As I sit on the bed and look around, I see Glia sleeping comfortably by my feet, her chest rising and falling in a rhythmic motion. Thanks to her, I was able to survive so long fighting yesterday. She was the one pumping mana into my body and converting it so I could use it during the battle. I could feel her effort and concentration the whole time.
"Time to check my levels." I’ve been gaining a few for some time now. The dungeon gave me another small boost, especially after fighting the guardian boss, and yesterday’s situation added to it. The more danger I face, the more levels I gain—that’s the fast track.
"What the hell is this?" I almost shouted when I saw the last notification. "So that was the sensation I felt yesterday." I’ve been practicing for a long time to acquire two Laws. I focused a lot on the pseudo Law of Electricity and set the other aside. But luck was on my side, and in a critical moment, I was able to grasp what sharpness truly is.
"You have learned the pseudo Law of Sharpness."
The experience from my past life, combined with this one, helped me quickly understand what sharpness in a cut means. Right now, I’m so happy I want to jump out of bed and dance. My second pseudo Law is more than welcome—it will help me pierce through any opponent in my path.
After thinking about it for so long, the closest thing to a definition from my point of view is: "Sharpness, in its purest essence, is the ability to divide, to separate what must be cut from what must remain intact. It is not merely the edge of a blade, but the precision with which it is applied. Sharpness is the harmony between intent, form, and execution. A weapon may be sharp due to its material, but it becomes truly lethal when the wielder understands when, where, and why to cut. In that sense, sharpness is both a property and a concept: it is clarity, purpose, and absolute focus in a single instant. And in combat, that instant decides everything."
"Let’s review my full status." Maki: 12 years old – Advanced Emerald Rank.
SKILLS:
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Death Sharpness (IV) – level 4 to level 6
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Fortified Construction (III) – level 14 to level 18
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Unified Moldable Mana (III) – level 17 to level 19
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Electrifying Charged Steps (III) – level 10
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Domain (III) – level 14 to level 17
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Frozen Core (III) – level 15 to level 18
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Vital Synthesis (III) – level 12 to level 15
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Gravity Well (II) – level 9 to level 13
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Interwoven Mana Weave (III) – level 3
Laws and Pseudo Laws:
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Yin-Yang Law: Life and Death
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Pseudo Law of Ice
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Pseudo Law of Sharpness
Seeing all these skills and Laws makes me as happy as trying new food. It feels so rewarding to grow stronger each day through my own effort—my childhood training is finally bearing fruit.
"Am I ready now?" I realized this some time ago—I’m ready to rank up if I want to. I haven’t done it because I want to raise some skills to rank (IV) for better benefits. Still, my body feels completely ready. I feel an internal pressure telling me to ascend.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
But I won’t. I’ll follow my word and instincts and try to push my skills as far as possible. Gravity Well will be impossible to get past rank (III) level 10. It’ll be stuck just like my movement skill. According to my grandmother, the best option is to acquire a Pseudo Law or Law of Space. It wouldn’t just help those two skills—it could enhance my Domain (III), since I used a reward to surpass its bottleneck.
Should I give up on getting a Pseudo Law of Electricity? Should I try for one of Space instead? These doubts cloud my mind. I don’t have many skills that use electricity as their main affinity—I usually use it to boost power and speed. The only skill I obtained with electric affinity I haven’t even learned due to lack of slots…
"No, I must keep going step by step." Even if my electric affinity isn’t the base of most of my skills, it’s still important. Without the added power or speed, my attacks wouldn’t be as strong as they are now. A Pseudo Law or Law could give a big boost to all my skills. "Maybe I’ll consider learning another related skill..."
"Time to organize my priorities."
First: learn a Pseudo Law of Electricity and raise my skills to rank (IV) or reach their bottlenecks. Second: evolve my current Pseudo Laws into full Laws. Finally: ascend to Sapphire Rank. If my calculations are right, I should be able to complete at least some of these before starting school. That Fallen Hero Dungeon will be key to my plans.
Should I bring this plan forward? I had planned to go a few weeks before Arisa’s birthday, but things have changed with this level-up surge and the new Pseudo Law. My brain’s overheating from thinking so much—I feel like smoke will come out any second. "Is it time to tell my family?" They don’t know anything about that dungeon. It’s better to talk to my grandma and ask for her advice.
Point of View: Camux Solar
"I understand. So that happened in the dungeon. It doesn’t sound easy. I’m glad I sent you. To take down that Denosis boss, we would’ve needed a team of three or four skilled people." Maki just came to inform me about what happened in the dungeon and the attack on Azurri Town.
This boy—no, he’s already a man—can fight one of the strongest grade three monsters on his own and win. There shouldn’t be any normal grade three monster above him. Perhaps only those monster-like anomalies that break all sense of logic like him.
"Thank you again, Maki. That’s one less headache for us. I’ll have a reward ready for you before you leave, for helping us in both situations." He deserves it. He contributed more than anyone else during the attack and stabilized a grade three dungeon by himself. I’ll think of an extra reward too.
"When I was heading to Azurri Town to see them…" I listen closely to his story, not taking my eyes off him. He also locks eyes with me, understanding the gravity of the situation.
If he hadn’t shown up by sheer luck, all my citizens—or at least most of them—would’ve died at the hands of those monsters. I wouldn’t have made it in time to save them. This young man saved thousands of lives, not for glory, but because of his values and the bond between our families. His family did an excellent job raising him.
The story gets harder to hear. My brother’s death is still fresh, and listening to someone who witnessed almost everything is painful. Maki was injured the whole time, holding the monsters in place. Based on his dungeon report, I know his capabilities, yet I’m still amazed at how powerful he is at Emerald rank. Once he ascends, he’ll be a true powerhouse, able to fight Ruby ranks.
"Then, when I found him in that state, these were his last words..." Maki tells me how he tried to help, but Tork wouldn’t let him—he already knew his fate. As lord of the town, he always carried life potions. They’re essential for any emergency. He didn’t use them because of his critical state. With no mana left and having lost so much blood, they would’ve been useless.
His final words touch my heart. He was always a great brother to me, and I loved him deeply, regardless of my parents’ initial opinions. His love for our family was so strong that he died for us and to keep alive the citizens of the town he cherished. His love for my children was equal to mine. He always saw Sol and Cris as his own, and they saw him as a second father. Cris will be devastated like Sol when he learns about his death.
I thank Maki for his report, and the young man leaves my office to visit my daughter. Those two have gotten very close lately—they’d make a lovely couple in the future. Though Lady Arisa and Lady Marga are also interested in Maki. All three want him as more than a friend, which makes things complicated for my little girl.
"I need to inform the Marquis. The interrogation went better than expected." Memories from a decade ago flood my mind—that damned group has returned to stir trouble again. Even if our territory isn’t their main target, they’re still dangerous due to their grudge against the Marquis.
"This could get chaotic without proper precautions." I lean back in my chair, trying to devise contingency plans for several possible complex scenarios.
"If I manage to ascend to Viscount soon, I’ll gain the right to appoint two knights in my territory. I already know who one of them could be." It’ll be a way to thank him for all his help and strengthen our ties.