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volume 2 upgrade specialist upgrade chapter 31 - choosing an enhancement (part 2)

Gareth: for the same reason I got rid of the ARMS enhancement. That left me with the flash and shade enhancements. Looking at them from a scouting perspective they would affect my work in different ways. If I got the flash one I could quickly scout however the chance of being seen was higher.

Solomon: but couldn't you just run away.

It seemed plausible as long as none of the enemies were speed based.

Gareth: that may be so but then we are exposed. It means we can't surprise attack the enemy. The shade enhancement would allow me to hide more effectively, but the speed would decrease. It would also mean if I was found my chances at escape are less.

Thinking about it the shade enhancement would be more beneficial to the team, whereas the flash one would be beneficial to Gareth.

Gareth: after thinking about it I decided on the Shade enhancement.

Solomon: are you sure, it will be much more dangerous?

Though I asked I didn't think he'd change his mind. He was smart enough to know he was choosing the team over himself.

Gareth: I'm sure. Not only is this better for now, in the future the magic I could do will be better than an increase in speed. After all, I prefer to fight than run away.

Solomon: all right then, that just leaves me. As you know I have both a genetic variation and energy enhancement already. So that only left skill to buy. As you know I can spend a G rank token to get a new race with my raceless enhancement.

I had previously explained to them about my enhancements. As a team, I felt they should know the details of my enhancements. The only thing I had not told them about was the dragon's fire. Though I wished to, Pluvia said not to say anything till I was stronger.

Solomon: this left me with a choice, do I get skills or races. After thinking for a while I decided I'd get one of each. Having decided I would get 1 skill I thought about what type I needed. Thinking back to the last mission there was one thing I was missing that would help. A defence.

Alice: are you sure that's best. You're supposed to be a mid-range fighter anyway. So shouldn't you try to upgrade your ranged abilities?

Though I was supposed to be mid-ranged we didn't currently have a close range combatant. That meant I had to pick up the role.

Solomon: as we don't have a close range fighter I have to fill that role.

Though she didn't like it, she could only accept my words.

Solomon: after looking through the skills I found 3 that fit me.

Not wanting to spend much longer on explaining, I showed them the 3 skills together.

Lesser curse reflection

G rank skill

Point cost 120

This skill allows the user to negate certain skills. These skills have to fit two criteria. First, the skill must not be a direct attack. Secondly, they must cause some sort of decrease in abilities to the attacked. Any skill of G rank or less that fall into this category can be negated with this skill. Useful for the prevention of weakening attacks.

Holy light mantle

G rank skill

160 point cost

Based on shen yin wang zuo. The user creates a protective shield of energy. The size and shape of this shield can be changed completely. The larger the shield the weaker the overall strength. Unless broken it can last as long as energy is supplied. Useful for the versatile defence in several aspects.

Heavenly flow

G rank skill

190 point cost

Based on dimensional sovereign. The user can disrupt the flow of energy attacks, destroying them. The skill is best used with a sword but can be used with the hand. By analysing the flow of an attack the user can find flaws in the flow. By exploiting these flaws the user can use their own energy to break the flow. Suitable for the defence against energy based attacks.

Alice: they all seem really different,

Solomon: they are. The heavenly flow blocks energy attacks, the holy light mantle blocks a mix of physical and energy and curse reflection blocks debuffs.

Gareth: so which type are you going to pick.

I was conflicted on this for a while. In order to decide I first removed the least useful. Looking at it objectively the curse reflection would not help me in close combat. Though it would leave us at risk of debuffs I had to risk it. So I ruled it out. Left with the other two skills I measured their use.

I would mostly be fighting against G ranks so it might be better to have an anti-energy attack. Unluckily not all G ranks had energy based enhancements. Like the flash enhancement. Looking at the heavenly flow, as much as I liked it, it was not the best choice.

This left me with the holy light mantle. It was the most versatile of the skills, so it would allow me to prepare for different situations.

Solomon: I've picked the holy light mantle. Out of the skills, it is the only one that has several different uses. Though we'll be at risk of debuffs and strong energy attacks it is the best overall defence.

No one disagreed with my assessment. Having all decided we requested our enhancements.

Alice: I would like to purchase the basic earth spirit bloodline.

Gareth: I'll buy the Entry level demonic shade bloodline

Solomon: one new race and the holy light mantle skill.

Guild bot 156: enhancements payment accepted. You will now receive the enhancements.

Once again I appeared in the black upgrade space. From the look of it, my teammates had been sent to their own upgrade spaces.

Guild bot 156: skill, holy light mantle selected and New race via raceless enhancement selected. Total cost, 360 points and 2 G rank tokens. Compatibility. 100%, success 0%, death 0%, failure. No new enhancements selected, merger and consumption unavailable. Please confirm selection.

Solomon: I accept.

Like before a light appeared in the darkness. It was a bright, golden tinted light. As it approached its splendour increased. Eventually looking like a sun in this darkness.

In the centre of this light was a golden shield. Though the shield's design was simple, it gave off a profound air. Like with my other skill the light entered into my head.

Bracing for the pain I was surprised when the information smoothly entered my brain. Though it gave me a slight headache it was nothing compared to the first time. Thinking about it maybe my enhancements helped me process the information. The increase in mental processes probably had an effect as well.

Happy that it had proceeded smoothly I heard the voice of guild bot.

Guild bot 156: random race being generated. Silver wolf generated, would you like to reroll for 100 points.

In front of me appeared a silver light. A wolf was probably a good race. I was unsure, though. I accepted it, however, I would change it later if it was useless.

Solomon: no, I'll keep this race

Guild bot 156: implanting race.

The light began to approach me. As it got closer the silver light became clearer. It looked like flowing moonlight, whirling in an odd dance. As the energy came close I could see a figure within it.

Laying down inside the light was a wolf. With silver fur and clear blue eyes, the figure seemed much more powerful than my previously gained race.

The silver light stopped before me, beginning to flow into my body. Through the tree-like network of my qi enhancement, the energy entered me. As it did my body began to change.

My muscles grew, gaining a more toned appearance. As the energy began to flow faster my body started to grow taller. After a quarter of the energy had entered my body I stopped growing.

My body had gained double the muscle mass and grew 5 inches taller, making me 6ft 9in. At this point, the wolf in the light stirred. Standing up it looked me in the eyes. There seemed to be some sort of intelligence to those eyes.

The silver energy coalesced around the wolf making it appear 1.5x its size. Charging forward the wolf slammed into my chest entering my body. This energy worked its way around my body forcing open my qi network.

Though it should have been painful, the energy healed the network before the nerves could pick up on it. After a full circuit of my body, the size of my meridians had almost doubled. Having made this change the energy had lost half of its power.

The last part of the energy made its way to my head. Entering my brain. With the energy, a new racial skill was implanted in my brain.

Having completed all of my upgrades I appeared back in the guild plane. Looking around neither Alice nor Gareth was done yet.

Looking at the space it seemed to have grown by about another 10%.

Solomon: guild bot, how come the room got bigger.

Guild: with the increase in members strength the guild plane will grow, your new strength caused this growth.

Looking around other than the furniture I had placed, taking up a 5th of the space, the rest of the room was devoid of anything. moulding the space, I made the already created furniture into a room.

I then made a door in the wall leading to the rest of the space. Walking through the door I surveyed the room. It was a cubic room around 70 meters squared. I decided I would change this into a training room.

At first, I made a strength testing area, containing several of the latest machines. Then I made a small combat course. Containing a wall to climb, nets to crawl under, gaps to jump and several other things.

Moving on I made a shooting range. Lastly, I made a sparring arena. With all of these things made I lowered the roof to the needed height over each area. This left me with a space of 10 cubic meters.

I used the space to create a small room. I made the walls soundproof and added a lock to the door. I made this room into a meditation space. I imagined some enhancements in the future may need this sort of space to train.

As I walked back Into the original room Gareth: appeared back into the room. His body had shrunk slightly, as well as having a black mist hovering over his skin.

Solomon: welcome back.

Gareth: agh, hi Solomon.

Turning he faced me. By his face, it seemed he was amazed with his enhancement. Seeing me his expression was full of surprise.

Gareth: what happened to you?

My new appearance surprised him

Solomon: I got a good race this time, it's called silver wolf.

Wanting to get a good look at myself I created a large mirror mounted on the wall.

Looking at myself I noticed several changes to my body. My hair had grown longer reaching a little below shoulder length, it had also turned silver. To complement my hair my eyes had also adopted a silver colour.

My height had grown as well as my muscles. Though I was much stronger the added height evened out the muscles. Because of this, it didn’t look like I gained anything other than defined muscles.

Other than that my body hair had grown significantly, partially covering my tattoos

Looking at this spectacle I could only say one thing.

Solomon: wow.