Chapter 55: Upgrading the Arsenal
Reidar made his way across the main floor and found a door leading to a staircase. He climbed up to the third floor, where he spotted exactly what he was looking for: a small, windowless office that seemed forgotten and out of the way. Inside, there was just a metal desk and a worn-out chair. It was perfect.
He could still hear the sounds of celebration and reunions drifting up from below, but once he shut the door and sat down on the bed, the noise faded away behind him.
<I wonder where the others are...>
Linda, Mike, Sarah, Frank, George, and Margaret were nowhere to be seen. George would be with Marie, of course; that had been inevitable from the moment they reached Three Lakes. But the others?
<Maybe they are celebrating.>
Regardless, he was too tired to actually worry about other people. His bones ached. His mind felt fractured, worn thin from managing hundreds of fighters while tracking thousands of enemies.
He sank onto the bed. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, no one needed anything from him, not even himself, and he wasn’t at risk of being devoured while sleeping. For the first time in weeks, he could sleep without a care in the world.
<Just a moment. A moment to think.>
Reidar focused. His status screen popped up as always. Only he could see it, but nonetheless the interface illuminated the surroundings; at least that was what it looked like to him.
Most likely, that wasn’t true at all. He’d done this so many times it felt automatic. But his tired brain made it harder that night. For a second, the screen flickered like a weak flashlight before finally staying put. Usually it just happened; no effort was needed.
<I must be more tired than I thought...>
—[«STATUS»]—
Name: Reidar Miller
Level: 24
Health: 180
Mana: 1030
C.L.A.S.P.: 5725 / 8200
Available Attribute points: 2.50
Skills: Summon Rift-Sprite Squad, Fireball, Aqua Pistol, Stone Bullet, Wind Blade, Summon Primal Pack, Summon Guardian Shade, Summon Bone Militia, Mending Touch, Group Rally
Equipment: Rift-Sprite Conductor, Ember Sprite Bracers, Stone Sprite Gauntlets, Aqua Sprite Circlet, Wind Sprite Boots, Rift-Touched Cloak, Rift-Woven Leggings, Sprite-Touched Armguards, Wind Sprite Sash, Aqua Sprite Pendant, Ember Sprite Ring
Proficiencies: Basic Combat
Attributes: (S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1,8), (A.C.U.M.E.N.: 10,3), (F.L.A.I.R. : 1,6), (F.L.I.P.: 2,1)
Minions: #N/A
Survival Points: 70.169
Trait: Skill Sharing
Perks: Arcane Potency (1/6), Arcane Leech (5/5)
Perk Points: 6
Titles: The First Killer, The First Apprentice, The Pioneer, Creature Slayer IV, Rift-Sprite Hunter IV, The Exterminator, Guardian of the Innocents
Profession: #N/A
—[«END»]—
He studied the numbers, and satisfaction crept up in his gut. Level twenty-four. Six perk points.
The rewards from the quests had sped up his growth beyond what simple grinding could accomplish.
<Well... not that I didn’t grind, really...>
He mentally dismissed the notifications for the two new System functions he received upon reaching levels 15 and 20.
The Raid Function, allowing for parties larger than twenty-five, was a tool for armies, not for the solo journey he planned, and the Vendor alert, an audio warning that told him if one of the items he flagged actually ended up in one of the met vendors.
His focus went to the six perk points. He already had a plan for them.
Reidar went through to his perk tree. There was no hesitation there. He directed five points into Arcane Potency. Each point slotted home with an internal chime.
[PERK UPGRADED. Perk: Arcane Potency Rank: 1/6 -> 6/6 Effect: Increases the base power and damage of all Active skills by +24%. Cost: 5 Perk Points]
<A twenty-four percent increase to all spell damage. That’s a direct upgrade to my entire arsenal.>
The perk would work with all his active skills, but Reidar doubted it would increase the damage of his summons. Though it didn’t matter, because his elemental skills were those he wanted to improve.
Besides, it was more than just a raw power boost. Stronger spells meant more damage, and more damage meant a greater return from Arcane Leech.
These two perks worked together perfectly, building a cycle where stronger spells meant more mana coming back to him. It was at the heart of how he fought, and honestly, the only reason he could keep his summoned creatures around for so long.
<A perk point remains...>
The last point was just as crucial as the first five. After revising his perk trees, Reidar decided to place it into the Mana Attunement perk.
[Mana Attunement: Gain more Mana from all sources. (+5% per point, max 5 points)]
<Five percent more mana from all sources.>
The good thing about that perk, at least based on what Reidar understood, was not just the increase in mana gained from his own regeneration, but it was the fact it should also work with the Guardian Shade and, most importantly, with Arcane Leech.
It was a small boost on its own, but it added up. Every little bit of mana he got back would be more. That meant he could keep fighting longer and recover faster when he really needed it.
<I can increase it to twenty-five percent later.>
That was a foundational choice for any serious spellcaster, and Reidar had every intention of turning into one.
With the points allocated, he considered his next steps. Future perk points could go into the Survivor tree, perhaps for stamina or stealth.
<Well... there is no point in thinking about this now.>
He closed the interface, and the full weight of his exhaustion crashed down on him.
His muscles protested every small movement. Weeks of almost no rest placed an immense burden on him.
The makeshift bed wasn’t exactly comfortable, but it was still better than sleeping on the ground. Plus, having a pillow made all the difference.
<I need to bring this thing with me when I leave. I wonder if the vendor sells tents and survival gear, maybe a tent that is larger on the inside, and that can mount itself.>
It was with those thoughts of magic that Reidar finally fell asleep.