ALL NOVEL Chapter 140
The weeks wore on as Kyle and C.H.A.D.D. continued their field testing. A steady stream of mana-infused natural resources were secured, and Chester kept them moving from location to location, seldom staying in the same place more than a day or two. C.H.A.D.D., of course, found no shortage of different treasures that it wanted to absorb, and Kyle walked a fine balance between continuing to provide value to Corthian Mining while still providing fuel for the drone’s progression.
After locating a particularly rich haul of infused gemstones, Kyle got a note on his nav bracelet. It was from Benjamin.
Kyle,
Pulled some strings and got Chester to give you a break for a few days. Survey is almost done, and you know where he’s eager to go next. Let me know when you’re ready for a shuttle, I’d like to talk about what’s ahead, maybe do some exploring.
-Benjamin
The note was simple, and straightforward. Kyle knew Chester was chomping at the bit to explore the territory of the last D Grade. He’d been accommodating of the request to allow for field testing, though at this point the results were clear. C.H.A.D.D. still possessed its uncanny ability to detect treasures, and the highest likelihood of finding something unique was the area protected by the final beast.
Though he had squared off against three of the beasts already, there was a building sense of dread in Kyle’s heart. Fortunately, the time they’d spent testing had also borne fruit. Kyle felt it after dealing with a group of cave beetles in the defunct emerald mine, and found a quiet place to sit before entering meditation. He wanted to make his skill selection before going back to meet with Benjamin, after all.
KYLE MAYHEW. ARTHRO-HUMAN CHIMERA (PARASITE), SURVIVALIST. LEVEL 35 (D)
ADAPTIVE ANATOMY – 6/? – ENHANCED CARAPACE, AURIC PERCEPTION, EXOSKELETAL STRENGTH, CEASELESS VITALITY, INSTINCTIVE INTELLIGENCE, COVERT DEXTERITY
VITALITY: 641
ENDURANCE: 686
STRENGTH: 252
DEXTERITY: 487
WILLPOWER: 903
INTELLIGENCE: 903
PERCEPTION: 735
FREE ATTRIBUTES: 18
Kyle allocated his free attributes, putting the bulk into Endurance, with the remaining into Vitality. With a conflict on the horizon, even a slight edge in durability would be valuable. His current combat armor wasn’t much tougher than his skin, though every layer helped.
That done, he turned his attention to the three indistinct grey orbs floating before his vision. It was finally time for him to select his Level 35 skill.
SCOUT: The first grey orb was interesting, showcasing a skill unlike any Kyle had seen before. It looked like it built on the basics of his mana projection, and would allow him to control a remote sphere of mana, linked to his sense of vision. He had the impression of the glowing orb speeding through the air, unimpeded by the terrain. It was a skill designed to quickly cover ground and map his surroundings.
TRACKING: Another unique skill, also tied to mana projection. Kyle saw the ability to leave a lingering mana signature on a target after coming into contact. It would serve as a beacon, giving Kyle information on location and condition. Even more, he could sense that it would linger based on his Willpower, which is to say a really long time, even for a D Grade.
IDENTIFY: The final option followed the same theme, though the application was different. Instead of projecting mana, Kyle saw that this was more closely aligned to the principles behind HASTE, building upon the mana pathways in his eyes and drawing them into his brain. He’d seen similar skills at the hospital a lifetime ago, allowing doctors to diagnose patients without the need of a diagnostic drone. While this would be operating a different level, he felt the foundations were similar.
Kyle considered the three choices before him, and he was honestly disappointed. He had been hoping for a skill with strong combat applications, or something that would provide a great deal of flexibility. Instead, he had what he considered to be three foundational treasure hunting skills. He had no doubt that the time focused on tracking down and securing all the resources for Corthian Mining were underpinning the selections, which concerned him. How much of his growth had been altered by forces outside his control?
Not now, Kyle. Focus on what you CAN control. Setting his disappointment aside, each of the skills did have unique potential. Even if it wasn’t what he wanted, any choice would further expand his toolkit.
The first skill to go was TRACKING. It was interesting, and if Kyle was able to move past D Grade he thought there could be some very interesting upgrade paths. At the same time, he felt that it just didn’t suit him. Kyle wasn’t a hunter, chasing down targets for a finishing blow. If anything, his fights ended in death more often than they should due to the offensive application of PARASITIC RESONANCE.
That left the decision between IDENTIFY and SCOUT. He liked both, although they both felt a little redundant to him. C.H.A.D.D. provided a great deal of the utility that each brought to the table. So, Kyle could choose a skill that would let him more effectively explore the areas mapped out by the drone’s ping, or one that would allow him to better understand the properties of the things he saw.
Kyle’s mind drifted to all the strange situations they’d stumbled into, the energies that both he and C.H.A.D.D. had absorbed without understanding what they’d done. That thought, in many ways, made his decision for him. He was tired of stumbling about in the dark, and IDENTIFY might just be what he needed to stand in the light. He selected the skill, and hissed as he felt a searing sensation in and behind his eyes.
Blinking tears from his eyes as he stood up, Kyle signaled on the nav bracelet that he was ready for a shuttle. While he waited, he decided to test out his new skill. Focusing on a nearby tree, he activated IDENTIFY. The mana behind his eyes felt hot, and for a moment Kyle felt like something had gone wrong. Then, it was as if the tree had exploded into color. His eyes widened as he more than just saw the components of the tree, he understood them. The texture of the bark, the composition of the cells, the slow deterioration due to the chaotic mana… he could see all of it.
Even more, IDENTIFY seemed to interact in a strange way with Auric Perception. The adaptation allowed Kyle to sense the flow of mana in the air, and when used in conjunction with his new skill, Kyle could actually see the energy flowing. The chaotic red energy from the atmosphere covered the world in a haze, and internally he could see the tree try, and fail, to fully subvert the mana with its own.
Taking off the pack, Kyle decided to take a look at his drone companion. The swirling lights around C.H.A.D.D. were difficult to understand at first, though the longer he observed the drone the easier it became. Kyle saw mana being drawn in, chaotic energy moving in concert with the drone’s own core. He saw the gentle glow of all the different rune formations that were being powered. And, as he focused, he saw a small thread of mana, glowing golden, flowing into… nothing.
“C.H.A.D.D., do you mind if I test something with the world tree seed?”
[NOT AT ALL, DR. MAYHEW.]
“I’m going to push a little more mana through the connection, I think I see where it is.”
Without waiting for a response, Kyle put more energy through their connection, watching as the golden thread intensified. It was as if the energy flowed into the void, without a single mote of light escaping. Kyle sharpened his gaze, using the experience with HASTE to push more mana into IDENTIFY. As if peering through a keyhole, Kyle focused more and more on the golden thread, seeing it widen as more mana made it through the connection. Then he glimpsed it. For just a moment, he saw a world of color, the seed floating in its midst. Followed immediately by an incredibly sharp pain in his eyes.
Kyle deactivated IDENTIFY and immediately began channeling ADAPTIVE REGENERATION, also placing his left palm on his head and using a generalized HEAL for good measure. Whatever he’d seen, it was overwhelming. As the pain abated, Kyle opened his eyes slowly.
“C.H.A.D.D., any damage that you can see?”
[NONE THAT YOUR SKILLS AREN’T ACTIVELY TREATING, DR. MAYHEW. MAY I ASK WHAT YOUR TEST ENTAILED?]
“My new skill lets me see the and conceptualize the flow of mana. I wanted to try and take a look at the world tree seed through the connection, and it backfired.”
[THAT IS UNFORTUNATE, I’M CERTAIN THERE COULD HAVE BEEN VALUABLE LEARNING FROM THE EXPERIENCE.]
“I agree. Still, it’s not all bad. I’ve got a better grasp of how the skill works, and with practice I think I’ll be able to refine it quite a bit.”
The two returned to the camp, chatting with the expedition members as Kyle activated IDENTIFY discreetly. When used on people, it was far more interesting. He got impressions not just of how their mana flowed, but also of the type of class they had, and a broad sense of their attributes. While that left a lot of question marks, it was great information to carry if things escalated into a conflict, particularly after his work on Earth was done.
He walked through the camp, parsing through the information, until his foot caught on a tree root and he nearly fell. Covert Dexterity in conjunction with his heightened attributes allowed him to avoid falling, but he frowned nonetheless as he deactivated IDENTIFY. The influx of visual information was great, but it was also easy to get distracted with it.
Finally, the shuttle arrived. Kyle expected that he’d be returning to the flagship to meet Benjamin, Skippy, and Duroc. Instead, he was greeted shortly after boarding by the skrell, who immediately asked if they could make some time to test out his newest skill against STORM SHELTER. After punting that request to another day, he made his way to the small wooden table, where Benjamin had trays of pancakes waiting. The young man smiled, and gestured for Kyle to sit.
“It’s good to see you Kyle. I feel like it’s been too long.”
“Chester’s been keeping me busy,” Kyle said, sitting at the table and helping himself to a pancake.
“That’s why you should have come and worked for me! I’m much better company.”
Kyle was about to open his mouth mid-chew to defend himself, when Benjamin made a placating gesture.
“I know, you have other responsibilities. I’m not going to argue with you about your choice. I just wanted to get some time away from the flagship and supervision to talk with you about what your life will look like after our work here is complete.”
Kyle nodded thoughtfully, taking another bite of his meal. These are incredible. Swallowing, he finally responded.
“What do you have in mind?”
“The first shuttles should be arriving in roughly three months. Once they show up, we’ll be on our way back to Collective space. If I were you, I’d strongly consider going with us. Once the survivors from your planet start pouring in, it’ll be easy for you to get lost in the shuffle, even if you’re a D Grade.”
His expression got serious, and he clasped his hands on the table while meeting Kyle’s eyes.
“I know the political bull has been frustrating for you. I get it. The sooner you can get your feet under you, the sooner you can get away from the company and all the eyes that are on you. I have some friends who are doing some leg work for me now to get some options together, and when I have them we’ll talk about it.”
Kyle was surprised by the gravity of the man’s tone, and nodded his agreement, adding, “I’m not going to promise anything, but I’ll hear you out.”
“That’s all I’m asking for. Now, before we get to our next stop, I want to learn more about this ‘Japan’ place we visited before.”