{Level has Increased to 26}
Kumi finished another hunt as Deadlock looked on from behind her, leaning against the wall.
"How's the new Skill?"
He asked. Kumi remained silent for a moment before answering outright, "I like it."
"Great. Honestly, Ayaka was training you to be an assassin and yet she decided not to teach you a single proper stealth Skill." Deadlock groaned as he walked towards Kumi.
{Residue Reduction Increases to Level 2}
Although it had quite the fancy name, all it did was make it slightly more difficult to notice her. The secondary effect of the Skill, however, was quite something.
{Secondary Effect: Remove any and all minor traces left in the surroundings upon activation.}
It was a simple yet great effect. In simple terms, upon activating the stealth skill, all her footprints and traces of mana and even the any smell related to her would be thoroughly cleaned up.
"The growth of {Residue Reduction} and your Level are utmost priority. I see you Leveled up a few times. What Level are you now?"
"26."
'Others can see the green up arrow that pops up after every level up? That's both interesting and troubling.'
"Good growth rate. That makes it 5 levels in two days. We just might get you to Master Rank before the mission. It should be fine to advance to the next room and beyond for now. Aim to get to room 12 today and don't forget to use your stealth as often as possible."
Saying that, Deadlock left Kumi on her own.
'With {Growth Acceleration}, Hunting is 50% more efficient than normal and with {Training}, my Skill Level Up Rate is increased when doing non-combat training. Taking into regard the increase in effort needed to reach every new Level, I should just barely manage to squeak out Level 40.'
Kumi thought to herself as she moved on to room 10.
'There is no time for rest. Which sucks. If I could just power level the Aegis skill I would basically be guaranteed to survive regardless of what happens on the mission.'
She opened the door to the next room, where two buffalo-like beasts were resting. She activated {Residue Reduction} as she slowly walked to the corner of the room.
'I would still need to come back here and continue this gruelling schedule of Train, Eat, Train Sleep before being sent out to fight in a literal war. How old was I again? This has to be illegal. Why hadn't I thought about the legality of this place before?'
Her eyes didn't leave the two beasts as she was pondering to herself.
'... I wonder if I could get a phoenix? I mean. A law firm. Lawyer. Right. That's the word.'
Dismissing her internal ramblings, she began concentrating.
Kumi molded her mana into a small lightning bolt. The Mana Quality Increase that she had received upon her Rank Ascension had indeed increased the general power output of her magic.
Besides that, it had also increased all else relating to her internal mana. As if the upgrading to a slightly better hardware. The Density, Precision and Clarity of her mana all increased. The Quality was referring to the general aspects of her mana itself.
The quantity remained the same and the Mana Property itself didn't change either, but this upgrade was more beneficial than either of those.
Kumi carefully changed the shape of the lightning crackling in her palm. Dividing it into two small arrows, she began another experiment.
She shot two needle-like bolts of lighting at the beasts, who were immediately startled and focused in on her.
They kicked at the floor before they both ran straight at her.
Kumi noted the lighting still arching around their bodies as she now activated {Elemental Power Increase}.
The Skill was activated late and on already cast magic, yet the effect still took place as Kumi had envisioned.
The beasts twitched as the paralysing effect of the lightning strengthened.
Partly paralysed in the middle of their rush, the two beasts fell and crashed against both eachother and the corner walls of the room.
Kumi had already jumped to dodge them, landing on their backs.
She activated her pressure skill before cleaving their necks with her knives.
The results of the room were as follows.
{Level has Increased to 27}
{Residue Reduction Becomes Level 3}
{Elemental Power Increase Becomes Level 3}
{Slash Becomes Level 3}
{Perfect Fighter Becomes Level 3}
{Battle Records Becomes Level 2}
Her eyes landed on a skill she hadn't paid much attention to.
'Oh. Right. {Battle Records} increases all damage dealt by a small percentage for every one hundred enemies killed. If I could only find a few thousand enemies that don't fight back.'
She pondered to herself as she walked towards the next room.
'If only I had this Skill before being trapped in that Lotus flower. My damage output would be so much better right now.'
She stopped in her tracks as she was about to open the door.
'What is counted as an enemy in the first place? If the souls in the Lotus would have counted, going off that theory...'
Deep in thought, Kumi was walking out of the hunting corridor.
Reaching outside, she stood there as wind blew. She could hear birds singing.
{Battle Records Level 2}
{Passive}
{Having documented hundreds of battles you have taken part in and their victor, this Skill assists in raising the percentage of future battles won.
For every 100 enemies defeated, Permanently Increase All Damage Dealt by 1% up to 30%.}
{Amount of Defeated Enemies: 37}
'At Level 2, the maximum increase became 30%. Regardless, there is no explanation given to what is considered an enemy. This means that I get to choose what is considered an enemy... if that is the case...'
Kumi looked up and towards the forest surrounding her.
'Time to test out a stupid theory.'
She walked into the forest as she remembered a specific yet minor thing near the hill where she spent her free time.
After a short while, she was rummaging through the bushes and foliage that surrounded the hill.
A short while into her search, she noticed it.
'There you are.'
She sat down in the bush, keenly observing the ant nest in front of her.
'I need a proper reason to distinguish you all as enemies. I can't just declare war with no reason against you all.'
Kumi reached out her finger.
'Nice to meet you, neighbouring hill resident.'
She thought as she attempted to 'shake hands' with one of the ants.
Instead of a greeting, Kumi had her finger bitten.
'How rude! To act this way towards a delegation.'
Before she could mentally make up any more reasons to declare war, she noticed her bitten finger visibly turn red.
'Strong bite.'
{Resistance Skill: Poison Resistance Level 1 Is Acquired}
'Poison? You're all poisonous?'
Kumi observed the colony of ants closer.
'Now that I think about it. I don't remember normal ants being... bright purple.'
Disregarding her mischaracterisation of the ants, she officially declared war as she hovered her hand above the ant hill, releasing a stream of liquid rot upon them.
'Do not take this personally, but you attempted the murder of the neighbouring hill's delegation. This means war.'
{Amount of Defeated Enemies: 20,365}
Kumi was ecstatic to see her theory work.
'If a Skill lacks details on its functions, then that means it is up to the wielder's interpretation!'
Kumi watched as the hill of ants was being completely obliterated.
'Now that I reread the description, it does say Enemies Defeated and not Killed. I wonder if it would still work if the enemy surrendered?'
On the ant hill, a small white flag made of bug wings was being devoured by the rot, going unnoticed by Kumi.
{Level has Increased to 28}
{Battle Records Becomes Level 3}
'I get levels from this?! The conversion rate seems horrible but this is super fascinating.'
...
The following few days remained mostly the same.
No new surprises or anything new discovered. The schedule remained unchanged.
Kumi's growth didn't remain stagnant, in fact, most of her skills increased substantially and she managed to complete a hunt in room 21.
However, her estimates as well as Deadlock's estimates were incorrect. Master Rank yet remained unobtained.
{Level is Increased to 38}
{Unknown Becomes Level 5}
{Deep Sleep Becomes Level 6}
{Training Becomes Level 9}
{Art of War Becomes Level 5
{Perfect Fighter Becomes Level 4
{Battle Records Becomes Level 4
{Unnoticeable Concentration Becomes Level 7}
{Cautious Intelligence Becomes Level 4}
{Slash Becomes Level 5}
{Elemental Power Increase Becomes Level 6}
{Unreadable Illusion Becomes Level 4}
{Preparation Becomes Level 6}
{Preparatory Item Creation Becomes Level 4}
{Residue Reduction Becomes Level 7}
There was no more time for preparations or training. Only time for action remained. Only time to move out.
{Name: Kumi
Gender: Female
Race: Angelic Devil
Rank: High-Mortal
Level: 38
—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
—Passive Skills:
High Regeneration Level Max;
Free Footwork Level Max;
Brutal Strength Level Max;
Dragon Heart Level Max;
Growth Acceleration Level Max;
Highest Holy Blessing Level Max;
Highest Demonic Blessing Level Max;
Heavenly Demonic Pressure Level Max;
Unknown Level 5;
Caution Level 6;
Stamina Use Reduction Level 7;
Deep Sleep Level 6;
Training Level 9;
Art of War Level 5;
Perfect Fighter Level 4;
Battle Records Level 4;
Unnoticeable Concentration Level 7;
Cautious Intelligence Level 4;
Mana Prediction Level 4
—Resistance Skills:
Time Magic Resistance Level 6;
Weakening Magic Resistance Level 5;
Space Magic Resistance Level 4;
Pain Resistance Level 9;
Heat Resistance Level 5;
Shock Resistance Level 5;
Water Magic Resistance Level 4;
Cold Resistance Level 4;
Bleeding Resistance Level 4;
Mana Loss Resistance Level 5;
Stamina Loss Resistance Level 4;
Health Loss Resistance Level 3;
Fear Resistance Level 3;
Ace Level 4;
Wind Magic Resistance Level 2;
Earth Magic Resistance Level 2;
Fire Magic Resistance Level 2;
Poison Resistance Level 1;
Aegis of Adaptation Level 1
—Active Skills:
Empress's Soul Sword Level 1;
Slash Level 5;
Elemental Power Increase Level 6;
Unreadable Illusion Level 4;
Preparation Level 6;
Preparatory Item Creation Level 4;
Instinct Blocking Level 2;
Residue Reduction Level 7
—Personality: