[New Level: 4]
[+20 Maximum HP]
[+10 Maximum Mana]
"Now which ability should I improve? Shield Bash or something else? I'm undecided. What do you think, Boney Stark?" he asked, turning to the skeleton. "Shield Bash?"
The skeleton nodded up and down.
"You haven't even heard the other options yet..."
The skeleton nodded again
"Thanks to Iron Stance, I can get quite high damage reduction. If I improve it, I'll survive much longer, and while I hold the creatures, you can hunt them from range."
The skeleton nodded downward.
"I can also choose passive abilities, but they're not very effective for me right now. It makes more sense to focus on active abilities for now."
[Choose your path.]
[Iron Stance – Bastion Form]
Type: Active – Damage Reduction
Mana: 3
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Effect Duration: 5 seconds
Frontal Physical Damage Resistance: Endurance × 0.3 = 74
Side/Rear Resistance: None
Movement Speed Reduction: 80%
Bonus Effect:Immune to knockback and stagger from frontal attacks during effect.
Description: The user locks into place like a fortress. Bastion Form further strengthens frontal defenses, turning the user into an unmovable wall. However, movement becomes extremely limited, and vulnerability from behind remains a risk. Ideal for choke points and guarding allies under pressure.
[Iron Stance – Flow Form]
Type: Active – Damage Reduction
Mana: 3
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Effect Duration: 10 seconds
Frontal Physical Damage Resistance: Endurance × 0.1 = 24
Side/Rear Resistance: None
Bonus Effect:Can move freely during stance.
Description: Flow Form sacrifices some raw defense for flexibility. The user moves with the rhythm of battle, maintaining a defensive focus while staying agile. Though it offers lower overall protection, it allows for repositioning and better adaptability—especially in chaotic fights.
"A tough choice... Should I be slow but very durable, or fast but less durable? What do you think, Boney Stark?"
The skeleton shrugged.
"Look, Boney, I've made my decision. I'm choosing Bastion Form," Boran said with determination. "All the battles so far have shown that my biggest advantage is holding enemies and giving others a chance to attack. Although Flow Form gives me more mobility, my main job is to lock down enemies. Think about it—you stand safely in the back while I stand like a fortress at the front. While enemies can't get past me, you can aim freely. The high durability provided by Bastion Form will let me hold my position much longer.
"Plus, immunity to knockback and stagger is crucial. Some enemies will try to push me, to break my position. But thanks to Bastion Form, I'll stand like a rock. Being slow might seem like a disadvantage, but it fits our combat style perfectly. You're already fighting from range, so I don't need to move quickly. What matters is being able to hold enemies and stay alive. If an enemy bypasses me and heads for you, I'll use my taunt ability."
[Iron Stance – Bastion Form selected]
"I'm putting points into endurance again. It's still the most useful for me."
Stats
Level: 4
HP: 270 (134 Base, 96 Endurance, 20 Shield, 10 Chest, 5 Bracers, 5 Boots)
Mana: 90
⭐Strength: 2
⭐Agility: 7 (2 base, 4 SetB, 1 Boots)
⭐⭐Endurance: 96 (29 base, 20 SetB, 15 Shield, 10 Title, 10 Chest, 5 Bracers, 5 Helmet, 2 Boots)
Physical Damage Resistance: 10 (5 Chest, 4 SetB, 1 Helmet)
Magical Damage Resistance: 0
Slow Resistance: 20%
Focus: 0
⭐Perception: 2
⭐Charisma: 2
"Every time I level up, my health increases by 20 and my mana by 10. I've got 90 mana now. This means I can use SSB 90 times. Speaking of SSB..."
Personal Quests
Use "Shield Bash" ability 100 times.
[75/100]
Rewards: 1 Ability Enhancement Point
"I completely forgot about this! I need to finish this quest quickly!"
Boran suddenly turned toward the wall. "SSB! SSB! SSB!" he shouted, bashing the wall with his shield. With each strike, sparks flew from his shield in the flickering light of the mushrooms.
Boney Stark watched Boran's strange behavior with his head slightly tilted. The blue fire in his eye sockets seemed to flicker with confusion.
"Fifteen... sixteen... seventeen..." Boran was counting to himself, breathing heavily. Each strike consumed 1 Mana.
"Twenty-three... twenty-four... and twenty-five!" When he stopped after the final strike, his arms were trembling from exhaustion. Taking a deep breath, he turned to Boney Stark. "I was just completing a quest."
A notification appeared:
Personal Quests
Use "Shield Bash" ability 100 times.
[100/100]
[Quest Completed!]
[Gained +1 Ability Enhancement Point]
Boran smiled, tired but satisfied. "There we go! Let's see what this does."
[Choose what to enhance]
[Damage: 120% of BSA + (Strength × 2) -→ 130% of BSA + (Strength × 2)]
[Or]
[Stun 0.5 second → Stun 1 second]
"So this is ability enhancement ... The damage only increases by 10%, but having the stun last half a second longer will be very helpful."
[Stunning Shield Bash (+1)]
Type: Active - Physical Attack
Mana: 1
Cooldown: 10/30 seconds
Damage: 120% of BSA + (Strength × 2) = 16
Additional Effect: Stuns target for 1 second
Description: The user balances their weight and swings their shield to apply direct physical pressure. The strike both deals damage and disrupts the target's balance. Particularly useful in close combat to break the enemy's attack chain or create space for escape. Against normal enemies, the cooldown is 10 seconds. However, when used against bosses and successfully stunning them, the cooldown increases to 30 seconds.
"That's better. Now let me upgrade you, Boney Stark."
[Boney Stark]
Level: 4
[Select equipment to upgrade:]
[Bow] [Quiver] [Arrows] [Helmet] [Chest Armor]
"I'll upgrade his bow again."
[Maximum level reached. Must upgrade other equipment first to level up further.]
"Can't upgrade his bow anymore. I'll need to upgrade his other equipment first. Let's upgrade his quiver."
[Attack Speed 0 → 1]
[Arrow Capacity 10 → 12]
Boney Stark's leather quiver took on a more well-maintained appearance with the latest upgrade. The tears and wear that had caught the eye were now almost completely gone.
"At least it looks more stylish now," said Boran, examining the quiver. "Your attack speed and arrow capacity have increased... wait a minute! You have an arrow capacity?"
He immediately went behind Boney Stark and looked inside his quiver. There were 4 arrows left inside. "You need more arrows and a better quiver..."