The Lord of Tables is pleased at the reviews/favs/follows count. Thanks, guys.
Last chapter, I had Ruby use a different chant than Pyrrha, but that was a conscious decision (One chant is just a nope, and it fits Ruby more than Pyrrha's does)
OZPIN KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON. Probably. Pretty obvious. BUT WHAT DOES THAT CHANGE!?
Non-human/faunus enemies will not have visible HP, only an HP bar written as a percentage here.
Please note that only Jaune earns EXP from fighting, and everyone else levels at a natural, not busted as tables rate.
Also, my spacer/line break didn't show, so I'm going to use '/LB/' as it.
/LB/
Oh, my morning was going great, just got rudely awakened by some large ginger guy treading all over me. Seriously, not even five seconds into my day, and people were stepping on me. Lovely. Also, it cost me 10 HP, which my AP immediately covered, but still, those are valuable resources.
So, getting up, I looked around the ballroom that served as my bedroom last night. It looked like most others have woken up, it being 6:30 at the moment. That gets me an hour and a half to get changed and get breakfast, the trip to my locker not needed as I shoved everything into my inventory.
After heading to the washroom and doing the needed actions to make myself presentable, and equipping my amulet. Nothing wrong with that thing.
Breakfast was uneventful, and there was nothing to do until Goodwitch's voice came over the PA
"All first year students, please report to the cliffs for your initiation."
QUEST: Cliff Hanger
Main Task: Get to the Beacon Cliffs by 8:00 AM (00:29:59 remaining)
Completion: +1 Sword Weapon
Declination: Do not become a hunter
Failure: Be late, or do not become a hunter
(Y/N)
Well, weighing my options, I pressed the yes option without a moment of hesitation.
/LB/
New Location [Beacon Cliffs] discovered! +50 EXP
Well, seeing as that 50 EXP brought me up to 20%, I'm not complaining.
'Although, now that I think about it, I should have come up with a landing strategy,' I thought to myself as I gazed over the cliffs, as I stood on a metal platform as instructed by Goodwitch, with her ever present tablet.
QUEST COMPLETE: Cliff Hanger
Main Task COMPLETE: +Steel Claymore
I decided to take a look at the claymore's stats, and see if I really wanted to swap it with my gladius.
Steel Claymore - Sword (Greatsword)
60 Slashing
Can be used in one hand if STR is 30+
DUR: 120/120
Skill [Observe] has leveled up to LV 4!
Wait, with my Aura boosts, my strength is not just 15, it's sitting at 33.75! I can one hand this awesome thing, as well as use my gladius.
So, making sure no one was looking, I opened my inventory, and grabbed the claymore with my right hand, while shifting my gladius to my left.
Performing a special action has created skill [Two Hands]
Two Hands LV 1: +1% DMG +1% Striking speed while dual-wielding melee weapons, +2% DMG while two handing a melee weapon
Okay, back into the inventory you go gladius. The +2% damage is too nice to pass up.
So, while I was waiting for Ozpin to start addressing us, I opened my stats to spend my points I got from my last level, putting four into VIT, as my landing 'strategy' was to tank what I couldn't avoid, and put one into DEX so that I could avoid whatever I could. Hey, my quest gave me the bonus task of developing a landing strategy, it didn't specify if it had to be an intelligent strategy.
So, with those points spent, my stats now looked like this:
Name: Jaune Arc
Age: 17
Race: Human
Title: Nobody
LV: 3 (20%)
HP: 6750/6750 (+20 per Min)
MP: 1800/1800 (+12 per Min)
AP: 5977.5/5977.5 (+40 per Min)
STR: 15 +125%
DEX: 9 +125%
VIT: 20 +125%
INT: 13
WIS: 12
LUK: 5
Points: 0
Perks: Arc (+700% AP) (Aura Boosts X5), Gamer's Mind (100% Resistance to Mental afflictions), Gamer's Body (Damage shows in pain and HP, not body), Gamer's World (Loot defeated enemies, accept quests)
Title: No boosts
SPD: 40.5
I was so engrossed by the HP boost that I didn't even register Ozpin talking to the lot of us, except for the mention of the direction of 'north'. When I did manage to close my stats screen, it was when the first of the metal platforms revealed themselves to be catapults, launching some average looking boy, totally not my ability's version of an NPC, into the forest.
I held my new claymore in a diagonal line across my body, in an attempt to block the branches I knew I was going to hit, and patiently waited my turn. And when my turn came, I… was surprisingly okay with getting launched into the air, hundreds of feet into the sky. Thank you, Gamer's Mind, for not making me panic.
So, soaring through the sky, I angled myself so that I would first impact some outer branches, and then bounce off of a smaller tree. Of course, that was the plan, until I heard something whizzing towards me. I couldn't react to it, of course, because a screen popped up in front of me, distracting me from the noise temporarily.
A special action has created skill [Free Falling]
Free Falling LV 1: -1% Fall DMG, +1% Accuracy for landing.
And the second of me being distracted gave whatever was flying towards me ample time to strike its mark… If, of course, it was aimed at my hood, and then aimed to pin me to a nearby tree, the force of the impact draining me of 120 HP, which my Aura immediately took care of.
Skill [Physical Endurance] has leveled up to LV 2!
"OH, COME ON!" I yelled in frustration, as I couldn't quite reach the object that impaled me to a tree. It had my hoodie pinned in such a way that I couldn't even look at it.
Then, a distant yell of "I'm sorry!" reached my ears. That was Pyrrha, if I were to guess.
So, after several minutes of struggling against gravity, I was able to rip my jailer from the tree that it had pinned me to, causing me to fall about thirty feet to the ground. Looking at the offending weapon, it appeared to be a javelin, with red as its main colour with a trim of gold. So, I decided to observe it.
Milo - Sword, Javelin, Rifle
100 Slashing
80 Thrusting
65 Ballistics
Owner: Pyrrha Nikos
So, deciding not to put it in my inventory, I placed it in my left hand, and pressed a button on the guard, hoping it transformed into its sword form. However, it decided to transform into a rifle. Meh, played Bloodborne enough, this should be okay…
Is what I was thinking, until I heard rustling to my left. Out of the bushes walked out a lone Beowolf, unaware of my presence. Lovely, so I had a thing I needed to deal with.
Beowolf LV 9
100% HP
Yay, triple my level.
Before the Beowolf even registered my presence, I fired off a shot into its face from Milo. The bullet impacted the wolf-like monster's head plating, dropping it down by 7% HP as the plating made a subtle crunching noise.
Now knowing that I was there, and indeed a threat, the Beowolf roared at me, and stood on it's hind legs, standing at about two feet taller than myself.
Taking advantage of the Grimm's attempt at intimidation, I fired off another shot, this time into the Beowolf's gut, dropping it by 15%. I couldn't celebrate though, as the Beowolf landed down on all fours and charged me. I jumped to the right, but with my low DEX stat, the Beowolf easily smacked me in the opposite direction I was dodging, and I landed about fifteen feet from where I was smacked, costing me 200 AP. As I hurriedly got up, I tossed Milo to the side, and brought my left hand to my claymore's grip, and charged the beast with all I had, slashing wildly and, after about half a minute of my slashing, the Beowolf was crippled, and down to 5%.
So, being all awesome and such nonsense along those lines, I kicked up the head of the Beowolf, and plunged my claymore down its throat.
A special action has created skill [Rifle]
Skill [Rifle] has leveled up to LV 4!
Rifle LV 4: +4% Accuracy with Rifle weapons, +2% DMG with Rifle weapons
Skill [Physical Endurance] has leveled up to LV 3!
Skill [Sword] has leveled up to LV 9!
+250 Lien
+Rusty Iron Dagger
+Skill Book [Mana Spot]
Money is good, that dagger is garbage, and that skill book…
Mana Spot: Fire small blast of mana, Deals non-elemental DMG, Minor DMG.
Would you like to learn this skill?
(Y/N)
Ranged capabilities!? Magic!? THIS GAMER THING IS THE GREATEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO ANYONE EVER. So, I gently punched the yes button.
Mana Spot LV 1: 20 non-elemental
Casting: 1 Hand to cast
Bullet: Sphere, 2cm Radius, 15m per Sec
Cost: 25 MP
Oh yeah, that's the stuff.
I may have an unhealthy attachment to my ability. Why may I say this? Well, since I was so busy reading my new skill, another Beowolf entered the scene, likely drawn by the noise of Milo being fired. Oh, and I was bashed into the ground by the by the wolf-like beast, draining me of a hearty 250 AP
Beowolf LV 11
100% HP
Even stronger than the last one? Well, nothing I could do about it but pick myself up and grip my claymore and charge the beast. I may have a ranged ability, but it didn't seem like the strongest of things at the moment.
With the Beowolf facing me, I crossed the 15 foot difference at a speed far greater than what I would have accomplished before yesterday, jumped up higher than I ever could have, and brought down my giant two handed blade into the back of the van sized monster, my right thigh grazing one of the spikes that I didn't have the common sense to dodge, dropping it's health by a third.
The Beowolf, while injured, had more than enough strength to fling me from its back, costing me 50 AP which would simply regen in over a minute.
I did, however, pick myself up in no time, held out my hand toward the Beowolf that was slowly making its way over to me, obviously slowed down by my attack, and willed my new skill to come forth.
"Mana Spot," I commanded, and a small white ball simply... whizzed out of my hand and struck the determined Beowolf in the face, dealing about 4% of damage. Decent, but enough of my musings, the Beowolf was almost upon me, now running at a formidable speed.
My plan was to dodge the left, avoid the head-on collision, and heft my claymore into its side.
However, the sound of a gunshot caught the my attention, and the source seemed to be a red spear impaling itself into the Beowolf's skull, knocking it down to barely 1%, allowing me to finish it by shoving my blade into its now exposed torso.
The Beowolf's EXP got me to 75% of my next level, so I guess another one like that would get me a level... Again, enough of my musings, I turned to look at my saviour. And by look, I mean Observe.
Name: Pyrrha Nikos
Age: 17
Race: Human
Title: Iron Queen
LV: ?
"Hello there!" Pyrrha called out from several trees away, and started walking over to where the now dead Beowolf was already dissipating. Ripping her weapon from the beast's skull, she turned at looked at me with her piercing green eyes...
"Looks like we're partners, then," I managed to say, tearing my eyes away from her face, and toward the loot the Beowolf dropped.
"Uh, Jaune? What are those things?" Pyrrha asked, gesturing to the loot on the ground. Said loot consisted of a wood ring with no discernible traits, a large wooden staff that was about 5 feet tall, again, no interesting markings, and finally a neat stack of lien, which I absent mindedly split into two, and gave Pyrrha one of the halves. The other items, I picked up and Observed.
Kindling Ring: Grants wearer perk [Minor Fire Affinity]
"Humans have been drawn to fire for both a means of preservation, and a means of execution." - Mistralian Philosopher
Oak Staff - Catalyst
15 Blunt
-25% Casting Cost
DUR: 30/30
"Jaune?" Pyrrha said, lightly poking my shoulder. "You've been staring at those things for a while, and just handed me 150 lien without a word."
"Drop rate is busted..." I said idly, only then to realize that Pyrrha was likely listening. So, turning my head to face her, I slapped the Kindling Ring onto my left ring finger, and held the oak staff in my left hand.
The perk the ring gave me hovered in front of me.
[Minor Fire Affinity]
10% of all DMG is Fire elemented
"Would you believe me if I said it's my Semblance?" I asked, only learning of the word by listening to a passing conversation. From totally not eavesdropping, I learned that Semblances were unique to each person, and usually were battle oriented.
Pyrrha gave me a look that said she wasn't buying it. "Jaune, since we're partners, you need to be honest with me. Does your Semblance just create money, and other items?" She asked, gesturing to the substantial amount of lien I shoved at her, and the catalyst in my hand.
"I haven't had the chance to learn the specifics of it until yesterday," Technically not a lie, "But I can say it's every gamer's dream come true," I answered, scratching the back of my head. Before Pyrrha could question what I just said, however, I pointed my catalyst to what I believed to be north, our objective. "Well, the north calls to us, so no more wasting time!"
"That's west."
/LB/
Before the both of us stood a cave with crude paintings on the outside depicting a bunch of people with spears poking at a big scorpion. Seems like the place some relics would be hiding, no? And besides, if it were a trap, I could do with some Grimm killing, what with my LV progress at 75% already.
"You think they're in here?" I asked Pyrrha, who I still can't recognize where I've seen her before.
Pyrrha looked to be observing the entrance, as if trying to see past the darkness. "I don't think so, but it couldn't hurt to make sure," She replied, preparing Milo in sword form. "But how are we going to see?"
My response was to summon my Mana Spot skill, and will it to stay on the top end of my catalyst.
Performing a special action has created skill [Mana Slug]
Mana Slug LV 1: Deal 20 non-elemental DMG
Casting: 1 Hand to cast
Bullet: Sphere, 5cm in radius, stays at hand
Cost: 8 MP per 1sec
And that created a new skill, cool. So instead of fighting the Mana Spot's fast speed, I simply commanded "Mana Slug", causing the top of my catalyst to glow a decent amount, as well as provide me with with a tool to beat things over the head with.
"Well, with my awesomeness, I made a torch, you're welcome," I stated proudly, and marched off into the cave of 100% legitness.
Pyrrha quickly sped up beside me. "Jaune, exactly how did you do this?" She asked, gesturing to the glow at the top of my catalyst. After I grunted a response, she stopped my movement by grabbing my hood.
"If we're going to be partners, you need to be honest with me Jaune,: She started, looking directly into my eyes. The light coming off of my Mana Slug gave her already piercing green eyes more of a commanding presence. "How are you doing this? I have never heard of a Semblance that creates money and weapons whenever a Grimm dies,"
I was going to answer, I swear I was, but there was a low rumbling further down the cave. Then a giant scorpion Grimm, so I had perfectly good reason to not answer at the moment.
Deathstalker LV 35
100% HPOH GOOD LORD NO.
"RUN!" Was the only word that exited my mouth. I grabbed Pyrrha's hand and rushed out of the cave, throwing the odd Mana Spot from my catalyst.
Your self-preservation tactics have earned you 1 INT and WIS!
Your LUK has increased by 1!
/LB/
Five solid minutes passed before Pyrrha and I got out of the thick of the woods, finally getting some distance on the Deathstalker of level stupid… Or it was because I was underleveled as hell. Oddly enough, i could see grimm levels that had more than 30 on my own, unlike with humans and faunus.
Anyway, tearing myself from my thoughts, I looked forward to the clearing ahead of us, and in the back of it lay a moss and vine covered structure, likely a temple, with a gathering of people in front of it.
"Not… like… running…" I wheezed, and shoved my catalyst into my inventory, earning some stares. Come on, is hammerspace really that impossible?
/LB/
Cutting it short here, because the full thing would be too long for one chapter. Read this one and the next as the same chapter, if you like. Desk off.
