NOVEL NEXT Chapter 188: The Leader's Choice
—[«STATUS»]—
Name: Reidar Miller
Level: 120
Health: 1070
Mana: 8570.70
C.L.A.S.P.: 198515 / 384800
Available Attribute points: 0.00
Skills: Summon Razor-Gill School, Wind Barrage, Granite Shard, Aqua Cannon, Fire Bolt, Summon Murk-Fin School, Stone Skin, Chitinous Carapace, Hive Mind Echo, Formic Acid Barrier, Corrosive Demise, Summon Vorathid Foragers, Summon Skeletal Warriors, Summon Feral Pack, Summon Shadow Guardians, Sanctuary's Embrace, Domain of Eternal Spring, Worldroot Binding, Warchief's Command, Oblivion Lance, Primal Maelstrom, Summon Spectral Legion, Summon Elite Rift-Sprite Battalion
Equipment: Shepherd's Crook of the Wild, Summoner's Cowl, Summoner's Mantle, Summoner's Leggings, Summoner's Handwraps, Summoner's Treads, Summoner's Bracers, Summoner's Cloak, Summoner's Sash, Aqua Sprite Pendant, Ember Sprite Ring, Stone Sprite Ring
Proficiencies: Velia's Regional Map (42%), Velia's Monster Compendium (54%), Fundamental Spellcraft (87%), Combat Instinct (93%)
Attributes: (S.H.I.E.L.D.: 10,7), (A.C.U.M.E.N.: 56,8), (F.L.A.I.R. : 9,5), (F.L.I.P.: 8,7)
Minions: Feral Pack
Survival Points: 4,405,089
Trait: Skill Sharing
Perks: Efficient Scavenger (6/6), Arcane Potency (6/6), Mana Attunement (5/5), Mana Font (6/6), Focused Mind (5/5), Rapid Learning (5/5), Arcane Resilience (4/4), Empowered Effects (5/5), Arcane Leech (5/5), Spell Control (5/5), Pack Tactics (5/5), Elemental Infusion (5/5), Resilient Constructs (1/6), Ethereal Anchor (5/5), Mana Siphon (10/10), Inspired Creation (4/8)
Perk Points: 0
Titles: The First Killer, The First Apprentice, The Pioneer, Creature Slayer IV, Rift-Sprite Hunter IV, The Exterminator, Guardian of the Innocents, Adept Learner, Abyssal Caller, The Apex
Profession: Tailoring (LVL45), Woodworking (LVL67), Enchanting (LVL58)
—[«END»]—
There were no differences in his status aside from the new skills he gained, and that was because he didn't have the opportunity to increase his profession levels and because he was not getting C.L.A.S.P. points out of the raid yet. Of course, he still got some Survival points.
<4,405,089, huh? That's a good amount. I wonder what I will be able to buy with them. Something cool for sure.>
There were still three more quests to complete, meaning that the chances to increase his multiplier were still there.
<I can do this.>
Jake, Seraphine, and Lena should have arrived wherever Seraphine brought them at that point. Flying made things much faster than walking through monster-infested forests, after all.
The raid would have to complete the remaining objectives without them.
Which was fine. The survivors had proven themselves capable. They didn't need constant hand-holding anymore, and the new levels were going to help.
Helga gathered the leadership for a strategy meeting. Reidar, Aldric, and Kara assembled around a makeshift map drawn in the dirt.
"Three objectives remain," Helga said, pointing at the marked locations. "The Mire, the grotto, and the spire. We need to choose our next target."
"The Mire," Aldric said. "The monsters there are amphibious, which makes them dangerous. I suggest we take care of them now that we have the numbers and the energy."
"I would say the grotto since we are the closest to it," Kara said.
"The Void-Thread Arachne is a single target," Helga said. "But to get there we need to go through the grotto, so I agree with Kara. We need to kill the Twin Boulderback Behemoths first."
Reidar studied the map. Each objective had its own dangers and payoffs. But he wasn't just thinking about the raid itself; he was thinking about speed.
The faster they finished, the sooner he could go to Creamont. Every second mattered when it came to getting back to his parents.
He chose the grotto. It was simple math. It was the shortest distance from their position, and it offered the fastest route, although, without Lena, going there was going to be harder.
The fact that the Twin Boulderback Behemoths were a tougher fight than some other targets was secondary. Time was his real enemy, not the monsters.
"The grotto, then," Reidar said, "is the closest objective from our current position." He kept his gaze fixed on the lines of the map.
Helga and Kara nodded. Aldric stayed quiet, his perfect face tightening. His jaw clenched, with a subtle flex in the muscle there.
He stared at the grotto on the map like it was a personal insult. But the decision was Reidar's making as per agreement.
That was the deal. His call. The others would follow. There were going to be no arguments. Aldric's silence was answer enough.
"We need to move soon," Helga said. "Check your gear, your mana, and your skills. The fire is coming."
The meeting broke up, and the leaders headed back to their people. Reidar found a quiet spot at the edge of camp and sat down, leaning his back against a tree that still had some green left.
Reidar watched as they walked away, then he pulled up his quest log, reviewing the progress.
<Let's hope everything goes well…>
He closed the interface and watched the camp. Survivors were laughing, sharing stories of the battle. Some were examining new skills from their rewards. Others were simply resting, their eyes closed, savoring the moment of peace.
They'd come so far. When the raid started, they were a disorganized mob, barely capable of coordinating basic tactics. Now they functioned as a unit, each group supporting the others, adapting to threats on the fly.
They were becoming an army. These levels would matter. The skills they'd learned would matter.
Reidar's thoughts went to his parents. He wondered if his father would be able to heal Lena. For sure, once he got to Creamont, Reidar was going to buy some good healing skills to avoid something like this happening again.
<Focus on what I can control. Complete the raid. Get stronger. Then move on to Creamont.>
The time to rest passed quickly, although the group had been forced to leave the forest earlier because of the smoke coming from the forest.
Within minutes, the raid had to be ready to move.
The raid began its march, leaving the Elder's corpse behind.
The raid marched on.