Aidan sat cross-legged on the floor of his private room, his palms rubbing together in anticipation. "Status," he muttered.
The familiar blue-hued interface flickered into existence before him.
[Profile]
[Missions]
[Shop]*
He first clicked on his profile.
[Host Attributes Overview:]
- Rank: Black Rank
- Strength: 11
- Agility: 12
- Intelligence: 12
- Vitality: 10
- Mana: 25
- Soul Capacity: 10
- Charm: 7
[Technique: Beginner Sword Manual (Proficiency: 100%), Intermediate Sword Manual (Proficiency: 1%)]
His eyes lingered on the new icon, "Shop." It was the first time he had access to this feature, and he could hardly contain his excitement. He tapped the icon, and a cascading menu unfolded, revealing categories that sent his imagination soaring:
- Beast Eggs
- Weapon Arts
- Accessories
- Equipment
As he browsed through the shop, his awe grew. The variety was staggering beast eggs from rare species, powerful weapons that seemed to hum with latent energy, and artifacts that promised unparalleled enhancements.
But his excitement was quickly tempered by the sheer cost of the items. The prices were astronomical, with some items requiring credits in the tens of thousands.
He checked his own credits - 1600.
Aidan couldn't help but chuckle bitterly. "Even if Darius sold everything he owned, he couldn't afford half of these."
Still, he wasn't here to window-shop. He focused his attention and navigated to the Weapon Arts section. A quick filter - Sword Arts and Offensive - narrowed the options.
From his recent battles, Aidan had realized one glaring weakness in his arsenal: his lack of offensive capabilities. Hope's evolution toward the thunder wolf path promised devastating attacks in the future, but for now, Aidan needed to hold his own in combat.
The filtered results displayed a list of sword arts, each with a brief description and a price tag. Aidan was reminded of the free coupon he'd earned for achieving a top-five rank. "If I'm getting one for free, I better make it count," he thought, his determination solidifying.
---
Like cultivation techniques, weapon arts were categorized by rank, starting from Black Rank and ascending till Yellow Rank and beyond. Aidan's current capabilities limited him to Black Rank arts, but he wanted something that would remain useful even after he advanced to the Red Rank.
He spent nearly an hour combing through the options, reading descriptions and imagining how each art might enhance his fighting style. Finally, he narrowed his choices down to two:
1. Raging Tempest Slash
[Once mastered completely, have the potential to unleash an attack one rank above.]
[Requirements: Beginner Sword Manual proficiency should be 100%, User should at least be at Black Rank]
- A pure offensive art that unleashed devastating attacks. Its potential in the Red Rank was unmatched, promising to dominate opponents with sheer destructive power.
2. Eclipsing Blade Form
[Requirements: Intermediate Sword Manual proficiency should be 100%, User should at least be at Black Rank]
– A balanced art that combined offensive and defensive techniques.
While its initial power was slightly less than the first, it promised a stronger foundation and required mastery of the intermediate sword manual to unlock its full potential.
Aidan frowned as he weighed the options. The first art was tempting; its description painted a picture of unparalleled strength at higher ranks. But the second art intrigued him. Its high requirements suggested that it was designed for those who sought mastery, not just raw power.
His thoughts spiraled. "Do I want to focus solely on offense, or should I aim for a balanced approach? The second one seems harder to master, but isn't that a sign of its depth?"
Suddenly, an idea struck him. "What if I check the higher-ranked arts? Maybe their descriptions will give me a clue about which path is better."
With that, he switched the filter to Red Rank, even though he couldn't afford them he can at least have some idea on what type of arts he should select.
But he was not able to find any satisfying result so put the filter for Orange Rank, As he scrolled through the list, something caught his eye a second volume of the
Eclipsing Blade Form.
His heart raced. "It's a continuation?"
He quickly searched for a similar continuation for the Raging Tempest Slash but found nothing. The discovery sent a shiver down his spine. If the Eclipsing Blade Form had a second volume, it meant the art wasn't just a technique it was a journey. A system designed to grow with the user, guiding them toward mastery at higher stages.
He wanted to check if there are other volumes as well for this above Orange rank but for some reason he was unable to search for items above Orange rank maybe in future when his strength increases he will have the option to check but for now this still gave him enough information.
"This has to be it," Aidan thought, his excitement bubbling over. "A technique that evolves as I do. That's what I need."
---
Returning to the Black Rank arts, Aidan added the Eclipsing Blade Form to his cart. As he finalized the selection, the system chimed:
[Confirm Purchase: Eclipsing Blade Form – Black Rank?]
[Cost: 2500 Credits (Free Coupon Applied)]
He pressed confirm without hesitation.
The moment he did, a rush of information flooded his mind. The sword art's intricate movements, its defensive stances, and its offensive strikes all of it poured into his consciousness. Unlike the beginner and intermediate manuals, this felt alive, as if the art itself was testing him.
Aidan's head throbbed as he tried to process the influx of knowledge. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his breathing grew labored. After what felt like an eternity, the flow of information stopped, leaving him gasping for air.
"Amazing," Aidan breathed, his voice filled with awe. The sheer beauty and complexity of the Eclipsing Blade Form left him speechless. He had never imagined that a sword art could be so intricate yet so powerful.
Though the description emphasized its balanced approach between offense and defense, Aidan realized that even its offensive techniques were not to be underestimated. The fluid transitions between attack and defense were seamless, creating a style that could adapt to any combat scenario.
Now, he finally understood why the art required the Intermediate Sword Manual to be mastered at 100% proficiency before one could even begin practicing it. The techniques demanded a solid foundation, a deep understanding of swordsmanship, and precise control over one's movements.
Without these, the art would be more a burden than a boon.
"I can't imagine how strong I'll become after mastering it completely," Aidan thought, his mind racing with possibilities. Visions of future battles played out in his imagination — his blade cutting through enemies with precision, his movements so fluid they seemed almost supernatural.
But a sobering thought tempered his excitement. 'This art was too valuable, too rare. If others discovered he possessed such a treasure, they would stop at nothing to take it from him'. Aidan shuddered at the thought of people with malicious intent scheming to steal the art or harm him.
"I'll have to keep this hidden," he murmured to himself. "I can only use it if my life is in critical danger. Otherwise, it'll bring more trouble than it's worth."