[Author's Note: For bonus chapters, the goal every week is:
- 25 Power Stones
- 50 Power Stones]
Volume 2 Chapter 31: 0.01%
Pepper: "How is that even possible?"
Tria: "With a sensing skill of course, such as the [Mana Sense]. This skill allows a user to sense mana in their vicinity, detecting anything with mana once it enters this skill's range. Daniel would instantly know. Additionally, there's the [Life Sense] skill. If Daniel had this skill unsealed, no one would be able to sneak near him, let alone fly directly above his head. Once something or someone alive enters this skill's range, Daniel would be instantly informed…"
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Tria: "There is also the [Danger Sense] skill. This skill would instantly inform Daniel if he is in danger. However, unlike the other two sensing skills, this one only activates when the danger he faces could deal a heavy blow or something that could kill him."
Carmilla didn't react much to the sensing skills Tria mentioned, as she had seen those skills in the skill selection when she was setting up her character's skills.
It only confirmed her suspicions regarding the direct use of those skills, but Eve and Pepper had a different reaction.
Pepper: "How on earth can someone get near to someone who has at least one of those skills, let alone having all three? It's practically impossible!"
Tria: "You don't have to worry about that, as there are skills that work in the opposite manner of sensing skills. These skills are called concealing skills. Instead of sensing, a concealing skill helps a user to hide, depending on the type of concealing skill one possesses. Oh, and by the way, Daniel has more skills than just the ones I've mentioned."
Carmilla: "And what are those skills?"
Tria: "Those skills are..."
Tria paused for a second, contemplating whether she was going to disclose more skills. Her pause caused some tension among Carmilla and her two clones.
Tria: "Those skills are not suitable for you guys to know yet."
Pepper: "What!? Why not!?"
Tria's decision not to reveal more of Daniel's sealed skills left them disappointed for a while, as they were eager to learn more. Tria's teasing and her withholding of information about Daniel's sealed skills built up their curiosity, but it was deflated when she chose not to divulge further details.
Tria: "Because all of those skills are way too advanced for your current abilities. Even sharing information about the different sensing skills and giving you an idea about concealing skills is already quite extensive."
Carmilla and Eve demonstrated more self-control compared to Pepper, who appeared visibly downcast after hearing Tria's words. While Carmilla and Eve also felt disheartened, they didn't overtly display their disappointment, unlike Pepper.
Even though Carmilla and Eve weren't openly displaying their disappointment about not knowing more of Daniel's sealed skills, Tria sensed their subdued mood. To comfort all three of them, she said.
Tria: "No need to be downcast. Eventually, as you grow more powerful, you will learn about those skills."
Tria's comforting words appeared to have an effect, as Pepper's downcast expression shifted to one of excitement. Carmilla and Eve also showed eagerness to enhance their strength, seemingly motivated by Tria's assurance.
Tria: "Seeing the looks on your faces, it seems you're all very eager to become more powerful. How about you fight your second opponent? But before that, let me address Daniel first.
After saying that, Tria looked at Daniel, who was sitting on the ground observing them. Next to him, on his right side, was the crystal sphere she had given to him.
Seeing Tria look at him, Daniel stood up, picked up the crystal sphere, and approached Tria.
Tria: "Have you found the one you were looking for?"
Daniel: "Yes, Your Majesty. I did not anticipate being defeated in that manner—overlooking the obvious opening in my defense. It seems I have become too reliant on my sensing skills. Even though my instincts alerted me to the incoming danger, I failed to respond appropriately. If only I could be permanently revived, I would train from the basics again, so that I would not make those simple mistakes ever again."
What Daniel saw in the crystal sphere was Pepper managing to hover around his location without his knowledge. He witnessed the moment after the rain of arrows ended, seeing Pepper with an amplified arrow ready to launch an attack on him.
Upon hearing Daniel's last statement, Tria could only shake her head before saying.
Tria: "Unfortunately, I won't be able to revive you permanently. Reviving you permanently would consume all of the remaining mana I have left, which is already running out. If that were to happen, I would cease to exist as an individual and would return to being part of my original again."
Daniel: "It's alright, Your Majesty. There's no need to revive me personally. If I get revived again, I can handle it myself."
Tria: "Alright, if you say so. Again, thank you for battling Carmilla and her clones."
Daniel: "Your Majesty's wish is my command. Fighting a young junior like Carmilla with a bright future isn't so bad, even though I lost."
Tria: "Alright, I'll be canceling the temporary revival spell on you. Goodbye and have a good rest."
Daniel: "Goodbye, Your Majesty, and perhaps we'll meet again if I ever get revived."
Afterward, similar to his initial appearance from a magic circle, this time it was the reverse. He began sinking down into a magic circle that materialized under him, akin to someone sinking into quicksand.
After Daniel completely disappeared from the magic circle, she turned to face Carmilla and her clones before saying.
Tria: "Shall we begin?"
Carmilla: "Before we start, may I ask a question?"
Tria: "Sure, go ahead. We're not in a rush."
Carmilla: "What are our chances of winning against Daniel when he has all of his skills?"
Tria: "There's a 99.99% chance that Daniel would win, and your only winning chance is 0.01%."
Pepper: "That's incredibly low!"
Tria: "Of course. What do you think your chances are? As I said earlier, you have no chance of winning against him if he has all of his skills."
Carmilla: "But we still have a 0.01% chance of winning."
Tria: "Your 0.01% chance doesn't signify your victory possibility; it's more of his chance of making a mistake or experiencing bad luck that could result in his defeat. However, even if that 0.01% chance occurs and something indeed happens, it will only increase your win rate to 1%. You would still face an extremely difficult task to defeat him."
Carmilla: "Is there a way to increase those chances, perhaps up to 10%?"
Tria: "You can only get up to 1%, but to achieve that 1% chance of winning, you would need incredibly good luck. However, as I mentioned earlier, your luck seems to know no bounds since you managed to reach that 1% chance. Additionally, since he doesn't have all of his skills, your 50% chance of winning against him has been increased to 60%."
Eve: "What do you mean?"
Carmilla: "What do you mean that we were lucky enough for that 0.01% chance to occur, and what happened to Daniel?"