Chương 72: Chapter Seventy One

When Bob had first arrived in this world, each day was spent in agonized yearning for the life and body that had been stolen from him. Unknown weeks or months dealing with phantom pains and dissociation; with the stark reality that his previous existence was over and his humanity had been all but stripped away. The fact that he'd reached the point he was at now, where he could give you as many pros as he could cons regarding his wooden body, said a great deal about the adaptability of the human spirit.

However, there were still times when he found himself truly missing some of the animal mechanics of his previous biological form. And, as he stared out the building's front doors, he realized this was one of them. A moment which felt incomplete without a now-lost aspect of his humanity. Every sliver of him wanting to take in a deep, soul-cleansing breath.

The type best had in winter, when the cold air could burn your lungs and radiate its chill throughout your body; the mild pain giving the action a strange sense of poignancy. Of course, actually doing so would have been impossible even if he had still been a human being. Beyond the obvious threat of drowning during the attempt, Bob wasn't sure lungs could even survive this far down. Having a bit of trouble remembering if they usually 'popped' once you had sunk this low, or only on the way back up.

Unfortunately, this reality didn't fully erase the nagging 'want' that itched at his brain. Though it did make it slightly easier to ignore. Well, that, and the massively increased pile of gold and silver now sitting in his vaults. The accumulated total of which he'd deliberately avoided looking at until now. Bob figuring that with the only potential threat in the building busy populating his lowest levels, he may as well allow himself a satisfying reveal.

And, with every last speck of treasure looted from all five floors, the time for that reveal was now. Bob opening his status screen with the slightest flex of will. Ding! Congratulations! You have found (117) Treasures! (23) of those treasures are Enchanted! (12) Enchantments of the (Preservation) Path (7) Enchantments of the (Protection) Path (3) Enchantments of the (Aura) Path (1) Enchantment of the (Illusion) Path Total appraised value is (2, 478. 73) Gold! Next Level: 2, 664. 73 /256 Ding!

Species Level Increase! 9 – 12 Constitution + 15 Willpower + 15 Intelligence + 15 Strength + 15 New Skill Slot opened! New Species Trait Available! Ding!

'Treasure Hunter' Unique experience gain activated 24, 787 Experience gained for ' Treasure Hunter' (B) Congratulations!' Treasure Hunter (B)' is now level 36! Perception + 15 Dexterity + 12 Willpower + 9 Bob smiled to himself as he felt the attribute points rushing through him; the total value of the delicious treasure he'd rescued from the building being even greater than expected. To a certain degree, he felt happy that his next evolution was so out of reach.

The various statuaries, artifacts and even surviving artwork – the painting in question being a massive portrait of an unknown man standing at a stone podium – being far too precious to allow 'the system' to simply whisk away. Given how long it would take for him to get to rank 'C' however, Bob would have more than enough time to find someone willing to pay far more than the system was. Even if he would first have to contend with the whole 'him not being human' thing.

Till then they could sit within his vaults; a private museum only toured by himself or his illustrious allies. Which, as of this moment, consisted of a box and a still-exuberant octopus. Buddy finding their new ever-replicating food source worthy of celebration even well over a day after its capture. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

Still, when you added in his sword and the small library of actually extant books to the list, he had a selection of artifacts that might well be drooled over by serious collectors. Even if the content of the books in question was a little bit anticlimactic. Bob had been hoping for ancient grimoires, especially given his new ability with 'Geas' and 'Law' based magics.

Bar those, books on history or even the legal system of the drowned empire he was currently looting would have provided at least some greater understanding of the world he'd been cast into. Unfortunately, his vast collection of ancient texts contained none of those. Instead, each and every book appeared to be filled to the brim with badly summarized and almost certainly long-dead contracts. Each entry squeezed down and roughly edited in order to only fill a single one of each tome's many pages.

He obviously hadn't had time to go through each and every book, but just the ones he'd parsed through had caused him to lose what little respect he had for these so-called 'magical contractors'. The sheer number of open-ended or ambiguous statements alone had him cringing in professional disgust.

Every other page including a blanket 'we will take no action against' or 'we will only act in the best interests of', with there being absolutely no clarification on what an 'action against' or 'the best interests of' a person could be expected to look like. He honestly couldn't even call the things 'contracts'; each so badly written that they were – in his opinion – completely unenforceable.

He honestly couldn't imagine how a society as developed as this one looked to be could have existed should they be enforceable. Each punishment hanging over the heads of the involved parties like the proverbial sword of Damocles; set to fall at the slightest accusation or hint of impropriety. And that was before he even got to the punishments themselves. Every one taking up at least half the page and promising bleak and grisly threats galore; the mildest he'd seen implying bound labor if not outright slavery.

And the most severe directly demanding things he'd already made a concerted attempt to bleach from his memory. What little guilt he still had over the death of 'The Lady of Law and Light' disappearing as he was given a glimpse into what her followers considered 'justice' to be. Still, he supposed there was no point riling himself up over the depraved antics of a dead civilization. Especially not when he had himself a Trait to pick. Ding! Congratulations!

For elevating yourself to Species Level (10) you are awarded (1) additional Species Trait! Please choose carefully! Scattered Self (D) Allows the Monster to create multiple images of themselves, teleporting between each when endangered. Gains further access to (Mind Control/Spatial) Path traits/skills Willpower + 10 Intelligence + 10 Weighty Presence (D) Imparts increased gravitational force on all creatures surrounding the Monster.

Gains further access to (Spatial/Aura) traits/skills Intelligence + 10 Willpower + 10 Scything Limbs (D) Turns each of the Monster's many limbs into long, razor-sharp blades. Gains further access to (Movement/Natural Weapons) Path traits/skills Strength + 10 Dexterity + 10 Clockwork Engine (D) Grants the Monster an internal engine which, when engaged, boosts all physical attributes.

Gains further access to (Automaton) Path traits/skills Constitution + 20 As the options finished listing themselves out, Bob found himself pleasantly surprised to see another selection filled solely with D-ranks. Part of him felt slightly disappointed that there weren't any 'Minion Creation' Traits available, but the rest realized that it probably wasn't the best idea to put all of his eggs in that basket anyway. Especially when he hadn't yet fully explored what his current minion-based abilities were capable of.

Besides, this way he was spared at least some internal agonizing over the options left behind. With at least two of the choices currently available being things he would've had a hard time passing up.

'Scything Limbs' was obviously tossed out right away. The Trait was clearly designed for something in the centipede/millipede family and he doubted it would do anything for him other than massively impact his ability to move. The second choice for dismissal took slightly longer however, with Bob hesitating over getting rid of 'Weighty Presence' due to it potentially aiding him in the creation of his own 'gravity' based Skills. He eventually cleared it from the options however.

He was already heavily invested in its greater Path after all. It might be a bit difficult for him to create his own mass-effecting Skills without an example, but it wasn't worth weighing down every living creature surrounding him to get one. That left him with two options. One being a massively useful Spatial/Mind Control Trait that, frankly, felt overpowered in its D-rank placement. And the other being a Trait from a completely new path.

One which would likely be only mildly useful itself, but might well open up Skills, Class options and further Traits that could massively improve his life further down the line.

'Scattered Self' was, by all measures, a top-level defensive ability. It was the kind of Trait that could turn a mid-level threat into the type of creature adventurers did their best to avoid. Admittedly, Bob was becoming decently versed in both the Paths of magic involved in its creation, but he had zero belief in his ability to replicate it. With him at best being able to first create illusions of himself, before then using a completely separate Skill to teleport between them.

Which, if he was reading the Trait summary correctly, wasn't at all what the ability did. It seeming to imply that he would be instantly teleported between them moments before taking damage; essentially giving him a number of 'free hits' equal to the number of illusory forms. And all at the single press of a 'button' within his mind. It honestly felt stupid not to take it.

Bob may have increased in strength dramatically during his time in the city, but he had no doubt this world was still full of things that could one-shot him instantly. One of them likely currently squatting somewhere near the city center. It was essentially a 'get out of jail free' card. One he could probably make use of near-continuously, given the likely massive difference between his own mana levels and that of your average monster.

Its only real weakness being area-of-effect Skills and large numbers; things that would have likely killed him no matter what Traits he'd chosen. And yet… Bob was wavering. Because the impact 'Clock-Work Engine' could have on his life was massive. The ability in itself meant very little to him.

A slight increase in his attributes might occasionally be handy, but it was nothing in comparison to what he'd gain from 'Scattered Self'; especially given the unknowns surrounding both the actual bonuses given and how long they'd linger. The abilities choosing it might lead to however, were another story altogether. He had no idea what the world above looked like, but even if they did have an industrialized society, he wasn't likely to be welcomed into it.

And if he wanted to fill his vaults by any other method than killing monsters and looting dead cities, creating his own personal industrial revolution seemed a good way to go about doing so. It also opened up a potential route for him to create new subordinates. His minion creation page listed his 'type' as 'Magical Constructs', a banner which Bob couldn't help but think 'Automatons' could also easily also fall under.

He assumed that his initial ability to create 'lesser mimics' was due to his base species at the time; but now that the system didn't seem to know what he was, it felt like numerous other doors may well be opened. All of this made it a difficult choice. Especially given that Trait options didn't seem to be sticking around for as long as they had when he was strictly a 'mimic'. Him having no repeats with his last two Trait picks. It was one which needed to be made before he left, however.

Bob needing every attribute bonus or extra ability he could get his hands on before pressing forward on his journey. Because he was heading deeper. The extra levels and massive increase to his Willpower score had turned the previously crippling aura into nothing more than an annoyance. That was likely to change the further he went in, but Bob felt assured he could at least make it to the apartment building around halfway to the city center. What happened after that, would be for future Bob to decide.