Chapter 198: So Many Levels

Chapter 198: So Many Levels

With everyone having gone up at least one level and no particular order for them to go in, they ended up playing a quick game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Except, as Jadis found out, the local version was called Sword, Shield, Arrow and had slightly different hand signs. When she told the group about her Earth variety of the game, she was met with no small amount of confusion.

“Why would paper beat a rock?” Kerr complained. “It’s a fucking rock. What’s paper going to do to it?”

“I have no idea Kerr,” Syd shrugged. “It’s just a kid’s game, I don’t think about it that hard.”

“Not very well thought out,” Bridget mumbled. “That rock is fine. Not affected at all, really.”

“Moving on,” Dys cleared her throat. “Let’s just do this.”

Swiftly getting through the games of Sword, Shield, Arrow, Eir ended up being the overall winner and went over her new levels first.

“I gained two levels in Beloved Cleric of Lyssandria, but no levels in my secondary class. I don’t think it benefited much from slaying those frost drakes since it isn’t a combat class and those weren’t demons. Still, two levels in my cleric class puts it at level twenty-two and my overall CLR at twenty-eight.”

“What skill did you get for twenty-one?” Aila asked. She had retrieved one of her books from her pack and was writing notes down, documenting everyone’s increased attributes and skills for further analysis and review. “And where did you put your two attribute points from level twenty-two?”

“Other than the Lesser Attribute Improvement skill we are all offered,” Eir explained, “I was offered a passive skill that would increase my Focus and Will both by five points each. However, I declined to take it since the other option was a rarer, and potentially more vital, skill.”

Back from the Brink

Passive Skill. Increases the odds of your healing spells being able to bring a recently deceased target back from death. Has no effect if the target is missing more than half of their total body mass.

“I sense that recent events may have influenced your skill offerings,” Jay said dryly from where she sat next to Aila, watching her write.

“Undoubtedly,” Eir nodded. “And while I hope that this skill is never needed, I would be a fool to not prepare for the eventuality.”

“It is a rare skill, too,” Aila added as she finished jotting down her notes. “From what I’ve read, most clerics don’t get that skill as an option since the criteria for obtaining it is difficult to come by.”

“Happy to help...” Bridget mumbled from where she lay, looking somewhat sour.

“In any case,” Eir smiled gracefully as she changed the subject. “I split my two attribute points and put one into Endurance so that it is an even ten and the other into Focus, since I expended so much magic today healing all of you and the soldiers. My status sheet looks like this now.”

Eir Aedraheill

Race: Elf

Primary Class: Beloved Cleric of Lyssandria (22)

Secondary Class: Lustful Oracle of D (6)

Tertiary Class: None

Combined Level Rating: 28

Health: 100/100

Magic: 360/360

Attributes

Strength: 8

Dexterity: 12

Agility: 10

Vitality: 10

Fortitude: 8

Endurance: 10

Arcane: 0

Divine: 122

Eldritch: 0

Focus: 36

Resilience: 10

Will: 20

“Though my current magic reserve is actually near empty, currently,” Eir admitted as she finished updating everyone on her progress.

“Thank you,” Jay said, a sentiment echoed by the others as Eir settled back to pray and regain some of her magic power. “Who wants to go next?”

“I will,” Kerr volunteered.

Kerr had gained one level for her secondary class, Far Wilds Traveler. Exciting news, since that meant Kerr had reached CLR fifty-nine and was only one level away from unlocking her tertiary class. Since the level she’d gained was also an odd number, she’d received a new skill as well.

Ambush Tactics II

Passive Skill. Deal lesser extra damage with any attack made against a target that does not detect you.

It was an improvement to her previously gained skill, Ambush tactics I, and took the extra damage it dealt up by a tier. A solid boost to her initial damage output and a natural progression of her skills. The skill itself wasn’t mind-blowing but that didn’t matter. Kerr’s progress towards CLR sixty was the big news.

“Can’t wait to see what I’m offered,” Kerr purred as she leaned heavily into Dys’ side. “Something lewd, I’m sure, since we’ve been fucking like teenagers in their first heat. At this point, the class being powerful is just icing on the cake.”

The last statement was punctuated by Kerr reaching down and giving Dys’ ass a firm squeeze.

“What does your status sheet look like now?” Aila prompted, interrupting Kerr before she tried to do anything more forward.

“Let me see...”

Kerr of Clan Nox

Race: Therion

Primary Class: Nox Archer (32)

Secondary Class: Far Wilds Traveler (27)

Tertiary Class: None

Combined Level Rating: 59

Health: 150/150

Magic: 0/0

Attributes

Strength: 81

Dexterity: 67

Agility: 20

Vitality: 15

Fortitude: 15

Endurance: 20

Arcane: 0

Aila blushed even redder at Jay’s whispered words but didn’t object to the suggestion. After clearing her throat, she went over her own status sheet so that the others would hear it, since she’d heard all of theirs.

Aila of Red Tree

Race: Human

Primary Class: Cart Driver (24)

Secondary Class: Nephilim Powered Arcanist (18)

Tertiary Class: None

Combined Level Rating: 42

Health: 120/120

Magic: 450/450

Attributes

Strength: 10

Dexterity: 15

Agility: 20

Vitality: 12

Fortitude: 15

Endurance: 15

Arcane: 116

Divine: 0

Eldritch: 0

Focus: 30

Resilience: 5

Will: 10

With Aila’s advancement reviewed, that left only Jadis and Bridget who had not yet discussed their new levels. Eyeing the orc, Jadis decided she would be the next to go, since Bridget still looked somewhat tentative. She could understand the hesitation, since coming out and telling a group of people you’d only known for a few weeks all your personal stat information was not something generally done, culturally speaking. But Jadis hoped that if they were all being open with their stats, then Bridget would feel more comfortable.

“Well, my Mirror Knight class went up one level, putting it at twenty-nine,” Jay said as she ran her fingers through her hair. “I haven’t picked my skill yet, but just looking at the two on offer, I’m pretty sure I know which one I’m going to take.”

Mirror Knight’s Tenacity

Passive Skill. Increases the Fortitude and Resilience attributes by 15 points.

“Fifteen points each!?” was Bridget’s startled reaction.

“That’s so much!” Sabina said at the same time, barely containing the volume of her voice.

The rest of Jadis’ team who had known her longer didn’t react as strongly. Eir, Kerr, and Thea only looked slightly interested. Aila barely raised an eyebrow as she jotted the info down.

“It’s a better version of the Knight’s Tenacity passive I already have,” Jay explained. “And yeah, adding on fifteen skill points to those two defensive skills would be good, but not as good as the other skill I’ve been offered.”

“Figured,” Kerr rolled her eyes. “Of course you’d get offered a skill that’ll give you thirty attribute points and say ‘yeah, it’s okay, but I’ve got better options.’ It’s a good thing you’re gorgeous and fuckable otherwise you might be insufferable.”

“Pot calling the kettle black there, but whatever,” Dys shot back before taking the bottle from Kerr’s hands and finishing the half that was left in it with one gulp.

“The other skill I was offered is also an upgrade on an existing skill, but it’s a better skill so I’m definitely taking it,” Jay told them as Dys coughed violently from the strength of whatever in D’s name Kerr was drinking.

Improved Mirror Knight’s Might

Passive Skill. Multiplies a chosen physical attribute by 2. Attribute chosen when skill is first selected and cannot be changed.

“That is the better skill,” Aila said as the others murmured their own thoughts. “How much will your Strength go up when you take it?”

“A little more than thirty points,” Jay answered. “So, yeah. More stats than I’d get from the Tenacity skill, and the bonus will only get bigger with time.”

With that said, Jadis officially accepted the skill and watched her Strength attribute jump up by thirty-four points in an instant. With one choice, her Strength stat had become her highest attribute, exceeding even her over the top Eldritch stat.

Jadis Ahlstrom

Race: Nephilim

Primary Class: Mirror Knight (29)

Secondary Class: Perverted Ritualist of D (21)

Tertiary Class: None

Combined Level Rating: 50

Health: 705/910

Magic: 310/310

Attributes

Strength: 136

Dexterity: 36

Agility: 132

Vitality: 61

Fortitude: 46

Endurance: 48

Arcane: 0

Divine: 0

Eldritch: 132

Focus: 1

Resilience: 15

Will: 5

“Your attributes are just as fucking huge as you are,” Kerr shook her head. “I’m glad I don’t have to fight you in a bar. Lyssandria’s tits you’re strong.”

“You’re not too bad yourself,” Dys said while wrapping her arm around Kerr and pulling her a little closer. “You’re two shotting frost drakes after all.”

With everyone having laid out their new levels and stats, the only person left was the still hesitant-looking orc lying next to Eir with her head propped up on a pillow. With all eyes turning to look at her, she shrank just a little, a frown tugging at the corners of her lips.

“So, Bridget,” Jay said, leaning towards her with a kind smile. “Do you want to tell us about your class and level? You don’t have to go into details if you don’t want to. I promise, we aren’t going to ever force you to reveal info you aren’t comfortable with giving out.”

Bridget stared into Jay’s eyes for a moment before she took in a deep breath and let it out in a big huff.

“Ah fuck it. Here goes. Where do I start?”