CHAPTER XXII: FIX YOUR BUILD
_____________________________________________________________
{19:21 LOCAL TIME 14TH MAY 1ME}
_____________________________________________________________
LONG BEACH
PRIME
_____________________________________________________________
< QUEST UPDATE >
{Objective 3: Save homeless 149/152 remaining}
_____________________________________________________________
Colonel was a soldier and a very good one at that, so he ignored the prompt. Rushing into an unknown scenario was always a very bad idea. Though sometimes it may be necessary, this was not one of those times, however. He wouldn’t admit it, but what Sugar had said about the game being real was bothering him a little. He had seen the things some people in this world could do with Dust, so it isn’t unheard of to hear about people with exotic powers per se, so he wouldn’t completely dismiss his new teammate's assessment of the game world.
The pain levels alone would get a gaming company sued in most scenarios, let alone the trauma, the sheer terror, and horror that the game was throwing at them was ridiculous. But there was no time to figure out where the game ended, and real life started. He had to move, or people would die. Soto and Colonel always played for keeps in every game they played. It was their ‘just in case’ protocol. Just in case this is real, we should always play the good guy, because you don’t want to be on the wrong side of history if it turned out that it was real. To much Ender Games, he guessed, so when it came to MMOs they picked a side and stuck to it, roleplaying until Colonel got bored.
These useless thoughts washed over him as he sat with Base Kuma next to him as his guard. Sugar and Soto were heading over to speak with Johnny the NPC.
The NPC looked at them with a myriad of emotions on his face, but mostly fear awe, and determination.
Colonel shook his head ‘Concentrate Clyde.’ He cracked his knuckles and was about to open his character sheet when another thought came to mind. He wasn’t using all of the resources available to him.
“Adia, Bour, can you help round up all of the NPCs in the local area? I know you can’t help with the killing, but if you can bring as many as you can find of them further out, we can protect them better here. We will compensate you."
Adia opened her mouth to say something in reply but then closed it. Her eyes unfocused. “Huh, I got an event for that, that was... unexpected. Pretty good rewards too.”
“Yes lad we will, and you are right, killing anything will not net either of us an experience. But it won’t hurt you either I supposed. This place is massive however and we will have to convince people to follow us, this can take time.” Bour added.
“Much obliged, we will need the time to prepare anyway. If you can have them gather around the tents where Johnny is, that would be great. Be gentle with them, but firm, if they don’t want to come... knock them out, and bring them anyway, but make sure you give them a chance to come on their own free will first though.” Colonel ordered with a grimace. “We don’t have time to argue, and I won’t endanger my allies for stupidity, but I am an American, we believe in at least the illusion of freedom.”
Bour nodded approvingly.
Adia looked at the area around them scanning. “I’ll take the south and east, Bour. You take north and west. Furtherest out first? You should have a respite because ghouls aren’t too smart, they will chase us. Now that we are separated, the elites may even try to attack us.”
“That also means we will be bringing back more enemies than you should be able to handle currently. But we will save more people this way. So get stronger or make a better-defended area if you can.” Bour added.
“Are y’all going to be okay?” Colonel asked.
“You don’t have to worry about things we can handle, but you should worry about what you can do. Fix your build” Then without any more fanfare, they put actions to words, and run off in opposite directions. They disappear into the unnatural darkness about one hundred meters passed the light of the fires.
“I’m doing that already.” He said to the air apparently, Clyde looked at Base Kuma. “Watch my back girl, I’m going to fix my build.” He pet her behind the ear, while rolling his eyes.
Kuma looked at him apologetically.
[I am sorry for trying to rip your head off, I am forced to do what my summoner asked whether I knew you were an ally or not.] She said sadly.
“The fault is my own baby girl, don’t sweat the small stuff, I am fine.” He pointed at his completely destroyed shirt. It was still too cold to take it off completely so he let it hang on by a thread.
[I didn’t even remember you until after I was banished.] She lowered her head in shame.
“Not your fault Kuma. No hard feelings okay?” Colonel pet her again to calm her. “Now watch my back, I don’t know how long this going to take.
[Aye aye Colonel, I got you covered] She turned away from Colonel scanning the area.
Colonel winced at the navy's way of acknowledgment, he was never a fan, but it was clear and concise so it was more than acceptable.
He turned inward accessing his HUD, and Character Sheet. He was ready to get stronger...
_____________________________________________________________
< QUEST UPDATED >
{Objective 3: Save homeless 148/152 remaining}
_____________________________________________________________
...and he needed to do so faster. First, he needed to look at his character sheet, ‘one must know their past self in order to move forward, and become the new self they are striving to be.’ His father always used to say. Clyde Sr was a font of knowledge, and quotes.
_____________________________________________________________
< CHARACTER SHEET >
TITLES:
Legacy(Ru), Retired War Veteran+(D),War Hero+(D), Soul Bound(D), Legendary+(L+) Forger(L)
PLAYER NAME:
Colonel Clyde S Jacob Jr
LEVEL: 2, EXP to next level 0/3000
Free EXP: 205900
CASTE: Legacy. CLASS: Legacy. RACE: Human(Legacy).
_____________________________________________________________
POOLS:
HP 700/700 regen 139HP per day
MP 590/590 regen 133MP per hour
DR: 32/32 regen 1 per second
RESISTANCES:
Physical: 0% Magical: 0% Willpower: 0%
_____________________________________________________________
CULTIVATOR LEVEL(N/A)
_____________________________________________________________
ATTRIBUTES:
Strength:53 Dexterity:53 Constitution:70 Magic:5.9 Intelligence:63 Charisma:69 Luck:65
Free Attributes:66
Current attribute gain per level:
Class: +1 to all except for magic & +1 STR, CON.
Title: +6 CON (RWV+), +4 CHA, CON, LUCK(WH+), +6 to all except magic(L+)
_____________________________________________________________
EFFECTS:
_____________________________________________________________
SKILLS LIST:
Class:
Bulwark(S-9)
General(4/13);
Find weakness(N-9),Defensive Stance(N-9),Legacy style melee(N-8),Disassemble(S-0)
_____________________________________________________________
ABILITY LIST:
Combat:
Non Combat:
World map(MAX) Soul Storage(MAX) Analyze(N7) Speech-craft(MAX):-English(MAX)
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
_____________________________________________________________
ACTIVE QUEST
Stop the Outbreak III
The Adventurers Guild I
The SOURCE
Road to RUNIC
_____________________________________________________________
PROFESSIONS: Choose one!
_____________________________________________________________
End of CS}
_____________________________________________________________
Clyde was very happy with his growth. But it wasn’t enough for what was to come. A single lesser ghoul had almost eaten his face off.
That would have been a shitty way to go. He chuckled dryly. Especially if it’s not a game, and they were in the real world. How embarrassing would it be if you showed up at the pearly gates with no face and blood everywhere? Saint Peter might smite you by accident. He couldn’t and wouldn’t let that happen... again.
First thing first, he had to level up to nine and see what his stats and skills would look like.
_____________________________________________________________
< LEVEL UP X7 >
{The Legacy gains +126 CON, +77 CHA & LUCK, +56 STR +49 DEX & INT, All pools refilled}
_____________________________________________________________
< CLASS SKILL LEVEL UP >
{Class G-Spell Name: Bulwark(Passive)
Spell level: Student 9
Spell effect: Increase Constitution by 1% per level of skill when in melee range of any enemy.
STUDENT EFFECT: The more enemies in melee range the more effective the Skill effect is.}
{Skill Quest: Take damage greater than your base HP in a 1-minute period.}
< NOTE >
{Class General Skill CAN level up with character up to level max of the current tier. The legacy must still complete the skill quest to advance to the next tier, however. Concurrently Class G-Spells can out-level your class.}
{Level 9 XP to first Specialization 0/20000-100000
Choose 1st Specialization}
_____________________________________________________________
The sheer euphoria of having that many stats added to his total was nothing short of orgasmic. His mind was clearer than ever, his body more looser than ever, and his muscle felt stronger than ever. He felt his jaw shift as his face became more symmetrical. He felt no pain as his constitution had gained the most attributes of all his stats, which made his HP skyrocket.
All of his stats were all over one hundred with Constitution being the highest over one seventy. He even got a perk out of it, he would have to figure out that once he specialized. The dense feeling he had before was much stronger now, he felt heavy, but not sluggish, his high Strength stat made carrying the denser body easier.
He offhandedly wondered if his Strength hadn’t gone up would he be able to move? A stray thought for another day learning about the gaming system was more important, if this was the real world, then it was even more important to get stronger. He wondered if he would have a problem with the world being this way, but he wouldn’t. His family if they were anything, they were prepared for a major change like this. ‘A Jacob is an adaptable person, change is a constant, and we must always be diligent about it.’ He shivered as the last remnants of the level-up hit him in a huge wave of euphoria. His father’s words were a little lost in that feeling of leveling high.
Kuma turned back to Colonel as he leveled. Her eyes widen.
[Colonel you are glowing.] She said startled by the mana flowing into him.
Colonel looked down at himself and saw nothing, but his torn shirt and bloody camouflaged half-torn trousers, even his socks were covered in dried blood he could feel it in his boots.
He looked at his bloody boots and remembered his quest completion award. He looked at his inventory and was pleasantly surprised that it had more in it than before. ‘No time to figure that out.’ He thought.
He took off his original boots and socks, then he equipped his new pair reading the prompt that followed.
_____________________________________________________________
< YOU HAVE EARNED AN ITEM >
{ITEM NAME: Legacy Boots
ITEM TYPE: Gloves
ITEM RANK: LEGENDARY(set item)
ITEM DESCRIPTION: Black combat boots with reinforced heel and toe. They are not considered armor and can be any design and as opaque as you will like. These boots CANNOT be identified by any skill, item, or ability under mid-legendary.
Bonded to Colonel
ITEM EFFECT: (ACTIVE)Once per target the legacy can Quick Step which allows him to cover a distance of 10 meters per piece in one step.
Cost: 100 Mana -10 per piece.
Current cost: 80 mana
Current distance: 20 meters.
RARE MOD: 10% increase to Dexterity per piece
Current%: 20% (Not displayed on CS)
PLATINUM MOD: Locked.
DIAMOND MOD: Locked until 3rd set piece.
EPIC MOD: Locked until 4th set piece.
LEGENDARY MOD: LOCKED fatal reset skill}
_____________________________________________________________
< THIS ITEM HAS BEEN UPDATED >
{ITEM NAME: Legacy gloves
ITEM TYPE: Gloves
ITEM RANK: LEGENDARY(set item)
ITEM DESCRIPTION: Fingerless gloves with hardened knuckles that are soul-bound to you. They are not considered armor and can be as opaque as you would like. These gloves CANNOT be identified by any skill, item, or ability under mid-legendary.
Bonded to Colonel
ITEM EFFECT: (ACTIVE)Once a target, the legacy can activate a double attack which instantly hits the target two times with one punch per piece. Cost: 100 Mana -10 per piece.
Current cost: 80 mana
ITEM EFFECT: (PASSIVE) +20 to DR per piece
Current DR: +40 (Not displayed on CS)
RARE MOD: 10% increase to Strength per piece
Current%: 20% (Not displayed on CS)
PLATINUM MOD: Locked.
DIAMOND MOD: Locked until 3rd set piece.
EPIC MOD: Locked until 4th set piece.
LEGENDARY MOD: LOCKED fatal reset skill}
< NOTE >
{These items have been bonded to your soul they cannot be stolen, or taken away from you permanently. Equip skill will allow you to recall these items from anywhere. These items are part of a bigger set.}
_____________________________________________________________
Colonel smiled at his boots they were incredibly comfortable. ‘There isn’t anything better than a good pair of boots.’ He thought. Then he made them invisible so it looked like he was barefoot.
He looked back at his HUD.
_____________________________________________________________
{Level 9 XP to first Specialization 0/20000-100000
Free EXP: 163900
Choose 1st Specialization}
{YES/NO}
_____________________________________________________________
Just as he was to mental click yes...
[1 this is 4 we are done here. Over.] Soto said on their command channel of the team speak, it was only for him and the Colonel can hear.
[Good copy Break... How is he doing? More importantly, how is Sugar doing? Over] Colonel asked concerned.
[She is surprisingly fine, she healed even the man’s deafness, though she didn’t know how, he was pissed that he was no longer drunk, and high after that. But more than grateful to be able to hear again. Sugar is keeping him calm for now, but I think he is one of us. Over.] Soto explained.
[That is great news, prepare for more civilians incoming. I sent Bour and Adia to grab as many as they can.] Colonel smiled, then frowned.
[Roger that we are ready. Sugar’s mana is low though we have some potions, but we may need them for the fight to come.] Soto said.
[Triage?] Colonel asked.
[Triage, on it.] Soto confirmed.
[Okay I’m about to specialize now, give me a second. 1 out] Colonel informed Soto and then cut the communication.
_____________________________________________________________
{Level 9 XP to first Specialization 135400/20000-100000
Free EXP: 163900
Choose 1st Specialization}
{YES/NO}
_____________________________________________________________
“Ye...”
“INCOMING!” Bour’s voice could be heard loud and clear in the quiet night. Colonel looked at his map and saw Bour’s icon about a kilometer out as yellow dots ran at a dead sprint towards Colonel and the team.
Kuma jumped up and turned to the yell, and started to growl as she sniffed the air.
Colonel looked at his mini-map, there were fifty or so yellow dots that Bour was trailing from the east. But it was the thirty, or so red dots that were much more disconcerting. All thoughts of specialization went out of the window, he didn’t have time for him to figure out his new powers so he put it on the back burner for now. He jumped into leadership mode, adapting like his father had thought him to do.
[Contact east northeast.] Colonel yelled in team speak as he stood up and looked around.
They were not in a fortified location. But the ground around them glowed an odd color of green in his mind’s eye. Colonel could feel the glow calling to him in an odd way.
He had been fighting, running around, and even teleported to another time, that he never even thought about his titles and their effects. Now the glow in front of him was telling him something, and he couldn’t help but think that he was missing something.
____________________________________________________________
< TOOL-TIP >
{TITLE EFFECT: Synergistic sight.
Passive scan that allows you to figure out, and put together anything. Look for a slight glow in the world, and it will guide you. Be wary of what you make, for creatures and beings of power, will seek them out. Make sure you can protect what you create.}
_____________________________________________________________
Then it clicked. He didn’t have time to specialize, but he could utilize his titles for his and the team's benefit. He let his Forger title wash over him absorbing the information instantly.
_____________________________________________________________
< TOOL TIP >
{TITLE NAME: Forger(Unique)
TITLE TIERS: Legendary (Upgradable)
For being the only Legacy to ever create a new Unique Legacy Skill-Set, you have been awarded this title.
TITLE EFFECT: Utility; Synergistic sight.
WORLD FIRST BONUS: Profession gain; Forger
RARE BONUS: Utility Bonus; Unique Effect+ 30% chance to get a unique effect added to anything you create
PLATINUM BONUS: EXP Bonus; 40% more EXP for creating anything.
DIAMOND BONUS: Utility; Upgrade
EPIC BONUS: Skill; Disassemble
LEGENDARY BONUS: LOCKED (prerequisites not met)}
_____________________________________________________________
He then concentrated on the WORLD FIRST BONUS. Letting that information run through his mind as well. He instinctually knew that the best way to retain the information was by reading it, and the way he was doing it was only going to give him a vague idea of what was in the prompt, but he didn’t have a choice at the moment. He had to prepare.
[Orders?] Soto asked him.
[Protect the NPCs at all costs but your life.] He answered quickly.
[I might have an idea. If it works we will have some type of defensive structure to defend instead of fighting in the open. Buy me some time.]
[Wilco] Soto replied.
_____________________________________________________________
< TOOL TIP >
{WORLD FIRST BONUS: Profession gain; Forger: This is a unique profession as it replaces all other professions. If you choose it, you lose access to gaining or learning any other profession. (Only one other person has EVER been awarded this profession, and this will be the last it will be offered.)}
{Would you like to choose this profession?}
{YES/NO TOUCH ONE}
_____________________________________________________________
Colonel’s face hardened ‘I hope this doesn’t backfire.’ But like any leader knows a decent plan now, is better than a perfect plan later.
“YES!” He smashed the button in his HUD at the same time. Then a high-pitched sound reverberates through his brain that more startled him than hurt him.
He looked at his mini-map and saw that Adia was also on her way back, she too was being chased by dozens of lesser ghouls.
_____________________________________________________________
< QUEST UPDATE >
{Objective 3: Save homeless 143/152 remaining}
_____________________________________________________________
The only thing slowing the ghouls down was the fact they ate the homeless people they caught instead of just biting and changing them.
The Colonel was only partially aware of that fact as the way he saw the world had just changed drastically.
“WHOA!”