Gathering Points [9]

Skills.

There were several ways to get a skill, but the most common ones were through repeated training, gaining it as a reward from the tower, buying it from the tower store, and inheriting it.

Among all of these, the most common one was, of course, gaining a skill through repeated training.

Aside from it being common sense, gaining a skill through other methods was just rare. If one wanted to have a skill through the other methods, he might probably end up dead before that ever happens.

So for a rare situation like this, where I had done no training prior and still got a skill, I was extremely happy.

As long as the skill wasn't something that ended up being useless to me, any one, as long as it was useful, was better than the amount of points I had gained through the quest.

'I wonder what the skill effect is.'

The moment the thought came to me, I immediately went ahead to check it.

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Breath Control [Basic Mastery]

Description: Utilises a specific breathing pattern to enhance physical attributes. 

Effect: Increases physique while the skill is active. 

Duration: Dependent on the user's stamina consumption during usage. 

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"Heavens!"

"Fuck!"

I was unable to hold my excitement for a moment and cursed aloud. However, I didn't care.

'Are the heavens smiling at me today?'

It was a silly thought, but I couldn't help it.

First, I appeared in an unfamiliar world, one that I could not be said to be more familiar with, one that I had always wished to experience. To a certain extent, it could be said to be a dream come true.

This world had everything I could look for, and the most important thing being the ability to control my own life and fate.

Aside from this, it could also be said that I lucked out on finding an epic grade resource to boost Lionel and my prowess considerably.

It was like things were working out for me, though it required a road of blood.

And now.

Just when I was considering my lack of prowess which would affect me as I ascend in the tower and not just in the tutorial, another blessing came to me.

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Breath Control [Basic Mastery]

Description: Utilises a specific breathing pattern to enhance physical attributes. 

Effect: Increases physique while the skill is active. 

Duration: Dependent on the user's stamina consumption during usage. 

---

If I'm not mistaken, this skill should be able to raise my stats to a certain extent for a particular period of time.

While this did not breach the combat experience others will have over me, it could give me an advantage in terms of stats.

'Basically, if I can't beat you with fancy moves, I'll use my fists to beat you senseless.'

The thought of this added to my lingering excitement of discovering the effect of the skill.

However.

'I wonder how much of an increase this could give my stats at basic mastery.'

There were five well-known mastery levels that graded one's knowledge of a particular skill or technique in the tower.

The masteries were as follows from low to high: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Perfection, and Intent.

Basic mastery is just as the name implies. It means one just started to have an understanding or already had a basic understanding of that particular skill or technique.

Mastery is also one of the reasons skills obtained outside of repeated training are always welcomed because, aside from the fact that you don't have to take time and effort to acquire one, it's already at basic mastery the moment you get it.

That's the current scenario for me.

Prior to this, I had not participated in any training to get a skill, nor could I have done so since I've only been in this world for a few hours, yet I got a skill that was at basic mastery too. The moment I activate it, I get more detailed information about the skill than what the system gives, like I actually went through the normal process of training to acquire it.

While it was rare to just receive a skill without doing anything, anyone would still prefer the chance to acquire one in any way outside of training. 

In my case, I got it due to a quest. It required work, but I prefer this. Most people in the tower would prefer this as well. 

After all, using your fist to get something done was way simpler than unnecessary and perhaps even necessary stress.

After Basic mastery is intermediate mastery.

If basic mastery is having the base knowledge about a skill or technique, then intermediate mastery is one having their own amount of understanding of that skill or technique. 

Advanced mastery is when one's understanding of the technique is now independent of themselves. 

Perfect mastery is when the skill or technique can be applied somewhere else.

Then.

Intent mastery. 

The highest of all known masteries. 

This is when one's understanding of a skill or technique has reached a level where they can evolve it to another form, either by increasing the original power to an unbelievable extent or extending the skill or technique into something else. 

Even most top martial artists don't reach the peak in their skill or technique before they die. It would be easier with weak skills, but there's almost no benefit to that. 

In fact, there was no current benefit to me for thinking about such a realm at the moment. I've basically almost confirmed I have no talent in physique and in mana, so thinking I have in martial arts will only make me sad. 

I knew ways to change my situation, though, but that was for the future me to handle.

Right now.

'Let's test the skill out.'