Monroe

Chapter Three Hundred and Fifty-Four. Never enough points, and never enough time.

The nature of the path the System had provided for him was almost insidious.

Path of the Consummate Summoner.

Path created for user Robert Whitman.

User has, since integrated into the System, devoted himself entirely to the Arcane School of Summoning. Preferring to disperse manifestations by means of the Summon Mana-Infused Creature spell, the user has proven himself dedicated to ensuring energy circulation. User has demonstrated extensive use of the Summon Mana-Infused Object spell. User has utilized the Effect Over Time, Barrage, Persistent Effect, and Ritual magic skills consistently and creatively.

This Path has been enhanced, due to the user's achievements.

The Path of the Consummate Summoner provides the following benefits.

Each Threshold reached in the Summoning School, or a Spell within it, increases the damage dealt by a summoned Mana-Infused Creature by 1%.

Each Threshold reached in the Summoning School, or a Spell within it, decreases the damage received by a summoned Mana-Infused Creature by 1%.

Each Threshold reached in the Summoning School, or a Spell within it, increases the damage dealt by a summoned Mana-Infused Object by 1%.

Each Threshold reached in the Summoning School, or a Spell within it, decreases the damage received by a summoned Mana-Infused Object by 1%.

Each Threshold reached in the Summoning School, or a Spell within it, reduces the total resources needed to cast any spell from the Summoning School by 1%.

Each Threshold reached in the Summoning School, or a Spell within it, reduces the penalty from Effect Over Time, Barrage, Persistent Effect, and Ritual magic, when applied to any spell from the Summoning School by 1%.

Special skill 'Eternal Servant' granted. This skill allows the user to expend a number of energy crystals equal to the maximum number of thresholds the spell has reached while casting Summon Mana-Infused Creature. The spell will reserve mana equal to the user's level plus the maximum number of thresholds the spell has reached. The resulting summon(s) will persist, requiring no upkeep. Should the summon(s) be dispersed, they will reappear next to the user in a number of seconds equal to the users tier. This skill may only be used once, requiring the user to dismiss the effect before utilizing it again.

Special skill 'Timeless Object' granted. This skill allows the user to expend a number of energy crystals equal to the maximum number of thresholds the spell has reached while casting Summon Mana-Infused Object. The spell will reserve mana equal to the user's level, plus the maximum number of thresholds the spell has reached. Any object(s) summoned will persist requiring no upkeep. Should an object be destroyed, it will reappear after a number of seconds equal to the users tier. This skill may be used once for each Threshold reached in the Summoning School, and any Spells within it.

Additional Bonuses, granted by achievements.

Special Skill 'Summoning Switch' granted. This skill allows the user to expend an amount of mana equal to maximum number of Thresholds reached in the Summoning School, and the spells withing it, to switch places with a summoned object or creature. This skill will fail if there is not sufficient space available for either the user or the object at their destination.

Special Skill 'Summoners Redoubt' granted. This skill allows the user to summon a fully furnished building, consisting of a number of rooms equal to the users tier multiplied by two. This building will be consistent with the environment it occupies.

Enduring Skill - Summon Mana-Infused Object granted. Users who venerate you may allocate a skill point to gain access to your Enduring Skill - Summon Mana-Infused Object. The skill functions at your value of the skill before crossing the first threshold. Users may allocate an additional skill point for each threshold, up to the maximum thresholds available to you.

The System had created the path, recognizing his focus on summoning, and rewarding it. The one percent increase in damage dealt, and reduction in damage received, was an awfully shiny apple. Thanks to his achievements, Bob had an advantage. Two of his primary skills, Mana Sight and Mana Manipulation, were free to him. He didn't have to allocate any skill points toward them, he picked up the thresholds for free as he reached his own. That presented sixteen skill points he could redirect to his Summon Mana-Infused Creature spell.

His conversation with the King of Greenwold had been revealing in more ways than one. Kellan legitimately expected him to be able to punch at double his tier and level.

Not for the first time, Bob wondered just how fucking powerful the King of Greenwold really was. The Dragon, despite not being tier nine, had put the beat down on a tier eleven high priest, and cut off the gods.

The numbers didn't lie. If Bob was level sixty-four, the cap for tier eight, punching with everything he had, his level one hundred and ninety-two UtahRaptor wouldn't stand a chance against a tier sixteen monster that was level one hundred and twenty-four. The only way it could get through the monsters armor would to be run it as an ambusher, and then it would have to catch the monster unaware, which ultimately wouldn't matter as it wouldn't be able to kill it in one shot, as it would barely be a scratch.

That was where that one percent came into play.

He'd added a threshold to his Summoning School, which meant he'd pull three percent from that. He'd be using each of those thresholds to increase the maximum level of his summoning spells by thirty-two percent, for a total of ninety-six percent, or level one hundred and ninety-two for his Summon Mana-Infused Creature, and one hundred and twenty-two for his Summon Mana-Infused Object. That was twenty-four thresholds from the Summon Mana-Infused Creature spell, and fifteen from the Summon Mana-Infused Object spell.

In total, with an investment of forty-two skill points, or two-thirds of his total points at maximum level, he'd increase the damage dealt and reduce the damage received by his UtahRaptors by forty-two percent.

With that bonus, it was possible. He wasn't sure about the efficiency, but on paper, it was at least possible.

It would actually put him close to Bailli's output. He wouldn't be able to match her, but he'd be a lot closer.

The problem was that he'd have only twenty-two skill points remaining, four of which he'd spent on magical skills, and another nine that would need to be allocated to his Dimension School and Portal spell. He'd already allocated two to improving Trebor, and he needed to spend at least one on Armor, which thanks to his Academic achievement, would let him pick up Armor Specialization. That left him with seven points to spend, and far more things he'd like to spend them on. He knew he would burn at least one on flight, as it was incredibly useful. Another on Dodge, and the remaining he would invest in Trebor, pushing the AI up through the final threshold.

He hadn't been planning to push quite that many points into his summoning school, but the bonuses from his path made it a necessity.

The System hadn't been kidding when it said it would push people into specializing.

"I miss Magma Jake," Bob muttered.

'Perhaps you'll discover another conjoined Affinity Crystals,' Trebor suggested. 'Although I doubt you'll do so on Thayland or Earth.'

"I'd like to be able to keep it,' Bob complained.

'It will persist through evolution,' Trebor offered.

"I wonder if there is a way to make it enduring," Bob mused.

'I'm afraid I'm unable to determine that, yet,' Trebor replied.

"You'll get there," Bob promised. "I'll have just enough points to get you all eight thresholds."

'For which I am endlessly grateful,' Trebor said, his voice earnest.

"How is it, piloting Jake?" Bob asked.

'It's a refreshing change of pace,' Trebor replied. 'While my initial construction as a mirror protocol was an amalgamation of your memories, I've never actually experienced physicality. As you're fond of saying, I knew but I did not know.' Trebor paused for a moment. 'I think it's actually fun?'

"Of course it is," Bob said. "Who doesn't want to be a dinosaur?"

Leveling up Trebor through the next threshold had allowed the AI to both control Jake while still maintaining a conversation with Bob, a welcome addition, as Bob could freely admit, at least to himself, that it was lonely delving alone. Now that Trebor was a proper AI, rather than a mirror protocol, it didn't feel quite so much like talking to himself.

He was tearing his way through the last of the Glacier Valley Dungeons, having delved each of them six times each, allowing him to perfect his tactics and thus the speed at which he could complete them.

Bob had been disappointed to discover that none of them offered a substantial advantage over the Hidden Dungeon, and some of them were measurably worse. That was before he took the issue of capacity into consideration.

When the United States military had occupied Glacier Valley, they had pushed the Dungeons as far as they could, keeping all twenty-six floors occupied constantly. They had done so with people who were tier five. With twelve tier sevens delving at tier nine, level sixty, and one tier eight delving at level thirty-two, the Dungeons were slowly decreasing in capacity.

It turned out that the group, without Bob, had been keeping the Dungeons delved almost perfectly, only slightly exceeding the overall capacity by a very small amount. Adding him into the rotation, with his insistence on delving twelve or more hours a day, had resulted in the Dungeons slowly being drained.

He found that he was strangely ok with it. Out of the forty-one Dungeons in Glacier Valley, only three of them featured outdoor scenarios, and none of them were quite as pleasant as the Hidden Dungeon. With no one else delving the Hidden Dungeon, and the closest natural Dungeon a hundred miles away, on the edge of the Australians territory, he didn't have to worry about delving it dry.

He was level twenty-six, and with every level, he felt more confident about his chances of being able to defend himself. He was pretty sure that most of the people who were out to get him weren't tier eight.

Dave watched as Amanda swayed down the hallway, her dark crimson dress clinging to her like a second skin, the high slit on the left showing flashes of a long, strong leg. Her dark hair drank in the light, and her chocolate brown eyes, framed with dark lashes, promised wicked secrets.

"You make me weak, babe," Dave whispered as he pulled her into a gentle kiss.

Amanda smirked up at him as she reached up and ran a finger along his jawline. "Are you ready to take a lady to dinner?" She asked.

"I'll take you anywhere," Dave replied with a smile of his own. "But dinner sounds like a good start."

He turned to pick up their jackets and stumbled as Amanda jumped onto his back, legs around his waist and hands on his shoulders.

"Onward, my mighty steed!" She shouted in what was not at all an indoor voice. "The Cowgirl Accord of Twenty-Eighteen compels you!"

Dave did his best to whinny, and made clip-clop noises with his tongue as he made for the door, his smile broadening. The terms of the Cowgirl Accord of Twenty-Eighteen, as drafted by Amanda, had been more than generous.

He trotted past the group, most of whom stared at them, Dave in his tuxedo, and Amanda in her gown, while Jessica yelled her encouragement.

"Ride that stud!" Jessica yelled as they passed through the tavern and into Glacier Valley.

Amanda dismounted and smoothed her dress as Dave opened the first of many portals they'd need to take to make it to Harbordeep.

"Milady," he bowed from the waist and gestured toward the portal. "It's far faster than a carriage."

"Excellent," Amanda said imperiously, then her expression shifted to her tempting smile. "Saving time now means we have more time later," she purred as she stepped past him and through the portal.

Dave swallowed and shook himself. It had been far too long since they'd had a date night.

"Welcome to The Depths," the waiter greeted them, taking in their attire and their size.

The entire group had embraced the physical changes brought by tier seven. He'd discussed it with Amanda, and they thought that part of the reason they hadn't chosen to take the 'Return to the Beginning' blessing was due to the instinctual superiority they felt when interacting with people who were still tier five. They'd justified it by pointing out that they didn't have enough points for all the skills they needed, let alone something as frivolous as shifting down to a smaller form, but they'd agreed to keep an eye on each other to make sure they didn't turn into tier-ist assholes.

"My apologies, I don't recognize you. Have you dined with us before?" The waiter asked.

"We haven't," Dave replied, "however Rogen, I'm sorry, Lord Wallenstair, recommended The Depths as the place to enjoy a romantic evening."

He felt like he was being somewhat heavy-handed, but Thayland wasn't quite up to Earth's standards when it came to the science of social interactions. On Earth, he never would have name-dropped so quickly.

The waiter, who up until this point had been polite but aloof, became instantly obeisant, bowing from the waist and gesturing for them to follow him. "Allow me to show to the balcony," he murmured. "The view over the city and the harbor is magnificent."

Dave followed with Amanda on his arm as they were led through an opulent dining room, filled with furniture suitable for tier seven or tier six people, and through a set of double doors.

The view was, as promised, wonderful. The Depths occupied the top two floors of a five story building only a few blocks from the palace. The balcony looked over the city from above, with the ocean waves flowing across the harbor.

He handed Amanda into her seat, then took his own both next to and across from her, the table itself an triangle that allowed the pair to easily look at one another, or admire the view without shifting.

"My name is Adrian, and I'll be your server this evening," the waiter said as he produced a pair of menus. "Would you like to peruse our wine list?"

"I'm afraid that in this, we must defer to your judgement, Adrian," Amanda said sweetly. "While we have happily made our home here, we're still learning all the many delights of Greenwold."

"I'm certain that you can provide us with the correct pairing for each course," Dave added, reaching over to clasp the man's shoulder in the Thayland fashion, while not too subtly dropping a pouch of mana crystals into his jacket pocket.

Adrian's composure cracked for a moment, but he recovered immediately. "Of course," he smiled. "I'll bring you a light red, from Cold Oak to whet your appetites."

He bowed again and left them to explore the menus.

"That was a little clumsy," Amanda whispered. "I normally can't catch you making a pass. Is being so much larger affecting your tradecraft?"

"I honestly don't know if he would have caught it if I passed it off too smoothly," Dave admitted. "As for my tradecraft, why don't you check your purse?"

Amanda opened her purse, and her eyes went wide, then narrowed as she flashed him a smile that spoke of wicked plans carried out in the dark.

Dave stood and moved behind her as she lifted her hair, closing the clasp of the necklace.

Done in a silvery metal laced with dark red, the chain was short, holding the double loop infinity symbol just above the hollow of her throat.

"I knew you wouldn't forget," she whispered up to him.

"Happy anniversary, babe," Dave murmured, leaning down to kiss her neck before she let her hair fall.

"Ten years," Amanda said as he sat back down, taking her hand in his.

"I never could have dreamed that I wasn't just asking out the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen, but that I'd found my perfect partner in crime," Dave said softly. "Ten amazing years later, and I still feel lucky every day."

"You'll always be that funny boy who walked up, bold as brass, and asked me out." Amanda squeezed his hand. "I knew you were the one on that first date."

"I couldn't have planned for an earthquake," Dave teased.

"No, but you pulled me into the doorway and covered me," she replied. "No hesitation, like you'd been planning it."

"Even then, I knew I couldn't lose you," Dave whispered.

Amanda leaned forward and drew him into a long, lingering kiss, which was only broken by a cough from Adrian, who had returned, unnoticed, with their wine.

"Would you like some more time with the menus?" Adrian asked, the ghost of a smile on his face.

Adrian checked the pouch again, unable to believe his own eyes.

The couple were clearly tier seven, and well connected to feel comfortable enough using Lord Wallenstair's name, but it was equally clear that they were from Earth.

He'd heard that Earth had a custom called 'tipping,' which one of his friends had confirmed, but he'd never thought to see it for himself.

Adrian counted himself fortunate to be employed at The Depths. It paid well, and the owners had a strict policy about the treatment of the staff by the clients. As long as you remembered your place, you were safe from ill tempered Nobles who stood entire tiers above you.

That said, he was holding a bag with a hundred mana crystals in it. He'd touched one and confirmed it was a tier eight mana crystal.

They'd tipped him more than what they'd spend on their meal, although it did free him to recommend the absolute finest wines, as cost clearly wouldn't be an issue.

He'd been surprised when the man had slipped something into his pocket, but he'd been able to feel the edges of the crystals, so he'd guessed correctly that it was a tip of some sort. His friend hadn't understood the process very well, as he'd claimed that people from Earth tipped after the tally arrived, usually a percentage of the total.

He wiped the glasses carefully, then selected a light yellow from Broadcrest. It would pair perfectly with the salad.

Having seen the deeply passionate kiss the couple had shared, and not having missed the necklace, which she hadn't been wearing when they'd entered, Adrian thought this was likely a special occasion, and he was going to do everything in his power to make sure it was as perfect as he could make it.