CH 3 Getting Stronger

'Okay System, What next?' Alcor asked.

[The next step is to Use Skill Points to strengthen your new skill. Each Skill Point can raise a skill by a single level. You can also raise the level of skills by simply practicing them.]

[You have to use Skill Points to Strengthen Mana Manipulation currently. Without this step, you will be killed by the beings manifested by the various energies in the alternate dimension.]

'Okay. Put all Skill Points into Mana Manipulation.' Alcor said.

Alcor felt the energy with him getting more in tune with him. If the energy before was like a wispy mist, currently it was dense enough to be like a cloud and his control over it grew much better. He could control it like a clumsy hand now.

'Alright, let's get to absorbing energy now and level up.' Alcor said confidently.

[As you wish, Host. Displaying a List of Energy Absorption Alternate Dimensions.]

'Let's just call them Dungeons for convenience sake.'

[Command Accepted. Displaying List of Available Dungeons.]

[Wind Energy (Recommended Average Stats 10-15)(Time Dilation - 6x)]

[Esoteric Energy (Recommended Average Stats 100-500)(Time Dilation - 30x)]

[Psychic Energy (Recommended Average Stats 50-250)(Time Dilation - 12x)]

'What is this Average Stats recommendation, System?'

[Average stats is an average calculation of the number of points in your Attributes, except LUK and CHA.]

'In that case, I don't really have a choice. Let's go with Wind Energy for now.' Alcor said.

The next moment Alcor felt his consciousness blacking out as it was pulled to a different place.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

When his eyes opened, Alcor found himself in a place that seemed like a jigsaw puzzle on the scale of a city. However, instead of the pieces of the puzzle, there were large landmasses, which were separated by giant chasms.

Wind continuously buffeted Alcor as he struggled to keep his balance and not fall into the chasm. He was not sure what effect dying here would have on his real body.

Just as he was going to ask System what to do, he saw a large number of winds swirling before condensing into volleyball-sized spherical beings.

[Wisps. The lowest class of elemental. Basic level control ability over their element. Decent resistance to Physical Attacks due to their Complete Elemental Body. Low-level consciousness.]

After reading the notification given by the System about the Wisp, Alcor devised a plan for attack. Calling forth Mana from within himself he slowly encircled the Wisp with his Mana Cloud.

Just as he finished enveloping the Wisp, he started compressing the Cloud. Sensing danger to itself, the Wisp tried clashing against his Mana Cloud by expelling a large amount of air. It soon turned out to be a brute force match in which they tested who would run out of energy first.

But just as Alcor's Mana was about to run out, Wisp's light dimmed and Alcor's mana cloud smothered it mercilessly until it dispersed into dimly glowing particles. These particles rushed to Alcor and were absorbed through his skin.

[Congratulations host. You have won your first Energy Absorption Battle.]

[Wind Energy absorbed. Wind Core forming in Host. Gained 6 Attribute and Skill Points.]

Alcor felt a new connection to the flowing winds around him. He felt as if they were talking to him, telling him how he could talk back, connect to them and make use of them.

Flushed with the feeling of accomplishment, Alcor deposited the six attribute points into WIS this time, as that would make it reach the first threshold, and grant him a new skill.

[WIS Attribute reached the first threshold.]

[New Innate Skill Unlocked: Enhanced Comprehension(Passive)-LV1]

[System functionalities undergoing minor update. Skill definitions being updated. Appropriate changes made to previous skills.]

'What happened system?' Alcor asked.

[With two of the Host's attributes reaching the first threshold, A part of the system's hidden requirements were satisfied. Host's skills are now updated to become Passive or Active Skills.]

[Passive skills will have their effects constantly activated in the background without Mana Consumption. Active Skills are the one's Host can control directly and they consume Mana. Passive Skills can be identified with the additional (Passive) tag in the skill name.]

'Neat. Your functions are becoming more and more game-like.' Alcor chuckled internally.

[Host, you live in a world now where magic and monsters are real. A Game like system should not be high on the list that surprises you.]

'I guess that is true.' Alcor thought as he sobered up. He got that it was the system's way of warning him that despite having a system, there were still people out there who could make his life miserable.

'Let's continue then.' Alcor said.

They continued for nearly 6 hours before Alcor started getting a weird wave of mental fatigue. He found that he still had Mana, but his grasp over it was slipping.

[Host you are overwhelmed through the constant fighting on your very first day. It is highly recommended that you take a rest now. While System may be Game-like, your body definitely is not.]

Alcor nodded with tired bloodshot eyes, 'Alright, let's go back.'

-x-x-x-x-x-

As Alcor's eyes opened, he found himself back in the corner of the room. The dark wizard was still snoring on the bed without a clue of what Alcor had gone through.

Alcor tiredly opened his status to see the gains of the grind he had done for the past 6 hours.

Health: 4/4

Mana: 40/40

STR: 1

VIT: 1

DEX: 2

AGI: 2

PER: 3

INT: 10

WIS: 10

CHA: 3

LUK: 1

Attribute Point: 80

Skill Point: 66

Cores: Magic (LV-0: 0/100), Wind (LV-0: 0/100)

Innate Skills: Mana Manipulation-LV6, Enhanced Comprehension(Passive)-LV1

Acquired Skills: Vigilance(Passive)-LV1, Curse Resistance(Passive)-LV1

'Hm, System? Didn't I get the same amount of attribute and skill points after the first fight? Why is there a difference in the total amount?'

[Attributes and skill points depend on the type of enemy you fight host. If your enemy leans towards skill then you get more skill points. If it is more affable to brute-forcing through bigger stats, then you get more attribute points. The type of enemy you face depends on your luck.]

'Well, in any case, I have a lot of attribute points now. Let's get all my stats to the first threshold.'

Alcor then deposited 9 points into STR, 9 points into VIT, 8 points into DEX, 8 points into AGI, 7 points into PER, 7 points into CHA, and 9 points into LUK. He was left with 23 attribute points.

[All of Host's Stats reached the first threshold.]

[Hidden Condition Satisfied - All of Host's Cores get Bonus Maturation. 50 points allotted to each core.]

[New Innate Skills Unlocked - Power Boost-LV1, Automatic-Recovery(Passive)-LV1, Quick Fingers(Passive)-LV1, Fleet Foot-LV1, Enhanced Spatial Awareness(Passive)-LV1, Golden Voice-LV1, Path of Fortune(Passive)-LV1]

The system then explained to Alcor what each skill could do.

Power Boost: Gives a boost to physical power temporarily in exchange for Mana. The Increase depends on Mana Supplied and Skill Level.

Automatic-Recovery(Passive): Provides a boost to the recovery of injuries and fatigue. The rate of Recovery depends on Skill Level.

Quick Fingers(Passive): Provides an increase in hand speed, control, and reflex. Increase proportional to Skill Level

Fleet Foot: Gives a boost to speed temporarily in exchange for Mana. The Increase depends on Mana Supplied and Skill Level.

Enhanced Spatial Awareness(Passive): Provides a 3-Dimensional awareness of everything around you. Range Depends on Skill Level.

Golden Voice: Gives a boost to the convincing power of your voice temporarily in exchange for Mana. The Increase depends on Mana Supplied and Skill Level.

Path of Fortune(Passive): Your choices have increased chances to lead you to results that are favorable to you. An increase in chances depends on Skill Level.

'All of these are very useful skills.' Alcor thought 'But currently, I need the power to defeat that Wizard, and it has to be tonight. So I guess my choice is clear.'

'System, Put 9 Skill points into Power Boost, 9 Skill points into Automatic-Recovery, 9 Skill points into Fleet Foot, 9 Skill points into Enhanced Spatial Awareness, 9 Skill points into Path of Fortune, and 14 into Mana Manipulation.'

[Skill Points invested. Remaining Skill Points: 7]

The wave of power that rushed into him made Alcor want to moan in the feeling of comfort coming from all over his body.

However, he didn't lose his focus in this feeling of new power, his goal was etched clearly in his mind. The Dark Wizard had to die.