"What was that?" Harrison asked sharply, his tone laced with suspicion.
"N-No, it's nothing," Tyberius replied quickly, though his expression betrayed his confusion.
Harrison narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. "Wait here. I'm going to find something heavier for you to lift," he said, already turning away as he disappeared into the forest.
"Yeah... he definitely has it in for me," Ty muttered under his breath, his voice a whisper that didn't carry past the clearing.
But that wasn't what truly had his attention.
Something far more important had just happened.
"Bastard," he mumbled absentmindedly, then the usual notification flickered across his vision.
[Tyberius Arkwell]
True Name: Ngth'rel Varkhud (Lifespan: 100 years)
Race: Vaylun (Lowest tier Divine Human)
EP: 6,740 / 10,000
Human Factor: Force Fundamental Stage (67%)
Magic: Unawakened
Talent: Unawakened
[Subspace]: ??? Egg
Extra Skill:
Superhuman Strength (Lv1) (Passive)
[Player Ranking]: 319
---
"Yup... I definitely didn't imagine that notification," he thought, wide-eyed.
"Superhuman Strength (Lv1)?"
He focused on the skill, willing more information to appear.
> Superhuman Strength: Grants the user physical strength beyond human limits. (Passive)
"A skill that lets me lift a boulder the weight of a five-litre keg... and it's only Level 1?" he whispered, astonished.
He couldn't help but wonder what would happen as the skill levelled up? How strong could he actually become?
"Is this because of my sub-race? The Vaylun?" he pondered aloud, eyes narrowing.
This discovery changed everything.
He hadn't known Extra Skills were even possible for him to acquire. And all he had to do to acquire it was to lift something he shouldn't have been able to, just one act beyond his limits.
"Could I awaken other skills too, just by pushing myself in different ways?" The idea burned bright in his mind. It had happened once so who's to say it couldn't happen again?
Driven by curiosity and with time to spare before Harrison returned, Ty made a decision.
No more waiting, he would test the theory for himself.
He started by running, a simple but potentially effective idea. If strength came from lifting, then maybe speed or endurance would come from movement.
One minute in, nothing.
Two minutes, still nothing.
Three, four, five... by the time he reached the eight-minute mark, sweat was pouring down his face. His legs burned, lungs aching, but he refused to stop.
Nine minutes. Still no notification.
Ten minutes!
> [Ding! You have awakened the Extra Skill: Superhuman Speed]
[Ding! You have awakened the Extra Skill: Superhuman Stamina]
He collapsed to the ground, panting so hard his chest heaved. Every breath felt like fire. He had pushed himself beyond what his small frame should've been capable of.
"So the condition for an extra skill attainment is to exceed my limits?" he gasped, realisation dawning.
"Bastard," he muttered again, laughing weakly as he lay in the dirt.
[Tyberius Arkwell]
True Name: Ngth'rel Varkhud (Lifespan: 100 years)
Race: Vaylun (Lowest tier Divine Human)
EP: 6,800 / 10,000
Human Factor: Force Fundamental Stage (68%)
Magic: Unawakened
Talent: Unawakened
[Subspace]: ??? Egg
Extra Skills:
- Superhuman Strength (Lv1) (Passive)
- Superhuman Speed (Lv1) (Passive)
- Superhuman Stamina (Lv1) (Passive)
[Player Ranking]: 319
"It's risen," he whispered. The EP had increased. That caught his attention more than the skills themselves.
Previously, his EP increased slowly, passively without him doing anything. Though the increase was meagre compared to when he directly absorbed the essence from the water into the orb.
When he does that, he gets a boost in the increase. However, it never once topped a sudden jump of 60 EP points in just 10 minutes?
This was the first time he had experienced such.
Could awakening an Extra Skill directly influence his EP? And the increase was by no means a small one.
This was a great find for Tyberius. He had been feeling somewhat disappointed with the recent slow rise in his EP, but now?...
If there were only one logical course of action to take now, it would be for him to work on gaining more EP if only to continue the absurd boost of EP points earned.
Gaining Extra Skills would be considered an additional benefit. The more important one is filling his required 10,000 EP in hopes that it would lead to his awakening that would then unlock his Magic and Talent.
Ty could barely wait anymore.
As he dwelt in happiness following this discovery, something else popped up:
[Notice! Extra Skill Fusion!]
Ty sat up so fast his head spun.
"Fusion?" he echoed.
[Extra Skill: Superhuman Strength (Lv1), Superhuman Stamina (Lv1), Superhuman Speed (Lv1) have fused to become Skill: Indomitable Physique (Lv1)]
[Notice!]
[You have unlocked the Vaylun Intrinsic Skill: Indomitable Physique!]
[Indomitable Physique (Lv1) has triggered the awakening of all related physical Extra Skills:]
• Superhuman Durability: Unlocked
• Superhuman Reflexes: Unlocked
• Superhuman Endurance: Unlocked
• Superhuman Metabolism: Unlocked
Skill: Indomitable Physique (Lv1) (Passive)
An evolved form of the basic skill 'Heightened Physique,' exclusive to members of the Vaylun.
[Description]:
A manifestation of total bodily supremacy. The Indomitable Physique is the convergence of all primal physical attributes elevated to a superhuman state. With this skill, the user's body becomes a fortress of unstoppable might, unmatched speed, unbreakable resilience, and tireless endurance. Every cell functions at peak performance, harmonised through perfected muscular and skeletal control.
[Effects]:
🦾 Titanic Strength: Crush steel, uproot trees, collapse structures barehanded.
⚡ Lightning Movement: Move faster than the eye can follow.
🛡️ Ironclad Durability: Skin and bones can resist bullets, flames, and massive impacts.
🔁 Large Stamina Reserve: Extended combat time and movement without tiring.
⚙️ Combat Reflex Engine: Reflexes act on instinct, dodging and countering in milliseconds.
🔥 Accelerated Metabolism: Neutralises poisons, diseases, and enhances regeneration.
💢 Pain Resistance: Injuries barely register, continue fighting with broken bones or worse.
Ty blinked, still lying on the ground, staring at the sky with a dazed expression.
"So... I've basically been a broken character this entire time," he said slowly, laughter escaping him like a wheeze.
"I've spent all this time moping around, doubting myself, not knowing I've been carrying literal god-tier potential in my blood?"
He couldn't decide whether to be ecstatic or furious with himself.
But one thing was certain.
"Father... thank you so very much for sending me on this expedition," he said aloud, a slow, eager grin spreading across his face.