009 – The Wild Hunt

Time to Seal: 06:07

The choices were presented as floating cards in front of me.

[Evolutionary Shortcut – Ability

Cost: 1 ATP
Duration: 10 Minutes
Apply one Trait available among current Shape selection to current Shape. Can’t select duplicates. Can’t select Trait that depends on missing Trait.

–

Tooth and Claw – Passive

Natural attacks deal +40% Damage and inflict Bleed.

–

Blasted! – Passive

Resistance against Fire and Blast Damage. Effect doubled against self-inflicted damage.]

I’d underestimated how powerful Perks could be. And overestimated how easy picking them would be.

“Gabriel, can you see those?”

“Yes. Share your thoughts.”

Lucy began explaining my options to Jamie.

“What does Resistance mean?”

“There is no hard math I can share, only that you take significantly reduced damage. Doubled Resistance would make you nearly immune, unless you happen to set up piercing explosives.”

“While that is pretty awesome, it is not synergistic. I won’t be going around setting up a whole lot of explosions any time soon. The evolution Ability is fucking amazing, but I think the second one is the right call, right? That is nearly free experience. Bleed them in a combat viable shape, shift to anything else, get the credit?”

“I agree.”

“Brutal,” Lucy whispered.

I selected Tooth and Claw. I felt a tingle in my hands and jaw. My nails lengthened into pointed tips. I ran my tongue over my teeth. My canines had lengthened. The Perk hadn’t said “while shapeshifted.”

I grinned at Jamie and Lucy.

“And this, kids, is why we read the fine print.”

Lucy shrugged. “I would have warned you, had you consulted me. But I’d say it’s not too bad. You look sharp.” They grinned, their pointed teeth now a mirror of mine. Sanctified spaces didn’t protect one from horrible puns, it seemed.

“I may be showing my true colors here,” Jamie said, “but I think that’s really damn cool.”

“Oh, you like your partners dangerous, hm? Feral even?” Lucy teased him.

“I didn’t say hot.”

“What does your code say about lying?”

“I didn’t say hot.”

I buried my face in my hands and turned to chat.

[“Should I stick with the plan? +2 all physical attributes? Even though I got the cup for more ATP?”]

Gabriel replied immediately, but also only in chat.

[“Absolutely. There will be moments when you need to rely on your human body. And just now it got a little more dangerous, too.”]

I assigned the points, raising my Strength and Endurance to 4 each, and my Agility to 5. That change was the weirdest yet. It wasn’t a single thing, but a lot of small changes, as the entire sensation of existing within my body shifted ever so slightly.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“You two should party up,” Gabriel said. “While your glyphs touch, you’ll have the option to start a party. Among other effects, you can see each other’s position on the minimap as well as share a part of any experience the other gets.”

Jamie held out his hand and helped me back up to my feet. Holding onto his hand, I found the menu option and extended a party invitation. A moment later he accepted and his portrait, along with his health and another bar showed up to the left of my UI. There was also a small blue dot right next to me on my minimap.