I told her I would, so she sent me a mental prompt that filled my vision with information.
Holy Light Skill Tree Options:
Searing Touch (Active): Enfield’s talons and fangs are imbued with the fire of light itself. +10% Light Damage to all physical attacks. +50% damage to creatures of darkness. Duration: 5 minutes. Cooldown: 1 hour. (Damage output increased with each Affinity Level)
Holy Touch (Active): Using the infinite grace of Citlali, healing energy passes through the enfield and into any given target, restoring 25% of total HP lost. Range: 10 yards. Cooldown: 10 minutes. Cannot heal self.
I sat up and faced Pachi, sitting crosslegged in front of her. I know we keep ignoring your lovely talons, but don’t you want Holy Touch?
I do. I just wanted you to be there with me when I make the selection. It is sad that I cannot make my talons more terrifying, though.
I scratched her cheek soothingly. The next time you have a choice, we’ll choose the one that lets you tear through your enemies fast, okay?
This seemed to mollify her somewhat, and I moved on to check my own notifications.
Affinity Skill unlocked: Because your companion pet has achieved Level 2 in their chosen Affinity, you can now choose a skill that aligns with the corresponding element. Light: Choose one of the following Active skills: Blinding Shot, Guardian’s Aura, Lunar Flare.
Blinding Shot: Imbuing an arrow with the light of the heavens, this attack causes no physical damage but may cause Blind or Dazed debuffs. Chance of success dependent on creature’s affinity or elemental alignment as well as level. Debuff lasts for thirty seconds. Charge time: 4 seconds. Cooldown: 2 minutes.
Lunar Flare: Invoking the wrath of the heavens, a single attack is imbued with star fire. Attack damage increased by 25%. Burn debuff is applied to target, which reduces 3% of total HP every 5 seconds for a total of 30 seconds. Damage bonus is stackable with other powered attacks or skills. Attack must land in order for Lunar Flare to be activated. Instant cast time. Cooldown: 5 minutes.
Guardian’s Aura: By calling upon the benevolence of the goddess Citlali, an aura of protection is placed around your entire party. All incoming damage reduced by 15%. Duration: 2 minutes. Cooldown: 10 minutes.
Pachi was excited to hear that her own progress had begun to improve my own strength as well. We immediately began discussing the benefits of the possible choices.
The hard part was deciding if we should go for extra protection with Guardian’s Aura or the extra damage that came with Lunar Flare. I’d been happy to receive buffs from Madi and Alysand when we fought together, and more than once had felt like I wasn’t pulling my share.
If I had a party buff of my own, it could help out in countless ways. The fifteen percent damage reduction wasn’t huge, but when things got grim, as they had so often, that was enough to spell the difference between victory or defeat.
Lunar Flare was just too cool, though. What really tipped the scale was the stackable attribute. I could use it stacked with my other skills and my damage would skyrocket. That could be enough to take a sizable chunk out of a boss’s HP or fell a lesser mob in a single blow.
I made the selection, then gave the mental command “Character Status” to check my overall progress.
Hana Kotoba: Level 24
Class Rank: Novice Hunter
HP: 7344/7344 HP
Armor Rating 106
Vitality 32 (+3)
Strength 17 (+1)
Dexterity 29 (+9 ,+10% total)
Intelligence 18
Stamina 23 (+4)
Excellent! My HP had nearly doubled since the last time I checked, and my other attributes had increased as well.
We were getting stronger, and though our goals seemed to continue to escalate in difficulty, it was hard not to feel up to the task with Pachi at my side.
The sound of approaching steps brought me out of my reverie, and the galant figure of Alysand strode into view.
“Ah, the mighty Hana Kotoba has returned.”
“I have, and the insanely overpowered Alysand of, Old Gil was it?” When the man nodded, I continued, “Alysand of Old Gil had returned as well. Any luck hunting down rats?”
He gave a wicked grin, and not for the first time, I was glad the man was an ally. “Perhaps. A patrol was returning to the mine, and I deprived them of their tails.”
As he came closer, and the sun hit him full in the face, I winced. New lines etched his features, and his sideburns were streaked with silver, though his mustache remained a glossy black.
I asked him the question that had been on my mind, biting my lip. “That battle with the wyvern, with Anwar, it… cost you a lot, didn’t it?”
He also winced a bit, but answered shortly, “Yes. I will not be able to do so again. But please, let’s not discuss it.”
“Thank you.”
“What ever for, Hana?” he asked, his brow knitted together in honest inquiry.
“You did it to save our lives. Marduk was a lot of bear to handle, and that was a miracle we survived. Yet the size of that wyvern! And it could breathe fire, right? There’s no way Madi and I would have survived.”
“I didn’t do it for you. I slew the great Anwar because of a debt I owe his kin. Long ago, some of their number aided my cause. And his departure into evil demanded rectification. And yes, had he a chance to use his flame, we three would have died in an instant.”
I thought about it a moment, then finished the thread of conversation by repeating myself. “Still, thank you. Regardless of why you did it. Thank you.”
“Of course. Now, feel like a little more fishing? I have a special lure I’d like
