The seed began to slowly sink into his flesh and then disappeared without a trace. There had been no pain, just an odd tingling sensation.
Elemental seed ‘Healing Terra’ detected at seed level. Three scribed spells already etched. Growth and evolution possible.
Hidden Stat Accuracy +5. Would you like the Accuracy stat to now be visible on your status screen. YES/NO? ‘Yes’
Innate skill Syphon adapting…
Elemental energy can now be syphoned. Elemental Syphon slot 1 set to Earth element. Slot 2 opened. Evolve elemental seed further to unlock new slots.
Earth spells can now be scribed on to elemental seed. 3/5 slots currently filled, upgrade or evolve seed to unlock further spell slots. Current spells:
Terra’s Domain (Active) (E): Lvl 1 0/200.
Terra’s Regeneration (Active) (E): Lvl 1 0/200
Summon Earthen Warrior (Active) (R): Lvl 1 0/200
Earth related spells scribed on seed can now be upgraded outside syphoning points.
Example Lvl 1 to Lvl 2 costs 200xp, 1.5 stat point per rarity level and 1.5 elemental points per rarity level.
‘This is great, oh wait. I should have some new stats and skills from the waves I faced. Let’s check those new stats.’ He thought to himself before pulling up his notifications.
Level 9 Summoned Warrior Defeated: 249*0xp = 0.
Syphoned Stats: None
Syphoned Skill Points:
Earthen Javelin (Active) 136/100 = Lvl 1 36/200
An active skill that summons a javelin made of solid earth to throw at enemies. Can be thrown with mental energy or by hand. Levelling the skill changes the composition of the javelin and the number that can be summoned.
Earthen Armour (Active) 113/100 = Lvl 1 13/200
An active skill that summons armour to the caster. Starts as just a breastplate but levelling increases the number of pieces and the composition of the armour.
‘Okay so I gained no experience or stats from fighting summoned monsters. Well, that is good to know! But at least I could still steal their skills. Or I could in this instance. I guess I might not always have that benefit. Let’s see what we got from the boss then.’
Level 13 Lesser Earth Elemental Defeated:
1*1500xp = 1500xp
Syphoned Stats: None (Due to difference in tier and skill your three counted strikes were unsuccessful.)
Syphoned Skill Points: None (Skills came from an external source.)
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‘I suppose I can’t be too greedy. I did already gain those three new skills and a new way to level up.’
Synn checked the apartment after he’d finished looking at his recent changes and discovered a note from Lance. “Gone delving and after partying with the girls. Don’t wait up and drop me a message if you want to join in.”
‘I suppose he’s working hard and playing hard. No harm in that. I’d probably be doing the same if I didn’t have too much to do.’
Synn had already realised before receiving the seed that having his innate skill at lvl 10 wasn’t going to be enough. Everyone around him was going to have offensive abilities while his would be stuck at whatever level he had syphoned enough points for.
Because of this, Synn had decided to focus on his mental flexibility and his sword skills but now a new path had opened up to him.
‘Okay, what’s it going to take for me to power level as an earth mage?’ He grabbed his trusted pad of paper and started to consider his options. He already had a dungeon run planned for the next day filled with a massive quantity of archers and ninjas. He’d seen some people talk on Armageddon Net Service (ANS) about unlocking the hidden stat perception. If he could unlock it and level it his survival rate would jump up. That left him approximately five days and five more runs to get the necessary boost he was after.
He found two earth element aligned dungeons with respawns and a high number of enemies as those worked out best for his syphon skill to take from and booked two slots on each leaving day five to pick his preferred dungeon to run a third time.
It was a tough few days but Synn finally made it through and felt like he was ready for whatever the academy trials may throw at him. So much so he’d even agreed to a final party with Lance and the girls although he’d had to wrap a huge bandage around his chest several times to stop any blood seeping into his shirt. Still, he’d woken up this morning on the floor with the bandage soaked through and a splitting headache. He was going to regret choosing the last night before the trials to party with them and even more so regret those shots that Lance had been pushing. He didn’t say what they were, but they were made from a strong dungeon fruit that was, based on last night, extremely potent.
Synn, having done all his packing the previous day was all set and ready to head for the coach pick up, as were the girls, once he’d had a shower and changed his bandages. The person delaying them who had put them on the verge of being late was Lance, he’d drunk even more of his new favourite drink than the others and was suffering. So much so Synn ended up driving while Lance slept in the back of the car. Personal vehicles weren’t allowed at the Academy, or they could have driven themselves there directly, instead Lance had arranged for his little sister, Terri, and parents to meet him at the coaches to pick it up so she could have it when going to college next term. Terri’s ability was horticultural, and she had already been offered an apprenticeship with a guaranteed job for five years following the completion of her training.
With limited space ensuring there was sufficient food to feed an entire civilization became hard work and people with abilities like Terri’s were worth a fortune. Depending on how she developed in the future she would never want for money.
Lance had boasted how happy he was for his sister on many an occasion and that he couldn’t do any less with his abilities. To him helping protect the people who stayed behind to provide for them was as noble a profession as he could think of.
After pulling into the carpark Lance made his goodbyes to his family while Synn went off to find out what transport they’d been allocated to. Luckily, he found that the four of them were on the same coach, so he was happy about that, the tough part was that he noticed that Brad and Danika were also on their coach.
Getting the girls and Lance on to the coach using their tokens was easy and they sat far enough back that not many people would need to pass them. He stayed out of sight when Brad and Danika stepped on but somehow Brad still honed in on him.
“Well, well. If it isn’t our own little hero.” Brad mocked while clapping. “How should we refer to you? Perhaps ‘O mighty worm slayer?’” he looked to his friends for laughter who joined after a slight hesitation.
“Don’t worry about talking to me Brad. I won’t be wasting my breath on you. Actually… I suggest you go take your seat so we can set off soon.”
“Just you wait till we get to the academy trials. I’ll show you who is the strongest. I’ll leave you so broken they can’t take you in.” Brad threatened.
Lance stood up to defend him, but Synn put his hand in front. “Not worth it Lance. He’s just hoping to get us riled up to start a fight. That way we’ll be disqualified before the trials start. All this is being monitored already if I’m not mistaken. They’re fine with minor rivalries but nothing that risks the overall cohesive nature of the academy.”
A slow clap sounded out from the back of the coach and a slightly older male and female stood up.
The male spoke, his voice smarmy. “You had your chance Brad, now come and join me on the other coach. You’ll be joining our faction anyway.”
“Yes cousin.” Brad nodded his head.
“As for you.” The smarmy male turned to Synn. “I wouldn’t get too comfy at the academy. We may not be the founding family of the faction, but the Morozov family has enough pull to end you.”
Synn laughed “I think the pull you have will have a better chance of pulling down the academy than removing my support.”
“Your support can’t do anything if you lose in a fair challenge.” Smarmy Morozov sneered.
“True! But Brad is too scared of anything and everything to take me on in a challenge.” Synn flashed Brad a winning smile.
“You’ve had your fun Morozov. Now get off my coach.” The female finally spoke up.
“Okay!” She called down the coach after Brad and his friend had exited along with a few of the other Stingers, including Danika. “We’ve got a long trip ahead of us so make yourselves comfy. I appreciate you’ll want to relax and recharge before the trials start and that most of these roads are safe. But don’t rule out attacks. It’s happened before and you will be expected to help defend. Failure to support in such an event will be considered an immediate zero in your trials and you will not enter the Academy. Everyone understand?” When everyone was affirmative be it a yes, a salute or a nod of the head she turned to head to the back of the bus before stopping on Synn again. “You come with me, you’re bleeding through your top and it won’t look good on me if you’re injured before you show up.”
Looking down Synn realized he had indeed ruined another perfectly good top and muttered to himself. “Dammit, this is going to cost me isn’t it!”