As soon as I turn the key I hear a click and the door opens slowly. I enter inside with flaming shoulders that illuminate the metal walls better than obsidian. I quickly find the stairs and descend down. As I do, my thoughts turn to the tests themselves.

Anyone else at my level would struggle if not die outright against this boss. Hell, that Buxon I fought would have no chance against it. Sure, his bone-armor would allow him to ignore the obsidian projectiles, but there is little chance he'd survive once the boss is enraged. Even a group of Buxon would struggle.

Then again, the Buxon could bring explosives. Hell, even a ship's cannon could work so long as they can bypass the armor somehow. Or maybe the cannon is strong enough to destroy the armor.

A [Mage] could maybe solo the boss? I mean, Auranta pretty much took out the last boss with a single powerful spell. Maybe there is a spell as destructive as what I did to my arm.

I shake my head for a moment and reset my focus not on who can pass them, but what I can do to make the tests less risky. The immediate option is to take my team with me to help me out. But, not all would be a good choice.

Nepenthes can work, as can Auranta with her ability to fly and attack from range. Boriss and Irmgard are strong, but they are strong in comparison to normal humans. Maybe once they become experts it won't be risky, but I'd rather avoid putting them against monsters similar to what I just fought.

Arriving at the bottom, I'm met by a familiar scene. Not wishing to waste anymore time, I touch the glass to shatter it, and then I grasp the card.

Through Perception, you have traversed the cavern

Through Mana, you have pushed back the darkness

Through Control, you have avoided confrontation

Test of the Hanged completed. Notifying the World System…

Hanged completion identified…

Activating blessing interface…

Restricting Blood Flow to brain…

Hello darkness, my old friend…

___________________________________________________________________

I am met with the glorious white-room alongside two floating eyeballs. One green and one blue.

They blink at me.

I blink back.

They blink again.

I blink back even harder.

They blink back the same as usual.

"Yea, you guys are still boring." I pout. "Blue, you're going second this time. I got fucked over last time and never got to use my points. Green, I'm sure you've got quite a nice update for me. Show me my traits. Actually, show me everything. Traits, Skills, Blessings, Titles, souls. I want to see it all!"

"Acknowledged."

Traits.

Human Average

Individual Base Calculations.

Level modifications

Trait Actual Value

Strength

10

42

+46%

61

Endurance

9

46

+0%

46

Vitality

12

0.27%M/R/M

28

0.63% M/R/M

+0%

+9.31

28

9.94% M/R/M

Perception

9

29

+5%

30

Intelligence

11

16

+0%

16

Mana

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388.8

510

+0%

510

Control

12

10

+5%

10

Attributes Available/Attributes total:

6

Level:

29

52

Titles Obtained: 6

Title Name

Leviathan Slayer

Title Rank

Legendary

Title Effect

+10 Attribute points

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Title Name

Underdog Boarder

Title Rank

Rare

Title Effect

[Captain's Authority] stat decay is slowed when boarding enemy vessels.

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Title Name

Mana Fur

Title Rank

Divine

Title Effect

Increase Mana Regeneration by fur density.

Current Bonus: +9.31 M/RM

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Title Name

Storm Swimmer

Title Rank

Rare

Title Effect

Reduce damage of storm currents by 90%.

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Title Name

Chariots Control

Title Rank

Tower

Title Effect

+5% Control trait

[Minor Heat Resistance]

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Title Name

Towers Vitality

Title Rank

Tower

Title Effect

+5% Vitality trait

[Minor Healing Regeneration]

</div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="5"><p><b>Skills Obtained: 3</b></p></td><td colspan="18"><div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Skill Name

Shift

Skill Effect

Transform into the species of any souls you possess.

Class Modification

Armament

Soul Count

4/6

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Skill Name

Stat Spread Allocation

Skill Effect

All transformation benefit from 50% of level modifications

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Skill Name

Peak Transformation

Skill Effect

All transformations will be based on the strongest and healthiest of the species at current age.

</div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="5"><p><b>Souls Possessed: 4</b></p></td><td colspan="18"><div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Baby Mimicus (Soul)

Mimicus are one of the most adaptable feline species in all of Tristique. They have the unique ability to adapt to even the most dire environments. They are also exceptional vocal mimics who can reproduce any and all sounds they hear.

Activation Cost: 77 Mana Sustain: 0.8 Mana per minute Duration: Until Sustain Stops

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Elder Decay Leviathan (Soul)

Leviathans are the apex predators across all of Tristique. They are large beasts capable of flying via the absorption of ambient mana. Each Leviathan eventually gains a unique ability that grows stronger with age.

Activation Cost: 237,631 Mana

Sustain: 3,759 Mana per minute

Duration: Until Sustain Stops

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Baby Undammota (Soul)

Monoculus are the rarest bird species in all of Tristique. They have the unique ability to sense all forms of seismic energy waves around them.

Activation Cost: 33 Mana

Sustain 0.4 Mana per minute

Duration: Until Sustain Stops

</div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto">

Royal Wyvern (Soul)

Royal Wyverns are a much larger, more ferocious species of wyvern with greater intelligence, thicker scales, and more powerful flames.

Activation Cost: 534 Mana

Sustain 9.3 Mana per minute

Duration: Until Sustain Stops

</div></td></tr></tbody></table>

"Damn, I blew up my entire arm and I'm still not thirty yet."

I rub my chin as I stare at my traits.

"Oh, nice. I increased my base strength. Looks like the resistance training is working."

I glance at the percentage increases. "Perception and control have a five percent boost. When did I- oh, right. The blessings!"

I continue down the page until I find the two blessings in the titles column. Then I notice the soul count on my shift skill. I quickly scroll further down in the souls section. When I arrive at the very bottom, a grin rises on my lips.

"Royal Wyvern! I can transform into a fucking mini dragon!"

My grin quickly recedes as I notice the extreme activation cost of 534 mana.

"Wait? Can I?"

I glance at my maximum mana pool of 510.

"Oh come on! That's so bullshit! Wait, how many attribute points do I have?"

Six points. If I put it all into Mana, then my mana increases to 540. With the sustain cost, I can become a monstrous wyvern murder machine for a good half minute!

"Green, put all six trait points into mana."

"Acknowledged."

I see the shift at the change and watch as the number changes. A sense of giddy excitement overtakes me for when I awaken, but that is for later. I still have another boost to obtain.

I glance up at the third card floating in the air. It is a picture of a bipedal humanoid hanging with a rope around its neck with the backdrop of a cavern. Under the man looks to be many pointy stalagmites.

"Green, I'm done with you. Blue, it's your turn to shine. Show me what I got."

Green disappears into a portal while Blue floats closer.

"Entity Quasi Eludo, you have obtained the Hanged card. Please choose one of the following blessings:"

Blessing of the Hanged.

Hanged Perception.+5% Perception[Echolocation]Perceive sound visually.Hanged Mana.+5% Mana[Efficient Sustain]Decrease continuous spell consumption by 10%Hanged Control.+5% Control[Darkness Camouflage]Your body better blends into the background in low-light locations.

Shit, these blessings are all actually pretty good. Hanged Perceptions Echolocation is something I already have in my bird-form, but only in that form. Having it as other species would be useful too.

Then again, it's not that impressive when I think about it. As a Fenrimorph, I have natural night vision alongside the ability to see nearly everything around me. Unless i'm in complete darkness, then it's ability is quite moot. Hell, I can always just set myself on fire if I need to see. And considering my mana regeneration, I can keep the fire going indefinitely.

Hanged Mana is just a good passive buff that would reduce the sustained upkeep of my transformations by a tenth. Normally, I wouldn't even consider this blessing if not for my new Royal Wyvern transformation. The boost to my mana would mean I can be transformed for multiple minutes instead of seconds.

Hanged Control is arguably the strongest contender. [Darkness Camouflage] just sounds perfect for sneaking. Blending into darkness means I can be extra stealthy, even as a Fenrimorph.

Then again, will that actually be useful? As a cat, I'm already pretty stealthy, and if people see me, well, they think I'm just a cat. I can also sneak as a bird too. A sneaky Fenrimorph also isn't very efficient on account of its massive weight and size. As a cat, I can hide behind a bucket. As a fenrimorph, I can hide behind a carriage.

"Blue, let's go with Hanged Mana."

"Choice: Hanged Mana, accepted."

Adding Title: Hanged Mana…

Title Added successfully.

Title Name

Hanged Mana

Title Rank

Tower

Title Effect

+5% Mana trait

[Efficient Sustain]

"Blessing application completed." Blue blinks rapidly. "Activating Reset Protocol."

Reset Protocol Activated…

Teleporting Entity Quasi Eludo to entrance…

Teleport Successful…

Test of Hanged will reset once all entities leave the premises.

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