Chapter 1605 (1/2)
Randidly smiled slightly as he examed the Path completion notification for Peerage of the Baleful Court III. His eyes flashed as he briefly calculated how much the Skills March of Ruin and Valor and the Lancers of the Baleful Crusade would increase his capabilities. Then Randidly rolled his shoulders and looked at his Status.
Improving the power of his supporters would definitely aid him in the long run, but it was simply a nice side effect of his current Stat boost. Plus, it might take some time before the value of the new Lancers would reveal itself. Randidly’s main goal with this PP was to capture the Stat growth, as he trusted his own instincts on images and emotions much more than the Systems. And while it was true Stats were probably the least reliable of the growth avenues available to Randidly, the volume was such that the magnitude of the change couldn’t be underestimated.
Plus… with those extra free Stats that I earned from finishing Riders of the Baleful Court III, I can push my Wisdom to over 1000. Randidly switched to his Status screen and did so. A tremor ran through his body. Immediately, he closed his eyes and released a breath.
Whenever a Stat reached 1000, a qualitative change was triggered within that Stat. Or perhaps more accurately, the multitude of uses for the Stat would have each reached the requisite potency to achieve individual recognition; Randidly would understand all the different methods and varieties of that Stat that he could use.
Wisdom was much less flashy than the damage boosting Intelligence or the all-important Control that Randidly pursued, which was why it was the second to last of his Stats to reach 1000. But as soon as he reached 1000 Wisdom, Randidly felt something settle within his person. It was like a switch had been flipped that had turned down the volume on his inner static.
Randidly opened his eyes and glanced around at the sundered Nether Pinion and the crumpled bodies in the surroundings. Then he carefully examined his own state.
The most obvious effect that Randidly could find was related to Grim Intuition. His perception drop off had improved immensely. Generally, Randidly had a very good idea of the state of his environment that gradually decreased in specificity as the distance increased from his body until everything dissolved into fuzzy impressions toward the edge. But with the change in his Wisdom, that fuzziness was decreased. His absolute perception range hadn’t increased, but somehow it was easier for him to parse apart sensory inputs that were further away.
Yet once Randidly had this impression of a previously ignored static disappearing, his understanding of this change spread to cover all of his abilities. His body seemed suddenly easier to comprehend holistically. His impressions of his various images grew more refined. Several murky ideas for training became clear.
The effect wasn’t flashy. But at the margins, Randidly’s insight had greatly increased.
Its a good feeling. Randidly grinned down at his hands. Then he glanced again at his Status screen. With this, the only Stat I need to boost up to 1000 is Focus, and that will only require 85 more points… Hum… which of these Paths seems like they will improve my Focus…
Randidly stared at the list for several seconds. Then he shook his head helplessly. He honestly wasn’t sure which ones would provide a boost to Focus. Sometimes, the Path rewards were rather misleading. But as he couldn’t be precise with his growth, he could just brute force the issue by finishing quite a few Paths.
Randidly’s eyes gleamed like a wolf in a dark forest as he selected his next target. Then he licked his lips and smiled. His PP barely decreased as Randidly finished the long fallow Spear Mastery III Path for 200 PP. Every 10 PP earned him 1 Nether Brawn.
Congratulations! You have finished the Spear Mastery III Path! Your Path through the Wilderness has been long and dangerous, and no tool has proved more useful to you than your spear. As you seek the Pinnacle, it is important to hone such proficiencies as much as possible. The higher your elevation, the more dangerous the foes will be as they impede your Path.
Congratulations! Your Skill Spear Mastery has evolved into Advanced Spear Mastery (R)! Effectiveness of each Skill Level has increased! Skill Levels will be maintained. +30 Nether Brawn and Agility!
No Focus or Free Stat points… And honestly, the rewards are pretty meager… but it’s only a 200 PP Path. Randidly’s eyes flashed. Plus…
Spear Mastery IV had appeared after he finished the prerequisite, as he had expected it would. It cost 750, which was a rather steep increase from 200, but it was still well within Randidly’s budget. Pouring PP into this more advanced Path earned him 1 Reaction, Agility, and Grim Intuition every 50.
Congratulations! You have finished the Spear Mastery IV Path! As you have continued forward, you have fought and killed countless enemies. Your spear steadily becomes stained with blood from continued and skillful use. Still, there are some costs associated with your capabilities. When you look at your hands, you cannot see the fingers you once possessed; they have become lined with calluses.
The weapon you have treated as a means to an end has inevitably influenced you. Perhaps to the spear you wield, you are just as surely a tool as it is.
Congratulations! Your Skill Advanced Spear Mastery (R) has evolved into Fabled Spear Mastery (L)! Effectiveness of each Skill Level has greatly increased! In addition, Skill will slightly increase the effectiveness of the user’s Agility and Reaction Stats! Skill Levels will be maintained. +10 to all Physical Stats!
This Path completion rewards made Randidly smile, but he wasn’t done yet. The issue of Focus could wait for a bit, he planned to follow this series of Paths to its completion. Which was why he happily opened up his Path menu and dumped PP into the Spear Mastery V Path, which cost 2500 PP to finish. He soon received a pleasant surprise; Every 50 PP he spent earned Randidly 2 Free Stats.
Halfway there, Randidly thought with a half-smile.
Congratulations! You have finished the Spear Mastery V Path! You stand upon a high ridge with frost-covered mountains surrounding you. Snow drifts through the air, dancing down around you. When you breathe, your exhale fogs the air. This summit is a place of immense peace that few have been able to witness.
The Path you have walked to reach this point is stained in blood. Bodies are strewn along the side of the Path and, as a consequence, the snow is irreparably marred by your passage. Standing now, you can see an almost infinite number of Paths down from this summit, where the misty valleys wait below. The mountains are arranged like the jaws of a massive beast. Proceeding forward will be difficult; the passes between them are as misleading as a labyrinth. A river runs through the valley below you and along its length you can see small rafts.
Split Path! As you stand on this solemn peak, the real question that you ask yourself is why you wield a spear.