Acquired [Armor Box] for reaching 400 kills.
Acquired [Insecticide Title Token] for reaching 500 kills.
Acquired [Weapon Box] for reaching 600 kills.
Acquired [Accessory Box] for reaching 700 kills.
Acquired [Armor Box] for reaching 800 kills.
Acquired [Spell Tome] for reaching 900 kills.
They were all automatically deposited to my Spatial Closet, thankfully, but I hadn’t even opened the first two ‘boxes’ I’d gotten. I was curious, but was waiting til we got back to the manor to change. It also reminded me of the five Tier 1 Class tokens in my inventory, and I was currently at a good point to use them…
I winced at the thought, moving my shoulders to try and relieve some of the muscle pain I’d been dealing with. Pain the Heal spell wasn’t fixing, likely because there wasn’t anything to actually fix. Or more accurately, the fixing is why I was hurting. It was frustrating, but I knew it was temporary. That was the only reason I wasn’t actively complaining about it. Out loud.
Fucking void fucking, airlock venting, shit stain sucking… I was pretty sure I was inventing new swears in my head, but I wasn’t keeping notes. And it was making me feel better.
It took around an hour, but we were all ready to head back as a group. We even brought the guy I’d healed, who was grateful. He talked a lot on the way back, but the screaming did a lot to drown him out. As we walked, I popped the Title Token.
I focused on Y.
Insecticide II
You are the destroyer of insects. Title for reaching 500 kills in the Summer Screaming Swarm.
- Increased damage to Insect Creatures.
- 5% Poison Resistance
- 15% Disease Resistance
+1 Agility per 4 levels since title earned (7)
I smiled at the change, happy that the change had gone the way I’d wanted it to. The fact that the title had a level tracker was also helpful, and would make my own math easier to handle.
Speaking of I tried to figure out how long I’d had access to a Calculator. I didn’t remember buying it, but after some digging I found it.
Mathematics
1+1 = 2 is the start, but how deep can you get your understanding?
Tier 0: You have proven you can add and subtract small numbers. Congratulations!
Tier 1: You have proven you can multiply and divide numbers. Congratulations!
Tier 2: You are getting into more complex equations and aren’t afraid of letters in your math. You have a basic understanding of formulas for calculating things. You gain access to a Calculator function with features to make more complicated equations easier.
“I have too many things to organize.” I said as I shook my head. We’d gotten on the road and were almost back. “I wonder how much I’ve just lost track of…” I slapped my hand against my face as I remembered I did have a way to organize. It was the Inventory function, even if it didn’t actually organize anything.
I’m too spread out in goals. I need to focus on one or two things. I also still hadn’t learned any of the Hunting or Harvesting skills. When I walked over and brought it up to Elayne once we were back in the city, after bribing a guard again, she just shrugged and said, “There’s not a lot of valuable material on the bugs. There’s no real point, even the meat isn’t great.”
“Wait, did you actually eat some of the bug meat?!” Paige asked, visibly getting nauseous at the thought.
“Of course we did.” Elayne said as she pointed at Zaion, “He helped make a half decent stew, though I’m not as big a fan of the mushrooms you used, Zaion.”
The elf nodded, “I will remember for next time. I personally found it made the flavor richer and absorbed enough of the grease from the meat to make it palatable.”
“So, I shouldn’t bother learning it yet?” I asked.
“Why do you want to learn?” Elayne asked out of curiosity. “It’s not like we couldn’t take a big one back and practice, but seems like a bigger headache than anything.”
“Outdoorsman is supposed to learning those skills easier.”
“Yea, and?” Elayne said, like she was seeking the point.
“Shouldn’t I… I don’t know, try to take advantage of it?” I asked, confused.
“What other skills does it benefit?” She asked, curious. “It’s Hunting, Tracking, and Harvesting right?”
I nodded and listed the skills I had currently that were effected. She considered the options and shrugged, “If they were already higher tier, I’d agree you need to work on them, but even the ones you currently have aren’t that difficult to level just through regular use.”
“So… I should just ignore them?” I asked.
“Not ignore… but you’re trying to get better at fighting right now, right?” Elayne responded. “Work on that rather than trying to develop new skills.”
“Makes sense…” I said, not fully convinced. It was advice that already ran along what I was thinking, though.
The guy we’d helped stepped up beside me, “She’s right, actually. I don’t know about earning stats, but too many skills isn’t a good idea. Getting a few to Tier 3 is usually the point to spread out because then you get the bonus traits and cool effects.”
I blinked and turned to look at him, then the other members of our group. “Oh… uh… thanks? Sorry, I’d forgotten you were here.”
He waved it off, “It’s fine. I just wanted to thank you guys again. I go by Tingle at the guild. If you ever need a Guardian let me know.”
I watched him split off from us, heading towards the direction I knew the guild was. I looked from him to Paige and Elayne. “He seemed… nice.”
“I wonder what happened to his party.” Zaion said, staring after the man. “It seems a bit rude to leave a fellow to die.”
I shrugged, “Not our problem.” I said dismissing the problem for later. Instead, I turned to my own party. “Did you guys all start grabbing your rewards, or are you going to wait to use a crystal?”
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“I’m waiting.” Paige said, grumpy. “I’m still early enough if my new class that it would be a waste, even with my low numbers.”
“Zaion?”
“I will wait until we are somewhere secure, if what you say is true about rewards. I do not wish to carry so many things around, or ask you to intervene for me.” He said, smiling lightly. “I also desire to see if the mycelium has taken it’s new home in the basement.”
“I’ve been claiming whenever I hit a threshold. My experience requirements are so high I’d need to spend a few days just killing bugs to fill one level.” Elayne adjusted her stance as she looked around, “Though if we get jumped again I might get a bit more…”
I looked around as well and nodded, “Yea… let’s go home.”
We hurried back, and there were no further incidents. When we got home, we all split up. I sent a maid to go let Calmar know we were back and made way for my shower. My armor was once again gross, and while I thought I got it all, there was likely more chitin in my hair.
After a long shower, followed by a struggle to brush through my hair, I went to my favorite lounge to start sorting through my rewards. The familiar floral lamps that looked like little flames and comfortable couches helped me to feel relaxed. There was already a tray with a bit of meat, cheese, and vegetables in a flour wrap. It had a vinegar sauce that tasted pretty good on it, with a little too much sweetness for me but still tasty.
The first thing I pulled out were the Accessory boxes. I’d gotten two and I didn’t have anything in the form of accessories yet. I didn’t know how they’d work, since my references for enchanted items was pretty low. The most enchanted thing I had were my formal clothes, but I wasn’t going to wear those out to fight. Maybe when I get stronger…
The first one I opened was a ring. It was made with two thin pieces of silver that were twined together in a small circle. There were strange carvings along the loops of metal that looked kind of like wind and feathers. I cast Scan.
Safe Currents
The winds are often harsh as they blow through the world. Let this ring guide you to safe currents and warm thermals.
Slows fall if distance is more than 5m height until the user is safely on the ground. Lasts up to five minutes of total fall time over a week before needing recharged.
Increased control over Wind Mana spells and abilities.
I let out a soft whistle and looked at my hand before putting it on my thumb. My logic behind that was my knuckles would make wearing a ring kind of annoying, and I didn’t want to risk messing with them until I got my new tonfas.
I paused for a second, remembering my trip to the weapons shop. “Fuck. I forgot to try out the warhammer. Or the halberd.” I groaned, leaning back against the sofa. “I really do have too much going on.”
I decided to cheer myself up and opened the other box. Inside was a delicate looking bit of metal that I couldn’t identify the material of shaped in a circle. It was white and shiny, but solid feeling. There were a few gems inlaid into it that formed a little star on the front. I frowned, looking at it, but used Scan anyway.
Ruler’s Diadem
Every royal needs a crown, and this little diadem is enough to signal to all your right to rule.
Increases power of Aura abilities by 50%
Increases range of Aura abilities by 100%
Charisma +5
I felt my face twist in disgust as I read the description. The box it had come in was already gone, having disappeared once I’d removed the thin circlet. With a sigh, I focused on my Spatial Closet and opened a little door into it. I put it inside and pulled out the Spell Tome box, needing something to cheer me up after an item I will never put on. I opened the box and picked up the book that had been inside.
Gravity Field
Increase the gravity in an area. Gravity field is equal in size to Mana Control divided by 2 meters squared. Strength of gravity is increased by Mana Power divided by 10. User may choose targets to be excluded from the field.
Requirements:
30 Mana Power
30 Mana Control
30 Mana
My eyes went wide when I used Scan and I read the requirements a few more times. So… fifteen meters squared and increase gravity by three? What would that do? Being able to exclude people made this a great spell, I just needed the stats. I do have 30 free points… and five class tokens… Was it worth it to dump all of that just for a spell like this?
I considered it and decided to wait and ask Deacon and Grimmoire what they thought. Evening everything out to 30 sounds good in my head, but does it hold up? Shouldn’t I have some kind of specialization or something? I feel like having a tool for any situation is nice… but I’m already forgetting to use things I just got. How is it going to be when I have an entire books worth of spells?
The idea that I could have enough spells to fill a novel made me lean back and pause. There was no reason I needed to collect so many spells. Even if I did, would ignoring all but a handful really be that bad? Having the tools and forgetting about them is better than not having them, right?
There was a knock at the door. I looked over as Deacon stepped inside. His arm had grown a dozen or more centimeters, and the end was wrapped in cloth. After he closed the door behind himself, he moved over to the opposite couch to sit. “How’d the hunt go? Heard you didn’t get back till late.”
I nodded, “Yea, had to bribe the guard to let us in again, but we made it back.”
“Technically, if someone with enough authority asks they’re supposed to open the gate again.” Deacon mused as he leaned back in his seat, “If you ever want to save some crystals…”
I rolled my eyes, “No thanks. Besides, I’m pretty sure I can spare a green or two to the guards drink fund.”
Deacon chuckled, “Fair.” He nodded at the book, “I take it you got that as a reward?”
I nodded, “I was actually going to come looking for you or Grimoire for advice because of it.” I held it out to Deacon who examined it.
After a brief look, he let out an impressed whistle. “That’s a pretty big commitment to spell casting. My scan shows a minimum of 150 to learn or Gravity Manipulation. Which, is an absurd requirement, because that takes a high level of Earth Manipulation just to have a chance at the skill.”
“How high?” I asked, curious. I never learned the requirements for other manipulations. I hadn’t even know Gravity Manipulation was a thing.
“Tier 4 to have a chance, which is already something you need decades of practice to reach normally.” He admitted before setting the book down. “I take it you’re considering it because you scan showed something else?”
“30 of each Mana stats.” I gave him the numbers, shaking my head. “No manipulation skills required.”
Deacon’s brow furrowed, “That’s… weird.”
“A bit. It’s not the first time I’ve noticed inconsistencies between the normal system and what I’ve got.” I said, frowning down at the book. “Think it’s worth it?”
“Hm?” He looked up at me like he’d been lost in thought. “Oh, absolutely. This is the kind of spell most mages won’t get access too without external devices for years. And even those are expensive.”
“What kinds of external devices?” I asked, curious.
“Wands, staves, scrolls, or whatever. Basically anything that could be used as a focus can have a spell engraved into it. I’m not sure how it all works, and dungeon made ones differ from crafted ones so there’s no consistency either.” He shrugged, “I don’t know much more about it. Those classes never interested me.”
“You brought up school before, what kind of classes did you take?” I asked, curious.
He shrugged, “General education for five years. Math, reading, writing, socializing, and a bunch of other life skills. After that, I studied art, mostly music. When it came time to study magic, I had a talent for it and got told I should look into auditory magics.”
“Like… music?” I asked, confused.
Deacon nodded, a faint smile on his face. “Correct. Most musically inclined mages use sound to some degree as a focus. It’s a useful catalyst for both types of manipulation, since cadence and rhythm give natural structure to anything you’re doing.”
“Does that matter much to spells?”
“No.” The bard said, shaking his head, “But it matters to the caster. If you don’t practice enough without using a catalyst, your casting can become messy and create backlashes without it.”
“Like… with your throat.” I asked, remembering how he was unable to talk after taking out the adventurers.
“That, was with a catalyst.” Deacon responded, rubbing at his throat as if it was still sore. “The reason my throat hurt was because I was using the sound of my voice to make the internal manipulation casting work. And Decay does not play well with living flesh.”
I blinked, “Wait, Decay?”
He smirked, “Decay Manipulation is one of my classes specialties. I get bonuses to control and strength if I use an instrument as a focus, with the power growing the longer I play.”
“Wait, so the focus gets infused with the magic type?” I asked, concerned, “How dangerous is what you did?”
“Incredibly.” Deacon laughed, “But I’m skilled enough to prevent it from being lethal.”
I raised my eyebrows as I questioned whether I should take advice his advice, or wait for Grimoire. “I’m suddenly less confident in your advice.”
The bard shrugged, “Get a second opinion then. I’m sure we could see what Grimoire, Calmar, or Porter think. Zaion might not know enough about the wider world and Paige likely wouldn’t understand the scope of the issue you want advice on.”
“You aren’t offended?”
Deacon leaned forward, “I’d honestly be concerned if you took me as your sole source of information. Most of my knowledge comes from another country and whatever I’ve picked up traveling this one. I’m well traveled and well educated, but you also have problems that aren’t normal.” He blinked and smiled, “Oh! I know. You could ask Toren, he’d definitely have a good opinion on this?”
“Can’t. I think he’s still busy from making an appearance at the Duke’s party.” I said as I looked up at the ceiling. I hadn’t even thought of him as an option. Too much going on, and not enough mental energy to go through it all.
Not wanting to dwell, I reached into my Spatial Closet and pulled out one of the four remaining equipment boxes. “Want to watch and see what I get?”
Deacon grinned, “Absolutely.”