BXBX NOVEL Chapter 246: Repeat after me [1/2]
No longer concerned with starvation or shelter, man began to learn about his surroundings. Somehow, the lives of the people of Hellsgate would already have followed a similar path.
The first ones there would must have been scared and focused on not dying. And we, the generation that came much later, now reaped the benefits of what the pioneers learned. But it was not enough.
Take, for example, the rules of Devil's Remains and Malice. Or the arbitrary limit of 100,000 souls. How did our kind learn such knowledge?
It was undoubtedly through sacrifice and hardship. Just like now. Aki just said that currently, no one knew how {Fates} evolved. All they understood was that you expended souls to evolve them.
The {Fate} downloads in particular were extremely limited. They did tell you how to use a {Fate} and some specifics, but that was it. Everything else had to be learned through experimentation and experience.
{Rewind} was a great example, the {Fate} download taught me the steps needed to invoke the thing in the first place. Specifically, how to use {Auto} and {Save}. However, it failed to explain the nuances of its use.
The position of {Save} as a vulnerability was an example. Similar to my fight with Aki, a malicious opponent may choose not to fight head-on, but instead set traps.
On the flip side, one thing I learned from my repeated battles was status and inertia canceling.
Simply put, any status ailments I might have along with any momentum from inertia were nullified when I invoked {Rewind}. The applications of this knowledge could be used for both good and bad.
If I was poisoned or cursed, the benefits were immediate. However, the reverse is also true. For example, if I were to receive a unique buff from a deity of some sort, {Rewind} would remove that buff in a similar manner.
Talking to my {Fates} was something no one taught me, but through my experiences, my {Fates} and the ones belonging to the Sirens were definitely sentient. I believed my own experiences more than what Academics would write about.
"If that is so, then let me demonstrate. {Code}, can you please simplify my status screen even further? Remove the owners, durations, and costs. Please add the combos to this screen. Finally, although not official yet, please list the Sirens as my {Kindred}."
A warm sensation emanated from my soulgem as the {Fate} went to work. The information on the screen suddenly fritzed like a PC as I displayed my status, then returned.
___
Name: Limitless
Rank: Phantom
Soul Capacity : {Fate} 8/8 | {Kismet} 3/10
Souls Available : 63,202 | To evolve: 75,000
Fate Loan Duration: 8 D
Experience the best on NovelFire _emp _yr.
{Fates}
1. {Rewind} | Lvl 4 | Sub: {Reload}, {Regen}, {Replace} (6) Sup: {Save}, {Auto}
2. {Code} | Lvl 4 |Sub: {Connect} , {Shutdown}, {Program}
3. {Withstand} | Lvl 4 | Sub: {Endure}, {Counter}, {Block} Sup:{Suffer}
4. {Listen} | Lvl 4 | Sub: {Interpret}, {Dampen}, {Announce}
5. {Perceive} | Lvl 4 |Sub: {Aim}, {Snipe}, {Imaging}
6. {Carry} | Lvl 4 | Sub: {Pack}, {Hike}, {Ascend}
7. {Eat} | Lvl 4 | Sub: {Gather}, {Digest}, {Carve}
8. {Store} | Lvl 5 | Sub: {Retrieve}, {Stock}, {Withdraw}, {Portal}
{Kindred} : Isabella Taurus | Liv Ivaldi | Josephine Benelli | Jasmine Denel | Robyn Lithgow | Aki Miroku | Lilly Browning
{Kismet} : {Limitless} v.2 | {EXA} v2 | {Armory}
[Combo] : [Flash step] | [Absorb] | [Skywalk] | [Weakpoint Targeting] | [Tank]| [Battering Ram] | [Double Damage]
Soulgear: {Honey Trap}
___
"..." x7
It looked much more complete, but it was still too crowded. I wanted to whittle it down even more.
"Thank you {Code}. Can you ask {Gather} to combine the {Limitless} page with my main screen? Use video games as a reference. And this still is too complicated, please simplify it."
Exa then appeared on the screen and relayed a message.
[Limitless, {Eat} says it will copy the tooltip from games instead. Moving forward only what you focus on will be explained. {Code} also expresses its displeasure that you are calling {Eat} when the status screens are her domain].
"Is that so? Tell her that is fine, I rely on her anyway."
[Roger, Limitless, additional combo skills have been discovered, do you want to optimize Siren's {Fates} as combo skills instead?]
"Okay."
The screen faded again, revealing an even smaller status screen.
___
Name: Limitless
Rank: Phantom
Souls Available : 63,202 | To evolve: 75,000
{Fates}: {Auto} | {Save} | {Rewind} | {Reload} |{Regen} | {Replace} (6)
{Fate} Loan expiration: 8 D
{Limitless} Status: Not Activated
{Kismet} 3/10 : {Limitless} v.2 | {EXA} v2 | {Armory}
Active skills: {Eat} | {Portal} | {Program} | {Dampen} | {Announce} | [Double Damage] | [Battering Ram] | [Absorb] | [Hack] | [Inventory]
Passive skills:
[Wizard Suite]: {Interpret} | {Code} | {Gather} | {Imaging} | [Weak point Targeting]
[Hunter Suite]: {Listen} | [Flash step] | [Skywalk] | [Eagle eye]
[Warrior Suite]: [Tank] | [Load] | {Digest}
{Kindred} : Bella T. | Liv I. | Jo B. | Jas D. | Robyn L. | Aki M.
| Lilly B.
Soulgear: {Honey Trap}
___
"Vai tomar no cu! Honey! What the fuck?! I didn't know {Code} could even do that!"
"Indeed, if those records are from his soulgem, then {Code} can forge soul records. I wonder if Identification {Fates} can see the real information of our beloved."
"Heh, my name is on my darling's kindred list. I'm so happy!"
"Why in the world am I placed last, dear?"
"I believe it is the order in which husband received our {Fates}. Bella came to him first. That would mean that the order can only be changed eight days from today."
"Hmph, then I will come first next week! Possum, wash your lips, they are mine."
"Ara! Try your best Robyn, I definitely won't lose."
Speaking of a completely different approach, my status was now based on the {Kismet} {Limitless}. Since I have no intention of taking anyone else's {Fate}. I chose to no longer see who owned what, nor the soul capacity cost.
Responding to my will, {Code} and {Gather} reorganized my records to be compact and readable. I liked my stuff simple. More interesting was the way the new combo skills were created. I actually had four new ones.