Chapter 09: A Rare Stat
The Next Evening in the Tatsuya Clan.
Sam's grandparents were alone at home; Sam had gone out with his elder sisters, Tasha and Sasha, as they wanted to spend some quality time with him.
Jin glanced at his wife, who was busy preparing dinner. "Do you want to talk about why you gave the [Infernal Bird Reincarnation Art] to our grandson?"
"There is nothing to talk about," Hana replied without turning her head, clearly indicating that she did not want to discuss the matter at that moment.
Jin's eye twitched slightly in annoyance. "Fine then, let me ask you this: what makes you think he will be able to use that technique? I thought only those with the Tachibana bloodline could utilize it."
Hana turned around slowly, her face expressionless yet intimidating. Jin felt a pang of nervousness, knowing his wife was genuinely angry this time.
"He is our grandson. Why don't you have some faith in him? Or are you doubting our grandson's talent and potential?" she asked sharply.
"Of course not! Only someone out of their mind would say that," Jin responded quickly.
"It's not about talent. The technique you gave him—you yourself said that only someone with the bloodline of the Tachibana household, your household, can successfully use it."
"Unfortunately, my clan is no more," Hana replied in a low voice.
"Then why do you want Sam to learn that technique so badly? You know he's never going to use it. But if he did, it would make him one hell of a martial artist."
"It's not about my clan. My clan is long gone. As the sole survivor, I harbor this small hope that I might see my clan's potential awaken in him," Hana said slowly.
"He was able to awaken the potential both as a mage and a hero from both his parents' bloodlines. I have faith that if he can do that, he can surely awaken the bloodline I passed on to him."
Jin wanted to say there was no chance of that happening, but he couldn't bring himself to crush his wife's hope.
He didn't need to educate her on this; as the only survivor of the Tachibana clan, she knew how unlikely it was for their grandson to awaken a third bloodline.
Perhaps it was because Sam had managed to awaken two noble clan bloodlines, making him the only hero capable of wielding magic, that she dared to hope he could awaken the bloodline she passed on.
"I know what you're thinking, Jin. I realize how ridiculous it sounds," Hana said, grabbing his hand.
"But you've seen how talented our grandson is, right? He is the definition of extraordinary. Even if there is the tiniest chance he could awaken my clan's bloodline, nothing could make me happier."
Jin didn't know what to say. As he thought about it, he couldn't help but consider her words.
Even he realized that their grandson was an anomaly.
"What if he doesn't? Won't you be disappointed in him?" Jin asked with a serious expression.
He didn't want her to be disappointed, especially not in their grandson.
Not everyone understood just how much disappointment from a loved one could hurt.
Take it from a man who had faced a lot of disappointment in life and from himself.
"Disappointment? Ridiculous," Hana snorted. "I am the proudest grandmother in Arcane. He could never disappoint me."
"That's reassuring," Jin said, smiling slightly as he placed his hand over hers.
...
The next day dawned, with only a couple of days remaining before the entrance exam for the Hero Academy.
Sam found himself in the training ground of the Tatsuya family, accompanied by his sisters Tasha and Sasha.
They stood together, hands clasped in a familial bond.
Sasha's hand emitted a small bluish glow as she waved it in front of her eyes.
The glow vanished and reappeared in her own blue eyes.
"Wow, our brother has gotten so much faster. I have to use magic to enhance my senses just to follow his movements now," Sasha remarked, her voice filled with awe.
"Indeed," Tasha agreed, nodding in agreement. "Hey, did you notice that our mana sense couldn't pick up any mana signature from him?"
"Mm, Grandma Hana said that the eldest invented a technique solely for our brother. It can hide his mana and heroic energy at the same time," Sasha explained, her gaze fixed on her brother.
Sam moved gracefully, slashing his sword left and right.
His movements resembled a dance, executed with fluidity and precision.
With every swing, bursts of wind were created, accompanied by barely visible wisps of crimson flames.
[Agility Stat Increased: +1]
[Stamina Stat Increased: +1]
Upon seeing the notifications, Sam halted his training.
"Why did my stats increase? I don't think I was anywhere close to breaking through. Is it because of the technique Grandma Hana gave me, or is it something else? Perhaps it's the reason for the system."
[Soul Animation Concealment Art Level Increased: +1]
[You have awakened a rare stat.]
[Congratulations on awakening a rare stat on your own. This deserves a reward.]
[Reward: +5 Stat Points]
Sam shook his head and sat down cross-legged, his gaze fixed on the system notifications.
"First of all, are you rewarding me because I'm being favored by the system, Administrator?" he inquired, but no reply came.
Ignoring the system rewards, Sam focused on the rare stat he had awakened on his own. "Is this because of the Soul Animation Concealment Art?" he wondered aloud.
Doubts swirled within him, but he had no means to confirm it.
Even the creator of the technique, his eldest sister, had no clue.
All they knew was that with this technique, Sam could hide his mana and heroic energy completely.
As long as anyone similar to him, possessing both mana and heroic energy, appeared or Sam deliberately revealed himself, no one would be able to sense any energy from his body.
Then he focused his attention on the rare stat he awakened.
[Rare Stat: Soul Power]
[Effects: Increases soul strength, enhances perception, elevates comprehension level, amplifies insight, fortifies soul defense, boosts stamina, augments self-healing, enhances defense against mind manipulation, intensifies aura]