[The skill selection will now commence]
No one blinked an eye as they loitered at the translucent screen. Their eyes fixed as they lifted their finger in the air, fidgety as they couldn't hold their excitement.
In no time, a list of skills was displayed by the system.
[SSS (5 skills)
< Click to View >
SS (10 skills)
< Click to View >
S (50 skills)
< Click to View >
A (1000 skills)
< Click to View >
B (2000 skills)
< Click to View >
C (5000 skills)
< Click to View >
D (10000 skills)
< Click to View >
E (100000 skills)
< Click to View > ]
Alab's finger brewed with urgency as he slid through the SSS-grade column. It was only a mili-second as the system suffered alterations each second. Opening the column, Alab witnessed the number dwindle from 5 to 3.
The column was unearthed and the number dwindled to 2.
Alab's sight landed at the remaining SSS-grade skills.
[Ice Age (SSS)
Zero Cooldown (SSS)]
With no words needed, Alab clicked on the Zero Cooldown.
[Do you want to select this skill "Zero Cooldown" (SSS) as your first skill? Y/N]
Alab rashly selected [Yes].
[Ding! You have obtained the SSS-grade skill "Zero Cooldown" (SSS)]
[Selected skills: 1/5]
Discarding the announcement, Alab scrolled through the SSS-grade column once more. And as he expected, the [Ice Age] was no longer available.
He clicked on the back button and directed at the SS grade.
[Dragon Dance (SS)
Gravity Affinity (SS)
Dolores (SS)
.... Omitted]
Alab just scrolled through the skills, indifferent to the skills' grades. His eyes skimmed through their names, attentive for skills that suited his unique skill. He witnessed the skills vanishing one by one till he reached the end of the column.
With a blank expression, Alab didn't concern himself with SS-grade skills anymore. He clicked the back button and shortly browsed the S-grade skills.
There were still 48 S-grade skills remaining and Alab's eyes ran through the contents, gauging each skill one by one. His mind was rampant as he ran simulations in his head. But it was futile, none of the S-grade skills were to his liking.
Then, he scrolled through the unaltered A-grade skills. The dazzling [1000 skills] quickened his eyes as he skimmed through the skills. At that moment, only two seconds had passed.
And there, at the 48th skill, his eyes turned glued at the skill's name.
[Increase drop rate (A)]
His skill [Conversion] required an item as a catalyst to be converted into points. For that, the increased drop rate boosted an enticing potential.
But, Alab's mind brushed this thought off.
"Somewhere, there must be a skill to increase luck. That would be better than this particular skill", he pondered as he proceeded to browse.
More skills began attracting his eyesight. They were skills that increase luck in distinct categories. But, Alab's simulations told him that a skill to increase luck in general must have existed somewhere in the B-E grade column. Alab persisted till he met the 1000th skill.
Brushing off his hesitations, Alab rapidly strokes his finger through the B-grade column. The [2000 skills] were not perturbed by other participants who were still busy, occupied by S and A-grade skills.
Without wasting a second, Alab had finished through the B-grade column. His hand slipped to the C-grade. Three minutes after, he blinked his lethargic eyes as his fingers slid to the D-grade column.
With a rush stroke, he clicked on the 55th skill.
[Do you want to select the skill "Item Upgrade" (D) as your second skill? Y/N]
"Yes"
[Ding! You have obtained the D-grade skill "Item Upgrade"]
[Selected skills: 2/5]
Alab was about to proceed through the D column when a sudden system announcement disturbed his incessant thoughts.
[It is detected that you are the remaining participant in the lobby]
'breathe'
Alab finally drew air towards his body as he took a breather. Only a minute had passed with both his mind and eyes exhausted from overwork. He closed his eyes as he stabilize his rampant thoughts.
The next minute, he unveiled his eyes filled with the translucent screen.
[List of skills:
SSS (0/5 skills)
< Click to View >
SS (0/10 skills)
< Click to View >
S (0/50 skills)
< Click to View >
A (0/1000 skills)
< Click to View >
B (0/2000 skills)
< Click to View >
C (3069/5000 skills)
< Click to View >
D (9999/10000 skills)
< Click to View >
E (100000 skills)
< Click to View > ]
The other participants concluded their skill selection. It was evident that they prioritized grades above all, depleting the B-SSS grade skills. They appeared not to bother going through the D and E grade columns as they saturated their 5 skill slots.
With another breather, Alab moved to the D column. This time, he skimmed through each skill with a serene mind.
"This is not it. Not this either", Alab took his time carefully evaluating each skill. He no longer had a competitor to rush him.
After half an hour, Alab selected his third skill.
[Ding!]
[Selected skills: 3/5]
He then proceeded to the last and lowest E-grade column.
Unwanted skills then drenched his sight.
[Stab (E)
Throw (E)
Kick (E)
Dust throwing (E)
Increased Finger Flick (E)
..... Omitted]
It was apparent why these skills were branded as the lowest of the low, E-grade. Their prowess was nothing to note. It was even a godsend to call these [Skills].
If converted to humans, these skills were analogous to outcasts.
However, even outcasts had their stories to tell. They had their advantage to boast. Potentials bloomed in them. And together, they were a force to reckon with.
In the E-grade column, 500th in the list, Alab gracefully threads his finger towards the skill. His indifferent expression remained deadpan as he gazed at the system text appearing before him.
[Do you want to select the skill "Luck" (E) as your fourth skill? Y/N]
"Yes"
[Ding! You have obtained the E-grade skill Luck"]
[Selected skills: 4/5]
Alab was down to his last skill. At this moment, he couldn't help but remember the undead skill he had been attentive to since earlier.
Such skill was supposed to appear at grade B and beyond. But, Alab didn't find a trace of such skill among the list. Even skills of dark aptitude could be counted with his hands.
"Does that skill even exist in the first place?", Alab pondered as he shook his thoughts off.
He could only see through the remaining list and discover whether its existence was factual.
"Not this one"
Alab rummaged through the skills as he kept recognizing abilities with considerable potential. Still, he persisted in discerning the remaining skills before coming to a decision
His sight landed on the 99,999 within the next hours. Closing his eyes, Alab scrolled the screen to see the 100000th skill on the list.
And at that moment, murky gray in color, the last skill emitted a lethal aura as it pierced Alab's eyes. From the looks alone, Alab could feel the death aura coiling around the 100000th skill. Finally nodding his head, Alab muttered.
"This is it. The undead skill..."
[Do you want to select the skill "Skeleton Trainee Summoning" (E) as your fifth skill? Y/N]
"Yes"
[Ding! You have obtained the E-grade skill "Skeleton Trainee Summoning"]
[Selected skills: 5/5]