Shadow Author

Feeling a bit of mental discomfort the contract soon dissipated into particles. In the back of my mind, I could feel a connection but the effects soon wore out. Even then I knew that the contract was still active so I wouldn't dare to break it since I valued my life.

Having achieved everything I wanted and more Charlotte and I decided to return to class.

However just as we left the room I told Charlotte I forgot something only to return a few seconds later. She didn't seem to mind.

Fortunately, Mr. Vankay's class was already over since the amount of time to complete the trial and sign the contract took more than an hour.

Knowing that the trio's battle class would begin soon Charlotte and I left the conference room and made our way toward the class.

While we were walking many students caught sight of us and began to whisper to themselves.

This time though I ignored them as the matter was handled as far as I was concerned. The gossip of a bunch of schoolkids wouldn't bother me.

I didn't know how Charlotte felt about it but I also didn't care as I had much more important things to worry about.

Once we entered the only person in the room was the teacher.

"Miss Smith."

Charlotte called out her name and walked up to her as they began to talk about battle formations and other similar things.

I was completely uninterested in what the two were talking about and even if I was I wouldn't be able to make sense of anything.

I chose to sit on the floor off to the side while I waited for class to begin. There were still around fifteen minutes till the other students would start showing up.

While I was minding my own business I could feel Miss Smith's gaze fall on me a few times.

'It seems she knows too, gossip really does spread like wildfire.'

I didn't dare to look up at her when I felt her looking at me. She was a powerful warrior after all.

Now that I had some free time I decided to use what time was available to spend some of the vast amounts of SP I gathered.

[Vitality: 3.4]

[Strength: 3.8]

[Speed: 3.2]

[Resistance: 2.9]

[Magic: 2.0]

[Rank: 993]

[Credits: 250,000]

[Gifts: Weapon Comprehension (Beginner-5)]

[Skills: Mana Breath]

[SP: 23043]

Looking at my status screen I began formulating plans to spend the SP most effectively.

My first course of action was to max out Mana Breath. Beforehand I had to add a bunch of restrictions to the skill so that I would be able to afford it. But now that I had a surplus of SP I wanted to upgrade it to the highest level.

[Mana Breath: Only by being in a mana-rich environment and having lowered all-natural defenses will this skill take effect. By breathing in mana for a minute straight, magic will increase by 0.001]

[Do you want to spend 1,250 SP to max Mana Breath?]

'Do it.'

I watched as the amount of SP I had decreased, it hurt but I knew it was all worth it. Fortunately, after a minute I was proven right and the updated description of the skill was displayed.

[Mana Breath: By breathing in mana for a minute straight, magic will increase by 0.01]

Satisfied with the result I moved on to the other portion of my stats.

[Gifts: Weapon Comprehension (Beginner-5)]

Seeing the gift I willed for the option to upgrade it.

[Would you like to level up Weapon Comprehension from Beginner-5 to Intermediate-10?]

'Yes.'

[-1,080 SP]

Feeling an influx of knowledge washing over me I grew eager to test out my capabilities but first I wanted to look at something new.

Seeing that I still had over twenty thousand SP I decided to test if I would be able to get an ability.

Previously I didn't even bother looking at the cost requirements because more than likely the price would be astronomical. I would probably become depressed at the amount, try to save up, fail, and become depressed all over again.

Holding my breath I mentally asked for the cost of an ability.

[Abilities range from 10000 to 50000 SP]

Letting out the breath I was holding I became both happy and sad. Luckily I had enough SP to unlock an ability. However, the power of it would be less than mediocre and I would be spending a huge amount of points.

Another thing that worried me was the restriction to only one ability. This meant that if in the future I got more SP and I wanted a better ability I would have to delete the first at a 10 percent loss.

This put a bitter taste in my mouth.

'Should I spend the SP on a less-than-average ability and possibly have to spend the whole twenty thousand points? Or should I unlock more gifts and skills? What if I spent everything on upgrading Weapon Comprehension as I could probably get it mastered?'

There were so many paths to follow and once I picked one there would be no going back due to the loss when deleting them being so high.

I spent a few minutes contemplating before deciding to first look at the possible abilities I could get.

After all, seeing what twenty thousand SP could get me was too great of a temptation even if I didn't go through with it.

I used up the last few minutes of free time to formulate a couple of abilities within my price range. However, once I saw them it became way too much for my mind.

The first ability was [IceMan].

[IceMan: Every one of your attacks will be infused with the element of ice. By infusing an attack with ice the resilience and strength of the attack will double.]

[Do you wish to unlock IceMan for 20000 SP?]

When I first thought of IceMan I added a slowness or paralyzing effect but the price was too great. Then I changed it to as I have it now with the only exception being offense and defense. Unfortunately, the ability was still too expensive which is why I had to limit it to doubling attacks only. This let me know that I would be able to add on to it once I got more SP so it was quite tempting. However, the other abilities were just too great when compared to it.

[Goblin: Rewards from dungeons and towers will be doubled.]

[Do you wish to unlock Goblin for 20000 SP?]

The ability was precise but far from simple. The rewards from dungeons and towers could be hit or miss. But the biggest problem was that I would actually have to beat them. With my current capabilities and knowledge, I would only be able to defeat one or two if I was lucky.

It was way too great of a risk so I also passed this ability up even if it could be upgraded to the point that I would get five times the original amount.

[Shout: So only as one's Resistance was lower than yours you can influence their thoughts with your voice. EVOLVABLE]

[Do you wish to unlock Shout for 12500 SP?]

Due to the low price and that I could only influence people's thoughts I gave up on this ability as well.

[Astral: Immune to all physical attacks but become unable to move or counterattack while active.]

[Do you wish to unlock Astral for 20000 SP?]

This was one of the likeliest abilities for me to choose. It would give me protection to survive and in the future, I was sure that it would include magic attacks. But the problem was that magic attacks were the most prominent and I didn't have the SP available to upgrade it.

The last ability which was the most unique and versatile floated in front of me and I knew in that instant that it was the ability for me. One I was destined to have.

[3rd Person POV: Allows the user to glimpse 1 hour into his or her future. EVOLVABLE]

[Do you wish to unlock 3rd Person POV for 10000 SP?]

Each additional hour to the ability costs 10000 SP which is why it is so cheap. I was more than happy to only have a single hour. If I ever thought I needed more time I could upgrade it but I had a feeling that one hour was enough.

The ability was perfect for my goals as it could serve as both an offensive and defensive technique. If I was being attacked and looked into the future I would see the best possible way to defend but also counterattack.

In addition, the ability would serve as an insurance policy for the knowledge of the future I already have. I could help with little details I might have forgotten as well as fill in the blanks about the future I changed.

But then as if that wasn't enough the ability was evolvable!

[If an ability is evolvable one or more hidden conditions must be met to level it up.]

This was extremely unexpected and way too much. Previously there was only one other person in the novel who had an evolvable ability. Not even Elijah had the option to level up his gift.

Happy that the ability would only cost me half of my total SP I immediately paid the price and unlocked it.

Although there might have been a better path when spending the SP I had already made up my mind as the benefits from the ability were just too much!

I watched as half my SP vanished but a smile never left my face as I was eagerly waiting for the ability to come into reality.

[SP: 10,713]

Soon enough the single available slot was filled.

[Abilities (1/1)]

[Gifts (1/3)]

[Skills (1/5)]