Maria spent the next few hours testing the limits of her new technique and found quite a few things about it. First of all, it was a technique derived from [Shadow Weave] and it was actually applicable to any creature outside of just herself. It was a buff-type technique called [Shadow Integration] that raised her AGI, STR, and VIT stats while drastically lowering her INT stat. It was a buff-type technique suited for close-combat uses and it consumed her mana continuously while she was using the technique but at most, it lasted for around 30 minutes before wearing off and disabling her from using [Shadow Weave] for another 30 minutes.
With her losing a large amount of her INT while in this mode, it was actually hard for Maria to spare any of her mana to use other skills so she had to offset this disadvantage by adding more INT to her stats which she naturally did after seeing the large amount FSPs that had piled up on her [Status] menu from leveling up continuously.
“Tsk, it’s still not enough. This 50 percent decrease in INT is such a bother…”
Even though Maria did complain a little, she was still quite happy that her close-combat skills had increased by a lot. What she very much enjoyed while in this form were the abilities of the puppet she controlled. The puppet perfectly copied all of her various attack and movement patterns that it felt like she was partying with herself. The puppet didn’t hinder any of her movements and they instead complimented her attack sequences seamlessly.
Maria also tested the limits of how many puppets she could control and found out that it was only limited to the amount of mana she possessed. The more puppets she controlled, the more mana that was consumed while in this new form of hers. However, the optimal amount of puppets were 3 because any more would hinder her instead of helping her. Of course, if she wanted to just use them to attack while she laid back and watched, the maximum she could control was up to 25 of these puppets.
She could actually go even higher but Maria noticed that the more puppets that she controlled after the 25th puppet, the ‘dumber’ they seemed. Their movements became less refined and they would start fumbling around even. With that in mind, Maria set the ceiling to 25 puppets but after her experiment, she disposed of the excessive monster corpses because she only wanted to store powerful ones. She spent a few more hours testing her new ability and after finishing, a system notification suddenly appeared in front of Maria.
*DING*
System notification: You have successfully managed to create a skill of your own and have explored all of its possible advantages and disadvantages! A new technique has been created and listed in your [Skill] window. Please name the new technique: ______
“...Eh?”
She looked at the notification once again before yelping in surprise, “You can actually create skills in Unitale?!”
This was a first for Maria because it was a feature that would only open up to the players once they completed their race Awakening. Naturally, the criteria to create a self-made skill was set very high, but Maria had been able to fulfill those criteria and make her first-ever skill.
“A unique skill that I made myself! I have to give it a good name…”
Maria sat down on a rock and began thinking for half a day before finally settling on a name.
“Uhh...it’s so hard. Let’s just go with [Nightmare]...I guess?”
*DING*
[Nightmare] has been inputted! Confirm? Y/N
“Yes…”
New skill, [Nightmare], has been registered in your Custom Skill Menu
*DING*
Congratulations on being the first player to create a skill! You have been rewarded: Maximum Skill Upgrade Book x1
“Oh?”
Would you like to announce your achievement to the world? Y/N
“No! Hell no!”
Maria immediately selected [No] when she saw the last notification appear. At least this time, the system allowed her to choose whether to announce it or not. She would rather not have any of her accomplishments announced because they exposed all of the things she did which wasn’t something Maria wanted.
It was especially so this time because the skill she made was something she wanted to keep to herself as a trump card for when things became dicey or needed to use it in a decisive moment. That way, she’d be able to surprise her opponents if she were ever put into a sticky situation.
Skill Name: Nightmare Level: 1 P. EXP: (0/100000) Rank: A Type: Custom Description: Enshrouds and fuses the caster in a dark shadow that permeates their entire being, granting a 10% increase to STR and AGI, a 20% increase to VIT, and a 50% decrease to INT. Lasts for a maximum of 30 minutes Cost: 0.5% of max MP per second
Maria checked and noticed that her new skill had completely replaced the [Shadow Integration] and [Shadow Vault] effects from Envy's [Shadow Manipulation] skill. It even had a second window that displayed the extra effects it had which was really nice.
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Additional Effects Effect 1: Shadow Raise
Description: Connects the user with the target. If the target is dead, transforms the target into an autonomous Shadow Puppet that fights for the user. Shadow Puppets retain 80% of the corpse’s stats when it was alive. Shadow Puppets have a maximum durability of 50% of the caster’s max HP.
Cost: 10,000 MP per activation and then 5,000 MP per second per puppet Effect 2: Shadow Link
Description: Connects the caster with the target. If the target is living, the skill creates a link between the connected individuals, allowing them to share vision and damage that lasts for 30 minutes.
Cost: 10,000 MP per second per target
Cooldown: 30 minutes Effect 3: Shadow Storage
Description: Opens an interdimensional storage space within one’s shadow. Storage space size: (INT)m x (INT)m x (INT)m.
Note: Freely useable outside of combat but channels for 1 second before activation if used in combat
Effect 4: Shadow Transfer
Description: Allows the user to teleport directly to the side of an individual that they have previously connected with within the last 3 days. Maximum distance: 100 kilometers.
Cost: 25% of Max MP
Note: Target must be within the maximum teleportation distance or the skill will fail
When Maria read through the effects she smiled in delight because the [Shadow Link] and [Shadow Transfer] additional effects were added. She had only been experimenting with these effects during her initial testing and didn’t expect them to actually turn into addition effects for her skill. This was a pleasant surprise that she was gladly willing to accept. Only the Shadow Phase skill was rather odd because she had initially experimented by moving through the shadows and not this.
She wanted to try and get something like a [Blink] skill, but unfortunately, this wasn't it. However, it was good since she could connect with anyone and turn them into her mobile teleportation beacons which sounded kind of funny, but strategic when she thought about it.
“I’ll test it out on Lizzy and the others when we meet again, though the maximum distance is a bit hard to gauge…” Maria said while scratching her head. If she had some kind of indicator it would be easy, but determining another player’s precise distance by looking at a map was kind of hard for her.
“Anyway, I’ll figure that out next time, but I think this max upgrade book thingy I got as a reward should be used on [Nightmare]…right?”
Maria was conflicted about using this item on the skill. After all, she had a lot of other skills that needed leveling, but [Nightmare] wasn’t something she was going to repeatedly use in front of others because it was going to be her trump card. At most, she’d use it more frequently when she was hunting alone or with her close friends. Since she won’t be using it so much compared to her other skills, she felt that it was best to use the max upgrade book on [Nightmare] so she wouldn't have to worry about leveling it up. The effects of the self-created skill were also amazing and she wanted to see how it was at max level.
“Ah, who cares! Let’s just use it on [Nightmare] and be done with it! Thinking any further will only hurt my head!”
*DING*
Would you like to use the [Maximum Skill Upgrade Book] on your skill: [Nightmare]? Y/N
“Yes, sa~”
*DING*
Your skill: [Nightmare], has been upgraded to its maximum potential!
Skill Name: Nightmare Level: EX P. EXP: MAX Rank: Legendary Type: Custom Description: Enshrouds and fuses the caster in a dark shadow that permeates their entire being and transforms them. Grants a 25% increase to STR and AGI, a 40% increase to VIT, and a 25% decrease to INT. The transformation lasts for a maximum of 60 minutes Cost: 0.2% of max MP per second
Additional Effects Effect 1: Shadow Raise
Description: Connects the user with the target. If the target is dead, this skill transforms the target into an autonomous Shadow Puppet that fights for the user indefinitely. Shadow Puppets retain 120% of the corpse’s stats when it was alive. Shadow Puppets have a maximum durability equaling that of the caster’s max HP.
Cost: 50,000 MP Effect 2: Shadow Link
Description: Connects the caster with the target. If the target is living, it creates a link between the connected individuals, allowing them to share vision and damage.
Cost: 10,000 MP per target
Cooldown: 30 minutes Effect 3: Shadow Clone (Active-Passive)
Description: There is a 25% chance to leave behind a stationary shadow clone of the user when performing any action. The caster can choose to detonate the shadow clone and cause 1000 Magic Damage in a 3-meter radius. Any target caught within the explosion will be stunned for 0.5 seconds. Only a maximum of 10 clones can exist at one time.
Cost: 10,000 MP per detonation Effect 4: Shadow Strike (Passive)
Description: There is a 50% chance that the shadow clone(s) will perform an attack targeting an enemy within their range. Shadow Strike deals 50% of the user’s maximum [Main Stat (INT)] in the form of Piercing Damage. Effect 5: Shadow Storage
Description: Opens an interdimensional storage space within one’s shadow. Storage space size: (INT)m x (INT)m x (INT)m.
Note: Freely useable inside and outside of combat
Effect 6: Shadow Phase
Description: Allows the user to teleport directly to the side of an individual that they have previously connected with within the last week. Maximum distance: 200 kilometers.
Cost: 25% of Max MP
Note: Target must be within the maximum teleportation distance or the skill will fail and randomly teleports the caster in the direction of the target.
Effect 7: Shadow Realm
Description: Upon using [Nightmare] a shadow territory appears 100 meters around the user and follows them as the epicenter. Allies within the territory are granted a 20% increase to all of their stats while enemies have their stats reduced by 10% and their visions impaired by 25% of their normal vision (varies depending on race).
Note: Only the strongest ‘Realm’ effects will be applied as realms do not stack on each other
When Maria saw the transformation of her skill after it reached Level EX, her eyes immediately popped out since many new effects and options appeared.
“WOAH!”
Maria no longer felt regretful after using the Max Upgrade Book on [Nightmare] after looking at how powerful it became. Now the skill had truly become her trump card. A devious smile crept up on Maria's face as she became quite eager to try the skill's new effects. However, she immediately remembered something very important.
"Oh yeah! The quest! Ahh, I almost forgot about it!"
Maria quickly checked her map and saw that her indicator and the quest indicator weren't too far apart so she quickly flew up after storing the black orc's corpse in her shadow.
"I'll test [Nightmare]'s effects on the boss monster as well as collect it and add it to my puppet collection once I kill it!"
Maria had newfound confidence because of this skill. The effects were so overpowered and she believed that it was likely the first maximum leveled skill in the game right now.
"Hahahaha~ I can't wait to see how powerful I'll become!"