Chapter 12: The Path of Strategy and Battle

Aric's mind raced as the Nexus System finalized his choices. The transformation was not just a matter of a class change or a talent awakening—it was the next step in his evolution, both as a challenger and as the master of his infinite creations.

The echoes of his 10th clone's summoning still resonated in the Dragon Ruins, the raw power emanating from his Celestial Overlord clone a constant reminder of how far Aric had come. But despite the exhilaration that surged within him, Aric knew this moment was fleeting. The true trials were ahead.

He gazed at his clones—each a product of his will, shaped to meet the challenges that lay before them. They stood ready, their forms a perfect reflection of the class evolution granted to them by Aric's growing power. The 10th clone, the Celestial Overlord, stood at the forefront—a symbol of the culmination of his infinite creation abilities. A force that would shape the battlefield in ways the others couldn't.

"Clones, gather around," Aric commanded, his voice calm yet firm.

The nine clones that had been active until now moved to stand before him, forming a semicircle. The 10th clone, the Celestial Overlord, followed suit with a grace that belied its immense strength. Each clone, no matter how powerful, shared one thing in common: they were extensions of Aric, reflections of his will. And today, Aric would refine that will even further.

Clone Assembly

Aric stood before the assembly, his mind sharp and focused. With each passing moment, he felt a deeper connection to the clones, their abilities perfectly complementing one another. But there was one thing Aric had realized: he needed to ensure that each clone played a pivotal role, not just in combat, but in the strategy to come.

"Warlord Clone, Mage Clone, Defender Clone, and Berserker Clone," Aric began. "You will form the backbone of our force. Your role is clear—Warlord Clone, take the lead in tanking and controlling the battlefield. Mage Clone, your frost abilities will lock down enemies, controlling their movements. Defender Clone, your shield abilities will create opportunities for us to strike. Berserker Clone, your damage output will be the hammer that drives through the defenses."

The clones nodded in unison, each understanding their roles without the need for further explanation.

"Assassin Clone, Archer Clone, Summoner Clone, and Healer Clone," Aric continued. "Your roles are equally important. Assassin Clone, your stealth will allow you to assassinate key targets before they even realize you're there. Archer Clone, keep enemies at range and eliminate their support. Summoner Clone, bring forth your elemental might to control the battlefield and deal sustained AoE damage. Healer Clone, your priority will be keeping us all in the fight, ensuring that our strength is maintained through every battle."

Each clone responded with a sharp salute, their readiness obvious in the subtle shifts of their stances.

"Finally, Tank Clone and Celestial Overlord," Aric said. "Tank Clone, your massive defense will be crucial when the enemy overwhelms us. You'll hold them off and give us the time we need to execute our strategy. As for you, Celestial Overlord—your sheer power is unrivaled. You will provide support and act as the ultimate trump card should things turn dire."

The Celestial Overlord clone stood silently, the aura of its divine power filling the space. A quiet hum of raw energy emanated from its body, its immense strength undeniable.

Awakening New Talents and Growth

Aric turned inward as the Nexus System flickered again, this time showing the new growth opportunities now available to him. As his class and talent choices locked into place, the system presented him with a new set of potential upgrades for both himself and his clones.

The class of Strategist had unlocked several unique abilities. Aric felt a sudden surge of knowledge, his mind sharpened, able to calculate enemy movements, potential tactics, and battlefield outcomes with ease. His Battle Instinct talent had similarly grown, making him more attuned to the flow of battle, able to react instantly to changes on the field.

But there was more. The Nexus System now offered an additional challenge: Aric could enhance his class further, or he could combine talents and skills from different systems. The potential was overwhelming, but Aric remained focused.

He focused first on his clones. As they stood in front of him, awaiting his orders, Aric tapped into the Nexus System and began to apply his newly unlocked enhancements.

Clone Enhancements

Warlord Clone:

New Ability: Battle Command: Increases the attack power and defense of all nearby clones by 20%. Enhancement: Rupture Cleave damage increased by 15%.

Mage Clone:

New Ability: Arcane Shield: A protective barrier that absorbs magic damage. Enhancement: Frost Nova cooldown reduced by 10%.

Defender Clone:

New Ability: Fortress Stance: Increases defense by 30% when standing still, reducing damage taken. Enhancement: Unyielding Defense now reflects a percentage of blocked damage.

Assassin Clone:

New Ability: Silent Pursuit: Can teleport behind an enemy target without triggering aggro. Enhancement: Phantom Strike now deals an additional 20% damage on critical hits.

Archer Clone:

New Ability: Windshot: Fires an arrow that knocks back enemies and creates a wind barrier. Enhancement: Piercing Arrow now has a 10% chance to cause bleeding.

Berserker Clone:

New Ability: Rampage: Temporarily increases attack speed and damage output after killing an enemy. Enhancement: Thunderous Rage now causes enemies to suffer a temporary stun.

Healer Clone:

New Ability: Regenerative Touch: Heals a small portion of health every 5 seconds to all nearby allies. Enhancement: Healing Wave now heals for 25% more.

Summoner Clone:

New Ability: Summon Storm Elemental: A powerful elemental that can disrupt enemy formations with lightning. Enhancement: Summon Inferno now has a chance to inflict burn damage over time.

Tank Clone:

New Ability: Arcane Ward: Provides a magical shield to all allies, absorbing up to 2,000 damage. Enhancement: Aegis of the Arcane now reflects 10% of absorbed damage back to enemies.

Celestial Overlord Clone:

New Ability: Divine Sanctuary: A divine aura that heals all allies in range and removes negative effects. Enhancement: Heavenly Strike now reduces the target's armor by 75% for 10 seconds.

Strategic Plans

Now that his clones had been enhanced, Aric felt a newfound confidence. He knew that the path ahead would be fraught with greater challenges, and with this newfound strength, he would be able to overcome whatever the Tower threw at him.

But strategy would remain key. His clones' abilities needed to complement each other—together, they would form an unstoppable force. Yet, even with all his power, Aric knew that the key to his success would lie in his strategic mind.

Aric moved forward, his clones following him in formation. The Tower's true trials were about to begin, and they would face them head-on.

The journey ahead was uncertain, but Aric was prepared. His clones were his greatest weapon, but his mind would be the blade that guided them to victory.

End of Chapter 12