Chapter 70: Skills
The so-called training wasn't as complicated as imagined. For Elemental Skills, you just needed to cast them continuously. Of course, you couldn't assume that simply casting them non-stop would lead to Proficiency. There was no System AI here to calculate your Proficiency for you.
"To master Magic well, the most crucial part is during Element Accumulation, which is the Charging Phase of the Skill. You must take advantage of these few short seconds to carefully feel how the Elements accumulate and how they then form the power you can wield. Once you gradually become familiar with this Feeling, you'll find that the Speed of Element Accumulation will accelerate as your understanding of the Skill deepens, and the time required to cast the Skill will also slowly shorten. Eventually, some simple Skills can even be cast instantly. Once you achieve this, you can be considered to have completed the preliminary mastery of the Skill."
Yes, the above words were spoken by Cain.
It was easy to say, but doing it was another Matter entirely. I could indeed feel the accumulation and Transformation of Elements, but being able to feel it didn't mean I could understand and master it. It was like a calculation problem; if you didn't even understand the formula, even if someone solved it step by step next to you, you still wouldn't be able to understand.
Moreover, Molten Boulder was fine, with about 10 seconds of Element Accumulation time. Firestorm was more frustrating, with only a short time of less than 3 seconds. Often, before my attention could even focus, it had already formed in my hand, wasting 4 Mana points again.
Throughout the afternoon, I continuously cast Magic. When my Mana was depleted, I would drink a few bottles of potion (potion, not in glossary, will translate as potion) and Rest for a while, waiting for Mana to recover. I could also communicate some Feelings/Emotions with the Summoned Creature, Ghost Wolf, that I had summoned. Although Airdrop Encirclement was the Skill I most wanted to learn right now, I couldn't rush it. First, I had to achieve proficient Command/Direct of these Ghost Wolves' every move. Furthermore, I still didn't know if the Ghost Wolf's Teleport could be controlled (controlled, not in glossary, will translate as controlled). Airdrop Encirclement was still just a thought/Idea/Thought up to now.
It wasn't until evening that I dragged my tired footsteps back to the Inn. I collapsed onto the bed without even eating, my entire Brain spinning as if it were about to split open. This was because casting Magic and feeling those Elements were both extremely draining on Mental Power. About 10 hours of training felt more Painful than fighting for an entire day. The empty Feeling of my Brain being drained made me nauseous. As a Result, the next day, I slept straight until evening before waking up...
Time flew by, and half a month had passed. For half a month, I would go to the Training Ground in the North District in the morning to watch the Arena. If there were High-Level Adventurers competing, I could observe them. If there wasn't much to see, I would go to the archery range (archery range, not in glossary, will translate as archery range) to train my clumsy Archery. Since there were fewer people in the morning, finding a more secluded Corner could help me avoid being mocked by others...
Speaking of this, I was reminded of that Amazon woman again. Logically, she shouldn't go half a month without coming to the archery range to practice. Even the best blade will rust if not sharpened. The only explanation was that she had gone out for a Trial. This made me greatly relieved. To be honest, I didn't really want to meet her. The Pressure was too great.
From afternoon to evening, I spent my time in the open space behind the Church. Learning from the first lesson, I reduced the intensity of my Magic training. The remaining time was used to communicate with the Ghost Wolves. Since I got a handle on the intensity of Mental Power consumption I could bear, the situation of my head splitting with Pain from the first time never appeared again.
After half a month of training, there were some small Results. In terms of Elemental comprehension, I finally confirmed that I wasn't naturally gifted in that area. What others could master in less than a week, I often had to Ponder/Figure Out for ten or eight days to initially grasp. But it didn't Matter. I had a Magic-burning Hook. Others could cast Magic at most a dozen times a day on average, but I could practice hundreds of times. Isn't there a saying that diligence can compensate for lack of talent? So, although my Aptitude/Talent was a bit low, my Speed in comprehending Elements was now no slower than theirs, and even much faster. Moreover, over the past half month, due to the high-intensity consumption of Mental Power, my Energy actually automatically increased by 1 point. Although it wasn't very useful, it was like Opening the Box after killing a Boss. Extra gains, even if just a little, always made people happy.
The biggest gain was undoubtedly the cooperation with the Ghost Wolves. In fact, communication with Summoned Creatures could be described by the relationship between a Radio Station and a Radio Receiver. When you want to receive information from the Ghost Wolf, you play the role of the Radio Receiver and must constantly adjust your own frequency to receive the Ghost Wolf's information. When you issue a Command/Direct to the Ghost Wolf, you are the Radio Station. The difference is that you still have to adjust your frequency so that the Ghost Wolf can receive it. The Feeling of communication is roughly like this, but the difficulty is much higher, like having to make the frequency hundreds of times more precise to receive it.
Now I can Command/Direct the Ghost Wolves as easily as moving my own limbs. Especially the more steady Ghost Wolf, which I have specifically trained, can now completely understand my meaning. What makes me even happier is that the Idea/Thought of Airdrop Encirclement has been proven feasible. A few days ago, I was able to control one Ghost Wolf to Teleport. It's just a pity that the accuracy isn't high yet; the landing point is often several meters away from the location I designate. It seems more practice is needed.
Actually, controlling Airdrop Encirclement, to put it simply, is using my Mental Power as a Mouse to Command/Direct the Ghost Wolf's Teleport. However, to eventually control 5 Ghost Wolves to Teleport simultaneously, the required Mental Power is definitely not as simple as multiplying by 5.
Of course, I haven't neglected Poison Creeper and that Lazy Crow. I still summon them frequently during my leisure time to say a few words...
I've also been to Lars's house a few times, but unfortunately, they must have gone on a Trial to some unknown place and haven't returned. Auntie Shari's expression (complexion/expression, not in glossary, will translate as expression) is also growing more worried. And Little Shara, speaking of her makes me even more upset. I can clearly feel the hesitation in her eyes, wanting to speak several times but stopping, yet she just doesn't dare to Approach me. It was like this once, and it was like this twice. Auntie Shari just smiled strangely and wasn't willing to tell me the reason. Seeing Little Shara become more and more withdrawn day by day, I also ended up feeling dejected. Since meeting each other doesn't go well for either of us, what's the point of meeting again? In the end, I also became disheartened. I haven't gone over these past few days, to avoid feeling disturbed (disturbed/agitated, not in glossary, will translate as disturbed).
With a "嗖" sound, the arrow in my hand flew out, not even grazing the edge of the target.
I threw the bow in my hand onto the ground in frustration. My condition has been terrible these past few days. Not only has my Skill training made no progress, but even my Archery, which I had made some headway with, is shooting wildly, missing nine out of ten times. Ultimately, it's due to my bad mood.
Looking at the Sun that had risen to high noon, I didn't Plan/Intention to continue practicing. I'll take a good Rest today. I might as well skip the afternoon Skill training too, I thought with a bit of self-abandonment.
I bought some Wheat Cake and milk wine (milk wine, not in glossary, will translate as milk wine) from a nearby stall and Reluctantly/Barely filled my stomach. I pondered how to change my current State. Continuing to be this agitated wouldn't do. Either I figure out why Sha La is avoiding me, or I do something to adjust my mindset.
Pondering the feasibility of the two plans, I walked aimlessly on the street: Why is Little Shara avoiding me? This question seems quite strange. Unless I ask Akara to use the Great Eye to peek into her Idea/Thought, I have no way to start. Auntie Shari isn't willing to tell me the reason. Alas, forget it, women are the most complicated.
As for entertaining myself and adjusting my mood, I thought about it and finally smiled bitterly. In this world, there are no computers, no televisions, and even basic entertainment is lacking. All I could think of were bars, Casinos, and the "that place" the unscrupulous Barbarian Brothers mentioned.
Bars? Drowning sorrows in alcohol only makes sorrows worse. Casinos? I'm not interested in that. As for "that place," while as a Man, I was indeed eager to try, as a Chinese person who still retained traditional thoughts, I didn't want to give my first time there...
I was troubled, my eyes wandering unconsciously on the street, looking at the bustling stalls. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck me.
That's right, how could I forget!!!
In the Game of the original world, the Stall Setting Skill, known as the ultimate Skill that even Novices could learn, how could I have forgotten it? A Player who hasn't set up a stall isn't considered an excellent Player at all (except for RMB Players). As a former Game enthusiast, how could I resist its 'temptation' (temptation, not in glossary, will translate as temptation)...
Thinking of this, my otaku Soul couldn't help but burn. The bothersome Matter was temporarily put aside. I looked left and right and chose a stall in a more secluded location. I threw a few Gold Coins over, and the Stall Owner left with a smile.
As for why I chose a more secluded stall, damn it, think about it! All I had on my Body that I could sell were some Slightly Red Potions. If I set up in a lively place, they would be snatched up by the Class Changers in an instant. How could I talk about enjoying the Fun/Enjoyment of setting up a stall then! I'm not short on Money, so the ultimate enjoyment of setting up a stall, for me, isn't selling everything on my Body in the shortest amount of time. It's making a place lively even in a secluded and desolate Corner, just by setting up my own stall there. That sense of accomplishment is the King!