He knew it would be expensive, just like Thunder Wave Barrier, and would only become more costly as he upgraded it, so he focused on enhancing the original skill for now.
Zuriel couldn't help but daydream about the day he would have all the main characters tied up within his ship, ready to harvest editor points from them. Unfortunately, such a thought was far beyond his current reality.
Yet, the original skill was still a powerful ability he could use to his full advantage.
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Upgrade Inherited Skill: Coral Shock Trap (Blue) (Advanced) → Coral Shock Trap (Blue) (Perfection)
Cost: 25,000 EP
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Zuriel confirmed the transaction.
[ Beastmaster Editor Points: 5,900 EP ]
[ Inherited Skills:
Coral Shock Trap (Blue) (Perfection)
Effect: Creates twenty-two hidden electrified coral structures around the battlefield that shock enemies on contact. These structures have a stun duration of 3.5 seconds and cover a radius of 22 meters. They are durable enough to sustain five hits before destruction. Requires a 4-second cooldown after use. ]
Stormshell eyes suddenly widened as he froze and turned to Zuriel.
Witnessing his funny expression and emotions, Zuriel rubbed under his chin.
Stormshell melted in Zuriel's arms. 'Truly, this is the life of a king,' he thought. He pondered what his ancestors would think after finding out that he hadn't trained for several days yet had grown to such a level thanks all to his master. They might even be jealous.
[ Your bond strength with your tamed beast has increased: Powerful bond—> Resonant Bond (+40% contribution of the magical beast mana numerical value) ]
[Your mana numerical value has increased 203.5 ––> 285]
Zuriel felt relieved, seeing as his bond with Stormshell had increased. Stormshell also enjoyed not needing to train to increase his abilities, which allowed them to deepen their connection. He had been worried it would stall, but it appeared to be for nothing.
Nonetheless, Zuriel remembered seven bond strength levels: firstly, the weak bond was formed only after the beast had been contracted. Secondly, stable bond, means a reliable connection between the beastmaster and the beast. It also grants a +5% mnv to the beastmaster. A beastmaster can possess this bond strength level with their beast, typically at the novice or elite rank.
Thirdly, Strong bond means high trust between the beastmaster and the beast, where the beast does not hesitate to fulfil the beastmaster's commands. This bond grants the beastmaster +10% mnv. All beastmasters aimed for this bond level. Unfortunately, not every beastmaster can achieve such a bond level.
Fourth, Powerful bond: As the name suggests, this bond strength level is more powerful and grants the beastmaster a +20% mnv. Fifth, Resonant bond: This bond strength level grants the beastmaster a +40% mnv.
Sixth, Divine bond: This bond level grants +60% mnv to the beastmaster. It grants near-perfect unity between the beastmaster and the beast, allowing them to act as one without even needing to give commands. The beasts gain an additional trait where they can share their abilities with their beastmaster for a limited period. It was weaker than his talent.
But Zuriel wasn't confident because his talent was C-ranked, and he could only use it for a limited time. Also, this bond level was regarded as a myth, with little information about beastmasters who had reached such a bond level with their beasts. However, Zuriel knew that it wasn't a mere myth.
Still, that wasn't his goal. His goal was the last bond strength level, the seventh and last, the True bond, which grants an unbreakable bond between beastmaster and beast. It grants an additional +80% mnv. And also grants an additional trait to the beast.
Zuriel didn't know what the additional trait was, as he hadn't read far into the novel to find out. But he was sure it wouldn't be simple or disappointing—at least, he hoped so. He summoned his status sheet to take a look at it.
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[ Zuriel Zahara ]
Bloodline: [ Human ]
Age: [ 19 years old ]
Rank: Novice Beastmaster
Mana numerical value: 285
Beast space: Blue Spring Oasis (8-star)
Talent: Transfer (C-rank), Beastmaster Editor System (***)
Tamed beast: (1/2) Can only tame two beasts. Click to see more.
Equipment: Storage bracelet (Common rank(Grade 4)) Death Flagged Banner (Legendary Rank (Grade 4) Damaged state)
Beastmaster Editor Points: 5,900EP.
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With his and Stormshells' current attributes, he was confident he could take on a novice-ranked dungeon, even if it were a special one.
By the side, Finn observed the close connection between Zuriel and Stormshell intrigued. He suspected their bond strength level was high but didn't find it surprising. After all, Zuriel had cultivated his magical beast to the Black Iron rank, so their relationships with each other should also be relatively high.
Nonetheless, Finn couldn't help but sigh. On their first day together, he boasted to Zuriel about his powerful observation skills, yet he hadn't noticed such an essential detail until now.
Soon, they arrived at the upper deck and nodded at the crew, who were busy preparing for their arrival to begin the dungeon raid.
The crew responded with a respectful bow towards Zuriel's direction, their gazes filled with reverence and fear.
Zuriel walked up to the bridge with Finn following behind him.
Poison Philip immediately left the helm, holding it with one hand, to bow respectfully towards Zuriel.
"Captain, we have arrived at the dungeon. We are awaiting your orders?" Poison Philip said, pointing his hand at a specific direction on the sea.
In that direction was a bronze gate floating upon the sea's surface. As the ship sailed around the gate area, they could see the back of the bronze gate and its sides. This would seem strange to those unfamiliar with raiding dungeons, but this was a regular occurrence, as dungeons typically appeared in many strange ways and locations.
They were natural phenomena. Of course, they were dungeons in which areas of appearance were documented for proper exploration; however, there were few compared to those that weren't documented.
Zuriel had only read about such sights in the novel, and it was his first time witnessing this or any kind of dungeon, so it took him a while before he could snap out of his thoughts.
"Head straight to the entrance of the gate," Zuriel commanded.
Poison Philip nodded and steered the ship towards the gate's entrance. To activate the dungeon, they would need to pass through the gate's entrance, hence their actions. Considering that each dungeon was unique, they also didn't want to trigger any hidden traps by attempting to take a different route by going through it from behind.
Within minutes, they arrived at the gate's entrance.
Zuriel looked at the gate intently as though he was awaiting something.
The space beside the bronze gate trembled, and a figure emerged. It was a white-furred beast with four limbs resembling the quadruped paws of a polar bear. The white-furred beast's body was adorned with beautiful jewels, with bracelets around its wrists gleaming under the radiant sun. Its two front paws were held behind its back as it stood in the air and looked down at Zuriel's ship.
The torn space was sealed up behind it.
The white furred beast opened its jaws, displaying a set of pristine white teeth that seemed to have been meticulously carved out, and asked, "Who are the representatives of this raid?".
Everyone on board the ship turned to Zuriel.
Zuriel gently placed Stormshell on the floorboard and stepped down from the bridge before walking to the ship's edge, also known as the bow.
The white furry beast noticed the sudden shift in the atmosphere and turned to Zuriel, trialling his figure.
Zuriel raised his head and met the beast's haughty gaze as it stared down at them. This beast was called a Sentinel, one of many acting as dungeon administrators. They were widely recognized as cruel, haughty, and overinflated egoist entities and would attack a beastmaster or anyone who attracted their ire.
So, it was always wise to approach them cautiously and ensure their egos weren't trampled upon; otherwise, the wrath one would bear would be unbearable. On the flip side, earning their favour was similar to tipping over a honey jar into one's mouth.
However, not only was their existence mysterious, but according to the novel, they were among the few entities around during the emergence of the Tower of Extinct Beasts. The others had only been hinted about. But Zuriel hadn't read enough to know if they had ever been revealed.
"Are you the sole representatives of this dungeon raid?" The sentinel asked, focusing on Zuriel.
"Yes, I am," Zuriel responded with a nod.
"Do you have a dungeon pass?" The sentinel asked.
Dungeon passes function as tickets provided to the sentinel prior to entering the dungeon. Each individual or party can only attempt the dungeon a limited number of times before requiring a dungeon pass to continue raiding the same dungeon.
A dungeon pass can be obtained based on the completion rate of the dungeon.