Watching the report, honestly, left me with more questions than answers. But I didn't expect much, to be honest. It would be hard for people who weren't with us on the ground to know much. And it didn't seem like the people who came back wanted to do interviews either. Everyone was probably too busy trying to reach their families.
This moment of reflection made me think of Ellen and Noelle. Honestly, I hoped they had managed to make it back home safely with Ellen's sister. Considering we were on the same bus and probably live in the same city, I thought that might be the case. However, I have no idea where to start looking for them, so I'm not even going to try.
For now, I should prioritize other matters, like ensuring my sister's safety. Honestly, I don't want to think about it, but considering this is a global event, it's likely that several people with powers similar to mine will start to show up. And, though I don't want to admit it, it would be naive to think all these people are well-intentioned. Even if they are, power sometimes corrupts even the purest of hearts.
(Seems like she's sleeping well. I'll take her to the bedroom so she doesn't wake up with a sore neck) I thought, glancing at Ruby.
Carefully, I lifted her in my arms in a princess-like gesture and carried her to the adjacent room. Our house was small, with just one room for the bedroom, another for the bathroom, and the kitchen integrated into the living room. Despite its small size, it was enough for two people to live in.
As these thoughts ran through my mind, I gently laid Ruby on the mattress that served as our bed. I covered her with the blanket up to her shoulders and then quietly left the room, returning to the living room. With Ruby asleep, I began to ponder what I would do next.
Honestly, I had no idea what to expect. Moreover, the fact that I could still use my powers after coming back home suggested that whatever had happened, it wasn't over yet. In fact, something inside me said that it was just the beginning.
Anyway, it was crucial that I focus on something tangible at the moment. First, I needed to claim the reward for surviving in that place for a week. Honestly, I'm not sure if I should feel happy about surviving, as I fear accepting it with joy might mean accepting my new reality too easily.
Setting that aside, I opened my status screen and, after checking all my previous stats, I noticed something new that I hadn't noticed the last time I accessed it.
Skill Upgrade Cards available: 1
More specifically, below my available skill points, there was a new one with a count of 1. While I wondered where exactly this upgrade card would appear, the answer was actually much simpler than it seemed. The name was self-explanatory; it would probably upgrade one of my skills or something similar. So, I pondered which of my skills to prioritize for evolution at this moment.
General Skills: Identify [Lv - 5], Ether Manipulation [Lv - 7], Ether Sight [Lv - 4], Echo Pulse [Lv - 5], Infusion [Lv - 9], Ether Pumping [Lv - 9], Kinetic Touch [Lv - 7]
These were all the skills I currently possessed. I decided to exclude [Identify] and [Etheric Vision], although they were useful skills, I chose to spend my first point on something that would give me an advantage in a fight. In total, there were 5 skills among which I could choose.
I honestly didn't have a formed opinion on which skill to prioritize. So, I decided to take a look at the descriptions. As I read, I was surprised by the available evolutions. Although there were many options, only one of each skill caught my attention. They were:
[Ether Control]
Ether Control is a skill that allows practitioners to wield mastery over the subtle energy of ether. At this basic level, individuals begin to develop the ability to direct and manipulate Ether energy around them more consciously and precisely. They can learn to modulate the intensity and direction of this energy, allowing them to influence their immediate environment in specific ways. This may include strengthening their own vitality, creating more defined protection fields, or even launching small energetic manifestations for practical purposes.
[Echo Amplification]
Echo Amplification empowers the user to amplify their ability to detect objects, expanding both their range and accuracy. By adjusting the intensity and frequency of energy pulses, users can obtain more detailed information about the location and nature of objects in their environment.
[Pure Ether Infusion]
Pure Ether Infusion reaches a new level by learning to infuse their weapons with pure ether. This infusion grants the weapons a powerful ethereal aura that can cut through the magical defenses of enemies and cause significant damage to ethereal and spiritual beings.
[Ether Enhancement]
As the user enhances their skill, they achieve Ether Enhancement. Now, they are able to more precisely control the amount of ether they pump into their hearts, resulting in an even greater increase in their physical strength. They can strengthen not only their muscles but also their reflexes and endurance, becoming true prodigies in physical combat.
Of course, just by the name, I could tell how amazing all these branches of my upgraded skills were. However, even with all of them, the one that really caught my attention was this.
[Kinetic Transmutation]
With this evolution, the user not only manipulates kinetic energy but can also transform it into other forms of energy. By touching an object, the user can convert it into thermal, electrical, or even sound energy, creating blasts of heat, electric shocks, or devastating sound waves.
Upon reading its description, my first thought was that I needed to get it no matter what. It would immensely expand my arsenal, allowing me to transform the kinetic energy I control into elements.