For the Amendments we settle on the Adventurer's Guild, Etheric Elementals and two different versions of Dungeon Break Scaling. We're hoping the first makes it past the Dracosys's scrutiny, because it actually would make dungeon breaks pretty easy to manage. The second is a more “fair” version, which we're pretty sure should pass muster.

We're not 100% on when the next “system update” will be (when we get to use the Amendments), but good guesses are either before or after the raid boss. We have to use the scrolls ahead of time, and Mercy does the honors. They turn to dust and we're committed to those ideas now.

The dungeons we tackled after the Capitol were just 5 and 10 floor dungeons, so I only got 6 levels between both of them.

The first four went into Stylist, getting me two new fighting styles and an upgrade to each.

Stylist

Forge up to three of your own personal fighting styles. These paths are limitless, and all lead to power.

A fifth step class. Unknown number of subclasses. 5th step classes do not evolve.

Gain 4 Strength, 4 Dexterity, 4 Agility, 4 Reflexes and 4 Ki upon choosing this class.

Uses Strength, Reflexes, Dexterity, Agility.

Each time you gain a level you choose an existing subclass or create a new subclass and gain stats and abilities based on that subclass. When choosing a subclass you already have, it will be upgraded.

Subclasses

Relentless Demon Style - Attack using rapid and constant blows. When you choose this subclass, gain 5 Strength, 5 Agility and 10 free points.

Devastating Dragon Style - Attack using powerful blows made to cinch battles in one strike. When you choose this subclass, gain 5 Dexterity, 5 Intelligence and 10 free points.

Overwatch Angel Style - Defend and support allies with varied abilities. Gain 5 Toughness, 5 Constitution and 10 free points.

< Create New Style >

Relentless Demon Style increases my attack speed by 25% and movement speed by 20%. Devastating Dragon Style increases my damage by 25% and areas of effect by 20%. I can only do one or the other at a time, but it doesn't cost me anything to use that style. I just have to conform to its attack patterns.

More than the stat bonuses, each style provides me with a certain mindset. It's like when I shift into Relentless Demon Style fast, rapid strikes just come to me more easily and I feel like they flow into an endless combo. While in Devastating Dragon style my attacks feel slower, more deliberate. Like I'm playing Dark Souls and every action matters. Every blow feels heavier, more powerful.

I also took the All For One subclass from Weapon Master, as planned. I've got one more level I'm holding in reserve.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

7/8

2 Days until the raid boss.

We board a plane headed for Australia, the staging ground for the raid boss mission. The flight is 18 hours. 18 hours just sitting is quite a lot of sitting when you're used to fighting monsters and running around dungeons. We all catch up on sleep, play games, read books, watch movies, play video games, sleep, drink, watch anime, try to talk Rutger into dying their hair purple, and then read a bit more.

7/9

1 Day until the raid boss.

We board the USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier and flagship of Carrier Group 5. They've brought along half the damn 7th fleet with them. The aircraft carrier is surprisingly cramped for such a big ship. Most of the elbow room is reserved for planes and helicopters, so it's kind of a repeat of the 18 hour flight. We're at least able to wander around and visit the mess hall and activity room. I play ping-pong with Jose. Turns out that when two super humans play ping-pong, the ball can end up going its maximum velocity and be crushed by the opponent's paddle instead of bouncing off it. Whoops. The local Navy guys and gals are miffed until Jose brings out his beer cooler.

We travel south, down to the McMurdo area. We're not actually going to be on the island. We're backup. At least that's what they say. There's a baker's dozen destroyers in the water around us, so I'm pretty sure we're more like good luck charms than of any actual use. Those ships have some big ass guns.

7/10

Inside the George Washington war room.

3:00 AM (local time)

9:00 AM (central time)

1 Hour until the raid boss.

There's a flurry of activity all across the ship, but we of the Pathbreakers don't have anything to do. We're in the war room, which is one of those “giant maps on the big table” rooms.

“I'm getting nervous,” Mercy admits. We're all wearing parkas and cold weather gear in expectation of having to go outside and ride in helicopters.

“It'll be fine,” I say. “I think this is one of those times where we have to face the fact that we're not the only heroes in the world.”

Jose nods. “They've got enough firepower to level several cities.”

Madeline tries to keep us focused. “Think about what we're able to do, not what we can't do. That's all we're in charge of.”

Quins doesn't seem bothered. “We gettin paid for this excursion either way, eh?”

Ivy Black, the heavy metal Bard chick, eyes one of the sailors as he walks by. “Well I'm getting mine one way or another.”

Odysseus, who's got his voice back, says, “try not to get us kicked off before the ship docks, would ya?” His voice is calm and fatherly, despite him not having kids.

We keep up the chatter. We're just keeping each other from going crazy at this point, but that's okay. We're used to being able to just stomp through enemies on our time tables. Waiting is a lot more nerve-wracking.

7/10

Inside the George Washington war room.

3:59 AM (local time)

9:59 AM (central time)

1 minute until the raid boss.

We're on the deck. Three troop carrier helicopters are spinning up in case we're going in. The snow covered Ross Island lies before us. The wind whips across the deck of the George Washington. It's cold, but those of us with good Constitution are fine. That keeps both cold and heat from killing you. I'm just wearing a parka and skipped the snow pants.

Some of us have squeezed the parka over armor. Madeline is wearing a new hybrid dragon steel plate armor. The silver flat plates are now strapped together with dark blue nylon straps and mixed in with lighter weight kevlar at the joints. The result is that she, Henry, Rutger and Odysseus look like they're ready for shit to go down, and for them to live through it, no sweat.

We're in the center of a fleet formation. Six destroyers are on our left, which is south. Seven smaller missile boats are on our right, which is north. The island is a couple miles south of us. And a few miles north of us, in the distance, is a fleet of Chinese ships. They're here “to provide assistance” which is politics for “when you dumb Americans die.”

There's also a dozen arctic-proof tanks on Ross Island. In the dark I can only see their headlights rolling in the distance.

In the air are three formations of fighter jets and half a dozen helicopters equipped with powerful searchlights. The ships have sensors to track their foes, but still, we want to see what horror is coming for us.

The wind stops. The sliver of a moon hovers overhead, barely givi off any light at all. I hear my watch beep on the hour. Alarms blare across the fleet. Everyone is ready. Everyone is armed. We've got this.