Chapter 63: All-rounder
The evening air of Hiving was cool when Wade stepped out of the guild building.
The sunset bathed the city in a soft orange glow, streaks of gold and purple spreading across the horizon.
The cobblestone streets shimmered faintly under the fading light, and lanterns hanging from shopfronts flickered to life one by one.
Wade adjusted the straps of his pauldrons as he moved with the crowd.
His boots clicked against the pavement, each step confident.
His mind was abuzz, not from excitement but calculation.
His destination was simple.
The guild tracked all transactions done through their store, but the independent vendors scattered across Hiving’s market districts? They operated quietly. Discreetly.
And that was exactly the kind of place Wade was headed now.
He’d asked Rowan about them before, and it was time to make good use of the information.
He turned into one of the narrower streets, where adventurers often went to make off-the-record purchases.
Signs hung above the doors, some glowing faintly with mana inscriptions.
Before long, he found the shop he was looking for.
A two-story building with a weathered wooden sign that simply read, "Keld’s Skills and Relics."
The door creaked open as he stepped in.
The shop was dimly lit, the faint flickering light of the lanterns filling the space.
Inside, rows of skill stones floated in glass cases, each humming softly with stored magic.
A tall man with grey-streaked hair looked up from behind the counter.
He studied Wade with a hint of suspicion before his expression softened into the usual merchant’s smile.
"Evening," the man said, his voice low and welcoming. "You look like someone with deep pockets and good taste."
Wade chuckled. "Depends on what you’re selling."
The man’s smile widened. "Ah, a cautious one. I like that. Most adventurers come in here flashing their coins like they’ve already conquered the world."
He leaned against the counter, motioning toward the shelves. "So, what are you looking for? Combat? Defense? Utility? Or maybe something a bit... rarer?"
"An all-rounder set," Wade said. "Something that’ll keep me alive when I’m alone in a dungeon."
Keld’s eyes flickered briefly with interest. "Alone, huh? Not many brave enough to say that out loud. Or stupid enough."
"Where else can I be that stupid if not in here?" Wade smirked.
"True." The man nodded.
Privacy was the backbone of this industry. If that was stripped away, they’d lose their sources of income.
He straightened, walking to one of the display shelves. "Follow me."
Wade followed behind him as the man tapped on a glass case.
Inside were several skill stones, each one a different color, shimmering softly with energy.
"This one," Keld said, pointing to a deep red crystal. "Fireburst. A mid-tier offensive skill."
"Launches a concentrated burst of flame in a cone, good for crowd control and damage. Range, six meters. Cooldown, fifteen seconds. Cost, 40,000 coins."
Wade eyed the stone, noting the intensity of the mana emanating from it. It was strong, but that price hurt.
"Next," Keld continued, tapping another case. "Steel Skin. Defensive buff. Increases physical resistance by thirty percent for ten seconds."
"Great for surviving ambushes or holding ground. Cost, 35,000 coins."
That one interested him. Wade nodded slightly, making a mental note.
Keld moved on, his tone shifting to something more casual. "And for mobility, I’d suggest Chain Step."
"It’s a combo enhancer. Works great with teleportation-type skills. You can follow up immediately after a movement skill with an instant strike. Cost, 30,000 coins."
"Chain Step, huh?" Wade murmured.
That sounded perfect with Short-Step. He could blink behind an enemy and attack in one smooth motion.
He was tempted already.
"Anything for support or utility?" Wade asked.
Keld grinned. "Ah, so you’re serious about the all-rounder route." He moved toward another shelf, bringing out two more skill stones.
"This one’s Mana Siphon. Absorb ambient mana from fallen monsters or active spells, converting ten percent into your own pool."
"Works great for longer dungeon runs. Cost, 45,000 coins."
"And this," Keld lifted another, a cloudy white stone, "is Focus Sight. Enhances perception, allowing you to detect hostile intent and hidden enemies. Cost, 25,000 coins."
Wade’s mind worked quickly.
He could already picture how these skills would fit into his build.
Fireburst for offense, Steel Skin for emergencies, Chain Step for follow-up attacks, Mana Siphon for endurance, and Focus Sight for awareness.
That would make five new skills, solid additions that would make him far more self-sufficient.
He exhaled slowly. "Alright. I’ll take them all."
Keld blinked, then chuckled softly. "Well, aren’t you decisive? That’ll be... let’s see..."
He mentally tallied the total. "175,000 coins."
"Great," Wade said, scanning another case. "And before I forget, have you got any inventory stones?"
Keld motioned toward a lower shelf. "Right here. A single stone grants additional six slots to your inventory. Cost, 2,500 coins each."
Wade’s brows rose. 2,500 coins was much cheaper than what he’d bought it for at the guild, which was 3,000 coins.
"Perfect," he nodded. "Give me ten."
And that made his purchases a total of 200,000 coins.
Keld retrieved each item and placed them on the counter.
"Smart investment, I’d say. Not many adventurers care about balance anymore. They all want power, and they all die early."
Wade chuckled as he transferred the coins from his inventory. "Then I guess I’ll be the exception."
The air shimmered faintly as each transaction completed.
He absorbed the skill stones one by one.
Each one dissolved into glowing light that sank into his chest, the new knowledge settling into his mind like a familiar memory. His body hummed with potential.
[New Skills Acquired!]
[Fireburst (Active): Launch a short-range cone of fire.]
[Steel Skin (Active): Temporarily increase defense.]
[Chain Step (Passive): Instantly follow up after movement skills.]
[Mana Siphon (Passive): Recover mana from ambient sources.]
[Focus Sight (Active): Enhance perception, detecting hostility or hidden threats.]
He flexed his hand, feeling the rush of mana circulate through him.
Every new skill integrated smoothly, like puzzle pieces fitting into place.
Keld watched him with a faint smirk. "You’ve got good instincts. Don’t die before you get to use any of that."
"I’ll do my best," Wade said, his tone dry.
As he stepped outside, the night had fully settled over Hiving.
The streets were quieter now, lanterns casting warm pools of light on the road.
He walked at a steady pace, replaying the details of his new build in his mind.
Between his enhanced mana pool, increased regeneration, faster mobility, and defensive capabilities, he finally felt confident.
The next dungeon he entered wouldn’t be a desperate scramble for survival. It would be a test of everything he’d built.
He’d spent another 200,000 coins, bringing his total expenditures to over 447,000 since morning.
Painful, but worth it.
And the next step?
The Catacombs of a Thousand Kings.