*DING!* *DING!* *DING!*
[Hidden Quest Complete]
[Hidden Quest Complete]
[Hidden Quest Complete]
Mako had no clue what triggered three consecutive hidden quests to be completed simultaneously, but he was not going to complain, as there were now even more rewards that he could obtain.
He decided to look at the notification first because he still believed he would be most blown away by the best possible thing, the ability book.
'Open System Interface,' Mako commanded as the main screen was displayed right before his eyes.
Quickly going to the notifications tab, the three messages presented themselves with much more detail this time.
[Hidden Quest Complete]
[Figure out at least three of the system's unique features.]
[Reward: +500 EXP, Query Function, Override Function, A Passive Skill]
[Query Function] ⓘ
[A new icon is now available next to the notifications icon. The user can use this icon to directly ask the system for advice or a question, and the system will try its best to try and answer the question as long as the question is within certain boundaries]
[Override Function] ⓘ
[A new function has been unlocked, which the user can now use manually. Next to every skill and item description, there will now be a small circle that will either be greyed out or lit up blue. If that circle is lit up blue, then the user can perform the override function on that said item or skill and change an aspect of its limits or effects.]
Passive Skill: [(A-Tier) Instant Learning] ⓘ (NO LEVEL)
[A Passive skill that was with the user since the beginning but has now shown itself to the user in the form of a skill. This skill will continue to function in the background, requiring no effort from the user. This skill will instantly teach any ability or skill that the user comes into contact with with the user's permission.]
Although Mako had already discovered these functions, reading all of the descriptions still shocked him. They had now been thoroughly explained, which added a bit more context to what Mako had assumed about them before.
[Hidden Quest Complete]
[Obtain your very first crystal-powered weapon]
[Rewards: +1000 EXP, +5 Attribute Points]
[Hidden Quest Complete]
[Obtain five usable skills]
[Rewards: +600 EXP, Random Attribute Increase]
[Perception has been elevated to 9]
[User has leveled up!]
[Reward: +3 Attribute Points, Random Attribute increase]
[Stamina has been elevated to 12]
[Current Level: Level 6]
Mako had no idea that the system had so many hidden quests pending, but he was happy because he had basically received a whole level-up and attribute increases for free.
After skimming through all of the details about three hidden quests and his level-up, it was finally time for Mako to learn his very first ability.
The book itself had a worn, leather-bound cover, but what stood out the most was the deep red crystal embedded in its center. The crystal pulsed faintly as soon as Mako picked it up, as this was what contained the actual ability, radiating a comforting warmth in Mako's hands.
[Analyze]
Ability Book: [Fire Ability] (LEVEL 3) ⓘ
[An ability book that contains the power to control the element of fire. This ability book already comes with three pre-learned skills]
Skill: [(E-Tier) Elemental Control] ⓘ (LEVEL 1)
Skill: [(E-Tier) Fireball] ⓘ (LEVEL 1)
Skill: (E-Tier) Flame wheel] ⓘ (LEVEL 1)
[Does the user want to instantly learn?]
[YES/NO]
Without hesitation, Mako immediately selected the "YES" option and waited for the cool, tingly feeling that came whenever he learned something new. However, this time, it never came.
"Huh? What is the meaning of this? Why can't I learn the ability?!" Mako shouted out loud, saying that this book was the most expensive thing that he had purchased, and if he couldn't learn it, then it would be a huge setback for him.
[ERROR]
[User's Mentality is too low to learn anything more]
"Wait, what? My mentality? I thought that was just how much I could process at a time. What has it got to do with this?!" Mako asked, clearly frustrated.
"System, give me a detailed explanation about how mentality is used," Mako ordered the system using the brand-new Query Icon.
[The Mentality Attribute is one of the most important attributes of a person as it represents the amount of information a person can process at a time, how high their resistance is against mental and sensory attacks, and how many skills and abilities a person can learn. For most people, there is a limit to how high their mentality will reach as they won't be able to learn more skills or abilities and will most likely be stuck in that power level for life.]
After reading the description, Mako quickly understood that every attribute played a crucial role, and missing even one could severely limit a person's potential.
Mentality was a core attribute, as it determined the number of skills and abilities a person could possess.
This explained why so many people couldn't even learn a single skill; their mentality simply wasn't strong enough to comprehend it, while even those with abilities often hit a wall at the Guardian or Elite rank because their mentality wasn't developed enough to acquire more powers. At that point, the only option left for them was to refine and perfect the abilities they already had.
Gary's words echoed in Mako's mind, reminding him of how he always loved to create a balanced character whenever he played a game. Moving forward, Mako vowed to do the same with his own body.
'Place all the current available Attribute Points in Mentality.' Mako commanded.
[8 Attribute Points have been added to Mentality]
Mako's mentality was now at 10, and when he picked up the ability book again, the same prompts appeared in his line of sight.
[Does the user want to instantly learn?]
[YES/NO]
This time, as soon as Mako selected the "YES" option, a brain-chilling feeling started to erupt in his mind. It felt like the worst brain freeze ever, but soon, it started to become better and better. The feeling started out as painful, but it transitioned into the best feeling in the world as if he was lying on top of silk clouds, all his pain and misery vanishing.
The feeling soon vanished. Mako felt a surge of power and a strange sensation all over his body that just wanted him to erupt, but he quickly focused his will and stopped what would have been a disaster.
[Congratulations! You have obtained the Fire Ability]
[Strength +10]
[Agility +5]
[Stamina +5]
[To activate these boosts, you have to keep your ability active, which will passively drain energy as well as release the aura of a level 3 Fire ability user]
[Current rate of energy consumption: 2 Energy per minute]
These were the boosts that would make even a normal person threaten another, and this was the reason why Mako was so afraid of all his bullies. Not only did they get boosts in stats when they activated ability, but the aura they emitted was also very chocking towards a person who hasn't awakened in power yet.
Now that Mako had achieved it, the first part of his plan to become a decent power user was complete. There would be many more steps that Mako would have to complete before enrolling in military school, but first, Mako decided to test his brand new fire-based skills.
[New skill: (E-Tier) Elemental Control] ⓘ (LEVEL 1)
[Upgradable!] ⓘ
[Elemental Control is the most basic of all skills that each user of an elemental ability has access to where the more you use it, the stronger it gets as it has no defining limit to how high the user's production and control over the element of fire can become]
[Attack: Variable]
[Cost: Variable]
New skill: [(F-Tier) Fireball] ⓘ (LEVEL 1)
[A basic attack from the Fire Elemental Skill Tree that shoots a small ball of fire towards the opponent, where there is a chance for the opponent to get the burning status effect that makes them take a certain amount of continuous damage for a certain amount of time]
[Attack: 15]
[Cost: 30 Energy]
New skill: [(E-Tier) Flame wheel] ⓘ (LEVEL 1)
[A basic attack from the Fire Elemental Skill Tree that can be cast by only fists but is 25% more effective if cast while holding any type of blade. It is a move where the user does a horizontal 360-degree spin while infusing his elemental control onto his fist or weapon, from which flames erupt and spread as far as 5 meters in every direction before fading. Burn damage can not be inflicted when using this move.]
[Attack: 25]
[Cost: 50 Energy]
The word "Mindblown" needed to be redefined as a feeling that occurs when a person experiences a huge shock occasionally. That wasn't the case for Mako, who had been mindblown and shocked repeatedly, as it was becoming the norm for him.
It was late at night at this point when an idea popped into Mako's mind.
"Why don't I test some of these abilities out?" Mako said to himself as he had a wide grin on his face.
**************************
Author's Note: Hey guys! Universal Power System is one of my favorite projects, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. This is my very first work, so expect some amateur writing and a few slips. However, I always try to learn and correct myself so I can create a more coherent narrative. I hope you guys enjoy it. Don't forget to check out my other works!
Come say hi to me on Discord: https://discord.gg/TvjkrdnbE2