Kaius snapped his eyes open as his final legacy merge settled into place around his soul. Everything was prepped and ready for his final skill, the nexuses of power orbiting his soul locking into an equidistant formation. A single place remained in their circle, waiting for his last selection.

    Father had told him how it would work. When his final skill was chosen it would slot into the remaining empty space. His legacy skills would resonate, amplifying his tenth skill... somehow. He didn''t know much more than that, only that the system did all the heavy lifting. No more battles of will in his future, thank the gods.

    That could wait though, he still had to have his conversation with Porkchop, and investigate his latest acquisition.

    Grinning in anticipation, Kaius pulled up the waiting description of his latest skill.

    Uncanny Dodge:

    Level 1

    Unique

    Roll enough dice, and eventually one of them will phase through the table.

    Allows the user to sense portents of doom, and aids them in evading the unavoidable through subtle guidance and twists of fate. Certain effects may impede this skill.

    Each level reasonably increases specificity of warnings.

    Each level reasonably improves the skills ability to counteract impeding effects.

    Each level slightly increases speed, control, reflexes and flexibility when dodging.

    Each level minutely lengthens the window of warning prior to the impending danger.

    Each level infinitesimally twists probabilities in your favour when dodging.

    Each level infinitesimally increases your ability to evade sensed dangers, including otherwise unavoidable attacks.

    Merged from: Danger Sense, Dodge

    As his eyes roved over the skill, Kaius drank in its effects.

    It was good. Far better than he had expected for a merge of only two general skills. While it was mostly a simple baseline improvement on the functionality of both Danger Sense and Dodge, it was its last two effects that grabbed his attention.

    As they only grew Infinitesimally, he would most likely only feel their effects subtly while he was capped to level twenty. Yet, even then, he knew that they would inevitably become invaluable as he grew. Anything that twisted the fate of the world was powerful, and Father had said that they inevitably led to truly mind bending twists of coincidence.

    His mind wandered, thinking of unlikely circumstances where he was saved by the changing of the wind, or an archmage''s spell destabilising catastrophically. Unfortunately, he would have to wait and see. If it did do anything at so low a level, he doubted it would be anything but the most subtle of influences.

    "You gonna share the details, or just keep staring at the bunk?" Porkchop asked, interrupting his thoughts.

    Kaius smiled and sat up. "Sorry," he replied. "Just got caught up in my thoughts. It''s good, better than I expected. Mostly the same, but it''s a fate skill."

    "Isn''t he one of their ancestor-heroes?" Kaius asked, cocking his brow.

    "The one and the same." Porkchop confirmed. "They were inseparable. Both were watched by the system, and went through many trials together, delved deep in the Depths, and secured the Sea from threats. Supposedly they were ambushed by some form of beast tide. Forced to work together to survive the chaos while trapped in a dead end cave, constantly besieged. They forged an unbreakable bond in that hell."

    Kaius kept his face calm, but inwardly his mind was racing. He could see some... obvious similarities to their current predicament.

    Porkchop watched him closely. "I see you have noticed the parallels. It is not directly relevant to the skill, but it is to why I am discussing it." he explained. "Their bond, their companionship, was noticed by the system, and it manifested a skill. A rite, a ritual, and a binding. One that raised them both to new heights, forged an unbreakable link between the two. It is why, even today, the elves hold us in such esteem, and why we tolerate their endless pestering."

    Kaius physically recoiled at Porkchops words, nearly falling off the bed as he jerked backwards. "A binding skill?! Like beastmasters and tamers use? I would never! How could you even suggest that I lesser you like that?" he half-shouted, standing up.

    Porkchop flicked his ears at the noise, but merely snorted. "No, not like that. Never like that. Though, your reaction does quash any lingering doubts I might have had. Now sit back down and listen."

    Kaius froze, taking a seat on the bunk slowly. If it wasn''t a binding skill, the type that shackled and slaved a beast to a person''s will, what was it?

    Once he had returned to his seat, Porkchop continued. "It is a binding skill, but one between equals. One that would tie us together permanently, forging a link between our souls. A perfect communion, one that would improve our cooperation and lethality, allow us to feel and hear each other over great distances, and...share our growth."

    Kaius''s eyes sharpened. "What do you mean?" he said slowly.

    "Experience, feats of strength, everything the system tracks would be amalgamated and split between us equally. What''s more, the malus for experience gain that the system places on groups would not exist for us." Porkchop explained, watching him closely.

    Kaius''s eyes widened. That was...huge. Class and skill growth slowed down when you worked in a group, even more so if they were larger than three individuals, and slowed down again above five. Even if you tackled challenges that were at the edge of what was possible, you would see less gains than if you undertook a lesser but equivalent risk alone. It would mean that if they pushed each other, their growth would be explosive, far exceeding what would be possible otherwise.

    Yet if one of them was to slack, it would be crippling, forcing their partner to put in twice the effort for half the result.

    "That''s why none of you use it isn''t it? Too much risk of kneecapping your growth if you bond with the wrong person." Kaius said, almost whispering.

    Porkchop nodded. "It''s what happened last time. We used to be a lot more integrated into the conclaves. A cub and an elven child were close friends, and performed the rite in secret. The elf was middling at best with only a couple of legacy skills, and worse, the cub broke his legacy by taking the skill. The elf grew strong, strong for them at least. The cub never grew past the third tier. We stopped living so close to the elves after that."

    Kaius winced. That would do it, especially if the meles had broken his legacy in the process. Despite that, he was very interested, both with the bond, and with the effects it would have on his growth. He already saw Porkchop as family, and knowing that he would always have a stalwart companion was ...nice. Yet there was still one question that burned in his mind.

    "Why me?" he asked softly. "Like, of course I am interested. We already planned on sticking together once we escape, and you''re already family, but what if I slow you down? You''re a greater beast, destined to reach tiers that people can only dream of."

    Porkchop gave him a flat look. "Gods, I wonder why I am not worried about being ''slowed down'' by the first Observed in milenia. The person who helped me reach the same heights. The person who has pioneered a whole new branch of spell casting, and the person who pushes themselves harder than anyone I have ever seen? The same person that will inevitably be the first one ever to slay a guardian without a class." Porkchop''s words were pointed, direct. "Kaius, at this stage I''m more worried that I will slow you down."

    Kaius leaned back, scratching his head. "Well, when you put it like that."

    Rolling his eyes, Porkchop snorted before looking back at him with a rare intensity. "So you are interested then?"

    Kaius nodded, wearing his conviction on his sleeve. "I am, though I obviously have a few more questions."

    "Then ask." Porkchop replied seriously, though the slow swoops of his tail on the floor gave away his happiness.

    Kaius grinned, leaning closer. "Well-"