(Start of chapter)
DINGIR AVATAR STATS
Character class: Wizard Knight
Rank: Pluto Knight X (Private)
Level: 14, 4199xp until next level up.
HP: 800 / 844
MP: 998 / 998
Strength: 40 (52)
Speed: 31 (26)
Spirit: 48 (49)
Magic Defence/Defence: 30 (50)
Magic: 75
Magic Evasion/Evasion: 16 (36)
Weapon: (Broken weapon)
Headwear: Iron helm
Armour: Iron armour (minor damage)
Accessory: Mythril gloves (one crushed and broken)
Skills: Minus Strike
Abilities: Bright Eyes, Level Up, Man Eater, Bug Killer
Magic: Poison, Regen, Sleep, Panacea, Osmose, Protect, Cure
Trance: Balmung strike
Items: 20 potions, 1 phoenix down, 1 Antidote, 13 Goblin Steak, Goblin dagger, Traveller's cloak, Isekai ring, silk shirt, lots of regular clothes.
Gil: 14458
A/N: Hello Warick, I forget to mention in our PM about the toughness of the Black Mage was due in part to the berserker core, which forces growth upon its host in all aspects due to it having to remain in a heightened, strained battle state, and this combined with its robotic focus as a killing machine made for a determined combination. Additionally all the Black Mages have tough skin, as it is reinforced by circulating mana through their skin, in a similar way to how magic equipment is made.
And Hello everyone else!
I hope you enjoy this next chapter, though it might be a bit of a downer to start, as our main character didn't get off too easy after all.
A nerfed Dingir in Final Fantasy 9, seriously?
CHAPTER 13
New Power Unlocked
(Mark POV)
Everyone involved in the capture of the serial killer Black Mage had received a reward from the crown, this included our team that had practically beaten it, as well as those that finished it with the flurry of water spells, even those that had just ran about and gathered forces.
Everyone received 10,000 Gil each, over three months wages for a private.
Little to royalty, but a lot for stopping a single killer, however given the decrease in support/opinion towards the crown and military during the killings and their prior failure to stop a single magic user, by having the Queen publically rewarding them, they made a show of competence and generosity to the public. Apparently there had been a parade, all the Pluto Knights had been invited to take part as well, a proud day for them.
Steiner also got a shiny new medal.
Haagen got a promotion, becoming a Lance Corporal. Making him the only Pluto knight besides Steiner to not be a Private. Steiner had recommended me for the same promotion, but as I might not be returning to the Pluto Knights, the Queen rejected it.
Saria had been given permission to begin learning the second tier spells, such as Fira, Blizzara, Thundara, Watera, along with others. First time I'd seen a real smile on her. Though I learned months later that just saying the name of her lover was enough to get the same response. I was tempted to test that if I saw her again for any length of time.
As for me, I was still undergoing therapy and daily healings. My reward of sorts, as a lowly male knight wouldn't get this kind of attention otherwise.
I had made a mistake by healing myself in some respects. They had to re-break my arm to set in the correct way. The joint in my elbow would never fully heal, the muscles around it had been too badly damaged, there would be a weakness there they said, and bouts of pain.
As for the hand that had been burned by my poison, I had saved my hand from being chopped off as the burnt flesh would have gotten infected, however I had lost almost all feeling in my left hand, by forcing the dead tissue to heal. My palm was an ugly mass red scar tissue, but I could still grip and move my fingers. With practice I would still be able to wield a weapon. Unfortunately I would never (in this world) be able to grope a woman with both hands and feel that delightfulness in both hands. I'd still do it of course, but it was almost as depressing as the injury itself.
My stats had lowered slightly, like a de-buff, but I had levelled up from the fight, and unlocked the next lot of white and black magic I could learn. I was still considering what to pick, however I was more interested in the new type of magicks I had gained at the same time I had ruined my dominant hand.
"Announcement: By combining more than five of the same spell, you have unlocked 'Magic Stacking.' With this you can use an increased amount of MP on a spell to create new ones for future use."
New magic learned: Asag's Toxin - level 1 (Stack 5 or more poison spells) casting cost: 40MP. "Painfully rots victims to death, Multiple antidotes required to cure or higher level white magic. Long and close range usage."
With this spell, I'd definitely use it as a ranged spell or add it to a weapon, just the residue got through my Mythril Gauntlet and did all this damage to my hand.
"Announcement: Maximum MP has been reached, choose one of the following:
1) Break limit on maximum MP from 999, allowing it to reach up to 9999. (Next available at level 50)
2) Upgrade character class from Wizard Knight: Select one of the following:
* Purity Mage - Lose all black magic spells, gain 10 white magic spells and boost to all stats. Gain additional Trance move: Wrath of the Seraphim.
* Pestilence Mage - Lose all white magic spells, gain 10 black magic spells and boost to all stats. Gain additional Trance move: Wrath of the Primordial Devil.
* Grey Mage - Retain all existing spells. Gain access to non combative magicks and skills, such as infusing skills and magic into objects and weapons. (Support/Societal) Select up to three stats to boost.
I ultimately chose to not break my MP limiter as I had enough MP right now, as much as a level 99 character in the normal games. I just needed MP recovery items if I ran low. With Stacking I could make brand new spells, and potentially make a stacked Cure as strong as Curaga with enough mana. Additional information from the game system showed that MP increases that were now capped, would instead be added to my HP's growth until I chose the option at level 50. Whoo! more HP, which would increase my survival odds, and given everything that had happened so far, I might just need it.
'Hmm… let's see,' I thought activating my status page, to view my current situation.
Which character class to pick…
DINGIR AVATAR STATS
Character class: Wizard Knight (upgrade available)
Rank: Pluto Knight X (Private)
Level: 15, 5800xp until next level up.
HP: 800 / 970
MP: 999 / 999 (maxed)
Strength: 32 (44)
Speed: 31 (26)
Spirit: 40 (41)
Magic Defence/Defence: 28 (48)
Magic: 75
Magic Evasion/Evasion: 16 (36)
Weapon: (Broken weapon)
Headwear: Iron helm
Armour: Iron armour (minor damage)
Accessory: Mythril gloves (one crushed and broken)
Skills: Minus Strike
Abilities: Bright Eyes, Level Up, Man Eater, Bug Killer
Magic: Poison, Regen, Sleep, Panacea, Osmose, Protect, Cure
Magic Stacking: Asag's Toxin - level 1 (40MP)
Trance: Balmung strike
Items: 20 potions, 1 phoenix down, 1 Antidote, 13 Goblin Steak, Goblin dagger, Traveller's cloak, Isekai ring, silk shirt, lots of regular clothes.
Gil: 24458
Several stats had taken a definite hit…I was about to bring up the options for the one black and one white magic spell that I could learn per my once every five levels deal, when I noticed I had two guests. A certain annoying General and her younger sister. I turned off my menu, and gave them a smile.
(Normal POV)
"Hey Claire," Mark smiled. Above her head, he saw that she was level 20 now, she must have fought a fair bit on her first tour outside the city. He wished he could go, but the Pluto Knights were stationed primarily as a token guard force. But considering the setbacks, he wasn't doing too bad going from level 1 to 15 in only eight months. "It seems you've gotten a lot stronger since I last saw you, kudos."
Claire simply smiled, cheeks flushing slightly.
Beatrix however raised a suspicious brow. "Oh, you can tell that with a glance, can you?" She hadn't seen him use a scan spell. "Is that how you charm women these days?"
Mark gave her a tired, yet patient smile. "Of course, I can always tell. When we first met Claire was level 12, now she's level 20. Incidentally, I'm currently level 15, and your level 99."
They both started in surprise, he was exactly right.
"Normally with beautiful women like you two, I'd be more inclined to wax poetic about something else, but you General would kill me if I tried," he said with a shrug, catching attention to his injured arms, one horribly scared on the palm, the other in a brace and sling. And seeing that they had noticed the seriousness of his injuries, he then added, "and sadly I'm not in a state to put up much more than a token resistance." Beatrix found at the beautiful comment, while Claire flushed a little deeper.
"It's seems the reports were true, you were badly injured in the serial killer incident," Beatrix noticed, trying to steer the conversation away from compliments. "Will you be leaving the Pluto Knights?"
"Is it really so bad?" Claire asked, rushing over, she took his scarred hand, eyes widening at just how severe it was up close.
"I barely avoided losing this hand, but the scarring will remain, however the healers seem confident that I'll regain mostly full use of movement, but my sense of touch in my palm is shot, as for my right, they said it will be weaker and will act up occasionally, but assuming I'm not kicked out by the Captain or her Majesty, I intend to stay in my position," Mark replied, only just noticing she was holding his scarred hand. He really couldn't tell by touch.
"Can you be relied upon to protect the Princess in your condition, you must be aware she requests you even more than Steiner to accompany her?" Beatrix firmly asked. Claire's gripped tighter upon hearing that. She was only three years or so older than Garnet, and certainly not above a teenager's jealously.
"I am a magic user first and full most, General," Mark stated, putting emphasis on her rank and not calling her by name to show he was growing annoyed by her questions. "In addition to my knightly training with Captain Steiner, I have been devoted to learning new magicks. You do not need to trust me, General. I will show you through my actions that I can still be useful."
Beatrix and Mark locked gazes for a time, the hostile scrutiny was palpable. But it was the stronger General, not the knight that broke it. She sighed, shaking her head. If it wasn't for his reputation and her younger sister's apparent crush on him, she probably would have afforded him a certain level of respect and trust, much like she did Steiner.
"Very well," she conceded. "But I'll be keeping an eye on you once you return to your duties, if you prove incompetent, I'll be speaking to the Queen."
"Do as you wish…"
A few nights had passed since the General and her little sister had visited, she was a sweet thing, her apparent attraction to him was a bit of a nuisance as it drew Beatrice's ire upon him. Additionally it would be at least a year or two before she was legal by his world's terms. (Fuck what Gaia's age of consent was) and he'd probably be gone from this world by then, so he had no intentions of encouraging her. Beatrix obviously thought different, but fuck her! Not in that way! Ugh! Forget it…
In more important matters, Mark had chosen his character upgrade. He was going to select Grey Mage as it offered the most long term potential, and he had some good ideas for how to use its abilities to the fullest. He could make his own magical weapons and armour, but he wouldn't be able to create items with skills he didn't already have, but he planned to combine it with stacking for some interesting possibilities. There was a theory that he also wanted to test regarding non-level based stat boosting.
Once he selected the option, mana and knowledge crammed its way into his mind, he gritted his teeth, even for a speed reader like him, this was hard to keep up with. Once that was over, he activated the dormant tab in his menu for the black magic and white magic he could learn, the wizard knight benefits remained, and he wanted to get his hands on Ultima and Holy…eventually.
Black Magic (please select one of the following)
* Slow
Slows down target's movements and reactions for battle.
* Stop
Stops targets from taking any action for one minute or less.
* Bio
Causes Non-elemental damage and Poison to single/multiple targets.
White Magic (please select one of the following)
* Scan
Scan enemy to determine HP, MP, and weaknesses.
* Stona
Removes Petrify and Gradual Petrify.
* Shell
Reduces damage from magical attacks.
The choices were obvious, firstly black magic had a ranged poison spell that also dealt a decent amount of Non-elemental magic. Finally a spell he could spam to take down stronger enemies. As for white magic, he chose Shell, which protected him somewhat from magical attacks. He selected the options.
"Game Alert: You have learnt Bio and Shell."
Next were the three stats he could select to boost. Here was the gamble, to counter somewhat his injuries, pain he could handle, having another horrible scar he could handle, but he refused to be weaker.
He selected his physical strength three times to be boosted. The sudden increase in strength throughout his body and the strain it caused as his body changed to compensate, caused him to lose consciousness. However when he woke the next day. He would see an impressive difference.
Previously (before injuries)
Strength: 40 (52)
Currently (after injuries)
Strength: 32 (44)
It granted him a 10% increase three times. This meant that the first 10% would become part of the increase of the next 10% and so on.
The first 10% made his strength: 35
The second 10% made his strength: 39
The third and final 10% made his strength: 43
Which meant his strength now slightly exceeded what he'd lost, so his body had to strengthen everything. While his elbow was probably still a weak point, it was stronger than it had been before the injury, he squeezed his poison burnt hand, his grip was stronger, and his sense of touch was ever so slightly improved.
"Sir Green, it's time for your rehabilitation," said one of white mages involved in his care, "and we'll need to take off your brace," as they entered into the part of the infirmary he was kept in.
"Of course," Mark replied, getting out of the infirmary bed he was using, wincing slightly at the occasional twinge. Once he had recovered enough to return to work, Mark would be visiting the castle armory (Steiner's suggestion) to get refitted again with the castle issue weapons and equipment he needed.
From the Mage incident to his return to duty as a Pluto Knight (much to Garnet's relief!) that over three months had passed.
Making it his tenth month in the world of Gaia.
Only fourteen months until the game starts.
Next Chapter:
Dingir and the Blacksmith
(End of chapter)
DINGIR AVATAR STATS
Character class: Grey Mage
Rank: Pluto Knight X (Private)
Level: 15, 5800xp until next level up.
HP: 800 / 970
MP: 999 / 999 (maxed)
Strength: 43 (55)
Speed: 31 (26)
Spirit: 40 (41)
Magic Defence/Defence: 28 (48)
Magic: 75
Magic Evasion/Evasion: 16 (36)
Weapon: (Broken weapon)
Headwear: Iron helm
Armour: Iron armour (minor damage)
Accessory: Mythril gloves (one crushed and broken, the other part melted)
Skills: Minus Strike
Abilities: Bright Eyes, Level Up, Man Eater, Bug Killer, Grey Magic
Magic: Poison, Regen, Sleep, Panacea, Osmose, Protect, Cure, Bio, Shell
Magic Stacking: Asag's Toxin - level 1 (40MP)
Trance: Balmung strike
Items: 20 potions, 1 phoenix down, 1 Antidote, 13 Goblin Steak, Goblin dagger X 2, Traveller's cloak, Isekai ring, silk shirt, lots of regular clothes.
Gil: 24458
A/N: Guess you weren't expecting an update so soon? Well I had the ideas I wanted to do, so I rushed it out. Now about the injuries, all he's done is strengthen himself to compensate, this gives him a good chance of getting through physical therapy and recovering enough to return to a paying job and having an 'in' with the characters Steiner and Garnet. We're getting closer to the end of disk 0 I'm afraid, but we still have the Cid arc, and the Tantalus arc to go.
And as always, if you can, check out my official Dingirverse books and comics.
MY MAIN BOOKS AND COMICS:
Search the titles on Amazon, Lulu, Barnes&Noble, and most major online retailers…and then preferably buy some, available in Kindle/EBook, and Paperback.
Grey Faction: Arrival of the Grey Queen
Grey Faction: Mistaken Apostles
Grey Faction Comic: Jinhai's Justice
Grey Faction Comic: School Wars
Detective Michael: The Scalpel Murder
Detective Michael: Riverside Mystery
Detective Michael Comic: Volume 1
Vampire Attack: Empire of Shadows
Vampire Attack: Shadow Force (coming soon)
Secret Yuuki & the Guilty Heart Chronicles: Dimension Wars
Secret Yuuki & the Guilty Heart Chronicles: Starlight Alliance
Nexus Comic: Volume 1
'N' Things Anthology: Corpses 'N' Things
'N' Things Anthology: Monsters 'N' Things