The dawn broke over the Warden stronghold, painting the misty peaks in hues of gold and crimson. The fortress buzzed with activity as Wardens prepared for the coming battle. Weapons were sharpened, armor was reinforced, and tactical briefings were held in hushed urgency. Vera, however, had her focus elsewhere—on mastering the new skills the artifact had unlocked.
In the training yard, Kaelin watched as Vera activated her Interface Glove and opened her skill menu.
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Skill Tree: Core Manipulation
* Energy Mastery (Tier 2): Control raw Core energy with precision. Unleashes a high-damage ranged attack. (Unlocked)
* Resonance Field (Tier 1): Creates an energy shield that absorbs incoming damage. (New)
* Pulse Surge (Tier 1): Releases a shockwave, knocking back enemies and dealing AoE damage. (Locked – Requires 5 Skill Points).
Skill Points Available: 3
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"Energy or defense?" Vera muttered to herself, scrolling through the skill descriptions.
Kaelin leaned against a nearby post, arms crossed. “If the Coalition shows up with their artillery, you’ll want a shield. Just saying.”
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Vera hesitated. The Resonance Field would definitely come in handy, but Pulse Surge could turn the tide if they were overwhelmed. After a moment of deliberation, she allocated two points to Resonance Field and saved the last point for later.
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Skill Acquired: Resonance Field (Tier 1).
* Ability unlocked. Press [L1] to deploy the field. Duration: 15 seconds. Cooldown: 60 seconds.
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“Alright,” Vera said, closing the interface. “Let’s see what it can do.”
She activated the ability, channeling the Core’s energy. A shimmering, translucent barrier appeared around her, glowing faintly as it absorbed a volley of practice bolts fired by an automated turret. Each impact caused the field to ripple but held firm.
Kaelin gave an impressed nod. “That’s some solid protection. Might even keep us alive.”
Vera grinned. “Might.”
As they prepared to leave the yard, a Warden named Rax, a broad-shouldered fighter with a gruff demeanor, approached. He carried a large tablet-like device, which he thrust toward Vera.
“You’ll want this for the battlefield,” he said. The device synced with her glove, downloading tactical schematics and a new interface module.
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Warden Battle Mod Installed.
* Gain real-time updates on enemy positions.
* Tactical assist: Highlights weak points in enemy formations.
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“Thanks,” Vera said, scrolling through the new interface. The tactical assist would give her a much-needed edge in the chaos of combat.
Rax smirked. “Don’t thank me yet. You’ll have to survive first.”