The power of level 10 flowed through his body while Elio caught his breath.
Something felt... different.
He had experienced level increases enough times to recognize the usual sensations: the increase in strength, the enhanced clarity in his perception. These were familiar changes, almost comforting in their predictability.
But this was distinct.
His fingers found the book's pages almost by instinct, seeking to understand what had changed.
As his eyes scanned the statistics, the familiar numbers seemed to dance with new meaning.
Elio Von Elian's Statistics
Skills:
{5 Basic ones}
Heaven's Frost
Heaven's Spark
Heaven's Gale
Heaven's Synergist
Heaven's Metal(New)
Familiars:
{5 Basic ones}
Frost Penguin
Spark Eel
Gale Roseline-Shark (+40 MD)
Corrosive Glaucus (0/10,000,000,000)
Ferrous Turtle (0/100,000,000,000) (New)
Emblems:
Wind
Level 10
Mana: 100/100
Resistance: 100/100 (+900)
Stamina: 20/20
Attack: 10 (15)
Magic Damage: 10 (+9)(+40) / (59)
Strength: 10 A
BUT (and this is an important BUT, not like the other 'buts' I've mentioned before), choose wisely. Once you combine two summons, there's no going back. It's like a magical marriage, but without the possibility of divorce!
In your book, you'll find the new option, and although any combination you choose will give you the same magical power increase, the utility... ah, utility is another story.
Think it through, because this companion will be your right hand (or left, I don't discriminate) at least until level 20. And yes, there is a level 20, but that's a story for another equally long and possibly more confusing message than this one.
P.S.: Have you noticed that 'A' in your statistics? Interesting, isn't it?"
The message continued with an almost apologetic tone:
"I'd love to explain it to you, REALLY! But... let's say I lost certain advantages with a certain Goddess and, well, there are rules about what information I can reveal. You know how these divine things are... Celestial politics and all that! Although with practice, I'm sure you'll discover how it works by yourself.
BUT (and this is the most important BUT of all BUTS in this message), I have something I CAN share with you! Since you've overcome the first ring's last level, I can reveal the maximum level information of demons in this ring. You know, those who think they're better than my humans just because their magic is 'softer'... HA!"
And there, finally, the enemy statistics materialized before Elio:
Soldier Demon of (Element???)
Skills:
Frenzy
Metamorphosis
Element Magic (Wind, Fire, Water or Ground)
Mana: 1000/1000
Resistance: 10,000/10,000 (Ground 2x)
Stamina: 100/100 (Water 2x)
Attack: 50 (Fire 2x)
Magic Damage: 50 (Fire 2x)
Strength: 20 (Wind 2x)
Defense: 50 (Ground 2x)
Magic Defense: 50 (Water 2x)
Speed: 20 (Wind 2x)
Perception / Agility: 2 (A)
When the message revealed the demon soldier's statistics, Elio felt a chill run down his spine. The numbers were staggering, each value dwarfing his own.
The implications were clear and sobering. Even at level 10, even with his new mysterious "A" rankings, the gap between him and these demons was vast. Their base values were multiples of his own, and with their elemental enhancements...
Elio's mind raced with calculations. A fire demon would have 100 attack and magic damage. A wind demon could move at speed 40.
But perhaps most intriguing was that they too had that mysterious "A" in their perception. Whatever this new dimension of power was, they may had already mastered it.
He realized, as he observed the enemy statistics... that perhaps he wasn't as ready as he thought.
♢♢♢♢
"P.S. of the P.S.: I really should stop making postscripts, but they're addictive..."