A Unique Skill: The Collection

[ Congratulation ]

[The Climber Has Just Used His First Skill: Big Cutting Edge]

After hearing this message in his head, Sora looked toward the plant and saw a massive white blade slicing the Assassin’s Nettle in half. The plant collapsed under the force of this attack, which had come out of nowhere.

/ ! \ WARNING / ! \

[State: Critical]

[The Climber's HP Has Dropped Below 10%]

[Remaining HP: 3]

[Due To Imminent Death, System0 Is Locking All Non-Essential Functions Of The Climber]

[The Climber's Chance Of Death: 85%]

"S...ys...0..."

Hearing this, Sora tried to form a sentence directed at System0, but the severity of his injuries ensured that the only things leaving his mouth were a spray of blood and a few incomprehensible mumbles.

"Wait, young man, don’t move at all!!

I might still be able to save you."

Crouching in front of Sora, the old woman stretched her hands above him and muttered incantations that seemed to come from nowhere.

The longer the incantations lasted, the more Sora’s condition seemed to improve.

"There, you should be out of danger. Ahh... In any case, I wouldn’t have been able to heal you even a second longer. I had to use up all the Ushi I had."

"Wow... Thank you so much, I really thought I saw death. I could have almost said hello to it."

"Don’t joke around. Sure, you’re out of danger, but that doesn’t mean you’re fully healed."

"I’m aware of that, but I truly appreciate you not letting me die."

"This is entirely my fault that you ended up in this state, so it’s the least I could do."

'Oh, by the way, System0, show me the rewards I earned.'

[Affirmative]

[Here Are The Rewards The Climber Has Gained: +12 Assassin’s Nettle Teeth / Understanding Of This Plant Has Increased]

[Understanding Of This Plant Has Gone From: Nonexistent To: Low]

[The Climber Has Gained: 3 EXP]

[EXP Needed Before Next Level: 95 EXP]

[The Climber Has Gained: +0.01 Intelligence / +0.01 Vitality]

[Understanding Of The Sword: Marc’s Striker Has Increased]

[Understanding Of This Sword Has Gone From: Nonexistent To: Weak-Medium]

"Oh damn, I gained so much.

This is the first time I’ve had two ability improvements at the same time.

I’m really evolving.

And 3 EXP on top of that—I just doubled the amount I had. This is amazing!"

"Excuse me, young man, but are you going crazy?

What are you talking about?"

"Oh crap. Sorry, I was talking to myself.

Oh, but did you see my amazing final attack?

A giant blade came out of my sword—wasn’t that incredible?"

"It must be 20 or 30 years since I last saw that.

The last time I saw it was during my husband's final battle. But unfortunately, even that devastating attack couldn't get the better of this demon.

So to see that a simple young man like you manages to use it surprises me enormously."

"That must have brought back some unpleasant memories. I’m sorry."

"On the contrary, I’m truly happy to know that someone else has been chosen by this blade."

"Chosen?"

"You don’t know?

It’s not the climber who chooses their sacred weapon, but the sacred weapon that chooses its user.

And it seems that Marc’s Striker has chosen you as my husband’s successor.

That’s why I’m offering it to you as an additional reward for fighting such a battle."

"Oh, I don’t know what to say.

That’s so kind of you. But I don’t really think it chose me—I think I just got lucky managing to activate its skill."

"Stop talking nonsense and head back to the Mercenaries’ Order to collect your reward."

"In that case, thank you very much, ma’am.

And if you ever need something from the Order again, don’t hesitate to ask if I can be of help."

"Very well, I will."

...

As he walked back toward the Order, Sora was suddenly surprised by the sound of a notification from System0.

[Congratulations!]

[The Climber Has Met The 3 Conditions Required To Discover His Skill: The Collection]

"Wow, incredible!!

Go on, tell me everything, I want to know what it is!"

[The Conditions The Climber Must Fulfill To Access This Request Are:]

[Condition 1: Contact System0 – Validated]

[Condition 2: Check His 'STAT SHEET' – Validated]

[Condition 3: Defeat An Opponent Using A Sacred Weapon – Validated]

"Oh, so that was the hidden condition.

Alright, System0, what is this skill?"

[The Collector]

[Every Time The Climber Fights An Opponent Who Uses A Skill]

[The Climber’s Skill: The Collection Has A Chance To Acquire That Skill]

[However, The Stronger The Skill, The Harder It Will Be To Obtain]

"Wow, that’s amazing! I can become super strong thanks to this.

Ah, so that’s why I didn’t get this message when I defeated the skeletal moss—because I didn’t have a high enough success rate."

[Affirmative]

[Thanks To His Skill, The Climber Has Just Obtained The Skill: Piercing Teeth]

"Incredible! So, can you give me the description of this skill?"

[Does The Climber Wish For System0 To Activate The Skill Scan Ability?]

"Yes, please!"

[Which Skill Does The Climber Wish To Obtain Information On?]

"Piercing Teeth."

[Skill Scan]

[- Type: Offensive]

[- Name: Piercing Teeth]

[- Level: LV.1]

[ABILITIES]

[- Strength: +0.15]

[ADDITIONAL INFORMATION]

[- The Climber Throws One Or More Teeth Toward The Enemy, Inflicting Damage]

"Seems like a pretty powerful skill, but I think if its level increases, I should be able to boost its damage.

First, though, I need to find a place to heal, then head back to the Order, and after that, I need to find a place to sleep because it’s getting late, and I’d rather not spend my first night under the stars."

...

"You’re finally back?"

"Great welcome, thanks. By the way, is this place always this empty?"

"Nah, it’s nighttime, so it’s normal that no one’s showing up at this hour.

But if you’re back, that means you completed your mission.

Though, man, you got wrecked. You do realize those were just simple Assassin’s Nettles?"

"Simple? They were almost a meter tall! And I’m not even talking about when they all merged into a single giant plant."

"Hold on, don’t tell me everything now. Write your report first, and then we’ll talk."

"A report?"

"Yeah, a report where you write down everything you did during your mission.

It helps us hostesses decide whether to adjust rewards and also verify with the civilians who issued the quest to see if you’re telling the truth or exaggerating for a bigger reward.

So, don’t lie, because there are penalties if you do."

"Alright, I’ll write it up and be right back."

...

"Here it is.

I think I’ve more or less written everything down."

"I can see why you came back in this state.

And despite the two skills, you managed to defeat it?"

"I had a bit of help recovering, as I wrote, but yes, I managed to defeat it thanks to this sword."

"You have a sacred sword? How is that possible?"

"The old lady who posted the request gave it to me as a reward, and apparently, this sword chose me since I was able to use its skill."

"Well, I didn’t expect that. This is the first time I've seen a Leather-ranked mercenary with a sacred sword.

You're not a normal guy—your USHI level is 0, yet you can control a sacred weapon.

And the quest you managed to complete... If we take the skills into account, the request should have been in the Obsidian class, or maybe even Iron, so I think I’ll need to update your rank."

"Speaking of ranks, can you tell me all the existing ones?"

"No problem.

So, first, you need to know that there are 15 classes.

The weakest one is yours, Leather.

Then, right above it, there’s Obsidian, Iron, Steel, Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Crystal, Mithril, Oriharukon, Adamantite, Titanium and finally, Palladium."

"You're Copper, right?"

"Exactly."

"And the strongest in the Order on this floor, are they at the Palladium rank?"

"Ahah, absolutely not. I think only a handful of people in the entire Tower are at that rank. No, the strongest in our Order is at Gold."