Bro, I'm not an Undead!

[Epiphany | Lv.1]

The very core of a Vehement Bone Nullmancer. The user gains boosts to his current capabilities and channels to learn concepts with ease.

<Passive>

•+90% to all skill proficiency and power

•Constantly analyses concepts around the user with a chance of generating lesser fundamental knowledge on said concepts.

<Active>

Allows the user to learn the fundamentals of any mana-related concept using specified quantities of Null Life Essence.

Mana Requirements: None

Duration: None

Cooldown: ---

~~~

While being exposed to the chaotic conditions, Skullius applied the active effects of [Epiphany] which immediately called for the response of the guidance field which gave a proper evaluation of how much Null Life Essence Skullius would need.

[High level concept detected. 'Distorted Gravity'. To learn the lesser fundamentals, an investment of 15,100 Null Life Essence is required]

[High level concept detected. 'Spatial Lightning'. To learn the lesser fundamentals, an investment 24,900 Null Life Essence is required].

[High level concept detected. 'Stagnant Space. To learn the lesser fundamentals, an investment of 31,700 Null Life Essence is required]

"Hmmm...I see... I don't expect anything less from such concepts I guess. I did expect the lightning to be more expensive than the Stagnant Space thing though..." Skullius thought.

He didn't gripe about the high costs that currently exceeded his maximum individual storage of Null Life Essence as he knew that with time, he would be able to learn any skill he wanted, as long as it was mana-related.

This skill was exclusive to his Null Life Class, the Vehement Bone Nullmancer, and with how it worked, Skullius had speculated that it was like an advanced version of the nameless trait of his – extracting skills from weapons.

After having extracted an aspect of the Elimparidis Stone Staff, this skill had emerged and while it didn't offer as much skill proficiency and power as it originally did in the Staff, Skullius was happy with all it had to offer.

The Penetrator cautiously took a few steps forward while feeling the passive effect of the skill draw in the chaotic waves of power that contained so many concepts.

His end goal to eventually penetrate the spherical barrier that housed the floating staves and the gems as he knew that all these concepts that had been identified were thickest there.

For now though...

Skullius sat down and focused on the ground which was reinforced by mana.

"I feel it. Even though it's very vague, [Epiphany] is pulling on the mana in the air. This passive effect must be really slow but I'm sure it will help in some way," he said. "Now... I might as well increase the levels of my skills while I wait. Let's continue with this one."

Skullius raised his bony hand as he pushed out enough mana for a rather hot skill, [Revenant Flames of Ecstasy]!

With the cast of the skill this time however, the mana saturated space sizzled and roared, a burst of strange steam blowing into the air as a flame with a golden-orange hue shot out in the form of a large orb over Skullius' hand!

It quivered while exerting an immense weight that made Skullius' seated body dig a meter deep into the ground!

"Wooo.... Almost forgot about that," Skullius said as he struggled to carry the weight of the flame that seemed to burn even mana itself!

This vaguely reminded him of Terian and his flame shark which could detain people and their abilities.

Ah. Old times.

The Penetrator had actually gotten used to this skill's effect over the past few days as during the evening, he would transform and get to see it affect every skill he used.

"Now, where should I throw this?" Skullius asked himself as his sockets flashed around the area.

The entire space was hardened by the dense mana making casual blows of force less likely to do any damage to the ground.

Any place seemed fine to chuck the mass of scorching fire as the damage wouldn't be as bad.

Probably.

Skullius threw the large fireball up and away, its huge mass causing the thick air to produce an intense vibration which resounded over all things in the area as it flew the distance!

The fireball dropped and upon touching the ground, a golden flare burst into Skullius' vision with archaic visual violence!

The flare rose up in a beautiful light and stretched across the distance parallel to the ground with a light thrum and then....

A much expected explosion of golden-orange erupted with a force akin to that of a volcano!

The entire mountain top shook as the power from the skill cascaded beyond and buried Skullius and his Apostle before a second could pass!

The Penetrator was awed even though this was not his first time seeing this!

'It's pretty powerful with the effect of [Epiphany]. I wonder how much more powerful it will be when I evolve it,' Skullius thought as billows of dust rose in the shape of glowing mushroom.

He was unaffected by the skill's power as always and so was Ferex who still stood before Skullius protectively despite knowing this.

When the intense heat and dust cleared, Skullius found an astounding result.

"Jeez..."

Aside from the superheated air that created exaggerated mirages in the air, everything else here was barely affected by the flame!

The small pillars, the ground and especially the spherical barrier that housed the items that he wanted so badly.

Nothing at all.

"Well... this just makes it the perfect place for me to level this skill up!" Skullius said with enthusiasm.

***

Next day.

The morning light that was always partly shielded by the clouds and cold barely announced that morning had come.

Still, everyone's biological clocks told them which time of day it was.

With a quick blur that barely had any effects to it, Skullius reappeared in the shade.

He donned a jacket as usual with his human face depicting a genuine smile.

"Now, for my part-time job. Wait. What does that mean? Gah, flesh it!"

The Discount Human took the Elimparidis Staff from where he had hidden it 'securely' and stored it in his ring.

Ferex sat atop his head in a miniaturised form, hidden within the locks of light auburn hair.

His preferred hiding place.

Skullius made sure that he looked presentable before he wore a wide smile that tried to give the feeling of care while hiding his true intent.

He swung the door open and found dozens of people, some who were shivering in the snow as they sat near the shed, clearly awaiting his return.

Skullius had sensed this the moment he came out of the mini world in the staff. Frankly, he was hoping for it. Many pawns for his use.

Unlike his [Revenant Flames of Ecstasy] which was now at level 12, eight short of an evolution, [Luminous Healing] was at level 9 and thus he was eager for the final push that would lead him into the next evolved state of the skill.

Upon seeing the face of the man who had been said to be capable of healing people already inside the shed, the people were astonished and awed.

They had been here all night and hadn't seen him go in!

"Good morning. Please make an orderly line and I'll help you all one by one," Skullius said with a soothing voice.

The people outside immediately responded with action as soon after they had done as they were told, the person in the front walked into the shed.

Skullius sat opposite the person and smiled warmly.

It was a middle aged man whose most notable feature was his imperial style beard and mismatched hair length.

He looked to be about to break into tears as he looked firmly at Skullius.

"S-sir, can you help me? M-my foot. I haven't be able to move it for the past week. I thought the cold in this region was something I could easily handle... but I was wrong. Please, please help me. I will leave this town immediately afterwards!"

'No crap. Are you one of those bros who don't know that there's a hot bath in the town?!' Skullius thought while on the outside, he retained his smile as he nodded, his hands reaching for the man's own.

'Oh well. As long as I get m—"

...!

The Discount Human suddenly turned his head, a strange sensation that ran along his skin causing him to become alert!

His [Elevated Mana Manipulation] stormed towards his left past the walls of the shed!

Even Ferex who laid on his head turned in this direction!

Something...

Someone... was watching!