349. Ber’s Corrupted Skills

LEVEL : 200     New Moon
Galvanized Claw
Soul Rank: Incandescent | Atelier: Nil

NAME : Ber     HP : 120,000     MP : 30,000     AGI : 65     RESIST : 200
AGE : 43     ATT : 4,500     MAG ATT : 4,500     O : 200     D : 150
ORIGIN : Demi-Human (Wolf)     ATT DEF : 2,500     MAG DEF : 2,500     S : 50     E : 210

It was easy to tell how much of a powerhouse Ber truly was at only a single glance. Her ATT stats were possibly the highest of any Moon yet, and this didn’t take into account the stats of her Corrupted form – The Black Swan.

LEVEL : 200     < The Black Swan >     < CORRUPTED >

AFFINITY : Desire

NAME : Ber     HP : 320,000     MP : 60,000     AGI : 75     RESIST : 700
AGE : 43     ATT : 7,500     MAG ATT : 6,500     O : 200     D : 150
ORIGIN : Trauma     ATT DEF : 5,000     MAG DEF : 5,000     S : 50     E : 210

Her stats were significantly higher from when she was just the ‘Electric Claw’. Ber was already strong then, but now she was nigh unstoppable, as far as Moons could go. Eternal Night Corrupted could be tackled head on solo with minimal risk.

However, as strong as Ber was, it did not change the monstrous power of the Woe of the Fallen Star Corrupted. Never mind Apocalypse… and dare they even conceive of one ranking amongst the forsaken Paradise Lost Risk Class.

Frost gulped, her body vividly remembering the overwhelming aura of the Icon of Judgement; an entity that not even the Arbiter could hold a candle to. Amongst all the miracles of the world, the defeat of the Icon of Judgement was the most important of all.

One thing to note about Ber and Ignis – or anyone that reached either the Blessed or non-Blessed level limits, was that there was virtually no more room for further growth. Leveling up was also a gamble, for it was the Nexus that decided what Skills and Professions one received.

This was the curse of the Blessed.

A limitation that prevented them from deviating too far from what they were poised to become, rather than what they wanted to become. Still, it didn’t change the unmatched power the Blessed possessed in relation to the greater part of the world, who required complex understanding of magic whereas the Blessed could simply ‘invoke’ their gifted powers like it was just a game.

Frost wondered what prevented people from levelling further. How magical affinities were granted to begin with, and if they perhaps had any relation to the Corrupted Affinities in some capacity.

Why did this matter in the first place?

It was simple – the Corrupted Personas and Skills allowed maximum levelled individuals to soar to even greater heights. Corrupted Personas were the cheat code to bypass these limitations, and consequently, they possessed major drawbacks if handled poorly.

Otherwise known as ‘Instability’.

< Corrupted Persona Collection >

The Black Swan

CORRUPTION

< (C) Manifest Corrupted Persona >

< Is this the ‘you’ you wish to be? >

< EFFECT: Manifest a Corrupted Persona after reaching a certain State >

< (C) PASSIVE: I Wanna Be a Swan! >

< Striving to become what I desperately want. Whether I look the part doesn’t matter so long as I believe in it! >

< EFFECT: Partially manifest The Black Swan. An arm becomes a bladed wing >

< (C) ACTIVE: Futile Galvanism >

< Reverting to the claws that defined my strength >

< EFFECT: Transform a hand into a feathery claw. Deal 20,000 ATT damage >

< (C) ACTIVE: Desperate for Love >

< The only way for one to achieve what they want is to grasp it firmly with both hands! >

< EFFECT: Unleash piercing slashes from the swipe of your claws. Spawn temporary wings with clawed tips to your aid >

< (C) PASSIVE: Transpired Instincts >

< What was lost and wrapped in secrecy shall now be known >

< EFFECT: Manifest your fantasized black dress. It shall protect you so you can remain beautiful >

< (C) ACTIVE: Singing Wingslash >

< My reach must go beyond what it once was. No longer must I be stunted by Serum G >

< EFFECT: Windup your wings to create a major sweeping strike. Effective range: 100 meters | 180 degrees >

< (C) PASSIVE: Resounding Voice >

< With the fruition of my sense of self, I look to the moon and smirk as I howl in its moonlight >

< EFFECT: Your voice deals 1/10th of your MAG ATT as damage to enemies of your Flock >

< (C) UNIQUE | PASSIVE: Roost of the Knowledgeable Swan >

< Armed with this knowledge, I no longer wish to follow that paradise. I now seek to build one anew with my new flock! >

< Summon an endless barrage of Shackles Removed from your spanning wings. The world shall know that you’re finally free >

< Usable only when The Black Swan has been manifested >

As usual, the ‘effects’ of the Corrupted Skills were quite vague.

From this list only two skills could be taken at a time whenever her emotions reached a new State. The difference between her and Ignis was that Ignis could use her Corrupted Skills at any moment, whereas Ber had to fulfil an invisible emotional meter.

However, in Ignis’ case, in order to use the Iron Candle’s skills, she had to increase her emotional state. Nav speculated that there was a possibility of also manifesting it further down the line, although likely not as potent as Ber’s.

It all depended on compatibility. Whatever that actually meant. In any case, Corrupted Skills were a force to be reckoned with, and Frost believed it would be what’ll separate Moons under her command from those belonging to the Ateliers.

Indeed.

Frost considered the possibility of equipping Moons with Corrupted Personas.

There was little else to note of Ber’s stats and abilities, aside from one peculiar Ability.

< ABILITY: Unrealized >

< Is this the ideal you? >

< No known effect is derived from this Ability >

What a strange Ability…