Chapter 279: Hindsight


    Derek awaited the notification he knew he was about to receive with much anticipation. This was actually the first time he wasnt the person to initiate thepletion of a dungeon well, a trial dungeon, but a dungeon nheless. So, he wasnt sure about the prompts he would be getting from just being a member, and he had never questioned Thomas or any of the rest of his group that he speed ran through dungeons.


    Still, he didnt have to wait long to find out, as a notification simr to one he had seen so many times before shed in front of his eyes.


    Trial Complete


    Assigning Rewards


    Congrattions, you have received Skill Scroll: Dragon Fire


    Instantly, a scroll appeared in his hand, and he examined it.


    Skill Scroll: Dragon Fire


    Upon activation, the user will learn the magical skill, Dragon Fire. As this is a skill from a scroll, no skill points are required and it will not be forgotten upon ss change.


    He looked around to see that everyone else was holding a scroll simr to his, though he didnt know what skills they had received. To bepletely honest, he was let down by the reward.


    He was sure that a skill based on a legendary dragon would be amazing, and something almost anyone else would jump for joy at receiving, but to him, he just didnt have any interest in learning a fire-based skill.


    Speaking of people jumping for joy at receiving a skill. Everyone else was giddy as they looked over the scrolls they received.


    Did you all get dragon rted skill scrolls? Derek asked, causing everyone to shift their attention away from their rewards. Everyone looked at each other before nodding.


    <em>If all the skills are different, what if we took them all and gave them to one low-level person? Would they unlock some legendary ss as their first ss? What kind of monster could we create? </em>Those thoughts were the first things that went through Dereks mind after he got over his disappointment with his personal reward.


    So, he decided to voice his idea. Hey, if webine the scrolls and giv- He stopped all the sudden as Averys scroll unfurled and then crumbled right in front of their eyes. The man had barely waited a few seconds before learning his new skill.


    Derek was still looking at him with his mouth open.


    What? Avery asked. There is no chance in hell that Im giving this away. With that, a grayish-silver pair of dragon wings sprouted from the archers back, and with one thrust, he was hovering off the ground. A flight skill that takes stamina, Avery said. I love the Great System!


    The one thing Derek had heard Averyin about over and over while he had known him was his ability to fly or battle in the air, or in Averys case, hisck of that ability. It seemed the system had taken notice of that and had not only allowed him to contract with a deadly flying beast, but had also given him the only skill he really wanted as a reward.


    Derek felt cheated yet again. First, he didnt get nearly as many skills as others did when he upgraded his ss. Sure, his skills were powerful, but hed seen others with extremely powerful skills as well. Then there were the rewards he received frompleting dungeons. They always seemed to be disappointing and not something he ever really wanted. Sure, Cure Toxin was nice to have and may have even saved him once, but it really didnt add anything to his build.


    Honestly, he was starting to think that the <em>Great System </em>had a problem with either him or the element he was proficient in. Surely the system could have given him more than two skills at an upgrade, or at least a good skill reward from the trial.


    Hell, he would have loved those wings. He already had Void Step, but they drew on his mana pool, while the skill Avery had just received took stamina. And Derek had a ton of stamina. It also looked like the wings were going to be much faster than his own Void Steps.


    Without letting any of this thought leave his mouth, he moved on to the other three. Maybe they would be more approachable to his idea. But before he even spoke again, the scrolls in all three peoples hands unraveled and disintegrated in front of his eyes. He was stunned.


    Edgar looked at Derek with a small amount of guilt in his eyes. It was a good n, the prince said.


    I didnt even get to tell you my n, Derek replied.


    You wanted to give the skill scrolls to someone without a ss and see what kind of ss they would receive, right? Edgar asked.


    Derek sighed and nodded. Thats what I was thinking. Could have made for a very powerful ally. Especially for your family, Derek said. And it would have been a fun experiment to do. Yeah, that was his real thought. He wanted to experiment more with the ss system from the Great System. The more he learned about it, the better.


    I had the same thought too, initially, Edgar replied. But, like Avery said, the skill I received was too good to pass up. Im sure its the same for everybody. The prince looked around and both Tara and Jasper nodded excitably.


    Yes, Derek was being selfish. If he would have gotten a skill he actually wanted, he would have done the same as the others. He may have even learned the skill faster than Avery had. Especially with how starved for skills he was.


    So, are you going to show me what you got? Derek asked. He was over it. The system didnt like him and his cheat ss and stats. There was nothing he could do about it.


    Edgar smiled, then scales began forming on his body, covering him from head to toe. Dragon Scale Armor, he exined. Increases my physical defense by loads.


    <em>Another skill I would have killed for, </em>Derek thought. More defense on top of his already massive defense would have made him even more indestructible. He turned his head toward Tara with a questioning look, and she hesitated. Its fine, he said. If you dont want to tell us your skill, you dont have to. Nobodys going to think anything of it.


    After a short time, the elven woman shrugged and the same thing that happened to Edgar happened to her. Only, instead of scales covering her body, it was a leather-like skin, almost reptilian.


    Dragon Skin, she said. Defense against both magic and physical attacks. Though I suspect the princes skill will have a much higher defense against physical attacks than mine does.


    Everyone nodded. Support sses were known for being squishy. Tara probably had more defense against magic than she did physical attacks, but the skill she got would still serve her fine. It was also another skill that would have been perfect for Dereks ss.


    Finally, they all looked at Jasper.


    I didnt get anything as shy as all of you, the healer said. I got Dragons Regeneration. Passively increases my health, stamina, and mana regeneration.


    <em>Dammit! Another skill great skill. </em>His group was four for four on skills he would have loved to have received. <em>Maybe I got this skill because I need more offense? Better attacks? </em>He thought, but soon tossed that idea away. It would have been great if his void element could havebined with the skill, but he had already tested that with Chain Lightning.


    Plus, he still had a massive amount of stat points to obtain before he hit max level, and by his calctions, he was going to have stat points left over by the time he was maxed out. Hisck of offense was a problem that would be solved very soon, and easily.


    What did you get? Edgar asked. Why havent you used the scroll?


    Dragon Fire Derek muttered.


    And you dont want it? Edgar asked. From experience, I know that dragon mes arent anything to scoff at. He patted Blitz, who was standing patiently beside them all. The wyvern had been a fire type wyvern before they bonded.


    Just isnt the sort of skill I would usually use, Derek said. He also preferred close ranged physical attacks. And it looked like Dragon Fire was more of a mid to long ranged magical attack.


    So, what are you going to do with it? Edgar asked with a glint of greed in his eyes.


    Im sure I can think of something. Didnt you already get enough out of this? Derek said.


    Says the person with a stable full of dragonkin squirreled away. Edgar rolled his eyes and everyone chuckled.


    True, but you all profit from that as well. Derek smiled. But there are still five trials and whatever that big one at the end is, so theres still a chance for a good reward. Im hopeful.


    Damn right! Avery sounded out as he whooshed down andnded in the middle of the group. No point inining. We still have an entire Trial Raid Dungeon full of rewards to plunder. This is the best vacation ever!


    Derek couldnt help but break down and beginughing along with everyone else as he saw the crazy look in Averys eyes. The man had gotten a good fight, a goodpanion, and a good reward, and he wanted more. Who could me him? Someone of his nature shouldnt be cooped up doing business all day long. He needed to let loose.


    Well is there anything else we need to do here? Derek asked.


    I dont think so, Edgar looked around and nobody spoke up. We have two hours to leave the trial.


    Derek nodded. In that case. He pulled out five of Silvis prepared meals from his storage bracelet and handed them around. Might as well fuel up before heading out.


    Everyone was thankful for the food, and they all sat down to eat while talking about the trial. Avery recounted what it was like to fly with his new skill, and the way he described soaring and gliding among the clouds with child-like enthusiasm was something to behold.


    Edgar agreed with everything Avery said and told them all about how he flew away from the capital and stayed away for almost two months testing his flying skill once he got it. Flying in the sky just seemed more magic to Derek than skipping along in the air. Which was basically what he did with his Void Step.


    Before long, they finished their meals, and it was time to go. They all stood, and Edgar reached out and ced his hand on the trial orb. They were then epassed by a blinding sh, and when Derek opened his eyes once again, they were standing around the trial orbs in the dungeon.


    They were standing around the trial orbs, and everyone else was running around, yelling and preparing for battle. Derek got in a fighting stance and looked for an enemy, then he heard someone scream something about a dragon. Finally, he put two and two together and looked over at Edgar, who had a slightly embarrassed look on his face.


    Maybe we should have thought about how to introduce our newpanions before we came back? Edgar muttered.


    Hindsight, Derek said.