Chapter 26
(Who’s the boss?)
With an audible pop, Jarow was ejected from the portal. He landed on his feet, or rather his paws, and quickly stepped forward to slow his momentum and stay upright. Behind him, there was another pop, and Mediv hit the floor. Apparently, the human was unable to catch his balance as Jarow had, or at least that's what Jarow assumed.
However, when he turned around to check if Mediv was all right, he found that Mediv had tumbled along the floor to slow his momentum. He then sprang to his feet and landed with a flourish, as though he had planned to do so the entire time.
Jarow felt like giving the man a small round of applause, but before he could do so, a new sound stole his attention.
“Look out!” Isilandra screamed from behind, the direction he had just turned away from.
Jarow spun back around at the sound to see an orange ball of flame shooting out from the darkness surrounding them. Its trajectory had it heading directly towards him. The elven woman dodged to the side to avoid being struck by the fireball, but Jarow’s body refused to move, his reflexes stalling either from fear or as part of some kind of side effect from the travel through the portal.
Jarow raised his hands to block, knowing it would likely be futile, but he was unable to make his body do anything else in those brief seconds before impact. Strangely, instead of feeling his life quickly ending in a conflagration of orange flames, he felt an unfamiliar force rapidly radiate out from around his midsection.
While Jarow’s eyes were closed, the rest of the party saw a light blue bubble of light spring into existence just milliseconds before the fireball slammed into him. The flames curled around and glanced off the magical shield. Though it didn’t completely halt the fireball, the bubble absorbed much of its heat and flames. However, the force of the projectile and its apparent explosion upon impact, sent Jarow flying back several feet.
He landed with a harsh thud, his back striking against the stone wall opposite where he had stood. The impact forcefully expelled the air from his lungs, leaving him wheezing in an attempt to catch his breath. Flames still flickered around where he had stood, but other than a bruised back and having the air knocked out of him, Jarow had escaped the attack virtually unscathed.
“Are you okay, suzerain?” Xinpo’s voice echoed in Jarow’s mind, laced with worry and fear.
“Ugh.. yeah, I think so. Did you just save me?” Jarow managed to ask, his mind sluggish after colliding with the stone wall.
“Yes, suzerain. That was the energy shield I gained when I leveled up. I’m glad it could block such a powerful spell, but I won’t be able to cast it again for another hour,” Xinpo explained.
“Wow, okay. Nice power. Thanks, Xinpo. Let’s try to avoid getting into another situation like that for a while then. What’s happening here?” As Jarow communicated telepathically with his companion, he began to survey their surroundings in this mysterious place.
The cavern they found themselves in was vast, with a circular layout and a gaping void at its center, stretching into darkness. They stood on an outcropping along a pathway tracing the cavern's outer wall. The ledge extended several yards from the wall's side, its floor smoothed over time by countless footsteps. Though the slope wasn’t steep, Jarow could feel the angle beneath his paws.
With the golden light still pouring from the portal they had used to arrive, illuminating the cavern, Jarow could faintly discern the other side of the torus-shaped chamber. Beyond the vast empty middle, he could vaguely make out a similar ledge spiraling along the opposite wall—a trail snaking both upward and downward.
In the center of the cavern, where the portal's light failed to penetrate far enough, darkness reigned. The cavern stretched so high and far down that even with the golden light spilling from the portal, they could barely discern anything beyond the vast empty middle. Peculiar insect-like creatures floated within this darkness, their large abdomens emitting a faint orange glow. Gasses inside their stomachs swirled languidly as they bobbed on translucent wings that fluttered rapidly but produced no typical insect buzz.
Jarow watched intently as one of the floating creatures inflated its stomach for several seconds, the orange fluid inside churning more rapidly. Then, with an ominous retch, it dislocated its jaw, eyes and antennae flopping backward against its neck as it expelled another fireball—mirroring the one that had struck Jarow moments ago, but this time angled toward Grolluk's position.
The large Orc was engaged in battle, swinging his morningstar in a wide arc to fend off the encroaching danger. He fended off three peculiar stone formations slowly advancing towards the rest of the party. These creatures bore a vague resemblance to humanoids, with rudimentary arms and legs emerging from their roundish stony bodies. Yet, what truly distinguished them were the large spikes protruding from where their heads should be, each crowned with a wriggling mass of glowing worms.
As the monsters lumbered forward, their massive and peculiar bodies became more apparent. Glowing crystalline teeth jutted out from the middle of their spherical torsos, behind which lay a molten pool of lava instead of saliva. Despite their humanoid appearance, their ambulations were awkward and unsteady, their legs more akin to rocky stubs than functional limbs.
Grolluk found himself joined by Mediv as they prepared to face the oncoming threat. Jarow's hand shot out instinctively to warn the pair, but before he could utter a word, a barrier of ice surged up from the edge of the rocky ledge they stood upon, intercepting the fireball in its path.
At the front of the portal, Suhry stood poised for action, her hood had fallen back to reveal the glowing blue spirals along her horns. With a staff raised and a wand tightly gripped in her other hand, she prepared to enter the fray.
Her voice resonated with a word of power, "Dee-e’tza," summoning a large icicle at the tip of her wand. With a flick of her wrist, she directed the projectile towards one of the floating fire-bugs in the center of the cavern.
The impact of the icicle was followed by a brief struggle as it pierced through the thick skin of the fire-bug's abdomen. Upon exposure to the ice and air, the creature's stomach contents triggered a chemical reaction, resulting in a violent explosion. Flames engulfed the fire-bug, sending it plummeting into the abyss below, leaving behind a trail of smoldering cinders in its wake.
The explosion of the fire-bug cast a brilliant flare, unveiling a vast horde of creatures lurking within the cavern. What was initially mistaken for a mere scattering of gassy insectoids in the center of the cavern turned out to be hundreds. These insects hovered within the vast reaches of the emptiness within the middle of the torus-shaped structure, their glowing abdomens faintly illuminating the gloom as they all began to lazily move towards the area where the party now stood.
The flare also unveiled numerous other creatures lining the walls and encircling the cavern. Alongside the rock mounds resembling those Grolluk battled, a diverse array of monsters emerged from the shadows, each more menacing than the last.
Large scorpion-like creatures scuttled along the walls, their shiny chitinous bodies reflecting the light of the explosion as they eagerly advanced, snapping their pincers in anticipation of their next meal. Meanwhile, enormous rat-like beasts with spiked backs and menacing horns charged towards the party, their sharp claws clicking against the stone floor as they sprinted along the trail, driven by hunger and aggression.
Centipedes reminiscent of the one Jarow had taken a ride in, crawled along the walls, their segmented bodies undulating in the darkness. Though smaller than the monstrous creature summoned by the Oonja for his transport, these arthropods still exuded a deadly aura, their presence adding to the growing sense of peril.
The scene before them resembled a nightmare come to life. Enormous gelatinous molds undulated forward, their wobbly bodies rippling with every step, while alongside them, large white worms wriggled, their spiky exteriors adding to the grotesque spectacle. Some of the worms rode atop the slime creatures, while others slithered alongside in what looked like an honor guard for the strange gelatinous blobs.
As the fading light from the portal revealed the party's presence like a beacon in the darkness, all the denizens of this eerie realm seemed to focus their attention on Jarow and his companions. The air was thick with the scent of sulfur and decay, and the cacophony of chittering and screeching from the creatures filled the cavern, drowning out all other sound.
Jarow knew they were outnumbered and outmatched, but they had no choice but to fight. The only alternative was certain death. As the light from the fireball dwindled and the portal closed behind them, plunging them into darkness, Jarow felt his heart pounding loudly within his chest. If his body were capable of it, he knew he would be sitting in a pool of his own urine.
Then the battle truly began.
Jarow watched as Mediv executed a swift maneuver, darting between Grolluk's legs and emerging behind the rock creatures they were still locked in combat with. With a precise stroke of his curved sword, he severed the stalk of the nearest creature, then delivered a powerful kick that sent it tumbling off the edge of the trail to its demise.
Meanwhile, Isilandra's hands began to glow with a silvery liquid light, which flowed through the air and enveloped Grolluk like a protective cocoon. Her hair floated away from her shoulders as if suspended in liquid due to the magical energies surrounding her. The staff she typically carried hovered behind her, emitting its own aura that seemed to amplify the magical energy emanating from both her and Suhry, the two working in fierce symmetry.
“Suzerain, you must enter the fray, or the entire party surely will fall,” Xinpo’s voice resonated in a low monotone. There was no rebuke or fear in his words, only a sense of necessity and encouragement.
Jarow acknowledged the need and inspiration in his companion's words and began readying himself. Though this team was still unfamiliar to him, they had already displayed remarkable strength and unity. They moved together in harmony, and he hoped his own abilities wouldn’t disrupt their cohesion.
The desire for battle and camaraderie had burned within him since his departure from the gray halls of the Liminal Divide. Now, he stood ready to prove himself. This was the place to test his abilities and survive. While he still had the feeling that if he died, he would return, he had no intention of testing that theory. Instead, he was prepared to give his all to stay alive, and moreover, to keep his new acquaintances alive as well.
Summoning his resolve, Jarow rose to his feet, his legs still trembling with uncertainty but his spirit fueled by determination. He considered drawing Shiarra from his inventory, knowing the chaos surrounding them could easily conceal the void from which he would summon the sword, but instead chose to keep things simple.
With an audible gulp, Jarow addressed Xinpo aloud, though his words seemed directed more to himself, “Let’s try the staff today shall we? Are you ready?”
In response, Jarow felt a surge of power emanate from Xinpo. The handle in his hand elongated, transforming the sword into a staff. Within moments, he held Xinpo and the wooden grip provided by Orro in his hands, the feeling of the wood warm and offering a surprisingly firm grip. Jarow quickly reviewed his abilities and began devising strategies to unleash chaos upon their adversaries while supporting his comrades. This was his first fight with these powers, but he felt confident that he could hold his own, at least for a while, given the overwhelmingly large number of monsters present.
Once Isilandra had healed Grolluk, she conjured a large ball of light above them. It reminded Jarow of a pale silvery moon as it hung suspended in the air above the area they stood upon, it cast its light over the trail giving the area a hue of silver-white. As an added bonus, the faux moon boosted the team's regeneration, both physical and magical.
Jarow entered the fray, his powers and fighting prowess at first lacking and incohesive with the others, but he quickly found a rhythm. Even though Jarow was the newest addition to this group, his presence was welcomed. He and the others formed a circle around the pale moon hovering over them and began their battle of attrition against the denizens of this cavern.
The battle raged on.
They stood firm, encircled by the relentless swarm of creatures, offering no respite or avenue for escape. Grolluk wielded his morningstar with precision, guarding the upward path where the majority of attackers descended. Jarow, positioned by Isilandra, served as the rear guard, defending the downward slope of the trail and staunchly holding back the hordes surging up from below.
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In the heart of the group, Isilandra orchestrated their movements, providing leadership, healing, and support to her companions. Suhry, by her side, kept the airborne foes at bay, warding off aerial assaults and lending aid in defending the slopes whenever possible.
Meanwhile, Mediv darted and weaved through the chaos with remarkable agility, embodying the essence of a rogue Tumbler. He somersaulted across the ground, underfoot, against the walls, and even through clusters of tightly packed adversaries, his sword striking swiftly and with deadly precision. Each blow inflicted substantial damage or dispatched an enemy outright, as Mediv's keen instincts guided him to exploit vulnerabilities, striking from behind or at unguarded moments.
Suhry, a master of ice magic, conjured walls of ice to provide cover from the fire-bugs while also launching icy spears from her wand. These frozen projectiles pierced through the air, impaling the flying creatures as well as those scaling the cavern walls. She could pin them to the stony wall like insect specimens on display. She also would coat the floors with a slick layer of ice when possible, causing the creatures to slide off the edge. While this power was often amusing—watching the hordes of creatures slip and slide, pushing each other off the edge or falling themselves—the true strength of this ability lay in providing an invaluable respite to Jarow, who was on the downward slope.
Isilandra played a crucial role in keeping the party alive, utilizing her arsenal of buffs and enhancement spells to bolster their defenses and mend their wounds. Her unwavering determination served as the driving force that enabled the party to endure the hours of relentless combat. When the light from her conjured moon waned, she would raise her staff, bathing the area in her own silvery glow until she could cast the spell anew.
Jarow found himself thrust into this relentless battle, unlike anything he had faced before. The skirmishes with small groups of Thu’kri paled in comparison to the waves of enemies now assaulting the party. His stamina points (SP) dwindled rapidly with each use of his abilities, leaving him gasping for breath and unable to fight as effectively as he desired at times.
However, the battle's saving grace was the experience points (XP) he was earning. With each foe destroyed by him or one of the other party members, the number rose. The fact that he had gained four levels already was a testament to the unending battle.
Though Jarow was hesitant to place all his points, he did allocate ten points into Durability, the stat that kept him alive and functional. Durability not only governed his SP pool but also influenced its regeneration rate, both crucial for this sustained combat. His HP had remained stable under Isilandra's care, and his MP was more manageable, but the constant expenditure of SP from his fighting was an unavoidable drain.
The increase in his durability stat bolstered his total SP, yet the battle remained an unrelenting drain on his resources. With the enemies seemingly unending and the fight showing no signs of abating, Jarow braced himself for the long struggle ahead, grateful beyond belief for the brief breaks given to him by Suhry or Mediv.
Jarow was overjoyed to be able to see his advancement finally. Before, when he didn’t have a class, he didn’t have a way to track his XP. Now however, those numbers rose quickly. Unfortunately, he couldn't really focus on those numbers and levels here, in the midst of the life-or-death struggle. With some resignation he quickly dismissed the notifications that popped up in his field of vision, but made a mental note to revisit them later, knowing he would have to sift through his logs to fully find out what he had missed.
Despite the grueling nature of the battle, Jarow continuously explored innovative ways to utilize his new skills and abilities. He hadn’t had time to test anything out before, and working with his new powers was exciting.
He employed Molecular Fusion to meld the rock of the cavern with the flesh of the monsters, effectively transforming them into statues that obstructed the path of their allies. These petrified foes not only became obstacles for their comrades but also contributed to creating barriers that impeded their movement.
His Temporal Inversion ability allowed him to manipulate the age of living creatures, rapidly aging them to the point of physical deterioration or reverting them to an infantile state. This sudden alteration in age left his adversaries vulnerable, caught off guard by the sudden changes in their physical state and easy to eliminate.
While Spatial Exchange was essentially a body swap, it wasn't always the most practical in combat. However, Jarow could still exploit it to sow confusion among his opponents. For instance, he could swap a land-based monster’s position with that of a fire-bug. The creature, unable to fly, would plummet to the depths, while the fire-bug would quickly be overrun and typically explode. This explosion would eliminate the other creatures in its vicinity, further adding to the chaos and allowing Jarow to exploit the confusion.
In addition to body swapping, he could also transpose minds using his Essence Transposition ability. While not always a significant hindrance, placing the mind of a scorpion into a worm or jelly, for example, seemed to confuse the creatures and cause them to flounder. This created additional chaos as they struggled to adapt to their new physiology, often resulting in injuries to creatures in their surrounding area as well.
Another valuable skill that Jarow learned to utilize was Xinpo’s Weightlessness. He discovered that he could cast this power not only on himself for an added jump boost but also on enemies. When he cast the power on a centipede and it started floating away, he found that it instinctively grabbed onto anything nearby, including its fellow combatants. This added grabbing caused collateral damage within the attacking ranks, and it was not always Jarow who capitalized on the situation.
As the centipede floated several yards into the air, Suhry seized the opportunity. She froze the floating monster and the smaller creatures within its grasp into a solid mass. Then, with ease, she pushed the frozen conglomerate out over the edge, sending all held within the large ice-boulder plummeting into the depths below. This combined attack effectively removed several creatures at once and was a combination they used several times.
Jarow also employed Complete Cleanse multiple times. Before activating the power, he made sure Xinpo telepathically warned everyone to avert their eyes. The ensuing wave of intense white light was extremely paralyzing to the creatures accustomed to darkness, leaving them easy to dispatch for several long moments.
Additionally, it had the beneficial effect of eliminating all the built-up gore and body parts from the surrounding area. The removal of all undesirable substances even left Grolluk smelling fresher afterward, which all the party members appreciated as an unexpected bonus.
Jarow also discovered that Isilandra was more than just a healer. Periodically, she also unleashed a powerful attack spell. This spell summoned a large hammer which floated in the air, glowing with the silvery light that was the foundation of all her spells and abilities. The enormous hammer, with a head approximately twenty feet in diameter, would then plummet to the ground at extreme velocity. Upon impact, it not only obliterated the monsters beneath it but also caused the very ground to tremble from the impact.
Furthermore, Jarow learned that Grolluk's weapon was no ordinary piece of equipment. While not sentient like Xinpo, with each consecutive hit, its density increased without adding to the weight felt by the wielder. This meant that as long as Grolluk kept hitting monsters, the ball at the end became heavier, making each strike stronger and more powerful without requiring additional effort to swing the morningstar.
Within moments, Grolluk could easily crush creatures with only glancing blows. However, the downside was that the weapon became less accurate and was more likely to hit the floor or wall when swung. When this happened, the density gains would reset, and the weapon’s density would return to normal. This meant that the morningstar was not constantly in a state of extreme power, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing as it prevented accidental hits to himself or others, potentially causing insta-death to an ally.
The prolonged battle dragged on for hours.
Jarow found that his new Gnoll body synergized well with his Bighorn Sentinel combat system. His stance remained solid, and his staff moved in a blur as he capitalized on the weapon's long reach and the elemental enhancements provided by Xinpo. Meanwhile, Mediv frequently joined him in pushing back the throngs of beasts. The man proved to be astonishingly adept at maneuvering past Jarow and inflicting massive amounts of damage to the creatures while Jarow held their attention. Mediv's strikes were a blur of motion, dealing devastating blows to multiple foes. Afterward, he would somersault over Jarow's head and dart to the other side to assist Grolluk with his defenses.
Combining all of their talents and using their abilities not only to attack and defend their own areas but also to assist each other when possible, the party endured the hours of grueling battle and persevered through the initial onslaught.
Finally an end was in sight.
When the hordes of creatures finally lessened and came upon them at more infrequent intervals, the party was finally able to catch their breath.
"Is your life always like this?" Jarow asked between gasps for air.
"Sometimes," Mediv replied, quickly moving off towards a Garaminer that had slid down the wall towards them.
"Actually… This is very unusual, Jarow. In fact, I don’t think we’ve fought this many creatures since our time in the army," Isilandra corrected Mediv with an annoyed sideways glance.
The rogue swiftly maneuvered through the Garaminer’s legs, delivering a precise slash that ended the beast, causing its greenish guts to spill onto the ground.
Grolluk grunted and added, "It’s good you were here noob. I’m not sure we would have fought so well without you. You're almost as good as Estewa used to be."
Jarow looked up at Grolluk, curious about who Estewa was, but before he could ask, Suhry interjected. “She died,” she said bluntly, without even sparing him a glance. “That’s all you need to know.”
The tone in her voice made it clear that further discussion on the topic was unwelcome, so Jarow changed the subject. “I can’t believe we all survived. That was crazy.”
Grolluk grunted again in response, still vigilant for any further attacks.
Throughout the battle, Jarow used his Identify skill on as many of the creatures as he could. The Garaminer, for example, was a spider-type monster with long, spindly legs and a small body. It could cling to walls and use its sharp legs to slice like a giant rapier.
As Jarow's Identify ability reached Moderate, he started to gather more information. He discovered that Garaminers had a paralytic poison that they applied to their appendages. This poison would cause a temporary debuff, rendering the victim unable to move for almost thirty seconds. Fortunately, Jarow hadn't experienced this firsthand, but Mediv had taken a slice and was saved by Suhry who dispatched the monster. Isilandra quickly removed the debuff from Mediv, and from then on buffed them all against the paralytic effects whenever the Garaminers appeared.
Jarow also realized that Identify had transitioned from being an acquired skill to becoming one of the invisible skills he had access to, much like Heal. In fact, his Dash skill had changed as well. He wasn't sure why these abilities he had acquired before were no longer listed on his character sheet, but he was grateful to still be able to use them.
Isilandra's melodic voice broke the tension, though it sounded strained yet resolute. "Don't let your guard down just yet. You haven't found what you're here to find yet, have you?"
Isilandra’s question piqued a sense of curiosity within him, leading him to wonder just how much these individuals knew about the mission he was on. They had welcomed him into their midst without hesitation, almost seamlessly integrating him into their team, although that was also done out of necessity. They seemed to support him just as he had been endeavoring to do for them. It felt like camaraderie was forming on the battlefield, the beginnings of a bond of trust between them, as if he had been part of their group for years rather than mere hours.
Despite the growing fondness he felt for them, Jarow didn't really have a great answer to Isilandra's question because he remained largely in the dark concerning his goal. He lacked the important details about why they were here and what it was he was supposed to retrieve.
He had surmised that the others also had only a vague understanding of the purpose for this mission, and even less about his identity. So far, he had learned little about them other than some of their abilities and the way they fought.
Jarow began to wonder if perhaps these guys intended to keep their friendship guarded, unsure of how long Jarow would remain with them, refraining from fully integrating him into their social group. A team member was one thing, but a friend took time. The realization kind of saddened him, but he could also appreciate the strategic advantage of such caution.
After contemplating these thoughts, Jarow finally answered, but also had to ask another question. “No I haven’t, but how is it that you guys know who I am and why I am here? If you don’t mind me asking?”
The other members of the party exchanged questioning glances. Suhry, with a roll of her inhuman eyes, broke the awkward silence. 'We all received a set of strange notifications,' she began. 'They were unlike the ones we usually get from the system. They told of a person who would join our party, where they—or you—would be, and that you would need to find something during this mission. We all compared the messages we received, and they were the same. That's how we knew.
Jarow nodded, confirming his suspicion. He had one last burning question lingering in his mind. "Do you know who sent those messages?"
The party members exchanged uncertain looks once again. Jarow sensed their shared curiosity, but hesitancy to answer.
It was Mediv who finally spoke up. "Sometimes it's best not to ask."
The others nodded in agreement. A silence descended upon the group, interrupted only by the occasional growl or skittering noise of monsters still making their way toward their location. These sounds echoed through the cavern.
“I am sorry, that did not go as you would have liked, did it, suzerain?” Xinpo’s voice resonated in Jarow’s mind. “Maybe it’s best to move forward and leave the question unanswered, as Mediv advised.”
Jarow begrudgingly agreed with Xinpo, so he posed another question to the party, “Which way do you think we should go from here, up or down?”
"You're the one who needs to find this important… thing, right? You tell us," Mediv replied, gesturing vaguely. "This is as far as our knowledge of this situation goes."
"So I'm supposed to lead from here on?" Jarow asked Xinpo, his tone tinged with worry as he scanned the cavern, his eyes darting along the trail.
“It appears so, suzerain. Do you have any inkling as to which direction you need to go?”
Jarow sighed, “I would hate to have to climb all the way back up if I am wrong, but I think we should go down.”
“You’re the boss,” Grolluk said, bringing his weapon to his shoulder. With the upward trail clear for the moment, he abandoned his post and stepped toward the downward slope where Jarow still stood. The others seemed to acquiesce and began following the large orc.
As Isilandra walked past, she gave Jarow a faint smile and asked, “Will you keep the rear guard as we travel?”
Jarow nodded, unable to speak. His mind whirred with indecision and the possible implications, but more than that, when Isilandra drew near and he once again looked into those eyes of liquid silver, his heart once again cried out with a longing to be with her, even though he doubted that option was even on the table.
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The trail angled downward in a spiral along the wall of the vast cylindrical cavern. While most of the denizens had rushed upward upon their arrival, some pockets of monsters remained behind, either unwilling or unable to make the ascent.
During their descent, Jarow took the opportunity to allocate the attribute points he had gained thus far. He reached level fifteen when the party encountered a group of fuzzy mole-like creatures. Despite being blind, they attacked when the party could be smelt, their large claws were threatening. However, the party dispatched them quickly with minimal effort.
This left Jarow with a total of twenty-five points to allocate since entering the cavern, ten of which had already been invested in Durability. His Power and Mobility remained at ten, while his other stats stood above twenty.
Seeking a more balanced build, he allocated ten of the remaining fifteen points to Power and the remaining five to Mobility. With these adjustments, his bars expanded, and the numbers associated with them changed. Now, they totaled 615 HP, 645 MP, and 540 SP. Jarow attempted to discern how these totals were calculated, but he lacked the necessary equation to follow. Unfortunately, his mind struggled with numbers, leaving him without a clear understanding.
At level fifteen, another Power also became available to Jarow: Aural Armor. When activated, it created a small, invisible barrier around his body. While not impregnable, it was useful for deflecting glancing blows and light projectiles.
Xinpo had also leveled up several times, but he no longer seemed to gain anything from his levels. No new abilities or skills were offered. While neither of them understood why Xinpo was not gaining any new abilities or stats, Xinpo felt that the powers he already possessed seemed to be growing in strength.
“I do feel as though my abilities are growing stronger, suzerain, therfore I do not feel the levels are completely without gain,” he explained to Jarow.
Xinpo continued to relay some examples of how his abilities were growing. "Passe-partout should now provide a small, quick teleport, like a jump from one point to another within line of sight. I am also now able to communicate more efficiently with my telepathy; I can pinpoint to whom I choose to speak and can much more easily control my volume.
“All of my other abilities are now stronger and encompass a larger area as well. I hope this alleviates your concern for me not gaining new abilities, suzerain,” Xinpo finished, showing Jarow how to use some of the new functions.
"That's awesome, Xinpo," Jarow replied as he browsed through the additions in his UI. Xinpo had established a new mental interface with Jarow, enabling him to see a set of buttons corresponding to Xinpo's abilities. With these, he could activate his companion’s powers without the need to ask, streamlining the process and allowing him to do so more quickly. A small timer would appear once the button was activated, indicating their cooldown times.
Jarow adjusted his UI, positioning the buttons along the top center of his vision where they wouldn’t obscure his sight. However, his field of vision was undeniably becoming somewhat crowded with all the information hovering in his view.