23 Finding the Formula (2/2)

This left only charisma and luck before I could focus on investing most of my points into endurance or willpower. According to Torix, once you didn't have any perks left, you gained attribute points instead. So I did some math and compared myself with the average Joe.

With Obliterator maxed out, I'd probably have 4 extra attribute points per 5 level. Once my perks were maxed out, I'd be getting another 1 attribute point for every perk I didn't need. I'd be getting 10 attribute points per 5 levels all in all. Most people would gain 6 attribute points per 5 levels, including their perk point every 5 levels. I'd also have extra multipliers on endurance and willpower, giving me even more free attribute points if I invested in them. All things considered, I'd be getting over twice as many attributes as someone of the same level.

Combine that with my armor and my two extra leveling perks, and I wouldn't become something just unmovable. I would become something unstoppable, like a walking storm.

Still, I needed more than just attribute points for beating the shit out of my enemies. I needed to harness my skills and get the fighting prowess of a master.

With that in mind, I paced up towards Torix, ”Yo Torix.”

He frowned as I approached with a grin, ”What is it then?”

”Can you lend me a deathknight? I need one for practicing a new skill.”

”Fine. If you kill it, I will kill you. Remember that.”

I tapped my temple, ”I've been forgetting things less lately. Sure thing.”

He squinted his eyes before saying, ”You're self confidence is even more disgusting than the blood from earlier. Do tone it down, or I will be forced to humble you.”

I rolled my eyes, ”Come on man, give me a chance to feel good about my progress.”

”Feeling smug and good are two very different things. One may help you focus, the other will make you lazy. Anyways-”

He lifted a hand before spawning a deathknight much like the one I faced before. With a black slit for an eye, interlocking plates, and a sharpened sword at his side, he made for an intimidating sight. I beamed at him with a childish joy. It was time to unlock another unique skill.

The knight and I walked over towards the center of the arena, saying, ”Can you understand me?”

The knight nodded.

”Good. Charge and try slashing me. Do it slowly at first. I need a bit of practice before we ramp things up.”

The knight nodded once more before dashing towards me. Instead of dodging his blow, I angled the back of my fist towards the edge of his sword. The blade slid off my sleek armor. We did this a few dozen times before I got the hang of it. I would use the very slight precognition from the all-seeing perk to predict the angle of the attack. After lining up my opened hand with the deathknight's sword, I would bang the sword away mid swing, hitting the sword on the flattened part.

With a few more tries, I gained a skill for my efforts.

Skill gained! [Deflection(lvl 1) - You force what fights you to move, instead of moving from what fights you. +1% to hand speed and reaction times while deflecting strikes.]

Of course a well thought out skill would give more benefits than a haphazard one. With that in mind, I deflected and redirected the knight's blows time and time again. His speed increased as I gained level after level in the skill.

What do you do if a strike comes towards your neck? You lean away from the blow and shrug the shoulder closest to the blade. The sword rides up the armor of your arm and flies over your head. What about a long slice towards your feet? You palm the sword’s flat part away from you, smashing it towards the ground. The sword digs deep into the earth, ruining the enemy's weapon. I learned these tricks and many more little tidbits for helping my parries.

The knight’s blows grew in volume, speed, and intensity as we trained. Without my increased perception and dexterity, redirecting his blows would be impossible. With these enhanced attributes however, I kept pace as I adjusted my form time and time again. His strikes never blurred in the air anymore. I could see their every shift in movement, like I had the eyes of an eagle. It was awesome.

After a few more hours of this, the knight collapsed from exhaustion. Apparently the undead had stamina just like the rest of us. I heaved the knight over my shoulder before carrying him towards Torix. The lich glared at me as I said, ”He just passed out from exhaustion.”

”You had better pray that you are right, Daniel.”

I scratched the back of my head, my armored hand scraping my helm, ”Is it okay if you lend me another knight, this time experienced in archery?”

”Oh but of course. Why not just waste all my stores of the undead? It is so simple to find a fresh corpse, bring it to life before it decays, and train it for servitude. Not a problem at all.”

I raised my palms, ”Jesus. I get it already. Can you please lend me one? I need him to practice catching.”

Torix's gaze turned curious, ”Catching? You intend on catching his arrows?”

”Yes.”

”Well then, let me know if he gouges your eyes. I have several potions I planned on trying out, and a few of them require the eye of a troll. Your eyes should suffice.”

My face dulled, ”Thank you so much for your support.”

Torix grinned, ”I do try from time to time.”

A portal appeared before another knight wearing the same armor walked out. In his hands was a crossbow with several bolts in it. A loaded quiver hung from his back, and he turned towards me with the same competence as the knight before him.

We walked into the middle arena before I smashed my hand into the ground. The stone cracked under the force of my blow. The edges of the stone bent upwards in sharpened crags. I cupped a few of them in my hands and tossed them toward the knight.

”Throw these at me. I'll be catching them. Toss them harder and harder over time.”

He set his crossbow down on his side before tossing the stones at me. The process repeated, just like with the deflection training. I gained the skill for catching before he was chunking stones like a pitcher in baseball. A few more hours of this passed before he swapped towards the arrows.

I took a few arrows to the knee before I started catching them far more frequently. I continued this routine for several days that turned into weeks. Torix's friend still hadn't shown up, and Torix was far more than just displeased at the fact. Althea tinkered with her gun during this time, discovering different means and methods for recreating it. She would leave for long stretches of time, coming back ravenous. I assumed she was working on her aim.

Who knows. It hadn't taken too long before a single knight of Torix's couldn't challenge me anymore. I needed two then three before they posed a challenge. I'd reached a sort of plateau. All these skill came together somehow, I could feel it. I just hadn't taken the final step for a unique skill's completion.

Just such an opportunity presented itself when Torix announced,

”It's time. That doctor of Althea's has sent his other bounty hunters here.”

I said, ”Anything noteworthy about them?”

Torix opened his hand out, creating a sphere pure white with jagged edges. It spun with great force, until the edges of it no longer blurred. Torix pulled his hand back, recoloring the sphere with an area outside the cave. Two robed beings inspected the area near where Althea and I fought. One was as massive as an elephant, with massive veins throbbing underneath his robe. He was gross.

The smaller one glowed a reddish aura with a fist-sized, black crystal in his hand.

Above their heads were two messages.

Elthodriss, Berserker of Yawm(lvl 672) - Elthodriss is a follower of Yawm of Flesh. Yawm is a worshipper of old ones, forming a religion and cult around them. Elthodriss is one of his upper advisors, and a member of very rare giants. Elthodriss specializes in strength and constitution, being a brute for Yawm.

With his overhwelming stature and brutality, he can crush most enemies with ease. He also knows of dark magic, the kinds forbidden by Schema. He connects with unknown old ones for excessive flows of energy. He becomes madness incarnate, a being without any control during his tantrums.

He often fights with Kelto Drainer who controls him during this berserker state. At your current level, one swipe of his fist would splatter you against the wall. Pray that is what happens to you, else you will be taken back to Yawm of Flesh. Far worse awaits you there than a simple death.

Kelto Drainer, Endower of Yawm(lvl 459) - Kelto Drainer is a Follower of Yawm of Flesh. He acts as a sort of puppeteer of the brutes within Yawm's ranks. He uses mind magic for controlling them when they are channeling the magic of the old ones.

Despite his role, Kelto is more than able when it comes to fighting on his own. He uses mind magic mostly, focusing on bending the user's will to his own. His elemental and dark magic are of particular note as well. He can overcharge a user with old one's energy, making them go insane. This makes him very dangerous in close combat.

Avoid facing it at all costs. You are but fodder for him.

Torix sighed, ”Althea is aligned with a mad doctor who worships Yawm of Flesh. Of course you would draw in this kind of company.” Torix grabbed his forehead before pushing up a pair of imaginary glasses, a habit of his when he was deep in thought. After a moment, he enhanced his voice with magic,

”Come, Althea. We need to talk.”

Althea stood from her cubbyhole and jogged over towards us. When she was beside Torix, the lich said, ”Do you know anything about this doctor of yours?”

She shook her head, ”No. I know nothing. I was...less than a lab rat. I was just one of many experiments.”

Torix cupped his hand, ”In fact, you may have been one of the few successful ones. Perhaps even the only one who was sentient.”

Torix narrowed his eyes as I said, ”Who in the fuck is Yawm of Flesh?”

Torix met my eyes with his own, ”A worshipper of the Old Ones. He believed that being touched by them makes you a superior being, someone above normal beings. I know of them as I was once in contact with Etorhma as well. They view him as the absolute truth.”

I frowned, ”If this Yawm character is trying to get back Althea with two fighters of this level, then why did they send her out in the first place?”

Althea replied, ”The doctor looked at me as his treasure. He may not have spoken with the others of my abilities.”

Torix nodded, ”So he was greedy then...Hah, now he's probably dying to get our little Althea back. I wonder why they were trying to assimilate the eldritch with her. The Old One's and the eldritch are two very different forces.”

I shrugged, ”Maybe they aren't quite as different as you'd believe.”

Torix tapped the edge of his dark energy chair, ”Or maybe Althea is more than just part eldritch. She may be something more like the Old Ones.”

I grimaced, ”Then what kind of energy is my armor eating?”

Torix's fire eyes flickered as he solemnly said, ”Honestly? I...I don't know anymore.”