Multiple footsteps rang out on the dirt road leading onto the cultists makeshift fortress.
The party was still concealed amongst the forest. The wait having been quite awkward amongst each other, as they had to remain quiet during it. Lin Hao being next to Fu Mei had not helped either.
He felt tempted to say all sorts of things to her, but knew they were all wrong.
He had to distance himself from getting back with her now. There were far more important things to deal with.
However, for all of their troubles the party had gained a new skill in the process of hiding.
[You have gained a new skill!]
[Skill Name:Stealth]
[Rank:0]
[Description]
"Your ability to hide yourself or camouflage amongst trees, grass or the environment around you. At full mastery, allows you to become invisible in plain sight."
Such a skill would prove itself useful if the party could train it to the maximum. Lin Hao himself had gained a second skill from the fight with the bear.
[Skill Name:Volcanic Impact]
[Rank:0]
[Description]
"Unleash a massive burst of volcanic matter upon contact. If you burn all of the energy in your Cubic Reservoir, a special effect triggers!"
It was an all or nothing skill. But one that would serve him better in case the fights ahead got ugly. Lin Hao peeked his head out from the tree he was hiding behind, in order to see who was on the dirt road.
Multiple hooded figures walked over it, carrying a wagon full of dead bodies. The sight of which filled Lin Hao with a supernatural disgust.
[You are gazing upon an unholy ritual!]
Lin Hao resisted the strange effects that came at him just from the sight of it.
These bodies had been tampered with some form of evil taint that he hadn't seen before. Did things such as dark magic exist in this world?
"Fu Mei. Don't look out." Lin Hao whispered over to her. If he could barely handle this, he didn't have much faith she would either. "W-why?" She stuttered out, antsy behind what was hiding her.
"Just trust me on this."
An unnatural anger began to form itself in Lin Hao's core. The people carrying the wagon weren't saying much, but it was obvious that they were Cultists.
The group had planned to ambush them, but they didn't know what their capabilities were.
Suddenly, time stopped.
Everything around Lin Hao became grey and froze in time, the wagon ahead of him stopped. Time had frozen just like when he received two quests involving the bear earlier.
"Your fate is about to diverge...Which path will you choose?" A translucent quest window manifested in front of Lin Hao with these words, and then cracked. Splitting seamlessly into two different quest windows.
Each of them had the strange prefix [Branch of Fate] above them. Lin Hao contemplated how this system worked, did the others get choices like this? He would have to ask them.
[Quest] Charge!
[Description]
"The desire to commit Justice is burning within your heart. All you have to do is act on it, and the rest will become clear. You once saw such evil get away in your world, but here you can stop it. Will you answer the call?"
[Reward] Wisdom Stat is deleted, [Justicar] Passive is given.
[Quest] Wait
[Description]
"You may feel tempted to act right now, but you lack significant information. Why not wait and see what happens? To rush in now may come to bite you later."
[Reward] Wisdom Stat is increased by 4.
The system... It adapted to the characteristics and decisions an Individual would come to make throughout their journey in this new world.
Lin Hao thought about what he would do next. If he made a mistake here, it would not only be him that pays the price. Fu Mei and Richie could die.
But he had a head start compared to others that entered this world, his higher initial stats granted him an advantage. There were also few who could survive actual volcanic matter burning their body.
He checked his stats before coming to another decision.
[Personal Details]
Name: Lin Hao
Race: Cubic Human
Cubic Power: Volcanic [3% Comprehension]
Unique Trait: Never Give In! [Stage 1]
Level:2
Experience:1/150
[Stats]
Health:75/75
Cubic Reservoir:60/60
Strength:7 [Normal]
Intelligence:14 [Favored]
Dexterity:10 [Favored]
Wisdom :5 [Lacking]
He could only get stronger by fighting in this world, and they didn't have much time to solve their survival issue.
Lin Hao was no longer held back by societal corruption in this world, and he would stand strong in his beliefs no matter what came in front of him.
He raised his hand, and selected the [Charge!] option. A wave of power washed over Lin Hao's existence, as the new [Justicar] passive integrated into him.
[Passive gained:Justicar]
[Description]
"You fight for what's right. You are innately able to detect evil within someone, and what they are guilty of."
This was a far more useful skill than Lin Hao could have thought. It would allow him to detect who he could trust and who he could not. But one last line at the end of it stuck out.
"This passive will upgrade upon carrying out Justice."