The Ultimate Support Character

Most of my Companions who haven't completed their Mortal Pathways yet reached Transcendence during the 2nd Stage of their 4th Realm. And after completing it, their progress was instantly raised to the 4th stage. Save for Yuko and Yumiko who already broke through once after becoming a Transcendent, the others are currently at the same stage. Now, Avelin and Erin that lagged behind before are sitting at the same level as Zerina and Jayna.

"All these… Don't you need to use these for your progress as well, Dai-kun?" Yuko picked up one of the basketball-sized stones that were dropped by a giant statue.

Compared to the baseball-sized ones, the energy contained in it was exponentially higher. I actually haven't tried consuming either of the two stones yet. However, after last hitting a lot of giant and golden statues, I'd estimated that the gathered energy from each kill probably amounted to half of what's stored in the stone.

Meaning, if I used it all to myself, it will not produce the same result if I let my Companions use it.

As of now, I'm currently ahead of all of them but with these stones, they will be able to catch up and pass by my current strength.

It's more important to power them up than hog everything all to myself. I don't want a day to come that I will have to leave behind one or two of them because it's too dangerous for their current power level. I'm their Support, that's why I will continue supporting them to make sure that no one will be left behind.

I will also set aside some stones for the Heroes, especially those connected to me through my Support System. They're my greater source of bonus stats after all. If their average stats rise, I will also get the benefit.

"Don't worry. You all noticed it. I got a lot of progress during the past week in the Dark World."

Since it's a System-related Skill, every time I broke through, they were being notified of the increase in the Support Bonus.

"His growth is too absurd. No. I still can't wrap my head around the notion that all of you haven't completed your Mortal Pathways yet… Even more so, this guy who's treading on five different types of Mortal Pathways." Irja sighed.

Among everyone here, she's the only one who's already at the 2nd Realm of her Transcendent Pathway.

Since becoming my Companion, I naturally included that info about our yet-to-be-completed Mortal Pathways as well as everything I showed back in that space was from different Pathways. That's why it looks so diversified compared to her who just naturally had created a lot of skills through her Energy Molding capabilities.

"Now that you're my Companion, you'll also be able to do that albeit you'll be restricted to three. By the way, Yuko, Zerina… What do you think about Brute Energy or rather the Physique Mortal Pathway of this world?"

"I find it a little lacking if I consider my current Rune Knight System," Zerina answered.

Her Rune Knight System allowed her to draw runes that have different effects. However, most of it is geared towards enhancing her Knight attributes. There's even a Heavy Armor Rune that can somehow transform her currently black light armor into a heavy one.

Well, not only that, her Runes was the closest thing to Formations. In her case though, Runes consists of words and it's too complicated that not every word, if mashed together, will work.

Even though I already observed her System multiple times before, the core principle of it still eluded me. Nonetheless, Zerina clearly understood the strengths and limitations of her System.

"Really? Can you try applying Runes to these guys?"

I focused my Flux Energy and conjured the four Pillars. And after pouring more Energy, I transformed all of them into their Guardian Form.

Although they already saw them in action earlier, when Avelin and Erin saw my four Guardian Pillars again, the two had their mouths open.

Their Pillars' Guardian forms were already realized.

Avelin's Pillar Guardians all appeared to be beasts. There's a gorilla, an elephant and a giant falcon.

Erin's Pillar Guardians appeared to be Shadow Assassins. Everything about them appeared dark that no one could see their faces, even Erin herself. Nonetheless, they were all swift and could hide easily when it is dark.

Upon seeing my diversified Pillar Guardians once more, they scrutinized every detail of it, especially Lith's.

She looked like a seductress after all. So they all had weird looks upon remembering that the Guardian Forms were all influenced by me. However, since there's also Kael and Delian, they saved me from further scrutiny.

"Do you think my Runes will be able to enhance the Pillar Guardians?"

"Of course. They're from a different Pathway, although I cannot buff them using my Jewel Skills. Enhancing them through some other Pathway's skill is possible. I can attach them with Molded Energy from both the Meta and Spirit Pathways. Surely, it will also be possible to cast buffing Elemental Spells to them. The catch is... there's possibly a limitation."

They hadn't thought about it. Since I am the most familiar with different Pathways, it didn't pass their mind to experiment on it.

"I see. Then…" Zerina nodded and activated a Rune Skill from her Pathway.

A few seconds later, a red unreadable Rune appeared in front of her and silently encompassed the four Pillar Guardians. As soon as that happened, I received a notification concerning it.

[Zerina used a one-word Rune: Flame on the Guardian Pillars; Lith, Kael, Lan and Delian]

[Flame Rune allows their attacks to be enhanced by Flames]

[Duration: 1 minute]

"See, it works." I smiled and commanded the four to attack each other to display the effect of Zerina's Rune.

Although Lith already has her own flames, it was limited. Now every hit of hers will produce a flaming effect.

Kael who's defending himself against Lith became surrounded by flames and whenever he attacked, the same flaming effect would happen.

The other two also showed the same effects.

Upon seeing that, Zerina who's still somewhat in doubt finally had her eyes filled with excitement.

"… I will. I will assimilate Brute Energy!" Although she almost stuttered, after saying that, Zerina sat down on the spot and activated her Flux Energy State to assimilate another Source Energy type. To help her, I lined up a few baseball-sized energy stones around her to accommodate her needed energy to easily raise the new pathway that will be synchronized.

Irja, Avelin and Erin watched in interest about what's happening with Zerina. Breaking through continuously will surely be quite a spectacle so it's understandable.

While Zerina and the others were busy at that, I turned to Yuko who was also watching at the side with interest.

"Do you think Physique-type will be helpful to me, Dai-kun?" Yuko asked. Perhaps she already had her own answer but in the end, she wanted to hear my opinion.

"Considering your Hero System, it will be truly helpful to have another Ultimate Skill in the form of a Crown Skill. Moreover, there are also the five Jewel Skills and the Pillars."

I'm certain that it's best for her to assimilate Brute Energy as well as Meta Energy. Physique-type and Psyche-type. This one will make her more suited to a close-range battle. With the diversity of skills that she will create starting from Augmented to Halo and Jewel, she'll be more invincible.

And the Psyche-type will surely let her awaken an Ability closely related to her Foresight, just like how I got Energy Control. Besides, given that the mysterious Psyche Energy is a Psyche-type. It's probably impossible for her to pick any other Source Energy type after picking one from the other three Source Energy types.

Yumiko as well. She will not be able to assimilate System-type now that she assimilated an Elemental-type of Source Energy. I will just bring her to the World of Meta to awaken an ability related to her Spirit Channeling.

"I think so too… Well then, watch over us, Dai-kun." Yuko nodded and sat down next to Zerina.

After adding more stones around them, I had the other girls come to my side to give them the space needed to concentrate.

"What about us? What do you think will be best for us?" Avelin and Erin looked at me, expecting an answer. And likewise, even Irja was also looking forward to hearing my suggestion for her.

I wanted them to decide it by themselves but considering that we have little time, I guess giving them suggestions this early will provide more good than harm.

For Avelin and her super-strength, she's probably more suitable to System-type and Spirit-type. Even if it's just a generic Knight System it will provide her a lot of benefits. As for the Spirit-type, I'm gunning for her to have a suitable Transformation Skill that will compensate for her lack of expertise in Energy Control or Energy Molding. She's like the epitome of a Barbarian after all. Her brute force is the strongest among the girls of the same level.

For Erin and her love for being covert, she's suitable to Psyche-type and perhaps Elemental-type. She will be able to awaken something along the lines of Shadow Ability that will be able to enhance all her skills. As for Elemental-type, I'm hoping for her to awaken a Dark or Void Elemental Core. That way, she'll become even more like a ninja.

And for Irja, considering she's already treading a Transcendent Pathway that assimilates Elemental-type properties… Elemental-type is already a given and perhaps System-type as well. Wizard System might be upgraded to Witch System and it will be more than suitable for her. Considering that 'The World' gave even the three Party Members of Yuko an upgrade on their systems, it's possible that any of my girls who will assimilate may receive at least a rare system if not unique.

As for the other girls like Jayna, Fleur, Sofiel and Nysia… I guess I will think about what will be suitable for them when the time comes. For now, let's focus on empowering these girls with me.