NOVEL NEXT 041: Heavyweight Horde Hijinks 5 (Level Up)
<14 August 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER , A+>
[Theo and Julia]
They each sat down with their backs to the stacked bricks. Theo let out a long sigh, the pain from the blows he had taken slowly ebbing away under the ministrations of Julia's Warmth of the Hearth skill.
They both focused on their level-ups.
[Theo]
"Congratulations, Theo, you have leveled up to Level 7! As a reward for leveling up, you will be allowed to pick one skill to upgrade. Congratulations once again."
>Private Message: Please select one skill to upgrade.
"What to choose this time?" Theo thought, "I could try and get something to the S- rank and get that title like Julia. My best bet would be Penitent Strike or Taunt, as they are both my highest-ranked skills. But I can also always use more damage reduction, and in that case, Blooded Soil, or Defender would be a great call."
Theo debated for a moment, silently running the options through his mind. Finally, he made a choice.
Theo selected Penitent Strike.
>Private Message: Skill 'Penitent Strike' Has been upgraded to Rank A+ from Rank A. Base Damage modifier increased to 2.5. Increased duration of channeled effect from 15 to 20 seconds.
>Private Message: Level Up process complete.
[Julia]
"Congratulations, Julia, you have leveled up to Level 7! As a reward for leveling up, you will be allowed to pick one skill to upgrade. Congratulations once again."
>Private Message: Please select one skill to upgrade.
"Retaliate is always a good choice. But I could also upgrade Warmth of the Hearth, or Runecarvers Touch." Julia focused on those skills for a moment, "Warmth of the Hearth is healing for Theo, Ordus, and myself. Ward has not received an upgrade in a minute. I wonder what it would do."
She tried to get a sense for what would happen for each upgrade, but the skills would not give up any information.
Julia thought for a moment, then decided. Julia selected Ward.
>Private Message: Skill 'Ward' Has been upgraded to Rank A- from Rank B+. Ward Array area increased. Basic level of protection improved.
>Private Message: Synergies detected with Runecarvers Touch, and Retaliate.
>Private Message: Runecarvers Touch permanent runes detected, upgrading permanent runes.
>Private Message: Retaliate applies a damage-increased rate through permanent runes.
>Private Message: Level Up process complete.
[Theo and Julia]
Theo and Julia finished up at about the same time. Julia smiled, "So what did you pick?"
"I ranked up Penitent Strike." Theo said, "It's A+ now, and has a longer channeled effect, and increased base damage. What about you?"
"I upgraded Ward, and it changed a bunch of things," Julia said. "It upgraded the rate of damage that the permanent runes will apply. It also upgraded the basic level of protection. It said it also upgraded the permanent runes."
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"That is pretty slick," Theo said.
Julia nodded, "Yup, now what about the other notifications?"
They looked at the next notice.
| System Message | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regarding: Interference Compensation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Your sanctioned challenge was interfered with by -{REDACTED}-, depriving you of the opportunity to attempt to kill a [Corrupted] Spirit of the -{REDACTED}- aspect.
You have each been granted 10 Gold. You have each been granted a level. You have been granted the cleansed cores of the Spirits that you slayed. All level-ups granted by the System in this event do not reset your progress to the next level. You are both 73% of the way to Level 8. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: N/A |
"Wait, so we got a level, ten gold," Julia checked her hand and confirmed that it indicated the ten gold, "and this essentially doesn't even count towards working to another level?"
"There is a part of me that really wants to know," Theo said, "but also, yeah, thank you, System. I will mind my business now."
"Well, anything else?" Julia said, looking at Theo.
"Just this," Theo said, holding his hand out, and a shimmer of blue and purple sparks coalesced into an axe that dropped into his hand.
They both identified it.
| Identification of Target | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subject: Axe of Voltun | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level: 10 | Mana Density: A+ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class: N/A | Special: N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Species: N/A | Other: Skill Bonded | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Axe of Voltun is a skill-bonded axe crafted by the Thunder Smith Zargram.
Zargram bound his skill Steadfast Will into this axe as a gift for his oldest son, who struggled to face his enemies as Zargram thought he should. This is a relatively normal bearded axe, other than the skill bonded to it. Grants the User Steadfast Will. The longer that the User faces the same enemy, the following effects are gained each minute. +1% damage reduction to User +5% damage given to Opponent This skill is bound and can not be improved. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Value: ???? | Status: N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"That is a very interesting weapon," Theo said.
"It raises so many questions," Julia mumbled.
Theo nodded, "It does, but I think that the System just bought our silence. So I will happily use this, as it does resolve some of our issues with singular targets. But other than that, I think we leave this one alone."
Julia nodded, "Fair enough."
"Now the real question," Theo said with a smile, "is what to do with the rest of our night? And what else may they throw at us?"
"That is a fantastic question," Julia said, as they both climbed to their feet and started looking for something to do.