Darkness shrouded the night, many lay asleep in their beds under woolen and leather blankets, while others cultivated through the night.
Rentaro, unlike others, operated and reviewed the system during the night. Having just sparred with Icrin, he decided it was a good time to review his and Roy's stats.
'Turn System Notifications online'
[System Notifications] [Online]
[Missed Notifications Detected] [Display Missed Notifications] [Yes] [No]
[Elemental Sensory Upgrade] [Uncommon]—[Complete]
Attain sufficient understanding of Elemental Sensory.
[Rewards] [2.0 credits of one credit type or 1.0 of each] [Innate perceptive talent awakens, replacing Elemental Sensory.]
[Claim Rewards]
'Claim, split credits towards each type.'
[New Credit Balance] [Syndicate Credits: 11.5] [Spatial Credits: 11.5]
[Elemental Sensory] --> [Extrasensory Perception]
[Evolution Starting]
[Evolving] [3%, 7%... 46%, 53%... 99%... 100%]
As the elemental sensory skill evolved, Rentaro felt a tingling sensation flowing throughout his body, starting from his eyes. The sensation spread along his spinal cord, flowing down his neck, torso, and limbs, until it reached the point of seething, seemingly spreading out of his body and into his surroundings.
It was a strange feeling, like an intimate connection with his surroundings, but it only lasted for mere seconds before going away. Rentaro felt as if he could sense any changes around him without even trying.
[Elemental Sensory] --> [Extrasensory Perception]
[Evolution Completed]
'Wilhelm, can you initiate a self-scan for me and scan Roy alongside the updated stats?'
[Naturally, I'm already on it.]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Name: Rentaro Eccel
Race: Human
Contracts: 1
Cultivation Stage: Affinity Foundation Stage 3
Elemental Affinities:
Fire—Assimilation
Dark—Assimilation
Light—Assimilation
Credit Balance:
[Syndicate Credits: 11.5]
[Spatial Credits: 11.5]
Innate Talents:
[Summoner]—Summoning spirits from other realms, a Summoner doesn't rely solely on their own battle prowess, but fights alongside companions.
[Paktierer]—Allows one to perform contracts with summons, enabling one to call for their contracted summons at any time. [Additionally, Pact Skills unlock as the user grows more familiar with contracted summons.]
[Elementalist]—An inseparable bond connecting one with the elements. Strengthen the bonds and connect with the many elements around you.
[Extrasensory Perception]—The instinctive sixth sense. Ability to sense the slightest change in your surroundings, accompanied by an acute awareness towards danger.
[Spirit Whisperer]—Allows one to initiate mental conversations with spirits of all types.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Name: Roy
Race: Chimera (Variant)
Grade: Unique
Cultivation Stage: Affinity Foundation Stage 3
Elemental Affinities:
Fire—Assimilation Stage
Dark—Assimilation Stage
Light—Assimilation Stage
Innate Talents:
[Chimera]—Ability to absorb bloodlines, undergoing constant mutations and evolutions.
[Primal Chaotic Physique]—A physique born from primal chaos. Natural endowment towards primal chaos energy.
[Bloodline Prime]—An exclusive chimera skill, allowing one to fully take on the form of their bloodlines. Gives the ability to use their bloodline skills to the fullest capability, while unlocking further skills in relation to the specific bloodline.
[Shape-Shift]—Innate ability to change into any targeted form. Copying a target's form will not copy over their strength, but it will give access to their moves. [Restrictions Apply]
[Yin-Yang Flame Embrace]—Born alongside the embrace of flames that embody the element of primal chaos, including both Yin and Yang origins.
Innate Bloodlines and Skills:
Bloodline 1: ?
[Obsidian-Scaled Armor]—Ability to cover itself in an obsidian-scaled armor.
[Hard-Soft Scale Transitioning]—Ability to transition scales between the state of hard and soft.
[Bloodline Prime State Currently Sealed]
Bloodline 2: ?
[Skeletal Control]—Ability to manipulate its skeletal structure.
[Bloodline Prime State Currently Sealed]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
[With time and practice, it seems that Roy will unlock even more bloodline abilities. It's just a matter of time before he awakens a Bloodline Prime State. Rentaro, you'll need to be on the lookout for treasures that can strengthen his bloodline. Worst case scenario, you'll have to use some credits in the shop.]
'Hah. That's far too expensive, but if it comes down to it… Well, display the [Mission] function.'
[Missions]
[First Hunt] [Uncommon]—[Incomplete]
Hunt a Foundation Establishment Stage 1 Beast.
[Rewards] [2.0 credits of one credit type or 1.0 of each] [Sub-Shop Function—Trade-In]
'Wilhelm, what's this new function about?'
[The Trade-In function is a sub-function of the shop as it says. You'll be able to trade in items to the shop, getting system credits in return. However, most items that you trade in will be allocated with a random type of credit and in a random amount decided by the system's programmed randomizing.]
'It randomly decides which credit type you get? And how much you get? Like—gambling?' Rentaro asked in disbelief.
[As for why it chooses randomly, I guess that's the system creator's personality. However, it's not too strange when you consider they gave you a system and locked away an item like the Grimoire of Twilight, huh? Those with power are often rather eccentric in their own way. After all, no one would dare to call them out on their eccentricities, needlessly provoking a powerhouse when it doesn't affect them either way.]
'Alright, but how do I earn more credits in the short term?' Rentaro pressed on.
[Missions will naturally pop up on their own. For instance, sudden events that take place may cause a mission to suddenly pop up and require you to complete it within a time limit. Such missions give out a large amount of credits and amazing rewards. Furthermore, you can trade in any valuable parts from beasts you hunt or rare medicinal ingredients to the shop to earn credits while you're in the forest zone.]
'This leaves me with no choice but to complete this mission to move forward, huh?'
[Precisely, a beast at Foundation Establishment Stage 1 shouldn't be difficult for you and Roy, even if you are inexperienced. As for a Stage 2, you can hunt one as long as Icrin is in the battle with you. Even without Icrin, you don't need to fear its attacks with Roy's defensive ability.]
'Alright, but how do I differentiate which cultivation stage any beasts are at?'
[You can only tell by the aura it gives off. However, beasts with higher stages may be able to conceal their aura, causing you to mistake their stage for something other than what it truly is. Another key note, cultivation stage isn't always an accurate method of determining how strong a beast is. Some beasts have stronger innate intelligence, while others have stronger innate offense, defense, etc. Depending on their innate abilities and how long they've trained, they may be an opponent too tough for you to handle.]
[Enough of the explanations, get some rest in the meantime. You'll need to be in your best state for tomorrow's adventure when you delve into the second forest zone. Good night, Rentaro.] Wilhelm softly spoke.
'Alright. Good night, Wilhelm.'
Rentaro slowly dozed off as he closed his eyes; the sun would rise before he knew it.