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Chapter 712 - Nevermore: A Viper's Assessment

🕑 Added 2023-06-27 10:43:10 +0000 UTC

Comments

deus vault

there's dodgin, defending and attacking during melee. in normal, regular human archery we appreciate accuracy. in meta-human archery, there should be much more speed and technique. attacks shouldn't be blocked. one block should end with another arrow striking a later vulnerable place. there is certain technique to fighting opponents who are able to dodge and block attacks. in normal human techniques, you simply have to shoot at the right timing and place, because no one would be able to block arrows unless they predict them. now, what jake does, according to description, is simply release the arrows really really hard. he doesn't bait, he doesn't predict the opponent's movement, he doesn't use any special arrow attacks except for "charge", or "explode". there is also the thing that makes his attacks more robust. it's great as long as he manages to hit the opponent, but for a foe that actually blocks or has armour on, it's weak. he has to penetrate the armour etc. now I get that there should be attacks with more special effects, like entangling, disoreinting etc. jake doesn't really use his bow as a conduit for special magic or skills, which is also a problem. because having different types of arrows is pretty strong for an acher. beasts are easier to hit because they have larger bodies, but humans use their relative to body long limbs to defend themselves. so I think his archery is more focused against large beasts because that's what he usually fights. against other opponents he resorts more to close combat. not even when he attacks, but moreso because he has no choice.

john henderson

From the sound of it, it was recorded by Villy. I don't think dungeons are what cuts off Villy's ability to observe, but system enforced isolation. Therefore in a natural, or system-created dungeon, Villy would have no ability to observe, but in an artificial dungeon that's not an issue.

john henderson

I'm curious as to what you mean by he always aims for one shots? He releases volleys of arrows, targeted power shots, slowly building up poison over time. He can control the path of the arrows mid flight, he can create an arrow based specifically on the target he is attacking at the time to penetrate their armor, or otherwise cause the most amount of damage possible. He imbues his arrows with his arcane affinity, the only affinity he actively uses. From reading your comment it seems like you're disappointed with his area of effect damage, but area of effect damage is something you would only use for killing large numbers of low leveled targets, and that is something that is quite frankly beneath Jake. His path has nothing to do with mass killing weaker opponents, it's all about pushing himself to conquer opponents above his level, and his archery kit is perfectly focused for exactly that. If anything he only goes for one shots with his melee skills, as it all seems to come down to descending dark fang. He's not playing a stealth archer build, rather he relies on his instincts to avoid attacks while fighting from the front. Truly the only instances I can think of that fit your assessment are when he tries to one shot a creature a grade above him before evolving, and that is purely a vanity test for him, and not a proper expression of his abilities. Not to mention in those times, he does incorporate armor piercing as well as predicting where the target will be.

Zogarth

Fix

No. Because remember what we learned with the minotaur sooo long ago? Mental attacks actually attack one of the layers of a true soul. Since the minaga in a dungeon have a different true soul it wouldn't work.

deus vault

that has got me thinking. since minaga is connected through his minds, can he be killed through some kind of mental attacks that kills off his clones? like, some sort of virus that forces each clone to kill itself once it becomes aware of the other clone who died?

deus vault

I think the problem with jake's archery is that he always aims for one shots, and never uses skill. he attacks with one arrow at a time. no piercing arrows, no special effects. he can attack dodging opponents using multiple arrows shot and timed correctly, but his rain of arrows skill is not nearly good enough for that imo. simply splitting the arrow apart is just better coverage. what about predicting where the opponent will be and preparing a shot there before he reaches it? he has no armor piercing skills. when I imagine jake using archery, I think he just shoots at something really hard. maybe that's, like, not enough for an archer?

Samot0423

It was recorded, presumably by the wyrmgod or minaga, and they're watching that recording

Vralnii

Heh. You ever noticed how in superhero comics, authors are always careful to give cloners a major weakness so they can all be dealt with? Now you know why. Minaga is an OP cloner super that the System allowed to ascend to godhood. I cannot conceive of a more possible annoying superpower. Its like that episode of Family Guy where anything/anyone Peter touches becomes a Robin Williams Character. Which is the only possible way Minaga would be more annoyingly overpowered; let us just be thankful he is Minaga and not Robin Williams. ( Not that I don't love Robin Williams, but too much of a good thing is an actual thing. ) Also, thank you for the chapter, Zogarth. Good to have you back. Condolences and commiserations on your loss.

Wes

How is Villy watching inside a dungeon? Thought he was normally cut off when he goes into a dungeon

Jumping Flounder

it’d be cool if the next time jake and Villy met he makes a reference to knowing he’s being recorded and watched by multiple. just to see Villys disappointment