Chapter 154: The Sprint
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[Name: Eloise de Vurgen]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Mage-Knight]
[Job: Squad Captain]
[Health: 440]
[Mana: 560]
[Faith: 200]
[Strength: 102]
[Agility: 60]
[Stamina: 65]
[Intelligence: 80]
*[Remarks: Hmm… A lady with a curious set of Stats. They tell the story of trials and a long journey of improvement. Aptitude in Spell-Casting and Martial abilities make her seem like a jack of two trades trying to master all.
She is technically Killable but should you try, my bet is on her to win.]
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Henry's eyes were wide at the largest collection of physical and Magical stats he had ever seen since he acquired <Insight>.
"Quite a bit to unpack here," Henry mumbled, "Let's get into it."
Henry clicked on the first tab to attract his attention;
[Class: Mage-Knight
Description: There are a few ways to achieve such a Class and they all have something to do with ignoring a natural affinity with a Magic Class and attempting to reinvent oneself.
All in all, the Class 'Mage-Knight' combines the Spell casting aptitude of a Magical class with the Martial prowess of a Knight through strict Martial Training and staunch obedience to the oath and statutes of Knighthood.
This Combination can also be done with other Martial Classes besides a 'Knight' but those are just as rare as this one as very few ever stray from their naturally attuned Classes.
*Note: while the term 'Mage' is used, the natural Magic Casting class of the 'Mage-Knight' might not necessarily be a Mage. The Mage in 'Mage-Knight' is merely an amalgamated word used to represent all magical classes that can be used in this combination which are; Wizards/Witches, Sorcerers/Sorceresses, Warlocks, and Mages.]
'Okay, I think I get it,' Henry thought when he was done reading through the Class description page screen,
'She could have naturally been a Witch or Sorceress or Mage or Warlock but decided to be a Knight probably to bust a few more heads in close combat. I can respect that.
Moving in…'
Henry clicked on the next tab he wanted to see explained,
[Faith
Description: Mana is a powerful resource that separates the special from the normal. However, beyond Mana is 'Faith'; A resource even more elusive.
'Faith' is the calculation of one's connection to a Divinity and the higher it is, the more capable they are in channeling that Divinity's divine energy to perform feats that their Mana would be incapable of performing on its own.
'Faith' is an essential resource of Clerics who profess the word of their god or goddess, as well as Paladins (Holy Knights) who wish to take on the Holy Mission of their god or goddess and smite evil in its name.]
As he read through the description of 'Faith', not once did Henry think the reason Eloise had it was to be a Cleric. Clearly, her goal was to become a Paladin.
'A Holy Knight. I suppose 'Faith' explains that energy of serenity she kept using to coat her sword. But since there's nothing like 'Paladin' in her actual stat screen, I wonder if she is not quite there yet.'
"Hmm…" Henry let out and stroked his jaw as his eyes moved to a collection of Physical, Mental, and Magical stats whose figures wowed him.
Those stats told Henry he would not have survived a direct attack from the Monstrosity as Eloise had managed to do during their fight against the creature. He would not have jumped as high as she did even with a Nyx boost. Also, a sword in his hand would not have cut through the creature's bony self as Eloise had managed to do.
Eloise was back with her party now and she walked to each one of the unconscious Squires to gently pat them awake. The Squires' eyes all widened in fear that always mellowed out when they saw the Monstrosity's defeated carcass laid on the ground.
Henry saw Aurelius standing with his sword in hand surrounded by defeated Mummies. While Henry, Eloise, and Louis brought down the Minstrosity, Aurelius was busy with the rest of the Mummies and now he looked from Eloise to glare at Henry.
Henry's lips twitched in a smile and he raised a hand in a wave while he turned his <Insight> at the Knight and brought up his Stat screen;
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[Name: Aurelius]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Knight]
[Job: Squad Captain]
[Health: 450]
[Mana: 400]
[Strength: 106]
[Agility: 65]
[Stamina: 70]
*[Remarks: A Knight capably trained to carry out the righteous convictions of his oath to fuel his Physical Might which is already quite impressive. Certainly Killable but is a force to be reckoned with and would currently make a difficult opponent.]
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[Class: Knight
Description: A Martial Class that's arguably at the top of combat classes.
Knights are empowered by the oaths they carry and can use those oaths to empower themselves. Especially when facing against creatures that would harm the weak.
A Knight is first and foremost charged with helping the weak and striking down evildoers wherever they may stand.]
'Would you look at that,' Henry thought with a chuckle as his eyes moved from the description screen to Aurelius' face,
'Asshole would not help the cuffed despite his 'oath' and won't stop glaring at me when he was unconscious for most of the fight… Aurelius, Aurelius, I don't think you quite deserve to be a knight.'
What Henry found especially peculiar about this was that, now that he'd seen Eloise's Stats, he could tell she would have found it very easy to defeat Doherty outside the Dungeon. Screw the commotion it would cause, as long as the bearer of the Command cuff was down, Eloise would have achieved what she wanted to achieve.
Yet, Aurelius had stopped her. He had stopped her even though his stats were more than impressive enough to provide her support and ensure things went smoothly.
Of course, this was not the first time Henry had had this thought. When Aurelius had defended his decision to stop Eloise, Henry had seen something in the Knight's eyes that went beyond wanting to spare the Squires: He seemed to look at Henry, Louis, and Andor like they had deserved to be in cuffs. Like it was simply normal for slaves to exist and he had no desire to see them freed.
"Ah, maybe I'm thinking too much of it," Henry mumbled but he knew he wasn't.
Henry looked over and saw Andor and Louis seated on the ground resting. Andor looked alright already but Louis looked like he was wheezing,
"You look spent," Henry said gently.
"I'm… good," Louis said with a pause between the two words. A pause he spent breathing slightly heavily through his mouth.
Henry gave him a nod and then looked at Andor,
"Why not gather some of the weapons the Mummies dropped?" Henry said and after the Fighter cast his eyes around, he agreed and started moving about.
The weapons were about as good in quality as the ones they had gotten from the Sarcophagi earlier in the day and Andor's bag could still hold some.
Henry went about as well and picked a few weapons, sending them into his Inventory as stealthily as he could. That was when he received an Alert from the System;
[You have triggered a Time-sensitive Quest]
[Quest: The Sprint
Description: You have 30 Seconds to get across the hall and through the door that has now been unlocked.
After thirty seconds, every spot on the floor you sit or stand on will be lit up with symbols that will summon Monstrosities.
- Reward 1: You receive 250 Exp
- Reward 2: For every member of your party (3) that survives, you'll receive a bonus of 250 Exp.
- Reward 3: You Live.
Your time starts now!
Good Luck.]