Jericho The Bard A VRMMORPG Story 39 Bleh...

Lux looked victorious. (Now do you know why I didn't want to swallow those stones?)

Ken's gag reflex responded once again. (Yep! Now I get why you were calling me dumb earlier. Bleh…) He sent a message over to Princess. [I'll be over there soon. I suggest you get rid of the Lyngurium you got earlier. You don't want to use it. It would be much better to sell it instead.]

Seeing the two felines focus once more, the old ghost lynx laughed. (A nice lady come over and placed it there to help you out. If you find her later you should thank her.) The fading ghost lynx said. (Good luck my successors.) The lynx vanished.

(Hey wait!) Ken roared at the air.

(Wow, it is so nice that someone chose to help us out like that.) Lux purred.

Ken sighed. (And that mean old ghost left without letting me get my frustration out.)

(Then do you want to tussle again? I feel much stronger now with this.) Lux playfully growled and swiped at the brim of his wizard hat.

Princess sent a reply to Ken's message. [See you soon! And why should I get rid of it? Isn't it a valuable crafting material?]

Ken shook his head and reverted to his human form. [If you knew what it was, you wouldn't want to touch it either.] "We will tussle later, Lux. Come, we are heading back to the village. Princess wants our help."

(Alright!)

Ken was still trying to rinse out his mouth. "Why didn't you tell me what Lyngurium was? Swallowing... solidified urine is worse than swallowing a hairball!" He asked as he pulled up the information regarding the new hat Lux was wearing.

(You never asked and I did try to warn you at least.) Lux replied indignantly. (I don't understand why humans like to make it into jewelry.)

[Lux: Tier 1 spirit beast (Power has awakened thanks to the equipment he is wearing), Tier 2 Animal (Predator). Lux has chosen to a.s.sign his first personal spiritual power to Paw Fishing. Fish caught while utilizing spiritual power will taste better and be more nutritious.]

[Hat of the Hero Lynx: (Grade Special): The lynx that wears this green hat will slowly gain spiritual power. The wearer of the hat can use the headgear's special ability 'Absorb Power' instead of looting a corpse. The wearer can use the power 'Switch Hat' freely. The head item will gain a new appearance and use for each new power absorbed. Powers can be strengthened to specific degrees and only one power can be used at a time. (Lynx-Bound) The wearer of the hat cannot remove it unless offered to and accepted by another lynx. The powers absorbed belong to the hat and not the lynx wearing the hat. Current hat options: (3)]

[Green hat of the Hero Lynx (Skill Max): while worn, the wearer's spiritual power will slowly grow. Current status: Spiritual power 0/10 Beginner (Tier 1 spirit beast).]

[Lynx Hat (Skill Max): While worn, the wearer does not look like they are wearing a hat. It is great for those who prefer their natural appearance. However the effects of the other hats cannot be used while this hat is active.]

[Rat Hat- Shrink 0/10 Beginner: Reduce the wearer's size. Use 'Absorb Power' on more dead rats to strengthen this ability.]

Ken sighed. "We should have opened the box before doing the farmer's request. Then we would have had plenty of pests to strengthen the hat with. The drops weren't worth much anyways."
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(Well, do you think we could have opened it up back then? Besides, the rat hat looks ugly and shrinking is dumb. I get weaker when I use it.) Lux complained. (I want to get cool looking hats that have useful abilities.)

"You have a point. There is no use crying over spilled milk."

(Yep! You just lap it up anyways!) Lux replied proudly.

Ken shook his head as he reviewed the information once more. "You used your spirit ability augmentation on Paw fishing? Isn't that a waste?" Ken asked.

(It isn't a waste if it means food will taste better.) Lux replied. (What about you?)

Ken sighed. "I haven't decided yet."

(Hmm… Well, you really like your human form. Why not choose that one?) Lux suggested.

Ken thought for a bit. "That does seem like it would be useful." He pulled up his skills and a.s.signed 'Human Form' as a spiritual power.

[Human Form (Augmented with Spiritual Power): 5/10 Master: - A human-blooded creature can transform into a human form. They can only maintain that form for so long each day. (Current: 15 hours/day (13 Hours + 2 Hours for being a tier two spirit beast). Each tier upgrade will increase the timer by 4 hours. Each spirit beast tier upgrade will add 1 hour.) Timer resets at midnight. While in human form, you can speak and act like humans do. Note that some lynx traits will be present while in human form and an astute person may realize your true ident.i.ty. These traits will become less noticeable the higher the skill level. You can a.s.sume more lynx traits if desired and can choose which traits they are. If you do not make a choice, they will be a.s.signed to the 'most human' looking appearance. Stats are based on the a.s.signed stat allocation per level as normal. While transformed into a human, you can access all of your Spirit Abilities but be warned that your human form also gives off the impression of being a spirit beast in a human guise to the astute observer.]

Ken smiled. "Good call Lux. Now I can use my human form for longer each day. But what to do with the other two and how do we learn other spirit abilities?" He questioned out loud.

Lux shook his head. (I don't know how we learn other ones. That would have been a good question for the disgusting ghost if he didn't disappear too quickly. But you can make two other abilities cooler? Well, since I have got the fishing covered, you probably don't want to worry too much about that one.)

"True, but since spirit beast abilities seem to be rare with limited options, I want to pick things I will be using late game as well. Choosing an ability I will be forgetting about or not using much later would be a waste."

(Then why not chose you basic methods of attacking or defending, like your claws or your hide?)

"Hmm.." Ken thought.

(Oh, I know! Why don't you choose an ability that is always active or is not restricted by levels?" Lux suggested. "Even if it isn't flashy, wouldn't you end up using them even at higher levels?)

Ken stopped. "Huh. I hadn't thought of that. That makes sense though. There are plenty of skills that are just amplifications of already existing skills. Alright, I have my ideas then."

(Oh? Tell me!)

"I think I will choose my 'Monster Form' and 'Lynx Form'. If I do that, the effects should show up nicely. Monster Form needs to grow like Human form does and Lynx form is registered under selectable abilities but it currently doesn't seem to actually do anything. We will see what we can do with it." He a.s.signed the skills.

[Monster Form 1/10 Beginner (Augmented by Spiritual Power): A human blooded creature can transform into a beast with mild humanoid traits. This form can only maintained for so long each day. (Current 3 Hours. (1 Hours + 2 Hours for being a tier two spirit beast Each tier upgrade will increase the timer by 1 hours. Each spirit beast tier upgrade will add 1 hour.) Timer resets at midnight. While in monster form, you will be considered a hostile target to most other creatures. While in monster form you have your animal or human stats (whichever total is higher) while in a humanoid enough body to use most human skills and animal enough to use most animal skills. You are considered an in-game creature and are subject to the same rules.]

[Due to the recognition of both Human and Monster forms being augmented by spiritual power, you can now use spiritual power regardless of form.]

[You have a.s.signed enough spiritual powers into the blood trait. Your Spirit Core has become influenced by your racial blood nature. Your race has been updated.]

[Animal form (N/A) (Augmented by Spiritual Power) *Monster tier based upon the Animal (predator) skill line and skills; (Current tier 2, Blood-Lynx): This is your race's base form. While in this form you are considered an animal (and a magical beast). While in this form you are considered an in-game creature and are subject to the same rules. You have spiritual powers related to blood. New Animal (Predator) skills have been unlocked. The chance to break through to a tier three lynx has improved. You will gain a new blood power every time your Spirit Beast skill line increases a Tier.]

[(New) Blood-Fury 0/10 Beginner (Automatic activation): When you drop below 33% health, agility increases by 5%.]

[(New) Bloodline surge 0/10 Beginner: You can consume 'time' from your Human and Monster Form's timers. Your next attack will be augmented by the amount of time consumed. (1 Hour = 10% base damage increase for one attack.) If you do not have 'Hours' remaining, the minutes are consumed but no increase in power is granted. If the attack misses, the ability is still considered used. Available hours a day to consume: (Current Maximum 18 Hours or +180% for one attack) (Current available 12 Hours 22 Minutes.)]

"Excellent!" Ken shouted. "These are incredibly useful! Except bloodline surge seems a bit weak for a high cost. If I used up all my hours for a single strike and the base damage before armor and resistance was 100 then it would only be 280 base damage. But I guess their armor doesn't negate the additional damage so I could have an extra powerful strike every once in a while. As long as I am willing to spend all day in animal form…" His voice trailed off.

The two entered the satyr village.

The goat people were giving them strange stares. There was a calculative look in their eyes.

Ken activated his True-Lynx Eyes and looked back at the satyrs. [As you were formerly identified as a beast the satyrs are better able to determine your true nature.] [He is debating if he should hunt you and your brother down.] [She is thinking Lynx meat kind of sounds tasty tonight, but wonders if you will revert to a lynx form when dead.] [They are wondering if their G.o.d will be angry if they kill you and your companion or if he will be pleased when the two of you are turned into part of a drum.] [She doesn't know why you and your brother seem to be stronger but thinks the two of you look more handsome then before.] Ken deactivated his sight. "Lux, these satyrs may not be friendly much longer. Let's hurry up."

The two ran to where Jericho and Princess were working.

"Lux and I are here." Ken replied mildly out of breath. "What do you need?"

"I need a dance partner. The line dance I am making requires people to be starting facing in different directions and I want to make sure I got my distances right."

Lux looked excited and turned into a Ken lookalike. "I can be human now too. I want to try!"

"Wah! You two look like twins! Lux has such a cool looking wizard hat! Where did he get it? How is it staying on his head?" Princess excitedly questioned.

"It was in my secret treasure box Ken helped me open! It can only be taken off if I give it to another lynx specifically." Lux replied pleased that someone else also liked his new green hat.

Jericho smiled. "You ready?"

The three danced to Jericho's composition.