MM - Chapter 93 - A NIGHT WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN CHITIN

Twenty minutes after Rhino left, Celeste, Mel, and Fizgore hit level fifteen at the same time. Raine happily danced through the forty corpses he’d just created, collecting the fifty silver that dropped. He wasn’t getting rich fast, but there was no such thing as a coin he would walk by with his nose in the air. Returning to the group eagerly waiting behind the shield, he pulled them aside one by one, starting with Mel. He first gave her the level fifteen equipment he’d set aside. 

“Thank you!” Mel was all smiles as she donned the new gear. A shiver of pleasure swept through her as most of her attributes rose by thirty percent, Connection doubling from the light, cloth armor. Boosting that attribute with any other type of equipment was rare, usually only possible through accessories.

Raine was all business. Their little section of the battlefield was clear at the moment, but it wouldn't stay that way for long and he had to speak with each of them individually, “Your current strengths are speed, reaction time, awareness, and mental fortitude, in that order. Do you want my advice on a build? Whatever you choose, you should focus on those qualities as they are all great strengths that will take you far.”

Her palms came together before her chest, arms squeezing in an eye-catching display, “Oh, please do! I was afraid you wouldn't help like with Rhino. I'll definitely follow your advice!” 

Raine wasn't immune to her charms, but he certainly wasn't going to let himself be distracted by them either.

Good girl. Ultimately, ZionLine will mold her class advancement around her innate qualities anyways. Getting a jump on the process can only accelerate her growth.

With a confident smirk, he launched into an in-depth explanation of what class and skills she should focus on. Then, he waved her off and called over Celeste, “You don't get the same choices as everyone else.” Before she could argue or complain, he threw a special set of cloth armor at her.

The lustrous glow of it sealed her lips and she quickly donned the gear. As the attributes hit her, she wobbled in place, her feet leaving the ground while she stared at her hands with a far-off gaze.

Raine snapped at her like a whip, jolting her from her reverie, “Focus, or you'll never learn to control it. This is your strength, and it's one the rest of us can't mimic.” Celeste dropped back to the ground, sinking several centimeters into the soil. In no uncertain terms, he told her exactly what class and skills to get.

I'll make her into a monster that will bring our enemies to their knees.

“Enough gawking! Get out of my raid and go get your classes.” 

Hiding her smile at his mental promise, Celeste shot him a one-finger salute and he laughed in her face. Like the others, Fizgore got new threads as well, then Raine transferred ten silver to each of them. Immediately after, he used the interface to boot them from the raid.

“I shall wear my gratitude on my face whenever I think of your kindness, brother,” Fizgore bowed deeply, displaying powerfully flexed back muscles.

“Yah, yah. Just remember to actually wear your armor for the raid. Look forward to it, you won’t be disappointed.”

“Oh ho, you have piqued my curiosity, brother. Like the inquisitive monkey and the unfettered horse, I am bound to partake of any adventure that comes my way.”

Celeste rolled her eyes dramatically and Raine squinted at her, “Look a little harder and you just might find a brain back there.” Her jaw clenched and she raised a fist threateningly before thinking better of it and storming away.

[We're finally the same level, and in so many ways, I'm still no match for him.]

Mel, Fizgore, and Raine had a good laugh as her stomping footsteps receded. They parted with a wave and Raine watched them trot after her.

Richtor’s group had started at a higher level than the others and weren’t done yet. The shame in their expressions was telling enough. Raine crossed his arms, tilting his head toward the retreating trio, “Don’t compare yourselves to them or you’ll feel the way you do now for the rest of your lives. Some people are simply built different. You can narrow the gap with intense effort, but they’re hard working too and they won’t easily let you close it.”

“Yet you make them look weak and slow…” Richtor didn’t need to finish his thought for everyone to hear his question.

Raine shrugged, “I cheated. My skills are real enough, but they’re far from the only advantage I have. Now, let’s focus up and get you guys on your way.”

“You’re not coming with us?” Deloralicious asked nervously.

“Nope, I’ve got other things to do first,” with that, Raine dashed back into the battlefield, pulling rabinoids left and right. Thankfully, Richtor’s group managed to stay alive for another two waves and hit level fifteen. At the same time, Raine was surrounded by sparkling lights, the melodies of joyous trumpets loud in his ears.

[Level up! +20 free attributes points]

[Potency: +3]

[Finesse: +3]

[Acuity: +3]

[Physique: +3]

[Connection: +4]

Raine basked in the tingles of renewed strength that flowed through his limbs. Knowing it was the first of many for the night brought a wicked grin to his lips. A peculiarity in his attribute gains had him mentally clicking on his gained Connection to see a breakdown.

[Armsman level up +3]

[Nascent attributes adjusted to match real world fitness + 1]

Wait, what?! My nascent Connection was already at the maximum! How did it go up again? It's sixteen now… That can’t be right. It was a known fact that fifteen was the peak any human could achieve in an attribute, and only Old Monsters ever pulled it off. What the hell is going on with my Connection…

Shaking his head in consternation, Raine retreated back to Richtor’s party. They were a jittery mess as they donned the new gear he gave them. They eyed the wickedly fast kamikazee bugs in the distance, dreading another death now that they had succeeded. After a quick chat to answer a few basic questions about the classes, they bid Raine a swift goodbye and bolted for the door.

Free of Superiority parasites, Raine briefly scanned his status with a glimmer in his eyes.

NAME: Alaric

CURRENCY: 8,896-G 91-S 11-C

CLASS: Armsman

TITLE: Sky Catcher

ASPECT: Greater Aspect of the Werewolf

LEVEL: 15 > 16

SUPERIORITY: 1,261,443 / 1,500,000

ATTUNEMENT: 10,399.71%

GENERAL SKILL POINTS: 0

HEALTH POINTS: 500 > 550 (1,050)

ATTACK POWER: 82 > 102 (202)

DEFENSE: 50 > 55 (280)

RESISTANCE: 92 > 98 (185)

CRITICAL RATE: 25% > 26% (46%)

ELEMENTAL POWER: 122 > 130 (186)

CELESTIAL POWER: 122 > 130 (186)

DISCIPLINE: 111 > 120 (206)

ATTACK SPEED: 2.5 (2.8)

MOVE SPEED: 4.9 > 7.75 (9.75)

ATTRIBUTES:

POTENCY: 38 > 50 (75)

FINESSE: 37 > 50 (75)

ACUITY: 50 > 53 (78)

PHYSIQUE: 50 > 55 (80)

CONNECTION: 61 > 65 (90) 

After using eighteen of his distributable attributes to bring both Potency and Finesse to fifty, Raine successfully crossed the first minor threshold in all his attributes—a feat he didn’t manage until level twenty-one in the past. Raw power exploded through his limbs in a burst. He sunk several centimeters into the ground as his body solidified, gaining both mass and density. He quickly adjusted the durability of the ground by lightly focusing on it through his Connection.

His fluidity of thought and sight ramped up in equal measure. The observable world lurched, slowing by nearly twenty percent. He waved an arm through the air, briefly mesmerized by the difference in strength and speed. An incoming rabinoid glowed crimson. It was no longer hard to keep track of the living projectile and a light hop brought him clear of the expanding heatwave.

More than satisfied, Raine dumped the last two free attribute points into Physique to boost his health, defense, and most importantly, total Discipline. Finally back above ten thousand Attunement, Raine felt comfortable enough to buy two more of the ludicrously expensive Armsman skills.

[Debilitating Crush: (Novice) With any melee blunt weapon, create a powerful blinding light. The next hit lowers armor by 50% for 10 seconds and deals 500% physical damage (Cost: 20 Discipline) (Cooldown: 20 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Strike) (Price: 3000% AT)]

[Guardians Bane: (Novice) Stab with any melee piercing weapon to ignore 90% armor and physical resistances. Additionally deals 450% physical damage (Cost: 20 Discipline) (Cooldown: 20 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Pierce) (Price: 3000% AT)]

He would have preferred to buy Uncanny Acceleration, as the attack was a sure-kill against players. Doing so would have consumed Lunge, and Raine didn’t have an extra general skill point to re-purchase the incredibly useful ability. With the addition of his two new skills, there were only five in the Armsman tree left to buy. Sadly, they all required another general skill point. Only leveling and luck could solve that shortcoming.

Ready to begin grinding for real, Raine gleefully re-accepted the repeatable reputation quest. He leaned, slightly bending his knees before blasting forward with a powerful jump. Wind rushed against his armor and skin, parted slightly by his high Connection that manipulated the thickness of the air. His feet hit the ground pumping in a blur. His base speed was just under 34 KPH (21 MPH) but with his expert manipulation of the environment, he achieved nearly double that.

The ground flew by, jets of lava bubbling from the surface and distant explosions providing the only illumination in the dark night. He reached a rabinoid yet to start its kamikaze flight. Swerving slightly, he dodged its bite and zipped by its side. With a sharp torquing of his torso, Raine lashed out with a foot and kicked the bug in the side. Its large body, easily twice his size, lifted from the ground and flipped upside down from the force of his newly broken-through Potency.

It instinctively beat its wings, releasing a deafening buzz that sent it hurtling forward and into the ground. Fuming mad, the rabinoid tore itself free from the burning soil and dashed after Raine who was already halfway to the next monster. He continued collecting them, no longer needing to burn Discipline to stay ahead. He swiftly gathered thirty-eight more before roaring at the top of his lungs, “PuriPuri Rainbow Release!”

They were torn apart from below, then blasted into the sky only to crash to their doom. With a thought, he combined the flood of messages in his HUD, grinning wickedly at the result.

[Obtained 1,550,400 Superiority (750% bonus for defeating several monsters 9 levels above you)]

[Obtained 1,130.50% Attunement (750% bonus for defeating several monsters 9 levels above you)]

With the massive influx, his level jumped to level 17 in one go, then fell right back to 16 as he dumped all the Superiority into Cassidy’s Comet, bringing it to the peak of 16. Raine practically skipped to the next section of the great wall where the rabinoids were more abundant. Bloodlust was on full tilt, pushing his brain to its limits as he advanced on the crawling sacks of precious resources.

Over the next hour, his killing speed increased significantly since he no longer required the ten minute breaks to recharge Discipline. That was offset by the need to level both growth weapons, and his rapidly rising level, which lowered the bonuses received for each kill. He made sure to push both weapons to a single point of Superiority shy before leveling himself, maximizing his efficiency.

By the end of the next hour in The Divide, he was level nineteen and needed a ridiculous fifteen million Superiority to reach twenty. Continuing to work his way down the wall, another hour passed before he was surrounded by sparkling lights and his HUD populated with a slew of messages. He once more combined them.

[Level up! x 4]

[+80 free attributes points]

[Potency: +12]

[Finesse: +12]

[Acuity: +12]

[Physique: +12]

[Connection: +16]

Another four nascent points of Connection… I’m five over the supposed maximum, a total of twenty bas-holy crap! It's the same as my level! Is my current level acting as a cap to my nascent Connection? Why? How long will it stay that way? I wish there were someone I could ask. Unless there are other returners, I’m the most knowledgeable person about ZL on the planet. Despite trying for years, nobody ever managed to track down the devs, so that’s out. Damn.

[General Skill points +2]

[Achievement for first in your region to reach level 20: Battle Pass dropped]

Raine’s hand was a blur as he snatched the brightly glowing item before its golden splendor could further light up the night. He sprinted, putting distance between the area and any Vaaterrans who might come poking their noses into his business.

[Regional System Announcement: Congratulations Alaric for being the first to reach level 20]

[Repeatable Quest: Minor extermination completed]

[Reward: 1 Reputation with the Lesser Nobles Faction of Silverlight City]

[Current Lesser Nobles Faction Reputation: 21]

[Battle Pass: (Marvelous Gold) Present this token at any God of Slaughter's Temple. Pass his test to earn the favor of the Slaughterer]

Not bad. The rewards for his tests include advanced level fifty class quests. Armsman is already an advanced class so it would be a waste for me. I’ll let the others fight over it.

With the passing of another hour, it was now shortly after midnight. Raine retreated back behind the shield wall and pulled out a particular item. Opening its pages, he was allowed to read the next.

“What seems impossible today, will one day be your warm-up. Never stop testing what you believe is possible”

[Potency +1]

[Tome of seventy-seven praises to Bhima: (Marvelous Gold) Once per day a new passage detailing the ultimate wisdom of Bhima shall be revealed. Upon reading each new passage Potency increases by 1 (All accumulated bonuses are lost upon death) (Bonuses become permanent after 77 days and 77 passages) (This item will always drop upon death) (1 use per account)]

Thanks Marco. You’re a real friend.

Chuckling to himself, Raine finally eased his bloodlust and left combat. He then used his fresh new skill points to buy both Lunge and Slash before eagerly splurging a measly six thousand Attunement to purchase the couple Armsman skills he’d been drooling over for days.

[Uncanny Acceleration: (Novice) With any melee weapon, ignore momentum and force while accelerating attack speed by 500% for one attack. Additionally deals 200% physical damage (Cost: 30 Discipline) (Cooldown: 20 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Lunge) (Price: 3000% AT)]

[Guillotine Slash: (Novice) With any melee slashing weapon, cut space for 3 seconds, pulling enemies within a 2 meter radius at 500% force. Slashes up to 5 times at 600% physical damage. Reduces users Defenses by 50% for 10 seconds (Cost: 30 Discipline) (Cooldown: 30 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Slash) (Price: 3000% AT)]

Only two to go, then I can start working through the cleric skills. I didn’t correctly calculate how much AT I would accrue while leveling both growth weapons. I’ve still got twenty-five thousand after those skills. Should I get a few upgrades?

Raine accessed the upgrade shop and cringed upon seeing each Armsan skill required five thousand Attunement to advance from novice to beginner grade. Needing to know, he picked the most obvious upgrade.

[Uncanny Acceleration: (Novice > Beginner) With any melee weapon, ignore momentum and force while accelerating attack speed by 500% > 600% for one attack. Additionally deals 200% > 300% physical damage (Cost: 30 > 25 Discipline) (Cooldown: 20 > 18 seconds)]

Raine whistled in appreciation. Normal skills usually only gained an increase or decrease in one aspect per upgrade - be it damage, cooldown, or cost. Despite upgrading skills at this point being seen as a waste in the past, he knew for sure the high Attunement price was well worth it.

After the second major content patch, the skill system would receive a massive revamp and upgrading would no longer be done through purchases, but through the user's proficiency. Knowing he would get the spent Attunement back at that time was the only reason he went through with the purchase.

A second upgrade for Uncanny Acceleration required him to use the skill one hundred times and spend another twenty-five thousand Attunement. Deciding the decreased Discipline cost could save him in a pinch, Raine upgraded two more skills.

[Guardians Bane: (Novice > Beginner) Stab with any melee piercing weapon to ignore 90% > 91% armor and physical resistances. Additionally deals 450% > 550% physical damage (Cost: 20 > 18 Discipline) (Cooldown: 20 > 18 seconds)]

[Great Divide: (Novice > Beginner) With any melee slashing weapon, rend the ground in a 10 x 3 > 11 x 3.2 meter column AOE. Deals 2000% > 2250% physical damage at the expense of 5% > 4.5% weapon durability (Cost: 30 > 26 Discipline) (Cooldown: 30 > 26 seconds)]

Wowza. Yah, these upgrades are definitely good enough to be worth it. Can’t believe even the weapon durability cost went down.

Before closing out of his interface, he spent another three thousand Attunement to bump his Cleric skills up a grade.

[Healing Burst: (Novice > Beginner) Lay hands upon a target to restore health equal to 200 > 250% CP. Additional 200 > 250% CP health restored over 120 seconds - stacks 3 times - each stack refreshes timer (Cost: 30 CP) (Cooldown: 60 seconds)]

[Guardians Embrace: (Novice > Beginner) Buff an ally within 10 meters for 5 minutes. Increases Defense by 50 + 10% maximum CP (Cost: 40 > 30 CP) (Cooldown: 5 minutes)]

[Life Drain: (Novice > Beginner) Lay arms or hands upon a target to absorb health equal to 200% > 250% CP (Cost: 15 CP) (Cooldown: 6 seconds)]

I need to be back in Silverlight by 3 PM for the match. If I bust ass, I should hit twenty-three by then. Alright my delicious friends, who’s ready to play with uncle Alaric?

With murder in his eyes, Raine set out toward the next squirming section of the battlefield.