Chapter 248: They Grow Up So Fast 2
<span style="font-weight:400">Kalik walked through the open earthen doorway, ready to be done with this torturous trial the Gods were putting him through.
<span style="font-weight:400">They had already spat in his face forcing him to use the same weaponry as the human after his years of training to use the ancestral weapon of choice of his people.
<span style="font-weight:400">He gripped the stones the man had given him in his hand as he entered, the sound of the door closing behind him, but Kalik stayed unperturbed.
<span style="font-weight:400">He had received a second subtree skill stone from his sspletion quest, as well as appropriate weaponry and a piece of clothing that he honestly put away immediately as it embarrassed him.
<b>[Subtree Stone: Meridian] [Rare]</b>
<ul>
<li><b>Unlocks the Meridian Subtree branch.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Requirement: Have one or more empty Subtrees. Have a Main ss Tree unlocked.</li>
</ul>
<b>[Subtree Stone: Brutal Tranquility] [Epic]</b>
<ul>
<li><b>Unlocks the Brutal Tranquility Subtree branch.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Requirement: Have one or more empty Subtrees. Have a Warrior-based Main ss Tree unlocked.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight:400">While the stone was of Epic Rarity, he was honestly very happy to see the name of the stone more than anything.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Finally, something that matches with me.</i><span style="font-weight:400"> He thought, having a glimmer of hope.
<span style="font-weight:400">There was also the weapon he had gotten.
<b>[Delinquent’s Worn Knuckles] [F-Grade] [Umon]</b>
<ul>
<li><b>205 to 210 Physical Damage</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>5 to 10 Magic Damage</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>+5 Dexterity, +5 Endurance</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A weapon used by ruffians to not only brutalize but extort their fellow man. The weapons show noticeable wear from repeated use, probably on the side of someone’s skull.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight:400">The gods must have a sick sense of humor to think that he, a proud warrior of the Rahk would ever resort to extortion of someone, but he hardly had a choice but to use the weapons because of his ss requirements.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then there was the item he had received, which made him grimace.
<b>[Ruffian’s Bancho Cloak] [F-Grade] [Umon]</b>
<ul>
<li><b>A long sleeveless coat that marks the leader of a hastily made gang.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>30 to 67 Physical Reduction</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>22 to 50 Magic Reduction</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>2% Critical Hit Reduction</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>+5% Defense Proficiency</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight:400">Truly the Gods thought poorly of him.
<span style="font-weight:400">He let out a sigh, steeling himself for yet another unwanted yet necessary trial.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I have gone through much to get here,” Kalik muttered, looking at his hand that had been healed a white line, the only indication of it being previously severed, “But there is always more still.”
<span style="font-weight:400">He gripped the stones in his hand tightly, prompts filling his screen.
<b>[You wish to consume Subtree Stone: Meridian] [Rare]</b>
<b>[Confirm?]</b>
<b>[Yes] [No]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">“A warrior of the Rahk never backs down from a fight! I ept!”
<span style="font-weight:400">The sleek stone stayed silent at Kalik’s eptance for a beat, then quickly melted in his hand pooling in his open palm until it finally was subsumed by his flesh sending a wave of cold he could only call one of death.
<span style="font-weight:400">He ground his teeth, feeling his tusks scream in protest from the pressure as he did his best to hold out from the feeling overtaking him.
<span style="font-weight:400">Soon the cold flipped to intense heat that made him feel as if he had been thrown into a cooking pit yet several times hotter.
<span style="font-weight:400">The radically changing waves of heat and freezing temperatures crashing inside of him forced Kalik to double over, his jaw locked so tightly in pain that he couldn’t even pause for a breath.
<span style="font-weight:400">And just as quickly as it came, it was over. Peace had found him.
<b>[You have consumed Subtree Stone: Meridian] [Rare]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked Primary Subtree: Sun Lion’s Body of the Still Lake] [F-Rank]</b>
<b>[Passive effects have been applied]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 5 new skill stone slots in Sun Lion’s Body of the Still Lake]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 1 of 1 Primary Subtrees]</b>
<b>[Sun Lion’s Body of the Still Lake] [F-Rank] P1(0%)</b>
<ul>
<li><b>While bathing in the glow of the sun, the Great Lion found both power and peace staring out into the sske of its ancestors. And so shall you be bestowed with such grace.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Passive Effects: +10 to Dexterity and Endurance</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Additional Passive Effect: Calm Body - Increases resistance to Abnormal Internal and External Effects by 25%. (Increases based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Skill: Lion’s Peaceful Body - “May I see clearly and be at peace. Lion’s Peaceful Body.”</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Body Enhancement Skill that momentarily increases aura perception by 100% and increases Pure Mana internal disruption rate by 5% for 2 Minutes.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Cost: Medium amount of Stamina</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Cooldown: 30 Minutes.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight:400">Kalik took in a calm deep breath, feeling the cold air turn and find equilibrium inside his lungs.
<span style="font-weight:400">He closed his eyes, exhaling and taking in anotherrge lungful before shouting at the top of his lungs, roaring with everything he had nearly shaking the walls around him.
<span style="font-weight:400">But he felt calm still, he had found tranquility in his anger and fury. It was a constant and he now knew how to live in tandem with the boiling rage he couldn’t escape before.
<span style="font-weight:400">A smile creased his face. His mind was clearing and he looked to the next stone, anticipation creeping up inside him.
<b>[You wish to consume Subtree Stone: Brutal Tranquility] [Epic]</b>
<b>[Confirm?]</b>
<b>[Yes] [No]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">This time Kalik was prepared for what was toe, he stood his body tense ready for the onught of the power that was to envelope him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I am ready!”
<span style="font-weight:400">The stone inside his grip melted, leaving his clenched hand empty as it tightened against his own flesh, the unforgiving chill running up his arm, every pore, every vein, every inch of it until it found home in his chest.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then suddenly a burst of heat beat from his chest overtaking the cold until it was all he could feel, all he could think of, all he could process, unrelenting, cruel fire.
<span style="font-weight:400">He let out a silent scream but only felt his face upturn into a smile as he battled with the stone’s process, his body cracking and splintering underneath his skin as he felt the power well up inside him.
<span style="font-weight:400">And finally, it was over. Notifications chimed in his head as he stood there heaving one breath after the next, small puffs of white smoke.
<b>[You have consumed Subtree Stone: Brutal Tranquility] [Epic]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked Secondary Subtree: Brutal Tranquility] [F-Rank]</b>
<b>[Passive effects have been applied]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 5 new skill stone slots in Brutal Tranquility]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 1 of 1 Secondary Subtrees]</b>
<b>[Brutal Tranquility] [F-Rank] P1(0%)</b>
<ul>
<li><b>Peace and bnce in all things. For every fallen leaf a beat of a hummingbird’s wing. Every breath, a storm. In this world, there is one truth, one bnce.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Passive Effects: +15% to Strength and Dexterity.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Skill: Brutal Separation - “Bnce is sometimes a cruel hammer. Brutal Separation.”</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Area of Effect Skill that allows the user to physically manifest their inner energy bringing down a 15-foot palm strike on the opponents dealing +150 Pure Mana and 5 to 1 Dexterity as damage. (Increased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Skill: Brutal Coalescence - “Bnce is reckoning. Brutal Coalescence.”</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Execution Skill that strikes at the core of a 30% or lower healthed opponent imploding their internal mana to deal a 300 Pure Mana strike. Strike deals up to 200% more damage based on the opponent''s remaining mana pool. (Increased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<b>[You have advanced to F-Rank]</b>
<b>[You have received Title: Student of the Tyrant Asuran]</b>
<b>[You have received Title: Prodigy of the Rahk]</b>
<b>[Prodigy of the Rahk]</b>
<ul>
<li><b>You have brought to fruition the praises and expectations of your elders.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>+10 to each Stat.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight:400">Kalik sighed, letting out a painful breath as he slowly fell forward, his tired body unable to support his weight any longer. A single thoughting out in a voice much deeper than he recalled his own to be his vision darkening as he fell to the floor.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Even in celebration, I can not escape that damned man…”
<span style="font-weight:400">—------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">Quetz shivered slightly as she entered the small room, not because she was scared or anything. Ok, maybe she was a bit scared of the dark. She didn’t like being restrained.
<span style="font-weight:400">She had been through enough with her flock now that she hade to terms and confronted some of her traumas, but there was always something lingering still. Mental scars such as the ones she had didn’t heal overnight no matter the salve.
<span style="font-weight:400">Quetz looked around the room giving a sad coo, the two stones in her hands jingling against one another lightly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Quetz isn’t scared… Quetz will get stronger…” she said to herself, “Good girls do what they’re told and Drake told Quetz to use the stones so she’s going to…”
<span style="font-weight:400">She looked down at the stones seeing the small sheen of the two weapons she had gotten from her quest, both sitting in their holsters on her newfy cute pants.
<span style="font-weight:400">Quetz gave a small grin.
<b>[Toting Hand Guns] [F-Grade] [Umon]</b>
<ul>
<li><b>120 to 137 Physical Damage</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>30 to 41 Magic Damage</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>+10 to Dexterity</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A 6-mana bullet-loaded revolver set used by an otherworld desperado.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Requires: Any type of .33 Mana Bullet.</li>
</ul>
<b>[Cowboy Techno Chaps] [F-Grade] [Umon]</b>
<ul>
<li><b>A cowboy’s leather chaps that seem to be slightly techno-punk?</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>20 to 54 Physical Reduction</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>10 to 30 Magic Reduction</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>1% Increased Movement Haste</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>+3% Defense Proficiency</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight:400">She chirped happily to get new shiny things and thefortable new pants she had gotten made her wiggle with a joyful coo.
<span style="font-weight:400">“They’re so cute too! Quetz likes the old cowboy’s taste!” she giggled.
<span style="font-weight:400">Quetz knew she was procrastinating, not wanting to feel the onught of mixed and painful feelings the stupid stones made her experience.
<span style="font-weight:400">“But Drake is going to be mad if Quetz doesn''t use the stones…” she pouted, not wanting to disappoint Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">She cooed and took in a deep breath squeezing the first stone.
<b>[You wish to consume Subtree Stone: Fierce Gale] [Rare]</b>
<b>[Confirm?]</b>
<b>[Yes][No]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">“Quetz won’t go back on her word. I’m a good girl! Y-yesh!” she said, identally biting on her tongue.
<span style="font-weight:400">She wailed from the pain of nipping her own tongue, but it onlysted a moment before the stone in her hand liquified, disappearing in her grip as it crawled up her arm with the same cold she despised from the Main ss Stone.
<span style="font-weight:400">Quetz groaned and cooed painfully, pping her wings as if to try and throw away the chill that kept snaking up her arm. And soon, just like before the chill subsided, consumed by the overwhelming heat of how it felt to fly below the sun several times.
<span style="font-weight:400">Throwing her wings back and forth trying to cast away the heat that felt as if it was burning her feathers, she dropped to the snow, rolling back and forth to extinguish the non-existent me consuming her.
<span style="font-weight:400">Finally, with a heaving breath, she sat upwards, the battle inside her waning reced by a subsuming feeling of power welling inside.
<b>[You have consumed Subtree Stone: Fierce Gale] [Rare]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked Primare Subtree: Raging Gale’s Concerto] [F-Rank]</b>
<b>[Passive Effects have been applied]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 5 new skill stones slots in Ragin Gale’s Concerto]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 1 of 1 Primary Subtrees]</b>
<b>[Raging Gale’s Concerto] [F-Rank] P1(0%)</b>
<ul>
<li><b>A fierce gale does not strike once but is ever blowing, a tempest that uproots even the oldest tree. A Gale ising and you, its Conductor.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Passive Effects: +20 to Dexterity</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Additional Passive Effects: Each Mana Bullet shot is now Wind Affiliated. Dealing +5 Wind Mana Damage. (Increased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Passive Skill: Conductor’s Finale - Thest bullet within the chamber of a firearm or range weapon now deals extra damage to a consecutively hit target. (Weapon Choice Increases based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Pistol: Final Bullet now deals negative condition Bleeding for 30 seconds, dealing 1 bleeding damage per 20 Dexterity over time. (Increased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Crossbow: Final Bullet in bolt belt now deals negative condition Poison for 30 seconds, dealing 1 poison damage per 20 Dexterity over time. (Increased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Bow: Every Fourth Consecutive Arrow inflicts +1 increased slicing damage for every 10 Dexterity. (Increased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Sniper: Every Consecutive Bullet deals increased pration damage, +5% increased physical and magical per bullet to the same target. Max 20%. (Increased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight:400">Quetz groaned, sweat dripping down from her forehead and dampening her feathers.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Quetz doesn’t like the way these stones feel…” she sighed, slumping forward onto the ground, “Ah… the snow feels sho good…”
<span style="font-weight:400">She brought the second stone in front of her face frowning at it.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t make Quetz feel yucky please!” she begged, gripping the stone.
<b>[You wish to consume Subtree Stone: Gunman’s Arsenal] [Umon]</b>
<b>[Confirm?]</b>
<b>[Yes] [No]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">Quetz pouted, “Only because Quetz has to…” she muttered bracing and closing her eyes tightly.
<span style="font-weight:400">But the intense feeling she expected never came. Instead, a small prickling feeling crawled up her arm leaving a slight chill butpared to before waspletely bearable.
<b>[You have consumed Subtree Stone: Gunman’s Arsenal] [Umon]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked Secondary Subtree: Gunman’s Weapon Sling] [F-Rank]</b>
<b>[Passive effects have been applied]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 5 new skill stone slots in Gunman’s Weapon Sling]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 1 of 1 Secondary Subtrees]</b>
<b>[Gunman’s Weapon Sling] [F-Rank] P1(0%)</b>
<ul>
<li><b>A gunman’s best friend isn’t the pistol in his hand but the fully loaded pistol at his hip.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Passive Effect: +5% to Reload Speed, +5 to Weapon Haste</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Passive Skill: Weapon Sling - Allows the user to sling a chosen weapon in a spatial container that can be essed at will.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>While weapons are stored within the spatial container they are reloaded over time at varying speeds.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Weapons stored gain a brief +25 Pure Mana to initial bullet increase in damage and will lose effect over 5 seconds if not fired. (Increased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Only 1 Weapon can be slung at a time. (Increased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<b>[You have advanced to F-Rank]</b>
<b>[You have received Title: Student of the Tyrant Asuran]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">Quetz gave a chirp of relief.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That wasn’t so bad!” she cooed, but her reprieve onlysted a moment after she finished reading her notifications as she felt her skin worm, the bones under her skin crackling and a sudden darkening of her vision as the room swam around her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Geh!” she screamed as she fell backward, cking out.
<span style="font-weight:400">—---------------
<span style="font-weight:400">Clotho reluctantly entered the earthen room, nodding to his sister as he did.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<i><span style="font-weight:400">I hope no one changes for the worse…</i><span style="font-weight:400">”
<span style="font-weight:400">Those were thest words Clotho heard, his ears twitching in apprehension as the earthen wall closed behind him, leaving him in a darkened room.
<span style="font-weight:400">Unlike the others, he did not have the quests toplete but he had received two Subtree Stones from Drake.
<b>[Subtree Stone: Restraint] [Umon]</b>
<ul>
<li><b>Unlocks the Restraint Subtree branch.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Requirement: Have one or more empty Subtrees. Have a Main ss Tree Unlocked.</li>
</ul>
<b>[Subtree Stone: Marite] [Umon]</b>
<ul>
<li><b>Unlocks the Marite Subtree branch.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Requirement: Have one or more empty Subtrees. Have a Main ss Tree Unlocked.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight:400">Clotho didn’t hesitate to use the stones, not wanting to wait any longer for the ability to grow stronger and protect his sister. He knew very well he could have waited until they returned and bided his time, gathering cores until he was able to purchase a better subtree stone, but just as the small squirrel girl had said.
<span style="font-weight:400">It would be expensive and he was already so begrudgingly indebted to the man already.
<span style="font-weight:400">Clotho knew he was startingmed but to him, it was a willing struggle. Despite his appearance as a doting and caring brother now, before the Great Wolves took their n into the hunt he was a shy and helpless boy.
<span style="font-weight:400">He had always been helped by someone, his sister, their parents, the n head. It was always someone else, never his own strength, his own struggle.
<span style="font-weight:400">But after he met that man, the human his sister revered to the point of disgust. He not only made it forward on his own ability but he found with his hard work he was excelling beyond his own expectations. It was almost as if.
<span style="font-weight:400">He was born for this.
<span style="font-weight:400">Clotho gripped the stone, his teeth baring as a low growl escaped his lips.
<b>[You wish to consume Subtree Stone: Marite] [Umon]</b>
<b>[Confirm?]</b>
<b>[Yes] [No]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes…” he growled.
<span style="font-weight:400">The stone cracked and melted into his palm, a cold chill shooting up his arm, but he easily fought against it. Enduring the freezing pain.
<span style="font-weight:400">It didn’t evenpare to the pain from back then after all. It was almostughable.
<span style="font-weight:400">Soon the cold turned to heat and Clotho overcame it as well, nearly letting loose a scoff at the attempt to break him.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then there was power. A stream of pooling power welled within him as he let out a puff of white smoke his canines peering through his upward smile.
<b>[You have consumed Subtree Stone: Marite] [Umon]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked Primary Subtree: Fate’s Doll] [F-Rank]</b>
<b>[Passive effects have been applied]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 5 new skill stone slots in Fate’s Doll]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 1 of 1 Primary Subtrees]</b>
<b>[Fate’s Doll] [F-Rank] P1(0%)</b>
<ul>
<li><b>The strings of their fate are yours to pull. The puppeteer behind the performance.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Passive Effects: +10 to Wisdom.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Skill: Fate’s Doll - “A fate cast by threads, is fate indeed. Fate’s Doll.”</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The user''s weapon constrains the trapped opponent, turning them temporarily into an immovable object for 5 seconds. (Increased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Cost: Small amount of Mana. (Decreased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Cooldown: 30 Seconds. (Decreased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight:400">Clothoughed, feeling the euphoria of the subsumption of the stone taking hold of him. He had never before felt such pleasure. His life was filled with slim recollections of such joy. The most recent ordeal overtook even those memories of his family, his sister.
<span style="font-weight:400">“More!” he shouted, gripping the second stone.
<b>[You wish to consume Subtree Stone: Restraint] [Umon]</b>
<b>[Confirm?]</b>
<b>[Yes] [No]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">The stone shattered in his hand, the specs turning to liquid as they touched his skin and Clotho excitedly waited for the feeling of power toe again.
<span style="font-weight:400">But this time was different, the chill that battered against his body intensified, turning his muscles rigid as it dropped to the ground, his arms outstretched and wing at the snow-covered ground in front of him.
<span style="font-weight:400">Spittle and drool pooled below his gaping maw as he screamed, hearing the crackling of bone below his skin like broken ss.
<span style="font-weight:400">And just as quickly he felt as if they were seared back into ce with a heat that made the torture he had endured from his time as a ve seem blissful.
<span style="font-weight:400">The knife’s edge bnce of his consciousness seemed to drag on against the mes inside him before they finally sputtered out and he was able to breathe, his body ckening and dropping to the cold ground in a heap.
<b>[You have consumed Subtree Stone: Restraint] [Umon]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked Secondary Subtree: Timeless Petrification] [F-Rank]</b>
<b>[Passive effects have been applied]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 5 new skill stone slots in Timeless Petrification]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 1 of 1 Secondary Subtrees]</b>
<b>[Timeless Petrification] [F-Rank] P1(0%)</b>
<ul>
<li><b>Time is a ything in your masterful hands. Decide their fates with the golden string.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Passive Effects: +20 Intelligence and Wisdom.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Passive Skill: Longing Petrification - Striking or restraining an opponent for 15 seconds will begin to inflict negative condition Petrification.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>For each 5 seconds the opponent is under restraint they rue a stack of Petrification. (Can be cleansed by High Tiered Holy Magic.)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>At 5 stacks target(s) are fully petrified and be ‘<i>brittle</i>’. Stacks diminish after 10 seconds.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Extra Effect: Brittle - Targets under this condition receive 500% more physical damage.</li>
</ul>
<b>[You have advanced to F-Rank]</b>
<b>[You have received Title: Student of the Tyrant Asuran]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">Clotho felt his head clear as his vision darkened, too exhausted to even scoff or smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">—-----------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">Atropos hesitantly entered the earthen room, giving a nod to her brother as he did to her. She turned around, getting onest look at her savior, the man she was so greatly indebted to.
<span style="font-weight:400">Lord Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">His visage filled her head with hope and joy, even after he continued to increase his pack with one woman after the other. But what was a hunt withoutpetition?
<span style="font-weight:400">The door closed as she heard onest string of words from Lord Drake.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">“I hope no one changes for the worse…”</i>
<i><span style="font-weight:400">What could he mean by saying such things?</i><span style="font-weight:400"> She thought, her face furrowing slightly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“The Great Wolves themselves coulde down and I would not change for the worse, Lord Drake…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Atropos gripped her hands in front of her chest. She knew. She knew Lord Drake only thought of her and the other girls as a father would a daughter.
<span style="font-weight:400">“But even if he does not love me in the same way now…” she sighed, a smile creasing her lips as her eyes opened slowly, an eerie blue reflected in them, “I am sure there wille a day he does…”
<span style="font-weight:400">One hand went to her cheek as she thought on it blissfully, her other gripping the first stone in her grip as she thought on how she would use her strength to destroy anyone who stood in his way or besmirched him.
<b>[You wish to consume Subtree Stone: Weapon Mastery] [Common]</b>
<b>[Confirm?]</b>
<b>[Yes] [No]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">“But of course,” she mused.
<span style="font-weight:400">The feeling of the chilling cold only served to increase the shiver sent down her spine as she thought of how she would help and serve Lord Drake, his face shing time and time again in her mind as she battled against the severe cold that soon cascaded to intense heat in her body.
<span style="font-weight:400">But it could not even hold a candle to the punishment she had received for simply having beautiful eyes from before, or the beating passion she had for the man who punished those same disgusting people.
<span style="font-weight:400">In fact, she reveled in the intoxicating feeling of being alive as she embraced it, the pain only small pinpricks inparison.
<span style="font-weight:400">Letting out a gasp of air Atropos saw her hair dampened and only stopped long enough to read the new prompts of the stone’spletion.
<b>[You have consumed Subtree Stone: Weapon Mastery] [Common]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked Primary Subtree: Weapon Mastery] [F-Rank]</b>
<b>[Passive effects have been applied]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 5 new skill stone slots in Weapon Mastery]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 1 of 1 Primary Subtrees]</b>
<b>[Weapon Mastery] [F-Rank] P1(0%)</b>
<ul>
<li><b>A skill allowing increased weaponpetency.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Passive Effects: Increased overall weapon damage of 1% (Increased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight:400">The skill was not the best she knew, but she also knew it was the same as Lord Drake’s. Which made her shiver down to her very soul.
<span style="font-weight:400">“And now I havee closer to him in a small way…” she smiled as she wrapped her hands around herself, “But I mustn''t waste time.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Atropos gripped the second stone, one she had been given by Lord Drake that differed from the one she wanted, but she couldn’t defy a request from him.
<b>[You wish to consume Subtree Stone: Mage Bane] [Umon]</b>
<b>[Confirm?]</b>
<b>[Yes] [No]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">Atropos sneered at the prompt, detesting the fact that she was to use a stone that could be used against Lord Drake but begrudgingly epted.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Only because I must,” she frowned.
<span style="font-weight:400">The stone shattered and the pieces melted as they fell against her skin, consumed by her flesh as the droplets rolled down it.
<span style="font-weight:400">She let in a swift gasp of cold air as colder still was the piercing force of the stone running up her body.
<span style="font-weight:400">Atropos squirmed but quickly began to go stiff as she was brought to her knees on the ground, her eyes closing shut against the pain.
<span style="font-weight:400">But once again he helped her, and the face of her savior shed in her mind.
<span style="font-weight:400">Another gasp escaped her lips as the cold turned to heat, searing both the stone’s power in her body as well as the image of the reason she went through such pain.
<span style="font-weight:400">Lord Drake, the man she would be forced to love from afar.
<span style="font-weight:400">The turbulent shing of power inside her soon calmed and allowed her to breathe evenly for a moment as it coalesced into a deep well of a euphoric crescendo.
<span style="font-weight:400">“All shall love him, and despair…” Atropos muttered as she lurched forward, her body releasing the sound of bones breaking beneath her skin and a reverberating ‘pop’ as she finally sumbed to exhaustion.
<b>[You have consumed Subtree Stone: Mage Bane] [Umon]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked Secondary Subtree: Mage Bane] [F-Rank]</b>
<b>[Passive effects have been applied]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 5 new skill stone slots in Mage Bane]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 1 of 1 Secondary Subtrees]</b>
<b>[Mage Bane] [F-Rank] P1(0%)</b>
<ul>
<li><b>A killer of Magic must use Magic. The ire of Mage’s is the decided oue.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Passive Effects: +5% to Intelligence and Wisdom</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Passive Skill: Mage Bane - Your strikes and magic now have increased 10% Mana Disruption properties. (Increased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Whennding a sessful blow target gains a stack of Mage Bane increasing mana disruption and their ability to cast magic. Stacks up to 3 times for a max of 30%. (Increased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<b>[You have advanced to F-Rank]</b>
<b>[You have received Title: Student of the Tyrant Asuran]</b>
<b>[You have received Title: Unrequited Love of the Tyrant]</b>
<b>[Unrequited love of the Tyrant]</b>
<ul>
<li><b>Your fervent passion for thest of the Asurans may have fallen on deaf ears… for now, but your loyalty will not go unrewarded.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>+20% to Aura Submission Effects to those of the same rank.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight:400">—-------------
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin sighed, ignoring thest little tidbit that Drake said as he closed up the hole behind him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Can that guy be any more dramatic? I mean based on what has been happening so far…” Landin thought aloud, clenching his hand around the stone, “It’s only natural some things change. Whether it''s for better or worse, is up to us.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin double-checked his stones, as well as the items he received for the questpletion.
<b>[Subtree Stone: Regalia] [Epic]</b>
<ul>
<li><b>Unlocks the Regalia Subtree Branch.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Requirement: Have one or more Empty Subtrees. Have a Main ss Tree Unlocked.</li>
</ul>
<b>[Subtree Stone: Nurturer] [Umon]</b>
<ul>
<li><b>Unlocks the Nurturer Subtree Branch.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Requirement: Have one or more Empty Subtrees. Have a Cleric Main ss Tree Unlocked.</li>
</ul>
<b>[Ritualist’s Unlucky Staff] [F-Rank] [Umon]</b>
<ul>
<li><b>10 to 21 Physical Damage</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>50 to 133 Magical Damage</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>+5 Wisdom</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>+3% to Inbat Mana Regeneration</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A staff used by a Ritualist who has met an untimely end.</li>
</ul>
<b>[Ring of the Earth] [F-Rank] [Umon]</b>
<ul>
<li><b>+10 to Vitality and Intelligence.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>+1% Critical Damage Reduction</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A band made from earth infused with mana giving beneficial properties to the user.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight:400">He reread the descriptions cing each one into his inventory in turn. Some gave him pause.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What does it mean unlucky staff… Why am I getting a staff that is unlucky? This thing isn’t cursed is it..?” he grumbled.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin also remembered what Drake had said, and ced all of his clothes and old armor into his inventory stripping down to his skivvies.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright show time.”
<b>[You wish to consume Subtree Stone: Regalia] [Epic]</b>
<b>[Confirm?]</b>
<b>[Yes] [No]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">“No backing down now! I’vee too far to stop changing for the better!” he roared, gripping the stone.
<span style="font-weight:400">His howl cascaded through the small room, Landin trying to psych himself up for the pain he knew wasing given how the Main ss Stone nearly knocked him out.
<span style="font-weight:400">And just as promised his body locked up, forcing him to fall naked in the snow that felt warm to the touchpared to the cold, forcing his body rigid as a block of human-shaped ice.
<span style="font-weight:400">His jaw snapped shut as he froze fighting against the stone’s consumption, feeling almost as if he chipped a tooth, but soon he was limber once more and fighting against sweltering heat that had now epassed his whole body as he screamed his hands on his head.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin let out a deafening scream while trying to calm his mind and body from the heat boiling his insides.
<span style="font-weight:400">Finally, after what felt like hours, he could hear his breathing calm, notifications chiming through the blood in his ears.
<b>[You have consumed Subtree Stone: Regalia] [Epic]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked Primary Subtree: Regalia Maker] [F-Rank]</b>
<b>[Passive effects have been applied]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 5 new skill stone slots in Regalia Maker]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 1 of 1 Primary Subtrees]</b>
<b>[Regalia Maker] [F-Rank] P1(0%)</b>
<ul>
<li><b>A king is only as good as his attire and as mighty as the beasts they are wrought from. Stand in the embodiment of the souls they contain.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Passive Effects: +20% to Intelligence and Wisdom</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Additional Passive Effects: +10% to Summon Experience Gain.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Skill: King Maker - “Dwell within me. King Maker.”</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Extract the summon from a given piece of equipment to embody their form and gain 100% of their stats for 3 Minutes. (Increased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Up to 2 Summons may be extracted at a time. (Increased based on Proficiency)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Summons will be unavable but will continue to gain experience while extracted.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Extracted Summons will not transfer known skills while embodied.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin gripped against the ground huffing puffs of white smoke as he smiled, reading the description.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Now that is a skill! About damn time,” he beamed, thinking of the small little blue wolf currently in his inventory safe and sound.
<span style="font-weight:400">“And now one more,” Landin grunted, pulling out and gripping the second stone.
<b>[You wish to consume Subtree Stone: Nurturer] [Umon]</b>
<b>[Confirm?]</b>
<b>[Yes] [No]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">“I won’t go back to the old me, there’s only forward now. Yes!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin tried to sit up, but the stone quickly melted, faster than the first, and put him right back down on the ground reeling from the swift onset of bone-chilling cold.
<span style="font-weight:400">He gave a wry smile, or at least tried to, at his attempt of bravado in standing up for the second round. The smile however only managed toe out on his face as a crushed mess when the pain that apanied the cold began tearing at his flesh and bones.
<span style="font-weight:400">Soon the heat returned solidifying whatever was happening beneath his skin in a christening me, sweat pooling on his skin, melting the snow beneath.
<span style="font-weight:400">Momentster, it finally subsided and he was able to enjoy the relief of thest stone’s power calming within him.
<b>[You have consumed Subtree Stone: Nurturer] [Umon]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked Secondary Subtree: Summoner’s Helping Hand] [F-Rank]</b>
<b>[Passive effects have been applied]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 5 new skill stone slots in Summoner’s Helping Hand]</b>
<b>[You have unlocked 1 of 1 Secondary Subtree Skills]</b>
<b>[Summoner’s Helping Hand] [F-Rank] P1(0%)</b>
<ul>
<li><b>A summoner never fights alone. And even the help sometimes needs a nurturing hand.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Passive Effects: +5% to Wisdom</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Passive Skill: Summoner’s Spirit Regeneration - While a Summon is unsummoned their regeneration is increased by 50%.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Additional Passive Effects: While unsummoned for 12 Hours, Summons gain a Rested Buff for 4 Hours.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Effect: Rested Buff - Increased damage dealt by 15%, Increased resource regeneration by 10%.</li>
</ul>
<b>[You have advanced to F-Rank]</b>
<b>[You have received Title: Student of the Tyrant Asuran]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">“That… That wasn’t so bad right?” Landin ventured, trying to get up again only to have his body copse instantly, his entire being protesting against the sudden gut-wrenching pain that was taking ce under his skin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Okay! I w-was wrong!” he growled, as his vision tunneled, eventually turning pitch ck.