Chapter 6 - Hidden Expert

Adrian became speechless while looking at the translucent blue screen, showing his Status Profile.

Is this for real? Am I seeing things?

For a moment Adrian thought that he was hallucinating. 

How the hell is this even possible? Is the System trying to play a cruel joke on me?

"Haha....hahaha", Adrian started laughing like a madman.

Almost after five minutes of maniacal laughing, Adrian composed himself.

After calming himself down, he looked over his Status panel again.

No, it's the same as before.

So, I was not hallucinating. It's the real deal. 

I have Innate Talent Skills, along with other different Passive and Active Skills which I didn't even have in the past during this time.

And most of these skills are Uncommon and Rare ranked.

Even my Innate Talent Skills are at Beginner and Advanced Rank.

Is it what the System called the Rearranging process because I am an Anomaly?

Adrian was surprised while looking over his Skill Chart mainly.

The System mostly assigned Skills in the Categories of Common, Uncommon, Rare, Unique, Epic, Semi-Legendary, Legendary, Mythical, Divine, Law Skills, and so on.

The assigning of the Skills in the Categorical Rank from D to SSS, happened much later in the past, almost ten to fifteen years later after the 1st Tribulation Period.

But, right now all the skills in his Skill Chart are assigned in the Categorical Rank, starting from Rank D to other higher ranks. 

In the past, when these skills were arranged in this type of fashion, it became much easier to level up the skills and use them properly.

This is the main reason Adrian was so happy about this new updation of his Skill Chart.

With this, I can easily level up all of my skills just by using the Skill Proficiency Points.

It will be much easier to do rather practicing and performing all these skills over and over.

But, how come I have almost close to 20 skills (19) this time?

Did this also happen because I came back from the future and the System termed me as an 'Anomaly'?

As long as I remember, I mostly had 5 Active Skills and 1 Passive Skill just before the 1st Tribulation Period began. And also, these skills are not the same at all.

Those skills were much Lower-Tiered and mostly useless.

But, right now, most of the skills present in my Skill Chart are those that I obtained after so many years of constant fighting and struggle in the past.

Although every skill from my previous skill list is at the lowest level, I know very well how powerful these skills can be if I can level up and master each one of them.

Their future potential is limitless.

Adrian was overjoyed. 

Because he already knew that, these skills are not permanent skill sets of a person. 

Other than the Innate Talent Skills, each of the Active, Passive, Unique, and Divine Skills can be upgraded and evolved.

Many of his current skills can be evolved in the later future and their highest rank can become very close to SS or even SSS rank.

In simple terms, right now, he has almost 15-17 skills in their infancy which can easily become Semi-Legendary, Legendary, or even Mythical Ranked skills later.

How could not he become overjoyed?

And as for the Innate Talent Skills, Adrian already understood what happened.

Innate Talent Skills are related to one's soul. 

As long as the person's soul is not destroyed or damaged by any means, their Innate Talent Skills will not be lost, destroyed, or sealed in any way.

Probably this was the reason why both "Towers Of Heaven" as well as his System labeled him as an "Anomaly".

All of his Innate Talent Skills were the product of his constant struggles and too many life-and-death battles.

In the past, the Lowest rank of his Innate Talent Skills was the Master Rank, while his Highest-Tier Innate Talent Skill was at the Ancient Rank.

Although currently many of his Innate Talent Skills are not present at the Skill Chart and those who are present are also at very low levels, Adrian knew it was just a matter of time before they come back at their full potential again.

And as for the Innate Talent Skills that are currently missing, Adrian only needed to perform all those skills once again in a proper manner, and practice them diligently and then those skills will be rediscovered by his soul once again.

As long as he develops and consolidates each of his steps, there will be no problem in retrieving his lost skills again.

It was no wonder System labeled me as an "Anomaly". 

He is indeed an 'Anomaly' who came back in the past with all of his memories intact, along with many skills as well as precious Innate Talent Skills, which can be learned only once in an entire lifetime. 

Although I don't know what happened, it happened in my favor.

With these many powerful skills, which are even arranged in their Tier Categorical Manner (Rank D to Rank SSS), I can hasten my development speed in these two days.

The first thing I need to do is make my body powerful and remove the 'Weakened' status.

After that, I need to Awaken myself and realize the flow of Mana through my body.

Though this time it will not be Ambient Mana as before, I can't do anything about that.

If I had to wait to make myself Awaken in the normal way through the flow of Ambient Mana which is abundant in our nature, it would almost take six to seven years just like before.

I can't wait that long. I only had two days, so I need to try the other ways I learned before.

After awakening, I need to increase my level steadily and go for the Promotion Quests for my Evolution.

The last step will be the removal of the Mark of [Slave Seal], along with which I will end the owner of the [Slave Seal] too this time.

So, let's begin.

After deciding on what to do in these coming two days, Adrian started working right away.

Although he was fatigued and much tired after the whole day, there was not much time left for him.

Adrian didn't properly check the other parts of his Status Profile. He already knew that his profile was not something to brag about at this point.

Only the highly developed Skill Chart and precious Inventory caught his attention.

He didn't even look for his new Title "The Returner".

After equipping, the Title would probably increase some of his stats in any way, so it was not that important to him.

"System, start selling all the Rusty Long-Sword and Destroyed Sword from my Inventory. Also, sell all the Short Swords too."

Adrian decided to sell all of these Items.

These items didn't have any useful function for him, he only stored them because tomorrow Simon would need them for his use along with all the Potions, Scrolls, Ores, and Blood-Refining Crystals.

In the past, Adrian obediently handed over all his items to Simon and his lackeys so that they wouldn't torture him anymore for coins.

Later Adrian got to know that with the help of these Blood-Refining Crystals and Potions, Simon made himself much stronger than before.

He only felt regret at that time for handing over all of his items to that bastard.

But this time, history will not repeat itself.

Moreover, currently, he needed coins for himself.

Awakening oneself does not come for free anyway.

Awakening someone forcefully involves a lot of risks. So, more coins will help in ample preparation to avoid or at least minimize those risk factors.

[System Prompt : You have applied for a Sale of a total of 3 types of Items. Rusty Long-Sword (x55), Destroyed Sword (x45), Short Sword (x17).]

[System Prompt : Do you wish to continue? Confirm : YES / NO]

Adrian confirmed "YES" without any hesitation.

This is not the time for savings.

Although for his future goals, he will need many materials including swords and others, he will think about them later when the time or need comes.

[System Prompt : You have sold all of your collection of Rusty Long-Sword for a total of 5 Silver 50 Copper (55 x 10 Copper)]

[System Prompt : You have sold all of your collection of Destroyed Sword for a total of 90 Copper (45 x 2 Copper)]

[System Prompt : You have sold all of your collection of Short Sword for a total of 85 Copper (17 x 5 Copper)]

[Calculating.....]

[System Prompt : Your current Balance is 155 Gold, 72 Silver, and 60 Copper.]

[System Prompt : Do you wish to continue selling your Items? Confirm : YES / NO.]

Adrian laughed while looking at the message.

Then he confirmed "NO".

There is no need for him to sell his Potions, Scrolls, or Ores.

He had already thought of a use for them.

"Open Market", Adrian ordered in his mind.

[System Prompt : Opening System Market. Choose your Items to buy.]

Adrian didn't go for a search in the System Market, he already knew what he wanted this time.

"Search for Pure Mana Crystals, starting from Common Rank to Rare Rank".

[System Prompt : Search initiated...]

[System Prompt : Search ended. Pure Mana Crystals found. 

Common Rank Pure Mana Crystal (x250) --> Price : 50 Copper / each.

Uncommon Rank Pure Mana Crystal (x100) --> Price : 05 Silver / each.

Rare Rank Pure Mana Crystal (x100) --> Price : 65 Silver / each.]

"Buy all".

[System Prompt : Buying all Pure Mana Crystals found in search result....]

[System Prompt : Total Cost --> 71 Gold, 25 Silver.]

[System Prompt : Your current Balance is 84 Gold, 47 Silver, and 60 Copper.]

Adrian's heart bled looking at the message.

Just within a moment, he lost over 71 Gold coins.

Huh, I am too much poor. It can't be helped anyway. I need to gather all the materials for my Awakening.

Coins don't matter to me now.

Although he thought that coins didn't matter, he could not help but curse his poor condition.

After steeling his heart for another large expenditure, Adrian asked, "Search for Cloud Grass, Genesis flower, Nirin root, Soul-devourer Crystal. Also search for some Mid-Tier and High-Tier Health Potion".

[System Prompt : Search initiated.....]

[System Prompt : Search ended. Required Items found.]

Cloud Grass (x25) --> Price : 02 Silver / each stalk.

Genesis Flower (x50) --> Price : 15 Silver / each stalk.

Nirin Root (x50) --> Price : 50 Silver / each stalk.

Common Rank Soul-devourer Crystal (x10) --> Price : 02 Gold / each.

Uncommon Rank Soul-devourer Crystal (x5) --> Price : 05 Gold / each.

Rare Rank Soul-devourer Crystal (x1) --> Price : 15 Gold.

Mid-Tier Health Potion (x50) --> Price : 50 Silver / each.

High-Tier Health Potion (x25) --> Price : 02 Gold / each.]

Adrian stopped his breathing after seeing the prices of the materials he asked for.

Fuck, these things are too much expensive.

Did that man win a lottery before?

Adrian couldn't help but curse at the old man who told him about this unorthodox method for his Awakening and also the required materials.

I need to stop thinking about coins.

Once I become powerful, there will be many chances to earn coins.

Moreover, I can just start earning in two days when those Monster dungeons suddenly pop out of nowhere in cities and towns.

"Buy 20 stalks of Cloud grass, 20 stalks of Genesis flower, 10 stalks of Nirin root, all of the Soul-devourer Crystals in the search list. And also buy 10 bottles of Mid-Tier Health Potion and 5 bottles of High-Tier Health Potion".

[System Prompt : Buying all the Items requested so far....]

[Calculating....]

[System Prompt : Total Cost --> 83 Gold, 40 Silver.]

[System Prompt : Your current Balance is 01 Gold, 07 Silver, and 60 Copper.]

Adrian looked at the System screen helplessly. All of his money was just flushed out to buy these materials.

I'm dead, seriously I'm dead now.

I think this is enough. But if this method fails, this time there will be no chance for my return. I'll die as well.

Let's play big, whatever happens, I'll deal with them later.

Adrian stood up from his bed and went to the bathroom. Then he filled his worn-out bathtub to the brim with water and poured 2 Low-Tier Body Tempering Potion in it.

Hope it does work.

Adrian undressed and got inside the water. Within a minute, he noticed the System messages in front of his eyes.

[System Prompt : Your body is absorbing Low-Tier Body Tempering Potion.]

[System Prompt : The current amount of Body Tempering Potion for your body is not enough.]

Sure enough.

In the past, at this time I've never tempered my body. And also almost every day I was beaten mercilessly and continued to stay in a Weakened condition.

It's no wonder that my body requires more of this Tempering Potion.

Even though this is only a Low-Tier body tempering potion, for my current self, this is more than enough. 

Adrian took out another 2 bottles of Low-Tier Body Tempering Potion from his inventory. Two bottles of body tempering potion appeared in Adrian's hand out of thin air. Adrian smiled softly. In the past, he always liked the scene where different items were appearing in his hands out of thin air.

Well, I guess some things never change. Even after coming back from the future.

Adrian laughed bitterly.

After taking out those bottles, Adrian emptied them into the bathtub and started absorbing the body-tempering potion once more.

[System Prompt : Your body is absorbing Low-Tier body tempering potions.]

[System Prompt : Your body condition and constitution are slightly improving.]

Good, it's working.

With this, the first step of my plan is done.

Now, I need to start the next step of my plan to temper my body properly.

Adrian took out another 3 bottles of Low-Tier Body Tempering Potion. Along with the body tempering potions, he also took out 7 bottles of Low-Tier Health Potion, 5 bottles of Low-Tier Strength Potion, and another 5 bottles of Low-Tier Stamina Potion.

In the past, from an old man, Adrian received some help.

The man in his dying state told Adrian about many secrets of this new world.

From him, Adrian also learned that "Weakened" status can be permanently removed by using the proper combination of Body-Tempering potion, Health potion, Strength potion, and Stamina potion. 

Although the combination ratio varies from person to person, Adrian tried this before on a person, and it worked.

This time Adrian hoped for the same.

I can only hope that this method works.

Otherwise my 'Weakened' status will be a pain in the ass.

Adrian poured everything into the water and started absorbing the various potions.

Within two minutes, System messages appeared in front of him again.

[System Prompt : Your body is absorbing Health potion, Stamina Potion, Strength Potion, and Body Tempering Potion.]

[System Prompt : Congratulations! You have discovered the Hidden Recovery Condition of The Legends....]

[System Prompt : Your body is rapidly improving.]

Hidden Recovery Condition of The Legends?

Adrian was stunned after seeing the message.

This never happened before. Even when I applied the same combination ratio for Rehan, this type of situation never happened.

And my body is improving rapidly?

Will it really be okay?

Before Adrian could think of anything, a sudden pain assaulted his mind.

"Fuck fuck fuck, it hurts". 

After getting assaulted by a huge wave of sudden pain, Adrian cursed loudly.

What the hell just happened?

Adrian looked at himself. His whole body is now covered in some thick black substances.

It seems my body is improving and the impurities are getting out of my system.

But this shit really hurts. 

Adrian continuously felt a huge amount of pain in his mind and also in his body.

It looked like he was getting beaten by someone and also getting mentally tortured by someone at the same time.

This Hidden Recovery Condition of The Legends is really something.

No wonder it never happened before.

Or am I feeling this much pain just because my body is already in a Weakened condition for too long?

Adrian didn't know what was happening in his body.

Both his body and mind were numbed by pain.

He could only grit his teeth and wait for this hell storm to pass soon.

After almost twenty minutes of tremendous suffering, Adrian finally heard System messages once more.

[System Prompt : Congratulations! You have completed the Hidden Recovery Condition of The Legends (Part - I)]

[System Prompt : "Weakened" Status has been removed.]

[System Prompt : Your health and strength have recovered. Your body condition has improved.]

[System Prompt : Some of your Basic Attributes have increased by a large margin.] 

[System Prompt : Your current Improved and Updated Status....

• HP : 875/875 (+125, previously, It was 750)

• Strength : 97 (+22)

• Stamina : 105 (+24)

• Vitality : 68 (+11)

• Endurance : 65 (+14)

• Defence : 43 (+8, Physical Defence : 43, Magical Defence : 0)]

• Attack Power : 93 (+6)

• Fatigue : 65 (-22)]

[System Prompt : New Achievement !! Completion of Hidden Recovery Condition of The Legends (Part - I). Reward : +25 Skill Proficiency Points.]

[System Prompt : Current Skill Proficiency Points : 35]

[System Prompt : You have received a New Title. 

Title : Hidden Expert

Title Type : Non-Upgradable.

Title Description : You've discovered and also completed a forgotten Hidden Technique of The Legends. Some Gods are now interested in you.

Title Effect (When Equipped) : +50 Strength, +50 Stamina, +25 Vitality, +25 Endurance, +20 Intelligence, +5 Luck.]

Adrian froze while seeing these messages.

He had long forgotten about the pain while looking at this new information.

What the hell are these? This whole situation is heaven-defying.

Adrian never thought that there would be these types of benefits after discovering and completing a Hidden Recovery Condition.

He only thought about strengthening and tempering his body to remove his Weakened status and to prepare for what he was going to do next. 

But these things caught him by surprise.

Not only did my Basic Attributes increase significantly, but I also received 25 Skill Proficiency Points.

My Stamina stat has shot past 100.

And there is also a new Title.

Adrian was not interested in titles because those titles didn't change anything for him previously.

His last title "Endurer" only increased his Endurance stat by 5 points.

Although it was somewhat important in battle, it didn't matter that much to him before.

In front of the overwhelming strength of the monsters, this 5-point increase in Endurance didn't matter.

Also, he received this title after getting beaten countless times by both monsters and humans. So, he was not that much fond of this title. 

Adrian always treated this title as nothing but an eyesore in his life.

And also that title was Non Up-gradable type. So, later that title became completely useless.

But now, Adrian's disdain for titles came to an end.

His new title "Hidden Expert" is nothing but a gem.

Although the title is also Non Up-gradable type, it's much more preferable than any other titles currently.

In the past, Adrian never heard of any titles giving such bonuses to someone's Basic Attributes.

After equipping this title, I can almost double my stats.

Also, there is Luck stat.

I can't believe that there is some title at this early stage when Tribulation hasn't even begun, can even increase someone's luck.

Is that why it's called the reward for some forgotten Legend?

Most importantly, the System mentioned that this is only the First Part of the Hidden Recovery Condition of The Legends, and it already gave me a huge boost in my Basic Attributes, rewarded me some decent amount of Skill Proficiency Points, and also a powerful Title.

Though, I think I got the Title because I completed the first part of this Quest before anyone else this time. Because, when I performed the same techniques and Potion mixture ratio of 7:7:5:5 (Low-Tier Body Tempering Potion : Low-Tier Health Potion : Low-Tier Strength Potion : Low-Tier Stamina Potion = 7:7:5:5) on Rehan, only his Weakened status got removed and he got a little boost in his Basic Attributes. It was nowhere near to the huge increase in my current Basic Attributes.

Now, I understand why that old man told me that he discovered there was a Hidden and Forgotten Quest, which can give someone immense power.

Probably this is the Hidden and Forgotten Quest that the old man mentioned to me. Maybe he already knew about this quest, which couldn't be discovered easily by anyone and it's also a part of a Chain Quest.

Probably that is why he repeatedly told me to use nothing but Low-Tier Potions if I only want to remove someone's Weakened status permanently.

if I used some Higher Tier Potions to achieve a better result, the outcome would become different and there is a chance that I would miss the rewards and title of this quest. Or worse, my body could become damaged irreversibly. Fortunately, I didn't become greedy to achieve a better result. Or the outcome could become disastrous.

Now, I don't have any idea about the Second Part of this Quest, and the old man didn't tell me anything either.

Maybe even he didn't know about the next part of this quest or he failed the next quest.

Anything is possible.

Well, I will think of it if I come across any opportunities related to this matter.

If the rewards for completing only the First part are removal of the Weakened condition, a generous Status boost and a powerful Title, then the rewards for completing the next part will be far more enticing. 

I really have to thank that dying old man for giving me such a precious gift.

Adrian was much happier inwardly. 

But after taking a glance at the Title description, Adrian frowned slightly.

Some Gods are now interested in me?

This is not good. 

Getting those bastards' attention at this point may be preferable to many but not to him.

Well, I can't do anything about that anyway.

With good luck, bad luck also comes.

I received such a miraculous title, so certainly there will be some sort of surveillance by the Towers.

They will never give any benefit without consideration.

Now, my stats have considerably improved, my body has also improved and the Weakened status is also gone.

It's time to perform the next step in my plan.

If everything goes well, then those Gods who are now interested in me and currently watching and monitoring my steps will become more surprised.

Let's get the show to begin.