Chương 39: Chapter Thirty Eight

Ding! Illusion Path Skill Acquired: Distant Temptation (E) Ding! Congratulations! New Class available! Class: Illusionist Rank: C Elementalists laugh, Sorcerers mock, Arcanists condescend. All believing magics which do not affect the physical world to be lesser to their own. But while they might control fire, or fell energies, or even the written tongue of Mana herself; what is that compared to the binding of a mind?

Class Focus Illusory Magic Attributes Willpower, Perception, Intelligence Requirements: Creation of a 'Illusion' path Skill, Willpower: 30, Perception: 30, Int: 25 The crab he'd been targeting stumbled slightly, seeming to be distracted by something past the edge of the rooftop. Walking right up to the very brink before turning back, obviously spooked by the crowd of ravenous predators which sat below. Bob ignored all this, however. Instead, immediately opening up the greater page for his newest Skill.

Excitement bubbling up from within him. Illusion Path Skill Distant Temptation (E) Level: 1 – EXP: 0/100% Create the image of what your target most desires in the distance. Quality of image/grip of illusion improved at greater level Mana Cost: 5 per image Bob stared at the Skill for a moment, before he then looked up, watching as the crab continued to dance anxiously on the rooftop. Gazing desperately off into the distance as it second-guessed itself about jumping from the polished tiles to its assured death below.

Then he began dancing his own merry jig around the balcony. His form hopping and skipping through the water as he celebrated his success with silent jubilation. At least until the screams started echoing up from below him. Not wanting to stir up any unnecessary commotion amongst the horde, Bob quickly went back inside.

His thousand feet taking him out of the Master bedroom and up the nearest set of stairs; deciding he wanted to make himself comfortable while he continued his celebrations and mulled over future options. Because his success here didn't just mean gaining a Skill. It meant gaining a method for gaining Skills. Now that he'd finally figured how to properly use mana, there were dozens of ideas he wanted to try.

Admittedly, he felt a bit uncertain that this specific method would be useful for anything other than 'Illusory' Skills. But even then, it was a massive accomplishment. If nothing else, it freed up a Trait slot. Bob previously feeling certain that he was going to choose 'Whispered Temptation' on gaining his next Species level. But now that he was capable of crafting his own illusions, he could feel free to pick something different. Something that gave him multiple crushing tongues, perhaps.

Eventually, Bob reached the room he'd more or less chosen as 'his' within the manor. One with a large window overlooking the forgotten city and situated as far away from the stairs down as possible. And also, one absolutely filled to the brim with silver and copper artifacts. Each positioned in as pleasing a manner as he was capable of. All being dragged from various locations within the manor.

As he settled himself among them – the mimic portion of his brain sighing in contentment – Bob first decided to tackle the most pressing issue at hand. Whether or not he was going to take 'Illusionist' as his 'E' rank Class. A part of him genuinely wanted to. Even despite its 'C' ranking and the fact that it would do absolutely nothing to fix his attribute disparity. His Willpower was almost as high as his Dexterity, after all. And his Perception and Intelligence weren't far behind.

Combining those attributes with the fact that he was now able to make his own Illusion Skills meant that he actually had a pretty good build going. Especially if you added in whatever Class Skill 'Illusionist' brought to the table.

'Treasure Sense' had been life-altering after all, so he didn't expect less from a Class which, technically, was at the same ranking. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. It would, however, mean abandoning any hope of increasing his strength stat in the near term. Something which negatively affected him in multiple ways; not least of which being basic mobility.

And in doing so he would also be focusing himself down a path of magic that might struggle as far as dealing damage. And with Bob feeling less than certain about his ability to physically break through any of the larger D-Rank's armor, that could be a bit of an issue. He weighed the pros and cons of the Class for a while longer, before eventually deciding that he simply didn't have enough information to make a worthwhile decision. He'd need to try creating an 'offensive' illusion first.

Or maybe make an attempt to 'crack' one of the manor's larger crabs. Not being willing to put all his eggs in one basket before doing so. Especially since, at best, he'd only be able to choose one more Class following this one. Bob frowned at the thought, but couldn't refute its validity. It wasn't like it was the first time he'd had it, after all.

As long as each home contained at least one 'Golden Proof of Citizenship' – and he was able to survive the trips between them – then he should be able to reach D-rank in his species. It might take a long time, but he'd get there. C-Rank, however, would simply be impossible. With the required currency likely to switch to Gold and the level requirements jumping to at least thirty, he couldn't imagine ever being able to scrounge up enough to evolve. Which meant he needed to seriously consider the build he was making.

He wouldn't have many more chances to shore-up his weaknesses before he was stuck with them. Normally, this line of thought would have left him slightly demotivated. So, Bob was a bit surprised when instead he felt a fresh wave of energy begin to fill him. A desire to push forward and continue adding to the day's successes. And, with a new Skill and a mostly-healed body, Bob didn't think he felt like running straight back to training.

Especially when he noticed that the manor's newest D-rank was off on its own again. This time sitting at the base of the first-to-second story staircase. Its latest attempt to carve out its own piece of the bottom floor apparently once more failing. The rain of crustaceans had more fully illustrated how the unique and near-entirely homogenous ecosystem of this valley actually operated. Stage one being the birth of the baby crabs who, upon entering this world, did one of two things. Hide or die.

Those who hid, usually within buildings or other crooks or crannies, then either slowly leveled up by eating their similarly ranked brothers and sisters, or were themselves eaten. Given how quickly those who fell on the street were gobbled up, it seemed likely that the lucky few to survive either flew through windows or landed on the rooftops. Larger crabs then migrated downwards in search of more food and had difficulty traveling back up the stairs.

The 'Stalker' variety being the only D-ranks who did so without any added persuasion. Which put the low-leveled 'Crushing-Vice Mad-Crab' in something of a predicament. Given that, while it was too large to comfortably travel back upwards, it was also too small to fight off any of the manor's other 'D-ranks'. The bottom floor already seemed to be divvied up into five separate chunks.

With what appeared to be the building's main entrance and the rooms around it owned by a level nineteen 'Crazed Crushing Mad-Crab (D)'. Then the two wings each by, respectively, a level twelve and level fifteen 'Bladed-Claw Mad-Crab (D)'. And the back of the manor claimed by the strongest 'Stalker Mad-Crab (D)' in the home. This one being level twenty-four. The last territory, finally, belonged to the Crab Behind the Wall. With Bob assuming it claimed ownership over whatever it could reach.

This left the level one D-rank with very little in the way of opportunity. Or even capacity for movement, really. While the higher-ranking crabs would allow their lesser-ranked siblings to stroll through their territory – though that right also came with a percentage chance of being eaten – things were not the same for the equally ranked. This crab in particular already having to flee many such confrontations. And, if Bob had anything to say about it, its week was about to get a lot worse.

With the third floor being empty and the second only containing a singular 'Stalker Mad-Crab' – Bob having 'Taunted' everything else to their doom – it would have been relatively easy for him to make his way toward his next opponent. But, given his newly acquired skill, he thought it might be interesting to see if he could get it to come to him first. Something which, Bob realized moments later, would require him to make some changes.

He'd finally come to the pleasantly aggravating point of having too many good Skills and not enough slots. Especially when two of them were permanently occupied by 'Toothless Grasp' and 'Lesser Crushing Tongue'. The three that remained were filled in with 'Battlefield Meditation', 'Mindful Evasion', and the still unevolved 'Taunt'. Bob not needing much time to decide which he would be replacing. Especially since, should this work, the substitution might well be permanent.

After shaking off the after-effects of a Skill change, Bob focused his mind on the mid-sized aura lingering at the foot of the first-floor stairwell. Interested to see if his illusion would be effective over the larger distance or if it would crap-out like 'Taunt' would have. He found himself paying far more attention to the inner workings of the Skill as he activated it. Sensing his mana build up within him, before almost giving it an extra 'push' as it was released out into the world.

It feeling strange for the System to be doing most of the heavy lifting when he'd spent so much effort figuring out the ability manually. Still, it was very convenient not to have to force himself back into the proper emotional mindset. The Skill able to manufacture them in a moment; before just as quickly casting them away. As he sensed the energy leave him, Bob at first felt confident; the Skill having rushed out of him with purpose and verve.

Far away from how 'Taunt' seemed to fall apart when trying to entice higher-ranking foes from afar. This confidence started to waver, however, as the first few seconds passed by without either movement from down below or a notification from the system. He was about to give up and begin heading downstairs himself – already marching towards the door, in fact – when the Skill finally connected. Bob feeling something 'click' within him. A sensation almost similar to Treasure Sense appearing inside his mind. Ding!

Distant Temptation (E) Has Leveled up! 1 - 2 It felt almost like an overlay of his already existing mental 'map'. One which included a new presence at play. That being the shimmering form of his Mana. The 'blob' of energy seemed to be located in three places at once. One connecting tether attached to him, another to the crab, and a third, larger, mass of energy hovering not ten feet away from the monster.

Unfortunately, it also happened to be located in the exact opposite direction of where he wanted the crab to go. Whatever image he'd put out seemed effective, though. At least if the much-more-animated 'blip' was any confirmation. It already beginning to move away from the staircase and further down the hall. An action which would do neither of them any good, given that this path would lead it directly to the high-level D-rank guarding the main entrance.

Bob frowned, before then doing his best to metaphorically 'reach out' towards the tether still attached to him, trying to see if he could in some way affect whatever was going on. And being surprised when, upon contacting it, he immediately realized that yes; he could. The sensation was strange; like remembering something he'd never known. His mind almost casually grabbing firmer hold of the 'blob' of energy and circling it around the crab, slowly moving it up the stairs.

Manipulation of the Skill wasn't free, an additional five mana being taken from him; but it did seem effective. The 'blip' lunging at the energy as it passed, before then scuttling after it, its form noticeably slowing when it began the uphill climb. What happened next was slow but educational. Bob patiently dragging his prey to him like he was playing a magnetic puzzle-game at a fair. Guiding it around dangers and barriers – like the 'Stalker' crab on the second floor – to get it to its Final Destination.

He was forced to activate the Skill multiple times, eventually shelling out over thirty mana just to drag his opponent to the fourth floor. Though it also gained him a near-equal number of level-ups in said Skill. So, he found it a bit hard to complain. Finally, however, all that expense was about to bear fruit. Bob able to hear the crab's claws scritch and click against the stairs he'd positioned himself near the top of. Having more than enough time to mosey over during his opponent's long migration.

And as a singular, massive claw began emerging past the doorway, Bob prepared himself for what might be an exhaustive battle. Because unlike the last crab, this one certainly hadn't neglected its Constitution score.