Let's go in a sequential order.
My rating for this Trial is SS-, which is quite good, but I don't know what's the best I can get. Is it SSS, or something else?
...Dwelling on such details isn't a priority.
My interactions with Luna Azentine have been restricted to a certain extent, limiting the scope of my questions. Consequently, I lack clarity on the precise metrics governing the evaluation. It appears that my Final Rating hinges on [Achievements].
Beyond mere quantity, I believe it's the quality of these achievements that truly matters.
After all, I could see I have completed many different achievements, but only the most important ones have been listed at the top.
Scrolling down, I could see I gained quite the skill.
"Limit Breaker..."
The words involuntarily slipped from my lips. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sheer cheesiness of the skill's name.
I swear, I'm starting to morph into one of those overpowered Chinese MCs. I can almost picture myself, breaking limits left and right, perched atop a mountain of defeated foes, casting a gaze down upon the mere mortals below.
You are not prepared for Yours Truly to make an appearance....
If my next trial throws me into some cultivation universe, that'd be a riot.
Just imagine me, a lowly Qi Condensation realm cultivator, stumbling upon an ancient, all-knowing Grandmaster in the Heavenly Fusion realm, ready to impart their wisdom upon some unsuspecting youth. Oh, and let's not forget the classic twist of discovering I'm actually the offspring of some revered figure, and my family's downfall was orchestrated by a sworn enemy.
Or better yet, being born in a lower plane only to unearth my family's fallen status from a higher realm a whopping 2000 chapters later.
Okay, now I'm clearly cooking up some wild fantasies.
To avoid copyright, let's leave it at that.
Anyway. I found myself mulling over the scattered notes left here and there.
Authority.
What's this?
The term intrigued me, given the weight it carried in the phrasing. It seemed like a significant deal, the kind of thing you shouldn't easily come by...
But hey, having two of them can't hurt, right?
These Authorities seem to have a knack for tweaking and boosting Skills to the next level, but for now, wrapping my head around them is proving to be a puzzle.
Given enough time, I'm hopeful the fog will lift and I'll gain a clearer understanding.
Can't afford to dwell too long on a single puzzle piece; time's ticking away.
I've grumbled in the past about the lackluster display of my sword's Awakening, only to discover that an enigmatic element, previously concealed in the prompts, was keeping it under wraps.
Now, there's a subtle sensation, akin to a tiny flame flickering within the blade.
It's not a tangible change, just a feeling, yet it transforms the experience from gripping a cold piece of steel into something more profound.
Though it's still an ordinary sword, the difference is noticeable.
I'm waiting for you, companion. Take all the time you need.
"The time for us to go along this journey together will soon come"
I know it's silly, but I still spoke to it briefly before I continued further.
Seems like my skills and talents weren't satisfied with settling for the Best Mana Pathways, so they went hunting for more.
I half-expected the System to reject or tweak the request somehow.
But nope, it just upgraded them, no questions asked.
Fairness surely had a role to play in this, but.
Seems too good to be true, right? Definitely smells fishy. Can't trust this System as far as I can throw it.
Yet, despite the upgrade, I don't feel any different. Strange, right?
What are you plotting, damn System...?
For now, I could only be cautious and prepare for the future.
I've never laid eyes on a Lv. 0 skill before, but it boils down to one of two scenarios.
Either there's no mana around here for me to control, and since I've never even dipped my toes in it, I haven't learned the skill yet...
Or my Mana Perception is locked down until I step into the 2nd Trial.
Honestly, the former seems more likely. No real point in sealing my perception that way. Besides, with my shiny new skills, I should be able to pick up on that if it were the case.
So... where the heck am I?
That's the million-dollar question always lingering around in my head, but I'm afraid there's no clear answer, at least not now...
Being this weak is beyond frustrating. I can't unravel the mysteries buzzing in my brain, and I sure as heck can't carve out my own destiny.
If only I were strong enough to thumb my nose at the System's puppetry, I could just do whatever I pleased.
It's obvious, but sadly, my only ticket to success is to keep on moving.
I pledged to take on the System, so I've got to get a whole lot stronger than I am now...
So, there's this other thing that's been flying under the radar for a while – my [Cooking] Skill.
Honestly, I never gave it much thought since it's just a skill, and I've double-checked multiple times; it's all about whipping up tasty dishes.
Spotted this skill randomly the first time I pried open my status, but outside of this little gem, I've never stumbled onto a skill without forking over some Skill Points.
Then, How in the world did I end up with it?
Figuring that one out wasn't rocket science.
The only time I ever played chef was right here, in this space they call the [Rest Area].
Maybe, in this room where mana's nowhere to be found, and who knows what else is lurking beyond my senses, it somehow paved the way for me to snag a skill without following the usual playbook.
Well, that's something to experiment with later...
---
Author's Note:
I wanted to post the entire chapter in one bulk, but it's 2000+ words, so I decided against it.
For Patrons, it's already available in full. For you all, I will soon release the 2nd part of this chapter!
We'll officially enter the Eminence in Shadow World by chapter 43!
Some of you have replied to my request for an honest review. (Thank you!!)
digerion12 told me the name of the new skills(Body Control, Absolute Awareness) are a bit silly, so I am working on this and decide on several options, as I kinda agree! (Thank you for your suggestion!)
Worst-case scenario, I'll hold a poll on my Patreon to let you guys decide its final name. It's just names, so I can always change them down the line, no worries!
Let's pick the coolest names for Akira's skills :)