46. The Loadout

46. The Loadout

After considering all my options, I have to go with finding Gale. She’s my best ticket home. Bruke and the Wolf Lord guard the pass between Charlatan Forest and the Eastern Desert. The Kraken’s territory abuts the cliffs to the west. And who knows how long it’ll take to work my way through the forest directly.

Flying is how I got here. Flying is how I’ll get home.

As for taking a shortcut...

*Avian Marks – One*

Harpy Sight

Harpy Wings

Harpy Tailfeathers

Harpy Talons

Harpy Lightweight

Harpy Air Magic

* Selected Harpy Sight!*

I select Sight and keep Lightweight. If my understanding is correct, an average Harpy possesses all six of these abilities. I’d place a wager that safe, efficient flight requires at least three, if not five, or all six of those marks.

Lightweight to reduce their weight.

Wings to create lift and propel them.

Tailfeathers for steering.

Sight to see where they’re going to land.

Talons to stick the landing.

Air Magic for additional control and propulsion, maybe?

Taking Lightweight, Wings, and a prayer before attempting to make it over Charlatan Forest on my own would be suicide. Using my Slime Mutability to transfer a mark or two over to Avian would be foolhardy as well. While I could use Slime Malleability to refund my Wings to arms in case of a fight, I’d still be spending a lot of resources that could be used more efficiently. That, and I could get stuck in the middle of the Forest all night waiting for my marks to refresh at dawn the next day to reselect my wings and fly out.

The bottom line is that I need more marks.

*Slime Marks – None*

Slime Constitution

Slime Core

Slime Constitution (Jellyfish, Fuzzy)

Slime Malleability

Slime Malleability (Jellyfish, Fuzzy)

Slime Mutability

Slime Amalgamation

Slime Mutability (Jellyfish, Fuzzy)

Slime Hair / Legs / Arms

Jellyfish Slime Tentacles

Fuzzy Slime Flesh Shaping

Fuzzy Slime Fur

There are a ton of tempting options on display now.

During the golden hour of sunrise, I can manipulate my spent marks a bit. I could potentially refund Malleability to purchase second-tier Jellyfish Slime Mutability. I wonder if that lets me transfer a total of two marks to another type or an additional two marks on top of the one from the first-tier ability?

Amalgamation could be good, but I’ve got no clue what it does. All the more reason to pick it and find out...

However, I have a feeling this will be a day for combat. While I’m not going to pick a fight, climbing Harpy Mountain is sure to get me plenty of unwanted attention. For that reason, I’m going on the defensive.

I decide to refund Mutability and Malleability.

*Selected Slime Core!*

*Selected Jellyfish Slime Constitution!*

I don’t feel any different, so I then refund the first-tier Slime Constitution the same way I did Goblin Stature a few minutes ago (golden hour for the win), giving me another mark to spend. I’ll keep it in my back pocket in case I need to alter my build later.

Slime Constitution saved my bacon when I took a hit from Peter the Bunny Patron yesterday, so upgrading it to second-tier is a no-brainer.

If Slime Core does what I think, it’s totally busted. At the same time, I hope I never have to test the theory (who am I kidding?).

*Canine Marks – One*

Wolf Nose

Wolf Nose (Dire, Cinder)

Wolf Lord’s Nose

Wolf Claws

Wolf Claws (Dire, Cinder)

Wolf Lord’s Claws

Wolf Tail

Wolf Tail (Dire, Cinder)

Wolf Lord’s Tail

Wolf Legs

Wolf Rush

Wolf Legs (Dire, Cinder)

Cinderwolf Rush

Wolf Lord’s Legs

Wolf Jaws

Wolf Jaws (Dire, Cinder)

Wolf Lord’s Jaws

Cinderwolf Ember Magic

Wolf Cock

Wolf Cock (Dire, Cinder)

Wolf Lord’s Cock

I’m obviously keeping Ember Magic and Wolf Rush. Wolf Nose, too, is hard to let go of. I might stumble across Megan’s trail and, though I promised Cottontail I’d search for her sister starting tomorrow, I couldn’t forgive myself if she got hurt because I didn’t have the ability equipped to recognize her scent. After rescuing her from a mind-controlled Dura, I imprinted her smell into my brain because she was especially cute, not realizing her connection to my lover at the time.

I already refunded Wolf Tail (the minor boost to balance a tail gives me isn’t worth an entire mark IMO) and pocketed the mark. Unfortunately, even if I refunded Wolf Rush, I need one more free mark to go Wolf Legs>>Cinderwolf Legs>>Cinderwolf Rush (according to the ability tree, Wolf Rush doesn’t qualify me for an upgrade on its own).

If I desperately need a boost today, I’ll reluctantly select Wolf Jaws. There might be a hidden ability behind it that I could use Slime Mutability to pick up.

Otherwise, I’ll save the mark for a special present to Gabby she’s been patiently waiting for... (Hint, it starts with ‘Wolf’ and ends with ‘Cock’)

*Goblinoid Marks – One*

Goblin Ears

Goblinoid Ears (Apprentice, Hob, Orc)

Goblin Gut

Goblinoid Gut (Apprentice, Hob, Orc)Discover new chapters at novelhall.com

Goblin Nails

Hobgoblin Nails

*Breeder Marks – Two (Male), One (Female)!*

Paternal Malleability I (II - 3)

Paternal Customization (3)

Paternal Inheritance I

Paternal Seminal Control

Volume

Qualities

Spawn Attributes

Paternal Seminal Potency

Sustenance

Sperm

Lure

Partner Tracker

Maternal Ovarian Control

Maternity Ward

Create Womb Seed

Maternal Fetus Protection

Maternal Inheritance I

Maternal Fast-Gestation I

Maternal Mammary Control and Potency

Sustenance

Pacification

Allure

After reviewing my options, my first temptation is saving up for a second level of Paternal Malleability. That’d let me switch cocks more often. Or maybe Customization instead—I could design an Uber Ovipositor/Cock with Bunny Patron thickness, a Canine knot, and that never goes soft like a Treefolk dick. *Wipes drool*

Paternal Inheritance is important. It won’t help me fuck better, but it’s about time for me to start thinking about the future. Same for Spawn Attributes, which must refer to my offspring.

I assume Potent Sperm is just a 100% impregnation success rate. I don’t super need that with my Ovipositor equipped. Seminal Lure has monster hunting applications, and Seminal Qualities is intriguing. It makes me wonder how much I can actually alter my semen. That could potentially make a big difference, or not be worth a mark after all. Hard to say.

Partner Tracker is a big one, though. I’ve had my eye on it, and I’ve noticed it can be purchased with either Male or Female Breeder marks. I originally thought it was worthless while I have Wolf Nose. However, some additional consideration has me rethinking that stance.

I could use Partner Tracker to monitor Ariella and Kani’s locations. Wolf Nose doesn’t work underwater. It might let me know what Dura is up to or have helped me find Cottontail’s sister depending on how it works exactly. The more girls I impregnate in different locations, the more important having some way to check on them becomes.

Yeah, I’m talking myself into it. Male Breeder marks seem easier to come by than Female, so here goes nothing...

*Selected Partner Tracker!*

It doesn’t seem to work automatically; at least no instant brain-map appears in my vision, so I move on with the intention to figure it out later.

Maternity Ward has always been a question mark to me. I guess, since it’s on the Ovarian Control branch, it gives me additional options during conceiving or maybe birth. Fast Gestation has obvious benefits. Inheritance I is another clear winner, even if I don’t know how it works. Then there’s Allure enticing me with its... allure.

Fetus Protection sounds critically important for protecting the life inside me, and the more I consider that fact, the more irresponsible my behavior seems in retrospect. I fought Peter, a tier-three monster, without this ability while I had one of Gabby’s embryo offspring inside me. I’m super lucky I didn’t have a miscarriage.

My enemies are only going to get stronger, and I’m only going to get more damaged during fights. If I don’t take this, I know I’ll regret it.

*Selected Maternal Fetus Protection!*

I check if I’ve unlocked anything and find a few surprises: Partner Map, Partner Brand, and Distress Call appear under Partner Tracker, and Maternal Brand plus Fast-Maturing Spawn appear under Fetus Protection. That last one gives me pause until I consider the most efficient way to protect a child would be to literally shorten their childhood. Actually, I’m kind of against that. Giving my children a lengthy childhood is an aspirational luxury.

Partner Tracker especially seems to be a branch focusing on practical applications. I may have to invest heavily there in the future. I see two ‘Brand’ type options with no indication of their function. However, the Map and Distress Call both sound useful.

Alright, drumroll, please. In summary:

*Selected Marks - 21*

Wolf Nose

Wolf Rush

Cinderwolf Ember Magic

Harpy Sight

Harpy Lightweight

Orc Stature

Orc Strength

Goblin Apprentice Fast Learner

Mermaid Water Magic

Cancer Summon Armor

Fishman Summon Spear

Mouse Predator Sense

Lucky Rabbit Foot

Bunny Stamina

Bunny Patron Earth Magic

Bunny Patron Cock

Slime Core

Jellyfish Slime Constitution

Mandragora Photosynthesis

Pitcher Treefolk Vines

Twisted Treefolk Earth Magic

*Breeder Marks - 9*

Paternal Malleability I

Paternal Seminal Control – Volume

Paternal Seminal Potency – Sustenance

Partner Tracker

Maternal Ovarian Control

Maternal Create Womb Seed

Maternal Fetus Protection

Maternal Mammary Control and Potency – Pacification, Sustenance

*Available Marks - 4*

Canine – One!

Avian – None!

Mer – None!

Goblinoid – One!

Slime – One!

Fuzzy – None!

Forest – None!

Breeder (male) – One!

Breeder (female) – None!