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[ Sub-Quest Issued ]
Force Lucian Dorian to submit beneath your prowess! Depending on the quality of your "show," the reward will be determined by how impressive it is!
Reward : ???
Failure: Death
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…
This system was finally showing itself again after being unusually quiet.
As I scanned the content, it became clear that the system's quests, except the main quest, usually focused on "unexpected variables." If such a scenario occurred, the system would assign a quest tailored to the situation.
It also depended on my emotions. For instance, the first quest issued back when I was in the slums was completely contrary to what I wanted to do. However, this quest aligned with my goals. So, what was the 'system' behind this sub-quest?
It seemed like the system was aiding my overall growth. This suggested that the system had built-in instructions to guide me toward the main quest, much like in the game itself.
A completely new path, huh? This is intriguing.
Despite my current suspicions about the system, I decided to place my full trust in it. It seemed like the safest bet for me at the moment.
Once I finished my thoughts, I needed to test something else. The mana core was another issue. As the Headmaster mentioned, I had apparently burned my mana core to enhance my abilities, a fact later confirmed by my status.
So, I planned to replicate what I had done previously in this situation. Even though the guy over there, who still posed a threat, was keeping a wary eye on me, tracking every move I made. If I twitched my left arm, his gaze would follow.
So with him being a scared kitten, I opened up my status window.
'Status Window'
[ Status ]
Name : Alyssa Valenheart
Age : 16
Rank : D+
Strength : D+
Agility : D+
Stamina : D
Intelligence :C-
Mana : D -> C-
Mana Capacity : 3033/3233
Luck : E
Charm : S
-> Profession
[Intermediate Swordsmanship lvl. 4]
[Apprentice Mage lvl.1]
->Manual
[ Shinra Style (Unknown) ]
-> Major Peak Mastery of 1st Realm
-> [Distant Slash lvl.9]
-> [Shinra's Steps lvl.9]
[ Overclock (Unknown) ]
-> Peak Mastery of 3rd Realm
-> Skills
[Basic Sword Mastery C+)] [Quick Slash (C+]
[Mana Manipulation (B+)] [Elemental Bolt (G+)]
[Sovereign's Path (EX)]
-> Effects
[Curse of Stagnation] [Wasted Vitality] [Null Taste]
'Excellent.'
My mana capacity was still growing, but not as quickly as before. However, with all the free time I had, I consistently trained using Overdrive. Naturally, my mana capacity increased significantly.
My mana stat had risen from a D to a C- in a short period, but I knew that progress would become much more challenging from here on out. The higher someone's mana capacity, the more difficult it becomes to increase it further. Some might even reach a point where they can no longer gather mana and have to rely on potions to continue their growth.
As a result, most people who hit their limits focus on refining their mana techniques. With better mana control, they can deal more damage using less mana. Take Lucian over there, for example. He likely has around 4,000 mana capacity but boasts an SS- mana stat, showcasing his exceptional mana control.
Experiencing the pristine mana control I gained from Sovereign's Path was astounding. I had never realized how crucial mana manipulation could be.
Of course, mana isn't everything—strength and other stats are also important. Staring at my mana capacity, I began to recall the feeling I had when I defeated Ronan. In response, my body started burning through my mana.
The sensation was odd. My lower abdomen felt strange, but it didn't hurt since I was still under the effect of the skill. If I hadn't been, I probably would have fainted. I recognized the strange feeling as intense pain being nullified by the skill. It was convenient that it masked the pain, as I didn't want to endure discomfort all the time while burning my mana to achieve my future goals.
Glancing at my status, I noticed the total capacity of my mana decreasing at an alarming rate.
3033/3233 → 3033/3112
3033/3112 → 3006/3006
Seconds passed and it continued to decrease. However, I've also noticed an increase in other stats as time went on.
Strength : D+ → C
Agility : D+ → C
Stamina : D → C+
Intelligence :C-
Mana : C- → B+
Ugh
My precious mana is being sacrificed! It hurts so much to see all my effort erased so easily.
Haaa…
Sighing inwardly, I realized that burning my mana core had significantly boosted my strength, agility, and stamina stats. While my mana stat had risen to such a high rank, my control of mana was significantly increased.
'But it probably won't last too long. I have to finish this quickly.'
Thus, I increased burning my mana core even faster, promoting my stats at an alarming rate. Even Lucian's face which I can now see clearly, was paling at a similar pace.
Woah.
I never knew someone's face would get that white.
Looking back towards the status screen, my mana capacity has dropped another thousand units. In return, my overall rank was now on par with Lucian's stats.
…What the fuck?
This is way too overpowered? How can something like this happen?
No.
There must be some sort of backlash from this. Just the thought made me shudder, even though I didn't physically feel it. Imagining the horrors of even more debuffs was terrifying.
'Shit, this guy better be worth it.'
I glanced at the hero, whose typically emotionless face was now frozen in wide-eyed shock.
Given how strong I appeared in front of him, his reaction wasn't surprising. Still, I felt a bit bad for him being caught up in this mess.
Turning back to Lucian, I took a step forward, instantly closing the distance between us.
"...what?"
His dumbfounded voice barely escaped his mouth, his eyes now clouded with fear as he failed to register my sudden approach.
"Do you want to do this the hard way or the easy way?"
I raised two fingers, ready to explain each option.
"Bow to me, or perish. Your choice. Normally, I wouldn't bother with such a pitiful creature, but I'm not in the mood for more complications. You've got three seconds. Decide."
Dang.
Thats cold.
I never thought I could say something like that. The words that slipped from my mouth weren't exactly what I had in mind, but they still got the point across. But I can't deny—I enjoyed that moment! I sounded so cool just now!
Hehe
I wondered what I looked like at that moment.
But before I could dwell on it, he responded without hesitation, dropping to his knees and bowing low before me, his forehead nearly touching the invisible ground.
"Please. Spare me…" His voice trembled, barely a whisper, as he kept his head down, eyes wide with fear.
I hadn't expected him to beg, and it caught me off guard.
A shiver of satisfaction ran through me as I watched him tremble, pleading for his life. His voice quivered, the fear so palpable it almost had a taste.
The way he cowered, the way he looked at me with those desperate eyes—it was intoxicating.
I felt a thrill deep within, something dark and twisted that made my pulse quicken. Power. Absolute power. The kind that could make someone beg for mercy with just a few words.
I never imagined I could command this kind of fear, but now that I had, it was exhilarating.
I leaned in closer, my voice soft yet dripping with menace, savoring the moment,
"Good. Now, stay down, and you might just live to see another day."
He remained frozen, suspended in the air as if gravity itself was afraid to defy my will. His eyes were wide, filled with a mix of terror and submission.
The power I wielded over him, the way he hung there, completely at my mercy—it was an intoxicating sensation.
I took a moment to revel in the sight. His fear was almost tangible, and the rush it gave me was unlike anything I'd ever felt before. The corners of my lips curled into a slow, wicked smile as I savored the control I had over his fate.
"See what fear can do?"
I whispered, my voice low and dangerous, each word laced with the thrill of dominance.
"It strips away your pride, your strength until all that's left is a trembling shell. And you're so weak now, aren't you?"
The power, the control, the way he was so utterly at my mercy—it was a heady, addictive feeling. And as I watched him continue to quake in fear, suspended in mid-air, I couldn't help but think,
'This is what it means to be powerful. This is what it feels like to make someone truly fear you.'
"Excellent. Now we can move on to the next step."
I could feel the tremor in his body, the fear seeping through his every muscle.
"Remove the current barrier and tell your subordinates to stay away from this academy. Make sure they understand not to bother us again."
He obeyed my command without hesitation, nodding quietly. With a simple wave of my hand, I dismissed him, and he soared off into the distance, vanishing from view.
With Lucain gone, I finally deactivated Sovereign's Path.