NOVEL NEXT Chapter 23 - Classy names for classy monsters
Mimics! Murderous little boxes of joy! I can't wait to summon one. Oh wait no I can, there are some other things to deal with first.
First of all, my surviving monsters have more than earned themselves names. I wish I could grant my dead ones the same, but without the System acknowledging it, it would feel hollow.
The dress is first. It is currently receiving spider silk stitches courtesy of Juliette, since she has the most dexterous limbs other than Sebastian. I've noticed incredible changes in my monsters as a matter of fact. Juliette has very humanoid features now, complete with eyes and nose and everything, down to well defined hands and a shapely body.
Considering her starting point was a blank wooden approximation of a human body, it is staggering. I assume her passive skill is somehow responsible, but it should not affect her this much as far as my dungeon-knowledge tells me.
Similarly, Sebastian's once round wooden half-orb hands have become well defined humanoid hands with 5 nimble fingers, though unlike Juliette they are still very obviously wooden and artificial.
The changes in Siegfried are the most striking, though. His skin has hardened and darkened, while forming armor-like plating all over his body, giving him a truly knightly appearance. The wooden slab that still serves as a proxy shield undermines this effect somewhat, but the genuine sword he wields in his right gauntlet puts it right back up to threatening levels.
Even the dress that is about to receive a name has changed. What I assumed to be caked blood initially is actually splotches of color that creep into the design, while the cut has changed somewhat, the bodice now exposing more theoretical skin. How scandalous.
Are you ready to receive your name?
The dress that's floating before Juliette as it is being patched goes over my list of candidates with me, and we quickly find some promising leads. After a short time we nail it down to a potential two that sound very different to me, but it is not my name that's up for debate.
Option number one is Alouette. Option number two is Romeo. Juliette is heavily involved in the discussion at this point, and a number of other contenders are thrown in the mix, but the deciding factor is that Juliette likes Alouette more.
Welcome to the team, Alouette.
Since we are already talking, let's do your class selection as well.
Monster Class Selections (Animated Clothing):
Animated Strangler
Animated Servant
Animated Actor
Animated Dancer
Animated Dance Partner
Animated Puppeteer
The first thing I notice is that instead of Animated Brawler it lists Animated Strangler. Clothing generally does not excel at battery, so this is understandable.
Actor and Dancer are self explanatory, but the other two are somewhat surprising, though obvious in hindsight.
Dance Partner is focused on supporting a partner by enhancing their movements, while Puppeteer more forcefully takes control of someone's movements against their will.
This decision appears to be a simple one, because I receive the expected answer within moments.
Alouette, the Animated Dance Partner!
Class Selection Successful!
Class “Animated Dance Partner” acquired!
New Passive Skill unlocked!
Level Up!
Level Up!
Level Up!
Status
Name: Alouette
Class: Animated Dance Partner
Level: 4
Creature Type: Animated Clothing
Skills:
Active:
Passive:
-
Harmonious Grace - Level 1
The new passive let them enhance their wearers movements, and the more in sync they were, the better the effect.
On to the next one.
The two remaining triplets were still in the crafting nook, the older sister mannequin cleaning the other mannequins' new limbs and assisting them in learning to move them around.
Both of you, it's time for names. The old song and dance ensues but they have clearly thought about this before as it takes waaay less time than usual.
Welcome to the team Athea and Porthos.
Now, for your classes…
Monster Class Selections (Animated Mannequin):
Animated Brawler
Animated Servant
Rogue
Spellbreaker
Nurse
Monster Class Selections (Animated Mannequin):
Animated Brawler
Animated Servant
Berserker
Animated Regenerator
Hmmm. Athea has lots of strange options available. Rogue because she constantly dodged bolts of shadow from the shaman while keeping up the pressure, maybe? It seems like a dodgy but constantly threatening class. Spellbreaker definitely comes from fighting a caster, and it looks like it might help with that exact thing. Potentially handy. Nurse… well… is self explanatory.
Porthos has Berserker and Animated Regenerator. Berserker for flipping his shit, as it were, after losing his sibling, and regenerator for getting a new limb? It is the weirdest class I have seen so far and I can't really place it, but it's probably defensive in nature.
Their choices are made quickly.
Class Selection Successful!
Class “Rogue” acquired!
New Passive Skill unlocked!
Level Up!
Level Up!
Level Up!
Level Up!
New Active Skill unlocked!
Class Selection Successful!
Class "Berserker” acquired!
New Passive Skill unlocked!
Level Up!
Level Up!
Level Up!
Status
Name: Athea
Class: Rogue
Level: 5
Creature Type: Animated Mannequin
Skills:
Active:
Passive:
Sneak - Level 1
Lethal Grace - Level 1
Status
Name: Porthos
Class: Berserker
Level: 4
Creature Type: Animated Mannequin
Skills:
Active:
Passive:
-
Rage - Level 3