[Calculation Completed.]
[Due to the user performing an unexpected deed, extra rewards will be given.]
[+10 Stat Points]
[Level 250 Accessory Selection Ticket (Ravine Lord Salamander Edition)]
[Skill: Hydroburst Lv. 1]
*** Skill Unlocked: Hydroburst Lv. 1 (Active) ***
Summon massive high-pressure water geysers to attack your enemies.
Cooldown: None
Mana Cost: 200 Mana per attack
Requirements: 80 Magicka, 50 Intelligence
That attack was strong. It almost killed me, the one I took head-on. It is a bit costly, and I need to invest in Intelligence, but I need something I can use more often. My other strong skills are only usable once a day. Which is not ideal. He sighed but felt grateful for the skill and the rewards as they continued towards the camp.
***
The three returned to camp, where the lizardmen gathered quickly, their eyes fixed on Kang with curiosity and unease.
“Everyone, gather around!” Corvin shouted, his voice sharp with urgency.
He stepped forward, exhaling slowly before speaking. “This is Kang. He’ll be helping us for now. He had also warned me about Orc’s marching into our territory.” Corvin’s expression hardened. “We must prepare for war!”
Fear rippled through the crowd. The lizardmen growled low, their reptilian eyes searching Corvin for guidance.
“We could run,” Corvin continued, “but that risks being attacked from behind. Here’s the plan: Stone will lead the women and children back to your old camp. The rest of us will fight here.”
Stone strode forward, his scales bristling. “I want to fight!” he growled.
Corvin gripped his shoulder firmly, locking eyes with him. “No. I need you to live, understand? You’re young. You have time to grow stronger.” His tone was steady, but inside, Corvin sighed. Not that I’m much older myself… but someone has to take the safer path.
Stone hesitated, then nodded, feeling the weight of his chief’s resolve.
“Where are the others?” Corvin asked, worry creeping into his voice.
“Hunting. They went north,” Stone replied.
Corvin paled. “Damn it. Nera, Kang, let’s go! We need to warn them. Stone, get everyone ready and lead them to the old camp!”
Stone nodded sharply and turned to rally the others, urging them to pack quickly as Corvin and his companions sprinted into the wild.
***
Corvin, Nera, and Kang raced north, Corvin using Echolocation and tracking skills to search for any trace of the two hunting parties.
After an hour, they found Hobfang’s group preparing to bring down a massive buffalo.
Corvin sprinted into the clearing, dropping low beside them.
The four hunters spun, weapons raised, until they saw him.
“Men, we need to move! Orcs are marching toward our territory. Everyone is in danger!” Corvin barked.
The lizardmen stiffened, abandoning their prey without hesitation. They fell in behind Corvin as he led them toward the second group.
Half an hour later, Corvin’s heart sank when he caught sight of the other hunters locked in battle with Orcs.
“Damn it! Hurry, they’ve already engaged!” Corvin roared, exploding forward with the others trailing close behind.
The scene was grim. Two Bloodpetal lizardmen lay dead beside a fallen, green-skinned Orc. The remaining hunter fought desperately alongside Voltaria against two more Orcs, both wounded, but still deadly.
[Orc Scout Lv. 110] [HP: 8,175 / 12,275] [MP: 300 / 550]
[Orc Scout Lv. 112] [HP: 7,440 / 12,719] [MP: 240 / 570]
Corvin’s eyes hardened. “Kang, Nera, take the one on the left! Hobscale, Hobfang, you’re with me! Tusk brothers, protect Voltaria and Bloodpetal!”
His greatsword materialized in a flash as he dashed forward, intercepting a brutal slash aimed at Voltaria.
Seeing Corvin’s back shielding her, Voltaria flushed, her voice trembling. “I failed, Chief!”
“Enough nonsense! Prepare your strongest attack, follow my lead!” Corvin growled, shoving the Orc back as spears whistled past him, thrown by the other two with enhanced strength as their scales reddened. The spear tips sank deep into the Orc’s chest.
Corvin poured 12 points into Intelligence instantly and thundered. “Hydroburst!”
A geyser erupted above his head, smashing into the Orc and hurling it dozens of meters away, ribs shattering under the impact.
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Behind him, Voltaria roared like a dragon, unleashing a massive lightning bolt that charred the drenched Orc to ash.
Meanwhile, Nera’s Miasma Beam carved a gaping wound across the second Orc’s chest as Kang’s wind blades severed its arm clean off.
The Tusk brothers grew in size, charging like living battering rams. Bones cracked under their trampling assault.
Nera wasted no time; she coiled and lunged, strangling the screaming Orc before sinking her fangs deep into its flesh. With a final crushing squeeze, its body collapsed in silence.
[Damage Done in Battle: 50%]
[Experience gain is reduced due to the user’s Constitution.]
[Experience Gained: 5,973]
[Progress to Next Level: 79%]
Corvin ignored the pop-ups, rushing to Voltaria and Bloodpetal. His breath caught at the sight of two fallen tribesmen.
“I’m sorry… If only I’d been faster.” His voice cracked as guilt clawed at him. I made them stronger. I told them to hunt. And now they’re dead.
Voltaria limped forward, using her spear as a crutch. Her eyes burned with grief, but her voice was steady. “Chief… life is hard. You gave us power. You gave us a choice.” She tapped his shoulder gently. “Not your fault. Such is life.”
She turned to close the eyes of her fallen comrades.
Corvin’s tears fell freely. I swore I wouldn’t cry again. But for you, my men… I’ll break that promise.
“May you find peace in the next life, if not in this one.” He bowed low, then ordered the others to carry the bodies.
He stored the three Orc corpses and let his warriors salvage their weapons. After hiding the traces of battle, they began the somber march back to camp.
As soon as they buried the two, they needed to prepare for the battle.
***
They returned to the tribe, where the rest had already packed and were waiting.
“Stone, take Voltaria and Bloodpetal and go,” Corvin commanded firmly.
“Not going!” Voltaria growled, her eyes blazing with defiance.
“You’re wounded,” Corvin pleaded, his voice softening.
“Fine. Look.” She slapped her cut shoulder and winced, proving his point.
Corvin sighed and shook his head. “Fine. Stay.”
Voltaria bowed slightly before turning to bandage her wounds.
Stone bowed as well and led the remaining lizardmen, along with the injured Bloodpetal, toward their old camp.
Corvin turned to Kang, his voice tense. “How much time do we have?”
“Scouts are dead. Probably a day,” Kang replied calmly.
Corvin exhaled in relief. A day… that’s enough to prepare.
“Okay. Come with me.”
He led the remaining lizardmen, Kang, and Nera to the foot of the mountain outside the camp. There, they dug two graves and laid the fallen warriors to rest.
“Chief, leave this to us,” Voltaria said, bowing before kneeling beside the bodies. She drew her dagger and carved out their cores.
Corvin froze, his eyes widening. “What are you doing?!” he shouted.
Voltaria’s voice was solemn as she pressed the cores to her chest. “Their spirits will fight within.” Then, without hesitation, she swallowed both cores.
“Brothers… we will kill all enemies. Together!” she roared, her voice echoing through the mountains as the others joined her in a guttural chorus.
Corvin stared, stunned. So, this is how they honor their dead, taking part of their power with them. A bit messed up, but I get it.
He bowed his head. “Thank you for your sacrifice.”
The lizardmen buried their fallen brethren, then returned to camp in grim silence.
Corvin straightened, his voice cutting through the tension. “Prepare your weapons. Treat your wounds. Rest. I’ll handle the barricades.”
With that, he turned and strode into his tent, the weight of leadership pressing heavily on his young shoulders.
***
Inside his tent, Corvin let out a long sigh, a few tears slipping down his cheeks. He hadn’t expected that five days with these lizardmen would make him feel so deeply. I guess this is the first time in a long while I’ve felt like I had a family.
He shook his head, forcing the thought away as he opened his Status window.
22 points to spend. Already put 12 into Intelligence to unlock the skill, but I didn’t gain anything else for reaching 50, so I guess it only counts if I put my own points and reach 50, not if raised by items.
He tapped his chin. Let’s do 16 into Agility, I want to see what skill it will unlock, and the rest into Luck. I’ve been ignoring it for too long.
As he confirmed the allocation, his body glowed faintly. His legs ached as muscles tightened and grew leaner, his quadriceps bulging with new strength. Tiny runes etched themselves around his ankles like glowing tattoos before sinking into his flesh and vanishing.
*** Skill Unlocked: Lightweight Lv. Max ***
A skill given to any user who invests 50 points in Agility.
Effect: Move as if weighing half your actual mass.
Movement speed, attack speed, and dodge speed will be increased by 20%.
Active only if above 50% HP.
Corvin grinned. “Perfect. Just what I need for the coming war.”
He pulled out the Salamander’s Ticket and activated it. A flash of light revealed three shimmering windows:
[Azure Ring]
Type: Ring
Rarity: Epic
Increases water damage by 30%.
Unlocks skill: Watery Grave – Drown enemies in crushing waves
Magicka + 10, Intelligence +10
[Salamander’s Eye]
Type: Earring
Rarity: Epic
Increases movement speed in water areas by 30%
Allow the wearer to breathe underwater and adapt to its depths.
Agility +20
[Salamander's Tail]
Type: Bracelet
Rarity: Epic
Decrease any type of water damage received by 25%
If your health reaches 0, sacrifice this item to restore yourself to 50% of health and mana.
The item will be destroyed after one use.
Corvin exhaled slowly and chose the bracelet. “Like there’s any other choice… This is basically an extra life.” He smirked darkly. With everything that is going on. This will be my hidden trump card.
He smiled, thinking about his enemies’ faces when he returned from the brink of death. With an evil laugh, he put on the azure bracelet in the shape of a coiled salamander’s tail and hid it under his gloves.
“Okay… time for some manual labor.” He smiled grimly and walked out of his tent, where outside, Nera was hissing something to Kang, who growled back
“You can understand her?” Corvin asked, surprised.
“Yes. Not hard,” Kang replied flatly.
“Not hard, my ass…” Corvin muttered, waving them off as he headed into the woods.
For hours, he chopped trees and prepared materials, some into planks, others sharpened into deadly stakes.
When he returned, he ordered everyone to help. Together, they built barricades and traps while Corvin reinforced the wooden walls and erected two additional watchtowers.
He stocked each tower with fifty long stakes, ammo for his Spear Throw. For a while, he was thinking of using something else for his Spear Throw since he was always low on spears.
Then, once he was done, he finally addressed the weary tribe. “Good job, everyone. I’ll make dinner, then we'll rest. I’ll assign guard shifts after.”
The aroma of fresh food lifted spirits, easing tension as laughter returned in small doses.
After the meal, Corvin organized the watch schedule and retreated to his tent for final preparations, while Nera climbed the nearest tower for her shift, her silhouette merging with the darkening sky.
Skills Unlocked: Hydroburst Lv. 1, Lightweight Lv. Max
Short note to the skills being assigned at 50 points invested. The skills gained are mostly manifestation of what 50 stat points would do to a User's body. There are multiple breaking points: 50/150/300/500/750/999 The more one invests into a stat the more he get's from it. Side note, strengthening the body outside of the system will impact these thresholds!!!
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