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Dante cannot level up

Virgil leveled up

"YES!" Dante burst into maniacal laughter, reveling in the success of his plan. It had worked marvelously, all thanks to two crucial details:

1. Technically, Dante was one of Virgil's summons.

2. His Genesis Advantage explicitly stated: "My first summon will receive all future boons in my stead."

This ingenious 'loophole' meant that Virgil's latest passive skill, designed to enhance his summons, paradoxically resulted in Virgil's own advancement!

Dante then observed the unique manner in which this level-up was reflected on Virgil's status screen:

Name: Virgil

Class: Undead Summoner

Level: 10(+1)

HP: 282.5

MP: 270

Might: 46.5(+10)

Finesse: 49.5(+5)

Mystique: 73.5

Essence: 90

Curious, Dante checked and indeed found that an extra Skill Point had been granted with the level-up. "Interesting," he mused, a smirk playing on his lips, wondering why it was displayed as 10(+1) instead of 11.

"There must be a difference, though," Dante thought to himself. "Let's give it a test."

He revisited the list of available skills and opted to upgrade the Conjure Bone Weapon skill twice, elevating it to level 5. His decision was driven by two reasons. Firstly, the recent boons had significantly boosted Virgil's stats, rendering a level 3 or 4 weapon inadequate. Secondly, this skill also served to enhance the equipment of his skeletal summons - though, frankly, it was like outfitting a horde of scarecrows with swords and expecting them to become knights.

Upon reviewing the skills once more, Dante noted the absence of the level 6 version of the Conjure Bone Weapon. Given that the skill was available from level 1 and an upgrade appears every two levels thereafter, a level 6 version of the skill would typically be expected at character level 11, considering the pattern of upgrades at levels 3, 5, 7, and 9. The absence of a level 6 upgrade at this point confirmed his suspicion: the (+1) added to Virgil's level contributed the corresponding stats and an extra Skill Point, but it did not trigger the availability of new skills. It appears that only the character's base level, not any additional level increments, determines which new skills or skill upgrades become accessible.

That said, the level 5 version of the skill came with a nice surprise:

Conjure Bone Weapon (R1 L5)

 Summons a rank 1, level 5, 1-H weapon of choice or a 2-H staff, sword or spear. Duration: 380 s, MP cost: 18, CD: 100 s.

"Nice! And if my guess is right, level 6 should come with a two-handed weapon of choice, too." Dante mused as he pondered the possibilities.

After a long while, Virgil finally stepped away from the ashes of his opponent, leaving nothing but an empty throne room behind. He experimented with the new skill, conjuring something very similar to the mace that the Forgotten Monarch had wielded. He fiddled around with it, then turned to Dante. The light in the mysterious flame that served as his eyes seemed to convey, 'It was time to move on.'

Dante found himself contemplating the three Skill Points still at his disposal, their potential uses whispering temptations. Prudence might have suggested saving them for a rainy day, yet, in this moment, a clear vision of what was necessary for both Virgil and his summons nudged him towards decisiveness. With certainty he invested all his remaining points in that one skill.

Strength Infusion (R1 L5)

 Adds 25 points to the Might attribute of a summon. Duration: 260 s, MP cost: 30, CD: 80 s.

This enhancement to Might was a game-changer, bolstering defense, strength, and health—attributes Virgil's summons were sorely lacking. However, the underlying reason for Dante's all-in investment was centered on Virgil himself. The day's events had imparted a harsh lesson: reliance on the Immortal Macro could falter. In those critical moments, Virgil must stand alone, propelling them forward. Dante, ever vulnerable to a single strike, recognized that their mutual survival hinged on not being vanquished simultaneously. Ensuring Virgil's resilience against the onslaught of future adversaries became imperative. Thus, prioritizing Might emerged not just as a choice, but a necessity for the path ahead.

With all preparations finally in place, Dante couldn't resist the urge to glance one last time at his accumulated wealth of Tutorial coins, the digital figure glowing mockingly back at him:

128,184 Tutorial coins

A smirk spread across his face, his eyes alight with a mischievous gleam. "That vending machine has absolutely no idea what's about to hit it," Dante mused, his grin widening with anticipation.

"Takoyaki deluxe, here I come!" Dante declared with a chuckle, his anticipation for the snack almost as palpable as his excitement for the upcoming adventure. The thought of finally spending his hard-earned Tutorial coins on takoyaki—whatever that dish might be—infused his quest with an unexpected twist of humor. For more than a week, he had been dreaming of this moment, his imagination running wild with visions of what takoyaki could taste like, despite not having the slightest clue about its actual flavor profile. This whimsical culinary objective served as a lighthearted reminder that amidst the daunting trials, there was always room for the simple joys of life—like the thrill of discovering the taste of a well-made takoyaki. "May the odds be ever in my flavor," he quipped.

And so, with no further ado, Dante and Virgil proceeded to exit the throne room. The prospect of retracing their steps all the way back to the vending machine wasn't exactly thrilling, yet the thought of achieving his sweet—or possibly spicy; honestly, Dante had no clue—takoyaki dream kept his spirits high.

Their departure from the chamber, through the gates, led them to an unexpected surprise. As they stepped out, they found themselves at the familiar forking path Dante had encountered what felt like eons ago, at the very start of his journey. Back then, he had chosen the left path, which had ushered him through days of relentless battles to this point. However, something was amiss now—the left path was no longer an option. It seemed as though an unseen force, perhaps an earthquake, had sealed off the cavern pathway with an impassable barrier of rocks and dust, leaving no trace of the path that once was.

'Well, a teleport was indeed refreshing,' Dante mused, marveling at the seamless experience. He hadn't felt the slightest hint of spatial distortion or any of the typical sensations one might expect from teleportation. It was a curious deviation from the fantastical notions of space-bending travel he had imagined.

With the left path conclusively blocked, Dante pondered their next move. 'The route to the vending machine is blocked, but there have to be others along each path... right?' A flicker of concern crossed his mind, yet he remained buoyed by his intuition. Confident in their ability to adapt and overcome, Dante and Virgil set their sights on the right path, stepping into the unknown with a blend of determination and the lingering hope of fulfilling a week-long culinary fantasy.

***

1 Tutorial Coin acquired

Thaleia leveled up

You leveled up

1 Tutorial Coin acquired

The messages appeared just as Thaleia finished stabbing the heart of another foe. Alice had already briefed Thaleia on the possibility of messages appearing mid-battle and advised her to ignore them until after the combat was over. However, this time was different, as the prompt appeared just as the last of their enemies fell.

This second encounter pitted them against two enemies. The setup was similar to before, with the enemies displaying the same brutish and berserk behavior, charging at the Amazon as soon as they spotted her. Yet again, the disparity in their capabilities was too great, and the Amazonian warrior quickly dispatched them, one move for each.

Alice pondered how easily Thaleia could kill what were potentially other human beings, showing no remorse or hesitation. While it was true that Thaleia, likely as young as herself, had engaged in countless life-and-death battles before arriving here, the ease with which a woman could kill men with a sword without batting an eye still struck Alice as unusual. In any case, this trait boded well for Alice. It would make future challenges easier and lessen the worry about morality.

Alice checked her available skills and was surprised to see two new options:

Available Skill Points (SP): 1

Available Active Skills:

Premonition (R1 L1) (Cost: 1 SP): Allows the user to see up to 30 seconds into the future. Duration: 1 s, MP cost: 15, CD: 600 s.

Whisper of Alacrity (R1 L1) (Cost: 1 SP): Enhances an ally's Finesse by 5. Duration: 120 seconds, MP cost: 10, CD: 300 seconds.

Critical Insight (R1 L1) (Cost: 1 SP): Reveals the weak point of the targeted enemy. While the skill is active, damage dealt by you or allies targeting the weak point is increased by 5%. Duration: 20 seconds, MP cost: 10, CD: 300 seconds.

Passive Skill:

True Scan (R1 L1) (Cost: 1 SP): Displays the name of any rank 1 entity. This skill bypasses any rank 1 defenses and obstructions.

While the other skills were tempting, Alice did not have to think too much to choose Whisper of Alacrity. Stats were essential.

She then observed Thaleia's new skills:

Available Skills (SP: 1)

Strength Boost (R1 L1) (1 SP): Gain 5 Might. Duration: 120 s,CD: 300 s.

Agility Boost (R1 L1) (1 SP): Gain 5 Finesse. Duration: 120 s,CD: 300 s.

Fortify Weapon (R1 L1) (1 SP): Increases the maximum and current durability of a weapon by 10%. The weight can be increased by up to 10% or decreased by up to 5%. Duration: 300 s, CD: 300 s.

Fortify Armor (R1 L1) (1 SP): Increases the maximum and current durability of all armor by 10%. The weight can be increased by up to 10% or decreased by up to 5%. Duration: 300 s, CD: 300 s.

Both skills were highly useful, but after taking into account her new ability and the impact of each stat, she quickly determined which option would be more beneficial.

"That seemed easy, but we must always remain vigilant. Overconfidence is our greatest enemy," Alice cautioned.

"I understand," Thaleia replied, pausing to glance at the blood on her sword. "But don't worry, that's the first lesson we're taught. In my culture, we learn to fight before we learn to speak, and the principles of warfare guide us for life."

Thaleia performed a quick swing of her sword to clean it before sheathing it. Alice had suggested utilizing the inventory for making it vanish and reappear at will, offering a surprise element and tactical advantage. However, Thaleia expressed discomfort with the idea, explaining the importance of physically feeling her weapon at all times. To her, removing her sword was akin to temporarily discarding a part of herself, an unthinkable act. Acknowledging her limited understanding of combat, Alice chose not to insist further.

"I suggest you learn the skill Strength Boost," Alice wrote, aiming to shift the direction of the conversation. Thaleia simply nodded and selected the skill.

"Before we head out, let's practice for a bit. You need to get a feel for the enhancement your level up and new skill provides, as well as the power I've gained to further boost you. We'll head out when you're ready."

Thaleia nodded once more.

Alice gazed at the underground expanse before them, pondering whether the challenges ahead would become more intriguing. The current obstacles posed no real risk and were somewhat dull for her taste.