An hour ago, before the fight with the Poison Eye Demon Spider.
---
The group marched through the dense and dimly lit Sunset Forest, their footsteps muffled by the thick layer of fallen leaves. The forest was alive with the sounds of rustling foliage and distant growls, the perfect setting for honing their skills. Gabriel observed his teammates with a watchful eye, noting the vigor with which they engaged their enemies. Each one fought with determination, knowing that every battle brought them closer to their goals.
Thud
Thud
The fatigue from constant fighting and the mental strain of endless vigilance weighed on them all, but their stamina potions allowed them to press on. Despite the exhaustion, the party's teamwork had become seamless, a well-oiled machine that adapted to every new threat. Gabriel had guided them to this point, his leadership helping to elevate their abilities to new heights.
Whoosh!
Jane, was at the forefront, her movements a blur as she danced between enemies, striking with precision.
Her skill, [Phantom Strike], allowed her to blend into the shadows and emerge behind her target, delivering a critical blow that left her enemies reeling. Each attack from her twin daggers was lethal, and her level had peaked at 15, unable to advance further until she could change her class.
Twang!
Elton, fired his arrows with unerring accuracy. His skill, [Piercing Arrow], allowed his arrows to penetrate through multiple enemies, each shot hitting with the force of a thunderbolt.
Boom!
His quiver never seemed to empty, and his experience bar was tantalizingly close to reaching Level 15. Just 25% more experience, and he would achieve the next level, ready for whatever challenge lay ahead.
Clang!
Zhao Kong, the shielder and tank of the group. His [Iron Wall] skill created an impenetrable barrier, absorbing the brunt of enemy attacks and protecting the party from harm. His presence was a comfort to the team, knowing that with him on the front lines, they could focus on their attacks without worrying about their safety. He too was on the verge of leveling up, a mere step away from reaching Level 15.
Crackle!
Gareth, the enigmatic mage, channeled his powers with practiced ease. His [Arcane Explosion] skill sent waves of magical energy crashing into their foes, devastating groups of enemies in a single, brilliant burst. The magical energy crackled in the air around him, a testament to his growing power. Like Zhao Kong, he was just shy of Level 15, and Gabriel could see the anticipation in his eyes with each enemy they felled.
Their journey through the Mystic Realm had transformed them. When they had first entered, their levels were modest—Jane at 12, Elton at 11, and the others not far behind. Now, under Gabriel's guidance, they had grown significantly, their skills sharpened by the trials they faced together.
The rewards for their efforts had been substantial. Their bags were filled with gold, rare materials, demon cores, and new equipment. But the most valuable spoils of all were the skill books. Gabriel had been fortunate to claim two for himself, recognizing that these were uniquely suited to his abilities. The skills they contained—[Light Barrier] and [Holy Lance]—had the potential to turn the tide of battle in their favor.
Gabriel had not rushed into learning these new skills. Instead, he had taken the time to consider how best to integrate them into his combat strategy. He envisioned himself in the heat of battle, using these skills against formidable foes. After much contemplation, he decided that only [Light Barrier] was immediately practical. Its defensive capabilities were crucial, and he knew it would be invaluable in protecting his team during the most intense encounters.
A familiar ding sounded in his mind as the system prompt appeared.
---
[Ding! Do you want to learn the skill [Light Barrier]? Y/N?]
---
Gabriel pressed "Yes," and felt a surge of energy as the knowledge of the skill flowed into him. He opened his status panel to review his updated abilities.
---
[Name: Gabriel Heart]
[Class: Priest]
[Level: 16, Bronze Mid Stage]
[Health Points: 11,330/11,330 (+11,330)]
[Mana: 10,620/10,620]
[Experience: 145,025/600,000]
[Magic Attack: 2,050 (↑1,127)]
[Defense: 1,364 (+60)]
[Attributes: STR: 75, AGI: 71, DEX: 101, INT: 198 (+157), VIT: 163 (+167)]
[Skills:
Light Hurricane Level 10
Healing Totem Level 10
Goddess Blessing Level 10
Grace of Life Level 1
Cleanse Level 6
Faith Level 1]
[Tome Skills:
Tail Wind
Blessing of the Ocean
Light Barrier]
[Talent [☯]: Yin-Yang Soul Harmony (D)]
[Harmony Essence: 232,200]
[Equipment:
Golden Staff
Gold Robe
Gold Boots
Gold Mitten
Gold Mitra
Gold Trousers
Crimson Shield]
[Equipment Effects:
+140% Healing
+100% Max HP
+300 HP
+200 Mana
+50% Mana Regeneration
+40% MATK
+15% Movement Speed
+40% Cooldown Reduction
+60 Defense
+25% Damage Reduction
+600 Magic Attack]
[Engravement Effects:
+500 HP
+15% MATK
+15% Magic Penetration]
[Unused Skill Points: 2]
---
Satisfied with his current status, Gabriel closed his panel and looked down at the remaining skill book, [Holy Lance]. The idea of wielding a holy weapon that could annihilate his enemies was tempting. Yet, something held him back. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this skill than met the eye. As he pondered, the system prompted him again.
---
[Ding! Do you want to learn the skill [Holy Lance]? Y/N?]
---
Gabriel hesitated before choosing "No," but what happened next took him completely by surprise.
---
[Ding! Do you want to mutate the skill [Holy Lance] using Harmony Essence points? Consume 200,000 points? Y/N?]
---
The world seemed to spin around him as he read the notification. His breath quickened, and he could feel his heart pounding in his chest—not from fear, but from pure exhilaration. The option to mutate a skill was something he had never encountered before.
He had already spent 20,000 Harmony Essence points earlier to upgrade potions and equipment, knowing he needed to conserve his resources for critical moments. But the allure of unlocking a mutated skill was impossible to resist.
Minutes passed like hours as Gabriel weighed his options. His fingers hovered over the "Yes" button, and after what felt like an eternity, he made his decision. He pressed "Yes," and the skill book began to glow.
A radiant light, both white and black, enveloped the book. It was a familiar sight, reminiscent of the times he had mutated equipment before.
But this time, instead of the light revealing a transformed item, the book dissolved into energy that merged with Gabriel himself. A new notification echoed in his mind.
---
[Ding! You have learned the skill [Celestial Judgment]!]
---
Stunned, Gabriel immediately opened his skill panel, eager to see the details of this new ability.
---
[Skills:
Light Hurricane Level 10
Healing Totem Level 10
Goddess Blessing Level 10
Grace of Life Level 1
Cleanse Level 6
Faith Level 1
Celestial Judgment Level 1]
[Tome Skills:
Tail Wind
Blessing of the Ocean
Light Barrier]
---
What struck Gabriel most was the placement of [Celestial Judgment] in his main skill slot, rather than in the tome skill section. This meant that the skill could be leveled up with skill points, enhancing its power even further. His hands trembled with excitement as he clicked to view the details.
---
[Celestial Judgment: Calls down a ray of divine light from the heavens, dealing massive Holy damage to a single target. Has a high chance of inflicting a status effect that reduces the target's defense by 50%.]
Damage: [(500% x Sk.lvl) {Matk x (1+MagicPen)}]
Mana Cost: 2,000
Cooldown: 60 seconds]
---
Gabriel's heart raced as he absorbed the significance of this new power. Crackling energy filled the air around him, and he knew he had unlocked something extraordinary.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of combat ahead.
Clang!
Boom!
His teammates were engaged in another skirmish, their skills on full display as they cut through the ranks of their enemies.
Jane, activated [Phantom Step], vanishing from sight before reappearing behind a shadow wolf, her dagger plunging into its neck with deadly precision.
Whizz
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
Elton, standing on a ridge, unleashed [Rain of Arrows], a barrage of arrows that rained down on the enemy horde, each one finding its mark with devastating accuracy.
Zhao Kong stood firm in the center, his [Earthquake Slam]sending shockwaves through the ground, disrupting the enemy formation and buying his teammates time to strike.
Gareth raised his staff, summoning a [Flame Serpent]that coiled through the air before engulfing a group of orcs in a fiery inferno. The battle was intense, but Gabriel knew they could handle it.
His thoughts, however, were already elsewhere.
Ding!
The thrill of battle, the anticipation of using his new skill, filled him with a sense of purpose.
Boom!
Crackle!
He could almost see it—the divine light striking down from the heavens, obliterating his enemies in a single, glorious strike. With [Celestial Judgment], he would lead his team to victory, no matter the odds.
As the sounds of battle continued to ring out around him, Gabriel took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. The Mystic Realm had been a crucible, forging them into a powerful unit. But he knew that the true challenges still lay ahead. With his new skill and the strength of his team, Gabriel was ready to face them head-on.
Clang!
"Let's finish this," he muttered, gripping his staff with renewed determination.
The battle raged on.
---