Syl

Chapter 189: Derived Dwarves

I had several notifications to look through but had more pressing concerns. I threw up another wall with [Rampart] to reblock the passageway and gain relative safety and privacy.

Right. Time to eat up and get that dwarf profile!

I looted the scoundrels of their valuables and turned up the [Acid Slime] to the max.

<Profile [Dwarf] complete.>

Great. Now, I’ll be able to make a dwarf persona at some point.

Besides their equipment, they all had exactly 100 gold coins in a small pouch. I threw pretty much everything into my [Core Storage], although I frowned as I puzzled together the implication of the coins.

Did they seriously only pay 600 gold to take me out? I’m insulted being worth so little! At least... I assume that’s a little? I have far more than that in my guild account, after all.

With that out of the way, I pulled up the dwarf profile and began my perusal of their traits. I probably wouldn’t be able to buy any myself, like the elf ones, but they would all be prime for borrowing.

I began looking at every trait, but my confusion grew as I went through each one.

A tough dwarf is a good dwarf!>

What?

<[Prospecting]

Smell the bounty within the rock!

Those stones aren’t just for looking pretty!>

Is this just [Mineral Sense]?

<[Stubborn Willed]

Your mind is your own, but your anger gets the better of you!>

Anti-mind control? With anger management issues?

<[Forged Skin]

Your skin is tempered to withstand rock and flame!

Those puny pokers won’t do much, either.>

Elemental resistances? Defense?

<[Stunted Strength]

Dynamite comes in small packages, so let your fists do the talking!

You won’t be winning any ballroom dances, however.>

Strength buff and an agility debuff?

<[Stone’s Blessing]

All things Earth come naturally; the bounty of the stone will never leave you wanting.>

Earth... Magic? Earth Affinity? Details, please!

<[Capable Hands]

As long as it’s Metal or Rock, your hands will do the talking!

Let them guide you and your tools.>

Why would hands talk!?

<[Underdweller]

The ground is where the home is.

Never get lost, and be safe in the stone’s embrace.>

Is this how they navigate their city? An entire trait for that? Does it do more?

I paused, letting it all slowly digest.

I think I hate them? What the hell are these descriptions!? Nothing Gramps could have ever written! I thought some of the Elf trait descriptions were a little flowery, but this is a whole other story! I can probably guess what some of these do, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating!

Since I was in a sealed room, and none of my senses or visions could sense anything, I blocked out my entire profile. Then, I began testing a few dwarven shapes. Male, female, bearded, giant hair, stocky, buff, and all sorts between.

A fully completed profile really makes the difference. I also took the time to shapeshift quickly into a few kobold forms since I hadn’t tried that out yet.

Feels mostly like the goblins, except with a lizard tail. I thought, flicking my tail around.

Returning to the dwarf forms, since I hadn’t settled on a persona idea yet, I mostly stuck to copying one of the dwarves I had slain. Once again, I found another race compatible with the dragon scales trait.

I threw on all the dwarven traits I could and started playing around with my form. I started trying to blend the elf and dwarf profiles, but I noticed it leaned more toward dwarf than elf.

Is this because I’m lacking the full elf profile? I really need to complete that... Could I eat that Tamnaeth guy? No... That’s probably not a good idea, even if he did run away and refuse to take the stupid bag. If he tried to kill me, that would be one thing, but being annoyingly smug and then running away certainly isn’t enough justification. Don’t want to go full evolution crazy, haha...

My strange dwarf-elf hybrid could, in fact, take traits from both races!

This means that I could, at some point, cherry-pick the best to create my ultimate non-slime form! Part goblin, part kobold, part elf, and part dwarf!

I chuckled and began moving on to all the notifications I’d been putting off.

<Proficiency gained. [Essence Sight LV 2] improved to [Essence Sight LV 3].>

Great! Should I fuse it now or wait a bit longer? I’m tempted to wait till five to get the maximum benefit!

<Proficiency gained. [Exploit Weakness LV 4] improved to [Exploit Weakness LV 5].>

Another stack, which means an extra 5% damage bonus! I’m glad it’s just there in the background, adding to everything. Actually... That’s probably why my [Decay] dealt so much damage against that worm, even with the [Assassinate] bonus. If I understand correctly, I gained another four debuffs for its final tally.

<Proficiency gained. [Corrosion Magic LV 5] improved to [Corrosion Magic LV 6].>

<[Corrosion Magic LV 6] spell [Caustic Cloud] learned.>

Oh! Oh shit! I just got sixth-level magic! I’m shocked it wasn’t Fire or Water... Although, now that I think about it, I’m technically using a bit of [Corrosion Magic] with every debuff or affliction I cast, even if its primary Mana is now Fire or something. So maybe I shouldn’t be surprised [Corrossion Magic] was the first to reach it.

I took the time to quickly understand the spell. As its name implied, it was another spell based on the acidic portion of Corrosion Mana. Interestingly, this gave me another look at the "cloud" component that [Contagion] also had. Except in this case, this cloud lingered in a set area rather than spreading and dispersing immediately.

I began casting the spell but held off on its final completion as I examined it more thoroughly. Getting a closer look, I could see that it wasn’t an apparated effect but more like an orb I could deposit at a location and explode into the hazardous cloud.

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I finished the casting and watched as the sickly bright green orb was flung out and hit my targetted wall. It burst into a similarly colored cloud, partially obscuring, and lingered around for far longer than I had expected for a base spell. When it finally dispersed, the contaminated rocky area looked significantly goopy.

Talk about a rather horrific spell. A cloud of acid that melts whatever is inside. I mean... I could do the same with [Vaporize Slime], but it wouldn’t linger around unless I kept fueling it with slime. Also, Mana is basically free for me. Sucks that it’s another spell without any distinction between friend and foe, though. Gods, if I wasn’t getting some insane resistance from [Acid Slime], it would affect me, too!

Sadly, there were no more skill or trait notifications. I had really hoped [Metal Slime] or [Nitro Slime] might have gained something, or even [Earth Magic], but clearly, I hadn’t used any of them enough.

Finally, I looked over my level-ups.

<Racial Experience threshold reached. Chimeric Cluster Slime (Blue) is now LV 5.>

<12 Trait Points are now available.>

<Class Experience threshold reached. Elementalist is now LV 10.>

<17 Skill Points are now available.>

<Your class has revealed the following trait: [Derived Element (Basic)].>

Both race and class levels are always nice! Those assholes were at least worth decent experience. Also, my class is revealing a trait! Those are pretty rare! Let’s see what we’ve got; please be something good!

<[Derived Element (Basic)]

Select a Basic Element and gain it as an Affinity, with Mana Purity levels greatly influenced by this trait level.

One’s Mana Purity can influence this trait, notably its leveling speed and, to a minor degree, the starting Mana Purity.

The trait points invested will be partially refunded if the owner gains the extra affinity through other means, such as Ascension.>

It took me a while to fully comprehend what I had just read. Was this finally my solution to the lack of Air Affinity for so long?

Trixie wasn’t lying!

I couldn’t believe it. While I trusted Trixie—relatively speaking—I had somewhat assumed this was a long-building prank on her part.

Then again... She probably didn’t think I’d have my class levels halted for so long when she advertised this class as a possible solution! Also, if this offers me a Basic Element now, does that mean I might get offered an Advanced Element at maybe level 20 or 30!?

It was so exciting. I wasted no time purchasing my trait. Rather than immediately acquiring the trait, I was giving the mental impression that I had a choice to make, although my only option was Air in this circumstance.

<Trait [Derived Element (Air) LV 1] obtained. Trait Points remaining 11.>

I giggled to myself. This was so exciting! I quickly moved to see if I truly had the affinity and tried to purchase the magic skill.

<Skill [Air Magic LV 1] obtained. Skill Points remaining 16.>

<[Air Magic LV 1] spell [Wind Cutter] learned.>

Oh, that’s the spell the Mage used to kill the green slime back in the forest! This is truly wonderful!

I cast the spell and fired a small blade of wind at the rock wall. It didn’t leave a very large cut, as it was only a first-level spell, and I hadn’t even empowered it or anything.

I was curious if my derived element counted for [Elemental Shift] and tested it by trying to align myself to Air. There seemed no hiccup at all.

Well, that’s great!

I tried casting another [Wind Cutter], cutting a much further gash into the rock wall. The difference was remarkable.

I forgot how much of a buff [Elemental Shift] gives me... I thought before my thoughts were abruptly interrupted.

<Proficiency gained. [Derived Element (Air) LV 1] improved to [Derived Element (Air) LV 2].>

I stared at the sudden notification. That was far sooner than I had ever expected.

Is my [Mana Slime] trait boosting it? Maybe even [Elven Legacy]?

I had no idea, but I wouldn’t complain about a trait leveling up fast. Mana Purity seemed to be my thing if Trixie was any indication.

Then... I browsed for the skill that eluded me for so long. I opened up its description to look at it.

<[Wind Step]

Move a short distance with near-impossible speed, even in mid-air.

Skill level determines mana efficiency and maximum chained usage.>

Far too long, you have taunted me. But not anymore!

I purchased the skill.

<Skill [Wind Step] requires Air Affinity.>

"No!" I screamed in fury.

<Skill [Wind Step LV 1] obtained. Skill Points remaining 15.>

I stared long and hard.

"Did I just get pranked?" I asked, glaring at the previous failed prompt that seemed to be fading away before my eyes.

Part of me wanted to go on a rant, but I was terrified it might be taken away. Instead, I finally used the skill and moved a tiny short distance.

[Thunder Step] is faster... But this is entirely silent. Though, I wonder...

I used [Thunder Step] into the air, ensuring the chain was considered broken. I immediately used [Wind Step] to hit the ground when I felt that tingling. The surging pain lessened as I partially grounded myself, but not enough to stop everything.

Damn, I thought it might have worked... I guess you can’t just entirely negate a downside like that. I wonder if there are more Step skills and, more importantly, if they can be combined!

It was a really interesting idea. Before heading off, I reviewed my freshly updated profile.

Name: Syl [Dungeoneer]

Race: Chimeric Cluster Slime (Blue) LV 5

Class: Elementalist LV 10

Status: Healthy

Mana: Overflowing

Emblems:

[Experiment]

[Apex Hunter]

[Elven Legacy]

[Dungeoneer]*

[Nature’s Bane]

[Manhunter]

Traits:

Slime:

[Mana Slime LV 13]

[Acid Slime LV 7]

[Poison Slime LV 6]

[Blaze Slime LV 6]

[Cryo Slime LV 7]

[Voltaic Slime LV 6]

[Nitro Slime LV 6]

[Metal Slime LV 4]

[Morph Slime LV 8]

[Pseudopod LV 7]

[Slime Shot LV 7]

[Vaporize Slime]

Core:

[Core Collective LV 8]

[Core Storage LV 6]

[Sub-Core Alpha LV 5] [Sub-Core Beta LV 5]

[Sub-Core Gamma LV 5] [Sub-Core Eta LV 5]

[Sub-Core Delta LV 5] [Sub-Core Theta LV 5]

[Sub-Core Epsilon LV 5] [Sub-Core Iota LV 5]

[Sub-Core Zeta LV 5] [Sub-Core Kappa LV 5]

Mimic:

[Chimeric Mimicry LV 7]

[Chroma Shift LV MAX]

[Consuming Osmosis LV MAX]

Mana:

[Mana Circulation LV 7]

[Mana Reinforcement LV 7]

[Derived Element (Air) LV 2]

[Mana Infusion]

Attributes/Other:

[Soul Mastery LV 7]

[Enhanced Vitality LV 5]

[Magic Resistance (Lesser) LV 5]

[Curse Resistance LV 2]

[Illusion Resistance LV 3]

[Sonic Resistance LV 1]

[Prodigy]

Senses:

[Olfactory Sense]

[Dark Vision LV MAX]

[Mana Conception LV 6]

[Life Sight LV 5]

[Essence Sight LV 3]

[Thermal Vision LV MAX]

[Eagle Vision LV 3]

[Electro-Magnetic Sense LV 4]

[Tremor Sense LV 3]

Trait Points remaining: 11

Skills:

General:

[Universal Language]

[Equipment Swap]

[Dissection LV 7]

[Mapping LV 5]

[Tracking LV 3]

[Identify LV 6]

[Multitasking LV 5]

[Perception LV 4]

[Aerial Finesse LV 4]

[Thunder Step LV 4]

[Wind Step LV 1]

[Companion Bond]

Combat:

[Tranquil Flow LV 5]

[Attack Mastery (Lesser) LV 7]

[Affliction Mastery LV 6]

[Exploit Weakness LV 5]

Magic:

[Water Magic LV 5]

[Fire Magic LV 5]

[Corrosion Magic LV 6]

[Ice Magic LV 5]

[Arcane Magic LV 4]

[Lightning Magic LV 5]

[Earth Magic LV 3]

[Air Magic LV 1]

[Mana Manipulation LV 6]

[Magic Efficiency LV 5]

[Counter Magic LV 4]

[Elemental Shift LV 5]

[Elemental Adaptation]

[Ritual Casting]

[Mana Suppression]

[Elemental Harmony]

Sneaky:

[Vanish LV 6]

[Assassinate LV 6]

[Identity Fabrication LV 6]

[Acting LV 5]

[Rogue Expertise LV 4]

[Magical Subterfuge LV 4]

[Subtle Afflictions]

Skill Points remaining: 15

Profession:

Enchanting:

[Rune Reading LV 6]

[Rune Engraving LV 1]

[Rune Framework LV 7]

[Rune Tracing LV 5]

[Rune Design LV 3]

[Runecrafting LV 2]

[Rune Inspection LV 5]

[Rune Filigree LV 3]

[Rune Repair LV 2]

[Brand]

Profession Points Remaining: 0