Chapter 3: Adjustments
What is happening? The growth is so sudden. Although I am currently injured, which 'sucks, seeing these stats is unbelievable.'
Jayven's thoughts are reasonable because it would take months, if not years, for a normal human being to grow their stats by one point. As for geniuses, it could take a few weeks or months of growth.
'Unless someone uses a special item that could raise those stats. And that is not viable because, in the long run, the body would be immune to the effects.'
But there was another pressing matter that caught his eye. And this matter could change his future. Which is his skill.
'Second awakening—isn't this too fast? The last time I checked, the requirements for a second awakening of skill were very difficult. Why and how did I achieve my second awakening? '
His shock is understandable. Because achieving a second awakening is no simple task for everyone, especially if you're not rich and have no connection to buy the necessary materials.
It would require an enormous amount of resources to achieve a second awakening. Especially for those who have higher-grade skills.
"I don't know how. But this is great; knowing my skill, maybe the second effect would restrict my targets. In that way, I could join a team as a support."
His original plan was to first gather resources to achieve his second awakening. Since he believed that his second effect would be helpful against his target.
An effect opposite of what it is right now, which could only affect the user of the skill. Which would be possible if he follows the normal procedure of a second awakening.
An example is during their coming-of-age ceremony, where they would be sent to the church to awaken their skills. Once it is done, they will unlock a skill that they can use and grow with.
And to make it stronger, they need to undergo an evolution of skills called awakening. There are two known ways to awaken one's own skills:
First, gather certain materials from a monster that have the same compatibility with the user's skill. It also needs a higher rank than the current skill; if not, it could also be possible by gathering ten of the same rank as the skill used.
Hence, higher-ranking skills cost much more. But unlike low-grade skills like Jayven, where the costs are low, given his situation, it could take time to save some for the future.
Then there is the second one, which has to do with training your skills to their utmost limit by mastering their usage numerous times. This one is said to be the most difficult path and is said to be almost impossible to achieve.
'The only possibility I can think of for why I had my second awakening is because my skills are low in rank. And thanks to what happened with the HobGoblin incident, I was able to awaken it by using the second most difficult path.'
After reaffirming his thoughts on the possible reason for his growth, he was then elated.
"Yes, Although painful, it was a blessing in disguise. Now let's see what my secondary effect is, eh?"
After looking at the secondary effect, only then did he notice that it was different from what he thought it was.
"Adjustments? ADJUSTMENS! What does it need to adjust? It shouldn't be like this. This isn't the result I wanted. Please change it."
But no matter what plea he makes, it is still the same. Even after opening and closing his status window, nothing changes.
The following day, he continued looking at his status panel. Even after his senior left the place, he continued looking at it. He only stops when people get in or when he sleeps and eats.
But, thankfully, that wasn't without a result.
"I see, so adjustment can not only affect the pressure of my restraint skill; it could also change the variable within my stats. WOW, how useless.
Various complaints kept pooping in his mind, and all he could think about was how he could use the skill's new ability more efficiently.
'What use is this? Hiding my strength and acting like a wolf in sheep's clothing? What is there to hide with this miniscule stat? I can only hide a sheep within a baby sheep; there's no clear difference.'
As he complains about how useless his skills are again. He thought of just giving up. But then he remembered something before passing out against the hobgoblin.
Wait a minute. I remember before I passed the Hob Goblin, my skill's effect broke, and after that, I got a notification saying a number of my stats increased. Those notifications only apply during training. But what if the key is breaking the effect of my skill?
Realizing this, he looked again at his stats. "Is there a hidden function?"
As he questioned this to himself, he thought again.
'No, this growth function is dependent on a person's hard work and talent and is amplified by the bestowment of the status window on us living beings in this world.
But this begs the question: why the sudden boost after breaking the effects of restraint? As he thought of this, a strange conclusion came to his mind.
'No way. Does this mean that breaking from my restraint counts as training, so it raises my stats? That would be dope if it did.'
Excited by this idea. He started to think of possible ways to take advantage of this ability. Only to later realize he is still not able to move.
"But I am in a caste right now. It's only been a week, and the doctors said that I can be discharged after another week, so I can't try it."
He became dismayed by his current situation, even though the possibility of growing stronger was already within his reach.
"Good thing it is summer break right now. And thanks to the hunter associations help, the healing process would actually be much faster than a regular one."
But just as he was thinking about this, he felt sad again. "Why can't I just heal myself faster?" He looked at his stats and kept on playing with them.
He would reduce or return it to its current state, and at the same time, he was also reading about his current condition and analyzing how long it would take for him to fully heal.
And by accident, he touched the panel about his condition and noticed he could reduce his healing pocess.
"Wait, I can touch this, so does that mean I could also reduce other effects?"
Looking at it, he tried reducing his status attributes, wanting to know if he could somehow manipulate more of them.
__________
Stamina - 17/30
Mana - 5/10
STR - 5/8 -> 5 (-3)
VIT - 7/15
INT - 11/11
AGI - 2/8
DEX - 3/10
SKILLS & TECHNIQUE>>
> RESTRAINT (USER) F -> E(^)> Second Awakening
>RESTRICTION - Restrict usage of body functions for a set amount of time. Current duration is 2 multiplied by X points of mana per second.
>ADJUSTEMENT- The effect of restraint can be adjusted from 1% - 99%.
STATE & CONDITION>>
>Weak (Low)>
- An ailment that drops the user's stats and will be restored once properly healed.
>Healing (Low -> Very low) >
- User's body is currently undergoing a healing process and is recovering.
TRAITS & CHARACTERISTICS>>
>Senses>
>FEELING - 14
>SIGHT - 11
>HEARING - 12
>SMELL - 12
>TASTE - 12
_____________
Other than his Stamina, mana, And Traits. He can very well manipulate everything else.
Oh, so I could do it like this. After doing some experiments, he noticed one thing.
The more he lessened the points, the weaker he gets. But thinking about it, if he successfully overcomes this weakening state, his gains could be greater.
"It's like letting others borrow money and returning it to you with interest. This skill shouldn't be called restraint; it should be called attribute point lending."
Still, this didn't come without a cost. When he was trying to lower the pain and lowering the weak status to a maximum percent, the pain came crashing in like they were waiting for the right timing.
His weak (low) became weak (medium); it was back to how it was before. And this extended his stay by another week.
"That was painful, and I still remember it like it was yesterday."
"It was yesterday." A person then came to remind him of the time of his previous idiocy.
"Eh, Doctor Jane, Hello."
"We found some minor Issues about you yesterday. I don't know how it happened, but your healing has degraded since yesterday. It would take at least three months for you to heal now."
'Well, that's because I lessened my recovery afterwards, so I could try to see if I could make my healing ability rise. But hearing this, I think I need to adjust it a bit more to make it into one month.'
Having made up his mind, he plans to readjust his healing performance. I still need to try more things, and I don't want to waste my whole summer here.