Wain improved one of his skills and decided on the evolution of the other two. He decided to look at the evolutionary options for two more skills before heading to Sven for information. Then with the new knowledge, he would finish choosing the other skills.

"Okay, moving on." Said Wain and moved on to the next skill.

[You chose to develop the Distant Bullet skill.]

[You have used 8% of your Soul Essence. The Distant Bullet skill is ready to be developed. Choose one of two ways]

[Improve Chronicle skill]

[Improve Rating skill]

Wain made the same choice as he always has, and several options appeared before him.historical

[Magic Missile]

[Resonating Click]

[Tearing Bullet]

'Three... not bad...' Thought Wain and moved on to the first skill.

[Magic Missile (First Chronicle Active Skill, Epic Rating)

When using the skill, energy gathers at one point and turns into a sphere. The energy then bursts out of the sphere and turns into a powerful beam capable of piercing most First Chronicle creatures.

This powerful skill requires a moderate amount of energy and has no negative effects. Ideal for those whose Energy is quite high, as this skill depends entirely on the amount of energy the wearer can use.]

[It is possible to develop this skill if the following conditions are met.

[Need a First Chronicle Epic Rating Soul with neutral attribute: 0/1. Ten First Rank Essence with neutral attribute: 0/10.]

"Neutral Attribute? What's that? Does that mean there shouldn't be an attribute?" Wain muttered.

He didn't know how many different attributes existed, and he learned something new each time. Wain thought for a while and then shook his head.

"No, it's probably not a missing attribute. The Neutral Attribute is the same as the Fire Attribute, but it's probably something different. There are more questions and fewer answers each time..."

Wain read the skill description again carefully. He noticed that in First Chronicle, the skills have quite a few branches in their development. This applied to both Dark Sword and Distant Bullet, the first version of which was unusual.

"It's like magic. Hmm, I'm not sure, but there's probably not a strict division between skills, spells, or martial arts techniques in this world. Most people use skills because of the apocalypse and killing monsters, but Selena's skills are pretty much like spells.

The girl I fought in the Purgatory zone also had abilities similar to magic. She could use them to open a portal for their elder to help them. Perhaps I should choose the Magic Missile to open the path of magic for me?"

Wain nodded and moved on to the next option. He thought his theory might be true, but he couldn't be entirely sure.

[Resonating Click (First Chronicle Active Skill, Epic Rating)

When used, energy builds up in your fingers, and you can make one loud click. This is a two-step and two-level attack.

The click will be incredibly loud for everyone but you, and creatures with low stats can have their eardrums burst. Even if the creature has no ears, the sound waves will directly attack the brain, causing your enemy to experience a hell of a lot of torment.

Your enemies will be stunned for about one second. The stronger the enemy, the shorter the stun effect lasts, and some enemies won't care about it].

[It is possible to develop this skill if the following conditions are met.

[Requires a First Chronicle Epic Rating Soul with sound attribute: 0/1. Ten units of First Rank Essence with sound attribute: 0/10 is required.]

'What a curious skill... I've never seen anything like this before. So far, most of the skills I've seen have been attacking, but this is something else. I could call it a debuff, right?' Wain thought, rereading the description of Resonating Click.

[Tearing Bullet (First Chronicle Active Skill, Epic Rating)

The use creates an ordinary bullet, which begins to heat up over time. This process can be accelerated and intensified by significantly and dramatically increasing the bullet's velocity. During a hard throw or a powerful shot, the bullet will quickly heat up.

The final strength of the bullet depends on how far it flew and at what speed. Eventually, when the bullet reaches the target, it explodes into dozens of red-hot fragments and tears the enemy's flesh apart.

This is a cruel weapon that would be forbidden for use in most places of the world].

[It is possible to develop the skill if the following conditions are met.

[Requires a First Chronicle Epic Rating Soul with Fire Attribute: 0/2. Twenty units of First Rain Essence with Fire Attribute: 0/10.]

"That's strong... but I prefer to go the way of magic. I wonder how I can develop Magic Missile in the future? It will surely be something incredible." Mumbled Wain and made up his mind.

"I just upgraded Oblivion Thunder to The Fall of Thunder Eye. Perhaps I should try to develop this skill again? No, that probably doesn't make sense, I need to think in a different direction. I need to develop my additional soul."

[You decided to improve your soul - Black Thunder's Renegade]

[You have used 21% of your Soul Essence. Black Thunder's Renegade soul is ready to develop. Choose one of two ways]

[Improve Soul Chronicle]

[Improve Soul Rating]

Black Thunder's Renegade was still a Primary Chronicle soul, so Wain wouldn't even consider the second option. He urgently needed to make his soul more powerful.

[You decided to improve your Chronicle soul.]

As always, in this case, Wain had no options. All he had in front of him was a list of conditions.

[You need a First Chronicle Rare Rating Soul with darkness attribute: 0/10. First Chronicle Rare Rating Soul with lightning attribute: 0/10]

"Damn... that looks complicated summarily I need twenty First Chronicle Rare Rating Souls. Hmm, I'm not likely to find that many souls in Dungeons and Nest in my world right now. It's been a little over three months since the apocalypse began, and I doubt there are many First Chronicle Dungeons."

Wain thought about where he could get that many souls, and he quickly found the answer.

"Right, I just need to attack the enemy Void, but I need to guess with what monsters will be there. If I declare war on a Void where creatures with the attribute of darkness or lightning dwell, I'll have no trouble meeting the conditions."

Wain still had three skills left, each of which was passive. He decided to look at improvement methods now rather than leave them for later.

[You decided to improve the Heat Resistant Flesh skill.]

[You used 3% of your Soul Essence. The Heat Resistant Flesh skill is ready for development. Choose one of the ways]

[Improve Chronicle skill]

[Improve Rating skill]

[Combine]

"Huh? Combine? What is that?" Wain muttered puzzled, looking at the new option.

An explanation immediately appeared in front of him.

[Normally, you have to choose one of two ways to develop a skill. However, there is also a third. This is a unique situation, and it happens quite rarely, but in this case, you can combine Heat Resistant Flesh with another of your skills that meet the conditions and thus create something more powerful.]

'Hmmm, I see, but what does that depend on?' Wain wondered, and he immediately got the answer.

[Usually, skills should be of the same element or type. However, even if two skills are aimed at healing, it does not mean that it is possible to combine them. There are also very rare cases where the possibility of combining is affected by the skills and main soul of a person.]

Wain smirked. He knew what that meant.

"I guess I still don't fully understand how strong a soul I got..." Said Wain and looked at what skill he could combine Heat Resistant Flesh with.

[Ghost Healing Threads].

'Hmm, one skill is protective, and it can be attributed to the attribute of fire since Heat Resistant Flesh protects against that element. The second skill is probably neutral and aimed at regeneration, they are completely different... However, I can still combine them.'

[You have used 15% of your Soul Essence. Heat Resistant Flesh and Ghost Healing Threads skills are ready to merge].

Then the only option before Wain was how these skills could be combined. Sometimes there could be more options, but that was rare. Commonly, if two skills fit together, they only had one point of intersection.

[Flaming Healing Threads (First Chronicle Passive Skill, Heroic Rating)

This is a hybrid created from the other two skills, but it is independent. It will be useful for all creatures except those whose attribute is ice or water.

If you are wounded, this skill will activate, and fire threads will heal you. It will bring you a little discomfort, but any cuts and other damage will be repaired much faster.

Thanks to fire threads, your regeneration is increased by 60%. Also, your resistance to fire is increased by 20%, and resistance to ice is increased by 30%.

The fire threads are also activated if you are frozen, and the frostbite is instantly reduced. Now you are practically invulnerable to attacks of this type.

Also, this skill has an active part. Once every three weeks, you can use flaming threads to heal a particularly severe wound.

You can even regrow a lost limb or regenerate an organ, but exceptions exist. You cannot regenerate your brain and heart, even if you somehow survive the loss of these organs].

[It is possible to gain the skill if the following conditions are met.

[Requires a First Chronicle Heroic Rating Soul with fire attribute: 0/1. Required a First Chronicle Epic Rating Soul with illusory attribute: 0/1. Fifteen units of First Rank Essence with fire attribute: 0/15. Ten units of First Rank Essence of Illusory Attribute: 0/10]

"Why do I feel like I'll never be able to gather that many materials? Considering the number of souls needed for the previous skills... It could take me an enormous amount of time. Moreover, I have yet to find out what Essence is."

Wain shook his head and moved on to the last skill, options for improving which he had yet to see. Wain did not consider how he could improve Heat Resistant Flesh and Ghost Healing Threads separately as it made no sense.

He thought that combining them into one skill was the best option, and that way, he would get the most effective skill.

Of course, the conditions were difficult, but Wain wasn't going to give up because of such a small thing. He knew better than most that to gain valuable treasures, he had to go through dangerous trials.

[You decided to improve Mastery of Reading]

[You used 1% of your Soul Essence. The Mastery of Reading skill is ready to be developed. Choose one of two ways]

[Improve Skill Rating]

[Improve Chronicle skill]

Wain made a choice and saw several interesting options.

[Genius Reader]

[Militant Reader]

[Caretaker of Symbols]

Wain looked at the description of the first skill.

[Genius Reader (First Chronicle, Rare Rating)

You can read up to ten thousand words a minute, but is it enough to become a genius reader?

Thanks to this skill, you will be able to understand the meaning of some ciphers, solve riddles presented in written form faster, partially understand languages unknown to you.

Also, it is possible to understand some symbols from secret and forgotten languages.]

[It is possible to develop the skill if the following conditions are met.

[Required is any First Chronicle Rare Rating Soul: 0/1. Ten units of any First Rank Essence: 0/10.]

"Pretty good skill and the conditions are rather simple. I have the right soul but no Essence, as far as I know. Okay, I'll have to see the rest of my options."

[Militant Reader (First Chronicle Rare Rating)

You are an experienced reader, and the number of books you have read lately is in the hundreds. You are also an experienced fighter who is used to fighting alone, but you have proven yourself a worthy leader during the war.

Thanks to this skill, you are more likely to read your opponents' strategic moves like a brilliant strategist. This skill is just the beginning of your way, so mistakes are inevitable, but perhaps in the future, you can become a great leader.]

[It is possible to develop the skill if the following conditions are met.

[Need a First Chronicle Rare Rating Soul of the leader creature: 0/1. Ten units of any First Rank Essence: 0/10.]

'This is an impressive skill, and again some unusual soul is needed. Hmm, I probably need to kill a creature followed by a large group of others to get this soul. Someone like the owner of an enemy Void or a clan leader. However, that skill won't work for me.' Thought Wain and moved on to the latter option.

Wain accepted his position as owner of Void, and he didn't mind the role as he got many benefits from it. However, he still didn't want to be a full-fledged leader like Gisle. It was too exhausting for him.

Wain could sometimes give orders and help Frigus and Black Rabbit, but nothing more.

[Caretaker of Symbols (First Chronicle, Rare Rating)

What are the most interesting books? The ones with some mystery hidden in them. Right?

???]

[It is possible to develop the skill if the following conditions are met.

[You must read a thousand books: 0/1000]

"This is something new again... A skill with no description and some absurd condition... However, it's true, one of the greatest pleasures is solving the mystery and finding out the answer." Wain decided that he would develop the skill in this direction.