“You agreed to what?” The squad asked in unison, lightning cracking as they gawked.
“Nothing crazy, we just need to discover a new Tier 4 skill in the next 5 years.” Utarou explained non-chalantly.
“Tier 4 skills don’t exist! We need to evacuate everyone now! If we keep running we can make it somewhere far away! A Templar who’s nearly completed the Holy Path is after us?! I can’t believe I let myself get into this mess dear god!” Henrek shouted as he paced around the base of the watch tower.
“Um, if I may interrupt. There is one Tier 4 skill, it’s the end of the Holy Path. The Skill known as Perfection.” Vicar John explained as calmly as he could.
“Oh great! Great! The end of the Holy Path itself is where it exists. Yeah this is just great!” Henrek sat down on the nearby bench, joined by Hope who comforted him.
“Not to agree with the sissy there but’cha better got a better plan than hope’n for the best. I ain’t trustin’ these church fellas further than I can throw em.” May snarled, glaring at Vicar John with contempt.
“And I’ll throw you far if you try anythin’ on my boy.” Barney growled.
“I understand. I have been given… strange orders regardless.” Vicar John sighed. He’d been hired to conduct a form of heresy against the current Church leadership, though it was on behalf of someone on the verge of completing the Holy Path and underneath a Blessed Being.
Needless to say, it was conflicting given the Avoisan Church worshipped the skill tree and its Holy Path.
“Utarou, I think you can do it…” Hope added softly.
“See! Finally some optimism!” Utarou declared, turning to look at Hope, who had tears streaming down her face and despair soaking her expression.
“I-I-I buh-believe…” Hope lied, hoping she’d start believing herself if she said it enough.
“We’re doomed, we’re all going to die…” Henrek despaired as he buried his face into his hands.
“Alright this isn’t the celebration I was hoping for… Barney let’s go get everyone back in while the storm’s quieted down a bit.” Utarou sighed.
“Aye aye boss, gotta check in on Junior.” Barney sighed, following Utarou around the hills that surrounded Dryholm, the stars in the sky lighting up their path, along with the occasional distant flash of lightning.
“You’re pretty relaxed about the situation.” Utarou noted as he walked along the path the village had made to the hideout.
“Eh, me and the folks ‘n Nihola ain’t exactly unfamiliar with bastards like that. Though you managed to piss off a pretty big fish this time, I’m surprised you’ve kept ya head still!” Barney laughed as he idly flicked through his skill tree, trying to figure out how the hell he could get a Tier 4 skill.
“Probably something to do with my skill. Whenever I get too nervous I just hear ‘perfect immortality activated’ then I can focus on the mission.” Utarou smirked.
“That bein’ them monster girls huh?” Barney sighed.
“Bingo! And besides, tier 4 skills are gonna be key to that… somehow.” Utarou pondered.
“Eh?”
“Think about it, Tier 1 is just some pretty boring stat boosts.” Utarou said, pointing at Barney’s skill Enhanced Physicality. It made him 10% Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.
“H-hey sometimes a man's gotta invest in a little boost! The wife appreciates it…” Barney justified, having clearly picked the skill for non-combat related reasons.
“Then look, when you get to Tier 2 you get stuff that’s more interesting. Conditionals and all that.” Utarou continued, pointing to Barney’s skill, Dragon Dance. It allowed Barney to activate the skill and temporarily gain up to 50% of the speed of the nearest Dragon.
“That’s true enough I suppose.” Barney nodded.
“And looky here, Henrek’s got the same one. But you guys don’t fight the same at all…” Utarou mumbled as he pointed to Barney’s Tier 3 skill, Dragon Slayer.
“Well if ya read the description, it says it improves ya technique for fightin’ any kinda dragon.” Barney explained, expanding the skill to show its description.
“And what about that one there you haven’t unlocked, that’s a Tier 3 too right?”
“Yeah, I ain’t too interested in that one…” Barney mumbled, cautiously opening it so he didn’t accidentally purchase it.
The Tier 3 Skill, Dragon Blood. Grants the user the blood and voice of Dragons.
“WHY HAVEN’T YOU SHOWN ME THIS ONE?! I COULD MAKE DRAGON GIRLS NOW!” Utarou shouted, jumping in the air.
“Yeah I was thinkin’ you’d say that. That’s why I ain’t wanted to show ya. Plus turnin’ Dragon ain’t exactly good when the wife craves dragon meat.” Barney sighed as they reached the hideout, which had been sealed shut with a large boulder.
“Oi! Duke Deranged is here and we ain’t dyin’ yet!” Barney shouted, knocking a secret code onto the boulder. The guard on the other side of the rock quickly ran further into the cave, and the sound of distant cheers could be heard as Barney prepared to push the large rock aside.
“- And just imagine their tails, would they angle up or down? And going from Dragons to Lizard, Snake, Dinosaur girls would be easy… Maybe even Harpys and other Bird Girls too…” Utarou pondered as the hiding people emerged from their cave, Julia holding baby Barney Junior coming out first.
“He’s finally settled down once you came along…” Julia whispered, incredibly weak from the journey from the village to the cave.
“Woah woah! Settle ya’self there miss, I think I should be carryin’ the both of ya’s!” Barney laughed, effortlessly picking up the bone thin woman in one arm and the child in the other.
“T-thanks… It’s the least I could do, your wife’s cooking has been helping me a lot…” Julia blushed as she was effortlessly hauled away, the rest of the village slowly making their way out while the rain was gone.
“Ah Dragon Girls… just imagine them cooking a meal with their fire breath…” Utarou imagined as the people of Dryholm walked past him.
“Why can’t Barney be the duke instead…” The villagers thought as they looked upon the pervert with disdain.