Party members Liora, Aiden, and Thalia have slain Luminous Cobalt Crab (D → E+).
You have gained 50,000 XP.
A D-rank quest has been completed.
You have gained 10,000 XP.
You have leveled up.
Level 6 → Level 10
HP:
25 → 33
MP:
60 → 69
Wis:
12 → 20
Cha:
29 → 30
Int:
8 → 11
Congratulations.
You have reached level 10.
Pick from the skills below.
Demonic Bond (E)
Infernal Grasp (E)
Pact Amplification (E)
To say the fox jumped would have been an understatement.
She had felt such a wave of relief after figuring out how to turn her system screen off and on again that she could have passed away happy.
No more nights desperately trying to cover the blue glow before something bigger than her saw it.
No more hunts ruined because the screen blocked her view and made her miss her lunge, leaving her hungry for the day.
"Oh, they actually killed the crab," Jax said, turning to the girl with the scary arm. "How do you think they went about it?"
Her name was apparently Selene.
Unlike Naturals, where one was named by appearance, people were given words to associate with themselves.
Names.
The fox turned as if to feign paying attention, but despite the extensive lessons Jax had given her on speaking Common, she could still only understand every few words.
She swished her tail and tapped Jax's back to get his attention.
"It just popped up with a bunch of stuff," she said. "What does it say?"
Jax turned and read for a moment.
Then he began running his claw along the words, explaining their meanings.
It took some time, and to Selene's credit, she sat patiently while Jax explained.
"This last part here is what people call a skill choice," Jax said. "Basically, every five levels, you get to pick from three skills. If you tap on the names, you can see what each skill does."
Doing as he said, the fox reached her paw up and poked at the names to make them expand.
It was not something she was used to doing, so she ended up poking the middle one twice and had to go back to it.
Demonic Bond (E)
25 MP
Grants the Warlock a small enhancement to the power of the skills granted through their contract for 30 seconds.
This skill temporarily enhances combat effectiveness, especially when relying on demonic powers.
Infernal Grasp (E)
25 MP
Allows the Warlock to summon demonic hands from the ground in a 10-foot radius.
These hands will attempt to restrain creatures within the area for 10 seconds.
This skill provides battlefield control and prevents enemy movement.
Pact Amplification (E)
Passive
Increases the Warlock's pact strength, giving an additional effect or enhancement to their active pact.
This skill enhances their connection to their demonic ally, strengthening all pact-based skills.
Jax helped her read through them.
Selene said something, and the fox caught the words find, back, and soon.
Jax finished reading and turned to her.
"When it comes to skill selection, the biggest thing to be aware of is what your goal is in a fight," he said. "Even if that goal is avoiding a fight. So what role did you have in a hunt?"
The fox thought about it for a moment.
"I was not allowed to hunt with my siblings because of the screen," she said. "So I always did it on my own."
Jax simply nodded.
A strange expression crossed his face before he pointed at her system.
Then he turned back to her and asked a rather strange question.
"Since you're a warlock, you have a contract. Do you like your contractor?"
The fox opened her mouth to say, No, I cannot stand the little pests.
But she paused.
She remembered the times they had led her to shelter during the rain.
The times one of them always seemed to make sure that after a bad day, she found a meal.
So while she would not say she liked them, she would say they were helpful at times.
She had not even said anything yet when Jax smiled and gestured to the last skill.
Pact Amplification.
The fox reached out a claw and touched it.
Another screen appeared.
You have selected Pact Amplification (E).
Are you sure?
Yes
No
Remembering her lessons on words, she knew the top one meant agreement, while the bottom meant disagreement.
So she pressed the top option.
The screens all shut.
"So she does love us!"
The voice came from one of the two gnats around her head.
And yet they seemed different.
For one thing, they were larger.
Before, they had been so small they could fit in the crook of her claw.
Now, each stood around the size of her paw.
The one on the left had light green skin and a small dress made of green vines. Tiny white flowers sat in different spots along the dress as she spun through the air.
Beside her, the other one looked more gruff. He wore a small brown coat that trailed down to his knees, along with a little hat. Something sat in his mouth, leaving a small trail that smelled like smoke from a fire.
The fox turned to Jax.
He looked bewildered as he stared at the two of them.
"Uh," Jax said, gesturing toward the floating figures. "What are those?"
The fox turned to them.
Then back to Jax.
"They have been here the whole time," she said. "You couldn't see them?"
Jax shook his head.
The figures turned to the fox, and the one with the smoke thing asked a strange question.
"Well, aren't you going to introduce us?"
The fox looked at him.
"Can't you?" she asked. "He can see you, so say hi or something."
The figure sighed.
"You have the Demonic Research (E) skill. Without it, you could not understand us."
The fox blinked for a moment.
Then she nodded.
"All right, then who are you?"
The figure in the flower dress floated forward.
"I am Seraphella, the angel of primroses."
The figure in the coat floated over next.
"And I am Malthorin, the angel of luck on a bad day."
The fox stared at them for a moment.
Then she turned back to a spot of empty air and said the word in Common.
"System."
The blue screen appeared before her.
She looked for the word angel anywhere in anything.
But everything talked about demons.
She relayed what they had said to Jax, then asked, "Isn't an angel not a demon?"
Jax nodded.
"Yeah," he said. "Angels are seen as holy figures who protect people. Demons are the ones who abuse and corrupt people."
"Then why am I contracted with angels despite everything in my system talking about demons?"
"That is…" Jax paused. "Actually, a really good question."
He stared at the two floating figures.
"What the hells is up with that?"
Before either of them could say anything else, Selene returned.
"I-I found the restaurant we have been looking for," she said. "It's just down the road."
Jax nodded and began to follow Selene.
The fox quickly followed after them.