"You going to do anything about all the gold blinking lights, little man?" Latham asked as the two of them made their way through Soar streets. "I mean, I'm no hot-shot Security Service Inspector, but I imagine there are probably all sorts of downsides to being quite so fucking noticeable."

Lowe raised his hands, grimacing at the glowing manifestation of a still-yet-to-be-chosen Skill. "I don't know how to switch it off without choosing the Skill, and I don't want to do that yet."

Latham sighed theatrically. "I'm going to get a migraine today, aren't I?"

"Look, not that I don't appreciate all the help, but don't you have some sort of day job you should be doing?"

"No. Not at all. are famously louche, what with Soar's gods being so chill and all."

"In that case, please don't let me keep you . . ."

Latham reached down and cuffed Lowe on the back of the head. The blinking lights seemed to increase in intensity at the impact. "Look, ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies. I am unwilling to either confirm or deny that a certain interested party would like me to ensure you don't end up as a blob of liquifying goo."

"A god has commanded you to protect me again? Fucking hell, Latham, I'm not sure about that! It didn't work out so well for me last time, did it?"

"Well, fuck you very much, little man. I have a distinct memory of going balls to the wall for you against an Advanced Class motherfucker. Maybe I won't bother next time."

Lowe shook his head. Or he may have been ducking in advance of another, teeth-jarring clout. It was undoubtedly one of the two. "I meant more that the gods taking an involvement in my life was hardly beneficial for my general wellbeing. Your protection was, of course, much appreciated. And you did get a ladyfriend out of it all, didn't you?"

"Okay, okay. No need to emote all over me." Latham suddenly stopped, turning around to face back the way they had just come. "I'm sure you all are just coming this way as a coincidence, right?" he bellowed down the street. There was a pause, as if the mass of bodies trailing them were momentarily stunned by the power of the giant's voice, then people started to, slowly, pass by them.

Lowe made to continue walking, but Latham reached out and grabbed him, holding him still. "We'll let all these pass by, I think. Can you try to do something about the fucking glow? It'd be easier to move you covertly around Soar without, you know, you acting like a bloody lighthouse."

"Are we being followed?" Lowe asked, trying to twist in Latham's grip and look behind them.

"No idea. I don't have any sort of counterespionage Skills. are more your classic 'punch you in the face, ask questions later' builds. But it never hurts to make them think you might do, though."

"The 'them' being . . . ?"

"No fucking idea. But there's been three murders and a disappearance at Grackle Nuroon's museum, and you're insisting on sticking your beak in. I don't think I'm going to go out on a limb by assuming you're being followed. Which, coincidentally, is much easier to do with you flashing gold. Sort it out, little man." Latham raised his voice again and pointed, entirely randomly, back up the street. "Come on, hurry up! I fucking see you skulking back there!"

Lowe left Latham to his intimidation of random commuters and focused on the notifications that had sprung up around his new Skill. He wasn't sure what was making him reluctant to choose one of the three options to evolve Mental Fortress. Any of them would be a significant improvement and, after Latham's advice, he felt sure that the third was the most obvious thing to select. However, Lowe was bothered by the commentary around the coincidental nature of the way these upgrades had come about.

Before the loss of his Class, Skills had come thick and fast to Lowe. He knew there might be a bit of rose-tinted glasses thinking going on, but looking back, it had felt like barely a week had passed without him passing some Threshold or other or picking up a useful reward for a well-done job. Indeed, he had been so overloaded with abilities that, when they were taken from him, he was sure there were a few he'd never actually used.

Thus, the experience of suddenly developing new Skills was - rather than an alien feeling - rather like coming home. Latham's advice that his good fortune might be all part of a plot he had become swept up into was profoundly disappointing. He knew it was a silly reaction, but - just for a little while - it had felt like he was back to business as usual.

But no, Latham had punctured that dream. It seemed Lowe was back to being a pawn, and someone was throwing baubles his way to make him more useful in whatever game they were playing.

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And it wasn't a role he was interested in taking up.

He was not, he realised, going to pick an upgrade. At least, not yet. Fuck his hidden benefactor. The only time any of the powers-that-be in Soar wanted anything to do with him was when they planned on making his life harder than it needed to be. So, no, he wasn't going to do what they wanted. But he did need to stop the glowing that indicated he had recently Skilled up. Latham was right; it was pretty noticeable.

<<<>>>

"No. Not yet. Can I pause the upgrade?" Lowe hazarded, feeling a touch foolish for speaking aloud to an unseen presence.

There was a pause.

<<<>>>

"No. Well, I'm not sure. Maybe. I just don't want to do it yet."

<<<>>>

Well, no one could accuse his notification of lacking a single-minded focus. "What would happen if I rejected the upgrade?"

"Just in case you were wondering, the addition of 'talking to yourself like a loon' is adding to your noticeability quotient," Latham growled. "Any chance you could pick a lane?"

"Hang on, I'm trying to sort out the glowing!"

<<<< Restriction Breaker Title active. Redistribution of Skill: Mental Fortress upgrade possible. Do you wish to proceed?>>>>

"Latham? It's letting me 'redistribute' the upgrade rather than accepting one of those three options. Should I go for it?"

"Little man, I have no idea what 'it' is, much less what 'redistribution' might mean. Why, what are you thinking?"

"Not sure I am."

For several long moments, Lowe hesitated. There was being an independent maverick, refusing help from shadowy sources, and then there was not only looking a gift horse in the mouth but climbing all the way down its throat and setting up home in its stomach. Somebody wanted to give him a shiny evolution to Mental Fortress, and he was planning to not only reject it but also strip it down for parts? That seemed a tad ungrateful, no?

But, then again, no one asked him if he wanted it in the first place.

"Yes, I wish to proceed."

This led to a flurry of activity in his notifications

<<<< Upgrade to Skill: Mental Fortress rejected. Boost of equivalent gains to focus on both primary and secondary attributes active:

1. Primary Attributes:

* +30 Intelligence (Mental prowess in resisting mental manipulation ties to Intelligence, so this boost emphasises mental sharpness)

* +20 Wisdom (Wisdom governs decision-making, insight, and understanding—attributes linked to resisting mental influence)

1. Secondary Attributes:

* +25 Willpower (Increases resistance to mental and emotional attacks directly)

* +15 Perception (Enhancing awareness of surroundings, which indirectly aids in resisting manipulative influences)

1. Special Stat Buffs:

* +5 Luck >>>

Lowe staggered as the change took place. Latham reached out and steadied him. "Well, the glowing has stopped. You did it then?"

"I think so."

"Fuck me. I hope it was worth it!"

Lowe shared his stat screen with the

Name: Jana Lowe

Level: 25

Class: ***Removed***

Primary Attributes:

- Strength: 120

- Dexterity: 90

- Intelligence: 295 (+30)

- Wisdom: 238 (+20)

- Charisma: 60

- Constitution: 75

Secondary Attributes:

- Perception: 95 (+15)

- Willpower: 99 (+25)

- Luck:** 63 (+5)

Health Points (HP): 1150 - Regeneration Rate: 2 HP/min (natural); 15 HP/sec (via Roll with the Punches)

Mana Points (MP): 400 - Regeneration Rate: 1 MP/min (natural); 2 MP/min when Mana falls below 10%

Stamina Points (SP): 550 - Regeneration Rate:** 5 SP/min

Skills:

1. Roll with the Punches (Passive) - Rare - Level 32

Converts 10 MP to heal 15 HP per second.

- Activation depletes 5% of the maximum mana pool.

- Cooldown: None.

2. Grid View (Active) - Rare - Level 27

Records events with perfect recall of details.

- Mana Cost: 50% of total MP.

- Cooldown: None.

3. Slugger (Active) - Rare - Level 23

Next melee attack deals triple damage.

- Cooldown: 10 minutes.

4. Medic! (Active) - Rare - Level 12

Heal a companion at a 2:1 MP to HP ratio.

- Cooldown: None.

5. Mental Fortress (Passive) - Legendary - Level 50 (Rank Up Rejected - balanced stat bonuses granted in place of upgrade.)

* Grants heightened resistance to mental manipulation and emotional attacks.

* Mana Cost: 10% MP cost each successful defence

*** Skill slots 4 and upwards are blocked as per Council decree ***

Latham whistled. "Yeah, that'll do, little man. That'll do."