"Lis, I missed you so much!" Grechen embraced the youthful saintess strongly.
"It's good to see you Grechen." Her voice was soft and soothing, a sharp contrast to Grechen's loud boisterous tone.
The three boys all stared at her silently, Theno and Timo looked away timidly with red faces, but Kano was still locked firmly in place from the inner upheaval caused by his ability.
This Saintess candidate was actually an Unique Epic rank crewmember! Moreover she was counted as a treasure and there was an introduction on her and a viable method to have her join his crew!
It was also possible to zoom in on the map inside his mind like a camera!
This [Allsea Hidden Treasure Map] was practically an ability that defied the heavenly laws! Several features individually could be their own separate ability! This was even more exaggerated than abilities like [A-038-Blue Devil] which not only gave enhanced toughness but also regeneration, petrified skin, hard bones, and great strength. It was the textbook example used in many classes for Highschool students and was the dream ability for many young boys as it more attainable than its advanced versions, the [SS-12-Heavenly Demon] or [SSS-24-Demon Monarch]. An 'A level' ability was a reasonable dream, after all, 'SS' and 'SSS' only had 72 possibilities combined. The probability of awakening an 'SS level' ability was one in ten million and 'SSS level' abilities were one in a hundred million. The global population was said to be around 66 billion, so the odds were not that abysmal, until you factored in that entry into the [Endless Sea World] was controlled so less than a tenth actually got the opportunity to awaken their ability.
Kano was actually one of those boys who secretly wished to awaken the [A-038-Blue Devil]. His previous wish of 'SSS level' healing type abilities were actually just a desperate wish without substance. A combat ability was truly the best out of all ability directions! At least that was what he believed before today. His ability, if exposed would cause countless awakeners to grit their teeth in jealousy, apart from the danger of being captured as a lab rat. He would be just like an incredibly attractive woman whom everyone wanted to possess.
Not only could the [Allsea Hidden Treasure Map] grant the location of anything you desired like a genie, it showed how exactly to get there step by step. It came with the surrounding areas included on the map as well with exquisite detail, it also showed mobile dangers and things you should be wary of whilst at sea! It had a zoom function, so you could spy into detail on the design of a house you've just entered or some other unknown place where you would achieve the effect of having lived there forever! It also automatically introduced treasures that are within range! What was all this if not broken.
"Truly...I" Kano was in pure and utter disbelief, he pinched his face until it was red; he was not dreaming.
Had the heavens finally taken pity on him?!
Had the years of suffering had turned into years of good fortune?!
Thud!
"K-Kano!" Several voices shouted in a hurry, seeing Kano's eyes roll back in his head and him frothing at the mouth.
"Wait. It'll be alright." Sister Quellis quickly reassured the worried trio as she knelt down over him. She didn't notice the two boys snap out of their worry and confusion almost instantaneously and stare at her bumpy figure, highlighted in her present posture, before being slapped upside the head with a low whisper of 'sleep with one eye open from now on' from a fierce voice.
This boy? Mental overdraft!
Such a severe case too, in only a few moments!
Quellis recognized these symptoms as she often had cases of it while meditating to long. Her teacher always scolded her saying she was going to turn stupid. Mental energy was the realization of one's spirtuality and willpower. It was the drving force for a great many things and was the core driver for all 'magic' and most non-physcial abilities. Typically only professions directly dealing with the spirit would be exposed to mental overdraft, as the average person couldn't even sense their own mental energy.
She recognized the severity of Kano's condition as one produced by repeated minor overdrafts that eventually could lead to mental illness or death.
What had Quellis truly puzzled was that he was fine just a few moments before. She had treated many wandering spellcasters, shamans, navigators, puppeteers and others who cultivated mental energy but this her first time seeing such a unique case. On a mortal at that with no trace of a pathway.
Now that I look back, he was a bit off while looking at me? Could it be...
She was aware of her beauty and had gotten used to the reactions so she hadn't given it much thought but now...
Quellis raised one arm and manifested a golden light that swam around Kano's head like a crown of glowing wind. She was readily praised for her intelligence by her current teacher and even her master, moreover despite being 22 she was quite experienced so she quickly analyzed the key point.
He was using some sort of ability on me, but because I was too high level it backlashed! But I didn't feel a thing!
Quellis actually felt terrified at that moment, even her master would show clear signs when investigating her level of mental strength or divine power. To do so without her noticing, meant that he could have easily attacked her with his mental strength while she was unaware.
A god's blessing? Or some devil? No, there was no trace of divinity. What could it be?
"No, that can't be. His mental vessel is so fragile. His sea of consciousness hasn't even taken form. Could it be some special innate ability then?" She lightly rested her delicate hand on his forehead while checking his condition. In normal cases it was very rude to investigate a person's sea of consciousness, it was like poking around inside their chest at their heart. She quickly retracted her mental power from inside his mind, she was just healing him and any further intrusion would be unethical.
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Quellis did a full body examination in a few seconds with a special technique and found nothing. This proved her initial conjecture that he had used some traceless ability on her.
He himself wasn't a special physique, nor did he have a special soul. There was practically nothing remarkable about him.
So what exactly was it...
***
Midday. The sun’s rays shown though the open window accompanied by the wind.
The fluttering curtains seemed to dance sensually.
A young man laid upon a bed, his was missing one arm and on the stump where his arm used to be, a sludge of sweet smelling medicine was smeared.
A beautiful figure sat next to the young man and occasionally ran her palms over his head without touching him, only a gentle light was visible from her gestures.
His eyelashes seemed to match the curtains as they fluttered open.
Where... am I?
Kano seemed to find himself unconscious a lot in recent times. His arm pain was transferred to his head as he felt like he was hit with a sledgehammer.
Just turning to observe the room left him aching in pain.
Suddenly his eyes met the close up face of the saintess candidate who had bent over to wipe his face with a towel.
"..."
"..."
"Hi?" He said awkwardly.
"Hello" She responded cooly before sitting upright unperturbed.
"You shouldn't use that ability of yours for so long. Just a few moments had you out for three days. Although even without my help it wouldn't be fatal, but the backlash would be several times more severe." Quellis golden eyelashes glowed with afternoon sun but her light blue eyes seemed to draw one in, tempting you to not look away.
"Well, that was indeed foolish of me, I didn't realize." Kano said apologetically. He was so blown away by his ability he forgot you needed mental energy to activate it, the first free use had already been used up. It seemed that although he didn't ask to find her, the passive detection feature for nearby treasures also cost mental energy.
Of course, even an awakener of the 'measly' [Blue Devil] would face this pain much less he.
It's said each ability has secrets unique to it that are sealed off. Where its possible to lessen the cost but that's impossible for me.
He didn't even have the time to do his daily reps of noble insults, his ability was unique and was not of the predetermined abilities gifted by the talent stone. Since it matched nothing, he was the first user. Those who came after him would have to refer to his experiences when using the ability although Kano had an intuitive feeling that even if someone managed to bring their ability to EX level in the future, they would have a completely different ability than he. Even if that person or one of those persons defied all odds and have the same lowly 'D-level' ability as he did.
"Thanks for taking care of me." He slightly bowed with pain, feeling her eyes on him.
"No problem, your condition seems to be because of me. Speaking of which can you tell me about the ability you used on me." Her voice was truly angelic, but Kano didn't know why her smile seemed to contain a hidden danger just now.
"Uh well... wait?! You said 3 days! It's been 3 days!" Her earlier words just connected causing Kano to ignore the pain and shout repeatedly.
"Yes. It's the afternoon of the third day now. Why?" Quellis asked seeing his strong reaction.
It's over. I'm screwed.
Kano thought in despair. Everything happened so fast, and he was prepared to die to enter this world. His plans were only up to that point, everything else was just vague thoughts without any methodology. He hadn't even made the necessary preparations, but the first calamity was already here! Classes taught trap making skills and defense strategies to deal with the first beast that would appear. Teaming up together was also an option although you would have to deal with all of your calamities at once, there was strength in numbers and unlike your group, the beasts wouldn't have conspired with each other. But he was alone! He didn't even have a follower much less a first order follower which was the standard for passing the first trial.
The disadvantages of having a first order flagless sailor on deck were miniscule, ignoring social issues. Flagless sailors only received the talent stone and no other blessings or curses. Having a competent trained first order professional was arguably the same as an extra Great Blessing! Unfortunately Kano didn't have the oppurtunity.
Moreover, Kano didn't have a combat ability so he couldn't even use it in battle. The [Allsea Hidden Treasure Map] was purely auxiliary!
He was also weaker than most due to malnutrition, even mining took him a long time and that was in his prime condition uninjured!
"Is everything okay?" Quellis asked seeing his inner turmoil.
"No, everything is fucked." Kano said dispiritedly.
"Oh excuse my language, thanks for healing me by the way" He then realized his body had recovered to his initial state before crossing so he quickly gave his thanks to the likely culprit. The only difference was the large increase in mental strength but he had no time to be happy about that.
The first beast calamity was a hurdle for many in the [Endless Sea World]. Grouping together only helped if there was a rich or capable person amongst you and you'd also have to give some recompense later on. A first order beast or weird was not to be trifled with although it was the weakest existence for many races. As if their different racial abilities were not enough, their basic physique was stronger than humans and more suited for combat. They also grew stronger the more outsiders interfered otherwise they wouldn't be a worthy of being dubbed a trial, also running into a native stronghold with many of their exalts would make no difference, the trial would disappear and appear later, even stronger. Whatever the case may be, you had to defeat whatever came one on one.
The only exception was with crewmembers since the crew counts as 'one'. Students were taught to not be picky when facing their first trial without confidence, even randomly picking some cannon fodder was okay as long as it helped. Even if you had to deal with the penalty, it was only temporary.
Beasts full of diversity, Weird filled with strangeness, Danger regions sealing off areas, whatever the category the threat of death was never truly lessened.
Beasts were actually the favorite for novices. Weird such as the famous Headless girl, Riddling Jester, Nightmare Devils and so on, were very difficult to counter without special means. There were also plants which were a menace when they were capable of moving. The Wandering Buckthorn could teleport short distances and inflicted paralysis poison! This was just a common bush, there were special beasts and weird with great talents like 'SSS level' professional humans, who would insta kill newbies in a single breath.
In the early days, this first trial directly eliminated a large fraction of all flagless and flagbearer sailors. Now with preparation and knowledge it was easier to deal with, but the threat was far from gone.
Preparation was the keyword.
The standard was to set up a trap and lure them in, or to find their weakness once you recognized some of their characteristics and use it against them. Even these basic things were outside Kano's capabilities at the moment, his knowledge was hindered as he didn't complete school, he did not get the time to set up a trap, and the weaknesses were the worst of it. Weird and Beasts had different types of weakness, the physical weakness like location on their body, required some amount of strength to exploit, other weaknesses such as the scent of a certain herb, required availability and money to obtain such herbs and Kano was dirt poor.
Thus, Kano felt like crying without tears at the sudden reversal.
The cruel irony was palpable.
He was just celebrating his ability and not only could he currently not use it, but his overpowered ability was also next to useless in a battle.