With a deep breath, I allowed myself a moment of contemplation, reflecting on the progress I had made in such a short span of time. As I patiently waited for my energy to replenish, I pondered the potential outcome of activating my active skill, "Enhanced Focus," now that I possessed Arcana.

Feeling the energy gradually replenishing within me, I sensed a heightened state of awareness and clarity. The Arcana point I had allocated seemed to have unlocked a deeper connection to the essence and its manipulation. It was time to put this newfound ability to the test.

Summoning my resolve, I focused my thoughts on activating "Enhanced Focus." I envisioned the skill coming to life, its effects enveloping me in a heightened state of mental acuity and concentration. With a surge of anticipation, I willed the skill to manifest, as I activated the skill, a surge of energy coursed through me, enveloping my mind with its full force. It was as if a mental switch had been flipped, unleashing a torrent of heightened focus and clarity. Thoughts sharpened, distractions faded into the background, and a profound sense of presence washed over me. The world seemed to slow down, allowing me to perceive every detail with astonishing acuity. It was an exhilarating sensation, as if my brain had been indeed supercharged, transcending its previous limitations.

Unfortunately, the euphoric state of enhanced focus and mental acuity that the skill provided was short-lived. As I attempted to tap into its power for a prolonged period, a pounding headache surged through my temples, intensifying with each passing moment. It was as if my mind rebelled against the strain of prolonged concentration, protesting against the unnatural state I was pushing it into. Recognizing the warning signs, I deactivated the skill, allowing the headache to gradually subside. It became evident that the activation of "Enhanced Focus" relied on the energy provided by Arcana, and as I delved deeper into its use, the energy within me gradually depleted. It was akin to a limited resource, much like oxygen that sustains us temporarily before needing replenishment.

Previously, my attempts to circulate the energy and channel it directly to my brain were crude but effective to some extent. It granted me a minor boost to my mental faculties, providing me with approximately 3 minutes of improved focus and clarity.

However, the "Enhanced Focus" skill I acquired took the concept to a whole new level. It was like a refined template of what I had been trying to achieve. The skill allowed me to tap into a more potent source of energy and experience a significantly greater enhancement. The difference was remarkable, although challenging to quantify precisely. But it was clear that the skill provided a substantial improvement compared to my earlier efforts.

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The trade-off, however, was the duration. While my own method gave me a few minutes of enhancement, activating the skill would only grant me 30 seconds of intensified focus. It was a significantly shorter timeframe, but the quality of focus and mental acuity achieved was incomparable.

This revelation highlighted the importance of using the skill strategically and efficiently. I needed to make the most of those precious 30 seconds, reserving them for critical moments or situations where the heightened focus would provide a substantial advantage. It became apparent that mastering the skill's timing and optimizing its usage would be essential in maximizing its benefit.

Curious to see if investing another point into Arcana would make a noticeable difference, I assigned the remaining point to the Arcana attribute. As the energy flowed into me once again, I could sense a slightly greater capacity, as if a reservoir within me had expanded.

With heightened anticipation, I activated the "Enhanced Focus" skill once more. The surge of energy was as potent as before, granting me the familiar boost to my mental faculties. However, this time, the effects persisted for a longer duration, allowing me to stay in an enhanced state for around 35 seconds instead of the previous 40 seconds. As the seconds ticked away, I noticed a subtle but discernible extension of the enhanced state. Instead of the previous 30 seconds, I now experienced around 40 seconds of intensified focus. While the increase may have been modest, it was still an improvement, affirming that investing points into Arcana could enhance the duration of the skill but not the potency, but it was extremely hard to quantify.

This discovery filled me with a sense of satisfaction. Although the potency of the skill remained unchanged, the added point in Arcana had increased its endurance. It was a small but meaningful improvement, as those extra seconds of heightened focus could make a significant difference in critical moments.

All these discoveries emphasized the significance of Arcana. While I currently possessed only one active skill that consumed energy, it became evident that Arcana didn’t only serve to using skills, but it also was the key to understanding skills on a fundamental level. It granted me a subtle yet tangible boost, even without the aid of specific skills.

This realization opened up a world of possibilities. If I could further comprehend and harness the intricate workings of Arcana, I might eventually be able to create my own unique skills or channel the energy in a manner similar to a skill. It was an intriguing prospect that fuelled my ambition and ignited my imagination.

I understood that mastering Arcana, a new muscle I never knew I had would require patience, practice, and a deep understanding of its underlying principles. But my commitment to survival and self-improvement remained steadfast. The memory of Brandon's impalement and my own helplessness in that moment weighed heavily on my conscience. I couldn't shake the thought that it could have been me, impaled and suffering, if circumstances had played out differently.

This only increased my determination to grow stronger.