Chapter 22- Level up again. (Revised)
Chapter 22- Level up again
Chapter 22 - Revised (Word Count: 1,453)
Dave reviewed his Sin Points, finding that they had reached an impressive 900,000.
He had been saving these points for a while, anticipating the next level he could achieve.
When he first entered the academy, he was a Top-tier Grandmaster, but now he was pushing to surpass the King level—a feat that 90% of people in the empire might never reach in their entire lives.
Even if someone dedicated every part of their life to reaching this level, it was nearly impossible without strong natural talent, good connections, and a wealth of resources.
Reflecting on his journey, Dave recalled many novels he'd read in his previous life, where protagonists relied solely on hard work to become powerful.
But he had learned that while hard work mattered, it wasn't enough alone. Connections, guidance, and access to resources were just as critical in this world.
He took a moment to check his current stats:
Sin Points: <<900,000 >>
Knowing he had accumulated a significant number of Sin Points, Dave decided it was time to level up.
"900,000 Sin Points? That's more than enough for multiple level-ups," he thought with a grin.
"I didn't expect to accumulate this much so soon."
He proceeded to advance his rank.
[Ding! You've leveled up to level 8 (Top-tier Emperor)]
—64,000 SP
[Ding! You've leveled up to level 9 (Peak-tier Emperor)] —128,000 SP[Ding! You've leveled up to level 10 (Low-tier Sage)]
—256,000 SP
A rush of energy flooded through Dave's body, sharpening his aura and heightening his senses.
His vitality surged, and he felt physically stronger than ever. Looking back, his previous level now felt ten times weaker by comparison.
"So, this is what it's like to be a Sage?" he murmured. Dave hadn't expected such a significant gap between Emperor and Sage levels.
Effortlessly, he crossed the Emperor threshold and entered the Sage rank, becoming perhaps the youngest ever to reach this level.
Even his father hadn't achieved this strength at his age. But despite the thrill, Dave decided to stay at the Low-tier Sage level for now.
He knew rapid power gains came with risks, and it was wise to acclimate before pushing further.
The system then notified him that his shop would offer stronger items and equipment at this new rank, so he decided to hold off on purchasing lower-level items for now.
His father had already gifted him high-quality gear, and, with his current strength, he rarely faced real danger.
Unexpectedly, he received a prompt from the system:
[Ding! You've met the condition to evolve. Do you want to proceed?]
"Evolution?" Dave mused.
This was a chance to grow even more powerful, yet he chose to wait, feeling it best to understand his current state before taking on this transformation.
His remaining 452,000 Sin Points converted into 4,520 Skill Points, adding to the 66 he already held, bringing his total to 4,586. Dave decided it was time to advance several of his key skills.
He leveled up his Sword Dragon Technique to level 10, and a new skill, <<Wrath of the Sword Dragon>>, unlocked.
This allowed him to channel immense energy into his sword attacks, transforming them into powerful beams, much like a dragon's breath.
In practice, this technique empowered Dave to concentrate his energy through his sword, creating devastating, long-range attacks.
As he swung his sword, it would release a fierce beam of energy that could strike foes from afar, dealing severe damage and even incapacitating opponents with its sheer force.
Next, he upgraded his Conceal skill to level 10, costing him 384 Skill Points, and unlocked a skill called <<Shadow Mark>>.
"Shadow Mark" enabled Dave to track enemies marked by this skill, no matter where they went.
Placing an invisible mark on a target linked them to him directly, allowing him to follow their movements for as long as the mark remained active.
Afterward, he upgraded Magical Eyes to level 10, earning the <<Photographic Memory>> skill.
"Photographic Memory" enhanced Dave's recall abilities to near-perfection. When he used it, he could remember any detail from past events, texts, images, or experiences with incredible clarity—almost as if he had taken a photograph of the memory.
Finally, he focused on his Sin of Lust skill, advancing it to level 10 and unlocking two additional abilities:
<<Incubus Form>>: This transformation doubled his charm and stamina, especially potent in interactions where the charm was crucial.
<<Absorption >>: This skill allowed him to absorb power from his target through intimate connections. Recognizing its darker nature, Dave decided he'd use it sparingly, reserving it for critical moments only.
With 650 Skill Points still left, Dave reviewed his updated stats:
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Name: Dave Alexander
Age: 15
Race: Human
Power Level: Low-Tier Sage Level
Techniques:
Sword Dragon Technique (Lv.10: 0/256)Skills: <Sword Intent>, <Sword Manifestation>, <Sword Manipulation>, <Dragon Slash>, <Sword Apocalypse>, <Wrath of the Sword Dragon>
Magic Skills:
Conceal (Lv.10: 0/512)
Skills: <Disguise >, <Assassination >, <Shadow Steps>, <Shadow Mark>
Magical Eyes (Lv.10: 0/512)
Skills: <Eyes of Truth>, <Illusion >, <Night Vision>, <Hypnotism >, <Photographic Memory>
Primordial Sin Skills:
<<Sin of Lust>> (Lv.10: 0/2560)Skills: <Charm >, <Hands of Pleasure>, <Dual Cultivation>, <Incubus Aura>, <Dream >, <Puppetry >, <Incubus Form>, <Absorption >
Stats:
Level: 10
HP: 30,000/30,000
MP: 45,000/45,000
Exp: 0/512,000
Strength: 900
Agility: 1,200
Intelligence: 1,700
Skill Points: <<650 >>
Sin Points: <<0 >>
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With his power now well-structured, Dave felt confident in his abilities and his place within the academy.