no new levels, no merging of skills, nothing.
“So that's it? I get basically a step-by-step guide on how to use arcane smithing in combat, but I get nothing for it,” Jake said before getting up and summoning an attuned arcane flame and a reactive mana barrier over his body. The flame would zip one way and then the other at Jake's command. Finally, at this point, Jake did the unthinkable: he jammed a very large metal pole with a sharp point in the ground before he launched himself straight into the air, followed by a quick and sharp descent directly over the large point. But just as he hit the pole, a hammering sound reverberated out from Jake's chest, and the metal pole changed shape as it bent around Jake's body.
“Fuck yes, it worked.”
Notification
Self-made skill rare (insert name).
Change the form of any metal objects restricted to metal that has not been embedded with energy or has been soulbound.
“Awesome, it's a new skill and one that I created alone, and not something that asshole system could have any impact on.” He then looked up at the sky and shouted, “Fuck you and your system, I'm in control now, bitch.” Jake said to himself, not realising there was a person standing behind him. “Mr, who are you talking to?” a young male beastfolk of the local fox tribe asked. The little fox was no older than ten, and he was one of the few beastfolk that were shunned after the system due to the lack of talent in the basic transformation skill. This young fox may be standing on two legs, but he clearly didn't have many humanoid characteristics. His face was that of a fox, and his eyes were the same; the only things that were different were his arms and hands, but even they were still covered in fur. His legs were still shaped the same as a fox's.
“No one, just a man that wants me dead. So what brings you out to a place like this?”
“Didn't you say something about a system, oh wait.” Jake felt a tingle in the back of his mind for a second, then the look on the young boy's face suddenly changed.
“Um, Mr, are you by chance Jake Everval?”
“What was that you just did?”
“It was a skill I evolved. It normally lets me know all sorts of information.”
“So why then did you ask my name? Did the skill not work or something?”
“No, it didn't and what's more, I was given a quest by the system, one I'm not sure I can even complete. Then there's that punishment for failure. What the fuck is that about? I really wish I didn't come here today.”
“Can I help you with the request?”
“Only if you're willing to die. This is absolutely ridiculous. I first get kicked out of my home for not being able to use these stupid skills from the system, then I stumble across a calamity on two legs. Now what? The system itself has deemed me a waste and wants me to die at your hands! What, in an attempt to kill you? For fuck's sake, I'm only thirteen.”
“If you're willing, what happens if you fail?”
“I fucken die, that's what happens to me.”
“The system can't kill you; it doesn't have that ability.”
“And what? I'm supposed to just believe you?”
“If it could kill people, why hasn't it killed me?”
“I don't fucken know; I'm only thirteen.”
“How about this: I have a skill I haven't used in a long time. It might just be able to help you, but it will come at a price.”
Jake looked over his race skill just to double-check his idea.
Race Skill
Master of the Lost (Unique)
Those who have lost their way in life can get a second chance. By following the demon of the past, they can find hope in what once was lost.
Well, it would be nice if I could help, but last time I lost so much. But at least this time I won’t be interfered with by the system. It would be nice to know what the actual cost of the skill will be. Jake thought as he waited for a reply from the young fox.
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“Say, I believe you. Why would you try to help someone like me? Out of all the skills I have, the only one I can use just failed. Look at me, I can't even change forms.”
“What's your name, kid?”
“Five of Nine and Eight.”
“So, Five then. Do you have a place to call home? Or a path you wish to follow? Because my path is to get stronger than everything and everyone that stands between me and my goals. If you don't have a path, I can give you one.”
“That doesn't answer my question; why?”
“For the simple reason I want to try. This doesn't mean I'm a good person or anything, just so you know. I really just want to see what will happen now that the system is not butting in.”
“Oh, fuck it. How bad could it get anyway? Let's just take the chance and see what happens.”
Jake smiled as he activated his skill, only for this time to receive a notification.
Notification
You have activated the skill Master of the Lost. What path do you wish Five of Nine and Eight to take?
Options
High-ranking paths
Cost: 1000 grade levels
* Demon's hand
* Demon's knight
* Knowledge sovereign
Mid-ranking paths
Cost: 100 grade levels
* House guard
* Warrior's heart
* Mind walker
Low-ranking paths
Cost: 10 grade levels
*
Servant
* Warrior
* Librarian
More paths may open up as your grade level increases. Any low and mid-grade users can be promoted by a high-ranking member of the same path if the minimum criteria have been met, or by the demon of the past.
“So, if I gave you a choice of three paths forward, one being a Servant path, another being a Warrior path, and the final one a path of knowledge, which would you choose?”
Five was just standing there, not really understanding the question, when out of the blue, he said, “knowledge.”
“Interesting. Is there a reason you picked that one?”
“I'm not one that likes to fight, and the idea of serving someone doesn't sound good to me.”
“So then you like to learn new things?”
“Kind of. I did evolve that one skill by myself, and I'm looking at changing this ridiculous form-changing skill into something useful.”
“Fine, I will see what I can do.”
Jake selected Librarian and instantly felt his levels drop. He opened up his stats to check, only to see he had lost six Solidified Levels.
Solidified Level: 72. Levels required till next grade evaluation: 1000 total
Cultivation Level: 0
Life: 100%
Void: 15%
Mana: 100%
Arcane: 100%
I guess that makes sense; the levels I cultivated were used first, so this means I might be able to actually use this skill in the future if I can cultivate up enough levels, that is.
Notification
You have changed the path of Five of Nine and Eight to a Librarian. He now has access to the skills.
Lost knowledge (common)
The user can access the knowledge of the recently deceased.
Stable memory (common)
The user's memory of any knowledge they acquire will remain in their memories for up to one month before they begin to fade.
Apprentice scribe (common)
The user can make all the materials needed to be an apprentice scribe.
“Are you happy with that? And did it change anything other than giving you some new skills?”
“Yes, it changed a lot, but firstly, how the fuck do I cultivate?”
Jake laughed, then the two sat down, Five in his fox form, as the other one was taking too much out of him, and he just couldn't be bothered keeping it up, so they just talked for a while, Jake going over everything he knew about cultivation, even going so far as to offer up one life shard and one mana shard as a gift to the young fox, giving the kid a little bit of a jump-start. Jake would have given him an arcane shard if he had any, but as Jake was coming to realise, this solar system was very lacking when it came to that. They talked for a good while until finally a familiar face came out of the tree line.
“Eric, you're finally here!” Then, as if he had been waiting, Borg exited the water.
“We have found her; she's currently in the destroyed airport at Albury. She is also in a bad state. I have sent some people to keep an eye on the situation there. They will try to get her out, but they will not put their lives in danger to do so.”
“Thank you, Borg. I will be on my way now. Oh Five, what will you be doing? Are you coming with us or staying around here?”
“There's nothing here for me, so I'll come with you. Just don't get me killed.”
The group of twelve set off to their destination, Jake was carrying Five as he couldn't keep up at all; after all, he was only a low-level G grade at best.
“So, Five, what made you want to join us?” Eric asked.
“Didn't have anywhere else to go, plus I believe sticking with this calamity of a man might just be for the best. After all, I can actually cultivate while he is carrying me, and then I'm also pretty sure wherever he goes, people will die, and then I can start getting some of those sweeties for my new collection.” Eric and the others all stopped in their tracks while Jake and Five continued. It wasn't for some time before Jake spoke, holding back his internal laughter.
“I think you might have phrased that one wrong.”
Five, on the other hand, was a bit confused about why their party members just stopped all of a sudden, only now understanding it was him.
“Oh, now that I think about it, that sounds like I'm some kind of weirdo that creeps on the dead, doesn't it?”
“It sure does,” Jake said.
“Do you think I should explain myself to them? I don't want them getting the wrong idea about me.”
Jake hummed to himself for a second, then replied in a tone that projected confidence.
“No, that will do more harm than good.” After saying this, a slight grin escaped the corner of Jake's mouth.
“That doesn't sound like the right thing to do, but I'll take your advice.”
Jake felt bad for what he had just done; he was about to tell Five the truth when, out of the trees, a group of drop bears attacked.
Identify
Race: Dropbear King
Core: Sudo mana core
Grade: F
Level: 70
Identify
Race: Dropbear Queen
Core: Sudo mana core
Grade: F
Level: 75
Identify
Race: Dropbear Juvenile
Core: Sudo mana core
Grade: G
Level: 5
Identify
Race: Dropbear Juvenile
Core sudo mana core
Grade G
Level 10