I eat lunch and after taking some time to relax, I log in.
I finished my dailies before noon, so⊠What do I do in the afternoon� I did acquire a fair amount of meat already. Which means⊠How about I go for Trolls to gain some Capacity?
My Capacity is at 652 now, hm. It increased by quite a bit over these few days, but it is nowhere near enough. Base cost for a Golem is 400, and a Red Skeleton with extra cost summon is 600. A fully-customized Red Skeleton can cost up to 4800.
Thinking of the base stats, rather than do a full customization of a Skeleton, itâs better to do an extra cost summon of a Red Skeleton...
My «Necromantic Secrets» will turn 20 soon, and then my Skeleton will become a Metal Skeleton⊠a metaske, just like Ske-san. Metaskeâs initial cost is 400, isnât it? A High Golem is 800? If the size goes up to Big, then 1200.
I became able to summon Ants, Spiders and Snakes⊠but doesn't look like Iâll use them? The undead spider⊠it has thread Skill, so it might be able to use it? In that case I might use it after all.
Currently, Skeletons are my main fighting force. When my «Necromantic Secrets» turns 20 I will probably become able to call #3, so I would love to call a Skeleton Wolf for its mobility and hit & run attacks?
And one more thing. By all means I would like to go to the North of Belstead again and absorb a Living Armor. Both cost-wise and size-wise, I want to avoid using Golems.
The cost of a Skeleton and of an armor must be the same. 1200 with extra cost summon. Wolf is small so probably 600? If I had 2000 Capacity I could summon 3 at extra cost. I need about three times more⊠but it would be just 150 trolls, so itâs not that big of a deal?
In the end, the choices are⊠leveling (Base and Skills), Capacity gathering, and crafting materials gathering.
As for Art verification⊠Iâm a little curious about «Alchemycraft»âsăElement Manipulationă.ăAssault Pierceăis⊠an Art I found no reason to use. It only moves me a few steps forward, and is hardly useful for avoidance.
Compared to that,ăRoyal Strotzăis very effective. When I block or parry, an icon appears which as I continue to defend, has a number on it increasing and stacking up. However, if I fail to block or parry the number of stacks decreases. Blocking gives +1, parrying +2, receiving damage -4, and logging out removes all stacks. It is currently unknown what the maximum amount of stacks and the max damage increase are.
Alright⊠letâs first go South to get a Goblin body, then head to Trollâs location to gather Capacity. I will also get Tokkei meat while at it, and my level will go up as well.
Looks like itâs safe to assume that itâs necessary to absorb bodies for side evolutions that split into a different evolution tree. When I took in Tokkei, I had Cook-A-Doo unlocked, and when I absorbed Owl in the Western forest I became able to summon Owls. Well, is it because their base skeleton is different?
I leave through the Southern gate and enter the forest, beat up a goblin, absorb him and retreat. Next, I teleport through the central plaza to Belstead.
Now to the forest in the South. I absorb Trolls and gather Tokkeiâs chicken meat and feathers. Meat can be used for chicken broth and bouillon, so I would like to gather a fair amount of them. The problem is that they are small, which in turns makes the number of drops very low. It takes more time than acquiring pork or beef.
I synthesize the feathers with branches and stones I pick up, then put them up on consignment. One synthesizing gives over 10 arrows, so I put 100⊠a full stack of arrows into my «Necromantic Secrets». Thanks to the fact there are slots for each equipment, I can save inventory space. There are Servant weapon slots for each Servant, so there is plenty of space in there.
After arriving at the forest⊠I summon red skelly #1 and #2 at initial cost, their equipment being a mace and a small shield, and a two-handed sword. After all, If I summon with extra cost, I wonât have enough to summon #2.
I leave the Tokkei to #1 and #2. There is a need to absorb trolls anyway, so I take them on myself.
Now, itâs time to hunt.
Trollâs attacks are large cleaves, so I did not attack at the beginning of combat and only parried to stack upăRoyal Stortză. My attack power increases, so letâs beat him after gaining some stack.
Should I increase #1âs AI level a little more with Orbs? It would be good if he moved more freely, or rather, if his movement range increased⊠it would be the best if he could move away from me and hunt on his own. I feel like he has a limit set on how far away from me he can act. I donât know whether itâs based on the Skill level or AI level though.
Apparently tamed mobs can go hunt on their own, possibly due to being wild animals in the first place⊠In regards to that, «Necromantic Secrets» seem to be closer to «Summoning Magic».
Letâs give him some orbs. They are non-tradeable items anyway. I have 57, so I give #1 seven of them. Eat well...
Oh, AI level went up to 35. Hm� Looks like there are details written here. Was this added with the update?
1 is on the level of a toddler. 10 is on the level of an elementary schooler. 20 is on the level of a middle schooler. And by reaching 30, #1 has AI on the level of a high schooler.
Also, from level 30 AI becomes able to cooperate with other races, its action range increases and the restriction on bows is lifted.
And at level 35 itâs possible to ask them to gather items, as well as craft. Furthermore, magic catalysts can be used and Dark Magic is possible to use?
At 5, 15, 25, and 35 the time required for the AI to get used to a new body is decreased, is what it says?
There are no actual numbers on it, so rates are a mystery, but I guess I should increase AI level by a bit more? I wonât use all 50, but letâs level it a bit more.
...Mmmm, it started to have a hard time going up. It went up by 9 levels when I gave him 7 orbs, but when I next gave him 20 more it went up to level 50. Meaning, it went up by 15 levels. I have just 30 orbs left, so for now letâs leave it at this.
At level 40 AI has reached university student level and seems to have become capable of independent actions. It also seems that he started to think by himself and not only respond to orders. Magic other than dark was also unlocked. Furthermore, at level 45, combined magic was unlocked⊠but the current Skill level is insufficient and there aren't enough Skill slots for that. Itâs meaningless until I reach level 30 of «Necromantic Secrets».
And at 50, AI was on the level of an adult. According to the description, it was on the same level as the player. And the Skill limitations coming from AI level all get lifted, the range of actions expands. It means that there will be no more âI canât use this yet~â situations.
There is one more thing I learned. When the AI level reached 50 with the 19th orb, I gave #1 one more orb to make it an even number, but there was hardly any experience added to the bar. It seems that up to level 50 AI, itâs something like a tutorial. Iâm curious what will happen when I level it up higher, but considering that I will run out of orbs, letâs leave it as it is now. I wonât be troubled at this level.
Just in case I summon #1 and #2 again and restart hunting.
Hm. The stats did not change, but their movements are now more efficient. #1 and #2 werenât making any needless moves now.
Thanks to having his action range increased, #1 can fight all the Tokkeis within the range of my sight. #2 is acting as support for either me or #1⊠or rather, like a mobile striking force. When there are three enemies, I leave one each to #1 and #2, but in general I have #2 either attack #1âs or my target.
And so, letâs increase efficiency. I dismiss #2, do customization of a Red Skeleton Wolf and summon again. #1 costs 200 and #2 costs 400 now, so I have enough Capacity.
I grow two arms on #2, equip him with a two-handed sword and summon. ...This looks astonishing. A dark red boney doggie has two human arms growing out of him and holds a two-handed sword. Heâs a wolf so he has four legs, that makes him pretty stable doesnât it? Letâs further stabilize him. I put «Sword», «Balance Control» and «Bodily Enhancement» on him.
«Bodily Enhancement» is stat-increasing passive which is a merge of passives increasing STR and VIT. A merge of DEX and AGI is «Limb Enhancement» and a merge of INT and SPI seems to be «Soul Enhancement». For some reason the merged Skills increase less than originals, but itâs not a problem since Iâm sticking it on a Servant.
His Monster Skills remain the same as usual - «Physical Resistance», «Life Absorption», «Low Undead» and «Bone Body», and in addition to those Skills I give him «Super HP Recovery» and «Automatic Recovery Trait». They wonât let me change his «Low Undead» and «Bone Body». It can't be helped, he IS a Skeleton.
Go, #2. Your mission is to slash. BECOME A SLASHER. I did not have a proper weapon for it so I had him hold a two-handed sword⊠but for this tactic, I think a katana would be better than a two-handed sword.
Although it did take him some time to get used to the new body, with high AI level he fairly quickly mastered it. Maybe itâs best to raise Servantsâ level to 50 right away. At the very least to 30, otherwise Servants probably wonât cooperate well with players.
Body customization⊠is pretty nice? But I have way too few Capacity to play around with customization. And I will be able to summon metaskellies soon⊠looks like until my Skill level goes up to a point where it will be hard to level it further, I wonât have enough Capacity to customize well. How sad.
If I summoned a metaskelly and armor at extra cost, it would cost 2400 Capacity in total. A metaskelly dog would cost 600 at extra cost, so 3000 in total.
If I customized the doggo⊠it would be 2400 with just that. Without extra summon it would cost just 800? Two custom arms increase the price by Ă4, after all.
In any case, I canât do anything with «Necromantic Secrets» without Capacity, so for now letâs hunt trolls until I reach level 20 of «Necromantic Secrets».
Alright, itâs Thursday afternoon, before I go to hunt again⊠letâs withdraw money from consignment.
At the Merchant Union reception⊠I receive the sales for Onion Soup (buff), jerkies (normal & buff), as well as roast beef. Also, I withdraw the sales for the remaining bear soup I had.
So, there was about 1m of sales. Looks like jerkies pay off well. Letâs deposit the money in the union right away. The total amount of money I have now is⊠4.4m and a little. The money I spent on my Servantsâ equipment came back, so itâs plenty good.
Now, letâs go hunt. I leave the union and head to the forest. In about an hour my «Necromantic Secrets» should reach level 20.
I reached base level 24 when I was hunting yesterday. «Luminous Magic» reached 10 and I learnedăLumen Wallă. This one should be very valuable for the area in the North.
When I arrive at the forest, I summon #1 and #2⊠DELIVERY TIME.
Oh, itâs leveled⊠wait, thatâs not it. ...Oh my? FinallyăInventory Expansionăâs consumption went down to 70%. This makes me happy.
ăGravitasă
Manipulates gravity to slow the enemyâs movements. The strength of gravity is based on Skill level.
I guess itâs the well-known gravity magic? Iâm not even going to try wondering how it works - Iâm pretty sure the theory of relativity will pop-up? If you asked me if I wanted to know that much, the answer is NO. Iâm not seeking such âpleasuresâ from a game.
What is more important is the in-game mechanic. Whether this âGravityâ has a wide or narrow effect⊠is the problem. It would change everything. But at this point⊠it only seems to pull the target downwards. The value is⊠Ă2, hm?
Will I be able to change the direction gravity pulls in if my level goes up? Like, repulsive force, an all-direction one? If I could use it, maybe I could fly⊠but I guess my MP would run out right away in this game? What is left is controlling the power output⊠the amount of magic power used. Although, I could fly into the atmosphere and burn up if I fail.
Iâm sure this game isnât too nice to players in that regard.
Letâs verify a little. First, whether it has a practical use or not.
I useăGravitasăon a Troll I meet. ...Certainly his movements are duller, but itâs not to a level where his movements are restricted. The MP consumption is pretty low for a «Spatial Magic» spell⊠is what I would like to say, but itâs a spell with continuous effect. A type that continues to consume MP over the usage duration.
The spell itself isnât bad⊠I think, but I wonât use it. I want to use MP for attacks. There is a possibility I will use it on enemies that are too fast⊠I guess? Also⊠if the gravity further increases, I might use it on flying enemies.
Alright, it reached level 20. And of all things, itâs an attacking spell?
ăPoisonplodeă
Creates a poisonous cloud that Poisons the target and explodes.
An explosion with poison? I tried using it, and it seems to have low damage in itself, but it has a visibility decrease from the graphical effect and Poison ailment. The usage is the same as that of explosion-type spells. This vision obscuring effect does not seem to have any effect on me or #1. Itâs plain but pretty useful-looking. I wonder whether it does work just on the spellcaster, his party, or because I have night vision. The Intensity of poison is at 4, which makes me curious. Even if it has a differing effect based on each enemy and players, itâs pretty strong. Feels like it will become a staple opening attack.
The explanation avoids touching up on the poisonâs topic as much as possible⊠My «Aura of Darkness» has passed level 30 on Tuesday, so the ailment Intensity is also 4. Is there a possibilityăPoisonplodeă refers to the casterâs overall ailment Intensity capability? Intensity at 4 feels too strong to be default. I need to ask Ske-san to tell me how it is for him when he reaches level 20. He shouldnât have «Aura of Darkness» at that point.
Now, for the time being, it can be said that I reached my goal with «Necromantic Secrets». I also gathered nearly 200 chicken meat, so there is plenty. It was worth hunting here over these few days. I gathered way too many feathers⊠there are so many of them itâs a pain to use them all up to make arrows...
And my Capacity hasnât reached 3000 yet. With that said, Iâm missing five trolls to reach it, to get in the safe margin. ...Well, it canât be helped. For now letâs hunt five more trolls.
And it should be fine now⊠I passed my goal of 3000 Capacity so I return to the town⊠and go North next. The goal isnât the temple, but absorbing a Phantom Knight. After absorbing one, letâs do some of the homework.
Letâs go back to⊠oh? Thereâs something I havenât seen before? Itâs armed⊠an Ogre Guard, huh? A level 30, but not a boss. Instead, it has Elite written on him. Thereâs also âApprenticeâ written on him, like some novice driver stamp. So an apprentice guard, is it? I donât know whether he is elite or novice at this point⊠I know what they mean by this though. Heâs an Apprentice Ogre Guard, but is treated as an elite mob.
I resummon #1 and #2 as their metal versions. #1 is summoned with extra cost and #2 has two custom parts but no extra cost. I spent 2000 Capacity so I still have to spare, but letâs put #3 aside for now.
âWeâre beating that.â
#1 nodded, and #2⊠gave thumbs up with the arm on his back. It really is a very eerie sight. The problem is, that it actually looks kind of cute. And they are bones, too. Wait, it could be actually disgusting if it was anything else but bones.
In any case, itâs an Ogre âGuardâ, so heâs equipped with a one-handed sword and a large shield, tank style it is. His Skills are probably that of a tank, too. Level 30 is lower than that of the area in the North, but since I found him I might as well beat him.
...Is what I once thought. In this game, base level really isnât a good reference point! If I had to say whatâs different, it would be the AI level, just like in my Servantsâ case.
He even does light feints. This is bad, I canât parry everything.
I made a mistake and was unable to completely parry an uppercut, the sword hit my left biceps⊠and itâs gone. So you can lose limbs during combat? Certainly, it did not say it limb loss only happens when you die⊠the attack just now took 30% of my HP.
This Ogre Guard moves really well. Although he is an apprentice, heâs still an elite mob. And it looks like heâs fairly smart. The Undead in the North are really weak in this field, instead being numerous and tough.
#1 and #2 do attack, but they move away after hitting once. Although Iâm having the most hate, it seems like he doesnât only look at me.
Also, Ogre Guard isnât the only enemy here, when a troll comes I leave it to #1.
"#2,ăIroncutteră.â
I want to beat it already, so I instruct #2 to use an art. As he ran, the two-handed sword he held had shone red and as he passed by the Ogre Guard, he slashed withăIroncutteră. And from there, he took distance again.
Nice one, #2. That was a guidebook-level Art usage. Although that Art gives freedom of movement, it is difficult to activate and often ends up dealing trash damage. Looks like it was worth raising the AI level? Also #2, what are you holding in your teeth?
Thanks to #2âs attack, the ogre entered a damage taken motion, so I use that opportunity to slash withăPenetrateăinto him. Normally, if I used it from the front, it would be stopped by the shield. Well, obviously, I would also protect myself from that.
When the ogre further faltered from receivingăPenetrateă, I gifted himăNox Shotă. Furthermore, #1 attacked withăIroncutteră and aăDistance Swordăflew over from #2⊠farewell, Ogre Guard.
What should I do about the drop⊠should I absorb him⊠or disassemblyâŠ? The body will be that of an ogre. Although, unlike «Summoning Magic», with «Necromantic Secrets» it will not be an ogre, but an ogre-sized skeleton. ...Alright, letâs absorb him.
Now, #2, what are you holding there? Oh, itâs my left arm. So you picked it up for me. #2 raised the arm up with one arm and passed it to me.
Still, can I put it back on? ...I see. A countdown timer appeared. So within five minutes itâs possible to put it back, after that time it will disappear. When it falls, the count progresses, and when I pick it up - it stops...
But there is no change to the lost limb treatment and my stats were temporarily lowered. So if I pick it up within five minutes, I wonât have to use a part? An hour and a half until the arm recovers completely⊠itâs faster than when I used a C quality part?
So⊠what should I do now? A lost limb is pretty troublesome. Obviously. My left arm feels strange and my DEX has decreased. It will affect my «Cook» Skill, not to mention combat.
Nn⊠looks like I need to put off the absorbing of a Phantom Knight. Letâs go do homework first and go there when the loss penalty is off.
I can do it in-game but⊠itâs 3 p.mâŠ. 3 p.m. hm? Letâs log out and take a break while at it, and do homework in real. I decided so and headed to Belstead.
I take a break, do some homework, and once the penalty wears off I log in again. After confirming that the penalty is gone, I immediately depart North.
According to numbers added in the update, the area with the old temple is 2-2. 2-3, 2-5 and 2-7 are the town areas like Belstead, looks like they numbered them clockwise.
With the Starting Town as the center of a square split into 9 fields, the area with the old temple would be third in the first row, so I thought it would be a third area. But apparently the areas surrounding the Starting Town are all second areas, and areas surrounding the second town are third areas. In other words, even if it's a second area, areas that have no town in them have strong enemies.
Which means that there definitely is a town in the adjacent area shown on the map. Diagonally adjacentâŠ? Well, even if itâs next to this one on the area map, itâs not guaranteed I can get there by walking straight in a straight line.
More importantly, letâs absorb a Phantom Knight. I deposited my money, as for valuables⊠alright, Iâm prepared to die on this trip.
If I become able to summon a tank, I should be able to take on entire links by myself.
#1âs equipment is a one-handed mace and a large shield. Skills I gave him are «Long Handle» «Defense» «Balance Control» and «Bodily Enhancement».
As for #2, he is equipped with a bronze one-handed mace and a small shield. Heâs a Metal Skeleton summoned at extra cost with two custom parts. As for Skills letâs give him «Long Handle» «Balance Control» and «Footwork».
Also, the two had their Monster Skills set as «Physical Resistance», «Life Absorption» «Low Tier Undead» and «Bone Body», as well as «Super HP Recovery» and «Automatic Recovery Trait» added by me.
The twoâs Skill levels are based on «Necromantic Secrets» level, so they are level 20. Their «Super HP Recovery» and «Automatic Recovery Trait» is the same as mine, so 18 and 12. «Super HP Recovery» at level 18 gives more healing than «Automatic HP Recovery» at level 20, so I switched «Automatic HP Recovery» for «Life Absorption», giving them my «Super HP Recovery».
Since my «Necromantic Secrets» reached level 20, I had 4 slots for Skills, though Monster Skills remained at default 4. Probably, the number of Monster Skills will increase from here on.
Bringing the two bones that changed from dark red to metallic, I head to the area 2-2 in the North.
#1 aside, #2 still needs to get used to the new setup. His weapon changed from a two-handed sword to a mace and a shield, so I had him fight Forest Wolves along the way. I also disableăInventory Expansionăbefore we arrive. I absorb the beaten enemies and once #2 gets used to fighting, we move onto the main event.
"#1, here is the plan: I will take on the Flying Heads that are in the sky, so be wary of the surroundings. Armored Skeleton Wolves will aim for me, so use Arts to attack them preemptively. Revenants and Forest Wolf Zombies will aim for you two, but they shouldnât be too strong. Understood so far?â
"*KLOK*â
âNow, for the main enemy that is a Phantom Knightâs link, I will take on the Phantom Knight, so you two aim for the bones. #2 take out the archer, #1 take out the soldier alone. When you beat them, #1 stay on guard of the surroundings, #2 come join me in combat. Understood?â
"*KLOK*â
âVery well. Letâs go then.â
Most likely, or rather, definitely⊠if their AI level was low they wouldnât be able to understand this.
When a Flying Head came, I left #1 to be on guard of the surroundings and defeat it in a magic battle. These ones arenât a problem. Even if they hit me with their magic, I have resistance.
Although I have to fight against Revenants and Forest Wolf Zombies as well, they arenât a problem. Since they are not targeting me at the beginning, I easily finish them off withăOverspellăăLumen Shotă.
Skeleton Wolves are usually in links of 3, but there are three of us as well, #1 and #2 are free of target at the start so itâs easy.
If there is a problem, it would be the reinforcements that come during combat with Phantom Knightâs link. They should be a little further, so I aim for the central part of the area.
There it is, the armored skeldier, archer, Phantom Knight group.
âI will shoot a spell from distance, #2 take a route around and attack from the back. I will also cast a Light Wall, so #1 be on standby.â
"*KLOK*â
KILL âEM ALL.
The archer has a large searching range so I get targeted by him, but I use ăLumen ExplosionăwithăOverspellăand release it when they barely enter the range. Then, I next createăLumen Wallăon the ground.
#1 and #2 moved around the wall and #2 attacked first withăIroncutterăâs blunt attack version -ăArmor Breakă, hitting the archerâs legs from behind.
Just as instructed to, #1 remained nearby on guard. Looks like Undead were dumb enough to run straight into the wall and received a lot of damage.
The knight headed straight toward me. #1 smashed anăArmor Breakăinto the soldier from the side before he could get to me.
#1 easily beat the soldier who was already near death thanks toăLumen ExplosionăandăLumen Wallă, meanwhile, I further fired aăLumen Shotăat the knight. And heâs nearly dead now, though he did have a lot of HP.
While the Phantom Knight attacked me, #1 approached from behind him and did a full swing usingăArmor Breakă. And the enemy was defeated.
The archer? After being hit in the legs he fell over, was bitten in the leg, dragged all around, and smacked with the mace held in the customized arm on the back while at it. I felt a little sorry for him. This AI is too good.
Hmm⊠excellent. If I use magic preemptively, I can somehow manage. At least⊠in the current location. The further you go into the center of the area, the more enemies there are in this place. Looks like itâs still impossible for me to go to the old temple.