Chapter 41: Master and Student and New Equipment Upgrades
Year 0002, XIII Month: The Imperium
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The Thirteenth Month of the Second Year
The third month of winter had concluded, marking their gradual transition toward the thirteenth and final month of the year. This transitional period bridged winter and spring, the year's end and the new beginning. The air carried whispers of change, hints of renewal as nature prepared to shed its dormant state.
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Aspirations
Jonathan's recovery progressed steadily as he regained his strength, now able to move about the house with cautious steps. His movements, though deliberate and measured, showed remarkable improvement from his previously bedridden state. The others occupied themselves with training regimens to pass the time while awaiting for the next season to come.
The children had begun incorporating the adults into their daily training sessions, bringing them into the fold of their disciplined lifestyle. The adults, initially skeptical, now possessed a deeper understanding of what the children had been practicing all along. Witnessing August and his friends' remarkable resilience and strength firsthand ignited a spark of motivation in them. The demonstrations of power and discipline had transformed doubt into determination.
Even the two previously reluctant children, Adam and Isabel, had finally embraced the training culture. After watching their peers train diligently each day, they could no longer ignore the growing gap between themselves and the others in their new home. The fear of being left behind proved a powerful motivator.
Adam, now twelve—the same age as Erik—had gravitated toward becoming a tank and support roles. He admired Uncles Jonathan and Christopher immensely, finding inspiration in how they stood valiantly on the front lines, absorbing enemy attacks while protecting their companions at the back. Their selfless dedication to defense resonated deeply with the boy's emerging sense of duty and honor.
While Bren technically served as a semi-vanguard, his fighting style differed from the pure tank approach of the two uncles. Bren had developed a hybrid style that balanced support tanking with greater counter offensive capabilities, making him versatile but distinct from the specialized defenders Adam admired.
Isabel, now ten, found her father's archer class far more appealing and had committed herself to that path. She aspired to become an archer capable of both ranged excellence and close-quarters combat when necessary—a well-balanced class similar to August's adaptable fighting style. Her training regimen now placed her under the tutelage of her father, alongside August, whose all-rounder capabilities and battlefield command experience provided invaluable perspectives. Erik also contributed to her training, sharing his expertise as their scout and as a sub-commander, who was particularly critical when August was absent from the battlefield.
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Augusts Magic Training Under the Guardian Beast
August himself had immersed himself in rigorous training and study under Aetherwing's masterful guidance. The focus of their sessions centered on understanding, utilizing, and integrating magic into his already formidable fighting style. This structured approach to magical learning proved essential for August, who had previously relied on self-taught techniques and instinctual applications.
Aetherwing had quickly identified August's self-taught methods as inefficient and wasteful during their initial assessment sessions. While these improvised techniques remained effective in limited scenarios, Aetherwing recognized their long-term inadequacy. Without proper refinement, August's untrained magical approach would eventually transform from an advantage into a potentially fatal liability.
The stakes were clear—August would inevitably confront legendary beasts in this forest and beyond, perhaps extending to the mysterious Great Caldera of Arkanus itself. Aetherwing sought to optimize the boy's magical efficiency early while simultaneously enhancing his power output, preparing him for these formidable challenges that loomed on the horizon.
Since beginning his formal training, August had gained profound insight into magic and his elemental affinities. His command over wind magic had improved significantly, building upon his existing skill [WIND BLADE - (CLASS II - NOVICE)]
Recent progress had elevated this ability to its next tier:
[WIND BLADE - (CLASS III - NOVICE)]
~A beginner's skill under the wind affinity. Can now semd five sharp wind blades, 30 feet in front of the user; costs 45 mana, and each blade deals 50-80 damage to its target.~
+ 50-80 DAMAGE PER WIND BLADE
+ NOW PRODUCES 5 BLADES
+ COSTS 45 MP
+ NOW CAN BE LAUNCHED 30 FEET AWAY
He could now generate gentle winds from his palms to deflect incoming attacks, a defensive application he continued to refine. Perhaps most significantly, he had learned to coat his weapons and armor with mana. Though this technique remained rudimentary, it represented a crucial milestone in his development. When infusing his weapons—swords, arrows, bows—with mana, he noticed a tangible increase in their effectiveness and damage output.
August had also discovered that enveloping his body in mana created an additional protective layer that halved incoming damage at the cost of his MP reserves. According to Aetherwing's demonstrations, once August reached an advanced stage of development, he could potentially coat his weapons and body with elemental energy rather than raw mana—a significantly more difficult technique reserved for masters and grandmasters with profound magical understanding.
Currently, Aetherwing was teaching August to harness lightning elemental affinity, sharing knowledge of his favorite low-level skill, [Piercing Bolt]. This devastating technique would make August a formidable opponent on any battlefield once mastered.
August's current magical understanding remained foundational and basic, yet his exceptional learning rate continually surprised Aetherwing. Despite being largely illiterate outside his SYSTEM interface, August possessed remarkable natural instincts for magical concepts.
Early testing revealed August's primary elemental affinity was fire—a powerful connection that manifested naturally in the boy. Yet mysteriously, he had also developed affinities toward Aetherwing's specialties: wind and lightning elements. This discovery astonished Aetherwing, as dual elemental affinities like his own—possessing both wind and lightning as innate primary elements—were exceedingly rare.
Most beings born in this world inherited a single primary elemental affinity. Only mythical beings like Aetherwing and divine entities like dragons occasionally manifested two or three primary elemental affinities at birth. Even Emperor Janus, being half-god, could only learn multiple elements by virtue of his divine heritage.
For August, born with fire as his sole primary affinity, to develop secondary affinities for wind and lightning defied all precedent. This revelation left Aetherwing genuinely shocked.
August truly represented the most unique being under the heavens, possibly the rarest existence in the entirety of Arkanus or perhaps in the entire world of Centuury. How peculiar, Aetherwing thought, that in all his years, he had never witnessed such a phenomenon. While Aetherwing himself belonged to a class of exceptional beings alongside Ancient Dragons and other one-in-a-million species, seeing a mortal gain secondary elemental affinities after birth constituted an unprecedented occurrence in Centuury's history.
The vastness of the world prompted Aetherwing to wonder if this could truly be an isolated case. The discovery even sparked his curiosity about whether he himself might acquire additional elemental affinities through similar means.
Regrettably, August could only learn wind and lightning elements from him. For instruction in his primary fire affinity, the boy would need to find another qualified master.
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Peace in the Village
Maya Village had never been more safer after Aetherwing and his flock arrived. Nevertheless, August recognized the need for proper equipment to prepare for inevitable future conflicts. His current gear had served its purpose but it was now in ruins, and facing greater challenges would require superior armaments.
With this in mind, he turned to his SYSTEM, giving it his most persuasive pleading look, hoping for new armor and weapons.
[ S Y S T E M MANAGER DOROTHY: HAAAAA...ALRIGHT MASTER]
...
...
[ S Y S T E M ADMIN MAGNUS: CERTAINLY MASTER, I WOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE FROM THE MATERIALS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN STORE IN THE WAREHOUSE.]
"Hooo, the voice has changed from a female cold tone to a cool-sounding grandpa!" August exclaimed with delight.
[...]
Outside the warehouse, raw materials flew through the air in a coordinated dance of creation. A holographic projection showed an elderly man joyfully hammering at an anvil, his weathered face alight with pleasure as he worked, each strike of his hammer ringing with purpose and satisfaction.
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New Accessories, Skills and Equipment Upgrades!
*NEW!!!
• [CLASS V - ADAVANCE - PREDATOR'S FANG AMULET]
~Infused with the mana hearts of two predatory beasts slain by the host, this amulet embodies their determination and unwavering spirit in the face of certain death.~
+ 225 MP POINTS
+ 25% MP RECOVERY RATE (PER HOUR)
+ 75 WILLPOWER
+ RESIST INVASION OF LOW-MID TIER MENTAL SKILLS
• [CLASS V - NOVICE] - FOREST HUNTER "GUARDIAN" (RARE) ARMOR SET
An upgraded version of the previous CLASS V - ADVANCE HUNTER CLOTHING SET, now incorporating materials from both Veteran and Commander 'Grimfangs' along with Commander 'Skitterpig' across all six cardinal armor pieces (Head, Torso, Left/Right Arms, Left/Right Legs).
~The armor set projects a menacing appearance, seamlessly blending the fierce aesthetics of both Grimfang and Skitterpig. Thick yet comfortable hide and leather form the base, reinforced with polished and strengthened bones acting as plate armor protecting vital areas. The design achieves a beautiful contrast between dark leather and bone-colored plates while maintaining optimal functionality. A Grimfang-inspired mask complements the ensemble, paired with a hooded cape that evokes the presence of death itself.~
• [STAT]: (*6) HEAD, TORSO, LEFT ARM, RIGHT ARM, LEFT LEG, RIGHT LEG
+ 75 VITALITY (×6)
+ 75 AGILITY (×6)
+ 75 SPEED (×6)
+ 75 MOBILITY (×6)
+ 75 STRENGTH (×6)
• [SUB-STAT]: (*6) HEAD, TORSO, LEFT ARM, RIGHT ARM, LEFT LEG, RIGHT LEG
+ 225 ATTACK (×6)
+ 225 DEFENSE (×6)
+ 25% STEALTH
+ 25% CRITICAL CHANCE
+ 25% CRITICAL DAMAGE
+ 25% AMBUSH CHANCE
+ 25% CRITICAL DAMAGE
A/N: percentage sub-stats can only be activated in forest regions.
• ADDITIONAL STAT AND SUB-STAT WHEN SET IS FULLY EQUIPPED:
• [STAT]: (*6) HEAD, TORSO, LEFT ARM, RIGHT ARM, LEFT LEG, RIGHT LEG
+ 75 VITALITY (×6)
+ 75 AGILITY (×6)
+ 75 SPEED (×6)
+ 75 MOBILITY (×6)
+ 75 STRENGTH (×6)
• [SUB-STAT]: (*6) HEAD, TORSO, LEFT ARM, RIGHT ARM, LEFT LEG, RIGHT LEG
+ 225 ATTACK (×6)
+ 225 DEFENSE (×6)
+ 25% STEALTH
+ 25% CRITICAL CHANCE
+ 25% CRITICAL DAMAGE
+ 25% AMBUSH CHANCE
+ 25% CRITICAL DAMAGE
*NEW!!!
• PASSIVE SKILLS UNLOCKED:
° [CLASS V - NOVICE - BESTIAL RAGE]
~Giving in to humans ancient animal instinct, the host would release an aura buff that would give him a boost in power for a couple of minutes.~
+10% DAMAGE MULTIPLIER, AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATES WHEN HP THRESHOLD IS BELOW 50% HP, LASTS FOR (3 MINUTES)
° [FEAR THE BEAST]
~Enemies would feel intimidated in the host's presence. Giving a paralyzing effect within a 10 meter radius. Works against Common Rank And Soldier Rank Regular Beasts, with no defense against mental skills~
• GUARDIAN BEAST (RARE) SET FEATURE:
+ UNLOCKS 1-10% OF THE GUARDIAN BEAST'S POWER
+ GAINS ACCESS TO LOW-MID TIER GUARDIAN BEAST AETHERWING'S SKILL DATABASE
° LOW TIER—CAN USE ONE LOW-TIER SKILL ONCE A DAY
° MID TIER—CAN USE ONE MID-TIER SKILL ONCE A WEEK
• PRE-REQUISITES:
° LEVEL 10
° 2/10 GUARDIAN BEAST FAVORABILITY
*NEW!!!
• [CLASS V - ADVANCE - THE HYBRID HUNTER, BESTIAL WEAPON SET]
~A comprehensive weapon set incorporating materials from predator and semi-predator beasts.~
° BOW AND ARROW
~Crafted from flexible yet sturdy forest wood mixed with an elegant Grimfang and Boarat designs adorning each end. The bow offers smooth handling and effortless string drawing. The bowstring itself combines sinews from various beasts for optimal tension and durability.
Arrow tips utilize fangs and tusks from non-Commander Rank regular beasts (common/soldier), attached to shafts of the same quality wood as the bow. Fletching comes from naturally molted Peregrine Eagle chick feathers, ensuring accuracy and stability in flight.~
• [SUB-STAT]:
+ 225 ATTACK (×2)
+ 25% CRITICAL DAMAGE
- 25% ARROW WEIGHT REDUCTION
° QUIVER (x2)
~An intricately designed arrow storage combining aesthetic beauty with practical functionality. Each quiver stores 50 arrows with reduced weight when contained within the quiver. Ensuring that the host can carry the additional weight and the arrows would stay in place even in high speed maneuvers.~
+ STORES 50 ARROWS PER QUIVER (×2)
- 20% OVERALL ARROW WEIGHT REDUCTION WHEN STORED
° SWORD AND SHIELD
~The short sword combines the fangs and tusks of Skitterpigs and Grimfangs, sharpened and tempered to rival even high quality steel. Its hilt and scabbard are made from a strong yet lightweight wood that is found on the forest and grounded bones from the hunted animals to feature not only intricate designs but also prioritizes a comfortable grip and seamless storage.~
~The shield incorporates polished and strengthened bones interwoven with ancient forest hard wood. A leather strap allows for convenient back storage when not in use.~
• [SUB-STAT]:
+ 225 ATTACK
+ 225 DEFENSE
° DAGGER (x2) AND SPEAR
~Both daggers utilize the combined fangs and tusks of Skitterpigs and Grimfangs. A new addition allows one dagger to be stored directly in the front chest armor. Its hilt consist of a strong yet a lightweight forest wood for superior grip and control.~
~The spear maintains the same exceptional quality and construction principles, it is flexible and strong with a height of 7 feet.~
• [SUB-STAT]:
+ 225 ATTACK (DAGGER) (x2)
+ 225 ATTACK (SPEAR)
• ADDITIONAL SUB-STAT WHEN WEAPON SET IS FULLY EQUIPPED:
+ ACTIVATES WHEN SHIELD IS EQUIPPED, ACTIVE SKILL [CLASS V - NOVICE - SHIELD BASH] , (+5s STUN)
[DAGGER]
[SUB-STAT]:
+ 10% DAMAGE INCREASE (×2)
+ 10% DAMAGE REDUCTION (×2)
ACTIVATES WHEN HP THRESHOLD REACHES BELOW 25% HP
[DING! THE EQUIPMENT CHEST IS NOW FILLED WITH THE NEW AND UPGRADED GEAR SET; PLEASE CHECK IT OUT!!!]
Beyond the notification, the satisfied smile of the old craftsman radiated with pride in his creations for his worthy host.
August rushed to the chest sitting in the corner of his room, eyes widening at the magnificent equipment awaiting him. Each piece represented not just protection and power, but the culmination of his accomplishments and growth.
"Damn! Not only does it look good, but it also has very nice stats and sub-stats added on top of it, along with new skills too," he marveled, already imagining testing his new gear during the upcoming spring season, complementing his recently acquired magical knowledge.
"Thank you very much!" August exclaimed gratefully.
Magnus beamed with pride, his smile stretching from ear to ear at seeing his master's genuine pleasure with his craftsmanship.
Dorothy could only shake her head and sigh indulgently.
[BOYS! AND THEIR FASCINATIONS WITH COOL THINGS.]
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Information Panel
[INFO PANEL: MASTER AND STUDENT]
+ 20% LEARNING SPEED, UNDERSTANDING OF SUBJECT, AND MASTERY
+ 0.5 ADDITIONAL INCREASE IN TRAINED STAT UNDER THE MASTER'S PRESENCE, IF HOST SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES THE STAT TRAINING
+ INCREASE OF GUARDIAN BEAST FAVORABILITY TOWARDS WARD
+ SHARED UNDERSTANDING WITH EACH OTHER
The bond between August and Aetherwing continued to deepen, transcending the typical relationship between teacher and student. Their connection fostered accelerated learning, mutual growth, and a synchronicity that would serve them well in the challenges that awaited beyond the sanctuary of Maya Village.