Stats and Skills

[Name: Drai Varz]

[Class: Seed of Titan]

[Level: 1]

[Strength: 40]

[Constitution: 40]

[Agility: 15]

[Dexterity: 9]

[Intelligence: 6]

[Transcendence: 2]

[Skills: none]

'Hahaha, it looks like being a 'seed' isn't that bad! My strength and constitution are almost triple my agility. I don't understand what these numbers mean, but at least they fit my style!' Drai exclaimed gleefully.

'I wonder if that golem class gives more constitution… Well, it doesn't matter now. At least I didn't become a magic user, hehehe.

'But what's wrong with my intelligence? I don't think I'm that stupid… or am I? Ugh, this System really likes to insult me. I hope six intelligence is above average though,' Drai said hopefully.

'And this last stat, transcendence, I wonder what it does," Drai pondered while focusing on the stat. Then a small window popped up.

[Transcendence: A special stat representing the state of transcending oneself. May affect skills of Seed of Titan class tree.]

'Wow, a special stat! I've heard that some classes have these kinds of unique stats and even resources other than mana,' Drai said excitedly.

'System, how can I increase my transcendence?'

[The method of increasing transcendence is unknown.]

'…'

'This System is so unreliable,' Drai muttered as he was feeling wronged. He just found out he had a special stat but he didn't even know how to raise it.

'I'll just figure it out on my own later,' Drai thought as he continued examining his stats. Suddenly, he realized something.

'System, why can't I see my EXP? I thought I needed to collect EXP to level up?'

[Correct. EXP accumulation is needed for leveling up. However, EXP stat is hidden from users.]

'Really? I thought this was like a game where you can see the amount you need to level up. Is there a reason why it is hidden, System?'

[There is.]

'What is it?'

[To prevent the quantification of life experience. The System is meant to accommodate—not dictate—the user's will. Displaying experience as numbers has been proven to greatly affect the choices users make, deviating from the System's purpose, hence the EXP stat concealment.]

'Hmmm… I guess so. If I knew exactly how much EXP I would get from doing things, I would be looking for the biggest payoff instead of doing things I want to do. Maybe for some people that would be exciting, but there must be others who wouldn't want to diminish the meaning of their actions by converting it into numbers.

'I could imagine knowing how much EXP I would get from a day of training would make me reluctant to skip it and do other things that would give little to no EXP, such as visiting Mom and Dad on holidays. But I already hate skipping training, so maybe it wouldn't have much of an impact for me after all,' Drai contemplated.

'So, these other stats besides transcendence, how do I raise them?' Drai asked the System as he looked at his stats.

[By doing your best.]

'…'

Drai decided to give up further inquiring about the stats lest he lost his mind. He would probably learn about it in the academy anyway. So, he decided to spend his SP instead.

'Show me the skill tab.'

[SP: 30]

[Available skills:]

[Titan's Fortitude]

[Colossal Augmentation]

Staring at the screen, Drai asked doubtfully, 'Only two skills available? System, don't people get offered at least ten skills when they first evolve even if they can't afford them all?'

[Available skills vary for each user. However, the number of available skills is not correlated with the number of accumulated SP.]

'So, why am I only offered two skills?'

[It is related to Seed of Titan class which restricts skill availability.]

'What!? Is there such a thing!?' Drai exclaimed. 'System, do you know why it does this?'

[It is likely due to compatibility issues or it is merely the nature of the class.]

'Ah, f***…' Drai silently cursed. 'I knew there's something suspicious about this 'seed' thing. 'Destined for greatness' my balls, it's just a cover-up! Now I'm afraid to find out what other 'greatness' this class is hiding.

'I miss my golem class… Where's my cool boulder toss and seismic slam? Where's my tasty rocks?'

Drai was losing his mind. He really wanted to meet that titan guy and slap him for being deceitful. But then Drai shuddered as he recalled the planet smashing scene.

'Well, maybe later when I'm stronger,' Drai said helplessly. He secretly put 'slapping that person' on his bucket list.

Suppressing his frustrations, Drai recollected himself and looked at the skills.

[Skill: Titan's Fortitude] 

[Description: A titan is one who stands on the pinnacle of creation. Despite not reaching that height yet, having seen one in action, your mentality is unshaken.] 

[Effects: Become highly resistant to fear and mental debuffs.]

[Cost: 1 SP]

'Well… at least this skill isn't bad. Although it doesn't directly increase my strength, it will make me more rational when facing dangerous situations. It's also useful for defending against mental attacks,' Drai thought appreciatively.

'Why is it so cheap though? Is it because I've fulfilled the requirements and learning it is just a formality to trigger it? Or are all my skills cheap due to high compatibility? At least with 30 SP I can get all the skills that I'm offered in future. 

'Not bad, class. You might be stingy with the number of skills but it seems that you're quite generous as well,' Drai chuckled.

'Learn Titan's Fortitude.'

[Acquiring Titan's Fortitude will cost 1 SP. Proceed with acquisition?]

'Yes.'

[1 SP deducted. You have learned Titan's Fortitude.]

Upon learning the skill, Drai tried to sense if anything was changing within his head or mind, but surprisingly, he didn't feel anything. He tried checking the stat page once again and looked at his acquired skills.

[Skills: Titan's Fortitude]

'So, I did learn it. I wonder why I don't feel any different.'

Shaking his head, Drai went back to the skill page. Now there's only one skill left.

'I wonder if anyone has an empty skill page like me after I learn this other skill,' Drai thought amusedly as he checked the skill description.

[Skill: Colossal Augmentation]

[Description: The ability to gigantify is the hallmark of titans. Through this, titans are able to exhibit a far greater power than one should have.]

[Effects: Gain the ability to temporarily become larger and more powerful. The intended size can be set, with the maximum being the user's actual body size multiplied by transcendence. Physical attributes correlate with size and are equally multiplied. The time limit is one minute per transcendence stat, which is accumulated and can be utilized at will, regenerating at ten times the duration of said time limit.]

[Cost: 40 SP]

'F***********!!!' Drai looked at the skill cost with horror.

'40 SP?!? Are you kidding me?! I just said that you're generous and suddenly you show this price? This is extortion!' Drai pointed at the skill cost furiously.

'Great! Very great! I'm truly 'destined for greatness', hahaha!'

Drai was so remorseful that he started kneeling while tearfully laughing at his predicament. He just wanted to evolve peacefully but now he's stuck with a 'great' class with almost no skills.

'I must be cursed,' Drai thought while wiping his tears. 'No wonder that guy wrote some poem for the description. If it were described like other classes, it would've said, 'This is a cursed class. It only offers very few skills and you won't even be able to afford them. Prepare to cry or spare yourself and choose another class.' Ah, that deceitful guy really needs a good slapping!'

With difficulty, Drai brought himself up and looked at the screen miserably. He was recently content with his number of SP but now he felt poor.

'System, can't you give me a discount? Or can I borrow some SP?' Drai tried to haggle.

[No.]

'At least tell me why this damn skill is so pricey.'

[It seems proportional to the skill's effects.]

'Really? Is this skill that great?' Drai dubiously read the skill's effects. Seeing the complicated wordings, Drai felt lost before deciding to leave the skill alone.

'There's no use thinking about it now. I can't even afford it any time soon. Well, such is my life now,' Drai smiled bitterly. 'Maybe I don't really need an active skill since I don't have mana or other resources to use them anyway. I'll just rely on my body as usual and hope that my strength and toughness make up for my lack of skills.'

Having these thoughts, Drai finally calmed down and accepted reality. He took another glance at the skill before closing the System window.

'Okay, now I better go to the scouts and see if I can get enrolled in a nice academy or other institutions.'

With such determination, Drai slowly headed toward the crowd.