{High-Mortal Rank Achieved}
{Minor Increase in Properties Gained}
{Mana Quality Increased}
{High-Mortal Perk: Basic Mana Manipulation Techniques Unlocked}
{Coating Reinforcement Unlocked}
{Barrier Realm Unlocked}
{Ritual Protocol Unlocked}
{Achievement Catalogued}
{Master Rank Advancement Obtainable at Level 40}
{Name: Kumi
Gender: Female
Race: Angelic Devil
Rank: High-Mortal
Level: 21
—Titles: Dragon Slayer, Demon Slayer, Hero Slayer, Empress's Heir, Calamity Killer, Celestial Lotus Host, Potential Shatterer, Soul Witness
Potential: Z±
—Properties:
Vigour: E (100%)
Mana: E- (100%)
Strength: E-
Agility: D-
Mind: E-
Endurance: E+
Arcane: E
—Elements: Lightning, Curse, Rot}
Kumi was looking over the changes while feeling out her body and internal mana flow. All the while, Ayaka was explaining Mana Manipulation Techniques.
Kumi was given a short explanation and a small practical demonstration on each application.
Coating Reinforcement was something Kumi had half-way used during her first hunt against the wolves, where she clad her foot in rot.
Although, now with a proper technique applied, looking back, her use of it was praise worthy but still infantile.
Barrier Realm was just as the name implied, a simple technique to cast barriers and designate areas. The thin films of mana which were cast all around the place, such as the one surrounding the bath house, were all created with Barrier Realm techniques.
Ritual Protocol remained the most mysterious as Ayaka's explanation was lacking simplicity. Though, in short, Ritual Protocol allowed trades and promises to be made with one's self and others.
The explanations for these techniques were kept short and simple as Ayaka had been called away moments after Kumi had reached High-Mortal Rank.
Though, there was one minor comment that Ayaka made before leaving which stood out to Kumi.
"Regardless of the fact that they are classified as 'Basic', they are immensely important fundamentals capable of growing and evolving the more you Advance and the more you learn about them. I will leave you to continue your personal schedule."
That's right.
Not about Kumi's schedule, but, the fact that these basic things grow in tandem with the user. They are not classified as Skills outright, they don't have clear or defined Levels but they still evolve. Their applications may change or new possibilities may present themselves as time passes.
The problem with this, however, was Kumi's bare bones basic knowledge on these basic techniques.
She fundamentally knew how to use them yet she didn't know their limits or if any specific rules applied to them. This was most problematic in regards to Barrier Realm and Ritual Protocol.
Kumi needed to run extensive and numerous tests on these two techniques.
Coating Reinforcement, on the other hand, was simple enough. She could guess most applications and possibilities with a bit of theoretical work and experiments.
Kumi thought to herself as she, once more, revised the basic mana manipulation techniques.
'The Rank Advancement Perk isn't as awesome as Vaeril hyped it up to be. Expected something more flashy. Or maybe I'm just blind to the sparkle.'
The other benefits of increasing her Rank were an overall Property Increase by a Minor Grade and an increase in her Mana Quality.
The Property increase itself was a great boon, boosting her overall abilities to a much greater level as compared to before.
The increase in Mana Quality was a mystery. It didn't directly have any effect on her Mana Property or her Amount of Mana either. Without any proper tests, she would have to work under the temporary assumption that it just meant a general magic damage increase.
There was one more unknown piece of information. The Achievement Catalogue, but since Kumi had never even hear the term before and it didn't sound like it held any importance at present, Kumi dismissed it though she did memorise the phrase itself.
Kumi stood up from the ground and looked in the direction that Ayaka had left in.
'I just got a meal from Raymond so I'm not hungry. I advanced to the next Rank and surprisingly it didn't consume any Mana. So currently I am at peak performance. Nothing better to do than go and shoot lightning at a few more beasts~'
Kumi turned around as she was about to walk off to the underground corridor, yet she was stopped by the returning Ayaka.
...
Kumi found herself in Hilde's office. The conversation got straight to the point.
"The War. Remember being told about it?"
Kumi nodded her head in silence, not wanting to mention that her memory of the 'details' regarding the war were hazy.
'I know that you ordered me to be stolen from the East and then they got mad. I remember there being a pyromaniac among the thieves too. Then, you got found out somehow.'
Kumi thought to herself half-heartedly. Then, she blinked once before Hilde continued.
'Oh. Don't tell me. Already?'
"A scouting squadron has landed in one of the coastal cities. Soon enough, half an army will be right outside."
'Horrible timing for this piece of news,' Kumi thought to herself before sarcastically adding 'next you'll tell me to go on a solo mission and eliminate the entire scouting party.'
"As fast as possible, you will be prepared and sent out to dispatch the scouting party."
'Hilde. You bitch. Don't read my mind.'
"You'll take the assassin role in this mission. Use your elements, besides lighting, to kill them all silently in the night. This will buy us additional time and give you practical experience on the field."
Hilde opened a drawer in her desk and took out a few pieces of paperwork.
"The general plan has been prepared ahead of time for you to follow. As you are completing the mission, there will be scouts surrounding the enemy encampment. The moment there is trouble they'll send a signal for reinforcements. At the very least, you will have to survive for ten minutes until they arrive. Considering your Resistances and the general Level of the East's scouting squadrons, you should hold off fine."
'Hilde... Boss, I was joking. I didn't think anything rude. It was a sarcastic jest at most, I promise!'
Mentally, Kumi was already pulling at her hair.
"After completing the mission, at dawn, two of the Locks will approach and escort you back. Upon return, you'll be thrown straight back into practical Hunting since when the main army arrives you will at least need to be Grandmaster Rank."
'The Locks? The group of people who have been absent almost the entire time I've been here? The people who would most likely be outdone by a Maid?! Well, that maid being Ayaka, but still!'
"Speaking of the Locks,"
Hilde spoke up again after a short pause of skimming through two papers.
'Boss... please... please don't tell me you can actually read minds. I'm just naturally sarcastic. Please.'
Each time Hilde spoke, Kumi was mentally kicked down a peg. What happened next didn't help.
"You'll be personally training and hunting with Deadlock, who you've met before. Ayaka is going to be busy so he will take up the temporary mantle of teacher."
At those words, a man stepped into the office as if waiting for his cue to enter.
'Ahh. The guy who stopped me from jumping out of the window and thwarted my very first escape attempt. Didn't I kick him? He is totally holding a grudge, isn't he? Today can't get any worse...'
"Kumi will be training with you for the next week before being sent out immediately after. By our estimations, the main force will arrive in a month. Possibly earlier. We need that scouting party dead before they reach too close to home."
'A week? That's way too short for the Number One Tag Player here to get me ready to face a literal military squadron!'
Kumi complained to herself in her head, but changed her tune very quick after Hilde's next words.
"Even one week might be too long considering the scouting squadron's size and distance from us..." Hilde muttered to herself, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.
'Well, Boss. I think a week is just fine enough. Mr. Deadlock seems great as well. This training is guaranteed to be a jolly good show. No complaints from me.'
On the same day, as if her body was preparing separately from the person, {Aegis of Adaptation}'s secondary effect activated and all of Kumi's Resistances gained a Level. All except for the Aegis Skill itself.
For the next week, Kumi was trained by Deadlock. Who Kumi noticed on the first day to be a lot more talkative and nice when compared to Ayaka.
The first day of training with Deadlock ended with little happening. Kumi hunted a few beasts in the corridor while Deadlocked watched from the side and gave instructions on what could be fixed.
After the hunt, Kumi had some free time over so she returned to her favourite hill where she hid all her crafted items and continued her usual preparations until late in the evening.