Asher picked up the spear, turning it over in his hands to get a good look at it. "This is quite heavy." he remarked, struggling to lift it based on his tone.
The spear had a rustic yet menacing appearance. Its shaft was a dark, sturdy wood, wrapped in places with what seemed to be weathered leather strips, giving it a rugged grip. Protruding from the sides of the shaft were sharp bones, likely meant to intimidate the adversaries that would come in contact with this weapon.
The spearhead itself was of impressive size. It was a large, asymmetrical flint blade, almost leaf-shaped, with a viciously sharp edge—a stark contrast to the primitive or tribal look of the shaft. The blade was attached with more of the leather-like material, wound tightly to hold it securely in place.
"It looks ancient but deadly effective. Though I doubt i would be able to make use of it based on how heavy it is to wield. " Asher concluded. "Whoever made this knew a thing or two about weapon-making with the most basic of materials. It's not just for show."
Asher looked through the stats of the spear on his display, his eyebrows arching in response to the information presented:
https://i.imgur.com/66WriUi.png [https://i.imgur.com/66WriUi.png]
"Not bad at all," He whistled softly, impressed by the capabilities of the weapon.. "A Magic rank with a decent attack damage, and that bonus damage to sea creatures could have been really handy in this fight."
Then, his gaze landed on the strength requirement. "Twenty strength, huh?" he said, a bit deflated. This was his first time encountering an item that required specific stats to be filled. He gave the spear a few experimental swings, feeling its weight and balance. It was clear the weapon was designed for someone with significant physical strength.
"It figures." Asher sighed, holding the spear out and feeling its heft. "This thing is too heavy for me to wield effectively." The realization that he lacked the necessary strength to use the spear was disappointing, but Asher was not one to dwell on setbacks.
But then, an idea sparked in Asher's mind. "What if my guardian could bypass the strength requirement?" he thought, his spirits lifting with this possibility. His guardian, perhaps wasn't bound by the same limitations as he was.
Asher approached his guardian, spear in hand. "Let's see if you can make use of this." he said, attempting to equip the spear onto his steadfast companion.
But as he tried to do so, his guardian visor displayed a sudden icon displaying his inability to equip the item, [X]. And then as to provide more context, a system notification abruptly materialized in front of Asher:
Unable to Equip 'River Reaver' due to limitation of 'Two-Handed' weapon types. Current Off-Hand 'Sanguine Shield' Equipped. Two-handed weapons require both equipment slots.
Asher stared at the message, frowning his brow. It made sense, but he had been so caught up in the excitement of the new weapon that he hadn't considered the guardian's current equipment setup.
"Right." he muttered, "the shield..." His guardian was still clutching the shield that had been integral to their victory. The rules were clear: as long as the guardian wielded an off-hand item, it wouldn't be possible to equip a two-handed weapon like the spear.
A moment of silence passed as he processed this information. Then, with a shrug, Asher said, "Guess we're both out of luck for now." He patted the guardian's head, a silent thanks for its efforts, and stowed the spear in his inventory.
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He couldn't help but smile at the foresight of his recent purchase.
"Glad I got that inventory skill." he said with a hint of satisfaction. "It's already proving its worth."
"We'll figure out what to do with this item later. For now, let's see what this 'Agony' skill is all about."
https://i.imgur.com/huIksN3.png [https://i.imgur.com/huIksN3.png]
Asher gazed at the skill icon for 'Agony,' The image was haunting. A ghoul like visage, set against a backdrop of what seemed like magic patterns, giving it an almost ethereal quality. From the open mouth and eye sockets, there were wisps or drips that cascaded downwards, suggesting a leaking away of power and essence.
Asher's eyes scanned the description, absorbing every detail. "So it's a curse that slows enemies down and weakens their attacks." he murmured to himself. The tactical implications of such a skill were vast; it could change the tide of a battle, giving him and his guardian the upper hand by crippling their opponent's effectiveness.
Then something else caught his eye, causing his eyebrows to lift in surprise. "'Necromancer exclusive,' it says?"
"I had no idea the system would grant class-specific skills as rewards." The skill 'Agony' not only expanded his combat strategy but also hinted at the depth and complexity of the system governing his progression within the tower.
Asher allowed himself a moment to ponder the possibilities. "This means the rewards are tailored, maybe even personalized to some extent. The system isn't just throwing random skills at us as it implied in the reward text, but rather it a random reward based on the best suitable options; there's a method to it. Meaning that whichever skill the system provides me will be something i can make use of based on my current skill set." he thought, a strategic gleam in his eye.
Would you like to learn 'Agony' (Magic)?(YES/NO)
The system's prompt hovered before Asher, should he assimilate 'Agony' himself or allocate it to his guardian? The choice seemed clear to him. As the lead strategist and the support within his composition, the skill was tailor-made for his role. Assigning it to his guardian would be an inefficient use of the skill's potential, burdening his companion with abilities that lay outside its primary function.
Asher understood the delicate balance of skill acquisition. While there was the freedom to learn a multitude of skills, overloading oneself—could dilute effectiveness. Specialization was key; it was essential to hone a particular set of skills to their utmost potential. The old saying rang true: "Jack of all trades, master of none." An adept necromancer cluttering their repertoire with unsuitable skills would be as out of place as a mage on the front lines, brandishing a sword—it was a strategic misstep that could lead to a disadvantageous outcome.
Therefore, Asher chose to learn 'Agony' for himself. Ensuring it augmented his role rather than detracted from it. He pictured a mage, not out of place and struggling in melee, but commanding his guardian from a distance. That was the image he aspired to, and with this new ability, he was one step closer.
Congratulations! You have learned, 'Agony'(Magic)!
"Now, I'm truly evolving into a my supporter role in the composition I've made. I own a healing ability to mend wounds, a porter ability for swift inventory management, and with 'Agony,' I add a debilitating skill to my arsenal." Asher reflected. "What am i missing now? I guess i wouldn't be against a defensive skill that boost my resilience and that of my guardian, or even a movement skill to escape danger." he pondered, considering the balance of his abilities.
His contemplation was interrupted by the system's prompt:
Having completed the sixth trial, do you wish to remain in the floor in order to acquire additional EXP, achievement points or complete unfinished quests? (YES/NO)
Asher made his choice quite quickly as he had already made his decision long ago. "Yes, I'll stay." he voiced out. "There's still a side quest I need to wrap up here." He understood the importance of completing every task available to ensure he was as prepared as possible for the challenges ahead.
The side quest, though secondary to the main objective of the floor, was an opportunity for additional growth. It could provide him with more experience, additional items, or even unlock further secrets of the tower—benefits that could be invaluable in the long run.