The demonic shadow beasts Smiling Demon ordered to descend were completely wiped out within a matter of seconds.
Then, not even half a breath had passed before he detected a figure emerging from the cloud of smoke and darkness formed by the destruction of the demonic shadow beasts.
“Is this the owner of that ominous black lightning?” Smiling Demon internalized as he set his sights on the person ascending to the skies. This individual was none other than Izroth!
Izroth had a carefree expression on his face as his gaze met with Smiling Demon’s.
Although he maintained his composure, even Izroth was caught off guard by the arrival and raw destructive power of the black lightning.
‘The system has given me quite the surprise this time.’
Izroth looked down at the Sword of the Storm in his hand. Its azure blade had turned pitch black and emitted a terrifying power.
‘So this is the effect of a Primed Break on an SS-ranked skill. To think it would evolve to this point—the effect is even better than I envisioned.’
〈Battle Alert: The effect «Primed Break» has been activated!〉
〈Battle Alert: A powerful hidden effect for the skill «Call of the Thunder God» has been activated!〉
〈Battle Alert: You have unlocked the effect «Primed Ability: Heavenly Lightning of Extinction»!〉
〈Battle Alert: Your trait level for «Primed One: The First» has increased.〉
Trait Name: Primed One: The First
Trait Level: 1 -> 2
Trait Effect: The user has a [0.01%] -> [0.03%] chance to activate the effect «Primed Break» for all non-Primed skills.
«Primed Break» – Has a certain chance of activating a powerful hidden effect related to the skill.
Special Note: This trait is only granted to the first player that acquires a «Primed» skill.
‘The trait level actually increased after one activation? No, I suppose it makes sense given its low probability.’
After he received the trait Primed One: The First, despite knowing the potential of Primed skills, Izroth did not pay much attention to it. It had nothing to do with Izroth being uninterested in obtaining new Primed skills. It was just that he quickly found that acquiring them required not only a deep understanding but a good amount of luck as well. And, while the trait gave him an opportunity to obtain one naturally over time, initially, there was only a meager 0.01% to activate its effect.
Even with six points of luck, Izroth knew that the possibility was still distant—at least, this was his original thought on the matter.
Izroth thought back to the message the system gave him after obtaining Tal’Nis’ blessing. It mentioned that he was the first player with a luck stat that exceeded five and that he should expect a fortuitous encounter.
Izroth concluded that this was not the fortuitous encounter the system spoke of back then; however, the two were not entirely disconnected from one another.
It seemed to be quite a big deal for one’s luck to exceed five. If not, would the system even bother mentioning it?
‘If I am correct after one’s luck stat surpasses five a new door that leads down a path of fortune may open. As to where this path travels, it can only be to a place of endless opportunities.’
Skill Name: Call of the Thunder God
Skill Level: 3/5
Skill Rank: SS -> Unique SS
Requirements: None
«First State: Heavenly Descent»:
…
*New -> «Primed Ability: Heavenly Lightning of Extinction»
Mana Cost: 5,000
The user calls down a single bolt of extinction lightning, dealing 2,500% of the user’s attack power as pure damage to all enemies struck upon its descent before fusing with the user’s weapon. While this skill is active, all weapon-based attacks are converted to pure damage. All damage dealt with the user’s weapon affected by this skill is increased by 100%. When a target is successfully struck and damaged by the user’s strike, the same attack jumps to a nearby enemy within 30 meters in the form of extinction lightning and strikes them as well. There is no limit to the number of times this skill can jump to another enemy. This skill lasts for 5 minutes.
Cooldown: 336 hours
…
Without halting his momentum skyward, Izroth quickly examined the changes to his Call of the Thunder God. Upon doing so, he made a shocking discovery.
‘This is… Can it be that once a Primed Ability is activated, it is permanently unlocked?’
If the effects were temporary, the system would have stated as much. However, Izroth received no such system alert. This meant that the upgrade to his Call of the Thunder God skill was permanent!
‘Since it’s like this, it is not surprising that the chances are so poor for a Primed Break to occur. Though it is regrettable that with the present state of my mana, I am still unable to use it freely.’
Izroth’s current mana had yet to pass 2,000 points. At the moment, even if his mana was tripled, it would still be insufficient to reach the 5,000 mana threshold required to execute the Heavenly Lightning of Extinction.
As for how he was capable of using it this time, Izroth believed that it had to do with him already paying the mana cost to execute the First State: Heavenly Descent. Taking that into account, the system should have found a way to make up for the difference without damaging his mana pool in the process.
‘Although the mana cost and cooldown are somewhat inconvenient, the effects and skill duration cannot be taken lightly. If I want to use it in the future, it seems I have no choice but to release more of the chakram seals for the Seal of Ten Chakrams.’
The Wiseman of Everpeak, Kryxelsia, gifted Izroth the Seal of Ten Chakrams to assist the development of his mana pool and overall understanding of magic. And, up to this point, he had only managed to release two of the ten seals.
Izroth estimated that if he wanted to use the Heavenly Lightning of Extinction of his own will, he would need to unlock at least another two seals.
Without warning, a wave of sharp killing intent washed over Izroth that caused his gaze to turn cold.
‘So this is the person bold enough to lay a hand on those under my protection?’
The killing intent directed at Izroth belonged to Smiling Demon, who wanted nothing more than to tear him apart for extinguishing Enigma’s flames of life.
However, Smiling Demon was not the only one who wanted the other party to pay their debt.
Izroth released his Soul Pressure and immediately dispelled Smiling Demon’s killing intent while simultaneously returning the “favor” to Smiling Demon.
Smiling Demon may not have personally made a move, but, in the end, the owner was responsible for the behavior of their dogs. And, since Smiling Demon was the Head Master of the Siren organization who was responsible for executing multiple kill contracts on those under Izroth’s protection, he would settle the debt with him!
“?!” Out of nowhere, Smiling Demon was struck by cold air. At the same time, he noticed that his killing intent had been forcibly dispersed!
“It’s just a young brat, yet he is able to scatter my killing intent and counter with his own? I was curious as to how Enigma could have suffered at the hands of someone barely old enough to walk upright. This brat is not simple. Is it related to that black lightning and the artifact in his hand? Regardless, since he has willing delivered his life into my hands, I shall accept it without delay!” Smiling Demon internalized.
Smiling Demon’s voice echoes throughout the skies as he bellowed, “Hear me, intruders of Siren! Today, none of you should think about leaving this place with your lives!”
“Leave? You are mistaken. The price of harming those under my protection is not something you can afford to escape from.” Izroth’s voice sounded.
Izroth pointed his Sword of the Storm empowered by the Heavenly Extinction Lightning towards the skies as a gentle breeze spread throughout the atmosphere. Hints of black lightning could be seen flowing within Izroth eyes while the clouds above darkened and formed a swirling vortex.
Crrrrrckle!
The breeze rapidly picked up as bolts of black lightning jumped around inside the clouds.
“This place is where you and your Siren organization will spend the rest of eternity.” Izroth stated coldly.
