"Spatial Slash – A formidable spell of the Space element," Beta said, her enthusiasm clear as she explained. "It allows you to project a sharpened blade toward your adversaries, traversing up to 2 kilometers. Its invisibility to the naked eye makes counterattacking exceedingly challenging for your enemies. (MP required: 3)."
Percy raised an eyebrow, half-amused. "A blade of space? Alright, that's a new one," he muttered, half chuckling. His mind was already turning, the tactical possibilities running through him. "Invisibility to the naked eye, huh? Yeah, that's a nice touch. Makes it almost unfair... and I'm all about making things easier for myself." His tone was dry, but underneath, he was clearly impressed by the spell's potential.
Beta continued, unfazed by his sarcasm, "Teleport – This spell enables you, as the user, to instantly traverse the space between your current location and your chosen destination. It's a strategic advantage in both combat and exploration. (MP required: 10)."
Percy let out a thoughtful hum, considering the tactical value. "Instant teleportation. That's a game-changer in a fight, but more useful for getting the hell out of dodge when things get messy." His tone was pragmatic as always, weighing the pros and cons. "That's going to be fun to play around with."
"Spatial Bullets – Imagine the elemental version of Mana bullets. This spell lets you send compressed pockets of space hurtling toward a target, bypassing any obstruction in its path. (MP required: 4)," Beta added.
Percy's eyes narrowed in interest. "Space bullets. Sounds like something I'd pull out when I want to throw a wrench in someone's plans. Could definitely come in handy." He paused, a small grin tugging at his lips. "It's almost too good to be true. I'll be able to literally shoot holes in their strategy."
"And last," Beta finished, "Sensory Field—It's a skill that empowers you to gain comprehensive information on all objects and living beings within a 25m radius. And due to your innate elemental affinity, we can double this radius to 50m, at no extra magic cost! (MP required: 5)."
"Fifty meters?" Percy repeated, looking impressed. "If I can get a 50-meter heads up on people, I'll be able to outmaneuver them before they even know I'm there. Could be the difference between surviving and getting caught in a trap." His voice was calculating, as he mentally mapped out how he could use this ability for both exploration and combat.
"Wonderful! Mastering the second spatial spell was a real asset for the third quest," Percy remarked, his tone steady but with a hint of pride. He turned to Beta, still absorbing everything. "Now, what else are you holding back? Got any more surprises for me?"
Beta, excited to share, said, "Alongside the Inventory function, there's a new Level system to track your advancement towards becoming more powerful. Also, there's a proficiency function to monitor your mastery over skills, spells, weapons, and more. Let me show you your current proficiency levels." With that, she conjured a holographic screen displaying his statistics.
Percy scanned the numbers with a critical eye. "Spatial Element: Current Proficiency – Trash, 0.9%... Inferior Mana Sensitivity: Current Proficiency – Trash, 0.7%..." He grinned wryly, shaking his head. "Trash, huh? Guess I've got a long way to go. But hey, I didn't expect to be maxing out stats after a week of practice. This just means I've got a clear target to work toward."
He paused on Mana Recovery. "15% increase from the 'Mana Core Blessing'? That's a decent jump." His eyes gleamed with a hint of satisfaction, though it was tempered by his usual practicality. "Still room to grow, though."
"Excellent," Percy said, settling back and turning his attention to the desk full of items Michael had delivered. There was a quiet sense of satisfaction, but it was fleeting. He had other things to handle.
"Michael, take a few days off," Percy suggested, his voice casual but with an underlying purpose. "I'll be tied up with tasks here at home." It wasn't that Percy didn't appreciate the work Michael did, but he needed time alone—time to handle matters on his own terms.
Michael, ever the loyal assistant, smiled gratefully. "Thank you, young master. Please don't hesitate to call if you need anything!" He left, the setting sun casting a warm glow over his departure.
As soon as Michael was gone, Percy shifted his focus. He surveyed the items laid out before him, the ingredients for the unification ritual that had been in the back of his mind for a while. He held each item up, counting them aloud. "Two harmony gems, two Darkness embryos, two Sylph hearthstones, a medium-quality mana stone, and an awakening Helli Herb. With the additional stones Angelica has, we're set for the ritual."
His gaze turned toward Angelica's room, urgency creeping Into his voice. "Let's get this ritual done quickly. I'd like to know more about the implications of my abilities I haven't explored yet." The quiet determination in his voice reflected how important this moment was for him.
With a quick step, Percy moved to her door, calling out. "Hey Angel, open up! I've got something for you!"
When no answer came, Percy's usual calm was briefly replaced with concern. He placed his hand on the keyhole, his fingers glowing faintly as he channeled his mana. It wasn't about force—just precision. With a soft click, the door unlocked.
As Percy entered the room, the usual notifications popped up in his vision: "Spatial Element Proficiency increased — Current proficiency: 1.4%." and "Inferior Mana Utilization increased — Current proficiency: 0.4%." He ignored them with practiced ease—focus was key.
But his attention immediately snapped to Angelica, lying unconscious on the floor. He didn't hesitate as he crouched beside her, scanning her vitals. "Stable breathing at a respiratory rate of 16, high body temperature at 100.1°, stable heart rate. Current state: Unconscious," he muttered, his mind racing. Everything seemed stable, but her condition was far from ideal.
Turning to Beta, Percy's voice took on a commanding edge. "Beta, scan Angelica. What's going on with her?"
After a brief pause, Beta's voice responded with a slight digital hum. "She's ingested both the embryo and hearthstone."
"Why would she do that?" Percy spat, frustration evident in his voice. His mind quickly darted to his own past, remembering the times he'd stubbornly refused help—just to prove something to himself. Is this her version of the same thing?
His irritation simmered beneath the surface. "When will she wake up, Beta?"
Beta's tone softened, offering reassurance. "Soon. Fortunately, the stones aren't causing internal harm. Actually, the ritual requires her to swallow an object representing her current struggle to grasp the essence of disharmony. To complete the ritual, she will still need the other materials."
As the frustration within Percy began to settle, he moved toward the bed, carefully arranging Angelica to be more comfortable. He whispered to her softly, his voice barely audible, "Angel, I'll be away for a bit. I know what you're trying to do, but remember, accepting help isn't a sign of weakness."
"Absolutely, Master!" Beta responded with her usual enthusiasm, though Percy could sense the underlying professionalism in her tone. Beta was always ready.
His eyes caught the scythe lying carelessly on the table. A small, almost imperceptible sigh escaped him. "Ah, can't leave this behind," he muttered, feeling a moment of hesitation. "Beta, would you mind?" He gestured toward the weapon, and with a flourish, Beta stored it safely in the inventory interface.
Satisfied, Percy cleared his throat and commanded, "Open Domain Expeditions!"
The room around him began to dissolve, and Percy closed his eyes for a brief moment. When he opened them again, the familiar surroundings of his room had vanished, replaced by an endless, featureless white space.
The emptiness pressed in on him, but he stayed composed, the weight of the unknown not enough to shake his focus. A screen materialized before him, presenting him with a choice: "Please Select: Domain Expedition or Bestial Conqueror?"
He turned to Beta, his voice steady. "Beta, your thoughts?"
Beta appeared beside him, explaining with a hint of clarity, "These options divide the expeditions into two paths. One allows for travel across different realms, while the other focuses on capturing and bonding with beasts within these realms."
Percy's mind whirred as he processed the information. The idea of exploring different realms was appealing, but capturing beasts had its own set of attractions. He weighed his options, then nodded. "Domain Expeditions it is." He tapped the left-hand side of the interface, watching as the screen updated with a list of realms.
"Oceanis Thalor, Gaianterra, Ignivora, Aeranys?" Percy read aloud, his brow furrowing. He looked to Beta for some guidance.
"You are currently limited to these realms due to your current strength," Beta clarified, her voice steady. "But I'd recommend proceeding; the rewards can be significant."
Percy's gaze turned thoughtful, his mind quickly calculating the best course of action. Gaianterra stood out to him—perhaps it was the challenge he sought. "Let's challenge ourselves—Gaianterra!" Upon selecting it, the screen vanished, and the white space began to crumble away, revealing a lush, vibrant landscape beneath him.
To his left stretched a dense, endless forest, its trees towering above him, while to his right rose formidable, jagged mountains. Percy stood still for a moment, absorbing the grandeur of the surroundings. As he took in the view, a series of tasks appeared on his screen, breaking the momentary silence.
"Collect 10 Earthen cores within 2 week(s). {Reward: 15 AP}," he read aloud, scanning the next task. "Collect 20 Willow-Weeping grass. {Reward: 10 AP}." Another one popped up. "Defeat One Earth Golem and obtain its Core. {Reward: Unknown}."
Percy scanned the series of tasks thoughtfully, his brow furrowing. "Okay, where should we start?" he muttered, turning to Beta.
Beta's voice cut through the silence, eager to assist. "Master, may I assist?" With a swift movement, Beta conjured a detailed map of the domain in front of him.
Percy was momentarily taken aback by the sheer scale of the map. The lush green expanse stretched out, marked with two distinct red dots on the northwestern and southeastern borders. "So, I'm guessing the infinite forest to the northwest holds the willow-weeping grass, and the jagged mountains to the southeast are where the earthen cores are, right?" he asked, his tone laced with pragmatism.
"Exactly," Beta confirmed, her voice clear and concise.
With a resigned shrug, Percy decided, "Alright, let's head out to collect some willow-weeping grass!" And with that, he began his journey, stepping into the dense forest with purpose.
After some time spent wandering through the underbrush, Percy's frustration began to mount. He had been walking in circles for what felt like half the day, with no sign of the grass. "Beta, where exactly can we find this willow-weeping grass?" he asked, a note of irritation creeping into his voice.
Beta didn't hesitate, quickly pulling up the map again. "Willow-weeping grass thrives in areas rich in synergies of water, earth, and darkness elements. The nearest suitable location is approximately 20km west from here."
Percy let out a resigned sigh, rubbing his temples. "I see why the time limit is two weeks now." He glanced down at the map again, frustration clear in his expression. But then, his mind shifted to a more pragmatic solution. "Beta, could you calculate the mana required for using the 'Teleport' spell to cover this distance?"
Beta processed the request, pausing for a moment before replying, "Considering your current Space Element proficiency, you can teleport approximately 1km, roughly 2 miles, up to three times a day. With your mana core blessing and the mana replenishment ability, you can safely perform six teleports before needing to rest."
Percy's lips quirked into a slight grin. Good, he thought. The strategy was starting to come together. "Great, set up several checkpoints for me to teleport to, and guide me along the way."
"Certainly, Master," Beta responded, her tone reflecting her efficiency. She quickly marked a total of 12 checkpoints on the map, each one carefully positioned to maximize Percy's ability to cover the ground.
With a focused look, Percy muttered, "Teleport." In an instant, he vanished, and the forest around him blurred before he landed at his first checkpoint.
By evening, Percy found himself sitting beside a serene pond, his knees drawn up as he meditated, his knuckles gently touching. The peaceful surroundings provided the perfect setting for reflection, even as he knew the clock was ticking.
He opened his eyes after sensing the ambient mana, and the familiar series of notifications popped up before him:
"Sensory Field proficiency increase ↑: current proficiency — 3.25%,"
"Space Element proficiency increase ↑: current proficiency— 5%,"
"Inferior Mana Utilization proficiency increase ↑: current proficiency— 4.86%,"
"Inferior Mana Recovery proficiency increase ↑: current proficiency— 15.20%,"
"Intelligence Stat increase ↑: Current stat— 37."
Percy stood up, stretching his body, the quiet sense of satisfaction from his progress settling in. "Beta, how long have we been at this?" he asked, his tone steady but laced with an undercurrent of determination.
Beta responded promptly, "It's been about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Given our progress, you should reach your destination in another hour."
The news buoyed Percy's spirits. He took a moment to soak in the serenity around him before standing tall. "Okay, let's get moving again!" he declared with renewed energy. But just as he was about to set off, another notification caught his attention.
"Delta Quest (2) completed. Additional rewards issued due to penalization!" Percy read aloud, surprised by the prompt. As he finished reading, a subsidiary screen appeared, flashing the message: "Achievement unlocked: 'Helping Others, Helps Yourself!' Please open the rewards box."
Without hesitation, Percy accessed the reward box, revealing its contents. "Congratulations, AP increased from 5 to 15—Current AP: 45. Additionally, your mana grade has been upgraded from F to E," the system announced.
Pleased but still focused, Percy turned to Beta. "Beta, what exactly is a mana grade?"
"Mana grade indicates the quality of mana a mage can wield. The higher the grade, the more potent your spells and skills," Beta explained.
Percy's lips twitched into a knowing smile. "Got it. So, Grade E mana is about equal or slightly stronger than an average human's, right?"
"Correct," Beta confirmed.
Percy nodded thoughtfully, now feeling the tangible progress in his abilities. This is just the beginning, he mused.
With renewed focus, Percy gritted his teeth and prepared to continue. "Alright, let's move on!" he said, his voice steady, but his body clearly protesting.
As the sun began to set, Percy was visibly fatigued, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Veins were bulging on his forehead, a clear sign of Mental Overdrive, something Beta had warned him about earlier.
Beta, her concern palpable, asked, "Master, are you okay?"
Percy managed a slow nod despite the discomfort clouding his senses. "I'm fine," he replied, though his voice carried a certain weariness. Beta wasn't convinced.
"Don't lie to me," Beta replied, not hiding her worry. "You're clearly exhausted."
Percy smirked, though it was strained. "If you already knew, why ask? You should understand me well enough by now."
Beta, a hint flustered by his response, quickly replied, "It's only polite to ask, even if I am aware of your state."
Percy chuckled at her reaction, allowing himself a brief moment of levity despite the exhaustion gnawing at him. Relaxing, he let Beta pull up the domain map, showing that they were just 2 miles from their goal.
"After an hour's rest, we should arrive by moonrise," Beta suggested, her tone light but practical.
Percy fought the overwhelming urge to collapse and sleep but finally gave in to his body's demands. After a brief rest, he fell into a much-needed sleep. When he woke, it was to the faint light of dawn, signaling the close of the day's journey. He stretched languidly, feeling his muscles loosen and the sleep weariness leave his body. "Aaahh—that was some good sleep. I feel much better now," he murmured, stretching his arms wide before calling up the domain map.
"Alright, let's wrap this up."
Just as he was about to move, Beta's urgent voice stopped him. "Master! Stop!"
Confused, Percy asked, "What's wrong, Beta? Did something change?"
Beta manipulated the map, causing it to glitch briefly before revealing thirty brown dots near the willow-weeping grass. "What are those?" Percy asked, squinting at the map as it displayed the image of a peculiar beast.
"Those are sunken mole-rabbits, Master," Beta informed him.
"Sunken mole-rabbits?" Percy repeated, surprised at the presence of monsters. "What are they?"
Beta wasted no time, explaining. "They're a mutated sub-species of Earthen jackrabbits. Individually, they're weak—equivalent to F-grade monsters—but their biting force can crush durable rock. The real threat, however, lies in their numbers. Facing them unprepared could lead to serious injury."
Percy took a deep breath, considering his options. His gaze flicked back to the map, calculating the situation. "Okay, I get it. My elemental spells could take out a few, but with my limited mana and just recovering from Mental Overdrive, I can't risk running out. Plus, I don't exactly have a combat skill set, and my usable weapons are... not great." He thought briefly of Abyssal Requiem, safely stowed in his inventory. Not the right tool for this kind of fight.
"Master, let me help with that," Beta offered, sensing his hesitation. With a fluid motion, she brought up two new screens. Percy looked at them with curiosity. "Infinite Skill Catalogue/Omega Weapon Store?" he read aloud, intrigued by the options.
"Yes, during your nap, I thought accessing the Infinite Skills Library or the Omega Artifact Store directly would be too cumbersome," Beta explained, her voice efficient. "So, I've compiled a list of affordable skills and weapons you can purchase right now."
Percy raised an eyebrow, impressed by Beta's initiative. "Wow, thanks, Beta, you're awesome!" he said with a rare, genuine smile. He was eager to explore the lists, knowing he needed to equip himself properly to face the mole-rabbits and whatever else the journey threw at him.
Combat-Oriented Skills:
Whirlwind Kicks – Allows user to deliver a series of leg attacks: 3 AP,
Fleeting Palm Strikes – Allows user to deliver a series of palm strikes: 3 AP,
Lightning Fist Jab – Allows user to deliver a series of punches: 4 AP,
Basic Weapon Mastery – Allows user to have basic understanding of weapons: 8 AP,
Non-combat-oriented Skills:
Dexterity – the ability to move quickly & easily: 10 AP,
Charisma – The ability to attract, influence, or inspire others by your mere presence. Your charisma will allow others to feel calm by your side, and give him a sense of safety: 5 AP,
Unbreakable Will – the ability to remain undeterred in the face of danger, with an unbeatable resolve to finish until the end: 10 AP,
Constitution – the ability to withstand damage. It may also affect resistance to certain types of status effects or fatigue: 10 AP," The screen listed.
Multi-lingual – the ability to understand any language: 5 AP.
Photo-Eidetic Memorization – The ability to recall vivid and precise information in regard to anything the user has experienced: 10 AP.
Percy mulled over the options presented to him, his mind racing through various possibilities. This is perfect. Since I'm still getting the hang of martial arts with the space element, these skills will be a good temporary substitute, he thought, appreciating the strategic advantage the skills would offer in the short term. They weren't a permanent solution, but for now, they'd give him the edge he needed.
"Alright, I've made my decision," Percy announced confidently, his voice steady and sure as he selected his desired skill from the list.
As he did, a confirmation window popped up, the system asking, "Confirm Y/N to complete purchase?"
Without hesitation, Percy pressed 'Y.' He had weighed the options, and now it was time to act.
Simple Longsword: 10 AP,
Battle Axe: 10 AP,
Hunter's Bow: 10 AP,
Basic Dagger: 7 AP,
Wooden Club: 5 AP,
Bronze Mace: 5 AP,
Hunting Spear: 8 AP,
Novice Wand: 15 AP."
Turning his attention to the Omega Artifact Store, Percy scanned the available weapons, his eyes narrowing as he searched for something that would complement his new skills and suit his current needs in Gaianterra.
The array of weapons stretched out before him, each one tempting in its own way. What's going to give me the most utility? Percy pondered. The balance of power and usability was key.
He wasn't looking for something flashy—he needed something practical.
"Omega Artifact Store—" Percy muttered as he read through the list of weapons. Each option had its appeal, but Percy knew it would have to fit into his growing toolkit, complementing the skills he had just purchased. His thoughts raced as he pondered the possibilities. Could he use a ranged weapon? Or did he need something more direct?
After a moment of intense deliberation, Percy finally made his choice, tapping the selected item. The familiar confirmation prompt appeared once again: "Confirm Y/N to complete purchase?"
With a decisive tap, Percy selected 'Y,' his choice made. There was no second-guessing; the decision had been simple, once he'd weighed all the factors.