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  In Fantasy Story Online, every race had its own unique way of growing stronger. Leveling Up didn’t exist aside from Skills being able to level up through gaining proficiency, and therefore, each pyer had their own unique progression system, usually based in their Race and their Background, their special Trait or Fws, or even their Css.

  Vampires came with two growth systems, Bloodlines and Blood Core. Bloodlines developed as the Vampire absorbed the Bloodlines of other foes and amassed them together. It was much slower than the Blood Core. Meanwhile, Blood Core progresses by absorbing blood and refining it into Blood Energy.

  As both develop, they grant the pyer unique Skills based on their race, which every Vampire could learn… If it wasn’t because Vampires are not avaible for character creation and were one of the very rare and powerful races only avaible through the randomized option.

  There were also unique combinations only avaible in randomized options, which wouldn’t usually be possible, such as Chris’ Incubus and Fairy Hybrid, which would be impossible as the gate doesn’t allow someone to create a hybrid between races of different Realms.

  For example, it would be possible for someone to make a half-blood elf and a half-moon elf, or a half-goblin and half-werewolf, among others, which would create an Umbral Elf that governs both blood and moonlight, but not as well as the pureblood races, and a goblin capable of transforming into a small werewolf that wouldn’t even be as strong as the real deal.

  Much like any other race, hybrids weren’t perfect, and they had their own fws, even if they came with abilities from both races, usually never being able to specialize that well, and becoming “all-rounders” that can fill several niches but never exceed.

  That is, unless they create their own Path through the Css Change Trials, and end up becoming completely unique powerhouses that create a new power system through the combination of their combined bloodlines.

  Nonetheless, the majority of pyers chose pureblooded races anyway, as they provided the best specialization options and the better stats for the roles they wanted to fill.

  And well, there were some hybrids that were pretty alright too and weren’t as fwed in exchange for not being as theoretically broken either, such as Half Wood Elves or Half Humans, like Ermelinda.

  Nonetheless, progression systems, or as some others called them, growth systems, were varied and unique between every pyer. Goblins, as it was revealed to Chris and Paul, progressed through the accumution of Wealth which their own Heart of Wealth absorbs to strengthen the Goblin, giving them new Skills and Stat Boosts.

  However, it was such a hard progression system that mostly every pyer never chose a goblin as their character. Even the so-called goblin lovers were rather scared by the prospects and ended up choosing mostly to become orcs or the much better Hobgoblins, whose progression system wasn’t Heart of Greed but something else.

  “So the Fae progress by using a Spiritual Heart and Contracting Spirits then?” Wondered Gofumina.

  “Yeah!” Ermelinda nodded. “Though my progression system is a bit lesser than pure-blooded Wood Elves from Fantasia. I’ve heard the Elves from Obscuritas, such as the Moon and the Blood Elves, progress differently, though?”

  “I think so,” Vd said. “I was wondering, though, how do Humans progress? Do you have the human progression system too?”

  “Yeah, they progress by cultivating a Physique or a Magic Circle, you can choose either of the two, but not both,” expined Ermelinda. “I ended up choosing the Physique, which makes Half-Elves so good, as they can have spirit magic and good combat capabilities all in a nice package. I’ve heard some other hybrids are awful, though.”

  “Yeah, Goblin Werewolf, I’ve heard, is terrible; you turn into a chihuahua when you transform, completely useless, hahaha!” Gofumina ughed. “I’ve seen the videos of that guy that mains such a hybrid.”

  “I wouldn’t say it's completely useless; perhaps he has found a way to make it work…” Vd said. “But what’s your other progression system, though, Gofumina? You at least should have another… And I think it might be the origin of your strength beyond your race.”

  “Hmm…” Gofumina groaned. “Yeah, it’s a progression system tied to my css. Goblins get that, because their only Heart of Greed is not enough, they get a bonus progression system based on your initial css, which you choose at the beginning. It’s called Warrior Spirit; it’s an Aura-like power that grows as I fight and hunt down foes. It progresses very quickly if I fight stronger foes than myself. I don’t even need to defeat them but st a few seconds or minutes and exchange blows, but if I can defeat them somehow, I get the best boosts.”

  “Oooh, so that’s how you’ve grown so strong. I suppose working in a mercenary company helps getting to battles quickly, huh?” Chris wondered.

  “Kind of, yeah, it’s more convenient that way; always employed to fight whatever, I can progress rapidly,” nodded Gofumina. “And that’s how I became the strongest of the mercenary family. I’m actually stronger than Heracles, at least in sheer physical damage. Though he has a rger and more resilient body as a Hobgoblin.”

  “Can Goblins evolve into Hobgoblins?” wondered Ermelinda.

  “I’ve heard that it’s possible once you get far enough,” said Gofumina. “But it’s always better to start off as one, though I’m pnning to stay a goblin until the end. I like goblins, especially goblin girls. So this is my personal choice.”

  “I see, that’s pretty cool!” Ermelinda nodded. “I also made a half-elf because I like them.”

  “Hah, so nice of you to get to choose…” Chris sighed.

  “Well, it’s our fault we ended up being what we are; we both ended up choosing randomized options,” Vd ughed. “Anyway, this is my room, Gofumina. Or, well, the Alchemy Studio. You can check around and get comfortable if you want. I’ll begin sucking blood first. Chris, don’t you want their Lifeforce or Spirit Energy or something?”

  “I’ll try if I can drain it,” Chris nodded.

  And like that, as the two started absorbing blood and lifeforce, suddenly, Vd took out a green orb from his inventory, glowing ominously.

  “Ah right, this was the only reward we got from defeating the green ooze; I wonder what it is, though?”

  [The faint presence of the {Maiden of the Emerald Sea} is being exuded from the Mysterious Orb.]

  “Huh?!”

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  PancakesWitch