Skill-Eater: Prison World Saga-Chapter 165: Return
As they walked, Jumo asked, “If we are the first people ever to lay eyes on those biomes, do you think that we can name them?”
“That’s a good point,” Trapper said. “I was so busy pondering the big picture that it never even occurred to me. Yes, Jumo. We might wind up in the history books, if we manage to survive the trip back. Since you were the one to bring it up, did you have something in mind?”
“I was thinking Jumo’s Vault for the crystal biome. As for the other… maybe Jumo’s armpit?”
Everyone had a good laugh at that before the crew’s leader replied. “I’m fine with Jumo’s Vault for the gemstone biome. Since Edge is the one who made everything possible, why don’t we let him name the desert?”
“What?” He was caught off-guard by the offer. He had never expected to explore the frontier or discover an uncharted biome. The thought set his heart racing. The boy who had spent thousands of hours watching the feed would have gone apeshit over the opportunity, and adult Edge was almost as excited. “Are you serious? I can really name it?”
“Sure.” Trapper nodded. “Why not? Try to pick something good since it will be tied to our crew forever.” He gave the matter some serious thought as they put more miles beneath their boots. By the time that the farmstead was visible along the horizon, he had come up with something that he liked.
“Given what we saw out there, how about the Ravenous Wastes?” The name was also a nod to his core, and Skill-Eater’s unique characteristics. But Edge thought it wise to keep that part to himself, at least for the time being.
“The Ravenous Wastes.” Riller spoke up for the first time in hours. “I love it.” Everyone else did too, so they decided to go with it.
“The next biomes we find can be named by the rest of the crew,” Trapper said. "I have a hunch that we will discover more of them before our work is done.”
Not long after, they arrived at the farm. Violet, Blue, and Sasha had fought off some scavengers while the others were away—nothing that they couldn’t handle with their new powers. The fight had given Violet a chance to pick up her first two cycles, putting her ahead of Riller for the moment.
Everyone wore sober expressions when they learned that the Ivory Plains had been moved to the far side of the planet. That they were surrounded by uncharted land, fearsome beasts, and powerful monsters. Cut off from all known settlements and completely on their own.
“It’s not all bad news,” Sasha eventually broke the silence. “There are bound to be valuable resources, dungeons, and other opportunities out there. Chances to grow stronger faster than ever before, if we can claim them for ourselves.”
Violet nodded, excited by the prospect. “An opportunity for advancement that hasn’t existed since the early days has landed in our laps, if we’re willing to endure the challenges that will go hand-in-hand with obtaining them.”
As they traveled, Edge kept the ice lining the wagon frozen with his elemental blade—preserving the valuable resources they had extracted from the padamas and garax on the way back to town.
Although their situation gave them a lot to think about, everyone made the return trip in high spirits. Each of them had gained something incredible from their adventure—solidifying their resolve to grow stronger over the days ahead.
Riller and Violet finally had cores of their own, and the rest of the team had been enhanced in one way or another. Everyone had acquired powerful new skills that were perfectly suited for their skillsets. Not to mention all the cycles they had accrued and the massive pile of Credits they stood to make after turning in their haul. Trapper suggested that they use the high-grade resources to craft new weapons and armor before selling the rest, meaning that the hunters were in for some gear upgrades too.
All things considered, it was impossible not to be excited by everything the team had accomplished on an excursion that had far exceeded the scope of their mission. The crew had made years’ worth of progress in the span of a week, and though their hunt had been fraught with peril, everyone had survived and benefited tremendously in the end.
On that note, Edge summoned his Guide and pulled up his profile—marveling at the sheer scope of his gains.
Personal Statistics: Edge Vasher
Attributes (Values in parentheses are provided by your traits)
Physical Attributes
Power: 6 (7)
Reflex: 8
Endurance: 6 (7)
Perception: 7
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Speed: 12 (13)
Control: 7 (8)
Durability: 13 (14)
Energetic Attributes
Generation: 13
Amplification: 12
Disruption: 7 (8)
Physical Conditioning (Attribute points may be conditioned up to five points each)
Power: 3
Reflex: 3
Endurance: 4
Perception: 3
Speed: 2
Control: 2
Durability: 5
Core Information Name: [Skill-Eater].
Stage: 1.
Cycle: 15/21.
Rarity: Unique.
Category: Unique.
Attribute points per cycle: 3.
Ultimate Abilities
[Extraction] (active). Uses per day: 3. Cooldown period: 24 hours.
Steal the skills of monsters, men, and beasts, and claim them for your own.
[Overdrive] (active).
Uses: 1. Cooldown period: 1 week.
[Overdrive] increases your Amplification by (10 x stage) for thirty seconds. Activating skills will not require mana during this period. You will be severely exhausted for thirty seconds after [Overdrive] is complete.
Core Traits
Collector (unique) [Alternate advancement].
You can no longer acquire or rank-up skills through normal means. You may slot twice as many skills as before. Additionally, you will gain an extra skill slot with every new stage.
Devourer (unique).
You may Absorb an unwanted skill, freeing its slot and granting a fraction of its experience to the skill of your choice. Be advised, the return on this exchange is significantly less efficient than [Extracting] a duplicate of an existing skill.
Skills
Skill slots 11. Unused slots 0.
Slash (Basic): Rank 2. Path: Penetration.
Empower an attack with a bladed weapon. The edge of the weapon will be magically sharpened while the skill is active.
Conceal (Common): Rank 2. Path: Erasure.
Erase your scent and heat signature while you remain still. Visually, you will appear to blend into your environment. The last twenty-five feet of your trail will be removed on activation.
Entangle (common): Rank 2. Path: Resiliency.
Create burrowing vines to bind your target. The vines are resistant to cuts and tears.
Leap (Common): Rank 2. Path: Assault.
Jump with explosive force. Increased Durability for ten seconds after activation.
Double Strike (Uncommon): Rank 1.
Create an offset double of any melee attack.
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Elemental Blade [ice] (Uncommon): Rank 1.
Create a subzero blade of ice.
Harden (Uncommon): Rank 1.
Cover target portions of your body in diamond scales.
Regeneration [limited] (Uncommon): Rank 1.
Rapidly heal wounds. Limited regeneration cannot restore organs that are completely destroyed.
Regulate Temperature [passive] (Uncommon): Rank 1.
Gain significant insulation against temperature change.
Repel Water [versatile] (Uncommon): Rank 2. Path: Repulsion.
Push large volumes of water away from the user. The shape of the repulsive field can be changed at will.
Shadow Step (Rare): Rank 2. Path: Armored Shadow.
Transform into shadows. The cost of transforming your gear is greatly reduced.
Intimidating Roar (Epic) is being digested.
Traits (3 of 3 trait slots are filled)
Triple Tap
You are either a genius, blessed by the heavens, or are the luckiest motherfucker on the planet. You managed to win a fight against three opponents at least one stage higher than yourself and (more or less) landed the killing blow on each.
Effects: + 10% to Power, Speed, and Control (minimum gain of 1).
Wanted
You have found one of the 21 unique cores in existence, which has painted a target on your back. In fact, checking out the bounty board is probably something you should do sooner rather than later.
There’s a good chance that this is going to end spectacularly badly for you, and I can’t wait to watch it all play out. This trait might help you live a little bit longer, but I’m not holding my breath.
Effects: + 10% to Endurance, Durability, and Disruption (minimum gain of 1).
Big Game Hunter
Holy shit. That. Was. Fucking. Awesome!
You managed to score a kill on a colossal and behemoth creature, all in the same afternoon. I’m shocked to my circuits that you’re still breathing and loved every second of the show.
I hope that you try something that batshit crazy again soon. Here’s a trait that should incentivize you to do just that.
Effect: 50% more damage with weapons and skills to creatures at least twenty times your size (excluding magtech weapons, traps, and spellshots).
25% Extra Perception when sensing beasts at least twice your size.
Implants
Heart-Guard (common)
Size: Small (1 implant point). Aether type: Silver. Charge: Empty.
This implant generates a barrier to protect the heart when it detects incoming damage.
Auxiliary Skill Slot (uncommon)
Size: Small (1 implant point). Aether type: N/A.
An auxiliary skill slot can be used to socket an extra skill, beyond the limit of your core. The skill placed in this slot cannot gain experience, cycle-up, or be merged or altered in any way, although it can be Absorbed and replaced with a new skill at will.
This is a passive, structural implant. As such, it does not require an aether charge to function.
System Currency
Credits: 50,060
Mortium: 1
Edge felt a fierce surge of satisfaction when he reached the last word—an emotion that was mirrored by his core. For just a moment, he had the impression that Skill-Eater was smiling too, before the mysterious entity drifted back to slumber once more.
He walked down the road with a spring in his step, excited to see what the future would hold.
