NOVEL WEB Volume 1 Chapter 26
At the base of the mountain, Ali used the excuse of warm up to address the stat points and the new ability he gained from the combat gym. He first focused his stat points on intelligence as low MP had been the biggest hindrance for him so far, especially if he wanted Tian by his side.
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Allocating stat points….
Intelligence: +5
Updating user info….
Name: Ali Cissoko
Level: 2 ( 35 / 36 XP to Level Up)
HP: 29/29
MP: 11/11
Strength: 6
Constitution: 8
Intelligence: 10
Survival: 9
Wisdom: 10
User info fully updated.
User has achieved 10 in Intelligence. Granted XP.
( 38 / 36 XP to Level Up)
You have leveled up to Level 3!
( 2 / 50 XP to Level Up )
You gained 5 stat points. Feel free to distribute them to any of your stats.
You may also gain a new ability. Would you like to select one now?
>
I’ll assign my stat points first. I need a bit more HP and more MP regen.
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Allocating stat points….
Constitution: +2
Intelligence: +1
Wisdom: +2
Updating user info….
Name: Ali Cissoko
Level: 3 ( 2 / 50 XP to Level Up)
HP: 35/35
MP: 12/12
Strength: 6
Constitution: 10
Intelligence: 11
Survival: 9
Wisdom: 12
User info fully updated.
User has achieved 10 in Constitution. Granted XP.
( 4 / 50 XP to Level Up)
>
Yes, I would like to select both of my new skills now.
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Rolling 2 Abilities to pick from….
Ability options are:
Air Blade
OR
Wind Blast
Uploading ability information…
Information on the air blade uploaded:
[
Ability: Air Blade
Level: 1 ( 0 / 26 XP to Level Up)
Level Up Requirements: Inflict damage or kill foes of equal or higher level
Type: Attacking (Blade)
Description:
A blade made from air forms in a hand and can be wielded like a dagger. Has a duration of 1 min but the weapon can shatter in combat.
Cost: 1 MP per use
Cooldown: 1 minute
Damage: 1 (+2)
]
Uploading information on the wind blast….
Information on the wind blast uploaded:
[
Ability: Wind Blast
Level: 1 ( 0 / 26 XP to Level Up)
Level Up Requirements: Inflict damage or kill foes of equal or higher level
Type: Attacking (Blunt)
Description:
A ball of air forms in a hand and is released where the hand is aiming. Upon making contact with a physical object, the ball explodes and the resulting shockwave inflicts damage to all enemies within 1 meter. If the ball of air travels 10 meters without making contact with a physical object, the ball will exploded automatically.
Cost: 3 MP per use
Cooldown: 1 minute
Damage: 1 (+2)
]
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Ali selected the wind blast ability without hesitation. While the air blade certainly had its uses, the ability forced him to engage opponents in close combat, something he didn’t excel at. The limited duration also encouraged riskier approaches to combat. Wind blast might have a higher MP cost along with limited blast radius but the addition of a blunt subtype area of effect ability would expand the coverage of his abilities. If he ever faced many foes, the ability would be far more useful than both his air slash or the air blade.
I’m ready for the next selection now.
<
Rolling 2 Abilities to pick from….
Ability options are:
Gust Blessing
OR
Serpent Wings
Uploading ability information…
Information on the gust blessing uploaded:
[
Ability: Gust Blessing
Level: 1 ( 0 / 26 XP to Level Up)
Level Up Requirements: Casted on a target of the same or higher level for a set duration.
Type: Support (Buff)
Description:
A target with gust blessing is given a movement speed buff. Only one gust blessing buff can be cast on a single target at a time.
Cost: 2 MP per use
Cooldown: 5 minutes
Buff: +5% Movement Speed for 1 hour
]
Uploading information on the serpent wings….
Information on the serpent wings uploaded:
[
Ability: Serpent Wings
Level: 1 ( 0 / 26 XP to Level Up)
Level Up Requirements: Casted on a target of the same or higher level for a set duration.
Type: Support (Buff)
Description:
A pair of wings grow on a wind serpent, granting it buffs. May only be used on air serpents.
Cost: 4 MP per use
Cooldown: 5 minutes
Buff: +10% Movement Speed and +1 Defense for 30 minutes.
]
>
An ability specific for the air serpent?
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Upon unlocking a summoning ability, abilities associated with the summonee are unlocked. While it’s optional to pursue these abilities, those who seek stronger summonees should actively pick these abilities. The downside of picking such abilities is the summoner's overreliance on summonees, making them vulnerable to those who specialize against summoners.
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Unlike the first two options, Ali found himself having a harder time deciding on which buffing abilities to pick. The former could be used for any target and had a longer duration while the second one was limited to only Tian and was a stronger buff. He didn’t want to be too reliant on Tian but the teenager wasn’t sure when serpent wings would show up again. After he checked his stats, Ali picked serpent wings on the off chance it wouldn’t show up again. Given his current MP limitations, he needed abilities that were more mana efficient, making the serpent wings’ strong buffs the better candidate of the two, assuming he could finish combat quickly.
“Sorry for the wait,” said Ali as soon as he finished with his warm up.
He originally used it as an excuse but, having gotten a better look at the mountain he was facing, the teenager deemed it necessary to get his body ready for the hell that awaited him. He then looked around to locate Svenne and Umaru.
“They won’t be joining us on the climb,” said Kamis. “They realize that they will only slow us down if they join. Instead, they are making themselves useful at the base of the mountain.”
Making themselves useful?
Before Ali could get clarification, Kamis had taken the lead and he had to hastily catch up. Due to his warm up, many of the other groups had already started, leaving his group as one of the last groups to get started.