William's eyes widened in shock as he read the skill description.
{Martial master (unranked passive skill) lv 5: grants combat experience on the same level as this world's martial masters. At the same, your control and knowledge of cold weapons and your world's firearms grow exponentially}
"Unranked skill….?" William muttered under his breath, rationality taking over his earlier shock.
Although he did know how the level and rankings of skills worked, William who had a first order skill couldn't help but feel that this skill Martial Master wasn't that good on the long run despite how useful it looked
Before he could think any further, the beautiful and charming Celeste interrupted him with a sweet smile "Ah you don't need to worry. Although in fact, in the long run that skill might not be so good, it's a passive skill.
William nodded as he realized that the word 'passive' was the key in this matter. Even after facing so much danger William had not forgotten about the warning he received when his active skill got forcefully evolved by his mysterious title. The warning that was reminding him that he could only learn four more external skills.
"External active skills are those that need mana movement to function and you didn't train to learn." Celeste explained patiently. " Before you were just a normal human with no training and yet you were able to learn such a terrifying skill in just a few seconds."
William focused all his attention on her explanation as he knew this was something very important.
Celeste continued. "Although it might be fine now, if you learn too many external active skills, in the long run your brain would be overloaded and your body breaks down from the accumulated stress of supporting many skills. That is exactly why you can only learn five active ones at first. However, the passive skills you can learn from scrolls are endless."
That was all he needed to hear, as William closed his eyes and wished to learn the contents of the scroll in his hands
{You've learned passive skill (Martial master)}
William immediately felt a flood of knowledge rush into his brain after learning the skill, his gaze sharpened and his bearing changed like a veteran soldier. Martial arts of self defense, fighting skill to kill opponents in the shortest amount of time possible, control over bladed weapons, knowledge of firearms as well as the correct ways they worked and the optimal way to use them all flowed through his mind
Fwoosh! Bang!
William struck out a punch at the wall leaving a fist sized hole. "Amazing, this is how strong elite fighters of this world are ." William said as he stared in disbelief at the hole in surprise as he had used a little strength in that punch. At this moment only he himself knew how horrible his strength had become, while his stats remained the same William was extremely confident that if he met the Gale tiger again, he could finish it off in less than five seconds without using blood manipulation or Adam's help.
"Fufu, congratulations although you've gained the combat experience of the biggest fighters in the history of your world, your combat experience is still too lacking, you can barely consider yourself a novice." Celeste said while shaking her head at his childish antics.
A novice?. William looked at her doubtfully, he didn't think so
"In your world, you can be considered an elite among humans… but that is just limited to your world. There are countless other worlds with monstrous fighters that could wipe the floor with the curren you while they were in level 5. In my eyes, you're similar to a baby just learning to walk.
William blushed in embarrassment as he raised both hands in surrender and his emotions cooled. Although being proud and arrogant was good, she was right he had just taken his first steps. Overconfidence could end up killing him. William turned towards the last but familiar item.
A smile found its way onto Celeste's face as she saw he took heed to her words, if this little power got into his head she would have been pretty disappointed.
{Apple of vitality (tier 2) greatly increases all healing effects including magic. +6 health on first consumption}
"Sometimes, consumables drop from killing monsters but they only give stats on first consumption." Celeste said as she looked at William. " This should help heal your friend in no time."
William was ecstatic as this could solve his biggest headache right now. The apple of vitality he had gotten before got lost in the fight against the tiger and he was worried for his friend's life as he had no medical experience or medicine.
"You really are my lucky angel thank you for this, I owe you this favor and shall repay to the best of my ability." William said with a rare smile on his face
A playful glint flashed through Celeste's eyes as she pushed her chest close to him and said in a very seductive voice. "I know how you can repay me, how about you take me here and now."
While William was a cold and socially closed person, he was also a man and such a sight sent blood rushing through his brain and towards a certain region of his body. He stared at her as every fiber of his being was screaming at him to pounce on her, something told him he was going to regret it.
Turning away from her as he took a deep breath to calm himself down. "I should get him inside before feeding him the apple."
William looked at the metal door in front of him. He could still hear the frenzied banging of the zombies inside, trying to break down the door.
"If this floor gets messed up the smell and stain would be difficult to get rid of." William said casually and opened the door without hesitation
Immediately, like beasts released from their cages, the zombies scattered from inside the lounge with their hands trying to capture their target as quickly as possible and their blood stained faces gave them an extremely terrifying appearance.
William didn't even unsheathe his swords as he blurred through the zombies.
The scary and hair-raising sound of bones breaking rang through the hallway as William specifically targeted the bones and joints incapacitating the zombies in a matter of seconds. Less than ten seconds later fifteen zombies lay on the ground, alive but no different than those who were actually dead.
Some had their four limbs broken, others had their jaws snapped and their spines separated into different pieces; the heads of others had been turned at impossible angles disconnected.
William stayed impassive at the horrifying sight. With Blood manipulation and the experience of humanity's strongest martial artist, his heart could no longer be shaken by such a thing.