‘I guess he sent someone to keep an eye on me…’
A while had passed since I noticed that someone had approached, but that someone didn’t do anything and kept their distance. It was hard to say if they were skilled or if my tracking skills had improved thanks to my gear. Either way, I just had to act like nothing was wrong.
Glacien growled now and then after she found our dinner, so it seemed that she realized it too, but I decided to just shake my head and she understood the message.
‘Well now, what should I do?’
I was heading north to get rid of someone who incriminated me before and probably will try to get in my way again. Although I would bait that guy, it wouldn’t change his nature. Once that happens and a fight breaks out, it is impossible to tell what will happen. With that in mind, it might be a good idea to explore the dungeons and labyrinths in the area.
I could make some potions with those places around and in one of them, I could get into the alchemist class too. However, knowing my luck, the class will probably come as mad alchemist or noxious alchemist.
‘Even if it makes my vampire blood grow strong, I am able to suppress it as it is… increasing the difficulty a bit at a time is actually very convenient for me.’
I had to at least obtain such a class before shit hits the fan and I am forced to leave the country for the time being, so I decided to head to that labyrinth. Even if I am being watched, I couldn’t care less.
Once I was done with two magic smoke bomb amulets, I decided to make something like leather armor for Glacien. I needed to increase her mana regeneration to make her skills level up faster, and that was the best way to give her enchanted items. It was also a good time to test the skills of the leatherwork class.
She didn’t need boots or gloves, they would only get in the way of her claws. I could tell that she wouldn’t be comfortable wearing anything, so I made the parts as simple as possible to cover just the right parts. While I was doing that, I wondered if I could use the moth’s wings… even if they couldn’t produce the dust that helped with the camouflage potion. Could they be of some use now? There was only one way to find out.
Beast Shirt of Camouflage (Epic)
Enchantment Slots: Manaflow (Expert)- Increases mana regeneration by eight points per minute
Extra Effects: Adaptive Camouflage - The shirt automatically adjusts its colors and patterns to match the surroundings, granting a significant bonus to evasion and reducing the likelihood of being targeted.
Durability: 15/15
It was a bit different from I had expected, but at least my enchantment came at a high rank. Now, Glacien could use magic a lot more. Making her wear that was a pain, and I had to make things like pants too… perhaps a hat? If all of them come with enchantments at this rank, then they certainly would make her quite the spellcaster.
“You want to use magic, don’t you? Then bear with it.”
“Grrr…
“Don’t grrr me, young lady.”
Before I could notice, I spent the night crafting those items. The feeling of being watched didn’t weaken at all, but I didn’t care. It wasn’t like anyone would be able to do something to me just by knowing that I had some decent crafting skills. When morning came, I decided to check my parameters, but there wasn’t much to see… only my mana regeneration had increased a bit, and it wasn’t enough to tame another pet.
Name: Regulus Dawnshield
Race: Dhampir
Health: 310/310 (0/3200)
Regen: 1.3 per hour (0/1000) (1.3)
Mana: 330/330 (0/3100) (1.1)
Regen: 16.0 per minute (0/8100) (2.0)
Stamina: 380/380 (0/3500) (1.1)
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Regen: 13.0 per minute (0/10.100) (1.3)
Strength: 100 + 180 (0/5100) (2.0)
Magic: 66 (0/6100) (1.1)
Dexterity: 302 (0/5600) (5.5x)
Spirit: 21 (0/2200)
Endurance: 30 (0/3100) (1.1)
Attack Speed: + 121% (0/7700) (1.6)
Movement Speed: 15.1 (0/7600) (1.3)
Stamina Conservation: 2.2 (0/20.000) (1.1)
Fire Affinity: 30 (0/3100)
Ice Affinity: 15 (0/1600)
Traits: Minor Weakness to Sunlight, Minor Sensitivity to Holy Magic, Minor Aversion to Silver
Classes: Ranger, Pathfinder, Shadow Scriber, Demon Hunter, Dreadful Enchanter, Shadow Assassin, Merchant, Poison Crafter, Smith, Weaponsmith, Sharpshooter, Pyromancer, Dark Paladin, Arcane Archer, Shadow Archer, Barbarian, Lord of War, Bowman, Warblade, Beastmaster, Pirate, Blood Mage, Cryomancer, Shadow Inscriber, Leatherworker, Thief
Aptitudes: Wilderness Survival, Never Lost, Hunter’s Resolve, Malevolent Artifice, Way of Shadows, Master of Trade, Venomous Engineer, Master of Forging, Master of Blades, Master of Precision, Heat Master, Silent Observation, Dark Retribution, Mystic Marksman, Shadow Archery, Rage Unleashed, Battlefield Presence, Ranged Skill, Relentless Assault, Animal Empathy, Captain of the High Seas, Blood Rain, Frost Wielder, Gliph Writer, Master of Hides, Light Hands
Experience: 2388
‘Perhaps I should just give up on the idea… I can use it more if I use some magic accessories to increase my mana, but it is better to use the ones that actually increase my main parameters.’
I decided not to create more accessories to increase my mana regeneration since I might fall for the temptation and tame another beast if I had enough mana to do so.
The skill Tamed Beast leveled up. You received 1000 experience points.
You unlocked a new skill in the Beastmaster class.
Beast Bond: Strengthen your connection with your animal companion, allowing you to transfer health or stamina between you and your companion. Transfer at least 20% of your health or stamina to your animal companion, or vice versa. Cost: 25 Mana
I nodded. It took approximately three months to finally bring that skill to level ten… it was rather unusual given that the skill consumed so much mana every second.
‘At least I can now heal Glacien if something happens… transferring my stamina is also a good option to level up Beast’s Fury.’
Glacien was getting stronger, but my growth has stagnated. With the alchemist class, I might be able to make some potions, but it won’t increase my attack power unless I make the right potions.
“Awooo! Awooo!”
“I know, I know. It is time to move.”
Our next destination was on the border of the territory of a certain elder… if the information that I got was right, that guy would have more details about that elf that we met in the dungeon three years ago… with some luck, that guy will show up to me. With that in mind, I will have to take some risks once more.
We had to move for an entire day to reach the area. At least from the dungeon to my destination, I only had to walk for three hours. Running shouldn’t take less than one. That also meant that reinforcements could come as fast.
I wasn’t even surprised when I saw fifteen elves around the labyrinth… they seemed relaxed enough, like attacks or invasions never happened, but that didn’t make things any easier for me. The place was probably very well guarded because there was a giant tree in front of the labyrinth, the type that was the size of the tallest ones in the towns.
The labyrinth itself, at least the entrance, started in the middle of a giant stone in the shape of a minotaur. I couldn’t help but be surprised, even though I already knew the monsters that I would find there.
‘No one is coming and going through the labyrinth… Well, we had some time, so we can watch this place for a while.’
I wasn’t sure if it would be possible, but my plan was to use camouflage and Shadow Step to enter the labyrinth and escape the eyes of the guards. Hopefully, there won’t be many of them inside the labyrinth.
We moved away from the area, but I kept a straight line open to the entrance of the labyrinth. It was just noon, and I was planning to use the darkness of the night as a cover as well. I wondered if there was something else that I could use. Camouflage, Shadow Step, and the cover of the night… with just one more trick to help, I would feel confident that we would enter the labyrinth without being noticed.
‘I can’t use anything that would make it too obvious, so no attack spells to draw their attention and no other abilities that only those with classes can use… Putting some trees on fire was no good. The elves controlled their weather to avoid that kind of accident as well.’
I could use Veil of Shadows to blend it with darkness even more, but Glacien couldn’t… making an amulet with that skill was pretty hard, so I didn’t pull it off yet. In the end, the hours passed, and I didn’t have any other ideas… It looked like we would have to rely on a bit of luck as well and I hated that.
At least I made Glacien train with one Shadow Step Amulet, and with her wild instincts, she was able to control it quite fast. Speaking of wild senses, I could longer sense that we were being watched. It looked like the person who was told to watch us only was told to keep an eye on us until we left the area.
‘Oh, yeah… I can use that too!’
Recalling those individuals that work in the shadows made me recall the unseen arrow and their equipment. This would be a bit tough to train, even more so for Glacien, but it would improve our chances of success. So, I made something like boots for her and enchanted mine as well.
Super Leap Boots (Epic)
Enchantment Slots: Power Spring (Expert): Significantly enhances leg strength, enabling jumps up to eight times the wearer’s natural maximum height or distance added with their strength.
Impact Absorption (Expert): The boots absorb the shock from high falls or landings, preventing fall damage and reducing the impact force felt by the wearer up to forty points of damage.
Durability: 20/20
Glacien’s version only had a single effect since they weren’t much of high quality… but it couldn’t be helped since animals usually don’t wear shoes. After doing some tests, night finally came and then we put the plan into action.