Chapter 64: Arrogant But Not Blindly.

"Why has my potential increased?"

Emmy looked confusedly at the data on the purple screen. Her mind moved as she came up with dozens of theories why this was possible and the system decided not to speak. It wanted to see if Emmy could figure it out on her own.

It couldn't always explain things to her, the may well be a time when it would not be there for the host. So it would be well for her to be independent of its help in the foreseeable future. The system was well aware of its weaknesses.

Before it could rectify them completely it would be wise to cull any dependence the host would have on it, for it would prove fatal should she be caught unaware and without a means to get out of a dangerous situation should it not be capable of assisting her.

It was also a decent training exercise to advance her observation and deduction skills.

[The host should be able to figure it out.]

Emmy raised an eyebrow at the system's words, it had never done this before. At least not to her knowledge. It would be a lie to say that Emmy wasn't curious as to why the system decided to do this but that was not the matter at hand.

She was sure of one thing though...

"This is a test, isn't it? Going by how you said those words and not just telling me what it is means the clues are already there. By that line of reasoning it should be fairly obvious, the clues I mean."

Due to her age, the system wouldn't give her anything hard to do until it could ascertain she knew the basics. Her time training with the system made her extremely familiar with its method of tempering her to be the best version of herself.

[Indeed. The Host should begin now. You have 5 minutes.]

[5:00]

Of course, there had to be a time limit, Emmy rolled her eyes at the screen and began to work. She scanned the screen as fast as she could without missing on the details. A few seconds in and she already had an idea of how her potential increased.

It all came down to the [True Combat] talent as usual. After all, the potential was key to being a good or rather, a strong combatant. With [True Learning] allowing her to learn anything, there might be a [True Potential] that allowed her to...

'Have no limits on her potential? It might be along those lines and with it being unlocked at such a close range to my current rank, there is no other possibility. Of course, there could be something else but I want to believe this possibility. Having no limits was key to becoming the strongest.'

"Anyway, you have heard my thoughts and how I concluded the answer. I ask you system, am I correct?"

[Indeed.]

Emmy looked at the remaining time.

[3:48]

A time of 1 minute and 12 seconds total. It could be considered a normal result, not too bad or too good as far as she was concerned. Emmy tilted her head, was this result good? Maybe observation wasn't her strong point?

[The Host is very observative. Not to mention you remained calm despite being sprung with a question and a very short time frame to find out the answer. While a relatively simple question, your attitude, and calm reasoning are commendable.]

"I see. One should not doubt their abilities then. Anyway if incompetent in anything, the system would be able to make me a master right?"

[Affirmative. With the system's resources, it could even turn an idiot into a genius or a genius into a prodigy. Moreover with the Host's talent and attitude...]

"Hmm. Where do I rank then? I don't think my mind is as wired and efficient as a true prodigy, at best I have above-average intelligence. However, I do not think they possess the same level of talent that I have."

[Those with the [True Combat] talent are hardly wired like prodigies. Genius and Prodigy possess a talent along the lines of [Intuitive Aptitude] in their respective fields and many others. True combat users on the other hand do not possess such a thing but they can learn anything.]

[The host may not know this but combat can be applied to everything. Cooking, fishing, business, politics, and even flower arrangement. Combat thrives on competition and all things can be made competitive, thus True combat users are capable of learning nearly everything to the highest level.]

[Thus in the matter of the Host vs. a Genius per se, time and knowledge are the only things stopping you from beating anyone. Both of these are rectified by the system, as it can extend the time through virtual reality and possess near-infinite amounts of knowledge.]

[So when the host asks "where do I rank". The system says to you, the host, that becoming a god that can rival those in Celestia is not impossible. Exceeding them is not improbable, for you possess supreme talent. Do not lower yourself host, be arrogant but not to the point of fatality.]

[You must attain the aura of a king. For the system truly believes that only the host is worthy of the title.]

"Woah."

Emmy was speechless. She only asked a simple question but the system decided to rant into her mind like a mother but it would be wrong to say she didn't feel warmth in her heart. Without her parents here, the system was something very precious to her.

Emmy smiled, "Thank you. I'll not lower myself to such thinking again. Arrogance but not to the point of fatality. I have yet to attain absolute power but I have the potential to do so, right? Thus like a scholar who can become a king, I should possess a level of arrogance."

She understood. If she didn't have the arrogance needed, then what could she do when she came across those that did when they could back it up? Arrogance and confidence were both needed, but arrogance was required to beat arrogance.

'Fire against fire huh?'

"Shouldn't I be an Empress or Emperor then? Since they rank higher than kings?"

Emmy asked as she looked at the rest of her stats, her eyes mainly focused on the Mental technique section.

[They are all the same to the system. An emperor is merely a fancier title, it does not reduce the regality of the other. Though one may possess more majesty than the other.]

"Hmm."

"So what are these centralized thoughts about? The quantity is quite small, only 100 per second, or is that a lot for a human?"

*****

A/N: I have an idea about how to explain centralized thoughts but it's not concrete so I need more time. See ya on Monday.