“Do you know how to get rid of him?”
“I have some clues, Dorian. Although Isha said that I had to evolve first, so we’ll have to wait a bit for that one.”
“Oh, that’s a bit anticlimatic.”
“Hehe” I scratch my front a bit ashamed. “Speaking of evolutions, it’s been a while since we last shared our stats and skills. Shall we quickly get up to date?”
After everyone has set their information public, I check how far we’ve progressed.
[Party]
Rand
Class: Body Enhancer (35)
HP: 234/234
Mana: 94/94
Mike
Class: Elemental Wizard (34)
HP: 74/74
Mana: 237/237
Dorian
Class: Scout (36)
HP: 146/146
Mana: 145/145
Lillia
Class: Duelist (33)
HP: 237/237
Mana: 237/237
Mark (Leader)
Class: Inquisitor (35)
HP: 102/102
Mana: 179/179
“Huh? Lillia, by any chance, have you-”
“Yes! I’m at the evolution point. I reached it in the middle of the war, but I was afraid of evolving while fighting. If there had been any side effect…”
“Yup, good thinking there! So… can you evolve?”
“As a matter of fact… I can! My dash evolved not long ago, reducing its cost and cooldown. And now I have the option to evolve my class to Shadow-steps Duelist.”
“Wha-! That sounds so cool!”
“Then… I’ll go with it!”
Blushing once more, an act that I’ve been learning to relish lately, her body begins to glow, emitting a faint, white light. Not enough to blind, but certainly more than necessary for a dramatic effect. Not even two seconds after it began, her body returns to normal.
“Is it… done?” As I say it, I check her complete information.
Shadow-steps Duelist [33]
Shadow-Steps [1]
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
> Upon activation, this skill consumes 2 mana per second. Your perception will be enhanced, your evasiveness increased, and each step will skip a distance ahead. Afterimages will be left behind when successfully chaining several steps together.
Counter [1]
> If used exactly when your opponent strikes you, break their equilibrium and critically strike it. Costs 30 mana, has a cooldown of 30 seconds.
Puncture [10]
> Concentrate your strength in a forward thrust, increasing your damage output by 100%. If it strikes a critical point, it is instead increased by 150(+9)%. Costs 10 mana, has a cooldown of 5 seconds.
Sword Mastery [15]
> Your knowledge of swords allows you to wear and use them with ease. Levels influence your ability and dexterity with them.
“I… Can I see your shadow-steps?” I mean, I have to see it!
A quick smirk and a wink after, her image turns into a blurry afterimage. Her real body no longer there, ghosts of her start circling around me. Not a speed that the naked eye can’t follow, but fast enough so that none of my attacks could ever find its target.
“How is it, is it difficult?” Some of the places where she has appeared have failed to show an afterimage. I guess that if, at any point, the chain is broken, so is the afterimage.
“Uh huh, it requires all of my concentration, and even then I have failed to properly chain some of my movements. Right now, I don’t think I could use it effectively while fighting.”
“Still, it’s amazing! Your evasion will be through the roof once you master it!”
I take a few moments to go through the skills of my other friends and confirm that they are basically the same as before. Due to its level going up, some have seen cooldowns or mana costs reduced, and other increased effects or damage.
And, as for myself.
Inquisitor [35]
Materialize [10]
> Your soul can now take material form. While in material form, you shall interact with the world as if it was your own body. Specter form allows you to bypass physical interactions but increases the cost of all your spells by 50%. Specter form empowers spells, granting increased damage and effects by 1(+9)%.
>
> Changing between forms triggers a cooldown of 5 seconds and has a cost of 1% of your maximum mana.
>
> Bound items and wearables stuck with you independently of the form.
Heal [20]
> Gather your mana to heal the wounds of yourself or an ally. Costs 25(-5) mana and restores 20(+25) health. Has a cooldown of 10(-9)s.
Mana Drain [5]
> Sacrify 5 health per second to drain 5 mana from the enemy. A 50(+4)% of the drained amount is absorbed by you.
>
> Can only be cast during Specter form.
Levitate [7]
> While in Specter form, you can choose to float above the terrain. Doing so costs 1 mana per second.
>
> Your speed is limited by that at which your mind can process and your form can withstand.
Immolate [5]
> Sacrify the health of an allied target to deal magic damage equivalent to 125(+4)% of the amount in a cone in front of it. Costs as much mana as the distance to the target, up to 10 meters. Has a cooldown of 5s.
Dominate Soul [3]
> You can now claim a soul in addition to controlling a spirit. Souls claimed can be bound to a body and commanded like you would a spirit. Shall you grant it, souls can acquire their own agency and free will. A soul will not vanish until you command it to.
>
> Claiming a soul costs 25(-0.3)% of your mana.
>
> Spirits: 0/1
>
> Souls: 0/1
The effects of the war are quite clear. As I spent most of it healing people all around the walls, it has received most of the experience.
“Nice! Let’s move onto the next thing.”