Time passed quickly while everyone was busy. Simm's baby bump grew larger, inevitably rendering her unable to move much. Surata and Ken rarely left her alone except for when she needed to sleep. Surata was growing increasingly clingy and overprotective of her, to the point where Ken stopped thinking she was reliable and started treating her like an obsessed sicko.
Ken's personal progress wasn't slowed down, either. Seven days after arriving in this hideout near Shamrock City, he reached the level cap as a mage again.
[ Class: Mage ]
[ Class Aptitude: Mana Affinity (1) ]
[ Class Grade: Ordinary ]
[ Grade Level: 2/9 ]
[ Level Exp: 100.5/100 ]
[ Spell Library: Shadow Centipede Totem (Common); Arrow Boa Totem (Common); Bloodhound Totem (Common); Skin Elasticity (Common); Object Consciousness (Common); Cell Regeneration (Common); Muscle Relaxation (Common); Blood Pressure Manipulation (Common); Blood Temperature Shift (Common); Basic Liquification (Common).... Flamepalm (Common); Basic Healing (Ultimate) (unusable); Talent Transformation (???) (unusable) ]
Many human mages chose a shortcut to climb the levels faster. Instead of experimenting with their talent and mastering a variety of spells, they would continue to practice a select few useful spells in order to lower their rate of failures. That way, they could cast more successful spells per session and accumulate more experience points.
But Ken did not do so even though he was pressed for time. He was very familiar with the pathway and life experience of a mage. The more varied his spell library was, the more useful, impactful he would be in any unexpected situation, and the better his chances would be to awaken special attributes, unusual Enhancements, and artificial talents once he crossed level 9 and reached the Mutant Rank as a mage.
Hence he was spending every day and night trying to coax common spells out of Surata, and helping Simm recall the basic Totemic magic spells she had learned in her younger days. He didn't let go of a single one, not afraid to take the risk and experiment. And the time for rewards had finally come again.
[ Alert: Subject has broken through to Level-3 in the Ordinary Rank. Choose one of the following enhancements to continue your journey as a mage. ]
[1. Elemental Affinity ]
[ 2. Mana Affinity ]
[ 3. Channel Enhancement ]
[ 4. Physical Attributes ]
Once again, Ken chose the second option without debating in his mind. A surge of peaceful power seemed to roll around inside him, though he couldn't pinpoint what exactly its source was.
[ Class: Mage ]
[ Class Aptitude: Mana Affinity (2) ]
[ Class Grade: Ordinary ]
[ Grade Level: 3/9 ]
[ Level Exp: 000.5/500 ]
[ Spell Library:...]
A new notification popped into existence in his primary progression panel. Ken had been expecting it, too.
[ Alert: Subject has been blessed twice with mana affinity. As one of the main attributes of the Subject is Magic Affinity, and this attribute has reached a substantial level after enhancements, Subject meets the condition for awakening an Ordinary Artificial Talent. Check the relevant secondary panel to see it. ]
Ken summoned the Talent Panel and found a new addition in it.
[ Race Talent: - ]
[ Artificial Talent: Casting Awareness (Ordinary) (Passive) ]
[ Artificial Talent: Bloodline Extraction (???) (Passive) ]
The world spirit was a little more helpful when it came to exploring abstract stats like talents. It explained on its own, "Subject can now sense the effectiveness of his spellcasting, and the exact number of failed spells he can cast before experiencing a burnout."
A very useful Artificial Talent for rookies, and not very well publicized among mage communities. Those who discovered it by accident generally kept such a trump card a secret. Had Ken not stood at the apex of magical prowess once, he wouldn't have learned about it either.
Ken cast a simple Flamepalm spell again. After his repeated experiments and readjustments, the conjured fireball was now more substantial, stable, and brimming with vitality. Even a bucket of water might not be able to extinguish it now.
The moment he cast it, he sensed the existence of imperfection in casting. A sudden thought flashed through his mind uncontrollably.
75% effective; 20 failures away from Burnout.
"Very nice," he muttered to himself in satisfaction.
Ending the practice session, he went out to visit Simm again and share the good news.
"That fast?! What, are you trying to catch up to me now that my level is falling? I'm already at the Mutant Rank now, master!" Simm looked torn between wanting to feel happy for him and insecure for herself.
Ken could guess what she was afraid of. Leaning over on her bed, he placed an arm around her and whispered, "It won't be like the last time, Simm. I won't leave you behind to travel around the world just because I want to explore more things and grow stronger."
Simm's eyes lit up in joy. "Are we going to find a place to settle down and raise our kids?"
"...No, I mean, I won't leave you behind. I'll take you and the kids to travel around the world and track down the rest of our family."
Simm looked like she had a lot to say about that, and not a single sentence in her mind was a gentle agreement to the proposal. But in the end, she settled her disapproval with a short reply.
"Family, my ass! You just want to find out where the rest of your wives and concubines are."
"That's my duty as a husband."
"Your duty should be to stay the fuck away from those crazy bitches. They have all gone nuts in the last 50 years, I'm telling you!"
Ken sighed. "Most of them are close to, or already in the Ultimate Rank. It's very difficult for anyone in that position to remain the same as their old selves. Can you blame them?"
"I can give them plenty of blame. Most of them have tried to kill me once or twice," Simm mumbled. Ken could not refute that logic, but he could sympathize. A series of unpleasant memories began to shimmer in his head.
"You're not alone. Most of them have tried to kill me once or twice as well."