It took around 3 hours for the boys to finish their online shopping session and they were pretty happy with the products they were able to procure. Since they had a bigger budget this time, they were able to get more items than Mako previously got and were set to be delivered by night.
Mako was indeed excited to gain more powers so that he could become even stronger than before, but his excitement was pale in comparison to how Bill was jumping up and down like a child ready to open a giant present on Christmas.
It had been a short time since the two boys had become friends, but that didn't stop Bill from showing his true emotions around him because after taking away all that scary bully-like demeanor, he was just a thrill-seeking and energetic boy, Unlike Mako, who didn't really like socializing at all, and would rather spend time studying or playing games with Gary.
The two boys made their way over to the forest as it was time to get some serious work done.
If the Dark Raven wanted both Mako and Bill to fight, then they would have to be prepared as this time it was no rookie tournament with rules and regulations and an ability level cap meaning that Mako and Bill could potentially face level 4 ability users as well.
Although the newly purchased items would indeed be of help, it doesn't change the fact that the user must also be capable enough to use those items to their maximum potential, similar to a newbie driver competing in a sports car racing event.
Mako could increase his stats with the attribute points he would receive for completing quests, but the same could not be said for Bill. To fix this problem and to settle his curiosity, Mako used the 'Ask' function to ask what ways could a person improve their attributes naturally.
[A person can improve their attributes naturally by increasing the factors of exercises that relate to that attribute; for example, jogging for longer periods to increase a person's stamina. The actual increasing factor varies from person to person as it is not fixed by any means. To improve a certain attribute quickly, try training and exercising while keeping your ability aura activated.]
The system explained that it would take regular training and hard work to improve one's attributes, but that didn't answer the question as to why there was a limit. If everyone worked hard then they could become infinitely stronger, but that was not the case as after achieving a certain point, no matter how much a person worked out, it would not increase his strength rather just maintain it.
With the introduction of abilities, the imaginary limit that humans had before was blasted apart as those who reached the higher ranks such as 'MASTER' were said to hold enough power to destroy entire mountains, but there was still a limit as to how far they could grow.
For now, Mako instructed Bill to do all his workouts and training while keeping his aura active which would help increase the level of his attributes faster, plus cultivate his ability as well. Since they were both level 3 Ability users, if they didn't exert themselves by using heavy costing abilities, they could train for 16 hours without rest.
Mako also included Bill in his Daily Quest exercises, and even though Bill wasn't getting any rewards such as attribute points, he still appreciated the workout.
**************
The two boys trained well into the evening and then made their way back home.
Coincidently just as they arrived, a man wearing a light blue shirt and hat was approaching the front door to Mako's house. The boys greeted the delivery man who was carrying three large reinforced boxes in one hand while a tablet in the other.
"I have three packages for Mako Grey?" the delivery guy while reviewing the tablet to make sure he was saying the correct name.
"Yes, that would be me," Mako replied.
The delivery guy made Mako sign a couple of documents on his tablet before placing the three reinforced boxes on the front door.
*THUD!*
"Oooh, these were sure heavy! Anyways, good day to you sir." The delivery guy said as left to make more deliveries.
Mako and Bill both had looks of shock on their faces because judging by how the delivery guy was holding the boxes, they didn't look to be as heavy, but the noise caught them off guard.
Before the delivery guy could completely go out of his sight, Mako used Analyze on him to see what type of ability he had.
[Analyze]
[Profile: Jay Winters]
[Ability: Strength (Level 1)] ⓘ
It was an enhancement ability, one that would boost a person's strength attribute to unnatural levels. It was a decent ability and oftentimes, athletes would choose this ability as it complemented sports perfectly, but not all were cut out to become athletes so there were people like the delivery guy who were using their ability however they can to earn money.
Pushing the heavy boxes inside one by one, the boys now had three very sturdy-looking boxes akin to treasure chests now on Mako's living room floor.
Bill had not been able to keep his emotions in check the entire day as now they were at an all-time high, because he would finally be able to be what he always wanted to be.
Seeing how he couldn't control himself, Mako decided to let Bill open his chest up first which he greatly appreciated. Opening the Box, there were many different items within, but Bill reached directly for a book that he picked up with haste and began to admire it with shining eyes.
Mako used Analyze on the book and it all made sense.
[Analyze]
Ability Book: [Wind Ability] (LEVEL 3) ⓘ
[An Ability Book that contains the power to control the element of wind. This Ability Book already comes with three pre-learned skills]
Skill: [(E-Tier) Elemental Control] ⓘ (LEVEL 1)
Skill: [(F-Tier) Wind Wall] ⓘ (LEVEL 1)
Skill: (E-Tier) Vacuum Cutter] ⓘ (LEVEL 1)
Bill's father, William Johnson, was a retired army veteran who was present during the final war, which goes to show that he was indeed quite old. Reaching the 'FALCON', and having two elemental abilities, that being Wind and Earth.
Bill always admired his father, but since he didn't really show great talent as a kid, he wasn't shown the same level of love by his father compared to his elder brothers who he called geniuses. This psychological trauma caused Bill to become bitter and a bully, and it was also the reason why he joined El Diablo's gang in the first place, all so he could prove himself to his father.
Now that his eyes were opened and he was given a second chance, Bill didn't want to lose it as he aimed to earn back his father's respect by surpassing his accomplishments, and now he would have the same abilities as his father as well.
Since Mako's Analyze skill leveled up, Mako could now preview the information of the abilities contained within even before learning them.
[(E-Tier) Elemental Control] ⓘ (LEVEL 1)
[Upgradable!] ⓘ
[Elemental Control is the most basic of all skills that each user of an elemental ability has access to where the more you use it the stronger it gets as it has no defining limit to how high the user's production and control over the element of wind can become]
[Attack: Variable]
[Cost: Variable]
[(F-Tier) Wind Wall] ⓘ (LEVEL 1)
[A basic defense from the Wind Elemental Skill Tree, that allows the user to create a wall of wind roughly ten feet in height. Anything that comes into contact with the wall will be deflected to a certain extent, and with a small chance of perfectly deflecting projectiles back from where they came with exact power and speed.]
[Defense: 15]
[Cost: 30 Energy]
[(E-Tier) Vacuum Cutter] ⓘ (LEVEL 1)
[A basic attack from the Wind Elemental Skill Tree, that can be cast by only fists, but is 25% more effective if cast while holding any type of blade. It is a move where the user slashes the air in front of him while infusing his elemental control onto his fist or weapon, from which a vacuum is created that travels forward with a sharp edge of wind and reaches a distance of 15 meters before fading.]
[Attack: 25]
[Cost: 50 Energy]
Mako was surprised by the abilities that were within as there was a defensive ability and an attack ability that was similar to his flame wheel, but instead of a 360-degree attack, it was a single-direction attack but with a bigger range.
Bill crushed the green gem that was in front of the Ability Book, and instantly green light filled the room while cooling winds started blowing all over with Bill being the source of it all. When the light began to recede, the winds also stopped and the crushed crystal lost all of its colors.
This was the normal way for one to gain an ability as the ability itself was stored inside the crystal and the book contained instructions and techniques that could be learned, but the book could only be read once the person had the ability the book belonged to; otherwise, it was unreadable.
The process to learn the ability could take as early as a day or as late as two weeks depending on how talented a person was, but Mako's system bypassed all of that as he was able to learn it instantly.
Bill didn't even bother to look at the rest of the things that he had ordered as he instantly started to skim through the contents of the book. Mako decided to leave him be as he knew that it won't take long for him to learn the ability so he proceeded to open his chest next.
"Let's see what we have here," Mako said with a huge grin on his face as he opened the second chest.