Chương 111: Team Spirit

"Hold on a minute," I said.

"If you gained three levels, you must be level four. You chose one skill and have two skill points available. Didn't you get a skill point when you got your class?" He shook his head.

"I did not. Perhaps due to my class ability technically being a skill the System did not grant me a free point. I also could not choose my passive."

"That does kind of make sense, I guess. I also couldn't choose my passive. As far as passives go, yours is about as good as it gets, though. Who wouldn't want to be indestructible?" I poked Bogumir.

"Wouldn't you want to be indestructible?"

"No," he said.

"Obviously not. My whole thing is about being able to manipulate every part of my body independently. Or it was. Until you destroyed my body."

"Woah, woah, woah!" I said, putting my hands up.

"I didn't destroy anything. An inn that collapsed because it was on fire destroyed your body, and let's not forget the reason why it was on fire—you kicked me into that place and tore it up." Bogumir grumbled a bit.

"For someone who preaches accountability, you sure don't seem to be very fond of taking it yourself."

"By the Goddess! Always trying to blame someone else! And if your whole thing was falling apart, why didn't you get any regeneration skills? Seems like a no-brainer."

"Could you stop with that Goddess shit?"

"No."

"When my parts touch they reattach and heal themselves. I never needed any other form of regeneration."

"Guess you didn't really think that through, huh? Always be prepared for a burning inn to drop on you."

"How many burning inns have dropped on you?" I made a big zero with my fingers and showed him.

"Exactly zero. Because I'm always prepared, you see. That's why I still have my arms and legs, and you're a little grape-sized head," I said, giving him a playful flick, which were followed by more grumbles.

"Is she always like this?" Bogumir asked Kasia. Kasia hesitated for a couple of seconds, then shot him an apologetic look.

"No. Sometimes she's worse."

"Great. How much do I have to pay you to kill me?" I laughed.

"She's not going to kill you. You're not going anywhere. You'll just have to accept that you'll be by my side—literally—forever." That actually made me wonder. What if Bogumir still had his class? And since he was still alive could he join the party? He probably wouldn't want to, but what if he could? Would he gain levels? Would that improve the bonuses he gave me? If that was a thing, I might have to go out looking for people who could survive as a tiny head, and power-level them as they hung from my stuff.

"Vasil?" I asked.

"I don't want to be rude and delay your skill selection any more than I already have, but I have a question." He cocked his head.

"Hmm?" I crouched down a bit and spread my arms.

"Alright, hear me out. What if Bogumir still has a class? What if he can still gain levels?"

"I see," Vasil said, expression turning thoughtful.

"You want to invite him to our party to see if his bonuses will increase if he levels up. A marvelous idea."

"And why the fuck would I join your party?" Bogumir asked. I turned Bogumir's head to face me.

"I apologize for my amphibious friend. He made me sound selfish, when really I wanted to do this for you." Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"For me?"

"Yes, Bogumir, for you. I feel incredibly bad that I turned you into a little limbless plum, you see. And I know how much you probably loved leveling up. Like, I'm super sorry and stuff." He scowled. I tried giving him my most soulful, pained expression, hoping to appear as some kind of saintly martyr of kindness.

"Totally sorry. So, to make it up to you, and because I wouldn't want you to fall behind on your progress, I figured I might invite you to our party. If it's possible, of course. And I'd gladly share my hard-earned experience with you. All while knowing that this would greatly hamper my own progress, and very likely endanger my life."

"Because I'm all about sharing," I enthusiastically nodded at Kasia.

"Right, Kasia?"

"That's true, actually," Kasia agreed.

"Maybe you'll even get a skill that lets you regenerate your body!"

"Wouldn't you just destroy my new body and keep me as a head?" he asked.

"What? Nooooo," I said, waving him off with a chuckle. (Obviously yes.) He looked contemplative.

"Alright. I do still have my class. Try to invite me." [You have invited Bogumir to join your party] [Bogumir has accepted your invite and has joined your party]"By Stvora!" he exclaimed.

"He really is a [Frogbag]."

"Bogumir!" I said, scandalized.

"What do you take me for? Some kind of liar?" I placed my hand over my heart, closed my eyes and bowed slightly.

"I am nothing if not honest."

"Right," he said, narrowing his eyes. Very interesting that Bogumir could have his class and be a totem at the same time. Maybe this meant that Vasil still had his original class as well, but that it was currently hidden behind [Frogbag]. Maybe that would mean that he was leveling up his regular class alongside it, and if we ever managed to turn him back into a man he'd have a fat stack of skill points waiting for him. I was sure he'd be happy to see that.

Probably would be happier not being a frog, but it would be a nice bonus. I turned my attention back to Vasil.

"About those skills. Can you check if there is some kind of damage sharing skill like Sambor probably had?"

"How did you?" Bogumir said, surprised.

"How do you know his name? How do you know what his skills were?"

"Oh, you know, call it witchy intuition." Vasil was already browsing through the System. I saw his eyes rapidly moving side to side—the man clearly was a fast reader. After a relatively short time he shook his head.

"Unfortunately I do not have access to any damage sharing skills at the moment. Perhaps one will become available at a higher level."

"At what level did Sambor get access to his?" I asked Bogumir.

"Ask your witchy intuition." I gasped.

"Wow. Rude! We're a team, Bogumir! I'm not really feeling the team spirit from you. After selflessly sacrificing all that experience for you at great peril to my LIFE! This is how you repay me? Is this how mama Landa raised you? You think she'd be proud to see you right now?" He looked like he didn't know if he should be confused or angry.

"How the fuck do you know my family name? You didn't sacrifice shit! And no, I'm glad she's dead so she won't have to see me reduced to a fucking head, held hostage by a mad child."

"How I know? It's that witchy intuition again. Also, child? I'm eighteen. I'm a woman!"

"You're a lunatic!" Bogumir screamed, his voice pitching higher.

"A woman lunatic," I corrected, wagging a finger.

"Accuracy is important, Bogumir. I would have expected more from a squad leader. Or a former squad leader. Or a current fashion accessory. Whatever you're calling yourself these days."

"One day I'm going to fucking kill you," he hissed. I flicked him in his tiny ear.

"But today is not that day. Has anyone ever told you you're a bit pessimistic? A total downer, actually. And ungrateful. Maybe I should kick you from the party. You're kind of ruining the vibe."

"He's very combative," Kasia said, nodding.

"Hmm," Vasil agreed.

"Quite abrasive. Belligerent, too."

"Pugnacious," I said. Vasil shot me a proud look.

"Good one. It really captures his essence."

"By the Goddess!" I said, eyes widening.

"You're a genius, Vasil! What if I sacrifice Bogumir's head to imbue a bullet?! We wouldn't have to endure his unwarranted, and frankly relentless antagonizing, and I'd get a cool new bullet!"

"Huh," Vasil said.

"That is an interesting idea." For the first time, Bogumir looked afraid.

"You… you wouldn't."

"I don't know," I said, tapping my chin thoughtfully.

"I could always use another magic bullet. What I can't use is a yappy head filled with pugnacious energy. Even if the bullet would only yell baseless insults on impact, I'm sure I'd find a use for that."

"It would certainly be a unique addition to the arsenal," Vasil added, playing along with a straight face.

"You do have plenty of other heads to fill his spot." I held Bogumir up so he was looking directly into my eyes and gave him a sweet smile.

"So, what's it going to be, Bogey? Are you going to be a team player, or am I going to see what kind of bullet you'd make?"

"I'll… I'll stop," he muttered, unable to look me in the eye.

"I'll stop with the insults."

"And?"

"…You're a woman?"

"What? Obviously. You were supposed to say you were going to make yourself useful."

"Sure." I gave him a nod, then put him back down.

"Alright, Vasil, since we can't have damage sharing yet, what else you got?"