The Ultimate Skill System: Absorb, Upgrade, Create, Transfer-Chapter 9 - : Rank Advancement

The battle was over. The forest, once filled with the chaotic sounds of clashing claws and guttural roars, now lay eerily silent.

The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood, and the ground was littered with the remains of the Spider Monkeys Keiran had defeated.

Their twisted bodies lay sprawled across the forest floor, their once-menacing forms now lifeless and still. Keiran stood amidst the carnage, his breathing steady, his expression unreadable.

A faint chime echoed in his mind, soft and melodic, like the ringing of a distant bell. It was a sound he had grown accustomed to—a notification from the system that governed his abilities.

[You leveled up 5x.]

[You have received 60 Stat points.]

[Your HP, MP, and SP have been replenished.]

Keiran's lips twitched slightly, the closest thing to a smile he ever showed.

The Berserker Spider Monkey was a rare creature, far stronger than the common monsters he usually encountered.

Its defeat had granted him a significant boost in experience, far more than he had anticipated.

Without hesitation, he activated Divine Inheritance.

The air around him shimmered faintly as the energy from the Berserker Spider Monkey's corpse flowed into him. The process was quick, almost seamless, and when it was done, another series of notifications appeared before him.

[You have received 5 Skills.]

[Common Skills:]

[Wild Pounce (Active): The Berserker Spider Monkey lunges at its target with incredible speed, striking with both its claws and spider legs. The attack deals moderate damage and has a chance to knock smaller enemies off balance. Mana Cost: 1]

[Blood-Crazed Swipes (Active): Unleashes a rapid series of claw swipes, targeting the enemy's weak points. If the enemy is bleeding, each hit deals slightly increased damage. Mana Cost: 1]

[Backlash Stab (Passive): When attacked from behind, the Berserker Spider Monkey instinctively lashes out with its spider legs, stabbing at the enemy. Deals minor damage but interrupts enemy attacks if it lands.]

[Uncommon Skills:]

[Rending Frenzy (Active): Enters a berserk state, wildly slashing at everything in range with its claws and spider legs. Attack speed and damage increase significantly, but the monkey becomes reckless, taking slightly more damage during the frenzy. Mana Cost: 5.]

[Skittering Nightmare (Passive): The Berserker Spider Monkey moves with unnatural agility, using its spider legs to cling to walls, ceilings, and even move erratically in combat. Its unpredictable movement makes it harder to hit, increasing evasion against melee and ranged attacks.]

Keiran scanned the list of skills, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed the information. These were powerful abilities, each with its own unique utility.

[You leveled up 5x.]

[You have received 60 Stat points.]

[Your HP, MP, and SP have been replenished.]

[Congratulations on acquiring your first Uncommon skills! You are now an Uncommon entity. Your tier rank is determined by the rarity of your highest-tier skill.]

[Because of your advancement in rank, you can now gain more growth in every stat point you allocate. Your HP, MP, and SP will now increase by 11 points instead of 10, including the stat points you have already allocated.]

[Your stats will be recalculated.]

Keiran nodded. "Neat."

•••••

By the time he reached a small clearing, the stars had begun to dot the sky. Keiran gathered some dry wood and lit a campfire, the flames crackling softly as they danced in the cool night air.

The warmth was comforting, a small reprieve from the harshness of the world around him. He sat cross-legged by the fire, his expression calm and focused.

As the firelight flickered across his face, Keiran opened his status board.

He had 120 stat points to allocate, a significant amount that could greatly enhance his abilities.

Without hesitation, he began to distribute the points. He put 20 points each into Constitution, Dexterity, and Agility, strengthening his body and improving his speed and reflexes.

Then, he allocated 30 points each to Intelligence and Strength, boosting his mental acuity and raw power. The changes were immediate.

He felt stronger, faster, more alert. His muscles seemed to hum with energy, and his mind felt sharper, more focused.

As he finished, another notification appeared.

[Your huge mana is creating a massive aura around you, making hunting much more difficult. Would you like me to conceal your true mana aura to improve your hunting?]

Keiran considered the offer for a moment. His mana was indeed immense, a byproduct of his high Intelligence stat. But it also made him stand out, like a beacon in the dark. Predators and prey alike would sense his presence from miles away, making it harder for him to move unnoticed.

"Okay," he said simply, his voice low and even.

[Your true level is also hidden to prevent your prey from fleeing at the sight of it.]

"Thanks," Keiran replied, his tone unchanged. He appreciated the system's efficiency.

It was always looking out for him, even in the smallest ways.

With his stats allocated and his aura concealed, Keiran lay down by the fire. He closed his eyes, letting the warmth of the flames lull him into a deep, restful sleep.

•••••

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When morning came, the forest was bathed in a soft, golden light. Keiran woke up feeling refreshed, his body and mind fully restored. He extinguished the remains of the campfire and set off, his footsteps light and purposeful.

After a short walk, he came across a river, its waters clear and sparkling in the sunlight. Keiran knelt by the bank, cupping his hands to drink the cool, refreshing water. He splashed some on his face, the chill waking him up fully. As he stood, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye—a small, bouncy creature hopping along the riverbank.

[Common: Water Slime — Level 1.]

It was a Water Slime, a harmless little creature that posed no real threat. Without a second thought, Keiran reached out and chopped it with his hand. The slime burst apart, its gelatinous form dissolving into nothingness.

Keiran activated Divine Inheritance once, absorbing the essence of the Water Slime.

[You have received 3 Skills.]

[Aqua Spit (Active): The Water Slime spits a small glob of water at a target, dealing minor water-based damage. The attack has a slight chance to drench the target, making them more susceptible to electric attacks. Mana Cost: 1]

[Fluid Body (Passive): Due to its semi-liquid form, the Water Slime has increased resistance to physical attacks, reducing impact damage by a small percentage. However, it is slightly weaker to freezing effects.]

[Moist Absorption (Passive): The Water Slime passively regenerates a small amount of HP when in contact with water, allowing it to recover slowly in moist environments or after rain.]

Keiran stood up, his expression as calm as ever. These skills were simple, but they had their uses. He stored them away, adding them to his growing collection.

As he walked away from the river, a new thought crossed his mind. "Change of plan," he said in his usual monotone voice. "I am going to collect skills today."

He could feel the faint movements of mana nearby, a telltale sign of monsters in the area. Keiran followed the sensation, his steps silent and deliberate. It didn't take long for him to find his next target.

[Common: Spike Boar — Level 2.]

The creature was small, only about a foot tall, with sharp spikes covering its back. It was busy grazing on some grass, completely unaware of Keiran's presence.

Without hesitation, Keiran used Iron Fist, a basic but effective skill. His fist glowed faintly as he struck the boar, the impact sending it flying through the air. It landed with a dull thud, dead before it even hit the ground.

Keiran activated Divine Inheritance once more, absorbing the essence of the Spike Boar.

[Boar Charge (Active): The Spike Boar dashes forward in a straight line, dealing damage to enemies in its path and knocking them back. If the charge collides with an obstacle, the boar takes minor recoil damage but causes a shockwave that slightly stuns nearby enemies. Mana Cost 1]

[Thorny Hide (Passive) The Spike Boar's body is covered in sharp, hardened spikes that slightly reduce incoming melee damage. Any attacker that strikes the boar with a physical attack takes minor damage in return.]

[Territorial Instinct (Passive): When fighting in familiar territory, the Spike Boar gains a small boost to movement speed and aggression, making it more likely to attack enemies relentlessly.]

•••••

NAME: Keiran Graywood

CLASS: Hero

SUBCLASS: Skillmancer

LEVEL: 28

HP: 627

MP: 935

SP: 935

[STATS]

CONSTITUTION: 57

INTELLIGENCE: 85

STRENGTH: 85

DEXTERITY: 57

AGILITY: 57

AVAILABLE STAT POINTS: 0

[SKILLS]

DIVINE BLESSINGS: Divine Inheritance, Sacred Elevation, Arcane Creation, Blessing of Bequeathal.

COMMON: Iron Fist, Quick Step, Enduring Spirit, Mud Spit, Tremor Wiggle, Stone Skin, Horn Thrust, Rapid Hop, Skittish Nature, Ferocious Bite, Predator's Rush, Pack Instinct, Venomous Bite, Shadow Slither, Scale Resilience, Skittering Rush, Venomous Strike, Wall Crawler, Wild Pounce, Blood-Crazed Swipes, Backlash Stab, Aqua Spit, Fluid Body, Moist Absorption, Boar Charge, Thorny Hide, Territorial Instinct.

UNCOMMON: Rending Frenzy, Skittering Nightmare.

•••••