Day 204(continued):
The remnant of Shkifield's invading army were far gone when we had looted the dead, captured the living, and returned back to our city.
That's when the massive alert spam happened.
Ping!
[You have defeated an army with a numerical disadvantage!]
[Achievement: Tiny and Unyielding]
[Fame: +500]
[You have commanded over a victorious battle!]
[Achievement: Veni Vidi Vici]
[Fame: +50]
[You have annihilated an army in one battle!]
[Achievement: Army Killing Commander]
[Fame: +100]
[You have captured lords and knights of an enemy nation!]
[Achievement: Ransom Dealer]
[Battle of Ironwood City
No Friendly Casualty: +10,000 EXP
Victory against Vastly Numerically Superior Army: +100,000 EXP
Enemy Chief Commander Killed : +50,000 EXP
Broke Enemy Morale: +2,500 EXP
Enemy Casualties x10 Yours: +5,000 EXP
Enemy Casualties x20 Yours: +25,000 EXP
First Blood!: +100 EXP
Persons of Importance Captured: +1,000 EXP per titled prisoner
Persons of Non-Importance Captured: +50 EXP per prisoner
Total LvL gained: 24]
I blinked for a second before I felt my body grow in response. My body felt lighter, first of all.
Ping!
[END has reached 200! You have gained the [Lesser Regeneration Magnifier] skill!]
[Lesser Regeneration Magnifier (LvL 1)
My body is better, stronger, and healthier. My healing speed reflects this.
*Effect: All forms of passive regeneration and debuff nullfiers gain a x1.5 boost to amount regenerated]
Ping! Ping! Ping!
[WIS has reached 150! You have gained the [Lesser Mana Pool]!]
[INT has reached 150! You have gained the [Lesser Knowledge Connection] skill!]
[Lesser Knowledge Connection (LvL 1)
I'm starting to understand everything a lot better...
*Effect: +1% success new magic spell crafting
*Effect: +1% success new object recipe crafting
*Effect: -10% failing magic spell cast]
[CHA has reached 100! You have gained the [Greater Leadership] skill, replacing the [Leadership] skill!]
[Greater Leadership (LvL 1)
People follow me because I take care of them.
*Effect: +10% production in subordinates
*Effect: +10% HP in subordinates
*Effect: +10% MP in subordinates
*Effect: +10% HP Regen in subordinates
*Effect: +10% MP Regen in subordinates
*Effect: +10% Total Attack Damage in subordinates
*Effect: All effects are perma-buffed by +0.5% every fifth level of this skill]
I decided to just turn all the alerts off and sort them out next morning.
Day 205:
When I woke up, I found myself feeling a bit too tight on the bed.
I raised my head up and groaned.
I had evolved again... and I had also grown taller, again.
I was going to need another bed.
Was I going to keep growing? Where would I sleep then?!
In my groggy state of mind, I pushed those thoughts aside to grab morning breakfast.
...
When I arrived in the public kitchens, I found myself being stared at by everyone.
It wasn't long before Shirou approached me.
"News in the morning?" I asked him. I had gone to sleep very early the day before, so it was possible I might have missed few things.
"No... You're still a troll."
I blinked. "I guess I am," I replied easily. I grabbed one of the plates and put on some baked potato, corn, and peas. Maybe I should go hunting. "I grew, if that's what's different. What else can you see?" I asked him.
Shirou observed me for a bit before shrugging. "Hell if I know. You don't look that different."
Aside from the fact that I grew two feet in length and gained a straighter back, there wasn't much different about me.
This new evolution kinda sucked. No new traits or anything like that.
I could lament my evolution's lack of perks later. For now, I had those skills to look over and points to invest.
For the most part, all of the skills I have gained were passive. They just buffed my existing skills, stats, or other factors about me. So far, nothing to actually work with.
Then the points.
I had over 200 again.
... I wondered.
My STR could reach a thousand points if I invested a lot of the reserve points.
Would I get a new skill?
... Well, I was going for STR and END fighter.
I wanted to reach exactly a thousand, so...
1000-768=232
232/2 = 116
I dumped 116 points there. The points doubled thanks to my traits, and I reached a thousand points.
Ping!
[Trait: Strength of the Greatest Mountain (SGMII)
There is only one universal truth for the living: the Strong flourishes!
Effect: This trait replaces any and all Mountain traits.
*Effect: Every point in STR increases STR by 0.75. This extra point is calculated only in combat damage dealing calculations.
*Effect: -20% physical damage taken before defensive calculation
*Effect: +(0.002*CTL*STR) Additional Physical Damage (melee only)
*Effect: +50% chance of breaking target's armor]
A better version of what I already had. Cool.
I still had over a hundred points, though.
"...If I meet a fast opponent, I wouldn't be able to hit him," I said to myself. "So I need speed."
And promptly dumped rest of the points into AGI.
Ping!
[AGI has reached 150 points! You have gained [Adrenaline Rush] skill!]
[AGI has reached 200 points! You have a choice between two skills: [Double Strike] or [Piercing Strike]!]
[Adrenaline Rush (LvL 1)
I'm pumped up! Come at me!
*Effect: +2% movement speed, attack speed, and cooldown reduction per skill LvL
*Effect: -2% crowd control effect per skill LvL]
[Double Strike (LvL 1) Cost: 20 mana per strike
I can hit you at two different places at the same time down to the millisecond
*Effect: Deal two physical attacks in one strike. Second damage deals 50% of the first damage
*Effect: +5% Additional Physical Damage to second damage dealt per skill LvL]
or
[Piercingg Strike (LvL 1)
Nothing shall protect you, not even your own flesh
*Effect: +4% Critical Strike chance per skill LvL
*Effect: +10% Magic Defense Penetration per ten skill lvl]
This ... was a hard choice. Either I struck twice in one strike or critically strike. The latter was not guaranteed, but any successful strike would be much stronger than Double Strike. Double Strike was a guarantee damage dealer as long as I didn't miss, but it required mana per activation.
Actually, I had more than 1.7 thousand MP. Why was I hesitating?
...
Because I don't possess any form of Magic Defense Penetration.
This was actually the first time that such an effect was available to me.
I had no doubt that sooner or later I was going to fight someone capable of taking damage from me by using magic. If that was the case, [Piercing Strike] would help me better.
...
At the same time, I had Shirou to help me in that regard. I could always ask him to make me a weapon capable of piercing through magic barriers and other protections with ease.
I chose [Double Strike].
Time to test them, eh?
Once again, I was among the boulders and rocks. I had my warhammer with me. It swung lazily in circles in my right hand. I stood before the biggest remaining boulder; I will have to bring more up from either the mines or the Bullywug Valleys once I was done with this test.
Shirou, having finished what he called his morning duty, had joined me as did Candy, Iskan, and Sokar. They watched me from the sideline as did few other clan members. Most of my audience members were warriors and rangers with one or two civilians.
"[Double Strike]!" I exclaimed before striking.
244, 122 Physical Damage!
"366 damage," I said outloud.
Shirou whistled. "That's a lot."
"How large is that number?" I heard Candy ask Shirou.
Shirou was the only one so far who understood the RPG mechanics of my abilities and their damage output compared to people.
"If I remember correctly, that strike will kill anyone in our clan with one strike except Sokar and myself."
I heard the foots shuffle in the background.
"[Double Strike: Crushing Blow!]" I shouted and struck again.
488, 244 Physical Damage!
Structural Integrity Broken!
The boulder crumbled to small bits of rocks after its structure was shattered by my blows.
"832!"
"Oh damn."
"And how much is that?" Sokar asked.
"Your HP is around 600, Sokar. If he struck you with that, you would be dead."
Everyone gawked.
I chuckled. "This is still nowhere enough," I muttered to myself.
Shirou approached me from behind. "Being a one-man-army won't solve the problem, you know that right?"
I scoffed. "I think it'll solve a lot of problems. But besides that, how many volunteers have you found?" I asked him.
While I had defeated the two thousand that had threatened my home, it was now my ally who was at danger. While Pset would not be outnumbered like we were, Shkifield will be much more prepared and will not underestimate the Duke.
I couldn't gather my entire clan to fight, but I can bring enough to make a small difference, especially if we struck at their flank with Shirou and myself. If we're lucky, we might even take out Shkifield himself.
"40 in total. Most of Iskan and his Highlanders are coming. Candy and Sokar are coming as well."
I nodded to the ones mentioned by Shirou, and they nodded me back. "Then will Senna be in charge of the city again?"
Shirou grunted in affirmation. "She's actually complaining a little about that. 'I won't have more time for my children' or something like that."
"...Children?"
"Her plants."
"Ah. Okay then, what about our prisoners?"
"Well, the original four decided to join us. Apparently, they had it rough where they came from, and our plentiful food looked too tempting for them."
I raised an eyebrow. "How do we know they won't betray us? We did kill their comrades."
"They told me that their vanguard was composed of mostly mercenaries and brigands that managed to get coerced into service with few civilians here and there. There were no love lost aside from the trauma of being so close to death," he replied. "And I may have used a little bit of cheating with my [Structural Analysis]."
"You looked at their history?"
"From their own clothes."
"Huh. Wonder when I'll be able to do that."
"I doubt you'll be ever able to. You're a brute meat tank, not a magician like me."
"Oi."
By noon, the volunteers, a total of 46 warriors and rangers, and I were running towards Pset to save our ally.
Same time at Pset...
Christopher cursed as another arrow found perch in the head of another one of his soldiers.
Pset was in dire straits.
While the other wall had yet to be breached, the only bridge into Pset had been taken over by Shkifield. On the other hand, the narrow entrance of his city's gates and the lack of wide solid ground around the city had prevented an all out siege.
But it didn't prevent Shkifield from doing some messed up shit.
Pardon, dishonorable shit.
He had arrived just two days ago, and the first thing he did after taking over the bridge was to toss in disease infested bodies of his raped and killed subjects outside the wall. Thankfully, three of the magicians who lived in his city were very familiar with cleansing and healing spells. Those three were the only reason so far that no disease outbreak hadn't started.
On the second day and now today, they just kept on firing arrows.
The housing district was well within and closer to the citadel, and as such, his citizens weren't in danger.
But himself and the soldiers on the walls?
One bad peek can get them killed.
Just like the idiot soldier who had died peeking.
With only two thousand to fight the seven thousand before them, the morale was low.
"I just hope you won your battle, Ruto," Christopher prayed as he loaded his crossbow and fired back.
Because his city and he were not going to survive otherwise.
(Chapter + Omake End)
(Extra information beneath Char Info and Factions)
(Answers to reviews will be in the bottom as well at the wayyy bottom)
Character Status by the end of Day 204:
Naruto
[Imp Ruto] [Troll Ruto] [Chief Ruto] [Troll King] [Baron Ruto]
LvL 103
The Gamer
Race: Zandalari Troll
Class: N/A
HP: 168.5(+500) (+2.25 HP per hour regen)
Mana: 1,710 (+12.0 per minute regen)
STR: 1000(+750 (SGMII))
DEX: 124
AGI: 258
END: 223
INT: 180
WIS: 187
CHA: 113
Unused Points: 0
Spirit: 36
Magic: 25
Power: 34
Control: 102
Fame(Prestige): ? +860
Traits Taken + Earned:
Ambitious, Quick, Genius, Cynical, Stressed, Content, Teacher[Neutral] (Unavailable), Power Overwhelming, Strength is Key, Wroth, Strength of the Greatest Mountain (SGMII)
Focus:
X
Racial Traits:
Beast Slaying (max)
Troll Blood (max)
Troll's Unarmed Mastery (max)
Unique Skills: (Pure Combat Skills marked by X)
Berserker (LvL 2)x
Clairvoyance (LvL 2)
Magic Resistance (LvL 2)x
Observe (LvL 48) + Structural Analysis
Projection (LvL 31)
Reinforcement (LvL 5)
Sonar (LvL 30)
Basic Skills:
Adrenaline Rush (LvL 1)x
Archery (LvL 19)x
Ambush (LvL 11)x
Baiting (LvL 28)x
Blade Mastery (LvL 19)x
Blunt Weapon Mastery (LvL 8)x
Charging (LvL 15)x
Crafting (LvL 16) - Construction (Subskill)(LvL 11)
Crushing Blow (LvL 7)x
Double Strike (LvL 1)x
Fireball (LvL 3)
Fishing (LvL 9)
Gamer's Body (LvL MAX)
Gamer's Mind (LvL MAX)
Greater Leadership (LvL 1)
Intimidation (LvL 11)
Lesser Knowledge Connection (LvL 1)
Lesser Regeneration Magnifier (LvL 1)
Listening (LvL 18)
Mapping (LvL 5)
Negotiation (LvL 9) - Vassalization(Subskill)(LvL 1)
Persuasion(LvL 1)
Physical Durability (LvL 34)
Running (LvL 35)
Teaching (LvL 7)
Throwing (LvL 22)
Trapping (LvL 27)
Unarmed Mastery (LvL 11)
Background Systems (Hero-tier Update):
Life of a Gamer
Achievement System
Class System
Carpathi Ironwood Clan:
# (reference) (important figures) (x = evolutionary stage)
34 Trolls (WoW) (Ruto, Iskan)(xx)
22 Onis (Shirou)(xx)
8 Faze (Candy, Sokar)(xx)
15 Vashta Nerada(x)
17 Greater Fairy (Senna)(xx)
19 Kobold (D&D) (Dresa)(xx)
5 Mountain Dryad (xx)
38 imps (WoW + D&D)(x)
3 Hell Hounds (xx)
55 fairies(x)
16 Incubu/Succubi (Riddle) (xx)
23 Draenei (Na'Deri'in) (Race, no evolution)
Imprisoned:
31 humans
Ironwood City:
Fame: 500
cityPower: 14
Important Figures!
Ironwood Clan
Ruto - Great Chieftain of the Ironwood Clan
Iskan - Troll+Imp racial leader, small chief. In charge of training new recruits. Leader of the Ironwood Highland Warriors (warrior order).
Shirou - Oni racial leader, small chief. In charge of education, production, and strategy.
Candy - Faze+Vashta Nerada racial leader, small chief. In charge of scouting and intelligence.
Senna - Fairykin racial leader, small chief. In charge of food and recruitment.
Dresa - Kobold racial leader, small chief. In charge of mining.
Riddle - Yodr factional leader, a small chief.
Na'Deri'in - Na'sh factional leader, Draenei racial leader.
Vassal Tribes
Jeghal - Ruyure Tribe (tribalPower: 9)
Qreldo - Werwen Tribe (tribalPower: 11)
? - Nomore Tribe (tribalPower: 3)
Boulosu - Bouldon Tribe (tribalPower: 10)
Allies
Duke Christopher Zepolya of the Tranyl-Carpathi
Faction Standings:
? Orcs -300
Carpathi Ironwood Clan +1000 (cityPower: 14)
Carpathi Swamp Valley Bullywug Petty Kingdom -1000
Retvoa Trade Company +80
Nomore Tribe +600 (Vassal)
Ruyure Tribe +500 (Vassal)
Werwen Tribe +500 (Vassal)
Bouldon Tribe +500 (Vassal)
Erlen Shkitfield's Host to Reclaim Southern Carpathi -1000
Duchy of Transyl-Carpathi +500 (Ally) (nationalPower: 13)
House of Zepolya +800 (Ally)
Kingdom of Galburi -1000 (At War) (nationalPower: 30)
Personal Standings:
Andrews Maulta +65
Christopher Zepolya +120
Sholva z'Retvoa +100
Personal Equipment/Inventory:
Pollodium-Enhanced Ironwood Hammer (Rare)
Contract Emblem for the Barony of Upper Carpathi
Review Replies + Author's Notes:
*Power conversions are in chapter 32. Most of the powers I listed are rough conversions using averages and estimates.