Chapter 107: Dylak’s Revenge (Part 23) – Blazing Combat Maid – Part 1

******’You want to learn more abilities? Oh… This is the first time you ask me about how to improve yourse—N-no, no, it’s okay! You asked the right person! Let’s see… Huh? Did Clara tell you that? Well, you could obviously copy the skills that are compatible with your class, but I suggest you can come up with your own! Trust me, the Novus’ Combat System is super flexible. You can unlock new abilities through pure experimentation. So use the tools already at your disposal in a way that makes sense, and the System will interpret them as a new skill. Got it? Hmm? W-why are you giving me that weird look? I can’t explain it more easily than that!” *****

** That’s what Amelia told me a couple of days ago, and I’ve witnessed it. My constant use of Quick-Thinking while aiming my gun unlocked the ‘Steady Shot’ skill. **

**So, with that in mind, I’ll force Anastasia to learn a new skill…**

Every time Dylak charged forward, Anastasia kept him at bay by creating ice stalagmites. Her movements and the speed of her spell-casting had radically increased thanks to Alan’s stat manipulation.

The frustrated Dylak missed every hit, creating craters where Anastasia was standing just a moment ago. The ground trembled, clouds of dust covered the battlefield, and spikes of ice sprouted out of nowhere for over a couple of minutes.

“Stay still, you bitch!” Dylak shouted, jumping and trying an aerial attack, which the NPC blocked with an improvised ice ceiling, as sturdy as any wall.

++”How much time until dawn?!”++ Alan asked Aaron through Party Chat.

++”Seven minutes.”++

++”What about your temperature, Anastasia?”++

++”It keeps lowering every time I use Ice Crafting, Master. It gradually becomes harder to move.”++

++”Don’t worry. The next thing I’ll ask you to do will heat you up. So, what do you think, Aaron? Will it work? Will she be able to learn a new skill this way?”++

++”Skills and Special Moves are learned at a faster rate while fighting a formidable enemy… So it’s possible.”++

++”All right, then! I think it’s time to try it. These defensive maneuvers won’t work any longer,”++ Alan said, watching the exasperated Dylak tearing through the thick ice barriers in a more desperate manner.

The boss shouted: “I know what you’re trying to do, Alan Warden! I assure you that stalling this battle until dawn won’t work, you coward!”

Alan exhaled, remembering his battle against the Wereweasenox, and the skill that allowed Bella to defeat such an overwhelming enemy.

**Once the battle was over, I checked Bella’s body. She had burn marks all over her chest, back and limbs. It was painful to see, even if she could not feel it… But this time, we’re prepared.**

++”Anastasia…” he called, as a black claw pierced the ice wall in front of them. “Do it.”++

++”Yes, Master.”++ She nodded, turning her magic sword off. She then emanated a red aura that surrounded her body. “Major Fire Boost, Overheat.”

Anastasia’s ‘mechanical body’ looked incandescent for a moment, while puffing steam out of vents in her back.

+++++++Notice: Minion’s stats increased.

Strength + 1

Vitality + 1

Agility + 1

Spirit + 1

++++Warning: The ‘Overheat’ state will damage your minion overtime.+++

++”Whoah! This is as good as the Creature of the Night boost! Perfect! Did lowering Anastasia’s temperature beforehand work?”++

++”Yes, Alan,”++ Aaron replied. ++”Ignore the System’s warning. It’ll take some time for Anastasia to reach a critical state.”++

++”All right! Now, use Modding and subtract one point from Vitality, Agility and Spirit each, and add them to Strength.”++

++”Auto-casting, success. I’ll show you the results.”++

——————-

++++ANASTASIA+++

STRENGTH – SILVER C

VITALITY -SILVER E

AGILITY – SILVER E

SPIRIT – BRONZE B

POTENTIAL – BRONZE A +1

—————————

++”Potential increased? Did we get a free extra point?”++

++”No. The system automatically updated it according to Anastasia’s new stats. It is a very rough estimate.”++

++”Fine by me! Anastasia, crush him!”++

Once the vampiric boss tore down the last defense, Anastasia deflected his incoming claw with a shield bash and hit him in the face with her sword. The unsuspected Dylak stepped back, bleeding from his nose.

++”For a moment I thought we may have killed him, but that attack didn’t decapitate him at all!”++

++”Even though Anastasia’s strength increased, Dylak’s Vitality is so high right now that her silver-tier blade can’t cut through his skin!”++ Aaron informed.

“Whatever!” the flustered Alan cried out loud, casting: “Mechanic-Class Active Skill, Puppet Master!”

++”Anastasia has accepted the connection.”++

++”Aaron, create new keyboard shortcuts for her Ice Crafting.”++

++”Done.”++

++”Good! Let’s end–“++

“Even with all those boosts, you’re still outclassed!” Dylak shouted, kicking Anastasia so fast that Alan could not block in time. The NPC ended up crashing against a dead tree that turned into dust, 65 feet away.

++”D-dammit, I couldn’t see his movements! Don’t tell me he was holding back!”++

++”No, Alan. This results from you connecting with Anastasia. Hers and Dylak’s Agility are so high right now for you to keep up.”++

++”I-it’s okay, it’s okay. I’ll compensate for it by using Quick-Thinking and Puppet Master at the same time!”++

++”You could, but Alan, a quick reminder,”++ Aaron said, floating in front of his face to get his full attention. ++”Having Ghost in the Machine constantly active consumes mana. A tiny fraction, yes, but a steady one, nonetheless. You have also been using several Active Skills during the night without a single break. If you use Quick-Thinking now…”++

++”I’m fine! Amelia gifted me this bracelet,”++ Alan said, lifting his arm, showing the blue-encrusted piece of gear. ++”This gives me a Spirit bonus, so I’ll use that!”++

++”Only a minor boost, Alan,”++ Aaron called, simulating a concerned tone of voice. ++”The only reason you still have mana is thanks to the item.”++

Suddenly, the memory of Amelia, gifting him the bracelet crossed his mind:

****”I crafted this for you. I hope you like it. You do? I mean, of course you do! I have good taste, eh? But this is not only cosmetic. Consider this a gift to celebrate that you have finally found a class you’re comfortable with. Since you explained to me that you benefit from the Spirit stat, I imbued this with a lazurite… N-no, you got it wrong. It may look like a high-end piece of equipment, but this is still a bronze-tier gear. I’ll craft you a new silver-tiered one once you reach level 20, okay?”****

++”I’ll be fine!”++ Alan said, pushing the little spirit away. ++”It’s only a matter of minutes until Dylak gets debuffed. So let’s concentrate on surviving for now, okay? Active Skill, Quick-Thinking!”++

Alan regained control of Anastasia and sent her forward where Dylak awaited, standing still.

“Earth Boost, Living Fortress…” the boss casually cast before Anastasia stroked him with her sword.

The result: Her blade shattered into pieces.

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