Worthless Skill Escape (WN)

Chapter 161

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TL: ALT

Chapter 161 – This Time’s Reward (Continued)

“So what does this bug have to do with the reward?”

I can guess what it’s about from what I’ve heard so far, but I want to hear it from him.

“What do you think would happen if you returned to your original world―the world you call the skill world―in its current state?”

“What do you mean?”

In the job world, the skills from the skill world could not be used in their original form.

They could only be used after they were incorporated into the job world system, such as job skills, abilities, support abilities, and unique bonuses.

So what would happen if I tried to use the jobs I had obtained in the job world in the skill world?

“…Could it be that the jobs would be converted back to skills?”

For example, the unique bonus for the Magic Swordsman is “Magic also deals critical hits.”

This unique bonus is a conversion of the skill Magic Crit that was acquired in the skill world into a unique bonus that fits the system of that world.

Just as I couldn’t use skills in the job world, I probably won’t be able to use jobs in the skill world.

So when I return to the skill world, there is a chance that the skill world’s system will convert the job world-derived parts of my stats back to my original skills.

With Magic Crit, there is not much difference, but there are many unique bonuses that are easier to handle.

For example, the Demon King’s unique bonus is “considerable resistance to all status anomalies.”

This is probably a combination of the Electric Shock Resistance, Paralysis Resistance, Petrification Resistance, Sleep Resistance, Instant Death Resistance, Confusion Resistance, and Silence Resistance skills that I acquired in the skill world.

Because it is all in one place and easy to use, and because it uses the “considerable” level expression, if I continue to fight strong enemies as I do in the skill world, I can expect to see growth in the level expression as well.

If these were split into separate skills, it would be necessary to invest SP in each skill to increase the skill level.

It’s hard to say which earns faster, but based on my experience over the past three months, the unique bonus seems to grow faster.

There are also a number of abilities and jobs in the skill world that seem to be based on skills.

If the skill world system breaks them down into their original skills, then all the effort I’ve put in over the past three months will be wasted.

“So all the jobs I’ve worked so hard on will revert back to their original skills?”

“I guess that’s true in some cases. But it’s still better than being suspected of illegally tampering with the skill system and having your entire inventory ‘frozen.'”

“Fr-Frozen…”

In short, that means I’ll be treated like a cheater and banned, right?

“You’ve been downgraded in the past for overusing skills.”

“You mean the skill combination thing?”

For example, stacking multiple skills such as Sword Technique, Swordsmanship, Dagger Art, All-out Attack, Stun Attack, and Hit Stop on a single action such as Sword Slash is a technique I call skill combination.

By combining skill synergy, which stacks buff effects, and skill burst, which increases the effect of a skill a hundred times for one use at the cost of losing that skill, I could deal astronomical damage.

I was even able to close the “hole” in the world left by the collapse of the dungeon.

However, the Voice of Heaven sealed the skill combination because it was too powerful.

Although I was given a new skill called Skill Combo, this skill has some limitations.

The number of times I can stack Skill Combo (as a skill) is the same as S.Lv.

Also, the power of the skill I stack on top of the previous one is halved each time.

It becomes 1/2 at the second level, 1/4 at the third level, and 1/8 at the fourth level, so it probably only makes sense up to the fourth level.

Because a single move is interpreted as the action of multiple skills, the more skills you have, the more limited the basic move becomes.

Skill combos increase the power of your attacks, but you may find yourself in a situation where you can’t stack other skills unless you perform the move from that angle…

All-Out Attack can be stacked with the Sword Technique sub-skill Slash, but the trajectory of the slash is limited to a downward slash from directly above.

The more stacked combos, the more the attack moves will be limited to simple ones.

If the opponent is a monster with low intelligence, it may be possible to hit them, but if the opponent is a monster with high intelligence or a human explorer, it will be difficult to hit them in a real battle.

There is even a risk that the opponent will read my actions and counterattack.

The previous non-skill version of skill combination had enough firepower to make up for this, but the skill version of skill combination does not.

For example, even if I stack three skills of about the same power with Skill Combo, the power will only be 1.75 times (=1+1/2+1/4) as much.

I got a huge amount of SP from Voice of Heaven as compensation, but it’s not clear if it’s enough to make up for the weakening of the skill combination.

…Of course, it was precisely because I received a large amount of SP as compensation for the skill combo that I could raise the skill level of Escape to 3 at the last minute in the job world.

“Are you saying that the system is watching me because of the skill combo?”

In MMOs, even if you’re not using a cheat, you can still be penalized for exploiting a bug or a loophole in the game’s specifications.

For example, if you use what’s clearly a bug to complete a dungeon and make a killing on the rewards.

“You didn’t break any rules, but you put a lot of stress on the system. They’re probably watching you. And then you come along and bring in abilities from another world that even the system doesn’t know about? Even if they don’t delete you, there’s a good chance they’ll freeze you for a while to analyze your data.”

“Give me a break…”

“Yeah, that’s not very fair. I’ll make it so that you can take the powers you gained in the job world into the skill world. And as a bonus, I’ll ensure that no matter what kind of status you get in the future, you won’t get hit with unreasonable things like last time. Or rather, as a result of being able to bring your job with you, you’ll also be able to prevent interference from the skill world system.”

“…I don’t really understand what you’re saying.”

“You can’t just bring the job system back to your original world as it is. That’s because the skill world doesn’t have a system for running jobs. That’s why I’m going to embed your job system in you.”

“In me… is that okay?”

“What I’m doing is the same as with your unique skill. Your unique skill is also in you, separate from the skill system.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Of course, the amount of space required is different between embedding a single unique skill and embedding the entire skill system. Since it won’t fit into your soul, I will unfold a new world around you and fold it so you can’t see it.”

“…I know it’s something outrageous.”

“It’s like weaving the ‘threads’ of the world that is about to disappear and creating a cocoon. It’s my specialty.”

“So if there’s a cocoon-like world, I can use the powers from the job world in the original world as well?”

“No, that is not enough. If the system detects an abnormality in your status, it will immediately try to resolve the abnormality. So we will use the cocoon world as a barrier so that the system cannot access your status.”

“So you’re saying that you’re going to put the cocoon world between me and the system in the skill world? But if you do that, won’t I be unable to acquire skills or increase my skill level in the skill world?”

Using skills, acquiring skills, updating stats, etc., should only be possible through the skill world system.

If you disconnect from the skill world, you won’t be able to use or acquire skills.

“That’s right. To solve this problem, I’m going to let the cocoon world act as a filter.”

“A filter?”

“The cocoon world will read your status and convert it to the skill world format. The skill world’s system will read the status that the cocoon world has converted to the correct format. The system will also be able to make changes to your status, such as acquiring skills, through the intermediary of the cocoon world. As a result, it will also prevent you from being nerfed for the sake of the system.”

“…How can you be so skilled?”

I had a hunch, but isn’t this existence called Boundary Dragon much higher than what Kudave told me?

Kudave said things like, “Can you compare the strength of the sea and a meteorite?” But it seems like he’s on a different level of existence than Kudave.

…Knowing Kudave, there might have been some sour grapes mixed in.

“I am the one who draws the boundaries of the world. This is nothing. You can count on me.”

Splefnir says confidently.

“Why are you doing this for me? Weren’t you and I originally enemies?”

In the Okutama Lake Dungeon in the skill world, I burn Splefnir’s “fibers” that spilled out of the hole in the world together with Kudave.

I also sealed the hole in the world by loading as many skill combos as possible onto the holy sword, Kusanagi.

It is undoubtedly me who prevented Splefnir from invading the skill world.

When I ask him a question, Splefnir shakes his head.

“It is true that a part of me flowed into your world. I didn’t intend to invade other worlds, but when a hole that big opens up, some of my power gets sucked in. My cocoon is like a balloon with some internal pressure. As you can see, the boundaries between worlds are quite fragile.”

Splefnir shrugged.

From the looks of it, he doesn’t seem to hold a grudge against me.

So it was an accident that his ‘fibers’ went into the hole in the world, and he didn’t want it to happen.

“So, is this an apology for causing me trouble?”

“That’s part of it, but… more than that, it’s my interest in you. As a ‘weaver,’ I’m interested in beings who weave unique destinies. I’m really looking forward to seeing what kind of destiny you’re going to weave from now on. If there’s anything in the way, I’ll get rid of it for you. Well, I wouldn’t want to interfere in your personal affairs, but the system in your world seems a little rough. It’s my responsibility as a god.”

“…Did you also throw me into the job world?”

“Of course. You wanted to integrate your skills. I prepared the stage for you. It’s nice to see the actors perform well on the stage I prepared for them.”

“I think the skill integration trial is a little too hard.”

In the beginning, the story was that I would receive a reward from god for preventing the collapse of the dungeon, but I don’t understand why I was thrown into a trial from which I might not be able to return without my consent.

“If it wasn’t like that, it wouldn’t be called a trial, would it? You can only say you’ve overcome a test if you show something that goes beyond your previous limits. In a sense, a trial is something where you die once and are reborn.”

“Once you’re dead, you’re dead.”

Having said that… looking at the results, I could say that I got what I wanted in the best possible way.

Well, that’s just looking at the results.

“Well, did you clear up any of your questions?”

“Well… did I ask you everything?”

I try to think of something to ask during this precious opportunity, but nothing comes to mind.

It’s not like I can suddenly ask, “If you could ask God anything, what would you ask?”

Seeing my expression, Splefnir nodded.

“Then go home to your world. Go home with your head held high. You have saved two worlds.”

With these words, my field of vision was enveloped in white.

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