Chapter 27: I Am Going Home

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: I Am Going Home

[Shrine Ritual Complete]

[Anima Consumed: Basalt Dragonic Lizard]

[Blessing of the Basalt Dragonic Lizard — Unlocked]

Choose ONE Blessing. This choice is permanent.

Three options appeared before him, each one was accompanied by a faint shimmer of the Basalt Dragonic Lizard it had come from.

[1] EMBER-WARD HIDE

Grants partial resistance to fire and extreme heat.

Effect scales with Vitals: Pain Tolerance, Regeneration.

"The Basalt Dragonic Lizard was born of volcanic stone — flame was never its enemy."

[2] STONESKIN

Hardens the outer layer of skin to a density approaching volcanic rock.

Reduces physical damage taken from blunt and slashing attacks.

Effect scales with Vitals: Bone Strength, Muscle Density.

"Its hide turned blades before they ever found flesh."

[3] SHARDCLAW

Reshapes bone structure in the fingers and nails, hardening them into claw-like ridges capable of piercing lesser armor.

Effect scales with Vitals: Dexterity, Reflex Conditioning.

"Even buried in stone, the Basalt Dragonic Lizard’s claws were never dull."

Victor stared at the three options, his mind ran through the calculations.

He knew that he needed one blessing in order to be perceived as a beast and pass through the boundary, which in turn would allow him finish the first trial, and log out.

But what to pick was the problem. Ember ward provided partial resistance to fire because of the origin of the beast it came from.

This was useful in certain situations. At his level, it could prevent hot water burns and provide a degree of comfort even if he were under the desert sun. But any more than that and he would cook.

Unfortunately, it was not the best for where he was going. Once he left the boundary, there was the possibility of meeting other people, and Victor had no idea if they would be dangerous people or not.

Also, what of other beasts. That did not mean they were not other advantages. After all, that region would not be so hospitable to him.

Stoneskin would make his skin as thick as that of the beast it came from.

But unlike the Basalt Dragonic lizard, he would not be able to use it for a long period of time. In fact, at this stage of the game, it would only be possible for a few seconds.

But Victor remembered something very important about this one.

And that was the fact that it could activate passively without his involvement.

Of course it was the same for Ember ward. But at least he could observe it when it activated.

ShardClaw was different from the others. This hardened his bones and nails. If he had long nails and he could use them properly, he could even inflict the same quality of damage as a sword.

But this would need a SKILL BOOK to be really effective.

Those are a different find. There should be one hidden under the arena, but that one was not a skill book that was in line with this blessing.

Still, if a person was good with blades, this blessing as a foundation would be a good addition.

Also there was a fundamental part of this blessing that victor was running away from.

Yes. At heart, Victor had never been a fighter. Not exactly a coward, but why engage in a fight that would damage your body when you can simply turn and walk away.

If he took this, it meant leaning into being a front-line combatant, something Victor had exactly zero confidence he was built for.

He thought of Popo’s axe. Of Jaja’s footwork. Of every barbarian he’d watched die because their body couldn’t survive one hit too many.

His thumb hovered over the options, weighing durability against the ache in his ankle where the trap had bitten him minutes ago.

His gaze hardened as he made up his mind.

[Blessing Selected: STONESKIN]

[Congratulations, Player. You have chosen the Blessing of the Basalt Dragonic Lizard.]

Victor let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, watching as the notification expanded into more details.

[STONESKIN — Unlocked(Passive and Active)

Hardens the outer layer of skin to a density approaching volcanic rock upon activation.

Reduces physical damage taken from blunt and slashing attacks by a percentage scaling with Bone Strength and Muscle Density.]

Duration: 30 seconds per activation.

Cooldown: 5 minutes between uses.

Current Efficiency: 12% (Locked stats limit full potential)

[Congratulations, Player has unlocked Vital stats: Magic Points (MP)]

[MP:5]

Magic points were important in the usage of blessings.

As an otaku, he’d always wondered what magic would feel like. He closed his eyes a bit. There was a faint energy in his body. It started out itchy, but eventually became comfortable.

And then it vanished.

Wait! That’s it? Those Manwha make it look like a really big deal.

Then again, it could be because the MP he acquired was too small.

Victor sighed at this. His eyes dropped to another matter.

He read the cooldown twice, just to be sure he wasn’t misunderstanding it.

Thirty seconds. Then five minutes of nothing.

Not exactly the invincible fortress he’d half-hoped for.

Of course, he did expect it.

Still, thirty seconds was barely enough to survive one real exchange in, let alone an entire fight.

Then again battles could happen very quickly, and a second could be the boundary between life and death.

Then there was the five minutes of vulnerability afterward, which meant he couldn’t just spam it the moment things got dangerous. He’d have to time it.

The green light on him settled. The beast bead suddenly had a crack on it and it dimmed a bit.

It was just as he thought. This beast bead was only good for three blessings.

There was another advantage. And that was the fact that the bleeding on his leg had stopped. Victor believed that the MP had something to do with it.

It still hurt, when he willed in his mind, and the skin hardened around that place, he felt nothing.

He nodded at this. Then he turned to the boundary in this distance.

"I am going home."