- Huge Fall
"System, show me the recent combination results," Frizz ordered, grunting and shifting to find a more comfortable position in the awkward hold.
[System]
Request acknowledged.
Result: [Venomous Presence].
Displaying descriptions: The perk user's words carry venomous power—every hostile word has a moderate chance to manifest as literal poison, harming and weakening the target. Threats become more believable, sowing deeper doubt and fear. The more the perk user displays their feats and capabilities, the stronger the effect.
Targets already affected by the poison become even more susceptible to intimidation, amplifying both the fear and the damage dealt.
Result: [Adaptive Predator].
Displaying descriptions: After a failed negotiation or persuasion, the perk user's strength and speed are temporarily boosted, allowing a better fight-or-flight response. Additionally, the user can blend into their environment, becoming nearly invisible when standing still and focused—though quick movements will break the near invisibility.
While in this camouflaged state, the perk user gains night vision.
Result: [Iron Frame].
Displaying descriptions: The perk user passively regenerates from wounds, injuries, and afflictions at an accelerated rate. Serious conditions, like fractures or lacerations, may need medical attention but heal slightly better and faster. The perk user also has a heightened tolerance to pain. Their body operates closer to peak physicality, moderately improving overall physical performance. The perk user's bones are moderately stronger than average, and fractures heal slightly better.
When the perk user's health falls to critical, their physical performance temporarily reaches true peak condition for 60 seconds. While in this peak condition, the perk user becomes highly resistant to broken bones and severe injuries.
During this time, their strength, speed, and endurance are further amplified, and healing is accelerated significantly, giving them a fighting chance in critical situations. This perk has no cooldown; it activates if health lowers to critical again.
"Well, that Iron Frame perk is quite a read." Frizz muttered, reviewing the results of the hastily combined perks yesterday. A mechanic he'll never get to use again.
"It's a damn shame that I can no longer combine perks, but talents are better by a lot." He reasoned, forcing a positive tone, looking forward to acquiring new talents.
The wind was getting harsher and more oppressive as the altitude increased, causing his eyes to well up. He regretted not wearing any eye protection, goggles, during the slow soaring flight.
Frizz clicked his tongue, annoyed. The vertical ascent was slow; he had a job to get to. He was being held aloft by his underarms by a woman.
"I never expected you to find our base so easily," Divine commented, increasing her speed.
"Not a lot of abandoned buildings in this city; all I had to do was check the map," Frizz replied, avoiding looking down at the dizzying height.
"I half-expected you to join us, but instead you just wanted to fly high."
"Maybe another time; I like being solo."
"The amount of attention you've brought to yourself, you can't handle it alone."
"Help me and I'll help you. Let's be on good terms first, small steps." Frizz replied, losing interest in hearing any more recruitment pitches.
"Listen... I want to apologize for my aggressive conduct yesterday. When it comes to us levelers, fighting is all we know, and getting stronger is our goal," Divine explained, realizing her words sounded more like an excuse than a sincere apology.
Frizz rolled his eyes, scoffing at the apology. "Despite my best efforts, it's difficult for me to harbor any resentments toward you. I can't properly process or act on my anger because it disappears within several minutes or hours."
"All thanks to my perks."
"Yeah, I kind of get what you feel."
Divine stopped upon achieving the height of four hundred meters. The air was frigid at this altitude, causing her to sneeze. "What now?"
"Drop me."
Divine paused, unsure of what she heard, noting that she probably didn't hear it right. "Pardon?"
"Drop me."
"So I wasn't hearing it wrong." She paused, sighing and becoming discontent. "This is no joke; a fall from this height will kill you."
"Just trust me. If you do this, then we'll be on good terms."
Divine's expression soured, disliking the idea of dropping him and slightly regretting her decision to help him, whatever his goals were. However, she ultimately relented, noting that a second-rate leveler like him was tough enough to survive a great fall.
"Fine." The grip on Frizz was released, surprising him for a moment as he fell.
"Lesser power plus guard."
[System]
The wind roared in his ears as he fell, making it hard to hear or focus. The wind resistance and cold stung his eyes. He shielded his head, covering it with his arms and curling into a fetal position.
"Force field, please save my fucking life." He bellowed, seeing the dirt ground below.
*Splat!* After eleven seconds of falling, he finally hit the ground. His body bounced, then an explosion, a side effect of his telekinetic bulwark perk upon the shattering of his force field.
From above, Divine witnessed the impact. Her face contorted with horror as she realized he might be dead. She immediately descending, producing a sonic boom.
She landed almost instantly, breaking the ground, and hurriedly checked up on him, regretting her complacency about the fall.
Frizz's limbs were bent at unnatural angles, and his body was covered in bruises. Divine cringed at the sight, furrowing his brows in clear disbelief that he was all too willing to fall at such a great height.
[System]
[Iron Frame] perk is active.
Frizz gasped for air, wheezing through his broken mouth and bloodied face. The activation of his perk provided much-needed relief. He could feel some of the pain disappearing.
"Healing hands." He managed to mutter, touching his face. His right hand dimly glowed as a light green hue enveloped his whole body and slowly healed his wounds.
[System]
Divine watched the scene unfold with a fearful and doubtful expression, momentarily considering calling Nathaniel and still confused about the free fall. "What the hell were you thinking?"
[System]
<⬪ Daily Talent Creation and Acquisition Mechanic ⬪>
Today's Talents: Refreshes in 18 hours.
⬪ 『Icarus』Fall four hundred meters and survive: 1/1 COMPLETED.
⬪ 『Gigantification』 Activate Lesser Power 1000 times: 1/1000
⬪ 『False Promises』 Heal and assure 1000 people with life-threatening diseases: 1/1000
⬪ 『Borrowed Time』 Survive on the brink of death: 1/1 COMPLETED.
Frizz managed a smile beneath the blood and broken teeth upon seeing the fulfillment of the talent's requirements. The pain was well worth it, he noted.
[System]
New name received: 『Icarus』
Displaying descriptions: Grants the talent user the ability to fly, cannot fly higher beyond 5000 meters, and the talent user is moderately resistant to wind, cold, and friction when flying.
[System]
New name received: 『Borrowed Time』
Displaying descriptions: Upon the brink of death, the talent user is fully healed but cannot cast skills or spells for three days.
Frizz's injuries vanished upon receiving the new talent, causing Divine's expression to form into shock, stunning her. "What the hell did you just do? What was that?"
Frizz slowly stood up, quaking from the experience and still experiencing phantom pains. Divine used her talent that allows her to look at the status of a person; what she saw surprised her.
Frizz had received two new talents, shocking her even more.
('Icarus' and 'Borrowed Time.' How is this possible? Talents are rewarded every twenty levels, and an extra talent will be granted to you upon reaching the level cap. There are also other rare circumstances, but even then, at most a third rate can get three talents, whereas a second rate can acquire six.)
(He hasn't reached the level cap; he hasn't even reached level twenty yet. How is this possible? Did he receive new talents from achievements alone? That's not possible; they only give perks and sometimes experiences.)
Divine couldn't find a single logical explanation. "Hey, what did you just do? How did you earn two talents just like that?" she asked, raising her tone.
Frizz smiled, laughing softly. "I am a second-rate remember; we have different rules." He replied, massaging his neck and head while stretching his back.
(Different rules but still the same progression. Just what the hell did he do?) Divine mused, choosing not to pry any further to avoid bad relations. "I will be reporting this to Hei."
Frizz's heart skipped a beat, anxiety creeping in. Both of them locked in a tense stare.
"Understandable. However, I still want us to be on good terms," he reasoned.
"Thank you for your help. I still have six days to give my proper final answer. If you have any requests from me, then feel free to say so. I owe you a favor." Frizz concluded, bowing his head, waving, and walking away.
Divine watched Frizz's retreating figure, disappearing into the crowd. "Frizz Jay Sadies... just what are you? Hei suspects there's something strange about you, too."
Divine smoothed her hair, tying it back, and soared upward, intending to report today's incident.