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Book 3: Chapter 15: A Spar's Spoils and Breakfast
'This bathtub is huge. I noticed it last night, but yeah, Princeling Andrew didn't skimp out on arranging accommodations for us, and that was before I hit his dad,' Lone thought as he let the magically infused water seep into his skin.
Meanwhile, Soph was sitting on his lap playing with his tails. He began scrubbing her hair and he pulled up his notification log at the same time. Now seemed as good a time as any to have a peek at the gains from his public spar with Prince Keining.
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Sound Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Intermediate Level 5].
'Ah, right, from the magic put on me to let the whole crowd hear me. The mage didn't seem to notice the resistance meaning they're used to handling the resistance and are powerful enough to place it on people with it. Probably because of the prince, huh?' Lone thought.
The next set of level-ups was all a mess due to multiple different skills gaining levels together at different points throughout the fight. So Lone mentally reorganised his notification log to look a bit less jumbled, instead making it display the improvements by skill instead of in the order they had improved.
First came Blood Clone.
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Blood Clone] has levelled up! It is now [Master level 1].
Active Skill: Blood Clone
A skill popular amongst blood mages who have Vigour higher than that of the average mage.
The host may create a connection between their blood and their mind, allowing them to control the blood to do their bidding.
The limits of the Blood Clone are defined by the host's ability and by the skill's rank in equal measure.
Maximum size: 7.2 litres [+1.2 litres] of blood.
Maximum density: Each drop is equal in hardness to magic-infused spider's silk [up from reinforced steel].
Maximum speed: 14.29m [+3.23m] per second.
The host can now create and keep the clone within their own bloodstream, allowing very precise control of said bloodstream [new!] and will multiply the host's natural healing speed by a factor of 2.
When not being directed to do anything else, the clone will passively attempt to protect the host [new!] or those the host deems worth protecting from all attacks.
The host can use the blood of others to create a clone. [New!] This effect will ignore up to 50% of the target's resistance to having their blood meddled with.
The host can now simultaneously create 3 [up from 2] Blood Clones.
The host can now create a Blood Clone instantly [up from near-instantly].
Cost:1,000 SP [-1,000 SP] Mastery:Master Level 1
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Blood Clone] has levelled up! It is now [Master level 2].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Blood Clone] has levelled up! It is now [Master level 3].
'First master-rank skill I've earned that hasn't gained a new effect but every existing effect got a new feature or got buffed. This skill just went from OP to 'holy fuck is this even legal?'' Lone internally commented. 'I think the base attributes got a big boost too? Spider silk on its own is much tougher than reinforced steel, but magically-infused spider silk? Fuck, I wanna fight Prince Keining again immediately...'
Lone got a hold of himself and reached one hand out of the bath to the questioning gaze of Soph.
He summoned a bucket of blood and created his third clone and mentally ordered it to always follow his girlfriend. "Master rank came with some fun new effects, one of which will extend the auto protection to people I want to keep safe, so say hello to your new permanent pet."
"Huh. Sophie's a fan," Soph commented before she said, "Speaking of pets! Summon Kyuubi! She needs a bath too."
Lone did as asked and the fluffy ball of fur that was now about as big as a wolf flopped lazily into the massive bathtub. Soph scooped her up and began scrubbing down her fur. Kyuubi didn't seem to mind and just went limp in Soph's arms, letting her clean her. "One day soon, you'll be big enough for me to ride you..."
Lone smiled and returned to his notification checking.
Congratulations! The host's unique skill [Basic Regeneration] has levelled up! It is now [Master level 5].
Congratulations! The host's unique subskill [Bone Armour] has levelled up! It is now [Master level 5].
'While it makes sense, it sucks I only got one level for both. I guess even that was generous though. Not like his attacks were more deadly than Soph's first-ever Barrier Maelstrom. If he were going all out I bet I'd have earned more... I need people to stop taking it easy on me when I ask them not to. Then again, was Prince Keining capable of actually killing me?' Lone didn't know and perhaps it was best left that way.
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Oaken Flesh] has levelled up! It is now [Expert level 6].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Oaken Flesh] has levelled up! It is now [Expert level 7].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Oaken Flesh] has levelled up! It is now [Expert level 8].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Oaken Flesh] has levelled up! It is now [Expert level 9].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Fortress Shield Mastery] has levelled up! It is now [Master level 2].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Shield Mastery] has levelled up! It is now [Advanced level 4].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Swordspear Mastery] has levelled up! It is now [Expert level 4].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Swordspear Mastery] has levelled up! It is now [Expert level 5].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Swordspear Mastery] has levelled up! It is now [Expert level 6].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Polearm Mastery] has levelled up! It is now [Advanced level 3].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Evasion Mastery] has levelled up! It is now [Expert level 6].
'Evasion Mastery? That's a surprise. I never try to evade attacks or, as the skill puts it, 'dangerous situations'. I usually just ignore the sensation whenever it pops up since my bones and now my skin won't get stronger by dodging danger. Well, I'll take a level where I can get one,' Lone thought as he rested his chin on Soph's full head of hair before continuing.
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Enhanced Vision] has levelled up! It is now [Expert level 1].
Passive Skill: Enhanced Vision
A skill that makes seeing through obfuscation 60% [+30%] easier.
[New!] Extends your vision's limits from the standard 170 degrees to 235 degrees.
Cost:N/A Mastery:Expert Level 1
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Enhanced Vision] has levelled up! It is now [Expert level 2].
'Huh. I never noticed but now that I know it's bigger, my peripheral is certainly wider than before. How odd. Well, that's useful. Wonder why the skill levelled though? I wasn't exactly trying to look through any illusions or the like,' Lone thought.
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Sundering Might] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 2].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Sundering Might] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 3].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Sundering Might] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 4].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Sundering Might] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 5].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Sundering Might] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 6].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Sundering Might] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 7].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Sundering Might] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 8].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Sundering Might] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 9].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Sundering Might] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 10].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Sundering Might] has levelled up! It is now [Intermediate level 1].
Active Skill: Sundering Might
A common skill for warriors confident their strike will not be met with a counterattack due to how draining it is on the host.
When invoked while striking an opponent with the flat edge of a weapon, halves the speed of the attack but quintuples [up from quadruples] the force.
Cost:85% [-10%] of the host's SP. Mastery:Intermediate Level 1
'I need to unflatten my steamforged swordspear's edge before bed tonight. I wonder if Wilbur would be pissed off or proud of me for using Creation Magic to alter the weapon just enough to activate this skill but not enough for it to stop being a swordspear?' Lone smiled as good memories of his time learning under Wilbur filled his thoughts.
Basic Regeneration's ability to heal his mind had helped tremendously in reducing the burden and pain he felt about his steamforging master's passing at his own hands yesterday morning.
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Sundering Might] has levelled up! It is now [Intermediate level 2].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Sundering Might] has levelled up! It is now [Intermediate level 3].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Sundering Might] has levelled up! It is now [Intermediate level 4].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Sundering Might] has levelled up! It is now [Intermediate level 5].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Sundering Might] has levelled up! It is now [Intermediate level 6].
'15 levels from one use... One use that enabled me to barely scratch a pretty well-balanced higher XX-ranker. I'm half-temped to just stay here and farm combat levels from the prince...' Lone considered before dismissing the thought.
He already had an agreement with the prince and he also had a plan in regard to his skills, but he would only enact it when he arrived at the Crimson Foxkin Clan since he and Soph intended to stay there for at least a couple of months.
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Survivor's Speed] has levelled up! It is now [Intermediate level 5].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Survivor's Speed] has levelled up! It is now [Intermediate level 6].
Congratulations! The host's active skill [Survivor's Speed] has levelled up! It is now [Intermediate level 7].
Congratulations! The host's Primal skill [You] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 2].
Congratulations! The host's Primal skill [You] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 3].
Congratulations! The host's Primal skill [You] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 4].
'Really? Only three levels? I can understand Survivor's Speed since half the fight I was being slapped around and not really moving, but Sundering Might got a whole rank and change with one use. I guess You is just as hard to level up as Ungrounded,' Lone thought as he got out of the tub with Soph and Kyuubi.
Soph got to work on drying herself, Kyuubi, and Lone's tails, while he dried everything else of himself that wasn't covered in fur and keep going through his notification log.
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Piercing Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 2].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Piercing Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 3].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Piercing Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 4].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Piercing Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 5].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Piercing Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 6].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Piercing Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 7].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Piercing Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 8].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Piercing Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 9].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Piercing Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 10].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Piercing Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Intermediate level 1].
Passive Skill: Piercing Resistance
A skill that allows the host to resist piercing attacks at varying levels based on mastery.
All piercing attacks the host suffers will be weakened by 15% [+10%].
Cost:N/A Mastery:Intermediate Level 1
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Piercing Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Intermediate level 2].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Piercing Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Intermediate level 3].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Piercing Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Intermediate level 4].
'Huh. Didn't expect that. Maybe this resistance doesn't come from an enchantment and just comes from the active effect of Spear Mastery? I mean, Swordspear Mastery's active effect is literally called 'Pierce'.' Lone wasn't sure. 'That wouldn't explain how I got it from Princeling Kevin's estoc though...'
Was there a Stabbing Resistance? What about a Slashing Resistance or Bludgeoning Resistance? 'Then again, Prince Keining is also an enchantment mage according to Yulia so it very well could have been an enchantment that just doesn't trigger Enchantment Magic Resistance. Regardless, I need to go to the guild tomorrow before we leave to register all my new skill improvements so may as well look up physical-based resistances then.'
The host has developed the passive skill: Force Magic Resistance.
Passive Skill: Force Magic Resistance
A skill that allows the host to resist all forms of force magic.
Force magic used on the host will be weakened by 5%.
Cost:N/A Mastery:Beginner Level 1
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Force Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner level 2].
This was the skill that levelled up the most today but considering Lone didn't get a new magic skill before the resistance, that meant whatever Prince Keining did either didn't directly affect Lone or it was freeform magic and not a spell.
Considering he was being flung around pretty violently in the fight, he guessed it was probably freeform force magic. 'Should I feel disrespected that he didn't take me seriously enough to use an offensive skill on me? I mean, considering the strength gap it's fair enough, but fuck me if I don't want more magic at my fingertips.'
The resistance eventually stopped levelling just after breaking through advanced rank which was incredible considering it was more than likely just raw magic that was used on him and not a skill.
Passive Skill: Force Magic Resistance
A skill that allows the host to resist all forms of force magic.
Force magic used on the host will be weakened by 30% [+15%].
Cost:N/A Mastery:Advanced Level 1
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Force Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Advanced level 2].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Force Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Advanced level 3].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Force Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now [Advanced level 4].
'Feels like too many levels for just freeform force magic. At least it was direct though unlike Yulia's distortion magic... Can I earn a resistance from her if I just let her try to distort me for a few hours?' That was a thought worth considering.
The host has developed the active force magic skill: Force Flight.
Active Force Magic Skill: Force Flight An advanced application of the force magic school where the caster wraps themselves in force magic and uses it to fly. Cost:50,000 MP to cast and an additional 5,000 MP per second until dismissed. Mastery:Beginner Level 1
Congratulations! The host has developed an affinity for Force Magic.
Lone grinned with glee. 'Fuck yeah! I was worried that was also freeform force magic or just not direct enough like when Gilbert used gravity magic to get Sophie and me out of the Blue Orc encampment... That was so long ago.'
His joy was suddenly replaced by a feeling of loneliness. He missed Gilbert and Grimsley, hell, even Shana too despite not really knowing her.
'I wonder when I'll get to see them again? We haven't spoken since I gave the guild the communication orb linked to Gilbert's one...' The three of them had been rescued, so perhaps it would be wise to file an inquiry with the guild as to their current location and situation.
Lone, Soph, and Kyuubi, were all dry now so they changed into their pyjamas except for Kyuubi for obvious reasons and they then went to bed, letting Breena know it was her turn to meet her daily hygiene needs.
As he lay in bed with Soph in one arm and Kyuubi laying on his entire torso, the big fox that she now was, he looked at the final notification he'd earned today.
The host has created the moment of Prince Keining, ruler and lord of the Keining Principality and Golden Pass City, losing in a public spar with someone of a lower rank than him for the first time in recorded history. Moment added to the [Extraordinary moments and sites of cultural significance witnessed or created] list of the skill [Historical and Cultural Appreciation].
Defeat 99 more individuals of similar stature in a similar manner to upgrade the tier of this moment.
Stat bonus from moment: 50 Charisma. 20 Luck. 20 Strength.
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Historical and Cultural Appreciation] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner Level 7].
Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Historical and Cultural Appreciation] has levelled up! It is now [Beginner Level 8].
"Oh, awesome," Lone commented.
"Hmm?" Soph looked up at him while she yawned and smiled, clearly content to be held in his arm.
"Scratching Lord Keining counted as a moment for Historical and Cultural Appreciation. Got two levels in it, 50 Charisma, 20 Luck and Strength," Lone stated rather happily. "You witnessed it too so your progress on trying to earn that skill will probably go up if you reflect on my fight and try to truly appreciate it."
"That's good news for Sophie. Let's sleep now?" Soph asked, a sleepy warble to her tone.
Hazel woke up feeling groggier than usual. Her brother's insane fight with Prince Keining had kept her up almost all night. How had that been arranged? How had Princeling Keith offended Lone and why on Earth had that spiralled into a public beatdown that led to her stupid sibling somehow leaving what amounted to little more than a graze on the city's strongest citizen?
Her questions without answers had distracted her for the entirety of yesterday late afternoon and all evening. It hardly helped that she learned after the fight that her brother had spent damn near all afternoon two days ago in the biggest guild hall of The Adventurer's Guild just letting people whale on him with their skills.
Hazel felt her Mind Reading skill kick into action and she froze in place. A familiar suffocating feeling of an insurmountable wall hammered against her unique skill and it was coming from the kitchen.
'Darren's here?' She didn't need to think about anythingelse.
Hazel didn't even stop to realise that all of her housemates were in the kitchen with her brother. She just got dressed as quickly as she could and ran her fingers through her hair to somewhat straighten it, not even bothering to use her, Emma, and Alisa's, shared brush.
As she approached the kitchen, Hazel heard the voices of Scott and her brother who now called himself 'Lone', or 'Immortus the Immortal'.
"Fuck me these eggs are good! How do they taste so good?! They're just eggs! You only put a wee bit of salt on 'em too, nothing else!"
"Cooking Mastery, advanced level three. As described, 'A skill that makes cooking 30% easier and reduces the time needed for food items to cook by 30%.' What the skill description doesn't tell you is that 'easier' actually means tastier to all different palettes. I'm fixin' for a special effect at expert rank that'll- Ah. Can't spill the details. Contract magic. Silver plate and above stuff an' all that."
'Darren's cooking?' Hazel entered the kitchen as she suppressed her Mind Reading. The imposing nature of her brother's mental fortress or whatever it was made it impossible to hear the thoughts of her friends anyway, so she felt it wise to just block her ability from functioning.
She usually didn't do that until she left the house since it slowly built up pressure in her head and resulted in a headache, but she felt it was warranted right now.
"Ah, Hazel! Whatcha want for breakfast?" Lone asked of her, a big smile on his face as he looked at her.
She almost laughed seeing him wearing an apron with cute little fox faces plastered all over it. 'That does not fit his image at all. Where'd he even get it? Ah! Creation Magic.'
She knew she should be mad at him and speak the words she intended for him after reading his letter a few days ago but his friendly atmosphere and the smell of the food her friends were enjoying won her over for the moment.
She found a seat and said, "What're my options?"
"Anything. I have a pretty good understanding of food and a sizable tank of MP, so whatever your heart desires will be yours to consume," he answered.
Hazel pursed her lips in thought before hesitantly asking, "Frosted flakes?"
She watched her brother deflate a little as he closed his eyes and said, "Y'know, I didn't really like you at first Scott, but you picked something I could actually cook so you earned a lot of points for being the only one from earth to do that. First flame raisin muesli for Alisa, and now basic frosted flakes for Hazel. Goodbye, potential Cooking Mastery exp..."
With his eyes still closed, Lone extended one of his arms and opened his palm. The next moment a perfect bowl of cereal appeared in it. He placed it in front of Hazel and said, "Dig in."
She felt a little guilty when she heard him muttering, "Coulda been waffles. Coulda been French toast. Coulda been bacon. Coulda been anything under the fuckin' sun that needed to be cooked..."
She didn't really know what to say to that. How was she supposed to know that he was fishing for experience in a skill? He said she could ask for whatever she wanted. So what if her heart's greatest desire at the moment was frosted flakes?
She frowned as she picked up the spoon that was already in the bowl and her upset expression very quickly disappeared as soon as she filled her mouth with the milk-covered corny goodness. The only thing she really tasted was nostalgia and she felt her eyes getting wet for some reason.
Lone smiled at that while Alisa looked a bit awkward. Emma and George tried to tactfully not notice while Scott laughed.
"Short stuff over here cried too! Girls, man," the bulky teen cackled, earning him a glare from all present members of the fairer sex.
"Casual misogyny aside - try not to do that, by the way, Scott, it's nice to see you all again," Lone said with a smile. "Sorry for not getting back in touch sooner. I was under a lot of mental stress and I just wanted to knuckle down and get stronger as fast as I could while working off my sentence. I'm here now though, so let's have a thorough catch-up before I set off for the Crimson Foxkin Clan later today."
Hazel's expression dropped. "You're leaving so soon?"
"I may be technically unemployed but I am extremely busy. Goals to meet, things to not die to when they decide to attack me, that sorta thing. I do plan on coming back here regularly though. There is a lot for me to still learn in such a massive fuck-off city. Plus, I know I'm a bit rough around the edges, but I do wanna look after you kids. Well, without coddling you," Lone said, clearly meaning every word.
It was kind of endearing, in a creepy way. Hazel knew he cared about himself and his skills above everything else. You'd have to be a fool to be blind to that. But it was also obvious that he wanted to care for her and her friends without just taking advantage of them and their unique skills.
The question was, should Hazel give him a chance now considering her horrific first meeting with him here on Altros and factoring in him ghosting them for almost half a year?
"How often is 'regularly'?" Hazel asked as she ate another spoonful of cereal.
She loved her brother, even if this place had twisted him to the point of being almost unrecognisable. She'd decided to give him as many chances to be a part of her life as he wanted.