Eldrian, however, during his Tier breakthrough, had been in a chaotic state. If things were to be listed according to the likelihood of helping a monster's evolution, he was right at the top. Above even a forming magic crystal.
This also explained why, during that time, he had caused far more monsters to appear than when he tried to use Creation to create Magic Crystal. The fact the the local population had been thinned certainly also played a role. But there had still been plenty who lived in the area.
A forming magic crystal simply didn't appeal to them nearly as much as Eldrian's breakthrough.
"Reaching for a higher Tier is normally not so chaotic." Ziraili had once explained. "But, since you have a mana system which you need to develop along with your natural growth, hidden class, and auras; your breakthrough is something closer to evolution than simply aiming for a higher Tier."
Eldrian had experienced the hunt firsthand when he had broken through to Tier 5. Having needed to run for his life while not losing control of everything going on inside his body. He had hardly been able to fight in that state.
With his Tier 6 breakthrough, he had prepared. Setting up a barrier and asking Pelaros and Myropsis to aid him while he was vulnerable.
"The chances for them to evolve when killing and consuming another evolving creature is nearly a hundred percent. And, when considering the other factors involved with your attempts..."
Basically, Eldrian might even allow them to evolve twice or thrice. What monster could stay sane when their instincts were screaming at them of this opportunity?
Only those above Ancient ranking, and even then only those who are rather old and wise. Which basically means a higher Tier. Any monster near Eldrian's Tier, when he attempts to break through, would be driven insane by their own instincts.
This also explained why the only monsters who had attempted to attack Eldrian had been ones who Perlaros, and even Myropsis, had been capable of fending off.
Turning his attention back to the two presents sitting on the window sill, Eldrian sighed. His thoughts had wandered, but he still did not know what he would want from the treasure chests.
While his next breakthrough was on hold until Ziraili approved of his 'blueprints', that still didn't mean he needed extra attribute points. Not unless the potions he got would increase it by, at the very least, 10 points. Then it would at least be close to a 1% increase for him.
"No point continuing to wonder," Eldrian said, placing his hand on one of the chests and imagining it opening. He also recalled that it was important to grip the present. Lest you drop whatever it turned into.
Yes, the chests turned into your drop. For it to do so, had to transform. And during that period, it shone. Almost blindingly so. Fanfare, or so everyone seemed to call this part.
When the shine dissipated, Eldrian now held a quiver in his hand.
He sighed.
"What types?" He asked himself. The arrows wouldn't be useless for him. Even if he didn't really use bows, he could always throw them and use magic to guide them. He already did just that with daggers and swords. Arrows might be harder to see, so they could come in handy.
When Eldrian used Inspect to find the arrow type, he finally noticed the lack of arrows in the quiver. Something which was most certainly disappointing.
His drop wasn't a quiver and some arrows. But just a quiver.
Still, he wasn't about to discount it just yet. His treasure chests were S-Ranked. Their drops had to be worth something.
[Elemental Quiver — Tier 6]
[Durability: 150k]
[Abilities: Summon Arrow —]
'Well, I guess it makes sense it doesn't have any stats of its own.' Eldrian thought. Hoping that its abilities would be something worthwhile. From the name, he already had an inkling of what they would be.
Reading on, Eldrian frowned. It wasn't useless, per se. But it also wasn't all that great. It was a similar ability to the bow that the guild had chosen against, having picked Mosfaria's Aegis instead.
However, instead of forming arrows of magic, this quiver seemed to form physical arrows.
Eldrian had no idea how that was possible, considering the rule that more realistic meant more mana cost. Yet this quiver had nearly no mana cost for 'real' arrows.
But he had noticed that some of the dungeon drops weren't entirely in line with 'normal' magical items. They had a bit more 'flare', a bit more game-like elements, to them.
Mosfaria's Aegis, for example, was overpowered compared to normal Tier 8 items. All its abilities were great, making it one of the greatest in the Tier. A smith might be able to replicate such a feat, but it would be difficult.
The smith would have to be a master at their craft and a few Tiers above the item they were forging.
Willo, of course, was the same. But that was because Amnur, someone closer to demi-gods than a normal person, had been involved with the forging. If had just been Boran... while it would have still been an excellent weapon, there was no denying it would be far weaker.
The fact that it could be wielded at lower Tiers would likely have been missing, that much Eldrian was certain of.
And Mosfaria's Aegis had a similar ability. Allowing you to equip it even if you didn't meet the requirements.
"The mana efficiency is decent—no, it's amazing..." Each arrow required a single cost of 5MP (give or take 3 MP). Which really wasn't much. Especially considering it was summoning/creating Tier 6 arrows for you.
In all, there were five options.
[Wind Arrow: An arrow embued with the power of wind, allowing for far greater control after being fired. The arrow can also, on command with the appropriate skills, multiply while in flight.]
[Damage: 66 (plus bow modifier)]
[Cost: 6MP]
For Zyviss with his Tier 5 bow, the total damage would be around 100. For Eldrian, who would simply be throwing the arrow, it would be just the simple 66.
'Sadly, I do not know any skill to use its split functions.' Eldrian thought.
What Eldrian called ether manipulation was an archer's greatest skill. though it wasn't entirely the same thing.
It was almost impossible for anyone to claim themselves a competent as an archer if they couldn't at least use the Seeker skill.
Its more complicated variations differed slightly, Guiding Arrow was far harder to master. However, the basis of the skills were all similar to ether manipulation. Not the same. Just similar.
Archers focused first and foremost on making a connection between them and their arrow. This was, in fact, the same process that swordsmen and all warriors used to activate skills in melee too.
The difference between an archer and a swordsman was; the archer kept that connection with the arrow after firing it.
A difficult thing to accomplish, and something which many struggle with. But this connection allows them to mentally follow the arrow as it flies and activate skills with it as their focal point. Almost like distant casting.
The multiply skill didn't really multiply the arrows. Such a thing would require far too much mana.
One method was for the arrow itself to be designed to split into fragments. Fragments which would become to core for new arrows, which the magic would replicate according to the original.
And, as with all magic, the level of replication depended on the Tier of the skill. Generally, this method dealt more damage, but the number of arrows created was limited. And, after a while, all but the split cores will disappear.
The other most used method was more of an illusion. However, even if most of the arrows weren't 'real', they were still manifestations of magic. They could deal damage, albeit limited damage. And they disappeared after the fact.
This method was preferred by most but was useless against stronger enemies. The fact that the arrows disappear, however, could be used to make the wounds far more deadly than if a normal arrow had pierced the enemy. Even if the damage was generally less.
It was almost like this approach applied an extra bleed affect on those it hit. Though really the wounds were simply left without anything to staunch the bleeding.
This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦