[You have been chosen to join the third batch of the EXILEnt students of the Academia]
[You will be transported to the "God of Earth"s abode now]
Dizziness submerged Alab's head with the vanishing of the mysterious text. The next moment, he unveiled his eyes as an endless expanse of fog filled his sight.
The fogs were sluggish, caressing the skin of Alab with serenity. With a sway of his hand, fogs followed suit, dissipating in the neighboring fogs. What started as small wind brought ripples that endlessly distort the stability in the expanse.
Alab turned around, creating more ripples with his little gestures. He scanned the surrounding that was immersed solely in the eternal fog.
"Where am I?", despite the bizarre occurrence unfolding before him, Alab kept his blank expression.
A nostalgic translucent bluish screen materialized in his vision.
[This endless expanse is my abode. People like to call it heaven but falter not, you are not dead.]
Alab skimmed through the content with a deadpan expression. He had been through the worst and had long relinquished his emotions. The screen materialized once more.
[I am god (omitted), the god assigned to Earth. I am now using a feature that let me converse with you. No mortal can survive after hearing a voice of a god so I can only connect with the system. Though, I could only buy a minute of the system's time.]
[We, Gods, are tasked to send 5 exiles from our world to compete for power in Academia. As you had lived a life of nothing but suffering, I invited you in the hope that you would fulfill your dream in another world.]
[I want to give you a new beginning.]
[Do you have any queries?]
Alab gazed at nowhere, his thoughts ran with queries. He hastily sorted the urgent queries in his mind. Shortly after, he uttered.
"That world, fighting for power... So it's basically kill or be killed, right?"
Seconds passed before the system responded. The question came shockingly from a 15-year-old boy as supposedly, his vocabulary should not incorporate the term "killing" yet.
[That is right. You will be competing with other species and a call for such action may become inevitable.]
Fog pressed on Alab's body with the ripples crashing to his torso. It was an eerie sight how he maintained a blank expression and persisted in the onslaught of chaotic fog.
His blank expression fueled the eerie ambiance, he prevailed unfazed by the notion of killing.
"How about the laws?"
[The otherworld is lawless. Only during a mission or assessment can specific rules be imposed.]
[You only have 5 seconds remaining. How about your parent? Do you want to know them before going to another world?]
"Enough with the nonsense. One last question... What is the strongest power that ever exists?"
Alab gazed intently at the translucent screen. His eyes were keen for an answer.
It didn't take long for the god to respond.
[This is a confidential matter. But since it is nothing but a rumor, I believe that it is valid to share this with a mortal. It is a generational story passed down among gods. There was a rumor that an entity that incapacitated the "ABSOLUTE ONE" possessed a dark power. However, that rumored dark god died in that battle, along with his undead---]
[Ding!]
[The connection with the god (omitted) has been cut off.]
[You will now be transported to the lobby]
"Undead, huh", Alab muttered as his worn-out body disintegrated into fogs, merging with the ripples that gradually subsided at his disappearance.
Fogs dispersed along with a soft voice.
"I'm sorry, Alab", the worried voice of the god resonated in the endless expanse. The gentle fogs began circulating ripples once more, much more violent than the former as it reflected the solemnity in god's voice.
All these years, god couldn't do anything to help Alab. The god regretted that very fact, blaming his powerlessness.
"Only if I didn't lose my strength in the 1st Armageddon", the god lamented.
------
[You have arrived at the lobby]
[A countdown will begin once all the participants have entered their respective lobbies]
[Once the countdown ends, you will have a chance to choose 5 skills from the list. Take note that SSS-grade is the highest, and E-grade is the lowest.]
[Secure a greater power!]
[It is detected that the host has a unique skill]
[Commencing the awakening of the inherent unique skill...]
[Ding!]
[You have awakened your unique skill "Conversion!"]
[To access your status window, just utter the word "Status"]
[Number of participants in the lobby 456/1000]
Without hesitation, Alab called out for his [Status Window].
"Status Window"
A translucent bluish screen containing his information flashed before him.
[Name: Alab Lukeford
Level: 1
Exp: 0%
HP: 70/70 (10 × Constitution value × level)
MP: 90/90 (10 × Intelligence value × level)
< Attributes > (7 each stat for the average human)
Strength: 5
Dexterity: 7
Constitution: 7
Intelligence: 9
Free attribute points: 0
< Inventory >
< Skills > ]
Alab just skimmed through his status, retaining his blank expression as he did. His below-average strength and commendable Intelligence didn't cause a torrent in his expression.
With no words, he clicked on the [Skills] section. His unique skill was then unfolded before his very eyes.
[Conversion (SSS) (Unique) (Active)
Description: Your experiences have thought you that life is unfair. You can now play with fate the same way fate has toyed with you. You have developed the power to convert anything you touch into points. The points can be used to increase the grade of your chosen category.
MP Cost: 1000
Cooldown: 1 year]
His mind ran with a multitude of simulations on the efficient way to edge this skill. He had long accepted and adjusted to the sudden transition of his life. His times of repetitive adoption and exile had sharpened his adaption to change. An abrupt bizarre change of this level couldn't hold a candle against his exceptional flexibility.
Alab ran, sorted, and selected methods that he deemed the most profitable. As it is an SSS-grade skill, the monstrous effect made him thirst for another SSS-grade skill.
In the upcoming selection, he was sharp to monopolize the SSS-grade skills. But, his other simulation unfolded an undesirable situation.
Other participants would certainly prefer the highest grade as well. His competitors were not limited to a hundred but a thousand greedy opponents.
Playing with odds, he had a lower chance of obtaining two skills, no less for a single SSS-grade skill. He was growing engrossed about the upcoming selection.
"I should not prioritize grade over quality. High grade doesn't necessarily mean great potential. There could be trash skills mixed with higher-grade skills. I should opt for quality over grade", Alab mumbled to himself.
Having said that, a wild thought came to his mind. Immediately, he validated his assumption.
"System, in the category that can be enhanced, does that include my other skills?", Alab boldly asked the system.
He incessantly barrages the system with queries as it took it a long time to respond. Seemingly growing tired of restless demand for a brisk response, the system resounded.
[The system has decided to answer the host's query just this once.]
[Affirmation, you can use the SSS-grade skill "Conversion" to upgrade your other skills]
[The system will no longer accept any queries. Answers must be sought by the host himself]
Having read the contents, Alab nodded his head. Simulations ran smoothly in his head once more. This simulation entailed skills best suited to his unique skill.
Disregarding the grade, attack prowess, defense, and such, Alab came to a conclusion of the promising skills he needed. At best, his skills had to maximize the potential of his SSS-grade skill [Conversion].
"It is about synergy after all", Alab muttered.
For that, he wouldn't need the prowess to summon comets nor the power to command thunders. He needed abilities capable of reducing the terrible 1-year cooldown of his skill. Not to mention the mana usage that made him incapable of wielding the skill at the moment.
"If I have these skills, leveling up my other skills would be achievable in a shorter time"
Rummaging through his memories, the words of the [God of the Earth] invaded his thought.
[There was a rumor that an entity that incapacitated the "ABSOLUTE ONE" possessed a dark power. However, that rumored dark god died in that battle, along with his undead---]
"Undead...", Alab mumbled once more. Keen to be vigilant for undead skills on the list.
As he arranged his thoughts, the system rang once again.
[Ding!]
[All the participants have successfully entered their respective lobbies]
[The skill selection will start in 10 seconds]
[9]
[8]
'crack'
Alab stretched his body, preparing for the upcoming war of dexterity. His mind had long been furnished by his experiences as he retained his blank and composed ambiance.
[5]
[4]
'breathe'
[1]
[The skill selection will now commence]