There was one silver lining about all this mess, I had plenty of time to kill and continue to practice magic. Kappa had joined my other [Sub-Cores] at reaching the dreaded level five, and I had completed my Arcane affliction.
<Spell [Mana Burn] discovered.>
As I delved into the intricacies of the spell, a chilling ...
2024-07-31 12:47:15 +0000 UTC View PostEntering the tent, I was met with the sight of many tables and benches occupied by various colorful individuals wearing assorted gear and weapons. I had to block out my notifications as Beta nearly blinded me by trying to [Identify] everyone in the room. Thankfully, only the most perceptive of the adventurers noticed my entrance, causing qu...
2024-07-30 11:57:10 +0000 UTC View PostStaring at the skill, I was filled with anticipation. Could I really buy this? A small part of me was nervous, but I pushed past it and proceeded to try.
<Skill [Thunder Step LV 1] obtained. Skill Points remaining 12.>
I felt so much relief, and it must have been clearly visible as Lisa gave a cheery sm...
2024-07-29 10:51:50 +0000 UTC View PostEveryone was eagerly examining the materials. Luke was trying to catalog everything, Thern was inspecting the quality, Whitney was testing the sharpness of some of the claws, and Lisa looked like she was trying to ponder something.
"Any materials you planning on keeping or having crafted?" Luke asked.
"Hmm... Not really. The only...
2024-07-25 13:02:17 +0000 UTC View PostEntering the Adventurer's Guild while chatting with Whitney, I noticed a few cheers and jeers as people who clearly recognized me saw that I had returned. There were some murmurings about my "strange new class" and people pointing out my high level. I noticed Luke rushing to meet us.
"Luke!" I said cheerily.
"It's go...
2024-07-24 11:52:35 +0000 UTC View PostWith the pressure gone, Greg and I spent some more relaxing time polishing up the last few skills and lessons. I also ensured access to a few other good inscriptions, like resizing, stealth, and, of course, mental resistance. I paid what felt like an arm and a leg for the entire set of mental resistance runes all the way up to rank ten....
2024-07-23 12:51:05 +0000 UTC View PostHaving finally achieved [Rune Engraving], we could move on to some of our final lessons. That's not to say my Enchanter journey was over; far from it, I still had much to uncover in my own time, and I had barely touched spherical enchantments beyond the fundamentals. Greg had even described it as having reached the starting line, and I'd be r...
2024-07-22 12:57:49 +0000 UTC View PostAfter paying the fee, my guild tag was apparently appropriately marked to show that I was authorized. I also received a piece of parchment as a receipt that I could use in case someone asked for proof that I could access the inscription. I was a little shocked at how much security was around it until Greg mentioned that half of it was due to t...
2024-07-19 15:07:08 +0000 UTC View PostI felt like I had almost enchanted half the city and wondered what favors or deals were pulled to allow me such exclusivity. However, I did note that I didn't step a single foot into the actual inner city, so either they had arranged permanent enchantments, or my work wasn't fancy enough for their tastes.
After just over two weeks, I made ...
2024-07-18 14:39:18 +0000 UTC View Post"Now, this is where the real fun begins!" Gregory said excitedly.
Some tools, ranging from farming implements to blacksmithing, were placed on the workbench, and over a dozen more were sitting in a barrel. Two barrels full of weapons, separated into swords and spears, were also on display. [Appraisal] showed me everything was iron or bron...
2024-07-17 14:53:38 +0000 UTC View PostBefore I knew it, I had spent over a week with Gregory, learning the ins and outs of being a basic Enchanter. Once Gregory saw how well I took in his lessons, combined with my gains from [Prodigy] and [Apprentice], it became a relentless pace of nonstop learning. I'd swear he was more excited than I was to learn new things and eager to get me out o...
2024-07-16 15:14:25 +0000 UTC View PostThe next day, when I arrived in the lesson room, there was a note written on the chalkboard informing me that Gregory would be a little late and that I should take the time to practice drawing circles of differing sizes.
'I mean... How hard can it be?' I thought, intrigued by the unexpected challenge of the task.
I picked u...
2024-07-15 14:06:25 +0000 UTC View PostAfter shifting into a new wardrobe and eating breakfast, I headed towards the Merchant's Guild. While part of me thought it could be fun to rock the boat, I didn't necessarily want to antagonize the man who was going to be teaching me. After all, if our relationship soured, he might still only teach me the bare minimum despite his claim ...
2024-07-12 12:37:41 +0000 UTC View PostThe next day, I awoke with a surplus of time; my guild visit was scheduled for after lunch, allowing me to explore the city from a fresh perspective. I donned a new set of simple robes and left the inn. The transformation was remarkable; I no longer felt the weight of countless eyes on me, and people didn't shy away. I blended in with t...
2024-07-11 09:11:36 +0000 UTC View PostIt was late afternoon when I finally reached the city gates; thankfully, I had shaved off an entire day's travel time by flying most of the way. There wasn't any foot traffic leaving the city, and I was forced to join the line to await entry. When it was finally my turn, I approached the gate confidently.
"Do you have identificat...
2024-07-10 10:45:47 +0000 UTC View Post"One of my traits is eleven now... But I definitely didn't buy the upgrade... Did Gramps buy it for me? That hardly seems fair; I want a refund." I moaned.
"I don't know whether to say congrats or sorry..." Trixie said with an odd frown. "Getting anything above ten is a huge accomplishment. Not many people have that many points, es...
2024-07-09 10:25:56 +0000 UTC View Post"So does this mean I'm the first [Experiment] evolving?" I asked. I wondered if this technically meant I was eligible for a reward if Gramps won a bet.
"No. You're not even in the top five, even with this early evolution." Mother immediately responded.
"Your class is stealing a lot of your experience..." Gramps explained, and I...
2024-07-08 13:33:55 +0000 UTC View PostThings were once again under control from Gramps' perspective. He had secured a solid conspirator by completing a few new traits, which, in all likelihood, he would have created anyway, as once he got a new idea, he seldom would let it sit and rot.
At the same time, he devised a solution that not only solved the cascading errors caused by th...
2024-07-05 11:10:18 +0000 UTC View PostBy now, crafting debuffs had become a well-practiced routine. I executed the familiar motions, swiftly replacing them with Lightning Mana. With [Mana Conception LV 6] and [Mana Manipulation LV 5], I felt akin to a surgeon wielding a scalpel instead of a blunt knife. The longing for the next level of [Mana Manipulation] was ...
2024-07-04 10:56:22 +0000 UTC View Post"Judging by your reaction, I'm guessing that was a success?" Trixie asked, fluttering over.
I shifted to my familiar elven form and rolled my fingers while casting my new spell, causing sparks to surge between my fingers. "You tell me," I said with a cheesy grin.
Trixie took no time taking her usual seat atop my head and breathed deeply. ...
2024-07-03 13:51:13 +0000 UTC View PostThe next day, Trixie's minions found two more sources for us to investigate. I was hopeful for our plan, but when the first monsters we encountered were a bunch of fresh harpies, I couldn't hide my disappointment. Dispatching them was a simple experience; I just had to align myself to Fire and detonate a sneaky [Nova] amongst their group, thank...
2024-07-02 14:41:28 +0000 UTC View PostIn a truly astonishing turn of events, Trixie had awoken before me. It was a surprise I couldn't quite fathom. Before leaving my bathtub bed, I confirmed that Gamma was successfully restored and appropriately filled myself out with a bit of reserve slime.
Outside, I found Trixie, a sight to behold, trimming branches from the giant tree with...
2024-06-28 13:43:25 +0000 UTC View PostThings had been going well for 'Gramps.' While there were minor hiccups and occasional disappointment from one of the experiments, it was a resounding success in the grand scheme of things. After all, you must break a few eggs to make an omelet. Finally, some proper recognition was shown of the countless traits he poured his blood, sweat, a...
2024-06-27 12:37:05 +0000 UTC View Post"I did it," I said with relief.
Although I glared briefly at the sparkly rainbow cloud, that was all that remained undine, which denied me a new meal full of traits. If all spirits behaved like this, then I was putting them on the shitlist just like those damn ghosts. I made a mental note to lodge a complaint with Gramps; too many things...
2024-06-26 14:08:24 +0000 UTC View PostI knew I'd lose in a battle of Water versus Water, so I shifted my alignment to Fire as I figured it was the directly opposed element. I hesitantly ordered a [Flammable] cast; my concern was that she could pull a Trixie and eat my debuffs. Simultaneously, I prepared two [Fireball] spells that promptly promoted to the superior blue flame.
The l...
2024-06-24 12:24:39 +0000 UTC View PostAs expected, I awoke before Trixie, who had somehow managed to entangle herself even more in her hammock. I stealthily made my way out of our expansive tree fort and resumed my practice. I was becoming increasingly adept at merging a basic projectile spell with an additional effect, a skill I was eager to master as it would enhance all my b...
2024-06-20 13:16:09 +0000 UTC View Post"Come on, show me, Syl! You can't hide it forever," Trixie urged, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"I really don't want to... Look, I've got much more interesting monsters." I replied, my body shifting and contorting into the massive form of the earthshaker bear. "See, I fought this one with the help of a tribe of goblins."
"That's cool...
2024-06-19 14:27:58 +0000 UTC View PostIt didn't take long to return to the cave. The familiar jingle announced my presence, and I transformed into a harpy, hoping to catch the queen off guard with a [Sneak Attack]. But to my surprise, despite her earlier promise to prepare, the harpy queen was simply lounging and feasting, her regal demeanor contrasting with her lazy actions.
I promptly showed Trixie the [Manhunter] emblem; she stared at it momentarily before chuckling. "That hardly makes you an enemy of humanity, Syl; stop being so dramatic."
"Even if I'm being a little paranoid, surely this isn't a good thing? I'd certainly distrust someone if they had this emblem." I retorted, my voice betraying a touch of an...
2024-06-17 13:49:32 +0000 UTC View PostThe entrance to the cave loomed before me, a vast maw that seemed to have been carved out to accommodate the harpies' frequent comings and goings. I morphed into a more amorphous form, clinging to the ceiling and blending in with the roughly worked stone, my colors mirroring the cave's dark tones.
"Wow. Way to make me feel useless in this e...
2024-06-14 15:04:47 +0000 UTC View Post