Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

The progress of each team or individual heavily depends on their pairing and hunting choices.

Depending on how they were placed together the results of hunting could surpass one's imagination.

Conversely, mismatched pairings might struggle, with one role overshadowing the other, leading to inefficiencies and setbacks.

Solo hunters face their own set of challenges. Those with high combat skills and self-sufficiency can excel in varied environments, navigating and neutralizing threats with agility.

However, those lacking versatility might find themselves overwhelmed, struggling to adapt to unforeseen dangers and making slow progress.

The hunting grounds also influence their journey. Environments rich in resources or favorable conditions can accelerate progress, providing ample opportunities for growth and rewards.

On the other hand, treacherous or poorly suited areas can hinder advancement, exposing them to greater risks and obstacles that impede their efforts.

Overall, the interplay of strategic pairing, individual capabilities, and environment can either propel the characters forward or bring their progress to a standstill.

*****

Jett was determined to leverage his knowledge to optimize the team's progress.

"Alright, here's the plan," he began. "Asher and Evelina, you two will be hunting together."

Evelina's face lit up. "Really? That sounds great!" Her enthusiasm contrasted sharply with Asher's more reserved reaction.

Asher raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Evelina has a habit of getting sidetracked and not focusing on training."

Evelina bristled. "I'm right here, you know."

Jett nodded. "That's exactly why. Your presence will enhance Evelina's focus and perception by 20% during combat. Plus, you'll share resistance to poison and dark attributes. Teaming up will also give you both a 30% boost in experience and speed."

Jett paused, "Clarendon has a variety of dungeons. I suggest you try one with dark attribute monsters. And remember, work on controlling your Aura as well. Exhaust it as much as possible, just like Mana users should."

He looked at everyone, making sure they understood the importance of both teamwork and personal development.

"I guess it's doable," Asher conceded.

Evelina's annoyance was still evident, but she remained silent.

"Rosa, you'll be paired with Aiden," Jett announced.

Rosa frowned. "But fire and plants don't mix well."

Jett smiled reassuringly. "I know, but trust me on this. You'll gain fire resistance from him, and he'll benefit from your poison and illusion resistance. Plus, you both get an increased critical chance and a 20% boost in Mana and Intelligence."

He suggested, "Try dungeons focused on fire or nature attributes, or alternate between them."

"I'm in if you are," Aiden said, showing his support.

"There's no harm in trying," Rosa agreed reluctantly. "Let's do it."

Jett then turned his attention to the remaining pairings. He considered the best combinations to maximize their chances of success.

"Matthew and Seraphina, you two will go together. Any type of dungeon is fine, just avoid the dark attribute ones. Finn will join you whenever he needs to hunt."

He thought, 'Pairing Matthew and Seraphina will give them a 40% HP boost, which Seraphina really needs, and a 30% speed boost for Matthew. Both will also gain 20 points to strength. Adding Finn will increase their chances of good item drops.'

"Make sure to coordinate well," Jett advised. "This setup should give you the edge you need."

"Morrigan will be paired with Elora. Focus on dungeons with elemental and dark attributes, and don't repeat a dungeon until you've explored all other attributes. Finn will also join you from time to time," Jett instructed.

Rey raised an eyebrow. "So, you're basically telling me to go alone?"

Jett fixed him with a steady gaze, clearly unimpressed. "Stop playing games."

Rey smirked, clearly unfazed. "Alright, you got me. I know I can handle any situation." He stood up, ready to leave. "If that's everything, I'm heading out."

"Rey," Jett called after him.

Rey turned back, curious. "What?"

Jett pointed at him. "From now on, use a shield."

Rey frowned. "Why? I don't see how shields will fit my style."

Jett chuckled inwardly, remembering a similar suggestion from before. 'That's what you said before. I need you to be complete,' he thought, finding the situation amusing. "Just try it for a week and see. I'll let you choose the type of shield you want."

In WAR BOUND, the specific set of gear a character used could dramatically affect their power in battle, influencing not just their combat effectiveness but also their ability to adapt to various challenges.

"I think that'll be all for now," Jett concluded. "You can start whenever you're ready, but Cedric and Marcella will begin immediately."

As everyone prepared to leave, Marcella spoke up. "Hey, Jett, how are you planning to level up? You seem no better than Cedric."

Jett turned, curious about her concern.

Marcella had recently learned a skill called [Inner Search], which was similar to Clarence's skill but was only an F-rank and could only detect Aura.

Marcella had used it to scan Jett, expecting to find signs of his strength.

The truth was that Jett had been diligently practicing Aura and Mana control to the point where he could suppress both, leaving no visible trace.

This ability made it appear as though he was weaker than he actually was, which was what Marcella had misinterpreted.

'Using a forced contract on all of you means you're technically my EXP farm? Like I'd ever admit that,' Jett thought, amused by the idea but unwilling to reveal the truth. "Mine's similar to Rey's. I'll level up on my own," he said, evading the question.

'It's not a lie; I really do level up faster when alone,' Jett thought, trying to reassure himself. 'But what should I do about this? My MP won't last forever.'

In reality, Jett had activated [Tactical Mirage] at the beginning of the strategy meeting, which was subtly draining his MP. He had hoped no one would notice the slight drain.

"Let's call it a day," Jett announced as the meeting concluded. Everyone left the hall to attend to their tasks, leaving Jett to his thoughts and strategies.

*****

Gwendolyn used wind magic to manipulate the air, hoping to eavesdrop on the discussion. However, she was frustrated as something seemed to interfere with her magic.

'What are they talking about? It looks really important, but something's disrupting my spell,' Gwen sighed, struggling with the unexpected complication. 'What do I do now? At this rate, I won't have anything to report to the master today.' She observed from a distance, feeling increasingly anxious.

Suddenly, she felt two intense gazes aimed at her. Instinctively, she concealed herself before they could spot her.

'Someone noticed me? No, it was two of them, but I was faster,' she thought, letting out a sigh of relief. 'But who were they? How strong must they be to detect me? I'm Level 51, for crying out loud. What kind of monsters are these people?' Her curiosity and concern grew as she continued to observe from her hiding spot.

*****

Two hours later, Cedric was busy at the smithy of the crafting department, working on smelting Asher's new dagger.

Before Cedric had come to the academy, his father had given him a special tool. It was a finely crafted, ancient hammer: an heirloom passed down through generations of blacksmiths in their family.

This hammer was not only a symbol of his lineage but also an invaluable tool for his craft, allowing him to forge and repair with unparalleled precision.

Cedric had brought it with him, knowing it would be essential for his work at the academy.

Cedric's family heirloom was a versatile tool that doubled as both a weapon and a smithing hammer. Its handle could extend or retract according to the user's needs, making it adaptable for various tasks.

This unique feature allowed it to serve as a powerful weapon in combat or as a precise instrument for forging, depending on the situation.

His father had entrusted him with this heirloom, emphasizing its importance for both defense and craftsmanship.

At the smithy, Cedric meticulously worked on the black iron materials Jett had provided.

Black iron was renowned in WAR BOUND for its superior qualities in crafting assassin-type gear due to its lightweight and durability, which made it ideal for stealth and agility.

Despite his skill, Cedric had struggled to produce anything beyond Normal class weapons since arriving at the academy.

In WAR BOUND, weapons were categorized into six classes: Common, Normal, Rare, Legendary, Mythic, and finally, Cursed or Holy. The classification system set clear standards for quality and rarity.

As Cedric hammered down the black iron, he considered using orc skin for the dagger handles to enhance their grip and durability. With each strike of his hammer, the daggers began to take shape.

After several more minutes of intense work, Cedric finally completed the daggers. He examined his creations and sighed. "A Normal class dagger? It seems I'm still struggling to surpass that level," he mused. "I suppose I'll improve as I gain more experience."

He picked up the daggers for a final inspection. "Let's see what you can do," Cedric said, preparing to appraise his work.

[Appraisal]

Cedric scrutinized the daggers, eager to see the results of his labor and assess their quality.

[Twin Snake Daggers: Normal]

[Damage: 40 >>> 50]

[Additional Effect]

[5% >>> 9% Critical Chance]

[Poison]

"This should be good enough," Cedric said, feeling a modest sense of satisfaction with his work. "Now, onto the arrows."

He began crafting arrows using the same black iron, ensuring that each one was finely balanced and sharp. Cedric then decided to experiment further by mixing different Mana stones into the black iron. This innovative approach aimed to imbue the arrows with various elemental properties, which would mark a new direction in projectile weapon production.

After incorporating the Mana stones, Cedric crafted a batch of arrows with enhanced attributes. The results were promising, and he noted that this technique could revolutionize how projectile weapons were made.

"That should do it," Cedric said as he completed the arrows. He was tempted to test them immediately but hesitated, fearing he might accidentally damage the smithy.

For the rest of the day, Cedric busied himself with crafting the items Jett had requested, refining his techniques and experimenting with new ideas.

*****

That night, Freya attempted to follow Jett's instructions for prayer, but no progress was evident. She tried several times, but each attempt felt as ineffective as the last.

Meanwhile, Jett was asleep, leaving Freya unsure whether to wake him. The lingering awkwardness from their previous interactions made her hesitant.

She weighed her options, torn between seeking his guidance and respecting his rest.

After what felt like an eternity, Freya finally threw her pillow through the curtain. It landed squarely on Jett's face.

Reacting quickly, Jett, who had been awake the whole time, pulled the pillow off, visibly annoyed.

"Is that really your solution to everything in the room?" Jett asked, irritation evident in his voice. "Why would you try to wake me up like that?"

Freya shrugged, her tone lacking remorse. "Well, it didn't look like you were sleeping anyway. My apologies."

Jett sighed deeply. "What do you want?"

"I've been trying to pray for a while now, but nothing seems to be happening. Is that normal?" Freya inquired from her side of the room.

"The effects are extremely slow at night," Jett explained. "Try praying during the day when the sun is out. Now, please just go to bed."

As Freya left, Jett rolled over in his bed, a satisfied smile creeping onto his face. He was eager about the experience points he was about to accumulate without any effort on his part.

'I might even hit Level 100 before the year ends,' he thought with anticipation before finally drifting off to sleep.

*

*

*

Feels like that's what he was actually aiming for the whole time.

Nice