Novels2Search
System Grudge Match: The First Round
Man's Best.....Companion?

Man's Best.....Companion?

As we trek onward, I round the massive trunk of yet another growing green giant and am able to stop myself and silently duck back behind it!

My caution stems from the sight of a small group of mutated squirrel Beasts measuring about a foot and a half from tip to tail busy rummaging through the detritus on the ground!

[Suicide Squirrel, Lv. 2]

[Suicide Squirrel, Lv. 2]

{Suicide Squirrel, Lv. 3]

‘Suicide squirrels??’ I mouth to my canine companion, not expecting a response, of course. I haven’t been alone for quite that long yet, thank you very much!

As I keep a loose hold of her now nearly keg-sized head to prevent her preemptive attack, I find myself puzzling over the name choice, wary of an attack by a squirrel foregoing any fighting chance of its own victory, only intent on causing damage for its peers to capitalize on.

Preparing myself, not liking my chances of passing undiscovered or unopposed, I gesture to the specimen most separate from its kin for Artemis to take while I begin the process of casting my Spell on a convenient stone.

A second later, I step out from around the trunk and, with as quiet steps as I can manage, move my cloaked form toward the highest-level Beast, hatchet raised in preparation to strike!

Less than ten yards separate our two parties, a distance that seems nearly a mile as I try to keep myself from discovery.

But luck is on my side once more!

I am able to come within striking distance, the oblivious squirrel loudly crunching a bone or nut with its newly mutated fangs which have the effect of masking any sound my movements may have made.

Now, as Artemis charges out behind me and alerts her target, I strike before mine can react, hatchet falling with finality onto the vulnerable base of the skull, a satisfying crunch! signifying the end of one more Beast!

Congratulations! You have killed a [Suicide Squirrel, Lv. 3] for 120 XP!

You have leveled up! You have 1 free Attribute point and 1 free Skill point available!

I disregard the notifications for now, leaping toward the final squirrel as it begins charging at me.

I strike at its fleet form but manage to just graze its forepaw, only for it to jump from the ground at me and detonate like a bomb about 2 feet away, sending me sprawling with numerous gashes, abrasions, and a pounding head!

Congratulations! You have killed a [Suicide Squirrel, Lv.2] for 60 XP!

And another immediately after as I let my armor fade just before my Mana can expend itself completely once again:

Congratulations! You have killed a [Suicide Squirrel, Lv.2] for 60 XP!

Which informs me Artemis has finished off her target as well, leading me to curiously question her level for the first time. Immediately, I receive my answer from the System in the form of an identity tag hanging above her tail-wagging form as she poses proudly with her forepaws upon her kill:

[Artemis, Siberian Husky, Lv. 3]

“You have the same level as me!” I puppy-talk at her, my high-pitched voice a strange discordant note considering the massive size of the puppy in question and my own bloody, rough form.

“I`m gonna have to work hard to keep up with you, aren’t I, sweet girl?” I murmur encouragingly, giving her favorite spot, the fur behind her ears, a quick ruffle and getting a lolling tongue and two gorgeous blue eyes closed in pleasure in return.

After I loot the two surviving squirrel bodies, receiving some fangs and pelts for my troubles, my Mana has returned enough for a few seconds casting of Natural Reinforcement upon some of my gathered wildflowers to heal up.

But alas, whatever makes the magic in my Spell work, must not work on picked plants, the Spell fizzling out.

Annoyed, but satisfied to know some of the limitations in my new ability, I quickly backtrack to a patch of the flowers I recalled from our approach of the battleground and quickly use them to bring my health to full.

Once more, Artemis seems to heal her wounds passively, perhaps through some instinctual application of Mana?

I wish I could ask her…

But wait!

I almost forgot about my level up!

I quickly open my PAID, dumping my Attribute point into Soul. This has the dual purpose of both raising my Mana pool by another 6 points and giving me crucial extra time to utilize my Spell in combat.

Next, I open up my Skills list and without preamble, spend my Skill point on Animal Companion!

Animal Companion(Basic): Grants the ability to communicate mentally in simple ways with chosen animal, will increase loyalty and intelligence of chosen companion. Includes the ability to utilize animal`s PAID to guide its growth. Every 10 levels will increase tier and unlock additional effects. (Basic:Apprentice:JourneymanàUnknown)

As the expected knowledge floods my brain, I grit my teeth and bear it, getting ever more used to the unfortunate sensation. Meanwhile, I hear a small whine from Artemis and, focusing despite the pain, I look over to see her head resting on her paws as her discomfort is evident, caused by a mental link forming between us.

A moment later, the flood of information tapers off and I feel a new sensation unfold within my mind, almost a phantom appendage of sorts but suddenly, I’m hungry and kind of feeling like taking a nap.

Thrown off by the strange, almost alien feelings at the moment, I look to Artemis and see her looking right back at me!

The feeling of her in my mind morphs, becomes interest, curiosity and a whole wonderful helping of love as she recognizes the feeling of myself inside her mind just the same.

My own feeling of love and excitement for the possibilities of this Skill emanate through our link, Artemis beginning to share them as I sense a fresh awareness of her sense of self and her place in the world already in the process of growing and changing. My girl is growing up!

Woof!

“Hah!” a short bark of my own, but of laughter, escapes me at her instant response to my thought, “Yes, you are growing up well, my good girl!”

Now, to check how much!

PAID

Player: Artemis

Age: 4

Race: Canine

Subspecies: Siberian Husky

Level: 3

Unlock Class: ???

200/320 XP to level 4

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Attributes (Canine range between 1 and 5, dependent of Subspecies size):

Strength 2

Dexterity 4

Constitution 4

Intelligence 2

Soul(Subspecies lock) 1

2 free Attribute points available!

Mana: 2

HP: 20

Skills: 1 free Skill point available!

Unlock next free Skill point at Lv.5

Items: None

Titles: Companion Beast

As I look over her stats, I am deeply intrigued even if she merely curls up for a well-earned nap. Her physical stats are quite respectable, not so much her mental ones but I suppose that is to be expected given her race.

Before anything else, I almost immediately dial in on her title, checking its content intently:

Companion Beast: Through a twist of fate, this animal has been mutated by System arrival but retained its former nature and personality due to constant stabilizing relationship with owner. Necessary to allow usage of Skill: Animal Companion.

Well, there is all the explanation I need for the continuing kind nature of Artemis toward me while seemingly every other animal has gone essentially rabid, and its allowance of my Skill. Hopefully, some other animals have escaped the System-born madness as well.

The locked Soul attribute certainly raises an eyebrow as well, although without any Spells I suppose she does not require much there but it does compel me to try and think ‘Help’ and ‘Explain’ at the PAID like a crazy person, yet to no avail.

Putting that conundrum aside for later, I place one of her points into Con, intending to have her outlive me if at all possible, something I would hope most dog owners would understand. The other I deliberate between Strength, to raise her survivability even higher, or Intelligence, to allow us to better communicate and plan. After a few moments though, I go with Intelligence, eager to have her reach the ability to actually communicate in words in my mind instead of just feelings.

A sentiment quickly proven accurate as our link fills with a fairly clear imagined image of the fleeing form of a juicy rabbit, a glimpse into the perhaps one-track mind of my now bonded companion.

The next item on the agenda is the last but far from the least.

Skill List (Recommended by Compatibility%)

Sled Pulling (99%)

Arctic Claws (97%)

Sprint (94%)

Stubborn (90%)

The list goes on all the way through the hilarious, but accurate:

Shedding (61%)

And finally, all the way to:

Fishing (.7%)

I suppose I should say I agonize over the decision, read through each description, calculate each variable but alas….my choice is nearly immediate, the coolest one clear to my eyes.

Pun intended.

Arctic Claws(Basic):[Passive] Adds a lesser amount of icy cold damage to any clawed attacks. Has a slight chance to cause the slowing of reflexes and movement of enemy. Every 10 levels will increase tier, damage amount and chance of slowing debuff.

I vaguely feel a pulse of Mana run through her form before I feel her absorbing the Skill knowledge, remaining admirably stoic in the face of the pain that had caused me to cry out originally.

“Good girl….” I praise her, rubbing her belly as the Skill finishes its forming, both of us looking to her claws and noticing a slight blue tint to them now, their sharpened edges an even deeper blue hue.

Now an even more formidable team, I mentally urge her to her paws and we maintain our hike deeper into the forest, its growth now seeming to have stalled. But now, I notice nearly all the trees seem like their bark has been polished to sheen and leaves thicker and tougher than seem possible with levels far beyond anything else we have seen.

[Radiant Redwood, Lv.18]

[Radiant Redwood, Lv. 21]

{Radiant Redwood, Lv.20]

‘Hmmm, perhaps a tier up is possible for living things as well?’ I question, realizing that these are my first observed subjects to reach beyond Lv. 10, the tier up level for my Skills and Spells.

I test Natural Reinforcement on the differing leveled ones but notice no appreciable difference in the Spell’s function or cost. I stop trying for now but make a note to continue to experiment as time allows.

By now, a couple of hours since System touch-down, I am growing ever more desperate to encounter another human survivor, fearful that somehow, my species has been wiped out but dreadfully hoping that I’m wrong.

We encounter many more Beasts of course. Several more of the unfortunately named and gifted {Suicide Squirrels} of assorted lower levels, a number of 2 foot tall {Rhino Rabbit} specimens of a similar level with nearly foot long horns growing almost comically from their skulls and finally, a solitary {Majestic Mountain Lion, Lv. 4} which gives us a real run for our money!

The Beast has some sort of weak glamor effect that mesmerizes us both for a few crucial seconds, allowing the creature to land multiple minor to moderate wounds on Artemis and I. Thankfully, we adapt quickly, able to shake off the glamor and land our own attacks, my hatchet crippling it before Artemis finishes it off with Artic Claws tearing into its vulnerable throat!

The sun begins to sink from the sky, deepening the forest’s gloom, signaling an end to the first day after the death of the mundane world and the birth of a new one from its corpse.

As we begin to search out shelter for the evening, I allow our deferred notifications to populate in my vision, eager see some gains.

Congratulations! You have killed an assortment of Beasts for an accumulated total of 690 XP!

Congratulations! Your Animal Companion, Artemis, has killed an assortment of Beasts for an accumulated total of 690 XP!

You have leveled up!

You have 1 free Attribute Point and 1 free Spell point available!

Your Animal Companion, Artemis, has leveled up and has 1 free Attribute point available!

First, I place my pup’s point into Strength, hoping to increase her physical capabilities this time, before moving on to my own PAID and the changes there. I begin by placing my free point once more into Soul, noticing my Skill and Spell level increases during our recent spree as I do, with designs to continue increasing the amount of time I can cast Natural Reinforcement.

PAID

Player: Nova

Age: 27

Race: Human

Class: Unlock at Lv. 5

Level: 4

390/800 XP to level 5

Attributes (Human range between 1 and 5):

Strength 4

Dexterity 3

Constitution 4

Intelligence 6

Soul 4

Mana: 24

HP: 20

Skills: Wilderness Survival(App.) Level 13, Animal Companion(Basic) Lv. 3

Unlock next free Skill point at Lv.6

Spells: Natural Reinforcement(Basic) Lv.6

1 free Spell point available!

Unlock next free Spell point at Lv.7

Items: Icy Soul Hatchet(U)

Titles: Natural Born Killer, Soul Searcher

Curiously, it seems that at level 5 I will be able to select a class but with the caveat that there are no Skill or Spell points unlocked with the level. A trade-off I can happily live with, assuming I unlock an awesome class, of course.

Next, I allow my Spells list to populate, eager to add to magical repertoire! As I do, some changes in the list since I last checked make themselves known, consequences of my recent level advancement or killing spree, perhaps?

Spells List

Power Strike (99%)

Spectral Claws (97%)

Forest Fade (96%)

Blood-Fueled (95%)

Squeaky Clean (93%)

Interestingly enough, it seems that my compatibility with the cleaning Spell has fallen drastically since my job has been quite obsolete for several hours now. The inverse is clearly true for the increased compatibility with Power Strike and Forest Fade while 2 new additions make themselves known.

Spectral Claws(Basic): [Active] Grants the ability to create claws made from hardened Mana extending from the knuckles of each hand. Claws ignore most forms of armor or defenses given their only semi-corporeal form. Costs moderate Mana to activate and minor Mana every minute thereafter, cost will reduce with level. Every 10 levels in Spell will increase tier and potentially unlock additional aspects.

Blood-Fueled(Basic): [Active] Grants the ability to magically burn up any blood or organic life-giving material spilled from enemy during and after combat. The blood can be used as Mana, or fuel, directly for Spells or to refill Mana pool. Costs low Mana to activate and a 1 Mana offering for every 2 mana gained in the process of burning blood, cost will reduce with level. Every 10 levels in Spell will increase tier and potentially unlock additional aspects or capabilities.

My greed causes me to salivate, either of the new options sending my heart nearly aflutter with desire. Spectral Claws is a perfect companion to my already armor piercing hatchet, it essentially will allow me to double down as a form of hidden, ghost-like assassin.

But once more, the realization of who I am, who I intend to be, stays my hand from the choice.

The clear winner is Blood-Fueled, the ability to, potentially, drastically increase the length of my usage of other spells, even if that only means one spell for now, a clear boon for the formation of my foundation. If the Spell levels up like I hope, unlocking additional capabilities and perhaps increasing the efficiency, it could quite literally allow me to use any other Spell nearly indefinitely!

Choice made, the pain hits me in what is quickly becoming a familiar feeling, Mana channels itching as they form the additional pathways needed for my new bit of magic.

A moment later, I’m left feeling wrung out like last week’s dish towel as the process comes to an end, and as I continue our march ever onward, my weariness becomes apparent.

Still not finding any shelter, I decide to use the once per day usage of my Apprentice bonus from Wilderness Survival, the knowledge of the location of a large cave system not even a half mile away unfolds in my mind like the most pragmatic of flowers. With it, comes the knowledge of a hidden and protected area deep in the series of caves, the fact it is blocked off from even my Apprentice tier Skill can likely only mean one thing: the System is blocking it! As I nervously watch the sun begin its final descent, I push the curiosity from my mind for now.

“Onward!” I say as I point in the direction of the caves in a dramatic fashion, Artemis giving an amused chuff in response and sending me an image of myself as she does, clearly wanting me to see my own majesty, not how odd I look.