Ron's focus was suddenly interrupted by a new blue notification window that popped up in front of him, breaking his concentration. He couldn't help but smile as he read the words that flashed across the screen. It was a message from the system, a confirmation that he had successfully completed his first task.
[Required experience point needed to escape the ‘Dormant’ state; (10/10)]
[You have succeeded.]
Throughout the night, Ron repeated the same sequence of movements over and over again. Each attempt was met with varying degrees of failure, frustration gnawing at the edges of his resolve. He stumbled, fumbled, and faltered, but he refused to give up.
Time and again, he tried, making minute adjustments, tweaking his form, and refining his technique. He analyzed each failure, learning from his mistakes, and using them as stepping stones towards success. With each attempt, he grew more skilled, more attuned to the nuances of the movements, and more in sync with the holographic images that guided him.
[The mana and your physique are synchronizing.]
The moment Ron received the message, it was as if a bolt of lightning had struck him, electrifying his senses and setting his entire body ablaze with a surge of energy. He felt a tingling sensation that seemed to radiate from within, coursing through his veins like a torrent of fire.
His heart pounded in his chest, and he could hear the rush of blood in his ears as the surge of energy intensified. It was as if every fiber of his being was awakening, stirring to life with an almost primal force. Ron's eyes widened in awe as he realized that this was no ordinary sensation - it was something beyond his comprehension, something he had never experienced before. It was even far different than the energy he felt when distributing his points.
He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself as the vibrant energy inside him slowly settled down. Ron looked down at his hands, and they seemed to glow with a faint, pulsating light. His muscles tensed and flexed involuntarily, responding to the surge of energy coursing through them. Ron could feel his senses heighten, as if he had been granted a heightened state of awareness, with every sound, smell, and sensation amplified to a level he had never experienced before. Then another message appeared.
[Physique had been synchronized with Mana.]
[You have learned an auxiliary skill; Mana Perception.]
The sudden new skill caught him off guard. He never thought practicing a skill would be gifted him a skill for free like this. Ron opened up the skill window.
[Mana Perception]
[Rank][Common]
[Level][1]
[Description][Using mana as a sensory tool to interpret your surroundings.]
[Effects][Able to identify anything within a 20-meter range. Please be advised that living creatures higher than you by twenty levels are not identifiable.]
It was an identify-class skill, the kind of ability that any seasoned RPG player would covet. He had been yearning to obtain it since he first arrived in Foghaven for the fear of the unknown. And now, as if by some stroke of luck, he had stumbled upon this incredible gift. Ron's mind plunged into the skill with fervor, eager to unlock its secrets. The mental guidance provided was precise and simple. He absorbed the instructions, committing each step to memory as he delved deeper into the skill. By the time he opened his eyes, a triumphant smile graced his lips. He had mastered the skill. Well, the simpler method of course not the difficult one.
They were two distinct methods of activation. The first method was straightforward. Ron simply needed to mention the skill's name either by speaking it aloud or reciting it in his mind, and the skill would activate. It was a quick and convenient way to access its power. The second method was slightly more challenging. It required Ron to control the mana within his body and expand it outward, forming a connection between his inner energy and the external world. It demanded concentration and precision, something he would practice at a later date. For now, he was content with the simpler method.
‘Mana Perception,’ he thought. The mana in him crept outward, expanding until reaching the limit of twenty meters. The range didn’t only go sideway but also top to bottom. Even while on the rooftop he could see the sleeping Imani’s name and level.
[Imani Nkosi][Lv.1]
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Her name glowed in green while those in red were easy enough to be considered as the enemy. He ventured towards the edge of the roof, right beside another building. His range was far too short to reach but close enough to reach the next building as he could see the name dyed in red.
[Leproscordyceps-infected Human.][Lv.4]
Ron's brow furrowed into a deep frown as he surveyed the scene before him. He had expected to encounter the name zombie, but what he saw left him baffled and disturbed. The figures behind the window below his eye were still referred to as humans, but the grisly state of their bodies told a different story.
Some of them were missing limbs, their torn flesh revealing bone and sinew in grotesque displays of carnage. Others had their jaws ripped off or their bellies split open, exposing innards that should have been hidden from view. The stench of decay hung heavy in the air, a putrid odor that assaulted Ron's senses.
He couldn't help but question the notion of these beings still being considered human. Could they truly be saved? It seemed unlikely, given the extent of the injuries they had sustained. Their bodies were twisted and mangled, bearing the unmistakable marks of violence and decay. Ron's mind reeled with the incongruity of it all. How could these creatures, with their mutilated forms and rotting flesh, still be classified as human?
Ron shook his head. It wasn’t his place to question whether someone was saveable or not. The only thing he knew was Hector’s team had the chance to correct things right. He stared in the direction where the humanoid invader was, and he hoped those Heroes were well in the journey of winning that fight.
Ron opened up his status window and discovered another thing after awakening his Greylock Breathing Formula.
[Status]
[Name: Sauron Williams]
[Level: 13]
[Class: 3-Star Knight, Mage In-Training]
[Title: 1. Descendant of Greylock 2. Curse of the Envious Serpent(Disable) 3. Blacksheep of Greylock 4. Might of the Dark Horse]
[Strength: 91][+21]
[Agility: 94][+21]
[Vitality: 96][+21]
[Intelligence: 26]
[Spirit: 24]
[Charisma: 29]
[Mana: 21]
[Available points: 0]
Ron's mind raced as he tried to make sense of the newfound revelation. The Greylock Breathing Formula had granted him an enhancement of Strength, Agility, and Vitality relative to his Mana stat. It was a puzzle piece that had been missing all along, and now everything fell into place with a sudden clarity. Not to mention, his class had raised by another number, rising up to a 3-Star Knight. One thing was for sure, he needed to delve more into how the knight class responded to his stats. He scanned through the skill description again. It was all there, hidden in plain sight. The breathing formula was not just about harnessing Mana, but also about unlocking the true potential of the human body.
Now he realized how Bron was strong. The people of Elder Dragon Fantasy had grown stronger without the aid of a system like his because they had mastered similar techniques to Greylock Breathing Formula. They had unlocked the hidden power within themselves, tapping into the full range of abilities that those techniques could bestow. A marvel of discovery and now he had a taste of it also.
Ron crossed his arms, feeling a pang of regret wash over him. But who could blame him though? His time in Elder Dragon Fantasy had been a constant whirlwind of tension and adrenaline, leaving him little room to catch his breath, let alone explore the depths of the skills he now found himself immersed in. But Ron shrugged his shoulders. The past was the past, and he couldn't dwell on what could have been. He had to focus on the present, on the opportunity that lay before him now. His mind wandered to a vivid vision of the future he had dreamed of for so long. He saw himself standing triumphantly, holding the beheaded head of the New York Dragon, a creature that had been a venomous thorn in his heart. The scene was still distant and uncertain, but for the first time, it felt within his grasp. It was his first real step toward his long-held goal.
“Open Greylock Sword Art,” he uttered. His glance fell on the new blue window as this was another skill he was keen to learn.
[Greylock Sword Art]
[Rank][Uncommon]
[Level][1]
[Description][The five moves of basic swordsmanship developed by the Greylock House.]
[Effects][1. In passive state, sword strikes power up in force and speed by 10%]
[2. In active state, mana infused attack is possible. Increasing the force and speed of the sword strikes by 20%]
[Current usable move = 1. Grey Ridge Slash.]
The moment he decided to train in this new skill, the holograms returned once more. His eyes fixed on the holograms that had reappeared before him. They were different from the ones he had seen before, distinct from the graceful and flowing movements of the Greylock Breathing Formula. Instead, these holograms displayed a more linear progression, a series of slashes and strikes from different angles, as if outlining a precise and calculated sequence.
Undeterred by the unfamiliarity, Ron took a deep breath and stepped forward. The holograms responded to his movements, their projections flickering with intensity as he followed the sequence of slashes, strikes, and parries. His body moved with newfound agility and precision, his muscles responding to the holograms with a fluidity that he had never experienced before. But right as he was about to execute the third slash, the hologram turned red.
Yet he smiled. He knew failures would be the steps to reaching success. With the night still young, Ron was completely absorbed in this new art. His focus was unwavering as he continued to follow the holograms. He slashed and struck with growing confidence, pushing himself to master each step of the sequence, driven by a burning curiosity and determination.
Soon, the numbers kept piling up.
[Required experience point needed to advance to the next level; (17/100)]
[Required experience point needed to advance to the next level; (18/100)]
[Required experience point needed to advance to the next level; (19/100)]
[…]