Opening up his notifications Azrael watched as many little blue screens popped up in his vision. He scrolled through the extensive list, giving a few no more than a glance, while visually picking out the interesting ones.

Most of them were in regard to increasing proficiency with his mana skills, such [Mana Sense], [Mana Control] and [Mana Manipulation]. A few were for his [Spear Arts], while a fair few were for an increase in status. Mostly Intelligence and Endurance, but there were a few points allocated across the board.

He picked out the ones that interested him, dismissing the others.

Congratulations!

Through a new understanding of mana you have unlocked the unique skill [Elemental Mana].

[Elemental Mana]

There is a truth even nature obeys.

– You may grant your mana an elemental affinity.

Current Affinities: [Fire].

Well, he’d seen that one before, but it was the next one that interested him.

Warning!

Due to no elemental affinity all elemental spells will be fused with [Elemental Mana].

As your understanding of the elements grows, so too will the utility of the unique skill

[Elemental Mana].

There were several implications to that message. They were both good and bad at the same time. One of them being elemental affinities.

He had no clue what they were, but the notification told him that whatever it was he didn’t have it. Another thing was that he wouldn’t be gaining skill proficiency from elemental spells, which was unfortunate, although it potentially meant a greater flexibility in terms of spell casting.

The notification had also said “all elemental spells”, meaning that there were more than just his two. He would have to experiment with that later.

Was it just water and air that he was missing, or did things like plant and metal count too? What about lava and ice, or were they a fusion? He slapped his cheek slightly. He had to stay on track.

Congratulations!

Through the application of intimidation and theatrics you have gained the skill [Dramatic Flair].

[Dramatic Flair]

You have chosen the world as your stage.

All actions you do have a small chance of gaining a [Dramatic Flair].

Congratulations!

Due to your prowess in staying silent and hidden you have gained the skill [Stealth].

[Stealth]

Your passing is like a shadow.

Enables the user to hide smell, sound and signs of passing. Also makes the user harder to spot, especially in shadowed, or dark areas.

Congratulations!

Through staying rational during an intense situation you have gained the skill [Calm Mind].

[Calm Mind]

The heart is a blazing fire, the mind a still pond.

Helps keep the mind calm in intense situations.

Congratulations!

For being accepted as their ruler by the people of the land you have gained a level in ‘Lord’

WIS+3, END+2, STR+2.

Congratulations!

Due to being acknowledged as the lord of the End forest you have gained the title

‘Lord of the End Forest’.

Congratulations!

For being acknowledged as a lord, you have gained the skill:

[Lord’s Domain]

Congratulations!

Due to your title ‘Master of Status’ you have gained the unique skill [Lord’s Insight].

[Lord’s Domain]

The lord makes the people, as the people make the lord.

This skill provides you with a passive, low level awareness of your domain.

Current Additional benefits:

New Beginnings: All citizens of your domain temporarily gain an increase to village building related skills.

Gratitude: The moral of your citizens will temporarily not decrease.

[Lord’s Insight]

Know others, as you know yourself.

You may gain insight into other beings.

Azrael was not sure how to feel about becoming a ‘lord’. Was he now responsible for the people? Why him? All he’d done was point them in a direction and… oh. That might have done it.

He’d accepted their offerings. The system had probably counted that as taking tax or something. Could he give it back? He looked at his boots. Did he want to?

He ripped his gaze away from his boots and focused on the gentle buzzing at the back of his mind that was [Lord’s Domain].

In a sudden disorientating moment, he felt the whole forest in his mind. It wasn’t a clear picture, more of a feeling than an image. He zeroed in on where the new village was. They seemed fine. They were all happily working away and it didn’t seem like they needed him to do anything. A feeling of diligence, effort and security washed over him, through the skill.

Even as he ‘watched’ he could feel the villagers move to the village chief’s orders. He shrugged. He could let them be. He’d accept the free level and status points that being a lord gave him. It was not like he had to do anything.

[Lord’s Insight] though was interesting. Azrael was now slowly beginning to see a synergy between different parts of his status, such as between skills, or skills and titles.

He was starting to see the strengths of a specialised build, over a more generalised jack-of-all-trades. If you had matching passives, along with the classes and active skills he was sure that people could show some terrifyingly impressive power.

Congratulations!

Through a new understanding of mana you have progressed the unique skill [Elemental Mana].

[Elemental Mana]

There is a truth even nature obeys.

You may grant your mana an elemental affinity.

Current Affinities: [Fire], [Earth].

Warning!

Due to no elemental affinity all elemental spells will be fused with [Elemental Mana].

As your understanding of the elements grows, so too will the utility of the unique skill

[Elemental Mana].

Although he was worried about not having an ‘elemental affinity’, he was very pleased to have what seemed to be a growth type unique skill.

He wasn’t sure what the difference between a normal skill and a unique skill was, or the difficulty of getting one was. But he had two. He would have to ask Sera about that.

Actually, now that he thought about it he hadn’t really talked to her all that much really. He promised to himself that he would the next time he saw her.

If he was meant to become a ‘lord’, then he probably had to start getting used to talking to people. And who better to start with that Sera, who was based off his own consciousness? It was basically like talking to himself.

It wasn’t that he wanted to be a lord, but it was better to be prepared. Having firmed his resolve, he put it aside for the moment and opened his [Status].

Status

Name: Azrael

Class: Runist (Lv.2), Sorcerer (Lv.2), Lord (Lv.1)

Race: Human

HP: 110/110

MP: 155/170

STR: 10

END: 11

DEX: 12

AGI: 12

INT: 17

WIS: 13

Titles:

{Sinner}, {Heretic}, {Master of Status}, {Rune Master}, {God Watched}, {Lord of the End Forest}.

Unique skills:

[Status], [Elemental Mana]

Skills:

Weaving (Lv.2), Crafting (Lv.2), Spear Arts (Lv.11), Mana Sense (Lv.9), Mana Manipulation (Lv. 13), Soul Sense (Lv.3), Mana Control (Lv.12), Dramatic Flair (Lv. 2), Stealth (Lv. 8), Calm Mind (Lv. 6) Lord’s Domain (Lv. 1), Lord’s Insight (Lv. n/a).

Azrael was left speechless. Each of his stats was over 10, while INT sat at 17!!! That meant that he was two times stronger, two times faster, two times more durable and had over three times the mana pool he had when he had started! He’d doubled his status in less than a fortnight in game! Even his [Sorcerer] class had gained another level.

He leant back against the cave wall. If this was how much he’d improved, how strong were serious hardcore players if they’d joined at the beginning of the game? What about the beta testers with their extra knowledge?

If he wanted to be strong enough to protect his little corner of the world, then maybe he had to start taking this more seriously. And you know what people did when they got serious? They made lists.

Azrael logged out to make a list.