Frostbound [LitRPG Apocalypse]

Chris

Frostheim

My hammer came down for the final time, and I felt the essence flow through me. Usually, it would then leak out as I was capped on how much I could hold without evolving, but that wasn't the case this time.

I could feel it seeping through [Frostborn Constitution]. [Body of a Frostborn] had already capped out its new boost, and with that final kill of the 12th Floor boss, [Constitution] was full too. Upgrading [Frozen Fortitude] into [Frostborn Constitution] was nearly identical to [Body of a Barbarian].

My attributes were now as high as they could possibly be in E-rank. I could still train, lift weights, run, or do other such exercises to increase them, but the few points that would provide weren't worth waiting any longer for.

No, these would be it.

~~
Strength - 2151
Agility - 975
Perception - 594
Fortitude - 1698
Endurance - 1097
Vitality - 779
Intelligence - 543
Wisdom - 887
Acumen - 502
~~

Strength 1876->2151 (+275)
Fortitude 1366->1698 (+332)

Feeling the essence enhance my body was unlike anything I'd ever felt before. Every other stat increase came from the System doing its work or from training naturally. The skills were different.

It was a step closer to applying the essence I gained manually. Not that I planned to do so anytime soon. That would only waste essence, since I was nowhere near as good as the Universe-spanning System at doing it, and as long as I had its assistance, it would be a waste to do it myself.

Maybe I can do it for others, though?

I hadn't given it much thought, as I had never had to deal with not meeting the requirements. I'd always met them well before I needed to.

Now's not the time for this. I could worry about such things later.

I had to admit a bit of trepidation about what I was about to do. I had known it would be coming for so long, but my heart couldn't help but beat just a little bit faster.

My pace was just that much more rushed coming back from the Castle. My only stop was to clean myself off and change into something less bloody. An outfit had already been prepared, made from plants, and just in case, [Cleansed] already. Some chose to evolve naked, but that was just paranoia at that point. Plants could also be used during evolutions, but they weren't as common as beastial bloodlines.

Thankfully, I didn't have to go around and gather anyone, as they all knew today was the day. They were waiting for me when I returned, knowing it would be the next thing I did.

Rachel, Brayden, and Hal were in Lakeshore, getting a handle on things there, so they were missing, but everyone else was here. Abigail, Jon, Gabriel, my mom, Austin, Vincent, Connor, Carrie, Mitchell, Sam, and Ashley.

The last two were prepping the area now with their [Cleanse] skill and other such decontaminating abilities.

The box that held the bones was in Austin's hands, and he had a playful smirk on his face. "A bit late, but nothing you can't come back from. Just 21 levels behind me."

He was bragging while he could. His speed had well and truly become something I couldn't handle. His Agility grew by leaps and bounds due to his new Class, and he was sitting at something close to 600 points higher than he had been when he evolved.

In only 20 levels, he'd made that much progress.

Austin beating me in a spar was one of the reasons I refused to put it off any longer. I'd waited long enough.

"We're ready," Ashley and Sam both said.

"Then no sense to delay," I said, grabbing the box from Austin's hands.

I sat in the center of the room and pulled up my screens.

*Evolution Available.*

Like always, I chose my Profession first.

~~
Adept Runesmith(Epic)

Runesmiths work both the material and the arcane to create works of power and art. Whether that art takes the form of structures, weapons, armor, or anything else, it is up to the creator. By not choosing a specialty, Skills offered will cover every aspect a Runesmith holds dominion over. See where your creativity takes you and create works of wonder. Reaching the Adept rank, whether through talent or pure effort, means you've begun to grasp the true essence of what being a Runesmith means.

+4 Strength, +16 Agility, +8 Perception, +4 Fortitude, +6 Endurance, +7 Vitality, +16 Intelligence, +25 Wisdom, +16 Acumen, +10 Free
~~

It was the perfect match to my Physical heavy Classes, balancing out my stats so they stayed within the ratio I liked to keep them, while also making it so I wasn't a magical cripple.

Many among the Orders had to choose, Physical or Magical. They didn't have the high rarity Class or Profession to spread themselves like I had. While my Magic stats weren't impressive to some mages, they also weren't pitiful like some Warriors.

My Heart helped, improving them based on my other stats, but the base not being shit did most of the work.

Next came the Classes.

*Available Class Options.*

~~
Warden of the North(Legendary)

You have defended and protected. Led and inspired. Punished and enforced. The value of a true leader is in those who have led from the Vanguard in every battle. The first to bleed and the last to retreat. When people look to you for courage, you must stand tall even in the worst of times and have the strength for those who do not. A Leader and Warrior in equal measure, with skills for both.

Requirements: Strong Ice affinity, a Noble Title, Leader of a growing Faction, hold Values of Tyr.

+32 Strength, +10 Agility, +4 Perception, +25 Fortitude, +25 Endurance, +15 Vitality, +17 Free
~~
~~
Son of Frost(Legendary)

Your body contains a hint, albeit infinitesimally faint, of the Primordial Frost reminiscent of that which was present before the Universe was born. Harness that essence and lean into it, turning your already impressive connection with the Cold even more so. The further you go, the more your body, spirit, and soul will thrive in environments like it.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Requirements: Extremely Strong Ice affinity, Tier 2 Law of Ice, a faint hint of the Essence of Primordial Frost.

+24 Strength, +12 Agility, +10 Perception, +24 Fortitude, +10 Endurance, +8 Vitality, +6 Intelligence, +11 Wisdom, +6 Acumen, +15 Free
~~
~~
Harbinger of Desolation(Legendary)

Desolation and the Cold End that follows come hand in hand. You have seen glimpses of what a scene may be wrought and the aftermath of such abilities by your own hand. Lean towards the unforgiving Cold that only the rare being calls home, as not even those loved by Ice venture far into areas of Desolate Cold. With the brutal cold as your weapon, swaths of land quake for what may come.

Requirements: Strong Ice affinity, Tier 2 Law of Ice, witnessed and caused a scene of Desolation, and grasped the Cold as your weapon.

+30 Strength, +15 Agility, +8 Perception, +20 Fortitude, +20 Endurance, +15 Vitality, +4 Intelligence, +4 Wisdom, +4 Acumen, +8 Free
~~
~~
Warrior Viscount(Legendary)

You have stood out compared to those with a similar Noble Rank, and now you have stepped beyond them officially. A self-made Viscount who has fought his way to a position you have forged with blood. A Warrior Viscount has skills of both, with a focus on combining the two, excelling at being one's own bannerman, giving boosts depending on the type of Noble you are.

Requirements: Viscount Title, Ownership of more than one Noble City, Strong Warrior feats, respect from those under your Command, experience leading an army of over 1,000.

+25 Strength, +10 Agility, +7 Perception, +22 Fortitude, +18 Endurance, +13 Vitality, +4 Intelligence, +8 Wisdom, +4 Acumen, +15 Free
~~
~~
Master of the Order(Legendary)

You have fashioned not one, but three formal Orders under your command and have led them into many a successful battle. Take the reins directly and decide how you wish to steer those under you. Having an Order Master with a Legendary Class at the helm will influence the evolutions those bound to you receive, and what direction their path leads. Class Name changes to include the name of the Order of your choosing.

Requirements: Viscount title with all three Guard Captain Positions filled with Order Captains, led and facilitated the growth, training, and culture of three nascent Knight Orders, and the admiration, awe, and respect of the Orders you've created.

+15 Strength, +10 Agility, +10 Perception, +15 Fortitude, +15 Endurance, +15 Vitality, +5 Intelligence, +5 Wisdom, +5 Acumen, +33 Free
~~

Holy...

I didn't expect there to be two new Classes added. I knew Harbinger was there after Lakeshore, but Warrior Viscount and Master of the Order were both new.

I didn't think reaching Viscount would affect things so much.

The new Noble Rank didn't do all of the work, obviously, but it was the catalyst for why I was being offered the two skills. The upgrade to Warrior Baron was obvious, as I wasn't a Baron any longer, but Master of the Order was unexpected.

5 Legendaries.

I was close, so close to tipping one of them to Mythic, but the gap could be something I could breach in a month, or it could never happen. I couldn't place my hopes in reaching it; I knew that, but it still hurt to be so close. I knew, even back when I decided to wait, Mythic was out of the picture. There was no way I had done enough to reach it.

The pain wasn't deep, but it was there, burning away while my mind spun what-ifs and I could haves.

I need to choose.

While the upgrade to Warrior Baron was nice, Warrior Viscount wasn't something I would pick. Of the Leadership leaning classes, I favored Warden far more. Additionally, Master of the Order wasn't my style either.

I'd leave the Master Classes or Positions open to those who wanted them. Elliot had already been offered something in line with it, and I didn't doubt Hal would when he finally evolved, too. Gabriel was still too new to get offered one in my opinion, but he might in his next one.

With the exclusion of the two new Classes, that left the three I already knew were there, and my choice had been made long ago. My reasoning had already been made, and there was no point in changing it now.

Warden

With my selections made, I locked both of them in and readied myself for the next step.

Even with my eyes closed, I could see the bones next to me. The essence they contained was visible in a way that made it hard to look at anything else. They radiated their presence without the box to conceal them.

I thought back to their description.

~~
Mid D-rank Elder Jotun Bones

Unique Quality: Essence of Frost (Body of Copper)

Fortitude Essence: ~2500

Bones of an Elder Jotun, Thrice refined using the same Technique. The Essence of Frost Technique purifies, concentrates, and distills all Cold-aligned mana and energy into the Essence of Frost. Boosts all Cold-aligned abilities and skills, both inherent or gained, while also providing such Essence to nourish and strengthen the rest of the body.
~~

The essence inside them was quickly broken down, just like the Heart I used so long ago. The bones slowly crumbled as what made them up was drained from them. It was something I wasn't sure I could do; the System facilitated the transfer.

As more of the bone's energy entered my body and spirit, I felt the choice being offered to me gain clarity.

I could forever alter the structure of my bones, making them stronger, harder to break, and retaining a lesser Frost Essence effect than the Jotun bones had.

Or

I could build them upon my Bloodline, so that when I called upon its energy, my bones would be stronger and harder to a degree the permanent option lacked, the Frost Effect undiminished, and more importantly, primed for further evolutions.

One of the main things Humans who chose Bloodlines from Giant races developed was a Gigantification ability. They made it so they became a Giant themselves when using their Bloodlines.

It burned through the energy faster, but the power it gave them couldn't be denied.

If I chose the permanent option for every evolution, I would become a hybrid Jotun-Human. I'd grow in height, strength, and durability to match the physique of the race I was assimilating permanently. Not to the point of a half human half Jotun hybrid, but close to it depending on how many ranks I evolved to and what parts I used.

Or, if I chose the temporary option from here on out, when I did burn my Bloodline, the effects it gave me would soar. It would trade the permanent small increase for a temporary large increase.

Compared to Austin, who grew wings when he called on his Bloodline, my transformation was tame currently. Only a few inches of growth, a hair color change, and apparently my eyes turned from green to piercing blue.

I had planned this since I first bought the bones, and it was one of the main reasons I did so. The extra boost they applied was most useful when I was in a fight, and if I was in a fight, there was a good chance I was already burning my Bloodline.

Forgoing the permanent option would make it so sudden and unexpected attacks would leave the durability boost pointless, but it would amplify their boosts when I called on them. Most importantly, the strain reduction of boosting skills. Calling on my Bloodline would eventually make it so I could actually be the recipient of Support Class's Boosting skills.

There was also the worry of running out of energy for my Bloodline, but if I continued to grow it and strengthen it, I could stave off those worries. It would never be endless, but it had already grown tremendously since I first imbibed it.

I could manage over an hour, mostly due to my Heart extending it and lessening how much energy was burned while I used it, but that was nothing to sneeze at.

The last of the essence from the bones was drained, and my choice came due, and I picked temporary. Under the System's deft manipulation, I felt the essence rage through me and into my spirit, vacating my body completely.

It all rushed toward where my Bloodline Essence was kept and built itself a nook surrounding it. It looked almost like a protective shell... made out of bone. A ribcage forged around the growing drop.

The amount and power of the energy burned my spirit, but I marshaled my Anchor against it.

You don't control me; I control you.

I had worried about choosing a set of bones that was too much, but I hadn't. It was close, but it was still something I could handle. I could have maybe gone for a bit more, but that was playing with fire. Best to fall a little short than to reach for the sun and get burned.

It took a few moments to finish the changes before the process was complete. My eyes opened slowly, and I took in the curious gazes of my family, but I quickly turned to the new alerts I had.

*New Skills Available*

Racial Evolution: E->D

All stats +32

Status, I intoned.

~~

Name: Christopher Zalenski
Race: (D) Human*
Class: (D) Warden of the North(Legendary) – Level 100
Profession: (D) Adept Runesmith(Epic) – Level 100
Affinity: Arctic
Faction: Frostheim (Leader)
Title: Viscount

Strength - 2207
Agility - 1007
Perception - 626
Fortitude - 1754
Endurance - 1129
Vitality - 811
Intelligence - 575
Wisdom - 919
Acumen - 534

Free Points: 0

~~

After seeing the change in my status, I pulled up my new Class Skill.

Tyr's Judgment(Legendary) – If the opponent is judged guilty of breaking your Laws or Code, you may enforce justice with an honorable battle to the death. Once initiated, create a tether between you and the guilty so that neither Champion may flee or seek to evade the fight in other ways. Honor demands it end with a death: Yours or theirs.