Xane awoke in water. Wait he wasn’t awake he was back in that place he was when he first landed here. He was deep in the water, the same pull as last time beckoning him to go deeper in. He gave in swimming much faster than last time. Unlike his items his stats came with him. He started to see a small glimmer of light. It was the thing calling him. It spoke to him. It spoke not in words but feelings.
It radiated warmth, of fury, of calmness. It felt like the sea itself was calling him. Swimming further and further down he was getting so close. He had to make it. He wanted to get it. He needed to take it. He saw what it was. A small pearl of seaweed green. As he got close he felt his lungs start to burn. He had to breathe. He wanted to breathe. He needed to breathe. But he didn't; he felt his sight fade as he grasped the pearl.
Xane actually awoke face planted on the floor of his cabin, his blanket a tangled mess. His head slightly hurt. He rubbed his head near where his right eye socket was. Xane felt a slight burning sensation in his eye similar to swimming in a pool for too long. Xane dearly stumbled to the bathroom hoping his eye wasn’t infected or something.
Turning on the flicker lights he gasped. His normally light blue eye was gone. Replaced by the same seaweed flecked green pearl he took in his dream. He blinked a few times thinking he was hallucinating. Pinched himself in case he was still dreaming. Nothing worked. This can’t be real. Can it? Xane turned towards his notifications for possible answers and to read up on older ones.
Congratulations, you have learned a new skill.
Dual Wield(Uncommon) Rank 1
When fighting with two weapons from dual daggers to dual greataxe and greatswords you need this skill. Increases accuracy and swing speed whilst having a weapon in both hands.
Penalty of -90% accuracy and increase by 10% till 0%
+1% swing speed per rank.
Congratulations! You have gained a new Feat.
God Touched: You have been touched by a god in some way and given strength
Plus 10 to all stats
????
Feat Unlocked
Godly Imbuement: You have “willingly” imbued yourself with a godly body part.
Plus 5 to all stats
Replace Inspect skill with Godly Eyesight skill (Body part specific)
Plus 5% to all stats
Congratulations, you have learned a new skill!
Godly Eyesight(Legendary)
You have the sight of a god. This is a direct upgrade to the inspect skill.
Instantaneously by looking at an object or creature you will gain enhanced detail about the object or creature. Nothing but legendary skills can block this. You can see through most materials for 15 feet + Intelligence/2 feet. This is affected by depth of obstruction and material of obstruction. This portion of the skill uses 100 mana - Intelligence/6 per second of use. You can zoom in your sight further using 50 stamina - Intelligence/2 stamina every 5 seconds of use.
On a standard of 1-10 Xane was an 8 on freaking out over replacing his eye. On a standard of 1-10 he was at least at 1000 with replacing his eye with what the prompts said was a godly body part. He didn’t remember cutting out his eye and shoving a new one in. The fact that it said willingly in quotations has the connotation that it might not have been that willing. Definitely since Xane had no memory of doing so.
After freaking out a bit more he calmed down. This was a good thing. His stats skyrocketed again and being able to see through things sounded really cool. Also finally having a use for his mana. The cost was exorbitant but if a real god had it, it would probably be a drop in the bucket in mana cost.
Xane gave it a go looking first at the mirror and then activated the skill looking through. What he saw was an odd glow of colors. It was as if he was looking through a kaleidoscope. Even though it didn’t look normal at all he could clearly see what was outside the ship. He saw the still rotting shell of his first kill. Seagulls sat atop it. Near the jungle edge he could see a boar sniffing around. It only took a few seconds of use but a huge headache came on when he ran out of mana.
It slowly started to tick up. He had a vastly bigger pool than yesterday but it still wasn’t enough to satisfy the skill. Xane decided that bursts of use would be best till he got stronger.
Xane truly was a powerhouse when it came to stats for his level. He had to spend 3 hours working out to get anything from it. He decided that until he got heavier weights or something it wasn’t worth it. In the end he only got 1 strength and endurance.
With that done he made a fire to cook up his meats. He sort of made a rotisserie system cooking chunks of meat he diced up. He also took one of his pots and started a stew. He wanted to know if he put something hot in his ring it would stay hot. He tested it with a flaming stick. Putting it in and waiting 3 minutes he pulled it out to find it still on fire as if it was in stasis.
Theory proved he started cooking and putting the cooked meats in his ring for later. Xane marveled at the ring. That poor Akiad guy must have been really powerful to make such a thing. It sort of felt like cheating just having it but Xane quickly dashed that notion for he wanted to survive and this thing was going to make it possible.
On top of that, what happened to his apprentice? The note said the ring was meant for them. Unless the corpse was the apprentice. Xane thought of other things while waiting for things to cook.
Xane spent most of this day cultivating and cooking, getting his stores of food up whilst also increasing in levels. It took 8 hours of constant cooking and cultivating for him to get half of his boar meat done. That didn’t even count the tiger. The stew wasn’t as good since he just threw in a few berries he found and left over veggies. He didn’t store it like the water since that tended to spill a bit when getting it out. Instead he had bowls filled with it as well as the pot.
Xane also wanted more weapons at his disposal. He sharpened some simple sticks to make terrible spears and also lit a few on fire hoping maybe it would add fire damage when he threw it.
Going in and out of cultivation didn’t gain him much experience even though he spent a while at it. Seeing as he really didn’t want to go back in the jungle at the moment he spent the rest of the day cultivating sucking the space dry.
Congratulations, after trials and tribulations you have gained a level!
You have gained a level, as a human you gain 6 attribute points per level.
He pushed all into wisdom since he felt his mana regenerate faster when it went up and he was going to be using that more. With time to spend and the area around him dry of ambient mana he took out the book to examine.
Book of Greater Mana Ammunition(Rare)(Conjuration):
Gives the spell Mana Ammunition
This spell book was crafted by Akiad.
Mana Ammunition(Rare)(Greater)(Conjuration)
At a cost of 50 mana - intelligence/5 per ammunition you can generate ammo for ranged weapons. You can generate ammo directly in ranged weapons. This effect lasts for 2 hours + intelligence/10 hours. Example: arrows, stone, bolts, bullets. The damage and strength of the ammo is based on conjuration rank.
Must have 100 intelligence to learn this spell. Must be level 15 to learn this spell.
Xane regretted using all his points on wisdom. And also made it his goal to get his intelligence to 100. He was running low on ammo, only having 9 shots left. It is an ace that he is reluctant to use. But if he had that he would definitely be able to use his colt more. He did need to be level 15 so it wasn’t all bad. He would have enough in three levels. It would be worth it in the end.
Does everyone with this spell now see bullets? Were they always in the description? Does it only show for me? Forget it, not like someone is here to answer.
With his new godly eye skill he re-examined his stuff only getting a bunch of lore to them that he enjoyed while waiting but really didn’t need to read. What was interesting was when he looked at a seagull again.
Seagull
Level: 8
Stats:
Strength: 27
Constitution: 15
Dexterity: 35
Agility: 41
Endurance: 16
Intelligence: 13
Wisdom: 15
Charisma: 9
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Luck: 12
Basic information: You think a new skill will change this? Nope! Go re-read the old one if you really care.
It was interesting to see the stat distribution of creatures. It seemed that they just went heavy in specific stats, probably not able to choose but naturally grow instead. When he looked at a boar it was mostly constitution and strength instead of dexterity and agility like the seagull. It was also interesting how many stat points they got. It must be more like 9-12 per level because he wouldn't be close to what they had if he didn't get so many from his feats and modifier.
The day was coming to a close as he did things around his boat and he went to bed hoping to not dream again.
Xane did dream again. This time he saw his ship. He was pulled from it as he went straight up. His vision pulled him towards what he was currently calling north. The water raced as he was pulled faster and faster north. What felt like forever but also mere moments he was near another smaller island. This island had to be only 3 miles in diameter. A small smoke stack floated upwards. A large spire of rock protruded from it. In the rock face was the mouth of a cave. It looked like a toothy maw with stalactite and stalagmites jutting out within the cave.
His vision was again pulled inside. Down and down he went. Zooming through spiraling corridors of rock. He couldn’t really see much in the way of detail but swore he saw movement in the shadows. Finally he came to the end. A large cavern with roiling water surrounded a small piece of land on top of that land was a pedestal of stone. Laying on that was an undulating brain. A literal brain. If Xane could have gaged or even puked he might have at the sight.
Words appeared before him.
Help me. Find me. Please.
Similar to the eye in the water he felt enthralled by it. He wanted- no need to get there. To save her. Yes, her. He somehow knew that. He saw one last thing before it went black. A long tentacle reached out towards the brain and a shock of condensed substance shot out destroying the tentacle. He could see though that the energy in the brain drained away.
Xane replayed what he saw. And something sparked a greater sense of urgency than the feeling from the brain. He saw smoke on the island. If the vision was correct it wasn’t that far away. Von could be there. He needed to get the Sierra’s Song ready to sail.
When Xane was fully awake he quickly chowed down on cooked boar. He had a job today. That was pushing the boat off land. He had the idea of increasing his strength enough to just push it himself. That is why he trained every morning and chose strength, usually every level up. He got a bit lax due to it not seeming possible. However, he was fully motivated to complete the task.
He felt like he was nowhere near leveling up again. Xane was torn on two things. Getting his ship un-beached and getting his intelligence high enough to learn his first spell. “Screw magic.” Xane wanted to get to Von however slim it was actually him.
Xane went back into the jungle ready to kill everything in sight. And Xane did. He slew boars, another two jungle tigers and his first weird two headed monkey.
Dicephalic Monkey:
Level: 20
Important Stats:
Strength: 32
Dexterity: 50
Agility: 59
Information: Dicephalic monkeys are an abomination. Dicephalic Monkeys are two headed, two armed monkeys. They were first created by Akiad when he shoved two monkeys together. They quickly got out of containment and started killing the other monkeys, they breed quickly, repopulating like wildfire. Luckily though these things don’t live long and require high amounts of ambient mana to sustain themselves. These “monkeys'' are fast and dexterous things. But beware their strength if angered. This is a pack animal.
P.S: Fun fact they don’t shit. No need to worry about that being thrown at you.
He didn’t agree that the fun fact was indeed fun but liked that he didn’t need to worry about that. He also saw how insane the stats were. Xane earlier had shrunk the list down to the three highest stats, not seeing a point of listing the entire thing every time. It also showed how accurate the information is when it told about the capabilities of the creatures he inspected even before the upgrade.
The fight with the monkey wasn’t that bad. He threw a few spears at it. He only hit 1 out of 4 but the monkey was half his height and the spear was long and heavy slowing it down. It did manage to jump at him, snapping the spear as it did so. The monkey tried to brandish the broken spear like a smaller version but Xane easily cut it down.
The problem came when the rest started throwing objects and themselves at him. Xane still didn’t have anything that could be called armor. The robes in the ring weren’t magical and the suit was but only refitted itself to the wearer and had some sort of cleaning function. He didn’t see the point of ruining either of them.
That is why he took the brunt of the damage at face value. In the face. Stones the size of his head were launched. Twigs and sticks were thrown at random, most doing really nothing to him. However, when one of them landed on him they started to just beat him with their fists or whatever was in their hand at the time. One at one point was beating him with what looked like a squirrel or ferret. Blood gushing out of it on each hit.
Xane having enough put away his blades and just copied the monkeys using his fists and environment to his advantage. Slamming a monkey by its tail into trees and other monkeys. Snapping necks and throwing the bodies at them. He wasn’t proud but when one slapped him he just simply slapped back. With his strength it was a strong hit but was still dumb looking reminding him of the movie night at the museum.
His health wasn’t dropping in chunks like it did when fighting other single creatures but was steadily going down as the blows hit. It was only 3 minutes of fighting that felt like hours. As he killed them they seemed to grow in strength and speed. He assumed that was the ‘beware angering them’ thing. This slowed things but in the end he won. His health was below half as the last one tried and failed to flee a flaming spear jutting from its head. The spears mostly went out from the sheer force he threw them but the charred ends still probably didn’t feel good going in.
Xane gained a level, a rank in hand to hand combat as well as a point in constitution for the beating he took and gave. He felt as if he was half way through level 12 too. He went back to heal up. This took about 2 hour's time only due to using cultivation to speed things up. Xane pushed all into strength. He tried pushing the boat. He felt it barely move but it did. All he would need to do was lower the sails when the wind blew northish and push.
Once done Xane went back in, it was a slaughter as he killed beasts no longer caring about stealth. Xane knew he could leave but he wanted to kill the snake. Xane desired to face that fear high on experience and level ups. Xane killed till he reached level 13.
He had another fight with a jungle creeper. This one level 24. It went smoother than last time. From a distance he threw flaming spears at it till it caught on fire. Each time it was caught ablaze the thing retracted most of its vines to put out the fire. Jungle creepers, confirmed with an inspect, were not intelligent creatures. It was easy to kite it as it burned to death never getting close enough to spew acid at him.
Xane pushed the 6 points into intelligence, feeling strong enough to rescue his boat already. He really wanted that spell just two more levels and it was his.
Xane scanned the jungle. His new skill allowing him to find new prey much easier than before. Apparently trees and foliage really hampered the range of the skill. Living flesh nearly stopped it all together. He really didn't want to see the insides anyways.
He spent another hour hunting. Xane came across another batch of monkeys. The abominations giving him a real fight. One thing Xane wasn't good against was groups of enemies, his weaponry not suited for it. This group was much bigger than the last actually getting him below 60% health. This group was oddly more coordinated. They more effectively circled around him in the trees using cannon fodder to distract him as they relocated.
He applauded their intelligence. The beasts he had been fighting really weren't smart or tactical. Xane really didn’t have to strain his fighting style more than just brute force. He felt that after the fight he only gained 15% of a level. The monkeys were numerous but most were lower level with a few being higher. Xane also felt like each gave less experience the more he killed them.
It was as he was taking the corpses of the fallen when it happened. He didn’t have a timely trip to save him like last time. Huge jaws crunched down on his hip the snake he was hunting started wrapping itself around Xane. Xane in his part was completely frozen. Not in fear but a paralyzing venom coursed via his veins burning a bit as it did so.
You are affected by Paralysis!
You can not move a single muscle.
Time remaining: 4 seconds.
It was the most agonizing 4 seconds of his life. I should have never tried to kill it. I should have just left to find Von. Thoughts roiled in his mind the only thing he really could do. If anything this is a terrible way to go. Xane was getting squeezed to death. His bones were cracking. His ribs damaged from the bite shattered pain coursing through him even though he couldn’t move. 2 seconds remaining.
Xane desperately tried to find an escape. A way to survive. The only reason he was still alive was his high stats but even that wouldn’t save him for long. Xane could still look inward and still see inside his ring. Quickly he looked for an answer. That's when he remembered something. A scroll that was in the ring. He didn’t really see a use before but now was the time. When there was 0 seconds left he took it out.
Scroll of Great Beast Taming
Scrolls are one use spell casts, usually stronger and cheaper in mana but expensive to make. This parchment has been inscribed with a one use casting of the spell Beast Taming. This scroll will tame a creature in the beast category. The beast can not be 5/Charisma levels higher than the caster. The chance to tame beast is 100% - 2 * beast level above caster + 5/Charisma of caster. If successful the beast will fully be in control of the caster. This scroll takes 500 mana to cast. Range: Touch
Xane didn’t like the idea of having a snake of all things as a pet. But looking at his situation it was the only way out. The level of the snake was a good deal higher than his own. Last he saw it it was 25 now it was 26. He didn’t have time to do the math but he estimated above 50% chance. Luck please kick in. He cast Beast Taming the moment he could hands gripping the snake.
The snake went rigid as the magic took hold. It didn't let him go but he could feel the muscles trying to fight off the magic coursing within. Xane was about to wish he had more charisma before he got a notification.
Congratulations, you have tamed your first pet!
Boa Constrictor
Level 26
Pets are a mans and woman's best friend. They will fight by your side or keep your home safe. Not all pets are for fighting with most being utility. Pets, unlike summons, can grow in levels like any other creature can. You can only have 1 pet without a corresponding class.
Congratulations! You have gained a new Feat.
Beast Tamer: Tame your first beast
Plus 2 to charisma
Xane tentatively spoke, the constrictor still holding him but no longer hurting him. His voice was strained as he might have punctured a lung. “Let…go.” Instantly the snake unfurled, dropping him to the ground. Xane breathed heavily, still a little wary of the snake. “Go over there a bit and I don’t know kill anything that gets too close.” The snake was partly confused by the vague “over there” motion but still moved to do so, blending into the surroundings.
Having to trust that the spell worked completely, Xane started to cultivate, pushing all the energy towards healing. He was at 12% when the snake let go and internal bleeding caused another 3% to disappear. Slowly in 4 hours of cultivating he was in tip top shape.
His original plan was to kill the snake for experience but didn’t want to risk killing a pet to not reward any. He ordered the snake to stay behind him and guard his back as he started to leave the jungle. This time he had no plans of coming back anytime soon. Maybe one day too try to get into that tower.
Back at the ship Xane was getting everything situated. He had the snake guarding but mostly just wanted it away from him. He also got tired of calling it ‘snake’. In a desperate and lame way of trying to make it less threatening he named it Gary because who could be scared of something named Gary. He didn’t know if he wanted to take Gary with him but in the end decided to since apparently he only got 1 pet and having one marooned on an island for all time or killed wasn’t the smartest plan. It was also very strong and could come in handy.
It didn’t take long since anything that wasn’t boarded down was shoved in the ring to reduce weight. He waited till the wind was blowing kindly and let the sails fall. Immediately the wind buffeted them. Xane had Garry stay on board as he went to the ground and started to push. He strained his muscles digging into the sand. Doing something like this before would have been impossible for a normal person. Even the strongest man he doubted would have been able to push a boat. This wasn’t his only part of the plan. He had filled his ring with salty water and started to let it flow out at great quantity. He hoped the water would help make it more slidy.
The deed didn’t take long, only about 2 minutes of huffing and puffing. The boat slowly started to push out. Xane scrambled to get up the rope he had put down. Garry was waiting for him looking at him with a confused expression. Xane couldn’t tell but also he swore he read fear in its eyes. He guessed snakes really didn’t go across the ocean. “If you want you can go down below.” Xane didn’t know why he felt pity for it but enslaving another creature didn’t really go well with him. Garry obliged, slithering through the open door.
Xane, on his part, went to the wheel and set course in the direction he hoped was the other island. The sails were slightly damaged but serviceable. The smell of the wind calmed his nerves that he didn’t know were so frayed. The calmness of his thoughts were dashed as one thing came to mind. Couldn’t I just have put the ship in the ring?