Detesting The System: Sundering Fate

"Mhmm… I guess there's only so much one can do with just fighting and training," I mutter to myself after another day's grind at the dungeon. A total of three days have gone by and I've found the limits of even my Primal Body. Training-wise it's still a miracle to behold my progress, but compared to my first two days, I can't help but feel myself start to stagnate.

Magic and Light Manipulation have hit a wall of sorts and all my parameters — be they physical or spiritual — have yet to move a letter in grade; though they have increased with each status update Hestia performs at least daily. Only my Chain Sickle Mastery has moved on from Level "I" to "H." My Gold Star Killer Constitution technique will simply not move past 90% completion and with Bell metaphorically holding me back as the difference in our strengths has become overwhelming, it will be nigh-impossible to achieve anything remarkable by sticking around with him.

Sighing as I walked alongside Bell, I thought, 'Perhaps we should separate after all… Even I can see the guilt in his eyes every time he asks for a break from fighting in the third or fourth floor. Moreover, he has his own story to develop and sticking with me — an anomaly to this world — would more than likely stunt his growth.'

'And then there's...' Ending my stream of conscious thought, I addressed Bell, "Say… For now, let's split up." Miraculously, even though it's only been four days, my Japanese has reached the point of half fluency. Though still a long way away from sounding like a native speaker, I can freely express myself now! Albeit, at the cost of still sounding half-retarded; literally.

S.u.c.k.i.n.g in a deep breath, Bell turned to me with pale-stricken faced, asking, "Y-y-you d-d-d-don't want t-t-to pa-pa-party w-with m-m-m-me?!"

"It's… not like you think," I reassured him, "I want to start learning Alchemy! It'd be bad if we just get in each other's ways, right? You focus on training and getting stronger as an adventurer and I'll start learning Alchemy to support and bolster our Familia's overall worth."

It was a half-lie saying that I would focus on Alchemy and leave getting stronger solely on Bell's shoulders. But knowing Bell to be a naive young man… "Oh, ok then~" It was exactly the response I expected. Bell was totally oblivious to the point of not even questioning me for even a second.

"Anyways," I added, "Focus on improving your Magic and train to get me some drops! I'll need to procure a lot of resources from the dungeon to make any headway as an Alchemist."

…

[New Mission Alert!

Side Mission 1: First Step In The Path Of Alchemy!

Objective: Attain the rank of Novice Alchemist

Description: Practice, concoct and research your way to reach the lowest rank of Alchemist there is. You'll know you've made it when concocting "Bad Quality" medicines becomes commonplace; to be specific you need a 70% success rate when concocting the aforementioned quality alchemical products...

Deadline: 1 Week

Skill Conjured: Alchemy (Unlocking)

Alchemy Unlocked!

New Skill

Name: Alchemy

Level: Null

Description: A technique that grants the user the ability to process and synergize base components to make potions, pills, and other apparitions of medicine. Along with this technique, basic recipes for alchemy are granted to the user. The higher the proficiency of the technique the more potent the product of your concoction.

Effect: Null; success rate and potency of alchemical products rise with practice...

Skill Conjured: Appraisal (Unlocking)

Appraisal Unlocked!

New Skill

Name: Appraisal

Level: Null

Description: A technique that grants the user the ability to appraise minerals, metals, herbs, and practically all other resources under the sun. The higher the proficiency of the technique the more accurate your appraisals become.

Effect: Null; You have no foundation to derive insights from… Read a book or something on resources before you even attempt appraising items.

Skill Conjured: Harvesting (Unlocking)

Harvesting Unlocked!

New Skill

Name: Harvesting

Level: Null

Description: A technique that grants the user the ability to better collect resources. The higher the proficiency of the technique the more resources a harvest will yield. With technique, everything from ore and herb collection to monster drop rates can increase with this skill.

Effect: Null; You have no practice.]

"Oh how broken you are, my system..." I unconsciously spoke upon leaving the state of pain my mind had been put in whilst getting all the information for applying in improving three new skills.

"Call me Destiny!" The depressed Goldfinger within me cried.

"Tsk, whatever… Anyway," I took this chance to ask, "Are there any products I can make with alchemy to gather potential for you?"

Conducting a complete one-eighty, Destiny instantly cheered up as she said, "Of course! And you won't just be helping me, but yourself as well! You just need to make soul medicines, pills, potions. But that'll only come much later down the road as you're still far from being able to procure the required resources. Never mind the fact that your current nonexistent skills would instantly destroy those fragile resources at the moment..."

"Che," Shutting her out of my stream of consciousness, I stood up and turned to Hestia, "I'm going out to Babel." With the bit of money I'd earned after helping pay for the familia's debt to the Guild, I should have enough Vali to buy or at least borrow some books to enter the world of Alchemy.

"Take care..." Hestia gave me a pat on the shoulder before giving me a light push towards the church's exit. She almost looked… melancholic? I couldn't be sure as it didn't really look like she had a reason to feel that way. Only after waving goodbye, did I leave with an extra bit of money in my pockets; it's about time I got new clothes, armor, and a couple other necessities a solo adventurer would need.