Noticing Softspark trying to rudely escape, Alex is stumped for a second, but immediately springs into action.
“Oy, don’t run away!” he yells, walking after her. “Glimmerwhisk asked me to talk to you...”
“Really? You aren’t lying... if you dare to use the mistress’s name to deceive me...” Softspark mutters, glaring at Alex in a threatening manner, not looking convinced yet.
“No, I am not lying. I actually did her and the Union a favour and just want to collect my bounty,” Alex says. “Should I take out the head right away?”
“Follow me to one of the counters,” she says, now a little more polite.
“Present the bounty,” she follows up, after climbing onto the chair behind one empty counter at the edge of the lobby, now sitting slightly above Alex’s eye level.
Alex does as told and presents the head to her.
With no reaction at all, she analyses it, a system screen opening in front of her.
“Here is your reward,” she says after just a brief delay, perfectly calm and unbothered by the head. “Not a spectacular target, but I shall still thank you on behalf of the Union.”
You have received 75,000 FC
“This player has actively obstructed numerous players and merchants associated with the Union,” she explains. “We’re asking you to keep up the good work. You’ll receive an updated list before your next mission, which should be in a month at the earliest, right? Or do you intend to set out sooner?”
“Thank you... and no. At the earliest in a month,” Alex replies, not needing to think long about the question.
With his business done, feeling motivated again, he rejoins the others, and they leave the Eternal Coffins behind them as they aimlessly walk towards the center of the realm.
“What now?” Tereza asks. “I’ll also sell my items at that private auction, if that’s alright with you.”
“Sure,” Alex replies. “Well, as for what now... I want to level up my skills. That’s the most important thing.”
“I’ll head to the markets. I require more information about the current trends and the price fluctuations that happened during our absence,” Benezia states, looking completely serious.
“I’ll join you, Benezia,” Menchi declares, walking next to her, smiling happily. “I also have a lot of dishes to sell, and maybe I’ll spot something of interest. The next month will be spent between my kitchen and the markets, constantly cooking and selling anything—apart from the really good dishes that I’ll give you, Alex.”
“That’s fine. No need to justify yourselves,” Alex replies, shrugging.
“I think I’ll walk with you a while longer, Alex. I need to level my skills as well,” Tereza adds, stretching her arms.
Princess Jewel also needs to level her skills! Soulmate, please visit the Pet Hub after leveling up Soulmate’s own skills.
Reasonable request, for once.
“Alright,” Alex says, turning away.
Menchi instantly goes after him, stops him, and hands him the silver Den Den Mushi. “Since I’ll be busy, you can have it. You may need to contact Benezia.”
“Alright,” Alex says, accepting the cute snail.
“Don’t forget to feed it. I’ll leave food for it in your apartment later,” Menchi warns him.
Alex smiles, self-assuredly, “Don’t worry about it; Jewel will help me remember. If something bad happens to the snail, there will be a one-month chicken ban for you, Jewel. You need to shoulder some responsibility as well.”
This is abuse, spider abuse. Princess Jewel can’t live with that responsibility and this crushing fear. It is simply inhumane.
You are a spider....
“If you succeed, I’ll buy some special chicken, recognized by the system, for you, and Menchi will prepare it to your liking,” Alex adds, trying to coax her.
Maybe that will teach her some responsibility. I feel like teaching a small child to study hard for an exam and offering incentives to perform well.
Princess Jewel accepts! She’ll take care of the little Peasant snail with the utmost care. ❤️
“...”
“...”
“I’ll see you later,” Alex says to Benezia and Menchi, and then walks towards the familiar Skill Hub near the centre of the Realm.
“This will take a while again, huh?” Tereza asks, following behind him, grabbing onto his arm. “I remember that the cost will increase significantly... what was it again?”
“That’s something to ask your system, but starting at lvl 5, skills require a higher-tier Soul Crystal... meaning even Basic skills, which didn’t cost a thing aside from FC, now cost a small Soul Crystal. Skills requiring Small Soul Crystals now require Medium ones. Am I missing something, 1337?”
[Host is correct. Aside from that, there is something else Host should consider. The cost of unlearning a skill is 5,000 FC. Should a player level it past lvl 5, the cost rises to 25,000 FC.]
“I see... so leveling skills up to level 5 is cheap with almost no risk... but if you go higher, you invest a lot of resources, and even unlearning it comes at a heavy cost,” Tereza notes. “It sounds a little crazy... is it even worth increasing skills?”
“Yes, it is,” Alex says with no hesitation. “Every single level is extremely powerful. I’d pay even five times that amount. Forget 25,000 FC, Tereza. These skills can save our lives. If you are low on FC, just tell me.”
“I should be fine for now,” Tereza says, showing a hint of worry for just a brief second.
Soon, they reach the Skill Hub, and Alex gently lifts Jewel off his head and places her onto the ground before entering the cabin.
Don’t leave Princess Jewel behind.
“I’ll be back soon,” Alex suggests. “You don’t need to wait for me, Tereza, if it gets too boring. This might take a while. Jewel, why don’t you use Zetsu and find out how much the average player spends on those things? I’ll see you later.”
He then closes the door, barely able to hear Tereza’s reply.
“That’s a good idea. Jewel, why don’t you give it a try? See you soon!” Tereza says, entering the cabin next to Alex.
Inside the cabin, Alex is already feeling the frustration of the rising cost for his skills.
This will be expensive... very expensive. Thankfully, I saved on Soul Crystals. I guess I was very wise not to sell them.
Thankfully, I can withstand a hit like that. Let’s get to it then.
Alex begins his upgrading journey once again with Nen Prodigy lvl 5, upgrading it to lvl 6, spending two expensive Soul Crystals (Medium) and 9,000 FC.
The process takes over an hour, despite Alex feeling like it happened in just minutes.
I'd better keep it up... I have a lot of skills left.
Next, Alex upgrades the basic skills to lvl 6, spending another 16,000 FC and, because of the new requirement, a total of 8 Soul Crystals (Small), as each skill now requires one.
His basic skills are now at lvl 6 across the board, a requirement of his subskill Hellish-Greed, which forces him to level all of his Basic skills evenly, even those he might not want to level. He briefly glances at them, enjoying the upgrades, as each skill combined slightly raises almost all aspects of his being.
Basic Close Combat Prowess lvl 6, Basic Footwork lvl 6, Basic Endurance lvl 6, Basic Long-Range Combat Prowess lvl 6, Basic Eloquence lvl 6, Basic Concentration lvl 6, Basic Meditation lvl 6, Basic Mana Control lvl 6
Finally, Alex addresses his four Remaining Skills: Black Magic lvl 5, Alexandrian Royal Swordsmanship lvl 5, Imbuement Archery lvl 5, and Kunrith’s Biotics lvl 5.
First of all, he upgrades Black Magic to lvl 6, spending 8,000 FC and 1 Soul Crystal (Small).
Alex, after the process finishes, continues with his Gold-ranked skill Alexandrian Royal Swordsmanship, spending 1 Soul Crystal (Medium) and 4000 FC, leveling it to lvl 6, too.
Getting stronger and stronger, Alex decides to improve his two remaining skills in the same order he obtained them. He upgrades Imbuement Archery to lvl 6, costing him another 8,000 FC and one Soul Crystal (Small).
Finally, he upgrades his latest skill, the incredibly potent Kunrith’s Biotics, raising it to lvl 6 as well, paying 4000 FC, and 1 Soul Crystal (Medium).
In total, Alex spends 49,000 FC, 10 Soul Crystals (Small), and four Soul Crystals (Medium), an almost absurd cost, totalling a total of 649,000 FC, calculated with a market rate of 20,000 FC per small Soul Crystal.
As he finishes with his last skill, a familiar message is displayed by his system:
[Player has leveled up Kunrith’s Biotics]
[Please choose a basic or advanced Biotic skill out of the following. While basic information will be provided, detailed information will only be revealed after selecting the skill.]
Basic skills:
[Biotic Strike: Applies mass effect fields to an object or body part, strengthening it and allowing the subsequent strike to hit harder, unleashing the remaining fields with the attack.]
[Biotic Enchant: Applies mass effect fields to an object or body part, lightly enhancing it for a certain time.]
[Shockwave: Allows you to launch a string of concussive mass effect fields in a narrow path in front of you, violently knocking targets aside and causing damage.]
Advanced skills:
[Slam: Lifts a target and slams them to the ground, inflicting damage and potentially stunning and crippling the target.]
[Nova: Allows the user to strike the ground, dealing AoE damage that’s further increased by any current barriers and shields.]
[Singularity: Creates a sphere of dark energy that sucks multiple enemies into a certain area, leaving them floating helplessly and vulnerable to a follow-up attack. Warning: Heavy and Powerful targets might resist most effects of this ability.]
[Biotic Charge: Allows the user to charge towards an enemy or goal, using a mass effect field to speed up the user.]
[Reave: Attacks the target’s nervous system, dealing damage over time and preventing all forms of healing. Funnels some of the target's energy into the user's barrier or creates one from it.]
As Alex reads through the skills, he can’t help but cheer.
“Incredible! These are the top Biotic skills?! How come they are only classified as advanced? Are there even superior skills than those? I almost can’t believe it... even Reave is there!” Alex mutters, before realizing he’s still alone in the Skill upgrade cabin.
Well...
It’s too bad I can’t read the detailed descriptions... it also looks like some abilities changed. Nova works with barriers and shields? Also, Reave does not drain health and raises max health. I guess that makes sense, I suppose. I mean, at least it adds barriers, that’s a little more logical and almost the same, effect-wise.
The question is... what do I choose?!
