Banished from the herd, I was actually a member of a very rare species. ~With the unique skills that only I can use, I can grow and evolve quickly. I will become an unrivaled monster~ - Episode 52: New [Skill]

Episode 52: New [Skill]

―――Non-Notification Information Recording Zone―――――――――――――

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>> Fuwa Katsu {Jewel Armory Slime} has started {Evolution}.

>> The Species has changed to The Weapon Born from the Fire of War.

>> |Status| have changed due to {Evolution}.

>> New [Skills] have been added.

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I chose the species The Weapon Born from the Fire of War.

There are several reasons, but the most significant one is its weapon crafting ability. It promises synergy with existing [Skills] and seems to offer high versatility. 

Additionally, there seems to be no other means to create weapons from Sovereign Beasts. I had asked Ergo before, and it seems only a handful of craftsmen in the entire town can make weapons from Grand Beast materials. 

Given that even Grand Beast materials are so rare, the chance of finding someone who can process Sovereign Beast materials is very low. 

Also, thinking about when I leave this forest in the future, being able to provide my own weapons should be a plus.

“(…Hmm, it’s done.)”

After a while, the burning sensation and overwhelming sense of power unique to evolution settled down. I took another look at my changed body. 

My body was still cubic, but its size had increased significantly. It was now comparable to the trees around and the scale of “Fierce Beasts” like the Forest Turtle, Red Ogre, and Hydra.

“(…Feels like I’ve finally caught up.)”

I brushed aside the branches that were hanging on my body and murmured with a sense of accomplishment. 

The feeling of finally catching up was stronger than the inconvenience of being so big. I was driven by the impulse to move my massive body and wield my strength freely.

“(──But I shouldn’t be distracted by just the size. I need to check the |Status| too.)”

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Species: The Weapon Born from the Fire of War 

Beast Rank: Sovereign Beast  

Soul Accumulation Level: 111 

Stats:  

Life: 1596/1133

Mana: 1308/1427

Power: 585

Toughness: 7039

Resist: 642

Speed: 501

Skills: [Sense of Direction] [Cover]

[Climbing] [Block] [Perfect Defense] 

[Escape Instinct] [Unyielding Spirit] [Whip]

[Compact Whip][Consecutive Hits] [Folly] 

[Transport] [Understanding Intent] [Slash]

[Compact Slash] [Gesture] [Communication] 

[Weapon Body] [Transient Martial Arts] [Flee]

[Body Repair] [Dance] [Swimming] [Flee] [Instant Shift] 

[Cross Counter] [Challenge] [Concentration] 

[Aerial Jump] [Impact] [Storage] [Transportation] 

[Weapon Storage] [Replicant Form] [Bewitching Gleam] 

[Thrust] [Antibody] [Ambush] [Night Vision] 

[Compact Thrust] [Shoot] [Decomposition Liquid] 

[Charge Thrust] [Frenzied Charge] [Charge Slash] 

[Compact Shoot] [Concealment] [Mollusk Body] 

[Powerful Throw] [Receiving]  [Tear Off] [Wave Slash] 

[Wave Thrust] [Capture] [Heavy Slash] [Heavy Thrust] 

[Heavy Shoot] [Precision Shooting] [Poisoned Hands]

[Rapid Regeneration] (NEW) [Weapon Creation] (NEW)

[Intensified Warfare] (NEW) [Multi-Sword Style] (NEW)

[Thousand Blade Genesis] (NEW) [Territory] (NEW)

Unique Skill: [Earth Growth Thunderbolt]

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Wow… my |Life| and |Mana| have both surpassed a thousand naturally! Other |Status| that were in the four hundreds before have all risen above five hundred. The still insane |Toughness| will be reassuring when considering challenging the Forest Turtle. 

“(How about the new [Skills]…?)”

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~Skill Details~

[Rapid Regeneration] 

• • • • Continuously automatically heals injuries and losses. Constantly adjusts the amount of |Life| recovery.

[Weapon Creation] 

• • • • Can create weapons reflecting the material’s properties. Adjusts the weapon performance of crafted items.

[Intensified Warfare]

• • • • Can analyze and record the suitability of materials for weaponization and weapon information. Can modify weapons based on recorded information.

[Multi-Sword Style]

• • • • Adjusts weapon handling skills when using multiple weapons. Adjusts information processing abilities when handling multiple weapons.

[Thousand Blade Genesis] 

• • • • Can rapidly transform targeted material into numerous short blades.

[Territory] 

• • • • Expands and controls the restricted area.

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There are six new [Skills]. [Rapid Regeneration] is probably an advanced version of [Self-Regeneration]. The adjustment to |Life| recovery means that the healing effect on myself is enhanced, like correcting from 100 to 110 recovery.

“(It’s straightforward and easy to use, and faster recovery is genuinely appreciated. But what I’m more concerned about is the rest.)”

The rest are completely unknown [Skills]. With a racing heart, I examined the details of these [Skills]. The first one I focused on was [Weapon Creation]. 

“Aha, it requires |Mana| to use.” 

As I focused on the [Skills] and confirmed their usage, I snapped a nearby tree branch. This tree was heavily affected by the Hydra’s [Dominion: Poison Swamp]. Despite being a thick branch, it had no leaves.

I held the branch, which was about the size of a human arm, like a whip and activated the [Skill]. At the same time as I felt a sensation as if nerves were connecting to the branch, a lot of information about the large branch appeared in my mind—its shape, composition, material, and latent properties. It seemed that I could manipulate these.

First, I focused on the shape. I began to transform the large branch into the shape of a sword.

“(Oh, wait, no, not like that!)”

However, my initial attempt ended in failure. Unlike transforming my own body, I couldn’t get the branch to take the shape I wanted. In the end, I miscalculated the force and bent it incorrectly, then made a mistake with the orientation while trying to correct it. It resulted in a twisted, misshapen object.

“(Alright, it’s a decent weapon. It looks like it could work as a bludgeon.)”

Satisfied with my attempt, I turned my attention to [Intensified Warfare].This skill allowed me to analyze and modify weapons.

The term “modification” sparked my curiosity, so I decided to test it with the branch object I had just made.

“(Oh, this is similar to the previous one.)”

When I activated the [Skill], information about the branch object flowed into my mind. The information was similar to what I had seen with [Weapon Creation], but there were additional details about weapon performance. I could read the strength and special effects of the branch.

Since this object failed during the creation stage, it had no special effects.

“(Alright, let’s modify it and add special effects. [Intensified Warfare]! …And this one uses continuous |Mana|, huh?)”

As soon as I activated the modification ability, my |Mana| started to decrease. It felt like a corresponding amount of |Mana| was consumed each time I made a change to the weapon information. Unlike [Weapon Creation], which required a lump sum of |Mana| upfront, this [Skill] consumed |Mana| continuously.

“(Since it’s just a branch, there aren’t any great latent properties. I’ll keep it simple and increase its strength. It seems easy enough.)”

I decided on a simple enhancement and added the special ability. The object glowed faintly and the modification was complete. It seemed that lower-tier effects could be applied quickly like this.

“(Success! It looks like it can do a lot.)”

Next was [Multi-Sword Style]. This skill was perfect for me since I used multiple weapons. I tried mimicking three crimson spears and found them much easier to handle than before.

“([Slash] and [Thrust]! Alright, it looks like I can activate them simultaneously.)”

Previously, I couldn’t use [Weapon Skills] simultaneously and had to rely on [Transient Martial Arts] for continuous activation, but [Multi-Sword Style] solved that issue. I could now handle [Weapon Skills] with each of the three spears.

For direct combat, this was probably the best option.

“(Next is [Thousand Blade Genesis]. I’m not sure if momentum is needed to create short blades, but… let’s give it a try.)”

Since it was troublesome to snap another branch, I reached out with my whip to a nearby tree. As [Thousand Blade Genesis] also required |Mana|, I poured it in steadily.

“(……Can it still take more?)”

Even though I poured a significant amount of |Mana|, the process seemed to take a long time. I continued to pour in |Mana| for a while. After I poured in about 500 worth, the [Skill] became usable. The cost was a bit higher than expected.

Nonetheless, I decided to try it out since it was completed.

“([Thousand Blade Genesis], activate!)”

In an instant, the tree exploded. It expanded at a speed like a balloon being inflated a hundred times faster. And before I could think, it burst.

The explosion was a deafening noise, like fireworks going off right next to my ears. The exploded tree became numerous short blades and scattered in all directions, following the explosion’s sound.

“(Amazing…)”

Even with |Speed: 501|, the movements of the short blades were almost invisible. The surrounding trees and ground were shredded, and the power was more than sufficient.

This was the power of a Sovereign Beast. It filled me with both dread and excitement. The |Mana| consumption was high, so it couldn’t be used lightly. But as a trump card, it wasn’t bad.

I had examined all the other [Skills]. Now, only the main attraction remained: [Territory]. This ability was possessed by all Sovereign Beast and was said to control the environment itself.

Let’s see it in action now.