Chapter 44: Passives
My decision is firm. Join the Blue Sky Guild? If I were the same person from my previous timeline, I would have eagerly seized the opportunity. But now, armed with knowledge about what lies ahead and the benefits of guilds, my response is crystal clear.
"No, I'm not interested in being tied down, even in a game. I value my freedom, so I'll stick to going solo for now, alright?"
Rika gave me a puzzled look. My refusal may have caught her off guard, but I had to be straightforward to put an end to her inquiries.
"Take a moment to reconsider, maybe? Joining a guild isn't as bad as it seems," Rika tried to persuade.
"Thanks for the offer, but my mind's made up. Guilds don't really pique my interest," I replied, finishing the contents of my bowl and placing my chopsticks neatly on top. "Thanks for the meal."
I left immediately after that. I needed a break from Rika's constant nagging, and staying any longer would drive me crazy with her explanations. I had everything planned out in my mind, and deviating from that plan would ruin everything.
I walked home instead of taking public transportation. I wanted to keep an eye out for troublemakers in the streets, to test my strength against them. It might seem a bit reckless, but I needed to know where I stood.
Unfortunately, luck wasn't on my side, and finding troublemakers was proving to be a challenge. Perhaps I should focus on training in the game for now. It was already 11:30 P.M., and most of the neighborhood's windows were dark. I made sure to lock all the doors and windows, double-checking the kitchen for any forgotten plugs in the sockets. Satisfied that everything was secure, I returned to my room and continued my mana-channeling practice. Though progress was slow, it was steadily improving. Afterward, I decided to log back into the game.
After logging back in, I found myself immersed in the game once more. With some free time on my hands, I could now manage the accumulated AP and SP from the past few days. I clicked on my status, and my current stats were displayed.
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Name: Bladeheart
Level 22
Experience: 10,000/20,000
Health Points (HP): 10,800/10,800
Mana Points (MP): 5,700/5,700
Attributes:
Strength (STR): Poor
[AP Bar: 105/200]
Agility (AGI): Poor
[AP Bar: 102/200]
Dexterity (DEX): Poor
[AP Bar: 115/200]
Endurance (END): Poor
[AP Bar: 112/200]
Intelligence (INT): Poor
[AP Bar: 117/100]
AP left to spend: 20
Title: Memento Mori
Skills: Click here to Open the skill trees
SP left to spend: 158
Equipment:
Head: Beginner Hood
Face: White Fur Wolf Mask
Upper Body: Green Armor
Lower Body: Beginner Pants
Shoes: Beginner Boots
Gloves: Beginner Gloves
Necklace: None
Left Arm: None
Right Arm: None
Ring: None
Weapon: Versatile Weapon
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Most of my gear consists of beginner-level items, and after using them extensively on my journey to the capital, they've become somewhat worn from battles with the enemies I've faced. Their durability has dropped by at least 10% of their original value. Fortunately, my hunt for bosses has left me with a surplus of equipment, so I can easily switch them out. Being a versatile character, I can wield various weapons and armor without any issues. As I access my inventory, I find a variety of equipment that suits my playstyle. I'm not too particular about what I use, but I prefer lightweight gear over heavier stuff. Some are common finds, while others are more rare. I select the pieces that catch my eye to replace my current gear, which is struggling to keep up with the challenges at hand.
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[Hood of Unity]
Type: Head Equipment
Rarity: Rare Tier
Level Required:19
Equippable by: Assassins, Hunters, and the Versatile
Stats:
END: 10
INT: 2
DEX: 5
Special: Slow 'n Steady HP Recharge - Gain 10 HP every 10 seconds. It's like a snack break for your health bar!
Info This hood doesn't just cover your noggin; it rocks it! Once upon a time, the coolest cats in history rocked this number to show they were tight-knit. Not just any hood can pull off unity, you know.
Note: Wearing this is like stepping into the shoes (or hood, rather) of a certain sneaky someone from a famous video game. It may seem like your everyday headgear, but it's got that Victorian Era vibe – like the fashion-conscious folks from that time dug it.
Durability: 200/200
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[Warrior Plated Pants]
Type: Lower Body Equipment
Rarity: Normal Tier
Level Required: 22
Equippable by: Swordsman, Paladin, Berserker, and Versatile
Stats:
END: 15
Info: These pants are like your trusty sidekick - always there when you need them. They offer both flexibility and protection, so you won't have to choose between dodging and tanking. These pants can take a beating, and it takes a lot to tear them apart.
Note: These are the pants that even squires would envy! Perfect for defending your knees and keeping the "arrow in the knee" at bay. Just remember, it's not a real arrow, it's just an old adventurer's joke.
Durability: 500/500
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[Sand-Proof Leather Boots]
Type: Footwear Equipment
Rarity: Normal Tier
Level Required: 15
Equippable by: Swordsman, Gunslinger, Alchemist, Versatile
Stats:
END: 10
AGI: 10
Info: These boots are the go-to choice for desert wanderers, protecting your tootsies from the blistering heat. They're as cozy as a warm campfire even when the sun's got its hat on!
Note: These boots are so cool; they're practically the Wild West's answer to comfortable footwear. Time to practice your cowboy tap dance moves because you've just upgraded to the desert saloon's finest dance floor! So, whether you're wrangling cattle, chasing down outlaws, or concocting mysterious elixirs, these boots are here to keep your feet happy and your style on point. Yeehaw!
Durability: 250/250
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[Bronze Cestus Gloves]
Type: Gloves Equipment
Rarity: Rare Tier
Equippable at Level 20
Equippable by: Swordsman, Berserker, Magic Knight, Fighter, Versatile
Stats:
STR: 5
DEX: 10
Special: Unarmed Combat - You can now fight against enemies using your fists.
Info: These gloves are like the lovechild of regular gloves and brass knuckles. They're designed for those spontaneous moments when you just need to throw a punch – without sacrificing style. They won't just give your enemy a black eye; you'll be collecting souvenirs from their dental hygiene kit!
Note: Even though we're not saying you should use these as a weapon, you totally can. Whether you want to educate some baddies or just relieve some stress, these gloves won't kill anyone, but they might leave them limping. (P.S. - Don't blame us if your enemies start a "No Punching" petition!)
Durability: 250/250
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I still have various items in my inventory, but the ones I've taken out are currently my best gear. Once I start honing my Blacksmithing skills, I'll be able to craft armor and equipment that align better with my play style. I can't keep using a mishmash of gear; it's wrecking my stats.
The new gear has noticeably boosted my stats. It's not just the joy of donning fresh equipment; my stats have surged too. With the surplus stat points, I decided to bolster my AGI with 10 points and beef up my STR with the other 10. I'm feeling pretty robust now and all set to go, though I'll need to wait for Almira to finish the armor she's working on to complete my setup. In the meantime, my current equipment will suffice.
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Name: Bladeheart
Level 22
Experience: 10,000/20,000
Health Points (HP): 13,800/13,800
Mana Points (MP): 5,700/5,700
Attributes:
Strength (STR): Poor
[AP Bar: 120/200]
Agility (AGI): Poor
[AP Bar: 112/200]
Dexterity (DEX): Poor
[AP Bar: 125/200]
Endurance (END): Poor
[AP Bar: 141/200]
Intelligence (INT): Poor
[AP Bar: 118/100]
AP left to spend: 20
Title: Memento Mori
Skills: Click here to Open the skill trees
SP left to spend: 158
Equipment:
Head: Hood of Unity
Face: White Fur Wolf Mask
Upper Body: Green Armor
Lower Body: Warrior Plated Pants
Shoes: Sand-Proof Leather Boots
Gloves: Bronze Cestus Gloves
Necklace: None
Left Arm: None
Right Arm: None
Ring: None
Weapon: Versatile Weapon
----
Well, that was quite a surprise. My END stat turned out to be the highest stat I've got right now. No complaints from me, though – it's just unexpected. I don't think I planned to be so beefy this early. Next, I decided to take stock of the SP I've accumulated over the past few days. I've got a whopping 158 Free SP to play around with, and when I add in the class-specific SP I've acquired, it's starting to feel overwhelming. Taking a look at the Class SP, here's what I found:
Swordsman: 385
Samurai: 100
Alchemist: 150
Ninja: 305
Assassin: 0
Hunter: 0
Cleric: 265
Paladin: 150
Holy Knight: 0
Magic Knight: 530
Magician: 560
Fighter: 0
Gunslinger: 0
Druid: 0
Berserker: 400
Whoa, that's a ton of SP! I never thought I'd accumulate so many across various classes. Sure, there are a few classes with zero SP, but that's no problem, thanks to the Free SP. Now, I won't ever have to worry about running short of SP for any specific skill.
I first checked the Swordsman's skills. It's been a while since I used to learn one.
Swordsman SP: 385 Free SP: 148
In the 1st Tier, we have:
1. Triple Slash (Active) - Learned
2. Shockwave Thrust (Active) - Costs 10 SP
3. Berserk (Active) - Learned
4. Reversal Swing (Active) - Costs 17 SP
5. Crescent Slash (Active) - Costs 20 SP
Moving on to the 2nd Tier:
1. Sixfold Slash (Active) - Requires [Triple Slash] and costs 10 SP
2. Vibration Thrust (Active) - Requires [Shockwave Slash] and costs 20 SP
3. Sword Concentration (Active) - Costs 21 SP
4. Sharpness I (Passive) - Costs 20 SP
5. Boomerang Slash (Active) - Costs 30 SP
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I clicked on the first passive to ensure the effect is indeed the effect I thought it would be.
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[Sharpness I]
Tier 2
Category: Passive
Info: Okay, folks, here's the deal - this thing makes your basic sword attacks hit harder. We're talking about more oomph behind each swing. Plus, to keep things interesting, there's a nifty 10% chance of landing a critical hit.
Note: Forget about sharpening stones and all that hassle – with Sharpness I, your sword's always ready to slice and dice, no whetstone required. It's like the weapon version of a self-sharpening kitchen knife – only cooler!
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Not bad. That is certainly a good addition to my plethora of skills. Since [Sharpness I] is the only passive available on the first two tiers, I jumped to the 3rd tier to take a good look at the other passives.
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3rd Tier
1. Dismemberment (Passive) - 30 SP
2. Charge Slash (Active) - 25 SP
3. Sharpness II (Passive) - Learned [Sharpness I] and 70 SP
4. Light Decapitation (Active)- 100 SP
5. Parry (Passive) - 100 SP
6. Light Poison (Passive) - 100 SP
7. Sword Aura (Passive) - 150 SP
8. Six-Sword Strike (Active)- 100 SP
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The 3rd Tier has more skills than the first two tiers. Also, aside from the first two skills, the rest are so costly that learning three of them would exhaust all of my Swordsman SP immediately. Let's check all the passives for now:
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[Dismemberment]
3rd Tier
Category: Passive
Info: This ability gives you a little surprise factor in battle - there's a small chance that your basic attacks will dismember enemy limbs, but only if you're wielding blade weapons.
Note: Just remember, this skill can turn you into the ultimate butcher! Say goodbye to boring pork chops; now you can really slice and dice!
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[Sharpness II]
3rd Tier
Category: Passive
Info: Time to up your sword game! Sharpness II gives your basic sword attacks a boost, packing a little more punch. Plus, you've got a 20% chance of landing a Critical hit, which is like hitting the bullseye in swordplay. And, just for fun, there's a 10% chance your opponent will bleed a little because even swords need a sense of humor.
Note: Good news, folks! Say goodbye to grindstones and all that boring maintenance. Now, your sword's got its edge all on its own, just like a self-sharpening chef's knife.
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[Parry]
3rd Tier
Category: Passive
Info: Gain the ability to block physical attacks and reflect the damage that should be meant for you, back to the instigator.
Note: Who needs a shield when you've got Parry? It's like bringing a rubber chicken to a sword fight, but it works!
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[Light Poison]
3rd Tier
Category: Passive
Info: Your basic attacks may not be as spicy as your grandma's chili, but they can pack a punch of their own. With every swing, you're injecting a little "light poison" into your foes. This poison does a humble 10 damage over the course of 10 seconds. Now, here's the best part - the poison stacks up to 10 times, and with each new stack, your poison damage gets even juicier. It's like the gift that keeps on giving, but with a sting!
Note: In the world of adventurers, we don't just slay monsters; we also brew a mean cup of Joe. So, next time you feel like spicing up your coffee or playing a prank on your caffeine-craving friend, just dip your trusty sword in there. Who knew that being a barista and a warrior could go hand in hand?
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[Sword Aura]
3rd Tier
Passive
Info: Ever feel like you're hitting enemies with a soggy noodle? Well, Sword Aura has your back! It's like your personal cheerleader, activating every 20 seconds to make you and your party members hit harder by increasing their attack power temporarily.
Note: If you somehow misplace your trusty sword, don't worry, just grab one of your auras and use it. Who knew your inner glow could be so lethal? (Maybe it's your aura that's the sharpest weapon in your arsenal, who knew?)
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone