I was definitely interested in taking another magical skill considering the power of [Geomancy] and [Floramancy] however I hadn't really touched my ability of [Floramancy] quite yet. I knew what I could do with it but in the end I was leaving wildly underdeveloped.
If I could do similar things that I could with [Geomancy] just what could I do? I could create a domain skill, maybe imbue the nature of paradox into plants? Hell, if I could somehow impart the abilities of the Wanderer Mushroom upon other plants I could create an arsenal of plants that I could carry around me with various effects. Besides I had so many different things to pick from that adding another magical skill while cool would be adding to something I was oversaturated in and as proven by this layer of the Tutorial something I was over relying on.
So I changed the filters and I noticed a slider with one side labeled [Passive] and the other [Active]. Hmm, right now it was on [Passive] so pressing the active and then removing all other filters I saw a long lists of extremely specific skills. Scanning through the various blurbs about them I switched back to [Passive] and I began to see the difference.
From what I could tell [Passive] skills were about overarching talents and abilities. Such things like schools of magic or martial arts.
[Active] skills were singular actions, a sword thrust a shield parry. Although looking at them closer I could see that it was moreso a series of actions for one outcome. Their skills such as [Ice-Fire Blast] which I could have picked but it had Prerequisite [Passive Skills] of [Pyromancy] and [Cryomancy] which I saw was common for [Active] Skills. In fact It seems like Domain skills were also classified as [Active] skills although I didn't see one for either [Geomancy] or [Floramancy].
I decided to peruse the sword based [Active] skills which didn't have a Prerequisite [Passive] Skill requirement although plenty still did although the skills required seemed to different Swordman Traditions that were unfamiliar to me.
...
[Blade Charge of Earth]
Epic Active Skills
You are now able to charge forward into a singular strike imbued with Earth Mana making your weapon heavier and sturdier.
Prerequisite Skill(s): [Geomancy]
Associated Weapon: Bladed Thrust Weapons*
*This Skill will only work when used with this classification of Weapon.
...
[Nature's Riposte]
Epic Active Skill
After a successful parry of an Opponents attack you can Temporarily summon roots from the ground of their feet and hold them in place before Striking. Increase in Damage on successful hit and Ignore any armor made of forged metal.
Prerequisite Skill(s): [Floramancy]
Associated Weapon: Thrust Weapons*
*This Skill will only work when used with this classification of Weapon.
...
Their were several more, some allowed me to connect to either Noble or Lux and draw upon their other Planar energies. Some where completely mundane, as in they didn't utilize magic. Although they seemed to a step weaker then their magical counterpart. However after reviewing them I had decided to pick [Nature's Riposte] due to its ability to ignore forged metal armor. As I was reasonably confident on figuring the other skills out now that I knew they existed.
Stolen novel; please report.
As I selected the skill I waited and then I felt my body shift and soon I was in a familiar forest. The forest were I had battled the knights to gain [Flow of Combat]. The familar evergreen pines that rose from the ground and into the vault of the sky like sentinels of nature.
Standing before me was the Knight wielding his warhammer his spear-wielding compatriot was nowhere to be seen
"Scion, the system has seen to you returning for tutelage" the Knight Spoke even after all my gains of power I still felt weak compared to the knight before me.
"The System has granted me skills without sending me here, why now does it send me to this forest, hells what is this forest?" I asked hoping for an answer to my question.
"Hmm, it is because [Active] skills are fundamentally different then their [Passive] counterparts, a [Passive] skill is slow mastery of a million different strikes, an [Active] skill is the mastery of a single strike, a single action, it cannot be granted, sure the System could put it on your Status but it be ornamental, a pale imitation, as for your questions about where you are I'm afraid all I can tell you is that you are not in a forest, but rather a garden of sorts and that is all I can tell you, Scion" the Knight explained and I kinda understood but in truth I would have to experience the difference to understand it. However the fact that this was garden caused more questions then it answered. My thoughts were interrupted by the Knight Continuing.
"Now Young Scion, battle me, it is only through battle that you might obtain mastery, and be not afraid death holds no dominion, so come forth to claim your prize of your first [Active] skill" the Knight stated as he flourished his hammer. In my hands I held my Sword and my Shield although I was bereft of my armor and in its stead a rough sewn T-shirt.
Placing my shield in front of me and angled my sword steady I readied. Keeping in mind for a Riposte I needed my opponent to strike at which point I would have to parry with my shield and strike with my sword. At the same time I would have to activate [Floramancy] and hold the Knight captive.
The Knight burst into motion his grim-faced Warhammer coming down seeking my death. I went to bat it aside with my shield when the simple force of the strike sent stumbling off to the side and darkness came as another strike of crushing pain and I found myself facing the Knight again. He said nothing before moving into his attack, this time I tired to be prepared for his attack and was still woefully unprepared.
Once again I saw darkness before I stood before the knight.
...
Seventeen, Is the number of times it took before I finally survived his first blow and as I tried to push back in order to disorient him, although my shock of surviving the initial blow meant that my attempt at a parry was laughable and soon I was killed.
...
Forty-three, tries with me sometimes getting slimed by the initial blow, before I parried causing the Knight to be pushed from us guard. Following up with a sword thrust I tried to tap into [Floramancy] and yet the distraction caused me to miss my opponents counterattack.
...
Ninety-seven times I have died although I didn't feel all of the pain of death it was still a horrific time, zero out of ten would not recommend. However I felt in my bones this time I would succeed, I slid into my guard and as the Knight went to attack at the last moment I surged forward meeting and pushing his attack causing him to stumble. Pushing off with my right foot I entered into a thrust simultaneously I pushed my Mana into the earth commanding the roots rise and entrap my opponent before Striking him with my sword. It broke through his armor and as he died darkness descended and then I found my self standing before him again.
"Good, you've got the basics down, now you to need to master the concepts, imbue your intent into your actions" the Knight stated before me.
"How do I do that, imbue my intent into my actions, cause don't I already do that?" I asked confounded.
"No, think of speaking when you speak your making sounds to communicate a concept to another, now so that but instead of words it's your body and your weapon, and instead of communicating to another your communicating with reality" the Knight explained and I nodded sliding into the action. This time instead of death every time I was about to strike about to deliver my riposte I pulled back and me my opponent returned to our starting positions.
The skill description stated that my blow would deal more damage and it would ignore Forged metal armor, but why? Why Forged metal armor, why so specific? Dwelling on it I felt a memory it was hazy from the depths of my childhood. It was story about fairies, about how iron hurt them because it was unnatural. I didn't remember who told me the story nor how old I was when I was told but I used it as my spark so to speak.
This time as I thrust forward I tried to speak to Reality to guide the hatred of that idea of forged metal being unnatural. As I struck I felt the metal give way for but a moment and my sword glided unimpeded. As I found myself at across from the Knight I could the malicious happiness.
"Good! Good Young Scion, you catch to it like fish to water and a Drunkard to Booze, so much better then ?Ωμ√ §|‰||π?§" the Knights last bit was garbled and he seemed to spas for moment.
"Sorry, I misspoke passions of an old man seeing gifted youth mistress, let's continue" the Knight seemed to apologize to something before he returned his attention back to me.
