〈System: Due to your unfathomable concentration while suffering from intense mental pain, you have awakened the Hidden Attribute «Focus»!〉
〈System: As the first player to awaken «Focus», you have been rewarded two points of Focus and +100 Perception and Control.〉
Kieran felt like the reward lifted a significant burden from his shoulders when he received this notification. Focus, simply put, was the Hidden Attribute that regulated the effectiveness of a player's Perception and Control.
However, Kieran also understood it could be used as a scale to gauge the might of a user's Mental Power. While 2 Focus Points weren't enough to turn Kieran into an infallible existence, maintaining a decent mental strength output was possible.
It was strong enough to begin executing 2-star Techniques; however, any intelligent player would do so with caution.
Besides, the Technique Kieran wielded was no 2-star Technique.
Kieran exhaled.
'It's like rousing the attribute has cleared my mental block. I learned of this secret too late in the past. Risk and opportunity go hand in hand. Those safety precautions are useful in some cases, but when it comes to challenging your limits, it's a severe constraint,' Kieran inwardly thought.
Accomplishing this feat would've been impossible with the safety precautions engaged. Kieran would have been forcibly ejected from the game two minutes ago.
Nevertheless, although Kieran was delighted by the system notification, his actions had yet to end. There was still the matter of Technique Creation.
The versatile Technique he sought to create would cement his objectively feeble advantage over other elite payers. After all, Ezra's presence was a clear indication that more hidden classes would soon appear.
Peng! Peng! Peng!
The Sand Severing Sand Worm continued firing a haphazard spray of incredibly sharp spines. But, every needle-like spine that entered the range of Kieran's current Technique was neutralized.
The destruction of momentum was simply remarkable!
Thirty seconds later, Kieran's previously rejuvenated expression paled once more as he cursed the system for its lack of notification and the Sand Severing Sand Worm for its abnormal firing rate and endurance.
"How many spines can this thing generate?!" Kieran's eyes widened in disbelief as not even the Mother Worm performed such a feat.
Granted, the force and size of the needle-like spines were only a fraction of the ones the Mother Worm produced.
Suddenly, the chaotic wisps transformed into a spiral that wreathed Kieran's blade in a highly destructive presence. This situation reminded Kieran of his death bed.
His consciousness was only an ember then, but he recalled the rage that sparked a sudden increase in his mental strength capacity. At that moment, he generated such formidable berserk energy that his body couldn't contain it.
While his current mental strength was inferior to his capacity at that moment, the details were ingrained in the depths of his soul. That berserk energy latched on to his current Technique, seemingly upgrading its effects in the process.
Rather than remain stationary like before, Kieran took a step forward, followed by another, until he reached the wounded Special Elite Sand Worm's body.
"I've said this before—nothing will stop me from accomplishing what I desire," Kieran uttered coldly.
Crrrrr!
The destructive slash created a ripping noise followed by a ringing noise that droned inside everyone's head. Afterward, Kieran waved Crimson Ashrune without moving his head.
Clang!
His sword, wreathed in the destructive aura, knocked away the spine and sent it speeding through the air until it pierced the sand far away.
〈System: You have generated a unique «Aspect»! Would you like to name it?〉
Aspects were somewhat similar to passives that granted auras, but not quite. Those passive skills relied upon Mana to activate its effects, but Aspects were partial to another energy source—Mental Power.
Unlike typical Techniques designed for skill or basic attack assistance, Aspects could be applied to everything—Soul Trait effects, special abilities—the choices were endless. However, one's skill with manipulating an Aspect relied upon their Focus.
As a result, Aspects were considered Specialized Techniques. But, because of this classification, their lowest grading was extremely high.
"An Aspect? I've never heard of this before," Kieran muttered in great shock. This power was something created after years away from Zenith Online, so he wasn't aware of its presence then.
Before giving it a name, however, Kieran scanned through the system's small overview.
[A destructive aura that bears slight neutralizing effects, leaving its competition in a ruinous state. The rudimentary power found in the skill borders on the edge of universal principles. Drawing inspiration from suitable sources may perfect this ability further.]
"Ruinous Negation," Kieran said after reading the description.
〈System: Congratulations, you have created «Aspect: Ruinous Negation»!〉
〈System: You have received 5x «Auto Technique Creation Scroll»!〉
〈System: You have received 3x «Intermediate Refined Mastery Elixir»!〉
〈System: You have received a «Shard of Ancient Knowledge»!〉
Kieran was momentarily taken aback by the entire situation. While trying to create his original Technique, the effects morphed into something sensational. Moreover, the rewards from forming an Aspect were mind-boggling!
Out of curiosity, Kieran pulled up the only item he was unfamiliar with. The Shard of Ancient Knowledge. Kieran felt an indescribable sensation coming from the item, but considering the item's rank, he made his interaction with it sparse.
「 Shard of Ancient Knowledge (Special Item)
Item Rank: Ancient
Item Level: Unknown
Item Usage: Bestows a set of knowledge related to the Language of the Ancients. (This item is unusable until you pass the test of these ancient people.)
Description: A shard that bears signs of an ancient civilization. The sophisticated yet incomplete engravings suggest its stems from people of infinite knowledge—people skilled with the Language of the Ancients. Its origins date back to a distant era. 」
'Language of the Ancients,' Kieran muttered in his mind. He pondered whether or not he was familiar with such people but eventually drew a blank. 'I'm not sure what the Language of the Ancients suggests?'
Kieran wondered if this item originating from a different era implied it belonged to lost people. However, what worried Kieran was the possibility that someone sought this item.
Fortunately, the lack of an issued warning consoled Kieran's worried mind. Due to his lack of knowledge, Kieran felt he should raise this question with Scar since he was in contact with Agrianos, someone regarded as ancient.
Immediately after creating his new Aspect, Kieran shifted his gaze to the Sand Severing Sand Worm that gradually slowed. Once it stopped spinning, the giant sand beast entered a Fainted state where it grew vulnerable.
As soon as this window presented itself, Kieran wasted no time in rapidly approaching the beast. The chaotic tendrils from his new Aspect overlapped with Crimson Ashrune's outer coating until it produced an ominous atmosphere.
'No matter what happens, I don't regret choosing this class. Everything I have done up until this moment has all aligned perfectly. And those that haven't will bear fruits in the future.'
Whoosh!
Kieran leapt high in the air while envisioning a distinct weaponized usage for this new Aspect. The chaotic tendrils transferred from Crimson Ashrune to the large Crimson Current Kieran unleashed.
The Crimson Current deluged the fainted sand beast like a violent sea of blood swallowing up a great kill.
-259,456! [Critical Hit!]
-1,141,607! [Execution!]
The battlefield grew silent as a ruinous decay overtook the Violet Spined Sand Worm. When the blood remnants from the Crimson Current seeped into the ground, all that remained of the Champion Monster was a battered body.
Ezra twitched while standing behind Nemean and Bastion, mouth agape in awe. 'No way… did I just read that correctly? Was that a crimson gold damage number above 1 million?!'
Ezra sheathed her swords behind her waist and rubbed her eyes before taking a second glance at the lingering number atop the dead Champion Monster.
"W-what… what just happened?" Altair turned back after hearing and feeling something unusual. He couldn't put it in words as the sensation was inexplicable, but it felt as if his heart had stopped for a moment.
After all, he was the closest to Kieran's action.
"What happened is Aatrox is a damned FREAK. He just hit over one million damage! How is that even possible? I don't understand!" Bastion suffered a mental breakdown while holding his hands to the sky and pleading for logic to take hold of this party.
"One million? No, that can't be right. You must mean one hundred thousand," Altair brushed off their claims in the party chat.
But, that changed when Ezra shared the clip with everyone. "Are you sure we misspoke? Take the time to count the digits of this number. Also, how would one hundred thousand damage instantly kill a monster with over one million Health?"
"Ah—" Altair was at a loss for words.
His fingers twitched as he felt abject horror rise in his mind. 'One million damage is insane. Can any player claim to even unleash that much damage after fighting for an hour straight?'
Altair's mind plunged into the depths of despair as he realized the absurdity of Kieran's feat.
Meanwhile, Kieran was similarly shocked by the outcome. No, he was even more shocked than the rest of them. 'An Aspect… is this powerful? This goes beyond what simple passive skills that create aura can achieve.'
Kieran then turned toward the three other Special Elites that Luna, Lux, and Altair kited. Kieran envisioned the Aspect's powers once more and released three Blood Waves to test out his theories.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The three Aspect-enhanced Blood Waves cleaved through the three Sand Worms effortlessly, but after that, Kieran was forced to release his hold of this Technique.
Blargh!
Kieran vomited on the spot and fell to one knee as his presence became unusually feeble.
〈System: Continued usage of «Aspect: Ruinous Negation» is unadvised. The user's Constitution and Focus are not up to par for prolonged usage.〉
