Chapter 69

069. Skill Acquisition (4)

Originally, I had considered returning briefly after coming back to the waiting room.

After all, I had to report my survival, and I was curious about what had happened to the 'Challengers of the Other World' and others outside.

'But it seems I don’t need to do that.'

However, when I saw the newly acquired skill, the desire to return disappeared completely.

I thought it would be fine to decide after challenging the 11th floor once more without returning immediately.

When I confirmed the 'Shield of Retaliation' that I had acquired through skill synthesis, my resolve solidified.

Thump, thump.

"The strength isn't bad, and being able to release the absorbed damage is also good."

Of course, I had no intention of using that ability here, so I immediately deactivated the Shield of Retaliation.

Since I now had sufficient defensive abilities, it was time to synthesize the various skills I had collected.

The skills to be synthesized could be broadly classified into two categories.

『Skill – Silent Step (E-)』

『Proficiency – None』

『Effect – Can move without making any sound, regardless of the location.』

The first was the ability to completely block the noise from footsteps.

The Silent Step (E-) skill was quite valuable to enhance through skill synthesis.

While blocking the noise from footsteps is useful, what's more important is that it is a 'Movement Skill' type.

That was the most crucial point.

'They say there are quite a few useful Movement Skill type skills.'

The Silent Step (E-) only blocks sound, but other Movement Skill type skills can also increase movement speed.

In other words, if synthesized well, it could become a pretty good skill.

There could even be a decent acceleration skill like Instant Acceleration, so it was inevitable that I would be interested.

『Skill – Frenzied Assault (D)』

『Proficiency – None』

『Effect – When the skill name is recited, attack speed temporarily increases by 2 times. However, if this overlaps with other attack speed increases, the attack speed increase multiplier is weakened to 1.35 times.』

The second was the Frenzied Assault, a skill that increases attack speed.

When using sword skills, there's nothing more important than attack speed.

Being able to swing the sword more times in a fight that should have been a single exchange is a significant advantage.

Moreover, being faster than the opponent in attack speed is useful in both ambushes and full-scale battles.

Furthermore...

'Swinging sword energy might also be related to attack speed...'

Now that I can emit sword energy as a thrust with Lightning Sword Energy, attack speed is even more important.

Even the sword energy emission, which can be considered a unique long-range technique, is affected by the speed of swinging the sword.

"Still, both are quite good as bases for newly acquired skills."

Of course, neither can increase proficiency, and they aren't that good in performance...

But I knew the proper way to overcome all these shortcomings.

"Skill synthesis."

That was skill synthesis.

The ability of a Pioneer to upgrade low-level skills through synthesis is there for such moments.

「The unique ability 'Skill Synthesis' is activated.」

「Opening the skill list.」

I immediately looked at the skill list and started to slowly synthesize the skills I had acquired.

「The level of the synthesis materials is not appropriate.」

「The skill 'Silent Step' is the center of the synthesis.」

First, I continued the synthesis with the Silent Step (E-), which is closely related to movement.

It was important to add useful abilities based on the ability to move silently.

I had already thought about which skills to add.

『Skill – Flee (F-)』

『Proficiency – None』

『Effect – When health drops to 50% or below, movement speed increases by 1.5 times.』

It's a not-so-good skill with little practical use.

However, if such an ability is treated as a skill, it can be used in a useful way.

「The skill 'Silent Step' is being synthesized.」

「The probability of synthesizing a higher-level skill is 75%.」

'That's reasonable.'

I immediately proceeded with the skill synthesis upon seeing the synthesis probability.

「The skill synthesis is complete.」

「A new skill has been created.」

And...

『Skill – Stealth Step (E+)』

『Proficiency – 0%』

『Effect – Footsteps are completely silent, and movement speed slightly increases in dark places.』

I smiled at the result of the skill synthesis, as expected.

As a Movement Skill, it gained the additional ability to 'slightly increase movement speed in dark places.'

However...

"I need to raise the level further."

Since it can't be used in actual combat as it is, I decided to raise the level further.

I had acquired many skills in the 10th floor common area, and selecting useful ones wasn't difficult.

Moreover, I didn't need to do too many skill syntheses.

「The skill synthesis is complete.」

「A new skill has been created.」

Once.

「The skill synthesis is complete.」

「A new skill has been created.」

Twice.

「The skill synthesis is complete.」

「A new skill has been created.」

Three times.

"The Movement Skill is complete with this."

After three skill syntheses, the result was quite impressive.

『Skill – Stealthy Shadow Step (C+)』

『Proficiency – 0%』

『Basic Effect – Footsteps are completely silent, and the walking method is efficiently revised.』

『Detailed Effect – Movement speed increases by +30% in dark places, and strength ability is amplified by +3 when stepping on a creature's shadow.』

Not only does the movement speed increase by +30%, but the strength ability is amplified when stepping on a creature's shadow, which I found appealing.

'In short, it means the attack ability becomes stronger when grabbing from behind.'

Of course, the situations where it can be used are limited, but a +3 amplification of strength is impressive.

Since an increase in strength means a more powerful attack.

The only thing left was to synthesize a skill related to attack speed based on Frenzied Assault.

I immediately initiated the skill synthesis and selected the skills to be synthesized along with Frenzied Assault.

『Skill – Radiant Blade (E+)』

『Proficiency – None』

『Effect – When the skill name is recited, attack speed increases by 1.25 times, and light is imbued in bladed weapons.』

It was a slightly high-level skill, but it wasn't a waste.

If there had been a special effect to the 'light imbued in bladed weapons,' I wouldn't have synthesized it...

'Unfortunately, the light imbued is just a trivial thing.'

Since it was just a decorative ability, I had to use it for skill synthesis with some regret.

「The level of the synthesis materials is not appropriate.」

「The skill 'Frenzied Assault' is the center of the synthesis.」

And...

「The skill 'Frenzied Assault' is being synthesized.」

「The probability of synthesizing a higher-level skill is 93%.」

'The skill compatibility seems good.'

I immediately proceeded with the skill synthesis upon seeing the messages.

「The skill synthesis is complete.」

「A new skill has been created.」

I immediately confirmed the newly acquired skill upon seeing the messages.

『Skill – Frenzied Blade Mastery (C+)』

『Proficiency – 0%』

『Basic Effect – When swinging bladed weapons, a red light envelops the blade, and attack speed increases by 2%. This effect can stack up to 10 times.』

『Detailed Effect – When the attack speed of bladed weapons increases to the final stacking stage, attack speed increases by an additional +5%. However, the stacking is reset if the attacks are not immediately chained.』

A skill that can stack like the Favor of the Wind (A-) was created.

As I gazed at the skill description, I was impressed.

"Indeed, it's called skill synthesis..."

The skills I have now are excellent, making the synthesis of all the skills I acquired in the common area worthwhile.

The ability to drastically increase attack speed through stacking, as with Frenzied Blade Mastery (C+), is useful in many ways.

'As proficiency increases, the skill will grow even more powerful.'

Moreover, this applies not only to Frenzied Blade Mastery but also to the Stealthy Shadow Step (C+) I just created.

Both possess overwhelming abilities that can be considered excellent skills at first glance.

Of course...

"Thanks to that, almost all the skills I acquired in the arena are gone."

To synthesize such excellent skills, a considerable number of skills were required.

Currently, apart from the Gale Sword skill I acquired from Catherine Bennett, the skills I acquired in the common area have been condensed to three.

Shield of Retaliation.

Frenzied Blade Mastery.

Stealthy Shadow Step.

All are rare skills exceeding C+ level, so the many skills I used were not a waste.

Rather, it was fortunate that I could create such skills using the skills I acquired in the common area.

Therefore, I had to make a decision.

"I need to delay my return to reality."

When I confirmed the Shield of Retaliation, I felt that I could definitely clear the 11th floor after synthesizing the remaining skills.

This is not an unfounded thought.

I now have two C+ level skills, and the Shield of Retaliation is even higher in skill level than the 'Ashen Blood' I acquired before.

In other words, not only do I have more abilities to use, but they are all of high quality, so I don't think it will be difficult to reach the 11th floor.

After careful consideration, I reached a conclusion.

"I need to get to the 11th floor as quickly as possible."

I decided to go to the 11th floor waiting room and then return to reality, instead of returning immediately.

With this decision, there was no need to worry or prepare further.

I didn't think I needed to buy more items, and I believed that the skills were sufficient to cover any gaps.

「Do you wish to participate in the 10th floor trial?」

Without further hesitation, I immediately accepted the 10th floor trial and stepped into the portal that appeared before me.

And...

「Entering the 10th floor of the Tower of Trials.」

「Difficulty – Hard」

「The theme of this trial is 'Cooperation'.」

「May the chosen challenger find a satisfactory result at the end of their arduous journey.」

'Cooperation...'

I gripped the sword in my hand tightly as I read the messages.

「The 10th floor trial begins.」

「Remaining time – 3 hours」

「Trial breakthrough condition – Cooperate to eliminate the boss monster within the remaining time.」

「Trial failure condition – All team members are eliminated or the remaining time ends.」

「Trial breakthrough reward – Skill Proficiency Increase Potion (B+)」

「Trial failure penalty – Death」

After reading these, I finally understood the structure of the 10th floor trial.

"It's been a while since I participated in a combined trial."

It was a combined trial, which I hadn't experienced in a long time, with other challengers.