The Tree of Ascension: A LitRPG Apocalypse (Peril's Prodigy Book 2)
Page 22
Unused Attribute Points: 5
Unused Skill Points: 16
As was becoming a habit, Garath allocated his five Attribute Points into Wisdom and confirmed his choice. With the work he’d put in that day, his Wisdom was sitting pretty at 293. If only he could get Maimon to agree to another duel, Garath was sure he and Sharon would kick the shit out of the pompous Rabbi regardless of his choice in teammates.
After leaving Molten Glacier Peak, the Party was disbanded and, in a flock of various flying forms, they headed west. Garath did his combat log count for damage as they flew through the lavender twilight sky. In all three dungeon runs that he’d been a part of, Garath and his demons topped the damage chart. That was no surprise, considering the Leader of Man bonuses, but it still felt good to be on top. Fergus did nearly as much damage as Auto had done, coming in with a final number of 9,650. Atlas’ final count was much more impressive at 17,740. Garath got the feeling that his tryout was the Mage Smith’s first time working his way through a dungeon in any reality, but Atlas was an interesting option with a Class that Garath really wanted to learn more about. He’d have to discuss the tryouts with Athios and Auto before making any final decisions, but Atlas would definitely be in the running.
Night had fallen by the time the tired group made it home. Lorena and Duran broke off from the group twenty miles west of the Guild Hall and Garath promised to let them know the results of the tryouts the following day. Exhausted from the day’s events and the long flight home, Garath, Auto, and Athios agreed to meet at Garath’s clifftop the following morning to discuss the final group composition.
Chapter Nineteen – Draft Day
“I think we can all agree on the roles of main tank and healers,” Garath said. The sun was bright and the ocean breeze chill.
“Not that I had a lot of competition,” Auto said, “but I nominate myself for the main tank spot. Maimon and Sharon are going to be a perfect healing team. All that’s left is the damage and support roles.”
Garath nodded. “Athios?”
Athios took a sip of her Crystillium-Infused Coffee. “Agreed.”
“Alright,” Garath said. “Obviously Athios and I are taking two of the remaining seven slots, so we have to pick five. Before we get to the damage output factor, who stood out to you guys?”
“Apart from Daisy?” Athios asked.
“Seriously,” Auto agreed, nodding vehemently.
“Apart from Daisy,” Garath confirmed.
“The backstreet boy was legit,” Auto said. “His overall damage wasn’t anything crazy, but his traps and positioning were on point the whole run.”
Garath laughed. “Yeah, NickCarter did well in The Rolling Deep too. What about Lorena and Duran?”
“Not impressed,” Auto said immediately. “Duran’s priority was protecting Lorena, which I get, but he took it to the point of getting in her way.”
“I was wondering why her damage numbers were so low,” Garath speculated.
“How did the twins do in your run with Raust?” Auto asked.
“Great,” Garath replied simply.
“The twins are solid,” Auto agreed. “And Obawon can tank when necessary, so that gives him a leg up.”
Athios followed the conversation with her eyes and ears as she continued to sip on her coffee. With a cigarette in one hand and a coffee in the other, she mostly listened.
“Can we agree to add them to the team?” Garath asked, looking at his friends questioningly.
“They’ve got my vote,” Auto said.
“How did they stack up in terms of damage output?” Athios asked smartly.
Garath’s eyes went vacant as he pulled up his private message to himself with notes on each hopeful from yesterday’s tryouts. “Really well, actually. Only myself, Daisy, and Atlas did more damage than either of the twins in a single run.”
“Then I think it’s a no-brainer,” Athios said. “What about Warrion?”
“Is that the skinny, stoner-looking guy?” Auto asked. “Why didn’t he come to try out?”
“Warrion was already a lock in my mind,” Garath said. “He’s a legitimate gamer. We can take him to do a tryout tomorrow if you want to see what he can do, but Athios and I did a dungeon with him a few days ago and he fought in our group during The Culling. Warrion’s a fighter.”
Auto turned to Athios, who nodded her agreement behind the rim of her coffee cup.
“If you two vouch for him, I’m fine with that,” Auto said.
“Two spots left then,” Garath said. He considered for a moment their current group makeup. Excluding the tank and healers, they had two melee fighters in Warrion and Obawon; two ranged fighters in Garath and Jebawon; and one support caster in Athios. “It’d be nice to have one more melee fighter and one more ranged fighter. What’d you guys think about Atlas?”
“I only did MGP in the group with Daisy,” Athios said as she exhaled and tossed her cigarette. “So I really don’t have an opinion, except…” she trailed off.
“Except?” Garath prodded.
“I get the feeling that guy isn’t quite, well, right in the head. It’s something about his eyes,” Athios said.
Garath laughed. “I think I know exactly what you’re talking about.”
“If we’re disqualifying people based on having creepy eyes, you’re definitely out, G. Sorry, I was hoping it wouldn’t have to be this way,” Auto said with a genuinely apologetic look on his face.
“He’s got you there,” Athios said with a barely concealed grin. “Are we out of coffee?”
Garath filled her cup and poured a second for himself as well. “While we’re talking about Atlas, there is one other factor,” Garath said, moving right along. “His Class allows him to play any role. Ranged, melee, even healer depending on which gear-set he’s got on. I obviously want to hope this isn’t the case, but if we lose a healer in the Dungeon it would be nice to have a backup. I think Atlas gets my vote for one of the last two spots.”
“I’m good with that,” Auto said. The Chimerist looked like he wanted to say more, but stopped. He opened his mouth, then shut it again. When he finally spoke, Auto had the uncertain look of someone who knew he might be voicing an unpopular opinion. “What about Daisy for the last spot?”
Garath figured this would come up. After Daisy astonished them all with her performance, how could they not at least consider the little girl for a spot on the team? At first, Garath was firmly against the idea of bringing a child along. After hearing of the non-Class Skills she’d unlocked to become Archmage Daisy, he was willing to entertain the idea. After watching what she could do in action at MGP, even Garath was no longer against it.
“She gets my vote,” Garath said finally. “The other option would be to bring Andrea as a damage and support role with responsibilities to heal when necessary - but we’d be losing a significant amount of damage by plugging her instead of Daisy.”
“Daisy then?” Auto asked. They both looked at Athios.
“We could all die in there,” Athios said somberly. “In fact, it’s probably more likely that we all die in there than not.”
“I think Daisy understands that,” Garath replied.
“Can she really understand that, though?” Athios asked, worried eyes behind a curtain of long black hair. “She’s only a little girl. A child. Can she fully comprehend the risk she’d be taking by coming with us?”
Garath and Auto were silent for long seconds as they silently tried to answer that question. Finally, Garath spoke.
“I think she can. Daisy is a smart kid and I honestly think that leaving her out because of her age would be doing the rest of our team a disservice. What’s the difference between an 11-year-old Elementalist and a 30-year-old Elementalist, really?” he asked, then shook his head. “Athios, will you talk to her about it? Stress to her the danger and, if she still wants to go, let her know she made the team.”
Athios thought about it for a moment, then nodded.
“Th
at’s that, then. We have our team,” Garath said. He was happy with the results and excited to see what Daisy could do with a full Raiment of gear. Which brought him to the next topic of discussion. “Our next step will be to meet the Level and gear requirements. Auto is the only one of us already over Level 30, the rest of us have some grinding to do. I’ll message everyone announcing the final team, then ask what Raiment slots each person will need to fill to have a full set and we can start plugging the gaps.”
Garath looked at his own Raiment first.
Death’s Touch Crest
Raiment Slot: Head
Armor: +19
Magic Resistance: +10%
Durability: 95/95
Item Score: 81
Defense Rating: 190
Type: Cloth Armor
Quality: Craftwork
Rarity: Epic
+35 Wisdom
+30 Vitality
+10 Regeneration
+10% damage to all Death Magic spells
Item Requirements:
Level: 19
Pretty Pretty Pendant of the Pure
Raiment Slot: Neck
Durability: 30/30
Item Score: 36
Quality: Above Average
Rarity: Uncommon
While wearing this pendant, your resistance to control impairing effects is increased by 100%
***Note: This amulet makes you feel PRETTY!
Item Requirements:
Level: 19
Illunitus’ Dreadrobe of Reaping
Raiment Slot: Chest
Armor: +15
Magic Resistance: +15%
Durability: 81/100
Item Score: 59
Defense Rating: 225
Type: Cloth Armor
Quality: Craftwork
Rarity: Epic
+20 Wisdom
Gain +1% damage to all spells for each slain enemy (Maximum: 30%). Effect lasts for 30 minutes (refreshed with each kill)
***The wearer of this Dreadrobe receives the Ability ‘Go Down Fighting’. Even within an inch of death, your need for revenge will sustain you through any amount of damage received for as long as it takes to cast one final spell. (Note: if the casting of a spell has not been initiated within one-second of your total Health reaching zero, Go Down Fighting will not be activated)
Item Requirements:
Level: 19
Cinderstaff
Attack Damage: 9-13
Attack Speed: 2.25
DPS (damage per second): 4.889
Durability: 40/40
Item Score: 36
Two-handed weapon
Type: Staff
Quality: Above Average
Rarity: Uncommon
Spell Targeting Assistance: Basic
+35 Wisdom
+30 Vitality
+11 Regeneration
Item Requirements:
Level: 15
Dark Trousers
Raiment Slot: Legs
Armor: +6
Magic Resistance: 0%
Durability: 30/30
Item Score: 27
Defense Rating: 30
Type: Cloth Armor
Quality: Average
Rarity: Common
+5 Wisdom
+5 Vitality
Item Requirements:
Level: 6
Waist Strap of the Wise
Raiment Slot: Waist
Armor: +3
Magic Resistance: 0%
Durability: 20/20
Item Score: 29
Defense Rating: 3
Type: Cloth Armor
Quality: Average
Rarity: Common
2 Potion Holsters
+5 Wisdom
Item Requirements:
Level: 6
Wooden Band of Wisdom
Raiment Slot: Finger
Durability: 10/10
Item Score: 21
Quality: Average
Rarity: Common
+20 Wisdom
Created by the Jeweler, Brandon.
Wooden Band of Wisdom
Raiment Slot: Finger
Durability: 10/10
Item Score: 21
Quality: Average
Rarity: Common
+20 Wisdom
Created by the Jeweler, Brandon.
Ice Cave Cloth Gloves
Raiment Slot: Hands
Armor: +4
Magic Resistance: 0
Durability: 30/30
Item Score: 18
Defense Rating: 4
Type: Cloth Armor
Quality: Average
Rarity: Common
+6 Wisdom
+3 Vitality
+1 Regeneration
***Note: cloth armor will not keep you warm in the Ice Caves.
Item Requirements:
Level: 3
Ice Cave Cloth Boots
Raiment Slot: Feet
Armor: +8
Magic Resistance: 0
Durability: 30/30
Item Score: 16
Defense Rating: 8
Type: Cloth Armor
Quality: Average
Rarity: Common
+10 Wisdom
+3 Vitality
***Note: cloth armor will not keep you warm in the Ice Caves.
Item Requirements:
Level: 3
He wrote messages to inform everyone concerned who had made the team, aside from Daisy. He left that task to Athios. Then he made a team roster with each member’s corresponding Level, and the gear they still needed to gather to meet Alice’s requirements.
Garath - Level 28
Gear needed: none, full raiment. Could use an upgrade on boots, gloves, belt, pants, maybe amulet?
Athios - Level 27
Gear needed: amulet, leg armor,
Auto - Level 31
Gear needed: none
Maimon - Level 29
Gear needed: 2x rings
Sharon - Level 27
Gear needed: amulet, belt
Obawon - Level 29
Gear needed: 2x rings
Jebawon - Level 29
Gear needed: 2x rings
Atlas - Level 26
Gear needed: none
Warrion - Level 25
Gear needed: helmet, amulet, boots, chest armor
Daisy - Level 23
Gear needed: amulet, boots, belt, gloves
Looking at the current status of the group, Garath knew they still had some work to do, but it was nice to see how close they really were. Brandon was able to make a pair of rings for everyone that needed them, even if it did cost Garath all of the Mana Crystals he’d gathered at MGP the day before. Garath looked through his Items panel to see what gear he could pass on to help the others fill out their Raiment slots.
He realized he’d picked up a lot of stuff he’d never use, and was certain he wasn’t the only one with a cache of unused items that could be put to better use. It took some coordination, but back at the Guild Hall, Garath set up an armory where people could leave their hand-me-downs. He made it clear that the Dungeon team would have first dibs on anything in the armory, a fair enough concession considering it was the Dungeon team that needed it, and put most of it into the armory in the first place. After they’d picked through the items, Garath made sure that everyone in BoTH knew they could take anything they wanted.
The endeavor proved to be more than worth the time it took Garath to put it all together. After all was said and done, only Daisy, Sharon, and Warrion still needed any gear to complete their Raiment. Next on the to-do list was getting everyone to Level 30.
Warrion, Athios, Daisy, Sharon and Atlas joined Garath on a Lair farming trip that afternoon. Together they went into the mountains to the east, where Aldrasyl had taken Garath to hunt a few days before. In the hours that followed, Garath led the small group from Lair to Lair. They continued the grind, slaying a variety of creatures between Levels 15 and 23, until the sun was hanging low o
ver the ocean to the west.
Though his main reason for taking this group was to get Experience for the lowest Leveled members of the team, Garath also reached Level 29 in the process. He once again dumped all five Attribute Points into Wisdom, and was disappointed, but not necessarily surprised, that no new Skills became available. Daisy gained three Levels, bringing her to Level 26. Warrion and Atlas both reached Level 27, and Athios gained a Level as well, bringing the Dimensionalist to 28. When the group made it back to the Guild Hall early that evening, Garath excitedly asked for his first lesson from Archmage Daisy.
Chapter Twenty – Pay Attention in Class
Crimson light from the evening sky filtered in through the windows, painting the floors of the classroom. It was nearly too hot to be indoors, even as the sun fell into the ocean to the west. The slight breeze sneaking in through an open window did little to cool the group within.
When they'd made it back to the Guild Hall, Garath convinced Daisy to teach not only himself how she became an Archmage, but all of the Mana users on the Dungeon team's roster. Joined by Athios, Obawon, Maimon, and Sharon, Garath eagerly looked forward to learning what Daisy had done in order to gain her badass title.