Blackthorne checked his skill menu once more then ran the numbers. It would nearly deplete all of his remaining skill points, and he would not be able to actually increase his Mass Production technique to level two as he originally planned. However, the allure of potential magical development proved too tempting.

He poured his points into his dark magic, and then into his Basic Dark Mastery Sub-Skill. Of the magical abilities that he had, it was the one that proved most useful at the moment. Not only was it the best element for fighting the zombies, it could be used to improve his chances at crafting a Ring of Dread Inferno.

The dragon took a deep breath then slowly released it. "Here we go."

His Imperious Burn! technique was increased to level four in a flash. His points nearly exhausted, he spent a brief moment concerned that nothing would come of his decision. However, his expectations were met and then some!

The voice of the system whispered into his ear, "You have reached a new milestone in your basic Dark Fire Mastery. You may choose among the following options..."

Blackthorne's eyes widened as he saw what was now available to him. He could upgrade his Imperious Burn! spell so that it operated in a manner similar to his basic version of that spell. His charisma modifier would be applied to it, as well as other spell casting factors. It would remain an instantly cast with a cost and power relevant to its developed level.

Of course, such a thing was a wonderful boost. However, it was not what had caused his eyes to widen. No. What shocked him was that he could choose to advance his dark fire magic skill to a new tier. Further, in doing so it would open up a new sub-skill path should he be willing to pay the skill point, and rank cost.

"It costs more than skill points, though," groused Blackthorne. In order to advance his basic dark fire mastery to basic dark fire mastery II, he would have to reset his dark fire mastery skill rank to zero. This would increase his ability to the next category of basic fire spells, which would also allow for additional abilities for the Burn! spell.

The novitiate grade would then become available, allowing him to learn even more spells in the dark fire category simply by increasing that skill's rank. He could also learn Novitiate grade magic from spell books or a teacher, something he had not had a chance to experience during his dream life to date.

"Obviously I'm going to do it," he said with a chuckle. New spells, finally!

Blackthorne accepted the conversion of his current basic dark fire mastery skill into basic dark fire mastery II. A skitter and skirl of electrical current seemingly ran through his body for a moment, but otherwise he felt nothing different. However, he did check to see what he had gained by the upgrade.

Congratulations! You have achieved a new milestone in your dark magic sub-skill, Basic Dark Fire Mastery.

You are now able to use level two Basic Dark Fire Magic.

- You can now perform the first Word of Power enhancement for the Burn! spell. Words of Power are prefixes and suffixes for spells that change the nature of the effect that they will produce.

- The Word of Power Enhancement: 'Vikka' is now available. Your spell will be reduced in power by 75%.

The Vikka' Burn! spell produces a cone of flame effect that extends outward a number of feet equal to your charisma modifier.

- The Word of Power enhancement: 'Ker' is now available. Your spell will increase its power output by 75%.

The Ker' Burn! spell has a slightly longer range than the standard Burn! spell. Its range will extend outward a number of feet equal to your charisma modifier. However, the width of the flame will be one-third of its standard size.

Chant your spell as normal, but upon release of the power use these power words as a pre-fix for your spell.

Example: Vikka' Burn!

Note: You may add these word of power enhancements to the imperious version of the Burn! spell. However, you must do so as an optional upgrade upon reaching mile stone ranks in the basic dark fire mastery skill. Each word of power enhancement will require one milestone upgrade.

"Neat... I wonder how much effort it will take to raise that skill's rank now..." Blackthorne nodded to his message screen then looked to the skill menu. One last thing to do. Now that his basic fire magic was upgraded, he could unlock Novitiate Dark Fire Mastery.

Congratulations! You have acquired the next step on the road to mastery of dark fire magic!

You are now able to use Novitiate Dark Fire Magic.

- You have acquired the right to unlock one of the following spells. You may unlock another spell upon reaching a new milestone level. At certain skill ranks, you will unlock new spells which are not currently listed.

- Fire bolt

- Burning Grasp

- Melt

- Fireball

"Nice!" Blackthorne read through what each spell would do then nodded.

Fire bolt and Fireball were ranged attack spells. The former would fire off a small ball of flame that would explode on impact. The latter would create a fiery explosion within his line of sight, up to the range limit.

Burning Grasp would allow him to infuse his hands, or the hands of his target, with elemental fire energy. He would do fire damage to anything he touched for a time. The longer he touched a target, the greater the elemental fire damage it would take.

"Whoa... now this is something..." Blackthorne read through the information for the Melt spell. It was a continuous cast spell, with a primary use geared toward lowering a target's defense. If they wore metal armor it would become hot to the touch and might even damage them if he continues to pump his life force into the spell. Prolonged used of the spell could melt metal or other inorganic matter such as rock or crystal. Strangely, it would not do anything to organic matter such as a tree.

The Melt spell would surely be his soon, as he needed something like that in his life. However, at the moment a ranged magical attack was too good to pass up. Fire bolt seemed like it would be the most economical, so he went with it. He would only need to make it to skill rank thirty to have all of those spells, either way. He took one last glance at his skill menu before he closed it down for good.

MAHORELA ABAIVONIN RACIAL SKILLS

Mana Sense

Rank: 36

- Sub-Skill: Life Sense

Rank: 9

Mana Manipulation

Rank: 19

- Sub-Skill: Draw Mana

Rank: 8

Mahorela Abaivonin Magic

Rank: 38

- Sub-Skill: Draconic Racial Ability Mastery

Rank: 36

- Technique: Aura of Terror [LVL 1]

***

- Technique: Breath of Darkness [LVL1]

***

Metamorphosis

Rank: 39

- Master Form: Midnight Shadow

Rank: 5

- Master Form: Human Form

Rank: 33

- Technique: Mana Manipulation [LVL 1]

***

- Technique: Mana Sense [LVL1]

***

- Technique: Draconic Combat [LVL1]

***

Draconic Combat

Rank: 42

- Sub-Skill: Tail Whip

Rank: 21

PRIMARY SKILLS

Dark Magic

Rank: 50

- Sub-Skill: Basic Dark Lightning Mastery

Rank: 28

- Technique: Imperious Jolt! [LVL 2]

***

- Sub-Skill: Basic Dark Fire Mastery II

Rank: 0

- Technique: Imperious Burn! [LVL 4]

***

- Sub-Skill: Novitiate Dark Fire Mastery

Rank: 1

- Sub-Skill: Basic Dark Frost Mastery

Rank: 6

Conjuration Magic

Rank: 4

Synergy

Rank:50

- Sub Skill: Improved Synergy Refinement

Rank: 40

- Technique: Metal Salvage and Refinement [LVL 4]

***

- Advanced Technique: Advanced Metal Refinement [LVL 1]

***

- Sub-skill: Improved Low-Grade Material Synergy

Rank: 11

- Technique: Mass Production [LVL 1]

***

[Empty]

[=]

SECONDARY SKILLS

Heavy Armor

Rank: 2

Blade Mastery

Rank: 27

- Sub-Skill: Basic Longsword Mastery

Rank: 8

- Sub-Skill: Basic Shortsword Mastery

Rank: 6

Arcane Ring Mastery

Rank: 4

[Empty Slot]

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TERTIARY SKILLS

Jewelry Crafting

Rank: 5

Enchanting

Rank: 5

Alchemy

Rank: 2

[Empty Slot]

[Empty Slot]

[Empty Slot]

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[Empty Slot]

[Empty Slot]

[Empty Slot]

[Empty Slot]

[Empty Slot]

[=]

"I wonder why it's rank zero instead of rank one?" Blackthorne pondered the reasoning behind changing his skill rank to zero for basic dark fire mastery II. The only thing he could come up with was the fact that he had never cast one of the words of power.

"Might as well try one out before I head up to face the music..." Blackthorne grinned a crocodile's grin. Sonja was going to freak out, provided she had not rightfully run off to find someone who didn't have so many life issues.

In a deep baritone, Blackthorne began to intone the words which would unleash his tiny little hell upon the world.

~Echoes of the dying blood-red embers, rekindle anew...

Sparks began to skitter along his scales, even as his already red eyes took on a familiar dangerous glow. Fire lived inside of him in that moment. Eager to see what would happen, he finished his incantation.

~Become my sword and cleanse all that stands before me! ~

Just as before, bright red motes of light appeared then streamed toward a single point before his hand. He thrust his palm forward imperiously and cried out, "Vikka' Burn!"

In the first instance the spell seemed no different than before. However, the jet of flame that shot out in the shape of a spear continued forward beyond its normal starting point then immediately spread outward. Instead of a spear of flame, he conjured forward a cone of fire that rushed outward ten feet from his hand. It was a wide cone of effect that was wider than he was tall.

"Holy shit..." he said excitedly. His excitement died back a little, however, when he checked his status. "Holy... shit... Twenty points of life force to cast that?"

The power reduction would make it so it probably would not even be able to kill a zombie in one shot, even with his charisma modifier. "An imperious version of it, though... Level the technique a bit more and cast it continuously... could be a good way to clear out weak critters."

Curious, he tried out his other word of power. Upon unleashing a Ker' Burn! A spear of shot from his head. Son, it tapered off more than normal then continued forward until it reach the ten foot mark. "I wonder if that will penetrate through a zombie?"

He doubted that the spell would do such, but if it could then it would easily kill a few of them in a row. The spell's damage modifier would make it pretty extreme overkill for one of their ilk.

"That one cost me twenty points as well..." He certainly saw a pattern!

Blackthorne thought to try out his other spell, then thought better of it. He needed to head back to town. Sonja deserved answers. Perhaps holding off on casting that new spell would be something nice they could do together.