Blue and Red

"Hey, Ace, why did you tell us to come back? I want to test my new trait 'territory of rage'. It can boost attack damages of everyone around me to 30% if his HP is below 30%," Sampson said in annoyance.

Ace was silent, only a slight smile was on his face. Sofia seemed to know what was in her husband's mind, as she looked at him meaningfully.

"Snort! Can't you think well? What I see about your new trait is pretty useless normally. Think! Do you want to risk your life just for 30% of extra damage? I don't think so. That a reckless way of fighting. 

It is somewhat like my 'cure' skill. Curing abnormal status is a useful skill, but the requirement to touch the person who I want to cure, makes it pretty useless in battle," Cloud said.

"Yeah, It seems you are right," Sampson said with a depressing tone.

"But, I haven't finished yet. My new trait is the real deal. Not like my first trait 'sixth sense' that can detect and communicate with soul-based entities, that doesn't have significance all this time. My second trait, 'soul connection' boosts my role at a new level.

It will link my skills to everyone else in the party. And my skill 'continues heal' and 'cure' can be cast like opening and closing faucets. Now, I can heal and cure any of our party's members within a 100 m radius of me. I think my job's specialty started to become apparent."

Ace and everyone nodded. He had to agree with his mother-in-law. At first, he thought that the witch doctor didn't deserve its rarity. Its specialties were too diverse, which made it mediocre. However, her new trait solved the puzzle. Now he could see its potential clearly.

If he must describe the witch doctor, the control tower was the most suitable definition. She could manipulate battle situations with her recovery and debuff skills from the rear.

Then, his brother's job, warlord. It was a job that emphasized group battle. With his two 'halo' traits that can boost all allies' conditions around him, it would shine in war. 

As for Geo's job, at level 5 he got defense boost skill. Of course, this skill was only for his pets. At level 10 he got a new trait, 'distant connection'. It made him able to communicate with any of his pets, even if his pet was in another part of the world. 

For a note, he wasn't with everyone else at the moment. He was riding Jumpy who had an 'optical camouflage' trait to the hill they had lived these few days. Jumpy made them invisible, so their safety was guaranteed. He was pretty hurried because he had something to do there. Ace could only nod his head when his son asked his approval to come back earlier.

However, Ace believed that Jumpy could take Geo safely. He was content with Jumpy's new trait. As a monster with light manipulation ability, he could enter camouflage mode anytime. Not like the 'stealth' skill of a thief that was an active skill which consumed mana, his camouflage didn't require mana, and wouldn't be canceled when in battle. 

It was just, because it only manipulated the light, it couldn't hide the sound of his steps, breath, and heartbeats. Ace could still know his location easily. At this point, 'stealth' was better, as it could also hide sound to a certain extent.

If not for his job's characteristic that was too focused on solo fighting and Sofia's job that emphasized information gathering, he would think his family was prepared to participate in the war.

By the way, Sofia's job deserved its SS rarity. At level 5 she got 'mental note' skill. It didn't have any extravagant effect. Like its name, it made her able to make a note in her mind. 

Before she had this skill, she often complained to Ace that she often forgot some small but important details of a book. It forced her to reread that book. However, with this skill she could record whatever details she wanted to record, she could also record any inspirations that she got after reading books. In other words, this skill was very useful for her to organize the knowledge she had gotten from the library. 

Actually, this skill was like a controllable photographic memory. She could choose whatever she wanted to remember. A few days ago, she said to Ace that it was also useful in the game world, as she could memorize the information that she had gotten after inspecting any object.

What she got at level 10 was 'mana vision' trait. It made her vision able to see the mana density of everything that she looked at. It made her able to see Jumpy, even if he was in camouflage mode, because she could see the mana that was stored inside his body. She said that she hadn't understood totally her new trait value, so she needed more time to make a conclusion.

***

Because it was daytime, Ace was more careful. A few mistakes and they were swarmed by the ants. When they were approaching the hill, They must finish 5 ants. It was the best route based on Ace's finding.

After finishing them, they climbed the hill. As they entered the cave, they saw Geo with Jumpy beside him had already waited for them, "Dad, you came. Hurry up, do it. They have been ready."

Ace smiled, "Alright… Alright…," He then looked at Adrian and Derek, "Would you like to help me?"

After hearing their agreement, Ace explained what they had to do. Two of them nodded. In front of them were two pillow-like objects. 

They were egg cases of flying skates that they picked from the top of the hill. One of them had two colors on its surface, blue and green. It was 10 cm long. The other one was 50 cm long and had a red color.

These two weeks, Geo diligently healed them. Ace asked him why he did that. He answered that he just did what the system hinted, about how to strengthen his bond with the monster that was still in egg state. He said that by doing that, the monster would recognize him as his master immediately after being hatched.

What Ace asked Adrian and Derek was to carefully slice the egg cases, so the skate babies could hatch. The two then did what Ace had asked. They had difficulties in slicing the egg cases because it was too hard. After trying for some minutes they finally could do it.

Two small flying scales then exited their egg cases. They were about 5 cm and 25 cm. However, their bodies suddenly shone and expanded. The 5 cm skate became about 0,5 m wide and 0,8 m long, the 2,5 cm became 2,5 m wide and 4 m long.

The smaller one had black color with green and blue stripes. The bigger one had black color with red stripes. After their transformation ended, they then flew towards Geo. He received them with a laugh, "Hahaha… yes, welcome Blue, Red. Let's play together from now on."

Geo then used his hands to stroke each of their heads. Two of them seemed to enjoy His strokes.

Ace and the other could only smile while watching the scene in front of them. Ace then felt something, and realized that Jump who stood behind Geo saw them with envy gaze.

Ace sighed and approached him. He stroked his head gently. He also whispered to him, "It's okay. You are still his favorite. Trust me!"

Jump's body stiffened for a while, but then came back to relax.

'What a silly kid," Ace was amused. For a moment, he doubt about everything that he had known, 'Is it really just a game?'

***