Now that he’d had time to think the matter through, Edge was confident that his strategy was sound. Until he evolved Skill-Eater to mid stage-one, he would use the points he gained from cycling-up to improve his energetic attributes.
He needed to ramp up the power of his skills, and he needed to generate enough mana to use them whenever he wanted.
None of that had changed. Coming close to death more times than he could count on one hand had, however, broadened his perspective. Given that he’d been ambushed by predatory beasts and deadly magical weather all in the same day, he decided to take a brief detour before continuing down the path he had chosen.
His energetic attributes could wait one more cycle. He opened his Guide and put both points into perception, so that nothing could sneak up on him so easily again. It would also help when hunting for skills, so Edge was sure that he was making a wise investment.
When he made his selection, the potentia trapped in the unspent points was released.
The crackling energy came flowing out, ready to permanently change his body. Half went surging into his head, and half into his sensory organs. When boosting amplification and generation, the sensations had been centered around his core. This time, the changes felt different.
First, every inch of his skin started to tingle. Rather than granting him a vision, Edge’s attention was drawn into his body, immersed in the input of all five senses. In between the drawing of one breath and the next, the buzzing stopped, and the world became sharper. Like a series of blurred lenses snapping into focus.
A twenty percent increase in a sense’s acuteness is a big difference, adding considerable depth and detail. A twenty percent boost to every sense, is something else entirely. Holy shit. This is incredible.
Edge’s jaw dropped in astonishment. He stood there, taking it all in, feeling closer to the world than he ever had before. Everything he looked at evoked a sense of wonder, like he was seeing it for the first time. He could make out every blade of grass. The rich patterns texturing the clouds above, and the intricate whirls of his fingerprints when he looked down at his hands.
He could smell the sweet perfume of flowers in bloom with a vibrancy that took his breath away. Feel the warmth of the sunlight on his skin with an intensity he’d never known. Hear the complex music of wind stirring the grass and the rhythmic backbeat of blood pumping through his veins.
And then of course, there was the magic of Ord. The dazzling bands of magicytes flowing across the plains. Shimmering layers, striating the soil and sky. This planet is beautiful. I feel so alive.
It made him wonder how much more Ord had to show him. Sensations and delights that he had never known. Edge had a hunch that there was a whole hidden world out there. Things to feel and see, smell and hear, that he had never even imagined.
Not to mention taste. He had already had some incredible culinary experiences since waking up on this planet. Now, his next meal should be even better.
The extra information was disorienting at first. It would normally have taken weeks to adjust to the changes. But then his brain began filtering out the unimportant bits, preventing him from being overwhelmed by sheer sensory overload. Another benefit of raising perception, on top of boosting the raw power of his sensory organs.
Half an hour later, Edge was starting to adapt to his upgraded senses. The crisp focus and rich filigree. It was, in a word, amazing. Once I reach stage-one, I’ll have to get more.
While he finished getting used to the changes, he pondered what he should do next. He was still heading for town, but he was no longer certain how long the journey would take. He had to be prepared to survive in the wild for at least a few more days.
Before he started laying down plans, he decided to check out his profile.
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Personal statistics: Edge Vasher
Physical attributes (Values in parentheses are provided by your traits)
Power: 1 (2) Reflex: 1 Endurance: 2 Perception: 3 Speed: 2 (3) Control: 1 (2) Durability: 2
Energetic attributes
Generation: 4 Amplification: 4 Disruption: 1
Core Information
Name: [Skill-Eater]
Stage: 0.
Cycle: 5/7.
Rarity: Unique.
Category: Unique.
Attribute points per cycle: 2.
Ultimate ability: Extraction (active). Uses per day: 3. Cooldown period: 24 hours.
Steal the skills of monsters, men, and beasts, and claim them for your own.
Core trait: Collector (unique) [Alternate advancement].
You can no longer acquire skills through normal means. You may slot twice as many skills as before. Additionally, you will gain an extra skill slot with every new stage.
Skills
Skill slots 6. Unused slots 1.
Known skills
Slash (basic): rank 1.
Empower an attack with a bladed weapon.
Entangle: rank 2 (common). Path: durability.
Create burrowing vines to bind your foes.
Elemental blade [ice] (uncommon): rank 1.
Create a subzero blade of ice.
Regeneration [limited] (uncommon): rank 1.
Rapidly heal wounds. Limited regeneration cannot restore organs that are completely destroyed.
Shadow step (rare): rank 1.
Transform into shadows.
Traits
Trait slots: 2. Unused slots: 1.
Trait: Triple tap.
You’re either a genius, blessed by the heavens, or the luckiest motherfucker on the planet. You won a fight against three opponents that were two stages higher than yourself, and (more or less) landed the killing blow on each.
Effects: + 10% to power, speed, and control (minimum gain of 1).
Implants (none)
System currency
Credits: 0
Mortium: 1
Damn, Edge. That’s some serious growth. If you can survive the next few days, gear up, and start eating more skills that synergize with the ones you already have, you might just make it after all.
On that note, he turned his attention to his immediate needs. One way or another, it was time to start crossing the plains before his luck ran out.
Although his body was feeling much better, Edge was still recovering from his latest fight. He was low on mana and sleep deprived. His makeshift sword had come apart, and his clothes were so shredded that he was practically naked. He had no charges of [Extraction] to steal more skills, and he wasn’t in shape for another fight regardless.
All that was left was to pick his path and be on his way.
His boulder had an excellent view of the southern plains. But the hill was blocking his view to the north, the direction he was headed. He hopped off the rock and started climbing the hillside until he was standing on the crest.
Edge turned his gaze to the north and took a long look around. He was glad that the vegetation in the region was relatively short, topping off at the height of his knees. After spotting nothing dangerous nearby, he charted a course that would avoid the bladed yellow grass and started walking down the hill.
As he put the miles beneath his boots, he reflected on everything he’d learned so far. I’ll do better today. I’ll pay close attention to my surroundings so that I don’t get ambushed again. I’ll use my upgraded senses to find something to eat and pick my next shelter a few hours before dark.
Edge continued making his way back to town, his gaze on the horizon and his thoughts on the future.