149 A Gif (1/2)

An awkward atmosphere haunted the group on the walk back. I caused it. After a few minutes, we reached the elevator. As we funneled up, Kessiah spread out her arms,

”So...what are you guys wanting to do once we get to Giess?”

Torix jumped into the conversation, eager to get rid of the malaise,

”I've been meaning to brush up on my alchemy. As diverse as Earth is, it lacks basic ingredients for recipes or rituals.”

I raised an eyebrow, ”I thought we were going to just run in, get the mission done, and come back?”

Kessiah rolled her eyes, ”Of course you would think that. You're going off-world for the first time, alright? Live a little.”

I spread out my arms, ”I don't want to live a little. I'd rather live a lot. Fucking around the whole time we're there won't help with that.”

Althea frowned, but she stayed quiet. Kessiah nudged me, ”Maybe, just maybe, Althea was looking forward to going somewhere with you.”

I glanced at Althea. She averted my gaze. I put my hand around her waist,

”How about it? It sounds fun to me.”

A slight grin went up Althea's lips, ”I...yeah, I'd like that.”

The elevator doors opened, and we walked out. Torix turned towards us, ”We'll need to survey the city first. While Feontis isn't the most developed capital, it's still the hub of a world. We'll need to procure shelter, disguises, etcetera before we do something for fun. After that, however...”

Torix opened his status, ogling over his credits, ”I have no problem whatsoever with a shopping spree of sorts.”

Kessiah rolled her eyes, ”Good luck getting through all the prying eyes.”

Torix grinned, ”Oh, I doubt we'll have to worry about that. I've got a few tactics for going unnoticed. We'll also be plenty safe at level 5,000. You, on the other hand, may struggle with it a bit.”

Kessiah glared as Torix continued, ”Being a measly level 2,400, well there will surely be many who discover your identity.”

I raised an eyebrow, ”Why?”

Torix gestured towards Kessiah, ”Care to explain.”

She crossed her arms, ”Your perception can help mask you.”

Torix grinned, ”Althea invests into perception as one of her cardinal attributes. A good rule of thumb is to double your perception then assume anyone below that level cannot identify you. ”

Althea nodded, ”So for me, someone would need to be over the level cap to analyze me. Torix has spells for helping us out with that anyways. If someone did figure out who we were, I doubt they would want to fight a group of cappers.”

I blinked, ”Cappers?”

Althea looked at her hands, ”Uh, you know, people that hit the level cap.”

I frowned, ”Give me a second, I need to check my status.”

I opened my home screen, wanting to check out my perception. Before checking out my character sheet, I opened up my trees. I needed 27 more skill points before I could finish off immense.

I turned towards Torix and Kessiah,

”Hey, do either of you have a few red dungeon cores?”

Torix scoffed, ”I assure you, I've already used all of mine on myself.”

Kessiah frowned, ”I'm not giving them to you for free. 60,000 credits apiece.”

I pursed my lips. I pointed at Torix, ”Is that a fair price?”

He nodded, ”It's very near the galactic standard of 50,000 per core. Considering the convenience, it isn't a bad price.”

I shrugged. I opened my status. I selected the trade menu, and I pressed on my Kessiah contact. After messing around with the interface, I began a trade of 170,000 credits for three dungeon cores.

Kessiah frowned, ”Its supposed to be 180, not 170.”

I grinned, ”It's a bulk discount.”

She accepted the trade, ”Cheapskate.”

I shook my head, ”Nope. Just a conscientious shopper.”

The three cores appeared in my dimensional storage. I opened a portal for one of my rings, pulling them out. The dungeon hearts sunk into my armor, the energy absorbed. I used the thirty free skill points into Force of Nature. I tried putting them into my unknown skills first, but they wouldn't accept it.

It didn't take much to understand why. The skills were unknown because Schema, well, didn't know them. How are you going to develop someone's talent when you don't even know what the skill is? It's impossible. That's why I stuck with Force of Nature, my legendary ability.

With these extra points, I invested in the immense tree. I finished it.

For the Horizon shakes with your every step, and the ground cries out in anguish. A celestial bound to the earth beneath your heels, a bond inseparable. You are immovable. You are unshakable. You are a living star.

Immense(Tier 5) unlocked! 25% of your mass is converted into bonus physical damage. The more mass you have over your adversaries, the greater the effect of your diplomatic and intimidation skills. Unlocks a second legendary skill slot.

Clout and potency channeled into my blood and bones. I rolled my shoulders, grinning at the message. A secondary legendary skill slot was an amazing reward. Considering how ridiculous Force of Nature was, getting a second skill helped expand my horizons.

The tree menu popped up after a minute or two.

Breaker(Finish an S tier bounty, only one class can be chosen)(0/5,000) | Legendary(Gain a legendary skill)(0/2,500) | Originator(Be the first to learn a skill)(0/1,500) | Purger(Clear a quarantine)(0/250)

I crossed my arms, staring at them. Having the option for the breaker class was nice, but I decided against it. The Fringe Walker seemed much more fitting for me. My legendary skill helped me in many ways, and it may help me with the next one I get.

With that in mind, I put the rest of my points into the legendary tree. As I closed my status, Kessiah snapped at me, ”What are you grinning about?”

I looked down at her, ”Oh, I finished one of my trees. It gave me a second legendary skill slot.”

Torix snickered as Kessiah took a step back,

”What in the fuck are you?”

Althea chimed in, ”I got a legendary skill too.”

Kessiah looked at her, her jaw slack, ”What? I get the meathead having one, but you? No...no way. Bullshit. They're supposed to be rumors for Schema's sake.”

Althea opened her status, ”Can you see it? It's called Slayer of the Celestial.”

Sure enough, Althea had the skill active. What tipped it off as a legendary skill was the underlining and white on black font. Torix put his hand over his face, exaggerating a snorting laugh,

”Oh, you don't have a legendary skill like these younglings?”

Kessiah narrowed her eyes at him, ”Yeah, I bet you don't either.”

Torix froze up. He looked down, and Kessiah continued, ”Yeah, that's what I thought. Not so funny now.”

Althea patted Torix's back, ”It's ok. You're more of our generalist. You help glue the team together. Like earlier when Daniel asked you for the price of dungeon hearts.” Althea snapped her fingers,

”You knew it in a flash.”

We reached the teleportation room, and Torix held his head up high,

”I suppose there isn't any true reason to be ashamed. My knowledge is valuable in its own right.”

After stepping inside the room covered in runic carvings, Torix cast magic. He raised a doorway of earth, sealing us inside the space. Before leaving, we rechecked our belongings. Using the free time, I finished looking at my status, taking a gander at my character sheet.

Dimension-C138(Level 5,564)

Strength – 5,514 | Constitution – 9,677 | Endurance – 42,104

Dexterity – 2,160 | Willpower – 24,006 | Intelligence – 8,659

Charisma – 799 | Luck – 2,905 | Perception – 852

Health: 7.05 Million/7.05 Million | Health Regen: 16.6 Million/min or 276,913/sec

Stamina: 4.54 Million/ 4.54 Million | Stamina Regen: 66,141/sec