Chapter - 19
Dear Host,
Quest Complete - Defeat Tiberius Scipio in Class Combat Duel
Quest Rewards: +3 to all stats
Magic Skill Awarded: Frozen Spear
- Frozen Spear: Allows the user to summon a spear of pure ice, channeling cold energy into a crystalline weapon. Upon release, the spear targets an opponent, freezing on impact and inflicting frost damage. Enemies struck by Frozen Spear experience reduced movement speed.
Iridium Base Cost: 7
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As I walked away from the training field, my head was still spinning with disbelief. I had actually defeated Tiberius. A fluke, really, a twist of luck that let me slip under his guard at just the right moment while he was distracted. Still, the rewards… they were more than worth it.
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Stats:
- Strength: 13 (+3)
- Endurance: 15 (+3)
- Speed: 10 (+3)
- Iridium: 19 (+3)
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I whistled softly to myself. My stats looked 'decent' now, better than I'd hoped. I could feel the subtle difference in my muscles, in the lightness of my stride, and the surge of energy coursing through me. Increasing stats in this world was no small feat. From what I'd gathered, it required grueling training and relentless dedication. But, it wasn't just a matter of hard work; the higher your stats climbed, the harder it got to push them further. Every ten points marked a new level of difficulty in improvement, and I'd just earned a solid boost to all my stats from a single quest. I doubted even Tiberius, for all his training and talent, had ever experienced anything like this.
But my gaze drifted back to the quest notification, and a slow grin spread across my face. Frozen Spear. A magical skill—an actual spell that I could use to summon and launch a spear of pure, biting ice. Not just a weapon, but an icy weapon that could freeze its target, slowing them down as frost took hold. The Iridium cost was nothing to sneeze at, though, especially with my limited reserves. I'd have to keep an eye on that. Stronger spells would drain more of my Iridium, making them limited in how often I could use them. But with practice, I could probably learn to use it more efficiently.
Stepping out onto the field near my dorm building, I took a deep breath, excitement bubbling up within me as I prepared to try out my new skill. "Alright, let's see if this thing really works," I muttered under my breath, glancing around to make sure no one was watching. I raised my hand, aiming it toward the ground, and focused, feeling the energy coiling within me.
"Frozen Spear," I said, the words sounding strange and powerful on my lips.
At once, an icy energy surged from my core, rushing through my veins with a chill so sharp it almost stung. The air around me grew colder as a spear of crystalline ice took form in front of my outstretched hand, hovering and spinning in place, its edges glinting with frost. Its surface was covered in intricate ice patterns that seemed to pulse with life, and it emitted a faint mist that hung around it, giving it an ethereal, otherworldly glow. With a slight push, I willed it forward, and the spear shot from my hand, embedding itself in the ground with a muted 'thud'.
Frost rippled out from the point of impact, crystallizing the grass around it in a burst of frozen beauty. I took a breath, marveling at the sight. 'I'd just cast actual magic.'
A laugh escaped my lips, pure and unrestrained. I had just created ice, a weapon, something only those with magical abilities could do. Excitement buzzed through me. The realization that I could gain spells so easily like this opened a world of possibilities.
In this world, everyone had magical affinities—innate connections to certain elements. Some people could wield two affinities with mastery. Rare prodigies were born with three, but that was practically unheard of. Affinities meant that a person could manipulate those specific elements far more effectively than others, making them naturally attuned to spells of that nature. With the right affinity, you could use an element more efficiently, drawing less Iridium for each spell and making mastery of it easier. Though I had no idea yet what my affinity was, it was clear that something about Frozen Spear suited me. If I could figure out what my affinity was, maybe I could train to cast magic even better and conserve my Iridium.
As I stood there, awestruck at my frozen handiwork, I remembered the different ways magic could be learned in this world. Hecate had started telling us about it in her class: the most traditional method involved learning to manipulate your own Iridium through discipline and practice. By honing your Iridium and understanding your affinities, you could actually 'create' spells of your own. That was part of what she'd be teaching us, a challenge in itself but one I was eager to attempt.
Another way was by acquiring a 'magic tome.' These enchanted books were rare treasures within the Celestial Gate, containing spells that could be learned instantly when consumed. But there was a catch—magic tomes could only be used within the Celestial Gate, and they had to be found after defeating monsters, making them both coveted and dangerous to obtain. Then there was the rarest method of all: receiving a skill directly from a god or goddess. Divine beings could bestow spells on their chosen students, though this took a toll on their power, so it was reserved only for the academy's most talented prodigies.
So here I was, learning magic in a way that others could never experience. I had this mysterious 'system' giving me quests and rewards that propelled me forward faster than ordinary training. I couldn't rely on luck forever; if I wanted to take full advantage of the system and grow stronger, I needed to complete quests and make the most of every opportunity. I might not have any raw talent, but with my new skill and quest-driven growth, I had an edge in this world.
Staring at the spear embedded in the frosted grass, I let out a deep breath. "Alright," I muttered to myself, grinning. "If I can keep this up… I might actually stand a chance here."