A dozen stores circle a rough pza near Lignum port. By crossing the threshold of each storefront, the dising shopper may purchase most anything; food, household goods, ons, ship provisions, raiment, magical tris and not so tris, all avaible for a price. Between these perma shops, small [Merts], [Tradesmen], and [Quartermasters] hawk their wares from an ever ging milieu of shanties and stalls.
Cillian strolls through the dirt pza, enjoying the sights, sounds, and freedom of a wider world. He relishes the sense of his old mert instincts kig in as he browses the wares. The old arms dealer stops at a stall to examine a leather jacket that catches his eye.
As he stares at the coat, priced at thirty trist. His skill activates and a floating box hovers over it.
Name
Leather Coat
Rarity
on
Description
This is a leather coat. You do not have suffit knowledge to deduce what animal this leather es from.
Cillian walks up to the coat and ys his hand on it. He rubs the coarse leather and feels a soft yer beh the full grain hide. He opens the jacket and there is the fur, still attached to the hide.
This is made for very cold weather, he thinks.
At his thought, the box ges slightly to match his observation.
Name
Winter Leather Coat
Rarity
on
Description
This is a winter leather coat. You do not have suffit knowledge to deduce what animal this hide es from.
“Excuse me, sir,” he calls respectfully to the trader, “This is a winter coat, but I don't reize the animal that this leather is made from.”
The trader raises an eyebrow at Cillian, annoyed by the question until he notices the rather plump pou Cillians waist. His demeanor quickly brightens at the prospect of a wealthy er. He rushes over with a smile.
“Ahh, that's a rather special piece crafted by the highest leveled [Craftsmen] in Traipus, painstakingly sewn from the hides of Nivis’s Blizzard Bears.” He strokes the leather of the coat. “This coat is made pletely from the isnd's apex predator; its fur lihe insides for warmth and the skin is a tough barrier against wind, wildlife, and on bdes. ”
As the [Mert] extolls the coat, the box's description updates itself.
Name
Blizzard Bear Fur Coat
Rarity
on
Description
This is a Blizzard Bear Fur Coat crafted on the isnd of Nivis iy of Traipus.
Cillian nods. “Iing. Though I do wonder whether this coat would be useful in moderate climates.”
The trader's smile drops slightly. “Yes, I admit that Arbor’s weather doesn't ever get that cold, but that's not true for the open seas. Rapid shifts in temperature do happen, and I imagine having a coat like this will e in handy. Of course, you also shouldn't fet about the protective nature of the leather. Blizzard Bears are notorious for their resistao pierg. It is this nature alone which makes this coat an unon item.”
Name
Blizzard Bear Leather Coat
Rarity
Unon
Description
This is a Blizzard Bear Leather Coat crafted on the isnd of Nivis iy of Traipus. This coat's leather is resistant to pierg.
Cillian rubs his thoughtfully with a frown. He shakes his head. “Even so, the fur makes it unusable in warm climates. Anyone wearing, let alone fighting in this would get heat stroke.” Cillian lifts the coat and grimaces at the weight. “It also weighs a det bit too.” The Scot steps back. “I do like the look of it, though. I might be able to gift it to a friend.” He taps his pouch. “I’ll buy it for ten Trist.”
“Ten!” the trader yells in e. “This coat would go for a solid hecto-trist in Traipus. I’m already giving a hefty dist for thirty trist.”
A seventy pert dist already? As I figured, he’s desperate to sell it, but I o give a slightly better offer.
Cillian frowns at the coat for long moments, and then sighs. “I justify fifteen trist, but no more. This ay be worth more in a colder climate, but not here.”
“Twenty five.” he ters.
Amateur. You lowered your price too quickly. You’re desperate to get rid of it. It’s probably been in your possession for far too long.
Cillian shakes his head. “It's not worth that much here ah know it. Fifteen is my final offer.”
The trader looks like he's grinding his teeth. “Twenty trist.”
Cillian shakes his head and turns away.
He takes three steps before…
“Fine. Fifteen Trist.”
Cillian smiles.
_________________________________________________________________
“You’re in good spirits. Have you figured out how your skill works?” Irmgard asks.
“Somewhat, yes. The skill seems to fun by using my own knowledge to ascertain name, rarity, and description.”
“That seems useless if you already have to have knowledge of the item beforehand.”
“Maybe, but it’s too soon to tell. If the skill description never lies, then I ever be lied to, which is incredibly useful on its own. Regardless, I o test it some more. But first…”
Cillian and Irmgard stop in front of a store named Caelids Tannery. Cilliahe door aers. His and Irmgards face sch up at the chemical smell. They walk up to the desk. Cillian taps a bell on the desk.
From the back, a young woman rushes to the front. “Yes, hello. May I help you?”
Cillian gives an easygoing smile to the woman. “You , actually. Are you by ce Caelid?”
The woman shakes her head. “No, Caelid is my grandmother, but I am a [Taoo. Is there something you need?”
Cillian lifts his newly bought coat and pces it on the desk. “Yes. This coat of mine is a tad too warm. I he fur removed and lined with a far more breathable padding.”
The woman takes the coat and feels everywhere around it. She frowns as her hand roams the leather.
“Huh. I don't reize this. you wait a moment?”
“Of course.”
The girl grabs the coat and rushes to the ba. After several minutes, she returns with an aged woman.
The daughter pces the coat ba the desk.
“I’ve not worked on blizzard bear leather in a long while.” The old dy ents. “Notoriously difficult material to work with.” She brushes the inside fur lining. “My granddaughter said you wish to remove the fur and repce it with something more breathable. I do it, but my price isn’t going to be cheap. Twenty trist.”
Cillian opens his mouth to haggle, but the older dy raises up her hand with a smile. “But, If you allow my granddaughter to work on it, then it will only be five trist.”
The granddaughter frowns. “Grandma, that's too cheap. We’d make barely any profit”
“Hush, now. W on something as unon and difficult as blizzard bear leather should raise your level.” She looks back at Cillian. “Well young man, have we got a deal?”
“Are you fident yranddaughter will do a good job?”
“If she works slowly and carefully, then yes.”
Cillian nods. “That’s fine by me. I’ll pay when the modification is finished. When should I return?”
“In three days. One day to work on it, and two for it to dry.”
Cillian thanks the daughter and grandmother before exiting the building and going to there destination.
“You looked like you really wao haggle there,” Irmgard ents.
“I did, but that old dy beat me to it. She put such a low price that haggling would be detrimental to the deal. Regardless, we learhat the prospect of leveling greatly reduce the cost.”
“We also learhat you level your css by using it, and level it even faster if you are doing something more difficult.”
“Do you believe you will level from buying and selling?” Irmgard asks.
“No, I’ll level from haggling and making profits. Anyone buy and sell, but it takes skill to turn a big profit.”
“Do you pn to sell the coat for a profit?”
Cillian shrugs. “If Quasi returns successful, I’ll probably gift it to Boriss. If he doesn't return, then I’m going to sell it for a profit. I’ll he if I’m to survive long enough to be successful. What about you? Any pns.”
The former warden grimaces. She’d fallen from a powerful leader of an underground prison to a no-name woman in a nd she does not know. All she has to offer is her bat, leadership, and anizational training. Useful tools, but only to those who know her petence.
“I will o join a ship's crew or a merary pany and obtain promotioually, I will pce myself in a position where my leadership is superior to the captain, and then repce him ht.”
“Fuck,” Cillian curses. “You’re talking about mutiny. You’re really aiming for the top, aren't you?”
She shrugs. “Those who are capable will rise, and those who are not will k my feet.”
The scot shakes his head and instead focuses on his destination.
“We’re here.”
The duo arrive at the rgest store in town, a store directly o the only smithy in town.
“Zeverens on Emporium,” Cillian reads the sign.
“You wish to buy ons?” Irmgard asks.
Cillian smiles as his eyes roam the on filled gss dispys. “When I was younger, I used to be a on-nut on at of my father being both a smith and a collector of medieval ons. I learned a lot from him, but my i gradually upgraded to modern arms. I got a job at a ons pany, then became a ons dealer.” Cillians smile turns to a frown. “That was twenty years ago.”
“You want to use your experieo find a good deal?” she asks.
He nods. “Yes. I was never as good at w the fe as my father, but I learned enough to tell quality from trash.”
The two ehe rather packed establishment. Thankfully, most of the bodies were at the end of the store-where the more expensive products are pced.
Swerving to the left, Cillian uses his skill at the ons on dispy, looking for something that stands out. He eventually finds it- a simple looking straight-sword o two others somewhat simir in appearance.
Name
Shortsword
Rarity
on
Description
This on was created by a [Smith] of average skill.
He grabs the on as it by tering it on his finger. He does the same with the others near it.
“This one is superior.” He points.
Theivates his skill ohree again.
Name
Shortsword
Rarity
on
Description
This bde was created by a [Smith] of low skill.
Name
Shortsword
Rarity
on
Description
This bde was created by a [Smith] of low skill.
Name
Shortsword
Rarity
on
Description
This on was created by a [Smith] of average skill who uands the importance of proper weight distribution.
“It works.”
“What does?”
“My skill. Without testing the items, I already tell if a on is superior to another or not. I think it works in regards to my uanding of quality. So long as I know how to test the quality of ahen the skill will omit the testing phase.”
A giddy grin rises on Cillians face. “This is amazing. I wonder if it works er objects? Maybe even ships?”
“Did it work on the coat?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “I know nothing about w with leather. Ballistic armor? Sure. But not leather. I 't tell the differeween good and bad leather.”
“Then You o learn. e, let us look at supplies.”
Cillian raises an eyebrow. “Supplies?”
She nods. “If we are to eventually obtain a ship, then we must prepare for travel. Food, water, medie, clothing, and materials for repairs are going to be needed. We will spend the week getting acquainted with the prices.”
“But.” Cillian whines when he g the rows of ons he could practice his skill on. When he looks back at her, a chill crawls down his spine when he is met with the warden's ung gaze.
“Folgen,” she orders. She turns around and walks out of the building.
Cillian follows only a sed after.
___________________________________________________________
Traversing out of the former s is both easier and slower. Swimming, though slow, was a far more reliable movement speed in parison to the now muddy terrain. It took me arguably twice as long to leave the former s. Eventually, I retrace my steps and climb one of the taller trees, wherein I note a fire.
I rush to the campfire and slow at the smell of sizzli. Hopping out of a bush, I quickly roll to the side, narrowly dodging a wooden spear.
“Boriss!” I yell.
The Russian pauses with another spear in hand and aire cooked animal leg in his mouth. He lowers the spear and removes the cooked appendage.
“rade Quasi, you dodge well. Is nice see you.” he frowns. “You are muddy.”
“Of course I’m muddy. The s is drained.”
Boriss nods happily. “Then corruption is suka, yes? We now go back to town a ship?”
I look at Boriss and then the campfire, and finally the animals removed skin.
“Not yet. I’m going to eat, drink, shit, and sleep first. When I wake up, we’re going to hunt a bunch of animals, kill them, and then make a big bag. We’ve got a treasure-trove of items to collect before we return.”
_____________________________________________________________________
The moment I y eyes, I am ba the white room in my human form.
“Huh. Did I level?”
“Aaahhhhhhh.”
I hear a scream behind me. I turn, and watch as Yazu exits a small portal and smacks face first into the floor.
She quickly rolls over and aggressively waves her fist at the closing portal.
“Yazu will not take this mistreatment lying down!”
“You kinda are.” I ahe goddess who is, at this moment, lying down.
She pouts at me, and then looks fused.
“Why are you here?” she asks.
I raise an eyebrow. “I think I leveled.”
She frowns at me. Her eyes gze over. Then her mouth opens wide.
“What?” She looks at me, dumbstruck. “What is a leviathan?”
“A leviathan?”
She raises a hand and taps something. Then I see what she sees.
Traits.
Human Average
Individual Base Calcutions.
Level modifications
Trait Actual Value
Strength
10
36
+0%
36
Endurance
9
43
+0%
43
Vitality
12
0.27%M/R/M
22
0.54% M/R/M
+0%
22
0.54% M/R/M
Perception
9
27
+0%
27
Intelligence
11
16
+0%
16
Mana
388.8
480
+0%
480
trol
12
8
+0%
8
Attributes Avaible:
26
Level
17
Titles Obtained:
1
Title Name
Leviathan Syer
Title Rank
Legendary
Title Effect
+10 Attribute points
“Huh. So Tawih is a leviathan? But I didn't actually kill her. I only made a deal that just so happeo end her life. I guess it ts?”
I fold my arms over my chest. “What exactly is a leviathan?” I ask.
She blinks at my question. “Yazu does not know.”
I should have expected this.
“Alright. Well, it has beehan a week since we talked. Have you learned anything new in the meantime?”
She blushes and turns her head away from me. “Yazu learhat Yazu will talk with her champioen and twenty-five levels.”
“Uh-huh. What else?”
“Yazu also learhat leveling is very very slow. Yazu believes that getting to level ten will take at most two weeks. So Yazu figured she had time until the meeting.”
“You procrastinated…”
Her cheeks turn to a rosy red. Her eyes avoid tact with my own.
I sigh. “Fine. fine. You mentioned we would meet at level ten and level twenty five. Why is that?”
She perks up very quickly. “Every ten levels, you get a skill, and every twenty five levels, you get a stronger css.”
“So, since I’m level 17, seven levels higher than ten, you are here to give me a skill, correct? Have you chose for me, or do I actually get to choose?”
She grins at me. “Both. Yazu chooses three skills from the list, and then you choose which of the three you want.”
“So you’ve chosehree skills?”
Yazu spreads her arms in front of her and a bowl filled with folded pieces of paper appears.
“Oh no.”
She closes her eyes and reaches randomly into the bowl. Therieves three papers.
“Done,” she says happily.
Before I answer, four boxes block my vision.
Css skills have been chosen by entity Yazu. Initializiion.
Please choose one of the following skills.
Stat Spread Allocation
Soul ExpansionSustaiion
Stat Spread Allocation
All transformations be from 50% of level modifications.
Soul ExpansionIncrease max soul quantity by 100%
Effit Transformation
Decrease Transformation sustain by 10%
Reading through the skills, I find myself both fused and impressed with the choices. All of the choices seem useful, but how useful is something I’ve yet to prehend. The first offer, [Stat Spread Allocation], reveals to me that whatever bonuses get applied by the attribute points is not normally applied to my transformations. Iure, if I obtain strong transformations, they may very well be weaker than my Fenrimorph form.
Which also leads me to the skill. [Soul Expansion] doubles the number of souls I transform into. So, I would be going from two to four. But the w is a pert based increase, which means I will have an option to naturally increase my capacity.
[Effit Transformation] is useful if I transform into something that costs a great deal of mana to stay transformed in. Unfortunately, that would require me to be willing to transform into something that is strohan a Fenrimorph. sidering what I transform into does not normally scale with whatever attribute bonuses are applied, theransformation is mute. Same with Soul Expansion. Turning into more beasts means nothing if said beasts are a downgrade.
The most logical choice is [Stat Spread Allocation]. Well, logical so long as the level modifications are signifit.
“Yazu, I’m going to take [Stat Spread Allocation].”
“OK!”
Skill sele [Stat Spread Allocation] accepted. Adding skill to Entity Quasi Eludo.
Skill addition successful.
All Champion responsibilities pleted. Removiy Yazu.
As the message disappears, a portal opeh the goddess.
She screams in surprise while her body falls through. The portal closes a moment ter.
Then, a not so unfamiliar floating eyeball ehrough a portal and gazes at me expetly.
“Entity Quasi Eludo, you have 26 attributes to spend. Do you wish to spend them?”
I fight the urge to say ‘Yes’. I don't fully know what the attribute points do, nor do I know the full extent of the traits. Spending the points blindly is a recipe for disaster, especially so when sidering the fact the other champions will have more information than me.
“No. I will hold onto the attribute points. Just send me back.
“Uood.”
