Chapter 93

093. Desire (3)

"I have entered the waiting room on the 11th floor."

Finally back in the waiting room, I felt an inexplicable sense of coziness and smiled wryly.

Now, I am more familiar with this waiting room than with Earth itself...

I truly realize how much I have changed at moments like these.

Of course, apart from that realization, I immediately opened the shop window as soon as I returned to the waiting room.

This is because there were a few things I realized from my battle with Namgung Hyuk.

Ashen Blood.

Among the skills I currently possess, it boasts overwhelming performance as a recovery skill...

However, I clearly realized during the intense battle with Namgung Hyuk that this skill also has its limits.

Unlike the ability to resist pain, the regeneration ability does not activate properly when stamina is insufficient.

I realized this fact at the end of the battle when I lost my left arm and right eye.

Originally, even if both legs were crushed, the bones would regenerate, but later, my left arm and right eye did not even show any signs of attempting to regenerate.

'The larger the injury, the more stamina is consumed for regeneration.'

In fact, the lack of stamina was a chronic issue even with the 'Rapid Regeneration' skill, which was the ability of Ashen Blood before synthesis.

Because of this, I have been carrying stamina recovery potions and supplementing my stamina using the abilities of necromancy...

'But now, even that is not enough.'

I was convinced that it was time to seriously acquire a new stamina recovery ability.

While exploring the skill shop, I found a few abilities that seemed somewhat useful.

"Skill: Automatic Stamina Recovery (D-)"

"Price: 15,000 points"

"Description: Automatically recovers 0.07% of total stamina every 180 seconds."

The skill that automatically recovers stamina was what I had hoped for.

It seemed quite good, considering the description that it automatically recovers total stamina...

However, upon careful consideration, even if it recovers based on total stamina, it only recovers a mere 0.07% every 180 seconds.

'It's insufficient.'

Considering the stamina that Ashen Blood consumes, it was clear that this skill was not very useful.

Of course, I have the ability to synthesize skills, so I kept it in mind and looked at other skills.

"Skill: Moonlight Absorption (E-)"

"Price: 10,000 points"

"Description: When exposed to moonlight, the basic stamina recovery ability increases by 100%."

Given the description of the basic stamina recovery ability, it seemed unlikely to synergize with automatic stamina recovery.

Automatic stamina recovery is a skill-based recovery ability, while the basic stamina recovery ability is simply the user's inherent stamina recovery ability.

Of course, if a skill that maximizes the basic stamina recovery ability appears, its value will increase.

"Skill: Sunlight Absorption (E-)"

"Price: 10,000 points"

"Description: When exposed to sunlight, the basic stamina recovery ability increases by 100%."

This skill was not much different from Moonlight Absorption.

The only difference was that the skill activation condition changed from moonlight to sunlight.

I thought that if I had both, they could somewhat offset each other's activation conditions...

However, in places where there is neither sunlight nor moonlight, these abilities would not activate.

In many ways, both have significant flaws.

'They are ambiguous.'

After looking at more skills, two abilities that seemed somewhat useful appeared.

"Skill: Excessive Growth (C-)"

"Price: 20,000 points"

"Description: All stamina recovery abilities and the user's base stamina increase by 70% proportional to the stamina stat."

"Skill: Blood's Call (C-)"

"Price: 20,000 points"

"Description: When the user absorbs the blood of a creature they have killed, their stamina and vitality recover significantly in proportion to the amount of blood absorbed."

Although these skills were quite expensive, they had many useful abilities.

"..."

I stared at the shop window for a while and then came up with a solution.

'This is how it should be done.'

The solution I came up with was quite simple but a reasonable choice.

It was to purchase all these skills without missing any.

There were three main reasons for this decision.

"Automatic Stamina Recovery (D-) has been purchased."

"15,000 points have been deducted."

First, Automatic Stamina Recovery is essential because it recovers stamina even when idle.

"Moonlight Absorption (E-) has been purchased."

"10,000 points have been deducted."

"Sunlight Absorption (E-) has been purchased."

"10,000 points have been deducted."

Second, Moonlight Absorption and Sunlight Absorption are essentially twin skills with only different activation conditions.

When used for skill synthesis, they would likely complement each other well, producing a good ability.

"Excessive Growth (C-) has been purchased."

"20,000 points have been deducted."

The third and final reason, though it might sound a bit odd to say...

"Blood's Call (C-) has been purchased."

"20,000 points have been deducted."

"Really, I have accumulated quite a lot of points."

I had so many points that I still felt comfortable after purchasing all these skills.

This was the biggest reason.

***

"Unique ability 'Skill Synthesis' is activated."

"Viewing the skill list."

"Please select the skills to be used as synthesis materials from the skills you currently have."

Having purchased all the skills, I activated the skill synthesis.

Since it had been a while since I last did skill synthesis, I was quite excited.

I was looking forward to what new skill I would obtain from this synthesis.

With a sense of pleasant anticipation, I started the synthesis.

The first synthesis involved the two skills 'Sunlight Absorption' and 'Moonlight Absorption.'

Both had only slightly different conditions and almost identical effects.

Moreover, their skill levels were exactly the same.

"The levels of the synthesis materials are the same."

"Please select the skill to be the center of the synthesis."

Of course, I pondered which of the two should be the center of the synthesis...

'Is this a meaningful consideration?'

In reality, it seemed that the result would not differ much regardless of which one was chosen as the center.

After a brief consideration, I decided to use Sunlight Absorption as the center for the synthesis.

"The skill 'Sunlight Absorption' will be the center of the synthesis."

"The probability of synthesizing a higher-level skill is 100%."

"Do you want to proceed with the synthesis?"

Perhaps because they were twin skills with almost no differences...

'100%... It's really unbelievable.'

I never imagined that the synthesis probability would be 100%.

"The skill synthesis is complete."

I proceeded with the synthesis, and the result was revealed.

"The skill 'Photosynthesis (C-)' has been created."

However, despite the high-level result, the name was quite peculiar.

I couldn't understand how combining Sunlight Absorption and Moonlight Absorption resulted in Photosynthesis.

'...Photosynthesis.'

It felt like treating a person like a plant, but I immediately checked the skill description of Photosynthesis.

"Skill – Photosynthesis (C-)"

"Mastery – 0%"

"Effect – When exposed to moonlight or sunlight, the basic stamina recovery ability increases by 200%, and mana can be absorbed through light."

"Not a bad ability."

It seemed to combine the strengths of Sunlight Absorption and Moonlight Absorption and add an additional ability.

However, I did not intend to stop here, so I activated the skill synthesis again.

"Unique ability 'Skill Synthesis' is activated."

I had already thought about which skills to synthesize.

Blood's Call (C-).

I decided to combine this skill, which I had just purchased from the shop, with Photosynthesis.

Why? Because the levels of these two skills were now the same.

"The levels of the synthesis materials are the same."

"Please select the skill to be the center of the synthesis."

'With the levels of the synthesis materials being the same, I can decide the center of the synthesis.'

To be honest, Photosynthesis is a good skill, but it doesn't suit me.

The ability to kill creatures and absorb their blood, like Blood's Call, seemed more fitting for me.

Ultimately, I decided to use Photosynthesis as a sacrifice to maximize the strength of Blood's Call.

"The skill 'Blood's Call' will be the center of the synthesis."

"The probability of synthesizing a higher-level skill is 70%."

"Do you want to proceed with the synthesis?"

Without hesitation, I clicked to accept.

"The skill synthesis is complete."

And...

"The skill 'Blood Pact (C-)' has been created."

"..."

Looking at the message that appeared, I frowned.

'I failed.'

The 'synthesis probability' in skill synthesis indicates whether a higher-level skill will be created.

Since a higher-level skill was not created in this synthesis, it means I failed.

Moreover, looking at the skill description, my sense of failure grew.

"Skill – Blood Pact (C-)"

"Mastery – 0%"

"Effect – Can extract vitality, stamina, and mana from the blood of creatures, but only from those the user has killed directly."

The ability to extract mana was added, but the strengths of Photosynthesis were lost.

In short, this skill is no better than a dud.

"Well, it doesn't matter."

However...

"Blood's Call (C-) has been purchased."

"20,000 points have been deducted."

A single failure was a sufficient stepping stone for success.

I immediately purchased the same skill from the shop and activated the skill synthesis, selecting Blood Pact and Blood's Call.

"The levels of the synthesis materials are the same."

"Please select the skill to be the center of the synthesis."

This time, the skill to be the center of the synthesis was 'Blood's Call' again.

"The skill 'Blood's Call' will be the center of the synthesis."

"The probability of synthesizing a higher-level skill is 98%."

"Do you want to proceed with the synthesis?"

The synthesis probability was significantly higher.

I immediately realized that the reason was 'Blood Pact.'

After a single failure, Blood's Call became a slightly better variant of the original.

This made it highly compatible with Blood's Call in terms of synthesis.

'Unexpectedly, the failure in skill synthesis worked out well.'

Although I was not in a good mood after the first failure, I gained an unexpected benefit.

"The skill synthesis is complete."

And...

"A new skill is being created...!"

Looking at the system message that appeared, I could only widen my eyes.

As the famous saying goes, "Failure is the mother of success."

"The skill 'Blood Seeker (B)' is being created."

After a single failure, the skill synthesis resulted in a truly successful outcome.