CHAPTER 237
Tom grabbed the second stone and checked what it was.
Skill: Shadow Wraith—Tier 4
This is an active stealth skill that enables the user to partially transform into a shadow wraith form for a limited period. While the form is engaged, the user will gain the following attributes.
* Darkvision and illusion piercing.
* Shadow meld to aid in hiding in shadows.
* Sound and scent cancelling.
* Effective weight for the purpose of impacting the environment is reduced by eighty percent.
Higher levels will grant additional bonuses such as speed boosts.
Tom’s first instinct was that this was a skill that he wanted, but he forced himself to take a step back. He couldn’t be a master of everything. The overall aim to ensure humans were ranked top three at the end of the competition remained.
This skill was strong, but the best use of it would need to be openly debated. On face value, Everlyn as a scout would benefit the most from this, but she ran into the same problems he did with ignoring wounds. Her existing skills and traits overlapped too much with these. If there were aspects of this skill she wanted, she could buy cheaper single niche abilities to fill the gaps up, so her entire skill set matched this.
Who then?
Internally, he shrugged. It was probably best to reserve it for anyone who was willing to develop into their secondary scout.
The only thing he knew was that it wouldn’t be him. If no one was going to become a scout, then that first dot point by itself was useful. If the form was used sparingly by someone on watch at night, it might reveal monsters that would otherwise remain unhidden until they attacked.
He turned his attention to the next stone.
Skill Club Lunge—Tier 3.
The user can cross four metres distance five times faster than usual and bring a blunt instrument down on a target and deliver eight times more power than an unassisted strike. In addition to the physical damage inflicted, resonance energy will also be delivered that has a high chance of shattering armour.
This was what the goblin chieftain which was missing its arm had used to get the drop on Michael and then almost crack Clare’s shield with a single blow. Used appropriately, it was powerful and fortunately the skill would apply to hammers, so the obvious choice was to award it to Thor.
Skill: Catapult Axe—Tier 5.
Just by reading the title Tom knew what it was. This was the ability they had seen the warlord use. The one that split his meteorites in two.
This skill allows an axe, when thrown to be enhanced to have one or all of the following properties:
* Increased size.
* Enhanced sharpness.
* Magic and physical piercing ability.
The skill protects the weapon from suffering damage. Higher levels increase the impact of these effects.
Also grants technical understanding of the art of throwing axes.
The text was what he had imagined after observing the skill used in anger. None of them used axes with the exception of Everlyn, and she only used them part of the time and she wouldn’t want this one. It was a ranged skill, and Everlyn had her mythical bow for that.
That lack did not matter. A tier five skill was the type of ability that you could base an entire build around. Harry, Michael and Clare were all prospects for taking it as none of them were wedded to their current weapon. Given it was a tier five Tom was confident one of them would take this skill and switch weapons.
The mix of stones he had received did not match them perfectly. Tom wondered if he should have been more specific in his desires, but then figured that could have backfired on them. For example, this may have been the only tier five stone available and while on face value it was not as good as a similar ranked skill in the spear class it was probably better than a few tier three skills which might have been the alternative to this single stone.
He looked at the last one.
Skill: Reflective Shield—Tier 3
This is a basic conjured shield that can be actively positioned to reflect magic attacks back at their casters. Works off an energy basis and only complete spells can be reflected back to the caster. If the shield lacks sufficient energy to reflect the entire spell, it will instead break and absorb as must of the enemy’s spell as possible, with the remainder continuing on its original trajectory. More powerful blows can be deflected instead of reflected and are subjected to the same limitations. Deflections’ cost is ten times less than the reflective function when the angle required is ten degrees or lower and has reducing discounts after that.
Tom sighed in relief when he read the description.
This was a skill that was perfect for him.
Combine this with his ridiculous time dilation while dodging and his threshold bonus that let him estimate the amount of damage an attack was going to do him. He could adjust the shield more accurately than most people and get the most out of it.
“Tom?” Michael prompted.
“I just checked them,” he replied and then promptly listed off the five skills.
There was a thoughtful silence after he finished.
“I don’t think any are for me.” Everlyn said finally. “Possibly Ignore Wounds could be a good fit. If we’re in trouble and I’m forced to use my trait, it could be useful. However, Tom, Thor or Rahmat might get more from it.”
“Not for me.” Tom informed them.
“I’m interested,” Rahmat scratched his ear, sheepishly. “It sort of fits me. My fighting skill is more agility based than Thor’s. I think I’ll get the most from it.”
“Agreed.” Thor said simply.
“Let’s talk the serious business!” Michael interrupted excitedly. “Who’s taking the axe skill? I assume you’re not going to switch weapons, Tom?”
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“Nope, with my spear expertise I’m not diversifying or switching into stupid axes.”
“When the boss used it that skill was powerful.” Michael continued. “And I doubt it had more than a couple of levels in it. Whoever receives it will gain a massive damage boost when we’re not fighting a swarm.”
Maybe even then, Tom thought to himself. He could imagine that giant axe cutting through a swarm and leaving scores dead.
“Next thing we know Michael will be volunteering to take it off your hands,” Harry quipped. “You know in order to save the rest of us from temptation.”
Tom chuckled. “I figured it was you or the healers.”
“I’m planning to specialise in shields.” Clare said quietly. “I don’t want to use axes.”
Tom glanced at her curiously. It was not a Clare thing to be saying. He would follow up later. It was possible being smacked by the goblin club had affected her and the famous saying, ‘that the best defence is good offense’ was one proven on the fields of blood. Attack was one thing shields did not shine at.
“And I think it’s best if I keep my spear.” Harry said more seriously than earlier. “Unfortunately, I don’t know the first thing about axes, but like Tom I have significant technical skill with spears.”
“Michael then.” Tom decided. “Thor gets Club Lunge because it applies to his hammer. I’m taking Reflective Shield. Who wants Shadow Wraith?”
“You can’t give us all this stuff Tom.” Michael said.
“I can, and I’m not giving them up for nothing. I was interested in a couple of those spear skills.”
Rahmat coughed. “You know you’re not the only spear user. There are like six of us here.”
“But only two of us are serious with them. If the fairest option is to split them, then I will. Which one were you eyeing.”
Rahmat waved his hands together furiously to indicate that he was not targeting them. “Joke, Joke.”
“No! Tom gets them.” Everlyn said firmly over the party chat unable to see or hear Rahmat’s response. “Those two skills aren’t worth the two tier three stones that Tom is giving up let alone the higher tier ones.”
“No argument from me,” Michael agreed. “I’ll pay you back Tom.”
“None of that. We’re a team. As for Shadow Wraith, I was thinking Harry.”
“What?” Harry said in surprise.
“Evie doesn’t want it.”
“You should take it,” the ritualist said immediately. “After all, you looted it.”
“To be honest, I’m better off focusing my energies elsewhere. Its pierce illusion ability is powerful. Even if you only use it for that, it will make you a better guard.”
“You just want me doing midnight shifts.”
“No, I’m just acknowledging I won’t be doing them and shadow wraith is an aid for anyone who is standing watch.”
“I’m not a scout.”
“No one apart from Everlyn is.” Tom reminded him. “Can you become one?”
Harry’s face screwed up, and he shook his head. “No… It doesn’t make sense, I’ll be a terrible scout… My attributes are going to magic and fate. Rahmat will be better.”
Rahmat grimaced at the suggestion. “I’m already taking Ignore Wounds.”
“What else you are getting is irrelevant.” Harry told him. “We’re discussing who will make the most use out of Shadow Wraith, and I think that’s you.”
“You guys are idiots,” Keikain interrupted. “If you don’t want it, then I’ll take it.”
They all ignored him, and there was a long pause as Rahmat considered the suggestion. “If the group needs it, I can specialise as a secondary scout.” He licked his lips. “It’s not even a detrimental shift. Gaining scouting skills might even be complementary to my main path. Fine… I guess I can do it.”
“You don’t have to,” Keikain told them. “I’m happy to be a scout.”
“Shut up, Keikain.” Michael snapped.
“No fucking way.” Tom said firmly. There was no way he would give the earth mage this skill. Tom would not empower him. Eventually their contract would end and Keikain with full-blown scouting skills was scary. He would not help make that a reality.
“Plus,” Harry said seriously. “You don’t want me as a scout. We want the scouts to call in a threat to give me a minute to cast a counter. At least that’s what will happen once I get access to more rituals. Having me away from the main group and sacrificing the ability for a ritual to change the battlefield is a waste.”
“It sounds like we’re decided.” Everlyn declared. “Let’s have a break to sell the ones we are not using and absorb those we are.”
They stopped and Tom handed out the stones he was giving away. Both Rahmat and Michael the big winners were very thankful and promised to pay them back.
“Thor do you want to value these?” Tom asked.
The bigger man frowned. “There’s nothing comparable currently on the market but similar skills to Shadow Wraith have been selling at a premium.”
“My Catapult Axe?” Michael asked.
“The opposite,” Thor admitted. “No one can really afford niche high tier skills. If you have half a million credits, there are better things to spend them on.”
“Just give us a number.” Everlyn suggested.
“A quarter of a million each.”
“That’s it?” Tom exclaimed in surprise. “Only that much.”
“Shadow Wraith is worth the same as Catapult Axe?” Everlyn asked at the same time. “How can you justify that? In the experience shop, it is worth seventy percent more.”
Thor shrugged. “I’m just extrapolating. Higher tier skill and spell stones are not selling at a premium to their natural value. Sometimes they are even at a discount. There is no reason these would be any different.”
“Why is that notable?” Everlyn asked in a way that suggested she knew the answer but was just confirming her understanding was correct.
“Because lower tiered skills are. They are going for three times their base experience. I would estimate that in three months once everyone’s incomes grow, these two skills will be worth half a million. In a year? Closer to three quarters. Two years after that Catapult Axe might have added a few hundred thousand to its cost, but Battle Wraith won’t have moved any further.”
“That’s a pretty big difference for twelve months.” Everlyn said.
“Yeah,” Thor scratched his head. “What can I say? Its supply and demand. I don’t control it. You asked for a price. That was the best answer that I could give.”
A couple of the others looked lost with Thor’s explanation, but it made perfect sense to Tom. Everyone was credit poor currently. Those rich enough to afford the true value of the two higher tier skills would prioritise consistent survival over a niche attack skill.
Tom took the two spear skills and used them quickly.
Skill: Spear Lunge—Tier 2
Move in a straight line up to five times faster than usual when lunging at the opponent. All the momentum of your movement will transfer into the spear tip.
Skill: Spear Extension—Tier 3
This skill allows the user to increase the length or width of the spear briefly.
He absorbed both of them and was not surprised that the download of information just included the basics of how to trigger the effects. Neither of the skills were ones that he was familiar with from the tutorial, but he was already rehearsing in his mind how he would use the spear lunge. Despite its name, with Tom’s current skill set it was actually far more effective as an escape skill than as an offensive attack. When he lunged, there was no need to target anything the skill allowed him to thrust through empty space. After all, it couldn’t know if a fast moving enemy was about to enter the spot you were attacking.
Spear extension, on the other hand was a greater unknown. There were both obvious uses of it and the more obscure. Tom was looking forward to testing expanding the width of the spear during an attack. If he could create a hole the size of a tennis ball instead of a golf ball in the opponent, it could turn a slightly annoying wound into a mortal one. The ability to lengthen the spear also had obvious utility. To be able to effectively land a strike on an enemy which would otherwise be out of range was a useful thing to have in his back pocket. Those were his initial ideas, but would take time to work through the different permutations and gain an in-depth understanding of how best to use it. He would have a chat with Rahmat to see what he thought, but ultimately it would be a matter of practice.
Finally, he absorbed his Reflective Shield stone.
With that done.
He glanced around and assessed the mental state of all present. Nothing stood out as problematic. If he was going to describe the mood, it would be that they were relaxed and focused. There were smiles, words of encouragement, and snatches of speculation about the next zone.
Keikain had the fire lit, and meat skewers starting to fry on the spit. They weren’t on a goblin path, so there was little danger of them coming near and in all probability they would hear them a long time before they became a risk.
Maybe it was time too… Tom cleared his throat. “Guys, I have half a million experience to spend. Anyone got any suggestions on what I should focus on?”