82 Power Ups (Part 1)

At times, I took matters into my own hands, while on other occasions, I preferred to stay in the shadows.

During this period, I got to know many of the Shadows, and there were even instances where we collaborated briefly towards a common objective.

Well, as you might expect, most did not like me.

I mean, I was the one who posed a threat to them and caused harm to Delta.

Even though it was clarified that it was entirely her fault, those Shadows weren't inclined to sympathize with a complete stranger at the expense of their companion.

Not that I was particularly bothered by their opinions.

As long as they didn't get in my way, I couldn't care less about what they thought of me.

But let's shift our focus elsewhere.

The Cult of Diablos suffered significant losses, as all their plans were completely thwarted.

What I found most amusing was manipulating their economy...

Even after three long years of utterly defeating them on every front, I know it's not enough.

If the Cult of Diablos was truly on the brink of extinction, there's no way the true leaders behind them wouldn't be compelled to emerge and personally intervene.

So, even after all this time, they're just watching and choosing not to act.

For now, I've decided to maintain this status quo of ours and not stir the hornet's nest until I'm strong enough.

Speaking of strength.

There are a few specific details to mention.

First, let's talk about the Sword Awakening.

As I entered my consciousness for the first time since arriving in the Second Trial, I immediately sensed more than I did when I was just a weakling back in my First Trial.

Despite the absence of mana or other discernible energies in this space, there's an intangible presence, like a tiny essence sealed shut.

If my senses were even slightly less advanced, I doubt I'd be able to perceive it.

A sudden chill ran down my spine.

It felt as if I had stumbled upon a layer of information I wasn't supposed to access.

I decided to trust my instincts and let that go. With that, the eerie sensation on my back also vanished.

Creepy...

That's when Luna's words resurfaced in my memory.

"Only the strong have the privilege to know."

She did caution me that the System could impose penalties freely if I obtained information I wasn't supposed to, but that sensation...

It's not on the level of a mere punishment.

Well, it seems like I lucked out when I casually discussed top-secret stuff with Luna.

Speaking of which, I wonder what her ultimate goal is?

I'll definitely pry that out of her eventually.

Anyway, the process of pulling the sword was pretty straightforward. I managed to pull it by about 7 to 8 centimeters, which boosted my awakening rate by another 0.5%.

But the real boost to my strength came after completing the [Dark Knight I] quest. It rewarded me with the Talent [Elemental Manipulation] and the skill [Mana Explosion].

[Mana Explosion]

[Description: Explosion is a form of art. Those who do not understand this shall face the wrath of this skill throughout your Mana]

[Effect: Upon activation, the Skill will blow up the Mana you are controlling. The range, and power of the explosion will depend on the amount of Mana]

[Limitation:

You will not be able to control the explosion and its lasting effects in any way

The cost to activate this skill will be equal to double the amount of Mana you are controlling]

While this skill might seem lackluster at first glance, it's actually quite valuable.

I had some expectations that the Authorities would step in to ease limitations and reduce dependencies on my power sources. However, the reality turned out to be different.

[Your Authorities are not powerful enough to change this skill]

Well, they did make an attempt, I suppose.

The reason probably lies in the fact that this skill already seems game-breaking, and if you trim it down further, it might truly become excessively powerful.

It could even rival Cid's [I am Atomic].

Even in its current state, when I put it to the test, I was genuinely surprised.

The explosion itself didn't pose a direct threat.

Triggering a small Mana detonation yielded an energy release equivalent to less than a kilogram of TNT, not enough to harm supernatural beings.

However, one crucial factor should never be overlooked:

My Magical Power inherently possessed my Sword's Trait to cut.

When you cause such an explosion, it's akin to blades slicing through at speeds faster than one could imagine. 

Moreover, the distance it covers surpasses the range of the explosion itself by a significant margin.

Testing it on a random wall revealed that, rather than the damage from the explosion itself, the surface was riddled with cuts as it crumbled effortlessly.

If I were to go all out and commit a third of my mana to this, draining my entire reserve of Magical Power—given that the activation cost for the Skill is double the amount of mana I want to detonate—

I could unleash an explosion equivalent to a few kilograms of TNT.

However, the actual damage caused would be... catastrophic.

While the skill [Mana Explosion] is a fascinating addition and sparks curiosity, we must not overlook the significance of the Talent [Elemental Manipulation].

The name of the Talent is somewhat self-explanatory, but it's not akin to acquiring knowledge from a Skill like [Karate].

Insights on the elements didn't flood my mind suddenly.

Sure, I could make educated guesses based on the vast amount of anime I've watched or manga I've read—maybe more than I'd like to admit—but relying on knowledge gleaned from them doesn't strike me as the most reliable strategy.

'Well, I should at least try... right?'

With such determination, I casually attempted to conjure a small flame and was pleasantly surprised when it flickered to life for a brief moment.

'Easy.'

Encouraged by this success, I proceeded to experiment with other elements—water, wind, lightning, you know, the usual suspects.

However, I quickly noticed a pattern: the more intricate the element, the more challenging it became to summon and control, even for a single second.

I could barely muster a small flame, conjure a few drops of water, and generate a modest gust of wind.

However, when I attempted to summon actual lightning, all I got was a simple zap on my finger.

It's confusing, and frankly, I don't understand it.

Should I wait until I can gather proper knowledge about this?

Well, for now, I can speculate that this is partially due to the nature of this world.

Similar to Magical Power, it seems that everything summoned outside one's body is meant to return somewhere.

That kind of situation could be avoided with Authority, but when it comes to elements, it doesn't seem to work.

Is it because this is actually me converting my Mana into an element, which my Authority is no longer in control of?

That's a good theory, but it's too early for me to judge...

---

Author's Note:

EXPLOOOOOOOOOSION!!!