novelden Chapter 3 Formulating a Plan
Chapter 3 Formulating a Plan
"So weak..." I stared intently at my reflection in the mirror.
After leaving the bathroom and treating the wound, you can calm down and assess your current condition.
Standing in front of the mirror, I couldn't help but examine my appearance closely. My reflection showed me covered in scars and with pale skin, reminding me of the difficult years I had endured.
In a way, my face and skin have always been like this. My sister and I both have fair skin. Unlike others our age, and given my frail health, I spend most of my time alone, which is something I'm somewhat comforted by.
However, upon closer inspection, I've noticed a problem: as a third-rate villain... why is my appearance comparable to the protagonist's?
My face is rarely shown in the game. Players who follow my bullying side quests will see my face, but even then, Morse's face is mostly obscured.
This also reminds me of why I became a target of bullying. In this world, beautiful things are always coveted and admired by others, and possessing such a characteristic can be a double-edged sword.
If there is no power to protect it, what was originally considered a blessing can easily turn into a curse.
It's a cruel irony to possess the blessing of outward beauty but lack the power to protect oneself. I've learned this lesson firsthand, enduring the torment my appearance has brought me.
To some extent, this is human nature: if you can't have it yourself, then no one else should either.
Morse Scott possessed an ethereal beauty; his pale silver skin shimmered with a soft glow like moonlight. His hair was as black as the night sky, with bangs that extended past his eyebrows, attempting to conceal his face and adding to his mystique.
His violet pupils were deep and mysterious, carrying a cosmic aura, giving him an otherworldly air.
My height is relatively average, but my lean and agile physique tells the story of years of rigorous training, but even so, it is not enough to hide my frail body.
After assessing my physical condition, I went to my desk.
Although the game's theme is hunters, the era in the game is the same as reality. The tablet in front of you is the best proof of that.
Because Arcadia Hunter Academy is a high-quality and well-funded institution, they provide students with the necessary learning equipment, including this tablet and the smartwatch on my wrist.
"Let me check my ranking first," I thought, and opened the tablet in front of me. On the screen, I could see my photo and my student information.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Name: Morse Scott
Age: 18
Department: Hunter Class (First Year)
Class: HA213
Grade ranking: 2450/2450
Occupation: Assassin
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Looking at the panel in front of me, I nodded; it was just as I remembered.
2450/2450, ranked at the bottom. To some extent, that's why they dared to bully me.
Looking back on my memories as Morse, one striking emotional flaw is my inability to control my emotions.
Emotions are an integral part of our lives. However, emotions can either brighten our lives or plunge them into darkness.
In particular, the feeling of guilt stemmed from the fact that Morse had never resisted his abusers in the past because he blamed himself for his sister's death. Therefore, he believed that since he was guilty, it was normal for him to feel the pain that those people had caused him.
But this idea is wrong. Even if Morse is responsible for our sister's death, those perpetrators have no right to try or punish us. The only one with that right is our sister.
As someone consumed by vengeance, I cannot waste time on such foolish things. How can I wallow in guilt while her blood still flows on the ground? How can I allow myself to be trampled underfoot!
"I'll never let this happen again," I thought, raising my arm. The scars on my arm were clearly visible, reminding me of the time I slashed my wrist. Next time, I'll make you pay.
I clenched my fists, sat on the bed, and began to form a plan in my mind, while simultaneously trying to get rid of that emotional deficiency.
"First and foremost, I need to address this talent limitation." My talent cap is set at 4, which is hindering my growth.
However, the concept of talent limitations is not as simple as it seems.
The term "talent cap" doesn't mean all attributes will be limited to the same level. Rather, it represents the average of all attributes. For example, a mage's talent cap might be 5, while their mana and magic capacity could reach 7, but this would cause their other attributes to be below 5 to distribute the cap across the rest.
Initially, a person's talent ceiling doesn't have a significant impact when competing with others. However, as a person approaches their talent ceiling, the gap between them and their peers becomes increasingly apparent.
However, my physical stats have long since stopped improving, which means I've reached my physical limits. But this also means I have a higher potential ceiling for my mana and magic power.
"Although this is the initial setting, it doesn't mean it can't be improved," I muttered to myself.
As one of the top RPG games in the industry, this game offers content to enhance talents, and there are several ways to achieve this goal.
One that's perfect for my situation is the 'Infinite Apple'. This legendary fruit can remove a person's talent limitations, eliminating any potential talent cap. However, this powerful item won't appear at the beginning of the game; it will appear later in the game, in a dungeon, by which time the player's attributes will be quite high.
Therefore, this plan is not feasible at present.
"However, there is one item that can temporarily solve this problem." I briefly recalled the game content, and my thoughts fell on an Easter egg, which was like a hidden treasure that could enhance my physical abilities for a short period of time.
'Essence of Life'
This is a special essence extracted from ancient trees. Legend has it that using this rare substance can unleash the body's hidden potential and push the body's limits to new heights.
“However, it won’t be easy to get it.” I pondered, but that didn’t matter anyway.
With this in mind, I began to devise a plan, outlining the steps needed to obtain this treasure...