"The Parasitic Sword: Puppeteer has already entered your body and become one with your flesh and blood."
The Vampire Eudite explained this as our special training began.
"In nature, it is quite similar to my own blood."
Eudite extended her left hand.
"Rose Blade."
The moment she whispered the words, a blade forged of blood shot out from her left wrist.
"I am able to manipulate the blood flowing through my body in this manner. You, likewise, should be able to manifest and retract the Puppeteer within you at will."
"I understand."
I closed my eyes and focused my awareness on the Puppeteer that now pulsed through my veins.
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Skill acquired: <Master of Parasitic Sword: Puppeteer>.
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"What...?"
A message suddenly materialized, startling me.
"It seems you have successfully sublimated your technique into a Skill."
I’d heard of this before. If someone spent every day practicing their swings, for example, they might eventually acquire the <Swordsmanship> Skill. While Skills were generally considered to be innate gifts, they weren't entirely impossible to obtain through sheer effort.
Acquiring a Skill this way likely followed a similar logic.
I closed my eyes once more.
This time, I could clearly feel the Puppeteer flowing inside me.
I focused on manifesting it outside my body.
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Derivative Skill acquired: <Black Blade>.
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When I opened my eyes, a black one-handed sword was gripped firmly in my hand, accompanied by the notification that I had acquired the Skill.
"For the time being, you are at least capable of defending yourself," the Vampire Eudite declared. "Well then, shall we begin the training proper?"
Thus began my special training under the Vampire Eudite.
"Keep your elbows tucked! Your footwork is still too shallow!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
I faced off against Lady Eudite as she swung her sword of blood, desperately parrying her strikes with Puppeteer. Her blows were heavy; simply blocking them was enough to send me staggering back. Even so, I clung on with everything I had.
"Do not fear the monsters. You may feel free to attack more boldly."
"Understood!"
Our training wasn't limited to sparring; we also conducted hunts. Currently, I was squaring off against a Headless Mule, an A-Rank monster that roamed the dungeon. Since Lady Eudite was there to step in if I reached my limit, I could focus entirely on the fight without holding back.
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Monster subjugation confirmed.
Skill Points acquired.
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The moment I sliced through the Headless Mule's neck, a message window appeared.
"Yes!"
I reflexively pumped my fist. This was the first time I had managed to defeat a monster while maintaining full control over Puppeteer.
"My, you certainly have a knack for this, don't you?"
The sudden praise from Eudite caught me off guard.
"...You think so?"
To be honest, I never thought I had any particular talent for combat.
"I do. I did not expect you to be able to defeat one on your own at this stage. How should I put it... you seem exceptionally gifted at reading a monster's movements and dodging its attacks. Did you have much prior combat experience?"
"No, almost none."
"Then it must be an innate talent."
As she praised me, I realized the truth of the matter. It wasn't talent; it was the fact that I had used <Return by Death> to face the Bugbears in an endless cycle, dodging their attacks more times than I could count. I had a wealth of experience when it came to evading lethal blows, and that experience was finally paying off in live combat.
"Since you have accumulated Skill Points, perhaps you should try leveling up your Skills?"
"That's a good idea."
Answering her, I pulled up my Status Screen.
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<Kiska>
Skill 1: Save & Reset Skill 2: Provocation Lv1 Skill 3: Swordsmanship Lv1 Skill 4: Attribute Enchantment Lv1 Skill 5: Master of Parasitic Sword: Puppeteer Lv1
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Before I knew it, all five Skill slots were filled. Remembering how I had started with nothing but <Save & Reset>, I felt a strange sense of accomplishment.
Next, I checked my current points and the requirements for the next level.
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Skill Points Held: 14
<Provocation Lv1> Remaining Skill Points Required for Level Up: 10
<Swordsmanship Lv1> Remaining Skill Points Required for Level Up: 30
<Attribute Enchantment Lv1> Remaining Skill Points Required for Level Up: 50
<Master of Parasitic Sword: Puppeteer Lv1> Remaining Skill Points Required for Level Up: 70
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The points required to level up varied significantly between Skills. While <Provocation> only needed 10 points, <Master of Parasitic Sword: Puppeteer> required a staggering 70.
Out of curiosity, I looked into the details of the Puppeteer skill.
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Skill: Master of Parasitic Sword: Puppeteer Lv1
Derivative Skills Lv1 ⇒ Black Blade Lv2 ⇒ ???
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The 'Lv2 ⇒ ???' entry caught my eye. Did this mean that raising the level further would unlock entirely new derivative skills?
It was an interesting prospect. I was genuinely curious about what else I could unlock, but since reaching Level 2 required 70 points, it would have to wait for now.
"Well?" Eudite asked, having waited patiently for me to finish.
"I want to prioritize <Swordsmanship> first, so I think I'll aim to save up 30 Skill Points."
"A sensible choice. Very well."
With my path decided, I turned back toward the depths of the dungeon to continue the hunt.