Ashton knew that it's going to take some time to get used to the guns...
At first glance, the base form of the Mortal Reminder is like an SMG but the recoil on this thing is just...something else.
If he wants to fire this gun more effectively, he has to get used to that first. It's going to be a slow start but nothing too difficult.
With that said, the gun was promising. Since it shoots out bullets by compressing mana, he didn't need to manufacture them out here. He's only going to he limited by the amount of mana he possess, of which he has a lot compared to those at the same level as him.
In addition to the guns, Ashton took some time to look at the Gunslinger Skill Tree.
The display was just like what he expected, it looked like the ones on games too. There were a bunch of active skills as well as passive skills as well.
Since he can use his resources here to unlock skills, he went ahead and unlocked a bunch using money since he had no use for them out here. The skills he unlocked are:
[Precision - Lv.1 (Passive)]
• Increases Hit Rate by 5%
[Accuracy - Lv.1 (Passive)]
• Increases Hit Accuracy by 5%
[One Shot - Lv.1 (Passive)]
• Insta-kill chance - 0.01%
[Ranger - Lv.1 (Passive)]
• Increases Range by 10 meters
[Footwork - Lv. 1(Passive)]
• Increases ease of movement by 5%
[Piercing Rounds - Lv.1]
• Shoots a bullet that pierces through an enemy
[Curve Shot - Lv.1]
• Fires a bullet that curves to hit the target.
[Burning Rounds - Lv.1]
• Fires a bullet that set the target ablaze upon contact.
All of these cost him nearly 1 million Federation Dollars but they worth it in his opinion.
Of course, this isn't all the skills available to him right now. There were more but he decided to unlock them later since he'd have to get used to the skills he has first. Additionally, there were also skills that are unavailable for him at the current moment, probably because the other forms of the guns aren't available yet or he needs to raise the skill levels first. Either way, it's fine.
The skills he unlocked are not spells that he can place in the Grinding Slot which is a bummer but not really a deal breaker. At least, now he has a range option.
No, he won't abandon the Staff Technique. He knew that it would still be useful, he just decided to focus more on the guns since he has a Sub-Class for it.
Of course he also wouldn't forget about his skills as a White Mage. He know that those were too important here so there's no way he'd slack off.
With that in mind, he decided to continue with his seclusion and his training.
He practiced with the guns for the most part, he's even weaving some spells here and there too. Once he's tired, he'd rest up a bit then get to basic staff technique. After his training, he'll cool down, eat something then sleep for the night.
His perception of time was utterly screwed. Mostly because he adjusted the time he spent inside the simulation zone to his advantage. He could feel the headache of that but it's nothing a good night sleep can't get rid off.
The funny thing about this is...Ashton is kind of a natural when it comes to using guns.
By the end of the first day since he got them, the [Basic Firearm Proficiency] rose to Lv.3, he had adjusted way too quick for someone who never really held a gun before.
He already got used to the recoil of the handcannons. His shoulders were stiff by the end of it but that's fine. It's supposed to be that way since this thing is effective.
He even managed to beat a simulated Imp with this in his first try and that's saying something.
Ashton also tried out the 2nd form of the Mortal Reminder which is a Sniper Rifle. It turns out that if he combined the two handcannons, they automatically transform into this form.
The base range of that thing is at least 1 kilometer which was really good. Add the bonus he got from his passive and he could stay even further back.
That's far outside the Imps are least. The recoil of the Sniper Rifle is stronger than the handcannons but it's more silent. Plus, Ashton couldn't get enough of the satisfying head shots he does with this. It wasn't always a hit since he's a beginner but man does it feel good to land one.
Head-shoting an Imp doesn't kill them immediately though, from what he observed so far. He didn't know why for now but maybe later in the future he'll know.
Aside from that, Ashton mostly just stuck with the basics. With the help of the Simulation Zone, he worked on his basics; the right posture, the aim, tracking, shooting while moving at the same time, etc.
He knew that the basics wouldn't fail him so he ingrained them into his being. There's still a long way to go but Ashton has time.
Time that he had no qualms taking advantage off...
A couple of days passed by after that...
Today marks his first month being outside of the Last Bastion, and according to the System, he should be getting a reward for today.
[Quest Updated! Survive for 1 Month: Cleared. Rewards: Bloodline Purification Pills (x5), distributed. Please check your Inventory.]
The System delivered...
Ashton withdrew from the Simulation Zone and returned to reality. He opened up his Inventory to check the new addition to it.
[Bloodline Purification Pill]
• Increases the potency of one's Bloodline by 5%
• Note: Continued consumption of this pill will diminish its effects.
Ashton wasn't surprised with that.
Consuming 50 Pills to purify his bloodline to the maximum sounds too good to be true so he didn't believe it. He didn't even think about it in the first place.
'System, do I have a bloodline? Except being Human of course.'
[Yes, Host. There is a faint trace of bloodline in your body that hasn't been awakened yet.]
'...is it what I think it is?'
[Indeed, Host.]
Ashton nodded to himself. He decided to relax his mind first before consuming a pill at least.
The confirmation of the system was all that he needed actually. It seems that he indeed has the bloodline of a Fay...more specifically, the Fey Emperor.
On how is that even possible, honestly Ashton has no clue. It's the System who determine things here, the rest was up for him to discover on his own.
Ashton never heard any tales about the Fey here. Not a single book he read so far was about them. Maybe he'll find out more about them in the future when he gets access to the upper floors of the Grand Library but for now, he's totally in the dark.
Once he was calm enough, he took out a single pill from his Inventory. Without any further ado, he swallowed the pill and waited for its effects to show.
...he didn't have to wait that long.
Around a minute and half after swallowing the pill. He felt a unique heat simmering on his chest.
The sensation was akin to scalding heat. It's as though he swallowed a fireball spell or something...
He could feel sweat drenching his clothes. It's also getting more difficult for him to breathe and remain calm under this sensation.
Ashton's body was steaming, his skin turned red from the heat and his clothes were sticking close to his body due to it being drenched in his own sweat.
This kind of suffering lasted for half an hour, but for Ashton, it felt like he's been like this for days...
His salvation came in the form of a comforting breeze. No, it didn't come from his little underground shelter nor the air purifiers he had. It came from within him.
That cool breeze was the first sign of comfort to him. Everything else subsided after that.
The hear was gone, he no longer felt like his blood was boiling. His throat was no longer parched, his skin was also regaining it's natural color.
Then, out of nowhere, a weak fluctuation pulsed out of his body, causing him to jolt ever so slightly.
His hair grew longer and more lustrous, his skin shimmered briefly and his posture eased-up. His body stretched, like he was getting taller too. His body became leaner and more compact and his facial features turned sharper.
His mana reserves practically doubled. It's purity also increased...
Ashton felt awesome. He's immersed in a cool comfort that he didn't want it to end. Unfortunately, the feeling dissipated shortly after.
He opened his eyes and his pupils flashed with a steak of viridian gleam before disappearing.
His lips unknowingly curved into a smile. He felt so lightweight and strong that he had this urge to go out there and wreck some havoc. Fortunately, his rationality kept him still.
Ashton took a deep breath and looked at his own hands, still reeling from the sensation just now.
[Notice!!]
