Chapter 212

Natalie knew they would need to finish having this conversation, but while not literally melting in place like Liz, she was also fairly flustered. She happily accepted the deflection Liz had given to her. Especially since her other two skills weren’t as lewd—though every bit as exciting.

Um. Exciting? Natalie wasn’t excited that [Divine Invigoration] might have given her an excuse to get her cock inside Liz’s throat. Or even better places. If anything, all of that would only be happening out of a strict sense of professionalism.

“The second skill,” Natalie said, shifting in place in perhaps a not-so-subtle manner, a troublesome stirring between her legs appearing. “Is called [Aura of Blessed Advancement].”

And this one was rather crazy.

“It’s an aura,” Natalie said. “Not maxed out, so I can progress it, too.” [Divine Invigoration], like [Hunker Down], was a skill that came as-is—no further upgrades allowed. Probably because a ‘massive week-long single target buff’ was already ridiculous. “And I think I might have gotten it because of something that’s been worrying us.”

Classes in general morphed to their user. Skills didn’t always manifest in ways the class-bearer wanted—she wouldn’t have gotten magic as a crucial component to her kit if so—but if, for example, someone received a warrior class and only wielded axes, then it was entirely possible an axe-specific skill might come along.

“Enough prefacing,” Sofia said. “Go on, what is it?”

Natalie read the ability out:

“[Aura of Blessed Advancement],” she said. “Select up to four party members to receive amplified experience gain.”

The team digested that.

“Oh, wow,” Liz said.

“What part can be progressed?” Sofia asked. “You said it’s upgradeable?”

“Only the amount of party members,” Natalie said. She could feel the ‘stress’ on that particular part of the description. “Not how much experience is boosted by.”

“And how much is the boost?”

“Just says amplified. It’s vague.”

“Huh,” Sofia said.

Again, the cabin went briefly quiet as they considered.

“It’s completely busted,” Jordan said. “A team-wide experience boost? Are you kidding me?”

“I thought a week-long massive stat bonus was already a ridiculous ability,” Liz said, shaking her head. “How come your buffs are better than mine? I’m the healer!”

“She is a Paladin,” Jordan said. “Not surprising she’s getting more team-oriented skills. Her level two seemed to be her ‘self-combat’ upgrade. Now level three is more focused on the supportive part of her class.”

“Can it be [Empowered]?” Ana asked.

“Oh,” Natalie said. “That’s a great question. It should. [Empower] says it works with both actives and auras, just not passives. But how would that work? Empowering wastes carnal energy. So would I have to constantly be draining it?”

“Siphoning your own progression, effectively, to boost ours?” Jordan said.

“I’d do it,” Natalie said instantly. “I’m just wondering if it’s sustainable.”

“You should think about that a little more carefully,” Liz said. “Those are your points. You can’t neglect upgrading your other skills just to help us.”

“She’s right,” Sofia said. “We’re all responsible for our own progression.”

The responses only further confirmed Natalie’s decision.

“Nah,” Natalie said. “Like I said, I’ll do it. We just need to see how it works.”

“Natalie—” Sofia started.

“They’re my points, right?” Natalie interjected before she could.

“Yes, but—”

“So I’ll do what I want with them. And what I want is to help you four.”

Sofia opened her mouth, but then blushed and closed it. She looked away. “Always so stubborn,” she grumbled.

“Malice might be enough to keep us equal in level,” Ana said. “So don’t burn through the resource too fast. You’ll want to upgrade [Empower] as well, if that’s your plan, right? What’s it at?”

“Progression two. So, a two-times multiplier.”

And Ana was right. If she were to start making heavier use of [Empower], then upgrading it beforehand would make sense. Upgrading [Aura of Blessed Advancement] itself didn’t, since she had four party members—which was the max the skill allowed. She didn’t think Malice would count as a valid target, or if it even worked, whether it would transfer her bonus experience to the summoner in the first place.