Two one-handed weapon specialty choices immediately popped up, with their passive effects—
[Shield: When an individual uses a shield, the protective area against projectiles is larger and more solid. You will hardly take any damage when behind the shield.
When you are the captain, your team receives a small bonus to shield protection area and solidity when dealing with projectiles.]
[Shield Wall: When an individual uses a shield but does not effectively defend, the damage you receive is -20%.
When you are the captain, and your team uses a Shield Wall formation, the shield's protective area against projectiles receives a moderate bonus.]
Durin quickly scanned these two specialties and immediately understood the bonuses they brought him. The former was somewhat like Braum's E skill in League of Legends, where as long as one hides behind the shield, most ranged damage can be effectively blocked. However, there are too many irregular methods in Runeterra, such as poison gas, which cannot be blocked by a shield at all.
The latter would reduce the damage he takes by 20% if he fails to block an attack, which is equivalent to a permanent damage reduction skill.
So, from the current perspective, the second [Shield Wall] is more suitable for him. Based on the passive specialties he currently possesses, this skill would allow him to fight more freely against enemies, without being constrained, and also enable him to engage in prolonged battles.
Thinking of this, Durin decisively chose the [Shield Wall] passive specialty.
Then, two Running specialty choices popped up, with their passive effects—
[Strong and Powerful: When you are an individual, your damage with any melee weapon is +4%; when you are the captain, your team members' melee damage is +2%.]
[Swift Foot: When you are an individual and are moving without a shield while holding a ranged weapon, your movement speed is +5%; when you are the captain, your team members' movement speed in combat is +3%.]
Durin quickly scanned them. Both specialties were related to combat. The former could increase his melee damage, although it only added 4%. However, compared to the second one, Durin currently didn't have a strong demand for ranged weapons; he still wanted to focus on going further down the Mage path.
As for the other skills he learned, they were all meant to assist his Mage abilities as much as possible, or to help him earn more money.
Therefore, after a brief comparison, Durin decided to choose the [Strong and Powerful] specialty.
As for the last skill specialization point, Durin hadn't yet decided where to invest it. After all, skill specialization points were hard to come by, and leveling up wasn't easy! He had to fully embody the excellent Grantaire spirit and make sure to use every skill specialization point effectively.
Therefore, Durin decided not to use this skill specialization point for now.
When all selections were complete, a familiar warm current began to flow through his body, bathing his limbs, chest, and even every cell and pore of his entire being.
It was warm and comforting, like timely rain after a long drought!
The injuries inside his body were recovering.
His heart began to pump blood, delivering vital energy to every muscle fiber and every inch of skin.
Power!
Bit by bit, ounce by ounce, yet boundless power surged from every corner of his body, converging into great rivers, and vast seas.
However, Durin's mind was as calm as an old monk, suppressing all impulses and desires in his heart.
If he was like a dangerous beast during his fight with the Demoness before, then at this moment, Durin's aura was more profound and weighty, giving people a sense of greater stability and mountain-like tranquility.
For the remaining time, Durin had a free lunch at the hospital, then completed the discharge procedures, and retrieved his storage ring, enchanted scimitar, and enchanted metal round shield.
He was wearing ordinary clothes; as for his Mage robe, it had been completely destroyed by the Demoness's magic energy blasts, and Durin estimated he would have to spend money to replace it.
After walking out of Piltower University Medical Center, Durin immediately saw a carriage parked at the entrance. The carriage was pulled by eight warhorses with manes like blazing flames, and it bore a gilded lion emblem.
This was a private carriage exclusive to nobles, symbolizing the Kavorwald family.
Vayne sat in the carriage and nodded to Durin. Durin held the frame and boarded the carriage.
The carriage traveled through the streets, and due to its special family crest, it encountered no obstructions along the way.
In fact, two Piltover Enforcers on steam motorcycles even cleared the way for it. Judging by their shoulder insignia, they were at least first-grade police officers.
Pedestrians would detour and change their path, and carriages would make way.
The nobles' carriages were like a plague; no one dared to approach them.
The coachman was accustomed to such scenes and simply accelerated the carriage, speeding wildly down the road.
...
At the northernmost tip of Piltover, a grand complex of buildings stood tall.
Here, a spire over a hundred meters high pierced the clouds, seemingly about to tear a rift in the gloomy sky, and below the two spires, countless smaller, sharp spires were also distributed, looking from afar like a group of loyal guards protecting their king.
The Council Tower was constructed from polished blue-green granite, adorned with bronze grilles, and perfectly integrated with countless exposed mechanical gears and large, flawless glass, showcasing a unique style that was elegant and dignified yet solemn.
This was the center of power in Piltover, where the Seven-Person Council, composed of representatives from the six great families and Piltover University, convened.
A luxurious carriage slowly approached from the far end of the street, stopping precisely in front of the entrance to the Council Tower.
As the carriage pulled up, the attendants, who had been waiting for a long time, rushed forward to open the carriage door, and Vayne, wearing high boots, emerged from the compartment, her high boots making a clanking sound as they touched the ground.
Durin followed closely behind; at this moment, the originally azure sky had turned hazy, and even gusts of cold wind began to blow, with a few raindrops sprinkling onto the brick path of the Council Tower.
Durin and Vayne, led by the attendant, entered the Council Tower, the spire located at the center of power in Piltover.
The two took the elevator straight to the top floor, and as they stepped out of the elevator, the walkway to the council hall was only a hundred meters long, but Durin felt his breathing becoming heavier.
The only sound in the entire corridor was the clicking of footsteps on the ornate and intricate patterned floor, and as the hall grew closer, his vision gradually brightened.
A massive circular table appeared in his field of vision, and all seven councilors were already present.
Durin immediately recognized the Yordle sitting in the central position directly opposite the door, a creature covered in yellow fur, with only white dense whiskers growing in circles around its mouth and nose, and standing less than a meter tall.
This was also his first time seeing a Yordle, this magical intelligent creature.
Cecil B. Heimerdinger—one of the founders of Piltover, the president of Piltover University for over two hundred consecutive years, and also the only Yordle tolerated by the people of Piltover.
This was also Durin's first time seeing Heimerdinger.
After Durin arrived in Piltover from Zaun, he had inquired whether there had been any changes among the councilors, and if there was any deviation from the anime he had watched before his transmigration.
The conclusion he reached was, naturally, that the seven councilors of the House of Nobles would not be easily changed; if one wanted to expel a councilor, it would require the unanimous vote of the other six councilors.
Moreover, it would only mean that the councilor's family would re-elect someone to replace them.
Durin briefly scanned the other six councilors; the two closest to his left were from the Salo Family and the Hosskarl Family, respectively.
One was a short, stout middle-aged man with a full beard and a receding hairline, and the other was a younger-looking, tall, slender blonde man who exuded effeminacy in his every gesture.
To Vayne's left, the strange person with full mechanical modifications was from the Bolbok Family, and the middle-aged woman who bore a seven or eight-tenths resemblance to Caitlyn was from the Kiramman Family.
As for the two dark-skinned women in the entire hall, they were from The Midarda Family and the Cairward Family, respectively. One was a tall, young woman whose demeanor exuded elegance.
The other was a bald woman with three interlocking mechanical gears on her neck, radiating a cold and unyielding attitude. She tilted her head slightly, her narrow eyes squinting as she injected Durin.
When Durin and Vayne walked in, only her gaze immediately turned towards them.
"You're Durin, correct? My butler has seen you before, assisting a Mage Apprentice named Kreslin. Perhaps after the meeting, you could come to my mansion for a chat," Councilor Kyle Ward said in a cold tone, her jewel-encrusted golden thimble-clad fingers tapping rhythmically on the table, her cold and assertive attitude fully evident in her words.
Before Durin could answer, Councilor Kyle Ward raised her hand and waved, continuing, "Don't rush to give an answer. You have plenty of time to consider. When you've thought it through, you can come find me anytime."
At this moment, the clock tower chimed loudly, and the hall instinctively fell silent. The councilors exchanged glances, then fixed their gaze on Heimerdinger at the head of the table.
"Ahem..."
Heimerdinger cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping around. "Time's up. I now declare—today's council meeting officially open!"
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