> Chapter -2147483641 (More Stats and Skills)
> [*ding!* Congratulations! You’ve upgraded your first class -- [Elementalist] - Metal]
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> [[Elementalist] -- You have intrinsically bound yourself to a fundamental element? How did you even do that? Just kidding, we both know what you did.]
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> [*ding!* Congratulations! [Elementalist] has leveled up to level 9! +13 Strength, +13 Dexterity, +13 Vitality, +13 Speed, +26 Mana, +26 Mana Regen, +26 Magic Power, +26 Magic Control from your class, +5 free stat points for being outsider, +1 Magic Power from your element]
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> [*ding!* Congratulations! [Elementalist] has leveled up to level 10! +13 Strength, +13 Dexterity, +13 Vitality, +13 Speed, +26 Mana, +26 Mana Regen, +26 Magic Power, +26 Magic Control from your class, +5 free stat points for being outsider, +1 Magic Power from your element]
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> [*ding!* Congratulations! [Elementalist] has leveled up to level 32! +13 Strength, +13 Dexterity, +13 Vitality, +13 Speed, +26 Mana, +26 Mana Regen, +26 Magic Power, +26 Magic Control from your class, +5 free stat points for being outsider, +1 Magic Power from your element]
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> [*ding!* Congratulations! You can now advance your class!]
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> [*ding!* WARNING: Once you start advancing your class, you must pick an advancement.]
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> [*ding!* You’ve unlocked the Class Skill [Metal Spirit]!] You’ve crafted a body out of a fundamental metal, and then inhabited it. This skill is a courtesy and acknowledgement of actions already performed. Greatly increases efficiency of skills and spells related to the element.
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> [*ding!* You’ve unlocked the Class Skill [Metal Resistance]!] You’re more resistant to the harmful effects of this element.
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> [*ding!* You’ve unlocked the Class Skill [Metal Conjuration]!] You can conjure metal. It’s a skill. You can do the thing. Great job.
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> [*ding!* You’ve unlocked the Class Skill [Metal Manipulation]!] You can manipulate Metal. I’m not sure what you were expecting here.
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> [*ding!* Your [Vigilant] skill and [Basic Survival] skill can merge into a class skill! Would you like to learn [Resolute]? Nothing will be lost in the merging of the skill.]
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> [*ding!* For reaching level 10, you’ve unlocked the Class Skill [Temper]!] You are able to modify the crystalline grain structure in metal. Additionally, in times of great stress, this skill grants a bonus to speed, strength, dexterity, and vitality. Increased efficiency per level.
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> [*ding!* For reaching level 15, you’ve unlocked the Class Skill [Shard]!] You can craft and throw razor-like shards of metal. Increased projectile speed and accuracy per level.
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> [*ding!* For reaching level 20, you’ve unlocked the Class Skill [Inspect Alloy]!] You are able to identify specific alloys of Metal. Increased speed, efficiency, and accuracy per level.
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> [*ding!* For reaching level 25, you’ve unlocked the Class Skill [Alter Alloy]!] You are able to modify a metal alloy, evenly distributing the differing metals throughout the structure. Increased speed and efficiency per level.
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> [*ding!* For reaching level 30, you’ve unlocked the Class Skill [Lesser Reforging]!] Are you sure you aren’t just a [Blacksmith]? Just kidding. With this skill, you can alter the shape and structure of metallic items that are not yet part of your body. Increased speed and efficiency per level.
Ada opened her eyes, and then regretted it. She felt hungover, and all the dinging in her head was not helping. All that aside, she couldn’t even see anything, as it was quite dark inside the armored wagon. She did hear slow, rhythmic breathing beside her, which she realized was probably Alex. That meant she had taken at least the entirety of the first watch, but did not tell her how close to dawn it was.
The woman considered her new skill options. The first four were a given, and she had been told to expect precisely those four from acquiring a mage class -- apart from the [Metal Spirit] skill, which was the highest rank of elemental affinity/efficiency boosting skills. Ada figured this was due to the whole craft a new body out of an element thing, but ultimately decided to keep most of that information to herself. The remaining four slots were wild cards, and Ada had six skills to pick from to fill them.
The first slot was a simple pick, and she accepted the skill merge.
> [*ding!* Congratulations! You’ve learned [Resolute] - Level 1!]
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> [Resolute] Your mind and body are more resolute, making you more aware of potential danger and able to withstand danger when it comes. Increased perception, danger sense, and vitality multiplier. Passive skill, -221 mana regen.
Ada wasn’t sure if that was a good amount of mana burn, but she’d have to ask about that later. She considered the remaining skills.
The level 30 skill, [Lesser Reforging] seemed like it was more of an upgrade to the generic manipulation skill, and she wasn’t really sure if it was worth taking. Having both would probably increase how fast she could reshape metal objects and reduce the mana cost of doing so. She’d wait on taking it until she could talk with Lucius.
[Temper] was another easy pick. Getting such a skill with multiple effects at only level 10? Ada got the feeling that this would end up being a core skill for her with the combat boost. Sure, she wasn’t earning so much in the way of physical stats, but this would help her even the odds if she had to face off against physical classers.
> [*ding!* Congratulations! You’ve learned [Temper] - Level 1!]
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> [Temper] You are able to modify the crystalline grain structure in metal. Additionally, in times of great stress, this skill grants a bonus to speed, strength, dexterity, and vitality. Increased efficiency per level. Active/Passive skill, -143 mana regen.
Looking over the remaining skills, Ada got the feeling that [Inspect Alloy] and [Alter Alloy] really wanted to merge, and likely wouldn’t take much. She took both and immediately started channeling mana into the two, going to work on her own body.
> [*ding!* Congratulations! You’ve learned [Inspect Alloy] - Level 1!]
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> [*ding!* Congratulations! You’ve learned [Alter Alloy] - Level 1!]
Alex first concentrated on the bits of quartz sand, which had been trapped within the magnetite as Lovelace had worked to form the body originally. [Inspect Alloy] was telling her it didn’t belong, and [Alter Alloy] was guiding her in how to consolidate it and purge it from her body. Using her [Manipulation] skill, Ada gently coaxed each grain of the sand to move up her right arm and to her palm. 2% wasn’t a huge amount when spread out over an entire body, but concentrated to only her hand.. Ada stopped after doing some arithmetic and realized that she was dealing with nearly 13 kilos of sand, and she figured dumping that inside the wagon likely wouldn’t go over well with the rest of the rangers.
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Ada then mumbled, “But why the fuck does the number 13 keep coming up everywhere?”
That had apparently been just loud enough that Alex stirred and likewise mumbled out a very drowsy, “Huh, wha?”
“Nothing, go back to sleep,” replied Ada.
“OK, love you,” said a still very drowsy Alex.
If there had been any light by which to see, anyone watching would have seen Ada’s eyes open as wide as they could go. She was not expecting to hear that from her friend. Sure, they had spent a lot of time together over the past several days, and they had been close friends years ago, but neither had tried to keep in touch after graduation. Alex had gone off to one university, and Ada had gone to a different one, and they’d lost contact. Social media hadn’t shown up as a thing until many years later, after Ada had already gone on to grad school. At that point, there wasn’t any time to spend on anything else -- the weekly HEMA practice had been Ada’s only self-indulgence.
She needed to think.
Ada rolled and got to her hands and knees, kissed Alex gently on the other woman’s forehead, and whispered, “I’ll see you in the morning.” Then, she carefully climbed over the sleeping form, and exited the wagon.
There, she found Marcus, Pliny, and Quirinus, whose name Ada had finally learned after the second day, all seated facing away from a low campfire. The presence of this trio meant it was currently around the middle of the night. Ada clicked her tongue and waved after attracting the attention of Marcus. She then pointed over to some bushes, to which Marcus nodded. Ada took a step in that direction, and promptly fell flat on her face.
Marcus very obviously attempted and failed to stifle a laugh. He walked over and assisted the embarrassed woman back to her feet.
He whispered to her, “Take it easy. From the fact that you have some color when I identify you now, I assume that you had some residual experience and gained a bunch of levels after your class advancement. You clearly got a bunch of new physical stat points multiplying your strength, speed, and dexterity, and it’s going to take some time to get used to that. Go slow and be precise with your movements until you get the hang of how you’re able to move now.”
“Is it going to be like this every time? This is super freaky, like I was moving around underwater before and now suddenly there’s no resistance when I move,” Ada whispered back.
“Since this is your first time raising your stats so much, the difference is going to be quite dramatic, but as you continue to level up, each change will feel less impactful overall, and it’ll be easier to adjust. But, if you wait a long time at a class advancement, you’ll end up accruing extra experience again, and then you’ll gain a bunch of levels all at once after finally classing up. That can result in another awkward period of adjustment, especially for physical classers.”
“Great, something new to look forward to. Thanks, Marcus,” said Ada.
The tall woman took a few steps with Marcus holding one of her arms, so she wouldn’t faceplant again, and each one was performed with less and less stumbling, until she was finally able to walk unassisted once again.
She nodded, thanking Marcus a second time, and headed for the bushes that had been her original goal.
Just behind those bushes, Ada located the small trench that had been dug for nighttime eliminations which was already slightly used.
She decided that this area would be fine for getting rid of all the sand mucking up her insides. Utilizing [Inspect Alloy] and [Alter Alloy], in conjunction with her [Metal Manipulation] skills, Ada purged all the quartz sand from her body at once, and it fell to the ground around her feet. She felt slightly lighter, but more importantly, it felt like she had just received a full deep tissue body massage. It even seemed like her borrowed tunic fit slightly better, with less of a strain around her chest. She decided now was a great time to check her notifications.
> [*ding!* Congratulations! [Metal Spirit] has leveled up! 1-2!]
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> [*ding!* Congratulations! [Metal Spirit] has leveled up! 2-3!]
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> [*ding!* Congratulations! [Metal Spirit] has leveled up! 12-13!]
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> [*ding!* Congratulations! [Metal Manipulation] has leveled up! 1-2!]
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> [*ding!* Congratulations! [Metal Manipulation] has leveled up! 1-2!]
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> [*ding!* Congratulations! [Metal Manipulation] has leveled up! 6-7!]
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> [*ding!* Congratulations! [Inspect Alloy] has leveled up! 1-2!]
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> [*ding!* Congratulations! [Inspect Alloy] has leveled up! 2-3!]
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> [*ding!* Congratulations! [Inspect Alloy] has leveled up! 11-12!]
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> [*ding!* Congratulations! [Alter Alloy] has leveled up! 1-2!]
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> [*ding!* Congratulations! [Alter Alloy] has leveled up! 2-3!]
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> [*ding!* Congratulations! [Alter Alloy] has leveled up! 12-13!]
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> [*ding!* Your [Inspect Alloy] and [Alter Alloy] skills can merge into a new class skill! Would you like to learn [Alloy]? Nothing will be lost in the merging of the skill.]
Ada had been expecting this, and immediately accepted.
> [*ding!* Congratulations! You have learned [Alloy] - Level 13]
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> [Alloy] Identify and refine different metallic alloys. Increased accuracy, efficiency, and speed per level.
Thus again, Ada had one final skill slot free. She decided to hold off on picking either of the remaining skills until she had a chance to speak with Lucius about them. It felt like both skills played off [Manipulation] in some way, and she wasn’t sure if either one was maybe worth trying to merge into it.
With that decision made, she returned to the fire, sat down, and stared into the coals. She then had an idea.
Because she had been interested in basic metallurgy and early methods of refining different sources of iron ore into steel, Ada could still remember that magnetite was made up of iron(II)(III) oxide, or Fe3O4, which in other words, made it roughly 72.4% iron by mass. Ada had previously calculated that her body had been 650 kg before purging 13 kg of silica sand, which left her at 637 kg of magnetite. Using her new [Alloy] skill, she could purge 175.8 kg of oxygen out of her body to be left with around 461.2 kg of pure iron. At that point, she’d be able to consume 9.25 kg of carbon in the form of charcoal and have 470 kg of a very high quality carbon steel.
Of course, at that point, she’d only be a bit over half her current size by volume. She’d need to figure out how to acquire some additional iron, in the form of ore or otherwise if she wanted to continue existing at her current height and apparent body mass. She rather liked the idea of looking like a tall and buff muscular woman, even if her actual physical stats wouldn’t change. Still, it felt like having less mass would change a sort of multiplier that was being applied to her vitality score.
She also considered that if she could get her hands on some chromium along with a bit of manganese and nickel and trace amounts of silicon, phosphorus, and sulfur, she’d even be able to reforge her body into a stainless spring steel. Ada wondered if there was a skill that would help her locate ore veins.
Ada sighed, deciding that despite not actually being tired, she didn’t really feel like waiting on Lucius. She then decided that since she didn't actually have any other direct attack skills, she accepted [Shard] and told the system to discard [Lesser Reforging]. If it turned out to be useless, well, she’d probably get something to replace it with on her next advancement.
She stood up, having completed what she’d wanted to do, and returned to the wagon. Ada climbed in and looked over her friend in the dark. Alex really was quite beautiful, and they got along well despite the years they had been apart. It had been around ten years for Ada, and considerably longer for Alex. Ada wasn’t certain that what she felt for the woman was love or something else, but she couldn’t bear the thought of losing her friend again. She decided that if Alex chose to say anything in the morning, she would listen and then tell her exactly that. If Alex didn’t say anything, well, they’d have several days in Odessos for Ada to coax it out of the other woman.
With a smile, Ada climbed back over Alex to reach her own bedroll, and laid down to await the coming dawn.