[NOTICE: LESSER SAHUAGIN SHAMAN (9), LESSER SAHUAGIN WARRIOR (16) SLAIN]
[+125 XP; 2860/3600 XP]
After returning to Floor 19, Kindle began hunting a plentitude of the LV. 19 Sahuagin, knowing it only provided half the XP, and has been doing do for weeks. Disappointingly, ///Horde Breaker (F)/// doesn't work, being that they're in groups too large for the effect to trigger at it's current low rank, but Kindle doesn't have an issue with it. Kindle can still able to cut them down with ease, and they aren't as numerous as those on Floor 20 were.
Technically, Kindle could go back to Floor 20 every few days and face another Lesser Sahuagin Chieftan, but the strain they put themselves through the last time is not something they wish to experience again.
[NOTICE: LESSER SAHUAGIN SHAMAN (4), LESSER SAHUAGIN WARRIOR (12) SLAIN]
[+80 XP; 3265/3600 XP]
While traveling through Floor 19 and testing out the limits of their new "Simple Pyromancer (F)" Job Class, they hear a commotion. Kindle doesn't plan on checking out things that aren't they're business, and heads in the opposite direction. But either getting turmed around or happening to just walk into a different mess, Kindle finds themself witness a fight between Dungeon Divers.
Not a fight as in an argument, but a genuine clash of swords between two swordsmen who look eerily similar, vibrant green hair and a fiesty glint in their eyes as their deeper green robes swish with each swing of their blades, while their mage companions—also eerily similar in appearance, with blonde hair and panicked expressions while clutching their teal robes—stand back and yell at them to stop with the same nervous tone. It's oddly comedic, and when the mages spot the masked and cloaked figure approaching, they only seem more panicked, though not assuming hostility.
"Back off!" one of the swordsmen shouts at the other with another swing of their blade met with a block, then a counter he himself blocks. "I called dibs on this floor first, you dimwit duplicate!"
The other swordsman goes for the same exact move, the same result occuring. "Dimwit duplicate!? I was born first, you imbecilic copycat!"
Swordsman #1—or Swordsman #2 if you're counting by when they were born, apparently—tries a different combo, which is blocked and countered quickly. "You probably kicked me in the womb to get out first, you rat!"
When they do glance at Kindle, all they see if the cloaks figure walking past them and towards the Sahuagin watching curiosly from a distance down the hallway of the dungeon, not interested in trying to handle whatever this is and more interested in grinding levels.
"Hey!" Swordsman #1 shouts, turning his focus away from his twin. "Those are ours!" The mages look utterly confused, unsure what to do as Kindle ignores the shouts.
"If they were yours," Kindle starts, drawing their blade. "Then you should have killed them already." The Sahuagin don't get much time to begin their own charge before Kindle starts tearing through them, each slash of their crudely maintained weapon slicing through with ease thanks to the mana they use to create an artificial sharpness.
Before the swordsman can shout at their respective mages and rush over, most of the Sahuagin are already dead, with only three left. Somehow, the swordsmen chase one each, only to end up fighting each other over a single one, yelling "he's mine!" at eachother while Kindle kills the other two, then the final one right before their eyes.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
[NOTICE: LESSER SAHUAGIN SHAMAN (7), LESSER SAHUAGIN WARRIOR (9) SLAIN]
[+80 XP; 3345/3600 XP]
It's quiet for a moment, the mages and swordsmen realizing they got no XP and didn't kill a single one. Instead of contemplating why, however, the two swordsmen both point their swords at Kindle and proclaim "join me!" before pausing and looking at each other competitively again, then raising their swords at each other to the dismay and panic of their mages.
Another clash of swords ensues,with each one offering pay just a little higher than the other between swings, like they're bidding on Kindle's services.
"I'll pay 20 CIL a week!
"I'll do 30 CIL!"
"31 CIL!"
"Really!? By one CIL? 40 CIL!"
Finally, one of the mages shouts over the swordsmen. "He's already gone! He left while you two were fighting! Please just put your swords away!" They twins finally stop, blinking in surprise as they look to see that Kindle has indeed dissapeared, not even in any of the halls anymore.
[NOTICE: LESSER SAHUAGIN SHAMAN (9), LESSER SAHUAGIN WARRIOR (17) SLAIN]
[+130 XP; 3600/3600 XP]
[NOTICE: LEVEL UP; VITAL STATS RESTORED; +6 AP]
[LV. 24 -> LV. 25; 40/3750 XP]
[NOTICE: EVOLUTION AVAILABLE]
After countless days of grinding and hundreds of Sahuagin slain, Kindle has finally reached LV. 25. And with it, comes the opportunity to evolve again, something Kindle is certainly excited for. They spend their AP as they usually do, one in each core stat, and move onto checking their evolution options.
[PLEASE SELECT AN EVOLUTION OPTION]
[SKELETON SPELLSWORD]
[SKELETON KNIGHT]
[SKELETON PYROMANCER]
[SKELETON CRYOMANCER]
[GREATER SKELETON WARRIOR]
[GREATER SKELETON MAGE]
[LESSER SKELETON NECROMANCER]
Kindle takes a moment to consider their options, already uninterested in all but the Skeleton Knight and Skeleton Spellsword options. The others are too focused on a single aspect, and Kindle prefers to be prepared for everything. But before they can think about their preference between the two, they hear Obsidian's chuckle flow through their mind, body, and soul.
[My, my. You've come far, little kindling. I'm so very proud of you, and can't wait to see what's next for you. However, I think it's time I spend a bit more DP on giving you a reward for getting this far, not to mention your excellent victory against the Lesser Sahuagin Chieftan.]
When Kindle looks back at the evolution options menu, another option has appeared.
[LESSER UNDEAD PALADIN]
Kindle doesn't even have to consider it too much. Becoming a Skeleton Spellsword would make it so their magic and swordsmanship would increase greatly, and becoming a Skeleton Knight would focus on making them a far more durable and resistant entity. But a Paladin, something Undead like Kindle don't really get to be, is fluent in arcane, martial, and holy arts, and are essentially the chosen few by the gods who are just beneath the favor a Hero would get.
When they select it, their bones ache as they become more solid, as the mana holding them together tightens even more, as the mana cores filling their eye sockets condense and strengthen whilst another, larger one forms in their ribcags like a heart.
[NOTICE: EVOLUTION COMPLETE]
[LESSER SKELETON SPELLSWORD -> LESSER UNDEAD PALADIN]
[+TRAIT ///NECROTIC RESISTANCE (F)///]
[+TRAIT ///LIGHT RESISTANCE (F)///]
[+TRAIT ///NATURAL PALADIN (F)///]
[MULTIPLE TRAITS UPGRADED]
[///UNIFIED FORM (F)/// -> ///UNIFIED FORM (E)///]
[///HEROIC POTENTIAL (F)/// -> ///HEROIC POTENTIAL (E)///]
[///UNDEAD DOMINANCE (F)/// -> ///UNDEAD DOMINANCE(E)///]
[+JOB CLASS "UNDEAD PALADIN (F)"]
[MULTIPLE JOB CLASSES UPGRADED]
["SIMPLE ARCANIST (F)" -> "FUNDAMENTAL ARCANIST (E)"]
["SIMPLE SWORDSMAN (F)" -> "FUNDAMENTAL SWORDSMAN (E)"]
["SIMPLE SPELLSWORD (F)" -> "FUNDAMENTAL SPELLSWORD (E)"]
Alongside the flood of information they get from their new and enhanced Job Classes, Kindle doesn't feel in the immediate, nauseated mood to unpack and study all of what they just got and upgraded, instead decided to just push it aside for now and relish in the milestone first.
[Mm, yes, it is quite a lot, isn't it? Go ahead and take your time enjoying it, I'm sure you'll be used to using it all long before you have to use most of it in the first place. Now then, I'll be watching you as closely as ever my Kindle. Have fun~]
And with that, Obsidian's presence fades, leaving Kindle to wonder what Obsidian sees coming that they aren't aware of.
Hopefully it's nothing too chaotic.
NAME: KINDLE
SPECIES: LESSER UNDEAD PALADIN
SEX: N/A
XP: 40/3750
AP: 0
HP: 1250/1250
MP: 1250/1250
SP: 1250/1250
CON: 25
AGI: 25
DEX: 25
PER: 25
INT: 25
UNDEAD PALADIN (F)
FUNDAMENTAL ARCANIST (E)
SIMPLE PYROMANCER (F)
SIMPLE CRYOMANCER (F)
FUNDAMENTAL SWORDSMAN (E)
FUNDAMENTAL SPELLSWORD (E)
///BIOLOGICAL IMMORTALITY///
///WORLD EYE///
///UNIFIED FORM (E)///
///HEROIC POTENTIAL (E)///
///UNDEAD DOMINANCE (E)///
///INSTINCTIVE CHANNELING (F)///
///NATURAL ARCANIST (F)///
///NATURAL SWORDMAN (F)///
///NATURAL PALADIN (F)///
///HORDE BREAKER (F)///
(+2 MORE)
