Chapter 8: Titles And Skills

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"Um, big sis, do we really need to sit cross-legged right now?" Asked my sister Ruby as she sat cross-legged on the floor of the living room.

"I suppose it's part of channeling the meridian thing?" My mother asked.

"Yes, sitting in that precise position will help the two of you channel your Internal Ki much more easily and spread it through the Meridians within your body." I nodded.

It was currently ten in the morning of the next day, and my sister and mother were about to begin the forging of their Elemental Ki Cores, meaning that they were soon going to ascend into Rank 2! This was the moment when every Cultivator would finally decide their fate from now on.

Rank 1 was just getting used to the Ki Energy flowing through their Meridians, but the Core was when they would amass all their Internal Ki and use special materials to create a crystallization of such essence. This crystallization is placed right in front of the heart, and it usually changes color depending on the element they choose. Anybody can choose any element, as long as they have the materials.

Back then, I was forced to choose the Element of Light as it was one of the most common and cheaper Elemental Materials I could acquire. The Evening Sunlight Flower, a Rank 1 Spirit Treasure that still cost me eighty percent of the savings I accumulated through four years.

"So we gather this energy into our chest?" My mother wondered. She was actually quite eager to grow stronger. "It is a bit difficult, though."

"Y-Yeah, it keeps escaping my grasp," Ruby complained.

"Usually you would need roughly five years at minimum to grasp how to properly manipulate Internal Ki Energy at Rank 1 before you even dare reach Rank 2," I answered. "Even back then, when I finally became a Cultivator, although I was no longer looked down on by the mortals, I still struggled against other Cultivators, even of my same Rank. It took me six years to get to Rank 2 after becoming Rank 1."

"S-So much time?" My little sister looked at me with disbelief. "Big sis…"

"Hahaha, well, it wasn't that long anyway." I smiled. "Compared to the other Ranks, it was very quick! Now, I know I can't just tell you to practice for many years, so let me do this for you instead. I will manipulate your Internal Ki Energies and form the Ki Cores all for you. I might hurt a bit, but I will be healing you constantly as well, so bear with it for a bit."

"Okay." My mom said, nodding. "This world… It is too dangerous; every day, even as a D-Rank Hunter, I don't know when I'll die and end up leaving Ruby alone. If it's really possible, I want to become stronger, Katherine."

"I know, mother. I know that feeling way too well." I nodded. "Now, I hope you don't feel upset about this, but I need to touch your chests and stay quiet."

I placed my hands over their chests, right above their breasts, where I could hear their heartbeat. It was much easier with my mother, whose breasts were much lower, but my sister's always got in the way. Nevertheless, I managed to connect to their Internal Ki Energy quite quickly by using my own lowest-grade Internal Ki Energy, forming it into golden threads.

After that was done, I simply willed it, and slowly, all their energies gathered into their chests, right in front of their beating hearts. The Meridians were also cleansed of all impurities with my energies rushing through their bodies, making it easier for a Physique to form in the future.

"Now, calmly… Stay still; this is the tough part." I said as I saw my mother and my sister groaning, gritting their teeth. "There, breathe in and out slowly."

I gathered their internal Ki into their chests, and then, as I harnessed it more and more, it swiftly began to crystalize. As it did, the materials I had placed around them beforehand activated, flying towards them and becoming masses of energy. Thanks to my special abilities and the materials I had, it was possible to give them Dual Element Cores.

After I offered them the strongest elements available, they decided on their combinations. The materials merged into their bodies, becoming part of their Cores. Elemental power flows through them. This was something that the System would never be able to grant to someone: the power of Cultivation and the absorption of the Essence of Heaven and Earth.

"It's done." I smiled, noticing my mother and my sister had slightly changed.

Their eyes were shining with bright colors, and their hair had become colorful as well. Once the Core is created, we usually take into account the appearance of the element we choose. My hair turned blonde when I first forged my Light Ki Core, and my eyes were completely white.

As for my mother and my sister, it was quite different. My sister's short and messy hair became black, with sharp red stripes. Her eyes remained almost the same blue color but gained a slightly darker hue. She had a slightly demonic aura.

My mother's hair, in the other case, gained a metallic silver color, growing longer and reaching her hips. Her eyes turned a bright gold. My mother was already a gorgeous woman, but after this, she looked like an immortal goddess of Murim.

[You have helped two people attain unprecedented new powers through otherworldly techniques and means, awakening their inner talents and helping them break through their limits.]

[You received the title: [Talent Seeking Guider]!]

[You have continuously manipulated and harnessed a strange energy and power. The System has managed to analyze its properties and has assimilated part of its powers into itself.]

[You have unlocked the [Martial Power] Stat!]

[You have gained +500 Martial Power as a bonus for unlocking a Hidden Stat not many have awakened before.]

Interesting, a Talent Seeking Guider Skill and… the Martial Power Stat? It doesn't say the first time, so there are people out there who have unlocked it! How amazing. I would love to meet them one day. Perhaps I am not the only one who came from Murim.

"So this is… Wait a second, my hair! It changed so much color?!" My mother panicked slightly. "I did choose the Metal and Light Elements because they were both useful for defense and recovery, but this is too much, no?"

"I chose darkness and fire because they are deadly." Said Ruby. "I look almost the same as before, so it's fine." She shrugged. "You're rocking that new style, though, Mom. You look like some X-men girl."

"What? Ugh…" My mother seemed slightly uneasy with that new form. "W-Well, at least… I do feel stronger than before. Despite being a D Rank Hunter, I only could ever learn three Skills. Spear Wielding, Steady Fighter, and Mana Shield. So I am usually a frontline fighter." My mother explained.

"With the Metal Element, you should be able to learn Metal Attribute Martial Techniques and Strengthening Auras. It'll make you tougher than ever before!" I clapped. "And the Light Element is good for healing, so you can keep yourself moving even after taking a lot of damage. It also has good range, damage, and utility, and if you can properly learn some of my techniques, Photon Energy Manipulation will help you easily paralyze most foes."

"I-I don't think I could ever go as far as you, honey. But thanks for helping me grow stronger." My mother hugged me and kissed me on the cheek. "So how do we do this? How do we progress?"

"Well, the normal way would be to meditate for years," I said. "While absorbing compatible materials you find… But that won't do here. I will simply continuously feed you every day with Divine Dishes imbued with your selected elements. You should be able to reach Rank 5 by the end of the month based on my calculations."

"Wait, that fast?!" Ruby asked.

"But… that's a bit. I feel bad now." My mother sighed. "If you help us so much like this, doesn't it feel a bit unfair? I don't want to take advantage of my daughter, who has been gone for eleven years!"

"Mother, this is a way for me to show my gratitude for having raised me, for having accepted me back quickly, and also for the money you've lent me," I answered with a smile. "I always repay kindness with a thousand times more kindness."

"Geez, if you're going to do it like this, I suppose I can show you around the places. You said something about wanting to earn money as a hunter, right? If you want to go to the tower, you need to first hit your level cap; it's more efficient, so you can Rank Up right away once you're done with the Tutorial." She said. "What's your level cap right now, Katherine? Mine was twenty."

"Fifty," I said nonchalantly. "Is that bad? Was it supposed to be lower?"

"Wait, fifty?!" Ruby gasped. "I've heard that based on the level cap people start with, their Ranks can vary a lot! Most weaklings have a level cap of five, actually. That would be like Juan who was F Rank. Then there is level ten, which is considered an E-rank Rank talents, and then mom, whose cap is level twenty, D-rank."

"So fifty would be… A Rank?"

"No! S Ranks are fifty!" Ruby said. "I guess it was to be expected…"

"Well, whatever you say, dear." I gave her a head pat. "Now that you two are done with your Ki Core formation, it is time to train! So yeah, mother. If you would like to do so, can you lead us to these "Wild Lands," or whatever the mortals around here call them? Those areas are full of wild creatures."

"Ah, yeah, outside of the city walls, there are a few of them." My mother nodded. "They're Wild Lands formed from various Dungeon Breaks that appear every now and then. Because they cannot be dealt with easily, monsters escape the Gates and then breed very quickly, forming enormous groups or even tribes if they're more intelligent."

"So at this point, monsters have become commonplace, almost like animals." I sighed. "I wish it could just go back to how simple it used to be."

"You don't know how much we wish for the same thing." My mother said. "Anyways, if you truly have the World Class Hunter license, then they should let you enter anywhere you want with ease."

"Nice, but what about me?" Asked my sister. "I haven't gotten the system yet, even now. It seems I have no talent with Mana at all! Isn't that unfair?"

"It certainly is unfair." I nodded. "But well, your big sister here also became stronger without relying on such a trifling thing as a System. So let us go. I shall hide you from the mortal's plain sight with ease. Trust in your big sister, Ruby."

"A-Ah, well, I bet you got some crazy technique for it, huh? Alright! I'm ready for some monster beatings. I got a lot of stress accumulated. Working as an apprentice nurse is really not nice." She groaned.

"Very well, then. Once we finish our breakfast, we shall depart, my dearests." I smiled happily. "For today's breakfast, Divine Dishes it is!" I decided to quickly feed them with more compatible dishes.

[You have cooked a large quantity of delicious dishes using otherworldly gourmet ingredients.]

[The Level of the [Cooking (D): Lv3] Skill has increased!]

[The Level of the [Cooking (D): Lv4] Skill has increased!]

[The Level of the [Cooking (D): Lv5] Skill has increased!]

[You received the Title: [Apprentice Chef (Growth-type Title)]!]

I've been getting a lot of new Titles and Skills lately. I decided to check them one after another as Mother guided me towards the outskirts of the city across the skies. I carried both of them inside a bubble made using my Partial Spatial Manipulation Skill.

Titles firsts are always quite interesting; it feels like earning achievements, a nice little thing to look forward to while relaxing in this world.

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[Dungeon Gate Keeper]

Title Requirements: Control a Dungeon or Forcefully Close a Dungeon.

Effects: Grants the ability to absorb 20% of a Dungeon's Internal Space when forcefully closing them and destroying all life within them. Using the accumulated Dungeon Internal Space, you can build your own Dungeon. Large quantities of Mana are required.

A Title is often granted to Administrators who keep, manage, create, and destroy Dungeons when required.

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[Undefeated]

Title Requirements: Defeat dozens of foes without breaking a sweat, and even S Rank and above threats with no effort.

Effects: Increases Damage Dealt against Boss-type foes by +30%, ignores 10% of their total defenses when attacking them. You automatically generate an {Aura of the Undefeated}, that lowers the stats of those intimidated by your power by -20%.

A Title granted to completely unparalleled beings, often born from Apex Worlds.

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[Talent Seeking Guider]

Title Requirements: Awaken the Talent of someone and accurately predict how powerful can people become.

Effects: Grants basic Appraisal Authorization, allowing you to easily see the Talents that people possess. Your charisma also increases by +100%.

A Title is given to true Talent Seekers who also guide their talents down the right path, awakening their powers.

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[Apprentice Chef (Growth-type Title)]

Title Requirements: Cook over fifty Dishes using the Cooking Skills, that are enjoyed by people.

Effects: Increases created Dishes flavor, texture, and Mana and Stamina recovery rate by +30%.

A Title that can grow over time as you cook dishes and feed them to people. Aim to become a Master Chef!

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So, I can now absorb pieces of a dungeon's internal structure once they're cleared?

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Oh yeah, the other Talents… They exist, I suppose.

But this one particular Dungeon Gate Keeper Title is what attracts my attention the most.

And about Skills, I had quite a bunch—almost twelve of them. My Classless Skill Slots have been full now. So whenever I learn a new one, it'll apparently be "stored" until I desire to switch it around.

Classless Skills:

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[Kicking Strike (D): Lv4]

[Skill EXP]: [0/4.000]

A Classless Skill granted to those who have begun their journey as Martial Artists specializing in kicking.

Channel Mana into your legs and unleash powerful Kicking Strikes at your foes, increasing Damage by +100% and Attack Speed by +50%

Level Bonus (4): Increases Damage Dealt by +40%, ignores -10% of a foe's Physical Defenses when kicking them.

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[First Aid (D): Lv5]

[Skill EXP]: [0/5.000]

A Classless Skill granted to those who are good at giving First Aid to the wounded and attending to their wounds hastily and rapidly.

Increases the ability to analyze wounds, heal wounds, and craft medicine using available materials by +100%. By using Mana, the potency of medicine can increase by +50%.

Level Bonus (5): Increases Skill Healing Effects by +50%.

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[Mirage Veil (A): Lv4]

[Skill EXP]: [0/20.000]

A Classless Skill given to incredibly stealthy people.

By spending Mana, encompass yourself or any ally on an invisible veil of stealth and camouflage. Increases the chances of being undetected, to stealthily infiltrate places, and to trick people by +100%.

Level Bonus (4): Increases invisibility when using the Skill by +160%.

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[Cooking (D): Lv6]

[Skill EXP]: [0/6.000]

A Classless Skill granted to masterful chefs capable of imbuing Mana into their dishes, granting them special effects.

Grants the ability to use Mana and Magical Ingredients in the preparation of powerful Magical Dishes, that can restore Health, Stamina, Mana, and even grant special buffs based on Skill Level.

Level Bonus (6): Increases the Healing and Buffing Effects of created Dishes by +120%.

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[Basic Swordsmanship (C): Lv4]

[Skill EXP]: [0/6.000]

A Classless Skill is given to those who have showcased basic talent with the Sword.

Grants the ability to unleash a few basic Magic Swordsmanship Techniques by utilizing Mana and channeling it into the weapon.

Available Swordsmanship Techniques:

Level 1: [Rapid Slash] [Piercing Attack]

Level 2: [Block Strike] [Parry]

Level 3: [Consecutive Slash] [Blade Strike]

Level 4: [Slashing Mana Wave] [Armor Breaker]

Level Bonus (4): Increases Swordsmanship Techniques Damage by +80%, grants the ability to ignore 20% of a foe's Physical Defenses.

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[Family Bond (D): Lv3]

[Skill EXP]: [0/3.000]

A Classless Skill is only given to those who have a strong and deep bond with their families.

Innately connects your internal Mana Flow with all those you deem as Family Members, granting you the ability to immediately learn their current status and health. Additionally allows for the ability to speak to them through telepathy.

Level Bonus (3): Increases the Stats of your bonded Family Members by +15%.

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The Classless Skills are a huge variety of abilities, and they can be almost anything! Most of them are quite useful, I would admit. The Family bond, in particular, comes in handy. I could do the same with my other techniques, but this sure facilitates everything.

And moving on, Magic Skills:

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[Partial Spatial Manipulation (B): Lv4]

[Skill EXP]: [0/8.000]

A Magic Skill is only given to those who have been able to tamper with the Pillars of Space themselves through the use of Mana.

Grants the ability to more easily manipulate Space around you. By spending Mana, you can shift your own position within space, fold space itself into barriers or bubbles, or even distort or delete space to deal damage to foes. Everything costs a progressively larger amount of Mana depending on how large the range of such a Spell is.

Level Bonus (4): Increases Space Attribute Magic Proficiency by +160%, decreases Mana Cost by -20%.

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[Mana Manipulation (C): Lv6]

[Skill EXP]: [0/8.000]

A Magic Skill granted by a Skill Book.

Allows for the ability to more easily manipulate, control, and transform the Mana within your body or even the environment, with rising levels of difficulty based on the complexity of the task.

Level Bonus (6): Increases Mana Manipulation Speed, Focus, and Proficiency by +120%. Each time you deal Magic Damage to a foe, you can absorb 0.06% of the damage dealt as Mana.

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[Healing Golden Light (B): Lv4]

[Skill EXP]: [0/8.000]

A Magic Skill learned after utilizing Mana to heal allies with bright golden light.

Summons bright golden light which can heal upon contact with a wound. Can heal almost any wound as long as enough Mana is given.

Level Bonus (4): Increases Healing Speed, Tissue Recovery, Limb Reattachment, Internal Organ Regeneration, and more by +80%. Decreases Mana Cost by -20%.

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[Photon Essence Manipulation (A): Lv4]

[Skill EXP]: [0/20.000]

A Magic Skill learned by discovering a new source of energy and power derived from the Element of Light.

By absorbing Sunlight and utilizing Mana, Photon Essence can be created, manipulated, shaped, and transformed into a myriad of powerful, both protective and deadly, shapes. It can paralyze, deal internal damage, bypass physical objects, destroy magical circuits, and more.

Level Bonus (4): Increases Photon Essence Manipulation Proficiency, Generation Speed, Power, and Effects by +120%.

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[Cursed Flames (B): Lv3]

[Skill EXP]: [0/8.000]

A Magic Skill acquired by absorbing and copying the Abyssal Black Flames of a deadly Dragon.

Channel Mana to summon black flames that can use deadly curses. Such curses not only deal damage over time to a foe but rapidly burn their Mana reserves and decrease their stats, based on Skill Level and the Mana used to conjure the flames.

Level Bonus (3): Increases Cursed Flames Damage and Curse Duration by +90%. Decreases Mana Cost by -9%.

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They all seem quite useful, without a doubt. I am constantly using them to facilitate things. Although most Skills say "Mana" as a requirement, I can easily replace such requirements using my other internal energies.

"It's over there, Katherine!"

My mother pointed at the distance, as we had already bypassed the feeble little magic barrier surrounding New York and arrived at a huge forest that spread through hundreds of kilometers surrounding the city.

"So this is the place?" I wondered, smiling.

"Yeah, this is where most newbies come to hunt monsters all the time." My mother said. "I spent two years here before I hit max level and could do the tutorial on the tower… But I am sure you won't even need half a day to get things done."

"Certainly," I said. "Alright, let us descend."

The moment we descended into the lush green forest, we were immediately surrounded by monsters. A pack of Giant Blue Horned Wolves, E Rank Monsters, were just wandering by, and once they felt our scent, they came rushing rabidly.

"Roar!"

The creatures roared, leaping towards me. Because it was too fast and surprising for my family, I decided to quickly take care of them on my own.

"Please, we just arrived, and this is how you're going to greet us?"

I waved my hand as I imbued it with Photon Essence.

"{Photon Wave}"

A wave of bright golden light was unleashed, cutting through all the wolves and tearing them down into pieces, their blood and guts splattering over the forest floor.

Ding!

[You have slain [Giant Blue Horned Wolves (E+ Rank)] x18!]

[Level Up!]

[Your Level has increased from Level 37 to Level 38!]

[All your Stats have increased. You gained Bonus Stat Points and Skill Points.]

"Well, twelve more levels to go."

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