Chapter 56: Skill Evolution
Chapter 56: Skill Evolution
There’s something here worth exploring!
He took a deep breath, sat cross-legged on the ground, and decided to invest another 4 points of Growth Value. Using these 4 units of Yin Energy, he pushed to enhance “Torrential Rush” straight to “Advanced Level.”
But it was different. Even with his strong physique and stamina, raising an ordinary skill to “Intermediate Level” wasn’t too stressful. However, jumping from Intermediate to Advanced brought much stronger side effects.
“…I still need to try.”
Pushing his limits to grow stronger was his constant pursuit. There was no reason to stop just because of a little side effect.
The 4 points of Growth Value burned like kindling.
The next second, intense side effects began attacking his body. Fang Jing staggered slightly. The physical pain wasn’t too bad, but he felt something cold under his nose. Wiping it with his hand, it was clearly black blood.
“I’ll need to figure out how to deal with the side effects issue too…”
A wave of overwhelming weakness hit him, and he let out a low sigh.
The skill column shimmered brightly.
(Water Division: Torrent Skill, Advanced Level, progress achieved.)
His Strength, Constitution, and Speed attributes each rose by 0.3 points.
His Stamina Attribute also changed, reaching 1.8.
As he turned his gaze back to the skill column, he saw a dotted line appear beneath “Water Division: Torrent Skill.” Like branches on a tree diagram, it extended, revealing a new skill option.
“Initiate Skill Evolution?”
A prompt symbol appeared, asking Fang Jing if he wanted to evolve the skill.
-–Yes or No?
Even the choices were clearly marked.
This time, Fang Jing read it from top to bottom again to be sure he wasn’t mistaken.
Skill Evolution?
So the “Torrent Skill” still had potential for further growth.
He blinked, considering his next move now that this Evolution function was unlocked.
“I shouldn’t rush into ‘Evolution’ just yet. Since enhancing to Advanced caused side effects, evolving the skill to the next stage will definitely carry risks too.”
At the very least, he couldn’t attempt it here in the park. The side effects posed a real danger, and he needed some basic preparation before proceeding.
(This is exciting. I didn’t know the ‘Torrent Skill’ could evolve further… meaning it could climb to a whole new level above the original skill… Just how powerful must the original school be that created this martial skill, ‘Torrential Rush’?)
His thirst for strength filled him with excitement. He vaguely sensed he should follow this clue to find that peculiar teacher who had instructed Sakaki Tetsuhei.
From that person, he might just find a “shortcut” to even greater power.
————————
It was a dream. He knew clearly it was a dream. Just an incredibly awful one.
Yet, he couldn’t wake himself out of it.
It was set in the kindergarten—yes—that kindergarten torn down seven years ago. With its mushroom-house slide, tree house, and climbing tower.
During summer vacations, when the kindergarten kids went home, the kind principal would open the gates, letting nearby children come and play.
Anyway, on that day, just like always, he played there with his sister. He was happy. Like always.
He didn’t know how much time had passed. The sun began setting.
The other children, and his sister too, were gone. Vanished, as if in an instant.
He was alone, holding his robot toy, sitting foolishly on the swing.
Back then, he wasn’t good with other kids. He always trailed his sister, clutching the edge of her clothes. Some boys laughed at him, calling him the “goldfish poop clinging to his sister.”
“It’s okay, Meisuke. Just follow me.”
Come to think of it, she’d always looked out for him back then… he remembered that. But now, it felt like only he remained, sitting on that swing.
It must have been autumn. The sunset was beautiful, but the silence felt overwhelming.
“I should go home.”
He stood up, ready to leave. Maybe it was instinct. He turned his head and looked behind him.
Thunk!
The swing, bathed in the setting sun, gave a small wobble after he got off. Then it began swinging wider and wider. There wasn’t even a breeze, but the chains creaked, a sound like something grating its teeth.
Seeing this as he turned, he froze. He just stared as the swing swung higher and higher, looking deeply strange under the orange sun.
…Was… was something there?
Standing behind the swing was a massive, hazy shadow. A faceless lump of flesh, moving imperceptibly, tugging on the swing.
At first, it was blurry. He took a few steps back.
Putting distance between them finally let him see the thing clearly. It was twisted, deformed, a huge whitish lump that had lost its original shape. It stretched out thick, stubby fingers, endlessly pulling on the iron chains… pulling… pulling… over and over.
“Waaah!”
He shrieked wildly, spun around, and ran. Ran for his life.
Whoosh!
Scrape!
The sound of the swing swaying grew louder, the chain’s painful scraping echoing right beside his ears.
Thump!
Karasawa Meisuke woke up. He felt his body slide off the side of the bed.
Eyes snapping open, he tumbled off the bench onto the floor.
((Damn it! That dream again.—))
His mouth was bone-dry, his throat raw.
He turned his head slightly. A violent tremor shook his whole body.
A woman’s head hung suspended behind the head of the bench, hair cascading down.
“Karasawa Meisuke, we meet again.”
The woman’s head spoke.
Damn it!
“Do you have to be so creepy?! You almost scared me to death!”
He scrambled to his feet, looking her up and down. She was a head shorter than him, dressed in a black Sailor Uniform, a large instrument case strapped to her back.
—Amasue Suetora. There she was again.
“It’s you… what do you want?”
“…”
((Back to this again, huh?))
Naturally, Karasawa was in no mood for her. His throat was desperately thirsty. He turned and walked across the school courtyard to the faucet, taking a gulp of water.
Amasue Suetora silently followed, a step behind him. She moved like a dark shadow, accentuated by her pitch-black uniform. Her steps made no sound.
“Stop following me for no reason. I’m heading home.”
He tossed the words over his shoulder, walking straight toward the school gates. It was pointless.
Annoying! This troublesome woman was still behind him.
“Hey! How long are you gonna follow me…”
Irritated, he spun around and grabbed her wrist.
Right then, several junior girls walked past.
Seeing him grabbing Amasue Suetora’s arm, the girls visibly jumped.
Their expressions turned even more scared when they recognized one of them was him.
Crap! If this got out, rumors would spread by tomorrow: Karasawa Meisuke menacing the transfer student, trying to force her to do something.
His reputation at school was bad enough already. If this happened, besides the “delinquent” tag, he’d probably be branded a “potential criminal.”
He pictured the furious face of the headmaster tomorrow morning. Karasawa could only take a deep breath, shoving down his anger and frustration. Forcing himself calm, he spoke flatly to Amasue Suetora: “Fine. Let’s… find a place to talk.”