∼ New Powers ∼

Chapter - 040

From the coarse and sometimes non-sensical speech in third-person to the slightly-more understandable words in first-person, it was no surprise that Aria was so emphatic. She had been trying day-in and day-out to correct Nyx's speech as they went, but more often than not, it seemed that his animalistic instincts came in the way of that.

But now, it appeared that he could express himself much clearer than ever before.

Aria practically squealed with joy, shocking Nyx into a stupor as she hugged him tight - the softness of her body suddenly multiple times more prevalent than it was before.

But despite the comfort of Aria's hug, it felt distinctly demeaning to the newly evolved demon. Why was he even getting so flustered?

Though he would not admit it, it was because of Eric standing behind her, being witness to the whole thing. It was for some just shaming, though this was something he had yet to understand why.

"Nyah! Let go of me!" Nyx struggled.

"You have grown so much!" She beamed, ignoring his protests. "What evolution did you pick? Did you really cross into a daemon, or is this some obscure monster race? What was the rarity? Just what skills did you gain? Uh! Did you also get a trait? What about-" Aria rambled off at such speed that Nyx had a hard time gathering himself, her questions coming one after the other.

From the side, Eric just sighed, scratching the back of his head as he so usually did when he was at a loss for how to handle a situation. A short time later, after Aria had managed to settle down. At least enough to give Nyx some breathing room.

Grumbling to himself, he tried his best to ignore the barely restrained Aria's gaze, her curious energy bursting at the seams.

"Codex," He invoked in his mind.

Status Information

Attributes Name Nyx Health 30/30 STR 12 END 3 Race Imp (Prideborn) Stamina 9/9 DEX 4 INT 24 Level 10 - (0%) Mana 5/5 VIT 3 CHR 2 Class Main-Class Warlock Rank Apprentice Grade Rare Sub-Class None Rank None Grade None Traits Demonhide - (Racial), Fire Resistance - (Racial), Mark of Pride - (Demonism) Titles Bearer of Pride - (Demonism) Skills Demonbolt - [Moderate], Impfire - [Inferior], Summon Familiar - [Inferior], Wither - [Inferior] Masteries Proficiencies

Techniques Demonology - [Superior], Mana Manipulation - [Inferior], Words of Power - [Inferior] None

Alongside new skills, there were also health and stamina changes as numerical proof of his evolution and newfound power. However, even though his attributes had not changed. He still felt many, many times stronger.

Testing his strength against the hull of a tree and bounding about in the clearing of the forest a little, it quickly became obvious that he did not only feel stronger. He was stronger. Nyx wasn't "leave a dent in the bark" strong, much to the amusement of Eric, but the power behind his otherwise small frame was nothing to snort at or ignore. Still, his status showed that his attributes had in fact not changed in the slightest.

He voiced his confusion to Aria who readily answered.

"This is because attributes affect all individuals differently." She explained excitedly. "Let us take a gnome as an example. A gnome who has the might of ten points in strength. This is relatively strong for a normal unclassed enlightened, yet, he is still significantly weaker in terms of physical prowess to a dwarf with a mere eight points in strength. That is because, the size, physique, and many other factors all weigh into just how much each point in any given attribute is worth; to what extent it affects an individual. That is similar to how you, as an impling, were grossly unfit for your high strength. But now, with your new form, you stand to gain much more from it. Just like with your mind and your abnormally high intelligence. We can already see it from how your speech has improved by a lot."

This was all great news to Nyx. "To think evolutions were this overwhelming." He could barely restrain himself from rubbing his hands together in glee at the promise further evolutions would bring.

It first then occurred to Nyx that his previous perception of his attributes had been greatly flawed. The strength he had so coveted - for it to him had meant; power, was not entirely correct. With his greater discernment, he took to wonder what exactly each attribute signified.

"Attributes, what are they?" Nyx paused, a certain glint returning to those ravenous eyes. "What attribute is the strongest?"

Okay, maybe he hadn't changed that much from an impling.

Settling in, Aria got ready for a lengthy explanation. "All in all, there are six attributes that constitutes the Codex's representation of ourselves. Strength, Dexterity, Vitality, Endurance, Intelligence, and Charisma. Each attribute has a wide variety of effects, and they often overlap with each other to create certain results and occasionally enhance the potency of an action."

Lifting up her hands, she held up six fingers. "Strength is generally considered to be the most straightforward of the six. It determines the physical might and the extortion one's body can demonstrate. From fighting to carrying out strenuous tasks."

She lowered the count to five. "As for Dexterity, it governs how dexterous, agile, and how much finesse you can display. That could be the balance of your body or the instinctive reactions of your body - to even the minute movements of your fingers."

Down to four fingers. "Then there is Vitality, which is the verve and spirit of your body. Health, stamina, resistance to foreign substances, and so on. Vitality supplies a variety of vital elements that keep you alive."

Three. "Very much like Vitality, Endurance also has a part in your stamina, yet the two attributes greatly differ from there. Whereas Vitality can determine how much health one has, Endurance determines how strong and resistant your body is to damage and influence. That is; the hardness of your skin, the toughness of your bones, and the resilience of your organs."

Two. "Then we have Intelligence, your mind's ability to process information and deduce the world around you. From helping vastly increase the speed of your body's ability to react and perceive with your senses to letting your mind grasp the unfathomable of the arcane. Other than infusing your spells with more mana, having a high intelligence attribute is one of the only other ways to magnify the raw power of your magic."

And the last finger. "Lastly, there is Charisma. One of the deciding factors in your ability to influence that of other living beings. Be it negative or positive, Charisma can make a deadly swordsman seem all that much more terrifying, and a king all the more regal and compelling."

"Then..." Nyx paused, as if in great thought. "What's best?"

Aria merely smirked at the demon who seemingly hadn't shaken his old self all that much.

"Well, that would all depend."

"Magi, such as ourselves, would specialize in intelligence. For the mind is a mage's greatest tool. Intelligence enhances our ability to manipulate, comprehend, and form mana into the shapes we desire. Without proper mental capabilities, our magic would falter whenever conjured and could even have dire consequences if something went wrong. Even monsters who use a magical core that does most of the work that the mind has to do for Enlightened, need a great number of points in this attribute. Magical creatures often have very high intelligence despite not being all that sapient or self-aware, simply because it enhances the power of the magic we can cast by allowing greater and more complex magic to be conjured."

"As for warriors, blademasters, and similar classes or monsters, a combination of both strength and dexterity is crucial. Oftentimes, dexterity is favored in the eyes of true masters. Without strength, there would be no power behind each strike. Without dexterity, there would be no finesse behind a parry. Without either, there would be no speed to execute an attack."

"And of course, for those seeking the resilience to survive and repel the power of another, vitality and endurance are the answer. Like strength and dexterity, they are both nearly inseparable if you were to choose either of them. For one provides the health to fundamentally survive and the other gives the capability to brunt an otherwise deadly attack. With either also granting stamina, they supplement each other."

"Lastly, but definitely not least - charisma. Much more obscure and hard to utilize, charisma is generally not suited for those who engage in combat or the ethereal workings of magic. But rather for those who lead, scheme, and sway the mind of others."

"Then... Aria is telling me to be mage?" Nyx asked hesitantly, finding the new word strange on his tongue.

"That is not for me to say. Nyx, with all your peculiarities, you might go in any manner of ways. It is often best for oneself to figure which path to take. I can only give you the proper information for you to decide for yourself."

Considering that, he turned his attention inwards. He loved the way his body felt with all its newfound strength and so did he love the thrill of his magical power coursing through his veins whenever he were to conjure his [Demonbolt]. Then, should he sacrifice one for the other? Rather, maybe he should inspect everything closer, and then draw a conclusion from there?

That was a brilliant idea!

Wait... why had he not thought of doing so before now?

Once again, it was evident how much his mind had evolved alongside his body.

The smartest of imps truly had become even smart-ier.

Aria had mentioned codex wasn't the only screen you could call up. What if he tried to pull up...

[Demonbolt] Category Base Cost Level Rank Advancement Class Skill - (Offensive Spell) 1 - (Mana) Moderate Apprentice None Description

Effects The sign of any competent warlock is their signature spell - The Demonbolt. A bolt of demonic power that eats away at the lifeforce of living beings to fuel its own infernal existence.

-Minor demonic/arcane damage-

-Minor life-burn over time-

There! It worked!