Monster Party
As Ash attempted once more to change the nature of her Mana Orb, she repeated the same process from before. The Mana Orb was created, excess elements she did not want were discarded, she created a nucleus from the purple particles, and tried to find as many of that same type as she could. However, she had left behind other elements this time. Greens, blues, golds, and reds. The first two were in more abundance--there were many golds too, but something told her she didn't need quite so many of these.
The Mana Orb's color became a deeper purple. The green and blue orbs seemed to naturally be drawn towards each other...the gold and red, as well, but their attraction didn't seem as strong.
She began forcing the green and blue squares together in the nucleus. Once she had several of them crammed together, it got hard to pick out specific ones in order to count just how many she had, or how many pairs she could make...then, the particles began merging together! Oscillating lines began to form in the nucleus! But, how many did it take? What order did they merge in? What were the ratios!? How many blues to a green did it take to make purple, or vice versa?!
It began happening too fast for Ash to keep track of, given that she was already splitting her attention between the Mana Orb spell and the Mana Vision spell and this process of shaping and holding her magic in the way that she wanted it. She did know for sure, however, that the blue and green particles were merging to make purple. The purple became more concentrated around the nucleus. The gold and red floated in closer, but were not drawn all the way in, as if they were heavier...or perhaps they had less of a "charge"?
The orb became a deeper purple--but it also stopped glowing so brightly. Instead, the orb seemed to become denser, more solid, more opaque...
A hissing sound emanated from the sphere, followed by fumes that swirled around it. The way it "sat" in Ash's paw suddenly changed--it had shifted from a state close to that of plasma or pure energy, and now seemed like she was holding a bead of liquid of mercury! She couldn't adjust in time, and it fell out of her hand to splash on the floor--!
Splash?The orb landed, and indeed splashed in a small puddle on the shelter's floor. And it sizzled as it began to eat the layer of dirt over the rocks...
Skill Gain: Poison Splash I (1.0)!
Much like other elemental spells collecting trace elements, surrounding impurities and toxins are synthesized with Mana as a catalyst to produce this sphere of liquid poison. Upon impact, it splashes for a small Area of Effect. It may poison an organic target, and deals corrosive damage to most objects.
Outside, Ash's companions were playing with poison as well. At Oberon's request, Torrent launched a Poison Glob at his still-incomplete Wall. The Lesser Wurm used her Magic Analysis to detect what was going on.
Skill Gain: Blunt Resistance I!
Take less damage from Blunt types of attacks. If you gain the skills for Slash and Pierce Resistance, skill synergy will produce Physical Damage Resistance.
Skill Rank Up: Poison Glob I > Poison Glob II (1.75 > 2.05)!
Stamina Cost increased. Chance to Poison Increased. Damage Increased.
You used Magic Analysis I!
---Wall (Incomplete)---
Oberon is developing the Wall spell. It seems to be focused on creating a wall with Mana for defensive purposes...
TRANSFORMATION STATUS:
Fanged Lizard > Immature Lesserwurm
Known Currently Possible Transformations: 3
1. Adult Lesserwurm**
2. Adolescent Pygmy Drake**
3. Adolescent Kobold <THIS TRANSFORMATION HAS BEEN ALTERED>
Unknown Currently Possible Transformations: 4
As the Glob hit Oberon's Wall, it clearly wasn't big enough to cover all of the poison. What was left dripped over it and hit the ground--hissing loudly as foul smelling fumes spread all around. Oberon could
feel the wall rapidly burning away. Not only was Torrent's attack more powerful, it was also a constantly applied form of damage, as the acidic liquid seemed to stick where it had struck on the magically charged structure. But this was too fast, would he really learn anything if the Wall burned away so quickly?!
To make it resist an attack better...the only thing that immediately, instinctively, came to mind in the few seconds he had was just to push harder, to recreate the Wall with more Mana before it could be completely overrun...With one last burst, Oberon focused his energies.
Skill Gain: Wall I (0.9 > 1.0)!
Use a dense field of Mana to create a barrier and repel attacks. This spell requires significantly more MP than many first-rank abilities. But as a result, the Mana is sturdy and can repel or reduce most spells of the same rank to some degree. At this rank, the Wall may only be created within two feet of the caster's body. It may be only created in two dimensional, simple geometric shapes of roughly 1-inch thickness. It cannot cover a total area larger than the caster's body--thus, at this rank it can only defend in one direction at a time. Attempting to cast a second Wall spell will remove the first Wall.
The blue-white square, with gold at its very edges, grew in size! It hardened with a sound like frosting ice, even though it soon began to hiss. It flickered like a hologram as the Poison Glob ate through it--but, in the end, none of the poison got on Oberon himself and a great deal of it had evaporated before the Wall was finally eaten all the way through. Nonetheless, he had done it!
PixieSlime Party
All Skills are Progressing. Skill Progression is based on life experiences, environmental adaptation, natural consequence, and higher interventions.
Skill Rank Up: Limited Shapeshift III > Limited Shapeshift IV (3.9 > 4.0)!
Two properties of your body, not including color, temperature, or base material, can now be altered in the same manner outlined at Rank III. Unlike Rank III, these properties can be maintained simultaneously. Your body, or an extension, could become Sharp AND Hard, or gain a Texture while maintaining another property. Your ability to shift fine details with your base form is increased. The ability to shift fine details with extended forms, such as pseudopods, is now the same as the details on the base form from Rank III. If you alter only one property of a form, such as Sharpness, that property is greater than it was at Rank III. Your maximum reach with extensions remains the same. Forms that are most commonly used or associated with earlier Ranks now cost less Stamina to maintain.
Skill Gain: Skewer I (0.9 > 1.0)!
Using Stamina, a single Piercing type attack becomes more powerful!
Skill Gain: Slash I (0.8 > 1.0)!
Using Stamina, a single Slashing type attack becomes more powerful!
LEVEL UP! Your combined experiences have culminated into new power! You are now Level 8! Your Max HP has increased (this will not heal current damage)! Your Max Stamina has increased (this will not restore current stamina)! You gain skill points to distribute as you please!
Unspent Skill Points: 7
Current Skills:
Physical Damage Resistance I (1.86) <CANNOT INCREASE WITH POINTS>
Overwork II (2.0)
Blunt Resistance I (1.95)
Limited Shapeshift IV (4.0)
Smash II (2.25)
Pierce Resistance I (1.5)
Faster I (1.8)
Magic Resistance I (1.1)
Harder I (1.35)
Counter I (1.25)
Cling I (1.2)
Slime Whip I (1.4)
Throw Item I (1.0)
Rabid Fit I (1.0)
Iron Gullet I (1.5)
Monster Analysis I (1.35)
Stamina Furnace I (1.15)
Mental Resistance I (1.0)
Stronger I (1.1)
Slime Shell I (1.25)
Blood Drain I (1.0)
Earth Resistance I (1.05)
Skewer I (1.0)
Slash I (1.0)
<UNUSABLE>
Charisma (0.5)
Dextrous (0.7)
Soil Manipulation (0.6)
Stone Shot (0.55)
Slime Coil (0.4)
Magic Analysis (0.6)
Bounce (0.6)
Muffle (0.3)
Poison Resistance (0.2)
Dash Attack (0.4)
Spiritual Awareness (0.2)
Intimidate (0.3)
First Aid (0.2)
Acid Spit (0.2)
Fire Resistance (0.3)
Water Resistance (0.0125)
Focus (0.4)
Alert (0.3)
Fortify (0.1)
Point Strike (0.3)
Cleave (0.2)
Crafting (0.3)
Acid Spit (0.2)
Material Analysis (0.1)
Telepathy (0.1)
Slash Resistance (0.8)
Defender (0.1)
As Asura's self-made Karambit pierced his slimy flesh, then cut deep, he felt the blade's path suddenly become more smooth. Two more skills appeared, although the System still didn't seem to understand what he was asking it. After Ardur's healing, he was back to full HP again. While practicing his shapeshifting, his torso looked flabby and didn't seem to stand up properly without putting a lot of effort into it--had he fully formed each different piece correctly? The human body was a conglomeration of so many working parts, did he have the anatomical knowledge to mentally envision, and then recreate, each specific part?
Nonetheless, however, as he formed the last finger of the last hand he suddenly felt as if something clicked. He looked like a crash dummy...but a properly made crash dummy, at the very lesat. He still wouldn't pass for human to anything with eyes, not even in baggy clothes or a cloak, but...it was more than good enough that he could, perhaps with practice, use a weapon or tool...
Then, the System informed him of another Level Up!
Meanwhile, with his items completed, Ardur attempted to communicate with Steve telepathically. As he thought intensely at her, the spider turned and tilted her head as if listening for something. She did not, however, turn three times in a circle. But whenever he spoke to her verbally, she seemed to understand. And she seemed to be able to get some kind of general "feeling" of what he wanted sometimes--she would often help in battle without being told, she had followed him about during that whole debacle in the cave with Jason, and so on. So did the Taming Bond have to get to a higher Rank in order for them to communicate mind-to-mind? Or would the Hipixie need to forge himself a new skill?
As he meditated, the southern winds died down. Clouds passed overhead, obscuring the sun for just a few moments. It didn't seem like it was going to rain or anything--the wind had just picked up, for whatever reason. The weather was pleasant, for now anyway. The group still hadn't moved much...would they return to the hole they had enlarged once night came upon the land?
It would take several minutes for Ardur's mana to be fully restored. As of yet, no other creature had approached the four of them. Momma Slime still seemed deep in thought about something...and while Asura was still pondering his latest level up, Steve once again walloped him with her stone flail.
Rat Party
Current Skills:
Beast Sense II (2.75)
Rabid Fit I (1.9)
Stronger I (1.65)
Muffle II (2.275)
Use Light Equipment (--)
Alert I (1.15)
Faster I (1.05)
Harder I (1.0)
Dynamic Eye I (1.1)
Smash I (1.3)
Dextrous I (1.1)
Monster Analysis I (1.25)
Overwork I (1.3)
<UNUSABLE>
Material Analysis (0.5)
Magic Analysis (0.9)
Warcry (0.7)
Tremor Sense (0.05)
Mental Resistance (0.9)
Telepathy (0.1)
Mana Shape (0.7)
Focus (0.8)
Shield (0.5)
Mana Shell (0.4)
Soil Manipulation (0.7)
Crafting (0.6)
First Aid (0.1)
Meditate (0.4)
People Sense (0.3)
Plant Analysis (0.2)
Swift Swimmer (0.4)
Charm (0.025)
Repel (0.025)
Stealth Kill (0.3)
Blunt Resistance (0.1)
Prehensile Tail (0.5)
Mana Strike (0.6)
Minor Heal (0.05)
Iron Gullet (0.4)
Taming (0.1)
Suppress Presence (0.5)
Use Medium Equipment (0.4)
Inspire (0.2)
Point Strike (0.3)
Strengthen (0.3)
Pierce Resistance (0.2)
Double Skill (0.1)
Deception (0.2)
Lucid Dream (0.2)
For now, it seemed that while giving the village a wide berth, the rats would move to the East. Ed sniffed for water, and Asteria did the same but also used her Mana Sense in the hopes that perhaps a large body of water would produce similarly charged magical energy.
Water itself did not truly have a "sense." What even a human nose could detect, however, was the amount of moisture in the air. Perhaps the sea would have the smell of salt and fish, or a stagnant pond could carry the scent of algae and decay, but most of the time the first indicator of significant amounts of water was the increase in moisture and, perhaps, a change in barometric pressure. The rats' noses, being much more sensitive than that of a human, were thus much more capable of detecting even slight changes...
There was definitely water somewhere in the village, but it would very likely be too close to where the people were gathered. Nonetheless, simple tribal peoples like this had to have a well of some sort if they had permanent houses. None of the structures they had built looked nomadic in nature.
There was...just the faintest hint of water. They could only detect it when the breeze blew a certain way, or if they poked their head much higher than was probably safe above the grass stalks. It was coming from the south. However, there was also something else in the air...dust? Sand? Whatever it was, it made one sneeze.
Towards the east, away from the village, they caught a much stronger scent. Yes, this was definitely water. And they couldn't see it even with their enhanced senses, so it had to be far away, a few miles at the least. Yet for it to be this strong...did that mean it was a significantly large body of water, like a lake? Surely they weren't close to the edge of whatever continent they were on already...?
They were also on the lookout for a road, or a path. And as they continued east, they soon found such--an actual dirt road! It had proper ditches dug on either side of it, and looked well worn. There were even ruts from the passage of carts, and hoofprints from livestock or horses of some sort! All the tracks were dry and shallow, so whatever had passed here hadn't done so recently...the path headed further to the east, but also had just the slightest gradation towards the north...
Ghost Party
As Danny clashed with the cudgel wielding goblin, he found that despite being the shorter of the two, he was actually ever-so-slightly
stronger than the Goblin! However, Danny's chubby body did not have any of the coordination of the greenskin, nor was he faster. This greater speed and...somewhat better technique, allowed the impish savage to clash evenly with the Poltergeist. They were both forced a step back.
But now the spear wielding Goblin was coming in hard and fast to stab at Danny, and he was still off balance--an attempt to strike back again would be too awkward and slow! What else could he do!?
Meanwhile, Jason continued to harass the net-toting Goblin. As he once again slammed his spiritual form into its physical one, their wrestling match moved into Limbo. Jason's misty hands wrapped around the goblins' throat--
"Yore name gonna be Kakky Oin." He had lived long enough to get a name! The tribe elder handed him a net and a fishing spear. "Youse big 'nuff now ta catch fish--so gets out dere!" The bearded goblin--Jason couldn't help but think of it as peach fuzz, from his perspective--kicked him into the water, and he spluttered as he went down. But Jason remembered this, he had been taught to swim just last week! He struggled to paddle, but when he felt the soft mud under his toes he managed to kick off the ground. He emerged from the water, gasping for breath--A birth, many others, lots of brothers and sisters. A tribe by a river. Fish, fish, more fish, all there was to eat was fish, but there was a lot of fish. Had to get bigger, stronger, bigger! Jason remembered all of it, it was all flashing through his mind...because he was dying, right? This thing had him and it was killing him, he had to summon up all his will and fight back before his enemy killed him! He needed to push the thing away, not keep squeezing--!
Nira and Femus
You are experiencing a Fast Rate of Skill Progression.
You are experiencing a Fast Rate of Skill Progression.
You are experiencing a Fast Rate of Skill Progression.
Skill Gain: Magic Analysis I (1.0)!
You may now analyze magical energies or objects to learn their most basic magical characteristics. Less effective on Materials and Monsters unless they are magical in nature.
You are experiencing a Fast Rate of Skill Progression.
As Femus tried to replicate the Shield spell, he first simply tried to spread his Mana around himself. When the spherical aura that formed failed to trigger anything as a clear effect, he thought more deeply about what he was trying to emulate. As he shaped the energy again, he tried to make it push outward, to resist any incoming force. However, it seemed that maintaining an aura like this was quite draining. When he felt his MP had dropped significantly he returned to meditating.
For now, it seemed the Wisp was actually going to just ignore the wild pixie that had showed up...Instead, he became caught up in his thoughts and theories on magic. Another attempt to produce a Shield was followed by an experiment with his Mana Orbs. Could he produce some kind of charge, that would explode on impact? Could he change the elemental nature of the Orb solely by his will? He used his memories, his imagination, and his will as the fuel to visualize heat, burning, speed and more. He tried to compress the orbs, tried to imagine them doing as he wished.
The change was so subtle, Femus might not have even noticed. The white glow of the Mana Orb took on a slightly yellow hue. And a warm tingle prickled his body, causing the tiny, filament like hairs all over him to stand up and wave, like he had been rubbed with a rubber balloon...
As he pondered the nature of Magic, however, the System suddenly announced that he had gained a new Skill! It had only done this a few times since he woke up in this world...and until now, he hadn't yet gained one of these "Fast Skill Progress" notices. What could that mean?
Meanwhile, Nira practiced Meditation the exact way that Femus had told her--and even strove to improve on it. She could actually feel her mana as it increased, much more rapidly than it had in the past save for the times when she used the Blue Yill flowers. But she hadn't been casting that many spells today--her MP was soon full all the way to the top! She began to try and draw more Mana into her body...then, she noticed the giggling visitor.
Flying after the wild pixie as it flitted about, she attempted to communicate. A meaningless chitter, meant only as a sound that might come across as happy or non-hostile, caused the other fairy to turn and look at her curiously. Then it laughed, putting its tiny hands over its mouth. Flitting over towards Nira, the other pixie pointed at the hollow in the tree--or more accurately, at Femus inside it. Then the tiny fey flew in several loops around Nira, before gesturing towards Femus again and then waving its fist aggressively with a maniacal grin...
Farmstead
"Hmm..." Lear seemed to believe Miiba, but rubbed his chin thoughtfully for several moments. Finally he crossed his arms and sighed.
"Alright, Pixie. I'll help you--but before I bring you into my home, you'll answer her questions." He pointed to Miiba. "And one more of mine. If your story is like Miiba's...then, do you know
why you two are like this?"
In the skies behind them, a white hawk appeared in the sky and began to circle. It was heading for the farmhouse, weaving in and out of the smoke column slowly rising from the chimney. For now, the rest of the forest had calmed--Scott must have lost those goblins, and no other creatures had emerged from the wilderness.
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