One moment I'm in the dark and dreary tower basement, and the next I'm once again surrounded by the comfortingly boring endless white realm. It is a familiar and mostly expected sight.

I say mostly, for Green,Blue, and red are all floating patiently.

"Red, why the fuck are you here?"

"You have leveled to twenty four in your [Captain] job."

Twenty four?

"That's three levels!" I exclaim. "What the hell did I do to get a level?"

"That information is restricted." Red replies.

"Yea, it seems to always be." I grumble and shake my head. "Did I get anything else other than the levels?"

"Negative."

"Then you can go fuck off. Green, it's your turn. What'd I get?"

"You have gained two levels. You have four attributes available."

I nod. "Good, I'd chew you out if it was only one level. Then again, I probably deserve three. Actually, screw you for only giving me two. Put all the points into Strength and then show me everything."

"Acknowledged."

Traits.

Human Average

Individual Base Calculations.

Level modifications

Trait Actual Value

Strength

10

42

+58%

66

Endurance

9

46

+0%

46

Vitality

12

0.27%M/R/M

28

0.63% M/R/M

+5%

+9.31

29

9.97% M/R/M

Perception

9

29

+5%

30

Intelligence

11

16

+0%

16

Mana

388

510

+5%

535

Control

12

10

+5%

10

Attributes Available/Attributes total:

0

Level:

32

64

Titles Obtained: 8

Title Name

Leviathan Slayer

Title Rank

Legendary

Title Effect

+10 Attribute points

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Title Name

Underdog Boarder

Title Rank

Rare

Title Effect

[Captain's Authority] stat decay is slowed when boarding enemy vessels.

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Title Name

Mana Fur

Title Rank

Divine

Title Effect

Increase Mana Regeneration by fur density.

Current Bonus: +9.31 M/RM

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Title Name

Storm Swimmer

Title Rank

Rare

Title Effect

Reduce damage of storm currents by 90%.

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Title Name

Chariots Control

Title Rank

Tower

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Title Effect

+5% Control trait

[Minor Heat Resistance]

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Title Name

Towers Vitality

Title Rank

Tower

Title Effect

+5% Vitality trait

[Minor Healing Regeneration]

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Title Name

Hanged Mana

Title Rank

Tower

Title Effect

+5% Mana trait

[Efficient Sustain]

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Title Name

Priestess Vitality

Title Rank

Tower

Title Effect

+5% Vitality trait

[Efficient Metabolism]

</div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="5"><p><b>Skills Obtained: 3</b></p></td><td colspan="18"><div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Skill Name

Shift

Skill Effect

Transform into the species of any souls you possess.

Class Modification

Armament

Soul Count

4/6

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Skill Name

Stat Spread Allocation

Skill Effect

All transformation benefit from 50% of level modifications

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Skill Name

Peak Transformation

Skill Effect

All transformations will be based on the strongest and healthiest of the species at current age.

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Skill Name

Shift Hybridization

Skill Effect

Transform up to 5% of your original body with aspects from held souls.

</div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="5"><p><b>Souls Possessed: 4</b></p></td><td colspan="18"><div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Baby Mimicus (Soul)

Mimicus are one of the most adaptable feline species in all of Tristique. They have the unique ability to adapt to even the most dire environments. They are also exceptional vocal mimics who can reproduce any and all sounds they hear.

Activation Cost: 77 Mana Sustain: 0.8 Mana per minute Duration: Until Sustain Stops

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Elder Decay Leviathan (Soul)

Leviathans are the apex predators across all of Tristique. They are large beasts capable of flying via the absorption of ambient mana. Each Leviathan eventually gains a unique ability that grows stronger with age.

Activation Cost: 237,631 Mana

Sustain: 3,759 Mana per minute

Duration: Until Sustain Stops

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Baby Undammota (Soul)

Monoculus are the rarest bird species in all of Tristique. They have the unique ability to sense all forms of seismic energy waves around them.

Activation Cost: 33 Mana

Sustain 0.4 Mana per minute

Duration: Until Sustain Stops

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Royal Wyvern (Soul)

Royal Wyverns are a much larger, more ferocious species of wyvern with greater intelligence, thicker scales, and more powerful flames.

Activation Cost: 534 Mana

Sustain 9.3 Mana per minute

Duration: Until Sustain Stops

</div></td></tr></tbody></table>

Seeing everything I've gained, I can't help but feel it is too slow. Sure, I'm most likely ahead of the average individual, but growth still feels too slow for my liking. It makes me wonder if rushing the towers is a smart move or not. Maybe it would be better to focus on getting into fights and leveling.

"If only this wasn't a race." I mumble aloud. I scratch my chin and sigh. "That's good enough Green. You can go." I shift my focus to the last eyeball.

"Blue, what have you got for me?"

Blue floats closer.

"Entity Quasi Eludo, you have obtained the Temperance card. Please choose one of the following blessings:"

Blessing of Temperance.

Temperance Mana +5% Mana[Vacuum Regeneration]Increase mana regeneration rate up to +50% based on missing mana.Temperance Endurance+5% Endurance[Resilient Bones]Skeletal structure gains resistance to Piercing, Cutting, and Crushing.Temperance Strength+5% Strength[Dense Fibers]Increase Strength by 20%.

"Damn." I cross my arms while staring at the screen. "I need to think about this."

Lets see, Vacuum Regeneration honestly sounds like it should be a vitality skill since it improves regeneration, but then again, the skill requires not being full of mana. It's probably the weakest of the skills depending on how the math works. If the increase multiplies my actual value, then it is incredibly powerful, but if it only applies to my level modification, then it is pretty useless as [Mana Fur] completely overtakes any bonus by a wide margin. Now, the other problem with it is it has requirements for it to be active. If I stay at full mana, I don't get the bonus regeneration. I could purposely expend mana, but that puts me in a position where I couldn't use stronger spells or transform into a wyvern. It's a risk I don't need to take.

Resilient Bones is honestly not bad considering how strong my bones generally are. Since my flesh regenerates much faster than my bones, reducing the chance that my bones are damaged is always a good choice. The most useful aspect of the skill is the possibility of only blowing up the flesh of my arm instead of the whole thing. Unfortunately, all those benefits won't mean shit later down the line. Stronger bones aren't going to do shit against someone wielding a weapon like Yutos' Severing Sky. A weapon like that is going to cut through me like butter. As for blowing myself up, that's more of a desperation thing than anything else. I shouldn't plan on turning my arm into an explosive.

Dense Fibers is boring. It's literally the equivalent of twenty basic levels or 10 advanced levels in stats. Granted, I'd also get an additional 5% from choosing strength, so a 25% total increase. That amounts to about an 11 point increase. Overall, that amounts to 16% increase to trait actual value. It is a value that benefits less with each attribute I put into strength. Good early, but bad late… only if I focus on just putting points into strength. Currently, my strength can only increase up to double my endurance. Once I hit that point or near it, I'll be able to transition my focus to other stats. Choosing this option allows me to get to that point sooner.

Currently, I'm in a position where Vacuum Regeneration is too unreliable to be properly used, Resilient Bones is good but will lose value later, and Dense Fibers loses value as I level but gives immediate value now.

I groan at choices.

"I'll take the Temperance Strength blessing." I say.

"Choice: Temperance Strength, accepted."

Adding Title: Temperance Strength…

Title Added successfully.

Title Name

Temperance Strength

Title Rank

Tower

Title Effect

+5% Strength trait

[Dense Fibers]

"Blessing application completed." Blue blinks rapidly. "Activating Reset Protocol."

As blue disappears, my eyes wander above for the first time.

What I found is the Timbergrove floating next to an even larger vessel.

"What the fu-

Reset Protocol Activated…

Teleporting Entity Quasi Eludo, servants, and all other entities to entrance…

Teleport Successful…

Test of Temperance will reset once all entities exit the tower.

_______________________________________________________________

Within the bowels of the Timbergrove, six people sit at a large dining table made to fit twenty. It's an abnormally long table, one Boriss referred to as properly soviet. On the table is a freshly cooked stew by the ships [Head Chef].

While the six eat, the only sound that can be heard is the clanking of utensils and the gulping of alcohol. This odd silence continues for several more minutes until the youngest gets annoyed.

"When is everyone coming back?" Clay asks. "It's boring without them."

Irmgard lays down her utensils and taps her mouth with a napkin. "Two days to get to the tower and two days to return if weather permits. Depending on how long it takes Quasi to conquer the tower, it can take several more days. I predict they will all return within a week so long as there are no complications."

Clay pouts at the information. "That's too long." He looks to his grandfather. "Can we eat at a tavern instead?"

Myers lowers his spoon. "What's wrong with the food here?"

Clays shakes his head. "It's not the food. I just don't like the silence. I like it when everyone is talking."

"It's too dangerous, especially when everyone is gone." Myers exclaims.

Cillian lowers his glass. "We could invite some people to join us for dinner," He proposes.

"Oh!" Emma perks up. "Can I invite master Alvar then? He's pretty lively once he's drinking."

Cillian grins. "That's the [Runesmith], right? I talked to him at the tavern. He's a fun guy after a few shots."

Julia tilts her head. "Should I prepare a larger batch tomorrow?"

"No invites." Irmgard interrupts. "Our combat strength is too weak right now to allow anyone on the ship. We need to avoid attracting attention if at all possible."

Cillian waves his arm. "Bah, it's only one person and you're overblowing the risks. It's not like a large group is going to show up and ask for Quasi or something."

"That's already happened." Julia says, shifting everyone's focus to her.

"Explain." Irmgard orders, her tone authoritative.

Julia nods, unbothered by the shift. "Over a day ago, when I was shoveling snow, an armed group arrived and requested to see the [Captain]. I informed them that he left for the tower. They thanked me for the information and then left."

"Did they say why they wished to speak to Quasi?"

Julia frowns. "No. They only asked something about a band."

"Scheiße!" Irmgard curses. Her gaze shifts to Myers. "Are they [Bounty hunters]?"

Myers grimaces with a nod. "Most likely."

Cillian glances between the two. "Did something happen? Why's a [Bounty hunter] after Quasi?"

"They're not after Quasi." Myers rolls up his sleeve to reveal a jeweled runed band around his arm. "They're after this artifact."

Cillian wavers between greed and worry. "So why aren't they trying to retrieve it?"

"The [Bounty Hunter] only knows it's on the island. He probably thinks Quasi has it with him."

"Shite." Cillian gulps down his glass. "Always somethin. Are they waiting for the [Captain] to return?"

"Unlikely," Irmgard says. The woman has her arms crossed in deep thought. "The possibility of the band being sold or lost while they wait isn't a risk they'd take. Most likely, the [Bounty Hunter] is on their way to to intercept. A conflict is unavoidable." Irmgard stands up, eyes focussed. "Cillian, I'll need a lot of coin."

"For what?" The scot asks.

"To post a bounty and to hire [Mercenaries]," She explains. She turns to Julia. "Did that group offer a name?"

"The one I talked to said his name is Malthazor Garfield and that he's the [Captain] of the Peregrine."

"What are you planning?" Myers interrupts. "No [Mercenaries] are going to get in the way of a [Bounty Hunter]. All they have to do is show the bounty documents and they'll have the authorities backing them up."

Irmgard shakes her head. The woman retrieves a booklet and begins writing it down. "That's only true for licensed bounties by the guilds. Unlicensed ones are illegal, and I'm willing to bet that band is exactly that. Gladius wouldn't want information about the band's existence being revealed. The guilds have very strict laws and punishments against such things."

Myers leans back into his chair and strokes his beard thoughtfully. "If that's true, then we need only inform the authorities to intervene. Why would we need to hire [Mercenaries]?"

Irmgard replies with a rare, bloodthirsty smile.

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