What I wasn’t expecting was that Opportunist was a skill path as well! Two brand new branches formed in front of me, both level 1 and both costing 2,000 per rank.
Titan Hunter Tier One:
- Territorial Awareness: You automatically become aware of a Titan’s presence and location when entering its territory.
- Tempting Recipe: Brewing Bloodpoints, Firnin and animal blood creates a Titan Lure. Depending on the amount of Bloodpoints and Firnin spent, this Lure will attract a Titan to the location over a number of days, weeks or months. The Titan will seek the lure and consume it once it is found.
- Titan Blind: You gain the ability to construct a Titan Blind out of monster bone and foliage. These small buildings render occupants invisible to Titans. Even a Titan actively searching for the occupants is fooled by the Blind and will not engage unless directly attacked from within the building.
Opportunist Tier One:
- Improvised Trapping: You may create any trap you have learned with objects from your surroundings. The quality of this trap will be low and it will break immediately after the use is finished, but the trap will achieve its intended purpose.
- Follow Up: After you deal critical damage to an enemy, you may immediately strike the exact same spot again with a single attack.
- Creative Circumvention: Once per day, you may gain a creative insight into your enemy’s defenses, allowing you to bypass a single immunity of your choice.
These were interesting to say the least. Titan Hunter was more like…for actually hunting Titans, not really for fighting them. Though, I guess that was to be expected since it wasn’t called Titan Killer or Titan Slayer. Still…these were useful in a way. The ability to know where Titans were when I moved into their territory? And the ability to lure them? Stuff I’d pocket for later, for certain, though nothing of immediate value now.
Opportunist on the other hand had two automatic buys. Follow Up and Creative Circumvention were a deadly combo, especially when combined with my True Arrow ability. If the Shadow Titan had no corporeal form, I could use Creative Circumvention to deal regular damage to it and Follow Up to fire another lethal shot. And both for only 4,000 Bloodpoints! What a steal!
I finished up selecting my bonuses and watched as my Hunter’s Profile shifted once more, updating my rank and proudly displaying my brand new skills.
Avery Lorn: Titan Hunter
Health: 90%
Mana: 100
Bloodpoints: 1,000
Stats:
Strength: 4 (2+2)
Dexterity: 4
Intelligence: 4
Perception: 3
Charisma: 4
Stealth: 2
Archery: 10
Tracking: 5
Navigation: 7
Trapping: 3
Acrobatics: 10
Surprise Attack
Clean Retrieval
Search I
Light Step
Snare Trap
Leap
Archer’s Eye
Recognizable Scent
Fast Movement
Spear Trap
Safe Fall (40ft)
Piercing Shot
Tracker’s Instincts
Home Territory
Advanced Bear Trap
Dodge Reflex
Focus Breaker
On the Trail
Expedition Leader
Perfect Balance
Rapid Shot
Danger Sense
Acrobatic Training
Multi-shot
Strider
Acrobat’s Grip
Swift Hands
Group Captain
Air Combat I
Sniper’s Aim
Springheels
Explosive Shot
Homing Shot
First Aid: 5
Alchemy: 7
Magician: 7
Spellbow: 4
Giantslayer: 7
Opportunist: 3
Skilled Extraction
Mystic Recovery
Spell Saver I
Fell The Mighty Oak
Follow Up
Physiological Examination
Mana Boost
Spell Arrow
Obsession
Creative Circumvention
Enhanced Mixtures
Student
True Arrow
Invigorating Roar
Apprentice
Dabbler
Arrowfinder
The Harder They Fall
Nourishing
Journeyman
Hindered Regeneration
Extra Sip
Mystic Vision
Iron Meets Steel
Charm Trick
Coresight
Illusions:
Weapons:
Armor:
Tools:
Bone Charms:
Alchemy:
Dazzle
Bone Bow: Strong Fire Affinity
Swift Medium Scale Leather
Slots: 1
Expanded Bag
Max Level Kinru Charm
Firnin: 0
Phantom Sound
Iron Crossbow x3
Swift Blackoak Greaves
Level 1 Fitzon Charm
Estoan: 0
Enchantments:
100 Tooth Arrows
Blackoak Vambraces
Slots: 1
Level 2 Fylk Charm
Kaos: 0
Return Arrows
Bone Bow: Strong Sonic affinity
Level 1 L’Gara Charm
Potion of Speed: 2
Switching Arrow
Bone Bow: Strong Lightning Affinity
Level 3 Fungara Maestro Charm
Blessings of Swiftness
Level 1 Ligoran Charm
Expand Satchel
Level 1 Great Wyrm Charm
Thunder Arrow
Manipulation:
Level 1 Lurbia Charm
Summon Quiverling
Minor Spellburst
Level 1 Hypnosin Charm
Strong Elemental Affinity
Minor Telekinesis
Level 1 Glurp Charm
Weaponlink
Weigh Down
Level 1 Griffin Charm
Bless Boots
Level 1 Tyndel Charm
Titanic Weapon: Josiah’s Storm
Slayer: 3
Striker: 4
Artillerymaster: 3
Bow-Bond: 2
Munitions Specialist: 2
Damage Rating: 5
Bow Connection
Forceful Hit
Indirect Fire
Gift of Intelligence
Breach Charge Recipe
Weapon Speed: 2
Rage of the Slayer
Unmoving Arrows
Barrage
Partnership
Triggered Charges
Special 1: N/A
Endurance Surge
Agonizing Strike
Range Extension
Special 2: N/A
Snap Shot
I just hoped these would be enough to let us kill that damn Shadow Titan.
Chapter 33
“Well?” Trig asked as he held his slender, violet-skinned wife by his side. She was better fed than most of the survivors, though there was quite a disturbing reason for that.
I continued to scan the area around us, eyes searching the darkness desperately. Behind us, the village was quietly moving, single file, back down into the hut that housed the stairs leading into the underground cavern. Into their old prison cells. Once a place of horror, it was, ironically, their only shelter from the beasts above. One entry point, guarded by green flame and the Vessel, who was slowly beginning to retain its immense power. If the Shadow Titan made a run on the village, they’d have to really work hard to get to the people.
“No good,” I sighed. “I can’t see a core anywhere. No sign of anything like that.”
“Damn,” Trig replied, sighing just as heavily as I, dropping his head down. We both knew what this meant. We’d have to split up. I’d have to go out into the darkness and search for the Shadow Titan alone.
“Do not lower your head in these easy times,” his wife scolded. “You must look strong for the children and the feeble-minded.”
Trig lifted his head up at that and nodded. “Yes, yes,” he mumbled. I couldn’t help but chuckle at this new dynamic. 41 certainly had an interesting definition of easy times. But then again, based on previous circumstances, an impending threat was a big upgrade from a perpetual one.
“Time’s of the essence, Trig. I’m moving out now,” I paused and glanced at 41. Would she get a new name? Had she opted to keep it out of spite? Either way it was weird calling a person a number. “Uh, Mrs. Trig? Could you give us a moment?”
She clung tightly to
