NOVEL NEXT 1.39: Compatibility
Ethan got up from the ground and did some stretches while he went through the options of his final selection.
[Draconic Arms]. Amazing. But I might have it as an upgrade to [Claws]. Probably, even. Its description mentions clawed hands, so I'd rather upgrade my own than take this shortcut and end up with two claw-like spells.
Ethan didn't fully dismiss the option, though he much preferred the challenge to unlock it himself. Still the draconic theme was an exciting prospect, as was the double stat bonus. But for now, he moved on.
[Raptor's Eyes]. It's pretty great as well. It might not allow me to see magic, but it should be a lot easier to detect and see stuff without being caught unaware. Then again, I just got [Detect Life], which knocks this one's usefulness down by a bit, he thought, his eyes moving on to the next item.
[Lion's Legs] is solid as well. [Spiked-Tail] is trash if I'm grading on a curve and that leaves the best option for last, hands down.
"[Mana Heart]."
Ethan took a deep breath and ignored the lingering smell of burnt flesh. It didn't bother him much at this point, and instead he eyed the description of the enhancement spell.
If this reduced the time he needed to rest as well as countered mana-exhaustion as well as it seemed it would, then it made this choice automatic. There was absolutely no contest there. Plus, now that he knew this existed, he couldn't just ignore the possibility that some other participants was benefiting from such an ability, which meant that he was bound to fall behind such an individual just because of the difference in endurance.
After all, they can just keep leveling and training while I'm forced to let my body recover from the mana usage.
Ethan hummed, and with one last glance at the draconic spellform that he resolved to creating himself, he confirmed his choice of the [Mana Heart].
"And that's the spell selection. Now, let's test these bad boys a bit."
First, Ethan slotted [Detect Life] in the Prime Arcanum as he summoned the horns, then he triggered the spell.
The mana rushed out of his chest and up to his horns, a moment before a pulse of shimmering green magic spread out the horns. It spread into the surrounding space, making contact with every surface and lighting up the mushrooms with a soft green light that matched its own, and a second or two later, the color faded, and it confirmed to Ethan that only himself and the mushrooms lighting up the space were alive.
Next, he moved [Claws] to the Prime Arcanum, and slotted [Reptilian Scales] in its stead. Instantly, he got his confirmation.
[Extending Enhancement] is not compatible with [Reptilian Scales].
"Oh? That's new," he mumbled. He eyed the spells at his disposal for a couple of seconds, then replaced the scales with [Mana Heart].
[Extending Enhancement] is not compatible with [Mana Heart].
[Scorching Enhancement] is not compatible with [Mana Heart].
That was interesting. Ethan had not faced this limitation before, but it did somewhat make sense. [Claws] could be extended or coated in fire, but how do you extended scales? How do you extended a heart and why would you want it to be covered in fire?
It was a good thing to know and plan around, but he didn't expect to be too difficult to handle. Ethan loaded up his list of available spells.
Available spells:
General:
Tier-1: Whisper, Gout of Flames, Detect Life
Tier-2: Small Fireball
Modifiers:
Tier-1: Extended Enhancement
Tier-2: Scorching Enhancement
Armament: None
Enhancer:
Tier-1: Claws
Tier-2: Breath Gland, Mana Heart, Reptilian Scales
Ethan grinned as he saw the ever growing list, and after eying them for a few moment, he spent the next couple of minutes equipping the Arcanums with what he intended to carry around, and once he was done, he loaded both Arcanums to see the results, including the new from bonuses he would be getting.
Prime Arcanum of the Juggernaut
Spells: [Detect Life], [Whisper]
Spellforms: [[Extending][Claws]]
Prime forms: [Lance of the Juggernaut, Horns of the Juggernaut, Wand of the Juggernaut]
Traits: [Universal Tongue, Enduring Brawler, Child of Flames]
Tier: 1
Spell Capacity: 3/3
Spellform Capacity (I): 1/1
Form Bonus [10%]:
[Lance of the Juggernaut: +10% to Might, +10% to Mana],
[Horns of the Juggernaut: +10% to Toughness, +10% to Spirit],
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[Claws: 10% to Might]
Essence: 11
Fragments: 177
Arcanum of the Fire Elemental
Spells: [Small Fireball]
Spellforms: [[Scorching][Reptilian Scales], [Mana Heart]]
Tier: 1
Spell Capacity: 2/4
Spellform Capacity (I): 2/2
Form Bonus (I)[15%]:
[Reptilian Scales: +15% to Toughness]
[Mana Heart: +15% to Mana]
Mana Regeneration (II)
Fragments: 66
Ethan chuckled at how the stat bonus had begun stacking up before loading his updated stats, and as he eyed them, he recalled one of the traits he'd seen before. [Enhancer Specialist]. It was becoming more and more attractive, and he resolved to take it before the tutorial was over.
Name: Ethan Voss
Level 38
Might: 19 (16)
Toughness: 30 (24)
Spirit: 16 (15)
Mana: 18 (15)
"They're adding up! That's 13 extra stat points I'm getting through the bonus. Damn."
Taking a deep breath, Ethan dismissed the stats and got to his feet. It was time to see these new scales and the effect of the heart. Quickly finding the mental triggers for the two forms, Ethan closed his eyes and activating the scales first.
A rush of dense mana coursed out of his chest and spread out like a wave through his body. His skin tingled for a moment and tensed, and as he looked down, he saw smooth, rust-red scales spread across his chest, each rounded and dovetailed atop the other. They were around half an inch wide, and Ethan felt like he could control their coverage, just like he could control the length of his [Claws] but for now he let them spread across all of his body.
Eats up a lot of mana, though, he thought, sense the achy emptiness in his chest, which reminded him, he had enough Essence to get the Prime Arcanum's mana regeneration, so he set that upgrade running while he examined the new form.
Ethan looked down at his arms, touched his face, then went a little bit higher and realized his hair had been covered as well. He glanced down, then checked under his pants and chuckled.
I got the doll treatment. I guess that works if I ever lose the pants.
He was about to test one more thing, then recalled he was still wearing clothes. Flammable ones. So he took them off.
Alright, should be fine now, he thought as he kicked off his remaining sock.
Ethan inhaled, then activated [Scorching Enhancement], and the rust-red scales instantly darkened. Air began to shimmer across his arms and chest, and the gaps between his scales glowed orange, as if he were peeking through the slats of a blazing forge. Ethan raised an arm and summoned a gout of fire, and it surged, same as it did with his claws, but this time he felt he could summon more. Much more.
His whole body could be wreathed in a corona of fire. As long as he could pay the mana cost.
This was a good call.
Ethan dismissed the fire and the scales, then quickly put his clothes back on before giving them a wistful look. Their days were numbered.
One more test.
Next, he activated the [Mana heart].
Instantly, there was a pulse in his chest, and a wave of refreshingly cold tingles spread out toward his and limbs. Ethan closed his eyes, reveling in the feeling. The ache and exhaustion in his chest were immediately appeased, like water rolling over cracked, dusty soil at the bottom of dry river bed, and a grin spread across his face.
Glancing down his chest, he didn't see anything. There was no physical manifestation of the spell, at least, none that he could see, but he could hardly complain.
Ethan closed his eyes for a couple more seconds, enjoying the effect of the spellform. It had quited down the exhaustion by a lot, and though it was still a bit there, he knew that once he'd gotten a little break, he'd be able to go on for a while. This should allow him to recover faster and last longer while slinging spells.
"Perfect. I think I'm ready to go, now."
Ethan glanced up the tunnel, the decided to do just one last test. He hadn't seen what [Breath Gland] was like, and he really wanted to!
Quickly switching out [Reptilian Scales], Ethan kept [Mana Heart] active and triggered [Breath Gland]. Ethan felt a well of potent energy build up around his throat, and reaching for it, he could feel that his neck had grown a few inches thicker, but he couldn't see it. He activated [Scorching Enhancement] and when he exhaled, without even willing the flames to surge, the air rippled with heat, and a few flecks of yellow flames escaped into the cold and humid air.
Damn. This one's so cool, too. And kinda stealthy.
Taking a deep breath, he blew out toward the part that lead back down to the area he'd left, and a gout of fire surged out of his mouth, blinding him and instantly vaporizing the moss and mushrooms upon the walls.
Ethan stared, mouth agape as smoke drifted out of it. Then shook his head. "This one's awesome. But I need the others more for now."
With all of his tests done, Ethan slotted [Reptilian Scales] back, and feeling he'd covered everything he'd intended to address, he began walking.
Ethan was excited to see how effective his new spells would be. He also made a note to start pushing the spells he already had. While he did a lot of improvising mid-battle, conscientiously exploring their limits and experimenting with them could let him upgrade them faster.
He was going to need a lot of fragments, and he couldn't wait to head back down and collect them. But there was no denying the fatigue that filled his muscles and mind. It had been an incredibly long day, and stats could only do so much before the body just needed some rest.
Sounds of battle trickled to his ears as he slowly neared the exit and as he stepped out into the fresh air of the higher cave, he recognized the water monitor's hissing and ululating calls in the distance.
I guess there's more and more of them out here.
"What's up?"
Ethan's head snapped to his right to find a man in t-shirt and jean-shorts sitting at the foot of a boulder, legs crossed. Next to him was the largest monitor lizard Ethan had yet seen. As for the man, well… he might be the one that had taken the crown back.
[Human (I) - Level 39]