Jack turned to Ly who was still sitting on the table, her eyes closed as she took slow, deep breaths. He hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do next.
But then his thoughts turned back to the notifications he had received regarding Csses and Professions. Jack realized that this was a pivotal moment in his journey, one that would shape his path moving forward. He needed to make a decision, and he needed to make it soon.
"Hey, Ly," Jack began tentatively, drawing her attention. "I need to ask you something important. But first, are you feeling strong enough to talk?"
Ly opened her eyes, her gaze meeting Jack's with a mixture of weariness and determination. "Yes, I'm okay now," she replied, her voice still hoarse but stronger than before. "What do you need to know?"
Jack took a deep breath, steeling himself for the weight of his decision. "I've reached level 10, and it seems I have to choose a Css and a Profession," he expined, his words measured. "There are three options for my Css: Warrior, Mage, or Ranger. Each comes with its own set of skills and bonuses. I'm not entirely sure what to choose, but I wanted to hear your thoughts before I make a decision."
Ly looked at him in confusion “Has no one ever told you about how Csses work before?" she asked, a furrow forming between her brows.
Jack shook his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. "No, I've been figuring things out as I go," he admitted. "I mean, I've heard of Csses and Professions, but I never really understood how they worked until now."
Ly wondered if her rescuer had grown up alone in the wilderness devoid of the knowledge and guidance that most people received from mentors or parents. If that were the case, it was probably best to expin things to him as she would a child.
“Selecting a Css will give you access to the stat bonuses that css offers. It will also allow you to use Css points to buy Css Skills”.
Jack looked at her with a nod of understanding. "So, it's like choosing a specialization that defines my abilities and strengths," he summarized.
Ly nodded in confirmation. "Exactly. Each Css has its own unique set of skills and bonuses that cater to different fighting styles and combat preferences. Warriors excel in close combat, Mages wield powerful magic, and Rangers are skilled in ranged combat. Each css has its own Css Skills that can enhance those specialties."
Jack mulled over her expnation, weighing his options carefully. "I see. So, it's about deciding what kind of fighter I want to become. Do Css Skills level like normal ones?"
The Scraeling woman shook her head “You can’t level those Skills through normal means although you can upgrade them by spending more Css Points”. She smiled faintly. "But remember, your choice isn't permanent. Your css will Advance at level 15 and become more specialized based on different factors. For example, if you choose Warrior now and ter learn Earth magic and Earth reted Skills you might be offered the chance to become an Earthbreaker Padin. Or if you chose Ranger now and then you learned stealth Skills and Shadow Magic you could become a Shadestalker. Professions are different though. They all provide bonuses to noncombat crafts.”
Jack thanked Lyra for the expnation and looked over his options again. Ranger was out seeing as how he didn’t have any ranged combat skills. He wasn’t even sure why he had been offered that Css in the first pce. Maybe it had something to do with his connection to Goldeyes. Mage was tempting, but Jack’s Wisdom and Intelligence were among his lowest stats. No, there was only one choice that made sense here.
Jack mentally selected Warrior.
[Congratutions! You have selected the Warrior Css. You have gained a one-time bonus of 30 Css Points for this action. Further Css points can be obtained by completing Css Quests. You will also receive 10 Css Points every 2 levels]
[Current CP: 30
Warrior Css Skills: Charge, Cleave, Bash, Lunge, Berserk….
The list of Css Skills went on and on. Jack could see hundreds of potential skills listed under the Warrior Css. He was overwhelmed by the sheer variety of abilities he could learn. He selected a few at random just to see their descriptions.
[Shield Bash
Requirements: Shield
CP Cost: 10
Type: Active
Cooldown: 5 Seconds
Stamina Cost: 30 Stamina
Effect Damage based on Strength and Shields Skill; chance to stagger target
Description: With a swift and decisive motion, you sm your shield into your opponent with bone-crushing force. The impact may stagger your foe, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks.]
[Ironhide
Requirements: None
CP Cost: 20
Type: Active
Cooldown: 15 Seconds
Stamina Cost: 40 Stamina
Effect: Temporarily increases Natural Armor Rating; reduces incoming damage from physical attacks
Duration: 45 seconds
Description: By channeling your innate resilience, you harden your skin to an almost impenetrable state. For a short duration, your skin gains a tough, metallic sheen, significantly enhancing your natural defenses. This transformation reduces the damage you take from physical attacks, allowing you to withstand blows that would normally leave you vulnerable. While active, Steelskin provides a powerful, temporary enhancement to your durability, enabling you to endure the harshest of combat scenarios.]
[Charge
Requirements: Full set of armor
CP Cost: 15
Type: Active
Cooldown: 10 seconds
Stamina Cost: 50 Stamina
Effect: Increased movement speed; bonus damage upon impact; chance to stun target
Description: With a thunderous roar, you unch yourself towards your target with unstoppable momentum. The sheer speed of your charge allows you to close the distance in the blink of an eye, crashing into your enemy with devastating force. Upon impact, your foe may be stunned, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks.]
[Lifeleech
Requirements: Edged or Piercing Weapon
CP Cost: 20
Type: Active
Cooldown: 60 seconds
Stamina Cost: 60 Stamina
Effect: Absorbs health from the target and transfers it to the wielder
Description: Infusing a weapon with life-draining energy, you strike your opponent with a devastating blow that siphons their very life force. Each successful hit drains a portion of the target's health, converting it into vitality for yourself. This act of necromantic theft not only replenishes your own health but also weakens the target, reducing their combat effectiveness.]
[Cleave
Requirements: Edged Weapon
CP Cost: 10
Type: Active
Cooldown: 10 seconds
Stamina Cost: 40 Stamina
Effect: Deals damage in a wide arc; chance to cause bleeding or reduce enemy armor
Description: Channeling your inner strength, you unleash a mighty swing of your weapon in a wide arc, cleaving through multiple enemies in your path. Each foe struck suffers damage proportional to your Strength and Weapon Mastery Skill. Additionally, there is a chance to inflict bleeding or reduce their armor.]
These Skills were amazing! They could inflict Status effects like Savage Roar except these were not limited to once a day. Jack did note that each skill had a Stamina cost which expined the Endurance that Warriors got every 2 levels.
Another thing he noticed were the physical requirements many of the Skills had. Shield Bash for example, was useless to him currently seeing as how he didn't possess a shield.
There were, however, Css Skills that didn’t have such requirements. One in particur caught Jacks eye.
[Berserk
Requirements: None
CP Cost: 15
Type: Active
Cooldown: 60 seconds
Stamina Cost: 60 Stamina
Effect: Temporarily doubles Strength and Constitution; may gain the Enraged status effect
Duration: 30 seconds
Description: Channeling the primal fury within, you enter a state of uncontrolble rage, forsaking caution for raw power. In the throes of Berserk, your muscles bulge with newfound strength, and your health increases drastically. However, this heightened aggression comes at a cost, leaving you vulnerable to enemy attacks as you throw yourself into the fray with reckless abandon. Use this Skill wisely, as its effects can be both devastating and dangerous.]
Jack grinned at the description. With his Empathic Shielding Ability, he doubted that this "Enraged" status effect would affect him the way it would others. Plus, the temporary boost in Strength and Constitution could turn the tide of a tough battle in his favor.
Jack took some more time looking through his options before finding another skill he thought would suit him.
[Piercing Flurry
Requirements: Pointed Weapon
CP Cost: 10
Type: Active
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Stamina Cost: 50 Stamina
Effect: Rapidly strike the target 1-6 times; chance to bypass enemy armor
Description: With lightning speed and precision, you unleash a flurry of piercing strikes upon your target, driving your weapon with relentless ferocity. Each strike aims to exploit weak points in the enemy's defenses, with a chance to bypass armor and inflict critical damage. Damage dealt is proportional to Agility and Weapon Mastery Skill]
This skill was perfectly suited to Jack's fighting style. With his Spear Mastery Skill and his high Agility, he could capitalize on the rapid strikes of Piercing Flurry to overwhelm his opponents with precision and speed.
Jack allocated his CP to purchase both Skills. As soon as he did so a new window popped up.
[Congratutions! You have selected your first Warrior Css Skills. These Skills may be upgraded by spending more CP]
[Congratutions! You have qualified for the following Basic Professions:
Weaponeer
Armorer
Deconstructionist
Leatherworker
Alchemist
Wargear Crafter]
Jack brought up the details for each Profession.
[Weaponeer: Choosing the Weaponeer Profession will give you access to the list of Weapon Crafting Skills. You will retain the Weaponeer Profession until level 15. The Weaponeer Profession increases the chance of crafting high-quality weapons and reduces crafting time by 20%.]
[Armorer: Choosing the Armorer Profession will give you access to the list of Armor Crafting Skills. You will retain the Armorer Profession until level 15. The Armorer Profession increases the chance of crafting high-quality armor and reduces crafting time by 20%.]
[Deconstructionist: Choosing the Deconstructionist Profession will give you access to the list of Deconstruction Skills. You will be allowed to use this ability to extract materials from items, breaking them down into their base components. Deconstructionists gain a 10% increase in the efficiency of material extraction and increases chance to extract rare materials from items.]
[Leatherworker: Choosing the Leatherworker Profession will give you access to the list of Leatherworking Skills. You will retain the Leatherworker Profession until level 15. The Leatherworker Profession increases the chance of crafting high-quality leather items and reduces crafting time by 20%.]
[Alchemist: Choosing the Alchemist Profession will give you access to the list of Alchemy Skills. You will retain the Alchemist Profession until level 15. The Alchemist Profession increases the chance of crafting high-quality potions and reduces crafting time by 10%.]
[Wargear Crafter: Choosing the Wargear Crafter Profession will give you access to the list of Wargear Crafting Skills. You will retain the Wargear Crafter Profession until level 15. The Wargear Crafter Profession increases the chance of crafting high-quality wargear items and reduces crafting time by 10%.]
