Chapter 172 - Research Part 6

"Now it is settled, let us proceed to the next one. Next is Greaz of the Lycan department," Joan announced in a loud voice, facing him.

It was then, he approached him. Standing in his front then coughed on his hands.

"Just like Bruck, I also wanted my summons to get stronger. Not that I am unconfident or what but wanted to at least make my pets stronger," He explained.

Knowing about this, Joan contemplated. It was surely the right choice for him now. As summons will get tougher while being strong already. Adding to this, the summons of the Lycans can regenerate, contrary to the Druid summons who won't. Making them stronger will be the right choice of action.

As Joan started, he made an imprint that was based on passive skill. Nourishing the stats of the pets by using the mana of the caster as nutrition. As this skill will be slow in progress but the results will be shocking. As Joan observed, this skill will be on par with the Druid's [Flora and fauna mastery]. It was not even a shocking matter to him if it will happen.

After creating the skill, he went inside his soul realm then went on his skill tree, where all his skills were present. As he inserted it into one of the branches, he immediately went out of his soul realm. He went back on his body then he opened his eyes.

"So it is a success?" Asked Greaz.

"Yes," Joan smiled.

"Good, let us test it then," Greaz said to him.

He went to the seats then went into a lotus position. Focusing on himself, he started cultivating the skill. Upon his surprise, he felt that slowly, his pets were growing stronger and stronger. Not only his pets but also his beast form. In utter happiness, he chuckled low then louder and louder.

"Hahaha! I haven't seen such a skill in many decades. But this! This will change everything!" Greaz shouted.

"So it is a success?" Joan asked.

"Yes! But it consumes mana drastically. Still, it will be available for Master rank and up," He said.

"I name the skill [Beast mastery]. It has lower mana consumption compared to Druid's summons as they tend to be slightly weaker. But that also leads to the growth of your beast form. The growth is divided and so your growth speed is slower.

"Though your mana consumption is lower and that is good news. You can cultivate longer than usual. Though slightly lower in mana consumption doesn't mean that it is not huge. It is only a tier lower in mana consumption compared to the Druid's. And they have huge mana consumption at that," Joan explained.

"Ah, I see, well that concludes it. Thank you very much for such an amazing skill. I will have greater leaps in strength with this," He said then bowed his head.

"Nah, thank me later if you found no errors in the skill. I might create more in the future so you can take it for granted," Joan said to him.

"But," He added.

"Sigh, we are all friends here right? It is my utmost happiness to help my friends get stronger. Especially all of you," Joan said as he patted his shoulders.

"Okay," He replied.

"Well, for the last one? Weldebert of Fighter department," Joan announced.

"At last," He walked towards Joan then bowed.

"I would want to ask for a skill that lessens our bruises on our feet and hands. Something that alleviates the pain when we strike or when we are struck. That is all," Weldebert said then lifted his head.

"On it, is that all that you would like to ask?" Joan asked him.

"Yes," He replied with resolute eyes.

"Okay," Joan replied.

Joan then started working on his skill-making. Having made the imprint, he made a program that nourishes the skin. Making it reduce the damage but still flexible when touched. It didn't make the skin harder but was still tender. This skill was made for conditioning the skin to become not easily cut or bruised.

"I call this skill [Skin conditioning]. As this skill implies, it will make your skin bear harsh beatings. It can make your skin uncuttable with blades or pierce with spears.

"Also blunts will have trifling pain to you. When training this, you have to have a resolute mind as you will be physically attuned with the skill. Meaning, you will have to beat yourself while putting mana to your skin.

"By that, you will increase the mastery of your skill. But fret not, your efforts will be rewarded generously. Your prowess will become stronger by leaps and bounds with this skill," Joan explained.

"Wow! At last, we can go all out!" Wildebert almost shouted.

Joan then extracted the imprint from the Skill forge. In the form of a passive skill, he gave it to Wildebert's skill tree and then attached it to one of its branches. Upon finishing, he went back on his self.

"Is it done?" Weldebert asked.

"Yes, you can use it now," Joan said to him.

"Ah yes, I only have a question. Why is it needed to be physically attuned with the skill when we can cultivate the passive skill you gave?" He asked.

"Ah, well you see, you will still feel the pain so you need to train your mind for that. Although you will have minimal damage to yourself, you will still feel the pain inflicted on you. So steeling your mind is one way of reducing flinch on the enemy attacks," Joan explained.

"Ah, I see. Well, I will try the skill first," Weldebert said to him then went to sit on one of the benches. Being in a lotus position.

Upon using the skill, he prepared the mana needed and then started cultivating the skill. To his surprise, he felt that the skill was working on his skin's surface. Stimulating it to be flexible but was making it undamaged when a harmful outer object will assault it. It made his skin resistant to blade damage, blunt and piercing. Resistant but not immune.

Upon testing it, Joan then tested his mind's capacity to handle the blows. Joan smiled at him when he conjured a whip on his hands.

"Well, let's test it out?" Joan grinned.

"Wait, wait! Let's talk this out shall we?" Weldebert shouted.

"Guys hold him off," Joan instructed.

"As you wish," Troan said to him.

They held him off then Joan prepared to whip him.

"Use the skill now and let us see if it is effective," Joan said to him.

It was then he whipped him on his back and then, to all their surprise, there was no evidence of it being damaged at all.

"Good, it is working!" Joan exclaimed.

"Guys, you all nearly gave me a heart attack. Don't do that again," Weldebert said to them.

They can only laugh at his remarks and so they all finished their mission for that day. To Joan, that day was fruitful and he managed to create more skills just from their desires. Making a way for their weakness to be alleviated and solved. That also made their weakness their strengths. Making Joan happy deep inside.

As the day has ended, the afternoon came. Joan then slept on one of the seats while they were busy cultivating the newfound skills they received.

It was then, the principal arrived with his mage robes and his staff. Seeing them testing their skills made his baffle. He knew that they will surely behave that way when they received the skills that he made. Upon his visit, he saw that Joan was sleeping at the moment and so, he waited for him to wake up. He drank coffee from one of their cabinets with a kettle on one of the stoves still boiling.

Joan woke up and then he saw that the Principal was watching him.

"So you have woken up? I am impressed that you made them all riled up with your works. As a representative of this school, I am thanking you for your efforts. I can see that you are tired. You can have a cup of coffee with me as we are talking," He said to Joan then sipped another round of coffee.

As he saw the principal talking, he squinted his eyes then groaned. Blinking twice, he realized that it was the principal that he was with.

"Oh, Principal! I didn't know it was you!" Joan exclaimed.

"Hahaha! It is fine, I am sorry to disturb you on your rest. I am only here to tell you of some matters about the cultist on this school," He said.

"Go on, I am listening," Joan said while preparing his cup of coffee.

"I planned to let you infiltrate the designated place at the time of the tournament. I hope you are not busy that time and has no plans yet on that day," The Principal said to him.

"No, I have no plans yet for that time. And I think that is the best time to infiltrate. I will also recon the place first with my Rogue then a map of the place will also become extremely useful on such occasions when I will infiltrate.

"On the time of need, I will get help from the director's elites and cleanse the place from the cultist. No stone left unturned," Joan said.

It was then he sipped his cup then sighed.

"Sadly, I can not support my students and watch them battle," Joan said to him.

"Yeah, some things must be sacrificed for the time being. And I am sure that they will do their best not to disappoint you," The Principal said to him.

"Yeah, I know," Joan replied, sipping again his coffee.