Replenishing his mana core was paramount; without it, his newly activated System and powerful skills were dormant. He was still in the infirmary bed, and his body desperately needed to recover from the sheer mana drain of manifesting Vera. The thought of double Arcane Frame effectiveness as a reward for full mana restoration was a tempting incentive. It would essentially supercharge his passive growth from that moment.
The second task, to design five new skills for dungeon diving, was where the real strategic challenge lay. He had starting accumulated amount of CP (8500 points), which, he calculated, was enough for roughly fourteen A-rank skills (8500 / 600 ≈ 14.16) or even a couple of SS-rank skills if he chose wisely. He needed a balanced set for survival and combat, one that complemented his unique growth pattern and the versatility he already possessed with multiple weapon styles. He mentally accessed his Master's Encyclo, pulling up all the knowledge he'd gleaned on combat styles, environmental hazards, common dungeon threats, and the intricate mana flows of the Wild Dominions.
He recalled the general methods Awakened used to increase their strength. The most common was absorbing mana cores dropped from dungeon monsters. Most students, especially those aiming for rapid progression, undertook constant dungeon diving missions until they had ascended several ranks. These cores, Arin knew, contained mana that was roughly 50% refined as beast or monster of ranks known do not have intelligence, they absorb mana on instinct in the core and then use their cores to cast skill or enhance their bodies.
Humans then further refine it to 100% and absorb the mana cores, effectively halving the time it took to increase strength compared to pure meditation. The second method was indeed meditation and absorbing ambient mana from the air. While always available, this process was agonizingly slow, requiring immense personal refinement after absorption.
Arin, however, possessed a unique advantage with his Arcane Frame. Unlike others who had to manually draw and refine ambient mana, his Frame passively absorbed and refined mana for him, making his growth continuous and effortless, far surpassing the speed of typical mana absorption from the air. This meant his mana rank would constantly be elevated, generally two full ranks higher than his theoretical 'base' due to the Frame's efficiency. His physique would be one rank higher, and his intelligence, thanks to Master's Encyclo, also one rank higher on top of the Arcane Frame's boost. While others hit natural ceilings based on their awakened skill ranks, his Arcane Frame would keep pushing him, ensuring his strength would always be above his peers, most of whom were at the F-rank peak or just making their way to E-rank.
Skill ranks, he mused, genuinely set the future trajectory of an Awakener. Someone with an A-rank awakened skill might peak at A-rank strength and progression speed. An SSS-rank skill user, however, could potentially reach SSS-rank power and at an accelerated pace. My Arcane Frame ensures my strength, in particular, will continue to advance rapidly by continually circulating absorbed mana through my body, effectively increasing my stats and overall power. But relying solely on passive growth wasn't enough for immediate, tactical needs.
He mentally shook his head. He could rely on the Arcane Frame for passive growth and unparalleled survivability, but he needed direct, active skills. And he needed them now. He couldn't leave the infirmary and face the world with just Silent Steps and Mind Map. He needed offensive, defensive, and utility skills that leveraged his mana and intelligence, skills that would make him truly self-sufficient. The System's tasks weren't just objectives; they were an invitation to forge himself.
He felt a spark of perverse satisfaction. The academy offered students loans for materials based on their rank, to be repaid over one to three years. If a student unfortunately perished on a mission, the academy absorbed the debt, fostering a sense of loyalty and a pragmatic understanding that aid in need was indeed aid. A useful policy, but one he wouldn't need to fully exploit. He had his own unique Craft skill and a massive bank of CP. He wasn't borrowing. He was creating.
And he had his plans for the first five.
Skill 1: Haste
Arin closed his eyes, focusing intently on the Skill Synthesis & Optimization module within his System. The interface, now a familiar and fluid extension of his thoughts, responded instantly. He considered the primary needs of a solo operative venturing into unknown dangers: mobility, agility, the ability to escape overwhelming odds or to rapidly reposition for a tactical advantage. While Silent Steps offered stealth, it didn't provide the raw, explosive speed he envisioned.
A Haste skill, he thought, is fundamental for battlefield control and self-preservation. He mentally pictured the fleeting bursts of speed he'd seen from rogue-class students, the sudden blurs of movement that allowed them to disengage or flank. He broke down their mana expenditure, the precise muscle contractions involved, the neural pathways that facilitated such rapid acceleration. His Mind Vault processed countless instances, identifying commonalities and optimal efficiencies, filtering out wasted motion, and streamlining mana flow. He visualized the skill's effect: his form blurring, the world slowing around him, every reaction becoming hyper-accelerated.
A shimmering prompt appeared in his mental vision:
[Please pick a name for the skill...]
"Haste," Arin transmitted.
[ Skill 'Haste' has been created. ](Rank will be settled by default upon full conceptualization.)
Arin's internal analytical processes immediately. For this level of conceptualized power, with a 100% speed increase? The System's default calibration is surprisingly conservative, or perhaps it's an initial placeholder before full evaluation of its conceptual weight, even with my Semi-Divine Craft skill.
[ State the use of the skill. ]
Arin focused, sending the full conceptual parameters: "An active skill that increases the user's movement and reaction speed by 100%. Activation requires 1000 mana, and it costs 100 mana for every second it remains active. It has no cooldown."
(Processing Skill Conceptualization against User Parameters... )
(Warning: Conceptualized skill complexity significantly exceeds 'B' Rank parameters. Re-evaluating based on User's 'Craft (Semi-Divine)' Skill influence and detailed conceptualization.)
(Rank evaluated: A-Rank.)
(Description Accepted.)
[Please select the active phrase for the skill {Haste}.]
"Haste," he answered without hesitation, the words feeling naturally linked to the concept.
[Phrase 'Haste' has been selected.]
[ Estimated mana cost to use the skill has been calculated: 1,000 mana/activation. ]
[ Sustained mana cost has been calculated: 100 mana/second. ]
[ Cooldown: None. ]
[ Would you like to learn the skill or destroy it? ]
The lack of a cooldown is crucial for sustained evasion or relentless pursuit, Arin mentally confirmed with absolute certainty. And the 100% speed increase is an immense combat advantage, effectively doubling my movement options against any opponent. This alone can turn impossible odds into survivable encounters. His Arcane Frame, he knew, would seamlessly integrate the enhanced speed into his physical limits, preventing any strain or injury from the sudden burst of acceleration. He imagined himself weaving through a swarm of Wild Dominion beasts, appearing as a phantom blur, or closing the distance on a fleeing, high-value target with impossible swiftness. This was not just a core movement skill; it was a cornerstone of his tactical approach, versatile and invaluable in any engagement.
"Learn it," Arin transmitted.
[ Congratulations! You have learned the skill {Haste} Successfully. ]
My CP reduced by 600 to create this A-rank skill Haste. Most importantly, i can upgrade the skill now from A-rank to S-rank and it will be evolvable through SP or CP either are acceptable.