Chapter Twenty-Six: Upgrading Skills

“I currently have three abilities: one for movement and control, one for speed, and one for burst damage. But the movement skill’s cooldown is too long—it’s an ultimate. I need some regular minor skills to alternate with Mighty Strike, and also an additional AoE skill.”

His talent was indeed suited for group damage, but having another AoE wouldn’t conflict with that. His gaze swept over the many skills the homeroom teacher had offered, carefully flipping through them. He discovered the list had doubled since last time.

There were four more intermediate skills, two advanced ones, and the rest were all basic skills. He glanced at the advanced skills but quickly looked away. Powerful as they were, their price was despairing—fifty gold at minimum.

Intermediate skills could be bought for as little as two or three gold, the stronger ones for seven or eight, but the homeroom teacher had set a flat price of two gold, regardless of type—a real bargain.

“This one looks good.”

“This one works too.”

After browsing twice, Chu Cheng finally made his decision.

Frenzied Slash LV1 (Basic): Launch three attacks at the target within one second, each dealing 50% of max physical attack. Cooldown: 25 seconds.

Whirlwind Slash LV1 (Intermediate): Rapidly spins and swings weapon, dealing 100% max physical attack per second to surrounding enemies, lasts five seconds, cooldown: two minutes.

Note: Movement speed +20 during Whirlwind Slash.

With the skills in hand, Chu Cheng immediately learned them. The glowing orb in his mind spun, threads of light streamed out, and his interface flickered as the two skills transformed exactly as he expected.

Rampage LV1 (Intermediate): Launch five attacks at the target within one second, each dealing 50% of max physical attack. Cooldown: 25 seconds.

Blade Storm LV1 (Advanced): Unleash a devastating blade storm, dealing 150% max physical attack per second to enemies within a three-meter radius, lasts seven seconds, cooldown: two minutes.

Note: While in Blade Storm, caster gains basic Super Armor, movement speed +50, and reduces all damage taken by 30%.

Note: Skill can be dispelled, authority priority.

“Amazing!”

Though mentally prepared, Chu Cheng was always awestruck. Rampage was impressive, but Blade Storm was outright monstrous—far stronger than Thunderous Strike in his opinion. Both were advanced skills, but Blade Storm’s power and effects were nearly at the level of top-tier abilities.

“Well, time to upgrade my abilities.”

He already had a plan in mind. First, his gaze fell upon Mighty Strike, and he began allocating points without hesitation.

Two skill points raised it to LV3.

Another two points brought it to LV4.

Yet another two points raised it to LV5, triggering the rule: every skill at LV5, LV10, and LV15 gains an additional specialization to enhance it.

Mighty Strike LV5 (Intermediate): Deliver a powerful blow, dealing 320% of max physical attack, with a chance to trigger a Crushing effect. Cooldown: 30 seconds.

Note: The greater the strength difference, the higher the trigger chance.

As the skill shimmered, three selectable specializations appeared before him.

“Your skill Mighty Strike has reached LV5. Please choose one of the following specializations.”

“Specialization One: Max attack +30%.”

“Specialization Two: +2 strength damage coefficient.”

“Specialization Three: Small chance to trigger Heavy Blow.”

The specializations appeared, but Chu Cheng stood still, making no choice. Within seconds, a thread of light shot from his pupils to the interface, which flickered, and the data changed drastically.

“Your skill Mighty Strike has reached LV5. Please choose one of the following specializations.”

“Specialization One: Max attack +100%.”

“Specialization Two: +5 strength damage coefficient.”

“Specialization Three: High chance to trigger Heavy Blow.”

“As expected.”

There was no need to hesitate—he chose the first, increasing max attack by 100%.

Mighty Strike at LV5 delivered a 320% critical strike, and with the specialization, it became a 420% critical strike—a significant power boost.

He had spent six skill points upgrading Mighty Strike, leaving twenty-four. His gaze then settled on Rampage, a frequently used minor skill worth upgrading.

A flurry of clicks spent eight skill points, raising it smoothly to LV5.

Rampage LV5 (Intermediate): Launch five attacks at the target within one second, each dealing 70% of max physical attack. Cooldown: 25 seconds.

Five attacks in one second, each at 70%—a total burst of 350%.

“Your skill Rampage has reached LV5. Please choose one of the following specializations.”

“Specialization One: Additional attack +1.”

“Specialization Two: Max attack per hit +10%.”

“Specialization Three: Cooldown reduced by 3 seconds.”

As expected, the interface blurred, and the three specializations changed, strengthened.

“Your skill Rampage has reached LV5. Please choose one of the following specializations.”

“Specialization One: Additional attacks +3.”

“Specialization Two: Max attack per hit +30%.”

“Specialization Three: Cooldown reduced by 10 seconds.”

No hesitation—he chose the first: three extra attacks.

It wasn’t just that this specialization offered the highest burst; its key was the increased number of attacks.

These attacks were basic attacks, capable of triggering all sorts of combat effects: critical hits, slow, bleed, stun, crush, shatter, and so on.

Three more attacks greatly increased the chance of triggering such effects.

He didn’t have these effects yet, but he chose them now—there would be no downside in the future.

Sixteen skill points remained...

“Damn.”

Enough to max out an intermediate skill to LV5 with some left over, but not enough to raise an advanced skill to LV5, nor to push an intermediate skill to LV10—otherwise, he’d definitely upgrade one.

In the Realm of Chaos, every skill has a threshold at every five levels—a qualitative leap.

Basic skills cap at LV5, so only one specialization.

Intermediate skills cap at LV10, allowing two specializations—two stages.

Advanced skills cap at LV15, allowing three specializations—three stages.

Higher-stage specializations are far more powerful than lower-stage ones—not just by a little.

If an advanced skill reached LV15, its power would be staggering.

Unfortunately, he lacked enough skill points—not enough to raise an intermediate skill to LV10, nor to advance an advanced skill to LV5.

Another skill, Swift, was also intermediate, but he didn’t consider upgrading it; 50% speed boost was enough for now.

It’s worth mentioning that, normally, before reaching level 50—that is, below the Transcendent rank—no skill can exceed LV10. Only those above Transcendent can push skills above LV10 and up to LV20.

Only Legendary professionals can raise skills above LV20.