Shirou sat on the edge of the bed, strands of his wet hair dripping water onto the wooden floor. He could've used his flames to dry off, but the cool sensation calmed his thoughts. Sometimes, a little silence helped more than fire ever could.
Before him hovered the translucent blue glow of the status window. It had popped up the moment he'd finished his bath—quiet and constant, like it always did after a big fight or a level-up.
--
[STATUS WINDOW]
[BASIC INFORMATION]
Name: Shirou
Race: Human
Level: 53 (350 / 910 EXP)
Title: Elemental Adept, ???? (Locked)
SYNCHRONIZATION RATE: 2.5%
[CORE ATTRIBUTES]
HP: 575
Mana Points: 820
Strength: 296
Agility: 296
Intelligence: 298
Endurance: 298
Perception: 282
+10 stat point
[ELEMENTAL AFFINITY]
Fire Release
Lightning Release
Earth Release
[SKILLS]
Omnilingual
Skill Absorption
Phantom Mirage
????? (Locked)
[COMBAT PROFICIENCIES]
Hand-to-Hand Combat – Intermediate (17/100)
Knife Mastery – Intermediate (8/100)
Dagger Mastery – Intermediate (12/100)
Sword Mastery – Intermediate (49/100)
[INVENTORY]
Inferno Fang
Ashbringer
Aether Coins
--
Shirou's eyes paused on the new title: [Elemental Adept]. He tapped it mentally, and the description slid into view.
[Elemental Adept – Proficiency in using multiple elemental powers.]
"That's it?" he muttered aloud. "Just... proficiency?"
He leaned back, shoulders resting against the cold wall. "No new skill or power? Just a pat on the back? Seriously?"
Still, he let out a soft laugh. "I guess I shouldn't be too mad. The system's helped a lot so far. Maybe this title means I can channel my elements better now. But still, it feels like the system is mocking me."
Then his eyes drifted to the 'Synchronisation Rate.' 2.5%.
"That's gone up again," he mumbled. "But what even is it?"
No matter how often it increased, the system never explained it. Just another mystery to figure out—like the locked skill or the second title.
And then there was the experience bar. He was slightly over a third of the way to the next level. The number needed had increased again. That part wasn't a surprise anymore.
"Now, where to put the 10 stat points I acquired".
He opened up the individual stat descriptions.
[Health Points
>The amount of damage a person can endure]
Shirou rubbed his chin. "If it hits zero… would I die instantly? Or just black out? Either way, keeping it high seems like a good idea and I don't intend to find out what happens when it hits zero"
[Mana Points
>Mana used to perform spells, skills, or elemental techniques]
"Everything I do—flame boosts, lightning strikes, even body enhancement—uses mana. If I run out during a fight, I'd be a sitting duck."
[Strength
>Raw physical power. Determines how much damage is dealt with melee weapons or fists]
"Simple enough. More strength, stronger hits. But I wonder… Can I train to raise it, or is levelling the only way?"
[Agility
>Determines speed, reflexes, and flexibility.]
"This one's important. This boosts my reaction time, dodging, and movement—basically, it's how I stay alive. And with lightning affinity above it, I'm faster."
[Intelligence
>Increases magical control and technique mastery. Reduces mana cost for advanced spells]
"This helps me to use mana more efficiently. That's definitely useful. And with Ashbringer already reducing my mana drain…, it's a big boost."
[Endurance
>Physical resilience, stamina, and pain tolerance. Reduces damage taken from physical and elemental attacks.]
"Not just about taking hits—it also decides how long I can fight without collapsing. Might even help keep my strength and speed up for longer periods."
[Perception
>Awareness of surroundings, accuracy, and detection abilities. Allows user to detect stealth enemies, sense mana flow, and react to attacks more quickly.]
"Battle instincts, basically. If I boost this, I'll probably react faster in fights. Maybe even sense attacks before they come."
Shirou sighed. "Ten stat points. So where do I put them?"
His gaze lingered on Agility for a moment, but then he shook his head. "Lightning already gives me a speed boost… I don't need to overdo it."
Then his eyes went to Strength. "I could hit harder. Might help in close fights."
He hovered over it, then nodded. "Alright. Five points into Strength."
He watched the number rise: [Strength: 301]
"Okay. Now for the rest…"
His fingers drummed against the bed frame. "Endurance feels right. A longer fight means more chances to win. And Perception too—I've relied on instincts more than anything."
He made his choice quickly before second-guessing.
+3 to Endurance. +2 to Perception.
--
[ STATUS WINDOW]
[BASIC INFORMATION]
Name: Shirou
Race: Human
Level: 53 (350 / 910 EXP)
Title: Elemental Adept, ???? (Locked)
SYNCHRONIZATION RATE: 2.5%
[CORE ATTRIBUTES]
HP: 575
Mana Points: 820
Strength: 301
Agility: 296
Intelligence: 298
Endurance: 301
Perception: 284
[ELEMENTAL AFFINITY]
Fire Release
Lightning Release
Earth Release
[SKILLS]
Omnilingual
Skill Absorption
Phantom Mirage
????? (Locked)
[COMBAT PROFICIENCIES]
Hand-to-Hand Combat – Intermediate (17/100)
Knife Mastery – Intermediate (8/100)
Dagger Mastery – Intermediate (12/100)
Sword Mastery – Intermediate (49/100)
[INVENTORY]
Inferno Fang
Ashbringer
Aether Coins
--
He let out a deep breath. "Done."
His gaze wandered to the Earth Release listed under elemental affinity.
"Earth… Need to test this one."
Sword Mastery had also gone up—49 now. He smiled faintly. "Halfway already.Can't wait for it to reach 100."
Shirou then stood up, shaking water from his sleeves. Outside the window, the sky was dark, but the festival lights still flickered in the distance. It wasn't fully over. Just a break before continuing the next day.
"But right now," he said as he threw on a fresh set of clothes, "I've got something to try."
He leapt out the window silently, landing on the empty road below. A few minutes later, he arrived at a field on the outskirts of the city—quiet, open, and far from wandering eyes.
Kael's use of the earth element still played in his head. The way he controlled the terrain and reshaped it like clay—it was almost like cheating. If Shirou could do even half of that, he'd be far more dangerous in battle.
He raised his hand and focused.
A patch of dirt lifted into a small wall. Then he tried making another beside it. And another.
They rose—but when he tried thickening the walls, pushing their shape further, they cracked and crumbled apart.
"What?" he frowned.
He tried again, this time forcing the ground to bend and shift into curved shapes, like traps or shields.
Again, the same result: the structures collapsed halfway through forming.
Hours passed. Shirou kept trying different movements, mana control, and even visualising what Kael had done.
Nothing worked beyond basic techniques.
Panting, he dropped onto the ground. The field around him was a mess—broken patches, cracked soil, failed formations.
"Why?" he whispered. "Why can't I do more?"
When he had fought Tyrin, the guy had thrown lightning bolts from a distance. Shirou, on the other hand, could only channel lightning through his own body.
Same with fire. He could burn, boost, and strike—but nothing long-range or flashy.
"If I didn't have Ashbringer… I don't think I'd have won any of those fights."
He stared at his hands, then the cracked earth around him.
"Maybe the system gave me Ashbringer because my elemental attacks are limited. Maybe I can only do the basics."
He clenched his fists.
"Fine then. If I can't master advanced attacks directly… I'll steal them. Skill Absorption exists for a reason."
With a tired sigh, he stood and glanced one last time at the ruined field.
"No point in trying more tonight. And tomorrow's another big day."
He turned and began walking back to the inn, muttering under his breath.
"When I meet the one who made this system, I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind…"