After recovering from that unbearable itch, Isaac gritted his teeth while trying to stand up only to fall forward to the ground as his balance was destroyed by having red wings behind his back. A quiet chuckle emerged from everyone as Isaac can only try once more. Just standing up is hard then how will it be possible for him to fly. Isaac can only sigh in his predicament.
“Next” the dryad said while calmly looking at everyone. Everyone’s eyes are locked on Kyle as he can only smile awkwardly. His gaze locked at Aleena who jolted in fear once she noticed. Taking in pain was normal for Aleena no matter how severe it but seeing Isaac desperately scratching his back while not giving a care about his well-being was enough to terrify her.
Kyle moved his gaze to the dryad who was sipping her tea like what they choose doesn’t matter to her. “Do you have the skill [Life Siphon] and [Lightning Aura]?”
“I don’t have the skill [Lightning Aura] but I have a variant of it which is [Lightning Physique]. While i don’t have the skill [Life Siphon] since i gave it away, i have the skill [Vampiric Attacks] which is the opposite of that spell.” the dryad smiled
“I see…” Kyle nodded before gazing at Aleena once more.
“Let me explain first what both of those skills are. The variant [Lightning Physique] allows you to have 50% resistance to all lightning-based attacks and 50% absorption to all lightning-based attacks. There is also an active part of this skill that allows you to summon lightning from the sky to hit yourself or your enemy. Once you absorb a bolt of lightning, you can exchange it for explosive attacks or for quick lightning dashes. Next is the skill [Vampiric Attacks] which every damage you deal to your enemy, heals you by a percentage of 25% and have a 15% of applying the [Bleeding] debuff which weakens your enemies by increasing their stamina, mana, and aura cost for doing basically anything from casting spells or even running.” Kyle explained as Aleena nodded in appreciation.
She was torn on what to choose. Despite the skill [Vampiric Attacks] is indeed valuable in surviving, she still wants to dodge and weave across the battlefield and it would be useless if the enemy can run away from her. She’s still angry at the ambush of the twins since she becomes a piece of baggage to her team. She can’t afford to be that useless once more and only the [Lightning Physique] can help her close in against enemies who can kill her from afar. With a gulp, she stared at the dryad before confirming her choice.
“I choose [Lightning Physique]” Aleena steeled herself as the dryad nodded. A string of notifications appeared in her peripheral before lightning coursed through her body. A sudden scream was cut short as she collapses to the floor as she can only grit her teeth. She was paralyzed as the lightning continuously course through her body. She felt that a thousand worms are wriggling around her skin as she can’t even move her body to retaliate. This lasted for a minute before she can stand up again, the disgusting feeling was gone but her body was laced with sweat as she can only prop her back on the trunk of the tree to calm herself. That was an experience she wouldn’t want to experience ever again. She shot a terrifying glare at Kyle before looking away.
“Umm…“Kyle scratched his cheeks as he can only smile at Aleena who didn’t even glance at him.
“Listen to me. Both of them chose a body alternation skills so its normal to receive those ‘side-effects’ as i would like to call them” Kyle smiled but no one was believing him. Seeing what happened to the both of them, they can’t help but be terrified of what happened to them.
“For Melissa. Your battle style is extremely simple which is charge until they die right?” Kyle said as Melissa can only reluctantly nod. He wasn’t wrong but she hated someone addressing her fighting style as it was how she was trained by her parents before they died. It was how she can use her class effectively in combat, take reckless charge and blow the enemies to pieces in one fell swoop.
“Isn’t your skills revolve around you being angry and have low health to deal monstrous damage?” Kyle asked
“How do you know?” Melissa asked back with anger and suspicion in her eyes. Only Cellica knows her secret but somehow Kyle knows it and has the audacity to ask to confirm his statement. Well for Kyle, even a normal warrior can see her having a skill that would benefit her if she has low health when she is covered in injuries but started getting stronger instead or even fighting back.
“Nevermind, Cellica will explain to you later. Anyways, most of the time, your enemy would escape right? Both of you and Aleena has the same style of fighting so i figure that the both of you need a skill that will help both of you to reach your enemy” Kyle explained like a salesperson talking to his customer with a friendly smile and charismatic tone but Melissa only grunted in response.
“So i know of skill called [Ravenous Fighter] which the lower the percentage of health you have, the faster you attack, chase and increases your vitality stat. Which by the time you hit 15% health left, you would have increased your speed by 250% and your vitality stat will increase by a rank and a tier. Plus, when your enemy has a higher percentage of health than yours. You will gain 200% health regeneration based on your vitality until you will have a higher percentage of health than your target. Although, you would need to be careful against quick bursts of damage, against continuous ones. You would gain an extreme advantage over your enemy. " Kyle smiled as even Melissa was excited once he revealed the information. It would mean she can drag her enemy to death faster the lower her health. To her, it was a perfect skill that incorporated every skill that she currently has.
“Do you have that skill?” Melissa carefully asked the dryad since she was scared to be disappointed if she doesn’t have it. The dryad smiled at her gently and nodded. A quick notification can be seen in front of her before picking yes as she heard a loud roar from inside her body. She was confused at first before shrugging it off.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Kyle was relieved that Melissa agreed and the dryad has it. He wanted her to have that skill since it was one of the most important skills she had in his past life making her almost invincible in one versus one battle. It was one of the more niche skills since it requires the user to have low health and no one is dumb enough to still fight once reaching only 15% of their health but for Melissa who was like a raging reckless bull. It was perfect for her.
“So Cellica….want to be the dodgy type or the take hit type?” Kyle asked as Cellica tilted her head.
“I mean do you prefer to dodge or take damage?”
“Dodge would be perfect but I was hoping to incorporate my bow and rapier attacks together”
“Hmmm…i guess it would make sense. As a team, we already have Alrich and Isaac who can take a beating. Damage isn’t a problem though but if that’s what you want. Who am I to care.” Kyle shrugged
“Ms. Dryad, do you have the skill [Fused Attacks]?” Kyle asked but the dryad shakes her head with an apologetic smile.
“I guess…i really do not know what skill would be good for you. If your sacred weapon is a bow and a rapier when used instead of choosing between a bow or rapier, it would be much easier choosing a skill. Sorry, but I can’t really help you” Kyle said with a smile. Cellica drew a sharp breath as she gaze at Kyle. She stared at Isaac for him to used his eyes but seeing that he was still out of it and was dazed. It’s better to trust Kyle.
“If that’s the situation then I really can’t do anything about it” she replied as Kyle nodded
“What do you recommend since I can see that all of our companions are satisfied with your recommendation. I would like to hear what you will say. " Cellica said with a haughty tone. If she doesn’t like what she hears, no matter what she wanted none of it. It’s a rare occurrence to get a chance like this despite suffering from that despicable prince she saw in the illusion. She wanted to scream in anger but she held it in as a frown formed in her face.
“As a wind hero, you should already have a ton of strong skills and you will naturally gain more while leveling up. You represent the wind so of course no matter what wind-based skill I recommend you. It would be better to not waste a chance like this.” Kyle said to Cellica
“Do you know what the heroes are lacking?” Kyle asked with a cheeky smile as Cellica shakes her head.
“Versatility. What would happen if a wind elemental is your enemy or a Wind Supreme Demon Shamol? They have high resistance to wind or are even outright invulnerable against your wind attacks. You would simply die without the chance of fighting back.” Kyle explained as Cellica nodded and decided to hide her rebuttal. Indeed it was true what Kyle said but it’s unlikely to fight against a wind elemental since they barely appear in the material plane and they are quite docile. As for the demon Shamol, she has never heard of such a demon.
Seeing the doubt in Cellica’s fair face, Kyle chuckled. “It would be better to have a physical way of attacking but since your weapon infuses your attack with the wind. It would be impossible with your current weapon. Let me asked, what weapon were you trained in?”
“All of them”
“I forgot you were a prestigious heir of the Venir Family. How about the skill [Echo]? Which has a 25% of doubling your attack whether it’s magical, physical, elemental and etc. Although it’s only 80% of the original attack, it’s still useful and if you’re lucky, you can get the 5% of tripling your attack. It’s a simple skill but a more versatile one.” Kyle said as Cellica’s expression brightened up. It was simple for sure but it would be extremely strong if she was lucky. With a nod, Cellica stared at the dryad. Sensing her thoughts, the dryad nodded as Cellica smiled widely.
A holographic screen appeared in front of her and after reading the overall effects of the skill. It also has a 1% of quadrupling her attack, it might be extremely hard to pull off but it would destroy anyone she’s attacking. A hint of hesitation appeared on her expression but with a sigh, she clicked yes. Oddly enough, she didn’t feel anything in her body. No pain, no itch, and no paralysis. It seems that what Kyle said is true. Suddenly she can feel her arms moving faster than normal as she nearly slapped Melissa who was beside her. With a quick halt, a notification alert appeared in her face saying your attack has doubled. She didn’t mean to slap Melissa but she just wanted to caress her stiff shoulder but the quick sudden movement of her arms and palm shocked her to the extent of nearly slapping Melissa twice.
“Thank you” Cellica bowed to the dryad in respect as she smiled at her gently before nodding in approval. As the dryad moved her gaze to Kyle
“Now for you. I’m surprised you know a lot of skills that only the higher powers know of. Are you perhaps their child? You have a heroic glow on you albeit a darker and dimmer one.” the dryad spoke mysteriously while gazing deeply at Kyle. Kyle knew the higher powers she mentioned are the leaders and tyrants of this world. Someone who passed the 80th level mark. The peak of strength and power. Still, Kyle was confused about the heroic glow she mentioned and why it was dark and dim. He never was a hero and never will but at first, he wants to be one but the truth of these so-called heroes disgusted him. People who used their immense powers for fame, glory, wealth. That’s why he killed a lot of them in his last life. He shakes his head to forget about those things as it was a useless and redundant memory for him.
“It seems that you are confused. You should not worry as what you’re doing right now is for the greater good no matter how many lesser evil you pick. Situations created the choice of the lesser evil as desperation doesn’t allow to be just and right.” the dryad continued speaking as Kyle and everyone was more confused.
“I guess so…" Kyle muttered
“i would want to have the skill [Broken Limit] please” Kyle replied with a hopeful smile.
“Forgive me but I do not have that skill” the dryad apologized as Kyle can understand the rarity of the skill as he already knew she wouldn’t have it but it was better to always take the chance. It would allow someone to break the level limit. There is an incoming roadblock for all level 49 or below people and it was the domain creation. It was the path of finally becoming an elite fighter in any army but only 25% of people were able to obtain a domain. It would allow him to continue leveling up while looking for an epiphany to create a domain. With a sigh, Kyle can only continue looking for that skill.
“Then i’ll take [Chantless Magic]” the dryad flickered her fingers as Kyle can feel his body being washed in a waterfall as every chaos magic he had was washed with an epiphany. He felt like his head was clearer and brighter. Kyle gazed at the dryad with a thankful smile as he bowed in respect and appreciation. With this, he can finally sleep soundly at night as one of the worries and weaknesses of being interrupted while casting like what happened in the illusion was gone. Everyone was excited to try their newly gained skills as they gazed in the direction of the ruin. Everyone thanked the dryad in their own way as the dryad was delighted with how they conducted themself.