Skimming through the list of achievements, I sighed.
There were many suspicious points to address, but none as important as the one stating I had cleared every hidden quest related to the 2nd Trial. It also said I went through the 'best possible path.' That raised questions I couldn't ignore.
Does this mean the 1st Trial could have been cleared in a better way?
Did something happen to Yor Forger and her family because I missed the right conditions?
Even if that's the case, I can't afford to worry about others right now.
If I failed to save you, I am sorry. But you did kill me 11 times, so I can't really feel much sympathy for you.
I shook my head. If only those were my only doubts.
The most pressing concern is:
What if I can't keep completing the Trials following this 'best possible path' bullshit? I have too little information to start formulating my own theory, so I have no choice but to pin this in my mind for the future. When I'm close to completing other Trials, I'll be even more careful about the influence of my actions.
I figured just ending a Trial was the end of it, but that was wishful thinking, it seems.
My goal is to learn from the past, not fall because of it.
Now, about my new Skills...
They're really good.
While one might be worried by the fact both of them clearly relied on huge amounts of Mana to sustain, not only do I possess a huge amount of it, but I also had a really nice perk I got from the connection between Authorities a while ago.
[Your Magic will cost half the Mana to cast]
Although it technically applies only to Magic, it doesn't mean a Skill can't be considered Magic. I'm curious to see if it works.
It's a pity I can't use them now, since in the [Rest Room] any form of skill or energy use is forbidden. Even so, I can start building my theory about it.
Since I'll one day be able to use all elements, my growth will focus more on their control and use from now on. It was impossible to take it seriously in the 2nd Trial because of the World's weird properties, but in other Worlds that aren't as restrictive, I'll train and refine them to the point of satisfaction.
That will certainly help me reach one step higher towards the peak.
About my authorities instead, I really want to ask...
[The Authority of the Sword is asking how could a newly formed Authority randomly upgrade a Talent to Lv. 100. Shouldn't it be the one to be called unbalanced instead?]
[The Authority of Balance refuses the Authority of the Sword's statement. Balance can only be called upon in particular circumstances, so it is not a fair enough argument to say it is unbalanced. The Authority of the Sword has been messing with everything without a care for the shackles it has on it, so it should be the unbalanced one...]
What did the System put in that 'nourishment' exactly?
Why are those two still arguing about who's the most unbalanced?
Seriously, though. I could've never expected an Authority like Balance to be given to me. Although their conversation is just two kids bickering, there is still some useful information in it.
Is it perhaps a trick to let me gather information indirectly?
...Honestly, I can't tell.
Where is my button to disable notifications? Why am I the only MC in existence without one...
Sadly, I can't cry over spilled milk.
Now, as for the last thing I got from the Trial Quest....
A [Wish Card].
Honestly, this seems like one of the most broken items I've ever seen. The Skill Points per value of the Skill will increase by 500%.
This means a Skill valued at 750 SP could be bought by me for just 150 SP instead. That's incredible.
Right now, I don't know what a high-level skill looks like, since I always dealt with 50, maybe 60 SP ones at most. With this card, though, I finally had a chance to see how good they are. The temptation to use it immediately was high, but it would be a waste. I don't have the required SP to use it anyway.
Also, since it's stated it will be of help to me, I can keep it as a last resort of sorts.
Though, it may be risky to consider it like that, as there's always the possibility of not having enough SP to buy it...
I have a lot to ponder. I quickly scrolled through everything on my list, but they all seem like things I'll understand better after leaving this place. So, for now...
"I should really eat something."
Other than that, a shower and some sleep are a must-have.
As usual, I only have 12 hours before I will need to go through the next Trial...
But there was actually one last thing to check before doing all that, and it was, of course, my Status.
[Status: Injured ➔ Healthy+
Level: 145 ➔ 180 ➔ 205 ➔ 255 ➔ 285 ➔ 305
Mana Pathways: Perfect
Combat Prowess: Highest ➔ Extreme ➔ ???
Martial Arts: Karate(Lv.1 ➔ 5 ➔ 8)
Sword Arts: Sky Art(Sky Footwork(Lv. 33 ➔ 50 ➔ 60), Sky Sword Technique(Lv. 33 ➔ 50 ➔ 60), Sky Slash(Lv.23 ➔ 40 ➔ 50), Hand-To-Hand Sky Technique(Lv.1 ➔ 15 ➔ 40)(NEW!))
Active Skills: Cooking Master(Lv.6 ➔ 10 ➔ 13 ➔ 19), Turtle Shell(Lv. 25 ➔ 50 ➔ 75), Mirage Veil(Lv.15 ➔ 40), Shadow Step(Lv.1 ➔ 20 ➔ 48), Mana Explosion(Lv.1 ➔ 17 ➔ 100 ➔ 115), Overload(Lv.MAX)
Passive Skills: Body Zen(Lv.15 ➔ 30 ➔ 35 ➔ 60), Mind's Dominion(Lv.15 ➔ 30 ➔ 35 ➔ 60), Perfect Human Body(Lv.40 ➔ 60 ➔ 100 ➔ 110), Mana Control(Lv.34 ➔ 51 ➔ 83), Regeneration+(Lv.1 ➔ 30 ➔ 90), Limit Breaker(Lv. MAX), Killing Intent(Lv. 1 ➔ 12 ➔ 33)
Growth Skills: Strength, Weakest Magic Generation
Magic: Body Strengthening(Lv.25 ➔ 60 ➔ 80), Sword Infusion(Lv.20 ➔ 55 ➔ 75), Equipment Enhancement(Lv. 9 ➔ 41 ➔ 45), Slime Manipulation(Lv.30 ➔ 77 ➔ 99), Restricting Magic(Lv. 5 ➔ 30 ➔ 32), Healing Magic(Lv.1 ➔ 39 ➔ 78), Weight Adjustment(Lv.1 ➔ 5 ➔ 25), Fly(Lv.1 ➔ 10 ➔ 35), Mind Manipulation(Lv.1 ➔ 20 ➔ 70) (NEW!), Thread Manipulation(Lv. 1 ➔ 20 ➔ 70)(NEW!), Purification(Lv. 1 ➔ 5 ➔ 8)(NEW!)...
Talent: Sword(Lv. 33 ➔ 50 ➔ 60), Movement(Lv.33 ➔ 50 ➔ 60), Wisdom(Lv.33 ➔ 50 ➔ 60), Intuition(Lv.33 ➔ 50 ➔ 60), Body(Lv.33 ➔ 50 ➔ 60), Determination(Lv.33 ➔ 50 ➔ 60), Mana(Lv.27 ➔ 45 ➔ 60), Elemental Manipulation(Lv.1 ➔ 22 ➔ 100 ➔ 110)
Awakening: Sword(10.0% ➔ 15%)
You have 115 unused Skill Points]
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Author's Note:
I'm considering some way to shorten this Status, because it's growing a lil bit too big.
Maybe, I'll just show the most relevant things and all others will be hidden to you, but will come back when they're needed or something. I'll probably open another poll about this issue.
I didn't forget about the Statuses of Alpha, Alexia, and others. I'll post them next chapter, most likely, either on my discord(in a new channel for it) or here!
Anyways, if you haven't done it already, please join the discord and vote on the ongoing poll for the next World!