The newly appeared skill is also extraordinary, another skill with multiple effects. While enhancing mental defense, it also provides an attack power boost during sword fights, making it quite exceptional.
Two consecutive sword-related skills are both very powerful and rare, yet he has no talent for magic. It seems all his talent points have been allocated to swordsmanship.
Loki is gradually gaining a comprehensive understanding of Eiji's lopsided talents.
"What do you plan to do?"
Loki asked with an eager smile.
"Upgrading with this status is completely feasible, but it seems you haven't reached your limit yet..."
Actually, he's very close to the limit.
It looks like Endurance can only be improved by a few dozen points, and given his lag in Magic, the upper limit is probably around D, unlikely to reach C.
"Let's level up."
Eiji didn't hesitate for a moment; this was exactly why he came.
Indeed, pushing all ability values to their limits before levelling up would yield greater enhancements in the future. But for Eiji, there's no need to be fixated on this.
After all, with his ability to traverse worlds, the Blessing is just one of many paths to becoming stronger. There's no need to obsess over the Blessing alone.
In contrast, he cherishes the present time more.
In three days, the Loki Familia will embark on an expedition, a great opportunity for him to gain a lot of experience. He absolutely cannot miss this chance. If he does, gaining the same amount of experience would likely take at least two to three times longer.
But for Eiji, time is the most valuable.
He must grow as quickly as possible before the cooldown on his world-traversing ability ends, then return to the Rakudai world to fulfill his promise to his senior sister.
"Then let's do it!"
Loki was full of enthusiasm, her hands trembling with excitement.
The most incredible child since coming to the lower world is about to level up under her hands.
"By the way, this level up will also trigger a unique grace—Development Abilities!"
"Development Abilities?"
"Exactly, simply put, it's a more specialized ability, a bonus from levelling up..."
After reaching Level 2, each level up might reveal one or more Development Abilities, from which adventurers can choose one to learn. Of course, it's also possible to find none.
Development Abilities include Hunter, Blacksmith, Abnormal Resistance, Mage, Alchemy, etc., and their appearance depends on the adventurer's experience tendencies.
For example, if one is frequently paralyzed by monster poison, the Abnormal Resistance Development Ability might appear upon levelling up.
"What are my Development Abilities?"
"Swordsman and Hunter."
The Swordsman Development Ability enhances growth and combat for swordsmen, but this effect is completely overshadowed by Eiji's skills [Ten Years of Sharpening a Sword] and [Sword Heart's Valor].
The Hunter Development Ability allows adventurers to boost certain abilities when facing monsters they've previously defeated. This ability can only be obtained by killing a large number of monsters in a short period.
"I recommend Hunter. This ability is very popular, even recognized by the gods! And it only appears when levelling up from Level 1 to Level 2, never again. Comparatively, the Swordsman ability is almost useless to you."
Indeed.
Actually, the Hunter's activation condition of "fighting previously defeated monsters" isn't that great, but compared to the Swordsman ability, which is even more redundant for him.
"Then I'll choose Hunter."
"OK!"
To be fair, Eiji would prefer to choose Swordsman, as it best matches his innate swordsmanship. However, efficiency should always be the priority.
In the upcoming expedition, Hunter will undoubtedly provide significant benefits, whereas Swordsman would be meaningless. Therefore, it's better to choose Swordsman when levelling up to Level 3 in the future.
The falna on Eiji's back showed signs of sublimation, and Loki enthusiastically wrote and drew on it, releasing radial ripples from the center point.
After a while, the levelling-up ceremony was successfully completed.
==========
[Eiji Nangou]
[LV·2]
[Strength: I·0]
[Endurance: I·0]
[Dexterity: I·0]
[Agility: I·0]
[Magic: I·0]
[Skills: Ten Years of Sharpening a Sword, Sword Heart's Valor]
[Magic: None]
[Development Abilities: Hunter (I)]
==========
Taking the new parchment from Loki, Eiji checked his fresh status.
First, his level had risen to 2, and the proficiency of all basic abilities had reset to 0.
However, this doesn't mean all his efforts up to now were in vain. They have turned into hidden parameters. Eiji could clearly feel that he was completely different from before the level up.
"Leveling up is the sublimation of the container. Your container has undoubtedly been greatly enhanced after levelling up. Now, you just need to continue accumulating proficiency."
This is Loki's explanation.
Accumulate experience, reach the limit, enhance the container, then accumulate experience again, reach the limit again, sublimate again... This cycle is the essence of the levelling-up process.
And as the level gets higher, the adventurer gets closer to the gods.
Perhaps when there's no higher level to reach, the adventurer will truly ascend to godhood?
However, this is just a rumour circulating among the people, without substantial evidence, and the gods will not respond to such matters.
"The Hunter column doesn't seem to have proficiency?"
"Right, Development Abilities don't have proficiency, only levels, but they're hard to improve."
I see.
How hard is it to improve Development Abilities?
For example, Ais also obtained the Hunter Development Ability when she levelled up to 2, but until now, her Hunter ability is only at G.
Consider that Ais is 16 years old, and it's been 8 years since she levelled up to 2. In these 8 years, the Hunter Development Ability has only improved from the tenth level to the eighth level.
But from another perspective, once a Development Ability reaches its peak, it means reaching a level unmatched by any in the lower world, possibly even surpassing the gods!
There was once a sage who mastered the "Mystery" Development Ability to its peak. With this ability, he even created the Philosopher's Stone that could grant eternal life, something even the gods found difficult to achieve.
This shows just how powerful the peak of Development Abilities can be.
Unfortunately, when the sage joyfully presented the Philosopher's Stone to his patron god, the god smashed the stone to pieces and laughed heartily at his crestfallen face.
Since then, no second Philosopher's Stone has appeared, and it has become a legend.
This is a story Loki told Eiji, very much in line with the essence of a fairy tale.
***
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