Book 2: Chapter 38: Hypocrisy and Skill Obtained

Book 2: Chapter 38: Hypocrisy and Skill Obtained

First was Swordspear Mastery. Lone didn't really expect to get a new effect at expert rank with this skill since it had developed Pierce at Advanced.

That lack of expectation had proven to be correct, sadly.

Passive Skill: Swordspear Mastery

A sub-skill of the skills, [Sword Mastery] and [Spear Mastery] which is critical for swordspear-users and passively allows for better handling and control over swordspears.

All swordspears used by the host will cut and pierce their targets 60% [+30%] more easily.

Grants the talent [Pierce]. Say the word [Pierce] and the host shall perform a piercing strike with 4 times [up from thrice] the host's maximum force on the desired area.

Cost:600 SP [-200 SP] to perform the talent [Pierce]. Mastery:Expert Level 1

While a new effect would have been great Lone wasn't complaining since one of his most commonly used abilities, Pierce, had become both more deadly and cheaper to use.

Polearm Mastery was also a bust on the front of new effects.

Passive Skill: Polearm Mastery

A skill that allows the host to wield polearms with a decent level of competence.

All polearms used by the host will pierce and cut their targets 30% [+15%] more easily.

Cost:N/A Mastery:Advanced Level 1

However, while there was no new ability, his skill with his swordspear had increased massively thanks to this father skill.

Lone also had a creeping suspicion that he'd earn a new effect at expert rank which would be far more powerful than Pierce.

It was only a hunch and one that wouldn't be proven for months, maybe years considering how hard to level this skill was. Still, he was looking forward to seeing if he was right or not.

'Would it take decades or centuries for a normal person to advance an overarching skill like that? Fuck, that sounds torturous,' Lone thought. 'At least I have dozens of other skills I can focus on when I hit roadblocks.'

Regardless, he moved on with the skill summary.

Passive Skill: Light-footed A skill that allows the host to passively walk while producing 15% [+10%] less sound. Cost:N/A Mastery:Intermediate Level 8

A basic raw increase in ability. Lone had expected this since it was just beginner becoming intermediate.

Hamish could still hear him easily no matter how hard he tried to hide but it was clearly becoming a bit of an issue for Breena who was still trying to learn to be as keen as her new teacher was.

Lone's improvements in Light-footed were only serving the better improve Hamish's training of Breena's scouting ability so it was a win-win-win.

Passive Skill: Nausea Resistance

A skill that helps protect the host from nausea.

Reduces the chances that the host will experience nausea in a nauseous situation by 15% [+10%].

Cost:N/A Mastery:Intermediate Level 8

Passive Skill: Fear Resistance

A skill that helps protect the host from their fear.

Reduces all fear the host experiences by 15% [+10%].

Cost:N/A Mastery:Intermediate Level 4

'Bog-standard flat-percentage upgrades. Still, better than nothing,' Lone thought as he ran his fingers through Soph's hair. He also gently rubbed the belly of Kyuubi, who was peacefully curled up atop his chest.

She was frequently let out of The Summoning Room when they went to bed during this trip. She didn't seem to mind being alone with her food, litter and snacks but it would feel wrong to imprison her there constantly.

"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Darkness merged with the shadows and disappeared. "We shall see, Lone. We. Shall. See."

Lone's eyelids snapped open violently and his pupils darted around his and Soph's tent before he sighed deeply.

'I'd rather have had normal PTSD nightmares over that shit...' He glanced at the almost 1,000-year-old woman laying by his side and frowned in concern.

'Was... was it telling the truth? Soph doesn't like that I'm getting her to change like by apologising less and trying to be more social? Or did it mean Sophie? Does she dislike that I want her to be nicer?' It would bother him greatly if that was truly the case.

'Breena too... She's hiding who she really is? What does that even mean? Is she really important or something? Her matriarch... Lossa, wasn't it? Is she related to her somehow, maybe? Why would that matter to me?' He lightly shook his head. 'No, it doesn't matter. Everyone has secrets and whatever hers are, they aren't equal to my and Soph's status as otherworlders. She isn't a hypocrite,' Lone decided with confidence.

As for Hamish... well, Lone didn't really care. 'So what if Darkness claimed he's planning to betray us? He's hesitating, isn't he? This is exactly what my second chance policy is for. Besides, he's bound by my contract.'

The second chance policy. That immediately reminded him of the final person Darkness had focused on, himself.

He thought long and hard about the accusation that had been thrown his way.

Long enough that Soph had woken up and was now playing lazily with the still sleeping Kyuubi. Hard enough that he didn't even choose to train in the morning, instead opting to watch Sophie and Breena battling with Hamish.

Later that same day while they were covering the final stretch to Urd Grun, Lone had made a conclusion from all of his pondering. 'The king did get his second chance. I said to his face that I didn't care and that he wouldn't get one but he already did.'

Lone held his chin as he continued that line of thought. 'He got it before I even had this mentality. He wrongly attacked me with his aura instead of ignoring that I had cut off his son's arms as he had done when other participants were seriously wounded but not permanently injured. Nothing short of death would have been permanent for a crown prince, of all people. Money for healing is no issue even with the wasted ruby-gold coins from the auction.'

He tapped the side of his cheek as he continued, 'Not only that but he also imprisoned me. While he had a right to do so somewhat since I did kill his pet hero, he had no right to torture me given my status as an adventurer. Two chances, both gone. If anything, he got three chances, though not by choice. I didn't break my new code on him.'

As for Sir Ardus, Darkness had actually opened Lone's mind by forcing him to think on the matter seriously. 'That Primal fuck is only kind of right. It's only right if I view everything that son of a bitch did as one, singular chance. That asshole had dozens, hundreds even, of chances. If he survived The Seven Deadly Sins' slaughter and we cross paths with him, I'll hear him out if nothing else but he dies that day if he isn't already six feet under. Even if he's become a Primal-worshipping preacher who manages an orphanage. That man will die.'

As if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders, Lone felt enlightened.

The host has developed the passive skill: Meditation.

"What the actual fuck," Lone exclaimed in sheer disbelief.

Everyone stopped and looked at him. Hamish raised an eyebrow. "Somethin' the matt'r?"

Lone chuckled humourlessly. "I just got the Meditation skill."

"Oh? Congrats," Hamish replied before immediately returning to what he was doing. His interest clearly didn't span that far when it came to Lone's powerful ability to learn from the system.

"Good job, Lone! I knew you could do it," Soph said with a beaming smile spread across her lips.

Lone was happy she had decided not to wear Sophie's helmet since he got to see such a brilliant and honest smile from the woman he loved.

Breena nodded hesitantly. "Uh, um, y-yeah. I'm happy for you."

"Thank you. At least some of us know how to be polite," Lone said loudly and pointedly only to get a grunt in response.

Lone shrugged and pulled up the skill to check its details.

Active Skill: Meditation

A skill that allows the host to reach a place of zen mentally.

The ability to think rationally when upset or angered is passively 5% easier.

Focused thinking while meditating leads to logical conclusions and comprehension of complex matters 5% faster.

Cost:100 SP per 5-minutes. Mastery:Beginner Level 1

'Oh? It's active? Well, right now half of it's passive. Still, I'm so happy I finally got this. Hopefully it helps with the nightmares... if Darkness will let me experience them again,' Lone sighed mentally.

Not long after Lone had gained his new skill, he and the girls were stopped by Hamish who was now wearing a serious expression on his face. He even looked a bit on edge.

"We're only ah few miles away noo." He gestured to a nearby engraved and muralled wall of the Farwind road they were in.

Lone followed him over to it with Soph and Breena at his side.

"Look, goin' in there cocks first willnae lead tae anythin' but complete destruction. Oor destruction. In light o' 'at, ah've ah plan..." the dwarf claimed.