The golem finished the rest of my allies so I moved to safety and waited for a new group to come.

"Your health is low. I suggest you return to the gate to recover," the voice said as the buttefly fluttered on my side. "Certain items such as healing potions can also be used to regenerate health. You can purchase items using your points in the pillars stationed in the gate."

[ 640 pts available ]

The text displayed. I have a decent sum but I guess its better to save up for skills rather than items that disappear upon use.

I walked back to our team's gate following her advice. I don't want to foolishly die for the third time. Not when I realize that I can overpower my enemies.

"Is there any other skill I can use?"

The combat skill I just gained was helpful.

My plain sword could barely do damage on the golem but with the skill EMPHASIS, I was able to rip its stone skin. I even broke part of its arm. I could not help myself but wonder if there are other things that I can do.

"You can access five different skills unique to your avatar, three auxillary skills depending on your role, and a number of special skills that can be gained by equipping certain items. You can manually access the skill menu through your interface.

Would you need me to explain what the interface is?"

"You already explained it before," I answered as I motioned my hand in the air prompting for some objects to appear floating in my vision.

The objects are composed of super thin semi-transparent panels that I can move and touch. Six hexagonal panels encircled in front of me.

[ Profile ] [ Skills ] [ Items ]

[ Team ] [ Map ] [ Settings ]

I had no time to thoroughly inspect each of these before but the butterfly have already told me their functions.

I manually tapped the hexagon entitled Skills prompting for another panel to appear.

•••••

DAUNTLESS

Type: Innate - Passive

Description:

Cavaliers are taught and trained to face any adversary to properly serve and protect the kingdom. 60% chance to nullify FEAR.

+2 VALOR for every enemy Golem/Ethereal defeated. +1 VALOR for assists and saves.

A unit of VALOR is equivalent to +10 Heart. VALOR generated resets upon death.

Current VALOR = 0

•••••

EMPHASIS

Type: Primary - Combat

Description:

Cavaliers are well educated to empower their weapon with mana to increase its efficiency in combat. Deal 120% weapon damage in a single attack.

Cooldown: 12 seconds

•••••

"I did not know that I have another skill. This one labeled innate, you haven't mentioned it,"

"An Innate skill is an ability that bestows unique mechanics for every Avatar. They are readily available from the start but like any other skill, you can upgrade them using your points," the voice explained. "Upgrading a skill basically improves its efficiency, damage, range and cooldown time."

[ -160 pts ]

I tapped the skill EMPHASIS and upgraded it increasing its weapon damage to 140% and decreased the cooldown to 16 seconds.

I was not quite familiar with the numbers and terms indicated and I have little time to figure them out but I went on and chose to upgrade the combat skill guessing it as the better action in the current situation.

"So how can I obtain more skills? And uh--I noticed the description citing the word Cavalier. What is this about?"

"The Cavalier is the default avatar you are currently using. Ethereals assume the form of their chosen avatar when participating in battles. I can give you access to three other avatars available. Do you wish to temporarily forfeit the test to switch to another one?"

"No, I'm fine using this one." I told her. I actually didn't thought I was close to being a knight.

I was wearing a dark blue padded leather suit instead of a heavy metal-plated armor. Aside from the single shoulder guard situated on my sword arm, the only other metallically protective garment I have is a pair of bulky boots extending up to my knees.

"So what is this Cavalier avatar good at?" I asked.

"The Cavalier is a close range fighter decently balanced in attack and defense paired with high mobility. Its primary skill Emphasis is the easiest combat skill to execute. A skill that is simple and direct but powerful enough to slice through anything. Its innate skill Dauntless in the other hand..."

"Wait," I interrupted her. "You said it has high mobility, I don't think I can agree with that. I may be wearing light armor but these metal boots..." I looked at my feet as I spoke.

The footwear is fixed with a mechanism that makes it a little bit heavy and uneasy to move with."

The Cavalier's high mobility comes in its secondary skill which is connected to your equipment. You have enough points to access it. Would you like me to unlock the skill for you?""

Please do," I said checking the interface wondering what I should tap to see the skill she was talking about.

[ -200 pts ]

[ Skill: LINE DRIVE unlocked ]

•••••

LINE DRIVE

Type: Secondary - Movement

Description:

Cavaliers properly acknowledged by the kingdom are equipped with special footwear that gives them ease of movement in difficult terrain. The footwear eventually succeeded the use of mounts after the scarcity of steeds in the continent.

Infuse your boots with mana to swiftly move to a distance of up to 3 meters from your current location.

Cooldown: 16 seconds

•••••

"Not bad," I commented after reading the description.

It was a movement skill as expected for the supposed high mobility feature of this avatar.

"I shall try it later," I told myself as I realized that I have reached the Gate; the place that is also our team's base.

The white butterfly collectively calls the location as "the Gate" but I presume the gate itself was the massive golden elipsical arch erected behind a huge monument situated at the center.

The monument is also a golem that is guarding the Gate, it was larger than a normal golem being our team's final line of defense.

At the bottom of the golden arch was a wide pool filled with a liquid that is clear and ghastly pouring out of a huge golden cup atop a white pedestal. I notice the cup resembles the image that the butterfly has shown me last time.

[ Health 33% ]

[ Health 36% ]

[ Health 39% ]

I watched the bar in the bottom of my vision slowly replenished as I rested on the edge of the pool. Faint specks of light danced over my bloodless wounds as it healed back.

Several figures of men then suddenly rose up from the pool. I recognized them as another group of pawns.

The water that drenched them quickly dried out as they stepped on the ground.

"You said I can also use healing potions," I spoke as I watched the men marching off. I wanted to join them right away but it would be safer if I wait for my health bar to reach 100%.

"Items are available in the pillars. They can be purchased using the same points used for obtaining skills," the voice on my head answered.

The butterfly flew towards one of the six pillars lined on the eastern and western sides of the pool. I noticed the elaborate carvings that give texture in their white washed surfaces as I followed suit.

Hexagonal panels popped out in my vision the moment I touched the carvings.

[ POTIONS ] [ FRAGMENTS ]

[ TRINKETS ] [ GARMENTS ] [ COMPONENTS ] [ CONTRAPTIONS ] [ SIDE ARM ] [ VIEW ALL ]

"You can only carry up to six items in a single time. Weapons and equipment included in your avatar are not counted as items however some items may affect and alter their appearance," the voice explained.

"Items are divided into different categories. Would you like to hear the function and description of each of them?"

"I don't think we have enough time for that," I said after checking the contents of the panel that appeared upon tapping the label [ View All ].

"Can you just recommend me which of these I should get?"

"If you prefer bolstering up your defense, I suggest picking up some garments first. A CUIRASS or a HAUBERK for your torso and a VAMBRACE to protect your arm. Improving your defense would increase your chance of survival.

If you want to focus on attack instead, then you should get the fragment LYNGURION and fuse it with two pieces of TETRAGON to create the component GRAN ALLOY. Doing so shall improve your weapon's durability and damage.

You can also choose to craft EISENBLOOD using the fragments CINTAMAR and LACHRYMA and the potion YLIASTRUM. It shall significantly increase your health regeneration but I'm afraid the points you currently have is not enough to purchase the required materials."

"Bah, checking them one by one just to find the items you mentioned is a pain. I'll just go with potions," I said shoving off the panels and switching to that category.

"Potions have limited and temporary effects but they are cheap and handy," the voice continued to explain. Without further inspection I selected the cheapest item in the list.

[ -70 pts ]

•••••

NECTARIN (x3)

Type: Potion (Bundle)

Description:

A common medicinal concoction intended for the revitalization of the body. It has a mixture of sweet and mild bitter taste.

Effect: Drink to heal 4% of health every second for 5 seconds. Break to instantly heal 15% of health.

•••••

Three glass vials filled with red vivid liquid appeared on a pocket attached on my belt. Although there were three of them, the item was labeled as a bundle and therefore occupied only a single slot in my panel.

"Alright, back to slaying golems," I declared. I can buy some more with my remaining points but I'd rather save them for now.