NOVEL WEB Chapter 5
That was Huge list of skills and what was up with all of them having a bracketed word next to it? Not knowing what they were, I asked Sarah.
“Sarah what is with the bracketed words next to the skill names?”
“Oh I forgot to tell you that sorry. It seems skills are broken up into tiers. The general consensus online is that the worst skills are basic followed by Moderate, intermediate and advanced. No one has seen another skill tier. The going theory is that skills with a high tiers are evolved skills of lower tiers or just in general better skills with most likely higher potential. It also seems that when people look at their class option the same tiers exist. I also saw that it looks like kids under the age of 12 do not have access to the system all they see when they try to look at their profile is a timer counting down.” Sarah said
Hmm that made sense both the tiers and kids not getting the system until they are older. With it being at 12 that's right around puberty so maybe that has something to do with it. But wait my hidden in plain sight skill said that only epic tier skills or better could see throw it so that means.
“Well I know of one higher tier, how high I don't know but one of my earned abilities said something about epic tier skills.” I said
Sarah had a shocked look on her face and said “You have an earned ability that the system considers that strong that's crazy. I wonder what all of your racial born and earned abilities would be tiered if they had them. I can't imagine the system would give out too many (she did air quotes) high tiered abilities seeing as how they don't take up a skill slot.”
“Agreed what's the point of having limited skill slots if the system gives abilities away left and right. But I think the system is stingy with them. I'm assuming that the system knows about our whole history after reading some of my abilities and seeing that with two millennia of life I only have ten earned abilities not counting born or handler abilities I highly doubt it will be very often the system will give us one.”
“Yeah I agree. But even then the fact that you have that many gives you a huge advantage over the avenger person so far I have only seen one person online to claim more than one earned ability but that's only a claim. And for that matter it might be a born ability at that. I wonder why the system does not separate them?” said Sarah as she shrugged
“My only guess is that the creator of the system did not want to make a new tab that might not be used. Not everyone is born with something special about them. I mean the only born abilities I have are Photographic and Echoic memory which are not partially common. So I can't imagine many people have born abilities.” I said
“Fair enough.” Sarah said. With that our conversation ended and I went back to my LONG list of skills to look though still it was shorter than I thought it would be. I wonder if it did not show everything but only things I might have chosen. I sighed as I thought about how I can only pick 8. I can imagine some of the abilities will be must grabs but I bet I will have a hard time picking between some of them. Well no use in stalling. To make it easier on myself any ability that is basic or Moderate tier I will skip unless it peaks my interest or is a must grab skill like identify. I will write a list of the skills I might want. Now on to the skill list.
Absorb stats. Starting with an advanced skill, looks like I'm going to have an impressive list of skills. Let's see what it does.
Absorb Stats (Advanced)
When you drink the blood of a creature you will temporarily steal a portion of their stats. Length of time, and stats taken increases with level and amount of blood consumed.
This skill could be very strong but at the same time. Do I really want to rely on stealing other people's power to strengthen myself, hmm? I will keep this one on the short list for now. Next Ancient Archive another advanced skill my guess is it has smoothing to do with memory.
Ancient Archive (Advanced)
You are an archive of Ancient knowledge long forgotten by most of the planet's population. By sharing this knowledge you gain both favor and experience. Experience gain increased per level.
Hmm gives experience but the way it reads means I have to share lost knowledge not only would I be exposing myself but at some point I would run out of things to share and the skill will become dead. I think I will pass on this one.
Adaptation moderate skip I bet it just makes it easier to change to new environments and situations.
Appraisal a moderate tier now that looks like a skill similar to identity lets see.
Appraisal (Moderate)
Gives you the ability to identify and gain information on non living objects such as stones and tools. Max quality identifiable, and information on items increases with level. Current limit; Moderate tier items.
Hmm that could be very useful. If tools and weapons are also affected by the system then this could be a really useful skill for the future. I might have to pick this one up even with it being only a moderate tier.
Aura of Ancient Authority, an advanced skill I have no idea lets see.
Aura of Ancient Authority (Advanced)
You have the ability to exude a pressure at will that shows that you are a powerful ancient being. Those who you do not shield from the effect or are older or stronger than you will be weakened by the aura, and they will see that you are the source of the pressure they feel. Effectiveness increases with age and level. Range also increases with level.
Now that is a good skill. Make those around me weaker I can also see it as a kind of crowd control skill or a way to get a lot of people's attention. It will also make it so people don’t mess with me as much. I can think of all the uses for this skill. I bet it's like Esmeralda’s and Gareena’s presence. In fact I wonder if Gareena’s is a skill hmm food for thought.
Beauty, a moderate skill, it's not like I can get much better looking, skip.
Being of twilight Intermediate hmm I might have to skip intermediate skills too there are just too many. But I will look at this one.
Being of Twilight (Intermediate)
You are a being of the night, but live with day walkers. Your soul is trapped in the twilight of life. You gain power in the hours of dawn and dusk. Stats excluding wisdom become 5% plus 0.25% times level of skill more effective. (System note; [this message will not be repeated, read carefully] All stat effectiveness increases are additive. If a reducing buff is also in effect it will take effect after all state effectiveness increases have been calculated.)
Nice but too specific skip. But good to know how the stat increases work. I wonder why it’s effectiveness and does not just give stats. Wait, I bet it's because of how level is based on your total stats. Yeah that makes sense. Also this confirms that wisdom is not a stat the system can affect. It's odd how it gives us a measurement for the stat but it can not affect it.
Bite skip, blood lust skip I don't want to lose myself to my instances, blood rights skip don't know and don't want to know. Now born leader seems interesting.
Born Leader (Intermediate)
You may not like being a leader, but oftentimes the ones who don't want to lead make the best leaders. People are more likely to follow you and listen to you when you put yourself in a position of authority. Increase effective range with level.
Hmm I wonder why it does not increase effectiveness with level. Either way with what I plan to do this might be a skill to look at so it is going on the list for now.
Brilliants I guess it has something to do with intelligence and coming up with new ideas. I think I will pass. Bullet time I bet it's a reaction time skill yeah I can already dodge slow speed bullets. I don't need this.
Child of the night is another advanced skill. I wonder if it's similar to my call of the night racial skill.
Child of the Night (Advanced)
The night calls to you, while most sleep, you are wide awake and in total peace with your mother, the moon. Stats excluding wisdom become between 10 and 20% more effective depending on how late it is in the night, the cycle of the moon and the weather. The upper limit is increased by 0.5% for each level of the skill.
Hmm it is almost the same as my racial skill but does not buff skills and abilities increases based on the skill level instead of a flat amount. Seeing as it will stack with my racial ability it will make me much stronger at night. I will be a force of nature after I get this skill leveled up some. This one is going on the list.
Clean freak that is insulting. I am not. I just don't like a giant mess in my home, skip. Collective might, hmm that might be good but as the name implies I bet it requires multiple people to be effective going to skip. Right now personal power is most important. Concealed intent sounds like a worse version of, mask of deception so skip. Connoisseur of fine tastes, yes in my long life I have tried many good foods but I doubt this will be useful so skip. Cooking, I already can cook, skip. Dampen sound is not needed, skip.
Denizen of the night I wonder if it will give me another night time buff.
Denizen of the Night (Intermediate)
You are a being of the night you live and walk among the stars and moon. Stats excluding wisdom become between 5 and 10% more effective depending on how late it is in the night, the cycle of the moon and the weather. The upper limit is increased by 0.25% for each level of the skill. (system note, skills that have the same buff criteria to activate will have diminishing returns. I.E. strongest skill 100% of skill power second strongest 10% of skill power next 1% ect. This does not apply to abilities.)
Well that's a bummer having the effectiveness cut with each skill. I guess the system does not want someone to become too strong in a specific environment. At least it still stacks with abilities. So skip on that one.
Duality of good and evil, that is an interesting name. I guess I will take a look
Duality of Good and Evil (Intermediate)
You are a being seen as evil, and you yourself have done many things that the average person would see as evil. But then again, you have done so much good for the world that may never be seen or acknowledged. When taking actions that you and those you hold dear would find good and/or evil, your mentality will shift towards that extreme, the degree of which depends on the severity of the action. When in either extreme, gain buffs based on how far to either side you have gone. (Evil) physical skills gain 10-100% increased power, (Good) magical based skills gain 10-100% increased power. The upper limit is increased by 0.25% for each level of the skill.
That is an interesting skill that I want to stay fair away from. I don't want something to change my mentality. That is a dangerous thing and I want no part of it. But it is an interesting skill to think the system could affect things in that way. But also troubling how many skills seem to have the ability to change how we think.
Another advanced skill, draconic alignment. It obviously has something to do with dragons so let's see.
Draconic Alignment (Advanced)
You are not only friends with one of the oldest and most powerful dragons but also their occasional lover (noice). You have bonded, become immortal friends and have been accepted into their family. By taking this skill you will gain one of the racial abilities of the dragon race but at reduced power and adapted to you. Racal skill: Natural armor. You have near impenetrable scales (skin) that no other creature can easily penetrate. Even the modern weapons of the humans have minimal effect on your natural armor. System Effect: Reduce all incoming physical damage by 40% 15% and magical damage by 10% 3.75%. Note this will not increase with level but leveling could evolve the skill.
Really system… noice really? sigh. Anyways Esmeralda has a flat 40% reduced physical damage take and 10% magical that's crazy. It looks like I get a 3/8th as effective version of the racial ability. It's a little sad leveling it up does basically nothing but it is a really powerful defensive skill. None of my skills or abilities have given me any defensive increases. Well unless one of the stats increases my resilience which I would be shocked if it did not but still this is a really good looking skill. It's going on the list for now.
Drowned in shadow moderate skip.
Wow my first Epic skill Elder Vampire let's not waste time and have a look.
Elder Vampire (Epic)
You are a child of the first generation of vampires, making you part of the second generation of vampires. You are also the eldest of your siblings, making you one of the elder vampires. To have succeeded where hundreds before you have failed, grants you wisdom among your race. All vampires will have no choice but to pay respect to you, even those who are older than you. For each vampire that has a favorable view of you or is under your direct command, gain increased awareness of things around you, increased sway over younger vampires. Creatures you turn into vampires gain increased quality of vampire based skills and classes(this applies to vampires you have already turned.) all effects increase with level.
I don't know if I like this skill or not. Yes, the awareness is nice but that is the only direct benefit I get. I already have the ability to suppress other vampires of lower ranking so having increased sway over people I don't associate with is not really something I care about. I mean I only keep in regular contact with two of the people I’ve turned. And even then the list of people I have turned is short and the ones still alive are shorter. Though it would be nice to help my “children” and those I may turn to in the future I don't see much of a benefit for me seeing as I don't like turning people. Also I don't want to give my “oldest” anything if I ever see that piece of shit bastard I will rip his head off. I will keep it on the list but it will be low on it. It is an epic skill after all.
Enlightened an intermediate skill, it does not sound interesting. skip. Now enriched experience now that might be something interesting.
Enriched Experience (Advanced)
You have experienced many things in life, expand on that and gain greater depth in what you do. Gain increased experience gain effect increases with level.
Now that is going to the top of my list, increased experience gain is the only thing other than identifying that Sarah was a must grab and this one is unconditional unlike Ancient Archive. I think the only reason I will not grab this skill is if I get a better one because I'm assuming it will have diminishing returns like the other skills.
Envious Existence skip. Eternal student another advanced skill lets take a look.
Eternal Student (Advanced)
You are a person who is always looking to learn something new. Even after you have all the money you could ever ask for, you go to college to study something new. Then you go and start a new business that you have never done before just to experience and overcome the challenges that come with it. You are truly an eternal student. All skills level up faster, effect increases with level.
Now this is another good looking skill. I see no reason not to take this skill. Along with enriched Experience unless a better skill that does the same thing comes up I think I will take them.
Evolution of the times sounds like another adaptation skill, skip. Experienced moderate skip. Farm tool proficiency, I don't plan on farming skip. Flexible already has an earned ability that is about flexibility, skip. Food fanatic skip. Freak of nature rude but true, skip. Freedom from expectations, interesting but don't think I will have anything useful in it, skip. Next … goddess in bed… fuck off system, skip. Harmony of music sounds interesting but it's only moderate so I will skip. Harmony of twilight I bet it's the same thing as Being of Twilight so ima skip. Harvest once again I don't plan on farming skip. Heart of gold hmm I wonder lets see.
Heart of Gold (Intermediate)
You are a scary powerful and vampire with a kind heart. People will be more willing to confide in you and do good by you.
This might be a good skill. I don't think I will end up picking it but I will add it to the list for now. Hyper awareness I can assume what it will do and I bet talking elder vampire is better so skip. Ah finally identify sadly its basic that is a bit depressing well let's take a look.
Identify (Basic)
Lets you see the basic information of people and creatures you look at in range. Level, race, level of highest level class and any system titles the person may have. Increasing level helps skill evolve and range.
So as I expect but the fact that leveling it helps it evolve is interesting. I wonder if all skills can evolve or if it is only skills that say it like this one. Hmm food for thought.
Next instrumentalist increases my ability to play instruments I guess. Might be fun but right now I don't think fun skills are good to take so skip. Incognito, skip. Instant recollection, I guess, helps me remember things I know faster. I have photographic memory so it might be useful to be able to remember things faster but not really needed so skip. Jokester I'm already plenty funny, skip. Jolly presence, skip. Jump, I can jump high without help, skip. Keeper of secrets, I bet is a worse version of Ancient archive or something about holding secrets gives me some buff I will pass. Kill them with kindness, funny, skip.
Kill streak something tells me this might be a good skill lets see.
Kill Streak (Intermediate)
The more people/creatures you kill in a certain time frame, the more damage all of your skills do. 5% plus 0.25% times level per kill. Time frame is 5 seconds plus 0.25 seconds per level.
This could become a very powerful skill, from the sheer combat power it gives. At higher levels this could become a one man army killer skill if used right. This one is going on the list.
Killer Instincts another awareness or reflex skill, skip. Killer sex… drive sigh skip. Lifeline an interesting name could be a lot of things lets see.
Lifeline (Intermediate)
When in a fatal situation, this skill will activate. Your mental speed will increase by 1000% for one second and you will become 1000% faster for 0.1 seconds and gain perfect traction for the duration. This skill has a cooldown, and the cooldown decreases with level.
That could be a good skill but at the same time with it having an unknown cooldown I might use it only to end up in another bad situation 10 seconds later so it's a skip. Lingering presence an interesting name but it's moderate and does not sound very useful, skip. Living weapon let me guess it increases the lethality of my body. Well I assume that is it so I think I will put it on the list no need to read it for now. Malicious intent moderate, skip.
Marked, it’s an advanced skill, I wonder?
Marked (Advanced)
You can mark someone to keep track of approximately where they are and if they are well. Gain a new mark every 10 levels.
Wow, oddly simple but supremely useful not only in fights but to keep track of loved ones. This is going on the list. Master armor tool and weaponsmith, I don't plan on doing any smithing right now but if my skill list does not go away I might pick these up later if I can change out skills even then that is 3 out of my 8 skill slots for just smithing skills I don't know but whatever skip of now. Medieval might, skip. Midnight high, probably like Child of the night be solely based on the time of night, skip.
Moon lite strike, this skill might not be a passive one like most of these have let's see what it does.
Moon Lite Strike (Advanced)
Sheath your weapon in the light of the moon to amplify its power. Adds a magic damage multiplier to your weapon. Damage scale 10-10% bonus magic damage depending on the cycle of the moon and the quality of the moonlight touching your weapon. The upper limit is increased by 0.5% for each level of the skill. (Body parts also count as weapons.)
This is nice, it is a direct and instant combat buff and technically it can be used during the day if the moon is out so this is good. Definitely going on the list. Multitask, skip. Musings of an ancient, honestly don't care I doubt it will be better then other skills. Natural weapon most likely a weaker living weapon, skip.
Nature’s blessed, reading the skill name i felt an odd pull like my soul wanted to take the skill then and there. Shaking my head I went back to my musings
This is odd, why would the system give me a freak of nature skill but also nature’s blessed lets see.
Nature’s Blessed (Advanced)
You may have been a mistake but that does not mean you are forsaken. You have done much to help nature flourish in many of the places you go. You have defended lands from human take over and saved countless beasts and plants and for this nature has offered you a blessing. Plants will be willing to listen to you and grow to your will. Creatures of nature will be more likely to see you as a friendly being and in some cases seek you out for help or even help you. Leveling up this skill will help it evolve.
I am honored to be blessed. To think that me buying up land and protecting it from people would lead to this. I don't know but this is going near the top of the list. There is no reason to deny it if I have space.
I'm assuming Nature’s Guardian is a weaker version of the last skill so I will skip. Along with nature’s mistake is most likely a stronger version of freak of nature so I will pass. Don't care to be reminded of the fact. Neutral mentality not needed already covered with an ability skip. Nighttime guardian, another night time buff skill I'm sure, skip. Old dogs can learn new tricks, funny name and probably a weaker eternal student so, skip. Operative of Chaos I don't like the name of this ima skip. Origins of old, moderate, skip. Patron of the succubus WHY THE FUCK IS IT AN EPIC SKILL! FUCK OFF SYSTEM IM NOT A HORNY PEACE OF SHIT ANYMORE.
Presence of an Ancient my SECOND epic skill let's have a look.
Presence of an Ancient (Epic)
You are a wise, powerful and old being, and those around you will know it. You have the ability to exude different auras around you, one while showing you are wise, another will show you as powerful, and the last will bring down your will on all those around you, suppressing and weakening those weaker and or younger than you. How much they weaken depends on the gap between you and their power. You can even stack the auras, but it will start to rapidly drain stamina with more than one. You can choose to shield people from the auras. Power increases with age, strength and wisdom. Range increases with level along with reducing stamina drain.
So this is just a better Aura of ancient Authority. Well, Aura of ancient authority is getting kicked off the list. I didn't expect that to happen.
Continuing, pretty, probably a weaker beauty so skip. Public speaking isn’t that hard my ass. Yeah it's not but it’s still not fun, skip. Queen to be… I don't want to be queen nor will I even be a queen besides do queen or king rules forever so no need for this skill, skip. Rapid thought process, useless, skip.
Reproductive control. I can already do that. When you have been alive for as long as I have you learn how to do some crazy things with your body and I can control my reproductive cycle so I never can get pregnant if I don't want to. With that and a vampire's ability to fight off even the deadliest human diseases like a light cold, I was able to have all the unprotected sex I wanted. And I did for a whole century… and that's why the system keeps offering me sex skills. Come on, that was like 600 years ago. I may have fucked every of age humanoid I could find. I was really horny back then. Men, women, Queens, kings, tailers, bakers, farms, fay, fay royalty and even a dragon. Yeah it was a stage of my life. I mean come on what else was there to do in the 1400s work and fuck that was about it. I just skipped the work part. But thinking about it I am surprised I was not offered an earned ability for the fact i can control my reproductive cycle. Eh whatever.
Anyways moving on, running, no need, skip. Seducer of the gods, another epic skill, yes I get it and I don't need it, skip. Sex… skip.
You have to be fucking with me Sex Goddess AND ITS A FUCKING GRAND SKILL. Seeing as I have not seen any other one I'm assuming its the skill level above epic kill me. Well I might as well see what a grand skill is like.
Sex Goddess (Grand)
You have achieved what no other immortal has. You have done it with not only almost all of the powerful humans at the time of your sexual conquest, but even most of the most powerful immortals too. All of the royal fay court short of the king and queen themselves, the incubus and succubus dukes and duchesses, and lived through your encounter with them. You have also bedded the elder dragon Esmeralda, the at the time, ruler of the dragons. And every one of them would be more than willing to have another night with you. With this skill, you can turn anyone on at a whim and they will instantly be more inclined to do it with you. Women will be soaked and men will be that of a lead pipe. Once you start the act with them you will naturally know more of what makes them feel good and they will do the same with you. Once your time is over they will never be able to forget it, for you will be forever the best time they ever had. There is also a chance to permanently gain a small amount of their stats. The person will temporarily lose the same amount but will later gain double what they lost. Only those of sufficient power and will can resist some of the effects, but not all of them. Even the gods will find themselves craving you. Increase effective range with level.
So long story short I can have sex with anyone I want, immortal or mortal and we will both have a great time, gain some of their stats and they will also gain stats and craving more, got it. Well I must say it is worth its rank. Not only does it mess with their minds on a near unblockable level but allows both me and my partner to gain free stats and have a good time. I hate to say it so much but I might just have to take this skill. I will reluctantly add this to the list.
Ok now that that's over let's move on. Shadow step, let's take a look.
Shadow Step (Advanced)
Allows you to jump between shadows within a curtain distance. Reduced cooldown and increased range with level.
Another good skill, simple and I bet it can get me out of bad situations too. On the list it goes.
Sprinting no need, skip. Star jumper hmm could this be some form of flying skill that could be cool lets see.
Star Jumper (Advanced)
The night sky calls to you, jump up and join the stars in the journey across the sky. Allows you to fly while in the light of a starry sky. Sun doesn't count. Skill will rapidly drain stamina based on how many stars are visible. Speed increased with level.
I was right it is a flying skill but I fear that it will not be very good. One, it can only be used at night and second I can’t use it on cloudy nights. Also, it is weaker in places with a lot of light pollution like where I live now. The light pollution might get better as time goes on but still not worth it.
Succubus in a vamp… no just no I'm already entertaining sex goddess don't need this too, especially with it only being an advanced skill. Sudden impact sounds like another combat skill like moon lite strike so I will skip it. Superior reflexes it’s an advanced skill and I already have an idea of what it does. Screw it on the list for now. Tailor not planning on being a tailor It was not my favorite thing to do so skip. Tame I feel like nature’s blessed will allow me to do something similar if not now when it evolves so skip. Temperament of ages don't know, don't care, skip.
Test of valor sounds interesting, let's see.
Test of Valor (Intermediate)
Test someone's will power in a fight. This skill makes it so that you and an opponent are forced into a fight. If they try to escape before the fight has concluded they will lose a flat 10% of all stats and skill power for the next hour. If someone tries to interfere on either side of the fight the opponent will gain 100% increased stat effectiveness and skill power for each person that interferes until the fight ends. Fights are not to the death but until one is proven to be greater than the other. Leveling up this skill will help it evolve.
Among the more unique skills I have been offered but not really useful unless the people are close to evenly matched so useless for me, skip. Ties of an immortal sigh. I'm getting tired of this but let's see it.
Ties of an Immortal (Advanced)
You are one of a select group of beings that can not die of age. With this you all have a bond however small it may be. For each immortal near you that has this skill you will gain 0.5% increased state effectiveness excluding wisdom times the average level of this skill across the nearby immortals. (Note all immortals are offered this skill.) (Note all other Stat buffing skills will be disabled while this skill is active. Also all skill buffing skills are 25% effective while this skill is active.)
This could be a very useful skill if I was in a group of immortals of any good size. But right now I need personal power and abilities. I can't rely on skills that are conditioned on others like this. So I will skip.
Unbound. Why do I have so many advanced skills? I feel bad skipping the ones I already have. Sigh, let's see it.
Unbound (Advanced)
You are a free spirit that does as you please. You want to eat what you eat. You want to fight, you fight. You want to bring down an empire, you bring down an empire. You want to have sex by god you do. No one has power over you and you are bound to no one's will but your own. Those who attempt to influence you through skills will find it harder to do. Effectiveness increases with level.
Seems like a useful skill but not right now when most people will be too weak for the skill to work on me to begin with so I will pass but I might revisit this skill later if I can.
And yet another advanced skill sigh. At least it sounds cool.
Unbreakable Will (Advanced)
You have a fire that will never be burned out, nothing will stop you. You will stand tall and strong in the face of certain death. 0-500% increase in stats effectiveness based on how close you are to death. Level increase max increase by 0.5% per level.
Impressive, get stronger the more I'm losing. I don't plan to lose but could be worth looking at again. On the list it goes.
Undetectable basic skip. Unfazeable, intermediate, skip. You and me I know me and don't care about you, skip. Young and beautiful, well I'm forever young so half the skill is out the door so skip.
And that was the last one. Finally, now I will look over the ones I set aside but first I need a break