Chapter 7 – Evolution of a Blade
The sun pierced through a low haze of clouds as Auther limped back into the broken stretch of ruins, freshly bandaged and faintly bruised.
Two days since his first kill. One day since his narrow escape from the mutant hound.
And now?
Now he was addicted.
Not to the fight.
To the growth.
To the feeling of becoming someone capable.
The Lesser Flesh Knitting had patched him up enough to walk again, and his mana core had grown a little from absorbing the beast's remains. The most important change, though, wasn't physical.
It was mental.
His perception of risk and reward had shifted.
This world no longer looked like a cage. It looked like a forge.
And he was the blade being hammered.
---
[Name: Auther Finn]
[Rank: F1]
[Ability: Skill Creation (Unique)]
[Skill Points: 58]
[Skills:]
Silent Star Breathing (F5)
Mana Edge (F3)
Fighting Mastery (F3)
Lesser Flesh Knitting (F4)
Reflex Boost (F4)
---
Auther stepped into a hollowed-out train car just outside the old freight path. The structure was rusted and bent in places, but dry. Safe. A good base of operations for now.
He lit a candle, sat on an overturned crate, and brought up the Skill Creation menu.
This time, he wasn't making something new.
He was experimenting.
He opened Mana Edge.
---
Skill Review – Mana Edge (F3)
Current Description:
"Condense a thin layer of mana along the edge of the hand or weapon, enhancing cutting force. Grows sharper with better control."
Cost Paid: 15 Points
Estimated Upgrade Cost: +20 SP → (F5)
Improved sharpness, lower mana consumption, smoother activation.
Upgrade to F7: +45 SP
Upgrade to E1: 90 SP
---
Auther leaned back.
"So even upgrades scale based on efficiency and potency..."
He could technically push Mana Edge higher, but it wasn't worth spending two-thirds of his remaining points for such a small increase.
"Better to spread utility for now."
Still, this confirmed something important: the more refined the skill became, the harder it was to evolve. Growth wasn't just vertical — it was exponential.
That brought him to today's project: awareness.
He'd almost been ambushed twice now. One more hit to the back and it wouldn't matter how sharp his mana was.
He needed a scouting skill.
---
Attempt #1:
Name: Predator's Hearing
Description: "Enhances hearing to detect movements, breathing, and intent within a 100-meter radius. Filters environmental noise. Can locate hidden enemies and estimate threat level."
[Rank: E1 – Cost: 91 Points]
"Nope."
Too advanced.
---
Attempt #3:
Name: Enhanced Hearing (F4)
Description: "Improves user's ability to hear footsteps, breathing, and movement within a moderate radius. Passive skill. Works best in quiet environments."
[Cost: 18 Points]
That… was reasonable.
Confirm.
---
[Skill Created: Enhanced Hearing (F4)]
[Remaining Skill Points: 40]
---
As the skill activated, Auther's ears buzzed for a moment. Then, gradually, the world expanded.
He could hear the scuttle of beetles beneath metal. The flap of birds in far-off trees. The wind whistling through a hole in the train car wall.
It wasn't overwhelming — just wider. Like someone had turned up the resolution on his soundscape.
He tested it by walking across the train car and listening to his own boots. Crisp. Distinct. Useful.
Combined with Reflex Boost, it could mean the difference between life and death.
He added a note in the back of his mind:
> ❖ Potential synergy: Enhanced Hearing + Future Detection or Stealth Skills.
Progress.
Slow. Measured. Satisfying.
---
Later that afternoon, Auther climbed to the top of a collapsed structure and stared out at the ruins.
He'd learned five key things so far:
1. All F-rank skills started at 10 points base, then scaled.
2. Function and specificity controlled the cost.
3. Breadth, duration, and complexity multiplied price.
4. Skill upgrades were more expensive than he'd expected.
5. He could cover more ground with basic, narrow-function skills early on — then evolve.
His plan was simple: keep pushing for utility. Grow his fundamentals. Then, when he had enough points...
He would design something world-shaking.
Like a true transformation skill.
Or a summoning construct.
He smiled to himself.
One day.
But not today.
---
The wind shifted.
His ears twitched.
Heavy breathing. Fast.
Multiple sets of footsteps—thudding, uneven.
He crouched instinctively.
The sounds grew clearer: running. Panicked. And coming toward him.
He ducked behind the rusted wall and peeked over the edge.
Two figures sprinted across the ruins: one male, one female. Both looked injured. Their gear was mismatched — like scavenged scraps sewn into old military suits.
Awakeners. Low rank. Maybe F2.
Behind them, a mana-mutated ape bounded forward — easily three meters tall, eyes glowing with golden fire.
F3 or higher.
Auther's breath caught.
They weren't going to make it.
The girl tripped, tumbling into gravel. The guy skidded to a stop, grabbed her, and yelled something he couldn't hear over the wind.
The ape was almost on them.
Auther's knuckles whitened on the wall's edge.
Could he help?
Should he?
He hesitated.
This wasn't his fight.
But—
He checked his skill points.
40.
He could afford one decent skill. Maybe two minor ones.
And if he got the kill…
He'd rank up.
More than that—
This was his world now.
And people were dying.
He gritted his teeth and jumped down the wall.