Delver's Association Youth Walling Services

Location: Geltheas Dungeon

Price:

Levels 1-5: 10 gold each

Levels 6-8: 20 gold each

Levels 9 and 10: 40 gold each

Special: Raise from level 1 to level 11: 150 gold (BEST VALUE)

Speak to any Delver's Association teller for information or same-day service. Safety is our highest priority. Minimum age 12 years old. Equipment available to rent for small additional fee. Membership not required. Endorsed by the Geltheas City Council.

-Advert placed in City of Geltheas weekly newspaper The Geltheas Record

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Having no further business in the human nest, Mud set off to its Domain. Upon returning to the forest, being no-longer burdened by the injured humans, Mud took to the treetops. Swinging through the treetops in its unique method of locomotion, the increase in statistics made themselves known. The pace at which the golem could now travel through the treetops would be difficult for a sprinting human to keep pace with.

Of course, even at this pace Mud maintained its vigilance. Blindspots were constantly checked, and each shadow and potential hiding spot examined for traces of enemies. Over time, the golem has slowly perfected its method of sweeping glances. Originally, the method had been rather primitive. Mud would simply scan left to right repeatedly, first as high as it could see and moving lower with each pass. While this covered its entire range of vision, there were some obvious flaws.

Most glaringly, the pattern was predictable to enemies. A skilled opponent might simply hide completely each time the scan passed their location. Another problem was that it treated all directions with equal scrutiny. This was wasteful, as there were certain locations that warranted more attention than others. Mud improved the blindspot removal method by making the movements much more erratic and unpredictable while making sure to focus more on likely hiding spots.

The specific method had become rather complicated and required a bit of focus to maintain, but Mud was now confident it had developed the technique to a suitable degree to be relied upon. Just as Mud felt satisfied with the state of its vigilance, a new kind of dialog appeared in its mind.

Author new skill "Blind Spot Removal" to Akashic Record?

Rewards will be distributed to the author for a useful addition.

Was the Akashic Record recognizing the value of Mud's new technique and offering to make it a skill? That seemed to be the case. If any intelligence that developed a technique to a suitable degree could author a skill, that certainly explained the massive number available for purchase with skill points.

What the reward would be and how usefulness was determined was unclear. There appeared to be no downside to accepting, so the specifics were unimportant. Without concern, Mud accepted the creation of a new skill.

In the next moment, Mud froze mid-swing and clung to a branch. A strange sensation of foreign mana entering its body suddenly appeared, similar to its experience with the Class Change Orb. Suspecting this was related to the formation of the new skill, Mud didn't resist the mana and allowed it to flow through its body. For some time, the mana flowed over the golem's body and soul. What exactly it was searching for or recording was unclear to the golem. Eventually, the mana retreated. In the next instant, a notification appeared.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

[Blind Spot Removal Skill obtained at level Max]

Unlike previous times the golem had gained a new skill, no new information flowed into its mind. Perhaps because Mud itself was the source of the knowledge, there was nothing new to add. Was this skill the reward? Mud hoped that it was not, and something greater would be awarded to it at a later time.

Putting the thoughts aside, Mud continued swinging towards home.

Upon entering its Domain, Mud traveled to the mansion basement to communicate with the demon.

"Jabrax, I am receiving zero Experience from killing monsters. How do I become stronger?"

The demon lifted her head from the table and attempted to wipe some blood from her face with a clawed hand. Unfortunately, the hand was just as soaked with gore as her face and served only to spread the mess around. After a swallow, she finally answered. "Oh, you hit the tier one wall with those goblins eh? We'll need to find you stronger stuff to slaughter. Lucky for us, this town has a dungeon."

Grabbing a nearby towel, Jabrax finally managed to clean some of the blood from her face and arms. "Have you used up your skill points yet? You shouldn't waste them, but not using them at all is even worse than buying something stupid."

At her suggestion, Mud brought up its record.

Name: Mud Golem

Level 7 Mud Golem

Class: Level 4 Master Butler ®

HP

11/11

SP

0/0

MP

220/220

Spells: [Psionic] Force Bolt, Lesser Telekinesis, Paracusia

Skills(3): Blind Spot Removal Max, Bodyguard 3, Climbing 4, Cooking Max, Etiquette Max, Hidden Weapon 3, Household Mastery 3, Mathematics 3, Psionics 2, Sneak Attack 5, Stealth 6, Service Max, String Manipulation 5, Torture 1, Unarmed Combat 6, Amorphous Form ®, Servant's Loyalty ®, Almanac (U)

Status Effects: Incomplete (Articulation Runes)

Three skill points were available to make it stronger. Opening the skill menu, Mud searched for any new options. Several new skills were available, and the golem considered its options.

Enhance Skill:

Cooking

Reach level Max in skill Cooking

Enhance Skill:

Etiquette

Reach level Max in skill Etiquette

Enhance Skill:

Service

Reach level Max in skill Service

Enhance Skill:

Blind Spot Removal

Reach level Max in skill Blind Spot Removal

Household Magic

10+ maximum mana and Home affinity (granted from class)

Domain Control

Control a Domain

To Mud's surprise, there was an option to enhance the Blind Spot Removal skill, even though it had just been created. Putting that thought aside, the golem considered its options.

So far, enhancing skills had worked out well two times. On the other hand, the two completely new options were both considerably attractive. Both appeared to be skills that would assist in maintaining and defending the Cithlar estate. Unfortunately, the major upcoming battle of the Dungeon Festival would not be located within the Domain of the estate. It was possible that Household Magic would be useful in other situations, though.

"Is there any way to know what skill you will obtain when you enhance a skill?"

Jabrax, who was about to return to eating, looked back and frowned. "Um, not really. Those humans that made the Record couldn't figure out exactly how knowledge ascension worked. When the same skill is ascended by different people, they get different results. It wasn't as straight-forward and easy to quantify as some other things."

"Is Household Magic powerful?"

Stopping once more as she leaned down towards Bark, Jabrax let out a sigh and spoke over her shoulder. "Yeah, it's really strong... at certain things. Just pick that one and stop bothering me."

Mud looked over each option one more time. While Domain Control likely wouldn't help directly in the upcoming festival, it was a long term investment that seemed well worth the risk. Household Magic was, according to Jabrax, 'really strong', and it would be nice to have more ways to utilize its mana pool. For the final choice, Mud decided to enhance the new skill it had authored, Blind Spot Removal.

With a small push of its will, Mud purchased the three skills.