Silence hung in the air just long enough for Malan to start worrying that something was wrong, then Tanwen began to rumble faintly, the vibrations travelling up through Malan’s chair. His hands gripped at the chair arms instinctively, when a light drew his gaze down to his chest. The crystal embedded there shone violet and blue even through his clothes, and all around Malan could see the twisting trails of Celestial Energy that always ran through Tanwen intensify and pulse.
The energy flowed both into and out of him, coursing through his veins like liquid fire. He gripped tighter; the pain drawing a strained hiss from his lips, but he couldn’t bring himself to looks away from the swirling energies.
The rumbling intensified, growing into a full shaking, as though they were coming under fire, but his senses told him otherwise. His ship was shifting. Changing. They were not simple aesthetic changes either, or mere upgrades to certain parts of the ship. Some of it was being replaced entirely, entire parts gone and reconstituted into larger, or newly purposed modules.
Despite the incessant burning, Malan couldn’t keep the smile from his face. He could feel the stronger material of the hull forming around the old, the increase in power to his shields and weapons. Each new level had felt good before. The sensation of feeling stronger, more powerful was intoxicating as it was, but this was exhilarating.
Then, as quickly as it had begun, everything stopped. Silence returned. Malan let out a trembling breath and brought up his right hand, flexing it gently. His eyes picked up what nobody else’s could. A subtle lattice of Celestial Energy running throughout his skin, strengthening it. Strengthening him.
He’d been operating under the assumption that the system could improve his ship and groundsuit, and his ability to control them. Now, he realised, that had not been the complete truth. It was also improving him.
“But of course, Pilot,” Tanwen said simply, voice echoing throughout the bridge. “We are bonded. Even if we were not, if you did not also grow with me, the groundsuit and ship would grow beyond you. Your body would no longer be able to cope with the strain of piloting.”
“Are you saying my own physical fitness affects my own ability to pilot you? Groundsuit and ship?”
“Affirmative.”
Malan smiled faintly. Elena had been even more right than she could have possibly known. He shook his head and stood, eyes glancing around his bridge. The control arms still stood upon their dais in the centre of the bridge. Around them, however, the rest of the bridge had shifted. It was larger now, and several workstations flanked either side.
On the right, beside the control arms, Malan saw what he recognised as a dedicated weapons station, as well a communications station on the pilot dais’ opposite flank. Crew positions were not a total surprise, given how spacious even Tanwen’s previous form had seemed, but it was quite another to see them suddenly appear on his bridge.
He closed his eyes and felt for the rest of the ship, and started when he properly realised the extent of the change. Previously, he would have placed Tanwen as an Intercepter-class craft. Pilotable by one, perhaps two crew members. Agile, nimble and small. Now, he was at least Frigate sized. A small crew ship, that tended to have considerably more firepower and survivability. Just how much have we grown?
As if in response, his displays flickered to life, and a stream of notifications poured in.
You have chosen the Breaker Class.
Your Starbound has evolved to accommodate this choice.
You have received the following base stat bonuses:
Energetics: +30
Synergetics: +30
Cognizance: +50
Your existing skills have evolved with your class:
[Deploy Drone, Lvl. 3 → Autonomous Defence, Lv. 1]
Maximum Defenders: 1
Your drones have advanced, and can now be deployed as either sentry, assault or fortification modules that will autonomously function on your behalf, and adapt fluidly for various battlefield scenarios. All bonuses from levels achieved prior to upgrade retained, and the baseline power of this skill is adjusted for existing capability.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
[Engineer’s Gauntlets, Ranged. Lvl. 4 → Breaker Gauntlets, Pulseforge, Lv. 1]
Your tech expertise has granted your weaponry greater flexibility. Your gauntlets can now switch between different fire rates, and possess the ability to acquire various effects based on attachable modules. All bonuses from levels achieved prior to upgrade retained, and the baseline power of this skill is adjusted for existing capability.
[Engineer’s Gauntlets, Melee. Lvl. 4 → Breaker Gauntlets, Entropic Fangs, Lv. 1]
Your melee setting now creates paired blades on each hand with enhanced damage capabilities. Moreover, your gauntlets are now capable of siphoning celestial and shield energy from opponents as you land strikes. All bonuses from levels achieved prior to upgrade retained, and the baseline power of this skill is adjusted for existing capability.
[Engineer’s Gauntlets, Interface. Lvl. 6 → Breaker Gauntlets, Voidlink, Lv. 1]
Base hacking capabilities have been increased, whilst the Voidlink skill allows for tethered hacks, where a connection can be maintained over vast distances using a pair of small void portals. In ship combat, this tethered hack ability can be upgraded to enable hacking of multiple ships simultaneously. All bonuses from levels achieved prior to upgrade retained, and the baseline power of this skill is adjusted for existing capability.
Alert: New Skill Unlocked
[Battlefield Synthesis, Lvl. 1]
One man’s trash is a Breaker’s treasure. Your tech expertise makes standard battlefield debris and spent tech an untapped goldmine. This skill allows gathered or nearby resources to be synthesised into useful equipment or even structures. The higher this skill is levelled, the more recipes will be available to the Pilot.
Malan couldn’t resist a low whistle. This was far more of an upgrade than he’d been expecting. To be truthful, he’d been sold on the Breaker class the moment he’d read its description. HIs choices would define his potential. He might make the wrong ones, but he was done being steered and shepherded and manipulated.
Its abilities seemed to match that outlook perfectly. He wouldn’t be hemmed into one role—at least, not before he was sure he wanted to be. Instead, the skills he’d got allowed him an incredible amount of adaptability and flexibility. Malan knew he’d need that, if he was going to grow enough to be entirely self-reliant.
Dismissing all previous notifications, he was left with one, final update.
Starbound, Designation: Tanwen has finished evolving.
Your chosen class has granted you access to upgrade slots on your ship.
Hull: N/A
Shields: N/A
Weapons 1 [Main]: N/A
Weapons 2 [Gauntlets]: N/A
Weapons 3 [Heavy]: N/A
Engines: N/A
Cargo Space: N/A
You have an upgrade suitable for an empty slot in your inventory. View and equip now?
It took him a moment to work out how that were possible, but he quickly decided it must have been the quest reward for rescuing the children. He accepted the option to view with little or no hesitation, and immediately equipped the upgrade as there seemed to be no real downside to doing so.
Shield Upgrade [C-Tier]: Phase Modulation Array
Upgrade introduces adaptive modulation, automatically adjusting frequency of energies to counter different weapon types.
Bonuses:
+20% damage resistance
+10% energy weapon resistance, stacks with prior bonuses.
Upgrade Skill: Overcharge, Lvl 1.
Overcharging your shields can allow your shields to deflect missile barrages. Cooldown: 10 minutes. Upgrade Skills are attached to the upgrades themselves, and will be available whilst the relevant upgrade is equipped.
Finally done with the notifications, Malan stood and stretched as he looked over his status screen after all the updates, fully satisfied with his growth from the events since his bonding with Tanwen. The shift in his abilities from choosing a class had been enormous, and he couldn’t help but notice a stirring in him to set off into space and test out his new capabilities—and to expand them even further.
Of course, with Namhai likely still waiting for him in orbit, that wasn’t exactly an option, even if he hadn’t already committed to giving the Scribe Tarai her fair share of time. A pulse of energy passed through the ship—Tanwen sending him a gently alert, and he smiled. Speak of the Devil.
“Lower the exit ramp for her, Tanwen. Guide her to our new mess. We can talk—but I’ll be damned if I’m doing it without a coffee.”
Status
Name: Malan Tierin
Race: Voidborn [1]
Alignment: N/A
Pilot Level: 8
Class: Breaker
Stats
Energetics: 138
Synergetics: 128
Cognizance: 149
Passive Effects: +20% damage resistance, +10% energy damage resistance
Titles: [Voidborn], [Abyss Slayer I], [Explorer I], [Beast Slayer I], [Shield Control I], [Team Player I]
Basic Skills: [Overcharge Lvl 1]
Class Skills: [Breaker Gauntlets, Pulseforge Lvl 1], [Breaker Gauntlets, Entropic Fangs, Lvl 1], [Breaker Gauntlets, Voidlink, Lvl 1], [Autonomous Defence, Lvl 1], [Battlefield Synthesis, Lvl 1]
Race Skills: [? requirements met]
Alignment Skills: N/A
Upgrades:
Hull: N/A
Shields: Phase Modulation Array [C-Tier]
Weapons 1 [Main]: N/A
Weapons 2 [Gauntlets]: N/A
Weapons 3 [Heavy]: N/A
Engines: N/A
Cargo Space: N/A
