"...in that case, that would mean I can only enjoy the initial advantage during my time here. As soon as I return to the outside world, I'll have to face Monsters far more stronger than me, or take on large numbers of ones not too different in strength with me..."
Is this the price to pay for powe—
Bullshit!
I don't want the Blessing of Aether, take it back!
But even if that happened, the deed has already been done! I still won't level up the same as before if I returned, it wouldn't matter. My body has already bathed in the properties of the Aether Geyser, consumed the properties of the spring, and digested the properties of the Fruit!!
All of that led to me possessing a considerably high affinity and talent for Aether and Aura, and anything that is less in quality to what I've enjoyed here wouldn't amount to much of anything for me outside!
In a sense, it is very similar the Omniscient law that governs the progression of an Awakened; the stronger you get, the harder the requirements to improve.
Except I'm facing the true meaning of that, and I'm not even Hero Ranked yet.
It it's like that, then by my calculations, Monsters of equal or lesser level to me would most likely do nothing at all.
Then would I have to be facing threats like the Silver Sentinel just to go a level up each time?
Doused in the cold spring, I shuddered, and it wasn't because of my injuries...
'Ah, the more i see it, the more I can nod to how hard my life will be. ' I nodded wistfully. Pained.
"Fuuu..." In the end, I let out a deep breath, pushing those matters to the back of my head.
There was no point whining about it. Besides, that's a problem I'll have to deal with 'if' I do make it out of here alive.
"...Since it's going to be arduous to level up when I'm out, I might as well grind like a mad man while I'm still in here." I sighed again and lamented.
Well that works actually. I need to get strong enough to face the threats of the dungeon and bypass the Silver Sentinel. Plus, it's about time I move up from 'Beta' rank to 'Mortal' I guess.
It's been almost a year since I pretended to awaken, it's only a little early, but I could pretend to breakthrough to Mortal Rank once I get out.
That would give them the impression I had talent to be able to rank up in a year though. Sigh.
"What a pain all of this is."
But it was also necessary.
Well, I could also just wait a few months and do it by the end of the year. Or better yet, once I turn 16. I mused casually as I continued to float
" Fuuu..."
Again, I'll take care of it all once I get out.
Pushing all of those thoughts away for the meantime, I turned my attention to another.
"Status."
...
______
______
>>>>>
[ACTIVE SKILLS]
{Appraisal}
Level
Rank-: Rare
...
{???}
Level???
Rank-:???
...
>>>>>
[PASSIVE]
{Danger Sense} (New)
[Description: Sense any incoming danger ahead of time.]
Level: 1
Rank: Common
______
______
...
"Ohh, you're more orderly than I thought." I mused with a slightly mocking tone.
Meta had already defined a section to separate the two types of Skills, Passive and Active respectively.
In response to my comment, Meta didn't say anything, and I continued.
"Sense any incoming danger...not bad. But how come I unlocked a skill. Didn't you say Skills can only be obtained from Skill books or, be birthed with?" 'Unlocking' the {Danger Sense} skill was contradictory to what I learned.
[Theoretically, all humans, everyone is born with a skill. But since the descent of Aether and it's influence, only a special few are lucky enough to 'awaken' that skill under special conditions, and manifest it as some sort of will upon the world. Hence why it is called an 'Innate' skill. ] Meta explained.
There were two types of skills, Innate Skills which the user is born with, and according to Meta, everyone has, and Acquired Skills which can be obtained through the help of Skill Books, and in even certain cases, they can acquire a skill by awakening it too.
From her current explanation now however, it seems like people are able to 'awaken' those skills under specific conditions into actual abilities that help them.
'So it's kind of like having specific or common traits that are otherwise usually mundane, or talents which become actual abilities when they are awakened, ' I mused, an inkling of understanding brewing.
[Yes. And in your case, you awakened the {Danger Sense} skill from a part of your battle intuition. This most likely also has something to do with your current constitution and buffed talent for Aether.]
'...I thought so. '
The moment I unlocked the skill, after all, I was in a battle clarify state where I could almost hear the 'Whispers' of the Aether.
"Danger Sense, huh. And it's passive too. This really isn't a bad catch." I smiled in mild satisfaction.
" The description said I'll sense any incoming danger ahead of time, but at what difference? Well, it's still level one, and if I've learned anything from the formerly {Inspect} skill, is that, once it levels up, I receive a wider range of its abilities. But still, I'll have to experiment more with the skill to get better used to it. " Speaking out loud, I arranged my thought.
I had no reservations since there was literally no one else in the cave to give me odd looks for speaking to myself.
With all the current matters in my mind and heart settled...for the most part...I returned back to the refreshing sensation of having my muscles slowly mend.
I discovered both the Sparkling Spring and the Aurora leaves had healing properties. Meta also mentioned for some of the highest graded and rare elixirs, leaves of an Aurora tree was a main ingredient.
This further went to highlight how insanely lucky and gracious...or cursed...I was, still, to casually have the leaves for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
"If it weren't for the leaves and the spring, I'd have probably died the moment I returned from going up against a Boulder Crab the first time..." I chuckled and a wistful smile melted on my face.
Well, maybe i wouldn't have died. The Aether concentration in the air is deep after all, and my body constitution is vastly different from when I arrived. It took lesser for a wound to stop bleeding, and lesser time for it to completely heal.
Basically, all of my base stats as a Mortal Rank have been improved, and will only continue to do so the longer I continue to live this lifestyle.
Unfortunately, I had to abandon it soon.
I drifted silently through the spring and reviewed my thoughts.
"I'm currently level 23. At best I'm on par with a Bone Spike, and should be the same with an average Boulder Crab. But the two both have special advantages that make them troublesome opponents. And I'm still far from reaching Hero rank, or even breaking through to Eta Rank. So the confrontation with the Silver Sentinel will have to wait."
Of course I didn't intend to fight and win as the one who came out untop, as reluctant as I was. But a Hero Ranked entity was just too much for me now.
My best option as before is to get as strong as I can to 'bypass' the Silver Sentinel and reach the throne. And as the system provided, the Bone Spikes and Boulder Crabs are my only hopes to do that.
Minutes passed and I slowly emerged my body out of the spring and stepped on dry ground.
My wounds hadn't been entirely healed yet, but the bleeding had stopped. As soon as I did, I remembered something and touched my face.
"Oh, right. I almost lost my eye, that's not good." I will have to devote some more time to get it healed.
I'm just glad I didn't entirely lose it. I'm not sure if the spring can help to regrow missing organs or limbs. I also don't want to find out.
With my half naked bod and tattered shorts dripping with sparkling water, I walked barefooted on the ground and approached the Aurora. It's familiar but still beautiful radiance bathed on me and i felt a breath of invigoration fill me.
"Hmm... it'll take some time but I have to get my wounds completely healed first..." I casually muttered my thoughts and plucked a few leaves with one hand.
Wait. Why's Meta against me turning a branch to a Spear but isn't saying anything about me plucking the leaves?
Having vain thoughts like that, I put the leaves in my mouth and their minty taste filled me. I quickly dismissed the trivial thought and turned around with a leaf stuck between my lips.
My casual gaze swept the whole wide cave, almost emptily.
"One...two, three...four? Six?" I flicked a few fingers, counting silently then gulped down the last leaf before nodding with vigour.
"Alright, I've decided, Meta."
Meta's deadpan voice came in its usual manner.
[You have?]
In response I nodded. And a smile slowly twisted on my lips.
"I'll challenge the Silver Sentinel again in one week."
***
A/N: Mass Release on Saturday, tomorrow!! I've never done this before, so go easy on me...
In addition, for every 20 Golden Tickets, one bonus Chapter
For every 50 powerstones, one bonus chapter...
See y'all then (rip me)