Skills are the second most important aspect of Arkmeria Conquer Online, which impact derives from the status distribution system that makes up a player's image and differentiation in class and power.
The game manual nor the tutorial didn't mention the requirements for skills, but through gameplay, a player would learn that there are at least 3 ranks for skills. The three are Novice Skills, Special Skills, and Grand Skills which are the strongest known skills players may possess in the long run.
There should only be 3 ranking of skills, but for the first-ever player who reached Sovereign rank during the beta phase of ACO leaked there are at least 4 ranking of skills. And the last skill rank leaked is the Supreme Grand Spells, of course, specifically exclusive for Sovereigns.
The acquisition of Supreme Grand Spells isn't by status distribution or secret quest. It's also isn't entirely locked for classes, rather, it was derivative from a player's current class.
SGS or Supreme Grand Spell, in a nutshell, is a special type of Grand Spell that manifests from a player's playstyle.
Applying the same concept as Sovereign-ranked gears which are fitted based on the user itself; Supreme Grand Spells are simply a spell specific only to a single player by how they play the game.
For an instance, a player whose class is of the assassin type can unconsciously develop a defense-focused Supreme Grand Spell when they always get killed during the assassination.
This means the system's Artificial Intelligence detected the said player was incorrectly using his or her assassination skills, and before the player complains and requests for rework or buff affecting assassin classes, the SGS comes in and will then give the player an exclusive skill so he or she won't have to die again during the assassination.
The application of Supreme Grand Spell acquisition is a way to balance playstyles that aren't normally plausible, causing the meta to shift and the imbalance then becomes strength, indicating that players won't ever follow a single build when they can find a better one themselves.
In that regard, the SGS system gives a totally different meaning to adapt, conquer, and overcome, allowing players to become diverse and be themselves instead of following what the system had in store.
Arkmeria Conquer Online's popularity skyrocketed when they learned the in-depth characterization the developers had implemented, which none of the existing VRMMORPG had ever attained.
The complexity of one's character is the undeniable charm players relish in their adventure across a fantasy-meta world, defining the very essence of a second life experience that brings forth something a person had never caught upon themselves.
Even so, the reality Fargil had entered was no longer the game in which he set his foot, though, the circumstances were always the same.
"Supreme Grand Spell...?! That's top-secret classified information so how-" Akeela couldn't move her hands to close her mouth so she averted her gaze instead.
"Oh? So you knew of that word? I have its effect in a virtual world... But how does it fare in the reality of the physical realm?" Fargil muttered to himself, continually accumulating mana by his hands until he collected enough to cast his special skill.
The ring on his thumb and index finger were simultaneously lighting up as if the mana he possess had no bounds.
"Wait... Those magical runes are...!" Ranoa notices the inscription of the magical circle below them, recognizing the pattern resembling that of her mother's magic.
"So you recognized my magic eh? My assumptions are correct... Nevertheless, your mother is the reason why this spell of protection exists... She's the reason why I challenge the impossible despite the odds stomping over my head. And to that end, I shall fulfill my promise without a doubt!"
"Just... Who are you?" Ranoa asked, perspiration visibly appearing on her forehead.
The radiant light encompassing them shone amidst the clamoring knights and soldiers slaughtering Fargil's afterimage, and as the illusion disappears, they realized they were mistaken to think they can hold their ground against the Protector of Alfahim.
"That's the man...! He's right there casting magic! Stop him at all costs!" Shouted a knight who first spotted Fargil's chant.
The rest followed and surrounded him along with Akeela and Ranoa, but their enemies were a step behind Fargil's incantation.
"I am the pillar of Alfahim Kingdom, the dome that cannot be conquered other than myself..."
Back in his ACO days if his memories aren't forgetting him yet, Fargil became the most prominent support player who was known across all of Arkmeria's super servers. His formidable strategy and decision-making by making use of his abilities to their utmost limits despite commanding the meager players of Alfahim were tackled greatly than the Spartans' prowess on the battlefield.
However, no matter how strong or how he strategizes ahead of time, there is bound to be a fatal weakness. That no matter how intelligent or skill-cultivated he becomes; Fargil's diligence proves there are things beyond his protection.
People only see the trophies and medals before their suffering. The victories Fargil won in the past wars and tournaments where Alfahim emerged victoriously were a mountain of losses he had to face.
There comes a series of victories the moment Fargil publicizes his identity, but before his glorified days are countless defeats against Alfahim's aggressor. He always had to fight an uneven match, and of course, as a support, he could also fail to defend his comrades even though he promised not to let his enemies penetrate the frontlines.
Even so, during a war against the Pandora Alliance, Fargil who was stationed at the outer westward town was cornered at a castle near the borders and accepted his defeat, yet, Maqirelle rejected the idea of surrendering before they could even fight.
"I told you we should surrender already. The rest of here doesn't want to get experience and rank penalty. They deployed at least 3 Sovereigns outside the drawbridge and it's a matter of time before they penetrate the barrier I have put up. I'm doing this so we mitigate our losses."
Fargil reasoning was correct, though, Maqirelle dispelled his doubts alight and brought him the hope he needed to hear at that moment.
"No. We will not surrender. You are strong, Fargil. You protect our party members and assure them they are safe... But sometimes, you should rather protect us as a whole than exhaust your mana and resources bit by bit. You possess the skills of a celestial enchanter so should know that better than me."
It was then Maqirelle handed a skill parchment; a type of consumable item that allows another player to chant the inscribed spells. She left the castle and advances forward not to foolishly sacrifice herself, rather she's buying time for Fargil so he can realize what she really meant.
"Wait... That's it! I can protect everyone instead!" And so Fargil drew the magical circles cast upon the skill parchment, pulling out and reanimating the defensive skill that Maqirelle had personally written on the hand-crafted item she bestowed upon him.
As Fargil chants the borrowed magic spell, as a support, he realized he wasn't enough to activate the spell.
"Argh...! My back is heavy... My feet are being crushed... So this is how vast the difference in strength between me and Maqirelle? I can never chant this spell... But I also cannot... Wait."
His desperation for power grew powerful, shallowing his ideals and strength until his desire manifested into the image of perseverance. He need not chant Maqirelle's spell, after all, he can recreate his own.
A blinding flash so bright tailored the runes and patterns on the parchment, the system ingraining Maqirelle's spell into Fargil's avatar as a response to his plea; giving him the rightful spell that only he can cast across all of Arkmeria.
"A Supreme Grand Spell... We can win after all!"
Fargil chanted his words turning the tables around with his newfound spell.