For the most part, having always thus far reincarnated as a Verdenkind, one born mostly of peons, and one time of Verdenkind parents generally with humble beginnings, I’ve tried to raise my strength in secret, especially so in the early sections of my incarnations. There have been exceptions where I didn't hide it, or to be exact, I wasn't able to hide it, but for the most part, I've done my best to keep the fact that I have access to the system hidden. This was due to many reasons, among which was a main one the fact that a child, be it a Verdenkind or Highbreed child, shouldn't normally have access to the system and even acquire skills or abilities until around the age of 7 or 8.
The fact that I do since birth or to be exact the moment I regain awareness and unlock all memories into my then and onward "vessel," qualify me as a freak. After all, I'm not just a normal kid; I am something else, something not of this world, something with a mission, a mission I was set on seeing through. I remember how to rack up some level, I had to sneak into monster-infested areas to see my level rise and come back as if I hadn’t just challenged death. I remember the times where it went well, but I mostly remember the many times it went wrong, so wrong in fact that some of these escapades sent me to a new vessel.
While Greed and Resurgence, the authority that allowed me to repeatedly spawn into Fiendfell as a random baby, could potentially allow me to endlessly reincarnate into this world as many times as needed to accomplish my mission, I, in spite of that, didn’t like the idea of having to repeat the whole awful process known as childhood.
Admittedly, it’s a short period of time, especially considering the timespan we operate on, but it can feel painfully long, especially when you have to keep everything in and pretend to be what you look like, a baby. So, ideally I would prefer that I didn’t repeat that process too much time. Also, I didn’t like dying, especially in this world where you could die in countless unique, painful, awful ways.
So, when I, in this incarnation, upon being appraised by the old man, and instead of being seen as a freak, was instead seen and hailed as some sort of genius, one that they were set on not having waste an ounce of "alleged" bottomless potential, I didn't miss the opportunity to work on raising my strength along with them, even if that implied working with the last people I wanted to work with.
Growl, splash reverberated inside the enclosed room.
"I’m going to swipe forth!" I warned preemptively, ready to swing Wanda, at the point of which a two-layered magic circle was conjured.
"Alright," Justaff casually replied, sidestepping to the left.
As he did, I swung my left hand forward, calling forth a magical effect which instantly manifested thin but long icicles that spread from the ground up in the direction of my skill’s target, the Hexfen.
The icicles, sharp and gleaming under the dim light, shot towards the Hexfen with a precision that was as beautiful as it was deadly.
Actually, nevermind, it was beautiful but not deadly.
Seeing the icicle close on itself, the Hexfen didn't even see the attack worth dodging, instead confident in its hide, it charged forth boldly smashing into the icicle and effectively smashing them to pieces, sending them flying in the opposite direction, toward me. Before I could properly muster a reaction, Justaff wedged himself in front of me, slashed through the flying icicle pieces, and promptly moved to the side. Having witnessed that familiar display of strength and overprotectiveness from Justaff countless times, I was no longer impressed. Nor was I surprised by the outcome of that attack; I had anticipated its failure, though I must admit I underestimated the extent of the backlash.
With Justaff no longer wedged before me, I swung Wanda, finally making use of the magic circle I preemptively summoned. I manifested a sword made of ice that hurled forth like a projectile at the Hexfen. I was hoping the Hexfen would be bold enough to not dodge like it did.
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It didn't. It dodged.
Had it reached it, the sword I conjured with Ice Magic would've impaled it, or at least dealt a huge blow to its H.P.
Skipping to the side, it evaded my attack, splashing the water pooling on the ground high up in the air. Upon doing so, it charged forth at me.
"Tsk," I couldn't help but mutter before promptly calling forth yet another skill of mine, also at level 2, [Frost Shards], that I made rain in the creature's direction.
As the Frost Shards descended like a relentless storm, the Hexfen's eyes flickered with what might have been surprise, or perhaps annoyance, at the sudden onslaught. The shards, honed by a level 2 skill, were individually hurled with the strength and speed equivalent to one of the early powder cannon bullets, seeking to pierce its dark hide. Each impact echoed through the air along with the sound of glass shattering upon impact.
The Hexfen was able to dodge some shards, but failed to evade others, and while these "other" didn't cause any particularly potent damage to it, they successfully slowed it down in its initial charge toward me. However while that was the case, it didn't dissuade it from continuing its charge.
I considered backing off, which seemed reasonable, but knowing that doing so would prompt Justaff to once again wedge himself between me and the monster, I, upon considering my current level, didn't want that to happen so I gave up the idea.
Instead of backing off, I glanced at Justaff, who clenched his sword at the ready, and exchanged my unspoken intent with him. Then, I took a couple of steps forward, splashing in the water pooling on the concrete floor, but that was the extent of it. I was being bold, but not too bold.
No longer being attacked by the shards, the creature, as if challenged by my few steps forward, promptly recovered and charged once again toward me.
In less than a second, it closed in on me, and I allowed it. As it reached the range of the attack I was going with, I summoned a magic circle and swung my wand, anticipating an attack that never came. Pretending to go for an attack it was already familiar with, and make it halt, I activated [Cryogenize], a skill that allowed me to freeze anything I held contact with, be it solid, liquid, or gaseous.
This time, I used it on the water pooling at our feet, which happened to be the state of matter the skill was most potent on. Spreading like cotton on fire, the water was invaded by icy tendrils and instantly turned into ice, trapping the creature's leg in the icy prison. It yelped and barked at the ice that locked it halfway through the knee.With a pained growl, it struggled to free itself from the icy grip of [Cryogenize]. As it managed to break the ice around its leg through a quick struggle, I understood that I had smirked a little too early. Deciding not to waste any additional time, I extended my arm and fired off another volley of [Frost Shards].
As the Frost Shards rained down upon the Hexfen once more, they encased the creature in a relentless assault of icy projectiles. Some shards finally pierced its thick hide, splattering blood all over the frozen ground, while others glanced off harmlessly, like glass shattering against a strong wall. Collectively, I could tell they chipped their way through to the final chunk of the Hexfen's HP.
Despite the damage it sustained, the Hexfen snarled, a mix of pain, despair, and frustration coloring its yelp as it attempted to break free from the icy shackles that held it momentarily captive. But before it could do so, I used my [Ice Magic] to manifest a lance made of ice, not skimping on my resources.
The lance, forged from my dwindling MP, materialized with crystalline brilliance. With a flick of my wrist, I launched it toward the Hexfen. It hurtled through the air, slicing through the frigid, misty air with deadly grace. In the blink of an eye, it found its mark, piercing the Hexfen and embedding itself in it with a butchering crunch. The creature, still standing on its half-frozen leg, was not even given the chance to let out a cry. It stood there, lance embedded deep. With a final, guttural sound that echoed through the torch-lit room, as the ice from the skill [Cryogenize] rapidly broke down and melted, the Hexfen slumped to the ground, dead.
A silence followed, punctuated by a series of notifications that appeared in the corner of my eyes.
[Notification]
Congratulations! You've Acquired a New Skill!Skill Name: Frost Lance Conjuration
Description [Identification Lvl.5]:
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[Level Up Interface]Experience requirement met.
Congratulations! You've Leveled Up!
『Expand』
[Notification]
Congratulations! You've Acquired a New Skill!Skill Name: Frostbound Stride
Description [Identification Lvl.5]:
『Expand』