"Shield Bash!" he shouted at the tree. He swung his shield at the tree at the same time, but nothing happened. "Wait a minute! Why didn't it work?"
[Please wait for the system update to complete before using this ability...]
[System update 47%]
"An update? It hasn't even been a day since I got the system... I wonder if it's mandatory for everyone?" he thought. "Good thing I tried it before attacking those rats... I don't know how much damage this ability does, but I know it uses 120% of Shield Attack Power (SAP for short). But how much SAP does my shield have? I know that as a class feature, I can deal 100% more damage with shields, meaning double damage, but I doubt it'll still do high damage. How fast is this system updating anyway?" After thinking this, he tried again. "Shield Bash!"
[Please wait for the system update to complete before using this ability...]
[System update 54%]
He had been lying on the ground with his legs stretched out against the tree trunk for ten minutes. He startled at the notification that appeared before his eyes.
[System update Complete.]
[System has been updated based on your settings, errors have been fixed.]
["Show Skills" command is now available.]
"Show Skills."
The skills screen opened before him. However, he couldn't switch to other screens from this one.
"Hmm... The screen looks different. And there are changes in the abilities."
───────────────" Active Abilities "───────────────
[Shield Bash]
Type: Active - Physical Attack
Mana: 1
Cooldown: 10 seconds
Damage: 120% of SAP + (Strength × 2) = (16 Physical Damage)
Additional Effect: Stuns target for 0.5 seconds
Description:
The user balances their weight and swings their shield to apply direct physical pressure. The strike both deals damage and disrupts the target's balance. Particularly useful in close combat to break an enemy's attack chain or create an opening for escape.
Warning:
Bosses are immune to this stun effect. However, damage is still applied.
[Taunt]
Type: Active - Threat Generation
Mana: 5
Cooldown: 15 seconds
Effect Duration: 6 seconds
Threat Power: 2 (Charisma)
Range: 15 meters
Description:
The user draws enemy attention by shouting on the battlefield or striking their shield against the ground. This effect causes nearby enemies to change their targets and focus on the user. Ideal for protecting teammates or gaining strategic positioning.
Warning:
This ability becomes ineffective if the target creature's charisma score is equal to or higher than the user's.
[Iron Stance]
Type: Active - Damage Reduction
Mana: 3
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Effect Duration: 5 seconds
Damage Reduction: 40% + (Endurance × 0.5) = 50%
Movement Speed Reduction: 30%
Description:
The user takes a firm stance and enters a defensive position. By using their shield, armor, or body as cover, they significantly increase their resistance to incoming attacks. While this ability is active, physical damage from all directions is significantly reduced, but the cost of this protection is sacrificing mobility.
───────────────" Passive Abilities "───────────────
[Unshakeable]
Type: Passive
Description: When HP falls below 25%, you gain +10% Endurance and become immune to slowing effects.
─────────────────────────────────────────────
"There's more detailed information about my abilities..." he thought. "I need to increase my strength to boost Shield Bash's damage. Right now it does 16 damage, but this will increase as my strength score goes up. The shield's quality must also matter... This means my current shield normally does 5 damage. With the Tank class bonus, this increases to 10."
"I'll need to increase my charisma for the Taunt ability. Right now it only has 2 threat power, and that might not be enough to control powerful enemies. I need to find better equipment."
"My endurance also plays a critical role in Iron Stance. It currently provides 50% damage reduction, but this will increase if I improve my endurance. The movement speed penalty is annoying, but thanks to the Unshakeable passive, I can at least defend without being slowed when my health is low. When I use it at low health, my endurance will be quite high."
After these thoughts, he turned back to the tree. "Alright, let's test this Shield Bash now."
"Shield Bash!" he shouted and swung his shield quickly. As his shield moved, it was covered in a slight whitish glow. When it hit the tree trunk, there was a dull thud and a small dent formed. A few pieces of tree bark flew through the air and fell to the ground.
"Hmm, interesting..." he muttered. "It's working since it dealt damage, but this dent is pretty small. I'll need to get stronger. At least my shield didn't take any damage, that's good. And this glow... So abilities have visual effects when activated. The only problem is that I don't know how much mana I have. Or health." After this thought, an idea came to him.
"Show Character."
Nothing happened.
"Show Character Sheet."
Nothing happened.
"Show Character... window?"
Nothing happened.
"Show Class Features?"
Nothing happened.
"Nope, it won't work until I find the right phrase or button."
[Personal Quest]
[Use "Shield Bash" ability 100 times.]
[001/100]
"Personal quest? Was this always here?" he scratched his head. "Show Quest Rewards."
[1 Ability Enhancement Point]
"I didn't think that would work. What's an ability enhancement point? Show Ability Enhancement Points."
...
"Show Mana."
...
"I'm going to drive myself crazy trying to find the right phrase. I don't know how much mana I have or how it regenerates, but it should be fine."
"Shield Bash!" he shouted for the second time. Same glow, same sound. Third, fourth, fifth... With each strike, the dent in the tree grew deeper.
At the tenth strike, he stopped, breathing heavily, "That's ten... Ninety more to go..." and continued.
By the twentieth strike, his arms had started to ache slightly, but he didn't stop.
At the thirtieth strike, the dent in the tree had become quite noticeable. "Thirty... Seventy left..."
By the fortieth strike, he was covered in sweat. His arms felt heavier with each shield swing.
At the fiftieth strike, he took a short break. "Halfway done... But strange, I don't feel tired at all. Just my arms aching."
At the sixtieth strike, he suddenly stopped. Something was wrong. "Shield Bash!" he shouted, but nothing happened. There was no glow, no effect.
"So that's why mana is important..." he muttered. "Sixty strikes... One mana per strike... So I must have sixty mana total. And now it's all gone."
"How will it regenerate?" he wondered and sat down at the base of the tree. "It should fill up if I wait. In the meantime, I need to learn how to set traps."