20 A Little Preparation
After my recent pet shop splurge, I was back in the monster-fighting business. It was still the dead of night, and these nocturnal baddies were packing some serious nocturnal punch. They had this nighttime buff thing going on that pumped up their powers, and the odds of scoring some sweet loot were on the rise too. So, naturally, it was prime time for grinding out some cash and drops. The problem was, the dawn was creeping in, and that buff was on borrowed time.
When morning finally broke, the monsters went back to their usual selves, and the loot wasn't anything to write home about. So, I figured it was time to hit the town and scrounge up some quests. Maybe I'd score a few copper or silver, or even something better. But it seemed like everyone and their grandma had beaten me to the punch or the quests just plain stank. In the end, I found myself back in the wild, hunting more monsters in the hope of leveling up before heading to the Capital.
But let me tell you, it was pretty much what I expected. Leveling in the newbie zone was a real tough cookie now. Those lower-level monsters were dishing out peanut-sized XP, and I wasn't exactly the poster child for patience when it came to grinding. I cracked open my stats screen, praying that the EXP bar still had some fight left in it.
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Name: Bladeheart
Level 10
Experience: 1000/20000
Health Points (HP): 5000/5000
Mana Points (MP): 3200/3200
Attributes:
Strength (STR): Very Poor
[AP Bar: 47/100]
Agility (AGI): Very Poor
[AP Bar: 57/100]
Dexterity (DEX): Very Poor
[AP Bar: 56/100]
Endurance (END): Very Poor
[AP Bar: 53/100]
Intelligence (INT): Very Poor
[AP Bar: 68/100]
AP left to spend: 39
Title: Memento Mori
Skills: Click here to Open the skill trees
SP left to spend: 88
Equipment:
Head: Beginner Hood
Face: White Fur Wolf Mask
Upper Body: Green Armor
Lower Body: Beginner Pants
Shoes: Beginner Boots
Gloves: Beginner Gloves
Necklace: None
Left Arm: None
Right Arm: None
Ring: None
Weapon: Versatile Weapon
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I had 39 AP points I'd earned through leveling up, so I decided to distribute them like this: 10 in STR, 10 in DEX, 10 in END, and the remaining 9 in INT. However, as I looked at the daunting amount of experience needed to reach the next level, it became clear that staying put wasn't worth it. The effort required to level up here just didn't justify the gains. It was time to pack up and move on.
Oh, and by the way, while I was busy dealing with the monsters, I managed to pick up a few items as drops. Mostly beginner stuff like a Beginner Sword and Beginner Armor. I'd accumulated quite a few of these by now, so I decided to let my Versatile Weapon have a little feast on them. My hope was that this would boost its stats, but it turns out, that only a tiny fraction of the Beginner Armor had any impact on its stats, and it only increased by a single digit. That's when I realized that feeding the Versatile Weapon items it had already devoured wouldn't give me any extra benefits. If I wanted to see some real improvement in its stats, I'd have to feed it different types of weapons. It still gobbled up items that didn't do much for it, but as I said, it was more about lightening my load than anything else.
It's getting late in the real world and I have stayed gaming for quite some time already so I decided to put off the adventure for now and log off. Giving my body some rest would allow me to gain more energy to do some stuff later. There is no need for me to continue tiring myself, time to snooze out.
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I rested in the real world by having a good sleep. After my sleep, I woke up, took a bath and a nice breakfast, then returned to the game again.
When I returned, the first thing I did was check my money. I still got the 200 gold with me plus the copper and silver I earned from grinding. I must say this amount of money I have is already good savings before reaching the Capital. There, I can splurge on real equipment and good stuff, so not buying anything in this town is fine, and staying in this garb is also fine. My stats are enough for me to survive until I reach the Capital.
Before I lose focus here, I decided to dive into my skill trees and pull up the classes I'm interested in. The Versatile Class has a bunch of options, so it's no big deal to have multiple skill trees open. It's like a buffet of skills, and I get to pick what I want.
For now, I've got skills in the swordsman, magician, and ninja class trees. These are the ones that align with my basic needs at the moment. But adding more to these skills should be mandatory for me. After all, I can use all the skills of all the classes and not just a specific skill relegated to that class. That way, I can diversify and use them wisely in battle. It's also a good way to surprise enemies as well.
Dealing with skills in the Versatile Class can be a real hassle. At first, it's a bit perplexing because they don't really lay out how to acquire those unique Versatile skills properly. If it weren't for my prior knowledge of the individual classes, I'd be totally lost trying to figure out which skills are worth their salt and which ones are just a waste of time.
Without that background, I'd be stuck in a slow learning curve. Anyway, most of the skills I've picked up so far are geared toward taking out foes efficiently and making monster-hunting a more organized affair. But it's clear I need more in my arsenal; the skills I've got right now are pretty run-of-the-mill. To go solo successfully, I'm going to need some support-type skills in my toolkit.
First, I jumped straight into the Cleric class. While I had other choices, going for a Cleric skill made sense to me. It's the kind of skill that can be a lifesaver in both solo or a party, especially when you can't rely on potions or they're scarce because of relentless monsters.
Clerics are the backbone of most parties. Anyone who calls them useless probably hasn't ventured into the world of MMORPGs before. It's common knowledge that Clerics are the ones who keep everyone alive and kicking. Without them, you're either chugging potions like there's no tomorrow or you're just way too confident in your ability to survive.
I noticed a few skills that seemed familiar from my encounters with other Cleric players in the past. But since I'm not a pro when it comes to their class trees and only know the skills mostly used by Cleric players, I decided to take a good look at each one before making any decisions. Plus, I had some Cleric SP that I might have earned while bashing enemies with my staff, the weapon for the Cleric, which was a nice addition to the Free SP I'd earned from leveling up. Time to strategize.
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Cleric SP: 40 | Free SP: 88
1st Tier Skills
1. Minor Blessing (Active) - 10 SP: Bestow a minor blessing to aid your allies.
2. Miracle Regeneration (Active) - 10 SP: Kickstart rapid healing for your party members in dire need. Gives healing to self and allies over time.
3. Dispel (Active) - 15 SP: Clear away pesky debuffs from your comrades.
4. Holy Body (Passive) - 20 SP: Strengthen your resilience with this divine passive skill.
5. Heal (Active) - 25 SP: Channel your healing energy to mend wounds and save lives.
6. Maiden Tears (Passive) - 30 SP: Embrace and feel the power of a young maiden's tears, increasing the amount of HP healed.
7. Minor Curse Dispel (Active) - 30 SP Shield your team from minor curses with this active skill.
8. Resuscitation (Active) - 50 SP: Revive fallen allies and give them a second chance at the battle.
9. Blessing After Drought (Active) - 55 SP: Bestow a blessing to replenish depleted energy and keep your party going. Gives minor healing capabilities and minor immunity to debuffs in a short duration.
10. Miraculous Nursing (Passive) - 55 SP: Elevate your passive healing abilities to miraculous levels by increasing the amount of HP healed to teammates who just got revived.
Out of the ten skills on the table, only a handful ring a bell in my mind. The rest, well, they're like fleeting thoughts, gone as soon as they come. But before diving into the unknown, I've got a shortlist of skills I've already sized up – the ones I know will be the unsung heroes of my future endeavors. Time to snag 'em pronto.
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[Resucitation]
1st Tier
Cooldown: Instant
Mana Cost: 100 MP
Info: This spell works like a magical defibrillator, bringing back an incapacitated or dearly departed friend with a measly 10 HP left on their health bar.
Note: Ever wonder if wizards had secret CPR and mouth-to-mouth techniques? Nah, we leave the mundane stuff to the mortals!
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I couldn't help but spot those comments about the skills. It's strange because I hadn't seen them in the previous versions. Maybe it's a recent addition? But honestly, it doesn't add much value; it's more like throwing in some sarcasm, humor, or just plain teasing for whoever's checking out these skills. Well, moving on, the ability to bring a fallen ally back to life is a clear indicator of a top-notch Cleric. I wasted no time in buying that one. Next on the list...
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[Heal]
Tier 1
Cooldown: 1 minute and 30 seconds
Mana Cost: 20 MP
Info: This handy spell works like a magical band-aid, patching up wounds and bruised egos by restoring a solid 1000 HP to either the lucky target or even the caster themselves. Just remember, one at a time, folks – we're not running a healing buffet here!
Note: Much more potent than potion. Of course, the caster will have to rely on drinking sh*t tasting potion to recover mana.
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No need for a lengthy explanation here, folks. This skill heals. Plain and simple. Think of it as your go-to healing buddy, nothing more, nothing less. But don't underestimate it, especially when you reach those later stages and can level it up to its next tiers.
I've got to admit, I'm a tad disappointed with the current skill offerings on the table. I mean, yeah, I'd love to grab a passive skill too, but I don't want to splurge my Free SP recklessly. That means I'll need to put in some grind time before I can snag another skill.
Just to set the record straight, I'm not planning to go on a skill-buying spree, folks. Sure, those shiny options on my skill tree might look tempting, but managing all of them won't be a walk in the park. I'm all about efficiency here, not drowning in skills I'll never use. That'll save me some precious grinding hours and let me focus on what truly matters.
As for the offensive skills, well, the Swordsman class has its fair share of them. But to be honest, none of them have really tickled my fancy just yet. I might circle back to that later, but for now, I'll pass. Who knows, maybe something will catch my eye down the road.
Now, let's talk about the class I'm most familiar with: the Magic Knight. It might not be all about offense, but this class packs some serious buffs that let me play around with the elements and mix swordplay with magic. This combo doesn't just amp up my regular attacks, it's got some potential tricks up its sleeve too.
With a hefty stash of SP points, I was all set to splurge on my skills. But as I dug into the skill tree, it hit me: these abilities were a lot pricier than I remembered from the old days. No biggie though, I wasn't about to back down. I went ahead and unlocked the first and second tiers of the skill tree.
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Magic Knight SP: 120 Free SP: 38
1st Tier
1. Flaming Sword (Active) - 10 SP
- Envelop your sword in flames and deal fiery damage to your foes.
2. Ice Sword (Active) - 10 SP
- Transform your blade into ice, chilling your enemies with each strike.
3. Earth Sword (Active) - 10 SP
- Infuse your sword with the earth's power, causing tremors upon impact.
4. Lightning Sword (Active) - 10 SP
- Harness the might of lightning, electrifying your sword attacks.
5. Air Void Sword (Active) - 10 SP
- Summon the winds to empower your sword, slicing through the air with agility.
6. Earth Fissure (Active) - 25 SP
- Smash the ground, creating a seismic shockwave that damages nearby foes.
7. Lava Geyser (Active) - 30 SP
- Unleash a fiery eruption, scorching your enemies and igniting the battlefield.
8. Mana Sucking Body (Passive) - 50 SP
- Absorb enemy mana with your presence, weakening their magical abilities.
9. Freezing Slash (Active) - 50 SP
- Deliver a devastating icy blow that freezes your target in place.
2nd Tier
1. Blazing Sword (Active) - 20 SP
- Upgrade your Flaming Sword, intensifying its flames for even greater damage.
2. Freezing Sword (Active) - 20 SP
- Enhance your Ice Sword, increasing its freezing effect.
3. Terra Sword (Active) - 20 SP
- Strengthen your Earth Sword, making your strikes more earth-shattering.
4. Volt Sword (Active) - 20 SP
- Amp up your Lightning Sword, delivering shocking blows to your foes.
5. Gale Void Sword (Active) - 20 SP
- Elevate your Air Void Sword, becoming a whirlwind of destruction.
6. Earth Splitter (Active) - 40 SP
- Take your Earth Fissure to the next level, rending the ground with immense force.
7. Icicle Slash (Active) - 100 SP
- Unleash a frigid storm of icicles upon your enemies, causing massive damage.
8. Anti-Magic Body (Passive) - 100 SP
- Develop a resistance to magic, reducing the effectiveness of enemy spells.
9. Lesser Physical Body (Passive) - 100 SP
- Fortify your physical form, granting increased durability and strength.
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I was thinking about snagging some second-tier passive skills to cut down on my mana usage and boost my skill effectiveness. But when I checked out the price tag, I realized it would mean giving up on learning some cool active skills. And even if I go down that road, I can only afford one passive skill.
What's more, most of these second-tier skills are just souped-up versions of the ones in the first tier. So if I wanted to unlock them, I'd have to grab the basic version first and then work my way up. I figured I'd hold off on the passive skills for now. Having those active skills in my toolkit will help me rake in more SP down the line – it's like an investment in my character. Soon enough, I'll have saved up enough SP to grab those passives, but for now, let's focus on scooping up these active skills.
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Flaming Sword
1st Tier
Cooldown: 10 minutes
Duration: 5 minutes
Mana Cost: 10 MP
Info: Turn up the heat! This skill sets your weapon ablaze with the fiery element. While it's sizzling, all your regular attacks get a spicy bonus of fire damage. And guess what? This party's not stopping until the clock runs out. So, unleash the inner pyromaniac in you!
Note: Burn me to the ground! Just kidding, don't actually do that!
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Ice Sword
1st Tier
Cooldown: 10 minutes
Duration: 5 minutes
Mana Cost: 10 MP
Info: Chill out, folks! This skill turns your weapon into a chilly masterpiece with an icy touch. While it lasts, all your regular attacks will give your enemies the cold shoulder, thanks to some added ice damage.
Note: Ice, Ice Baby! It's not Vanilla Ice, but it's still cool!
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Earth Sword
1st Tier
Cooldown: 10 minutes
Duration: 5 minutes
Mana Cost: 10 MP
Info: Get grounded! With this skill, your weapon gets an earthy makeover. Your regular attacks will now hit like a ton of bricks, packing an earth-shattering punch!
Note: Rock hard, my boy! And I'm not talking about that summer body.
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Lightning Sword
1st Tier
Cooldown: 10 minutes
Duration: 5 minutes
Mana Cost: 10 MP
Info: Zap, zap! Your weapon becomes a walking taser with an electric element. During the skill's duration, your normal attacks will leave your foes shocked with electric damage.
Note: You are such a golden! A walking light source! Shockingly bright, right?
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Air Void Sword
1st Tier
Cooldown: 10 minutes
Duration: 5 minutes
Mana Cost: 10 MP
Info: Wind beneath your wings! This skill turns your weapon into a portable fan that hits like a hurricane. Your regular attacks will now carry the breezy essence of the wind.
Note: The air is heavy in your presence! Is that a portable fan you are carrying? Well, it might as well be!
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Earth Fissure
1st Tier
Cooldown: 5 minutes
Mana Cost: 200 MP
Info: Groundbreaker alert! This skill sends a powerful shockwave into the ground, splitting it and giving enemies a surprise makeover. The tougher they are, the harder they fall! Plus, you might even put them in a daze with a 10% chance. And if you're feeling adventurous, shove it into a monster's body to see some magical monster sushi!
Note: Can I split a melon using this? Well, you might need something a bit more delicate for that, my friend!
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Unlike the first time I learned these skills in the past timeline, the excitement of learning these skills is now gone. All that is left is stress knowing I have to grind a lot harder if I wanted the other skills to be purchased as well.
As I'm busy sorting through my skills, a subtle jolt from the tavern's entrance signals someone's arrival.
*CLACK!*
The aged wooden door slowly inches open, revealing a mysterious figure working diligently on the other side. It's only a matter of moments before the door swings wide, unveiling a rather unconventional sight: a girl in a maid outfit that defies the usual norms.
Her attire consists of a blend of black and white, featuring a headband adorned with frills in the same color scheme. Her knee-length black skirt, upon closer inspection, reveals an intricate design that turns out to be tiny, airborne knives. A unique touch, I must say.
She sports a breastplate specially tailored for her ample chest, leaving me pondering whether it's the lightweight version or the heavy-duty one. Beneath the armor, her blouse carries a militaristic flair, complete with a hidden necktie. Strip away the breastplate, and she'd be sporting a typical game's maid outfit. Quite the unexpected twist.
While she holds the title of a maid, her responsibilities extend far beyond the typical household chores. She's a specialist in combat—a true Battle Maid.
"Hey, who are you?" the girl inquired.
"I'm Bladeheart. Lily-san appointed me to ensure the safety of her family on their journey to the Capital."
"Oh, you're the one my mom mentioned, huh? You might not look like a powerhouse, but if my mom trusts you to protect us, then you must have some tricks up your sleeve. Just make sure you can hold your own when it counts, alright?"
"Don't worry. I've got this covered."
The Battle Maid in question is Lina. We've been partners for a long time, dating back to our shared history and the challenges we overcame together. Though we're starting anew with this assignment, I'm more than willing to take her on as my personal Battle Maid and my very first follower.
