Monroe-Chapter Three Hundred and Forty-One. Coming together.

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Bob summoned out his UtahRaptor, and was greeted by a System window.

User's Summon Mana-Infused Creature Spell has reached it's first Threshold! User has reached their first personal Threshold and begun their path! User may now define a path for the Creature(s) summoned by their spell. Available paths are listed below.

"See, I thought that was something that would show up when the spell hit level eight," Bob grumbled.

'I believe the logic is that your summoned monsters can't have a path until you have one yourself,' Trebor replied.

Path of the Defender.

This path has been modified due to the user's Path of the Consummate Summoner.

The Path of Defender allocates the Summoned Creature(s) attributes each level according to the following pattern: 4 in Endurance, 2 in Strength, 2 in Coordination.

The Path of the Defender grants the Natural Attack School, with the skills Kick and Bite, as well as the Natural Armor School, with the skill Armored Hide. The Defensive skill Dodge is also provided.

Special Skill 'Bulwark' granted. This skill increases the value of the Summoned Creature(s) armor by 1% for each Threshold the User has reached in the Summoning School, or a Spell within it.

Path of the Skirmisher.

This path has been modified due to the user's Path of the Consummate Summoner.

The Path of Skirmisher allocates the Summoned Creature(s) attributes each level according to the following pattern: 2 in Endurance, 3 in Strength, 3 in Coordination.

The Path of the Skirmisher grants the Natural Attack School, with the skills Kick and Bite, as well as the Natural Armor School, with the skill Armored Hide. The Defensive skill Dodge is also provided.

Special Skill 'Shred' granted. This skill increases the value of the Summoned Creature(s) attacks by 1% for each Threshold the User has reached in the Summoning School, or a Spell within it.

Path of the Ambusher.

This path has been modified due to the user's Path of the Consummate Summoner.

The Path of Ambusher allocates the Summoned Creature(s) attributes each level according to the following pattern: 1 in Endurance, 3 in Strength, 4 in Coordination.

The Path of the Ambusher grants the Natural Attack School, with the skills Kick and Bite, as well as the Natural Armor School, with the skill Armored Hide. The Stealth skill is also provided.

Special Skill 'Ambush' granted. This skill increases the value of the Summoned Creature(s) attack by 2% for each Threshold the User has reached in the Summoning School, or a Spell within it, when striking a target that is unable to defend itself.

"Ok," Bob said thoughtfully.

He'd been summoning monsters for a couple of years now, and he'd never been able to select any sort of Path for them. They pretty much came out with whatever the System decided they should have. Before he'd reincarnated, Jake had his attributes allocated in the same pattern as the Skirmisher, with the same skills, although the 'Shred' skill, along with the other special skills, was new.

Still, the paths made sense in the context of his UtahRaptor.

He couldn't help but wonder, though.

Bob had summoned the occasional T-Rex or Triceratops, but he'd avoided summoning anything Humanoid, even though he'd been able to. When it came to summoning a monster to fight for him, Jake pretty well filled all his needs. If the System was going to hand out paths, complete with skills, it might not be a bad idea to branch out a little.

He leaned back against the soft, warm wall of kitty, and tapped his armband. He needed to do a little research.

"There haven't been many monsters that cast spells, not really," Bob muttered.

'That would be because the majority of them haven't been sapient, which is regarded as the key for doing so. You might be better off selecting a monster that has an innate ability. It won't have the versatility of a spellcaster, but it will provide the range advantage you're looking for,' Trebor replied.

Bob nodded reluctantly. There was a Summon Mana-Infused Sapient Being spell within the summoning School, but it had always struck him as wrong, somehow. The act of bringing a sapient being into the world, knowing that it would last only as long as you provided it with mana, and that its time would be short, and filled with violence and pain, just didn't sit right with him. Jake came into the world as a furious murder machine with an empty belly and an intense desire to fill it with living flesh, so pointing him in the right direction didn't carry the same sort of moral weight.

"I suppose the lavabears would work," Bob sighed.

'Most things, even monsters, try to avoid being set on fire,' Trebor agreed.

"They're so damn big, though," Bob grumbled.

'You could certainly attempt to base them off something a bit smaller, such as a black bear, rather than the close cousin of the cave bear you fought on the twenty-sixth floor of the Dungeon in Harbordeep,' Trebor suggested.

Summon Mana-Infused Creature has been used to summon a creature with an innate ability. Additional path available for this Creature.

Path of the Blaster.

This path has been modified due to the user's Path of the Consummate Summoner.

The Path of Blaster allocates the Summoned Creature(s) attributes each level according to the following pattern: 1 in Endurance, 3 in Intelligence, 4 in Wisdom.

The Path of the Blaster grants the Natural Attack School, with the skills Kick and Bite, as well as the Natural Armor School, with the skill Armored Hide.

The Path of the Blaster grants the Innate Ability to utilize a single Spell. This spell functions as any normal spell would, but it falls under the School of Natural Attack.

Special Skill 'Natural Focus' granted. This skill allows the summoned creature to use its entire body as a focus for its natural casting, providing a bonus equivalent to that of a traditional spell caster using a full length focus.

Nodding to himself, stood up and stretched. He was tempted to start summoning his monsters and try out different combinations, but he knew his friends were expecting to see him sooner rather than later.

"He's alive," Eli announced as Bob entered the room.

"You really should let us know if you're going to take twice as long as usual to in the Dungeon," Bailli said. "I know we all spend a little extra time in there, enjoying the sunshine, but we were starting to worry."

"Sorry about that," Bob said sheepishly. "I did spend a bit of time enjoying the day with Monroe, and then we both took our paths."

Eli rubbed his hands together gleefully. "Show us his path," he grinned.

"You mean my path?" Bob asked.

"No, we know you'll get some sort of summoning path," Harv shook his head. "We've got a few crystals riding on what Monroe is going to get."

Bob looked at Monroe, who was currently the size of a mountain lion. The big Maine coon had hopped up onto one of the tier eight sized chairs, and was enthusiastically kneading it to confirm the appropriate level of comfort.

"He did get a pretty awesome path," Bob admitted, displaying the System window for the group to inspect.

"I think your cat might have gotten a better path than me," Eli grumbled after a moment.

"So, what's the process for venerating Monroe again?" Mike asked. "Because that naptime skill is broken. At cap, he'll regenerate over thirty health, mana, and stamina each minute, and while the mana and stamina aren't that impressive, the health for damn sure is."

"It'll be more than that," Bob said, "he has natural affinities, remember?"

"So closer to fifty, then," Mike mumbled.

"That's a pretty damn amazing path, he'll be able to contribute to the group," Bailli agreed. "What about yours?"

Bob showed his System screen.

"So that's how it works," Harv said thoughtfully.

"How what works?" Bob asked.

"All of our paths, as well his Divine Majesty's," he nodded toward Monroe, who had kneaded the cushion in submission and was now curled up into a large, fluffy purrball, "have seven bonuses, aside from the extra stuff added by achievements. You have eight. That confirms that the standard for paths is a number of bonuses equal to your tier."

"Can we go back to that bit about veneration? Because one point for a level eight Summon Mana Infused Object spell, cast with your spellcasting value, is one hell of a bargain." Mike grinned. "I don't need the mana sight or the mana manipulation, but snagging the biggest cheat spell in the System for practically nothing?"

"Eddi is going to go insane when he finds out about the Eternal Servant," Eli predicted. "He ended up with some serious bonuses to his T-Rex, but he's going to want to switch to this path when he tiers up to eight."

"I'm not sure if he can," Bob admitted, "it's the customized path. The System said it wouldn't show up in the list of available paths."

"That's a good point," Bailli said slowly. "I'd assumed it meant that I wouldn't be offered it again, but that wasn't the wording, was it?"

"It said if you didn't take the path it wouldn't show up on the list, and you had to reject it to see the list," Harv said, "but you accepted it, so doesn't that mean it'll be on the list now?"

'Trebor? Any ideas here?' Bob mentally projected.

'I'm not sure,' Trebor replied, 'I'm sorry, being restricted is definitely impacting my ability to help.'

"We'll just have to wait and see," Bob said. "Even without the bonuses from my achievements, it's a really fantastic path for someone who is truly dedicated to summoning."

"I think that Eddi and Amanda are both happy with their paths," Bailli said. "I know I'm happy with mine."

Path of the Storm's Wrath.

Throughout multiple reincarnations, this user has demonstrated a single-minded focus on dispersing manifestations with a Lightning Blast. Not satisfied with a simple or single bolt, the user has modified her Lightning Blast with the Barrage, Effect Over Time, Storm, Chain, and Area of Effect skills. She has even delved into ritual magic for the sole purpose of delivering the most devastating Lightning Blast possible. f𝐫e𝚎we𝚋n𝐨𝘃el.𝗰𝗼𝐦

This Path has been enhanced, due to the user's achievements.

The Path of the Storm's Wrath provides the following benefits.

Each Threshold reached in the Conjuration School, or a Spell within it, increases the damage dealt by any Lightning Spells or Skills by 1%.

Each Threshold reached in the Conjuration School, or a Spell within it, decreases the damage taken by any Lightning Spells or Skills by 1%.

Each Threshold reached in the Conjuration School, or a Spell within it, reduces the total resources needed to cast any Lightning spell or skill by 1%.

Each Threshold reached in the Conjuration School, or a Spell within it, reduces the penalty from Effect Over Time, Barrage, Chain, Area of Effect, and Ritual magic, when applied to any Lightning Spell or Skill by 1%.

Special skill 'The Storm Builds' granted. Each time the user utilizes a Spell or Skill that deals damage to a manifestation, the damage increases by 1%. This effect stacks, up to a maximum of 49%. If the user goes seven seconds without utilizing a Spell or Skill that deals damage to a manifestation, the effect resets.

Special skill 'Endless Storm' granted. Each time the user utilizes a Spell or Skill that deals damage to a manifestation, the resources needed for the next Spell or Skill are reduced by 1%. This effect stacks, up to a maximum of 49%. If the user goes seven seconds without utilizing a Spell or Skill that deals damage to a manifestation, the effect resets.

Special skill 'Body of the Storm' granted. The user is granted the Elemental Body : Storm skill. The user may expend seven mana to switch between forms. The Elemental Body : Storm skill requires the user to be in contact with a volume of air equal to the user's mass. The user gains the ability to fly through the air at a speed determined by their casting value for Lightning based spells or skills.

Additional Bonuses, granted by achievements.

Special Skill 'One for All' granted. The user has demonstrated steadfast loyalty to the few who have earned her trust. By reserving seven mana per person, she is able to share her Body of the Storm skill with others.

"Damn," Bob muttered.

Bailli smiled. "More damage, less mana needed, alongside more damage and less mana needed," she said happily. "Thanks to my double Affinities, my Lightning Blast spell has a maximum level of one hundred and fifty-two, which is twenty-one thresholds. I'm going to be dealing real damage again," she sighed.

"You're going to be a real force multiplier during waves," Mike agreed. "Your stacking damage and cost reduction buffs won't ever go away."

"I'm very happy with my path," Bailli agreed.

"We know," Eli assured her with a grin.

"I'm alright with mine, but it's pretty clear that focusing on one thing lets the System know what you're looking for," Mike sighed before projecting his System screen.

Path of the Vigilant Beacon.

This user has dedicated their entire life to the protection of others. They have taken multiple paths to do so, but their intention was always the same.

This Path has been enhanced, due to the user's achievements.

The Path of the Vigilant Beacon provides the following benefits.

Each Threshold reached in the Parry Skill, the Armor School, or any Skills within it, decreases the damage received from manifestations by 1%.

Each Threshold reached in the Parry Skill, the Armor School, or any Skills within it, decreases the resources required by 1%.

Each Threshold reached in the Parry Skill, the Armor School, or any Skills within it, increases the effectiveness of the Beacon effect of the Matrix Manipulation Skill.

Special Skill 'Painful Experience' granted. The user has been hit enough times to know how to get through armor. Each Threshold reached in the Parry Skill, the Armor School, or any Skills within it, increases damage dealt by 1%.

Special Skill 'Get Away from my Friend' granted. The user may expend seven mana or stamina to interpose himself between a group member and an incoming strike or spell effect. This is in place of the user's attack. The maximum range for this skill is equal to each Threshold reached in the Parry Skill, the Armor School, or any Skills within it, multiplied by the user's tier in feet.

Special Skill 'We're in this together' granted. The user gains a bonus to all skills and spells equal to one percent for each party member within range. The maximum range for this skill is equal to each Threshold reached in the Parry Skill, the Armor School, or any Skills within it, multiplied by the user's tier in feet.

Special Skill 'You'll have to go through me' granted. The user is considered to be rooted, providing a multiplier equal to their tier when attempting to resist being moved by a manifestation. When this effect is active, the user cannot move their feet. User gains an additional bonus to their natural armor equal to their tier squared.

Additional Bonuses, granted by achievements.

Special Skill 'Brotherhood' has been granted. User has sworn an oath to his comrades in arms, and has never forsaken it. The user may expend seven mana or stamina to determine the direction and rough distance between the user and his comrades. The maximum range for this skill is equal to each Threshold reached in the Parry Skill, the Armor School, or any Skills within it, multiplied by the user's tier in miles.

"You took the Parry skill as an Enduring skill, right?" Bob asked.

"Also used a Parry Affinity Crystal," Mike agreed.

"That's a lot of damage reduction," Bob said.

"No complaints here," Mike replied. "Jessica does a great job of healing, but getting cut, stabbed, bludgeoned, frozen, or set on fire still hurts."