Chapter 24: Avatar

Chapter 24: Avatar

Sofia woke up to a wet sensation on her face. Alith had her eyes closed and was leaning over her, kissing her cheek.

Wh- What, what are you doing! Sofia complained, flustered, she pushed Alith away. Im not...

Alith couldnt resist the pushing, Stop, stop! Youre hurting me with your gauntlets! I was just healing you!

By slobbering all over my face?!

Yes! Calm down ok, you have no idea how much weve worked to protect you since you blacked out. Alith claimed. She looked at something Sofia couldnt see for a second or two. Then, the description of a skill appeared in front of her. Here, just read that.

Sofia sat up to read the system prompt. She couldnt believe what she was reading.

[Maidens kiss] : The love of a beautiful maiden is a universal cure, old as time itself. You can heal someone else by kissing them. Efficiency proportional to your attraction and affection towards them. Costs 100 mana per use.

(Next function unlocks at Skill Level 100)

Dont you dare laugh at me! I didnt get to choose. Alith muttered, her face was unusually red.

No, ok, thats thats a skill alright. Why on the cheek though?

Where else? I couldnt remove your armor, opening your visor was all I could do, the skill needs direct contact. Alith explained and paused for a second, then smirked Unless you wanted something else?

Sofia rolled her eyes, closed her visor and let herself fall back on the floor. She took some time to gather her thoughts.

Were you not affected by the poison gas? she asked, her voice a bit muffled by the heavy helmet.

Ever tried to poison an undead?

Oh. Yeah I guess not. Sofia answered as she looked around, they were on the open last floor of a spire, a lot like the one they had teleported to. You carried me up here Care to fill me in about what happened?

You could probably tell most of it by looking at the messages, I managed to down the thing that came at us from the dead end, it was blocking the door. Pareth killed a few of the things outside but he was outnumbered, lost an arm and a few ribs. Then I grabbed you and we fled. Well, I say I grabbed you but Pareth did most of the lifting.

The walls are still following us? Sofia panicked a bit, wearily looking at the stairs going down the spire.

No we managed to lose them by going up a level then jumping back down to the third, I dont know why but they didnt follow after that. They are quite slow anyway, and not that strong. Whats scary is the camouflage and numbers. There was a lot more of them waiting outside than you probably think. Then we went up the spire because it seemed safer, if they come up one by one Pareth can defend forever. And they cant hide well against the curved walls with their rectangular bodies.

Sofia nodded along with Alith's retelling of the events. By the way, you might want to check your messages, we got a lot of experience out of the whole ordeal. Alith added. And heal Pareth, also.

Pareth sat on the ledge of the tower, the healing light Sofia summoned outside only grazed his legs but that was enough for his lost parts to reform. Then she checked her system notifications.

You have defeated [Lesser Phageid - lv. 104]

You have defeated [Lesser Phageid - lv. 87]

You have defeated [Lesser Phageid - lv. 124]

You have defeated [Lesser Phageid - lv. 122]

You have defeated [Lesser Phageid - lv. 110]

You have defeated [Lesser Phageid - lv. 99]

You have defeated [Lesser Phageid - lv. 109]

[Poker Face] - Level 3

[Identify] - Level 1

Summoned heroes (2 / 4)

Lv.70 Pareth (Elf Holy Skeleton)Lv.84 Alith (Maiden Banshee)

Thats some good progress for being poisoned half to death before the fight even began. Without Alith and Pareth there Id be fucking dead! Killed by damn walls

I need to work on filling in these other two summon slots, my life depends on it even more than I thought. I really cant be fighting in the front-line with my physical stats.

Available Passive Skills :

[Pristine ] : Your soul is in[ Essence] : per second.[Avatar of ] : Become a walking[ death] : necrotic aura.

Hmm I might not get more passives for a while, at level 100 at the earliest but even then it might be more active skills I really need the added power now. What if more of the walls come? These were Lesser walls, that has to mean there are stronger ones out there. Looking at it, I didnt want to make [Pristine Essence] but it looks like I might have to. [Avatar of death] sounds really strong.

Hey, Alith, I need to build two passives.

The small girl acquiesced. Go on.

I can either make [Pristine death] and [Avatar of Essence] or [Pristine Essence] and [Avatar of death], whats your opinion? Sofia asked, she opened her visor to look Alith in the eyes, who was busy cleaning her knife from the dried white blood.

I have no idea, but [Avatar of death] is a fitting title for a necromancer in bone armor if you ask me. You cant really make pristine anything be a good skill I think. I cant think of anything to do with that. Pristine skin? Not like you need that, Alith pointed out. Maybe if you had Pristine lungs you could stop snoring at night. Thatd be a nice upgrade.

Cant you be serious for twenty seconds straight? [Avatar of death] it is then I hope I wont regret it Actually lets start with the other one.

"I'll be serious when I'm the one who gets serious shit like 'Avatar of god damn death' and not 'Grandma's slimy kisses'."

You have acquired the passive : Pristine

You have acquired the passive : Essence

[Pristine Essence] : You are the unblemished. Immunity to memory alterations. Augmented resistance to perception alterations.

Ok, Ill take it, its not incredible but I do like knowing that nothing can mess with my brain now.

You have acquired the passive : Avatar of

You have acquired the passive : death

[Avatar of death] : Grow to become the embodiment of death in this realm.

You may reap the souls of the recently passed, all is equal in death.

When a nearby enemy's health reaches 25% or lower, they cannot regain life.

Reaped Soul Value : 0

(Next function unlocks at Soul Value 100)

Sofia narrowed her eyes at the description. Another upgradeable skill, like [Holy skeleton] and [Blessing of the Deep]. Thats only been extremely strong skills until now; and the first tier is already not bad. Anyone we mess up enough cant heal, against regenerating monsters it could be very useful. Im not sure how I feel about the reaping souls part. Comes with the job I guess. Cant be that bad if theyre already dead

Alith was looking at her expectantly, How is it? My advice was good, right?

Let me show you