After laying out all the gems, Jordan had a total of 19 in front of him. Out of the original 22, he’d spent two the other day, and then just used three for their one-time effects. And finally, he had just gained two more to bring it up to the current number.
Damn, should have known better by keeping a more careful track of them. Welp, seems I can’t do the new Skill and the evolution right now after all. Got to just pick one for now, and then hope I can still get the Crab’s crystal later. Probably not until the morning, at least. Just depends on how the wildfire is doing after I eventually fall asleep, Jordan thought to himself with a small sigh.
For the time being, however, he needed to go ahead and make a choice. Which did he want to do first: evolution or a new Skill?
There was also the question of either would actually work in terms of the Advancement Crystals used. If it was like before, then at least one option presented would be influenced by the nature within the absorbed gem. But while that was easy enough to understand with one, what happened when he needed to consume ten? Would it be the first one consumed, the last, randomized, or some unknown weighting of properties decided by the System?
Well, he wouldn’t even know until after it happens. So while Jordan could spend the rest of time continuing to worry about it, it’s not like it would make a difference in the end. He’d just have to treat it as just another test, and consider whatever happened as simply a learning experience for the future.
On that note, he went ahead and grabbed the Manipulator's gem, and threw it into his mouth. Might as well start with the two most powerful ones first, right?
Advancement Crystal absorbed!
Please select the following for its essence’s use:
Influence next Skill gain.
Or
Influence current Skill evolution.
…Influence current Skill evolution, Jordan decided after just another moment to be sure of what he wanted. In the hypothetical situation where he couldn’t get another gem from the Crab, then he would rather have the reliability of evolving a current Skill than rolling the dice on if any of the new options were good.
Insufficient essence for this option!
Current Advancement Crystal essence: 0/10
Jordan felt a mental ping tell him that he still didn’t have to commit to this option. That he could still back out to the prior screen, and pick the other option as to where he wanted to allocate the absorbed essence. But he was still sure about his current decision, and as such, willed for the essence to go there.
Essence for Skill evolution gained!
Current Advancement Crystal essence: 1/10
From there, Jordan consumed the next bigger crystal. Then he consumed the Iron Juggernaut gem from Mike, the Ranger gem from Elizabeth , and a mix of other gems from the varying types within his group. Though he intentionally aside aside the few gems from people who went with Trade Classes, like a Blacksmith. Better to save those for the next new Skill, rather than let it have an influence on the evolution and add some kind of non-combat option.
Until soon, all the chosen Advancement Crystals were consumed.
Essence for Skill evolution gained!
Current Advancement Crystal essence: 10/10
Skill evolution is confirmed.
Please choose one Class Skill from the following to be the subject of evolution:
What then popped up was the same list as before, featuring all his current Class Skills. Though between them all, only two were really worth considering. The land drone, or the air drone. And if Jordan had to be already honest with himself, he knew what his heart wanted.
Rather than spread out and become a jack of all trades, in any RPG he played, he generally preferred to focus on taking one path to the absolute max. Even in games where that usually translated to being a glass canon that endgame enemies could shatter with just one look, all it meant was that he needed to play better around his own strengths. So in this case, this meant that the plan was to take Summon Land Drone and increase its Grade to E3. And as for what he hoped to gain? More firepower, pure and simple.
Even if the Crab had clearly dedicated its Stats and Class around being super tanky, the lack of damage his drones could do had been rather pathetic. If Jordan had done this evolution just earlier this morning, and given the land drone more oomph in its attacks, then having to burn through three gems to survive might not have even been necessary.
Alright System, same as before. Let’s take Summon Land Drone and evolve it to E3.
Selected Skill for evolution: Summon Land Drone
New Skill evolutions available!
Pick from one of the following:
Warning!
Before the evolution choices had even appeared, Jordan blinked as this time around, the System had made a warning screen show up first. Both curious and slightly concerned that it was labeled as a warning and not just a note, he kept reading.
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The user has reached E3 for their first Skill. Take note that, unlike other Grades, this midpoint represents what is considered a Fundamental Evolution. The options made now are to be considered as permanent alterations to a Skill’s foundational path. Even as an additional Fundamental Evolution is unlocked for each Grade, the one chosen now will serve as the basis for those future evolutions.
Okay, so in other words, this was the part of the skill tree with a point of no return. But in exchange, the options had to be really good to be worth it. And as Jordan moved on to the next screen, he quickly confirmed that they were already looking quite promising.
Fundamental Evolution: Elemental Firepower
Description: Significantly enhances the firepower of the drone’s weaponry, increasing both the strength of its attacks and the rate of fire. Additionally, the drone gains the ability to allow the user to swap the type of damage its weapons fire with. Energy-based remains the default; however, any other available type can be either chosen during the initial summoning, or instead swapped at any point.
Scaling: Wisdom (Gain one additional elemental type for every 25 Stat points.)
Fundamental Evolution: Transforming Body
Description: Significantly enhances the composition of the drone’s makeup, increasing both its durability and flexibility. Additionally, the drone gains the ability to allow the user to transform the shape of its body. The tank remains the default; however, any other available shape can be either chosen during the initial summoning, or instead swapped at any point.
Scaling: Intelligence (Gain one additional transformation for every 25 Stat points.)
Fundamental Evolution: Permanent Manifestation
Description: Moderately increases every aspect of the drone’s functions, increasing its weapon power, fire rate, speed, toughness, flexibility, and maximum range. Additionally, the drone gains the ability to allow the user to manifest it as a permanent object. One permanent drone begins as the default limit, but more can be summoned as the maximum is raised with the Scaling of the Skill.
Scaling: Intelligence (Gain one additional summon for every 25 Stat points.)
Scaling: Wisdom (Gain one additional summon for every 25 Stat points.)
Note!
Depending on the evolution chosen, the final result for the Grade E3 Skill will vary greatly in both its new base cost and upkeep. The exact amount of this change will be calculated after an evolution is chosen and will depend on that selection.
With a deep breath through his nose, Jordan fully sat back against his concrete seat. This was… a lot. Fundamental change was definitely the right way to describe it, because this was a lot more complicated than simply picking between a bigger or faster land drone.
Alright, first things first. Hey, System? Any chance on some added details around for me? If you have any sort of actual personality and like me already being Level 5 and getting that Title as a High Lord, then can you just do me this solid? All I’m asking for is just a bit of info on the first two choices, and what their Scaling would start me off with if I picked either. Is that really too much to ask for? Jordan mentally requested from the System.
A few seconds of silence then came and went. So yes, he guessed that it really was too much to ask for. Then he would just have to make a decision without knowing what the first two elements or shapes would be for those choices. It was unfortunate, since he would really have liked to know, as that would determine his thinking. But he would just be forced to make do with the information that the Descriptions had provided.
Okay, it looks pretty complicated. So instead of worrying about the details, let’s just simplify it then. Option one: Better shooting with elemental swapping. I assume that means it’ll be energy-based to start as it said, but then I can will for it to be fire damage, electrical, cold… and other stuff. Just depends on what defines an element, but I assume we’ll go by video game logic until proven otherwise. Jordan cracked his knuckles.
Option two: Tougher body, and by flexible, I think it means elastic. By the way it says the tank will remain the default shape, it can be assumed that the other ones will be very not tank-like. Perhaps another kind of vehicle with actual seating? Or something that I can’t even imagine, from what could be a literal multiverse of possible shapes the System might be pulling from.
He then looked at the last, but not least screen. Option three: Straight up just a permanent version of the Skill to make it the simplest. But from the Scaling, it would mean that I could, right now, have a total of five active as the limit? Wouldn’t even be able to support that if the TP upkeep remains the same. But if that limit can actually be done with how it changes the costs, then that’s just… kind of busted. Like just to compete with what would be the start of a full-blown swarm, the first two choices would have to be really insane with their buffs.
The System had gone out of its way to make sure that he knew that this decision would be one that would last for as long as he lived. That even future big evolutions like this would only be based on what he chose now, and not necessarily chances to change course.
Tapping his fingers against the table in front of him, a few minutes slowly went by. Jordan made sure to read through each option again, at least a few times each. Even without all the details, he tried weigh their pros and cons against each other. But…
At the end of the day, Jordan remained a simple man. And with the same logic that had told him that bigger was better, it now whispered that more was better. Then after forcing himself to hold off and think about for just a little longer, the desire within his slightly childish heart only cemented itself further. Once again, he already knew what he truly wanted.
Selected evolution: Manifestation
Finalize the user’s selection?
Mhmm, make it so.
Skill cost recalculated!
Upkeep Cost: 20% of total TP reserved.
Note!
Reserved Skill cost will depend on the current progress of the Skill’s Scaling.
“Wait, what?” Jordan asked aloud as he rose to his feet. Looking away from the table, he immediately used the Skill. As the drone was summoned onto the floor next to him, he felt the inherent knowledge it provided be updated.
“Ohhhh, so that’s how you work, huh? Not permanent as in truly lasting forever and real, but… huh. But if that’s how it functions, then it means there’s something I can do,” Jordan looked at the drone, the gleam of a mad scientist now in his eye.
“I can take you apart piece by piece. And even if you’re fully broken and ruined, you won’t automatically be desummoned.”