{Rugged Constitution}

{Rapid Regeneration}

{Primal Weaponry}

{1 trait available for selection.}

It was pretty nice to actually get to choose what she was going to get, Zoe thought. Other than her initial classes — which she no longer had — she hadn’t had any choice in what kinds of abilities or perks or anything else she got.

Well, she had just chosen which ability to consume when she ranked up {Introspection}, but the result was still not predetermined. Or at least, she hadn’t been able to see it even if it was.

Zoe reread the choices. She already had a pretty good feeling of which she was likely to end up choosing, but she wanted to have more information first. She hoped that the system — Grand Design, she reminded herself — would give it to her.

Any chance I can get more information?

{Rugged Constitution}

{You have almost died. You survived. You have died. You got better. Reinforces the durability, toughness, and resilience of your body and continues to adapt it to better survive harsh injuries and conditions.}

Reading it over, Zoe rolled her eyes at the description’s initial humor. Alright, focus on the important bit. It was obvious that she was going to have to do a lot of surviving — the ‘Grand Design’ was definitely right about that.

Even with her healing, she had come incredibly close to death many times, discounting even the last incident. And it had only been a few days! This world was ridiculously violent.

Next, Zoe focused on the second available trait.

{Rapid Regeneration}

{You have displayed a remarkable ability to bounce back to full health from the brink of death — or even from death itself. Passively grants a greatly increased ability to regenerate and recover from even the most debilitating wounds and afflictions.}

That did sound very useful. However, the part that caught Zoe’s eye was the word ‘passive.’ Does that mean it won’t take any mana?

“Hey Andric?”

“Yeah?”

“Do monster traits use mana to work?”

“Sometimes? It depends on what it is.”

Zoe chewed her lip. “What if the system says it’s passive?”

Turning to face her, finally, the young man gave her a blank stare. “Can you just read out whatever you’re looking at?”

Zoe did, and he nodded. “Yeah, if that ends up needing mana, then you were totally cheated. So no, I would wager that it doesn’t.”

“Thanks.”

After rereading the description several more times, Zoe moved on to the final available trait.

{Primal Weaponry}

{Man’s first weapon was a rock. Or a good stick. You didn’t even have that, and you didn’t need it. Blunt force, sharp claws, wicked teeth and all manner of deadly toxins are your tools. Greatly enhances the efficacy of existing natural weapons, and grants the ability to adapt entirely new ones.}

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Zoe frowned as she read through it. Offensive capabilities were good as well, and she had done pretty well for herself using nothing but her own two fists. The way it was worded also made it sound pretty strong, and in the future perhaps it could be quite flexible.

If Zoe were still fifteen or sixteen, she would have grabbed this last one immediately, on the spot. Fortunately, her days of making edgy self insert characters and wearing all black were long gone, and she had become quite attached to being human.

Even the red eyes were too far. How could she stomach big fangs or claws? Would it even stop there?

Unfortunately, she couldn’t write it off entirely. No, Zoe still had to consider it rationally and make the decision that would help her most.

She went ahead and eliminated {Rapid Regeneration}. The main benefit of it was the fact that it didn’t need mana — or at least, Andric was pretty certain it didn’t. After all, she already had multiple healing abilities which had proven again and again to be quite effective.

Yes, there was always the possibility of running out of mana. But if she were in a fight, she could try to eat her opponent, and if she wasn’t, it probably wouldn’t be as pressing. So while the trait had no downsides, it just didn’t have quite enough extra benefit to offer.

That left {Rugged Constitution} and {Primal Weaponry}.

Zoe knew that she was biased, so she would have to really think this one out to be sure. Even then, I might end up just falling into the trap of motivated reasoning.

Ah hell. You’re just going to convince yourself anyway. Just pick it.

{You have acquired Rugged Constitution!}

Zoe went ahead and rationalized her choice anyway. I already have both strong offensive and healing abilities. However, while I can heal anything so far as long as I have the mana, there’s nothing to prevent me from being killed so quickly that I don’t get a chance to do so.

If she were blown to smithereens like that big scholar guy Andric blew up, there was likely no coming back. She could always keep fighting and getting stronger to kill more easily, but one more big slip up and she’d never get to try again.

Durability to survive the initial damage, active healing to recover from it.

Deciding it was a good philosophy, Zoe resolved to keep it in mind for any future decisions as well. An equal balance of defense and recovery would surely be optimal for overall survivability.

Andric’s voice snapped her back to the world around her.

“Go tell Lily to get her sword ready.”

Zoe tilted her head. “Sure, but why?”

“Because we’re going to drop out of the back of the ship, that’s why.”

“What?”

“Just do it.”

Grumbling, Zoe peeled back the curtain and made her way behind the wooden crates. Lily opened her eyes and looked up. The blood mage appeared to have been meditating.

“Andric said to get your sword ready, because apparently we’re dropping out of the back of the ship.”

“Okay.”

As Lily stretched and rose to her feet, Zoe made her way back to the front. “So… why can’t we just land?”

Instead of answering verbally, Andric pointed to a spot on the horizon were what looked like a massive canyon split the scorched earth. “Pirate lair is a ways down the canyon. We can’t exactly fly straight into their camp, and if we land here they’ll wonder what’s up.

“Wait what?”

Ignoring the revelation that they were headed to a place where there would be even more pirates, Zoe didn’t understand how Andric knew where their lair was or how the pirates would know where the ship was.

“I would count on them being able to detect our ship,” the alchemist answered. “Right now, they probably think the two assholes we killed are heading back.”

Oh. Maybe it was like magic radar? Or something? Zoe would ask later, if she remembered. “How do you know where their lair is?”

“Map.”

“What, the maps here have a big red X with ‘pirates be here’ scrawled on it?”

“What? No.” Pushing a lever forward and locking it down, Andric clambered out of the chair contraption and stretched. “The pirates didn’t even have it labeled on their own maps — but it was pretty easy to figure out a general area by looking at their past missions.”

“Huh.”

“Follow me and do it fast. We only have about half a minute before we crash.”

Well shit. Following the alchemist, Zoe saw that Lily already had her sword ready. Once again, the weapon of ice was comically large — taller than the fairly short woman was. Clambering over the boxes in the far back, Andric withdrew one of his endless knives from thin air and rapidly cut several cords and straps.

The back of the cargo bay flew open, wind suddenly swirling in.

“Come on,” Lily shouted over the sudden roar, “Hop on.”

Begrudgingly obeying, Zoe hopped on next to her and Andric got on behind.

“I fucking swear, you better not pull that mana stream shit again,” Zoe growled.

Lily cackled, and then they were soaring out of the ship into the cloudless, dusty skies.