The Devil’s Cage - Chapter 236

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Chapter 236

[Hand-to-Hand Combat] Musou to Transcendence, costs 45,000 Points, 1 Golden Skill Point, Yes/No?]

Kieran opened up the [Hand-to-Hand Combat] upgrading options and glanced at his points tab .

[Points: 45,000; Skill Points: 26; Golden Skill Points: 2; Golden Attribute Points: 4]

"My points are just enough to upgrade [Hand-to-Hand Combat] . I think I need to trade Skill Points for Points to upgrade [Evading] or [Firearm Weapon, Light Firearm] . The [Hundred Violent Kicks] though . . . "

Kieran looked at the Rare Skill Book next to him and could not help but frown .

He had a similar experience with [Blade Kick], so he knew how much it would cost to upgrade the Rare Rank skill to a proper level for actual combat use .

[Blade Kick] had cost 12,000 Points and 24 Skill Points to upgrade from Master to Pro Level .

Although the [Hundred Violent Kicks] were no [Blade Kick], the difference could not be that big .

"Even with Lawless' compensation, there's still a big gap to fill! Plus, there are also two more Basic Level skills to learn! I don't have enough!" Kieran mumbled .

That still did not stop him from leveling up [Hand-to-Hand Combat] though .

[Skill upgraded to Transcendence, Additional Transcendence option unlocked . ]

[Transcendence Kicks: After a lot of harsh training, cultivation and battle experience, your kicks have exceeded the limits of mortal men . You gain +1 Attack Level against any kind of spirit . (Base Attack notwithstanding, +1 Attack Level); you gain +1 Attack Level against normal beings (Base Attack included) . Consumes more Stamina when you unleash your kicks]

[Name: Hand-to-Hand Combat (Transcendence)]

[Related Attributes: Strength, Agility, Constitution]

[Skill Type: Offensive]

[Effects: Your punches and kicks are your best weapon, Increases Damage by 60%]

[Special Effects: Transcendence Combat Kicks (When you strike with your feet, they temporarily grant you +4 Strength and Agility)]

[Consumes: Stamina]

[Prerequisites: Strength D+, Agility D+, Constitution D+]

[Remarks: Your kicks are legendary!]

. . .

[Hand-to-Hand Combat leveled up, Related attributes increasing…]

[Strength C→ C+]

[Agility C→ C+]

[Constitution C- → C]

[Note: Skill is maxed-out!]

. . .

A warm stream filled Kieran's body and gathered around his legs after a while .

Then the warmth turned into a burning sensation, as if Kieran's legs were burning on the inside .

The pain made him growl .

After the [Secondary Elemental Damage Resistance]'s lesson though, the pain was not unexpected this time .

Quite the opposite, Kieran savored the burning sensation that seeped into his muscles and bones .

With every breath he took, his muscles grew bigger and his bones grew tougher .

After a few breaths, small bulges and press marks started appearing on his skin, as if some invisible man was pressing his thumb hard against Kieran's legs .

The motion went on with a pressing, stinging sensation, as if a dozen worms were crawling under the skin of his legs .

"What is this?"

Kieran widened his eyes at the sudden change on his legs .

The pressing, bulging motion went on as he breathed . To normal people, it would just seem like an amazing muscle enchantment, but with his Master Level [Mystical Knowledge], Kieran knew it had a different meaning .

"Magic circle runes?"

Although he could not confirm the meaning behind it, the pattern the bulging, pressing motion formed was that of a magic circle .

It was different than those drawn on the ground though . It appeared differently on his legs .

"Transcendence…" Kieran mumbled softly .

He had some guesses, but he was not sure .

Why would [Undercover] not feature such a change?

Kieran was sure that [Undercover] did indeed feature changes, but compared to [Hand-to-Hand Combat], [Undercover]'s changes were far more mysterious, to the extent that not even he was able to notice them .

Or wasn't he?

"Could it be in conjunction with [Hand-to-Hand Combat]?" he thought . He was still unable to come up with an answer though .

The burning sensation lasted for a couple of seconds before it quickly cooled down . It did not dissipate like before . Instead, it was infused into Kieran's leg .

Kieran took a deep breath and suddenly jumped up .

He launched a barrage of kicks in mid-air . Every kick produced a powerful wind .

In the end, a half-moon qi energy wave was blasted downwards .

Bang!

A deep, wide crack was formed on the floor of Kieran's room . It was as wide as a grown man's palm .

"This is already over Strong! Transcendence kicking combat boosted my Strength and Agility by four ranks, which means I could achieve at least an A- rank with my current setup! Combined with the [Barsical Kick]'s [Bide] and [Blade Kick], it could compensate for my lack of attack and even surpass the original attack! If [Blade Kick] could reach Grand Master…"

Kieran was excited once he thought of the potential power of his attack . He quickly calmed down and faced reality though .

His Golden Skill Points were not enough to upgrade [Blade Kick], and the restrictions of the basic skills and their attributes were clear enough for him to plan his next move .

The rarity of the attributes was self-explanatory .

Not only were the attributes directly related to the player's fundamental body constitution, but they were also the base for learning other skills . Every element was connected in a big circle .

If that circle was broken, the player's growth system would go out of control and give the player a huge disadvantage .

With that in mind, Kieran opened up the second skill he wanted to upgrade, [Firearm Weapon, Light Firearm] .

He had chosen [Firearm Weapon, Light Firearm] over [Evading], because the former had more related attributes .

Kieran took 10 Skill Points and asked Lawless to trade them for Points .

Then he resumed upgrading .

[Skill upgraded to Transcendence, Additional Transcendence option unlocked . ]

[A: Bullets of Conviction I (You filled your bullets with beliefs, Bullet range increased, similar to Long Range Lvl 2)]

[B: Bullets of Conviction II (You filled your bullets with beliefs, Bullet penetration power increased, similar to Armor Penetration Lvl 1)]

"B!" Kieran said out loud . Compared to a longer attacking range, breaking through a target's armor was more important to him . No matter how long his shooting range was, it would be useless if the bullet could not pierce through the target's protective gear .

[Name: Firearm Weapon, Light Firearm (Transcendence)]

[Related Attributes: Strength, Constitution, Intuition]

[Skill Type: Offensive]

[Effects: You know how to use a handgun, rifle, revolver, assault rifle, submachine gun and sniper rifle better, Increases Damage by 80%]

[Special Effects: Unparalleled Aim (When you aim at your Target, +4 Intuition Effect, Small chance of triggering Critical Rate)]

[Critical Rate: When you hit the Target's weak points, you have a bigger chance of dealing double Damage]

[Transcendence Option: Bullets of Conviction II (You filled your bullets with beliefs, Bullet penetration power increased, similar to Armor Penetration Lvl 1)

[Consumes: Stamina]

[Prerequisites: Strength D, Constitution D, Intuition D+]

[Remarks: Your bullets will scare anyone you fire at!]

. . .

[Firearm Weapon (Light Firearm) leveled up, Related attributes increasing…]

[Strength C+ → B-]

[Constitution C → C+]

[Intuition C → C+]

[Note: Skill is maxed-out!]

. . .

Just like during upgrading [Undercover] to Transcendence, Kieran did not feel the pain he had felt during the [Hand-to-Hand Combat] upgrade . The knowledge synchronization process still went on as usual though .

When the process ended, Lawless PMed Kieran with a trade request .

. . .

Lawless: I sold all the stuff u gave me and bought [Holy Water VIII] and some other equipment, and there's still 18,000 Points left .

Lawless: [Sharp Stinger] got sold at a good price .

Lawless: The [Iron Flaming Boots] were sold at an average 3,000 Points and 1 Skill Point .

Lawless: A total of 21,000 Points and 1 Skill Point, with 5% commission .

Lawless: I'll trade u the items and the Points together . Have a look at them .

. . .

"21,000 Points and 1 Skill Point?"

Kieran was in shock over the sum . It was more than he had expected .

He accepted the trade doubtfully .

He instantly got 21,000 Points and 1 Skill Point, four tubes of [Holy Water VIII], two [Soothing Potion]s, a long spear, a long bow, two Skill Books and a checklist of everything .

Kieran went over the checklist, which was listed in the details of every transaction . Lawless had made it on his behalf .

The [Holy Water VIII] had cost 1,500 Points per tube, and the [Soothing Potion] had cost 3,000 Points per tube with a friendly discount .

Even though it was discounted, the potions had still cost Kieran 12,000 Points .

The Points the other items had cost added up together did not even reach half the sum the potions had cost .

The two Basic Rank Skill Books had cost 3,000 Points in total, and Lawless had mentioned that if Kieran was willing to wait, he could even get them at a better price .

Kieran was not surprised by that . What had surprised him was the long spear and the long bow's prices .

The long spear had cost 500 Points .

"Spear type weapons are quite uncommon among players, so they're cheaper!" Lawless had written down on the checklist .

Below the comment was the price of the [Piercing Spear] . It was a little lower than Kieran had expected, but still within range . It was Magical Rank equipment after all .

As far as the long bow was concerned, Kieran had requested one with higher durability that wasn't Magical Rank equipment . It had cost 1,000 Points and come with 12 arrows .

After Kieran put the potions in his [Potionologist Waist Bag], he turned his eyes to the spear and the bow .

[Name: Infantry Spear]

[Type: Polearm Weapon]

[Rarity: Great]

[Attack: Weak]

[Attributes: None]

[Effects: None]

[Prerequisites: None]

[Remarks: This is a great standard-issue piece of equipment!]

. . .

[Name: Hunter's Bow]

[Type: Bow Weapon]

[Rarity: Great]

[Attack: Weak]

[Attributes: None]

[Effects: None]

[Prerequisites: None]

[Remarks: Every hunter's favorite! It has been crafted from the best laminated yew wood!]

. . .

Just as Kieran had requested, other than its high rarity, there was nothing special about the equipment . This was enough for him for the time being .

He had insufficient Points to get better equipment after all those upgrades .

[Points: 21,000; Skill Points: 17; Golden Skill Points: 0; Golden Attribute Points: 4]

Kieran glanced at his remaining points and then picked up the two Skill Books .

[Discovered Skill Book: Sharp Weapon, Polearm]

[Prerequisites met, Learn? Yes/No]

"Yes!'

[Skill Learned: Sharp Weapon, Polearm]

[Name: Sharp Weapon, Polearm (Basic)]

[Related Attributes: Strength, Agility, Constitution]

[Skill Type: Offensive]

[Effects: You know how to use a spear, lance, and all sorts of polearm weapons, Increases Damage by 10%]

[Consumes: Stamina]

[Prerequisites: Strength F, Agility F, Constitution F]

[Remarks: This is the result of peasant training camp after three months . ]

. . .

[Discovered Skill Book: Sharp Weapon, Bow]

[Prerequisites met, Learn? Yes/No]

"Yes!"

[Skill Learned: Sharp Weapon, Bow]

[Name: Sharp Weapon, Bow (Basic)]

[Related Attributes: Strength, Agility, Intuition]

[Skill Type: Offensive]

[Effects: You know how to use bow type weapons, Increases Damage by 10%]

[Consumes: Stamina]

[Prerequisites: Strength F, Agility F, Constitution F+]

[Remarks: At least you won't hurt yourself with the bow string!]

. . .

According to Kieran's experience, upgrading the two Basic Rank skills to Entry would cost 200 Points each, and upgrading them from Entry to Master would cost 1,000 Points and 1 Skill Points each .

Upgrading them from Master to Pro would cost 3,000 Points and 2 Skill Points, and upgrading them from Pro to Grand Master would cost 6,000 Points and 4 Skill Points .

Kieran's 21,000 Points and 17 Skill Points would be more than enough .

That was without the Rare Rank skill [Hundred Violent Kicks] though .

Kieran picked up the last Skill Book and confirmed the Points and Skill Points it required .

[Discovered Skill Book: Hundred Violent Kicks]

[Prerequisites met, Learn? Yes/No]

"Yes . "

[Skill Learned: Hundred Violent Kicks]

[Name: Hundred Violent Kicks (Basic)]

[Related Attributes: Strength, Agility, Constitution]

[Skill Type: Offensive]

[Effects: Use your left or right leg to unleash an indistinguishable barrage of kicks with 75% Strength at a 90° angle with 125% attack speed, Consumes 100 Stamina per second, Cooldown 10 minutes]

[Consumes: Stamina]

[Prerequisites: (Hand-to-Hand Combat, Master of Kicks) (Master), Strength D-, Agility D-, Constitution D-]

[Remarks: If you sacrifice your attack and mobility in exchange for lightning speed kicks, the power of your kicks will drown your opponent!]

. . .

When the synchronization process was over, Kieran could not wait to open the upgrading options for [Hundred Violent Kicks] . Upgrading it from Basic to Entry would only cost him 400 Points and 2 Skill Points .

Compared to [Blade Kick], it was 100 Points lower, but the Skill Point cost was the same .

"If that's the case, if I want to level up [Hundred Violent Kicks] to Master, I'll need at least 8 Skill Points! Then for Pro…" Kieran started speculating after upgrading it .

[Name: Hundred Violent Kicks (Master)]

[Related Attributes: Strength, Agility, Constitution]

[Skill Type: Offensive]

[Effects: Use your left or right leg to unleash an indistinguishable barrage of kicks with 65% Strength at a 110°angle with 175% attack speed, Consumes 150 Stamina per second, Cooldown 9 minutes]

[Special Effects: Phantasm Mirage (A mirage of your form will appear during your lightning barrage kicks . The mirage will not attack . ]

[Consumes: Stamina]

[Prerequisites: (Hand-to-Hand Combat, Master of Kicks) (Pro), Strength D+, Agility D+, Constitution D+]

[Remarks: If you sacrifice your attack and mobility in exchange for lightning speed kicks, the power of your kicks will drown your opponent!]

. . .

[Strength has reached the capped limit, Unable to level up any further]

[Agility has reached the capped limit, Unable to level up any further]

[Constitution has reached the capped limit, Unable to level up any further]

. . .

[Hundred Violent Kicks] cost 1,500 Points and 6 Skill Points to upgrade from Entry to Master, and 10,000 Points and 24 Skill Points to upgrade from Master to Pro .

It was impossible for Kieran to level it up any further with his 19,100 Points and 9 Skill Points .

The only choice he had was upgrading one of his other Basic Rank skills, [Sharp Weapon, Spear] or [Sharp Weapon, Bow] .

"I have enough to upgrade either one to Master!"

Kieran scanned them over and quickly made a decision .

[Sharp Weapon, Bow]!

Since he had [Hand-to-Hand Combat], [Barsical Kick], [Blade Kick] and the newly added [Hundred Violent Kicks], melee combat was not a problem for him anymore .

Range was his weakness . If he entered a dungeon with firearm restrictions, that weakness would be enhanced indefinitely . That was the reason behind his choice .

[Name: Sharp Weapon, Bow (Grand Master)]

[Related Attributes: Strength, Agility, Intuition]

[Skill Type: Offensive]

[Effects: You know how to use bow type weapons, Increases Damage by 50%]

[Special Effects: Grand Master Reload (When you reload an arrow, +3 Agility temporarily)]

[Consumes: Stamina]

[Prerequisites: Strength E, Agility E, Intuition E+]

[Remarks: You are the master of sharpshooters!]

. . .

[Sharp Weapon, Bow leveled up, Related attributes increasing…]

[Strength has reached the capped limit, Unable to level up any further]

[Agility has reached the capped limit, Unable to level up any further]

[Intuition has reached the capped limit, Unable to level up any further]

… . . .

It would cost a total of 10,200 Points and 7 Skill Points to upgrade [Sharp Weapon, Bow] to Master .

Kieran only had 8,900 Points and 2 Skill Points left . If he forked out another 3,000 Points in exchange for 1 Skill Point, it would be enough for him to upgrade [Sharp Weapon, Polearm] to Pro .

Kieran did not even hesitate for a second . He loved turning Points into physical strength .

[Name: Sharp Weapon, Polearm (Pro)]

[Related Attributes: Strength, Agility, Constitution]

[Skill Type: Offensive]

[Effects: You know how to use a spear, lance, and all sorts of polearm weapons, Increases Damage by 40%]

[Special Effects: Pro Spearman (When equipped with a Spear, Damaged increased by 20%)]

[Consumes: Stamina]

[Prerequisites: Strength E-, Agility E-, Constitution E-]

[Remarks: You could work as a combat trainer at a military camp!]

. . .

[Sharp Weapon, Polearm leveled up, Related attributes increasing…]

[Strength has reached the capped limit, Unable to level up any further]

[Agility has reached the capped limit, Unable to level up any further]

[Constitution has reached the capped limit, Unable to level up any further]

. . .

After spending another 4,200 Points and 3 Skill Points, Kieran had only 1,700 Points left .

He had chosen [Sharp Weapon, Bow]'s Grand Master effect to be [Grand Master Reload], because he figured that bows and automated weapons were different, and he had picked [Pro Spearman] from [Sharp Weapon, Polearm]'s Pro Level only because he had a corresponding weapon .

After another thorough check, Kieran went offline to get some rest and clean himself up .

After an hour of taking care of real life business, he went back to the game lobby and started his next single player dungeon run .