“There’s nowhere on this planet that will give you the kind of XP you’re looking to get,” says Torrdok as we watch Logan nimbly blast his way through an overgrown forest of Monsters from a floating platform. He’s got his armor on and has gained a couple of Levels to get to Level 13 since we’ve arrived here. That still leaves him far from getting his Class Skills, but the armor and his natural Class benefits make him a force to be reckoned with anyway.
The training and sparring Logan’s been doing have taken his combat to the next level in only a month. He’s a quick study and I’m sure there’s something more to it even though I’m not sure what. Begrudgingly I agreed with him that he could drop some of his free Attributes in Perception and Strength to keep up with his skyrocketing Agility, taking only his Class mandated 6 point increase in Constitution each Level.
I glance at Torrdok and consider what he’s said. I’m sure he knows the truth of it so I don’t even bother to question whether there’s somewhere on this planet that’s suitable. Smashing each other over and over for a month has given us a bit of camaraderie and mutual respect.
“I need my next Level at the very least, Torrdok. The Skills I’ll gain access to might make all the difference in the KCT, and I need to press myself to make sure I can rely on my Skills even when things are chaotic and I’m riding on the edge. Getting pounded on by you and the others has been helpful, but I need something more. I’ve even got enough Skill points to Evolve a Tier 4 Skill.”
Torrdok glances away from Logan and fixes his intense eyes on me in surprise at that.
“You’ve put yourself in a good position, then. Most people use their Skill points to stay alive so they aren’t able to Evolve a Tier 4 Skill at Level 25. Just remember you can’t use your Skill points if you’re dead.”
I don’t tell him about the fact I now get two Skill points per Level and that’s the main reason I’ll be in that position, and maybe even in the position to Evolve three of my Legendary Skills. It’s been made very clear to me that’s information I should never share and I’m in full agreement.
Below us Logan’s gotten himself into some trouble, surrounded by some dinosaur-like creatures with armored hides that he’s having trouble damaging. His Agility would probably keep him from getting tied down, but there are also some Monsters that resemble massive flying squirrels that dart around at high speed and disrupt his ability to distance himself. My anxiety spikes as he’s knocked to the ground and trampled so I trigger Rise Again to give Logan an instant boost of 1000 Health, then fight to control my Affinity so that it can properly manifest. My Skill bucks as my urgency to trigger draws my Affinity in to push it faster and farther and disperses, overloaded and untargeted. I growl in frustration and adrenaline dumps into my system as my anxiety spikes even higher.
Torrdok lays down some cover fire as I get control of myself and trigger Guilty as Charged followed by a series of Fury of the Clans. I’m in control this time and they all find their targets, freezing a hundred Monsters and then decimating everything in the area. Logan’s already up on his feet and he glances up and holds his hands out in confusion, then engages his power armor’s thrusters and rockets up to our floating platform, high above.
“Come on, Uncle Bronwic! That was so dry,” he exclaims. It’s not angry, more frustrated and a bit confused. “I had them. Even absorbed heaps of kinetic from that trampling they gave me so I can finally blast through those tough ones.”
I hold my hand up in apology.
“Sorry Logan. I’m still getting used to what you can do,” I say, my tone probably more of an explanation than an apology.
“It’s ok. I’d rather you were looking out for me than you left me to get myself killed. Just… keep your eye on my Health, at least?”
I nod and kick myself for making the same mistake as Carter did while we were in the Dungeon. Too much on my mind distracting me at the moment.
“I’ve positioned us over another part of the Beast Grounds, Logan. Drop in when you’re ready, they should be Level 50 to 60, no real problem though remember there is always the possibility something wanders across territories. I want you to focus on one strike kills wherever possible. You should be able to take minimal damage, bonus points for none.”
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Logan nods and gives us a thumbs up, helmet still on, and jumps backward off the side of the platform in freefall and then arrests his descent a few meters above the forest floor with his armor’s thrusters. I should have more faith. At the same time, I don’t want to lose him.
“Maybe I should take a quick trip back to Earth to Level up?” I suggest to Torrdok while keeping an eye on Logan with my Perception and minimap. This time, I’ve got Logan’s Status up in the corner of my vision including his Health and Mana levels.
“I will look after him, Bronwic. In fact, I am due to visit your planet to finalize some of the Academy setup sometime soon. Should we all go together?”
“I’d be more comfortable if he was with you. I won’t be able to take him wherever I go.”
Torrdok nods and shifts the platform as Logan darts to our right under heavy foliage.
“Dhromea will be here tomorrow. We’ll go to your planet for long enough for me to conclude what I need to,” he rumbles. "I may even take Logan hunting around the South Island where you have provided the land for us. I understand it is quite sizable and saturated with Mana, with high AMLs in many places and I am quite looking forward to it; hopefully I will be running the Academy there for decades, at least. Perhaps Logan can bolster my knowledge of your homeworld at the same time.”
“No desire to Adventure again and make it to Ascended, rather than run an Academy?” I ask him as we both watch Logan use a blaster in each hand to take apart some creatures that look like massive blue slugs but move like cheetahs. He’s not that far away from Ascended and I know from personal experience he’s tough as nails.
“The Quest XP over time for establishing a new Academy for Tenebris will get me a couple of Levels, and I am content to focus on the students rather than my own advancement. What would I do as an Ascended Class Adventurer? Probably exactly what I’m doing now. I’ve found my calling. You know better than anyone the risks involved in gaining enough XP to move forward once you get to late Legendary Class. It is not easy.”
It’s more philosophical than I expected from a combat instructor with a Class and background like Torrdok, but he’s not wrong. Our species and worlds are just in very different situations and I’ve got a lot of things haunting me I can’t let go of. Maybe if we can get Earth on the front foot and humanity winning it would be a lot different. To do that I feel we need to eventually colonize other worlds as well. All of us being on one planet that’s constantly being hammered with no real alternatives means all the time our backs are against the wall.
We follow Logan for another 30 minutes and I can see how good he’s getting. This area isn’t really a match for him with his armor, but I’m impressed with the variation of techniques he uses and how he leverages his Kinetic Affinity to slow blows as they close in on him, then turns that energy around to empower his own strikes. Even without his Class Skills he switches with high mental dexterity from blasters to closed combat and striking. I wonder where he’s gotten his Skill with unarmed combat and then remember way back when I first visited the Shop in Milford Sound that I upped my already decent skills in that area by downloading some knowledge. Perhaps he’s done the same thing, although I’m not sure where he would have gotten the Credits.
Against my best intention, I eventually get a bit bored and stop paying attention. His Health hasn’t dipped below 90% the entire time we’ve been in this Zone and I think he needs something more challenging. I get a serious shock when he starts whooping and streaks up from the forest to our platform, landing on it with ease.
“Level up!” he exclaims with excitement.
“Again?” Torrdok asks with slight confusion. I’m not sure he fully appreciates how fast Logan will be progressing compared to a Mythic Class Adventurer who got there the hard way, and now he’s also being boosted by my Marked For Glory Skill that gives him an extra 20% XP and increases his regeneration rates.
“How long until you unlock your Class Skills?” I ask Logan. He Inventories his helmet and looks through me, staring at a notification screen, then his face turns sour.
“Ages,” he replies. “I put one point in Strength and six in Perception to keep evening me out. Adding that Constitution at the start will delay me a few Levels, I might not even get there until Level 24 or 25.”
“Hey…” I say, nudging him, and Logan joins in with me as I speak while he rolls his eyes. “It’s an Apocalypse. You can never go wrong with Constitution!”
“I get it, Uncle Bronwic. It only seems like a waste when I want to get my Class Skills as soon as possible. There are some I am really looking forward to like Phase Charge, Gravity Hammer, Telekinesis, Force Wave, and Kinetic Absorption… actually, all of them!”
I laugh and agree, remembering what a massive step change it was to get my Class Skills. Those were much different and desperate circumstances than Logan’s in now, but I can totally understand Logan wanting to achieve them and take a leap in power.
“We’re going to head back to Earth tomorrow, Logan. I need to try to Level up and Torrdok needs to do some setting up for the Academy in the South Island.”
“Will I be able to see my family?” Logan asks.
“I’m confident Dhromea will be happy to accommodate that, but only for a short visit,” Torrdok rumbles.
“Let’s head back,” I suggest. “I want a few words with Sylvaeryn before we go, just to make sure I’m doing everything I can to regain my Skills.”
Logan doesn’t object and Torrdok sends the flying platform back toward the Academy Spires. Tomorrow we’ll be back to throwing ourselves into proper danger.