13 Episode 1: Reset (2)

Opening up his skill window, the young man began scrutinizing the screen that was displaying his newly obtained skills. However, at first glance, his eyes slightly shook.

"I'm so not used to seeing this..." Shinto coughed.

The disparity between his current list of skills and the one back when he was a swordsman was like night and day. Instead of the usual long list of skills that he was used to seeing day by day, it was now only ten skills. Half of them being active abilities whilst the other half being passives.

"Hah... Well, for being at level one, this class sure gives a lot of skills at least," he nodded his head in thought. "Though, this is technically compensation since all my extra skills had been removed..."

Within the game of Spiritual Warriors, there were many methods for players to unlock and obtain skills and passives. For one, the simplest way was through levelling up or by doing class quests. But, for abilities unrelating to their class, they were mainly obtained through rare hidden quests or by skill books.

In Shinto's case, the number of quests that he had found that gave abilities was small. As such, the loss of his extra skills wasn't all that impactful for him. However, in spite of that, as they were rare to encounter, it was still regrettable that he had lost such abilities despite them being a niche for him.

"...well, it can't be helped. It was my own decision after all," Shinto shook his head helplessly. "But, even then... Never would I have expected that those abilities would've been removed."

He couldn't yet decide whether or not to regret or feel proud about his choice of changing into a new class, especially one that was out of his usual playstyle. Ultimately, he hadn't tested or even seen the details of his skills, as such, he couldn't give a verdict.

"...well whatever," shaking his head of the thought, his attention now averted back to his skill list. "For the time being, I can at least make a few judgements."

With his extensive knowledge in the game, he could judge an ability based on its utility and situational prowess solely on the description given. Therefore, he didn't need to take the skills at face value when reading through the details.

However, that was only the case for swordsman related skills. On the note of Support related ones, he knew nothing about them. Thus, he could only rely on his experience to see whether or not it was either good or bad.

"...ten skills. Five being passives," locking his eyes onto the first skill on the list—Divining Gauge, he began reading through it. "Let's see what they're all about."

...

[ Divining Gauge Lv 1 ]

With the powers of Duality: Light and Shadow, all skills relating to that of the [ Shadow Diviner ] will consume a new type of energy, (Shadow) and (Divinity) which starts at a maximum of 30. Thereafter, the max amount of energy that you can have is dependant on your total (Shadow) and (Divinity) stat which is added onto the starting gauge.

•Current Shadow Gauge: 31

•Current Divinity Gauge: 31

After accumulating a certain amount of (Shadow) or (Divinity) stat, the potential of the [ Shadow Diviner ] will grow.

"Hmm? Shadow and Divinity stat?" he tilted his head in confusion at the mention of the unfamiliar stat in the description. "Ah, right! It's the new stats that I just got."

Taking note of that, he soon opened up his status window once again. Then, he quickly looked up the information of his two newly obtained stats.

...

[ Shadow ]

In the darkness of shadows, you will give off a faint aura of warmth under the night skies, bringing about a sense of security for others. Thus, the defensive capabilities of [ Shadow ] skills will be increased by 0.02% per Shadow Stat. However, you are more likely to be noticed by those of the [ Evil ] alignment and are less vulnerable to (Curses).

•The higher the stat, the higher the effect.

•This is a class-exclusive stat for the (Shadow Diviner).

•Stat points cannot be distributed into this stat.

...

[ Divinity ]

In the essence of brilliance, you will give off a faint aura of a cool gleam when in sunlight, allowing strength to surge within you. Thus, the offensive capabilities of [ Divinity ] skills will be increased by 0.01% per Divinity Stat. You are also more likely to receive (Blessings).

•The higher the stat, the higher the effect.

•This is a class-exclusive stat for the (Shadow Diviner).

•Stat points cannot be distributed into this stat.

"Oh?" Shinto's brow slightly raised in interest as he was greeted by the information regarding his new stats. "So these are my class-exclusive stats, huh?"

For a new player that spawned into the world for the first time, they would only have four core stats: Strength, Stamina, Intelligence and Agility. These four main stats would stick to a character forever, steadily growing as the player levels up.

However, as one progresses through the game, they wouldn't be just limited to four stats and would instead be able to unlock more gradually—whether it'd be exclusively or inclusively for them.

These were typically called (Hidden Stats), which were only obtainable through quests or classes. And as the game neared its first year anniversary, it accounted for more than fifty known stats through a survey done by veteran players that had been playing since the very start. For Shinto, he originally had obtained eight hidden stats, however now, he only has three after the reset.

"To start with three hidden stats... I guess it isn't that big of a deal for me since the other previous stats aren't going to be put to use anyway," Shinto muttered to himself as he averted his gaze away from the information screen and back to the skill list. "...anyway, on the note on how to raise them—"

...

[ Split of Duality Lv 1 ]

Between the disparity of two sides, one of light and the other shadow—you are at the center of Duality.

•When in the night skies/darkness, you will gain [ Shadow ] stats more easily.

•When in the sunlight/bright lights, you will gain [ Divinity ] stats more easily.

"—it seems that with this passive, it's hinting that I can raise my stats under certain environmental conditions," he nodded his head in thought. "Right. I'll have to test out the growth rate of the stats later."

A unique trait about a hidden stat was that stat points could not be distributed into them. As such, a certain method was required to raise them, whether it would be a persistent action, or through quests.

"Though... Seeing as how these two stats give quite a big benefit, I doubt it'd be easy to raise them." Upon realizing the fact that it wouldn't be easy, he let out a sigh as he could only helplessly glance on to the next few passives on the list.

...

[ Diviner's Will Lv 1 ]

As the diviner, when you're either dealt fatal damage or damage higher than 40% of your health—a protective spell of the divine will be cast upon you, creating a barrier that can absorb up to 2000 damage until the barrier is broken. Once it does, the passive will be placed on cooldown until the shield regenerates itself.

•The shield will regenerate at a steady pace of 100 points/minute, until 2000 where it'll be ready again.

•The shield will slowly grow stronger as your Divinity stat increases.

...

[ Shadow Markings Lv 1 ]

Under the guise of the shadows, a [ Shadow Mark ] will be inflicted upon an enemy when you damage them with a basic attack or when using a [ Shadow ] skill on them. 

•Those who have received the mark will take an additional 10% damage from any attacks dealt by your party.

•The mark will slowly grow stronger as your Shadow stat increases.

"Hmm... A protective spell to protect me from danger and a shadow mark to increase ally's damage," he thought to himself. "I'll have to keep note of that since it'll be extremely useful during battle."

...

[ Eyes of Altric Lv 1 ]

The all-seeing eye of Altric has been bestowed upon you. With this vision, you may now see things that others don't see, find hidden meanings of an item, as well as read the language of Altric at your own discretion.

•As the Diviner of Shadow, you may see between the disparity of light and darkness—allowing yourself to identify the alignments of good and evil.

At the sight of the description before him, Shinto sighed through his teeth. "Jeez... If only I had obtained this passive much earlier, then I would've been able to understand whatever the monoliths were trying to tell me."

Despite his slight annoyance, he was still grateful that he had obtained such a passive. After all, it would've been a nightmare otherwise if he had encountered more of the language in the future, especially when his class was directly linked to Altric.

"Hah..." As he was ruffling the back of his head, a sudden thought came to mind. "Ah. Speaking of which..." Slowly turning his head over to the direction of a window that was protruding out the evening light of the sun into the area, his eyes squinted as he looked to the far east—where the mountains stood.

"...the obelisks and the monoliths that were trying to tell me something... If I go back there now with the Eyes of Altric, would I get to discover something?" he pondered on the matter. However, he soon shook his head. "No. I can't go back there right now in this state. I'll need to visit the mountains another time."

With the last passive on the list having been checked on, he scratched his head as he slowly sorted out all the details of the passives in his mind. "The concept of Duality in regards to Shadow and Divinity is quite prevalent in this class, huh?" Two opposing sides, all in a single class—the [ Shadow Diviner ]. "...hmm, I guess I'll be able to see more of the class potential when I head out to test the active abilities. But for now... I'll have to get rid of all these excess items in my inventory."

Throughout the entire time where Shinto had been scrutinizing his new skills, a certain notification had been looming in front of him in a daunting manner.

[ You have exceeded the weight limit by 6350! ]

[ A heavy penalty will now be applied due to an absurd amount of weight in your inventory! ]

[ -Movement speed will heavily decrease by 200% and stamina usage will be three times as much. ]

[ The heavy penalty will remain until the excess weight is removed. ]

"C-Cough... 6350 excess weight..." Shinto felt like crying out at the penalty in front of him. "I never knew I had that much weight on me... Man... Do all my items really weigh that much?"

Shinto was originally a swordsman. As such, he didn't need to worry about exceeding the weight limit as he naturally focused on his Strength stat. However, to his dismay, all items in his inventory were the bane of his reset.

"Ugh... It's not only my equipment too. I've got quite a lot of materials that I've been meaning to use to upgrade my gear..." he sighed. "Hah... Well not that I need to worry about that now."

His second order of business was now to head towards the town's bank, where he could store away all his unnecessary items. And so, with one foot out of the respawn pad, Shinto began making his way out of the temple. Step by step, in a slow manner due to the penalty.

"...this is going to take a while," he clicked his tongue as he walked at the pace of a turtle. "...where was the bank again?"