To Helo’s complete and utter horror, the ants were killed the next time he entered the floor. When he asked Micah about it, he was told that the world doesn’t revolve around him. He was also told that a contingent of guards were at a level where it was perfect for them to train.
Due to this, his rise to level thirty was stalled considerably. Another thing that Helo learned about was that he should have more normal skills. Class skills like a design, it is what you are building yourself into. But normal skills are an add on that can help with things your class doesn’t cover. They are also a foundation to get and progress in skills that you want to merge with class skills.
A leatherworker might get a class skill called ‘Leatherworking’, but not have anything to help with metal. Through extra effort they can get the ‘Metalworking’ skill and then merge them into something like ‘Material Shaping’.
When Helo asked about his lack of skills to Shelby one day during his enchanting practice she was surprised. Not all things are skills; skills are specific things that help shape magic to an enhanced effect.
Helo understands this because through his training and effort he can force his physical energy to strengthen his body. The issue is it takes a lot more effort and concentration. That is where skills come in, it is the systems way to guide development. Somewhere in the notes that he assumes are from his father he read something like, ‘Skills are just the plebeian’s crutch’.
Not exactly sure how to feel about it, he does understand some of what the note is talking about. His class skills are all things that his own bloodline and efforts could achieve through extreme hard work. But if the system wants to give him a boost, who is he to argue.
Getting back to the topic of his normal skills Helo found that there are limits to having skills. From what he was told someone can accept about five class skills each tier. The higher the individual’s potential; most people judge by their exp requirements. The more skills they can have.
Now racial skills don’t count; they are things that are coded into the body like affinities or abilities. Normally someone can half as many normal skills. But the thing is higher tier skills than an individual’s own tier might take more room.
When he asked about his lack of skills, he got a weird look, then he was ushed into the same dungeon room where he picked his class. “Touch the crystal.” Elder Shelby tells him.
Touching the crystal Helo can feel an invasive energy entering his system. For some reason it reminds him of a movie where some cocky guy ‘Buzzed a control tower’. The energy did little damage but it ripped into him and did its own thing. It was fast and aggressive, but in the end, an annoyance.
Accessing data on individual known as… ‘Helo Vital’.
Updating data with new information...
Name: Helo Vital
Tier: 1
Bloodline: Redacted
Title: Nature’s Alpha (Epic)- This title augments your aura to be more connected to nature around you. Increases the efficiency of Vitality, Will, and Perception by 25%. Gain x4 to experience when killing an alpha and its pack in a nature themed type dungeon.
Gear: Alpha Wolf Hide Bracers (Epic), Boxers of Infinite Regeneration (Epic), A mother’s first gift, a father’s first lesson. (Mythic/Hidden) (Rare), Rose Hoodie/Haori and Jogger Collection. (Uncommon), Dark Steel Kukri (Uncommon), Stylus for the Manaless (Rare), Revolution Naginata (Uncommon)
Aura: Null Presence – your aura passively breaks down external energy phenomena in range. By focusing your aura, you can concentrate your effort on a single phenomenon. Due to ‘Dark Curse’ this works best on Mana.
Age: 15
Class: Shaded Predator (Pseudo Tier 3)
Level: 29
Stats: 360
- Str: 25 (+5%)
- Agl: 60 (+15%)
- Dex:38 (+15%)
- Per: 47 (+30%)
- Vit: 70 (+40%)
- End: 25 (+15%)
- Int: 25 (+5%)
- Will: 70 (+40%)
Racial Skill: 5
- Greatly Enhanced Perception (Instincts) (Rare)
- Greatly Enhanced Natural Energy (Mental/Physical) (Rare)
- Regeneration (???)
- Major Vitality Siphon? (???)
- Dark Curse (???)
- Primary(N/A)
- Secondary(N/A)
Primary Class Skill: 4
- Forced Still (Rare)
- Dark Blade Projection (Rare)
- Defiled Wound (Uncommon)
- Bloodline Awakening (Rare)
Skills: 2
- Identify (Basic)
- Natural Meditation (Uncommon)
Styles: 2
- Moon-Staff (Uncommon)
- Moonshines Afterblock (Uncommon)
- Twin Fang of the Beast (Uncommon)
- Attacking from a step behind (Uncommon)
“Well, I can’t see any of your information. It is designed like that. But I can see that your race is no longer Vampire. It just says redacted. If I had to guess it is your necklaces doing. From what I have read divine tier people can control the system.” The Elder says while holding her tablet and scrolling down.
“Mhhhhh… It also says your skills are limited… Ohhhh yeah manaless.” She says while nodding. She is starting to act like some kind of researcher who found a new toy. “Also says that due to the gap that having no mana creates you can fuse to abilities into your bloodline. That is cool. It is like animals that can do more than manipulate raw energy. Like if Lelai’s headband’s effect was something Lelai could do naturally.”
“Uh, it says here that your normal skills are restricted until tier 3. There is even a note.” ‘My child doesn’t need the system to hold his hand. He is going to be a prodigy!’ The elder just looks at her tablet with a blank face. “Huh, didn’t even know you could add notes.”
“So, my skills are restricted due to… Training purposes?” Helo asks as his hand leaves the crystal. The annoying buzzing is finally over and he just ponders what he read. “Also, my race is redacted. What does that mean?”
After learning that Helo gave up on learning more skills. From conversations with his party, he expected to get skills like ‘Mana sight’, ‘physical energy manipulation’, or cooking. But so far, he has gained to weapon skills, a meditation variant, and ‘identify’.
After his conversations with everyone about normal skills Helo realized that to upgrade his ‘Identify’ he needs to force it to grow similar to normal. After this point he used ‘Identify’ on everything he could. Reading a book on paths for the skills growth he chose to have it focus on weaknesses. It didn’t take him long to get the kill ‘Detect Weakness’.
By shunning all other paths, you have modified your general ‘Identify’ into ‘Detect Weakness’.
Detect Weakness (Uncommon): This skill with highlight any weak point on an enemy’s body, will also show weakest stats.
After testing the skill, he learned that it only shows a race, the lowest stat and another potential weakness. Otherwise the skill will flash on the person’s body. Not seeing level and a small description was disappointing. But Helo can estimate these things with his aura.
With December coming to a close the party spent a lot of time together and inside. They focused on things like mediation and weapon skills. There were questions about new party members, but they were told they would be able to find them in Japan. Hinata’s father flew all the members out to their home and are testing them now.
With the month ending Helo is also getting closer to reaching level thirty. Due to the loss of the ants to farm and how busy he has been this took longer than he expected.
The last level his party and he went to was the 36th. They have been slowing down their leveling due to it taking longer and they are working on their skills. At the school their leveling will slow considerably. But it is known that they should reach tier 2 before the second year.
Setting out to the dungeon Helo brings with him; Lelai, Alli and Hinata. They all wanted to be there when he reached level thirty. He should get another skill.
“So, what do you think you will get? Are you excited? What are you going to fight? How are you feeling?” Alli asks a tirade of questions as the group gets on the golf cart. Exiting the garage, they are driving through foot think snow that has gathered on the ground during the day. The wind is passing through picking up flakes and the trees are covered in white.
Looking at Alli while she is speaking Helo does think that the snowy background looks amazing with her white hair. The trip does end quickly with the modified cart making driving in the snow a lot of fun.
Entering the dungeon with his group Helo knows exactly where to go. The 36th floor mirrors the outside world and is a winter wonderland. While on the floor with his party they found a cavern that the group decided to bypass.
While scouting Helo doubled back and found that the cavern was actually the home of beast called a Shattered Apeke. The name meant nothing to Helo but from he saw it was a massive ice attuned snake with large apelike arms. From what he saw the creature had a unique ability to shatter ice into dangerous projectiles when it slammed its hands on the ground.
Using his aura to avoid the buried monsters and his sense to avoid the others, Helo leads his party toward the cave. On the way there he is surprised by how much that Hinata is shivering. Alli and Lelai seem to be comfortable in the cold. Although Lelai prefers a warm bath to snow.
Both of the girls are wearing similar clothing and have similar endurance stats. He is surprised by the difference. After asking he learned that it is because of their bloodlines.
“My race is a dryad but I have a bloodline that is mixed with kitsune that can be awakened. Dryads are similar to elves, but they form a spiritual connection to trees. We tend to get cold and sleepy in the winter. Kitsunes have a similar condition. The have a small attunement with fire, specifically spiritual fire.” Hinata explains about her race.
Most beast-kin races are pure, but if an individual has a parent and one is a beast kin and the other isn’t. They can awaken the bloodline on their beast-kin side. Having fox ears or tail, is a coin flip.
“My family are wolf beast-kin. Our ancestor was a Moonlight Wolf. We have affinities for arcane magic. Most have a minor affinity for ice. The rarest is an affinity for fate and divination. The bloodline is so diffuse that sometimes we don’t have animal features, we can get them from awakening our bloodlines. My father and uncle both have wolf ears, but they usually keep them hidden. They spend a lot of time in the outside world.” Alli adds.
“I didn’t know your bloodline had an ice aspect.” He says, turning back Helo points to the cave. “This is a twenty-foot snake. Come if you want, but let me get a hit first.”
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
After that Helo is swallowed by a swirl of shadows, his body and surroundings look like they are in some kind of dark world compared to the bright white of the snow. Moments later he vanishes into the cave.
Carefully making his way toward the inner part of the cave he starts to feel slight regret about his decision. The entire cave is glittering like crystal; it is covered in ice. Remembering the Akeke’s ability to shatter ice and use them as projectiles he finds himself nervous.
Walking down the twisting tunnels he finds signs of the creature’s movements. Fractures in the ice from where the creature has struck the ground, and groves where he slithered along. It isn’t long before he can hear the cracking of ice up ahead. The sound echoes through the tunnels. It reminds Helo of glass breaking.
Finding the Apeke he uses ‘Detect Weakness’.
Apeke
Weakness Int, Vit.
In his vision he can also see a soft glow on the underside of the snake and where its neck connects to its spine. Using his aura that is diffused into the natural energy of the cave, Helo tries to guess the strength of the beast. Through is aura he can feel predatory instincts and a monstrous desire to kill. The strength coming off the beast is stronger than Alli and Hinata.
Stepping into the room Helo is moving very careful. His bloodline ability doesn’t block sight; it only makes him harder to see with shadows. What it is doing is smoothing out the signs of his passage, nullifying the sound waves his body makes and the scent he leaves behind. When he says Grant silencing an entire group, he was a little jealous.
It was only recently that Helo learned his bloodline’s dark affinity has a connection to the concept of Nihility. It makes the things it touches lose meaning. He isn’t destroying or sending things into the void. He is taking whatever concept the thing is made from and smoothing it in the neutrality.
Sound waves settled into the surroundings, heat reaches the outside temperature, even his presence just blends into the background. His title Nature’s Alpha uses this same idea. It merges his aura with surrounding natural energies to make it harder to detect.
So, sneaking up on the beast Helo hopes that it doesn’t turn its head. From what he can see the mutated snake is creature holes in the ice walls with its ability. Looking around the area Helo guesses that the monster is storing its food.
As he slowly approaches the monster slams another fist into the ice wall. The ground around them cracks and fragments fly into the air like a grenade going inside the wall. As the fragments go pinging around the room as large chuck of ice heads directly for Helo.
Due to the force of the blow and the smaller fragments Helo is having a hard time moving while keeping balance. It is only his enhanced instincts and stats that let him keep his feet. Unfortunately for him it wasn’t enough to catch the ice chunk.
Taking a half foot chunk of ice that is flying at him at over one-hundred miles per hour, Helo falls to the floor with an ‘UMMpff’. The impact makes him lose his breath and Helo’s shadow covering slips away.
Suddenly his body heat and scent are allowed to reach past the think covering of darkness that he drew close to himself with his aura. As the snakes tongue slips free from its mouth and it can suddenly detect his scent.
Whipping its head back the snake uses its large ape like arm to turn quickly. Its face is like a viper and it has the fangs to go along with it. Its arms are large and muscular capable of moving its large thirty-foot body around.
Quickly rolling to his back Helo uses his aura to hide himself again and move away. The snake lunges forward toward the location he just was. Remembering something that he was told about snakes sensing heat, he realizes that any heat must be easy to detect in this cold air.
As the snake head flashes past he gets a great close up of how large its fangs are. Having to duck low to avoid the scaled arm sticking out from the side of the snake, Helo misses his chance to strike at the joint between the neck and spine.
The snake moves past and as it hits the wall it punches. The ice shatters and the strike rebound pushes the snake backward. The snakes speed only increase and its long reflective body starts to sweep across the room.
Drawing his blade’s Helo activates his new skill ‘Dark Blade Projection’. Pushing the skill from an extension to a separate blade, he looks as the dark extension that sticks out of his kukri turns into a dark purple straight dagger.
As the blade starts to fall Helo wraps it in his aura. At the same time, he has to drop his concealment. Using his aura to lift the blade Helo activates ‘Dark Blade’s’ ability to be a conduit to his powers. Using ‘Dark Blade’ like this forces the cost of whatever skill he is channeling to be a much stronger drain.
Pushing himself to activate two rare skills at once Helo can feel as a large chuck of his reserve vanish into the skills constructs. The blade is now carrying his ‘Forced Still’ ability. Helo tried to activate the ability to his bloodline to send the fight quickly. But unfortunately, it was is much for his channels and concentration.
Almost dropping the blade as his ability activates Helo gathers himself and surges forward with his aura. Putting as much willpower as he can into the blades flight Helo watches as the blade hits the glittering scales of the white and blue snake.
The snake is in the process of turning as the blade strikes. Due to the durability of the scales, his throw skill only chips a single scale off the snake. It clatters to the ground and he holds his breath. To his relief that three-foot section of the snake freezes.
Activating his ‘Bloodline Awakening’ skill, Helo can feel his speed jump higher, the energy in his body feels more reactive as well. For a moment Helo wants to reprimand himself, using his awakening skill while pushing with his aura would make it stronger. As the moment passes, he realizes that he already strains his channels using ‘Dark Blade’ and another skill. Adding his ‘Awakening’ to the mix, that already damages his body and soul, would end poorly.
Leaping forward faster than his body should be able to, he slashes with his bloodline coated blade. As the blade reaches the scales, it weakens the ice affinity and nullifies a portion of the defenses. With only a portion of the force it would normally take his blade shears its way past the scales and leaves a gash along the side of the snake.
Thanks to his ‘Forced Still’ skill the snake is having trouble turning to attack him. Leaving a three foot ‘X’ on the side of the snake’s body, he jumps back before the paralyzing skill has a chance to run out.
The skill only lasted for a moment, due to it not getting much penetration. While he is back, he lets his boosting skill go and he can feel as everything loses just a touch of vibrancy. The speed of his mind and body slow, his energy stills, and his other physical abilities slightly lessen. Having to shack himself off from the feeling of his bloodline being locked away again, that moment almost cost him.
Thankfully for Helo, his friends came in after him. Over the last month Hinata finally upgraded he ‘Mana Shield’ skill to act unconsciously. She also got her illusion cloak to be useable on others. The tradeoff was it’s time limit. “Fleeting Illusion!” She yells as she enters the room. An illusion of Helo jumps right as he goes left. Just in time Helo hides his presence and the snake follows the visible illusion.
“Be careful, its sense of smell is strong, and it can see heat.” Helo yells as he jumps forward, creating another slash on the snake, this time it is considerably more difficult. Without the boosting skill his personal energy is weaker, along with his body and speed.
Rolling under a tail strike, Helo laughs as Alli jumps into the fray by slamming her hammer on the snake’s head. The hammer head made from ‘Runic Construct’ is a personal project of hers. As the construct hits the snakes head with the sound of ice cracking, the runes that make up the exterior flash.
The hammer head is made from a construct that is then enhanced with an array. The unique thing about her ability is that it doesn’t require the use of any major enchanting or array knowledge. Instead, she uses her will to give the runes meaning.
All she has to do is study the runes. For Helo he has to delicately carve all the lines and connections, making sure all the pathways are perfect. Alli just pulls up a rune for ‘fire’ and ‘ball’. Then she wills them to merge.
When the hammer hits it releases the built-up power inside the head. A wave of fire surges forth and coats the upper portion of the snake. The ice coating on the body of the snake takes on a glistening appearance, and the surroundings start to melt.
The heat only lasts for a moment but it is enough to disorientate the snake that relies heavily on its ability to detect heat.
Getting in close Helo takes his left kukri and cuts into the neck of the monster. His blade breaks past the scales and cuts into muscle. Getting caught in the muscle; he is too late to pull back. The snake punches the glistening ground, water and ice spray into the air and Helo is forced back.
Rolling back, he doesn’t stop until he hits the hard ice walls with a “Booooom!” that echoes its way through the caverns. The girls scream his name in worry and Helo pats himself on the chest and legs. Laughing he looks up only to activate his boosting skill and dive to the side.
The snakes head slams directly where he was with a wide-open mouth. With the size of the snake, it might have tried to swallow him whole. Getting up he keeps his skill goes and attacks the snake again. This time a wave of dense mist rushes forward. With the cold atmosphere and Lelai’s ability to control the temperament it quickly freezes.
The ice she is making gives the snake more ice to shatter but it also holds it for a moment. In that moment Alli slams another hammer blow to the snakes back, directly between its arms. Hinata uses her sword to strike a real blow down the snake’s neck, directly over the cut Helo had just made. She also uses ‘Illusion Strike’ to create a cut going up over the same location.
Helo comes in on the other side, boosted with his skill, and rams a blade into its massive serpentine eye and another into its neck.
Everyone freezes in their positions; the snakes’ arms were in the air and slowly fall to the ground. “Bing”
Everyone breathes a sigh of relief. They all congratulate another and the girls looks at Helo. “You took a hard hit, Helo-Kun.” Hinata says while patting him down.
“It’s why I was laughing, Alli’s fire strike softened all the ice. You should have seen the thing when it struck a full blow.” Helo finishes by pointing to a wall across from them. The wall has a jagged hole that is three-feet wide and one-foot deep.
“I must have been a bit dazed because I wasn’t paying much attention to it attacking me. Thanks for getting my attention. I was almost snake food.” Helo stops talking as he stoops to pick up the light grey fox.
Petting her head and complimenting her skill he ignores the other girls and stores the body.
As he makes his way outside with the everyone, he gets distracted by Alli twitching repeatedly. “Are you okay? Is it some kind of seizure?” He asks her.
At his words Hinata laughs openly and loudly. “hahah nooo. Hahhaha.” It takes her a while to finish. “She is waiting for you to check your skills.” Hinata finally tells him.
“Ah. I forgot about that. I got a little to focused on the fight.” Pulling up his status Helo can see his new level.
You have reached level thirty. Due to your class, bloodline and tier you gain; +2 Vit, Will and Agl. +1 Per, Dex. +2 free stat points.
Name: Helo
Tier 1
Class: Shaded Predator (Pseudo Tier 3)
Level: 30
Stats: 370
- Str: 25 (+5%)
- Agl: 62 (+15%)
- Dex:39 (+15%)
- Per: 48 (+30%)
- Vit: 73 (+40%)
- End: 25 (+15%)
- Int: 25 (+5%)
- Will: 73 (+40%)
Due to reaching level thirty you have new class skill options and upgrades.
- Dark Flicker (Uncommon)
- Tracker Mark (Common)
- Defiled Wound (Uncommon)
- Mental Nudge (Common)
- Sure Throw (Common)
- Negative Weakening (Common)
Looking over his new skills, Helo reads the options to the girls. Unfortunately, the skill list doesn’t give any extra information, but if he focuses on a skill, he can get a feint since of what I might be.
‘Dark Flicker’ is a movement-based ability, unlike his previous one it is based on the dark affinity, not his mental energy. This would be a good option because ‘Bloodline Awakening’ is closer to an all-round boosting skill. He still uses it like a movement skill by tapping into in for bursts of speed. But in the end, it just puts more strain on his body.
‘Tracker Mark’ seems like a simple skill that marks an individual and makes it easier for Helo to track them.
‘Mental Nudge’ is a skill that came from his mental manipulations of his ‘Dark Blade’. This is something like telekinesis.
‘Sure Throw’ will increase the accuracy and speed of his throw weapons.
‘Negative Weakening’ feels like some kind of debuff skill.
Of the skills there are a few that Helo wants. A new movement ability would be great. He will eventually get one because his old one is gone. Adding telekinesis might give him more ranged options. Right now, his class focuses on his abilities as a hunter and his close-range burst damage. Then adding a debuffing skill might be a great way to branch his class out. He even takes time to consider the marking skill.
In the end it is between ‘Dark Flicker’, ‘Mental Nudge’, and ‘Negative Weakening’. ‘Tracker Mark’ might be in the running but he wants to focus on his tracking more to get the skill option up to uncommon before he chooses it.
After discussing the skill with the girls, Helo ends up choosing ‘Mental Nudge’. He wants to pick ‘Dark Flicker’ but was convinced that starting to practice telekinetic type abilities earlier is better.
Mental Nudge (Common): Using minor telekinesis on an object in your visible range, you can apply slight force with your mental strength.
On the way out of the dungeon Helo starts to test his new skill. “Mental Nudge” he says out loud. With new skills it can be easier to say them vocally. With trainig skills can be silently casted. But they tend to be weaker than spoken versions.
Focusing on a small branch in front of him on the path, it starts to float in the air while spinning in a circle. “I didn’t expect the skill to lift the item for me.” Focusing on the mental intention for the branch to move forward, it stops floating about six inches above the ground and makes a slight arc forward.
“Wow. That was amazing.” Alli says with a deadpan voice.
Giving her a glare Helo says, “This is a new type of skill. Most of my skills have to do with hunting. Give me a week before you pass your judgement.”
Trying again Helo lifts a leaf that was falling from a tree. The leaf starts to lightly spin in the air where he stopped it. Giving it a push the leaf flutters to the ground. “Huh, this is going to take some work.” Helo says. He was honestly expecting more. But the skill is like the first time he got a skill, weak and not very affective.
Deciding to use the skill along with the technique that he believes earned him a telekinetic ability, Helo uses ‘Dark Blade Projection’. As the dark blade forms in the air, he grabs it with ‘Mental Nudge’. For some reason whatever feedback his new skill gives him feels like it has a tighter grip.
Pushing the blade forward it moves quicker than his other tests. Before the blade can hit the ground, he wraps it in his aura and then casts ‘Mental Nudge’. The interaction between his aura and the skill is not what he expected. The both seem to slightly empower another. Not sure why and deciding that a dungeon is a bad place to learn he tests the power of his abilities.
Shoving forward with his aura, Helo sends the blade projection straight to a tree that is about thirty feet away. As the blade leaves the reach of his aura’s grasp, he is surprised that the blade doesn’t seem to have a downward arc. Watching the blade fly he uses ‘Mental Nudge’ to push forward.
The speed of the blade slightly increases and strikes the tree with a deep “Thuck”. As the black blade quivers in the tree, it slowly starts to dissipate.
Trying again with a new projection, Helo does the same thing. This time he sends the blade forward and doesn’t use his ability to affect the flight. Watching the blade fly he starts to think that a side effect of the new skill might be a slight levitative effect.
Testing again Helo instead nudges the flight to the left. To his surprise the blade narrowly scraps the side of the tree and leaves a grove in the bark.
Deciding to continue his testing later Helo leads the girls out of the dungeon.