Chapter 04 — Goal
Skye had acquired a goal to achieve; a target to acquire, and he was ready to do anything and everything in his power to make it happen.
But he had a found a new problem, so to speak. He had been limiting his power so as not to let any of his secrets get exposed; but he had suddenly rose from level 5 apprentice magic user to Basic level in just one night, which threw a wrench in his plans, and was bound to cause a lot of unnecessary questions to come his way.
[The magic power levels on Gaia are comprised of the Apprentice, Basic, Intermediate, Advanced (which as collectively known as the Inferior), Superior, Epic, Legendary, Mythic and Divine levels. They are further divided into 10 levels. Levels 1-3 are Lower tier levels, Levels 4-6 are Middle Tier levels, Levels 7-9 are known as Upper Tier levels while Level 10 is known as the Peak Tier level]
"I need to find a way to hide my power. But techniques that can mask magic power like that are fairly rare. I could ask the Black Skulls for information, but I bet I'll have to pay a price, one I'm not ready to pay yet." Skye said while logging on to the Web.
[Logging on...]
[Welcome Skye]
An electronic voice called out in the virtual room that Skye that just appeared in.
"Web, search for techniques or items that can mask one's magic power or aura that are up for sale or auction." Skye said seriously.
[Searching.....]
[Located 10 locations where masking techniques are up for purchase...]
[Virtual room BX124, Magic Suppression Scripture, estimated price 100 Star coins.]
[Virtual room RD327, Aura Cloak up for auction, estimated price ranges between 120-170 Star Coins]
[Virtual room RGBX265, Mask of Confusion, estimated price 2000 Star Coins.]
[Virtual room....]
When Skye saw the ranges of the prices on the screen, all he could say was "Fuck! That's freaking expensive!"
One had to know that 1,000,000 Imperial Coins equaled 1 Star Coin. Star Coins were the universally accepted currency on Planet Gaia, and different countries had different exchange rates corresponding to 1 Star Coin. The Imperial Coin was actually amongst the higher ranking currency on Gaia. Some other countries had exchange rates of 1:10,000,000 or even 1:50,000,000.
"Looks like I have to find another way then." Skye thought sadly.
He logged out of the Web and began losing himself in thought.
"Maybe the book can help me with that!" He thought while excitedly checking the book which had begun glowing in the depths of his soul.
He opened the book but didn't exactly find what he was expecting.
He found himself in a world of stars that seemed to encapsulate everything. A vast cosmos filled with billions of planets, millions of solar systems, hundreds of thousands of galaxies was before him.
The indescribable pleasure he felt from watching this scenario threatened to send him into cloud nine, figuratively. It felt as if his soul was to be drawn in if he were to peer any longer.
He bit his lip, forcibly drawing him out of that state.
"Shit! What was that?" He asked himself in shock, and awe.
"I felt as if I was gonna die if I had continued looking. It felt as if...as if a thousand...no a million years had passed but I've only been there for a second." He said.
A screen of light that only he could see suddenly appeared in his vision.
[Name]: Skye
[True Name]: ???
[Titles]: ???
[Talents]: Primordial Elemental Affinity, Extreme Intellect, Spirit Affinity, Primordial Chaos Spirit Body [Unawakened], Soul of the Ancients [Partially Awakened]
[Skills]: Basic Spirit Manipulation, Intermediate Assassination, Cloak, Basic Strategy, Advanced Combat Spirit Arts, Intermediate Shortsword Mastery, Advanced Dagger Mastery, Advanced Longsword Mastery, Advanced Bionics, Advanced Bio-engineering, Expert Nanotechnology, Master Sciences, Apprentice Refining, Apprentice Enchanting, Apprentice Runesmithing.....
[Stats]
Strength: 24
Agility: 29
Dexterity: 31
Constitution: 26
Spirit: 21
Will: 27
[Points]: 1000
[Library]:
Beginners' Guide to Magic—700 points
Mana Burst—100 points
Obscure Spirit Art—200 points
Dark Blade Art—1500 points
Flash Step—3500 points
...
"Oh shit, does this mean that I have my own system now? Nah! Doesn't seem realistic. It seems that the data shown in my vision is directly related to the ability of the book." He theorized to himself.
"But still, it seems pretty cool. Plus, I think I have enough of these points thing to buy that Spirit Art that I think is about to solve my problem. I think I might get that Mana Burst spell and the Beginners' Guide to Magic. Those seem pretty important." He continued.
"Those will cost me all the points I have. And I don't have a way to currently get more. I'm making a huge gamble here. Ah! Who cares! I'm doing it!" He said with a twinkle in his blue eyes.
"But one thing though, how do I buy them anyway? Uhh, I feel so stupid right about now."
Just then, he felt a sensation in his mind, something tingly, while one second later, he suddenly found new memories in his head, like it had always been there.
He felt pretty shocked. "Whoa! That's amazing. I feel like....Aah!"
He suddenly fell down clutching at his head.
"It hurts so much! I am fucking gonna die!" He screamed in pain.
After about a minute of screaming, the pain in his head finally stopped. After stabilizing himself, he properly took the time to analyze the skills he got. He found that he knew everything about the two skills and could use them as if he'd known them for years.
He quickly tested out the Obscure Spirit Art and found that the energy releasing from his body was about the same as a level 6 apprentice while his true power was maintained at the level of Basic. From the way his Mana moved while using the skill, he could indeed infer that the skill was at least the King level. But that did not lower the surprise that he felt.
The Beginners' Guide to Magic was pretty detailed and it broadened the horizons of the silver haired young man.
"It says here that in the beginning, there was Origin, and then Chaos, then Yin and Yang, then Everything. Seems pretty basic. It also says here that the manipulation of magic is divided into Origin Magic, Ethereal Magic, World Magic and Concept Magic
Origin Magic consists of any and all forms of visible elemental magic.
Ethereal Magic consists of ethereal elemental magic such as Fate, Time, Space, Life, Death and the like.
Concept Magic is magic born from different forms of different kinds of magic. They include Flame Magic, Storm Magic, blah blah blah.
World Magic is known as the magic born from the world. Most of the elements that make up World Magic are elements comprehended by observing the world and its creatures. Some of them include Poison, Blood, Sand, Mercury among many others." He read with enthusiasm.
"Magic users are classified into two types; those that absorb Ki to strengthen their body, and those that absorb Mana to strengthen their mind. Ki users are called Warriors; Mana users are called Mages." He continued.
"Whoa! This book is amazing! I've learnt so much!" He said happily.
"There is one thing though, those skills, they must be engraved on my soul for the skills I had in my past life to appear here. If that's the case, then it seems I've been understimating this book more than I thought." He thought gravely.
...
In another location, one far away from Skye's, three familiar men could be seen bowing to a huge burly man with a snake tattoo on his face that sat on a chair fondling with a lady on his lap.
"You three have disappointed me, I sent you to get rid of the pest that has been making trouble in my house lately, but what do I see? Three bumbling nincompoops being led around like sheeps to a slaughter. Since when do I pay you to act like idiots?!" The burly man said coldly.
"Please give us one more chance,. Master Black Snake!"
"We will not fail you!"
"We almost got him the last time Master! Please let us try again!"
"I am tired of your excuses! This time I'll enter the fray and teach that pest what happens when you step on my tail!" The burly man said grimly.
"Yes, Master Black Snake."
***
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