It had not taken long for the rest to rejoin them. Brandon carried the cubs inside a wooden crate covered with a blanket. The crate had been placed at the end of the table they all sat on by a fireplace, which was also a seating area at the far end of the dining hall. Guards had come and gone but were not coming near the group, especially with TJ giving those who looked at them a death stare. The nine discussed the previous two days' activities and the third incursion. Never mind the requirement to curb the infestation. They had then gradually filtered down to the bathhouse to clean up Kyto, thankful for his clothes after wearing the ones that TJ had found him the day before. Sniffer enjoyed cleaning Tiddles this time, and Elizabeth had helped. Tiddles had returned in a foul mood as Elizabeth had shampooed him with scented oils.
"I don't know what that bloody woman thinks I am," he grumbled as he flopped beside the table.
Kyto could not help but laugh, and when he explained Tiddles’s moans to the rest of the group, it released some of the tension everyone felt.
Matilda had cooked them a feast, and they polished off everything she prepared as a group. Kyto had offered to help her in the kitchen, but she had rejected him, saying he needed to rest.
Kyto and Tiddles had started to go through their System messages. They were vast. The totals they had both earned were substantial, not just for their experience gains but also for their individual quests. Between them, they had killed 427 Geblex, with last night’s tally. Also, the previous kills from hunting Tiddles was now sat with 552 kills towards his quests. Kyto's streaming total had reached over 108000 with several hours of healing and his imbued bottles being consumed. Then, including the experience gains also earned from healing and killing, they were significant. They had also both gained levels. Tiddles jumped to 27, with Kyto reaching 27 and the associated arcane knowledge and attribute points. On each of their displays, there was a summary tab that allowed them to see their combined gains.
Experience
Kyto
Tiddles
Total
120976
120176
Level
27
27
Individual Quest
Total
121010
552
Level
4
5
Arcane Knowledge
Earned
68
72
Spent
53
53
Available
15
19
They had some decisions about which skills to open with their arcane knowledge, although the main increases were the boosts when they accepted their level increases. With his double-level rise, Tiddles had jumped two stat points in each attribute, and Kyto had gained a further in each. The automatic increases were making significant differences to them. When Tiddles accepted both his levels, his whole body shifted. His already defined muscles grew more substantial, and he felt his skin tighten as though hardening unnaturally, and his neural pathways expanded as his free-thinking increased. It was bizarre increasing so many attribute points together. Everything around him seemed to have an ethereal glow when he looked at it, and it took him a few seconds to realise that he could now see the mana pools of others. All his attributes were now in double figures.
"I can see mana pools now," he said to Kyto, lying there reviewing his log. Kyto had seen his body twitch as he had levelled and the immediate changes. His fur seemed to sharpen, if that was a word he could use to describe it, and his bulk increased even more than it already was.
"Dad, what happened?" Rosie said to him, peering out from the blanket covering the crate. The cubs hid underneath, not in the open for people to see. Spylore, after all, was renowned for being a predator who would kill Risen as quickly as anything else if the opportunity arose.
"Level up," Tiddles replied, looking at her.
"You just grew," she said
"Did I?"
"Yeah. I saw you suddenly grow."
Tiddles frowned and then stood up from his lying position. Everyone was sat down, so he was unsure, but he thought he may have grown a little. "Kyto, stand up a second, will you"
Kyto looked at him and complied, not questioning his request.
He had grown. He was at least two inches taller than he had been, and he could feel the difference in the length of his limbs and their improved flexibility and strength. He now stood with his head up. He was only a few inches shorter than Kyto. His bulk was the same, just on a different scale. His shoulders had narrowed slightly, yet his height increased, improving his range during melee fights. It was as though his body was developing a more balanced form. His shoulders across his forelegs had always been much broader than his rear legs, and he could feel the subtle change now when he stood. He knew that it would improve his agility during combat.
"You have grown," Kyto said. After his level increased, the group all looked at Tiddles.
"Grown, he is massive," Brandon said, looking at where Tiddles stood. His form was more athletic-looking than before, yet he was still oozing insane power compared to a Risen.
Kyto's most considerable boost was his Free Thinking, reaching level 15. As he accepted his level increase, he was given a System prompt.
You have reached a height that many will never achieve during their lifetime. You are now able to choose one of the following skills:
Influencer
System Influence
Molecular Cybernetics
All skills supply hidden bonuses.
He had no idea what any of them would give, considering that there was no explanation about what they meant. Considering his actualisation skill and the bonuses he had received, he hoped that whatever it was would be similar.
"I have three new skill choices. Influencer, System Influence and Molecular Cybernetics, no explanations what any of them will grant."
"System Influence sounds interesting," Tabs said.
"I like the sound of Molecular Cybernetics." Elizabeth chimed in.
"I have no idea what they will grant. The codex tells me nothing about them." Kyto replied.
"Think about them logically. An Influencer must have something to do with leadership or something similar. System Influencer may allow you to adapt the System, and Molecular Cybernetics sounds more mana focussed." Brandon said, not looking up from where he sat, holding a fresh cup of coffee.
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They all turned and stared at him with complete confusion and astonishment. "When did you get so philosophical?" Sniffer asked.
Brandon looked up and noticed them all looking at him. It made him feel nervous and uncertain. "Common sense thinking, not philosophy," he replied with an embarrassed look, his cheeks reddening under scrutiny.
"You may have made an excellent argument for what they relate to," Kyto said. "I was not thinking logically."
"I don't believe that. You always think logically. The number of times you have said that word to me is a standard from you." Tabs replied.
"What do you mean?" Kyto asked, frowning.
"Every time we talk about anything, you nearly always start with logically this, logically that," she said, smiling at him.
"Do I?" he replied.
A resounding "Yes." came from the group, which brought laughter again, lightening the mood.
"I am not that bad," Kyto said, grumbling.
"I love you, but you are that predictable." Tabs said, leaning and kissing him.
Kyto huffed in response, falling silent, contemplating what Brandon had said.
"We need to decide which skills we will increase," Tiddles said, breaking Kyto's sulking mood.
"Yeah, we have a few arcane points to spend. Have you looked at your options?" Kyto asked.
"I have, but I'm not sure which is more beneficial. I could continue straight for combat boosts, but I was also thinking defence."
"Why defence?"
"If I chose Elemental Support, I get a -5 % mana and core use when activating my skills. Then, at tier 3, I can also get Elemental Armour, increasing my defence and reducing damage taken. I would not be as much of a drain on the battlefield."
Kyto looked at him, frowning. "You were not a drain," he replied.
"If you had not had to heal me or pump me with mana to the same degree, you might have been able to save more on the field," he replied.
Kyto looked at Tiddles with a new light. It was another rare glimpse of the beast's understanding of humanity. He had been annoyed by his initial response at the end of the fight, saying that it had been fun, but now realised that the comment was probably deliberate to drag Kyto from his feelings from the losses they had sustained. He had meant to talk to him about it at some point, but with the System message and everything else that had happened since, he had forgotten until now.
"But how often will we have to fight like that in a fight that size," Kyto said.
"Not sure, but seeing the past two days, it may be more common than we hope."
"If it is, then the township is doomed. We are only two, no matter how much fighting or defensive prowess we have. We cannot protect everyone. My healing will only work on one at a time, and it was draining enough in the hangar, stabilising the injured, never mind during a fight. The mana drain is too high."
"Well, what skills can you boost?"
"I have 15 points to spend, so I could increase my healing and familiar or increase my siphon to level 3 and one of the others to level 2."
"What will healing give you?"
"I'm not sure. Level 1 was just the ability to heal. I would guess level 2 would improve efficiency, but it doesn't say."
"And familiar?"
"Level 2 would grant me an extra 20% collection rate, and level 3 siphon would increase its efficiency to 60%. I could also increase my wielder support to level 5, giving me another 50% increase when feeding you, but that would cost ten points, meaning no other skill could be levelled."
"You should go for healing and siphon or healing twice."
"I was starting to favor healing over the other skills. Increasing my level to 2 will cost me 6 points, leaving me with 9."
Kyto focussed on his skill tree and his healing skill.
Would you like to increase Heal - Tier 3 to Level 2 for a cost of 6 arcane knowledge? Yes/No
He selected yes.
Congratulations. Your knowledge of life has improved your healing efficiency by 12.5%. This includes time to heal and mana cost.
"Shit. I wish I had done that sooner. 12.5% bonuses to time and mana cost to heal."
"That's huge overall," Tiddles replied.
"I think I will go all in and take it to 3."
Would you like to increase Heal - Tier 3 to level 3 for a cost of 9 arcane knowledge? Yes/No
Again, he selected yes.
Congratulations, your knowledge of life has improved your healing efficiency by 25%. This includes time to heal and also mana cost.
Congratulations on improving one of your tier 3 skills to level 3. You may now see your tier 4 skills.
"I can see level 4 skills!" Kyto said excitedly.
"Wow. What can you get?" Tiddles asked.
"Advanced Siphon: increases the distance of drawing mana and allows for multiple sources. One additional source can be drawn from per level. Healing Pulse: you can cast a pulse of healing mana from your body; it will reach a radius of 10 metres. All those within the area of effect will receive a 10% increase in health. Will not take a target over maximum health. Familiar Development: your familiar is no longer a static light source; it can adapt to its surroundings and can be used as a remote light source and turn invisible at your wish. Shield Bubble: you can create a mana shield range of 5 metres using your mana pool. Those within the shield will be protected from physical damage while active. The bubble warns that the enemy can also benefit if within the shield's range. Pretty amazing skills, though." Kyto finished.
"I need a tier 3 level 3 skill to see what mine would be," Tiddles replied.
"That is me spent. I know have a 25% decrease in time to heal and mana costs and need more arcane knowledge to reach a Tier 4 skill."
"That will seriously help. You can heal me much more efficiently when I fight."
"Yes. What are you going for?"
"Still undecided, the one thing I keep looking back at is defence. After how easily that Vilorse cut me and the damage it did, and also now that I understand how much it cost you to heal me, that is not something we need to try to do during a fight, and that thing is still out there somewhere."
Kyto shuddered at the thought. He had not seen the Vilorse personally, but the creature's image in the Codex was enough to put his nerves on edge with its six-limbed grotesque form.
After a few moments, Tiddles said, "I have 19 points, and I think I know what I will do: Elemental Support and Elemental Armour."
"What do they grant you?"
"Elemental Support reduces the mana and core requirements for skill activation by 5%. Elemental Armour improves my defence by 15% and decreases received damage by 5% per level."
"Sounds good."
Tiddles focussed on his skill tree.
Would you like to learn Elemental Support - Tier 2 to Level 1 for a cost of 2 arcane knowledge? Yes/No
Tiddles selected yes.
Congratulations, your Fire Elemental burns brightly inside, with -5 % mana and core use when activating skills.
He needed his Support class at Level 3 to learn Elemental Armour, so he pumped his points into it.
Would you like to learn Elemental Support - Tier 2 to Level 2 for a cost of 4 arcane knowledge? Yes/No
Congratulations, your Fire Elemental burns brightly inside, with -10 % mana and core use when activating skills.
Would you like to learn Elemental Support - Tier 2 to Level 3 for a cost of 6 arcane knowledge? Yes/No
Congratulations, your Fire Elemental burns brightly inside, -15 % mana and core use when activating skills.
Tiddles now had 7 points to spend and placed three into the new tier 3 armour skill.
Would you like to learn Elemental Armour - Tier 3 to Level 1 for a cost of 3 arcane knowledge? Yes/No
Tiddles again selected yes.
Congratulations, you have learned Elemental Armour - Tier 3 - Level 1. Your body will now undergo development, increasing your defensive capability by 15% and reducing received damage by 5% per level.
"My body will undergo developm....." Tiddles broke off, releasing an ear-piercing howl.
His whole body began to shift. The group watched as he began to transform. Amazingly, they watched as his body sprouted bone armour plates which covered his limbs and torso. His face appeared to shift as the plates formed, covering his head. He howled in pain as though his skeletal structure was suddenly appearing outside his body. He looked like he was wearing plate armour, and then, as dramatically as it had appeared on his outer, it began to sink into his body. Everyone in the dining hall had turned at the howl, and the cubs cried out in concern, their calls being carried across the room as well. As the last of the plates were absorbed, his howl receded.
"Fucking hell. That was horrible," he exclaimed.
"Are you ok?" Kyto asked with a worried expression.
"I am now," Tiddles replied. "It felt as though my body turned inside out."
"It looked like it as well. He is all good now." Kyto said for the other's benefit.
They all had concerned expressions, relief showing as Kyto confirmed he was ok. "I had a skill upgrade like that the first time. It took me by surprise."
"Sort of puts you off trying it again," Tiddles said.
"Yes. Although the next level had no effect once it was learned."
"Umm. I will consider that if I ever level it again. I only have four arcane knowledge left, so nothing else to level now."
"That armour looked like your skeletal structure changed."
"It feels as though I have an extra layer of skeleton, but it's difficult to explain all over."
Kyto focussed on him and looked inside at his core, Tiddles being the only one he could truly see inside due to his actualisation skill. It looked like he had an exoskeletal frame underneath his fur. Kyto could also see the fine elemental core that seemed to be providing it with power. It was strange watching it ripple through his body.
"That looks crazy but awesome all at once," Kyto said.
"I wish it had felt that way."
"Well, hopefully, its benefits will be noticeable."
"We will see the next time I fight. With both of our increases, it should make stabilising with mana much easier."
The group sat talking for a while longer before the full effects of their exhaustion began to take hold.
"We need to go down to the shed," Crystal said, her usual endurance-driven character having been replaced by weariness.
"I think we all need to rest," Elizabeth added.
"I need to go and check on the clean-up and ensure things are sorted out. You say we have ten days before another attack, but I am not changing it. So, going to go speak to Reece." TJ added.
At that moment, Reece's deep voice came through the dining hall. He entered, followed by an entourage of staff and Miss Agnos. The group walked over to where the companions sat.
"I believe I owe you all a debt of thanks." Miss Agnos said as she neared them. She was now standing in her usual authority clothes with the town emblem emblazoned on the dull grey uniform. She walked with an air of authority, and her followers stayed behind her. They consisted of a group of four, three men and a woman. One man carrying a notepad and pencil.
"Thanks to Kyto for healing you," Elizabeth said.
"That is not true," she replied, raising an eyebrow at Elizabeth's reply. "These men carried me from the field where I fell." pointing at Sniffer and Brandon. "You three then treated me and kept me alive long enough to allow Kyto to reach me and heal me," she said. "Without you all, I would have died from my injuries. I know how badly I was hurt during the fight."
The companions sat feeling embarrassed. They had only done what they would have done for anyone else. "And you." she said, looking at Tiddles, "almost single-handed maintained the southern incursion."
"Well, I am glad someone recognises my amazing prowess," Tiddles replied, grinning.
Kyto rolled his eyes, shaking his head.
"I have heard you can talk to the beast." Miss Agnos stated.
"I can, yes." Kyto stuttered, a little taken aback.
"I am assuming he just said something," she asked.
"He did, but you do not want to know," Kyto replied.
"Please do," she replied.
"He said he is grateful for your praise," Kyto replied.
"That is not what I said at all," Tiddles complained. Kyto ignored him.
"We were just about to go and get some sleep," Elizabeth said.
"You have accommodation in the town?" Miss Agnos asked.
"Down at the docks," Brandon replied.
"The docks? There is no accommodation down there."
"I have my home," Brandon said, looking at Miss Agnos contemptuously. His feelings for the authority were open.
"You are the beggar, aren't you? That lives in the shed down there. Do not tell me that is where you were going to stay?"
Brandon's face turned scarlet, with anger flushing his cheeks. Crystal reached over and grabbed his shoulder, squeezing it.
"We were. We have a house out of town, but we plan to stay here until the current issues are resolved," Crystal said.
Miss Agnos turned round and spoke to one of her aides quietly before turning back. "You can stay in the compound," she stated.
"Compound?" Crystal asked.
"Yes. The authority compound, with the several who left the township with the issue, their homes are empty, and I will claim them for town use. Even if they return, they cannot argue as they have never paid for the properties as they were homes granted for position. My aide here will escort you." she stated.
"That would be very decent of you," Elizabeth replied on behalf of the companions.
"Jack will direct you there now if you wish, but before you go Kyto, I need to understand what this third phase may involve. Reece has informed me of the message you received."
TJ and Reece talked while the rest of the companions followed Jack. Brandon scooped up the cub's crate while Tiddles remained with Kyto, Miss Agnos, and her aides.