Sixty Attribute points...more than the combined total I had before, just from 2 levels and the Ascension...
The discrepancy between the strength of a Bronze and Silver Rank had been lost on because I could bridge that gap using mana channeling. But seeing these stats, it made wonder just how much of a boost Mana-Channeling actually gave .
Would the sa boost apply to even now? Or did it peak at a certain level in the Gold Rank?
I wanted to test it out. But first...
But where do I assign all these points?
Right now, taking into account all the Stat Boosters from titles and skills, my build was leaning heavily towards Strength and Mind, Speed coming in third, with Constitution in last.
Do I try to stay balanced, or lean into strength and speed?
I was at an impasse, so I did my best to tune out the System’s repeated attempts at Analysis in the background, and just reason things out.
Mind will take care of itself the more Mana Strain Resistance is enhanced, and the sa is true for Constitution and Impact Resistance due to the effects of my Title...
Not to ntion, with the Greataxe being my chosen weapon, I’m going to need Strength and Speed in spades.
My thoughts only reaffird the decisions I made just before the Ascension, to focus on increasing Strength and Speed over the others.
But that didn’t an I could allow those attributes to stall and fall so far behind the rest that it beca debilitating. Stamina was still an invaluable resource, and my biggest weakness.
After so tinkering with adding and removing points before confirmation, I managed to find a satisfying balance:
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
[Attributes | AP: 0]
Strength: 61 (70.15)
Speed: 70
Mind: 34 (51)
Constitution: 38(49.4)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Strength and Speed were as close to 70 as I could get them, and Mind and Constitution were also brought towards 50.
I confird without hesitation, feeling those swathes of latent strength finally being absorbed by my body. My strength surged higher and higher, muscle fibers rippling as they grew just slightly, tendons tightening but also becoming more elastic to supplent speed.
And when I looked inward, the gaseous red-black core in my chest had noticeably increased in size yet again. I took a quick look at my Status to find I had a whopping 510 Mana now.
I breathed a heavy sigh of relief as I looked up at the morning sky.
Things had finally cald down, but I still had a whole new daily quest to do.
By Lysha’el, was I exhausted.
I’d been training in this accursed clearing with no actual rest for so long, I knew I wouldn’t be able to bare staying put here for much longer.
It was high ti I got a move on. The Daily quest...would have to wait.
I finally brought back the System Panels I’d pushed away before, and lo and behold, the System had finally...
Finally...
It hadn’t given up.
[Re-attempting...]
[Failed.]
[Re-attempting...]
[Failed.]
[Re-attempting...]
[Failed.]
I sighed, eyes closed as I just lay there, refusing to move. But then a different prompt:
[Submitting a Request...]
My brows raised in surprise.
Another request? I wonder what it’ll be this ti. It’s unlikely to be a new skill...That wouldn’t make sense because it’s just repeatedly failing to Analyze the changes to my body...
Is the request for information, then?
My thoughts continued to wander, eyes searching the tree lines for the cub I had promptly ignored earlier, but it was no where to be seen.
So you finally had enough of this place and took off, huh.
I smiled dryly, a light sinking feeling in my chest.
I guess we do have a lot in common.
For so reason, I had half-expected it to stay. The thought left a little more contemplative than it should have.
Minutes passed as I was lost in thought, waiting, and yet, the mont I began to drift into so much needed sleep, the System’s droning voice pulled right out like a bucket of ice to the face.
[Request granted.]
[All relevant information has been successfully downloaded. ]
[Compiling...]
Information. I was right.
[Host has acquired the Unique Mana Core Variant[Amorphic Mana Core].]
[Host has acquired the Unique Nervous System Variant [Bimodal Nerve Matrix].]
Variants. They nas alone sounded complicated.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
[Amorphic Mana Core]
A hybridized mana core born from forced integration of Normal Mana and Chaotic Mana. Unlike conventional Silver Rank cores—semi-gaseous orbs encapsulated by a stable mbrane—the Amorphic Mana Core cannot settle into a singular form. Its surface remains in perpetual flux, resembling shifting smoke threaded with unstable veins.
This instability is the result of dual functionality. The Amorphic Mana Core continuously generates and regulates both Normal and Chaotic Mana. It can sustain spellcraft through ordered harmonization while simultaneously producing raw, untethered energy streams suitable for constructs and direct channeling.
It is currently Awaiting Full Activation by its owner.
[Activate? (Yes/No)]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Chaotic Mana...Dual Functionality...Spellcraft...Direct channeling....
...Awaiting...full activation??
What?
My gaze jumped to the second System window with urgency, and funnily enough, right at the end, the sa prompt had presented itself.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
[Bimodal Nerve Matrix]
A dual-channel nervous system created through Chaotic Mana interference during Silver Rank synchronization. The original biological network has been entirely replicated by a secondary lattice of mana-conductive fibers, forming a complete overlay throughout both body and brain.
The Bimodal Matrix processes all neural activity through two synchronized conduits: one of flesh, deliberate and stable; one of mana, instantaneous and instinctive. Together, they provide parallel processing of sensory input, exceptional bodily precision, and reflex speeds surpassing natural limits. Signals may arrive simultaneously along both systems, or independently, allowing layered control beyond standard human physiology.
Currently Awaiting Full Activation by its owner.
[Activate? (Yes/No)]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Why wouldn’t it be fully activated by default though? If I didn’t have the System, would it have just remained inactive?
No, I probably would have had to figure it out myself the hard way.
My ascension was complete, yes, but that didn’t an I knew how to use this strange, new body.
I looked at the System prompts a while longer, re-reading everything twice over to make sure I understood it all best I could.
Chaotic Mana. That must be what the black energy was...inside the Mother’s core, and now...swirling around my own core, and through my nerves. My gift delivered, my body adapted, and I’m all the better for it.
I still hadn’t attempted to move from my spread-eagle position on the ground. I could tell things would get...explosive, because I likely wouldn’t be able to control my strength.
But it was ti to test myself. This way I’d know for certain what the Activations entailed, or they’d all just blend together and I wouldn’t understand a thing.
My hand went straight to the haft of the greataxe as I rose to my feet with care.
I gulped.
This...
Then laughed.
...This is sothing else.
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