SB: Chapter 227 – Port Hammer

Level: 20 Experience: BLOCKED
Healing: 530/530 Stamina: 660/660 Mana: 780/780

Class: Tier 1, Adult Human(Blue)

Effect: Increased Skill Acquisition(+10%), Increased Learning Speed(+10%), Increased Stat Gain(+10%), Increased Physical Gain(+10%), Increased Mental Gain(+10%)

Vitality: 53 ()
Endurance: 66 ()
Strength: 45+2 (+1)
Agility: 53+12 (+1)
Perception: 45 (+1)
Mind: 178 (+2)
Magic: 75+3 (+2)
Focus: 65+10 (+1)
Free Points: 200

Tier 1(14)(39+): Dwarven Etiquette(100), Eldarin Etiquette(100), Elven Etiquette(100), Dancing Skills(100), Pugilist Skills(98+3), Bow Skills(86+3), Whip Skills(64+2), Stillness(60+5), Driving(46+7) , Seraphim Etiquette(32+3), Veil(11+3), Deception(3+3), Mask(3+2), Obscure(1+1),

Tier 2(78)(15+): Mana Sense(100), Danger Sense(100), System Sense(100), Soul Sense(100), Speed Reading(100), Mana Vision(100+1), Demonic Lore(95+3), Focused Monster Processing Skills(94+3), Darkness Vision(90+3), Critical Thinking(87+2), Focused Deflection(84+2), Shadow Vision(80+1), Focused Dodge(70+2), Monster Analysis(68+2), Time Sense(65+1), Focused Combat Tactics(65+3), Depth Sense(64+2), Spatial Sense(61+1), Trap Detection(55+1), Focused Throw(54+3), Focused Cooking Skills(51+2), Focused Shield Skills(46), Focused Rage(46+2), Poison Sense(42), Sweet Teeth(42), Focused Spear Skills(40+1), Dwarven Lore(39+3), Eldarin Lore(39+3), High Vostner Lore(38+2), Elven Lore(36+2), Low Vostner Lore(32+2), Focused Armor(27+3), Focused Axe Skills(24+1), Soul Vision(20+2), Focused Speech(12+3), Focused Pulse Strike(6), Focused Wrestling Skills(5+2), Focused Dagger Skills(2+2), Focused Drawing Skills(2+1)

Tier 3(126)(5+): Empowered Will(100), Mana Manipulation(100), Fear Resistance(95+3), Empowered Gestures(92+1), Eldarin Runes(84+1), Cold Resistance(82+6), Light Orb(80), Hidden Status(77+3), Empowered Meditation(76+2), Silent Casting(75+2), Skill Control(75+2), Clean(67+2), Lightning Resistance(63), Fireball(63+3), Ward(61+2), Flame Blade(60+1), Empowered Breathing(60+2), Empowered Running(54+3), Empowered Writing(52+1), Lightning Beam(52+1), Empowered Sword Skills(48+5), System Control(47+1), Sleep(46+1), Physical Resistance(43+3), Status Analysis(42+2), Soul Strike(39+2), Arcane Resistance(34), Cure(31+1), Dwarven Runes(30+1), Elven Runes(30+1), Empowered Stealth(29+2), Demonic Runes(25+1), Calculus(24), Advanced Geometry(24), Social Resistance(24), High Vostner Runes(23+1), Low Vostner Runes(21+1), Empowered Toughness(18+3), Alchemy(17+1),  Compass Of Desire(13+3), Sonic Resistance(12+1), Soul Shield(11+1), Demonic Hunter(10)

Tier 4(36): Experience Siphon(C), Gnomish Silence(C), Soul Link(92+2), Poison Immunity(36), Multi-Casting(32+1), Soul Immunity(30+2), Vibration Blade(27+1), Pain Immunity(19+2), Healing Immunity(15+4), Fire Immunity(8+1), Ritualism(7+3)

Tier 7: Seraphim Quest(C)

Equipment
Gloves: Gloves Of Magic(T3) (+3 Magic) (Damaged)
Boots: Boots of Agility(T3) (+12 Agility) (Damaged)
Head: Helmet of Clarity(T3) (+10 Focus) (Damaged)
Body: Heavy Armor Of Stability(T3) (+2 Strength) (Damaged)
Ring1: Ring of Alarm(T3) (Gem turns red if other Mana interferes)
Ring2: Ring of Force Deflection(T3) (Reduces impact force by a quarter)
Amulet/Bracelet: Experience Blocker(T4) (Prevents all experience gain for primary level)
Weapon1: Reforged Beginner’s Blade(T3) (Sharpness-T4, Durability-T3, Self-Repair-T2)
Equipment1: Runic Writing Set(T3) (Write Runes T3 and Below)
Equipment2: Monster Processing Set(T3) (Processes Level 150 and Below)
Equipment3: Ring of Remote Awareness(T3) (Allows for remote viewing from companion ring)
Equipment4: Wand of Explosion(T3) (Rechargeable, single use wand with T4 Explosion spell skill)
Equipment5: Sun Amulet(T3) All weapon based attacks are imbued with fire damage.

Winged Serpent
Level: 67/462 Experience: 105,854/134,852
Healing: 1,480/1,480 Stamina: 780/780 Mana: 2,040/2,040

Class: Tier 3, Bright Eyed Winged Serpent of Alchemy(Blue)

Effect: Alchemic Skill Power(+600%), Eye Skill Power(+200%)

Vitality: 148 (+2)
Endurance: 78 (+2)
Strength: 95 (+2)
Agility: 127 (+2)
Perception: 81 (+2)
Mind: 139 (+2)
Magic: 204 (+6)
Focus: 88 (+2)
Free Points: 0

T1: Spark(8+1), Veil(5+2)

T2: Alchemic Vision(100), Danger Sense(100), Health Sense(46+5), Stamina Sense(44+5), Focused Dodge(34+6), Heat Vision(22+3), Shadow Vision(17+4), Blood Sense(12+3), Focused Smell(10+3), Focused Regeneration(8+3)

T3: Cure(100), Purify(100), Refresh(100), Alchemy(98+3), Poison Insight(82+1), Fire Insight (55+2), Cold Insight(53+2), Arcane Insight(50+2), Spatial Insight(41+1), Soul Insight(33+2), Healing Insight(22+1), Empowered Bite(28+4), Empowered Toxic Breath(28+4), Anatomy Insight(18+1), Atmospheric Insight(15+1), Ward(16+2), Harden Scales(10+2), Bladed Limb Insight(5+1), Cold Resistance(7+3), Quake(6+3), Weapon Insight(2+1)

T4: Soul Link(92+2), Flight(74+3), Alchemic Bounded Field(72+3), Greater Cure(39+1), Petrifying Gaze(34+3), Greater Purify(32+1), Greater Refresh(32+2), Fear Aura(9+1), Greater Quake(2+1)

I lay in my bed in the inn next to the Adventurers Guild in Port Hammer, looking at my status page. A total of 418 levels over the last 3 months. I would have expected it to be higher with the life and death situations I had been in, but the pressure I was under outside of them hadn’t been that much.

Fighting easier monsters, taking longer breaks, were the reasons my skill level gain hadn’t shot up. That was a total of 20,957 skill levels so far. Twice the skill levels elites at the College had and certainly higher than the people who had graduated in my year.

Unless they kept up their training under intense pressure, their gains would have likely slowed down.

I was slightly annoyed at having picked up a social skill, Deception. I was too distracted during the fights and the skill was only tier 1. It was harder to reject tier 1 skills. It wasn’t a bad skill, but it wasn’t the kind of skill that I wanted.

Obscure was a counter divination skill that I had managed to work out. Once I had managed Veil and Mask, it wasn’t that hard to learn how to blend the small amounts of released Mana with my surroundings.

Healing Immunity was still a concern. That was why I had to wait to remove that arrow in my neck. But if I couldn’t focus on suppressing the skill when Ozy healed me, his efforts wouldn’t be effective.

My equipment had also gotten worse. The enchantments were almost falling apart. I could see that with my Mana Vision that had maximized. I needed the rest of my sensory skills to be maximized before I could consider consolidating them.

The same with Seraphim Etiquette and the other etiquette skills. That would free up space to take more skills. Dancing Skills had been maximized for a while. I should probably get Focused Dancing Skills.

My movement skills were lacking. The fight with the legend had showcased that. I also needed to deal with Experience Siphon. I focused on Xanatos with Compass of Desire. My skill endlessly spun about. Someone also knew counter divination skills, but for someone like that to survive for so long, it was expected.

Wild Tail had wanted to go his own way, and had left the previous morning. Since he had left, he was no longer my responsibility. Lanner was staying in a room next to mine, but he was leaving as well. They didn’t want to be caught up in conflicts involving me, which was fine. Ultimately it was their choice.

I wished both of them well, but there was no big goodbye. People would come and go, that was something I had learned as an adventurer. Getting hung up on every goodbye was pointless. If they survived for a decade, then we could enjoy some drinks together to catch up.

But our paths were split up. I looked at Ozy sleeping on a cushioned chair. My pet wouldn’t leave me at least. I needed to find a System High Priest or a Cardinal. We had arrived two days ago and the team broke up yesterday, which I had taken as another rest day. I was that exhausted and reported what happened to the Adventurer’s Guild. I also needed more sleep to get my head back on straight.

Now I actually needed to collect information and sort out my next action. After getting geared up, Ozy landed on my shoulders. He was too heavy for that to work in combat. But for moving about, it was best that he stay directly on me, so people didn’t target him by accident.

After packing up everything, I left my room. First stop was breakfast at the restaurant attached to the inn. It was nice to enjoy a proper meal that wasn’t stew. After my five silver meal, I made my way to the most well known blacksmith in Port Hammer for adventurer gear.

“Scrap. The helmet and boots aren’t that bad, but they will keep degrading with the damage they have already taken. The armor and gloves are practically falling apart. Only good as scrap,” the dwarf said.

“I want durable equipment, with self-repair,” I said as the dwarf looked over my sword.

“Expensive, very expensive. You need Mana infused alloys, a Master Enchanter. Your blade is a custom work from the College. But for the rest of your gear, it was designed optimally for its placement on your body,” the dwarf said.

“What is the best you can do? I am also looking to turn this Amulet into a ring as well,” I asked. The dwarf looked at the Sun Amulet and considered everything.

“A full set of tier 3 equipment, with durable would be the best option. Not as good as self-repair, but I don’t have the materials or an Enchanter with that level of skill. I could give you a set bonus between the gloves, boots, head, and body. Aura of Durability, helps protect all equipment you are wearing,” the dwarf said.

“A set bonus, just durability?” I asked.

“My specialty. And by scraping what you have, I will have the materials. A bit difficult, but four pieces is enough. As for the Amulet, turning it into a ring? This is dungeon made?” he asked.

“Yes,” I replied, and he let out a sigh as he set the Sun Amulet back down.

“It can’t be changed to an Amulet. It is a non-standard enchantment. Incredibly complex and possibly unique. I could spend quite a bit of time trying to reverse engineer it.”

“What about an experience blocking ring?” I asked.

“Won’t work either. Experience blocking needs to be a bracelet or amulet. Otherwise it won’t balance with the other equipment. Equipment balancing is a complex issue as you know,” he said. I nodded at this. I knew the basics, but nothing beyond that. That was why I was consulting an expert.

“How much and how long?” I asked.

“A week and two thousand gold,” he said. I winced at that number. That would clean out almost all the wealth I had managed to trade for the Mana cores.

“Same style?” I asked.

“Yes. Don’t worry, I recognize the Eldarin second armor standard for equipment. Easy enough to copy the same designs for your gear,” the dwarf said.

“Alright,” I replied and pulled out two pouches of 500 gold coins each. The rest would be paid once the job was completed. I also had to hand over my equipment. I had spare shoes I could wear, but I felt incredibly exposed without my equipment.

Durable wouldn’t have been my preference, but I needed functional equipment. Traveling without functional equipment was asking for trouble.

With that task completed, I made my way to the System Church in the middle of the port. It was a large building, made of stone. People moved quietly in and out of the church. I entered with Ozy on my shoulders and got into line with the other petitioners. I donated a gold coin to one of the Acolytes and they gave me a smile.

People wanted skills removed all the time. They didn’t have my support skills and the ability to reject skills as easily. The Acolytes watched people in the line and tended the aromatic candles about the System Church. It gave the place a hazy feeling.

For common people, a copper was expected. For an adventurer, it was standard to donate a silver for the initial meeting. Since I was born into nobility and with my background, a gold was the bare minimum. If I was truly rich, it should have been a platinum, but that would have been a bit too much money.

“The Priest, will see you,” an Acolyte told me, and I got up and went to the meeting room.

“Oh, an adventurer, with a pet. How exciting,” the young looking man said blandly. He was smoking from a big pipe and had a glazed look in his eyes, like most System Priests. Their brains were addled by drugs.

System focused skills were unique in that a person had to think less to improve them. It wasn’t a matter of practice or even faith. But a matter of mindset. Drugs were often used to sustain this mindset.

“I wish to remove a tier 1 skill from my pet, Spark,” I said and had Ozy slither onto the table between me and the System Priest.

“Hmmm. Nope. Impossible,” the System Priest said after waving a hand.

“What do you mean impossible?” I asked with frustration. The System Priest took a deep inhale from his pipe and blew the smoke in my face.

“What I said. Don’t ask complicated questions. It isn’t possible. Like a handful of wine cast into water. You will never get the wine back out,” he said and shooed me away with a hand. Ozy climbed back onto my shoulders and we left.

That was the challenge with System Priests, they didn’t provide clarity. Clarity wasn’t helpful with system skills. It was frustrating to deal with directly, but at least I had gotten answer. This one couldn’t remove the skill. Whatever happened, I would have to deal with it over time or find another solution.

Those were the two major errands I wanted to take care of. It was time to return to the Adventurer’s Guild and wait for another week for my equipment to be completed. Looking at the Ring of Warning on my hand, it should be changed out.

I made my way to a ring shop. After looking through the options, I didn’t want anything that changed my stats. While such equipment provided a nice boost, it also could lead to me losing a lot of stats if damaged. Better to go with something more practical.

I traded in my old ring and got a Ring of Warding. Similar to a wand it would be able to use a single spell, Ward. I had gotten to like the wand and a ring with a similar ability for defense would be useful in my mind as a way to quickly protect myself or protect myself once when my Mana was low as a powerful surprise.

It would make it easier to stack up attacks and defense at the same time. Casting two spell skills at once was my limit. But with equipment, I could do three spell skills at once, which was quite useful for overwhelming a target.

The best location for a ring was the middle finger on each hand. I had long gotten used to jewelry. It was a shame that there wasn’t another Ring of Force Deflection. That arrow from the legend would have gone much deeper if I hadn’t had that piece of equipment. I shuddered at the power behind that attack.

With my errands completed, I made my way back to the Adventurer’s Guild. I would rest for a week and then get a magical carriage to visit my father before going onto the College. I wanted to chat with him while I was nearby.