Chapter 155: Curse or Blessing (1/2)
The hooded figure drew a pattern in the air with its right index finger. A golden streak of energy was left lingering as a trail of its finger. Once the circle-like shape was completed a single throbbing sensation could be witnessed as the symbol pulsed in the air before it quickly faded.
After that, it turned its head towards Aiden and spoke with its melodious angelic voice.
”You can go now Aiden, I have informed the guild about your results.”
”What about your promise?” Aiden asked with a frowning expression on his face.
”Tomorrow, when you come back for your Guild Membership Card, I will ask the attendees to bring you to me. I will tell you what you wish to hear then. Go now. We are finished for now.” He waved with his hand. In the next moment, it stepped back, and silently turned towards the door in the upper floors and left. As the leader left, the group gave one last disdainful look at the boy then quickly followed behind their leader and left.
While the headscarf-wearing man was still unconscious in the far end, nobody seemed to care about him. The two black knights gave a slight bow and left Aiden as well.
'What the hell was this? What does that figure want? And what is it anyway? I couldn't tell anything about it…'
He gave a tired sigh, and turned around, taking a glance at the door. He took a step forward, but shortly after he stopped, and checked the system. As the duels went on, there were a few messages that popped up, but he ignored all of them in the heat of the moment.
[The skill [Mystic Martial Arts - Level 1] gained 5 XP.]
.
.
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[The skill [Mystic Martial Arts - Level 1] gained 10 XP.]
[The skill [Mystic Martial Arts - Level 1] gained 10 XP.]
Just like before, he gained some points as he actively used the skill during combat. This was different from usual, it was a direct increase to the specific skill and was added to his generic pool.
He looked at the skill and glanced at his remaining generic experience pool as well.
[Mystic Martial Arts -( Level1 50/100 XP)]
[...Experience: 900 XP]
To test if he could still influence its progress, he used 50 points to upgrade the skill to the second level. He also wanted to know, if he could feel anything. He wondered if it would be somewhat similar when his [Soul Power] gained a rank.
Focusing on the floating screen in front of him, he focused his will on the Experience section on his Character Sheet. As the number changed colors, gaining a bright green background he then turned his attention towards the [Mystic Martial Arts] skill, under his Skills tab. Once he felt that a connection has been created between the two, he began streaming the points into skill.
He felt as if he was directing a stream of a gentle river, altering its intended course. There was a slight resistance, but it wasn't too hard on his mind, he could easily withstand such mental pressure.
In the next moment, a visible curve began to express itself on his face as the number slowly began to grow. Slowly, but steadily the points began to approach the threshold.
A few seconds later, as the number turned to 99, an uncomfortable sensation set in the back of his mind. The feeling was strange, and it was unlike anything before. If he wouldn't be testing the system directly, he wouldn't have been able to pinpoint the root cause. It didn't hurt at all, not physically and not mentally. It was more like a constant discomfort, a buzzing noise in the back of his head.
Aiden sucked in a large gasp of air into his diaphragm, only to exhale it a moment later, calming his mind by a great deal. Then, he continued focusing on streaming the flow of points into the skill.
As soon as the threshold reached 100, and the level gained an increment, Aiden felt as if something broke through a dam inside his mind, and his mind was flooded with a sea of information about more precise control of the flow of energy and even new techniques of how he could more effectively utilize the potential of the skill.