Alan entered the Skill Shop, finding it to be a spacious and inviting area, quite different from the Spell Shop. The shop provided ample space, even featuring a corner room designated for testing various weapons and skills. As he stepped into the establishment, he was greeted by a female NPC who inquired about his interest in acquiring new skills.
Before delving into the panel displaying available skills for purchase, Alan decided to take stock of his current skill set. He accessed his game link, where a neatly organized list of skills was displayed, offering a clear view of his strengths and potential areas for growth:
[Common Skill]
[Unarmed Combat (Novice)]
[Dagger Weapon (Novice)]
[Small Firearm (Expert)]
[Sword Weapon (Master)]
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[Uncommon Skill]
[First Aid (Basic)]
[Repair (Basic)]
[Sneak (Expert)]
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[Unique Skill]
[Science (Master)]
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[Active Skill]
[Crafting] [Meditation] [Light Steps] [ [Eagle Eye], [Lunge Strike], [Power Strike], [Concealment].
As he contemplated his skill list, Alan faced a critical decision. He aspired to elevate either his [First Aid], [Unarmed Combat], or [Dagger Weapon] skills to the Expert level. By doing so, he would unlock additional active skills, further enhancing his versatility and capabilities. However, his available rank rewards were limited, and his recent choice to embrace the path of magic had significantly constrained his resources. Alan was left with a mere 1x D rank reward, 4x E rank rewards, and 1x F rank reward to allocate.
He moved toward the panel and started to browse through the available skills to purchase. With his skill options laid out before him, Alan examined the various possibilities he could invest in, considering his current level and progress in the game.
[Main skill]
[Sword weapon] [Dagger weapon] [Spear weapon] [Axe weapon] [Blunt Weapon] [Bow weapon] [Throwing weapon] [Hand to Hand] [Small Firearm] [Medium Firearm] [Big Firearm]
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[Life skill]
[Fishing] [Mining] [Woodworking] [Skinning][Harvesting][Climbing] [Swimming] [Riding]
The "Life Skills" section was a recent addition to the available skill choices, each skill granting a 10% increase in speed for performing the associated tasks. Alan had communicated with his support team, outlining their roles and the skills they should focus on to best prepare for the upcoming round.
All were passive skills that could be useful for the next round and with the price it offers; [Basic Level: 500 survival points]
[Novice Level: F rank / 500 survival points]
[Expert Level: E rank reward / 500 survival points]
Given their practicality and reasonable cost, Alan decided to invest in all three basic-level skills. He recognized that these basic skills could be upgraded later, as circumstances and experience dictated.
[Riding (Basic)]: A foundational skill that focuses on the fundamentals of riding and controlling animals effectively.
[Swimming (Basic)]: The basics of swimming, aimed at enhancing swimming efficiency.
[Climbing (Basic)]: A skill focusing on the fundamental techniques of climbing and hiking, particularly useful for scaling mountains and steep terrain.
The acquisition of these basic life skills came at a cost of 1,500 survival points, slightly reducing his overall total.
[Survival Points: 20,750 > 19,250]
With the basic skills secured, Alan shifted his focus to the selection of active skills, which offered various combat and tactical advantages. As a master of small firearms, he had the opportunity to delve into the expert-level skills. Among these skills were:
[Small Firearm - Common] [E rank reward / 500]
[Steady Hand]: Enhancing accuracy and reducing recoil when firing small firearms.
[Rapid Fire]: The ability to increase firing speed without compromising accuracy.
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[Small Firearm - Uncommon] [E rank reward / 3,000]
[Dual Guns]: The capability to effectively use two small firearms simultaneously without suffering accuracy penalties.
[Trick Shot]: The skill to execute precise shots from challenging angles or using acrobatic maneuvers.
[Close Quarter Combat]: A focus on utilizing firearms effectively in close-quarters combat scenarios, including skills like quick draws, hip firing, and firearm disarms.
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The next panel displayed an impressive array of sword-related skills, both common and uncommon, that could significantly enhance his abilities as a swordmaster. As a Master in the sword weapon skill, Alan now had the opportunity to acquire new techniques and capabilities to improve his combat proficiency.
[Sword Weapon - Common] [E rank reward / 500]:
[Swift Blade]: Enhances attack speed and dexterity with swords, facilitating faster and smoother movements.
[Spinning Blade]: Allows the wielder to perform a sweeping attack, striking multiple enemies in a circular motion.
[Precision Strike]: Enables precise targeting of specific areas on an opponent for maximum damage, including vital organs and limbs.
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[Sword Weapon - Uncommon] [E rank reward / 3,000]:
[Dual Wield]: Grants the ability to use two swords simultaneously without suffering accuracy penalties.
[Fencing]: Focuses on techniques emphasizing speed, agility, and precise thrusting attacks.
[Blind Sword]: Allows combat effectiveness without reliance on vision, a valuable skill in challenging situations.
[Sword Dance]: Incorporates graceful and fluid movements resembling a dance, confusing and mesmerizing opponents.
[Blade Frenzy]: Enables rapid and continuous strikes, overwhelming opponents with speed and aggression.
[Sword and Shield]: Combines a sword with a shield, providing both offensive capabilities and increased protection.
The selection and investment in these sword skills would undoubtedly enhance his combat capabilities and potentially tip the scales in his favor during intense battles.
Alan continued to browse through the available skills, and he turned his attention to the "Sneak" skill tree. Having acquired mastery in the sword weapon skill, he was presented with more advanced options for his "Sneak" skills, both common and uncommon.
[Sneak - Common] [E rank reward / 500]:
[Escape]: Enhanced movement speed during perilous situations.
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[Sneak - Uncommon [E rank reward / 3,000]:
[Shadow Strike]: Mastery of this skill allowed characters to seemingly disappear and reappear behind an opponent for a stealthy, surprise attack.
The uncommon "Shadow Strike" skill was a direct result of his mastery in both [sneak] and [sword weapon].
Recognizing the significance of a sword skill for the next round of the Apocalypse game, Alan invested more in sword skills that would enhance his melee combat capabilities, including [Shadow Strike], [Blade Frenzy], and [Swift Blade].
As for the firearm, He chose [Trick Shot], a skill that would be invaluable when navigating challenging environments or facing other players. Furthermore, the skills [Dual Guns] and [Rapid Fire] would be indispensable in situations requiring rapid and extensive firepower.
[Purchase completed]
[Survival points: 19250> 3750]
[E Rank reward x6]
