Chapter 97b: Injecting Levity


    Okay Edwin panted, Thats enough for today. Thanks for not breaking the bracer off, Lefi.


    His entire body ached as he worked on dismissing the apparatite pins that held the armband in ce, and sighed in sweet relief as the tight crystal released its grip. He flinched at the ring of holes in his arm re-opening and watched as blood welled up and scabbed over the wounds in rapid session. Having lots of Health in one ce was great, even if the Attribute was more focused on putting him back together after so many uses of Overcharge.


    What <em>would</em> have happened if it did break off? Lefi asked, curious. Did he want something simr? There was no way the guy had Overcharge though, so it wouldnt be any use to him.


    Well, with thebination of suppressed yet concentrated Health and Stamina, I suspect immediate-onset magical necrosis which would rot my limb off in the matter of seconds to or possibly even through the bone. This would be while having twelve holes in my skin making veritable fountains of blood spurting out every second.


    Both of his teachers leveled a re at him.


    Okay, okay! Fine! It was just a joke, no need to be so touchy. I would be fine, Id just need to make a new band, which I would anyway. Overcharging just my forearm wouldnt be enough most of the time anyway.


    After all, his goals- discounting his ability to train Overcharge more effectively if his entire body didnt feel like burned meat after using the Skill. A single limb at a time would be far preferable- were to get a quick but not final move-level powerup that he could use to literally punch above his weight ss.


    Naturally, he wouldnt gain the full benefits of using the Skill in battle, but he would at least be able to continue to fight afterwards. Or he could use his arm as a shield if needed, as even Lefi needed to strike at nearly full strength if he wanted to actually injure Edwin while Overcharge was active.


    But, all that meant he would be best-served by Overcharging his entire arm, and that meant he needed to figure out a contraption that rested around his shoulder.


    It ended up not being too terribly tricky, all told. A few hours of work and a level in Sappers Apparatuster, he had a ring that sat just past his shoulder, resting on his corbone and encircling his entire shoulder. When he activated it, the potion would inject itself into the space just by his joint, empowering everything he would need to give an absolutely <em>massive</em> punch.


    It did, unfortunately, leave his shoulder <em>particrly</em> vulnerable, as it wouldnt be reinforced by any of his Attributes, at least not yet. Any Health that went across that tiny sliver would be used to fight against the encroaching mana from Overcharge, and Stamina would be busy trying to get rid of the injection.


    To protect his arm from being sliced off, Edwin devised a pauldron which would house the vials and also prevent someone from chopping his arm outright. For the time being, it was just made out of apparatite, but he hoped to get something stronger made for him once they made it to the city whatever it was called. Sheraith?


    Prototyping was especially useful in that process, and he even got a few levels in the Skill much to his delight. He just had so many Skills it was almost inevitable he was neglecting some of them as he progressed through his training.


    It was frustrating, in some ways, that the exact same barriers that kept people from taking the Lefi route of getting <em>all</em> of the Skills- there simply was a practical limit for which you started hitting diminishing returns for taking another Skill- had finally starteding into y. He was either at or near that point, but at the same time all of his Skills had their ce and he wasnt sure which he would give up if presented with the opportunity.


    Still annoyed him that even with two separate leveling boosters, he still wasnt able to keep all of his Skills in his training rotation. Well, that wasnt entirely true. Hed be <em>so happy</em> once he could pull Overcharge out of regr rotation not that it was likely to actually happen, with this potion.


    He sighed. No rest for the weary.


    It was kind of his fault, he supposed, for wanting to be so strong on his own two feet. If he just epted that he was weak and would continue to be, then he would be fine


    But he didnt want to live at another persons mercy. Hm. Maybe he could make a gun? If swords and arrows could be legitimate weapons here, then what amounted to an arrowhead traveling at supersonic speeds would <em>definitely</em> be an effective weapon.


    He wasnt sure he trusted his ability to make pistols and not pipe bombs, though. Not after the smoke bomb incident, at least.


    Where was he? Oh, right. Safety at the whim of others.


    It it rubbed him the wrong way. After Tara had held him at swordpoint and forced him to exin his origins, hed promised himself hed never be in that situation again. And friends might help, wouldnt they?


    He looked over to where Inion and Lefi were walking,ughing as they talked about whatever it was they so dearly liked to chat about. Was it him? Probably not. He wasnt noteworthy enough for them to warrant speaking about him when he wasnt a part of the conversation.


    Edwin tinkered with his pauldron prototype to try and distract himself. The needles already were separate objects from their holder, maybe he could insert them into a dedicated container which he could then expand with Improbable Arsenal? He might be able to arrange some sort of delivery contraption sort of like he had for the serum itself, where the needles popped out of their de-expanded container to jab him it wasnt <em>ideal</em>, but it was better than running around with a bunch of needles constantly jabbing into him. If nothing else, it was a waste of Adaptive Defense, making it constantly be attuned to pain. It only was able to bring it down to a moderate itch anyway.


    Yathal and Kyni were running around the carriage, moving fast enough they were sometimes only blurs out of the corner of Edwins vision. He couldnt miss theughing and barking that apanied their y- it was the happiest they ever got outside of watching Edwin being violent- nor the asional cry as Yathal tripped over something and skinned his knee or elbow.


    Honestly, the kid was lucky the injuries werent <em>worse</em>, and Edwin was sure it was only thanks to some Skill that Kynigos had- ring golden every time the boy tripped- that Yathal didnt have actual road rash from such high-speed falls.


    The first time it had happened, Edwin nearly sprang up with one of his healing potions, but had been waved off by Lefi. Instead, Kynigos would always dutifully approach and nuzzle his fallen boy, before licking Yathals injury, wiping away blood, dirt and wounds alike.


    Regardless, it meant that they could keep themselves busy and without needing to worry about what they had gotten up to. Eventually, Yathal would tire himself out and either settle down into a walk or hop either onto his dogs back or the carriage itself for a ride.


    Bill, of course, waspletely unphased by everything going on around him. He was just a good, sturdy little pony who barely even flinched at the sound of explosions. Good pony.


    Edwin hopped up onto the carriage. They were only two days out from the city, and he had more that he wanted to take care of. Sure, he was sore from overusing Overcharge, but what else was new? A quick sinbalyne-based painkiller knocked off the low-grade pain without also drugging him, meaning he was perfectly capable of doing low-grade alchemy work! He already had a bunch of stuff refined after all, and he didnt <em>really</em> know what the shelf life of his catalysts and other essences were. For all he knew, he needed to use them up quickly to ensure maximum efficacy!


    Hmmm hed start with his smoke bombs. Those should be quick, right? Hed almost gotten them to workst time, after all. All hed need to do this time was exclude the ignition agent!


    He was on a roll! It couldn''t possibly be <em>that</em> hard.


    So he <em>did</em> manage to make his smoke bombs. It genuinely <em>wasnt </em>that hard, though he may or may not have gone without sleep one night to get them done before they reached the city. He was fine, though. If he could go a <em>week</em> without sleep and still be mostly cognizant by the end of it, he could do a single night and be fine.


    Inion disagreed. But at least she didnt force him to sleep, just was moderately snarkier than usual at him after finding out. A small price to pay, all told.


    After all, that was behind him! And his test bomb had filled a sphere more than <em>five meters</em> in radius, so Edwin was quite happy with the end result. It blew away after a few minutes, sure, but if he was outside that was plenty of time to get away, and if he were inside the effect wouldst <em>way</em> longer.


    He only had six at the moment and needed to Refine more illusion dust before he could make any more, but really. How likely was it that hed need to perform more than a half-dozen vanish into the smoke moves while in a city, really? That couldnt <em>possibly</em> happen, right?


    ....Why did he always curse himself like that?


    Anyway, they were just there to get Rih. Who was an adventurer that was supposed to help out Yathal in some way. He probably should ask at some point, or did Lefi already exin how theyd help?


    In any case, Rih hadnt been able to meet them because she was held up, if Edwin remembered correctly. Held up doing what, he didnt know and he couldnt say he really cared either. He was still somewhat hesitant as to whether he would stick around with Lefi once their paths were no longer going in the same direction. Maybe he would maybe he wouldnt. It would serve as a test as to whether or not Inion really <em>did</em> like him or not, or if she now preferred Lefi.


    ...Did he want that question answered, though?


    Edwin quickly quashed that train of thought before his entire afternoon was ruined productivity-wise. He was <em>fine</em> and would remain so.


    He still had a few tasks to aplish before they arrived in the city, after all. He couldnt spend hours moping again! He needed to um


    Right! He needed to secure everything on the outside of the cart so it wouldnt be snatched away! Also, he should probably stow away some of his ongoing distitions so they werent sitting out.


    Edwin hopped out and looked at his carriage. Over the months, hed started growing a few nts along the side- he left the roof clear, given that was where he usually slept- held in apparatite pots, just to try and keep some of his stocks full. He wasnt sessful with <em>every</em> nt he tried to grow, but he had managed to get mi and firevine with some effort. Sinbalyne grew, but not well. Hed need to figure out what it needed at some point. Anyway, he needed to bring them inside for protection. Oh, he still needed to water them today, didnt he?


    Oh! Of course, he should also make sure that


    <strong>Level Up!</strong>


    <strong>Skill Points 837885 (Average level: 48)</strong>


    <strong>Adaptive Defense Level 3032</strong>


    <strong>Alchemical Analysis Level 3134</strong>


    <strong>Alchemical Dismantling Level 4142</strong>


    <strong>Alchemy Level 9091</strong>


    <strong>Anatomy Level 4243</strong>


    <strong>Arcadian Elixir Level 3032</strong>


    <strong>Basic Thermokinesis Level 2628</strong>


    <strong>Bomb Throwing Level 5051</strong>


    <strong>Flight Level 4144</strong>


    <strong>Fresh Air Level 3334</strong>


    <strong>Improbable Arsenal Level 3033</strong>


    <strong>Longstrider Level 3335</strong>


    <strong>Mana Infusion Level 8788</strong>


    <strong>Memory Level 6364</strong>


    <strong>Numeracy Level 4042</strong>


    <strong>Outsiders Almanac Level 133134</strong>


    <strong>Overcharge Level 2226</strong>


    <strong>Polyglot Level 6768</strong>


    <strong>Prototyping Level 2934</strong>


    <strong>Refining Level 3235</strong>


    <strong>Ritual Intuition Level 2831</strong>


    <strong>Sappers Apparatus Level 5154</strong>


    <strong>Skillful Assessment Level 4041</strong>


    <strong>Watchful Rest Level 3031</strong>


    <strong>Name</strong>


    Edwin Maxlin


    <strong>Age</strong>


    1 year


    <strong>Race</strong>


    Extranar Human


    <strong>ss</strong>


    Alchemist-Errant


    <strong>Attributes</strong>


    Health 25


    Impact 7


    Mana 33


    Perception 19


    Stamina 30


    <strong>Skills</strong>


    <strong>Alchemical</strong>


    Alchemy 91, Alchemical Analysis 34, Refining 35, Alchemical Dismantling 42, Sappers Apparatus 54


    (Purify: 75)


    <strong>Magical</strong>


    Basic Thermokinesis 28, Feys Caress 36, Ritual Intuition 31, Mana Infusion 88


    Flight 44, (Basic Mana Sense: 82), (Basic Mana Maniption: 9)


    <strong>Physical</strong>


    Overcharge 26, Longstrider 35, Fresh Air 34


    (Athletics: 81), (Breathing: 76), (Flexibility: 74), (Nutrition: 73), (Packing: 92), (Seeing: 72), (Sleeping: 73), (Survival: 76), (Walking: 74)


    <strong>Mental</strong>


    Numeracy 42, Prototyping 34, Anatomy 43, Polyglot: 68, Memory 64


    (Language: 36), (Mathematics: 74), (Research: 50), (Visualization: 80)


    <strong>Combat</strong>


    Bomb Throwing 51, Adaptive Defense 32


    (Throwing Weapons: 48)


    <strong>Utility</strong>


    Outsider''s Almanac 134, Watchful Rest 31, Skillful Assessment 41, Arcadian Elixir 32, Improbable Arsenal 33


    (Firestarting: 94), (Improvisation: 14), (Status: 22), (Identify: 80), (First Aid: 82), (Harvesting: 76), (Construction: 77)


    <strong>Paths</strong>


    <strong>Skill Points: 885</strong>


    <strong>Combat</strong>


    Assassin 0/60, Bomber 0/60, Giant yer 0/60, Heedless Hunter 0/60, Hunter 0/30, Killer 0/30, Titan yer 0/90, Warrior 0/60, Way of the Empty Hand 0/60, Trapper 0/60,


    <strong>Alchemy</strong>


    Alchemical Medic 0/60, Demolitionist 0/60, Makeshift Alchemist 0/60, Potioneer 0/60, Practical Alchemist 0/60, Mystic Alchemist 0/90,


    <strong>Science</strong>


    Chemist 0/60, Experimenter 0/60, Researcher 0/60, Purifier 0/30, Scientific Revolutionary 0/90, Scientist 0/60, Engineer 0/60, Physicist 0/60, Mathematician 0/60, Material Scientist 0/60


    <strong>Magic</strong>


    Aerialist 0/60, Fey Friend 0/60, Feybound 0/60, Feycaller 0/60, Mage 0/60, Magical Gardener 0/60, Micro-Biomancer 0/90, Primal Constructor 0/90, Primal Ritualist 0/90, Realm Traveler 0/120, Skilled Arcanist 0/60, Fey Supplicant 0/60, Feykind 0/90, Attuner 0/30,


    <strong>Mental</strong>


    Dedicated Student 0/60, Lecturer 0/30, Schr 0/60, Unbowed 0/90, Canny 0/60, Steady Mind 0/60, Mentalist 0/60,


    <strong>System</strong>


    Almanac Administrator 0/60, Forerunner 0/60, Outsiders Almanac Specialist 0/90, Pioneer 0/60, Skill Researcher 0/60, System Schr 0/60,


    <strong>Trophy</strong>


    ckstone Conqueror 0/60, Deepwoods Panther-Hunter 0/60, Stonehide Vanquisher 0/60, Titan Spider Hunter 0/60


    <strong>Career</strong>


    Brickmaker 0/30, Butcher 0/30, Diver 0/30, Gardener 0/30, Lumberjack 0/60, Merchant 0/30, Potter 0/30, Scribe 0/30, Woodsman 0/30,


    <strong>Physical</strong>


    Ascetic 0/60, Daredevil 0/60, Physical Alchemist 0/90, Survivor 0/60, Physical Laborer 0/30,


    <strong>Traveling</strong>


    Escapee 0/30, Exile 0/30, Traveler 0/30, World Traveler 0/60


    <strong>Medical</strong>


    Field Medic 0/60, Medic 0/30, Steadfast Medic 0/60, Medical Lecturer 0/60


    <strong>Misc</strong>


    Arsonist 0/60, Autopyromaniac 0/60, Burr 0/60, Child 0/12, Expert 0/60, Imperial Ally 0/60, Novice 0/12, Pyromaniac 0/30, Razer of the Ruined Tower 0/60, Rebel 0/30, ve 0/12, Trainee 0/60, Traitor 0/60, Brushed by Power 0/60, Lirasian Citizen 0/30, Royal Advisor 0/60, Favored by Power 0/90, Insomniac 0/30, Sleepless Disciple 0/60


    <strong>Completed Paths</strong>


    CharLimitCanttalkmuchNocluewhathappenedDidmybesttohelpyouli, Mage, Skilled Arcanist, Physical Alchemist, Bomber, Linguist, Beginner, Warrior, Path Less Traveled, Athlete, Scout, Unkible, Superior Alchemist, Adventurer, Explorer, Outsider, Skill Researcher, Wanderer,<strong></strong>Alchemical Warrior, Novice Pyromancer, Novice Ritualist, Alchemist, Physicist, Engineer, Physical Arcanist, Biologist, Practical Alchemist, Fey Scion, Feytouched