"Strange Occurance: Archivist New Mode I"
Snake Calendar, Year 2025
20th Day of September, Saturday Early Morning
Outside the City of Nova Asta, Main Adventure Outpost
The first rays of dawn broke through the clouds as Accel Winchester, fresh from his first round of subject examinations, made his way toward the bustling Main Adventure Outpost. A slight chill hung in the air, but it did little to deter the throng of adventurers preparing for their quests. For Accel, this was another opportunity to hone his skills and push himself closer to his goals.
As a Trainee Adventurer, Accel had made it his mission to tackle Easy Difficulty quests alone, focusing on clearing slime territories that dotted the outskirts of Verdant Hollows. Though many adventurers preferred to form parties, Accel found comfort in working solo, believing it to be the most efficient way to grow stronger. He wasn't particularly concerned about his unconventional fighting style, which didn't seem to align with the typical Archivist abilities. Until now, he had assumed all Archivist Systems operated in the same way—a belief that was about to be challenged.
At level 50, Accel had already unlocked new Neural Commands and Auto-Adaptations through rigorous study and practice. These abilities had become the foundation of his growing strength, allowing him to handle increasingly difficult challenges. Today, he was determined to further master these skills.
Neural Commands
1. Fire Sword Enhancement
This skill allowed Accel to imbue his weapon with fiery energy, granting him a 50% chance to inflict burn damage on enemies for five seconds. The visual effect was as mesmerizing as it was destructive, with his blade glowing a bright orange as it sliced through foes.
- Energy Cost: 100 ENCO
- Cooldown: 10 minutes
- Duration: 5 minutes
- Damage: 50 slash damage + 75 fire slash damage
- Proficiency Level: Beginner First Level
- Special Effect: Deals 25 burn damage per second for 5 seconds, totaling 125 burn damage.
2. Instant Healing
A vital support skill that could restore 250 health points to Accel and 100 health points to nearby allies. Its secondary effect provided a brief but crucial defense boost.
- Energy Cost: 75 ENCO
- Cooldown: 10 minutes
- Proficiency Level: Beginner First Level
- Special Effect: Grants 100 DEF to the user and allies for 1 minute after activation.
Auto-Adaptations
1. Sword and Shield Mastery
This adaptation granted Accel basic proficiency with swords and shields, as well as two bonus skills: Sword Whirlwind and Shield Bash. These skills added much-needed versatility to his combat style.
- Proficiency Level: Beginner Third Level
- Sword Whirlwind: A small AoE attack dealing 25 damage per hit for 5 seconds, totaling 125 damage.
- Shield Bash: A stunning charge attack dealing 50 damage and stunning the target for 3 seconds.
2. Mind Acceleration
This adaptation enhanced Accel's mental processing speed, allowing him to think and react twice as fast for a short period. While effective in combat, overuse came with side effects.
- Proficiency Level: Beginner Fifth Level
- Duration: 1 minute
- Overuse Penalty: Using for 2 minutes causes dizziness for 1 minute.
3. Body Enhancement
A passive ability that permanently increased Accel's attributes every five levels. At level 50, he had already gained significant boosts to Vitality, Strength, Agility, Dexterity, and Endurance.
- Proficiency Level: Beginner Fifth Level
4. Translation Mastery
This adaptation allowed Accel to learn and understand various languages. Though still at an early stage, it was invaluable for navigating the diverse regions of the world.
- Proficiency Level: Intermediate First Level
- Progress: 5% of the world's languages learned.
A Strange Occurrence
As Accel completed his preparations and stepped into the designated slime territory, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. The Archivist System, usually silent unless prompted, suddenly displayed a notification in bold, glowing text:
> New Mode Unlocked: Sub-System Selection Mode I
Accel froze. "Sub-System Selection? What the hell is this?" he muttered, glancing around to ensure he wasn't being watched. The message flickered again, urging him to open the system interface. Taking a deep breath, he complied.
A new menu appeared, showcasing five common-tier systems: Swordsman, Mage, Thief, Healer, and Archer. Each system came with a brief description of its abilities and potential.
> Archivist Note: As your system evolves, you gain the ability to incorporate sub-systems. Choose one to unlock new paths of growth. Conditions for integration must be met before activation.
> Current Options:
> 1. Swordsman
> 2. Mage
> 3. Thief
> 4. Healer
> 5. Archer
Another notification followed:
> Next Sub-System Unlock Available at Level 125.
Accel's mind raced. Each option had its appeal, but integrating a sub-system wasn't as simple as making a selection. The system outlined a series of conditions:
- Data Collection: Analyze core abilities of the chosen sub-system.
- Knowledge Acquisition: Study techniques, spells, or skills unique to the sub-system.
- Attribute Thresholds: Meet specific physical or magical requirements.
- Neural Commands: Learn at least one command related to the sub-system.
- Auto-Adaptation: Unlock passives tied to the sub-system.
For now, the decision weighed heavily on Accel. The Archivist System had always been unique, but this revelation set him apart even further. As he continued his hunt, the possibilities swirled in his mind. Could this be the key to his growth? Or would it lead to unforeseen complications?
The battle against the slimes served as both a training ground and a distraction. With Fire Sword Enhancement activated, his blade blazed with intense flames, cutting through the gelatinous creatures like a hot knife through butter. The burn damage added an extra layer of devastation, leaving scorched trails in his wake.
Despite the chaos, Accel remained focused. He knew the path ahead would require more than brute force. As the last slime dissolved into a pile of ashes, he glanced at the system menu again, the sub-system options still glowing faintly in the corner of his vision.
"Looks like I have a lot to think about," he said quietly. And with that, he turned back toward the outpost, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.