Moving on from those upgrades a bit later, I consider my stats and my two free points for a moment before going with my gut instinct, whether because I just upgraded the effect of one of my go-to Spells or not, by placing both points into Intelligence. This way, I can eke out some extra crucial seconds with a larger Mana pool while casting the upgraded Natural Reinforcement.
PAID
Player: Nova
Age: 27
Race: Human
Class: Wild Huntsman(R)
Class Ability: Huntsman’s Duty, Advanced Companion(Path)
True Path: Beast Lord
Level: 21
2,504,800/104,837,600 XP to Lv.22
Martial Style: Natural Disaster(A) Lv.34
Attributes (Human range between 1 and 5):
Strength 15
Dexterity 15
Constitution 30--31
Intelligence 15--17
Soul 16
Mana: 272
HP: 155
Skills: Wilderness Survival(A) Lv. 30, Huntsman’s Athleticism(A): Lv.30, Wild Rampage(J) Lv.26, Viking Defender(U) Lv.8
Unlock next free Skill point at Lv.31
Spells: Natural Reinforcement(A) Lv.30, Blood-Fueled(J) Lv. 26, Eco-Missile(App) Lv.18, Environmental Clean(B) Lv.8, Forest Fade(B) Lv. 9
Unlock next free Spell point at Lv.22
Items: Icy Soul Hatchet(U), Basic Storage Ring, Huntsman’s Bark-Steel Jerkin & Greaves, Basic Backpack(Misc. Items)
Titles: Natural Born Killer, Soul Searcher, Top Tier IV, Human+, Dungeon Trainee I, Landholder
Looking over my PAID, I find some degree in satisfaction in my extensive list of ever-growing capabilities. It now appears like night and day from my first time opening my PAID a month ago, when this madness all began.
Shaking off the moment of reflection, I turn to the truly exciting part of my recent step forward on our Path to Power and as I do, notice an exciting step forward amongst the quality of the Skills as well…
Skills List (Recommended by Compatibility %)
Wild Law(App)(99%)
Wild Blade Mastery(App)(97%)
Spiritual Tracking(App) (95%)
Gaia’s Chosen(App)(93%)
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
…
Mourning(71%)
…
Grave Robbing(22%)
Ignoring the addition of both the unfortunate Grave Robbing option and the more somber Mourning, I pull up the description of the three new Skills and peruse them with interest.
Spiritual Tracking(App): Grants the ability to mark a target and know where they travel for the duration of 1 hour. Apprentice Bonus: “Spiritual” addition will prevent any obfuscation or blocking of tracker by magical means.
Hmm, while interesting, I just can’t find much of a reason to need it. I have been fast enough to stay fairly close to any running enemies, not that many do that anyway. Yes, I could perhaps use it on a fellow Player but the same objections apply there too so I move along:
Gaia’s Chosen(App): You have taken up the mantle of the defender of your homeworld and the responsibilities that come with it. The gestalt Spirit of your planet feels gratitude for your continued fight against long odds and wishes to grant you this Boon. Will impart +1 to all Stats and an additional point for every tier up thereafter. Apprentice Bonus: Additional +1 to all stats.
I definitely like the sound of this one! Especially if its almost unlimited in adding to my personal power each tier. All the same though, I saved the final new option for a reason with its top compatibility and I want to check it out before choosing this one.
Wild Law(App): As a Player you have continued to walk the paths of the wilds and the natural world and as you have grown closer to its ideals with each and every step you have taken forward, you may now understand them in greater depth still. Grants increased Authority by raising Soul stat by +1 over the natural world and local knowledge of each area you encounter regarding predators, prey, flora and environmental conditions. Every 10 levels will increase tier and effects. Apprentice Bonus: Your Soul value grows by an additional +2 as your Authority spreads like roots through the ground of all things natural and true.
Well, that certainly makes my decision easy!
Increased Soul stat each tier plus an actual, concrete reason to have the stat bumped up, finally??!
Yes, please!
As the expected knowledge dump hits me like a truck, I barely flinch other than to grit my teeth, experience a better teacher than I would like…
Suddenly though, something changes through the pain!
I feel a strange heat build inside my very core, my mind nearly short-circuiting as a strange joining seems to occur, power rising as the heat intensifies yet further….
Finally, as my vision begins to mercifully fade, the sensation vanishes and leaves me breathless in the dirt under the concerned gazes of my Companions.
Rolling over, I take deep heaving breaths as I try to recover, gasping out, “Wh-what was that??!!”
The Apex System, helpful as always, fills my vision with the accumulated notifications from the past few entertaining moments:
Synergy Detected!
Wild Law(App.) Lv. 10 + Wilderness Survival(A) Lv. 30
…..
Analyzing….
Available Evolution Found!
Evolving….
….
Merging Levels/Tiers….
….
Completed! Levels averaged.
New Skill: Wild Aura(J) Lv. 20: The combination of two diverse and powerful abilities, this Skill grants both of their original benefits while also now allowing the Player to spread his Authority in the space around them by up to 30 feet (3rd Tier(Journeyman) x 10 feet(Basic)=30 ft). Walking this path will grant greater and greater powers and Authority. The Architect’s Throne awaits…
“Well, damn….” I say in awe, reassuring Artemis and Horus of my wellbeing as they continue to mother a bit over my collapsed and weary form.
I take a moment to feel out the new Skill, its ability allowing me to know nearly everything of, or once of, the natural world all around me. I can feel my Companions and their location, the shift of the few hard scrabble bushes in the wind, the slowly eroding rock beneath our feet, all as if they are some strange extension of me.
Within my 30 foot Aura, I feel as if I have become a god!
Only to have my swelling ego checked a moment later as my best friend slobbers all over my face with her now welcome mat sized tongue, the rough surface tickling me slightly as I try and fail to stop the escape of a manly giggle.
“Thanks….” I tell her sarcastically as I wipe my face with a rueful, yet affectionate, smile plastered on it.
Standing back up on shaky legs, I put my hands on my hips and look at the now looming mountains that have consumed the horizon and since placed us in the darkness of their titanic shadow as it casts it shade by way of the mid-afternoon sun.
“Well, it's not gonna come to us, my friends!” I say resolutely, taking up the hike once more.
As the desert finally gives way to some patchy grass as the foothills of the mountains begin, I notice that even the grass is a version of some softly malleable crystal!
The material feels strange and yet looks exactly like any other grass from Earth, Artemis gives it a distrustful sniff or two but otherwise, we just keep on moving. Our destination, according to the crude map, lies within our reach before nightfall if we can hustle.