After saying his goodbyes to Thomas, Derek left. Once he passed through the gates, he surveyed his surroundings. I guess I should just go into the forest. Maybe I can find some high-level creatures close to whatever is causing the disease.
He traveled toward the tree line until he was at the edge of the forest. Before he began his ‘mission’, he did a quick check on his stat points.
Hmm… 40 stat points, two skill points, and three skill upgrade points. Derek remembered the extra boost of regeneration he felt after his vitality broke 500 points. I really like having spare stat points for worst-case scenarios, but maybe spending a few won’t hurt. Derek looked at his stats and contemplated how to spend his points.
First, he spent five points in Wisdom, just to round it off at 200. With that, he received a notification, which he promptly ignored. Next, he rounded out the rest of his stats as the odd numbers bugged him. He spent two points on intelligence, four points on dexterity, and two points on strength. He knew he probably shouldn’t do this, but the numbers were driving him crazy.
Finally, he spent nine stat points on endurance. After spending that, he received another notification on his screen which, again, he ignored. Yeah, yeah, I’ll get to it in a minute. Okay, so… I have 18 stat points left. Derek frowned. Well, whatever. He had never been too compulsive about his stats with the old system—how could he with the percent increases titles had given him. With the new system, however, he did not have any percent increase titles, so he was in full control.
After finishing up with his stat points, he checked the two notifications he had received. He thought it was odd to receive a notification for spending skill points.
You have successfully increased all your stats to at least 200 points.
Achievement Unlocked
Oh? Now that’s unexpected. Derek looked at his new achievement.
Jack of All
By spreading your stat points through all stats, you have shown that you understand their worth. You are awarded the following:
2 Skill Points
15 Stats Points added to each stat
Note: This is a one-time achievement and will not be upgraded.
Derek clicked his tongue. Not bad. Sucks that I can’t upgrade it, but that was almost five free levels, plus some skill points. After seeing this achievement, Derek couldn’t wait to see what the other notification was for. He focused on it.
You have successfully increased both your endurance and vitality to 500 points.
Achievement Unlocked
That grabbed Derek’s attention. This is going to be great. He checked the new achievement.
Meat Shield
You thrive on the physicality of the fight. You are a glutton for punishment. In order to survive your masochistic ways, you have focused heavily on defense and recovery. You are awarded the following:
One Defensive Skill (Please Choose)
One Restorative Skill (Please Choose)
Note: This is a one-time achievement and will not be upgraded.
Derek looked toward the sky. There is a god! Actual combat skills! Derek was beside himself with joy. After the flop that was Void Call, he’d been stuck with only one usable non-General Skill. Sure, he wasn’t getting a new attack skill, but a defensive skill would be nice, and he knew that the only reason he had been able to use Greater Meditation during his fight with the Void Beast was because of the unusual circumstances. He excitedly viewed his possible defensive skills.
Current Available Skill Points: 5
Note: One skill point is required to unlock any of the skills below. If you do not have any skill points, you may choose to unlock a skill at a later date.
Available Defensive Skills
Counterattack
Guard
Harden
Magic Resistance
Physical Resistance
Reflect
Stoneskin
Taunt
Thorns
Transfer Damage
Oh, ten skills to choose from. Derek was a little irritated that the skills were not free, but he expected it from the stingy system. He read through the list of skills one by one, hoping to find the perfect skill. Counterattack… Nope, not something I would use. Guard… Requires a shield, pass. Harden… Maybe. Magic Resistance… 1.5% per level, passive… Maybe. Physical Resistance… Same… Maybe.
Derek went on reading the list in his mind until he settled on four skills: Magic Resistance, Reflect, Thorns, and Transfer Damage. He took a closer look at them.
Magic Resistance
Increase your natural resistance to all magic-related skills. Each level will increase the resistance by 1.5%.
Passive
Cost: 1 Skill Point
Would you like to learn Magic Resistance?
Damn. That’s 30% full magical resistance at level 20. If it can be upgraded after level 20, then I could become practically immune. He looked at the next skill.
Reflect
Reflect a certain amount of damage back at the attacker. The higher the level, the greater the damage is reflected.
Cost: 1 Skill Point
Would you like to learn Reflect?
Not bad.
Thorns
A small amount of damage is dealt to your attacker for every attack received. The higher the level, the greater the damage dealt.
Passive
Cost: 1 Skill Point
Would you like to learn Thorns?
Derek looked at Thorns, then he did a double-take. That says passive. That Void Beast probably would have killed itself if I would have had that ability. After confirming the ability, Derek was very interested in it.
Transfer Damage
Cast this upon an ally to transfer the damage they receive to yourself. The higher the level, the more damage you can transfer.
Cost: 1 Skill Point
Would you like to learn Transfer Damage?
Ooh, I could save so many people… Nope. Not my kind of skill. After thinking, Derek was considering either Thorns or Magic Resistance. Ah, man, both are perfect for me. Thorns would add a ton to my offense, but Magic Resistance would increase my survivability by so much. Finally, Derek came to a conclusion. I sure hope I’m able to choose more of these later. He chose Magic Resistance.
Magic Resistance Learned Successfully.
Skill Points Remaining: 4
Derek felt the familiar feeling of learning a skill but not much after. What would I expect? It’s a defensive passive. I wonder if Harden or Stoneskin would have combined with my old Impenetrable Skin skill. Oh well, I need magic defense. With his new defensive skill learned, he looked at the restorative skills.
Current Available Skill Points: 4
Note: One skill point is required to unlock any of the skills below. If you do not have any skill points, you may choose to unlock a skill at a later date.
Available Restorative Skills
Cure
Heal
Life Leech
Rejuvenation
Remove Curse
Wait, why are there only five skills on this list? Derek sighed. Stingy system. Derek looked through the list. How is Life Leech a restorative skill? Damn, these skills seem too basic. He frowned. He wanted a skill that combined well with his fighting style, but he didn’t like how basic the skills were. I guess the defensive skills were kind of basic too, but they fit well with me.
Derek first ruled out Cure. Only cures poison, waste of a skill. Don’t need Remove Curse either. Finally, after a bit of thinking, he crossed Heal off his list. Too much mana for not enough healing. After that, it left him with Life Leech and Rejuvenation.
Life Leech
After casting on a user, a percent of any damage dealt will be returned to the user as health. The higher the level, the more health will be returned, the longer the spell will last, and the less mana it will cost.
2% Damage Returned as Health
Skill Lasts 30 Seconds
Costs 250 Mana
Cooldown: 5 Minutes
Cost: 1 Skill Point
Maybe. Derek looked at Rejuvenation.
Rejuvenation
After casting on a user, the user will receive a percentage of health restored over a set period. The higher the level, the higher the recovery, less cost, and less cooldown.
5% HP Recovered Over 30 Seconds
Costs 250 Mana
Cooldown: 5 Minutes
Cost: 1 Skill Point
Would you like to learn Rejuvenation?
Derek really wanted to get Life Leech, but he could see how Rejuvenation could become extremely powerful after leveling up. This decision was harder than his previous one. Well, either skill is better than none. What really made his decision for him was the percent heal from Rejuvenation.
Learn.
Rejuvenation Learned Successfully.
Skill Points Remaining: 3
I hope I don’t regret this. Derek thought about how he would level his new skills up. Rejuvenation should be easy, but I need to find a monster that uses magic to help me level up my resistance. Hmm… Maybe the kid will get a sorcerer class or something.
With all of that settled, Derek viewed his new status sheet.
Status
Personal Information
Name: Derek Hunt
Age: 29
Level: 11
Experience: 0/600
Class: Champion of the Void (Epic)
Race: Human (Modified)
Health: 5250
Mana: 2150
Stamina: 5150
Stats
Strength: 360
Dexterity: 260
Endurance: 515
Vitality: 525
Intelligence: 220
Wisdom: 215
Stat Points Remaining: 18
Skills
Channel Void Lv. 3, Dismantle Lv. 4, Greater Meditation Lv. 1, Heavy Weapons Mastery Lv. 18, Identify Lv. 8, Magic Resistance Lv. 1, Rejuvenation Lv. 1, Void Call Lv. 2
Skill Points Remaining: 3
Skill Upgrade Points Remaining: 3
Achievements
Giant Slayer, Jack of All, Lesser Slayer of the Unknown, Meat Shield
Well… only three skill points left… I think that’s enough spending for one day. Let’s go look for some prey.
