Chapter 94 - Skill Tree
The trio walked through the forest, with Alice leading the way, her sword in hand. Luke had often seen her training whenever she could during their journey. She had been working on mastering her ability, which she explained tended to activate at full power, draining her completely. But now, she was learning to control the voltage of her element. This was the only method she had found to effectively use the Thunder Mantle.
Alice possessed immense power, but she lacked control. She was like a massive faucet, needing to learn how to shut off and regulate the flow coursing through her. Thanks to her training with Anna, she had improved her prana control. It was through this hard work that she had managed to unlock her Emitter Aspect and was now focusing on channeling lightning from her body. Alice was learning to increase the voltage of her energy in specific areas, allowing her to discharge more powerful lightning bolts. Essentially, she was attempting to use the Thunder Mantle as a substitute for the ability she should have awakened, which was "Generate Thunder." With her Aspect now active, Alice was far stronger.
Her natural ability created a thunder armor over her entire body, and now, by combining it with the Emitter Aspect, she was attempting to fire lightning from any part of her body. She had developed this approach by studying the flaws in her primary ability. By mastering this technique, she could extend her thunder armor slightly beyond her body, potentially shaping it into various forms. But for now, her main focus was on controlling the voltage of the Thunder Mantle to enhance the power of her lightning emissions.
Anna was a genius, something Luke understood more clearly the longer he traveled with her. She had quickly overcome her disadvantage as a Dissident and had already unlocked her Aspect, rapidly evolving the core of her prana gem. Anna had awakened quickly and had excellent control over her power. It was common for healers to take time to learn how to mend minor wounds, but Anna had surpassed this, and her prana control was extraordinary. Among the three, she had the most mastery over her abilities, often saving the group from death. The injury Luke had inflicted on Alice had disappeared completely, as if it had never existed, thanks to Anna's precise prana control, which could even heal scars.
Luke knew that both girls could find useful references for honing their abilities. Anna could learn from another Dissident with healing abilities, and there was extensive material available for her to study since healing skills had garnered significant attention. This made it easier for Anna to understand the limits of her abilities. Alice also had the advantage of seeking guidance from others with elemental powers, even if their elements differed from hers.
However, Luke found his own ability more challenging to grasp. His Dissident power had given him an element he hadn't even known existed—he had never heard of the Void. From what little he knew of this world, he understood that Dissidents could have different elements, but he had never imagined there could be something like the Void. But what exactly was the Void? He didn't know. It wasn't something tangible like fire or lightning; it was something far more enigmatic.
The Void is a place where nothing exists, but if nothing exists, then how does the Void exist? Could it be the contradiction of its own nature?
Luke's thoughts were interrupted when Alice raised her hand, signaling them to stop. The trio fell silent as the girl moved forward and then stopped, rustling through the undergrowth in front of her.
"Another entrance…"
Along the way, they had come across two other dungeon entrances, all locked. Luke had checked each one, but every time he entered and descended the stairs, he discovered that they were flooded. They concluded that somewhere deep in the dungeon, the tunnels likely passed beneath the lake, and a collapse might have caused the series of corridors and passages to flood.
"I'll go take a look."
Luke crossed the iron gate and began descending the spiraling stone stairs, holding a torch to light his way. The stairs wound downwards like those of a tower, continuing for what felt like an eternity until he reached a flooded section.
The path's still underwater…
He stared at the submerged stairs leading further down and tossed his torch into the water. It sank, illuminating the submerged corridor that led to a door further down.
"Damn it…"
Luke sat down on the stairs and took out his scarf.
"I'm already in deep, what's the worst that could happen?" he muttered, staring at the scarf.
With one hand on the scarf, he raised the other to touch the back of his neck. Golden letters appeared before him.
[Fragment of the Inner God: Scarf of the Void]
Main Abilities:
(Fabric Hands): The scarf can transform its ends into hands that will assist you. (???): Discover on your own. (Mental Connection): Your fabric companion syncs with your mind, allowing you to control it as if it were part of your body. (???): Discover on your own.
Soul Vestiges (135/50)
Level: 1
[Skill Tree (Soul Points = 0):
[Fabric Hands]:
Clawed Hands (Locked) (???) Giant Hand (Locked) Add +2 Hands (Locked) Evolved Hands (Locked) (???)
[Transformation]:
Fabric Blade (Costs 1 Soul Point): The tip of the scarf can take the form of a blade. (???) Fabric Shield (Costs 1 Soul Point): The tip of the scarf can take the form of a shield. (???): Discover on your own. Giant Fabric Sword (Costs 2 Soul Points): The ends of the scarf unite to form a giant blade. (???)
[Mental Connection]:
(Unavailable at the Moment)
[Special Abilities]:
Prana Conduit (Costs 1 Soul Point): Strengthens the scarf with prana, allowing it to gain enough force to attack enemies, lift heavy objects, and serve other purposes. (???)
]]
Luke stared at the ethereal screen, still in disbelief at what he was reading.
"Holy shit…"
He continued to read through the options, hardly able to believe the potential his scarf held. The hidden abilities marked with (???) didn't even concern him at this point. His fabric companion was far more powerful and useful than he'd ever imagined.
"Hey… I always knew you had potential…" he said, but the scarf seemed to eye him with its hands, looking a bit skeptical.
"I'm serious… okay, maybe I doubted you just a little."
How do I get Soul Points?
[Would you like to convert Soul Vestiges into 1 Soul Point?]
The option appeared before him.
Luke sighed.
From what I understand, I'm already on a path with no return, so I might as well seize every opportunity to grow stronger.
"I wish to convert," he said.
[Soul Point acquired]
A quick golden glow rippled through the scarf like a wave, and the ethereal screen shifted once more.
[Fragment of the Inner God: Scarf of the Void]
Main Abilities:
(Fabric Hands): The scarf can transform its ends into hands that will assist you. (???): Discover on your own. (Mental Connection): Your fabric friend syncs with your mind, allowing you to control it as if it were part of your body. (???): Discover on your own.
Soul Vestiges: 85/100
Level: 2
Skill Tree: (Soul Points = 1)]
"Got it. So, Soul Vestiges really do create a Soul Point, but only when I reach the required amount of vestiges. That means if I want to earn another Soul Point, I'll need to get my vestiges up to 100..." Luke murmured, analyzing the situation.
I have 1 Soul Point and many options to choose from. What should I do?
Luke was faced with a significant decision.
"I can't act without considering all the possibilities. I need to first assess my options and figure out how many Soul Vestiges the monsters give me. If the value is too low, spending this Soul Point will need careful consideration."
Setting aside that decision for now, he decided to return to the girls.
"Flooded too..." he said to them.
At least we know the dungeon has other exits scattered around the island.
They continued walking through the forest, skirting the lake, but soon encountered another problem.
"A wall..."
A massive mountainous wall loomed before them, cutting off this part of the forest abruptly. They couldn't see how far it stretched horizontally because of the dense forest. It was as if part of the island was on a higher level than where they stood. The wall was enormous, and Luke realized he wouldn't be able to climb it with his intangibility. It was at least twice the height of what he managed to scale during the storm.
It's too high for me to climb intangible. I could try something crazy, like climbing as far as I can and then securing a vine... But I haven't seen any vines in this forest. Maybe there are some around here... I guess.
Luke then recalled the pain that had made his entire body collapse, the blood he had cried from the intensity of the sensation. The weight of his body disappearing, crushed by the absence of existence, as if his soul had prevented him from vanishing. He also remembered the pain of becoming tangible again, feeling his body and soul or consciousness reconnect as if a hot iron were searing his flesh.
"I could try," Luke said, but was quickly interrupted by a cold Alice.
"No!"
She sighed.
"If you push your power too far, your body will be done for. The limits of our bodies exist to stop us from doing something foolish. Don't put yourself on the brink of death when you can avoid it. You saw me summoning and suppressing a lightning bolt from the sky—do you think I could handle a hundred of those?"
"No..."
"Stretch the elastic too far, and it will snap. I don't know what happened back in the village, but I saw how you ended up after forcing yourself through that cliff. Your body crying blood is a clear enough sign that you're going to die. You probably pushed past your prana reserve, causing those side effects. If you keep going beyond your prana limit, the result will be your death."
Okay, I just got a lecture for no reason, but I kind of suspected that. Most likely, I have a safeguard that prevents me from becoming tangible and killing myself in the process. When my prana ran out with me still halfway through a wall... that was the result—my battered, half-dead state. This also explains the excessive sleep—my body is forcing me to rest and replenish.
His thoughts were interrupted when the three of them were startled by a roar and the sound of trees being knocked over.
"Something's over there by the lake..." Anna murmured.