Reidar focused on his status screen. The level-up process had given him five full attribute points to distribute. His current mana pool of 100 was far too small for what he planned to do. He needed more mystical capacity if he wanted to use his new skills and keep his summons.
He allocated all five points to A.C.U.M.E.N.
[5.0 Attribute points spent in A.C.U.M.E.N.]
[A.C.U.M.E.N. increased to 6.0, +500 Maximum Mana]
The change in Reidar’s attributes had immediate effects on his mana. Energy flowed through his body as if he had just got a shot of blood through his veins. He felt like bursting, but of course, his body was getting used to the amount of mana he got rapidly. Reidar opened his full status screen to review his progress.
—[«STATUS»]—
Name: Reidar Miller
Level: 11
Health: 150
Mana: 600
C.L.A.S.P.: 65 / 4300
Available Attribute points: 0.00
Skills: Summon Rift-Sprite Squad, Fireball, Aqua Pistol, Stone Bullet, Wind Blade
Equipment: Improvised Spear
Proficiencies: Basic Combat
Attributes: (S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.5), (A.C.U.M.E.N.: 6), (F.L.A.I.R. : 1), (F.L.I.P.: 2)
Minions: #N/A
Survival Points: 15,300
Trait: Skill Sharing
Perks: #N/A
Perk Points: 6
Titles: The Early Riser, The First Killer, The First Apprentice, The Pioneer, Creature Slayer IV, Rift-Sprite Hunter IV, The Exterminator
Profession: #N/A
—[END]—
The change was astonishing. Not only did he get to level 11 in basically five minutes, but he also increased his mana to 600. While that wasn’t really that much, one had to consider that since the average person had 1 point in A.C.U.M.E.N., it meant they all had 100 mana points.
The problem was that if Skill Sharing cost 10 mana points per target, per skill, his mana would be depleted quickly the more he gave skills or the larger the target pool.
<I guess a trait is as powerful as it is costly.>
And that was exactly the problem, because traits asked for four to five times the amount that a normal spell would, and it was understandable.
<Giving skills to everyone, even if they never saw it, and giving my proficiency to boot, plus a chance for the recipient to permanently learn the skill, isn’t exactly something balanced.>
Five magical skills. Six hundred mana points. Multiple titles that enhanced his abilities.
<And this just during the first day.>
Reidar looked across the area. Several Rift-Sprites moved across the smoke and debris. Most that were still alive had fled after the explosion, but a couple hundred remained.
They picked through the corpses of their fallen kin, feeding on the remains. Reidar was still hiding, but there was no doubt they would attack him as soon as they saw him.
<Perfect targets for skill practice. Now... I should be relatively safe given my level.>
That was partially true. With his increased points of A.C.U.M.E.N. Reidar could use more mana, and that meant making stronger magical attacks, but it was also true that, aside from his strength, which increased his health and defense, he was still around the level of might of a normal human, at least if he didn’t consider A.C.U.M.E.N. and magical attacks.
With 1.5 points in his S.H.I.E.L.D. attribute, Reidar was about 50% stronger and tougher than a normal person. This made him fundamentally more resilient, but he wasn’t invincible. He didn’t have iron skin, and a well-placed attack could still wound him severely.
<What the fuck?> Reidar also realized what A.C.U.M.E.N. Did. He checked the help page.
—[A.C.U.M.E.N.: Awareness, Cognition, Understanding, Memory, Enlightenment, Notion]—
Thinking about all of this only took a fraction of the time that it would have taken before increasing it. It was almost as if...
<Almost as if I can think six times faster.>
Even remembering what the skills and titles did was easier. Previously, he had to constantly go check the help page.
<I guess A.C.U.M.E.N. isn’t really just for spells...>
He focused on the first of his new skills: the Summon Rift-Sprite Squad skill. An interface appeared in his mind, showing five empty slots and options for sprite types.
Reidar selected his squad composition. One sprite for each element, but two of the Aqua variant since there was a fire blazing around, and that was likely going to reach him soon.
He channeled mana into the skill. One hundred points flowed out of his reserves, but he noticed it was regenerating already thanks to his A.C.U.M.E.N.
<It must be one of the extras of having 6.0 points in the attribute.>
Five portals opened in the surroundings. Energy swirled within each opening. Then the Rift-Sprites stepped through.Latest content published on NoveI-Fire.ɴet
<Cool...>
They were identical to the creatures he had been fighting until that point, but their eyes were less feral. They showed Intelligence instead of hunger. Purpose instead of mindless anger. Above each one, the usual text appeared; it was just that it now showed something different.
-Summoned Ember Rift-Sprite - Level 11—
-Summoned Stone Rift-Sprite - Level 11—
-Summoned Aqua Rift-Sprite - Level 11—
-Summoned Aqua Rift-Sprite - Level 11—
-Summoned Wind Rift-Sprite - Level 11—
The summoned creatures chittered to each other in low tones. Reidar immediately understood that those things were waiting for his orders.
He pointed toward the nearest group of wild Rift-Sprites. "Keep them back while I level my proficiencies up."
His summons moved. The two Aqua Sprites took the flanks. The Stone and Ember Sprites moved up the center. The Wind Sprite darted ahead.
The first fight happened fifty meters from his position. Three wild sprites were feeding on a corpse when Reidar’s summons reached them. The battle was swift and brutal.
The Wind Sprite moved first, slicing a wild sprite’s arm off with a wind blade. Right after, the Stone Sprite slammed into another one, crushing its head with a well-planted stone bullet. Meanwhile, the Aqua Sprites closed in from both sides, using their aqua pistols to kill the other.
[Wild Stone Rift-Sprite level 5 defeated.]
[You have gained 6 C.L.A.S.P. Points.]
[You have earned 6.54 Survival Points.]
[Wild Ember Rift-Sprite level 5 defeated.]
[You have gained 6 C.L.A.S.P. Points.]
[You have earned 6.54 Survival Points.]
[Wild Aqua Rift-Sprite level 5 defeated.]
[You have gained 6 C.L.A.S.P. Points.]
[You have earned 6.54 Survival Points.]
Reidar smiled because the Rift-Sprites were able to easily kill the targets, but simultaneously he scowled since the amount of Survival Points and C.L.A.S.P. Points he received after a kill decreased. If it weren’t for his bonuses, he would get even less than what he did.
Regardless, his summons were impressive, more than impressive, in truth, but he needed to practice his own skills.
"Just keep them at bay. I need them alive for as much time as possible."