166 Yildraza (1/2)

It took a week of twenty-four hour days to grade the papers. It bled into my psyche, the monotony grinding away my will to live. Of course, my willpower helped, keeping me from slowing down or veering off course. As tedious as it was, I learned a decent amount about magical theory and some other skills. Most of them grading related.

I kept myself intent on finishing the papers during this time. I ended up finishing them before we reached Yildraza. As I sent the behemoth of a file to Torix, I sprawled myself out over the bed. I earned a bit of a rest after all that grunt work.

After a few seconds, I got bored. I opened my status. I had gained over four hundred levels from killing the Skyburner. I had put all the points into endurance before the grading started. After remaking the perception runes one last time, I got to work for the week.

Now that the week was done, I inspected my armor's modifications.

[Modifications - The dimensional fabric composing this structure has been modified with code from the dimensional cipher. With mana, further bonuses can be applied. The bonuses are as follows:

+72 Strength, +72 Dexterity, +1,940 Perception, +6,080 Endurance, +3,040 Willpower

+100% to effect of legacies, +50% to internal motivation, +25% to sensory range]

The new glyphs already made a difference. In about a month, I gained nearly 2,000 points in perception. The enhanced sensory range was just a bonus. With the damn tests over with, I might even be able to enjoy my senses.

Before getting up, I tidied up the rest of my status. I raised my tier in my Legendary tree with some hard-earned skill points in Hands of a Giant and Efficiency. Turns out grading thousands of papers helps with hand-eye coordination. Who'd of guessed?

Your journals will be looked at as enlightened texts for those that study your profession. Your words will be written down as if spoken from with a golden tongue. You will be worshipped by those that devote their life to your chosen mastery.

Legendary(Tier 4) Unlocked! +80% effect of legendary skills!

This was likely the strongest tree I've unlocked, even outdoing any version of Obliterator. It terrified me how easy it was to become more powerful. I was a rolling stone, and nothing could stop me now. I struggled long and hard to get this strong. It satisfied me to no end seeing the fruits of my labor coming through.

With that handled, I reached the skill menu before opening up the Force of Nature tab.

Force of Nature(lvl 2,667) - You are nature-given fury. Enhances all techniques and application of skills within this ability, including but not limited to: Close Range Combat, Runic skills, Telekinesis, Gravitation, Sensory Abilities, Bearing, and Draining Abilities. Numerical bonuses are as followed:

+468 Strength, +468 Dexterity, +234 Constitution, +234 intelligence, +94 Perception

+47 to all attributes for having a 2,600+ total in a legendary skill.

Ability Bonus: +297% | Mana Cost Reduction: 59.4%

My mana was endless, enough to destroy cities in seconds. By the time I finished leveling up as a Fringe Walker, I'd be able to destroy worlds. If I fucked up using power like that, I might not just flip a car. I might kill people.

A lot of people.

I shook my head. There was no point in dwelling on doubts and worries. I needed to focus on doing what I can. I moved on to my character screen menu.

Dimension-C138(Level 6,014)

Strength – 6,648 | Constitution – 11,275 | Endurance – 46,053

Dexterity – 2,870 | Willpower – 25,903 | Intelligence – 9,610

Charisma – 1,669 | Luck – 3,246 | Perception – 3,753

Health: 8.56 Million/8.56 Million | Health Regen: 21.42 Million/min or 357,020/sec

Stamina: 5.40 Million/ 5.40 Million | Stamina Regen: 75,623/sec

Living Dimension: 1.10 Trillion/4.30 Trillion

Mass: 523,041 pounds(235,721 kilos~)

Height: Actual -12'7(3.84 meters) | Current - 9'10

Damage Res - 98.5% | Dimensional Res - 49.25%

Phys Dam Bonus – 577,809% | Damage Bonus – 40%

Event Horizon – 20,000 + (100% of your total health)/min

With my perception increasing at such a rapid pace, my charisma followed suit. By now, I'd long forgotten the exact multipliers for the values. Whenever I dug deeper into the numbers, I found dozens of conversions and multipliers. They showed the trees and various perks I got them from, each piece documented in excruciating detail.

Even if the system was based on an absolute, numerical basis, it still floored me. My health regen increased at an exponential rate. I regenerated more than most people's maximum health each second. At this rate, my health regen might eventually outpace an entire planet's population added together.

In fact, I could use my own tenacity as a weapon. My inspiration drew from having my skin glow white hot while not burning me. If I could heat my armor till it shined, I'd be able to scorch anything nearby. I gained a source of light from it, and that's not even counting the intimidation factor. In my enemy's eyes, they'd be fighting a moving star.

It would make me untouchable in close combat. If I was going to use something like that, then I needed to learn cooling magic too. Nearly setting my allies ablaze was enough of a kick in the ass to figure that out. That situation taught me to be more mindful.

I won't lie, the essays didn't hurt learning that lesson either.

Without thinking, I massaged my hand, the memory of cramps still fresh. I sat up, wanting to do something now. After spending a week in isolation, a conversation would do me some good regardless.

I pulled myself out of bed, leaving cuts in the fabric from my armor. I was done giving a shit about this thing. It was more trouble than it was worth.

I walked out of the door, finding Caprika, Kessiah, and Althea sitting down on the couches. Empty bottles and garbage piled up around them. Althea slept on her side, taking up one of the seats. Caprika handled documentation with her status screen. Kessiah sat back, deep in her chair. She watched holographic videos of current events.

I stepped up, creating a dozen gravity wells. The trash in the room lifted up, and I condensed it into a tightened mass. I set it into the garbage, looking at Kessiah's video. There was a mountain with a crater in it. It was the same mountain I fought the Skyburner at. A newscaster's voice talked over the image,

”Reports indicated seismic events leading to an eruption near Mt. Verner. While geologists are baffled as to the source of the explosion, some believe it has to do with recent silver outbreaks. In further news, the tournament looks promising this year. A new face named Daniel-”

Kessiah shut it down, sitting up and looking at me, ”Looky here, our resident tank is making waves.”

I shrugged, ”Can't help it sometimes.”

Kessiah nodded, ”I know. That's why I recorded it all.”

She lifted her obelisk, showing a file of our fight. I raised an eyebrow, ”What for?”

”Cause it was awesome.”

I stood up straight, ”Just be mindful of what you do with it. And, hmmm, send me what you record. I might use it for something. I don't know what though.”

She waved at me, ”Of course, of course. Caprika over here's been talking like you've already won the tournament.”

Caprika stared at her status screen, ”After seeing that exhibition with the Skyburner, I'm more than convinced. I've been jotting down the framework of a new legislative system for my old city. It should pan out rather well, preferably lowering the recidivism rate.”

Althea rubbed her eyes, ”Huh, who's up?”

Kessiah crossed her arms, ”We're talking about your boyfriend winning the tournament.”

Althea grinned, ”Of course he will.”

I frowned, ”I wouldn't be so sure.”

Caprika scoffed, ”Really now? You blasted the Skyburner by turning yourself into a meteorite. Afterward, you flew up to us with your skin still molten, and you didn't even notice...What part of that indicated anyone will stand a chance?”

I shrugged, ”I've faced people stronger than me. There's plenty of them out there.”

Caprika shook her head, ”I doubt many of them would come here. Ah, I also went over the evidence you documented.”

I raised an eyebrow, ”And?”

”And it's without a doubt a Skyburner.”

Althea stretched, ”What are they exactly?”

Caprika closed her status, ”There was a faction of gialgathens determined to stop Lehesion from freeing the espens from slavery. That faction was lead by Emagrotha and her elite guard, the Skyburners. Noone's seen or heard of Emagrotha for over six decades, but Skyburners appear here or there.”

Kessiah nodded, ”Rumors are floating around that some Skyburners are still trying to put up a resistance. Apparently, the social movement caught some traction a while back when Schema took over.”

Caprika nodded, ”Many moderate gialgathens joined the remnants of Emagrotha's movement then. It was a movement driven by fear. Most gialgathens are fine with espens being free ants under their feet. They're terrified of them being their equals.”

I crossed my arms, ”Why didn't Schema make Gialgathens a part of the system then if they're so powerful?”

Caprika winced, ”They...they help eldritch.”