Chapter 14: I didn’t jinx myself!
During his latest grinding spree, he hadn’t been slacking his meditation and rune experiments. He had, almost right before he leveled up, made a breakthrough in Skill creation. He figured out a combination of runes that could basically allow for personal telekinesis. He was very aware that this would not be possible without taking advantage of the properties of his willpower.
Skill Name: Levitation
Apply momentum to yourself using sheer will. Is more effective when countering preexisting momentum or other acceleration.
Flight. Probably the truest ‘superpower’ that literature had ever thought up. Superhuman strength wasn’t really a superpower, so it didn’t count. Flight often took different forms, and almost never obeyed the laws of physics. Or any type of logic for that matter.
He couldn’t really say his own form of flight obeyed too may laws of physics, but it was certainly fun. He basically had unlimited flight as long as he didn’t run out of willpower, which was basically impossible. During the testing process for his new Skill, he even spent a few religious experiences heading straight up and never encountered any problems.
The oxygen never ran out—if that was even what he was breathing—and there was no change in the air. It was quite unnerving. There was no indication he was getting higher after he had lost sight of the ground through the ever-present haze. He also figured out that he could survive a fall from terminal velocity, even if it broke a few bones, so that was nice.
There could be an argument that he shouldn’t have taken all this time to create and play with Levitate. He could have just killed a few more Mentis (Mentai?) and gotten another shiny new Skill. But the reason he chose to take this time was due to the Skill choice itself. It was basically proven that he earned more Skill options through feats, so doing more cool things before leveling up would give him more options.
It was probably more complicated than that, but it couldn’t hurt to take some time and train before charging ahead. Well, sometimes his training was a little reckless as well. Like now, when his internal clock told him a religious experience was coming up. His first experiment was attempting to make a void bridge between Power Throw and Flurry Throw, which would boost the compatibility of the two Skills and make them more efficient when used together.
After that attempt failed just as completely as all the previous ones, he moved on to more dangerous activities. He wasn’t sure if failing Skill modifications hurt him, but he knew that the more ambitious ones totally exhausted him. Well, not totally, but with his superhuman Endurance it was quite unpleasant to feel real tiredness.
His next trick wouldn’t leave him with just tiredness. But it was necessary to learn control and use what was arguably his most powerful tool without killing himself. His will poured into DESTROY, agitating the mass of runes into a dark core swirling and pulsing with hunger to fulfill its namesake.
As the force built, Trent created structures of void between four Skills in his mind. They were a bit like temporary Skill modifications, sacrificing a bit of stability in order to completely redirect the functions of Skills a single time. He made inactive bridges leading from DESTROY to the rune forms of Power Throw and Flurry Throw, with a larger connection placing the majority of the force into Create.
The connections weren’t actually active yet, as he was preparing them for a single burst of energy. And once the pressure of DESTROY grew enough, He unleashed it into Create through the prepared channel. It was rather sloppy—over half the energy was lost, and its potency was reduced as well. But it achieved its purpose.
He floated in the hazy sky, gazing down at a Morel Mentis. In his hand, he formed one of his void orbs. But it was not just any creation. In addition to the willpower that made up its structure, a torrent of destructive energy flowed out of him to fill the orb with an ominous hum. The short-lived but durable nature of his creations benefitted him greatly in maintaining the stability of the force, as his control was lowered with it outside of his body.
The energy inside of DESTROY had not fully been expended. The remainder drained down the smaller channels into two more Skills-Power Throw and Flurry Throw. It may have been a bit of a risk to use the chaotic force to power two perfectly good Skills, but it was a small enough amount that he could almost completely control it.
The energy came to a cusp, and the world stood still for a moment. Then it exploded. The backlash of unleashed void force created waves in the air—a bit like the attack of a certain green-haired Hero—and the actual projectile practically teleported, even to Trent’s inflated Perception value. The poor Morel never stood a chance.
However, a lot of power was still wasted. Because of the incorporeal nature of Morels and the weakness of the rock ground beneath it, the projectile sailed right through and only inflicted the initial damage. It was still enough to kill it, but it was quite a bit closer than it would have been. The explosion left a giant crater in the ground, and so much dust and debris had been created that it had started to hinder even his Perception.
*Defeated Morel Mentis (Lv. 38). Bonus experience is gained for defeating a monster 20 or more levels above you. Bonus experience is gained for defeating a high-tier monster above your level.*
Level up! You have reached level 15. +1 free stat points. +1 Mind and +3 Perception(phys) from Affinity. +1 Vitality, +2 Endurance, and +2 Strength from Sub-affinity. You have a Skill pick available.
Title upgraded! Rune Manipulator à Trailblazer Rune Manipulator.
Title Name: Trailblazer Rune Manipulator.
You have altered multiple Skills and made them work together in a way they shouldn’t, with no permanent downside. You have forged your own path on manipulating Skills. May your new path lead you to power or achievement. This Title displays your feat to whoever Identifies you. Advanced version of the Rune Manipulator Title.
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A title upgrade? Well, hopefully the Skill wouldn’t require mana. He was invested in his build, damnit! At least this gave him some gratification for delaying the level up. Even if the Skill was a teaching one. Now, let’s see how good his timing was. And how long he would have to wait with his body ravaged by the aftershocks of DESTROY.
It took around ten minutes until the religious experience healed him. After clearing his head, he took a look at the Skills available to him.
You have reached a level milestone and gained access to your choice of a skill.
Skills (pick one):
Power Strike
Power Shot
Mana Bolt
Taunt
Endure
Sprint
Farsight
Spectral Bane
Prodigy’s Boost
Rune Manipulation
Marathon
Bombardment
Skill Sight
Anti-Skill
Copy Skill
Break Illusion
Mind Tracking
Minor Mana Construct Minor Construct of Will
Explosive Throw
Fortress Wrecker
Corrosive Aura
Aura of Dominance
Float
Anti-magic Ruin Blast
Catalyst of Cataclysm
Visions of the Starry Mind
Please note that any Skills not chosen will be available in the next Skill pick in addition to all new Skills.
Before looking at the good stuff, what’s up with Visions of the Starry Mind? Assumedly, it was the Title Skill for Trailblazer Rune Manipulator.
Skill Name: Visions of the Starry Mind
The Mindscape is the home of all Skills, and access to it is required for one to truly be a master. This Skill allows unlimited access to your own Mindscape and can even guide others through their own, both complete and precursor forms. The user can construct mimicries of natural laws within a landscape to test Skills, including Skills you do not have. Extra mana can be stocked inside Visions of the Starry Mind and used to fuel the Skill, or reclaimed at reduced efficiency. You cannot choose this skill due to crippled magical stats, despite having the requisite Title.
Well, that sort of sucks. Not only was it a teaching Skill, but it also required mana. Even the effects seemed... meh. It honestly didn’t seem like a really good Skill unless the mana stockpile was huge and the conversion was quick and not that inefficient. No matter how he thought about it, he just couldn’t muster much excitement. Which was good, because there was no way he was wasting who knows how many levels of Agility to be able to use its most basic effects.
What about the other standout? He pulled up the description of Minor Construct of Will and tried to do the same with Minor Mana Construct.
Skill Name: Minor Construct of Will
Form your will into short-lived physical objects. Damage done to constructs of your will also damages you. This Skill was gained by meeting all the requirements for Minor Mana Construct without using mana. This creates a new Skill choice for those who meet the requirements (reduced from the requirements you have met to gain this pick). You have not received a Title, but your achievement has been noted. Choosing this Skill does not use up a Skill pick and has no consequences. If you do not want this Skill, it can be traded for 5 stat points. This option expires 5 hours after picking the Skill.
Yes! This was solid proof his achievement-hunting had borne fruit. He didn’t take it just yet, as he wanted the maximum amount of testing to see if it was worth keeping while he had Create. Also, he just couldn’t open the description of Minor Mana Construct. He went on to the rest of the Skills, his excitement roused.
Skill Name: Break Illusion
Your mind becomes a force of disruption to what would hold you in. This Skill attacks any illusions you are in, damaging them and causing backlash to the caster of the illusion if they are maintaining it. Unless the illusion is greatly above you in strength, you will see some effect on the illusion.
Skill Name: Mind Tracking
Sense all mental constructs around, particularly those tied to a living being. You may form a subtle link with a mind in your range and use it to locate that mind, no matter how far away. You can cast mental Skills and Spells through this link.
Skill Name: Explosive Throw
Causes projectiles you throw to explode on impact. The blast force is determined by the momentum and nature of the projectile.
Skill Name: Fortress Wrecker
You are the bane of all fortifications and armor. Increases the damage dealt by your projectiles to nonliving defensive structures by 500%. When your projectiles hit their target, they unleash a blast of resonating force that is extremely effective against rigid or brittle targets. Can be combined with other projectile Skills.
Skill Name: Corrosive Aura
Project a vicious aura of decay and damage in a range around you. The aura deals damage to anything it touches and cannot be controlled without another aura power that you can control. You cannot use this Skill due to your crippled magical stats. But you are allowed to use your Skill pick on it in order to study and alter the rune form.
Skill Name: Aura of Dominance
All shall kneel before you. Pressures and suppresses all enemies within the aura that do not accept your rule. The reach, shape, and intensity can be manipulated, but are limited by your stats. You cannot use this Skill due to your crippled magical stats. But you are allowed to use your Skill pick on it in order to study and alter the rune form.
Skill Name: Float
Remove the effect of gravity on your body and equipment. Can also decrease your momentum.
Skill Name: Anti-magic Ruin Blast
Unleash pure annihilation, wiping away even mana. This Skill can be applied to any throw or orally fired projectile. Converts all the power in the attack into a blast of utter annihilation. Cannot be used with other enhancing Skills.
Skill Name: Catalyst of Cataclysm (passive)
You wield power far beyond anything that could be considered your peers. Increases the destructive force of all your attacks by 200%. You become immune to your own attacks (not including costs, drawbacks, and backlash from Spells). The sheer destructive power you possess cannot be contained. This is a Forbidden Skill.
Now, what to choose?