, he had no idea. He just hoped that they were gone.

Brushing the thought of an army of ten foot tall insecticides with axes for arms aside, he focused on his task. The last thing they needed was to fight something with claws that could dig through stone, and mandibles that could cut a man in two. Even one of them could most likely wipe his entire party.

Focusing on the the awareness that came with the spell, he knew that the creatures carapace was several times lighter and more durable than steel. Replicating the properties of the thick ivory bone from the long dead monstrosity, Eli crafted a skull shaped axe head with two viciously sharp edges. A moment later, he looked for what would the rest of the weapon he knew best.

Continuing his search, Eli pulled from the nearby Ironbark oak to form a simple wooden shaft. The dense, nearly indestructible wood continued down the handle, ending with a small spike.

Finishing the weapon he wrapped it with the waterproof skin of a nearby salamander. The thick hide of the crocodile sized creature made for a comfortable, if somewhat tacky, grip.

Safely back to his room Eli paused, thinking of the weapon. Pulling it from the frog at his waste, he took a moment to appreciate his handiwork. The weapon in his hand had only taken a moment to craft, his new Natures Focus ability cutting the crafting time in half. Using the ability drained nearly a quarter of his mana, but it was worth it. In an instant, he held a devastating weapon. One as beautiful as it was deadly.

Battle Axe of the Burrowing Horror

Reinforced: This item has been reinforced, +10 Durability.

Vicious: This weapon causes bleeding damage. Standard attacks cause one stack of bleeding effect; critical hits cause two.

Balanced: This weapon is light and properly balanced. +10% attack speed.

Massive: This weapon is larger and deals extra damage. +10% Base Damage

After checking the items stats an an idea brewing formed in the back of Eli’s mind. Sensing his connection to the axe he severed it, causing the spell to fail as his creation poofed out of existence. Less than five seconds later it reappeared with a flash as the Wolffens mana dropped by a third.

Then he sat, holding the weapon. With his eyes fixated on its blades, Eli pressed his mana through them. In rapid succession they shrank into a singular point as the handle grew to take the form of a speer. A moment later the speer-tip grew and reformed into a single massive blade to make the shape of a sword. Finally the weapon shifted to the shape of a war hammer with a vicious clawed edge on the back of a spiked hammer.

As the weapon changed, the stats and type of the item fluctuated to reflect whatever form it took.

Spear of the Burrowing Horror

Reinforced: This item has been reinforced, +10 Durability.

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Versatile: This weapon can be used in one hand or two.

Reach: This weapon can attack from a distance of up to ten feet without penalty.

Balanced: This weapon is light and properly balanced. +10% attack speed.

Hwando of the Burrowing Horror

Reinforced: This item has been reinforced, +10 Durability.

Vicious: This weapon causes bleeding damage. Standard attacks cause one stack of bleeding effect; critical hits cause two.

Versatile: This weapon can be used in one hand or two.

Balanced: This weapon is light and properly balanced. +10% attack speed.

War Hammer of the Burrowing Horror

Reinforced: This item has been reinforced, +10 Durability.

Versatile: This weapon can be used in one hand or two.

Armor Piercing: This weapon punches through armor. + 20% armor penetration.

Balanced: This weapon is light and properly balanced. +10% attack speed.

Nearly out of energy, Eli reformed the weapon into the shape of an axe and closed his eyes. An hour passed, as visions of a versatile warrior took shape in his mind. Clad in light armor, made of bone and soft leathers, he weaved through the battlefield. His weapon changed, adapting to his enemy at will. Branches shot from the ground to propel him forward, while causing his enemies to falter. As his weapon met his foes, explosions irrupted and consumed them. Not just a warrior, but was a force of nature.

It was what he wanted to become, who he wanted to be. Someone who controlled the world around him, bent it to his will, rather than accept things as they were. With that vision in mind and his mana full, he opened his character sheet. He knew what he had to do.

“Aida, do you have any suggestions before I spend my points? I know you know my build,” Eli asked, his ability scores hovering in his vision.

“Not really. I think you’re on the right track. Your class can take on any number of combat roles. Long ranged damage dealer, battlefield controller and meleed attacker are just a few. They can also be combined in a number of ways. What I would recommend is focusing on one area for now, but try to remember to have some balance. Build into a role you’re comfortable with. Strength, constitution and spirit are always good choices. But don’t discount luck, charisma, and intelligence. Not only are they the most difficult to raise naturally, they are also vital to leadership. Intelligence directly effects your rate of growth, cognition, and ability to learn. For someone in you’re position, these effects might be larger than with the average player. Same for luck and charisma. How are you going to negotiate with other cities, nations, merchants, or guilds if your charisma is barely above average.”

Breaking his silence, Eli pressed his AI for a more direct response, “I get it. I need to be well balanced and take my larger role as guild leader into consideration. But I can’t help anyone if I’m dead, or can’t physically protect my people.”

“Eli, stop. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Teach them how to protect themselves. Give them the tools and resources necessary. You said it yourself. You’re all stronger when you work together. While NPC’s don’t level or learn new skills like players do, they can still take on profession and learn new things. Some can even learn abilities through class changes. Others already have ones that allow them to do things players can’t. They just don’t call them abilities.”

In shock, Eli’s mouth fell open. With a whisper, he stammered, “But. But, I didn’t have any abilities. No one I know has any abilities, at least none of the NPCs.”

“Yes you did. Think about it Eli. How do you think you were able to track game, set up perfect traps, and see so far when you drew your bow. How do you think you could chop trees all day without tiring. You had passive abilities and skills. You just didn’t know or think about them. You weren’t aware of the system, but it was still there. Right now William is copying spell, class, and ability books in the library? How do you think he does this?

“I don’t know. He’s a mage and knows the magic behind it?”

“Eli, he’s an NPC. He can read the code and replicate the items. It’s an ability, one that only scholars get, powerful ones. He just thinks he’s reading some long dead magical language and translating it into something usable by players. If he had the right tools he it would take him days or weeks instead of months. You could outfit your entire town, including some of the NPCs, with new abilities or unique classes.” Floating around his face, Aida whispered, “Think big Eli. Really big. Think about your future. Then think about your place in the future of these people. What do you want to be to them. More importantly, what do you want to be for yourself.”

Nodding. Eli adjusted his ability scores.

Eli Miller

Level 8

Hitpoints: 310 / 310 | Stamina: 240 / 240 | Mana: 160 / 160

Attributes:

Strength - 30 (+20% to base damage of strength based weapons | + 25% carrying capacity)

Dexterity - 17

Constitution - 23 (+20% natural health and stamina regeneration rate)

Intelligence - 11

Spirit - 30 (+20% natural mana regeneration rate)

Charisma - 20

Luck - 20

Available attribute points: 0

Accept changes: Yes / No.

Before accepting his changes, Eli reached out to Aida one last time, “What do you think?”

“Why luck instead of dexterity and intelligence, or more constitution?”

“Because, I know people who can help me with those. One of which, Is probably still in the library” Eli said, turning to the door of his room knowingly. “For dexterity, I could just ask Kata to put me through some drills. Heck, I know most of them already. I could probably just set up a course myself. It just takes time.”

“You want the bonuses don’t you.”

Lowering his head, Eli shrugged, “Well of course I want the bonus. I want know what it does.”

Floating silently, Aidas color shifted from a bright sky blue to a brilliant pink. “I’m just messing with you Eli. You’re finally learning. Bonuses are good.”

With a nod, Eli selected yes.

Chapter 9 - Adaptation

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