'Enhanced Strength? Rapid Regeneration? These two are perfect for close combat. And, with Fire Dragon Roar, I have a proper combat style against my enemies.'
'Even if I encounter a Fourth Rank, I only need something to boost my strength. Considering the empty card that I have, I can create something good.'
'For now, though, let's see what Shadow Manipulation has stored for me!'
He watched as the cards of his Shadow Manipulation started merging. The first three cards that merged were first, fourth, and seventh.
As these cards merged, a large amount of natural energy poured into the process, and soon after, a new card emerged, followed by a bright purple light.
[First Skill- Shadow Knight]
By merging the intellect and expertise of the user into the shadow formed from this ability, one could create a shadow figure as capable and well-trained as a hunter.
This was an upgraded form of Shadow Warrior.
If Shadow Warrior was an untrained man with a sword, then Shadow Knight was a trained man with a sword.
The difference was clear. The ability to transmit his skills into the shadow meant more responsibilities.
He could learn more fighting styles and give a certain number of knights certain expertise, like swordsmanship, marksmanship, and assassination.
But that wasn't the end. The second card slowly emerged from the destruction of the second, fifth, and eighth common cards.
[Second Skill- Shadow Vines]
This skill was quite a surprise. But considering the previous skills like Shadow Move, Shadow Suppression, and Shadow Swords, it made sense.
This skill allowed him to extend his shadow in the form of vines.
These vines could latch onto the enemies' shadows and forcefully suppress their movements.
It was an incredible skill that could completely change the direction of the battle.
Finally, the last card emerged. When Tyler got the information about this card, he was stunned.
[Third Skill- Shadow Replacement]
This was a skill, a godly skill in the form of a Heroic label.
It allowed him to use the shadow as a teleportation mark. By infusing his shadow into someone, he could instantly appear next to them.
His body didn't need to move through the shadow. He could simply reach any shadow he had touched with just a thought.
Of course, there was a reason why this was a Heroic Skill, not a Legendary or Ultimate Skill.
It could only be used on three targets at Fourth Rank. Six Targets at Fifth Rank, and the number would increase by three with every rank.
This was just its first limitation.
The second limitation was even more troublesome. Until reaching the Seventh Rank, this ability wouldn't even be able to teleport other people.
At the same time, the third limitation was the extension of the second one. To teleport other people, the shadow mustn't harm others.
Because of his ability, he could merge with the shadow much more easily. But the same couldn't be said for the other people.
So, the next two Heroic Skills must help remove those harmful states. Only this way could he upgrade Shadow Replacement into an Epic Skill.
'Holy shit! This is connected. I should've expected this. I can't create random abilities anymore.'
'I can't create random totems anymore. Thankfully, my abilities were much more interconnected.'
'And, each of them has powerful potential. Although Ant might be simple, I can add other insects and combine their skills with the ant.'
'Only this way can I improve it. I don't need to worry about Dragon and Elves since they are at the top of the food chain.'
As he thought about it, he mentally connected himself with the system's inventory and pulled out the Blank Heroic Card.
At the same time, he also got a notification inside the space in front of the ability crystal.
[Item- Heroic Skill Blank Card
Description- A card that holds the mechanism of a Heroic Skill. As long as it doesn't break the limitation of Heroic Class, it can be created.
How to Use- Create the function of the skill in your mind, and infuse it with mental energy, and attach the card within the Ability Crystal
How to Activate- Call out the name of the skill
How to Forms- Breaks down the card into common cards, creates common class skills based on the vision, and merges them to create a Heroic Skill.]
As he read the description, he understood the mechanism behind it.
Basically, he didn't need to think about three different skills. Rather, this card would create those skills for him.
He just needed to think about the final product, which was Heroic Class Skill.
Thinking about it, he imagined the function of his new skill.
He had already planned what it's gonna be. This idea emerged when he found Enhanced Strength and Rapid Regeneration to be his Heroic Skills.
Now, putting that idea and releasing his mental energy, he copied the idea and infused it into the card.
Then, he floated in front of the crystal and placed the card on top of it.
Now, he just had to retreat and wait.
It turned out that this process wasn't so easy. It took much longer than he expected.
Since he was inside this space the whole time, he wasn't aware of how much time had passed.
And, considering he was constantly using his mental energy, he was starting to get tired as well.
Soon, a new card emerged from the crystal, and the information was sent to Tyler through the mental energy link.
[Fourth Skill- Lightning Cloak]
This was a skill derived from the Lightning Element of the Dragon. This skill was forged to improve his strength, speed, and defenses.
By enhancing his cells with lightning, he could achieve a cloaking state where lightning would act as an enhancer.
To create this skill, three common cards were produced inside the crystal.
[Lightning Generation] [Lightning Control] [Lightning Enhancement]
After merging these cards, Lightning Cloak was formed.
But after it was formed, Tyler pulled it away from the crystal as he watched the other six cards merge with the Ability Crystal.
To reach Fourth Rank, he must possess three Heroic Cards. For him, it was six, considering his two abilities.
But that was only one of the requirements. When he explained this to Rose, he left out a few key points.
He would need to merge his Aura with the Ability Crystal. To produce Aura, he must constantly utilize his physical energy and mental energy.
In other words, this wasn't a simple process that could be done in just a few days.
That's why he didn't take that Natural Fruit. His body had reached the point where he could take a few days and produce enough Aura to advance.
But the same couldn't be said for Rose.
Her advancement was close, and she only lacked Natural Energy to create skills inside her Ability Crystal.
So, giving her Natural Fruit helped.
Natural Energy was a product of nature. It worked with Ability Crystal to produce skills while also enhancing human abilities after each rank.
Humans hadn't identified how it was done. They did manage to copy some of it to create Runes.
But fully understanding it was out of their reach.
Aura was rather an interesting energy produced by humans. It could be stored, but not within the body.
It could only be stored within that space. Aura could immensely increase the strength of a hunter.
Monsters had one part of the Aura: Physical Energy.
Spirits had one part of the Aura: Mental Energy.
Because of this, they were incompatible. But since humans possessed Aura, they were also the best food for monsters and spirits.
Not all humans were hunters, much less Rank Two hunters. So, why would spirits and monsters hunt ordinary people?
That was the question that haunted humanity for a while, but it was an easy question.
It took less than a month for humans to find a concrete answer.
It wasn't because of territory or natural energy. It was only due to the human body, or rather.
Soul and Body!
The source of mental and physical energy was the soul and the body. So, by consuming humans, spirits and monsters could improve their strength.
Of course, they could also absorb Natural Energy, but humans were resources that could speed up their progress.
Right now, Tyler was one step closer to reaching Fourth Rank. He just had to infuse enough Aura to advance his Ability Crystal.
Unlike going from Second Rank to Third Rank, the progress from Third to Fourth was extremely massive.
If the Third Rank was a small rifle, then the Fourth Rank was a Machine Gun.
In the hands of a skilled fighter, the Fourth Rank could easily kill hundreds of Third Rank hunters.
This kind of difference was caused by the mixture of Aura into the Ability Crystal.
Tyler slowly opened his eyes as he felt exhaustion hit his body. Looking at the clock, it was only twelve at night.
'Very well! I can test the power of my Heroic Skills tomorrow.'
'And, also understand what the difference is between infusing Aura on the skill and on the ability crystal.'
' But for now!'
As soon as he finished thinking, he fell on his back and closed his eyes.