Chapter 029

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“ “ for speech.

* * for actions.

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Jack logged into Asunder Online, and found himself in the Mysterious Clearing. The new capsule he had used to log in didn’t feel different at all. He noticed that Bob wasn’t there nearby. It was understandable, as he was returning after almost six days in-game. He decided to go through his notifications, till Bob found him.

He browsed his notifications. He had gained a new trait ‘Defiled Husk’ and a new title ‘Corrupted Cleanser’. For resisting the Blight, he had gained stat bonuses to his Indomitable Spirit and Concentration. The meditation tutoring by the Druid Guides and its subsequent application to fight the Blight had also allowed him to significantly improve the skill level of Meditation.

He had also gained a new sub-skill of Shackled Spirit Eater named “Insatiable Manifestation”. Although, his Shackled Spirit Eater skill didn’t level-up. Successfully recruiting Bob had also given a boost to his Leadership skill. He had also learned a new spell, Hateful Touch.

Fighting the Gnolls and aiding the druids had allowed him to increase his level to 66! That was around 8 levels higher than the average. However, he was confident that he wasn’t the highest leveled player running around. This was because the pro/dark gamers were playing full time for around a month of RL time! Like him, they seldom revealed their in-game achievements publicly. Pondering on his future Asunder Online focused life Jack summoned the system information on his gains.

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Defiled HuskTrait------

Thanks to your insight, you have successfully tricked the Blight to toughen and reinforce your body while leaving your soul untouched. This has caused the boundaries of life and death to blur slightly for you, reducing the effectiveness of all magic (including healing, blessings, damage and curses) of the special affinities 'Life' and 'Death'. The taint of the Blight also makes it impossible for you to obtain the special affinity 'Nature'. These effects increase in magnitude with your level. You are changed in the following ways:

Every level, you gain an additional +5 to Max HP (for a total of +25/level)

Every 5 levels, you gain +1 to your special stat Endurance

Every 10 levels, you gain +1% resistance to all Blight affinity effects

Every 20 levels, you gain +1% resistance to all Life and Death affinity effects

You cannot gain the special affinity ‘Nature’

Current Effects:

+5 to Max HP modifier for level ups (retroactive).

+13 to Endurance

+6% Blight Resistance (all effects)

+3% Life and Death Resistance (all effects)

You cannot gain the special affinity ‘Nature’

Jack: ‘Oh great. So it gives me more HP and some resistances, while reducing heals/buffs from Life affinity heal spells? I thought the druid elder was just being iffy, but looks like Nature affinity is permanently blocked for me. This trait feels closer to a Faustian bargain than a buff.’

Title name:Corrupted CleanserDescription:You have successfully cleansed the Blight, but are not completely untouched by its Corruption. Though your body bears the taint of the Blight, your soul is untouched and you no longer spread its corruption. This makes the servants of Gaia both respect and fear you. When dealing with non-hostile Druid NPCs, you are treated as having an additional +150 fame and +150 infamy. This title cannot be unequipped.

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Insatiable ManifestationBeginner100.00%Subskill of Shackled Spirit Eater

You can manifest your Shackled Spirit Eater. On your command, the manifested abomination devours all consciousness in sight, rapidly restoring all resources (HP, PP, SE, Thirst and Satiety). The manifestation is more effective in Spiritual Planes. There is a high chance of going on a uncontrollable rampage, when using this skill. Failing to resist a rampage may cause a permanent loss in mental stat points. After using this skill, all your other Shackled Spirit Eater Abilities cannot be used for a while.

Current level effects:

Costs 500 PP and 25 Spirit Energy to activate.

Rapidly regenerates all resources depending on consciousness devoured.

The higher your Willpower, the faster you can deactivate this skill.

Can only be used once every 4 days.

Puts all other Shackled Spirit Eater sub-skills in a 24 hour cool down.

Jack: ‘Even after all that trouble to clean up their mess I get equal amounts of fame and infamy. What an uptight bunch of tree-huggers. Insatiable Manifestation is my first Spirit Eater skill which actually requires Spirit Energy. Well looks like a double edged trump card. It would be best if I don’t have to use it.’

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Hateful TouchBeginner100.00%

You imbue some of your soul affinity mana with hatred, and transfer to a target with touch. This causes the target to go berserk, attacking anyone nearby, friend or foe, with regular melee attacks. Chances of success increases with higher magic attack and skill level. Target resists this effect with higher Willpower.

This spell is ineffective on targets with the special resource Hatred, and instead restores it.

Current level effects:

Costs 110 PP per use.

Grants 10 Hatred to targets with the special resource.

Causes a target to go berserk uncontrollably for 5 seconds with 5% increased attack.

Jack: ‘Now that is a strange spell. I guess Bob has the special resource Hatred. It is only useful on casters I guess. Have the priest and the mage whack each other instead of casting spells. It looks like it is kind of dangerous to use on warriors though. Using this spell will generally make me the closest target. No point in buffing a warrior with increased attack.’

STATUS WINDOWNameJackClassBhikkuRaceHumanGenderMaleLevel66 (24.78%)Fame / Infamy135/ 22TitlePackrat, Vermin Exterminator, Irfit’s Vassal, Corrupted CleanserCONDITIONHP7476/(6776+700)HP regen9.1207/sPP8415/8415PP regen69.0032/sSpirit Energy0/120SE regen- 0.8% current SE/sSatiety / Thirst87% / 87%Weight Limit181/200Active EffectsControlled Breathing (Intermediate lv7)BASIC STATSStrength100Vitality183 + 10Dexterity100Agility115Intelligence300 + 10Willpower215 + 10Free Stat Points25SPECIAL STATSLuck10Endurance113Sustenance85Balance75Flexibility75Concentration140+10Wisdom130+10Indomitable Spirit110Elemental AffinityPhysical22%Soul38%Void26%Fire38%Elemental ResistancePhysical4% + 5%Soul7%Void5%Fire17% + 5%Ice0% + 5%Blight6%Life3%Death3%

SKILL LISTAmbidexterity (Trait)Defiled Husk (Trait)Enigmatic Wisdom (Trait)Iron Stomach (Trait)Spirit Senses (Trait)Dagger Mastery (Beginner Lv 4: 12.38%)

Assassinate (Beginner Lv 5: 02.86%)

Enchanting (Beginner Lv 7: 32.61%)

Bestow Enchant (Beginner Lv 8: 21.73%)

Absorb Enchant (Beginner Lv 6: 43.25%)

Free Running (Beginner lv 6: 32.64%)Leadership (Beginner Lv 3: 23.42%)Mana Control (Beginner Lv 9: 32.35%)

Imbue Projectile (Beginner Lv 8: 82.46%)

Mana Blade (Beginner Lv 4: 22.31%)

Mana Identification (Beginner Lv 9: 98.43%)

Mana Repair (Beginner Lv 9: 76.83%)

Meditation (Intermediate Lv 8: 15.13%)

Meditative Stasis (Trait)

Controlled Breathing (Intermediate Lv 7: 03.53%)

Shackled Spirit Eater (Intermediate Lv 1: 00.00%)

Devour Soul (Beginner Lv1: 00.00%)

Eternal Rest (Beginner Lv1: 00.00%)

Insatiable Manifestation (Beginner Lv1: 00.00%)

Sword Mastery (Beginner Lv 2: 76.23%)Survival (Beginner Lv 7: 25.83%)

Opportunistic Striker (Trait)

Danger Sense (Beginner Lv6: 95.21%)

Poison Resistance (Beginner Lv 5: 34.12%)

Survival Cooking (Beginner Lv 8: 62.05%)

Survival Stealth (Beginner Lv 7: 46.13%)

Thrown Weapon Mastery (Intermediate Lv 2: 73.20%)

Improvised Missile (Trait)

Axe Throwing (Beginner lv 5: 87.34%)

Boomerang Throwing (Beginner Lv 9: 12.25%)

Chakram Throwing (Beginner Lv 6: 67.34%)

Dart Throwing (Intermediate Lv 2: 25.89%)

Javelin Throwing (Intermediate lv1: 29.54%)

Knife Throwing (Intermediate Lv 1: 27.78%)

Unarmed Mastery (Intermediate Lv 3: 24.12%)

Mana Claws (Beginner Lv 4: 44.52%)

Mana Fists (Beginner Lv 9: 15.23%)

Mana Gloves (Beginner Lv 5: 26.81%)

Entropic Leech (Beginner Lv4: 65.73%)Hateful Touch (Beginner Lv1: 00.00%)Mana Breath (Beginner Lv6: 41.23%)Spiral Mana Bolt (Beginner Lv8: 68.74%)Soul Scream (Beginner Lv6: 27.84%)Soul Strike (Beginner Lv9: 37.42%)Spirit Pact: Irfit (Unique) (Trait)

Summon Charlie (Beginner Lv4: 13.67%)

He refrained from investing his stat points, as he didn’t have enough stat points to make his Vitality equal to his Willpower. Also, the toughest foes he had faced till now, namely Gnolls, were manageable in large groups with the help of Charlie. Suddenly he recalled something.

Jack: *groans audibly* ‘I totally forgot about the spider boss fang sword I wanted. The fucking druids had plenty of elves and half-elves. I bet one of them could have forged me a good sword. I doubt they will entertain my request if my Corrupted Cleanser title is anything to go by.’

Bob: “Why are you groaning now?”

Jack: “Oh Bob, you are back? It just occurred to me that someone in your previous coven could have made a proper sword out of this spider fang.” *displays the spider boss fang*

Bob: *snorts* “Yes. But they would have refused to make it before you dealt with the seed. They would have also refused it after you dealt with the seed, due to the pragmatic choice you made during the fight. So don’t bother regretting.”

Jack: ‘Somehow that sounds exactly how the druids would respond.’

Jack: ”So, what is your level and general fighting style?’

Bob: “I am only level 75 after dealing with the seed. I always preferred swords, but any melee weapons will do really. After awakening my hatred, I am suited to fight multiple foes in melee.”

Jack: “Well you have some kind of bark armor. Best we get you equipped in a chainmail or something, unless your magic interferes with metal.”

Bob: *scoffs* “I am no mage. Wearing metal armor would make most of my skills using hate more costly, not unlike stamina. This ‘bark armor’ provides more defense than most steel chain mails. So unless we find any better armor, this is good enough”

Jack: “Increases Hate cost? So does that mean Gaia’s gifts act like divine magic? So they are Faith based?”

Bob: *laughs* “Like those idiot priests? Not a chance. Gaia’s gifts, afflictions in my case, depend mainly on Willpower for their potency. Well Intelligence does affect it, but not quite as much as willpower.”

Jack: ‘So druidic magic is like divine magic? Instead of faith it uses willpower. I wish I could just see his damn status and skill screen.’

Jack: “So what are your primary stats? And what kind of skills do you have?”

Bob: “I have trained primarily in Strength and Vitality. I also have a reasonable amount of Willpower and a bit of Agility. As for skills, they allow me to fight longer and harder in melee, fueled by hate. A couple of skills allow me to charge at distant foes. I can also channel hate through my melee blows for more efficient slaughter. Also my hate allows me to leech a small portion of damage dealt as my Health and Stamina.”

Jack: ‘So Bob is a hate fueled berserker? Well he doesn’t look like it, to be honest.’

Jack: *removes one of the Gnoll’s 2H axe and gives it to Bob* “I got that from some gnolls. If that is better than your weapon, use it.”

Bob: “Hmm, not bad. I presently have only a one handed sword. This axe does more damage and has more reach.”

Jack: “Let me see your skills in action on the gnolls. I guess I should make a party and invite you in it. After killing some dogs, let us go meet Irfit!”

Bob: “Oh Irfit? I don’t think I am suited for a spirit pact with him. Spirit pacts are more for wimpy casters.”

Jack: *scowls* ‘So I am a wimpy caster? Bah.’

Bob: *notices Jack’s expression* “Of course, more resilient casters like you also benefit greatly from spirit pacts!”

Jack: “As for your suitability for spirit pacts, we will let Irfit decide that. No harm in asking him. I also have to introduce you to Charlie, my summon. He is the result of my trade with Irfit.”

Jack: ‘Well if Irfit gets pissed, I lose a few levels. But if this half-elf isn’t ‘interesting’ enough for Irfit, no one is. I bet he will get some nifty abilities, so might as well risk it’

Bob tried swinging the 2H axe a few times and appeared satisfied by its balance. Jack then navigated the party creation interface and created a party. He then invited bob who accepted it. Surprisingly, in the party menu, his follower’s name showed up as Bob instead of Bailefour.

Jack set the xp sharing to Even Share, and got up and summoned Charlie. He introduced Charlie to his new follower, and both of them seemed to get along well enough. Charlie was looking at Jack hopefully with his mouth wide open, and he felt hunger through their telepathic bond. Jack chuckled and fired firebolts at him, which he enthusiastically swallowed.

Jack then led his follower, and occasionally Charlie, towards the residence of the friendly kobolds. After around a day of traveling, it was time for Jack to log off, do his morning exercises and have breakfast. After his parkour circuit and breakfast he logged back into Asunder Online, instead of heading for work as usual.

After another few hours of travelling they met a small group of three gnolls. Jack prepared to summon Charlie, but Bob gestured him to refrain. He equipped his axe and a maddening bloodthirsty look dominated his face. The layer of purple-black energy coating him intensified and he disappeared, appearing behind the gnoll archer.

Before the gnolls could react, he performed an overhead strike. The strike hit the archer cleanly on his left shoulder, damaging him for almost a fourth of his HP. A purple-black shockwave from the overhead strike knocked the nearby gnoll warriors a little distance away from him, damaging them for almost 10% HP!

He then started chanting under his breath smiling with a crazed glee, and Jack saw ripples of distorting energy radiating from him. The gnolls caught in the AoE seemed to react too slowly. Taking this opportunity, He swung his axe sideways which was shimmering with the same purple-black energy. The swing seemed to phase through the gnolls, damaging the warriors for around 15% HP and the gnoll archer for 20% HP.

In the few seconds, while he was preparing a soulfire breath, his follower had used two skills to reduce the gnoll archer’s HP to 50% and each of the gnoll warrior’s HP to 75%. Jack rushed with his prepared soulfire breath and released it, catching everyone in its AoE.

He damaged the gnoll warriors for around a third of their HP, leaving them with 40% HP. The archer barely had 10% HP left, and Bob finished him off with a regular strike. One of the gnoll warriors attacked Bob with a clean hit, but he barely lost 3% of his HP, and shrugged it off like a scratch!

When he received the hit, the purple black energy coating him seemed to intensify, and he retaliated with his overhand strike. The gnoll warrior he hit directly lost another 20% HP and the shockwave passed through the other warrior leaving him with 30% HP.

Jack took this opportunity, activated mana claws, and finished off the gnoll warrior with a stab through its neck. His follower received another clean hit, which did around 4% damage to him. His companion retaliated with a regular two handed attack, damaging around 7% HP. Jack sidestepped, created some distance and finished off the last gnoll warrior with a couple of void bolts.

After the death of the gnolls, his half-elf companion seemed to struggle for a while, the purple-black energy coating him flickered. He stopped chanting and blood-red mist seemed to radiate from him, like steam. The half-elf had a look of agony on his face as he was slowly walking towards Jack. After a while the mist stopped forming, and his expression and aura returned to its usual state.

Jack: ‘Bob looks like in a lot of pain. I want a capable flunky, not a liability I have to babysit after every fight.’

Jack: “Can you keep on fighting? If you can’t fight, don’t. You will just be a liability and endanger us both.”

Bob: “Yes, I can keep fighting. I just have to get used to the price. It is nothing compared to the agony of fighting the blight. The Eldest called it a curse for a reason.”

Jack: ‘Well looks like the rebound hits him after every battle.’

Jack: “Alright, if you say so. Master your curse, instead of the other way round. You have Gaia’s strength to draw on. Don’t disappoint her.”

The half-elf nodded, and had a resigned look on his face. They continue travelling and slaughtering all gnolls they encounter. With the aid of Charlie and Bob, battles were over quickly. Since xp was being shared by both of them, the speed of leveling was slower, but his companion could carry a lot more loot than him.

After every battle, the rebound from Bob’s cursed gifts reduced slightly. Jack noticed that the half-elf did more damage, and took less damage per hit, when facing more foes. Charlie’s soulfire breath seemed to synergize well with the half-elf’s melee tactics. In this manner they travelled for almost 12 days in-game, going out of their way to hunt gnolls, until they reached the friendly kobold dwelling.

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A/N: Thanks to the kind donor for donating! You know who you are!

A shorter chapter than usual, which showcases MC’s progress (status screens!), his somewhat OP companion and why it would be a bad idea for players to have Bob’s class.

But I already posted more than 4 chapters this month, so this is more of a bonus really as I felt it would be mean to make everyone wait till next month for MC’s progress…

Also, I am planning to start another fiction. It will be a fantasy/sci-fi setting, not a VRMMO one. So there will be no tables and stuff there. There are many ideas I have, many of which will not fit in Asunder Online and that’s why I plan to start another series.

Be assured though, that my schedule with posting this fanfic will be at least 4 chapters a month.

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