Chapter 128: Destiny Redux Finale

Porkchop left the den, following closely behind the Matriarch as she led the way through the deep forest. It was identical to how he remembered it. Tree trunks, thick enough that it would take a dozen of him lying end to end to match their thickness, were spread wide with their canopies shading all that lay beneath.

The air was charged with magic, each little shift in the warm breeze bringing with it the electrifying scent of the arcane. When a particularly potent wave passed through, the ferns that sprouted like the lesser trees he had seen over the mountains curled their fronts, trying to absorb as much of the arcane wind as they could.

It was pleasant, and full of life. Yet it held some differences. For one, there was no ever present feeling of danger. No cub left the den without an adult to watch over them, not until they were right on the cusp of their choosing and had the size necessary to fight off the odd low levelled threat that was present at the edges of the mountains.

Here, on the grounds of his choosing, there was no risk. No fear of a toothy horror of the second tier wandering in from the depths of the sea. Sure, it had almost never happened at his den. It was his family’s raising den. Right at the edge of the high mana zone, it was leagues safer than the inner reaches of the forest.

The Matriarch pushed through the undergrowth, clearing him a path. Then, as soon as he was through, she let the thick bushes snap back into place and stepped aside to reveal three clear pools of water, a single fish swimming in their depths.

All were green, though one was the deep emerald of fathomless waters, another the bright lime of new shoots, and the other a rich verdant shade that shone of powerful vitality.

“Your skills, young one. Approach and they will be revealed to you. Choose carefully, because once decided there will be no reconsiderations.” his guide said firmly, prodding him forwards.

Porkchop approached the pools one by one, each revealing a potential option for his first class skill.

Celadon Aegis:

Class Skill- Tier I

Affinity: Crystal, Martial

Type: Defence (Armour), Summoning, Equipment

Selection Available!

Heroic

Bound by sacred pacts of stone and primal spirit, the Warden of Sacred Jade is wrapped in an adamantine carapace. An unyielding bastion in the face of assault, the Warden is a living barrier that stands between its allies and harm.

This skill summons barding on the user, made of heavy plates of sacred jade that are highly resistant to both physical and magical damage. This requires a channelled cost of 500 mana, and an upkeep cost of 5 mana per minute. Broken jade plates regenerate when additional mana is channelled into the skill, or when the skill is refreshed.

Every level reasonably increases armour plate durability and density.

Every level reasonably reduces armour weight

Every level slightly reduces the cost to regenerate broken armour.

Every 50 levels increases the barding’s coverage.

…

Crystal Fang Barrage:

Class Skill- Tier I

Affinity: Crystal, Earth

Type: Ranged, Offence (Magic)

Selection Available!

Unusual

From within the earth, ancient fangs rise to strike down all who oppose. Few withstand the bite of jade.

This skill summons a pair of crystal fangs that hover over the user, launching towards an enemy within 30 strides. Requires 100 mana.

Every level reasonably increases the size, velocity and sharpness of the fangs.

Every level moderately increases the armour penetrating capabilities of the fangs.

Every 10 levels increases the number of fangs by 1.

…

Verdant Reprisal:

Class Skill- Tier I

Affinity: Crystal, Arcane

Type: Area of Effect, Reactive, Defence(Aura)

Selection Available!

Heroic

Strike if you wish, but understand this: jade does not shatter; it endures, absorbing every blow until it reaches a breaking point. And when it does, it will answer each strike in kind, with roots that run deep and thorns that never relent.

At an ongoing cost of 50 stamina per minute, the user creates a zone around themselves that absorbs a portion of damage, and stores that as arcane energy. Once saturated the user may dispel the aura, causing a shockwave of energy infused with jade shards around them that is proportional to damage absorbed.

Every level reasonably increases maximum possible stored energy.

Every level minutely increases the conversion rate of energy.

Every level minutely increases the range of the shockwave.

A/N: Retconning mysterious Aura that we haven’t seen yet to Essence, as aura is way too useful of a descriptor and type of abilities

Porkchop immediately discarded Crystal Fang Barrage. The entire reason he had picked the class he had was to turn himself into a bulwark that could withstand the hells themselves. He wanted to be in the thick of things, shrugging off blows like they were nothing. A magical attack was the opposite of that. Even if it had fit, it was the only option that was not Heroic.

His other two options were far harder to pick between. The Aura looked fantastic, and he could not deny that there was a primal satisfaction in the idea of soaking up enemy fury and unleashing it in turn.

Still, while in any other case it might have been a perfect choice, it was a stiff competition. Armour, that was something he had come to appreciate. His barding might have been light, and mostly leather, but even then it had saved him from many a wound at the hands of common depths-born.

It was only against Champions, and the Guardian, that its defence proved lacklustre. Yet, garbed in heavy plates of jade? Supported by a skill that would grow with him? That had an appeal in a league of its own.

He could see it now, covered from snout to tail in a suit of crystal that made dwarven heavy-plate look thin and fragile, its weight bolstering his own as he charged into battle, crushing all before him as spell and blade were both turned aside. Drawing all attention to himself as his brother tore into their flank, their enemies unable to stand up to their combined might.

Verdant Reprisal was fantastic, and he sincerely wished he would see it again. It would pair beautifully with Celadon Aegis, but the latter skill was far more in line for what he envisaged for his bloodline. Besides, the added weight of the armour would pair beautifully with a number of his skills.

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“You have made your choice.” his guide observed, looking at him evenly.

“I have.” Porkchop said, bowing his head. “Thank you for your guidance, Matriarch.”

“It is my duty.” she replied, lowering her hair by the barest hairsbreadth. “It is always a pleasure to guide someone with such a firm conviction in who they seek to be. I will leave you now. Once you have chosen your skill you will remain here until the transformation of your body is complete, then you will return to the land of the waking.”

Porkchop watched in respectful silence as his guide padded off into the depths of the forest, disappearing into the dense undergrowth. Then she was gone, and he was alone with the soft whisper of summer wind and the murmuring of a forest full of life.

Wandering over to the pool that contained Celadon Aegis, he acted on instinct and lunged inwards. Snatching the bright green fish out of the water, he gulped it down, enjoying the rich taste of impenetrable fortitude that coated his tongue.

The skill settled in, forged by his bloodline construct before its nexus of power crystalised in his soul-space and moved to orbit his soul, perpendicular to the orbit of his legacy skills.

A patch of sunlight shone through the canopy overhead, alighting on a small grouping of clover. Porkchop ambled over and sat to rest. He decided to pull up his status while he waited for his transformation to finish; it wasn’t like there was anything else to do.

Without even thinking about it, he added his spare point to Endurance. He wanted as much health as he could get, so he would mostly split them between that and Vitality, although he did plan on using them occasionally to bolster his other weaker stats.

Status:

Name: Porkchop (He-who-does-not-listen-and-lacks-wisdom)

Dynasty: Den of Moonless Nights

Age: 19