33 Infestation (2/2)
While I had been level 105, I hadn't had the same type of scaling as a normal person. I had twice the attributes, along with extra leveling perks and my armor. It made me tougher than most level 250s. Still, I hadn't even thought about stats and all that for weeks. I'd been trying to expand my pool of skills for months now, so my level had stagnated. If anything, I was way overdue for a burst of levels.
I glanced at my perks and tree bonuses for the first time in a long while. What I noticed was that endurance was by far the most efficient stat to invest into. It got a 50% bonus, it fed 20% of its total into willpower which also got a bonus, and the health was very effective since I had super high damage reduction. I kept things simple and invested until it was a total over 200. 201 to be exact.
I had thirteen points left after that. Whatever the level 100 perk was, I figured strength would be the next best perk for me. A few extra points in it wouldn't hurt regardless. With that handled, the perk screen came up. The perks blew me away.
[Unbroken(Endurance of 100 or more. Note - Only three level 100 perks may be chosen for three different attributes. Choose wisely.) - You are time's unending march, unbroken and unending. Lifespan doubled once more. Yet another 1/10th of endurance is added to willpower. Another 5 health and stamina per point in endurance(20 in total, excluding multipliers). Leveling bonuses for endurance are doubled. You no longer need sleep or rest.]
[Paragon of Will(Willpower of 100 or more. Note - Only three level 100 perks may be chosen for three different attributes. Choose wisely.) - You find more in yourself than can be found in others. Doubles internal motivation once more. Yet another 1/10th of willpower is added to intelligence. Another .1 mana(health) regen from each point in willpower. Doubles the leveling bonuses gained from willpower. Doubles current affinity for augmentation. Increases mythical skill cap by 1(2 total).]
Endurance was my best attribute by a wide margin, so choosing it didn't take much thought. Willpower, on the other hand, was a little messier. Sure, the bonuses matched up pretty well with my build so far, but I'd be cutting out either strength or constitution.
After a few seconds of thought, I finalized the selection of the willpower perk. Whatever bonus that constitution offered, my armor likely already gave something similar. Hell, it was probably better. Augmentation magic would be multiplicative with strength as well. I could use that to my advantage.
I finalized the perks and attributes, a wave of clarity rushed over me. I had been exhausted. The moment I finalized the perks, that exhaustion vaporized in an instant. The refreshed feeling of being well rested washed over me. It was like I just slept eight full hours for a week in a row. The thing is, everything else came into focus too. The extra attribute points in endurance leaked over into other attributes due to perks, making me smarter as well.
It felt like I was the eye of a hurricane. No matter what was going on around me, I could control myself. A perfect example was a brimming excitement to use augmentation magic to test the doubled affinity. I crushed that want with ease. It took hardly a thought, and the temptation sunk like a rock out in the ocean.
With that handled, I opened my status screen for the first time in several weeks. The obliterator tree and other tree bonuses were adding up rather nicely to say the least. In fact, this was the largest jump in stats I'd ever gotten. That's what 110 attribute points will do with bonuses from trees and perks.
Level 160 Attribute Totals
Strength - Increases carrying weight, maximum speed, and physical power 44.2
Constitution - Increases hardness, density, and weight of your body 36.3
Endurance - Increases regeneration of stamina, health, and their totals 201
Dexterity - Increases ease of movement, flexibility, and reflexes 32.8
Willpower - Increases internal motivation, mana regen, and Mental Res 105.5
Intelligence - Increases memory, critical thinking, and total mana pool 55.5
Charisma - Increases likeability, persuasion, and decreases prices at shops 36
Luck - Increases money found, odds in your favor, and chance of rare events 35.1
Perception - Increases comprehension, the five senses, and awareness 30.5
Daniel Hillside Totals Regen Buffs/Debuffs
Health 7838/7838 1293/min Oppression Damage- 8000+25%hp/min
Stamina 1720/1720 63/sec Elemental Res - 97%
Harbinger of Cataclysm 5,953,456/16,000,000 0/per min Plasma Res - 97%
Phys Dam Reduction - 97% Rad Res - 97%
Phys Dam Bonus - 481% Mental Res - 97%
I doubled my health in one go. Literally doubled it. I'd over doubled my health regen too, which doubled my mana regen too thanks to arcane blood. I clasped my hands, eager to test what was new.
That's when I remembered my situation. I needed to get out of there. Gaining so many levels would let me do that with far greater ease than before, so I headed towards the barricade. I walked into one of the houses near the road. I sat inside it, beside the front window as I readied myself to charge through. That was when the ground rumbled.
I turned, glancing out towards the street. There was a robed figure walking with a calm, composed steps. Each time one of his feet landed on the ground, the ground would quake. It was like he carried an entire stampede in each of his steps. From his back sprouted a single wing of white from his right side. It was at least ten feet(3 meters) long, stretching taller than him. As he stretched it outwards, a gentle breeze followed that tossed a storm of pink petals into the sky.
I couldn't deny it. For just a fragment of a second, the robed figure looked holy, like a reincarnated saint. Schema recognized why.
Elijah Joan, the Fallen Seraph(lvl 3243) - One of the four followers of Yawm, Elijah is a powerful fighter with tremendous healing abilities. It's rumored that he carries a mountain in each of his boots, and the burdens he carries weigh him down. While this is unlikely, his constitution is unbelievable, along with his strength.
Little is known about Elijah, but one thing is clear. He is a monster in his own right, and you would do well to avoid him at any and all costs.
As I finished reading the message, my stomach sank. It was like there was no limit to the level these guys had. One of Yawm's followers outleveled Kessiah by over a thousand. He glanced around, his face black from under his hood. From his winged side, he outstretched a pale hand that was remarkably human. He said,
”I know you are here. You've done well with saving yourself from Yawm's holy wrath. You may join us, and receive his holy blessing.”
I lowered my head, leaning against the wall. He wouldn't call out if he already knew where I was. It was the same story with his bullshit about being rewarded. I'd already seen what he did to the people here. It would take a total moron to trust him at this point.
He continued, his voice calm as a crystal clear sea, ”Please, do not be afraid my child. We will cleanse you. If you have sinned, he will embody that sin from within. He will bring it out, and use it as your power. Do you not wish to be cleansed?”
I held my breath, a bead of cold sweat pouring from my head. His steps beat against the ground, one at a time as he moved towards me. He continued, ”You will grow in ways you cannot imagine. Yawm will unlock your inner potential. All you must do is embrace the new flesh.”
At the end of room was a mirror that faced outside. Elijah had pulled up the robe from his unwinged side, revealing a twisted arm of intestines and long, thin hairs. The limb shivered and pulsed as he said,
”Yawm will show you the true side of yourself. He will open you and reveal what is within to the world.”
My skin crawled as he stepped another step towards my house. He said as he stared off into the distance,
”Come...Even if you do not believe, the new flesh will consume you and make you new.”
His words were like a toxic honey, almost impossible to ignore. I almost stood without thinking. With an explosion of will, I forced the urge down and tightened my control. I wasn't about to be taken over by some dickface with a lot of charisma.
Elijah sighed before saying like screeching metal,
”I can see you. Come out, little one.”