Chapter 22

♪ I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire ♪

From the perspective of Tsai:

A fire began to spread from one slime to another, gradually coating the former meadow with a blanket of flame. Elaine’s explosions may destroy more slimes outright, but with my father’s magic bow, [Shooting Star], my arrows are piercing more targets to spread flame than her adorable explosions. An arrow that propels like a shooting star easily outspans the distance of Elaine’s measly little spells. Clearly, I’ll prove to be of more use than she. Of course, I dare not say such a thing aloud, lest I become victim to little lady Corvusis’s endless drama. There’s a reason Rellen does all the talking.

Mentally sighing, I elect to continue my volleys. Since we can’t see the forward unit, it’s important that we only assail enemies further in the distance. Our vanguard shall besiege those in our nearest line of sight. I pray Elaine might further the range of her spells, otherwise, I can see friendly fire becoming a major problem. Elaine’s bolts appear to be taking a toll on her, from the beads of sweat rolling down her face amongst panted breaths.

Rellen, on the other hand, is continuing where Braska left off with the mead. There’s nothing to fear, however, seeing as his poison resistance won’t allow him to experience any loss of control due to alcohol. I find myself envious of his easy role in this request, seeing how relaxed he is while laying on the grass, propped up slightly against a full bag. I’ll lose motivation if I keep looking over at him.

Braska’s chant continued in some unknown language. Where could that language be from? In my 317 years alive, I’ve never come across such a dialect. Even the rugged dwarf had streams of sweat pouring down his face and obscenely bulging belly. Before he started, Braska removed his tunic, claiming that it’ll hinder the process of the song. He’d begun to remove his trousers too before we three ladies rebuked the appalling gesture.

The only thing which replenished his energy, and even mana, to continue the melody was Maki’s arcane healing. Purple lines carved into her body shone brightly, even through her leather armor, to display elaborate runes pulsing with raw power. Maki’s healing that can even transfer mana is quite impressive. Her healing class is the Abascan one, right? I remember those obsessed healers. Tis’ a shame that humans would purge such a beneficial organization from their ranks. I’ll just never understand it.

Her summon was just as impressive; being able to use fire to heal. While Maki’s husband was on the front line, he had sustained too many chemical burns to continue the fight. Luckily, Salamander can easily burn away the chemical residue without harming Avelian. It was a time-consuming process, no doubt, because fire isn’t optimized for healing, but it was doing its job well enough. They make a great team.

Shooting volley after volley of fire element arrows at the flood of acid slimes is starting to show progress. Thank you for leaving me your precious weapon, father. I miss the days when you taught me to shoot the bow and guide me in the pursuit of wisdom…

________________

From the perspective of Tru:

Happiness due to my victory over the [Elder Predatory Muck Tr 18] was quickly eclipsed by panic. Malady! Where’s Malady?! I didn’t even realize at the time, but I had dug myself into a freakishly deep hole. The panic only lasted an instant when I noticed the darkness of the hole thanks to its depth. With Masada’s [Shadow Step], we were able to jump all the way to the edge of the pit and grab hold of the ledge. It was easy enough to muscle-up back onto level ground thanks to my Jiu-Jitsu training regimen back on earth.

Taking care not to create a wind current from running too fast, I ran over to my previously melted-face elven friend, popped the last remaining [Rejuvenation Powder] into my hand, almost dropped it due to my impatience, then carefully applied it to the anguished Malady. Her torment caused uncontrollable thrashing from her whole body, making it nearly impossible to apply the curative. She seemed to relax, if only slightly, when I wrapped my arms around her in a seated position with her right shoulder pressed against my chest. She had still been screaming and desperately wanting to touch the part of her face that was no longer there even while I applied the powder. When she collapsed against me, gradually, the smoldering skin sizzled out and began to repair itself at a perceptible speed.

There is no way to describe how the air around her relaxed after her anxiety dissipated, soundly falling asleep on the battlefield like a puppet that had its strings cut. I was once again consumed by a maelstrom of contemplation. My confusion was like I was a pitcher back on the high-school baseball team in Pitkin, throwing a ball at the batter, except instead of hitting the ball back at me, they just caught the ball bare-handed and threw it back at full force, “S-s-she fell asleep?! How on Driscoll am I supposed to deal with this?!”

Masada’s vibrated voice startled me, “Kururu ru ku,” the meaning quickly understood as ‘Check your new [~Class Skills~]!’ Oh yeah! Please let there be something helpful…

‘bling’

‘The level ceiling of [-Beast Master, Synergist-] has increased to 20.’

‘All [~Class Skills~] have been changed.’

[Class Skill Learned: Transmutate.]

[Transmutate lvl 1: Manipulate [Mineral]s touched by you, and within 1ft of the touched [Mineral], into the desired form.]

[Cooldown Timer: 3 seconds.]

[Mana Cost: 100]

‘bling’

‘Class Skill - [Weight Up(minor)] has transformed into [Weight Up].’

[Class Skill Learned: Weight Up.]

[Weight Up lvl 1: Your [~Eidolon~] becomes heavier, increasing weight by 100%. Does not stack with skills similar to this effect.]

[Duration: 2 minutes.]

[Cooldown timer: 2 minutes 30 seconds.]

[Mana Cost: 250.]

‘bling’

‘Class Skill - [Weight Down(minor)] has transformed into [Weight Down].’

[Class Skill Learned: Weight Down.]

[Weight Down lvl 1: Target becomes lighter, decreasing weight by 50%. Does not stack with skills similar to this effect.]

[Duration: 2 minutes.]

[Cooldown Timer: 5 minutes.]

[Number of Targets: 2.]

[Mana Cost: 1000.]

‘bling’

‘Passive Skill – [Amalgamate] has transformed into [Conjugate].’

[Class Skill Learned: Conjugate.]

[Passive - Conjugate lvl 1: The [~Eidolon~] is an extension of the [~Summoner~] and created by their mana. All damage to the [~Eidolon~] is subtracted from the [~Summoner~]'s mana, energy then HP (1hp to 0.25mp/ep/hp) in that order. Uses the summoner's mana and/or energy for its own abilities (1 to 0.25mp/ep). All exp gains attained by either the [~Summoner~] or the [~Eidolon~] are also given to the other. Skills cast through the [~Eidolon~] are slightly enhanced.]

‘bling’

‘The level ceiling of Passive Class Skill - [Hone] has increased to 20.’

[Passive - Hone lvl 11: Living blades held by you are coated with mana, increasing sharpness.]

“Ah-ha! That’s it!” I yelled to nobody but myself. Avelian had retreated all the way back to his wife, Maki, when I took a break earlier. Apparently, fighting acid slimes with your fists is a good way to get burned. Thank Yahweh these slimes are all low-level trash mobs. They move pretty dang slow. I’d imagine them taking a week or more to reach Valleyport.

Surveying my surroundings with a twist of the head informed me that there wasn’t much around anymore but dirt. “I can see dirt evaporating inside the slimes as they slowly roll over the land, so that won’t make a decent barrier.”

Masada: “Kuru!” otherwise understood as, “The hole!”

Me: “No, that won’t work. A slime could easily fall into it and completely absorb her. But the hole… yes, yes! The hole!”

I had an epiphany. Rushing over to the freshly dug, or well, pulverized, chasm, I used [Shadow Step] to reach the bottom. “That new skill, [Transmutate] I think it was, …”

[Transmutate lvl 1: Manipulate [Mineral]s touched by you, and within 1ft of the touched [Mineral], into the desired form.]

[Cooldown Timer: 3 seconds.]

[Mana Cost: 100]

“… should work.” My fresh idea became real when I grabbed a one-foot by one-foot block of [Garnet] at the previously reached bedrock. The block vanished into my infinity ring, and I repeated the process four times before consternation built up from the fear that a defenseless Malady laid on a ‘battlefield’.

Once back out of the hole, my vision adjusted to the difference between night and day. The light of day was nearing its closure with the final sun beginning to set. Close to 50 hours maybe? What a long day. But time to appease the sleepiness welling up within me was far off with Avelian still receiving treatment for his corroded skin in the backline. After dashing to Malady’s side, I withdrew all the [Garnet] in my bag only to remember I have two enormous boulders of [Orichalcum] leftover. “Ugh, stupid! Maybe not actually. I can imagine [Transmutate] working slower on materials with more atomic density.”

Whatever. Now’s not the time to test theories. Shaking my head, I started shaping the [Garnet] into a tent with small holes near the top. I was thinking that these slimes won’t be able to break down the rock as well as other organic matter like the dirt, but in the shape of a tent, they won’t be able to move on top of it. That means the only safe place to put breathing holes would be at least near the top. “But what if it rains while the battle goes on?” with the sound of grinding rock on rock, the [Garnet] crushed and flattened into miniature roofing over the holes to dissuade water but allow enough space for her to breathe. “*Muwa* Magnifique,” I made a kissing sound while opening a hand in front of my face as though I were a French sculptor, finalizing my masterpiece.

Slothful slimes had gotten a bit closer, but honestly, if it weren’t for their fusion racial skill thing, I wouldn’t even consider this a Tr 1 request. “Well, I guess I am also still using the borrowed power of these berries. That prob makes them feel like they’re slower than they actually are. Whatever.”

I get back to power leveling my [~Class Skills~] and [~General Skills~]. [Meditate] was even starting to get up there. It won’t be long until we can start using [Shadow Step] to get Masada ready for Tr 1 too. Now that I know I won’t be damaged much by these lower Tr slimes, I can just use the same downward smash technique to get rid of their numbers. I don’t know what I would do if physics couldn’t influence the world system. There wouldn’t be much I could do here if I couldn’t overpower the system buffs, from stat levels, with Masada’s raw force. Though I can see smoke coming from my [Lesser Drake Grieves] spattered in acid slime goop, I pay it no heed as I ruthlessly beat each one into the ground, turning its pretty black pearl into not but ash-like powder.

In no time flat, I received the same notification from earlier saying that I’ve reached the utter maximum of my class’s potential. But Masada isn’t even Tr 1 yet… The only skill keeping him back is [Shadow Step] now. Screw it. We’d have to wait till nightfall to even start leveling it. At least now we can see what it’s like when a skill isn’t maxed after classing up.

I took care to create plenty of space between Malady’s safe haven and the front line of the slime army before leaning up against her tent and leisurely perusing the [~Menu~] for Masada.

‘bling’

‘Summoned Saboteur has reached MAX level.’

‘You may transform or continue as a Summoned Saboteur.’

‘Transform / Continue’

“♪Do, do do, do do do♪”

‘bling’

‘Select an option from your Transformation list.’

1 ‘bling’

[Requirements met to obtain the class [-Summoned Arsonist-]. Notice: some current skills may be changed or lost.]

[requirements: Kill an enemy while never being noticed. Possess at least 1 [Shadow] type class skill. Surround yourself with a substance that burns without taking damage.]

[description: An [~Eidolon~] with close ties to the [~Summoner~]. Sets enemies ablaze from the shadows while the [~Summoner~] buffs the [~Eidolon~].]

“Ooooo, this looks spicy. I mean, come on, who doesn’t like fire?”

2 'bling'

[Requirements met to obtain the class [-Summoned Beast of Burden-]. !Warning! All current skills will be lost.]

[requirements: Allow another to decide more than 95% of your actions. Belong to a [~Summoner~] with at least one [-Synergist-] class skill. Build a shelter with the [~Summoner~].]

[description: Works together with the [~Summoner~] to craft items and structures at 2X efficiency.]

Huh, so the work efficiency would be doubled twice if I took the corresponding class. "*Big Sigh* Neeeeeeeext.”

3 'bling'

[Requirements met to obtain the class [-The Sheepdog-]. Notice: some current skills may be changed or lost.]

[requirements: Kill an enemy while never being noticed. Protect the [~Summoner~] from certain death. Have been pet at least 500 times.]

[description: You are the [Sheepdog]. Protect the [Shepherd] and his [Flock]; the familiars that are less than a certain distance from the [-Shepherd-]. Your [Strength], [Agility], [Stamina], [Intelligence], and [Spirit] are increased by the sum of of all the familiar’s [~General Stats~] in the [~Summoner~]’s [Flock].]

“Hahaha! Pet at least 500 times it says! What kind of a class requirement is that?” I said heartily while whipping a false tear from my eye. “That could have been an amazing class if Masada were a normal beast and didn’t already have maxed out stats. What do you think, bud? [-Summoned Arsonist-]?”

Masada replied with affirmation, “Kuru kuruu!” ‘Just do it!’

I partially cringed back at the yelled translation in my head which sounded like a familiar commercial, “Jeepers, man! Done.”

‘bling’

‘Transform [-Summoned Saboteur-] into [-Summoned Arsonist-]?’

‘Yes / No’

‘bling’

‘You have accepted the class [-Summoned Arsonist-].’

‘Some [~Class Skills~] have been changed.’

[Summoned Arsonist lvl 1]

[Class Type: [~Rogue~]]

[Class Skill Learned: Scorched Layer]

[Scorched Layer lvl 1: Coat your body with embers. Spread the embers through physical contact.]

[Duration: 20 seconds or until canceled]

[Cooldown timer: 2 minutes.]

[Mana Cost: 200]

[Shadow Step lvl 7: Move instantly to a shadow in your line of sight.]

[Range: 35 feet]

[Mana Cost: 45]

‘The level ceiling of Passive Class Skill – [Subservience] has increased to 20.’

[Passive - Subservience lvl 11: You are an extension of the [~Summoner~] and created by their mana. All abilities may be used freely by the [~Summoner~] at half cost.]

'bling'

‘All [~General Stats~] are maxed out. Cannot gain additional general stats.’

Me: “Awesome! I can use [Shadow Step] and [Scorched Layer] for half the cost!” I jumped while pumping my fist towards the orange sky, slowly being painted the color of night as the last sun finished setting. “Let’s try burning some slimes, Masada!”

Dawning an aura of flame made Masada look so boss! There’s just no feeling like it, swinging around a flaming greatswordstaff with the weight of an SUV as though it were a small stick. I strode over to a slime that appeared to be shivering from fear, though I’m probably just imagining it. Rather than taking a batter’s pose like I had grown the habit of doing, I chose to slowly touch the slime with Masada’s new embers. “Let’s start a fire!” I say enthusiastically to my friend.

Masada: “Kuru!”

Embers fell from the blade towards the slime and started a small fire that moved along the slime’s goop. The smell was rancid, and I could feel the fumes burning the inside of my nose. “Well duh, it’s gonna hurt to breathe in. I mean, it’s still acid, ya dummy,” I chided myself. Poor Masada’s eye even started to water from my idiocy.

‘bling’

‘You have defeated [Acid Slime Tr 3 Lvl 2].’

'Defeating a monster with 1 or more class transformations above your own grants 1 level for each transformation.'

After we regained ourselves, I mused, “At least it was just a lowly Tr 3.” Masada seemed to get a kick out of it and chuckled with me, “Jururu~” Once the first slime had been successfully dispatched, Yahweh put a song in my heart that I began to sing while spreading the fire to more of the slimes that crossed my path.

“Psalm 97

The Lord reigns, let Driscoll be glad;

let the distant shores rejoice.

Clouds and thick darkness surround him;

righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Fire goes before him

and consumes his foes on every side.

His lightning lights up the world;

Driscoll sees and trembles.

The monsters melt like wax before the Lord,

before the Lord of all the universe.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness,

and all peoples see his glory.”

This time, Masada wasn’t so put off by my singing and so I asked, “Sorry, I’m not damaging you again, am I, buddy?” His response came as a big surprise to me, considering his last reaction to my singing, “Kuru kuru kuku kururu [Kuru]! Rukururu ku.” A better description than normal appeared in my mind, ’It was nothing like when you sang after the [Guavgrog Bear]! This time it sounded good.’

A wide grin stretched across my face and I carefully gave him a hug while skillfully avoiding the fiery blade. The moment he'd been squeezed in my arms, the fire puttered out like a dying light bulb flickering before darkness takes a room. “Thanks, man! You think it could be because of that revelation I got yesterday to be a [~Bard~]?” Masada affirmed my assumption with his typical vibration sound, interrupted by a loud nail-on-chalkboard screeching sound coming from all the surrounding slimes. Rather than rolling as they had been, each slime scraped across the ground towards a central focal point. The shrieking continued until they had all merged, causing me to cover my ears from the audible pain. The sound of silence softly caressed my ears upon the slime’s final wail of protest, subsequently forcing an aura of the purest evil to manifest, as though every sin melded to form a being comprised of utter depravity. Why would a mere slime emanate such an evil vibe?

[Legion Tr 27]